Punta Gorda 2004

Because of Windermere Prep’s financial troubles, the scheduled American Adventures trip to the Grand Canyon was replaced with a less expensive three-day jaunt to Punta Gorda, south of Sarasota on Florida’s west coast. The trip actually turned out to be quite fun and possibly more educational than the original plan.

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Our first stop was the Babcock Ranch, a huge ranch and nature preserve with lots of Florida wildlife.

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That evening we went on a sunset cruise in Punta Gorda bay.

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Dani, Caitlin, Christina and Mary Beth Davies, their Language Arts teacher and the trip organizer.

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This is one of my favorite photos of the two of us.

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The second day we went on a marine biology trip to an island in the bay, followed by a kayaking excursion.

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It was amazing how much stuff they found in the shallow water along the shore — including a eight inch wide horseshoe crab.

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Dani and her friend Cory.

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The third day was spent at the beach. Here is the whole group, nearly all of Windermere Prep’s seventh and eighth grade classes.