Teamwork makes the dream work...

The island buzzes with the hum of hard work: gear is put away following Pine School, sea kayaks are tinkered with, and the Puffer prepped for her seasonal launch.

Pine School kicks off the season!

Homeward Bound... An amazing sunset as the first Pine School crew returns to Sunset Island, with Instructors Dave Genova and Lee Collette tagging along. Check out Lee exemplifying physical fitness as he hauls that Action Packer! 

Turkey Day the Everglades way!

Chavo carved the bird, it was quite a feast - enough pumpkin pie to last for weeks!

Images from the Fall 2008 WorkWeekend

Anne posted images from the Fall 2008 WorkWeekend on flicker.

Here is a link to the images - http://www.flickr.com/photos/32586019@N02/

Thanks again to everyone that participated in the Fall WorkWeekend.

From too little water to too much water....

Tropical Storm Fay, which made its first US landfall near Evergaldes City in late August, dumped record breaking amounts of rain as it meandered up the entire state of Fl. Now FL Fish and Wildlife Officials are reporting that flooding between I75 (Alligator Alley) and Hwy 41 (Tamiami Trail) threatens the health of many species. Please check out the video and Miami Herald articalby following the link below.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/726434.html

The dawn of a new season in FL.

Like seaside morning glories hailing the start of a new day, FL work agreements announce the dawn of a new season in FL.

Work agreements have gone out to staff requesting winter work in Florida.

For those that received work agreements please review your schedule and return signed work agreements to John & Trish in the office. If you have questions or conflicts with the schedule offered in your work agreement please contact staffing at the TO or Jeff Lovett. Receiving your signed contracts or questions will allow us identify any shortcomings in our attempt to staff the season allowing us time to avoid staffing shortages or perhaps offer work to staff looking for opportunities to instruct in the Everglades.

Please continue to check into the Sunset Island Times for updates on the FL Programs. I will soon post the 2008-09 Travel Calendar and FL Ride Board.

I've already had a few requests for the mailing address in FL. If you wish to ship parcels to FL or have personal mail sent to FL here is the address...

NCOBS
attn: your name
PO Box 385
400 Riverside Drive
Everglades City, FL, 34139

Please use both the PO Box and the street address.

See you all soon!

Nearing the End of the Season...

  We're at the end of March here on Sunset Island, celebrating the accomplishments of the International Semester crew's Everglades phase, and getting ready for closing down base camp and a full work-week.  Megan G. and Dave G. are in pre-course for an OBP course that will be last course of the season.  Yesterday the Semester crew finished service for a bike ride benefiting The Friendship House, a shelter that houses the working homeless in Immokalee FL.  The crew took on a lot of dirty gear during de-issue and also helped with Jeff to move the Mag out of the water and onto the back of the yard.  Congratulations to the entire Semester crew and their phase instructor, Mark.  Ben, their proctor instructor, has already started preparing for them in the NC mountains!  The crew's Course Director, Julie, will accompany the students to NC to oversee their remaining month on course.  After a fabulous banquet by Anne on the island last night, the group is enjoying a town day for laundry and errands before departing for their next phase.  

  The first week of April brings work-week and a full list of work to be done on base camp!  We look forward to welcoming Pete H., Wanda, and Whitney M. to base camp for varying amounts of time, as well as returning work week contributers.  Check back for pictures and updates!

--Paige