Enjoy a fun, FREE day in honor of Latino Conservation Week on Saturday, September 20.
As part of this free event, guests are invited to connect with nature through the eyes of artist Lisette Morales for a bilingual walking meditation on the boardwalk and attend a fascinating talk about bird migration and conservation by Helen Midney, Museum Manager for the Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch.
Nature Photo Walk | 8:30 a.m.
Meet in the lobby of the Blair Visitor Center at 8:15 am.
A woman with flowers on her head smiles for the camera
Lisette Morales. Photo: Courtesy Lisette Morales.
Connect with nature through the eyes of Artist-in-Residence Lisette Morales and Zen teacher Laurie Lyons. Laurie is the founder and director of Zen and the Arts. In addition to Laurie’s impressive credentials as a musician for the Naples Philharmonic for almost two decades, she is also a passionate visitor at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
Join Lisette and Laurie as they co-lead a walking meditation to contemplate the spirituality of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and how nature photography can be a recipe for self-care. This bilingual tour will include a 90-minute walk around the short loop of the trail, highlighting a few of Lisette’s favorite spots to take photos. Along the way, Laurie will guide participants in light elements of yoga and meditation to heighten their connection to this special place. Participants are free to bring their own cameras to take photos along the way. (Lisette will not be teaching the mechanics of how to use the camera; instead, she will be focusing on the artistry of photo taking.)
Originally from Nicaragua, Morales has resided in Florida since 2000. During this time, she has channeled her creative energy into documenting the natural splendor found in South Florida.
Swallow-tailed Kites | 10 a.m.
Meet in the lobby of the Blair Visitor Center at 8:15 am.
A woman wearing glasses poses outdoors for the camera
Helen Midney Photo: Courtesy Helen Midney
Join Helen Midney for a lively presentation on Swallow-tailed Kites and what these birds mean to the people who see them as both visitors and representatives of their homes. Many know the Swallow-tailed Kite’s fame as a harbinger of Florida springtime, as these birds and their migrations correlate to our human migrations as well.
"I feel very connected to the wildlife of South Florida, the place I call home, and these birds also help me connect to my ancestry in Paraguay, a place where both of these species can be found. Learning about these avian friends has helped me feel more attached to both regions and process the how and why we as people are drawn to a place like Florida. We all come for opportunity: the birds come for their breeding grounds, and people for a myriad of reasons. I like to think that all people can connect with the journeys these birds make, whether they themselves are migrants or “snowbirds,” and that we can find companionship and connection between us as people as well as to the natural world that connects us all."
Helen Midney is the museum manager for the Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch. She received her bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College in Maine. After working as an educator, college access counselor, and environmental interpreter, she went on to earn her master's degree in environmental studies with a focus on Education from Florida Gulf Coast University. Helen is a resident of Immokalee and loves sharing her community and its history with locals and visitors alike.
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