Field Trip to Corkscrew Swamp

This was my second to trip to Corkscrew Swamp and I am glad to say that actually learned something new! In my first visit, I was just introduced to the different types of wildlife that inhabit this particular swamp and what types of weather conditions can be expected throughout the year. During my second field trip, I learned a whole bunch of very interesting facts I have never heard of before! The coolest of all would have to be that this swamp is actually a “living machine”; that is where water is recycled naturally. The park ranger mentioned that the water used in the facilities goes in chlorinated and comes out unchlorinated, this way, it doesn’t harm the environment. Another cool fact I learned about Corkscrew is that there are actually three different types of biomes in this swamp. They are the Pinewood Flatlands, the Cypress Forest, and the Lettuce Lakes. Beyond learning some new facts, I was pretty excited to have spotted a baby alligator; as well, the park ranger explained that for every 9 inches of length a gator has, that equals approximately one year of life. This particular baby gator looked to be around two to three years old. Overall, I would have to say that it was a very enlightening trip and I am glad Corkscrew is around. As a future educator, I will definitely have this destination noted as a “must see” on my agenda for field trips!