Library series to feature DPU Everglades Winter Term trip

The Putnam County Public Library Passport Travel Series, in conjunction with the DePauw University Department of Communication and Theatre, will present "10 DePauw Students Paddle for Their Lives in the Florida Everglades."

The program, which is free and open to the public, is set for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Green Center for the Performing Arts, room 1202 (northwest wing of building, located across from the Center for Contemporary Media).

While Putnam County was being sucked into the Polar Vortex this January, 10 DePauw students, along with Professor Steve Timm and sponsor/photographer Richard Fields embarked on a Winter Term project involving a 99-mile water route weaving through the Everglades.

One group departed from the southern tip of Flamingo and traveled north, while the other group traveled south from Everglades City.

Along the way students encountered crocodiles, alligators, sharks, manatees, and numerous species of birds including ibis, anhinga, egrets, cormorants, pelicans, herons, storks, Roseate Spoonbills and osprey. Pythons remained elusive.

Student members on this trip were Sara Blanton, Marjorie Daily, Hannah DeLucio, Caitlin Hickey, Ashley Junger, Scott Lockwood, William McAndrew, Thomas Miller, Jacob Weeks and Sarah White.

They will read selections from their journals and talk about personal and group challenges of long-distance paddling, including their preparation and training for the trip, cooking, camping and the rigors of close living for an extended period.

A presentation of photographs by group members will be shown, including selections by Richard Fields.

Fields is a professional photographer whose credits include the books "Songs in Sepia and Black and White," "Indiana Impressions," "Indiana from the Air," "The Natural Heritage of Indiana" and most recently, "Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary," among others.

He was chief photographer for Outdoor Indiana magazine for 20 years.

Passport Travel Series members should bring their library passport or pick one up at this program and have it stamped to be eligible for the PCPL's Passport Prize drawing this spring.