- 12 paddlers embark on a journey from West Palm Beach to America's Everglades -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – The Arthur R. Marshall Foundation will host its third annual historic RIVER OF GRASS Canoe Expedition. The journey begins Wednesday, January 18, 2012 with 12 paddlers starting off on the 78-mile expedition from the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and follows the water flow through Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties arriving at Tamiami Trail at the head of Everglades National Park on January 24, 2012.

Public and private schools throughout south Florida, as well as the general community and environmental enthusiasts, will have the opportunity to be engaged and participate in daily interactive webcasts, providing an up close and personal account of the remote parts of the Everglades to learn about the state of vegetation and wildlife.

“The paddlers that will be a part of this event are all passionate outdoors people, all of whom are very excited about the opportunity to experience a new environment and share that experience with us,” says Nancy Marshall, president of the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation. "They come from different backgrounds representing the fields of science, environmental disciplines, education, media and the arts, photography and painting, with age ranges from 22 to 70 – and we are delighted to have them on this remarkable journey with us.”

Participants in the 2012 expedition include:

Keenan Adams (Melbourne, FL)
Associate Wildlife Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service. PhD in Wildlife Biology. Photographer. Currently focused on the development of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area.

Carlos Arazoza (Miami, FL)
Attorney and CPA practicing in Miami. Chairman South Florida National Parks Trust, back country volunteer with Big Cypress National Preserve, founder of the South Florida Bushpaddlers Association, who got into the Everglades to eradicate invasive plant species. Long experienced in back country navigation and paddling.

Tomas Boiton (Lake Park, FL)
Founder and CEO of Citizens for Improved Transit, a company designing and implementing transportation programs for many non-profits like the Childrens’ Services Council and the Mae Volen Senior Center. Volunteer at Grassy Waters Preserve, taking visitors out in canoes. Took part in 2010 and 2011 expeditions. Co-leader of 2012 trip.

Robert Carew (Coral Springs, FL)
Natural Resource Specialist, Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Dept., MA in Education. Current responsibilities include teaching water conservation. Nature photographer, hiker and kayaker. Retired senior naval officer. Affiliations: International Coastal Cleanup, Marine Mammal Conservancy, and National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward.

Christopher Carl (West Palm Beach, FL)
Owner/manager of SGP Yacht Services, Marine Repair and Installation. Consummate outdoors man with decades of experience in kayaking in all seasons. Has led long trips in the Ten Thousand Islands and regularly kayaks in all parts of Florida. Boat captain for Lagoon Keepers for International Coastal Cleanup. Co-leader of 2012 trip.

Maureen Connolly (West Palm Beach, FL)
Provides fiduciary & investment risk management services for private clients. Avid paddler, having done solo and other trips to remote areas.

Ronald Haines (Lantana, FL)
Retired journalist, active wildlife explorer, takes extended solo canoe trips. Certified Sierra Club outings leader, electronic newsletter editor for the Loxahatchee Chapter, Sierra Club and member of publishing committee of the Pelican, Sierra Club Florida Chapter newsletter.

Jim Jackson (Jupiter, FL)
Radio and TV journalist in Florida for over 25 years. Jim’s programs and reports have targeted many significant conservation and environmental issues including the Everglades, water quality issues in Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay, the St. Lucie and Indian Rivers, and Lake Worth Lagoon. Jim has reported on dying coral reef systems in Florida, dwindling shark, redfish and sea trout fisheries, the manatee, loss of Florida Panther habitat, and the dangers of polluted storm water runoff. Jim has been named the Fenwick Conservation Writer of the Year, won two Edward R. Murrow Awards, won several Associated Press awards and the National Association of Broadcasters Award for Excellence in Educational Programming.

Marisa Martinez (Melbourne, FL)
Intern at US Fish & Wildlife Service. Cornell University B.S. 2011, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Interests: Studying avian behavior, ecology and ornithology. Photography.

Rick Poston (Miami, FL)
Miami native, retired engineer, photographer and painter of Everglades landscapes. Leads regular kayaking trips in south Florida, as well as in northern Florida and Georgia. Volunteer for Shake-a-Leg and other organizations that introduce people to outdoors activities.

Mac Stone (Gainesville, FL)
A proud graduate of Virginia Tech majoring in environmental affairs, Spanish, international politics, and a concentration in biology, Mac fuses his artistic eye with a world view and a naturalist’s instinct. Mac has also used his photography to promote environmental awareness. In Florida he has worked with the TREEO center and Alachua County Forever Fund in promoting ecosystem management and works regularly with the National Audubon Society to further Everglades restoration efforts, now mostly concentrating on south Florida. Internationally he has done photography for the Wildlife Conservation Service (WCS) in the rainforests of Ecuador and has done projects teaching environmental science and nature photography to local children along the watershed of Pico Bonito National Park in Honduras. Mac will produce a video of the Canoe Expedition 2012.

Victor Suarez (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Education Specialist for Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Dept., member of Broward Environmental Council. Affiliations include Life Member of national Eagle Scout Association, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Waterway Clean-up. Certified instructor for canoe, lifeguard, basic boating safety.

Susan Sylvester (West Palm Beach, FL)
Operations Director, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Has extensive knowledge of the water flows in the Everglades. Active in kayaking, camping and exploring the Everglades. Took part in 2010 and 2011 expeditions.

Janet Talbot (Miami, FL)
ICO leader, Sierra Club, Miami FL; ACA kayak instructor. PhD in Physiology and Biophysics. Experienced kayaker, leading groups for Sierra Club. Took part in the 2010 and 2011 expeditions.

Allen Trefry (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
Retired from Utilities Department City of West Palm Beach, specializing in hydrology and water resource management. Volunteer at Grassy Waters Preserve, leading canoe outings. Took part in the 2010 canoe expedition.

At the conclusion of the journey, paddlers will meet up with Carlton Ward, who will start his 1,000 Mile Wildlife Corridor Walk, www.floridawildlifecorridor.org, from the southern end of Everglades National Park to the border of Georgia.

Persons interested in viewing the incredible journey of the River of Grass Canoe Expedition, can visit the live broadcast on January 19, 20, 23 and 24th at http://breeze.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/riverofgrass2012/  

About the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation: Based on the principles of visionary environmental advocate, Arthur R. Marshall, Jr. (1919-1985), the mission of the Foundation is to develop, promote, and deliver science-based education and public outreach programs central to restoration of the greater Everglades ecosystem and its historic “River of Grass.”

Established in 1998, the Foundation has quickly grown to become a leader in environmental education and is the only non-profit in south Florida offering hands-on learning opportunities in Everglades restoration and preservation. Since the organization’s founding, its message has reached more than three million people through its many programs and events, as well as via partnerships with other environmental and community groups.

In addition to working with approximately 25,000 K-12 students during each school year and through after-school, scout, and summer camp programs, the Marshall Foundation conducts an annual Summer Intern Program for college age students planning to pursue careers in the environmental sciences and related fields.

The Foundation has received numerous awards and recognition through the years for its efforts to develop future stewards of the environment, encourage appreciation for Florida’s natural resources, and ensure safe drinking water for generations to come. Its volunteers have planted more than 100,000 native Florida trees in wetlands areas and harvested close to 4,000 pounds of cypress seeds for germination and replanting.

MEDIA NOTE: A detailed travel schedule for media inquiries and interviews is available upon request. For media visits, interviews and more info, contact Matthew Beatty at 305-948-8063, ext. 209.