Paddlers tour at Calusa Island Preserve
Saturday morning, long-time Calusa Land Trust member Ed Chapin assembled 9 kayaks for a tour of Calusa Island Preserve.
The western half of Calusa Island was the first land owned by the Calusa Land Trust. It was donated in 1982 by Fred Johnson, Diane Johnson, Bill Spikowski, and Alison Ackerman.
The Calusa Island Preserve consists of the western half and parts of the eastern portion of the island. Calusa Island is located immediately east of Shell Cut and north of Jug Creek, just off the northeastern tip of Pine Island.
The Calusa Land Trust website states about Calusa Island: “Calusa Island’s earlier occupants were indigenous people. Samples taken from the eroding north face of the Calusa Island midden date to the Late Archaic (LA) period (1200 BC to 500 BC).
Visitors to Calusa Island are welcome, but please remember to respect the privacy of the residents and the fact that this is an intact archaeological site. Please treat the island kindly and with respect — take only pictures and leave only footprints.
The paddling tours are approximately 2 1/2 hours long.