Trekking With A Purpose

Every other Tuesday, Hal Jackson turns himself into the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center's version of a carnival barker – only he's offering educational and entertaining information to visitors.

From 9-10 a.m. Jackson greets visitors as they enter Gumbo Limbo, letting them know that one of its newest programs, Island Treks, begins at the top of the hour

Jackson, of late, has been highly successful.

More than 20 visitors – ranging in age from the retired to some being pushed in strollers – attended each of the past three Treks.

“We want to make sure that our guests have an opportunity to learn more about the habitats, the ecosystems, the plants, the animals that exist on this barrier island,” Jackson said. “And we felt that a trip around the boardwalk trail and a walk up the tower would accomplish that. So far, based on the feedback that we've received, it is accomplishing that.” 

Jackson, a volunteer who spent his professional life in retail and banking, proudly holds a biology degree that, until recently, he didn't put to use.

“I lamented that most of my adult life, but now I feel much better about it having the opportunity that I do at Gumbo Limbo,” said Jackson, who's been volunteering for six years. “I wanted to do something that was consistent with my love for nature and biology, and Gumbo Limbo is the perfect place to be.” 

During the 45-minute Treks guests learn about various aspects of the hammock and the barrier island.

Jackson keeps the tour interactive by constantly asking questions like, “What is the Gumbo Limbo tree's nickname?”

The winding boardwalk tour stops for a moment at a historic midden created hundreds of years ago by indigenous people, before concluding with a climb to the top of the Gumbo Limbo observation tower. Jackson delivers one final lesson from the Jacob's Outlook observation deck, some 40 feet in the sky.

“Very informative,” said trekker Emily Nicastro, visiting Boca Raton from Rochester, N.Y. “We were looking for something cool, to learn a little bit while we were on our stay instead of just staying at the beach, so this was cool.”

First-time visitor David Simpson recently moved into a retirement community. He's searching for activities his new neighbors might enjoy doing together.

“We're just trying to think of great things to do with people we live with and this is definitely one of them,” he said.

Afterward many attendees posed for pictures atop Jacob's Outlook, taking advantage of the panoramic view of the Intracoastal waterway and Boca Raton behind them.

Following the tour many took the opportunity to explore other Gumbo Limbo features. Others visited the Gumbo Limbo gift shop.

All left knowing the Gumbo Limbo tree earned the nickname “The Tourist Tree” because of the reddish color of its trunk and branches, and bark that's constantly peeling, mimicking a tourist's sunburn.

The next Island Treks tour is scheduled for May 13. For a list of all Gumbo Limbo's programming, visit their events calendar.