College of Life Foundation

"Kayaking trip from Koreshean state park in Estero Florida. Wonderful guided experience. Calm waters on the estero river. Wonderful guide. Economical. They provide all equipment. Learn some local history. Bring water and water shoes. Great for beginners. Proceeds help to fund children’s day camps during the summer months for underprivileged local children. Highly recommend!!! Small fee to access park. Fun with beautiful nature!"

"My husband and I were planning a trip and decided we would go for a tour. We had heard of the College of Life Foundation and decided that this would be the best tour for us. We both come from families that enjoy the outdoors and nature. Peg and Brandy were very knowledgeable about the local ecosystem and the history of the Koreshan State Park. Wildlife was abundant that day and the weather was great! We will definately head back for another tour in the fall when the seasons and wildlife are changing."

"I participated in the paddle from Lovers Key State Park to Mound Key and was very nervous having never been in a kayak before. I honestly did not think I could physically do this, especially knowing the distance. I was amazed! First off, the training Peg and Brandy provided was excellent. Safety was priority to. I paddled out and within a few strokes was on my way to one of the best days I have ever had on the water! When we arrived, Peg led a tour of Mound Key that had me so intrigued, and mind you, I have worked at Koreshan State Historic Site for 18 years and we manage Mound Key, I have been there many times by boat, however Pegs knowledge was fantastic, I learned so many interesting things. Out in the bay we experienced manatee's, dolphin, sting rays, eagle rays, and even saw a star fish! By the time we returned, I was not finished, I wanted to go some more. I would recommend this to anyone! It was also so peaceful on the water, I think I have become a paddler!"

"To see another side of Florida, try The College of Life Foundation's historic/kayak guided tour to Mound Key Archeological State Park. What a super fun and educational experience we had this week with Peg Egan. We paddled, we hiked and we learned a lot. Peg is very professional, safety-minded, respectful of and passionate about the environment and extremely knowledgeable. Ask her anything, she'll have the answer. Peg was waiting for us at the pre-determined landing with kayaks launched and all the gear we needed for a safe and fun paddle, including water and a dry bag for stowing away cell phones, etc. It's one thing to rent a kayak and paddle around, hoping not to get lost but it's a completely different and enriching experience to be guided by a Florida Master Naturalist (Peg) for the same price. We saw dolphins, sting rays, osprey, cranes, egrets and 7 roseate spoonbills. We learned about the different kinds of mangroves and their ecological values. We learned about the history of Mound Key, which was created over 2,000 years ago by the Calusa Indians. Peg also highlighted a lot of the unique vegetation on Mound Key. What a fun trip we had, so very interesting. We've already planned to meet up with Peg and Brandy in November for a paddle on the Orange River for manatee-watching. We highly recommend checking out College of Life Foundation."

"I have been coming to celebrate Earth Day at Koreshan State Park in Estero, FL. for the past 8 years. This year was the first time for me that the Park Rangers, Ms. Peg Egan and Ms. Brandy Minchew, taught us how to use the oar and assisted in boarding the kayak. Mark (a student intern) volunteered to photograph the experience. What an amazing time we had at Koreshan!! Both Rangers and Mark helped me and my friends, Buddhists nuns reminisce of their native country, Vietnam, while meandering along the Estero River. Fear holds many of us back from exploring new experiences. It took a lot of convincing to get them to strap on their life-vests. You two instilled trust and gently and so patiently held our hands during the entire journey into the "unknown!" We didn't tip over! For this I am truly grateful."