This Plum Village-style Day of Mindfulness (DOM) and Chanting Workshop will provide a wonderful opportunity for those who want to deepen their mindfulness practice with time for reflection and silence as well as a chance to learn how to chant in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In the morning, we will enjoy periods of sitting and walking meditation, as well as chanting from Thây Nhat Hanh’s Chanting from the Heart. In the afternoon, we will enjoy Deep Relaxation and Mindful Sharing.

This event is free an open to all practitioners. However, your generosity in providing a donation or Dana for the monastic and lay Sanghas is gratefully accepted and encouraged. Your kind donation to the Sangha or community of practitioners helps us defray the costs associated with this DOM and supports the activities of the Sangha.

Please arrive early so you can relax and absorb the peaceful beauty of the natural surroundings and to help the Sangha set up for the day.

Please respect and appreciate noble silence during the duration of the formal activities of the day. An opportunity for sharing and mindful conversation will be provided towards the end of the DOM.

What to bring:

• Your favorite meditation seating arrangement (e.g., meditation cushion, blanket, mat, or back-jack). Chairs and limited number of other seating arrangements will be provided by the Sangha.
• A healthy vegetarian dish to share with the Sangha at lunchtime.
• Healthy snacks for afternoon tea.
• Non-alcoholic beverages such as water, juice and tea.
• Your own copy of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Chanting from the Heart: Buddhist Ceremonies and Daily Practices if you have it.
• In order to be kind to the Earth Mother, we request that you bring your own non-disposable mug or beverage container, plate, bowl, eating and serving utensils, and napkin.

To register, please e-mail Osiris at osirisnunez@yahoo.com. Directions will be sent to all registered participants. Please register as soon as possible. Space is limited.

This family-oriented event is open to all Sangha members and Nature lovers, so bring your friends!

Anne Kolb Nature Center offers several Walking Trails, including a Three-Mile Preserve Trail overlooking a lush mangrove ecosystem, a Fishing Pier Trail that leads to two piers that overlook the Intracoastal Waterway, an Intracoastal Dock, so you can access the nature center from the Intracoastal Waterway by boat (A 175-foot dock is available on a first-come, first-served basis), and a 68-foot Observation Tower, you can access via elevator or stairs that offers a panoramic view of the mangrove wetland and coastline. The Exhibit Hall at Anne Kolb Nature Center includes a site map of the complex’s three-mile preserve, the Living Crossroads theater (a 10-minute closed-caption video program), and a series of interactive and static displays (including a stocked 3,500-gallon aquarium) that vividly portray and explain West Lake’s mangrove ecosystem and its importance. Visitors then proceed to the Eco-Room for an engaging hands-on investigation and an eye-to-eye view of the animal residents.

LUNCH: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Bring a brown bag vegetarian lunch or dish to share together at the park plus your favorite non-alcoholic drinks. There are picnic tables to accommodate small groups at the nature center’s atrium surrounded by a beautiful butterfly garden and at the amphitheater behind the aquarium in case we need a larger place.

MANGROVE ADVENTURE TRAIL HIKE: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

One of the Park Naturalists will guide us on a tour to explore the mangroves of Anne Kolb Nature Center. This adventure is for all ages and the whole family. The park fee is $3 per person.

AQUARIUM BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

We will learn about the inhabitants of the aquarium in the exhibit hall and observe them feeding. (You may wish to start exploring the exhibit hall at 1:30 PM). This adventure is for all ages and the whole family.

The park fee is $1 per person.

CANOE/KAYAK RENTALS: will be available for early birds starting at 9:00 AM (weather permitting) The park fee is $7 per hour or $13 for up to 4 hours (2 person maximum).

WALK ALONG HOLLYWOOD BEACH: at the end of our park adventure, you are welcome to join us for a walk (or bike ride) along Hollywood Beach (Both the park and the beach are bicycle-friendly). Please bring quarters for beachside parking or leave your car at Anne Kolb (Open Until Sunset) and walk across the bridge.

What to bring:

• Four dollars for park activity fees.
• Quarters for beach parking meters (unless you plan to leave your car at Anne Kolb and walk across the bridge).
• Comfortable clothing and shoes for park and beach walk.
• Both the park and the beach are bicycle-friendly.
• A brown bag vegetarian lunch to share together at the park plus any snacks and/or non-alcoholic beverages that you would like to bring with you.

To register for this event, please e-mail Faith at joe999@comcast.net

Please let us know how many in your party and which of the activities listed you are planning on participating in.

Anne Kolb Nature Center is located at 751 Sheridan St., Hollywood, FL 33019.

For map and directions, please visit http://www.broward.org/parks/wlpmap.htm.

For more information about the Broward Lotus Sangha and this event, please visit www.BrowardLotusSangha.org and http://buddhism.meetup.com/481/calendar/8054192/.

This adventure is for the whole family! Come join us!

The Broward Lotus Sangha invites you to celebrate with us the anniversary of Buddha Shakyamuni’s Enlightenment with our Annual Enlightenment Flower Ceremony, Friday, June 13th, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. During this special ceremony, all Sangha members in attendance will receive a commemorative yellow rose in a water vase, with the words of Thäy Thich Nhät Hanh accompanying the giving and receiving. Each of these flowers is intended to represent the beauty and purity of our own Buddha Nature and symbolizes our innate capacity to wake up or become enlightened.

Afterwards, we will continue the festivity by sharing a vegetarian potluck dinner. Feel free to bring your favorite healthy vegetarian dish, dessert, treat, tea or other non-alcoholic drink to share with the Sangha on this very special evening. Please remember to bring all the necessary utensils to serve and consume your dish as well.

We look forward to an evening filled with joy and hope to see you there for this auspicious celebration!

Four species of sea turtles use South Florida’s beaches during the spring/summer months to lay and incubate their eggs until the hatchlings emerge 45 to 55 days later. This program, presented by the Sea Turtle Conservation staff from Nova Southeastern University, shares the mysterious life of sea turtles and their fight for survival, and ends with a beach-side release of hatchlings conducted by naturalists from the Anne Kolb Nature Center. We will first see a slide presentation and lecture about Sea Turtles and Their Babies, and will then accompany a naturalist on a hatchling release to experience what the tiny creatures face during their first crucial minutes of life. There will be plenty photo opportunities during both portions of the event.

This Program is very popular and is limited to only 50 participants, therefore reservations must be made well in advance. The Price is $6 per person ($5 for park program plus $1 donation for the Sangha). Please make checks payable to Broward Lotus Sangha and mail to P.O. Box 245124, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024, or bring checks to the Sangha in person. Please be advised that, as far as we know, the park offers no refunds for cancellations originated by payee.

To register for this event, please e-mail Faith at joe999@comcast.net

All participants are invited to join us for an optional Beach Walk at the end of this event.

For more information about the Turtle Release Program, please see last year’s flyer.

Anne Kolb Nature Center is located at 751 Sheridan St., Hollywood, FL 33019. For map and directions, please visit http://www.broward.org/parks/wlpmap.htm.

For more information about the Broward Lotus Sangha, please visit www.BrowardLotusSangha.org.

What to bring:

• Quarters for parking meters at beach release site.
• Comfortable clothing and shoes for beach release site and walk.
• A flashlight if you have one.
• Any snacks and/or non-alcoholic drinks that you would like to bring with you.

This adventure is for the whole family! Come join us!

This event is free and open to the public so bring your friends!

Join us for a short and adventurous 2-mile roundtrip nature hike at Strabineau Camp - Big Cypress (off I-75, Exit 49) led by Jack Lange. Jack scouted the hiking location for us just a few days ago and saw the rare and gorgeous ghost orchid in full bloom!

Option #1: Meet us at the Extension Service in Davie at 8:00 A.M. and carpool to the Miccosukee Mobil Gas Station, Exit 49 off Alligator Alley.

Meeting Place: Broward County Extension Service Parking Lot,
3245 College Avenue, Davie, FL 33314
Meeting Time: 8:00 A.M.

Option #2: Meet us at the Miccosukee Mobil Gas Station at 9:30 A.M. and we will hike together from there.

Meeting Place: Miccosukee Mobil Gas Station,
Exit 49 off Alligator Alley (Take I-75 towards Naples, to Exit 49 and follow signs to Gas Station)
Meeting Time: 9:30 A.M.

The hike will start at 10 A.M. SHARP!

Don’t be late, or we’ll be on the trail

About the hike: The total planned route is about 2 miles roundtrip. Jack noted the water level could be a foot deep or more in some places…so be prepared to get a bit wet. He also saw some wildlife (snakes) and a rare ghost orchid in full bloom!

Difficulty Rating: Moderately Difficult (not for the very young).

What to wear and bring:

1. Sturdy footwear that can get wet and withstand the suction created by mud such as old lace-up tennis shoes (flip flops are not advised) and

2. A pair of dry shoes to change after you return from the hike

3. A walking stick

4. Water and snacks

5. Bug repellant

6. A hat and other sun protection.

To learn more about the Broward Lotus Sangha, click here.

To learn more about The Broward Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, click here.