By Yulissa Barrios, Contributing Writer
One of the many benefits of being a Saint Leo student is having access to the lakefront activities on campus and canoeing on Lake Jovita is a great way to take a break from studying and be a part of nature. Here is some advice on accessing Lake Jovita’s lakefront activities.
Students are welcome to call the Wellness Center Monday through Thursday so that the staff can bring the equipment and help them get to the water. On Friday, one Wellness Center staff member will be by the lake between 2:00 and 6:30 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.
Once the student or the group has arrived, staff will help with the sign-in process and prepare the equipment for you or your group. My group waited a few minutes for the staff to prepare the kayak and the oars, and we were ready to go.
The kayaks can fit around three people or more if they sit in between the spaces of the seats. Once everyone is on the boat, the staff helps push the boat in the water, and you go on the journey.
You can expect to encounter some wildlife as you canoe, kayak, or paddle boarding on Lake Jovita. There are birds, fishes, tables, turtles, and alligators.
Although many people fear the alligators will be aggressive, if you do not bother them, they will mind their own business and relax near the edges of the water.
Being on the water brings a sense of relaxation and peace to the busy lifestyle of being a college student.
“As someone who enjoys kayaking, being on Lake Jovita reminds me of the times when I was a kid playing in the great outdoors,” said Larissa Polanco, a sophomore majoring in nursing.
Being outside helps reduce the stress of assignments and teaches you to be more observant of the great outdoors. As I was kayaking, I realized that a variety of turtles and plants lived on Lake Jovita.
Brennan Roohan, a sophomore majoring in marketing, stated, “Realizing the number of tadpoles that lived in that one lake made me realize how we live in such a big world.”
After your group is done for the day, you row your boat near the edge of the shore, which you entered, and then a staff member will help your group off the boat. Once your group is off, the staff will store the equipment, and your group can head out for the day. The Wellness Center staff provides the equipment and help needed for students who want to enjoy relaxing on the water.
