When accessing the Internet using a public Wireless LAN (WLAN) service your need to understand that information that travels from you wireless computer to a wireless access point (AP) can be intercepted, logged and analysed unless properly protected by cryptographic means. This is not unique to a WLAN but it may be easier for an attacker to gain access to the network as no physical point of connection is needed.
As the Pelicans Landing's WLAN needs to support a wide variety of computers and users it would be unpractical to support the use of cryptographic keys using Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or other mechanisms.
If you access SSL or SSH sites and services your communications will be encrypted from your computer to the server. If you have the option to use secure (e.g., SSL) variants of services you should do so. Popular web email providers and information portals normally have the option of letting you log in securely via an SSL enabled site.
If your email service provider gives you the option to use POP3, IMAP or SMTP over SSL you should consider enabling that in your email client.
For access to corporate IT systems you may be required to use a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution. This often includes a specific software client that has been installed on your computer. It may also include various hardware devices. Pelicans Landing's WLAN service is using Network Address Translation (NAT) technology which may require that you enable "NAT traversal" in your VPN client. Firewalls in the communication path may also restrict the use of certain ports so you may also have to enable "HTTP tunneling" in your VPN client.