Annual Meeting Spotlights Strategic Future | |
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With refreshing temperatures and sunny skies, more than 100 members enjoyed the SCCF Annual Meeting at the Bailey Homestead Preserve’s pavilion on Dec. 3.
SCCF CEO James Evans cited the completion of a 5-year strategic plan this past year as a collaborative effort and major accomplishment for the Board and staff.
He also thanked outgoing SCCF Board of Trustees President Anne Nobles for "steering our ship through some very challenging times.”
“Our work is vital to the future of Southwest Florida,” said Evans. “Ongoing development pressure, water quality issues, and impacts to wildlife habitat make our work more important than ever.”
Three new trustees were voted in at the meeting, where SCCF honored two artists as recipients of the “Ding” Darling Brush of Excellence Environmental Art Program.
"Our new trustees and officers will provide great leadership for SCCF as it implements its strategic plan,” said Nobles.
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Red Tide Detected Offshore Sanibel | |
WATCH NBC-2 interview with SCCF Marine Lab Director Eric Milbrandt that aired yesterday. | |
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Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide, has been recorded in elevated concentrations off the coast of Sanibel, and the Lee County Department of Health has issued a red tide alert.
With the health of our ecosystems and economy in mind, SCCF’s Marine Laboratory and Environmental Policy team will continue to closely monitor this dynamic situation while sharing recommendations with water managers and our local community.
READ MORE
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Study Identifies Surprising Diversity
of Phytoplankton in Caloosahatchee
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A new study led by the SCCF Marine Lab in partnership with the University of Florida and the University of South Florida has identified an extraordinary diversity of dinoflagellates in the Caloosahatchee, including several species new to Florida and new to science.
The study sought data on phytoplankton communities to help understand the drivers and causes of harmful algal blooms that caused widespread ecological and economic damage in 2018.
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Celebrating First-Ever Graduates of Preserving Paradise
The inaugural Preserving Paradise program — a partnership between SCCF, Captains for Clean Water, the Everglades Foundation, and the SanCap Chamber — is paving the way to leadership in water quality advocacy in Southwest Florida.
Our 2024 graduates emerge from the program equipped with the science and policy they need to advocate for Florida’s clean water-driven economy.
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'Tis the Season for Island's Only Winter-Breeding Frog
Cooler temps mean it's southern leopard frog breeding season on Sanibel. Have you heard the telltale mating call yet this year of the island's only winter-breeding frog?
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Sea Turtle Team Continues to Analyze Long-Term Data
What has SCCF's sea turtle team learned by analyzing decades of data related to nesting on our beaches?
FIND OUT
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Amy Oxton Joins Marine Lab as Research Associate
A Fort Myers Beach native, Amy has always been enthralled by Southwest Florida's coastal ecosystems. As the lab's new Research Associate, she's thrilled that her research interests align well with the SCCF Marine Lab's focus on tracking the status and trends of important habitats, such as mangroves, oysters, and seagrass.
LEARN MORE
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New Water Sensors Installed Along Sanibel Slough
You may have noticed some strange-looking contraptions on the side of the road adjacent to the Sanibel Slough recently.
These are new water level monitoring stations the SCCF Marine Lab installed in collaboration with the City of Sanibel.
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Calling All Volunteers
Join Us for a Special Island Clean Up!
Join us in celebrating Sanibel’s 50th Anniversary by lending a hand in a special island-wide roadside cleanup THIS Saturday, Dec. 14! This event, hosted in partnership with the City of Sanibel, focuses on clearing debris from roadways, conservation lands adjacent to roadways, and the right-of-way areas, contributing to ongoing hurricane recovery efforts.
We still have about 30 spots open for this community-wide effort, especially for stretches along San-Cap Road! There's more litter than meets the eye still strewn about due to surge events. Groups larger than four can email us at coastalwatch@sccf.org to participate.
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Considering an End-of-Tax-Year IRA Gift to SCCF?
For SCCF Members who are at least 72 years young, individual retirement account (IRA) distributions can be transferred to SCCF to satisfy your required minimum distribution without increasing your annual gross income. In fact, you can transfer up to $100,000 without creating a taxable event.
A distribution can be made by check payable to SCCF, PO Box 839, Sanibel, FL 33957-0839. Your financial advisor may also require SCCF's Federal Tax ID Number, which is 59-1205087.
Please contact Development Director Cheryl Giattini at cgiattini@sccf.org or 239-822-6121 with questions. Your consideration of this suggestion is most appreciated.
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Skip the 'Car Rotting' this Holiday Season & New Year
Environmental Policy Associate Allie Pecenka breaks down why a social media trend known as ‘car rotting’ — spending time in a parked car while the engine is still running — is harmful to the environment.
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SanCap Resilience Gathering Home Resilience Practices
Have you made changes around your home to reduce risks from storms or flooding? As a partner of SanCap Resilience, SCCF encourages you to to join our community in submitting examples of storm resilience practices.
LEARN MORE or SUBMIT an example.
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Sanibel Sea School Enhances Paddling Programs
We’re excited to share that Marine Science Educator Austin Wise has earned his American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 2 Kayak Instructor certification, further elevating the quality of our paddling programs at Sanibel Sea School.
Austin completed the rigorous four-day “Essentials of Kayak Touring” course in Cape Coral. This achievement ensures our programs meet the highest safety and teaching standards, providing participants with safe, engaging, and educational experiences.
LEARN MORE
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Last Chance for After-School Fun in 2024!
Ready to disconnect, decompress, and dive into some island fun? Don't miss the final After School program of the year —After School Shelling on Wed., Dec. 18, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Join us as we explore the wrack line, dig in the swash, and sift through the sand for hidden treasures. This beachcombing adventure is the perfect way to wrap up the year!
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Meet the Native:
Christmas Berry
While South Florida may not have native Christmas trees, we do have the Christmas berry (Lycium carolinianum)! This coastal shrub is tolerant to salt and typically grows in wet soils, such as in saltmarsh or mangrove habitats.
LEARN MORE
Purchase Christmas berry at the Native Landscapes and Garden Center, open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Meet Hadas Hacohen: New Garden Center Intern
New SCCF Native Landscapes & Garden Center Intern Hadas Hacohen is excited to get her hands dirty and dig into South Florida flora.
Growing up next to a state park in North Carolina state, Hadas’s love of flora has been lifelong. Last May, she graduated with a degree in biology from the University of North Carolina, where she focused her studies on ecological biodiversity research and NC’s native flora.
This summer, she interned at a wildlife center, where she spent time fleshing out their native plant education materials and removing invasives. Now, she's excited to expand her knowledge of the southeast to include South Florida's own native plants and is eager to learn more about how native plants can fit into gardens, landscapes, and daily life!
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FREE First Year Membership to SCCF! | |
In the spirit of the holiday season, we’re offering your first year of SCCF membership for free! By signing up, you’ll be entered into a drawing for an outback Jeep tour and meal with CEO James Evans and up to two guests! Please spread the word. | |
Check out all our upcoming events and program offerings on our website calendar! | |
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SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded
in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida
EIN 59-1205087
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