Beer in the Bushes was Out of This World! | | |
Thanks to all of our guests, sponsors, breweries, food trucks, and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe for making our 11th annual Beer in the Bushes a super memorable and stellar event on April 19!
"We'd like to especially thank Wimmer Communities for being our presenting sponsor for the fourth time," said SCCF Events Director Jeff Siwicke. "The Wimmers' connection to our islands goes back to the '60s. After attending Beer in the Bushes in 2018, they knew it was an event that celebrated our islands well and for all the right reasons, and they stepped up to support it."
The Marcums, who sponsor the event's music and ensure world-class performances, are also key to its success.
"We are grateful to be able to bring in acts like Karl Denson's Tiny Universe that our community rarely gets a chance to experience," said Siwicke. "Their incredible performance once again blew people's minds and really got folks moving."
New to Beer in the Bushes as first-time Food Truck Alley Sponsor, MHK Architecture, was welcomed as a key player in the event's success.
The always surprising and creative event has been dubbed the community's favorite party of the year, not just because it celebrates the end of the season, but also because it brings the community together, unlike any other event.
Thanks to everyone for having a great time while supporting our mission to protect and care for Southwest Florida's coastal ecosystems!
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Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring Now Underway
SCCF's daily morning sea turtle monitoring surveys began on April 15. Each day, our staff and volunteers survey a collective 18 miles of beaches across Sanibel and Captiva to look for signs of sea turtle nesting activity. Last year, the islands' first nest was laid by a leatherback on April 24, and in 2023, our first of the season was laid by a loggerhead on April 22.
Our first nest this year could be found any day now!
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First 2 Snowy Plover Nests of the Season!
The SCCF shorebird team is closely watching Sanibel's first two snowy plover nests of the year — one of which was laid by familiar male White/Blue. Despite no snowy plover chicks fledging on the island last year, marking the first time in our program's 20+-year history, we are hoping this year will be more successful.
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DeSantis Seeks to Increase Funding for Everglades Resoration
Yesterday, SCCF CEO James Evans attended Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press conference in Naples to show our support of the governor’s latest proposed budget for Everglades restoration, which is an increase from last year. Despite budget alignment from the Florida Senate, the Florida House of Representatives has proposed slashing funding for Everglades restoration and water quality efforts for 2025-26, by nearly $500 million.
Sanibel & Captiva Chamber of Commerce CEO & President John Lai also attended the press conference. Following the governor's remarks, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss delivered comments recognizing both Evans and Lai. WATCH VIDEO
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WITH TIME OR TREASURE!
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Celebrate Mom with a Mangrove Pendant
Show your love for the Mangrove Mama in your life this Mother's Day with a beautifully crafted mangrove pendant from Congress Jewelers.
These stunning pendants are a part of Congress Jewelers' Give Back Collection. For every necklace sold, Congress makes a generous donation to SCCF. To date, $15,900 has been donated, benefitting coastal resilience projects. The design is sold in sterling silver ($110), yellow gold ($1,375), and yellow gold with diamonds ($1,500).
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Help Paint Stakes for Shorebird Nests!
Join us for a fun morning on Monday, April 28, as we help protect local shorebirds during their critical nesting season! Volunteers will gather to paint wooden stakes used to mark off nesting areas on the beach and more urgently on the causeway!
Florida state threatened least terns (Sternula antillarum) are attempting to nest on the causeway, and in order to reduce disturbances and keep these vulnerable birds safe, SCCF shorebird biologists will mark off the nesting area with high visibility stakes. Clearly marked nesting zones help beachgoers give these birds the space they need to successfully raise their young.
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Calling All Propagule Parents!
Attention all mangrove mamas and propagule papas! It’s time to bring your mangrove babies back. No sign-ups are needed, except for the planting on April 25.
● April 25, 9-11 a.m., Woodring Road Return and Living Shoreline Planting
● April 27, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Satellite Return at SCCF HQ
If you have a large number of mangroves to return, please email coastalwatch@sccf.org. If your mangroves have fewer than 6 leaves and you would like to continue caring for them, please feel free to keep them through the summer.
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Sip & Shop at J.McLaughlin: April 29
Sip, Shop, & Celebrate Spring at J.McLaughlin on Sanibel (1616 Periwinkle Way) on Tuesday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
10% of all sales during this time will benefit SCCF. A big thanks to J.McLaughlin for supporting our mission!
| | ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY UPDATES | | | | |
Oysters Need Freshwater Flows in Dry Season
Lake Okeechobee flows to the Caloosahatchee were recently reduced from 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 650 cfs. SCCF Environmental Policy staff explain why our estuary relies on freshwater flows of at least 750 cfs during the dry season and how salinity levels play a critical role in the health of oysters during their spring spawning season.
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Bill Spotlight: State Land Management
Filed in response to last year’s threats to build hotels, golf courses, and other high-impact amenities in nine Florida state parks, House Bill 209 / Senate Bill 80 were filed to ensure that our state parks remain the jewels of natural outdoor recreation that we know them to be today.
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WEEK 7 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
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Southland Rockmine: Uncertainty Continues
Public attention has grown around the proposed Southland rock mine project, which seeks to excavate over 8,000 acres of land just north of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir. SCCF helps explain where the project is today and the various pathways it could take to move forward.
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SCCF Shares Concerns on Kingston Development
We recently joined 10 organizations in a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the proposed Kingston development in the Greater Western Everglades. This development would destroy thousands of acres of Florida panther habitat, add 10,000 homes next to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and directly impact the Florida Wildlife Corridor and Florida Forever conservation land acquisition program.
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| | RECENT GATHERINGS & PROGRAMS | | |
Celebrating our Amazing Volunteers!
SCCF couldn’t function without the generous time and support of our many volunteers. On April 8, we got a chance to celebrate and give thanks to our volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party, which included remarks from staff and CEO James Evans, as well as a team-based scavenger hunt at the Bailey Homestead!
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First Annual Nest Fest a BIG Hit!
Thanks to everyone who came out to support SCCF’s Coastal Wildlife staff and volunteers on April 14 for our inaugural Nest Fest — a celebration of sea turtle and shorebird nesting season on Sanibel and Captiva Islands! Held at the Sanibel Community House the evening before our daily sea turtle monitoring surveys began on April 15, the event featured kids’ activities, a presentation, sea turtle and shorebird trivia, and opportunities to support our Coastal Wildlife department through symbolic adoptions.
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WATCH SLIDESHOW
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Treeline Elementary Visits Sanibel Sea School
Third-grade students from Treeline Elementary recently visited Sanibel Sea School for a field trip full of catching waves and learning about marine life! This is the third annual field trip for this elementary school — we are so excited to continue to foster ocean love for these students!
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Sanibel School Students Dissect Flowers
Sanibel Sea School Marine Science Educator Annie stopped by The Sanibel School last week to do a flower dissection! First-grade students learned about the differences between native, non-native, and invasive plants, as well as the various parts of flowers.
After the dissection, the kids had the chance to press flowers to preserve their beauty.
| | Seeking Policy & Advocacy Interns! | | Keep up with ongoing SCCF news by following us on social media or by visiting our Latest News webpage anytime. | | |
SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded
in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida
EIN 59-1205087
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