Author: CREW Land & Water Trust

Posted on

All CREW Trails Closed Effective April 4th

April 3, 2020

As part of ongoing efforts to help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 and protect public safety, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will temporarily close the all CREW trails, effective at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2020.

Closure includes Bird Rookery Swamp, Flint Pen Strand, Cypress Dome and CREW Marsh trails.

The District follows the lead of local governments that have issued Safer at Home orders in their communities and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health.

Read the official post from South Florida Water Management District blog: https://www.sfwmd.gov/news/sfwmd-temporarily-closing-crew-lands-southwest-florida-reduce-potential-spread-covid-19

Posted on

All CREW Trails are STILL OPEN

Check our website for daily updates regarding trail status

We want everyone to know that all four of the CREW trail systems- Bird Rookery Swamp, Flint Pen Strand, Cypress Dome Trail, and CREW Marsh Trails are all currently open. We are updating our website daily with current information regarding their status. So get out to the trails soon, just be sure to keep a 6-foot distance between yourself and others. As always, your donations and support are greatly appreciated, so bring a few extra bucks to drop in the donation box on the trails. Stay well everyone!

Posted on

Coronavirus & CREW Trails Update

Important Message from the CREW Trust

As COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues to impact our communities, the CREW Trust is taking proactive measures such as canceling and/or postponing all public events on the CREW trails as directed by the South Florida Water Management District. That includes but is not limited to guided walks, events, group gatherings, volunteer events, etc. The CREW Trust will provide updates about when events and activities will resume as information becomes available.

All public recreational access to the CREW trails is currently open. In other words you can still go out to hike, bike and enjoy your favorite outdoor CREW activity at any of the four CREW trail systems. However, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend users monitor the open/closed status of the CREW trails. Information about any changes to public access to CREW trails for recreation will be communicated to the public as it develops.

The latest land management information from the South Florida Water Management District and any changes related to the COVID-19 will be available at sfwmd.gov.

The CREW Trust partners, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), continue to be in close communication with the Governor’s Office, the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding the most recent COVID-19 status and guidance. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov. The call center is available 24 hours a day. Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.  

Sincerely,

CREW Trust Staff

Posted on

Trails are Open

All CREW trails are currently open for use. We will update you if the South Florida Water Management District closes down the trail systems or halts any public programs. Thank you for supporting the CREW Trust.

Posted on

CREW Trust Thanks Our Concert Sponsors

Your contributions have already helped to get the ball rolling on our newest programs developing at the Flint Pen Strand Trails. Environmental education for all ages is always a priority for the CREW Trust and I think you’ll agree that together we’ve made a huge impact in our community, one that continues to grow each year with your help.

Thank you for supporting  environmental education! We’re happy to have seen so many friendly faces at our CREW Concert this year. We really cherish our annual “friend-raiser” because it’s such a great place to get to talk with you, our sponsors. We sincerely hope you all had a fabulous time and hope to see you on our trails soon!

Posted on

CREW Concert: Know Before You Go

Buy Concert Tickets

Just a Few Days Until the CREW Concert!

Got your tickets? Shined your dancing shoes? Made a date with your significant other or family for this special occasion? Great! We look forward to seeing everyone at Riverside Park! 

Before you go, here’s a review of event details to help you plan a terrific night out.

1. Concert details

Location: Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds Street, Bonita Springs

Date and time: Saturday February 29, 2020, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Schedule of concert events:

5:00 p.m.  Gates open

5:30 p.m. Silent Eco-Auction opens

5:30 p.m. Welcome by CREW Trust Team

5:40 p.m. High Voltage Band hits the stage

8:15 p.m. Silent Eco-Auction closes

8:30-9:15 p.m. Pick up and pay for Silent Auction items

9:00 p.m. Concert ends

2. Tickets

Buy them at CREWtrust.org in advance and save $5 over the price at the door. Adults pay $15 online or $20 at the door. Children under 12 enter free.  

Insider tip: Until noon on the day of the concert, tickets are $15 online-only.

3. Food and drink

Sandwiches, salads, barbecue and cupcakes will be available from Haney’s Cafe and Cherie’s Sweet Treats & The Lunch Box. The Rotary Club of Bonita Springs will again sell wine and beer and feature a specialty craft beer from Momentum Brewhouse. For more information about our vendors read through the Food Blog here. 

4. General suggestions

Please bring: Chairs or blankets to sit on; the kids (remember, no charge for kids under 12); and cash and/or credit cards to buy food and drink.

Please don’t bring: outside food and drink; or animals. 

5. Silent Eco-Auction

Preview the many unique and exciting items and experiences available at our Silent Eco-Auction here. Or you can walk through the Auction space during the concert and see what inspires you. 

To bid on an item or an adventure, write your name, phone number and the amount of your bid on the bid sheets. If you absolutely, positively want to own a particular piece of artwork or take home tickets to a unique outdoor adventure, enter the “Buy It Now” price. Bidding is closed at 8:15 p.m. Winners will be announced on a large sign near the Silent Auction area. Items must be paid for and picked up between 8:30 and 9:15 p.m.

6. Parking

Parking at the concert is free. Volunteers in bright blue t-shirts will direct you to available parking spaces. A limited number of handicap parking spaces will be available.    

7. VIP Cafe

Sponsors of the concert are given admission to the VIP Cafe as one way of thanking them for their generous support. The VIP Cafe is sold out, so it will not be possible to purchase seats on the night of the concert. If you’re interested in sponsoring the 2021 concert, please contact Brenda (brenda@CREWtrust.org).     

8. Proceeds

The annual “CREW Concert & Silent Eco-Auction” is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the CREW Land & Water Trust, which provides environmental education for all ages. The CREW Project is a 60,000-acre watershed spanning Lee and Collier counties which provides clean water for area residents and visitors, habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities. The money we earn with our annual concert helps us to provide environmental education to all ages. 

Thank you and let’s rock!

Posted on

Great Food and Drink for a Great Cause!

Buy Concert Tickets

The 13th annual CREW Concert & Silent Eco-Auction is fast approaching – on February 29, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – and you may be wondering what your food and drink options will be on that special night at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs. Take a look at what’s on offer: 

Cherie’s Sweet Treats

You don’t have to ask “What’s for dessert?” once you see these gourmet cupcakes at Cherie’s Sweet Treats tent. But you’ll have a difficult decision to make once you see the range of flavors. Some examples: Death by Chocolate; Key Lime; Key Lime with Coconut; Coconut with Raspberry; and Wedding Cake (vanilla). You’re sure to find one – or two or three – that you like. Cupcakes sell for $4 each.  

Cherie sells her delectable goods at these farmers markets:

Thursdays, Coconut Point from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Fridays, Boca Grande from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Saturdays, The Promenade from 8:00 a.m to noon

Sundays, Sanibel from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Cherie accepts credit cards for her sweets. Contact Cherie at cherie.vet@icloud.com or at 616-292-0339 to discuss custom orders. Find Cherie on Facebook.

The Lunch Box (owned and operated by Cherie)

Cherie may be best known for her gourmet cupcakes (see above) but her savory dishes and sandwiches are equally mouth-watering. A sample of the food she will offer at our concert: black bean quinoa bowl with orange vinaigrette dressing; farmers salad (with the option of adding a protein source); and a pulled pork sandwich. Sides and drinks will also be available. Cherie will sell meals for $15 (price includes drinks; price will be slightly lower if no protein is added).

The Lunch Box takes credit cards. Contact Cherie at cherie.vet@icloud.com or at 616-292-0339 to discuss her catering services.

Haney’s Cafe

Haney’s Cafe in Estero is a long-time local favorite specializing in homestyle cooking. For 15 years Haney’s has been offering breakfast and lunch from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Recently they’ve added barbecue to their menu, opening in the evenings from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The News-Press Readers Poll has named Haney’s “Bonita Springs Best” for six years in a row and Haney’s barbecue as a “Best Barbecue” in 2019.  

We are lucky that Haney’s is bringing the best of its menu to our concert in their food truck. You will be able to buy hamburgers, enticing sandwiches, chicken wings, chicken tenders, sides and – best of all – barbecue, including brisket and pulled pork. Check out the full menu at haneyscafefl.com.      

If you like the taste of Haney’s food at the Concert, visit their Estero location at 18011 S. Tamiami Trail #9, Ft. Myers. Telephone: 239-437-1120. Caution: Haney’s is a very popular breakfast venue, so you might want to arrive early for your custom made omelet. 

Beer and Wine from Rotary Club of Bonita Springs

Once again the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs will be the bartenders at our concert, offering a selection of beer and wine. One great option on hand will be a craft beer brewed in honor of  CREW made by our friends at Momentum Brewhouse. Momentum’s “CREW Brew” is always popular, so belly up to the bar early if you want to taste this locally made beer.

Momentum Brewhouse, a popular Bonita Springs watering hole, has moved since the 2019 Concert. It is now located at 28120 Hunters Ridge Boulevard, Units 1 – 3, east of I-75 and just off Bonita Beach Road. The new premises are larger and have permitted the addition of more craft beers, wine and coffee to their menu. Check out momentumbrewhouse.com to learn more or call 239-949-9945 to discuss special events.

Posted on

High Voltage Band at the CREW Concert

Get ready to DANCE!

Buy Concert Tickets

Celebrate the biggest night of the year for the CREW Trust – the CREW Concert & Silent Eco-Auction – at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs from 5 to 9 pm on February 29, 2020. 

Sure, the concert is a fundraiser for our environmental non-profit organization – but it’s so much more. It’s a chance for everyone to have a great night out while helping to protect our watershed.    

Have you had a chance to dance lately? Really let your hair down?  Providing the music and the energy for the evening is the HIGH VOLTAGE BAND, an in-demand local group with a wide repertoire. There’s music for all of us, from Motown to jazz to funk to current hits. Lots of irresistible guitar, keyboard, and saxophone music highlighted by compelling vocals.

Take a look at this video of the band in action:

If that’s not enough for you, check out the HIGH VOLTAGE BAND’s YouTube channel. See why this group gets rave reviews – and why we have chosen it as our featured concert performer for several years. 

Join us for the concert. We dare you not to dance!  

Posted on

CREW Concert Tickets

Buy Tickets

Who benefits from my donation?

Student groups visiting the CREW trails often express wonder and gratitude for the exposure to water, birds, habitats, trees and plants that we provide. Sadly some of them admit that they’ve never gone on an outdoor hike and some express a little fear. We design activities that they enjoy – teaching them how to use binoculars and spot birds; allowing them to dip net fish and invertebrates which they study through magnifiers before returning them unharmed to their habitats; walking under the canopy of a cypress dome; and investigating the soils of CREW and what it tells us about our environment. Sometimes they get their feet wet but they don’t complain. And by the end of their hike they lose their fear of the outdoors!              

To support and enrich these programs, the CREW Trust has invested in necessary equipment such as binoculars, bird identification books, and dip nets. We handle these items with care and are able to use them for years with different groups. But every year we need to replace some items.

Your purchase of tickets for the 2020 Concert Under the Stars will support these field trip experiences. More importantly, you’re helping us to educate all of our guests on the importance of our watershed and why we need to preserve it for the benefit of all.