Announcing 2012 CREW Wildflower Art Contest

Our 10th annual CREW Wildflower Art Contest is now open to any and all 3rd graders – college age students in Lee, Collier, Hendry, and Charlotte Counties.  With cash prizes for the top three winners in each age category, this contest is a must for all aspiring artists!

Flowers must be native to southwest Florida and preference is given to artwork depicting flowers that grow on CREW lands, so come take a hike on one of the CREW trails and see what’s blooming at different times of the year.

All artwork is due to the CREW offices no later than noon on March 7, 2012. So, what are you waiting for?

Download the 2012 CREW WF Art Contest flyer.

The prizes for this contest are sponsored in part by a micro-grant from the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (www.chnep.org).

Strolling Science Seminars New Schedule – and a grant from CHNEP

CREW’s Strolling Science Seminars has a new sponsor. The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) has awarded the CREW Land and Water Trust a grant of $1327 to partially fund our new adult education program called Strolling Science Seminars.

Because we got news of the grant just one week before our original seminars were to begin, we have changed the schedule a bit to allow time to advertise and register people for all the seminars. We cancelled the Nov. 5th seminar and added one in April 2012 on Pollinators. The new schedule, descriptions of each seminar, and the registration form can be found  here. It begins with a strolling seminar on Florida Black Bears on December 2nd. Registration is required.

Each seminar is a field-based, hands-on workshop designed to help adults get more in-depth knowledge and skills related to wildlife monitoring and land management as well as a greater understanding of the watershed as  a whole. Our goal is for citizens to return home and feel comfortable engaging in some kind of citizen science on their own.

We’re excited to have CHNEP co-sponsoring this series of adult environmental education workshops with us. We look forward to having many of you join us for one or more of the series.

Get Smarter – Take a Stroll with an Expert

The CREW Trust is offering a brand new adult environmental education program this season. Called Strolling Science Seminars, these 1/2 day long hike/workshops take place on the CREW trails with professors and land managers – all experts in their respective fields and fun, fascinating people to boot.

The goal is to introduce adults to scientific concepts like how to conduct simple research projects, how to monitor wildlife, and how animals and plants interact with their environment. Once you have some background knowledge and get some hands-on experience in the field with the hike leaders, you will be able to take what you know back home and use it to engage in a citizen science project of your own choosing.

We’ll also provide you with a specially designed Citizen Science website and handouts so you will have support and can get more information if you need it.

This six-seminar series begins November 5th, 2011 with Science in a 1/2 Day. Dr. billY Gunnels, from FGCU will take you through the scientific process – letting you explore, observe, and then pose a question about what you see along the trails. Then you’ll get to collect data and analyze it, finishing with a report back to the group. It’s a whirlwind science project out in the field and it is a fabulously fun day!

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today! SSS Registration Form

For more information on the other five strolling science seminars, go here.

Volunteer for Trail Clean Up Day – Nov. 5

Want to make a difference? Come on out to CREW for our annual Trail Clean Up Day on November 5, 2011 – 8:00!

Volunteers are needed to help clean up the CREW Trails for the winter/spring hiking season. Volunteers will weed whack, pull exotic plants, trim branches from trails, help install signs, remove debris, sweep boardwalk, repair signs and interpretive structures, pick up trash along Corkscrew Road, and more…

FGCU students can earn service-learning hours! Bring your forms with you….

We’ll organize into teams and divide up work. The CREW Trust will provide water and snacks.  Pre-registration is required so we can assign people to teams. To register, please call 239-657-2253 or email eecrew@earthlink.net.

2012 CREW Golf Tournament

The annual CREW Stanley Hole benefit golf tournament is always fun, ever entertaining, and a great way to network, meet new people, and support CREW’s mission.

2012 Tournament
WHEN: October 19, 2012
WHERE: Old Corkscrew Golf Club, 17320 Corkscrew Rd., Estero 33928
TIME: Shotgun Start at 8:30 AM (Registration 7:30 AM) 
Entry Fee: $100.00 per player 
Hole Sponsorship: $500.00 (Includes “Wildlife” Foursome and sponsor sign)

Register for single player, foursome, or hole sponsor using this form:
2012 CREW Stanley Hole Golf Tournament Registration Form

Support CREW and become a major sponsor (Gold or Silver) – major sponsors get a foursome, sponsorship signage, lunches, and logo on all advertising for the tournament.
2012 CREW Stanley Hole Golf Sponsorship Form

Thanks to our gold and silver sponsors:

   

Teacher Workshops

Project WET Workshop – Saturday, September 24, 2011
8:45 AM – 3:00 PM


FREE for any southwest Florida K-12 teacher, pre-service teacher, or nonformal educator .

Project WET, Water Education for Teachers, is water-based science education using hands-on activities and proven teaching and learning skills.  The materials are adaptable for adults and students at all levels.

Participants will be introduced to the instructional materials and teaching activities will be demonstrated.  Special emphasis is given to the south Florida environment with region-specific materials and instruction.

Complimentary books and teaching materials will be distributed.

A field trip to the CREW Hiking Trails is included. We will follow the trails through pine flatwoods, a saw grass marsh, pop ash slough, and oak hammock learning about the south Florida plants, birds, fish and other animals that inhabit these areas.

Register for CREW/FGCU Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Workshop in Estero, FL  on Eventbrite

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Collier County CREW Field Trip Specialist 3rd grade Teacher Workshop – October 8, 2011, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

This workshop is for Collier County 3rd grade teachers who are planning to bring a class to the CREW trails for the Walk Through a Watershed field trip this school year. Registration is required through the Collier County School science coordinator. For more information, contact Curt Witthoff or Linda DeLuca.

2011-12 Strolling Science Seminars


On Sept 13, 2012, Deb Hanson gave a presentation about the Strolling Science Seminars at the CHNEP Land Stewardship Conference. You can view a pdf of her PowerPoint here, or view her talk with audio here.

 

This year, we are excited to be offering a new series for adults only called CREW Strolling Science Seminars. These Strolling Science Seminars are a series of six half-day scholarly hikes for adults at the CREW Trails. Each seminar engages you in citizen science on a specific topic related to the watershed and wildlife of CREW.

Seminar leaders are experts in their fields. Gain in-depth knowledge, hands-on field experiences, and get access to online resources. You’ll be able to go home and engage in a citizen science project of your choosing. Register for one or all six seminars. Participants who complete all six will receive a certificate.

Seminar hours: 9:00 AM — 12:00 PM

Fee per seminar: $10 CREW Members, $15 non-members, or for the whole series $50 for CREW members/$75 non-members

December 2, 2011—Florida Black Bear Ecology, with Kathleen Smith, FFWCC Biologist – Come learn all about black bears – how they live, behave, and interact with their environment. Learn about human-bear interactions, too and how you can help protect this charismatic mammal.

January 6, 2012—Fire Ecology for Species Management— with Ayounga Riddick, SFWMD & Roger Clark, Lee County Land Stewardship – Come see how and why prescribed burns are conducted, learn the importance of fire in Florida’s ecosystems, and get your questions answered by land mangers who use fire as a management tool.

February 4, 2012—CREW Through Animals’ Eyes, with Dr. Billy Gunnels, FGCU – This strolling session will give you a whole new perspective about how animals see the world. Come learn about animal behavior from their point of view and get a heads up on some cool citizen science projects.

March 2, 2012—The Fascinating World of Insects!, with Dr. Clyde Sorenson, NC State University – A master storyteller and teacher, Clyde has been voted a favorite professor by students at NC State University. In the words of his students: “He is extremely interested in insects and he transmits this enthusiasm to his class.” Clyde says: “In terms of species diversity, insects are the dominant forms of life on this planet, with about a million species identified so far, and perhaps millions more yet to find. In terms of biomass- they out-weigh us many fold. It’s not surprising, then, that insects are critically important to the functioning of virtually all terrestrial ecosystems on earth. Come meet some of our chitinous fellow beings and learn about some of the many ways insects impact our lives, for good and for bad, on a CREW Strolling Science Seminar.”

April 6, 2012—Fun with Frogs, with Dr. Win Everham, FGCU – “Dr. Disturbance” will share why frogs are such an important animal to monitor and give you some hands-on practice. He’ll show you how the SW Fla Amphibian Monitoring Network works and help you get started on frog ID and monitoring, too.

April 28, 2012—Pollinators, with Dr. billY Gunnels, FGCU – Learn how flowers trick insects into pollinating and which insects (and other animals) pollinate which flowers and trees. All the spring flowers will be in bloom, so you won’t want to miss this in-depth session on species interactions. You  might be surprised at some of the secrets these plants and animals keep!

To register, send your payment along with this SSS Registration Form  at least one week prior to the seminar date to CREW Trust, 23998 Corkscrew Road, Estero, FL  33928 or call us for more information.

Participants: Click this link for resource pages on Citizen Science and Strolling Science Seminar Topics.

The Strolling Science Seminars are supported in part by a Public Outreach Grant from the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP). The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program is a partnership to protect estuaries in southwest Florida from Venice to Estero Bay.

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Other Adult Education Opportunities: The CREW Trust offers other specially designed interpretive hikes and field trips for adult groups – from garden clubs to leadership teams to local businesses. These hikes typically last 2 to 3 hours and include information about the history of CREW, the importance of the watershed to quality of life, water and wildlife issues, and natural history of the land. To schedule a hike for your adult group, email or call the office using the contact information on our home page.

Camping

Registration is required.

For the adventurous, the CREW Trails have two free primitive campsites – one near the Corkscrew Marsh deep into the woods and away from traffic (at Gate 3), and one tucked into the pines near the trailhead at the Cypress Dome Trails (Gate 5).

The Gate 3 campsite is located in a beautiful oak hammock surrounded by marsh. The Gate 5 campsite is nestled among tall pines.

The sites are suitable for up to 20 people. A grill, picnic tables, and a fire ring are provided for you. There are no restroom facilities, no trash cans and no running water. 

Register for Camping Special Use License

Families, scout troops, friends, and even solo campers appreciate getting away from it all at CREW. Each site is permitted to only one group at a time, up to 20 people.

All campers are expected to use Leave No Trace principles to minimize impacts to the campsites and to keep the sites in good shape for future campers. Proper disposal of waste and storage of food is critical to a good user experience.  If you arrive at your camp site and find any trash or broken equipment please report the conditions to the CREW Trust office immediately, 239-657-2253.
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If you’re not an experienced primitive camper, here are some resources that may help you learn the in’s and out’s of camping without water and toilets:

To request a special use license (and to check availability), complete the South Florida Water Management District Special Use License (SUL) application online:

Register for Camping Special Use License

For more information, contact Blaine Preston at the SFWMD with email specialuselicense@sfwmd.gov.

Horseback Riding

Registration permit required: Equestrian SUL

The CREW Cypress Dome Trails and Flint Pen Strand Trails are open to horseback riding by special use license (SUL) only.

When you receive an Equestrian SUL you’re helping support the future of Equestrian use at the CREW trails. So, please register often!

Click here to request a special use license

And to check availability, complete the South Florida Water Management District Special Use License (SUL) application online (links above).

Download a Trail Map

You may bring up to six horses at a time on one permit. There is no horse concession at CREW – bring your own. Enjoy, these are beautiful places to ride!

More Information

Information on hiking and directions to the CREW Trails

For more information, contact the CREW Trust at 239-657-2253 or Kim Willis at the SFWMD at 800-432-2045 x3333 or 561-924-5310 x3333 or email kwillis@sfwmd.gov . HAPPY TRAILS!