We have created our own CREW Trust language over the years, and our volunteers, guests and members often stop us to ask for explanations.
Most of the time it’s when we are referring to a trail system. “Great! See you at 7 at CDT.”
CDT is Cypress Dome Trails. CMT is the Marsh Trails and BRS is Bird Rookery Swamp.
(Now use one of those abbreviations the next time you’re in a CREW-related conversation and you’ll feel like an insider)
And then there is the Iron Ranger.
It’s not a band. And it’s not a sports team.
An Iron Ranger is simply a donation box, and we have one at each trail system.
Because we do not have a visitor’s center and we do not charge admission, we rely on our kiosks and maps to offer information and our trusty Iron Rangers to collect donations.
I’ll be the first to admit I very guiltily slink past the ranger when I visit CDT and CMT. I never have cash with me so instead, I donate online. I see it as a punch card; I’ve visited four times so I’ll donate $30 to cover that and my next six visits.
Why donate? We use those donations to fund the education programs we offer for all ages.
So, next time you’re at CDT or CMT, check out our newly re-painted Iron Rangers, complete with fresh, new birds to greet you and collect donations!
#givingtuesday an international day of giving is only three days away. This year it is kicking off our end-of-year giving where all proceeds go to our Education Fund.
The fund’s objectives are to:
provide resources to local schools for CREW field trips
provide scholarships to local high-school and college students studying environmental science or other related fields
provide scholarships for CREW Trust interns, and further support CREW environmental education staff and programs
The Education Fund is our way to create a legacy here in Southwest Florida and to strengthen and support the CREW Trust’s mission. If you would like your #givingtuesday donation to help with land acquisition, or go to help another cause please specify in the comment box before you submit your donation.
The CREW Land & Water Trust is launching its annual end-of-year giving campaign on #GivingTuesday, December 1st, 2015 – an international day of giving that harnesses the positive power of social media, and energizes people to give their money, time and talent to causes they care about.
This is a chance to give back to CREW and do good for all of southwest Florida, and I will be one of the first to donate – even though I don’t live in Florida anymore.
Here’s why I will give to CREW…
CREW Connects people to nature: When I give my hard-earned dollars to the CREW Trust, I know it will make a big impact. As a small nonprofit, the CREW Land and Water Trust depends on donor dollars to fund not only land acquisition, but its well-respected and highly successful environmental education programs. CREW’s high quality environmental education programs help people to connect to the land and water, to fall in love with this special place, and to build understanding about how the watershed supports us and how we impact those resources. The CREW Education Fund helps pay for interns, field trips for school kids, and scholarships for future environmental resource professionals.
CREW is a leader in protecting water resources of Southwest Florida: During the past 25 years, the CREW Trust has helped acquire over 28,000 acres of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. While land acquisition has slowed in recent years, the CREW Trust continues to look for opportunities to buy land both within the project boundaries and around its immediate boundaries. CREW contributes matching funds which help pave the way for larger purchases like the Caracara Prairie Preserve. Protecting the watershed improves water access and quality throughout southwest Florida.
CREW manages its donations carefully: Brenda Brooks is a detail person. I know because I worked for her for four years! As CREW’s Executive Director, she knows how important it is to spend donations wisely on programs that further the CREW mission. Under her watch 87% of all income is spent on programs. Every penny is accounted for and every dollar is leveraged into higher yields through frugal spending, wise investments and in-kind services. When you donate to CREW, you can be assured your money is managed well and used to do good things.
CREW saved my life: I’ve been walking on CREW lands since 1992, even before trails and signs and environmental education programs. It is the place that I go to for peace, solace, restoration and inspiration. Once, when life got to be too much, I turned to CREW and was lucky enough to find work there. Taking that job saved my life. It restored my soul and gave me purpose. It gave me days in the woods and waters learning the rhythms of the seasons, and sharing with wonderful people all the joy and beauty of CREW. I’ve seen CREW do the same for so many other people. It’s where people go to run, to meditate, to watch wildlife, to walk hand-in-hand with a loved one, to get engaged, to announce a pregnancy, to get married.
CREW is special. The CREW Trust is its guardian. Let’s help keep it that way. Give to CREW today. Give generously.
The CREW Land & Water Trust is launching its annual end-of-year giving campaign on #GivingTuesday, December 1st, 2015 – an international day of giving that harnesses the positive power of social media, and energizes people to give their money, time and talent to causes they care about.
This is a chance to give back to CREW and do good for all of southwest Florida, and I will be one of the first to donate – even though I don’t live in Florida anymore.
Here’s why I will give to CREW…
CREW Connects people to nature: When I give my hard-earned dollars to the CREW Trust, I know it will make a big impact. As a small nonprofit, the CREW Land and Water Trust depends on donor dollars to fund not only land acquisition, but its well-respected and highly successful environmental education programs. CREW’s high quality environmental education programs help people to connect to the land and water, to fall in love with this special place, and to build understanding about how the watershed supports us and how we impact those resources. The CREW Education Fund helps pay for interns, field trips for school kids, and scholarships for future environmental resource professionals.
CREW is a leader in protecting water resources of Southwest Florida: During the past 25 years, the CREW Trust has helped acquire over 28,000 acres of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. While land acquisition has slowed in recent years, the CREW Trust continues to look for opportunities to buy land both within the project boundaries and around its immediate boundaries. CREW contributes matching funds which help pave the way for larger purchases like the Caracara Prairie Preserve. Protecting the watershed improves water access and quality throughout southwest Florida.
CREW manages its donations carefully: Brenda Brooks is a detail person. I know because I worked for her for four years! As CREW’s Executive Director, she knows how important it is to spend donations wisely on programs that further the CREW mission. Under her watch 87% of all income is spent on programs. Every penny is accounted for and every dollar is leveraged into higher yields through frugal spending, wise investments and in-kind services. When you donate to CREW, you can be assured your money is managed well and used to do good things.
CREW saved my life: I’ve been walking on CREW lands since 1992, even before trails and signs and environmental education programs. It is the place that I go to for peace, solace, restoration and inspiration. Once, when life got to be too much, I turned to CREW and was lucky enough to find work there. Taking that job saved my life. It restored my soul and gave me purpose. It gave me days in the woods and waters learning the rhythms of the seasons, and sharing with wonderful people all the joy and beauty of CREW. I’ve seen CREW do the same for so many other people. It’s where people go to run, to meditate, to watch wildlife, to walk hand-in-hand with a loved one, to get engaged, to announce a pregnancy, to get married.
CREW is special. The CREW Trust is its guardian. Let’s help keep it that way. Give to CREW today. Give generously.
Donors of $150will be entered into a drawing for a variety of nature-related books
All donors of $25 or more will receive a link to a special set of CREW Wildlife photos taken by some of the best photographers in the area.
Your gift is an investment in the future of southwest Florida – helping us to provide more high quality environmental education experiences for people of all ages! With over 42,000 annual visitors to the CREW trails, there is much more to be done.
Help us make a difference. Give big. Give small. But give today.
Guest post by Deb Hanson
