Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) invites the public to join in a weekend of ocean conservation, citizen science and community engagement during REEF Fest on Oct. 16-19 in Key Largo.
This year’s event brings together free ocean conservation seminars, social gatherings and plenty of opportunities to connect with the marine world. Most REEF Fest events are free to attend, but pre-registration is requested. Visit REEF.org/REEFfest to register and see the full event schedule.
REEF conserves marine environments worldwide. Its mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community.
Ocean seminars
Free educational seminars will be held on Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18 at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo. Guest speakers include scientists, underwater photographers and more, including:
• Sam Muka, associate professor, Stevens Institute of Technology, who will highlight how coral reef tanks and hobbyists are influencing coral conservation and scientific understanding.
• Brendan Talwar, postdoctoral scholar, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who will discuss long-term trends in shark and ray observations and conservation implications.
• Nat Gibb, cave explorer, underwater photographer and videographer, who will share her cave-diving stories, imagery and passion for subterranean exploration.
• Corey T. Callaghan, assistant professor, University of Florida, who will explain how citizen science and open data streams are transforming ecological research across marine and terrestrial environments.
For full talk summaries and speaker bios, visit REEF.org/REEFfest/seminars.
Socials and nature tours
An open house at the new REEF Ocean Exploration Center is set from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. Attendees can meet the team; light refreshments will be served. It’s free and open to the public.
Following the afternoon seminars on Friday, Oct. 17 will be a happy hour social from 5 to 6 p.m. Free and open to the public, it will include snacks and drinks at the REEF campus.
For the Love of the Sea celebration will take place Saturday, Oct. 18, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The evening will feature dinner, an open bar with local craft beer, wine and signature cocktails, silent auction and a sunset over the bay. Tickets are $125 per person at REEF.org/REEFfest/registration to purchase tickets.
Diving and snorkeling
REEF Fest is an opportunity to explore the marine environments of the Florida Keys. Attendees can choose from trusted partners offering excursions, including fish survey dives, reef cleanups and coral planting. These trips can be booked directly with dive and snorkel operators. A listing of suggested REEF Fest Experience partners is at www.REEF.org/REEFfest. On the morning of Sunday, Oct. 19, attendees may join in a guided walking tour of a nature trail at John Pennekamp State Park.
