CREW Land & Water Trust

The Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed Land & Water Trust (CREW Trust) is pleased to announce it has received a $5,000 program grant from the Collier Community Foundation (CCF) in support of CREW Trust’s FY25 Youth Environmental Education Programs. This grant will allow us to acquire critical equipment and supplies to support our Walk through a Watershed and SoilROCKS! programs throughout the coming year. Each year, more than a thousand elementary school students participate in these programs. According to Bob Lucius, CREW Trust Executive Director, “For many students, participation in CREW Trust’s trail-based education programs is the first time they have been out in nature, observing native wildlife in their undisturbed habitats. It can be a very empowering and inspiring experience for these children, maybe even one that opens educational or career possibilities they had never previously considered.” The Collier Community Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Selected organizations receive grant dollars from the Foundation’s discretionary funds. These funds were gifted by donors who believe in the Community Foundation’s ability to mobilize resources to address the community’s greatest needs. Collier Community Foundation #crewtrust #swfl #florida #nature #floridanature #oldflorida #floridawild #realflorida #nonprofit #conservation #environmentaleducation 

Piper Jones, our Education Coordinator here at CREW Trust, has been busy getting our volunteers ready to lead their very own guided hikes for our upcoming season! This morning, volunteers took to CREW's Flint Pen Strand Trails to learn about the native - and not-so-native - flora and fauna that can be found there. These continuing education trainings happen once a month to help keep our volunteers fresh for busy season! If you have a passion for environmental education, you too can become a trail guide and teach others about our local biota! See the instructions below to get started! Become a CREW Trust Volunteer: : Click the link in our bio or visit www.CREWTrust.org : Under ‘Volunteer/Intern’, click ‘Volunteer’ : Scroll down to the ‘Apply’ section : Fill out our ‘Volunteer Application’ (printable or fillable) : Email your completed app to Robin@CREWTrust.org #crewtrust #volunteer #environmentaleducation #swfl

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I can’t help but reflect upon how thankful I am to serve alongside such fantastic, talented, and committed teammates at CREW Trust! It is rare for lightning to strike twice… but three times?!! And yet, that’s what happened when these three rock stars came aboard over the last year. Piper, Robin and Trish each bring unique skills, knowledge and experiences to CREW Trust’s efforts to protect, preserve and steward the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed’s (CREW) precious water resources and natural communities. I’m inspired by their dedication and professionalism and that I get to learn something new from them every single day. If you see them out on the trails, make sure you say “hello” and let them know you appreciate all they do to make CREW the very best it can be not just for today, but for future generations as well. 

This short guide will tell you everything you need to know about CREW Trust's Chronologs, including a step-by-step tutorial and how your photo contributions can help us monitor CREW's land and water resources and biodiversity. @chronolog.io! #chronolog #swfl #crewtrust

It takes resources to maintain trails, repair infrastructure, purchase fuel and supplies, maintain vehicles and equipment, cover staff salaries and conduct all the recreational and educational programming CREW Trust offers to children and adults... often at no-cost or very little cost to ensure ability to pay is never a barrier to access. There are over a hundred thousand visitors to CREW's four trail systems every year, but only a tiny percentage of them ever donate or become supporting members. To help make up some of the necessary revenue to cover budgeted expenses, we hold two major fundraisers each year. One of these is our annual Stanley Hole Golf Tournament, which we hosted last week at Old Corkscrew Golf Club on Corkscrew Road. We want to gratefully acknowledge all the sponsors and players who made this year's tournament fundraiser a success! Thanks to their support, we're closer to having the resources we'll need in the coming year to preserve and protect the water resources and natural communities of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. Thank you for believing in CREW and in CREW Trust's work! #education #conservation #CREW #ConservationMatters #environmentaleducation #floridabirding #wildlifeconservation #floridaflora #floridafauna #nonprofit

For 35 years, CREW Trust has been one of our community's most active and effective champions of watershed and biodiversity conservation. Working with a coalition of public and private partners, we’ve helped bring thousands of acres into conservation, while also educating our communities about the importance of protecting the wetlands and increasingly fragile ecosystems comprising the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) – the largest intact watershed in Southwest Florida (SWFL). Proceeds from our annual Stanley Hole Golf Tournament fundraiser not only help us maintain CREW’s 40+ miles of free mixed-use public trails, but the funds raised directly fund the diverse recreational and educational programs CREW Trust offers for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, interests and abilities. The support of sponsors and players allow us to provide free and inexpensive programs for both adults and children, helping us ensure that ability to pay is never a barrier for anyone who wants to enjoy all that CREW has to offer our community. There are many ways to support this year’s tournament, including several different tournament sponsorship opportunities that directly underwrite our adult and kid-friendly Strolling Science Seminars and our upcoming CREW Youth Watershed Academy. If you’d like to sponsor or play in this year’s 14th annual Stanley Hole Golf Tournament, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at crewtrust@crewtrust.org or visit https://lnkd.in/eXdT4HYH to learn more! #environmentaleducation #conservation #floridanature #nonprofit #floridawildlifecorridor #outdoor #wildlifeconservation #ConservationMatters #naturelovers #CREW

We've got some fantastic programs scheduled for the upcoming months. This is just a sample of what we have planned! Stop by crewtrust.eventbrite.com to see all of CREW Trust's programs for adults, kids and families! #conservation #environment #environmentaleducation #wildflife #ecology #CREWTrust #outdoors

Tickets for CREW Trust's 2024-2025 Guided Birding Hikes are now available! Local legend naturalists Dick Brewer and Barbara Centola will be leading these birding hikes on various CREW Trails throughout the season. These hikes have been customized each month for the best time and place to see specific birds. Space is limited, so sign up now! Tickets are only $10 for CREW Trust Members and $15 for non-members. To register, visit CREWtrust.eventbrite.com To become a member, visit www.crewtrust.org #outdoors #birding #conservation #environment #environmentaleducation #ecology #ornithology

Members-Only Events! In addition to early registration access and discounts to all our educational and recreational programs, CREW Trust’s members are also invited to join us at exclusive Members-Only events throughout the year! We’ve also put together a fantastic menu of Members-Only events for the upcoming year… and as always, they are completely free to our members as a thank-you for your annual commitment to CREW Trust’s mission to protect and preserve the largest intact watershed in southwest Florida. Your support makes everything we do possible! Head on over to crewtrust.eventbrite.com to learn more about our Members-Only events and all the other exciting programs we’ve got planned for the upcoming year. If you’ve not yet a member, first stop by www.crewtrust.org to become one! We have membership levels for every size budget and every level gets you access to these programs! If you have any problems registering for these Members-Only events or want to learn more about becoming a member, reach out to crewtrust@crewtrust.org #CREW #outdoor #naturelovers #environment #conservation #wildlifeconservation #swfl #membership #ConservationMatters

Thanks to our generous supporters, we’ve met our goal for our annual CREW Trail Sponsor fundraising campaign; however, there are still two openings on the sign for family/individual sponsors at the $250 level. To paraphrase a beloved American singer-songwriter, we’ve got blank spaces, baby and we'll write your name! For just $250, you can have yourself or family listed on six trailhead sponsor signs as a testament to your love of CREW. It also makes a great gift to someone you know who loves CREW as much as you do! New signs will go up on October 1st and remain in place through September 2025. We'd love to add you as a sponsor for the upcoming year, but time is running out to grab the few remaining spots! We need to finalize the design by the end of this week; so, if you are interested in becoming showing your support by becoming a trail sponsor, now is the time to act! If you have any questions, reach out us at rlucius@crewtrust.org! You may also grab your spot online at www.crewtrust.org/donate and select "sponsorship" under donation type! #wildlifeconservation #swfl #conservation #floridanature #floridawild #crewtrust #ConservationMatters #CREW #naturelovers #CollierCounty #leecountyflorida #environment #wetlands #bonitasprings #outdoor