National Estuaries Days 2007

. . . an annual celebration of the majestic places where rivers meet the sea.

NOTE: THIS PAGE IS NOT YET FINISHED.

Thanks to the many people who made seven years of Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program’s National Estuaries Day celebrations of wading trips, guided walks, paddling programs, boat tours and walks such great successes. Details of past events are posted on the program website.

 The next official National Estuary Day is expected to be Saturday, September 29, 2006. As in the past I expect there will be too many local events to be held on only one day. Our local celebrations frequently have lasted more than a month. We also tweaked the name to National Estuaries Days to be more accurate for our promotional purposes.

Will you please consider hosting an event -- or several events -- that support the program’s efforts to increase residents’ and visitors’ awareness of the estuary, the Charlotte Harbor watershed and program goals and plans? Will you also please share this message with others who may be interested in hosting an event as part of the National Estuaries Days celebration?

Deadline: The deadline to submit event details and to request financial assistance will be June 29, 2007. This year this deadline is firm so promotional opportunities aren’t lost. Events can be added after that date but will miss some promotional opportunities. For example, the printed brochure and the first of many releases to the media will be distributed mid-August. When you submit an event please include the following details:

·         Name of Event

·         Description of the Event

·         Organization Hosting Event

·         Date

·         Start and End Time

·         Location

·         Directions

·         Registration: include any fees and procedure for people to follow to register

·         If you have items to illustrate the brochure -- photographs, quotes, poems -- please send those too!

This year we ask that you provide this information to CHNEP by completing an online form.

Financial Assistance: Charlotte Harbor NEP may again be able to provide up to $300 if you'd like to organize an event that is open to the public but need some assistance in covering expenses. All requests will be promptly reviewed but funding support is not guaranteed. These funds are available only if the event is open to the public. Also, if you are a commercial operation we ask that you provide a substantial discount. (Tarpon Bay Explorers has discounted their trips by 50%.)

A few programs that I know will be held during this time include:

·         Charlotte Harbor Regional Nature Festival: November 3 in Port Charlotte, Charlotte County Please do not schedule an event on this day.

·         Ding Darling Days on Sanibel, Lee County

·         Estuaries Live: expected to be September 28-29 (Charlotte Harbor NEP will not participate in Estuaries Live this year. Tapes of the 2003 and 2002 broadcasts are available.)

·         Blueways Festival in Lee County

·         Mote Mobile Exhibit at Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda on September 29

If you have any questions, contact mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org or call 239/338-2556 x 240.  These have been really fantastic celebrations of our estuaries. Let's make this year even better!