National Estuaries Days 2008

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

 

Join us to learn more about estuaries the fun way.

 

Thank you to the many wonderful people who made eight years of Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program’s National Estuaries Days celebrations of wading trips, guided walks, paddling programs, boat tours and walks such great successes! Details of the 2007 events and many of the earlier events are posted on the program website.

 

The next official National Estuary Day is expected to be Saturday, September 27, 2008. Our local celebration lasts from September 15 to November 21.

 

Deadlines for the CHNEP National Estuaries Days 2008 are:

  • Right now: Share this message with others who may be interested.
  • January 29, 2008: Tell me what events(s) you are planning to host for 2008 National Estuaries Days with dates and we well be able to advertise your event nationally through cross-promotion. Please provide as many details as possible.
  • June 27, 2008: Submit all event details and request financial assistance from CHNEP. You will receive a draft of all the events a few weeks later for your review. If you believe too many events are being held on the day(s) you selected, you can opt to change dates at that time.

As always, I will be so pleased if you send me your information early.

 

Three eco-friendly celebrations are held in Lee County each fall: National Estuaries Days, “Ding” Darling Days and the Calusa Blueways Festival. We will cross-promote each celebration more in 2008 than ever before. Advertisements for Calusa Blueways will appear in national magazines such as Audubon and Canoe-Kayak as early as February 2008. If you are aware of other celebrations held during this time, please send the details to me.

 

Programs that will be held during this time include:

  • Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival: November 22 in Port Charlotte, Charlotte County Please do not schedule an event on this day and please consider sponsoring/exhibiting at this regional celebration. (This will be the last event offered as part of National Estuaries Days celebrations.)
  • "Ding" Darling Days (www.dingdarlingdays.com) on Sanibel, Lee County from October 19 to 26 with Family Fun Day on October 26 (changed from 12 to 19).
  • Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival (www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com) in Lee County from October 25 to November 2.
  • Coastal Cleanups: Official day is September 20 but cleanups are often held on different days.

 

CHNEP National Estuaries Days Event Details: The deadline to submit event details and to request financial assistance is June 27, 2008. Events may be added after that date but will miss most CHNEP promotion. For example, the printed brochure and the first of many releases to the media will be distributed mid-August. Please submit details of your event(s) by completing an online form found on this page or by sending an email to mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org:

  1. Name of person submitting event

  2. Email address of person submitting event

  3. Phone number of pherson submitting the event

  4. Name of Event

  5. Description of the Event

  6. Organization Hosting Event

  7. Date

  8. Start and End Time

  9. Location

  10. Directions

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

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

  13. If you request financial support from CHNEP, be sure to (a) estimate the total cost of this project, (b) specify how much you are requesting from CHNEP for this project (up to $300), (c) provide a list of items anticipated to be purchased, including quantity and price per item, and (d) indicate which expenses will be covered with the CHNEP support.

 

(Hint: If you wish to hold an event similar to past events, you may wish to cut and paste many of the details from those earlier events. Descriptions of prior National Estuaries Days celebrations are available from this website. Don't forget to update the date!)

 

Financial Assistance: CHNEP 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. When you complete the online form at www.CHNEP.org, you may request up to $300 of support from CHNEP if the event is open to the public. All requests will be promptly reviewed but funding support is not guaranteed.

 

f you are a commercial operation we ask that you provide a substantial discount. As past celebrations, Tarpon Bay Explorers has discounted their trips by 50 percent. If your organization charges an admission, please consider offering a discount or waiving admission during National Estuaries Days celebrations either in addition to or instead of holding a one-time only event.

 

Please contact me if you have any questions.  These have been really fantastic celebrations of our estuaries and their watersheds. Let's make this year even better!

 

Maran Brainard Hilgendorf, Communications Manager

mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org, Phone ext 240

 

Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

1926 Victoria Ave, Fort Myers FL 33901-3414

239/338-2556, Toll-free 866/835-5785, Fax 239/338-2560

 

Working together to protect the natural environment from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven

 

 

CHNEP National Estuaries Days 2008 on-line form

1) Person submitting this request

2) Email address of person submitting this request

3) Area code, phone number and extension of person submitting this request

4) Name of Event

5) Organization/Company

6) Date of event. For example, Saturday, September 27

7) Start time. For example, 8:30 a.m.

8) End time. For example, noon

9) Location of event

10) Directions. Please assume people will travel from out of the area to attend the event.

11) Registration. If required, provide all guidance here, including deadlines.

12) Contact information for those who have questions about this event. You may provide phone numbers (with area codes) and/or email addresses.

13) Is there any additional information in the promotional material that wasn't requested above?

14) If you would like to request financial support from CHNEP, please provide the following information.

(a) estimate the total cost of this project,

(b) specify how much you are requesting from CHNEP for this project (up to $300),

(c) provide a list of items anticipated to be purchased, including quantity and price per item, and

(d) indicate which expenses will be covered with the CHNEP support.

If this field is left blank then you do not wish to request financial assistance from CHNEP.