Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve - Friends of the Reserve

06/18/2026

Celebrating our Living Shoreline

Earlier this year, the Reserve Training and Engagement staff, in partnership with the Apalachee Regional Planning Council, Florida Corps, and WSP, hosted 18 professional planners from the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association at the Reserve.

Following a training workshop in Tallahassee focused on current planning issues, participants took part in a field excursion through Wakulla and Franklin counties to examine real-world planning challenges and solutions.

During their stop in Franklin County, the group visited the Reserve to learn about the Franklin 98 Living Shoreline project, highlighting the seven-year collaborative effort and the successes achieved through this innovative shoreline protection program.

06/18/2026

Come on down on June 24th for our fourth World of Wonders Wednesday of the summer. All ages are welcome (from 2 to 242)!!! This will be an hour-long class (2-3pm) where you will get a chance to connect with our estuary.

Seeing double class. Dr. Seuss is in the house this week with a comparison of “Thing One” and “Thing Two.”
How is a duck’s foot the same and different from a coot’s foot? And…why?
How is an ammonite fossil the same and different from a whelk?
We have four owls to see in the nature center. How can you tell them apart?

Come rain or shine, everything will be fine!

Don’t worry if you miss this week’s we will have another class next Wednesday at the same time.

06/18/2026

Father’s Day
Looking for a cool Father's Day hike? Check out the Boardwalks at the Apalachicola Estuarine Research Reserve, 108 Island Drive, Eastpoint. You can choose the Nature Walk that winds through native oaks, pines, palmettos, and wetlands or the Coastal Walk that wanders down to the shoreline of Saint George Sound. What about that perfect Father's Day gift for Dad or Grandpa? Be sure to check out the Nature Center Store at the Apalachicola Estuarine National Research Reserve, 108 Island Drive, Eastpoint. Our store is fully stocked with quality t-shirts, hats, mugs, books, and more.. Perfect for the nature lover on your shopping list. Plus, all sales help support the important research and educational activities at ANERR The nature center is open 9am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday.. And, while you're there, please sign up to be a member of the Friends of the Reserve. A membership also makes a great gift for that hard-to-shop for Dad.

06/18/2026

06/16/2026

Reserve Stewardship staff work hard to maintain trails on Little St. George Island. Whether it be w**d whacking, loping limbs along trails, or prettying up campsites, they make sure to keep these recreational areas as pristine as possible.

While trekking around the island, make sure to stop and observe the nature and wildlife! Earlier this year, Stewardship staff were excited to spot eagles resting at their nests!

06/13/2026

Learning on the Bay

Reserve Education staff regularly provides Ed Corps students opportunities to explore their local environmental through monthly trips to East Bay. Students compare the flora and fauna present and take water quality measurements. During the trip, students compare their data at each stop on the Apalachicola River. Students also get to make predictions about what they expect to see in the data gathered at other parts of Apalachicola Bay.

06/12/2026

El Nino Forms and it expected to strengthen.

Prolonged period of above-average temperatures in the equatorial Pacific expected to peak this winter

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

The Reserve Provides Turtle Season Awareness

The Training and Engagement team at the Apalachicola Reserve has finished distributing various informational items ahead of sea turtle nesting season, which began in May. Staff visited several local vacation rental companies with properties on St. George Island, including Collins Vacation Rentals, Fickling Vacation Rentals, Suncoast Vacation Rentals, Cape and Coast Vacation Rentals, Forgotten Shore Properties, 300 Ocean Mile, Sandcastle Vacation Rentals, Buccaneer Inn, and Plantation Homeowners, as well as the St. George Island Lighthouse and the St. George Island Visitor Center. The staple item provided was sea turtle window clings, along with supplementary informational pamphlets and brochures covering topics such as sea turtle nesting, the risk lights, uneven sand, and beach gear to turtles, local recreational spots, and rip current safety.

St. George Island is an important nesting location for sea turtles. Much of the island’s gulf-side coast is lined with vacation homes, many of which are occupied by visitors during nesting season. By providing these rental companies with window clings and informational handouts, they can keep their guests informed on the importance of sea turtle nesting and how to minimize their disturbance of it. Common problems sea turtle hatchlings face from beachside rentals are disorientation by man-made lights, man-made holes in the sand obstructing a path to the water, and forgotten-behind beach gear that becoming an obstacle to water-bound hatchling travel.