Conservation Foundation’s Historic Carriage House Receives Face-Lift

March 10, 2023 – Osprey

On Sunday, February 19, seven members of the Junior League of Sarasota spent the day at Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast’s Bay Preserve headquarters revamping their historic carriage house first-floor interior. Serving several purposes over the organization’s history, in recent years, the carriage house first-floor functioned primarily as a storage space. Now, thanks to Junior League’s signature Done in a Day program, the area has been transformed into an organized, multi-functional education center curated for Conservation Foundation’s outreach programming. 

A local, not-for-profit land trust, Conservation Foundation’s educational and environmental outreach programs serve thousands of participants annually. Their Youth in Nature program works with strategic partner organizations to provide WOW! moments in nature to at-risk, underserved middle and high school youth, while their Nature Explorers program provides community science opportunities to elementary-aged children, grades K-5. The latest addition to their programmatic line-up, a Nature Interpretation program, provides memorable, equitable experiences to adults, families, and kids, empowering and expanding conservation understanding across the community. The new education center will serve as Conservation Foundation’s programming hub, enhancing participant experiences and providing a central location for educational initiatives. 

“This revitalized space will help us connect even more people to nature, furthering our impact and enhancing the experiences of those who engage with our work,” says Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “We are grateful to Junior League of Sarasota for their time, energy, and continued commitment to the Sarasota community.”

Done in a Day projects are planned and coordinated by Junior League to provide hands-on service opportunities to members while partnering with other organizations to improve the community. As part of their Conservation Foundation project, Junior League members cleaned the carriage house, sorted through old supplies, and removed unnecessary items. They then built and installed storage units, organizing Conservation Foundation’s various program supplies for easier access and increased utilization. In addition to providing the volunteers and work hours, funds to purchase shelving and storage units for the project were matched by a $1,000 Junior League grant.