Registration Open for Big Waters’ Bay Explorers Summer Experience

March 12, 2025 | Osprey

Big Waters Land Trust, formerly Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, is delighted to introduce a new Bay Explorers Summer Experience! Registration is open now for this immersive week of education and exploration designed for historically underserved youth ages 14 to 18. The free program was specifically designed to be accessible to youth in the North Sarasota and Newtown neighborhoods; however, any youth ages 14 to 18 residing in Sarasota or Manatee counties with need are eligible to apply.

Traveling across the Sarasota Bay watershed, from the coast to the uplands, program participants will learn, observe, and actively engage with the local built and natural environment. Participating youth will learn about past, present, and future issues facing Sarasota Bay and how land use, human activity, and water quality affect environmental health, the economy, and our quality of life. They’ll also learn new outdoor recreational skills such as kayaking, fishing, and snorkeling. Diving into the ecological, political, and economic factors influencing bay water quality, Big Waters Land Trust hopes to empower youth to be active agents of positive change within the community. Partner organizations will also speak with participants to share their important work and missions related to Sarasota Bay while demonstrating our area’s diverse environmental career opportunities.

Two identical, one-week (M-F), all-inclusive field trip experiences for up to 10 participants per week will be offered. All participants will be provided transportation (via 13-passenger van), lunch and snacks each day, all supplies and equipment for daily activities, a pair of water shoes to keep, and a $100 stipend per person (distributed upon program completion as a Visa gift card) to cover other costs related to participation. Pick up and drop off each day will occur at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 John Rivers St, Sarasota, FL 34234.

Participants must be available and commit to attending all five days of the session they are applying for. Applications for the Bay Explorers Summer Experience will close at 11:59 pm on April 20, 2025 and applicants will be notified about their selection status shortly thereafter.

The Bay Explorers Summer Experience is presented by Big Waters Land Trust, funded by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program through a Bay Partners Grant, and made possible with the support of a host of community partners, including Manatee County Government, Natural Resources Department; Sarasota County Government, Parks, Natural Areas, and Trails Department and Public Works Department; Sarasota Audubon Society; City of Sarasota, Parks and Recreation Department and Robert L. Taylor Community Complex; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Historic Spanish Point Campus; Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Manatee Counties; Sarasota Housing Authority; and The Multicultural Health Institute.

Learn more and apply today at bigwaterslandtrust.org/summerexperience.