A Note from Your President
|
|
|
by Rich Donnelly, President FOLKS
GROUND BREAKING SCHEDULED
It has been some 9 years since your FOLKS Board of Directors took on the challenge of creating a Visitor Center Building for our Park. Today we proudly announce that the building, now named the Welcome and Discovery Center, will break ground on December 6th this year. The dream will then become bricks and mortar, as they say.
At some 4000 square feet, the building’s stunning contemporary architecture promises to become an iconic presence within the SW Florida Community. Its construction will cost $4million dollars, funded by the Florida State Legislature. Two main spaces will dominate the raised building platform: a Community Multipurpose room for lectures, meetings, classes, and art displays; and an Discovery Exhibit Hall with state of the art educational exhibits accompanied by a Donor Wall and small book store.
Of the 175 parks in the State Park system, Lovers Key State Park is the second-most-visited park with just over a million visitors a year. It’s hard to believe that the park has never had an indoor space to house workshops, classes, lectures, etc. That will soon change dramatically; the building’s completion in 2019 will bring in an exciting new chapter for Lovers Key within the Community and within the State Park system itself.
Your Board has launched a $1,500,000 capital campaign effort in order to pay for the Exhibits, furnishings, and equipment that will fill up the building. All Board Members have now stepped up to donate, putting us well on our way to reaching this new goal. Will you join us? Watch your E-News for progress reports on the campaign!
Proposed cover of the upcoming 2019 FOLKS CALENDAR
|
|
|
|
As the FOLKS prepare for the next season of events, we will continue to focus individual and Board energy on the $1,500,000 Capital Campaign that will provide exhibits and other fixtures for the new building. You can help us make it happen. Read more about the Welcome and Discovery Center on our website, and consider a generous donation to the fund.
|
|
New Park Manager
We're pleased to announce the selection of Katie Moses as the new Park Manager at Lovers Key State Park. Katie began her career with the Florida Park Service in 2011. Prior to joining the division, she worked with various resource management related organizations, including South Carolina State Parks, U.S. Peace Corps - Fiji, The Center for Marine Wetland Studies, Ripley's Aquarium and manager of a family owned business.
She received her BA from Coastal Carolina University in marine science and minored in coastal geology. She brings a strong back ground in interpretive services, coastal systems management, community outreach and bundles of creative ideas.
Before transplanting to the east coast, she grew up out west; California, Oregon and Colorado. Her career with the park service began at Lovers Key as Park Services Specialist. In 2016 she was promoted to Assistant Park Manager at Koreshan State Park.
Please join us in welcoming Katie to her new position!
|
|
|
"There is something of the marvelous in all things of nature"
– Aristotle
|
|
|
The QLC Lovers Key State Park Visit
Submitted by a GLC member
On July 19th and 26th, our QLC girls and boys, respectively, stepped out of our normal comfort zone as we visited the beautiful Lovers Key Carl E. Johnson State Park and Lover's Key State Park.
Under a hearty dose of sunlight, our children were treated to an excellent array of environmental experiences. Volunteers from FGCU, together with employees of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Park Service and other entities gave our kids a great sense of nature as it pertains to Florida.
The kids were treated to a natural look at Florida mangroves (many for the first time), walked into the middle of a butterfly garden, and were taught how to find the age of a tree and forestry tips. They also experienced a water ecosystem and were guided through the importance of water conservation (which was also presented at the QLC by Toni Fonseca).
Many of the kids learned about native Florida species and their habitats for the first time in a park setting. STEM was a factor in the trip as well as the kids were tasked with a thinking project that required a team effort to complete (the girls won).
After moving through the stations, learning, and staying hydrated, the kids moved over to the pavilion on the Lovers Key beach for an excellent lunch. They are really thrilled to drive over to the beach on the tram and enjoyed every minute of lunch in the shade.
We finally departed back for the QLC with tired bodies and minds full of new information as presented by a great team of experts and volunteers.
We cannot thank the participants enough for the experience, and that includes the Director of Florida Park Services, Eric Draper, who happened to visit while our group was there. The hospitality, patience with our kids, expertise, and enthusiasm was evident and definitely filtered down to our children. Please do forward this summary to anyone I may have missed.
Finally, note that many of our kids don’t get to go to parks like Lovers Key, don’t get out into nature often, and don’t experience the Florida habitats and wildlife that your team protects…..so this was a special treat!
We thank ALL participants involved and particularly Mrs. Toni Fonseca for the initial introduction to your team and the wonderful hospitality. We hope to return again to the wonderful things that the Florida parks offer!
|
|
Mark your Calendars!
Save the Dates!
2018/2019 Season of FOLKS Special Events
Check our website and upcoming E-News for more details as these events draw near.
2018
November 16th-25th Sand Sculpting, Fort Myers Beach
November 16th Calendar Reception
December 1 Great Outdoor Adventure Day
December 6 Groundbreaking Ceremony for Welcome and Discovery Center
December 9 Santa on the Sand (1-4 PM)
2019
January 12 Wine Tasting
January 22 Annual Board Meeting (6-7 PM)
Speaker: Dr. Jose Leal, Science Director and Curator, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
January 25-27 Nautical Market and Boat Show
February 14 Valentines Day Vow Renewal
10 AM-12 PM, 1-3 PM, 4-6 PM
February TBA Star Gazing - Members Only Event
April 11 Luau on the Beach (6-8 PM)
May 11 Annual Turtle Trot 5K
Songwriters at Sunset Free Live Acoustic Musical Concerts in the Gazebo – First Thursday of the Month
Dec. 13, 2018
Jan. 3, 2019
Feb. 7, 2019
March 7, 2019
April 4, 2019 |
| |
|
Lovers Key State Park Interpretive Events
October, 2018
Friday, October 5
Sea Turtle Talk
Friday, October 12
A Walk on the Wild Side
Friday, October 19
Alligator Talk
Space is limited – Call for Reservations: 239-463-4588 All events begin at 10:00 am. |
Santa on the Sand returns by popular demand on Dec. 9.
|
|
Seeking a Volunteer Media Coordinator
The FOLKS Board is looking for a volunteer to assume duties as Media Coordinator. The position involves writing and distributing press releases, getting to know community leaders and press staff, website content management, and a host of challenging and fun opportunities. The FOLKS Media Coordinator is now even more important to the Park as the new building comes out of the ground and the Capital Campaign to outfit the building moves into high gear!
Come Join us!! Call Rich Donnelly, President: 239 495 7045.
|
|
| FOLKS would like to thank the following Business Sponsors for their support as we fund raise for the future Welcome and Discovery Center. Please consider visiting their businesses and supporting them as well. Business Partners help support the environmental education mission of the Park.
Add your business to the list!
Contact Rich Donnelly at: president@friendsofloverskey.org
|
|
|
|
|
The Friends of Lovers Key, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed by the citizens of the community to support Lovers Key State Park and is registered as a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, your Membership and Donations are tax-deductible.
|
|
|
|
