The Alliance for Florida's National Parks

Welcome to the new Education and Outreach team! 🎉 They arrived last week just in time to experience Florida with Hurricane Milton 🌪️. We’re happy to share that all of our volunteers, interns, and seasonal staff are safe and back at work. We’re beyond excited to see how these amazing individuals will touch the lives of park visitors and students this year. If you’d like to help bring more seasonal staff to Big Cypress for our education program, support us by donating through the link in our bio today! #SupportEducation #BigCypress #FloridasNationalParks #AFNP

We had the unique opportunity to tour the Nike Missile Site in Everglades National Park, coordinated by the The Alliance for Florida's National Parks. This site played a critical role during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, serving as a powerful reminder of a key moment in U.S. and Cuban-American history. As part of CasaCuba at Florida International University, we are committed to preserving and promoting Cuban heritage and understanding the events that have shaped our community here in South Florida. Grateful for the chance to explore this historic site and reflect on how the past informs our present and future. A big thank you to the Alliance for National Parks for facilitating this enriching experience. Thank you Lulu Vilas, Park Rangers Alan Scott, Chief of Interpretation and Yvette Cano, Director of Education. #FIU #CasaCuba #CubanHistory #CubanMissileCrisis #AllianceForNationalParks #GovernmentAffairs #CommunityEngagement #SouthFloridaHistory #CulturalHeritage

Welcome new board member, Rafeh Masood , Chief Growth and Digital Officer at Royal Caribbean Group, to the Alliance for Florida’s National Parks board of directors! 🎉 With a strong background in digital leadership and innovation, we are eager to work with him in furthering our mission to support education, exploration, and conservation in Florida’s parks. Together, we’ll continue to share the wonders of @bigcypressnps @biscaynenps @drytortugasnps and @evergladesnps 🍃🌳

🔔 Sponsor registration is now open for Swamp Celebration 2024! 🔔 This year’s event is set to be our biggest yet, especially with the collaboration of the @bigcypressgallery Open House. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! For sponsorships and corporate outing opportunities, email bjohnson@floridanationalparks.org. Plus, we’ve introduced new ticket levels tailored for everyone—newbies, experts, adults, and kids. Check out the link in our bio for more details! #AFNP #FloridasNationalParks #SwampCelebration2024 #ClydeButcher #SponsorOpportunity #FamilyFriendlyEvents #EvergladesNationalPark

🌟 Big News! 🌟 We’re pleased to share that we've secured two significant grants from the @NationalParkFoundation : $58,850 for the "Exploring Everglades" program and $304,186 for the Everglades Education hybrid and Biscayne outreach initiatives! These funds will enhance the park's efforts to immerse students in the Everglades and Biscayne ecosystems, combining virtual lessons with in-park experiences like wildlife observation and scientific exploration. A huge thank you to nationalparkfoundation for their incredible support! 🙏 These vital programs are entirely funded by donors like you, helping us serve over 60,000 students across our three parks and one preserve. Let’s keep this important work going strong! 🌍💚 #AFNP #FloridasNationalParks #NationalParks #EnvironmentalEducation #SupportOurParks #EvergladesNationalPark #BiscayneNationalPark #DonateNow #WildlifeObservation #EcoEducation

108 years and still no wrinkles—just plenty of mangroves and manatees! 🐋🎉 Join us on August 25th at Biscayne National Park to celebrate the @NPS birthday! Get your fish on, roast some s'mores, play some wild games, and dive into all things National Park Service! What better way to spend your Sunday? It’s free, fun, and everyone’s invited—so come make some waves with us! #BiscayneNationalPark #OutdoorFun #NatureCelebration #thingstodoinmiami #thingstodoinsouthflorida

Educators, set your alarms!! 🚨 Registration for the 2024-2025 season of Everglades National Park’s curriculum-based education programs opens TOMORROW at 8:00 am—and spots fill up fast! We suggest being on your laptop by 7:45 am to secure your spot. Organized groups from around the world can sign up for these free, engaging programs—whether you’re a teacher aiming to enhance your students' understanding or an educational group seeking adventure. Both virtual and in-person options are available. The Alliance for Florida’s National Parks proudly supports Everglades' education rangers, who inspire students to connect with nature. We believe that once you've experienced the outdoors, you learn to love them, which is why our pillars are exploration, education, and conservation. Link in bio to apply! #Everglades #EvergladesNationalPark #EducationPrograms #Teachers #Students #Parents #Exploration #Conservation #LoveOurParks #NPS #SupportEducation

🌟 $20,000 x 2 for The Alliance! 🌟 Thanks to the generous support of the Ocean Reef Conservation Association, The Alliance has been awarded $20,000 for the Junior Angler Program in Everglades National Park, providing students with fishing clinics, kayak tours, and more. Additionally, we received another $20,000 for Biscayne National Park's marine debris clean-up program to protect our corals, and turtles, and keep our waters and beaches pristine. These grants will help us educate the next generation while preserving the beauty of our national parks. Stay tuned for updates on these exciting initiatives! 🌿🌊 #NationalParks #Everglades #Biscayne #MarineConservation #EnvironmentalEducation #donatetoday #afnp

Happy 4th of July from the heart of Florida's National Parks! 🇺🇸 Today, we're celebrating not just our nation's independence but also the incredible wildlife that calls our parks home. Did you know the Bald Eagle, a symbol of American freedom, can be spotted in Everglades National Park? Share your Bald Eagle sightings with us! #FourthOfJuly 📷: Board Members Omi Barerra @barreraphotographymia

I had the privilege of joining Dylann Turffs (Everglades), Aimmee Martinez (Everglades), and Liz Trueblood (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary) for a middle school field trip in Florida Bay. The Slough to Sea program shows kids first-hand the connectivity between the marshes and the bay, starting with a camping trip earlier in the year at Hidden Lake, followed by today’s boat ride, water quality testing, and snorkeling. Education programs with multiple touch-points have a deeper, lasting impact on our youth. This is what your dollars fund when you donate to The Alliance for Florida's National Parks.