Time's running out... Register NOW for Saturday's Seagrass Survey!

This Saturday, May 5th, Sarasota County and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program invite you to join other volunteers at the 4th annual Volunteer Seagrass Survey and Festival. The event started as a citizen-science project and has grown to include a nature and outdoor festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Seagrass Survey requires pre-registration, but the Seagrass Festival does not and is open to the public.

This fun, family-friendly and free event provides the public with a hands-on opportunity to learn about seagrass habitat up-close. Registered volunteers will take to the waters in and around Sarasota Bay to count and identify seagrass species, in an effort to collect data for Sarasota County's Seagrass Monitoring Program. No previous experience is necessary, but registration is required.

There will be food trucks, music, nature exhibitors hosting family-friendly games and crafts, and even free seagrass dip-netting trips. There will be a raffle at the event. Prizes include free snorkel gear, passes to Tree-umph outdoor course, free kayak tours, passes to Mote Aquarium, and prints from the famous Florida photographer Clyde Butcher!

The Seagrass Survey celebrates Sarasota County's commitment to protecting its water resources and focuses on increasing awareness of the economic and environmental value of seagrass habitat.

Seagrasses are vital to maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems. Seagrass beds play a vital role in keeping our bay alive and healthy and our waters clean and clear. Sea turtles and manatees depend on them for food and 70 percent of Florida's fisheries species spend part or all of their lives in seagrass beds.

Schedule: Volunteer sign-in: 7:30-8 a.m. On-site volunteer training: 8-9 a.m. Data collection: 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteer lunch: noon to 1 p.m. Free festival with nature-themed games, crafts and more: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Sarasota Sailing Squadron is located at 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota.

Invite family and friends by printing and distributing this event flyer.