Welcome to our quarterly REEF Campus update from Key Largo. This winter marked an exciting milestone for us: it was our first “snowbird season” with the new Ocean Exploration Center fully open, and the energy on campus has reflected it.
Traditionally one of the busiest times of year in the Florida Keys, the winter months bring part-time residents and visitors seeking sunshine and connection. This season, we’ve seen a noticeable uptick in first-time visitors walking through the doors of the Ocean Exploration Center. We’re welcoming new faces, people who are discovering REEF and our mission for the very first time.
February, in particular, showcased how the Campus is becoming a vibrant community gathering space. On February 3, we hosted a reception celebrating a new installation in the Center’s Ocean Inspires space: a series of mosaics created from ceramic pieces made during a community art workshop with the Business & Professional Women (BPW) of the Upper Keys. The exhibit beautifully reflects how art and ocean conservation can intersect to inspire stewardship.
On February 11, we welcomed members of the Florida Keys Council of the Arts for a “Gather Round” luncheon, bringing together our respective members to explore how our missions complement one another in strengthening and supporting our community. Later in the month, on February 26, the Campus hosted the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce “Members in Motion” event, complete with live music under the string lights in our garden. We closed out the month on February 28 as a featured stop on the Upper Keys Garden Walk, inviting the public to appreciate the Native Plants & Heritage Trail at the heart of our REEF Campus and the role native landscapes play in environmental health.
At each of these events, I have been asking a simple question: “Who is here for the first time?” Each time, a third to half of the hands go up. That moment is always thrilling. It tells us that our partnerships with fellow nonprofit leaders, arts advocates, and business organizations are expanding REEF’s reach and introducing new audiences to our mission of protecting marine environments through research, education, and citizen science.
As we move into spring, we are proud to see the REEF Campus in Key Largo, with Ocean Exploration Center as its centerpiece, growing as a hub for connection, collaboration, and conservation in the Florida Keys. Each new visitor represents another person discovering REEF’s mission and the power of citizen science.
For those of you supporting REEF from across the country and around the world, this growth belongs to you! The momentum we’re experiencing on campus reflects the strength of our entire community. Wherever you are, we invite you to stay engaged—submit a survey, share REEF’s online programs with a fellow ocean enthusiast, or plan a future visit to the Keys. Together, we are building a connected community working to ensure healthy oceans for generations to come.