The REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida, remains closed to the public and all in-person programming is suspended until further notice, but that hasn’t slowed down our Ocean Explorers Programs. Over the last several months, our Education and Outreach team has remained focused on REEF's mission to engage and inspire the public. We recently made the difficult decision to suspend Ocean Explorers Summer Camp for 2020, but we are currently working to produce single day Explorers Programs for local families. More details on these programs will be posted on our website later this summer.
In February, eighteen REEF members traveled to Fiji on a REEF Field Survey Trip. The survey results from this trip were recently processed into REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project database which contains more than 250,000 total surveys. During the Fiji Field Survey Trip, the group conducted 210 surveys at 29 sites and recorded 617 different species.
This summer, REEF members are invited to participate in our 2020 underwater photography contest! Categories include fish portrait, macro, invertebrates, REEF-themed, and reefscape/habitat. Members may submit up to three photos in each category.
This month, REEF is proud to highlight one of our outstanding Conservation Partners: Eugene Skin Divers Supply located in Eugene, Oregon. REEF Conservation Partners are active organizations and dive shops dedicated to protecting marine environments. As valued REEF ambassadors, they teach fish ID classes, host survey dives, organize volunteer events and more.
Meet our June Fish of the Month, the Spotted Ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei)!
As we celebrate REEF's 30th anniversary this year, we are reflecting on the people who helped make REEF the extraordinary organization it is today. One of these individuals is our co-founder, Paul Humann. After serving as president of REEF and as chairman of REEF’s Board of Trustees for the past 30 years, Paul is now transitioning from these roles. In celebration of Paul’s contributions to REEF, we are pleased to honor him by naming him as REEF’s first Trustee Emeritus.
Since 1993, more than 150 young adults have interned with REEF and transitioned into careers all over the world, in the marine conservation field and beyond. We have created a webpage to help former interns stay connected, both with REEF and the broad network of REEF Intern Alumni. You can check out the REEF Intern Alumni Network page here.
We’re excited to introduce our Summer 2020 Marine Conservation Interns. These individuals will support the REEF team by assisting with our marine conservation programs and operations at REEF Headquarters. This semester’s interns bring a unique set of skills and interests to REEF. They include:
The Volunteer Fish Survey Project is highlighted in this article about a REEF Field Survey Trip to the Solomon Islands in 2019.
Thank you to all who participated in #GivingTuesdayNow this past Tuesday, May 5. It was a wonderful day of unity and giving, and we are so grateful to have been a part of it. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to Janet and Doug Camp for providing a generous matching gift. For all those who donated to REEF on May 5, you helped us surpass our fundraising target and we met our matching goal. It was our largest one-day fundraising event ever! Donations from members like you are critical to ensuring we can continue REEF’s citizen science and education programs.