Friends of Tigertail Summer Activities

Though the hottest months in Southwest Florida are usually quiet, many activities carry over. Friends of Tigertail, a group committed to supporting, preserving, and educating about Tigertail Beach and local environmental issues, continued projects during the summer.

The first was donating to the MIA Ambassadors of the Environment Camp, supporting student scholarships. The camp took place in early June and introduced the 12- to 14-year-old participants to several hands-on environmental experiences, including beach exploration, nature walks, kayaking, snorkeling, and lab activities. Without scholarship donations, several students would not have been able to attend the camp, and Friends of Tigertail joined Rene and Tish Champagne and the Relley family in providing this support, knowing that early introduction to the environment fosters lifelong interest.

In mid-July, Friends of Tigertail hosted their summer beach cleanup. Despite the lower July population, 23 volunteers, including 10 students, worked together to collect 12 bags of debris, totaling about 30 pounds. Some of the participants worked in the parking lot, filling a 30-pound trash bag, with the boardwalk areas another location where discarded items were plentiful. A fishing line canister was emptied of tangled discarded lines. During the event, Ibis, Terns, Herons, and Black skimmers were seen feeding in the lagoon, reminding the volunteers of the importance of the cleanups for people as well as wildlife.

The next clean-up will be Saturday, September 16. Part of the International Coastal Cleanup, this event includes coastal areas worldwide, where categories of garbage are tabulated to list the major problems throughout the world. More information can be found about this and other activities on the Friends of Tigertail Facebook page or their website at www.FriendsofTigertail.com.