Tag: Featured

Plan ahead and mark your calendar for Island Hopper 2022, returning for its eighth year.

A 10-day music festival featuring performances by some of the country’s greatest singer-songwriters, the festival takes place in three areas, with the first weekend kicking off on Captiva Island, Sept. 16-18, then moving to downtown Fort Myers, Sept. 19- 22, and ending with a weekend on Fort Myers Beach, Sept. 23-25. Most shows are free with the exception of a few ticketed experiences, like our headliner shows.

As of May 18, sea turtle nesting activity had started to pick up with a total of 62 loggerhead nests on the islands’ beaches, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported. Staff and volunteers have been working each morning to survey the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva for signs in the sand of sea turtles that have come ashore.
Four teams monitor different stretches of beach every morning at dawn, collecting data from turtle nests and false crawls. If it is determined that the area is a nesting site, it is then marked off with yellow stakes, a screen to discourage predation and informative signage.

Volunteers Gwenda Hiett-Clements and Nancy Riley, who is a designated east end permittee, marked the first nest on the east end of Sanibel on May 4. As permittee, Riley documents crawls and nests reported by walkers on the east end, from Tarpon Bay Road Beach to the Sanibel Lighthouse.

As of May 18, Sanibel and Captiva had collectively logged 62 loggerhead sea turtle nests, compared to 76 reported nests on the same date last year. Forty-four had been laid on the west end of Sanibel, seven on the east end of Sanibel, and 11 on Captiva.

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The 14th Annual 10K Race 4 F.I.S.H. will be held in conjunction with the Fort Myers Track Club on Sunday, Oct. 22. Due to concerns about the pandemic, the event was held virtually the last two years.

Participating runners will receive a race tank with the F.I.S.H. logo on the front. In addition, F.I.S.H. is hoping to add a kids run, business expo and other opportunities to make this year’s 10K an extra special event focused on the organization’s 40th anniversary.

For information on sponsorships, as well as 10K Days — opportunities for island businesses to showcase their establishments and support F.I.S.H. — visit https://www.fishofsancap.org/.

For more information, contact Cortese at Dianerc10@gmail.com or Race Committee Chair Nicole McHale at noel2me@icloud.com

The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club’s 2022 Diner’s Delight coupon book is now valid through Dec. 16. It contains two-for-one coupons for many island eateries, for a possible savings of over $500. The books are available for a $40 contribution. Proceeds from the fundraiser are used by the club to support its Scholarship Fund for local students and grants to island youth recreation and education programs. The books can be obtained from Kiwanis members or at Bailey’s General Store, Bank of the Islands, Big Red Q Printing, Island Pharmacy, Island Winds Coiffures, Periwinkle Park office, SanCap Pak-N-Ship, and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank.

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, announced that admission fees will remain the same after the season ends for Wildlife Drive at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, located at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel.

The $10 vehicle entry fee is valid for three consecutive days of admission, starting annually on May 1 and running through September. Keep your receipt to show at the entrance fee booth upon returning. Cyclists and pedestrians ages 16 and older pay $1 per visit.

First sea turtle nest of the season found on Sanibel’s west end.

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation has recorded its first sea turtle nest of the season.

On April 27, a loggerhead nest was discovered on the west end of Sanibel.

“Today marks the same day as the first nest in 2021. Our sea turtle team was excited to get sandy knees again as they put up the vivid yellow stakes that protect nests on our islands,” it reported at the time.

The SCCF also recorded the first false crawl of the season on the west end on April 27.

Sea turtle monitoring originally began on Sanibel in the 1950s with Charles LeBuff and Caretta Research Inc., making it one of the longest-running monitoring programs in the country. When Caretta Research disbanded in 1992, the SCCF took over the program and continues to manage it today.

Loggerhead is the most common marine turtle species to nest on the islands, followed by the green sea turtle. Leatherbacks and Kemp’s ridleys are rarer, but they have nested on Sanibel-Captiva before.

Adventures in Paradise will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt & Dolphin Cruise on April 17 from 9 to 10:30 a.m., departing from dock “G” at the Port Sanibel Marina, located at 14341 Port Comfort Road in Fort Myers.

Take a ride aboard Dolphin Waters, a 45-foot Corinthian Power Catamaran, for a cruise between Sanibel and Captiva to “Easter Island”, otherwise known as Picnic Island. Sightsee along the way and learn about the local estuaries and wildlife, such as dolphins.

Upon reaching the island, experience an Easter egg hunt like never before with over 1,000 eggs. Easter pails and bottled water will be provided. Upon reaching the island, experience an Easter egg hunt like never before with over 1,000 eggs. Easter pails and bottled water will be provided

Do you want to learn how to catch a snook from the beach or to tie a fly, or identify the species of fish that can be caught in your backyard pond? Join Sanibel Sea School this summer for a week of sandy feet and tight lines June 13-17 during “Let’s Go Fishin

Sanibel and Captiva offer some of the best fishing in Southwest Florida. Fishing is both a skill and an art and students will have the opportunity to experience both during this fun-filled week. Teens will be introduced to different forms of fishing, learn to identify common species, and become familiar with fish behavior. Both fresh- and saltwater techniques will be introduced. There won’t be an inch of the island left unfished — campers will hone their skills from shore and by kayak and boat.

Local experts will participate during the week to share their wisdom and guide campers on excursions. You won’t want to miss out! This is an introductory course to a fun outdoor activity that everyone can enjoy for a lifetime. The cost is $400 per camper.

Register for “Let’s Go Fishing Week” at Fishing Camp Sign-up. Call (239) 472-8585 or email sanibelseaschool@sccf.org for more information.

Part of the SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) Family, Sanibel Sea School’s mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time.