Tampa Bay Watch is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our campers, volunteers, and employees. Upon reopening, we have established limited capacity for visits, extensive cleaning and sanitization protocols, and updated processes to ensure Tampa Bay Watch is operating in accordance with the guidance of the state and federal governments and the Centers for Disease Control. Please continue to monitor our website for future updates. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Tampa Bay Watch education programs, restoration projects, and events. Thank you for your incredible support during this unprecedented time.
Updates:
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Volunteer projects: We are currently recruiting volunteers for a DIY Neighborhood Cleanup in July. Please visit our scheduled projects page for more information. We have cancelled our annual Bright Futures summer program for high school students in order to limit the total number of people at our facility. We plan on resuming our habitat restoration projects such as oyster reef ball creation, oyster shell bar installations, and native plantings in the fall. Please contact Rachel Arndt at rarndt@tampabaywatch.org or (727) 867-8166 x233 with any questions.
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Tarpon Rodeo: The event has been postponed to Friday, July 17 and the Castaway Soiree at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort will not be held in 2020. For details about the all-release tournament on July 17, please visit the Tarpon Rodeo webpage. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Nina Ardle at nardle@tampabaywatch.org or (727) 867-8166 x249.
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Summer camp: With safety at the forefront, and after careful review of available information, Tampa Bay Watch has canceled all June camp sessions and the Sea Monkey Camp scheduled July 13-17 and July 27-31, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we will move forward with a reduced capacity for the three remaining sessions of Ocean Expedition (July 6-10), and Discovery Camp (July 20-24 and August 3-7). This reduced session will consist of 8 campers and 2 instructors and be selected by a randomized lottery system. The decision to cancel our Sea Monkey Camps was not an easy one, but was necessary to ensure the health and well-being of campers and the community. If you have any general summer camp inquiries, or questions or concerns regarding camp cancellations, please contact Katie Mastenbrook at (727) 867-8166 x 246 or Jordan Findley at (727) 867-8166 x 224.
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Visitors: All visits to Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center are by appointment only as our gate is closed. Visitors must get a temperature check prior to entering the facility and wear a mask or face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained. Please reference our staff webpage for contact information of our employees.
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Virtual learning: Tampa Bay Watch is bringing the estuary to you with our new online learning resources! Whether a member, volunteer, student, or fellow conservationist, we hope you’ll engage with us as we continue our mission to save the bay every day. Our online resources are sure to inspire learners to act as life-long environmental stewards. Visit our online education page.
