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 2013 Annual Meeting ‐ Agenda Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism Friday, June 28th ‐ Sunday, June 30th Friday, June 28th Afternoon and Evening Events: Arrival and check‐in at International Palms Resort in Cocoa Beach. 7:00 – 8:00 Opening Address: “The Role of Clean Marinas and Green Lodges in Ecotourism,” Brad Stombock, Director of the Office of Sustainable Initiatives, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 8:00 – 9:00 “Cracker Barrel:” Tips & Tricks of Being an Ecotour Provider, an informal roundtable discussion on topics of concern and shared experiences for ecotourism businesses. Silent Auction bidding begins! Sponsored by: Brevard Nature Alliance, www.brevardnaturealliance.org Saturday, June 29th Morning Excursions: (for discounted pricing and reservation information on all excursions go to www.floridasee.org) 8:00 – 10:00 Kayak tour of Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands by Space Coast Kayaking. 8:30 – 10:30 Birding and wildlife walking tour of Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge with naturalist Vince Lamb. 8:30 – 12:00 Treetop trek at Brevard Zoo. Choose from either the introductory Canopy Walk, or the more adventurous Treetop Challenge Course. Visit www.treetoptrek.com for more information and participant restrictions that apply. 10:00 – 12:00 Pontoon boat tour of Indian River Lagoon by “Florida SEE Gold Certified” Wildside Tours. Afternoon Workshop: 1:30 – 4:30 “Interpretation and Evaluation Planning.” By Katrina Morrell, Certified Interpretive Guide Trainer, National Association for Interpretation and Joy Hazell, Marine Sea Grant Extension Agent, University of Florida IFAS. Sponsored by: Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, www.chnep.org Evening Events: 5:00 – 6:00 Reception/Networking at Mambo’s Beachside Bar and Grill on site at the International Palms Resort. Sponsored by: Space Coast Office of Tourism, www.visitspacecoast.com 6:00 – 7:30 Dinner at Mambo’s Beachside Bar and Grill or on your own. 7:30 – 8:30 Keynote Address: “Toward Authentic Ecotourism in the United States,” Hitesh Mehta, Chair of the Standards and Ethics Committee, The International Ecotourism Tourism Society. Sponsored by: Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau, www.charlotteharbortravel.com Silent Auction bidding closes and items awarded! Sunday, June 30th Morning Excursion: (for discounted pricing and reservation information for this excursion go to www.floridasee.org) 10:30 – 1:00 Manatee Encounter kayak tour of Haulover Canal on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge by A Day Away Kayak Tours. (12 person minimum required). Morning Events: 8:00 – 8:30 Continental breakfast sponsored by: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, www.fortmyers‐sanibel.com 8:30 – 9:30 Morning Address: “All in One Package ‐ Pine Island Conservation Area – A Unique Blend of History, Conservation, Passive Recreation, Restoration and Environmental Education,” Dr. D. Scott Taylor, Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. 9:30 – 11:30 Annual Florida SEE Members Meeting & Board of Directors Election. Non‐members are welcome to attend to learn more about the Florida SEE Certification/Recognition Program, member’s benefits, Florida SEE website tools and promotional opportunities. 12:00 Lunch and networking, touring on your own or safe travels home. 12:00 – 2:00 Board of Directors Meeting. Friday, June 28th 2013 Annual Meeting – Speakers, Excursions & Workshop Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism Friday, June 28th ‐ Sunday, June 30th 7:00 ‐ 8:00 pm Opening Address: “The Role of Clean Marinas and Green Lodges in Ecotourism,” Brad Stombock, Director of the Office of Sustainable Initiatives, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Sustainable Initiatives is home to the department's Clean Marina and Green Lodging Programs. These proactive initiatives recognize two of the most important components of the state's economy for their role in protecting Florida's natural resources and environment. The role of Clean Marinas and Green Lodges in Ecotourism presentation will focus on how marinas and lodging properties can contribute to increasing ecotourism within a specific region, expectations of visitors and guests as it relates to green initiatives, how to become involved in the department's Green Lodging and Clean Marina programs and potential partnerships to further expand ecotourism. Saturday, June 29th 8:00 – 10:00 8:30 – 10:30 8:30 – 12:00 Kayak tour of Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands by Space Coast Kayaking. $15.00 What better way to start your weekend in east central Florida than with a laid back morning paddle of the beautiful Thousand Islands Nature Preserve in Cocoa Beach? Join your tour leader Jim Durocher for two hours of paddling this unique area. The tour will begin with an overview of the area's unique history and ecology, and a quick paddling demonstration for any beginners. Then it's off to explore all the thousand islands has to offer, with great views of the mangroves, wading birds, ospreys, manatees, and other wildlife. (13 maximum participants) Birding & wildlife walking tour of Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge with naturalist Vince Lamb. $10.00 Join naturalist Vince Lamb on this guided walk through the 140‐acre Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary. The trail winds through pine flatwoods, patches of oak, sand pine scrub, and freshwater depression marshes where raptors, migratory birds, Florida scrub‐jays, bobwhite quails, gopher tortoises, eastern indigo snakes, and bobcats may all be encountered. Bring your camera! Treetop trek at Brevard Zoo. Choose from either the introductory Canopy Walk, $15.00, or the more adventurous Treetop Challenge Course, $40.00. Canopy Walk: This introductory course takes you 20 feet in the air where adventurers can enjoy 5 treetop challenges and 2 zip lines while taking in the natural beauty of the area and parts of the Zoo including seeing some of the animals. This course takes at least 45 minutes and upwards of 2 hours to complete depending on your skill set, time of day, and how busy the course might be. Treetop Challenge: This course includes the canopy walk plus multiple high stakes challenges and large zip lines at 40 feet above the ground. Fly more than 700 feet across the wetlands and zip by alligators. This course takes at least 90 minutes and upwards of 3 hours to complete depending on your skill set, time of day, and how busy the course might be. Restrictions apply. Please visit www.treetoptrek.com for details about both the Canopy Walk and Treetop Challenge Course. 10:00 – 12:00 Pontoon boat tour of Indian River Lagoon by “Florida SEE Gold Certified” Wildside Tours. $20.00 Join Capt. Jeanette Vasbinder for an excursion of the dynamic and fragile Indian River Lagoon through the beautiful Thousand Islands Nature Preserve in Cocoa Beach. From the comfort of a 20‐seat pontoon boat, sightseeing in this area includes scenic mangroves and local wildlife including manatees, dolphins, wading birds and raptors. (20 maximum participants) Saturday, June 29th 1:30 – 4:30 pm “Interpretation and Evaluation Planning Workshop.” By Katrina Morrell, Certified Interpretive Guide Trainer, National Association for Interpretation and Joy Hazell, Marine Sea Grant Agent, University of Florida IFAS Extension – Lee County. This two‐part workshop provides a perfect opportunity for those who present programs at aquariums, zoos, parks, museums or other environmental, cultural or historical sites and want to learn how to communicate more effectively with visitors or customers. Interpretive philosophy, principles, and techniques for personal program delivery in any setting will be covered. Learn how to do meaningful evaluations of your programs including developing measurable objectives, different collection methods, how to interpret your data and how to communicate the results of your evaluations. 7:30 – 8:30 pm Keynote Address: “Toward Authentic Ecotourism in the United States,” Hitesh Mehta, Chair of the Standards and Ethics Committee, The International Ecotourism Tourism Society. Hitesh Mehta, is a pioneer in ecolodge planning and design, with over 22 years of consulting experience in over 57 countries on six continents. He is the longest serving Board Member of the International Ecotourism Society (TIES). A strong proponent of authentic ecotourism, Hitesh is currently the Chair of the "Standards and Ethics Committee" of TIES. Among his many accolades, the National Geographic Adventure magazine in 2007 identified Hitesh as one of five Sustainable Tourism Pioneers in the world. He is an on‐site inspector/judge for the "Tourism for Tomorrow Awards," the National Geographic/Conservation International "World Legacy Awards for Heritage Tourism," the Conde Nast Traveler "Ecotourism Awards" and the Caribbean Hotel Association "Green Hotelier Awards." He is also an Adjunct Professor and the author of three books, including the recently published "Authentic Ecolodges" by world renowned publisher ‐ Harper Collins. Additionally, Hitesh is a Hall of Fame Cricket player from Kenya and a professional Photographer. Sunday, June 30th 8:30 – 9:30 Morning Address: “All in One Package ‐ Pine Island Conservation Area – A Unique Blend of History, Conservation, Passive Recreation, Restoration and Environmental Education,” Dr. D. Scott Taylor, Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. Adjoining the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to the north, this 1000‐acre conservation area is jointly owned by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program and the St. Johns River Water Management District. Acquired to buffer the Indian River Lagoon from development impacts along two‐miles of shoreline, the conservation area also reduces habitat fragmentation and provides passive recreation and environmental education opportunities. From Ice‐Age animals to pre‐Ais Indians to early pioneers, Pine Island Conservation Area has a rich history. Mastodon tusks, pottery shards, and 19th century farm tools found on site help piece together the story of this special place. Many species of wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and migratory birds abound in the Pine Island Conservation area. The pine flatwoods provide habitat to resident and migratory songbirds. Red‐tailed hawks, ospreys, and black vultures are often sighted, with occasional bald eagles seen soaring above. Reptiles and amphibians including alligators and aquatic turtles are common, as are mammals such as bobcats, river otters, raccoons, and opossums that seek food and refuge on the site. 10:30 – 1:00 Manatee Encounter kayak tour of Haulover Canal on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge by A Day Away Kayak Tours. (12 person minimum required). $25.00 Meet your guides at Haulover Canal Launch Site on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and, after a brief kayaking demonstration and safety lesson, enjoy a leisurely 90‐minute paddle of the Indian River Lagoon. At this location, manatee sightings are common throughout much of the year, but especially from April through October. There are few places in the world where an endangered species will approach people, but this is one! Besides the possibility of encountering manatees, tour participants may often see bottlenose dolphins, wading birds, river otters and a wide variety of sea life. (40 maximum participants)