The reefs are indeed installed and fully visible from the surface. Several Marine Sanctuary Committee members took to the water to check out the reefs up close by diving and snorkeling them. They do look impressive and the fish seemed to be enjoying the new structures already.

Here are some shots taken by Mike Sandler  on one of the first dives of the Gulf Side reefs

One of the reef trees from below
 

Nancy Sandler inspecting a reef
 

Ray hiding in the sand

The Navarre Chamber Foundation  will have an informational booth at Fun Fest (Fri & Sat – Apr 27 & 28) to inform the community about the Marine Sanctuary progress,  sell nature walk bricks and promote the Run for the Reef.    We’ll also  staff the beer booth Saturday night.  The Foundation will get to keep tips received during the beer booth shift.

Additional volunteers are needed, particularly Saturday evening at the beer booth  from 4 pm to 7 pm.  Please contact Nancy Sandler (nasandler@bellsouth.net)  if you wish to help.

Thanks to those who have already volunteered and a big thank you to the Navarre Chamber for donating part of the Fun Fest 5K Proceeds to the Marine Sanctuary program.

Fun Fest will be in the Navarre Beach County Parking Lot next to the Pier.

Please mark the following dates on your calendar, and note the locations.

• Feb. 13, 2012 at 6:30PM at the Hampton Inn, Navarre – sponsorship meeting.  Come help us finalize our sponsorship program and plan for it’s début to the public.
• Feb. 27, 2012 at 6:30 at the Navarre Visitor Information Center – general committee meeting.  Discuss the status of permits, the project, and discuss Run for the Reef responsibilities.
• April 27, 2012 from 4-7PM on Navarre Beach – We need volunteers to staff our booth at FunFest.  Contact Nancy, nasandler@bellsouth.net, if you can help.
• April 28, 2012 from 10AM-7PM on Navarre Beach – We need volunteers in 2-3 hour shift to staff our booth at FunFest.  Contact Nancy, nasandler@bellsouth.net, if you can help.  Please include the times you are available.

Note that  a portion of the FunFest 5K proceeds go the NBMS committee.  Please spread the word and sign-up if you can.  More FunFest 5K information here.

Thanks  for your support,

Thanks to Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association, our prime  Run for the Reef  sponsor, and to the rest of the sponsors for the 3rd Annual Run for the Reef 5K and Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run.

They are helping to Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

Quantum Broadcasting

Barbara and Dan McCarren

The Griffith Family

Holly Hill Pottery

Islandtime Entertainment

Linda Fusco – All Phase Cleaning

Ryan Icenhour

TC’s Front Porch

Publix of Navarre

Century 21 Island View Realty

Thank you also to our fine door prize donors – the participants loved all the prizes

Scentsy

Sailors Grill

Thai Hut

Helen Back II

Friends of Navarre Library

The Marine Sanctuary Committee booth at this year’s Fun Fest was the place to be. Nancy Sandler (Community Awareness Coordinator) and her band of merry volunteers made a big splash telling visitors about the recent program status and providing information on what’s to come. T-shirts and bumper stickers were snapped up in record numbers and over $200 was raised to aid program improvements and reef maintenance once the reefs are installed. Additionally – twenty new volunteers signed up to help Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

On May 7th Nancy and company were at it again – this time at the Sunset Stampede, handing out Run for the Reef registration forms and providing information on the reef program to the over large crowd at the annual evening 5K headquartered at Juana’s.

Thanks to all the volunteers that helped man the booth at these events!

The next Marine Sanctuary Meeting is Monday, April 25, 2011 at 6PM at the Hampton Inn.

We still need volunteers for the events and times below.  Please contact Nancy Sandler at nasandler@bellsouth.net if you are interested in helping out.
1.  Funfest, April 29th Friday, April 29 – 3 to 5 pm
2.  Funfest Saturday, April 30, 1 to 3:30 pm and 3:30 to 6 pm.
3.  Sunset Stampede 5K, May 7th from 3-5pm and 5-7pm

April Monthly Meeting Agenda

A.  Permitting update and Project Details

B.   Funding

a.  TDC and County funding update

b.  Grants

Status of grants applied for

Impact 100 grant

c.  Run for the Reef update

d.  Sponsorship

C.  Community Awareness

a.  Past Events

b.  Future Events

D.  Next Meeting

E.  Adjourn

A great way to get involved in our diving and snorkeling reef program is to volunteer to help man a booth at one of our community awareness events.  It’s a great way to learn about the project and promote it to the community.  Some upcoming opportunities to help are :

Fun Fest – Navarre Beach County Park Parking Lot  -April 29th & 30th

Sunset Stampede  – Navarre Beach Boat Launch Parking Lot May 7th

To find out more contact Community Awareness Coordinator  Nancy Sandler at nasandler@bellsouth.net

The Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee’s plans for the Reef Sponsorship Program won’t be officially unveiled until after the Impact 100 Grant Winners have been decided in October.    Even so – the program has generated early interests.   Three companies or individuals have already stepped up to the plate to make pledges of support:

Best Western Navarre

Deep & Wide Dredging, Inc.

Mike & Nancy Sandler

Thank you to these individuals and companies for their leadership in helping to Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

There are just a few more sponsorships available – don’t miss out on this opportunity to be associated with one of the best events Navarre offers in the fall….The Run for the Reef 5K and 1 Mile Kid’s Fun Run.  Check out the sponsorship opportunities and contact us at navbms@navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.com to be part of the fun.

Thanks to this year’s  Run for the Reef 5K sponsors who have already demonstrated their commitment to help Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

Navarre Press

Wynn Haven Animal Clinic

Trees Plus

Century 21 Island View Realty

TC’s Front Porch

Barbara and Dan McCarren

The Griffith Family

Mike and Nancy Sandler

Buffalo Rock Beverages and Food Services

Navarre Healing Arts

Regions Bank

Holly Hill Pottery

Griffin Photography

Nancy Sandler, Co-Chair of the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee and Mike Sandler also on the Marine Sanctuary Committee will make a presentation about the progress and plans of  Marine Sanctuary Program at the Navarre Library.    Mark your calendars for  Tuesday, July 27th at 5:30 pm.

The Sandler’s will present status and progress to date of the efforts to bring near shore reefs to Navarre Beach, upcoming events  involving the Sanctuary Committee and information on you can become involved and keep informed.

The public is invited to come and learn how we are helping to Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

Date:  Tuesday July 27th

Time: 5:30 PM

Where: Navarre Library –  8484 James M. Harrell Road, Navarre, FL 32566