Friends of Myakka River
In just a single visit to Myakka River State Park, visitors make lifelong memories as they experience moments of magic at the park. Despite the 34 miles of the Myakka River running through Sarasota County being designated as Florida’s only state-designated Wild and Scenic River, there are many youth in Sarasota County that have never seen the Myakka River or visited the state park. However, a partnership between Friends of Myakka River and UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is changing that. Since 2023, Friends of Myakka River has provided bus funding for students from Title I schools to visit the park as part of the award winning Learning in Florida’s Environment (LIFE) Program.
The LIFE Program is a 4th and 5th grade environmental education program locally developed and coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County. Aligned with Florida State Science Standards, the program includes in-class preparatory education followed by 2-3-hour field trips. Through hands-on science activities and instruction from scientists, rangers, educators, and land managers, the program brings science to life, supports standardized test success, exposes youth to careers in science and natural resources, and inspires youth to be responsible stewards of Sarasota’s unique and beautiful ecosystems.
Several agencies, organizations, and volunteers are brought together to make this work possible, including Florida State Parks, Big Waters Land Trust, Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources, and volunteers from the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Master Gardener Volunteer Program, Sarasota County, and Florida State Parks. Since the program’s start in Sarasota County in 2017, Myakka River State Park has graciously provided support throughout the years, first as a partnering site for field trips along with Oscar Scherer State Park and Lemon Bay County Park. In recent years, Myakka has bolstered its support of the LIFE program in Sarasota County by providing staff and volunteer support, leading lab activities, and revising educational materials. During the 2018-2019 school year, over 150 Sarasota County youth had the opportunity to visit and learn in Myakka River State Park. With the increased support provided by the park, the number of youth participating in the program climbed to 243 students in 2022.
Transportation is one critical barrier that prevents many youth from connecting with and exploring nature, and for Title I schools with limited resources, busing students to field trips is not always possible. In 2023, Friends of Myakka River provided nearly $5,000 to fund buses for students from Title I schools to attend LIFE Program field trips to Myakka River State Park. In the 2023-2024 school year, 17 field trips brought over 600 students to the park. 69% of those students were from Title I schools, with 72% of students visiting Myakka River State Park for the first time. Friends of Myakka River has continued to support the program over the years. As a result, the numbers of students attending field trips has only continued to rise, with 841 4th and 5th graders participating in the program during the 2024-2025 school year, and an astounding 25 field trips bringing nearly 1,000 local students to Myakka River State Park during the 2025-2026 school year.
During their field trips, youth have the opportunity to investigate the Myakka River’s freshwater ecosystem as they learn how energy flows through the food chain, from microscopic freshwater plankton to alligators, and investigate the water quality of the Myakka River by testing the pH, temperature and oxygen levels of the water. Friends of Myakka River has also supported the program by providing over $700 to purchase scientific equipment for students to use, such as water quality testing kits, new microscopes and an impressive digital projecting microscope that allows students who struggle to use traditional microscopes to see samples of plankton up close.
Students also learn how pollution impacts biodiversity while searching for sensitive aquatic macroinvertebrates such as dragonfly nymphs and water scorpions. After learning how to use binoculars, the next generation of passionate birders is created as students survey for birds and collect field data on their adaptations and behaviors. Seeing the bright pink plumage of Roseate Spoonbills, hearing the shrieking call of snail-eating Limpkins, and watching Great Blue Herons expertly spear and eat fish leaves LIFE program participants with the sense of wonder, awe, and joy that fosters a conservation ethic and appreciation for Florida’s spectacular natural environment and parks.
Board Treasurer and LIFE Program volunteer Sandy Plette says “Friends of Myakka River is proud to support the LIFE program, helping remove barriers and enhance the learning experience for all students, especially those from underserved communities.” “By investing in environmental education, we’re nurturing the next generation of conservationists and ensuring the future protection of Myakka’s natural treasures.”
In March 2026, Myakka River State Park, Friends of Myakka River, and UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County were honored with the Florida State Parks’ Community Partnership of the Year award in recognition of their outstanding successes in 2025. This achievement highlights the important work of the LIFE program in connecting local youth to nature and Florida’s public lands. We are proud to support this meaningful program and look forward to its continued impact.
Help us continue our support of educational programing at Myakka River State Park by donating today.
Two years ago, during the 2022 Giving Challenge, we invited you to Be the One to Share Myakka’s Magic by supporting our new Outreach and Environmental Education Program. Inspired by Sir David Attenborough, who noted that ‘no one will protect what they don’t care about and no one will care about what they’ve never experienced', we designed this program to help our community better understand the increasing challenges Myakka River State Park and its fragile ecosystems face.
Thanks to your very generous support, we raised over $37,000 during the 2022 Giving Challenge! Your gifts helped us continue to share Myakka’s Magic by funding a part-time position to spearhead social media, print media and in-person programming in support of the park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River. Because of donors like you, since the 2022 Giving Challenge, hundreds of thousands meaningfully experienced Myakka through our impactful social media posts and print media articles. This content also increased their commitment to protecting this environmentally significant place. And, as most individuals were experiencing Myakka’s Magic remotely, you helped us minimize potential negative impact on Myakka’s sensitive ecosystems.
Importantly, as your gifts also allowed us to supercharge our fundraising and programming on behalf of the park, in 2023 we received a generous capacity building grant from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to keep this impactful momentum going! The timely funding is helping support our organization’s first full-time staff position, our executive director Miri Hardy, who is allowing us to further increase our education efforts, outreach and membership growth. And this would not have happened without you!
As a result of our increased capacity, we’re also able to augment our efforts to actively protect Myakka’s Magic. Because now more than ever, as a result of environmental changes and encroaching development, there is an urgent need to help conserve this beloved natural gem!
To that end, we’re building relationships with organizations such as Conservation Foundation of Gulf Coast, Florida State Park Foundation, Athletic Brewing Company and William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, and securing grants to support important park initiatives, infrastructure and equipment needs. We’re funding access to impactful nature connection programs at Myakka River State Park for at-risk youth and continuing to grow our advocacy and outreach efforts on behalf of the park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River.
But we can’t do it alone!
On April 9-10, from noon to noon, we invite you to Be the One to Protect Myakka’s Magic by supporting Friends of Myakka River during the 2024 Giving Challenge. See
We thank you in advance for your gifts. Together, we’re protecting and sharing Myakka’s Magic, to the benefit of future generations and our own!
To Watch our 2024 Giving Challenge Commercial, click HERE.
See our Giving Challenge fundraising page, click HERE.
Thanks to Myakka River State Park's location in a mostly rural area, the night sky remains fairly dark. Indeed, during our Astronomy Night in the Park - the inaugural program of our new series of one off Myakka-centric experiences Experiencing Myakka's Magic - over 160 participants enjoyed being able to observe and learn about planets, galaxies, and star clusters from the Suncoast Stargazers. This astronomy club servicing the Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice and surrounding Florida communities came out in force, bringing with them impressive state-of-the-art telescopes.
And in an important environmental education follow up, our February Wild Florida feature in The Observer expanded on why dark skies not only delight park visitors, but are also critical for helping protect the park’s flora and fauna.
You can read more about the importance of dark skies, and how we can all help reduce light pollution in our article Light pollution disrupts lives of plants and animals.
Our new Friends of Myakka River Moon Over Myakka Sponsorship Program is supercharging the fundraising capabilities of our unique and popular concert series. In 2024, with this new fundraising program, we raised $13,000 to directly support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River.
Thanks to our Moon over Myakka Sponsors, more members of our community will be able to meaningfully engage with Myakka's Magic through outreach efforts in support of Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River this year. And our sponsors' generosity will also support important park initiatives that will help directly protect the park’s sensitive ecosystems.
Many thanks to our 2024 Moon Over Myakka Sponsors for their support:
FULL MOON SPONSOR:
J. Robert Donnelly and Mary Jane Donnelly Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
HALF MOON SPONSORS
CRESCENT MOON SPONSORS
NEW MOON SPONSORS
Interested in becoming 2025 Moon Over Myakka Sponsor? Curious to learn more about our sponsorship program benefits? Please contact us HERE
We are very pleased to announce the recent appointment of Jarred Wilson to the Friends of Myakka River Board of Directors.
Jarred's appointment reflects the board's continued commitment to sustaining our organizational growth, while substantially increasing our financial support of Myakka River State Park.
A Manatee County native, Jarred has enjoyed Myakka River State Park since childhood. He holds a Master’s Degree in Information Studies and has worked in various cultural heritage management and nonprofit fundraising roles. Jarred’s interest in Myakka River State Park and the broader Myakka River includes understanding and sharing the history of the people who have lived, worked, and played on this land and water.
"We've greatly appreciated Jarred's meaningful contributions to our organization over the past few years in an advisory role" said President of the Board Bob Frank. "As we continue to grow our organization and build our fundraising capabilities, in support of Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River, Jarred's enthusiasm, talents and skill-set will be an invaluable asset to our board”.
Interested in Helping us Protect and Share Myakka's Magic? Join us as a Board Member!
Becoming a member of the Friends of Myakka River’s Board of Directors can be a rewarding, high impact way to get involved with a community of like-minded individuals, who are helping support and grow one of Florida's oldest, and largest state parks.
It is also a meaningful way to apply your passion for Wild Florida, experience and expertise to help the Friends advance our mission to support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River.
Please click HERE
Photo: Tracy Calla
With over 120 Friends of Myakka River members and Florida Park Service staff and volunteers in attendance, it was a beautiful day to, together, celebrate Myakka's Magic during our second annual Members Event and Meeting.
We enjoyed fun activities, fantastic music from the The Gator Ridge Ramblers (who donated their talent and time), as well as great conversations. And thanks to generous donations, silent auction bids and new memberships, together we raised nearly $3,000 to support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River!
This is an exciting time for our organization and we appreciated the opportunity to share with our members and guests what, together, we accomplished last year, as well as our plans for this year.
Thanks to everyone who joined us and we hope you too had a great time!
And a special thank you to Jean Blackburn, Rosalie Coddington, Nancy Cusack, Bob Frank, Virginia Hoffman, Hike It Florida, Rob Hurth Photography, Nancy Klein, Memphis Barbree, Steve White and Dick Pfaff for their generous donation of arts and goods to our fundraising silent auction!
Photo: Carol Lackey
Environmental interpretation helps us understand our natural world and why we should care about it. We're thrilled to share that, thanks to a $15,000 “Small and Mighty” grant from William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, along with matching funds from Friends of Myakka River, Myakka River State Park will soon be receiving a new vehicle for interpretation, figuratively and literally. A mobile interpretive trailer to support the park’s environmental education mission!
This “pop up” educational station, chock full of tools and activities, will be easily positioned in different areas in and outside the park, allowing for impactful interpretive interactions. It will also provide the infrastructure the park needs for developing engaging new environmental education offerings at Myakka River State Park and beyond.
We're extremely grateful to William G. and Marie Selby Foundation for their steadfast support of local nonprofits.
The new interpretive trailer will be placed in high traffic areas, such as the bridge on Main Park Drive, allowing for impactful and meaningful educational opportunities.
Photo: Miri Hardy
Through programs like UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County's impactful "Learning in Florida's Environment" (LIFE) Program, Myakka's Florida Park Service team regularly helps share Myakka's Magic with 4th and 5th grade students. Through collaborations with community educators, students become wildlife biologists, entomologists, marine scientists, and horticulturalists for the day. And importantly, such nature connection programs help build the foundation not only for appreciation of our precious Myakka, but for future stewardship of our public lands too.
Unfortunately, some children don’t experience this opportunity to meaningfully connect with Myakka’s Magic, as their schools can't afford the cost of busing to the park. Also, these programs can result in prohibitive equipment costs to Myakka River State Park.
Thanks to funding from Friends of Myakka River, nearly 500 students from Sarasota County Title 1 schools will participate in field trips to Myakka River State Park in the 2023-24 school year. Two of the three schools attending have never been to Myakka River State Park before. Friends of Myakka River also funded additional microscopes and plankton nets needed for the program.
"In a world where natural resources and time spent outdoors is increasingly limited, and screen time and physical and mental health issues are a continued challenge, LIFE provides a critical opportunity for children to have an enjoyable, hands-on educational experience in nature." said Dr. Katherine Clements of UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, who developed and leads the program. "We're extremely thankful to Friends of Myakka River for removing cost as a barrier for access to this important opportunity."
“Actively helping our youth build meaningful connections with Myakka River State Park is critical for the future protection of this important natural gem.” said Friends of Myakka River Executive Director Miri Hardy, PhD. “We are thankful to Dr. Katherine for her important work and honored to be able to support this impactful program at Myakka River State Park, to the benefit of our youth, future generations and our own.”
To support impactful Friends of Myakka River funding initiatives such as this one, please donate to our Giving Tuesday and Year End Appeal HERE. We thank you in advance for your gift!
For more information on other funding initiatives, please contact Friends of Myakka River.
With over 37,000 acres of unique Wild Florida landscapes, waterscapes, flora and fauna, Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. A seven mile paved road provides access to park amenities for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The majority of this well-loved local gem, however, lies beyond paved roads, in Myakka’s extensive backcountry.
Exploring Myakka’s backcountry helps cultivate a sense of nature appreciation, wonder, independence and responsibility for nature stewardship. It also helps better appreciate the increasing challenges Myakka’s fragile ecosystems and park staff face, especially in light of encroaching development. But unfortunately, most park visitors do not venture into the backcountry, largely due to a lack of clear wayfinding and trail markers.
The lack of markers and trailhead maps represents an accessibility barrier for many visitors, who don’t feel safe, empowered or encouraged to explore the backcountry. And, some who venture out to the backcountry do indeed get lost. This results in a negative and potentially dangerous experience for visitors and creates a substantial drain on park resources. Restricted by both human resource capacity and cost, the park has not been able to take on this large but desired project.
Thankfully, wayfinding improvements in Myakka’s backcountry are coming soon, as Friends of Myakka River, a nonprofit organization that supports Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River, was recently chosen to receive a Two for the Trails grant from Athletic Brewing Company. Named after Co-Founder and CEO Bill Shufelt's family tradition of taking two brews to toast post-trail adventures, this program donates up to $2 million annually to nonprofits working to protect protect and restore local trails, waterways, and urban greenspaces around the world.
“Since 2018, we’ve provided essential funding to projects across 43 states, the United Kingdom, and Canada." said Athletic Brewing Brand Manager, B Corp & Two For The Trails, Cara Wilson. "The Two For The Trails program allows us to enhance and protect the quality of outdoor spaces in the communities where our customers live, work, and adventure.”
The $24,540 grant will be used by Friends of Myakka River to purchase and place custom trail markers in Myakka’s backcountry, as well as wayfinding trailhead kiosks. Approximately 200 trail markers and 4 trailhead kiosks will be installed in Myakka’s backcountry as part of this impactful project, greatly enhancing accessibility to these off the beaten path areas. And by empowering and encouraging park visitors to explore, enjoy and learn about Myakka’s magnificent and environmentally significant backcountry, this exciting project will add substantial value to our community and our environment for years to come.
“Myakka’s backcountry offers an unparalleled and increasingly rare opportunity to experience expansive Wild Florida ecosystems” said Friends of Myakka River's Executive Director Miri Hardy. “With our newly-formed dedicated workforce of members we call 'Super Friends', who are allowing us to dream bigger and accomplish more, and Athletic Brewing’s very generous support, we’re excited to be able to take on this large and highly desired project on behalf of the park.”
For more information about Friends of Myakka River, and to learn how you can support Myakka River State Park through service projects or in other ways, please visit friendsofmyakkariver.org or contact HERE
In a recent service project, dedicated members of Friends of Myakka River supported Myakka River State Park by salvaging boards and screws from a portion of the Birdwalk damaged by Hurricane Ian. In 2024, thanks to funds from Athletic Brewing Company and our Super Friends workforce, we'll be enhancing wayfinding in Myakka's Backcountry!
Friends of Myakka River, a nonprofit organization that supports Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River, was selected by REI Sarasota as their local nonprofit partner for the store's grand opening celebration morning festivities on November 10-12, 2023 at 161 N Cattlemen Road, Sarasota.
"REI Sarasota is thrilled to partner with Friends of Myakka River for our grand opening celebration." said REI Sarasota Store Manager Lisa Hofmeister. "They do such incredible work to protect the magic of Myakka for our local community through outreach and inspiring environmental education programs." She added "Myakka River State Park is cherished by locals and visitors alike, and we're proud to help preserve it for current and future generations to enjoy!"
During the grand opening celebration REI’s doors will open at 10 a.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday. Giveaways will be available while supplies last. Community members who join the morning festivities, which begin an hour before the store opens, will enjoy complimentary coffee and receive an exclusive camp mug with a donation to Friends of the Myakka River.
Special giveaways will be available in-store once doors open at 10 a.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday, while supplies last.
"REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all" said Friends of Myakka River Executive Director Miri Hardy. "We're thankful to be one of them and are gratified that our new programming resonates with our partners at REI Sarasota".
For more information about the morning festivities, see HERE.
