Big Waters Land Trust

10/30/2026

A Legacy in the Wild: Wildlife Art That Gives Back to Nature! 🎨

Have you explored the collection yet? Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of art that makes a lasting impact!

Celebrate Jack Klingensmith’s lifelong passion for conservation through an extraordinary collection of wildlife artwork, with every bid helping protect the lands and waters we all cherish.

🖼️ Online Auction: October 18 – November 14

📍 Want to experience the artwork in person? Visit our Osprey headquarters on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays from 9 AM–4 PM to preview the collection!

Browse the artwork, place your bids, and help make a difference for people and nature.

🔗 Explore the collection and bid today! Every bid helps carry Jack’s conservation legacy forward.

https://www.32auctions.com/BWLT

Silent auction 'A Legacy In The Wild' hosted online at 32auctions.

10/30/2026

Mission ABLE explored the amazing world beneath the water!

Participants got hands-on with dip netting to collect aquatic organisms, then used microscopes to take a closer look at their discoveries. It was an exciting opportunity to connect with nature, spark curiosity, and uncover just how much life can be found in even the tiniest water samples! 🐛💧

10/28/2026

Let’s Protect Sarasota County's Natural Lands! Vote YES & YES This November!

Our natural lands, clean water, and beautiful parks are worth protecting! From providing clean drinking water and helping reduce flood risks to protecting wildlife like scrub-jays, manatees, and bald eagles, these special places make Sarasota County an incredible place to call home.

Since 1999, our community has helped protect more than 42,000 acres of natural lands. Now, we have an opportunity to continue that legacy!

Make your voice heard and vote YES on BOTH ballot questions:

✅ QUESTION 1: Vote YES to continue the Environmentally Sensitive Lands and Parkland Program tax.

✅ QUESTION 2: Vote YES to approve bonds for acquiring and managing environmentally sensitive lands and parkland.

Together, we can protect the places we love, preserve our natural resources, and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

Election Day: Tuesday, November 3

Get the facts and learn more at https://sarasotacountyforever.org/

10/26/2026

A New Chapter for the Celery Fields!

This past weekend, Big Waters Land Trust and Sarasota Audubon Society celebrated the grand opening of the Southeast Quad, marking the completion of Phase I of the Re-Wilding the Quads project!

This newly restored 11-acre habitat is now open to the public, providing a thriving space for birds, wildlife, and our community to enjoy.

Guests joined us for a ribbon-cutting celebration, guided walking tours, and an opportunity to see firsthand how this once-open landscape has been transformed into a vibrant natural habitat.

A huge thank you to Sarasota Audubon Society, our community partners, and everyone who joined us to celebrate this important milestone!

Here's to protecting and restoring the natural places we love, for generations to come.

Keep up with the journey here: https://bigwaterslandtrust.org/rewilding-the-quad-parcel-at-the-celery-fields/

10/23/2026

PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT: BAY PRESERVE AT OSPREY

A hidden gem on the shores of Little Sarasota Bay, Bay Preserve at Osprey is where nature, history, and community come together.

Owned and managed by Big Waters Land Trust, this beautiful 4-acre community park offers public access to the bay, scenic views, and opportunities to kayak, row, fish, or simply soak in the beauty of Florida’s coastal landscape. 🛶🌴

Home to mangrove habitats, wading birds, and native marine life, Bay Preserve is a reminder of why protecting our natural spaces matters. Its historic Burrows-Matson House also honors a legacy of conservation for generations to come.

✨ Open to the public free of charge, dawn to dusk, seven days a week, this special place invites everyone to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of our local waterways.

📍 400 Palmetto Drive, Osprey, FL

For more information visit us at https://bigwaterslandtrust.org/

10/20/2026

BIG NEWS! We're making headlines! 📰

Thank you to ABC7 Sarasota - WWSB for highlighting the upcoming grand opening of the Southeast Quad at the Celery Fields! Big Waters Land Trust President Christine Johnson and Sarasota Audubon Society's Jeanne Dubi joined ABC7 to share how this 11-acre restoration project is transforming the landscape into a thriving habitat for wildlife and a new green space for our community to enjoy!

Join us for the Grand Opening!
Saturday, October 24, 2026
9 AM – 12 PM
📍 Southeast Quad at the Celery Fields
🎟️ FREE and open to the public!

Come explore the restored landscape, enjoy guided nature walks, and learn more about our ongoing efforts to protect and restore natural spaces for people and nature!

📺 Watch the ABC7 coverage: https://www.mysuncoast.com/2026/10/19/new-11-acre-nature-preserve-opening-near-sarasotas-celery-fields/

Follow our event page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Pc4295k26/

An 11-acre green space near Sarasota’s Celery Fields is opening to the public Saturday, October 24. The newly restored habitat features more than 21,000 trees and shrubs, walking trails and new opportunities for birdwatching as part of a larger wildlife conservation effort.

10/20/2026

Looking for a weekday adventure for your homeschool teen?

Teen Wild Trails (ages 13–17) explores Manatee County’s wild places through hikes, paddles, and hands-on outdoor adventures.

Join us November 10 for a hike at the Moody Branch Wildlife Environmental Area!

Hosted by Manatee County Explore and Play in partnership with Big Waters Land Trust.

Ready to hit the trail? Click the link to learn more and register!
🔗 https://bigwaterslandtrust.org/event/teen-wild-trails-moody-branch-hike/

10/19/2026

🎣 A Partnership for Conservation!

A big thank you to Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers for their generous donation and commitment to protecting our region's natural lands and waters!

We're grateful to President Ken Babineau (right) and Fundraising Chair Erik Larsen for presenting this donation to our Director of Philanthropy, Shalla Ashworth.

Partnerships like these make a lasting difference! We look forward to continuing our work together to protect the natural places we love for generations to come.

10/19/2026

A Legacy in the Wild: Art That Gives Back to Nature!

Celebrate the beauty of nature through an extraordinary collection of wildlife art honoring Jack Klingensmith’s lifelong passion for conservation!

🖼️ Online Auction: October 18 – November 14
Every bid supports Big Waters Land Trust’s mission to protect land and water for people and nature.

Want a closer look? Preview the artwork at our Osprey headquarters on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 AM–4 PM.

Explore, bid, and make a difference!
🔗 https://www.32auctions.com/BWLT

10/15/2026

A cloudy morning made for a perfect day of exploring at Myakka Headwaters Preserve!

We recently welcomed students from the Florida Master Naturalist Program’s Wetlands Module for a hands-on biodiversity study across several unique habitats, including the river, restored and unrestored marshes, and an area home to phragmites, a rare, tall native wetland grass.
Throughout the morning, students observed and documented plants, birds, and insects to better understand and compare biodiversity across these diverse wetland ecosystems.

Thank you to the students for joining us for a morning of discovery, learning, and connecting with nature!