Discover Nature at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation

For all residents and visitors who enjoy the natural beauty of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on Sanibel and Captiva and in the surrounding watershed have the nonprofit Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) to thank. Dedicated to the conservation of these coastal habitats and resources, SCCF is responsible for the care of more than 1,300 acres of land on the islands. A must-see for families and nature lovers who want to take a peek at Florida’s unique wildlife and wetland habitats, The SCCF hosts a number of activities and programs. There are lots of things to do and see for visitors as part of SCCF’s educational programs for people of all ages, such as beach walks to trail walks, boat tours, wading trips, kayak tours and classroom activities. The awesome Nature Center on Sanibel is home to 4 miles of trails and observation tower, turtle and other exhibits, a marine-life touch tank, butterfly house and Nature Shop. SCCF’s Native Plant Nursery has a variety of plants for sale, as well as landscaping and educational services. The trails wind along the Sanibel River where you might see alligators and snakes, birds, lizards and lush vegetation. The popular SCCF Marine-Laboratory actively directs research on the likes of sea grasses, mangroves, harmful algal blooms, and fish and shellfish restoration. The SCCF website shows in real-time images of key water quality parameters. Their weather station provides of-the-moment data from their station on Sanibel-Captiva Road on Sanibel. SCCF is the recipient of the Conservation Organization Of The Year award by the Florida Wildlife Federation at the recent 77th annual conservation awards banquet in June in Naples. Founded in 1967, The SCCF was hailed for its “outstanding accomplishments on water quality, land use policy, sea turtles monitoring and conservation education.”