Tuesday December 9 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Don Pedro Island State Park, 8450 Placida Rd, Placida, FL
Admission: $3 per vehicle (payable at park entrance via QR code)
A Hands-On Outdoor ExperienceThis month’s Coffee & Conservation is a little different. Instead of gathering indoors, we’re taking conservation back to where it all begins — the water. Join us for an interactive, outdoor workshop at Don Pedro Island State Park where participants will roll up their sleeves and build their own Vertical Oyster Garden (VOG).
These simple but powerful structures help filter and restore water quality in our local estuaries, one oyster at a time. Together, we’ll learn how oysters improve Charlotte Harbor’s health — and how your personal VOG can make a measurable difference right from your own dock or seawall.
Led by Ashley Cook, Charlotte Harbor Environmental CenterOur guest speaker, Ashley Cook, brings global conservation experience to this local effort. A lifelong Floridian and environmental scientist, Ashley has served with the Peace Corps in Senegal, led wildlife programs in Costa Rica and Thailand, and now manages conservation projects for CHEC’s Alligator Creek Preserve in Punta Gorda.
Learn more about CHEC’s work at checflorida.org.
Give the Gift of a Vertical Oyster GardenThis holiday season, attendees can choose to build and take home their own Vertical Oyster Garden or donate one to support local restoration initiatives.
About This Special EditionWe’re closing out the year with a hands-on Coffee & Conservation experience!
Join us outdoors at Don Pedro Island State Park for a morning that blends coffee, community, and coastal restoration.
Under the guidance of Ashley Cook from the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC), participants will learn how oysters help clean and restore our waterways — then get to build their own Vertical Oyster Garden (VOG) to take home or donate toward local water quality projects.
Why It’s DifferentUnlike our usual sit-down sessions, this event takes place outside in nature. You’ll be working directly with materials, learning by doing, and helping improve Charlotte Harbor’s ecosystem one oyster at a time.
Please dress for the outdoors — closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, hat, and bug spray are highly recommended. Seating is limited; bring a beach or camping chair if possible.
Event DetailsTuesday December 9 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PMDon Pedro Island State Park, 8450 Placida Rd, Placida, FLAdmission: $3 per vehicle (payable at park entrance via QR code) A Hands-On Outdoor Experience This month’s Coffee & Conservation is a little different. Instead of gathering indoors, we’re taking conservation back to where it
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