A daylong event during Florida Climate Week™ will dive into citizen science, marine conservation and climate resiliency
By Carlos Roa
The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and VoLo Foundation will host REEF to Resilience, a daylong program at REEF’s Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo designed to connect South Florida students and residents with marine science and conservation.
As part of Florida Climate Week, the event will contribute to a statewide conversation about climate and resilience. Presented by VoLo Foundation, Florida Climate Week brings Floridians together to learn about climate and resilience challenges, discover solutions and take action.
This year’s FCW will take place Oct. 5-11, 2026, with more than 100 virtual and in-person events throughout the state. The initiative is free and open to the public.
REEF to Resilience will feature three components: a REEF Fish Identification class, a hands-on diving and snorkeling experience through REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey Project, and an evening panel examining how marine conservation can support climate resiliency in the Florida Keys.
For Chesley Davis, REEF’s director of learning and engagement, the event reflects the organization’s broader mission.
“Our overall goal is to connect people with marine science in different ways,” she said. “Our main way is through our volunteer fish surveys that we do around the globe.”
The Ocean as a Classroom
The program will target university students in South Florida. Participants will begin with a fish identification class at 9 a.m., followed by a tour of the Ocean Exploration Center. After lunch, they will travel to a local dive shop for a hands-on scuba diving and snorkeling experience, putting their newly learned citizen science skills to work.
Participants will then enter their observations into REEF’s database, which Davis described as the world’s largest marine fish database.
“That way they can feel they have actually participated in a citizen science project,” Davis added.
REEF’s work extends beyond fish surveys, including research and conservation initiatives focused on invasive species such as lionfish, endangered species such as the Nassau grouper, and Florida ecology. The organization also uses art and writing at its Ocean Exploration Center to create additional ways for people to connect with the ocean.
Citizen Science Within Reach
The evening program will be open to residents of the Florida Keys and South Florida. The REEF to Resilience panel will begin at 6 p.m. and is expected to include representatives from REEF, the Everglades Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The discussion will explore how citizen science and marine conservation can contribute to climate resiliency, including through activities such as fish surveys and coastal cleanups.
Davis added that accessibility is central to REEF’s approach.
“What I love about REEF is that it doesn’t matter if you are a young person, or it doesn’t matter about your age,” Davis said. “It doesn’t matter your skill set as far as swimming or diving or snorkeling. We have something here at REEF for everyone.”
The event begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and breakfast. The fish identification class starts at 9 a.m., followed by the center tour, lunch and the afternoon field experience. Dinner and data entry will take place at 4:45 p.m., with public registration for the evening panel beginning at 5:45 p.m. Closing remarks are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
“We’re trying to find ways to connect people to the ocean,” Davis explained. “That’s the overall theme.”
REEF to Resilience will take place Oct. 6 during Florida Climate Week. Check the Whova event app for the schedule. Registration opens Sept. 1 at floridaclimateweek.org.
Image: Janna Nichols/Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
