Brevard Nature Alliance

As an organization focused on natural resources and nature-based and cultural heritage tourism, we actively offer promotion and support of several key programs and projects of special interest to the community. These include:

Engaging

county-wide businesses who provide nature-based and cultural-heritage tourism activities, and partnering with organizations that provide support to these providers, facilitates a broader reach of information to visitors to Florida’s Space Coast.

On-going development

of the annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival. The festival is recognized as the largest such event in the United States. It has become a premier national and international destination for birding, wildlife watching and nature-based activities.

Assisting

with implementation of local initiatives of special significance for nature-based education programs of many types and sizes, including Environmentally Endangered Lands Sanctuaries and other properties, to increase awareness of Brevard County’s natural resources.

It is with a heavy heart that we are informing you that the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival will be canceled for 2022. It was a difficult decision. But we want to ensure that our guests are safe and with Covid exploding in our community the way that it is, we can’t provide an atmosphere in which we are confident that our guests will be safe.

We deeply appreciate the fact that you were willing to support our event this year. Depending on the condition of Covid, we hope to come back strong next year with one of the very best birding and wildlife festivals in the Nation. We hope you will consider joining us.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Brevard Nature Alliance is to build public awareness and appreciation of the value of Brevard County’s natural resources by fostering and promoting ethical nature-based ecotourism.

Our Vision

The Brevard Nature Alliance (BNA) is a voluntary group of individuals and organizations associated for the purpose of raising the awareness through education and understanding of the natural resources that become an important part of everyone’s life in Brevard County. We are dedicated to serving our community through outreach and sharing of information.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

25th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival

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Board of Directors

Holly Abeels

University of Florida IFAS Extension
Brevard County Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent

Michelle Baker

Brevard County Judge

Virginia Barker

Vice Chair
Brevard County Director, Natural Resouces Management Dept.

Anne Birch

Vice Chair
The Nature Conservancy Florida Marine Program Manager

Sue Carlson

Secretary
Community Advocate

Bob Day

Vice Chair
Community Advocate

Melinda Donnelly

University of Central Florida Post-Doctoral Researcher

Pete Eggert

Environmental Health & Safety Manager Space Florida

Tracy Frampton

Executive Director, Florida Wildlife Hospital

Bart Gaetjens

Chair
Area External Affairs Manager, Florida Power & Light

Bob Musser

Canaveral Port Authority Director, Port Environmental

Jody Palmer

Director of Conservation Brevard Zoo

Robbyn Spratt

Brevard County Lead Engineer, Stormwater Program

Laurilee Thompson

Treasurer
Co-Owner, Dixie Crossroads Restaurant

Charlie Venuto

Part-time Professor of Environmental Science
American Public University

Support Staff

Executive Director Barb Eager Executive Director Barb came onboard as the Executive Director of the BNA in May 2016. She is responsible for all operational activities of the Alliance, with the number one event being the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival (SCBWF). She brings a background of over 35 years in tourism, non-profit management and national event planning. Barb Eager’s previous affiliation was with the North American Association for Environmental Education as Deputy Director of Administration, Conference and Core Services. She brings years of nonprofit experience to the BNA with a strong emphasis on organizational, financial and time management skills. Starting with a very successful SCBWF in January 2017, Barb became the primary organizer of the Sponsors, Exhibitors, keynote and spotlight speakers, and works closely with the Festival Chair and onsite service providers. Along with mentoring the rest of the support team, Barb travels extensively nationwide promoting the festival going to the American Birding Expo, Cape May Fall Festival, Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival and the Biggest Week in Birding. Barb works closely with the BNA Board of Directors to nurture future growth of the BNA in line with the BNA’s mission. Barb was instrumental in creating the Giving Back to Conservation initiative which helps benefit other local nonprofit organizations. Social Media Coordinator Jim Eager Social Media Coordinator After being associated with the festival for many years as a field trip leader, Jim is now also responsible for all social media for the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival (SCBWF) as well as the Brevard Nature Alliance (BNA). In addition to the SCBWF Jim is also a field trip leader for the Everglades Birding Festival and Florida Birding & Nature Festival as well as guiding in the Central Florida area with his own company Obsessive Compulsive Birding (www.obsessivecompulsivebirding.com). Jim is a former board member of the Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA) and past board member of the Florida Ornithological Society (FOS). Administrative Services Coordinator Kathy Rooney Administrative Services Coordinator Kathy joined the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival (SCBWF) and Brevard Nature Alliance (BNA) 4 years ago. She received her Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland in Behavioral & Social Sciences. As a long time Brevard resident of 35 years, she was previously a part of the advertising production department at Florida Today newspaper for 22 years and currently works for MLSBC Cruises in guest turn-around services at Port Canaveral. She provides customer support, communication skills, in-house advertising materials, strong organizational expertise, and works closely with the executive director helping to meet the needs of the festival’s Sponsors & Exhibitors, advertising commitments, and administration services of SCBWF & BNA. Development Coordinator Tamie Bulow Development Coordinator Tamie joined the team in 2020 and has recently been named the Development Coordinator. While primarily doing the grant writing for the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival, she will also be working with the sponsors, exhibitors and other aspects during the execution of the Festival. A graduate of the University of Denver, Tamie managed an ice arena before becoming an ice skate rep for a 5-state area. She moved to Colorado Springs to be the Conference and Conventions Manager for the American Birding Association for five years. A move to Texas brought positions as the Nature Tourism Manager for Chambers County, the Executive Director of the Texas Tropical Trail, and manager of the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center. Prior to COVID, Tamie worked at the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. Family Wildlife Adventure Day Coordinator Betty Salter Family Wildlife Adventure Day Coordinator With Betty's background of over 20 years with Brevard County Parks and Recreation, she was the perfect seasonal support staff to take on management of the Space Coast Family Wildlife Adventure Day. A large part of Betty's position was to coordinate county wide events, many for student groups. She created and implemented educational programs for students of all ages Betty was also a volunteer with the US Fish and Wildlife Service at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) for about 25 years. She has been a Refuge Rover and a Beginning Birding Field Trip Leader, activities were very dear to her. She currently serves on the Great Outdoors Nature, RV & Golf Resort Firewise Committee and as Trail Master for their Nature Center.

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OUR OFFICE

P.O. Box 1972, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

PHONE NUMBER

321-268-5224

FACEBOOK

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About Our Organization

Brevard Nature Alliance is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. Registration # CH19903 Florida Solicitation of Contributions Act.
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