Events

2024 Events

 

KEEPING IT TOASTY IN 2024

 

Toasty

The Nassau County Sierra Group introduces ‘Keep It Toasty’, a once a month winter film series running January through March at the Fernandina Beach Public Library. 

We’re very excited to utilize our local library as a venue for this 2024 winter environmental film series. We have a great line-up so mark your calendars for this opportunity to learn more about environmental topics and engage with your community. 

January 26th screens the feature film “ENTANGLED, The Race to Save the Right Whale from Extinction”. This 75 minute masterfully crafted documentary tells the dire and complex story of the most imperiled whale species on earth. 

February 23rd, in celebration of Black History Month, the film "No Time To Waste, The Urgent Mission of Betty Reid Soskin", will be screened. This film celebrates the legendary 100-year-old park ranger Betty Reid Soskin's inspiring life, work and urgent mission to restore critical missing chapters of America's story.

March 27th - “Nature’s Cleanup Crew” examines the lives of the busy scavengers who live among us in our cities, recycling the mountains of waste our consumer society leaves behind. 

Nassau Sierra’s events are open to the public and admission is free. 

Doors for each viewing open at 6:30 p.m, film begins 7pm

Seating is limited to 30. 

Location: Fernandina Beach Public Library, 25 N. 4th Street

“The film series, ‘Keep It Toasty’, creates opportunities for all of us to understand how the environment and sustainability issues are relevant to each and every one of us.”- Julie Ferreira, chairperson of Nassau County Sierra Group

 

Our 1st film: “ENTANGLED, The Race to Save the Right Whale from Extinction”

 

Entangled

On January 26th, join Nassau Sierra Group for our first presentation of the ‘Keep It Toasty’ film series when we will screen “ENTANGLED, The Race to Save the Right Whale from Extinction”. 

This 75 minute masterfully crafted documentary tells the dire and complex story of the most imperiled whale species on earth. 

“ENTANGLED” brings us into the world of these ocean giants and into the lives of people intertwined with them. Beautifully filmed, with a journalistic style, this film leads us on a journey through the threats, conflicts, and solutions, while leaving us pondering the fate of a species whose existence hangs in the balance. An important story artfully told, through science and human emotion. (75min.)

Showing is free to the public at 7pm Friday 1/26 at the Fernandina Public Library, 25 N 4th St. 

 

2023 Events

Super Blue Moon Kayak Fundraiser in Support of Nassau County Sierra on August 30th, 2023

 

Wednesday, August 30th, Nassau Sierra partnered with Kayak Amelia to present a Super Blue Moon Kayak Experience. (Super moons happen when the moon is full at the same time its orbit is closest to Earth).  Here are some pictures from the event:

Snacks and drinks
Snacks and drinks

 

Setting out
Preparing to put the kayaks into the water

 

On the water
In the moonlight on the water

 

 

Details:

  • Participation (all kayaks provided) – $85 includes happy hour drinks and appetizers (double kayak cost is $170)
  • Meet at 7 pm (Kayak Amelia, Talbot Islands State Park) for drinks and lite snacks.
  • This is a guided nature tour which is a great way to learn about kayaking and the local environment. Along the way our guides will describe the saltmarsh eco-system, critters, and local history. 
  • We will be on the water to see the Super Blue Moon Rise. This is a truly extraordinary sky-watching experience.
  •  Numbers limited, sign up today.
  • Location: Kayak Amelia on Heckshire Drive/A1A
  • Rain date will be Thursday August 31st- (call Kayak Amelia). 
  • To sign up go to Kayak Amelia website:  https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/kayakamelia/items/371280/availability/1248510502/book/?full-items=yes

Together, we can make our community stronger!

You may also support the programs and outreach of Nassau County Sierra Group by donating at P.O. Box 38, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035

Back to top of page

 

STAY COOL FILM SERIES: EXPAND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE ONE MOVIE AT A TIME

 

Stay Cool

 

The Nassau County Sierra Club will host the Stay Cool Film Series during the months of August and September designed to expand your environmental knowledge one film at a time.

We're ready to take you on a journey covering some of the biggest environmental challenges of our lifetime, including the social and ecological impacts of contemporary mining, environmental justice issues, sustainability, a visually stunning journey through US environmental history, and an enchanting wilderness journey through the Grand Canyon.

The Stay Cool Film Series will take place once a month on a Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Fernandina Beach Public Library, 25 N. 4th Street. The admission is totally free.

 

Our next film will be:  Into The Canyon

Into the Canyon

The screening is free at the Fernandina Public Library on September 15th at 7:00 pm. Join us.

Grand Canyon

Filmmaker/photographer Peter McBride and writer Kevin Fedarko decided to walk the entire length of the Grand Canyon, a 750-mile trek. They had no idea what they were getting into. Their documentary is an engaging mixed bag of a buddy film, history, classic beauty shots of the environment, the politics of development, and an important message regarding protecting national parks and world treasures.

Admission is free. Presented by the Nassau County Sierra Club.

 

 

 

 

Our second film was: The Shadow of Gold

Shadow of Gold

The Shadow of Gold

 

The screening is free at the Fernandina Public Library on August 18th at 7 pm. Join us.

In the documentary, “The Shadow of Gold”,  the human stories resonate about how we are all globally connected to gold, including the conflict and pollution that mining companies don’t like to talk about. From communities threatened by proposed mining projects in the U.S. and Canada to small-time and artisanal miners risking their health—and their lives—in countries like Congo, Peru and China, THE SHADOW OF GOLD leads viewers from these flashpoints of extraction through loosely regulated supply networks to the very top of the global supply chain, where conflict gold reaches consumers who are unaware of the origins of this coveted commodity.

 

Our first film was: Stewart Udall: The Politics of Beauty

July 21, 2023, 7:00 pm

Kennedy and Udall

This visually stimulating feature documentary introduces us to the birth pangs of modern environmentalism. We see how Stewart Udall’s ideas evolved, best illustrated in his conversion from a pro-power dam Arizona representative to the Interior Secretary who dealt the death blow to proposed Grand Canyon dams. We examine his long fight to win compensation for Navajo Indians and “downwinders” who got cancer from their exposure to radiation during the Cold War without being warned of the dangers. And we see the relevance of his concerns—for example, he was the first public official to speak out about global warming—which brings us to our current day crises.

 

 

COVID-19 safety measures

Event will be indoors

Special Communicable Disease advisory:
● This event may include vaccinated and non-vaccinated participants
● No Covid or any health test is required to attend this event
● If you have any of the following symptoms, please do not attend this event:
* Fever or chills
* Congestion or runny nose
* Headache
* Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
* Nausea or vomiting
* Muscle or body aches
* New loss of taste or smell
*Sore throat

● Please bring a mask in case a situation arises where donning a mask may be warranted.

Back to top of page

Nassau County Sierra Club Summer Events:

The Nassau County Sierra Club will host the Stay Cool Film Series during July, August, and September designed to expand your environmental knowledge one film at a time. 

NEXT FILM

 September 15th - Stay Cool Film Series: Into The Canyon

Trail

 

Back to top

NEXT OUTING

Hike the Talbot Island Dune Loop

Sunday September 24th, 10:00 am

Details

Beach Trail

We'll hike at a moderate pace for about four miles - two miles through beautiful maritime forest and about two miles along the beach looking to enjoy spotting shorebirds, pelicans, and perhaps a passing dolphin. 

There is a $5.00 entrance fee per vehicle (up to eight occupants), $4.00 for single occupant. Bring exact change.

You will need to register and sign a liability waiver. This can be done online. The link is below:

Bring: water, BUG SPRAY, sunscreen, sturdy footwear

No pets, please. Children above age 8 and capable of hiking 4 miles on a varied terrain are welcome.

Hike limited to 12 people.

DIRECTIONS:

The park’s address is 12157 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32226.

From Amelia Island: cross George Crady Bridge off the southend and travel past Kayak Amelia until you see Little Talbot State Park on the left. Turn left into the park, pay at the gate, and drive a short way. We will meet in the first parking lot on the left.

To get there from Jacksonville, take Heckshire Drive exit follow and follow Heckshire east and then north a total of 14 miles to Little Talbot Island State Park. Turn right into the park, pay at the gate, and drive a short way. We will meet in the first parking lot on the left.

COVID-19 safety measures

Event will be outdoors

Back to top

 

LAST OUTING

Spot a Falling Star: Perseid Meteor Shower and Skywatching at the Beach (August 13th)

 

Beach Trail

 

Details

Join us at Fernandina's North Beach Park for a late night adventure to welcome the Perseid Meteor Showers. The August 13th is the peak for this year as the Earth passes through the densest and dustiest area of incoming meteors. The moon will only be 10% illuminated, which is prime. We’re hoping for a clear dark sky to view the Perseids which are one of the most popular meteor showers of the year (more background below.)

Please be prompt. We will be meeting under the gazebo at 9:15pm. We need to gather Sierra Club required Participant Agreements and give a safety talk before going down to the beach promptly at 9:30pm.

The group will stay together for safety and camaraderie.

Restrooms
There are no restrooms available.

What to Bring
Bring your beach chair or blanket, water, and bug spray.

What Not to Bring

  • No alcohol is allowed on City of Fernandina Beach beaches.
  • Help the environment by bringing your water in a reusable container instead of a single-use plastic bottle.

More on Perseid Meteor Showers

The Perseids are caused by Earth passing through debris- bits of ice and rock- left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle which last passed close to the Earth in 1992. If you see a meteor, you're actually seeing pieces of comet debris heat up as they enter the atmosphere and burn up in a bright burst of light. They streak a vivid path across the sky as they travel at 37 miles per second (according to NASA).


Sign up on Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/sierra-club-nassau-county-florida/events/294781027/

    Back to top

    Future Outings

    Date

    Outing

    July 23rd 

     

    Bike Pumpkin Hill Creek State Park- Jacksonville

     

    Bike Trail

     

    August 27th

     

    Kayak Lofton Creek- Yulee 

     

    Bike Trail

     

    September 24th

     

    Hike Talbot State Park’s Dune Ridge Loop to the Beach

    Beach Trail

     

    Back to top

     

    Future Films

    September 15th - Stay Cool Film Series: Into The Canyon

    Trail

     

    Back to top

     

    Previous Films

     

    Shadow of Gold- Friday August 18th, 7pm, Fernandina Library

    Shadow of Gold

     

    The Shadow of Gold is an ambitious documentary exploring a metal that still fascinates the world. it provides a global examination throughout the gold supply chain that balances both environmental and business oriented perspectives, while simultaneously not shying away from the severe social and ecological impacts of contemporary mining. "By shining a light on the possibilities for more sustainable practices, the film encourages viewers to strive to protect the purity of our environment, and, finally, to re-think the sort of luxury that comes in gold."

    Back to top

    July 21st - Stay Cool Film Series: Stewart Udall- The Politics of Beauty

    The first free screening was on July 21st at 7:00 pm at the Fernandina Public Library is "STEWART UDALL: THE POLITICS OF BEAUTY".

    Kennedy and Udall
     
     
    • This visually- powerful film captures the inspiring story of former Interior Secretary Stewart L. Udall and his legacy as an advocate of social and environmental justice, international cooperation, art, poetry and music, and most of all, the protection of our shared environment and magnificent natural beauty. 
    •  
    • Serving under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, this story highlights the bi-partisan nature of Udall's efforts and calls on us to move beyond the polarization of our time and work together to protect our shared natural heritage. 
    •  
    • Udall added more units to the National Park system than any other Interior Secretary in history, while pushing through Congress much of the significant environmental legislation we now take for granted. He believed it was the duty of conservation to preserve natural beauty for generations to come, and he did. Join us!

    Back to top

    2020 Florida Chapter Retreat 

    POSTPONED: The 2020 Florida Chapter Retreat set for March 20-21 in Lakes Wales has been postponed. Prior registrations will be refunded.

     

    The Florida Chapter of Sierra Club invites ALL Florida Sierra Members to its Statewide Weekend Retreat near beautiful Cypress Gardens at the 677-acre Flaming Arrow Boy Scout Camp which is known for its pristine wilderness and three clear spring-fed natural lakes. 

     When: Mark the dates on your calendar- Friday March 20th (5:00 pm) to Sunday March 22nd (12:30 pm).

    Cost: $50.00 all inclusive. Includes lodging at the Camp, food, seminars, hiking, campfires and fun! 

    The keynote speaker is: Loren Blackford, National Sierra Club, President of the Board 

      

    sierra banner
     
    Special activity choices: an outing that focuses on the Lake Wales Ridge habitat lead by Florida Naturalist and Outings Leader Shirley Denton, a Florida Scrub Jay bird hike at Lake Kissimmee, special family and youth outings lead by Certified Youth Leaders, canoeing, night sky-watching program, campfire, entertainment, and other exciting outdoor activities.
     
    Lodging: Tents, Adirondack Cabins, and Bunk houses 
    Tent Camping with bathrooms nearby
    Bunkhouse with bathrooms in Bunkhouse building.
    9 Adirondacks cabins with power that sleep 8 people per building, Bathrooms nearby.
     

    Signup Instructions: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=7010Z000001wAQKQA2&mapLinkHref=https://maps.google.com/maps&daddr=2020%20Florida%20Chapter%20Retreat@27.89936,-81.445315

    Additional Details available after sign up.

     

     

     

     Monthly Program:  February 21st

    NASSAU SIERRA FILM SERIES- "ACID HORIZON"

    Acid Horizon is a feel good global warming disaster movie. 


    This documentary film follows marine ecologist Dr. Erik Cordes on a harrowing deep-sea expedition to track down the “supercoral”, a strain of the deep-water coral Lophelia pertusa, that seems to possess the unique genetic capability to thrive in low-pH situations. Scientists estimate that carbon pollution is causing oceans to acidify faster than they have in 300 million years. Acidic water is known to be particularly bad for sea formations with calcium carbonate in their skeletons like corals.

    The film is the first feature by director Ivan Hürzeler, who says “it's a story about finding hope in the darkest of places. From 3000 feet below the waves, in crushing pressure and cold, Dr. Erik Cordes and his remarkable colleagues are fighting for our survival in an uncertain future. The movie puts a human face on the complex science and superhuman effort against climate change.” Don’t miss it! 

     

     

    Right Whale Sighting Training on Friday, January 31st, at 7:00 pm at the Fernandina Beach Library . 

    Nassau County Sierra Club and AIRWAG (the Amelia Island Right Whale Action Group) invites all full and part time residents to attend a free training session on how to spot and report sightings of North Atlantic Right Whales. We especially would like to train those living in high-rise condos or beachfront homes to be spotters.

     

    2019 Events

     

     

    2019 Right Whale Festival in Fernandina Beach

    2019 Right Whale Festival

    At the Nov 2-3rd Right Whale Festival at Main Beach, the Nassau County
    Sierra Club helped celebrate and welcome our favorite migratory
    species into our warmer waters. The Nassau Sierra Club and its
    subcommittee, the Amelia Island Right Whale Action Group (AIRWAG), was
    well represented at the 2019 Festival which was the first ever to be
    held in Fernandina Beach.

    The Right Whale Festival celebrates the annual return of endangered
    North Atlantic right whales to the warm coastal water off northeast
    Florida and Georgia where they give birth to and nurse their young.
    With a few more than 400 Right Whales remaining, this event is
    sponsored by NOAA to raise awareness of the threats that face right
    whales and how we can help in their recovery.

    The right whale is very temperature sensitive and they calve during
    winter in the near offshore waters of the southeast U.S. coast of
    which Fernandina Beach is pretty much 'right whale central'.

    Our local Sierra group had an informational booth and many Nassau
    Sierra Club members were active in the planning, production of the
    festival and as festival volunteers. With 70 booths onsite, the
    festival highlighted local efforts to protect these whales from
    extinction. There were also ocean-themed activities and exhibits that
    emphasized education and environmentally responsible adventures and
    products.

    2019 Right Whale Festival Booth

    It was wonderful to see that over half the booths were whale
    scientists and environmentalists from all over Florida and the coastal
    states that are adjacent to the Right Whale Migration routes. All the
    lectures and informational series were well attended.

    The life size inflatable whales, puppets and parades were fabulous to
    see. There were several art projects designed for children that were
    big hits There were also show and tell exhibits of whale bone and
    baleen designed to engage children teaching that baleen works as a
    giant sieve to catch the whale's food.

    The North Atlantic right whale is ranked as endangered by the
    International Union for Conservation of Nature. Besides ship strikes
    and entanglements, right whales also face threats from marine
    pollution and ocean acidification. It has also been speculated that
    man-made sonar can create standings.

    Numerous government agencies, including the U.S. Navy ”Stewards of the
    Sea”, Florida Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries, Marine Resources
    Council were represented. We even saw teenagers engaged in the process
    when they were able to sit in the driver's seats of the
    law-enforcement boats that were on display at Main Beach.

    Fernandina Beach mayor Johnny Miller proclaimed November to be Right
    Whale month; and an award was presented to representatives for Florida
    Representative John Rutherford, who has initiated legislation opposing
    offshore drilling and seismic testing.

    The organizers, volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors and attendees all
    agree that The Right Whale Festival held at Fernandina Beach FL Main
    Beach Park was a great success. It was a magical weekend for our North
    Atlantic Right Whales, and it geared up our local audience to welcome
    our special seasonal residents and to be aware of the challenges they
    face.

    Important facts to know:

    Eubalaena (right whales) are conscious breathers. Most mammals sleep,
    but whales cannot afford to become unconscious for long because they
    may drown. They are believed to sleep with half of their brain while
    the other half remains active.
    Right whales migrate through some of the world's busiest shipping
    lanes to come to our area to give birth. One of their biggest threats
    is the threat of being struck by ships. It has been observed that
    right whales may be unable to hear approaching vessels before it has
    being run over or entrapped by the boat's hydrodynamic forces . We
    urge all boaters moving through our waters to slow their speeds down
    during the months of November and April. Although adults can be 36 to
    60 feet in length, they can be slow to move.  Always keep in your boat
    500 yards away from any right whale because we want mothers and calves
    to have lots of space.
    Right whales can also become victims of bycatch which is especially
    serious for North Atlantic right whales considering their small
    numbers. Entanglement in rope and fishing gear is another threat.


    Please report all right whale sightings. Also report any injured or
    entangled right whales by calling: 877-WHALE-HELP.

    Interested in right whales? In 2018, the Nassau County Sierra Club
    established a right whale subcommittee (AIRWAG) to help raise local
    awareness of the critically endangered nature of this species. Less
    than 400 individuals now are in existence despite seven decades of
    protection efforts. No population growth is currently being observed.

    For more detailed information on how you can participate, please
    contact Julie at 904-583-4388 or Candis at 904-759-0802.

     

     

    Film: Just Eat It

    The Nassau County Sierra Club presented the film "Just Eat It" at their monthly meeting on Friday, November 8th at the Fernandina Beach Library at 7 pm.

    "Just Eat It" is a digestible visual feast of a documentary on
    cuisine-based activism.

    As a society, we devour countless cooking shows, culinary magazines,
    and foodie blogs. Since we all love food, how can we possibly be
    throwing 50% of it in the trash?

    This fun and highly accessible documentary will create a revolution in
    the way we eat and view food. Appropriate for ages 12 and up. The film
    is free and open to all.

     

    Eat It Movie Image

    Eat It Movie Image

     

     

     

    Film: One Big Home

    Gentrification comes in many forms. On the tiny island of Martha's Vineyard, where presidents and celebrities vacation, trophy homes threaten to destroy the island's unique character.
    Twelve years in the making, ONE BIG HOME follows one carpenter's journey to understand the trend toward giant houses. When he feels complicit in wrecking the place he calls home, Thomas Bena takes off his tool belt and picks up a camera. Bumping up against angry homeowners and builders who look the other way, he works with his community and attempts to pass a new bylaw to limit house size. 

    "Engaging and provocative...Provides a contemporary example of how the values of individual consumption are pitted against the values of preserving community well-being and, ultimately, social and environmental sustainability. This film raises important and challenging questions about the contested nature and boundaries of community, the exercise of political agency, and the complexity of the multiple dilemmas associated with growth, development and the 'tragedy of the commons.'"


    - Dr. Kai Schafft, Associate Professor, Education and Rural Sociology, Director, Center on Rural Education and Communities, Penn State University

    One Big House

     

     

     

    Film: Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock

    Awake

    For its September 8th program at 7 pm. at the Fernandina Beach library, the Nassau County Sierra Group will offer Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock. The film is a collaboration between Indigenous filmmakers, Director Myron Dewey, Executive Producer Doug Good Feather and environmental Academy Award Nominated filmmakers James Spione and Josh Fox.

    Standing Rock North Dakota became one of the most watched places on earth. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe captured world attention through their peaceful resistance. While many may know the details, Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock, captures the story of Native-led defiance that forever changed how we fight for clean water, our environment and the future of our planet.

     The film is free to the public but Nassau County Sierra Club will also be collecting donations which will be sent to the Indigenous Media Fund and the Pipeline Fighters Fund. Both funds are supervised by the film's creators and a council of Indigenous leaders to support direct actions, Indigenous filmmakers, and independent journalists. $5 is the suggested donation.

    The change that we need is not going to come from a politician, it's going to come from something that's always been the driver of change – people power. 

    The Sierra Club will offer the opportunity to ask questions and discuss local water issues at the end of the film.

     

     

     

    Film: The Secret Life of Your Clothes

    For its March 10th program, the Nassau County Sierra Group will offer a fast-paced, entertaining and informative documentary, The Secret Life of Your ClothesThis film will open your eyes to the surprisingly untold story...the secret life of your clothes...and the contradictions of globalization. 

    Each year, thousands of tons of unwanted clothes are given away to charity. But where do they actually go? It turns out many are exported to Africa. Even though we have given them away for free, our castoffs have created a multimillion-dollar industry and some of the world's poorest people pay good money to buy them.

    In this revealing film, charismatic Paralympian Ade Adepitan tells the fascinating story of the afterlife of used clothes. From Britain, he follows the used clothing trail to Ghana, which is the largest importer of castoffs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thousands of tons of used clothing arrive every  week. Ade meets the people who make a livng from our old clothes - from wholesalers and market traders to the importers who rake in more than the average local yearly wage in a single day.

    However, not everyone is profiting. Cheaply-made western clothes flood the local markets and force local manufacturers out of business. The rich, historic culture of fabulously intricate textiles being produced in Africa for generations is in danger of dying out. 

    The Secret Life of Your Clothes will be shown Friday, March 10th, 7pm at the Fernandina Beach Public Library. It's free to the public and all are welcome.

     

    Where the bulk of your donated clothes REALLY go.

     

     

    Previous Year Events

    FREE FILM VIEWING FRIDAY DEC. 9, 7:30-9:00PM AT THE FERNANDINA BEACH LIBRARY

    FILM DETAILS: RACING TO ZERO 

     

     

     

     

    Free screening of the multi-award winning film "Oil and Water" Saturday, Nov. 26. Details below. 

     

    Friday, Nov. 26, 7:00 - 8:30 PM:  Free film “Oil & Water" - Two boys come of age looking for solutions to the global problem of reckless oil drilling following years of oil contamination in the Ecuadorian Amazon.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON "OIL AND WATER" 

    Location: Fernandina Beach Library (25 N. 4th Street).

     

     

    FREE film screening Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. Details below.

     

    Take a break and join Nassau County Sierra Group for a free screening of the film Anthropocene, Friday October 14th at 7pm at the Fernandina Beach Library (25 N. 4th Street).

    This film is a compelling introduction to the Anthropocene Era: The age of large-scale human impact on earth that many scientists believe constitutes a whole new epoch in the geologic timescale.

    In Anthropocene, a chorus of scholars weighs in on whether our moment in the spotlight of Earth’s history will go down as a true tragedy - defined by its extinctions and upheavals - or just a dark comedy.

    Armed with this new way of looking at our own place in the universe, how can we work to remedy the ecological and climatic disasters we’ve wrought?

    This gripping film is a balanced portrayal of the issues at stake and is appropriate for ages 15 and up. The screening is free and open to the public.

     

     

    Free screening of the multi-award winning film "Oil and Water" Friday, Aug. 5. Full details below. 

     

    Nassau County Sierra Group presents a family-friendly summer EcoFilm Series at the Fernandina Beach Public Library. Each event includes a film presentation and audience discussion on how global issues can be tackled locally.

    • All films are shown in the Community Room at the Fernandina Beach Public Library (25 N. 4th St. Fernandina Beach, FL 32034).
    • Films are open to the public. Everyone is welcome! No booking required, just show up.
    • WATCH. LEARN. TAKE ACTION.

    The Nassau County Sierra Group's Summer EcoFilm Series provides a valuable opportunity for citizens to learn about global environmental issues by viewing award-winning documentaries. The upcoming schedule is as follows: 

    Friday, July 4, 6:45 pm:  Free film "The Whale" - The story of Luna, a young wild killer whale who challenged the established order of things when he tried to make friends with people. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON "THE WHALE"

    Friday, August 5, 7pm:  Free film “Oil & Water" - Two boys come of age looking for solutions to the global problem of reckless oil drilling following years of oil contamination in the Ecuadorian Amazon.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON "OIL AND WATER" 

     

     

     

    On May 21st, 2016 the Wild Amelia's Eco Expo was filled with exhibits from green vendors, nature and conservancy groups at the Fernandina Beach Recreation Center. 

    Nassau County Sierra's booth was a big hit. The booth was designed to get participants to think about their plastic bag usage.

    Joyce Newlin, the Membership Chair of Nassau Sierra, was dressed as the Bag Lady to raise awareness about plastic bags. Also seen here are Faith Ross, Newsletter Editor, who designed the sensational exhibit and Nassau Sierra Chairperson, Julie Ferreira. 

     

     

     

     

    Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the Hands Across the Sand event more than 70 people lined up by the water’s edge of Main Beach in Fernandina to join hands and take a stand against offshore drilling and seismic testing.

    The unbroken line of people represented drawing a visual line in the sand to protect the ocean, marine wildlife, local fisheries, and our Florida coastal economy from the threats of expanded offshore drilling.

    Florida surfer Dave Rauschkolb first founded Hands Across The Sand in October 2009 in response to a bill passed in the Florida House of Representatives that would lift the ban on near shore drilling. With the support of sponsor organizations, he rallied more than 10,000 Floridians to join hands on Feb. 13, 2010, to show a united opposition to near shore drilling. As a result, the bill was tabled the next month. Two months later the BP Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Dave then organized a global Hands Across the Sand to urge President Barack Obama to abandon his bid to open the continental United States waters to offshore oil drilling.

    This was the 5th year for the Hands Across the Sand event to be sponsored by the Nassau County Sierra Group at Main Beach. Last year’s event protested offshore drilling, but since then, the federal government has announced it won’t allow offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean through 2022.

    This year's event was designed to bring attention to the fact that the U.S. Department of the Interior is considering allowing geophysical companies, working on behalf of oil and gas companies, to use seismic airguns to search for offshore oil and gas in the Atlantic Ocean, from Delaware to Florida.

    According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's own estimates, the seismic airgun testing currently being proposed in the Atlantic could injure 138,000 whales and dolphins and disturb millions more. The airguns used for seismic testing generate intense pulses of sound. The loud blasts are used on a recurring basis, going off every ten seconds, for 24 hours a day, often for weeks on end. They are so loud that they penetrate through the ocean, and miles into the seafloor, then bounce back, bringing information to the surface about the location of buried oil and gas deposits.

    Seismic testing is a precursor to oil and gas exploration which is a dangerous practice that threatens the health of the ocean, rivers, and the economy of coastal economies. Nassau County Sierra Group firmly opposes any resource evaluation in the Atlantic Ocean that utilizes seismic data offshore to create maps that will be sold to potential lessees identifying underwater areas that are likely to contain oil and gas.

    "There is growing concern that these seismic surveys can cause behavioral changes or physical damage to sea turtles, whales and dolphins including abandonment of habitat, disruption of mating and feeding, hearing loss, beach strandings, even death," says Julie Ferreira, the Chairperson of the Nassau Sierra Group. “Seismic testing is an ongoing issue right now and we want to get as many people as we can to send in comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.” 

    Impacts to tourism, commercial and recreational fishing, marine ecosystems, including injury or death to potentially thousands of dolphin and whales, including the endangered Right Whale that over-winters off our coastline are unacceptable.

    The city of Fernandina Beach has joined more than 150 national, state, and local elected officials that have taken a public stance against seismic airgun use. Additionally 160 environmental and animal welfare groups including the Florida Sierra Club have endorsed a letter urging the President to reject the proposal for seismic testing in the Atlantic.

    For Earth Day, Nassau County Sierra Group presents- The Forgotten Coast: Return to Wild Florida.

     As the old saying goes, the journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step.

    For the Florida Wildlife Corridor, it likely took a lot more than one step before its science and film crew could begin a 70-day exploration through the wilds of Florida. It took passion, organization and a love for the state and protecting its unique and varied wildlife - bringing awareness to the natural statewide corridor that though fragmented, still exists.

    The Forgotten Coast Return to Wild Florida will be shown as an Earth Day presentation by Nassau County Sierra Club April 22 at the Fernandina Beach Library at 7:00 pm.

    It chronicles the “Glades to Gulf Florida” expedition route that began in the northern reaches of the Everglades Headwaters, on the banks of Lake Hatchineha in Polk County and ended at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in the Florida Panhandle. Expedition members hiked, kayaked and biked across the terrain.

    The three-person team who participated in the expedition were biologist Joe Guthrie, conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmit and photojournalist Carlton Ward Jr. They began the 1,000-mile trek Jan. 10 and completed it March 20 of last year.

    “We’re going to do it the way a bear or panther could still travel through our state,” Ward said as they prepared for their journey.

    The return followed the 2012 expedition and film, Everglades to Okeefenokee. These expeditions are at the core of the Florida Wildlife Corridor's awareness campaign, educating both Florida residents and visitors alike about the importance of maintaining a wild corridor.

    The Nassau County Sierra Club is proud to partner with the Florida Wildlife Corridor to present this film about a journey to keep Florida wild. The screening is free to the public.

    News Release The Forgotten Coast