Event Info
The Cause
Ocean love…
Those who know Sanibel Sea School know that we’re all about love for the ocean. Throughout the year, our students explore the beaches, shorelines, gulf waters and estuaries of Southwest Florida to learn how we’re all connected on our ocean planet. Whether they’re summer campers, day class students, home-schoolers or special groups that visit us regularly, these students have become a part of our Ocean Tribe, joining those of us who fervently value, understand and care for the ocean.
We will be holding our annual fundraiser, Octifest, on Saturday, April 13th, 2019 once again in a big-top tent on the Sanibel Causeway, always the perfect backdrop for our yearly ocean celebration. Octifest provides the single largest influx of funds each year to our little sandy bucket nonprofit.
Scholarships for kids in need…
The donations we receive at Octifest ensure that our many different scholarship programs endure. It is our goal to continue to host at-risk youth from the Pine Manor Improvement Association, Gladiolus Learning and Development Center, and Heights Foundation in Fort Myers, and to continue to host children with acute physical challenges and learning disabilities. Sanibel Sea School has never turned away a child due to financial constraints; scholarship funds also go toward supporting the many local families and members of our community who cannot afford to attend Sanibel Sea School otherwise.
New ocean experiences…
The funds raised through Octifest will also help us to expand and subsidize our educational offerings. We recently hosted a free Hurricane Camp for families affected by Hurricane Irma, and will begin to offer free Community Camp Days on select school holidays to better support working parents throughout the year. We will also add a few new camps this summer to help participants develop exciting new levels of waterman, research and learning skills.
…and plenty of nets and buckets!
Lastly, Octifest will help us to purchase the many buckets, nets, masks, snorkels and surfboards that define the Sanibel Sea School experience for so many of our kids. Our programs come to life through the kindhearted gifts of our supporters. Participants truly make a difference and touch the lives of hundreds of young ocean lovers.
On behalf of the Ocean Tribe, we look forward to seeing you at Octifest on Sunday, March 11th under the stars!
“A few of my students had been on the water before we visited Sanibel Sea School, but what this organization has provided for myself and my students is a way to really see the sea. I feel like before our trips, our vision was blurry, but now we all see more clearly and we are focused on just how amazing our coastal communities are. My students notice more, experience more, and feel more. The impact of Sanibel Sea School gives our lessons depth. This is learning with purpose that my students can see, touch, smell, and feel.”
Date, Time, Location
Our event will be held on Sunday, April 13th, 2019 in a big-top tent under the stars on Causeway Island A.
Buy Tickets Online
Please click here to purchase tickets to Octifest 2019.