ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION TO GTM RESEARCH RESERVE THIS SUMMER

Florida DEP Banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2014

CONTACT: Patrician Price, 904.823.4506

ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION TO GTM RESEARCH RESERVE THIS SUMMER

GTM

The Environmental Learning Center at GTM Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra is a fun, educational spot for the whole family to visit.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH The Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) National Estuarine Research Reserve will participate this summer in Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense. Free admission, with military identification, will be offered to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve, and their families, to the Environmental Education Center from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2014.

“We are proud to connect military families with the history and natural resources here at the Reserve," said Michael Shirley, Ph.D., director of the GTM Research Reserve. “The Environmental Education Center provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages to learn about the natural history of northeast Florida. The center offers interpretive exhibits and aquariums, plus an outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve."

The Blue Star Museums program provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation’s cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after a military move. This year, more than 2,000 museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative. Blue Star Museums represents not only fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, nature centers and dozens of children’s museums. The complete list of participating museums is available HERE.

The GTM Research Reserve is one of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves across the nation focused on researching, educating and protecting the natural biodiversity and cultural resources within the estuary. It is managed by Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Coastal Office in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Environmental Education Center is located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, 32082.

For more information about the GTM Research Reserve, please call 904-823-4500 or click HERE.