Earnie’s Estuary is open at IMAG
The IMAG History & Science Center has another feature open to the public — Earnie’s Estuary is a lagoon-type, water attraction at the IMAG which has been recently restored and reimagined.
The back-from-Hurricane Ian grand opening of Earnie’s Estuary was celebrated last Thursday, Sept. 25, with a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union.
“We’re very excited and thankful for our support from the Suncoast Credit Union,” said Matt Johnson, executive director of IMAG. “Working together, we are happy to create this wonderful new outdoor educational exhibit.”
The grand opening, dedication, and ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by guests, local officials, dignitaries, and members of Suncoast Credit Union and IMAG staff and officials, started off with a tour of Earnie’s Estuary, its docks, pavilion, lagoon, water features, and filtration system as well as its aquatic plants, mangroves, and surrounding landscape.
Guests were then invited to experience a “feeding frenzy” of hungry fishes and turtles by participating in a ceremonial “food toss” with Earnie’s Estuary Fish n’ Turtle Food.
Attendees were also treated to an educational presentation by Christian Gould, senior director of IMAG Education, talking about the lagoon and its marine and plant life that make Earnie’s Estuary their home.
“Suncoast has education in our DNA and the opportunity to expose children of all ages to the message of Ernie’s Estuary is a joy and meets the criteria of our mission which is to improve the lives of our members and the communities we serve,” said Bob Hyde, Vice President of Community Impact of Suncoast. “We are always pleased to work with like-minded partners who value the natural world like we do.”
Earnie’s Estuary is home to many types of fish and turtles, both native to Florida and invasive.
Blue gill and blue pilapia, Pangasius catfish and redtail catfish, Eastern Mosquitofish and Mayan cichlid, call it home as do other species of fish. Other residents include Peninsula cooters and Suwannee River cooters, yellow-bellied sliders and Florida softshell turtles.
You can identify and learn about these and other marine life and their habitats, lifespans, sizes, diets, and other interesting, fun facts from signage posted on the dock.
As part of the Caloosahatchee Experience Exhibit, you can also learn about the mangroves, sea grasses, and other aquatic plant life that grace Earnie’s Estuary as well you can learn about water in South Florida and how humans as well as plant and marine life affect the quality of water in our lakes, lagoons, estuaries, streams, oceans, and gulf.
In addition to the generous support of Suncoast Credit Union, other organizations and individuals helped restore Earnie’s Estuary in many ways. They include Honc Industries, Collaboratory, Lowe’s, Greenway Landscape Supply, Florida Gulf Coast University, Taylor Landscape, Captains for Clean Water, and Mario Kotik.
Members of Suncoast Credit Union are invited to visit Earnie’s Estuary and the other exciting attractions at the IMAG History & Science Center. Members can purchase one ticket and get a second ticket for free when they present their Suncoast Debit or Credit Card. Earnie’s Estuary and the IMAG History & Science Center are open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, Sunday noon to 5 p.m., and closed on Tuesday.
IMAG is at 2000 Cranford Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida and can be reached at 239- 243-0043. For more information visit theIMAG.org.
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Hours of operation:
Earnie’s Estuary and the IMAG History & Science Center are open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Sunday noon to 5 p.m., and closed on Tuesday. IMAG is at 2000 Cranford Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida and can be reached at 239- 243-0043 and online at: theIMAG.org.
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About The IMAG History & Science Center Bringing Inspiration to Life.
The IMAG (pronounced ī´mag) History & Science Center is a family-friendly destination featuring interactive exhibits, activities, aquariums, and history displays for all ages including a 3D theater and virtual reality experience. The IMAG features many attractions including Science on a Sphere, an interactive exhibit that illustrates the sciences of our earth; Google Earth Wall that allows people to virtually climb the world’s tallest mountains, dive into the deepest canyons, visit exciting cities, learn about exotic animals, and more; and Shaping SWFL Watersheds, an interactive, augmented reality sandbox generating live topographical maps and fluid dynamics in real time. Bringing the IMAG mission to life, we use the lenses of history and science to help people explore and understand the rich culture and habitat of Southwest Florida through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM education) as well as history, humanities, and the arts. A visit to the IMAG History & Science Center nurtures intellectual curiosity and innovation, discovery and fun.