This coming summer, The Brevard Zoo / Restore Our Shores will be building 1½ miles of oyster reef along the Indian River Lagoon. We have been asked by the Brevard Zoo/Restore Our Shores to participate in a shell bagging work day.
To be able to accomplish this task, they have set a goal of 6000 shell bags by the end of April 2019!!
Oyster shell bagging is labor intensive (they like to call it oyster CrossFit). Participants will rotate between cutting and tying mesh bags, filling shell buckets, carrying buckets, loading shells onto the shell bagging machine’s conveyor belt, pouring shells in tubes, moving and stacking filled shell bags. These tasks are located on dry ground and breaks, water and snacks will be provided.
EVENT DATE: Friday, 14 December 2018
TIME: This event starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. and goes until Noon. We need to enter as a group, so please be on time. Stragglers may miss out. You will also need to bring your signed waiver (which I will e-mail to each of the attendees as you sign up)
PLACE: We will meet up at the Eau Gallie Park ‘n Ride lot, just across the street from the Brevard County Animal Services Building (located just West of I-95 and Eau Gallie Blvd), where you can park your car. From there, we will be transported by the Zoo Staff into the shell bagging site. Please plan to meet at the parking lot NLT 8:00 am. We should be finished by 12 pm as shell bagging is hard work. All volunteers are welcome to visit the Zoo after project completion for the afternoon.
WHAT TO WEAR: We will be out in an open field, so please wear closed-toe tennis shoes or tall rubber boots (no Tevas, water-shoes, or anything with holes: oyster shells are sharp!). Also recommend that you wear clothes that can get dirty, long sleeves and long pants.
WHAT TO BRING: Printed and signed Brevard Zoo Volunteer Waiver (children must be at least 14 years old and accompanied by an adult) Everyone will need to fill one out as this is a new year. I will e-mail you the form when you sign up for the event.
* Sunscreen, bug spray, and anything else you need for working outdoors. They do have some work gloves for shell bagging but it wouldn’t hurt to bring your own if you have a pair.
* Reusable water bottle. They will provide water coolers for refills and snacks. Refillable (non-disposable) water bottles only. (You know, the ones we all won at Cacheapalooza).
* You'll learn a little, work a lot and leave with that special feeling that you made a difference. Come prepared to work hard, have fun, and be safe. Lets see if we can put a sizable dent in that 6000 bag total.
* Afterwards, we'll gather up for our traditional 'job well done' photo.