Providing outreach opportunities, cultivating exploration of environmental sciences through hands-on encounters.
Getting people of all ages excited about the outdoors, as well as how to play a part in protecting the environment, is the annual goal of the Mattie Kelly Environmental Institute Annual Family Festival. This event promotes development of environmental stewards, both young and old.
The festival comes every spring to Niceville. On festival day, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., local organizations provide fun activities, hands-on displays and environmental awareness. In this family and community event for all ages, you can learn about our local region and the people living and working there.
Participating organizations have included Panhandle Butterfly House; Emerald Coast Science Center; Walton County Environmental Department; Choctawhatchee Audubon; Florida Department of Agriculture; Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves; Topsail Hill Preserve State Park; and Northwest Florida State College Kids on Campus. Choctawhatchee Audubon Society; Junior Rangers Program; Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves; Florida Trail Association; Hike It Baby; Walton County Environmental Department; University of Florida Milton; Audubon Florida; Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance; Okaloosa County Environmental Health; US Fish and Wildlife Service; Topsail Hill Preserve State Park; Early Learning Coalition of Emerald Coast; Northwest Florida State College Kids on Campus; Kayak Tours; and more!
The event is always FREE and open to the public.
MKEI annually holds a scientific symposium highlighting research in the northwest Florida region along with providing workshops for experimental learning of various components of the environmental sciences.
Every October, MKEI provides this thrilling day of environmental-focused research presentations, discussion opportunities, and selection of a hands-on workshops. The MKEI Symposium is held at Northwest Florida State College on the Niceville campus. Participants hear about exciting research in and around the local region. Topics allow attendees to learn about how research is protecting our area and what scientists are doing to understand and improve our environment.
During the fall and spring semesters, MKEI provides a seminar and/or workshop highlighting an aspect of environmental science presented by local guest lecturers who are experts in their respective fields. Previous seminar topics have included:
Previous workshop subjects have included:
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We are excited to announce Dr. Geoffrey Smith, Northwest Florida State College biology instructor, has been awarded a Pensacola and Perdido Bay Estuary Program (PPBEP) community grant. MKEI is honored to be able to assist Dr. Smith as he studies peripheral oyster populations in Santa Rosa Sound and urban bayous of Pensacola Bay. Oysters are…
We build capacity to inspire global, environmental agents of change.