Party in paradise 2026
Join us for an unforgettable evening at Bay Preserve as Party in Paradise returns! Celebrate with fellow conservation supporters while helping protect our land and waterways for the benefit of people and nature.
Who We Are
We protect land and water for the benefit of people and nature.
We are the last generation that can save this land. Together, we will ensure that the human and natural worlds of Florida flourish together.
By saving land forever, we protect wild places for kids and grown-ups, for wildlife and waterways.
Landowner Resources
Save Your Land
Big Waters protects natural areas and ranchlands here in Florida. Together with landowners like you, we are working to maintain the health and productivity of Florida’s land and water, while at the same time preserving the natural beauty and rural character of our community as more and more land is developed.
Get Involved
Volunteer Opportunities
Our volunteer program is growing and the opportunities to get involved are as varied as the landscapes we protect. One thing all our volunteers have in common is a strong belief in our mission and the desire to use their talents to help safeguard Florida’s land and water.
What We Do
At Big Waters Land Trust, we envision a future in which the human and natural worlds of Florida flourish together.
Safeguarding Our Waters
Land conservation is essential to protecting water quality because what happens on land directly impacts the quality of the water flowing through and from it.
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Protecting Imperiled Nature
When we preserve natural areas, we safeguard critical habitats for diverse wildlife. Saving land protects native plants and animals by safeguarding the places they need to survive.
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Increasing Climate Resilience
Land conservation plays a crucial role in enhancing climate resiliency. Every acre conserved, wetland restored, and tree planted contributes to a resilient and sustainable future.
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Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture depends on healthy soils, clean water, and intact ecosystems.
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Access For All
Many of the lands we conserve are open for public enjoyment, contributing deeply to the health and vibrancy of our community.
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Big News at Big Waters
$1-Million Community Match Launched to Advance Rewilding Project at Celery Fields
Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Big Waters Land Trust, Sarasota Audubon Society, and local philanthropists have joined forces to launch a $1-million community match to support rewilding the Quad Parcels at the Celery Fields.
Early Bird Tickets on Sale Now for Big Waters’ Party in Paradise
Party in Paradise returns Saturday, November 14, inviting guests to experience The Living Landscape at Big Waters Land Trust’s Bay Preserve. Enjoy an unforgettable evening of culinary delights, cocktails, dancing, and immersive experiences while supporting the protection of land and water for people and nature.
Congratulations to Big Waters’ Annual Summer Photo Contest People’s Choice Winners
Big Waters Land Trust is pleased to announce the People’s Choice winners of its seventh annual Summer Photo Contest. Selected through community voting, this year’s winning photographs celebrate the extraordinary beauty of Florida’s landscapes, wildlife, and waterways. More than 130 photographs from across the state were submitted to this year’s competition.
Watershed Explorers Summer Experience Empowers Local Youth to Discover the Regions Natural and Cultural Treasures
Big Waters Land Trust’s second annual Watershed Explorers Summer Experience empowered 30 teens from Sarasota and Manatee counties to explore Southwest Florida’s natural and cultural treasures through three weeks of hands-on environmental education, outdoor recreation, and career exploration. With support from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and the Bishop-Parker Foundation, participants discovered local watersheds while building connections to conservation, community, and future career opportunities.
Upcoming Events
We provide many opportunities for you and your family to get involved in Big ways. Explore some of our event categories or view all our events.
Florida’s Carnivorous Plants Presentation
2026-09-22T10:00:00
Join Sarah Denison Williams, Community Education Manager with Big Waters Land Trust, for a lively and informative look at Florida’s …
Natural Resources Career Night
2026-09-24T18:00:00
Are you interested in a career in science, nature, conservation, or heritage resources? Join us at The NEST at Robinson …
Myakka Headwaters Preserve Volunteer Event and Picnic
2026-10-16T09:00:00
Big Waters Land Trust needs volunteer help at Myakka Headwaters Preserve! We need volunteer help at Myakka Headwaters Preserve! Activity …
Midnight Pass Sunset Full Moon Paddle
2026-10-26T18:00:00
As the afternoon fades to evening, we will make our way west across Little Sarasota Bay to Midnight Pass. We’ll …
Wild About Nature Festival 2027
2027-04-03T11:00:00
Wild About Nature returns to Bay Preserve! Get ready for a fun-filled day on the shore of Little Sarasota Bay …
Feast Upon The Fields 2027
2027-02-21T12:30:00
Feast Upon the Fields is Big Waters Land Trust’s signature annual farm-to-table fundraiser, offering guests a rare opportunity to experience …
Myakka Headwaters Fall Butterfly Count
2026-10-29T09:30:00
Join us at Myakka Headwaters Preserve as we look for and identify butterflies. This program is part of a biannual effort to …
We are the last generation that can save this land.
Together, we will ensure that the human and natural worlds flourish together.
Population Growth
Over the next 25 years, population in our region is expected to grow by almost
40%
Water Consumption
By 2039, Future demand for water will exceed capacity by
538 Million Gallons per Day
Land Loss
2.7 million acres of native habitat will be lost to roads, shopping malls, and subdivisions within the next 45 years.
2.7 Million acres
Help Save Nature
