Getting to the Root of the Sanctuary: Dive into the Digital Mangroves of Florida Keys
Organizer: NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Date and Time: Wed, May 20, 2026 · 4:00 PM EDT (1:00 PM PDT / 10:00 AM HST / 8:00 PM UTC)
Location: Virtual (GoToWebinar). Webinar ID: 903-798-811
About This Event:
Mangroves do an outsized share of the work in coastal Florida, anchoring sediment, buffering storm surge, and serving as nursery habitat for the species that hold up both the recreational fishery and the wider reef system, yet most readers will only ever see them from the water’s edge. This webinar walks audiences through a new, free, browser-based virtual tour of the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, including an immersive Digital Mangroves module that puts viewers inside the ecosystem from any laptop. It is part of the National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series, designed for educators, students, and the curious public.
What to Expect:
- A guided walkthrough of the virtual Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center and its interactive exhibits.
- An immersive look inside a Florida Keys mangrove ecosystem, with notes on the species and processes the habitat supports.
- Practical pointers for using the tour in formal and informal classroom settings.
- Q and A with the National Marine Sanctuaries education team.
Panel Presenters / Speakers:
- NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries education team (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary)
Contact or Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3214726163543285591
Explore the virtual tour anytime: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/florida-keys/visit/virtual-tours/eco-discovery-center.html