Marine Conservation Institute announces the recipients of the first annual JEDI Ocean Award for Sonoma County teens. The JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) award celebrates local Black, Latinx, POC and Indigenous Sonoma County high school students interested in pursuing studies in marine science and conservation biology. This year’s winners are Kiara Lizarraga and Veronica Jaramillo. 

In her winning essay, Lizarraga writes: “often when standing tall, taking in the breathtaking view over the cliff that scans over the ocean, we humans seem like a tiny pebble on the bottom of the ocean; yet, we have an incredibly immense impact on it.” The winner, who is a sophomore at Maria Carrillo High School, describes her “great respect and appreciation for the ocean, not just for being the largest carbon sink or being at least half of the Earth’s oxygen source but for allowing me to feel free, comfortable and inspired.” 

Jaramillo, a junior at Roseland University Prep, says “I want to inspire others to have faith in the positive aspects of what we are facing, rather than being lost in despair  . . . I want to bring more awareness and connectivity to everyone, no matter their age, gender, or race.” In her winning application, Jaramillo writes: “I cherish the beauty of the ocean . . . Each granule of sand is like a human being, and the infinite beach that touches and reaches under the ocean is like the network of humanity.”

The JEDI Award, generously funded by the Jack London Yacht Club, will celebrate Lizarraga and Jaramillo with a monetary prize, a one-on-one mentorship session with a marine conservationist, an insider tour of Bodega Marine Laboratory, free enrollment in the Eco-Conscious Diver’s Complete Introduction to Marine Conservation course, and publication of their winning essays on Marine Conservation Institute’s internationally-read blog.

The team at Marine Conservation Institute believes that diversity is the key to resilience and growth—both in the ocean and in our communities. “Early recognition and celebration is key to inspiring enthusiastic young people to continue their studies in environmental fields,” says Dr. Lance Morgan, president of Marine Conservation Institute, “and we hope that this award will inspire diverse students from Sonoma County to become tomorrow’s ocean leaders.”

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Opening in 2022, the $300 million re-imagined “Jungle Island” will feature a thrilling aerial adventure course with zip lines, up-close animal encounters, water attractions, one-of-a-kind entertainment and nightlife, and a new hotel, just minutes from downtown Miami and Miami Beach

 ESJ Capital Partners (hereinafter: ‘ESJ”), an Aventura, Florida-based commercial real estate firm and a registered Investment Advisor, has secured the final approvals necessary to move forward with developing a one-of-a-kind eco-adventure destination and hotel on 18.5 acres of prime waterfront in Miami.

The $300 million project is an ambitious re-imagining of the historic “Jungle Island,” a zoological theme park and botanical gardens built in 1936 that once boasted the largest and rarest collection of exotic animals and birds. It is located on Watson Island, roughly five minutes from both downtown Miami and the world-renowned South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, surrounded by the crystal blue waters of Biscayne Bay.

Inspired by some of the world’s most successful eco-adventure destinations and conceived by a team of the top hospitality/nature attraction experts, ESJ’s master-plan for redevelopment of the park caters to the 21^st-century guest, while still preserving historic elements that has made the Jungle Island experience a favorite landmark for nearly a century – including an unparalleled collection of over 50 parrot species in its multi-story aviary. 

Set to re-open in mid-2022 as “Jungle Island: Miami’s Adventure Oasis,” the redesigned park will include the only aerial adventure course in South Florida featuring zip lines, ropes courses, bridges, and climbing nets suspended up to 60-feet in the treetops; a 19,000-square-foot trampoline park; interactive and hands-on animal nature tours that allow guests to get up-close and personal with over 100 species of wild animals, such as swimming with capybaras; a 1,200-seat outdoor amphitheater with new and unique, family- friendly entertainment featuring aerialists and acrobats; elevated dining and nightlife experiences; a Mediterranean-style beach club and cocktail lounge on Miami’s only private beach; and several water features including a new 900-foot “lazy river”  that meanders through the park’s lush green and animal habitats.

A key component of the park will be a new 300-key, family-friendly eco-resort, scheduled to open in late 2024 or early 2025. 

Based on market research, ESJ expects to draw more than 500,000 guests during its first year of operation, comprising a 50-50 mix of both local/domestic visitors and out-of-market travelers.  

“Florida is finally getting its first true eco-adventure park, where nature and wildlife provide inspiration for guests to explore, play, challenge themselves physically, or simply relax,” said Arnaud Sitbon, CEO of ESJ. “Best of all, it’s going to be in a city that is one of the world’s top-rated travel destinations, just minutes from Miami’s top-rated beaches and attractions. It’s a privilege to have the honor of breathing new life into this much-beloved landmark, and our hope is that it will spark appreciation and respect for nature and our planet’s precious wildlife.”

“A nature-oriented destination of this magnitude in the heart of Miami’s urban core is truly remarkable,” said Micha Dubernard, Senior Vice President of ESJ Capital Partners. “In addition to providing a unique attraction that enhances Miami’s reputation for tourism and culture, Jungle Island’s lush habitat will also serve an important ecological role by helping absorb some of the city’s carbon emissions and serving as a natural preserve for Florida’s wading birds and other wildlife.”

According to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), there is substantial demand for this type of venue.  “We are extremely pleased to add such a compelling attraction to our community,” said William D. Talbert III, President & CEO of the GMCVB.  “We look forward to continue working with the Jungle Island team.”

In 2019, Greater Miami attracted a record-breaking 16.3 million overnight visitors and an additional 7.9 million day tripper, for a record number of 24.2 million total visitors with a total economic impact close to $18 billion, according to the GMCVB. Industry experts expect Miami’s hospitality and tourism industry to recover steadily over the next year, in conjunction with COVID-19 vaccine roll outs. 

In addition to the adventure park and nature attractions, Jungle Island will also feature a strong corporate appeal, with more than 10  indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces, catering to small or large groups, and ranging from small celebrations to 1000+-person gatherings. 

ESJ acquired Jungle Island in April 2017, which involved the transfer of the existing land lease on the City of Miami-owned Watson Island to ESJ.  In August 2018, Miami voters approved a city charter amendment to waive competitive bidding and allow ESJ to modify Jungle Island’s lease and allow the construction of a 300-room hotel. In February 2021, the City of Miami provided final approval on a long-awaited land-use ordinance change and special area plan, both necessary to redevelop the 18-acre property with a hotel and additional recreation amenities. ESJ plans to begin construction on the new adventure park this summer, and will break ground on the new $100+ million hotel in 2022, pending a final building permit.

To lead Jungle Island’s transformation, ESJ has pulled in some of the world’s leading hospitality, attraction, entertainment and construction experts. These include IDEAS Brand & Experience Design, led by 25-year Disney executive Bob Allen; HKS Architects, an interdisciplinary global design firm which recently completed Royal Caribbean’s $250 million redevelopment of CocoCay Island; EoA, an award-winning design firm; Gardiner & Theobald, an independent construction and property consultancy noted for its development of Miami’s acclaimed Faena District and the $4 billion Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas, the largest resort development in the Western Hemisphere; and several additional specialists in the field of animal entertainment and education.

For more information about Jungle Island updates, bookings and hours of operations please visit www.jungleisland.com. 

About ESJ Capital Partners

ESJ Capital Partners, founded in 2008, is a diversified, institutional vertically integrated, real estate investment firm. ESJ utilizes its breadth of experience and expertise to invest in attractive opportunities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.esj.us. 

About Jungle Island

A favorite South Florida landmark since 1936, Jungle Island is located across from the cruise ports, between Downtown Miami and South Beach. Miami’s premier eco-adventure park proudly takes guests on an epic journey through adventure, nature and play. From thrilling attractions, behind-the-scenes VIP tours, elevated dining experiences at a waterfront restaurant & lounge to unforgettable interactions with some of the world’s most fascinating animals, Jungle Island offers guests a variety of real-life jungle adventures. For regular updates, follow @JungleIsland on social media and visit www.jungleisland.com.

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FATHOM

New Awe-Inspiring Documentary Follows the Breakthrough Research of Two Female Scientists Studying Whale Communication

FATHOM will have its World Premiere at the
Tribeca Film Festival June 16

Opens on Apple TV+ June 25

“I’m trying to start a conversation”, proclaims Dr. Michelle Fournet, an American researcher studying the communication of humpback whales. As she enlists a team to aid her study in Alaska, we follow Dr. Ellen Garland, a Scottish researcher in French Polynesia scrutinizing how such patterns evolve, even across oceans and continents. For these women, this is an ambitious opportunity for rich discoveries—but it also provides them the environment that they feel the most at ease in, by connecting with a creature that has mystified humanity for generations. Filmmaker and cinematographer Drew Xanthopoulos returns to Tribeca with the visually stunning Fathom, a thought-provoking documentary that prompts the audience to immerse itself in a sensorial experience of awe and wonder. Xanthopoulos eschews sit-down interviews in favor of poetic narration, having both scientists convey their thoughts like a research log. The majestic quality of these mammals, alongside the palpable dedication of these women, carries through the narrative. With Fathom, Xanthopoulos explores a universal idea—the search for connection—within the parameters of an environmental documentary, resulting in a thoughtful film that is both larger-than-life in its cinematic imagery as well as strikingly intimate and personal. —The Tribeca Film Festival

About Dr. Ellen Garland

For the past 10 years, Dr. Ellen Garland has been recording humpback songs across the Pacific Ocean. Aboard tiny local fishing boats, she races to gather enough recordings each year to track how the songs evolve. She is on the verge of uncovering the extent to which humpback whales share their songs, potentially across distances previously thought of as impossible. Her study may unlock an unprecedented opportunity to think about both communication and culture beyond a human paradigm. To accomplish this work, Dr. Garland must chase the best song recordings for 2-3 months each year, a pursuit that takes her far away from her home in St. Andrews, Scotland, and separates her from her husband Matt.

About Dr. Michelle Fournet

Dr. Michelle Fournet is a leading expert on the social sounds of humpback whales in the northern hemisphere. Her aim is to start a conversation with wild whales. Using custom underwater speakers, she plays recordings of whale calls to humpbacks in Southeast Alaska to see whether she can elicit responses.  If she can prove that the whales are responding to her recordings, it will be the first successful attempt at a dialogue with humpback whales and a significant breakthrough toward understanding how they communicate with each other.

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