Anne Macias-Our Inspiration
The Macias Wildlife Society was formed in 2018 after Anne passed away to carry on her mission of wildlife educational outreach. Anne and Dr. Penny Finley began programs with the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Department of Education in 2013. Anne was an avid wildlife photographer and began the bird nest counts on our Bonita Bay Bird rookery islands in 2016.
Today we offer FGCU Service-Learning programs and work with the FGCU department of Education on bird, wildlife and environmental programs for local elementary schools.
About us
The Macias Wildlife Society of Bonita Bay is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission dedicated to wildlife educational outreach. We are registered Service-Learning partner with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) for FGCU students who need to complete their mandatory 80 hours of volunteer work with a non-profit or government entity. We also collaborate with the FGCU College of Education and share programs we create with local teachers and elementary school children. Bonita Bay residents, benefit from our wildlife and bird programs presented during the day at the Bonita Bay Community Activities Center and in the evening at Estero Park.
The Macias Wildlife Society has now combined with the Bonita Bay Nature Club. After 23 years, Bart Culver and Ned Gaffney decided to retire from their amazing run hosting and planning the Nature Club meetings. Nature programs will continue to be presented Jan-April on the2nd Tuesday of the Month, 7:30pm at Estero Park. Macias Wildlife Society Board members, Mary Huigens, Paul Gavin and Sandy Hollenhorst are organizing the Nature Club programs and planning the field trips. The Nature Club will continue as it has in the past with no requirement to join or pay a membership fee, just sign-up to be on the email list.
The Macias Wildlife Society will remain a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with memberships and donations to support the cost of materials and programing for wildlife educational outreach for our local community and other Bonita Bay projects such as the Bonita Bay Bird Identification signs and Bird and Nature documentaries.
Macias Wildlife Society Board Members
Sandy Hollenhorst- President, Steve McCray-Vice President, John Pinti-Treasurer, Loraine Tyre, Paul Gavin and Mary Huigens.
