Presentations

All presentations are free with registration, but please remember to select presentations when you register so we know to expect you!

Wednesday, January 22

Coming Soon

Thursday, January 23

Coming Soon

Friday, January 24

Restoring the Balance of the Indian River Lagoon

The current condition of the IRL didn’t change overnight – there was a recent defining moment that tipped the Lagoon from a more natural seagrass dominated system to a less natural algae dominated system. When we understand our roles in what ails the lagoon, we can better understand how to bring it back to a healthier balance.

  • Date: Friday, January 24
  • Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
  • Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
  • Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Heather Stapleton boasts a rich background spanning nonprofit leadership, environmental education, and community engagement. Currently a Community Engagement Coordinator the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, she channels her passion for environmental advocacy into fostering community connections. She started her plastic free diet in February 2024 and for the most part, has stuck to it!

The Plastic Diet

Single-stream recycling aimed to boost recycling rates, but less is being recycled now. Most plastic is downcycled or not recycled at all, often becoming litter through curbside spills, wind, or wildlife. This litter harms birds, who ingest plastic, mistaking it for food, leading to malnutrition, poisoning, and death. Birds also use plastic in nests, which can harm chicks. Reducing single-use plastics can help. Heather Stapleton shares her journey of significantly reducing plastic use, finding empowerment in each successful change. One attendee to this talk will win a sustainable gift basket that will help you on your way to a plastic-free future!

  • Date: Friday, January 24
  • Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
  • Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
  • Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Heather Stapleton boasts a rich background spanning nonprofit leadership, environmental education, and community engagement. Currently a Community Engagement Coordinator the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, she channels her passion for environmental advocacy into fostering community connections. She started her plastic free diet in February 2024 and for the most part, has stuck to it!

Saturday, January 25

Discover Panama: A Birdwatcher’s and Nature Lover’s Paradise

Nestled between North and South America, Panama may be compact, but it rivals the natural splendor of much larger nations. This biodiversity hotspot, no bigger than South Carolina, is a treasure trove for nature enthusiasts. With over 1,015 bird species, along with diverse mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and more than 10,000 plant species, Panama’s ecological richness is nothing short of extraordinary.

Join Carlos Bethancourt, a seasoned guide with the Canopy Family, on a captivating photographic journey. Explore lush habitats, from the historic Canal Zone to the foothills of western Panama and the untamed beauty of the Darién lowlands in the east. Along the way, encounter everything from majestic toucans and vibrant hummingbirds to the elusive Panamanian Night Monkey and playful Kinkajous. Carlos’s engaging stories and vivid imagery will transport you right into the heart of Panama’s wilderness.

Prepare to immerse yourself in an adventure where each turn reveals why Panama is a paradise for birding and nature exploration.

  • Date: Saturday, January 25
  • Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
  • Location: Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
  • Cost: Free with festival registration

About the Speaker: Carlos Bethancourt was born in Panama City in 1978 and grew up surrounded by the natural beauty of Huile, a rural village near the Canal Zone. Influenced by his family’s deep connection to nature, he developed a passion for conservation and birdwatching from an early age. After high school, Carlos earned a scholarship to study natural resources and ornithology at Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon.

He began his career at the Canopy Tower in 2000, quickly establishing himself as a leading figure in the birdwatching community. Over the years, he has led tours, workshops, and presented at major birding events across the United States, Great Britain, and Germany, sharing his expertise with bird enthusiasts around the world. In 2018, Carlos was recognized as ‘Best Nature Tour Guide’ by EcoTripMatch. Today, he remains deeply involved in marketing and conservation projects for the Canopy Family, working to promote ecotourism and protect Panama’s natural treasures.