Sierra Club Military Outdoors Initiative has partnered with Katie Blunk of VA Adaptive Sports and Florida Water Tours. A special thank you to Katie and Florida Water Tours:
Join us for a relaxing 90-minute Sunset Eco Cruise aboard the *Osprey*, a 45' US Coast Guard inspected and insured pontoon boat operated by Florida Water Tours. As we explore St. Augustine's scenic waterways, our tour guide will share the history of the area, discuss local wildlife, and explain the importance of coastal estuaries and their role in supporting marine ecosystems.
Participants will also have opportunities to observe wildlife (we are at the mercy of wildlife and waters) and enjoy the sunset.
This low-exertion outing provides veterans and active-duty military personnel an opportunity to connect with nature, learn about our coastal environment, and enjoy fellowship on the water.
** Participants must be able to board and disembark safely.
**Important:**
Participants must follow all safety instructions provided by the boat captain, crew, and Sierra Club outings leader. The cruise is subject to weather and water conditions.
🌅 Honoring the People, Land, and Waters of St. Augustine
🌿 These waters are an Indigenous homeland, a living estuarine ecosystem, and part of the military and maritime history of St. Augustine.
🪶 Indigenous Heritage — Honoring the People
Long before St. Augustine was founded in 1565, the Timucua people lived along these waterways, relying on their natural resources for food, transportation, and daily life. The village of Seloy stood near the site of the first Spanish settlement. Their history reminds us that these waters sustained Indigenous communities long before Spanish colonization and subsequent European settlement.
📖 Explore the History — Florida Museum of Natural History: The Timucua in St. Augustine
⛓️💥⚓ African and Negro Heritage — Honoring Labor and Freedom
The waters of Matanzas Bay witnessed both African enslavement and the pursuit of freedom. Free and enslaved Africans contributed to the construction of Castillo de San Marcos, overlooking the bay, while others escaping enslavement in the British colonies reached St. Augustine by boat as early as 1687.
Their history reminds us that these waterways were connected not only to colonial commerce and military defense, but also to forced labor, resilience, and the pursuit of freedom.
📖 Read More — National Park Service: Who Built the Castillo?
📖 Read More — National Park Service: African Americans in St. Augustine, 1565–1821
🐬🌾 Estuarine Ecology — Honoring the Land and Waters
St. Augustine's waterways are part of a coastal estuarine system where freshwater and saltwater meet, supporting fish, shellfish, birds, and other marine wildlife. These habitats are essential to biodiversity, water quality, and coastal protection. Understanding their ecological importance encourages responsible stewardship for future generations.
📖 Explore the Ecosystem — NOAA: Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
⚓🏰 Military and Maritime History — Honoring Service and Sacrifice
For centuries, these waterways served as important transportation and defensive routes. The Castillo de San Marcos, constructed beginning in 1672, protected Spanish maritime interests and the settlement of St. Augustine. Its history also reflects colonial conflict, Indigenous displacement, and later American military occupation.
📖 Explore the History — National Park Service: Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas
🌎💚 Our Purpose — Explore • Enjoy • Protect
Through Sierra Club's Military Outdoors Initiative, this sunset eco cruise brings veterans and active-duty service members together to explore these interconnected histories, appreciate the coastal environment, and recognize our shared responsibility to protect the land and waters for generations to come.
Level: Easy
Cost: Free
Recommended Items: - Comfortable clothing and non-slip shoes- Light jacket for evening breezes- Reusable water bottle- Sunglasses or hat- Camera or cellphone- Personal medications, including motion-sickness remedies if needed.
Signup Restrictions: Veterans and Active Duty members Only
Additional Directions: The sunset eco cruise will get underway promptly at 4:30PM. Please arrive by 4PM to ensure waivers are signed for Sierra Club and Florida Water Tours.
Cancellation Policy: Activity is held rain or shine, but may be altered due to inclement weather
Florida Water Tours