Plan to join us in march, 2025 for the 122nd anniversary celebration with president theodore roosevelt!

Thanks to everyone who participated and supported us for another amazingly fun celebration of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge this year!  We had a wonderful picnic supper to start the weekend off with Ted Roosevelt IV and his wife joining us, along with several members of the Kroegel family.  It was a gorgeous evening and some enjoyable music provided by Penny & Mike.

Saturday evening was the most amazing sunset cruise to Pelican Island, where we saw an amazing variety of birds, and a huge number flying in for the evening roost on Pelican Island. Why they choose this one island over many others is a secret they will not divulge! But we are thankful to Paul Kroegel, President Roosevelt, and the many others who saved the island, and the birds from wanton slaughter. We are sorry if you were not able to join us on the cruise - it is the most popular part of any of our events and sells out fast! We hope that you were able to join us on the Refuge, though, as President Roosevelt entertained young and old for a weekend of great fun and wildlife appreciation. Please be sure and join us next year - March 14, falls on a Friday and we need to confirm plans, so stay tuned!

We invite you to join us the weekend of March 15-17, 2024 to celebrate the 121st anniversary of Pelican Island as the first National Wildlife Refuge. The celebration will once again be new and different from the wildlife festivals we’ve hosted in years past in Sebastian. Joe Wiegand, aka President Theodore Roosevelt, will be joining us, bringing the history of Pelican Island, our nation’s first National Wildlife Refuge, to life. Events are planned at various locations and will feature a wildlife display and other activities at the entrance to the Refuge’s Centennial Trail.

For location, and more information about the Pelican Island NWR, visit their website here. On their site you will find a link to a map showing the location of facilities at the Refuge. There are signs for the Refuge at the northern entrance to Jungle Trail, about 3.5 miles north of the A1A/route 510 intersection. Once on Jungle Trail, the first facility you will come to is a Welcome Area and restrooms on the left; additional portable restrooms will be available for the event. A little farther south on the right, you will encounter the Centennial Trail and Pelican Island Viewing Area, the location of activities that will be occurring at the Refuge on March 16th and 17th.

In addition to President Roosevelt, another special guest from the Roosevelt family will be joining us for the celebration. Ted Roosevelt IV, great grandson of President Roosevelt, and his wife, will join us for part of the weekend celebrations. Mr. Roosevelt, like his great grandfather, is an avid conservationist, a lover of wildlife, and Chairman of Barclays Clean Tech Initiative. He is looking forward to joining us at the Refuge on Saturday to visit with Refuge staff and scope out some of the birds on Pelican Island. We anticipate that Mr. Roosevelt, along with Wayne Kroegel, Paul Kroegel’s grandson, and their wives will join us for the picnic supper on Friday evening - see details below.

The Pelican Island Conservation Society is the “friends” group for the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. Your participation supports the Refuge, as well. Thanks for your interest and engagement! We hope you can join us for some or all of the fun activities planned - see more details below.

FYI - the City of Sebastian is celebrating its Centennial in 2024, and President Roosevelt will be back in town for a special event at the culmination of the year-long celebration! For more information about the Centennial, visit their website at www.sebastian100.com.

Schedule of Events

Friday, March 15, 2024

Thomas Schidel Pavilion, Environmental Learning Center

  • School visits with President Roosevelt

  • “An Evening With Theodore Roosevelt.” The featured event will be an evening picnic supper with President Roosevelt, under the stars, at the Environmental Learning Center’s Thomas Schidel Pavilion. This will be a bring-your-own picnic supper, à la Wolf Trap, Tanglewood, or perhaps more locally familiar, Vero Beach Film Festival’s “White Party.” There will be ample opportunity for mingling and backslapping with President Roosevelt. Plans for the evening include music, a photo/video display of the Refuge and its wildlife, and President Roosevelt’s “Conservation History” presentation. We will provide a water refill station, ice cream, and Indian pudding - one of Teddy Roosevelt’s favorite desserts. The rest is up to you! Some seating will be available, but you are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, food and drink. And how about a candelabra, or other fȇte finery, for bragging rights for the best decor! The event will be 5 to 8pm, and reservations are required at $40/person. Walk-ins welcome, with payment by check or card!

Saturday, March 16, 2024
Pelican Island NWR - entrance at the north end of Jungle Trail, off Hwy A1A - click here for more location information.
Centennial Trail, 10am to 3pm

Teddy Roosevelt with Sandy Peterson and US Fish and Wildlife staff

Rodney Kroegel Conservation Area, 11296 Indian River Drive, Sebastian

  • Rodney Kroegel was the son of Paul Kroegel, Pelican Island’s first game warden. The Area is adjacent to the Paul Kroegel homestead in Sebastian and is now conserved by Indian River County. The Area has yet to be opened to the public, awaiting installation of interpretive signage and restoration of Rodney’s photography workshop. Please visit the Indian River County Conservation Lands Program website for location information and watch for details as to when it will allow for visitation.

Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Drive, Wabasso, 5:15pm to 7:45pm

  • Sunset wine and cheese cruise to Pelican Island with Teddy Roosevelt, aboard the ELC’s pontoon tour boat. Please come with your appetite and be ready to nosh, while we enjoy a scenic cruise with President Roosevelt to catch the birds returning for their evening roost at Pelican Island, and learn a bit about the history of Pelican Island from the President himself. We will provide various wines and water, along with some delectable treats for the trip. Reservations are required at $70/person and can be made by clicking on the Reserve Your Seat button below. Please note, the reservation service will solicit that you cover the transaction fee and leave a “tip,” both of which are optional and at your discretion. A refund will be provided in the event the trip cancels at the discretion of the ELC’s captain, due to weather. Please arrive early at the ELC’s entry pavilion to check in and use the facilities - there are no restrooms on board.

Sunday, March 17, 2024
Pelican Island NWR - entrance at the north end of Jungle Trail, off Hwy A1A
Centennial Trail, 11am to 3pm

  • Meet-and-greet with President Theodore Roosevelt at Centennial Trail, from 11am to 3pm. Stroll the Centennial Trail for a view of Pelican Island and learn the history of our nation’s first National Wildlife Refuge and enjoy the wildlife!

  • Live reptile display/show-and-tell with the folks from the Florida Wildlife Hospital.

  • Stop by the PICS tent for a free ice cream treat.

 

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