Boy have I had a great night going through camera folders...Thank you again for letting me do this!!! It was amazing to see some of these images.  A bobcat was eating a little field mouse.  Two panthers walking together.  Best Saturday night!

Tami R., Veterinary Surgeon

Being involved with the fStop Foundation has been really helpful for my graduate experience. Many of the concepts that we focus on are solidified with some of the work that I’m doing: things like keystone species, trophic levels, sustainable development, and citizen science are all applied with the remote camera project. I’ve gained important field experience, as well as building skills with several types of camera equipment. I'm also proud to be a part of building connections with the local community, whether it be government entities like Conservation Collier or private groups like Cypress Cove Conservancy.

The work that is going on with the Florida panther is extremely important and I’m glad to be a part of it. Helping bring this species back from the brink of extinction will hopefully serve as a model for future projects around the world. Citizen science will also be a key part of that and I hope the use of technology helps officials and researchers gain valuable information. Southwest Florida is a unique spot in this country due to its wide variety of habitats and biodiversity. Hopefully the content produced here educates people about what's in their backyards and pushes them to do citizen science projects of their own.

Jared M., graduate student at FGCU

Thank you so much for everything this semester. I have enjoyed working on the sorting content so much! I feel like I have truly learned the importance of protecting our ecosystems and how important our work is, especially for the panthers and other endangered species.

Kelly M., FGCU Student

This course requirements that every student select a volunteer opportunity that aligns with our overarching class theme, “sustainability – as it relates to a variety of considerations and forces in the environment.” I am and always have been very passionate about conservation as a whole, and both my dad and my brother are heavily involved in conservation ecology where I’m from in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, when I was growing up I was always more interested in the health and human sciences and spent very little time in the national parks going on game counts, water walks and other fundraising events with my dad and brother. However, after the first 4 weeks of colloquium, my passion for wildfire conservation have been sparked once again, and I would love to get more involved in the field.

Katie E., FGCU Student