Nature Store

FY 2018-19 brought a mix of good news and bad. A win for the Nature Store was the introduction of four new products. Each involved the generous participation of some very talented folks: a writer, a wood craftsman, local photographers, and a birder.

Area X shirts were introduced in September 2018. The design is based on author Jeff VanderMeer’s book Annihilation. The setting is a pristine wilderness area that Jeff acknowledges was inspired by his hikes in the Refuge. By May 31, the end of our fiscal year, over 350 shirts were sold and shipped worldwide.

Chip Coffin, a Friends’ member, started making walking sticks and donating them to the store in November 2018. The handles are beautifully wrapped with bead work and often exhibit a little carving. We easily sell all the sticks he brings us.

In November 2018, we started selling photo cards depicting Refuge wildlife and landscapes. The images are donated by local photographers and by the end of the fiscal year, over 550 of these beautiful cards had been sold.

In April 2018, our favorite birder, Don Morrow, created and donated the Checklist of the Birds of St. Marks NWR. This small, but very detailed, booklet, which we produce in house, became an instant hit with the many bird enthusiasts who visit the Nature Store.

Finally, we can’t talk about good news without mentioning the American Flamingo arrived with Hurricane Michael and stayed on for 8 months. (He has since been seen intermittently) This beautiful bird caused quite a commotion in the bird world and brought folks from hundreds of miles away to the Refuge—many of whom stopped and shopped. Thanks, Pinky!

The bad news was two-fold: in October 2018, Hurricane Michael caused a 10-day closing to allow for cleanup and repairs. The second hit came with the 35-day government shutdown in January. Though the gates were open and the flamingo was here to be seen, the Visitors Center was closed. In spite of these two shutdowns, we were still able to respond to email requests for Area X shirts. Using PayPal, we sold over 70 Area X shirts during those closures.

All told, another successful year as the Nature Store continues to be the number one source of Friends’ income that supports the Refuge mission. Considering the 45 days lost to unplanned closings, that the Nature Store finished the year just $1900 under last year, is good news indeed.