Guana Reserve offers military families free admission

The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve informed Historic City News that they are proud participants in the Blue Star Museums program; offering free admission to active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and their families, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The Blue Star Museums program is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums across America.

“We are proud to connect military families with the history and natural resources here at the Reserve,” said Michael Shirley, director of the Research Reserve. “The Environmental Education Center provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages to learn about the natural history of Northeast Florida.”

This year, according to Shirley, more than 2,000 museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and American Samoa, are taking part in the initiative.

The program provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation’s cultural heritage. Blue Star Museums represents not only fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, nature centers and dozens of children’s museums.

The GTM Research Reserve is one of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves across the nation focused on researching, educating and protecting the natural biodiversity and cultural resources within the estuary.

It is managed by Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Coastal Office, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Environmental Education Center is located at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082. For more information about the GTM Research Reserve, please call 904-823-4500 or visit the website at www.gtmnerr.org.