Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Invites Families to Celebrate the Bay at Mattie Kelly Family Bay Day

Santa Rosa Beach, FL — The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA), in partnership with the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program and with generous support from the Mattie Kelly Environmental Initiative through the Northwest Florida State College Foundation, invites the public to attend the annual Mattie Kelly Family Bay Day on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Family Bay Day is a fun and educational event that celebrates the ecological richness of the Choctawhatchee Bay. With exploration stations, hands-on learning activities, and the always-popular fish printing, this event is designed to engage children and adults alike in environmental education and coastal conservation.

“This event is an opportunity for families to connect with nature and gain a better understanding of the vital role the bay plays in our ecosystem,” said Alison McDowell, Executive Director of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. “We’re proud to continue our collaboration with the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program to make environmental education accessible and fun.”

Event Details: What: Mattie Kelly Family Bay Day When: Saturday, September 27, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Where: Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park Cost: $5 per vehicle (Park entrance fee)

All ages are welcome, and families are encouraged to come explore, learn, and play along the beautiful shoreline of Rocky Bayou.

About the Sponsors Funding for this free educational program comes from the Mattie Kelly Environmental Initiative, a project of the Northwest Florida State College Foundation. CBA also partners with the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program, whose mission is to protect and enhance the bay and its surrounding watersheds for future generations.

For more information about the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and upcoming events, visit www.basinalliance.org or contact CBA@nwfsc.edu. About the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) is committed to sustaining swimmable, fishable, livable waterways in the Choctawhatchee watershed through monitoring, restoration, education, and research. We are driven to provide education and experiences that empower local and visitors alike to be good stewards of our waterways, wetlands, and shorelines.

Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Invites Families to Celebrate the Bay at Mattie Kelly Family Bay Day