Author: Live Wildly Foundation

Watch the Discovery Channel’s “Let’s Take It Outside” program this Sunday, Oct. 26, and discover what makes Florida wild

SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / October 23, 2025 / Live Wildly – the Florida non-profit working to help people fall in love with nature – will be featured in the upcoming episode of the Discovery Channel’s “Let’s Take It Outside” program, starring angler and outdoor enthusiast Misty Wells.

The episode will air at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, on the Discovery Channel, and viewers will get the chance to meet two of Live Wildly’s dedicated team members – Senior Director of Conservation Dr. Thomas Eason and Events Producer Michelle Yepez – as they boat across the Florida Keys, catch lobster and discuss what makes Florida’s lands and waters so special. It is also available to watch on demand starting Oct. 26 on Discovery GO and shortly thereafter on Discovery Plus.

“What a blast to explore Florida’s natural areas with Misty Wells,” said Eason. “We not only got the chance to see the amazing and diverse species that call Florida home, but we experienced firsthand why Florida is known as one of the greatest outdoor recreational spots in the world.”

Live Wildly is the official sponsor of the sixth season of “Let’s Take It Outside.” Live Wildly’s work to protect Florida’s lands and waters will be highlighted throughout the season, and viewers will be invited to “Join the Movement” to explore, connect with and protect wild Florida.

“Partnering with the Live Wildly Foundation and its mission is the perfect partnership as we share the same goal to keep Florida wild,” said Wells. “Given the growth and development pressures in Florida, every acre saved for Florida’s future is a win. I am proud to be part of the Live Wildly team and future.”

Along with hosting “Let’s Take It Outside,” Wells also is a Live Wildly Outdoor Adventurist and will be working with Live Wildly to encourage people to get outside and connect with nature.

“Misty’s passion for Florida’s lands and waters makes her the ideal ambassador for this movement to protect nature, bringing new audiences into the fold and inspiring them to care about conservation,” said Live Wildly’s CEO Lisa Shipley. “People protect what they love, and working together, we are helping people fall in love with nature.”

Live Wildly’s mission is the long-term protection of Florida’s lands and waters, starting with a permanently conserved Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Corridor, established in 2021, is an 18-million-acre network of lands and waters stretching from the Everglades to the Panhandle. It not only provides habitat for almost 2,000 different species – including the iconic Florida panther, manatees, and the Gopher tortoise – but also supports more than 100,000 jobs and generates $30 billion in annual revenue through recreation, tourism, agriculture and other industries.

To learn more, visit www.LiveWildly.com

SOURCE: Live Wildly Foundation

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TALLAHASSEE, FL / ACCESS Newswire / September 23, 2025 / This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the Florida Forever program, which has protected more than 1 million acres of lands across the state for the benefit of both people and nature. To celebrate, the Live Wildly Foundation is joining the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Sept. 27 for National Public Lands Day, encouraging Floridians and visitors to get outside and explore Florida’s unique natural areas.

Florida Forever is more than an environmental land acquisition program. It is shaping the future of Florida’s landscapes, natural resources and economy. The program purchases land, guaranteeing permanent public ownership, access and management for recreation, restoration and conservation, and partners with private landowners to place conservation easements on properties that preserve working farms, ranches and forests. These acquisitions provide a host of ecosystem benefits, including water quality and quantity, storm resilience, habitat and species protection, and outdoor recreation. Through cooperative partnerships, Florida Forever continues as the state’s blueprint for conserving natural resources.

“National Public Lands Day reminds us how fortunate we are to have access to so many amazing state parks, wildlife management areas and other public lands across Florida, where we can relax, recreate and discover the vital role nature plays in our daily lives,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “The Florida Forever program has been essential in conserving many of these public areas while also keeping working lands healthy and productive.”

Among the public recreational areas made possible through Florida Forever that people can visit on National Public Lands Day, and year-round, are:

• Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park

• Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

• Bald Point State Park

• Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park

• Dade Battlefield Historic State Park

• Myakka River State Park

• Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

• Don Pedro Island State Park

In recent years, the Florida Forever program has accelerated its work to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act. Signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2021, the act established the Wildlife Corridor, 18 million acres of connected lands and waters that stretch from Northwest Florida to the Everglades. The corridor provides important habitat for species such as the Florida panther, supports roughly 114,000 jobs and contributes $30 billion in annual revenue through recreation, tourism, agriculture and other industries. Through Florida Forever, more than 325,000 acres of lands and waters within the Wildlife Corridor have been conserved.

“Florida’s natural systems are the backbone of our local economies and communities,” said Lisa Shipley, Live Wildly CEO. “Florida Forever, along with other conservation initiatives like the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, have created unparalleled opportunities for Floridians to enjoy public lands while ensuring that our state’s wild and working lands are protected for generations to come.”

For more information on Florida Forever, visit FloridaForever.org.

SOURCE: Live Wildly Foundation

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More than 25,000 people from around the world gathered in St. Augustine, FL, to celebrate music and nature

SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL / ACCESS Newswire / October 2, 2025 / Live Wildly and Sing Out Loud Festival, with the help of more than 25,000 music fans, raised over $130,000 for conservation in St. Johns County, FL. The funds will go directly toward local land conservation initiatives that safeguard Florida’s wild beauty.

The funding was raised through a portion of ticket sales from Sing Out Loud Festival’s Live Wildly Showcase, a mission-driven music festival designed to spark deeper connections to Florida’s wild places. Held Sept. 20-21 in historic St. Augustine, FL, the festival weekend featured 14 headliners such as platinum-selling artist Hozier, indie star Beabadoobee and folk-pop artist Vance Joy.

“Nature, like music, has the power to move people,” said Lisa Shipley, CEO of Live Wildly. “We’re proud to partner with Sing Out Loud to inspire people to protect Florida’s wild lands. People protect what they love. From the food we eat to the air we breathe to the places we recreate, nature plays a vital role in our daily lives.”

In between world-class acts, festival attendees explored the Live Wildly tent, where they were surrounded by the sights of Florida’s unique natural areas. Inside the air-conditioned, springs-themed environment, guests cooled off while learning about Florida’s iconic freshwater springs and the many species that depend on them. Vibrant imagery and educational displays throughout the venue highlighted the importance of protecting Florida’s fragile ecosystems. Near the center of the event, Live Wildly showcased the return of its 15-foot inflatable Florida panther and debuted a new cub, a nod to the critically endangered species with only a little over 200 believed to remain in the wild.

This marks the second consecutive year Live Wildly has teamed up with Sing Out Loud to raise funds for Florida conservation. Year-round, Live Wildly collaborates with public and private partners across the state to connect people with Florida’s wild places and inspire lasting support for protecting them.

“Our partnership with Live Wildly reflects what Sing Out Loud Festival is all about – using the power of music to bring awareness and inspire action,” said Gabe Pellicer, CEO & President of SJC Cultural Events, Inc., the 501c3 organization that produces Sing Out Loud Festival. “Thanks to this collaboration, we’ve shown that when music and conservation come together, we can make a real impact for Florida’s wild places. And that impact goes beyond one weekend of music – it helps safeguard the lands and waters that define Florida’s identity and sustain our communities for generations.”

Live Wildly’s mission is the long-term protection of Florida’s lands and waters, starting with a permanently connected Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Corridor, established in 2021, is an 18-million-acre network of lands and waters stretching from the Everglades to the Panhandle. It not only provides habitat for almost 2,000 different species – including the iconic Florida panther, manatees, and the Gopher tortoise, but also supports more than 100,000 jobs and generates $30 billion in annual revenue through recreation, tourism, agriculture and other industries.

SOURCE: Live Wildly Foundation

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