Timucuan Parks Foundation and the National Parks Conservation Association are hosting the 11th Timucuan Science and History Symposium, a chance to connect with the next generation of park scientists, historians and researchers. The event will be on Friday, January 23, 2026, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Ribault Club on Ft George Island Cultural State Park. Guests can register until January 19 at https://www.timucuanparks.org/symposium/.
The theme for the symposium is “First Coast Cultures, Resilient Shores,” which will explore the deep ties between people, place, and resilience. Presenters for the symposium include authors, researchers, professors, and others who will discuss a variety of topics, including history, archaeology, ecosystems, and cultural resources within the Timucuan Preserve.
Guests will receive updates on research and projects within the Timucuan Preserve and learn about wetland elevation changes, shoreline movement, and oyster habitats within the Preserve, studies related to American Beach as a National Historic Landmark, and how to advocate for public lands. Speakers will discuss ethnographic research on those forcibly brought to these lands as part of the Atlantic Slave Trade, archaeological projects on Big Talbot Island and Cedar Point, and environmentalism inspired by Willie Browne. A full view of the symposium agenda, including these topics and more, is available at https://www.timucuanparks.org/symposium/.
Opportunities to sponsor the symposium are still available and will provide research grants for students and help underwrite the event. Details are available online or by contacting Timucuan Parks Foundation at [email protected] or (904) 374-1107.