Justina Rocks! Making a positive impact on our local community and environment

If you have been on an Amelia River Cruise you know that our staff is passionate about the area’s history and ecology. We believe that every cruise is a new opportunity to provide our guests with memories that last a lifetime… and maybe a sprinkle of knowledge as well.

Our hiring process can be very competitive. This results in a staff filled with positive, knowledgeable individuals who form a strong bond and, in many cases, lifelong friendships. We understand that, while we would love to keep our staff members on forever, they have their own journeys and passions to follow. We love to keep in touch and see where life takes them.
Recently we were able to catch up with one of our Naturalists, Justina Dacey.

Justina Rocks! Making a positive impact on our local community and environment

Justina grew up in south Florida. She spent her time at the beach snorkeling, surfing, and exploring the Florida Keys. Her inquisitive mind lead her to pursue a Biology degree. When we welcomed her into our family in 2012, she had just begun working on her Masters in Marine Biology and was looking for a summer job. Her passion for informing others and her outgoing personality was the perfect combination for our kid friendly Shrimping Eco Tour.

Justina rocked it for four seasons until moving into nonprofit work in 2015. While reminiscing we were thrilled to hear that she loved working with us as much as we loved having her. Justina told us that being a member of the Amelia River Cruises’ team was one of her favorite jobs.

“I got to spend two hours on a boat with people on vacation, having a great time. I can’t think of one trip that wasn’t a positive experience. Our guests were always happy!”

Justina went on to say that having the opportunity to work with and inspire kids to be inquisitive and get excited about marine science was what she loved most. She remembered one eco tour where they pulled up several baby black tip sharks. Watching the kids (and their parents) faces light up with wonder was a beautiful moment.

Most recently she accepted one of the Extension Agent positions (focus being Natural Resources and Agriculture) at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Nassau County Extension Office. Here she can create a positive impact on our local community and environment by developing new and expanding upon existing community outreach programs.

Justina’s programs sound fascinating and her office has some really exciting growth happening (more on that later!). Coming up in the next month she has two workshops she will be heading up and we would love to help her get the word out!

Summer Pond Workshop | Tuesday July 24th at 6:30pm

Justina and her coworkers will review and answer questions about the management of recreational ponds. Topics covered will include: Pond stocking, fertilizing, how much and when, liming, water quality and aquatic weed identification. If you have weeds you would like identified, please bring them with you!

Hurricane Preparedness Workshop | Thursday August 9th, 5:30-8pm

Justina and her coworkers invite you to join their workshop on preparing the inside and outside of your home before the storm and dealing with the aftermath. Topics covered will include: Hurricane meal plans & food safety (including mock hurricane dinner), Mold management, preparing your landscape, boat farm and livestock, Youth’s role in difficult situations, and information on Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) & Youth Emergency Team (YET).

Other Upcoming Nassau County Events:

August 1st: Gardening with Children
August 15th: Vegetable Gardening

All of us at Amelia River Cruises couldn’t be prouder of Justina’s accomplishments and are so excited that she is bringing her positive spirit to Nassau County Florida. We are sure her workshops will be filled with fun, inspiring our community and creating a positive impact throughout the county.

Categorised in: Cruises & Events, History & Community, Our Staff, Wildlife & Marine Biology