Dear friend of A Rocha,

We deeply appreciate the many ways you participated in A Rocha USA’s work this past year. Whether you joined a Love Your Place event, volunteered locally, prayed for us, or contributed financial support, you helped sustain and advance the mission of A Rocha in the US. The recent year-end campaign was the largest in our history, and we are so thankful to those of you who supported us in this way. One of the things that helped build awareness in December was Tish Warren’s article in The New York Times. Our new Communications team also assisted us in helping to tell stories of A Rocha USA's work. You can expect to hear from us consistently through our newsletter, social media, and our expanding Love Your Place community.

A Rocha USA has a renewed strategic focus that more clearly aligns with our mission of responding to critical biodiversity loss. As a result, we are focusing more directly on establishing and sustaining our local projects in Titusville, Central Texas, and Southern California. We recognize that supporting local success is essential to creating measurable impact on improving biodiversity and restoring ecosystems.

A Rocha USA's internship program is a new component of our local work. Currently based in Titusville, we have three outstanding interns doing marine conservation alongside our Director of A Rocha USA's Marine Conservation Program and Lead Scientist of A Rocha International's Marine Conservation Program, Dr. Bob Sluka. They are gaining excellent field experience and training as they contribute to the local conservation work in the Indian River Lagoon. I was fortunate enough to spend a week with Nick, Michaela, and Alli and can attest to their passion for the work and love of the ocean. We completed our SCUBA certifications together (see photo above) and did some diving as part of their work in Florida. We'll share more about their adventures soon.

Finally, A Rocha is turning 40 this year! You’ll hear more about this in the coming weeks, as it is an important landmark in our history. A Rocha USA will celebrate and build on this milestone by sharing more of A Rocha's global conservation stories with our USA supporters. We'd love to hear how you sustain God's creation—watch our new video,  “I am a conservationist," to find out how to share your story. 

Thank you again for your ongoing support of A Rocha’s mission. We greatly appreciate your partnership in this vital work.

Mark Purcell
Executive Director
A Rocha USA

Act Locally

Marine Conservation Intern Nick Davis during oyster monitoring with the Brevard Zoo. Photo by Bob Sluka.

Florida interns on the Indian River Lagoon: A blog post by Michaela Stenerson 

Titusville is a town on the east coast of Florida. At its eastern-most point you will not be looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean, you will be looking onto the Indian River Lagoon, a 156-mile long estuary which is a key biological highway for migratory birds and a hub of biodiversity.  

In the last few decades this estuary has undergone substantial transformation. Today, those grassy beds are almost nonexistent. We went out with a local expert to observe one of the last bits of seagrass beds and although it was only a few feet deep, you could not see the grass unless you got your face right up to it. But what has caused all of this change?

Think Globally

Celebrating 40 Years of Creation Care: A Rocha's Journey from Cruzinha to a Global Conservation Movement

This year, we are celebrating A Rocha’s 40th birthday! In 1983, Miranda and Peter Harris and their four children moved to southern Portugal to establish Cruzinha: the very first A Rocha field center near the Alvor marshes. The region was on a major migratory route for birds, held remarkable biodiversity, and received a similarly abundant influx of tourists—the perfect blend for a bird observatory with an international flavor and a strong sense of ecological mission.

In the 1960s, scientists had begun sounding the alarm of the dangers of environmental destruction, but with a few notable exceptions, Christians were largely silent on the matter. A Rocha’s work was a firm declaration that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1) If we truly love God, we will also love and care for what he has called “very good.” 

Get Involved: A Rocha opportunities

Lent begins February 22

Join Climate Stewards USA again or sign up for the first time to observe Lent together. We will reflect prayerfully on climate hope and justice found in Christ while fasting from carbon-intensive activities. Each week will feature a different fast. Some examples include: fast from meat, dairy, or desserts; fast from consumerism (“buy nothing”); and fast from driving.

We Are Hiring for two positions in Central Texas!

We are looking for a bilingual part-time Outdoor Environmental Educator and a bilingual Intern to join the “Picnics en el Arroyo” team in Central Texas. “Picnics en el Arroyo” connects Hispanic/Latino families with nature by providing free access to natural spaces and programming in Spanish. 

Wild Wonder Day One: Free Camp Curriculum promo code

We're excited to offer a limited-time promo code for Day One of A Rocha's Wild Wonder Camp Curriculum! Wild Wonder is designed to help kids learn about God and nature, and gets kids outside and sparks their imaginations as they learn and explore. This special offer is a great opportunity to run an abbreviated camp for Earth Day or before running a full Wild Wonder camp in the summer.

Use the code: WWDAY1 to receive your free digital copy of Wild Wonder Year One, Day One (regularly $35) through February 28, 2023.

Join the "I am a conservationist" campaign

We all have a role to play in protecting and preserving our planet. Being a conservationist doesn’t mean you have to be a scientist or work for a non-profit. It’s about making small changes in our daily lives and using our unique talents and skills to make a difference. Conservation needs everyone.   

We invite students, youth groups, schools and more to join the movement and show the world that conservation is not just for scientists or activists, it’s for all of us. Show us what you’re doing for nature by sharing your stories, photos, and videos on social media with the hashtag #iamaconservationist. Together, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for all creation. We can't wait to see what you're up to!