The Reef at America's Doorstep

"How can one crayon effect climate change for the world?" It can do that by first inspiring and giving ideas to kids about what is right here in front of them. We have the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world right off the coast of Florida and our new book "The Reef at America's Doorstep" is helping kids learn more about that. Many people think of the Coral Reef as being far way, but in reality the USA has the third largest barrier reef in the world. You can drive there because it's right off the coast of Florida. Did you know Florida's coral reef is the only barrier reef in the continental US and North America? It runs along the coast of Florida from the St. Lucie Inlet to the north all the way to the Dry Tortugas to the south, for almost 350 miles! Florida's coral barrier reef is so important that a portion of it became the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in 1990. It's home to more than 40 species of reef-building corals that give shelter and food for more than 500 species of fish and millions of other species of plants and animals. Coral Reefs are called the rainforests of the oceans for good reason. They are one of the most diverse ecosystems on our planet, and have more variety of species than anywhere else in the world! "Scientists estimate that more than one million species of plants and animals are associated with coral reef ecosystems". They cover "less than 1% of the oceans floor and support an estimated 25% of all the known marine species." - Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. "Individually we are one drop. Together we are an ocean." - Ryunosuke Akutagawa