CREW Land & Water Trust

The CREW Land & Water Trust was formed in 1989 as a private, non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and stewardship of the land and water resources and natural communities in and around the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW). This nearly 70,000-acre watershed, which straddles both Lee and Collier Counties, is the largest intact watershed in southwest Florida. Not only does CREW provide a range of ecosystem services, such as water storage, flood control and water filtration, that are especially vital to our local economy and quality of life, but it also provides habitats for nearly 500 native plant species and more than 300 native animal species, including many that are currently listed as either threatened or endangered.

Working with a variety of public, private and non-profit partners, CREW Trust helps coordinate the acquisition and conservation of lands within and adjacent to this critical watershed. Each year, CREW Trust welcomes more than 65,000 visitors to our four trail systems. People come to enjoy forty miles of marked hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, as well as our outdoor pavilions, primitive campsites, elevated boardwalks, and observation platforms. CREW Trust also offers a variety of immersive educational programs for students of all ages, including guided walking and biking tours, wet walks, geocaching and earthcaching events, overnight camping and family days, specialty topic hikes, and Strolling Science Seminars for adults and kids who want to dive deeper into all the wonders CREW offers.