FSA RECS

05/29/2026

🦎 Meet Our Black-Throated Monitor! 🦎

Have you ever seen one of Africa’s true reptile giants up close?

The Black-Throated Monitor (Varanus albigularis) is one of the largest lizards in Africa, capable of reaching nearly 7 feet in length and weighing over 60 pounds. Native to the grasslands and savannas of East Africa, these impressive reptiles are known for their intelligence, curiosity, powerful claws, and incredible sense of smell. Using their forked tongues, they “taste” the air much like a snake to locate food and explore their surroundings.

Black-throated monitors are opportunistic feeders. In the wild, their diet may include insects, eggs, birds, fish, reptiles, and small mammals. Watching feeding time is always fascinating as they demonstrate the natural hunting and scavenging behaviors that have helped them thrive for thousands of years.

Did you know? Monitor lizards continually replace their teeth throughout their lives, and many keepers report that they can recognize familiar people and learn routines, making them one of the most intelligent reptile groups in the world.

Come meet this amazing reptile ambassador at:

📍 Floating Sea Aquatics & Café
8661 Old Kings Road South
Jacksonville, FL 32217

🌴 Don’t miss Jumanji June: It’s a Jungle In Here! 🌴

📅 June 13
🚪 Doors Open: 11:00 AM
🎉 Event Begins: 11:30 AM

Join us for a wild adventure filled with amazing animals, hands-on experiences, family fun, educational encounters, and jungle-themed excitement!

While you’re here, be sure to ask about our monthly events, conservation programs, educational opportunities, free art classes, and volunteer opportunities.

At FSA RECS, we believe in Rescue, Education, Conservation, and Service. Together, we can inspire the next generation to care for animals, people, and our environment.

We can’t wait to see you at Floating Sea!

05/27/2026

Thank you to Hala’s!!! They are supporting the food for volunteers for our upcoming event. Jacksonville June Bug BossMayne Leah Renéa Lloyd Cpc Jacksonville Herpetological Society Bright Feats Northeast Florida - Jacksonville WJXT4 The Local Station / News4JAX First Coast News LISC Jacksonville Lissa Brown O'RourkeAction News Jax

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

BossMayne Leah LISC Jacksonville Jacksonville June Bug Action News Jax First Coast News WJXT4 The Local Station / News4JAX

RSVP ASAP. Renéa Lloyd Cpc Famous Events Worldwide LISC Jacksonville Giplings Beachy Honeybees We COPE CIL Jacksonville FSA RECS Eric Bush Caleb's Crew Lorraine Inman Duval Is A Vibe Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Family First Farmstead Doughfee Hala's Mideast Eatery and Market Justin Bullock Jacksonville Beekeepers AssociationPossAbilities PlusCultural Council of Greater Jacksonville St. Johns Cultural Council

05/27/2026

Come & Sea. RSVP.

RSVP ASAP. Renéa Lloyd Cpc Famous Events Worldwide LISC Jacksonville Giplings Beachy Honeybees We COPE CIL Jacksonville FSA RECS Eric Bush Caleb's Crew Lorraine Inman Duval Is A Vibe Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Family First Farmstead Doughfee Hala's Mideast Eatery and Market Justin Bullock Jacksonville Beekeepers AssociationPossAbilities PlusCultural Council of Greater Jacksonville St. Johns Cultural Council

05/24/2026

🌿 JUNE EVENTS AT FSA RECS 🌊
“It’s a Jungle in Here!”

Join us this June for hands-on learning, conservation, creativity, reptile encounters, feedings, and family fun at FSA RECS!

❤️ COMMUNITY UNITY FEEDING PROGRAM
📅 Monday, June 1, 2026
📍 Downtown Jacksonville with Three Grains of Rice

⏰ 6 AM to 9 AM
Cook prep, packaging, and organization

⏰ 10 AM
Community meal service and outreach begins

🙏 DONATIONS NEEDED:
🍞 Bread
🥜 Peanut Butter
🍇 Jelly
🧻 Aluminum Foil
🍚 Rice
🫘 Black Beans
🧄 Garlic
🧅 Red Onion

🌴 JUMANJI JUNGLE JUNE
📅 Saturday, June 13, 2026
⏰ 11 AM to 3 PM

🎟 PRE PAY Jumanji Bands: $10
Save $5 per band by purchasing early!

🎟 DAY OF EVENT Jumanji Bands: $15
Includes stations and activities

🎟 $25 Premium Band
Includes all stations, activities, and a custom-made T-shirt

🕷 CREEPY CRAWLY CHRONICLES
📅 Friday, June 26, 2026
⏰ 6 PM to 8 PM

🎟 PRE PURCHASE CCC Bands: $15 per person
🎟 DAY OF EVENT CCC Bands: $20 per person

Featuring interactive exhibits, educational experiences, reptile encounters, feedings, and so much more!

🎨 ART CLASSES @ FSA
Sunday Funday Donation Only 🙂

Our newest artist and upcoming class theme will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

📌 IMPORTANT CLASS GUIDELINES:
• RSVP required
• Maximum participants: 50
• Call or visit to sign up
• Please provide 24 hour notice if you cannot attend so others may participate
• Parents must remain with children ages 12 and under
• Ages 13+ require a parent to stay inside the building
• The sensory art wall will remain closed during class sessions

🙏 WE ALSO NEED HELP!
If you have experience with Google Forms or sign up systems and would like to volunteer with event registration, please reach out. We appreciate your support!

🌊 COME AND SEE!
Please support our café during your visit.

📍8661 Old Kings Rd S
Jacksonville, FL 32217
📞 +1 (904) 423-0247

05/05/2026

🐝 FSA 4•1•1: DID YOU KNOW?!

Some bumblebees can survive freezing temperatures… ❄️
Not as ice blocks but by slowing their bodies way down and protecting their cells until spring! 🌸

✨ God’s creation is UNBEEEELIEVABLY amazing.

And speaking of AMAZING… 👀

🎉 Get your bands NOW for May 16!
Our Pollinator Paradise Event is going to be…
🐝 UNBEEEELIEVABLY AMAZING!!! 🐝

💛 Hands-on learning
🍯 Local honey tasting
🐝 Live hive demo (12–1)
🎨 Interactive stations, art, games & prizes
👕 Personalized t-shirts
🎁 Goodie bags

⚠️ Bands are LIMITED — secure your spot early!

📍 Floating Sea Aquatics
8661 Old Kings Rd S, Jacksonville, FL

✨ Hosted by:
Floating Sea Aquatics • FSA RECS • Floating Sea Café
Rescue • Education • Conservation • Service

05/03/2026

Poem. Poem. A Parent’s Glimpse of God

I held a child once….for the first time
small, trusting,
eyes that believed I could keep the whole world away.

Little hands that reached for mine
as if I were safety itself,
as if nothing could break
while I was near.

And I loved…
with a love so fierce it startled me,
so deep it ached,
so protective it made me watch the door,
the night,
the breath in their chest.

I would have taken every pain,
every danger,
every darkness
just to spare them.

And still…
I could not control the world.

And now I begin to understand
just a fraction
what it may be like
for God to look at us.

His children.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God.” (1 John 3:1)

Naive.
Wandering.
Reaching for things that harm us,
calling it freedom.

“All we like sheep have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way.” (Isaiah 53:6)

And He sees.
He knows.
He loves.

More than I ever could.

If my heart can shatter
at the thought of losing a child,
what must it be
for Him to watch His children
choose what leads to death?

“The Lord… is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Hell was never meant for us.
Not for His sons and daughters.

But we run.
We rebel.
We reach for what destroys us,
kicking and screaming against the One
who only wants to save us.

And still
He does not let us go.

Because love like that
does not turn away.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

I think of how I would fight
to pull my child from danger
from lies, from darkness, from harm

how I would chase them, call them,
plead with them to come back.

And then I see Him.

Not distant.
Not cold.

But stepping down
from glory
into flesh,
into suffering,
into our broken world.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)

Becoming one of us.

To reach us.
To carry us.
To redeem us.

The unthinkable
given freely.

Not just a sacrifice.

Himself.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

I lost a child.

The grief…………..unbearable.
The pain…………..constant.
A heart wrenching ache
that does not end.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

The instant tears.
The waves of sorrow.
The heaviness of despair.

“Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

Oh… how must God feel
to lose even one of us
to evil
to a darkness
we were never meant to walk in.

If I hurt this much
as a frail, sinful human,
how much more
does our perfect Creator,
our Father,
feel for His children?

His love is deeper.
More pure.
Perfect.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life…
nor anything else in all creation
will be able to separate us
from the love of God.” (Romans 8:38–39)

And now I understand

why He would not leave us there.

Why He made a way.

Why He stepped into suffering,
into death,
onto a cross
for His sinful, rebellious children.

“For God so loved the world
that He gave His one and only Son…” (John 3:16)

So we would not have to endure
eternal separation from Him.

So we could come home.

“In My Father’s house are many rooms…
I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)

Not because we earned it.
Not because we deserved it.
Not because of anything in us.

“But it is by grace you have been saved…
it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

But because of everything in Him.

Now…

I understand.

05/01/2026

We are so excited to bring this beautiful experience to our community 💛

Join us at Floating Sea Aquatics, Floating Sea Café, and FSA RECS as we come together to celebrate World Bee Day, pollinators, and the beauty of inclusion 🐝🌸

This event is designed for ALL ages and ALL abilities — including children and adults with moderate to severe exceptionalities.
Inclusion is not something we do sometimes… it is who we are ALL of the time.

✨ What to expect:
• MANY interactive, hands-on stations
• Live pollinator experiences
• Bee presentation (🕛 BEE ON TIME 🙂)
• Sensory, educational, and creative activities
• Up-close encounters with incredible creatures
• A welcoming space where everyone belongs

We are incredibly grateful to our partners and community who help make this possible 💛

📣 We are also calling for volunteers!
If you have a heart to serve, teach, encourage, or simply be present — we would love to have you join us.

Every moment, every effort, and every contribution helps us continue our mission of:
Rescue • Education • Conservation • Service

📍 8661 Old Kings Rd S
Jacksonville, FL 32217

Come be part of something meaningful. Come learn, explore, and celebrate with us.

🐝 Because when we take care of our world… it takes care of us. 🌎💛