HEADED IN

Become a BCRS Beach Ambassador!

Love spending time at the beach? Help keep your community informed by volunteering with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's Beach Conditions Reporting System (BCRS)!

Beach Ambassadors share observations of beach conditions, including beach flags, water color, surf, crowds, jellyfish, respiratory irritation, and dead fish. Reports are available at visitbeaches.org, helping beachgoers make informed decisions before visiting.

Florida Panhandle first Mote is especially seeking volunteers in the Florida Panhandle who can report consistently, ideally at least four days per week when feasible. Each report typically takes one minute or less!

Ready to get started?

  1. Complete the online Beach Ambassador training. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Have your proposed beach location name and GPS coordinates handy.
  2. After the training, email Natalie Springer, BCRS Operations Supervisor, at [email protected] to confirm completion and set up your account.
Start the Beach Ambassador training

Have questions before getting started? You're welcome to email Natalie directly to learn more.

Where your reports show up

Your reports go to Mote's Beach Conditions Reporting System at visitbeaches.org. Headed In shows the flags BCRS volunteers and lifeguards report on its Beach flags screen and through its free AI connector, always credited to Mote and linked to the full report. The flag on the lifeguard stand always has the last word.

The Beach Ambassador program is run by Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. Headed In is a separate, free app that shares the program with Mote's permission.