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Richard Abrams ’88 shares his love of environmental science at Sherlock Springs nature preserve in Florida outreach, and education. Part of my job was to educate people about fishery conservation. We targeted the public to tell them things they could do to protect the resources while they were fishing. We conducted a variety of programs, such as children’s and women’s fishing clinics, went to fishing shows, and produced publications,” Abrams said. “We served as a link between research and the general public. When we did research on a fishery, we converted the information into layman terms so the general public could learn and appreciate more about the saltwater fish in Florida.”
Sherlock Holmes handled every case by diving right in and observing every detail and aspect that he could. When Richard Abrams ’88 got the idea for opening a nature preserve focusing on hands-on environmental education, discovery, and events, he looked to his late canine companion, also named “Sherlock,” for naming inspiration. Abrams said the dog, like the fictional detective, “had an inquisitive personality and great problem-solving skills” and thus Sherlock Springs was born. The nature retreat opened in December 2020 in Crawfordville, Florida, which is approximately 15 miles south of Tallahassee in Wakulla County. Sherlock Springs features a natural spring, nature trails, outdoor education areas, an equestrian center, and lodge for hosting weddings and other events.
The Sherlock Springs grounds are on the site of a former YMCA summer camp. After the camp closed, the property sat in foreclosure for 10 years before Abrams purchased it in May of 2018. Although he had the idea for Sherlock Springs for quite some time, he was not expecting it to all come together when it did. When this site became available, Abrams said Richard Abrams’88 named the M.H. Forke Lodge he could not pass up the opportunity. He said Richard “Rich” Abrams comes from at Sherlock Springs after his mother, Marlene. it was in quite a bit of disarray when he bought a long line of MMI graduates, including it but now he is happy to have the first phase completed and ready his father, Edward ‘62, and grandfather, Irving ‘30. After his parents to share with the public. “My goal is to just get people out here and passed away – his father in 2010 and his mother, Marlene, in 2016 – enjoy the outdoors and what nature has to offer them,” he said. he wanted to invest in his passion of natural resource conservation, environmental education, and getting people outdoors. In addition to the lush outdoor setting, the renovated “It’s really rewarding. I’m following my parents, who were business people, and always told us to give back,” he said. In fact, a unique aspect of the property is the M.H. Forke Lodge, which Abrams named after his mother, Marlene, whose maiden name was Forke. In addition to his love of and professional background in environmental science, Abrams found inspiration through the work he did during his career, including the nearly 25 years he spent with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to take complex environmental concepts and make them easy for the public to understand. “During my time with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, I worked in marine fishery research,
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camp canteen, surrounded by beautifully lit live oak trees, can accommodate up to 150 people. The space can host weddings, corporate parties, and everything in between. The expansive equestrian center is designed to be used for horse events and other animal-related activities. Everything from horse shows and clinics, to dog agility programs, trade shows, open-air markets, and large gatherings can be held here. Plans are still underway for the educational programming Sherlock Springs will offer but Abrams envisions it giving people a chance to reconnect with nature. He is planning both indoor and outdoor activities in the main education area focused around four areas: nature education, outdoor recreation, what he calls folk school, and fitness. (continued on page 9)
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