Estero Through the Eyes of FGCU Students
The Department of English at Florida Gulf Coast University and Engage Estero are collaborating on a new project. College Composition students are writing essays of interest regarding the greater Estero area. To share their work and better inform our readers, we are sharing these essays.
The essays are below. Most area residents know there is a Koreshan State Park in our village but many don’t know the history of what happened over 100 years ago to some of the first settlers in Estero.
Halloween may be a good time to read about what we might call a spooky religious sect that formed the first Village on the Estero River. It’s a marvelous history of the late 1800’s, that peaked in 1903 but ended a few short years later with the death of a “divine figure.”
FGCU Articles
FGCU’s Students Write Articles For Engage Estero
Who says writing assignments have to be boring? This semester, Engage Estero teamed up with Professor Barbara Wright’s composition class at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) for a collaboration that brought local history and environmental awareness to life—and the...
Guardians Of the Gulf
Guardians Of the GulfThe state of Florida is known to be one of the most biologically diverse states in the country. It is home to several different ecosystems including wetlands, estuaries, pinewoods, hammocks, and mangrove forests. The Outstanding Florida Waters...
Honoring Our Veterans
Honoring our VeteransHonoring veterans has been an issue facing the community for years now. Not only does honoring our veterans show a gesture of gratitude towards those who have served, but it is a responsibility of every American citizen to take part in helping...
Post-Hurricane Ian: Fort Myers Beach Rebuilds
Post-Hurricane Ian: Fort Myers Beach RebuildsThe barrier island of Fort Myers Beach continues reconstruction and recovery following the 2022 impact of Hurricane Ian. The storm has been considered one of five of the worst natural disasters in recent history, and almost...
Koreshan State Park: Strange History, Wonderful Park
Koreshan State Park: Strange History, Wonderful ParkAs many people in Estero may know, Koreshan State Park is rich with native flora and fauna like live oaks, palms, and slash pines, mixed with some historic plantings like jacaranda and eucalyptus (Florida State...
Living Shorelines in Estero
Living Shorelines in EsteroWhat is a Shoreline and Living Shoreline Shorelines are natural environments that undergo erosion and accretion from wave energy and tide changes. The process of erosion and accretion is often worsened by human activities. This causes harm...
Why Community Recreation Is So Important
Why is Community Recreation So Important?By Aidan Lingo, FGCU Student Introduction Every strong community needs a place where people can come together, stay active, and have fun. Recreation centers and community sports programs do just that. They are more than just...
Esteros’ Poor Water Quality and Nutrient Pollution
Esteros' Poor Water Quality and Nutrient PollutionBy Alex Rice and Jake Dobson, FGCU Students for Engage Estero IntroductionEstero is known for its proximity to beautiful beaches, aquatic ecosystems, and vast wetlands. But when you take a deeper look, you will find...
Archives and Resources: State Parks Near Estero, Florida
Archives and Resources: State Parks Near Estero, FloridaThis article is sourced from Florida, Kirsten Travis and Jaden Wheeler, Department of English, Florida Gulf Coast University. Introduction Florida’s state parks are home to some of the most beautiful, diverse,...
Why Red Mangrove Trees are so Important in Southern Florida
Why Red Mangrove Trees Are So Important in Southern FloridaThe second of the FGCU student articles by Tanner Povey and Olivia NeildSouthern Florida, known for many infamous hurricanes, discovered a new way of defending the fragile shoreline with the use of red...
A Little Bit of History of the Korshans
A Little Bit of History of the Koreshans Connor Caruso, Grant AllenDepartment of English, Florida Gulf CoastENC 1102: College Composition IIProfessor WrightOctober 3, 2025 During the late 1800s, a man named Cyrus Teed founded the Koreshan Unity, a religious group....