Buzzworthy World Bee Day Coming in May

Celebrate World Bee Day with an afternoon of activities at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on May 20. Florida is home to more than 300 species of bees that assist in the pollination of fruits and vegetables and are crucial to the survival of many other plants.

Event Schedule

* 3:00 PM – Landscaping with Native Plants presentation - Learn how to provide food, shelter, and cover for migratory birds and food for bees in this informative presentation. Participants will have a chance to win a native plant to take home.

* 4:00 PM –  Honeybee presentation and honey tasting panel with Rubee’s Honey.

* 5 to 6:00 PM and 6 to 7:00 PM – Nature journaling: learn to draw bees and flowers (additional fee to participate, details TBA).

* 6 to 7:00 PM – Build a beehive from cardboard activity for all ages.

Plus: From 3 to 7:30 PM the café will be open with child-friendly menu options for dinner- see website for menu. Also, visitors enjoy 10% off any merchandise featuring bees or honey in the Corkscrew Nature Store.

World Bee Day activities are included with regular admission (except for nature journaling). Advance ticket purchase is recommended at corkscrew.audubon.org/bee-day-24.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary offers many ways to enjoy wildlife, including guided experiences and a gateway to the largest old-growth bald cypress in North America on the 2.25-mile boardwalk. Audubon’s Blair Visitor Center and boardwalk, located at 375 Sanctuary Road W. in Naples, are open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the last admission at 1 p.m. in summer months, from May through October. The Center offers a Nature Store with many locally made products, including honey. Admission is $17 for adults, $6 for kids 6-14, and free for children and members. Online tickets for any visit, event, or guided program are recommended: corkscrew.audubon.org/visit.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunset Stroll

May 1, May 29

This naturalist guided boardwalk tour leads you into the swamp as the day draws to a close. As twilight approaches many creatures are winding down their day, just as nocturnal creatures are beginning theirs. Watch the sunset from the observation tower, then listen to the changes in sounds as the day changes to night. 5:30 – 8 p.m. (October), 4:30 - 7 p.m. (December)

$40 per person, $20 ages 12-16 (discounts for members)

Guided Forest Meditation

May 3

Connect with the forest and listen to the sounds around you: singing birds, wind through the trees, and quiet. Breathe in clean, fragrant air and soak in the sights of the textured tree trunks, branches, and leaf shapes. Please bring a yoga mat, or something dry and cushioned to sit on, and water.

Paid admission to the Sanctuary is required (free for members). Please bring cash for a suggested donation to the instructor.

Corkscrew Night Tour

May 23

Enjoy a night in the swamp on this Audubon Naturalist guided tour. Your guide will bring you into the swamp when nocturnal animals are out and vocal. When it’s clear out, the night sky is spectacular here. You never know what you will hear or see, but a night visit could bring the sounds of calling insects, owls, and alligators, along with a surprise or two!

$40 per person, $20 ages 12-16 (discounts for members)

Early Birding Tour

May 21, May 28

Experience the sights and sounds of the awakening swamp with one of our naturalists guiding you on our boardwalk to look for birds. Learn about bird identification, bird behaviors, and the importance of the native upland and freshwater wetland plants and habitats at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. You’ll also learn what we’re doing at the Sanctuary to protect, manage and restore habitat, and what everyone can do to help birds.

$30 per person (discounts for members)

Ancient Forest Tour

May 30

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is home to the world's largest remaining old-growth bald cypress forest, protected from logging since 1954. 2024 is our 70th Anniversary. Join us for a three-hour tour along the 2.25-mile boardwalk through the ancient forest, with highlights on history, ecology, storytelling, and ancient cypress trees. There are occasional opportunities for rest along the way. Participants must be aged 16 or older.

$30 per person (online registration required)

Summer Solstice and Wellness Event

June 20

Celebrate Summer Solstice in the swamp with an evening of wellness and nature-based activities.