Wild About Earth Day

The annual Earth Day celebration at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida is always a favorite for the entire family. This year’s extravaganza held up to their exciting reputation of being a fun-filled day honoring Florida’s flora and fauna.

“It was just a perfect day,” reflects Reneé Stoll, director of communications and marketing at the Conservancy. “Our Earth Day Festival allows us to explain to the community what we do to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, and wildlife.” 

With interactive programs, nature-focused games, 50 guest exhibitors, and more, the Conservancy welcomed over 2,000 attendees - a record number of guests! 

Among the extensive list of vendors who share similar naturalist values were the Environmental Education Alliance, Xerces Society, and Rookery Bay Research Reserve. Each narrated their inspiring mission to respect the earth and Southwest Florida every day. 

“We really want to focus on resilience and moving forward despite these trying times,” says FGCU student and Environmental Education Alliance member Sarah Shelley. The Alliance aims to build a community for environmental educators at all levels, including students, professors, and community members. “Everybody deserves a seat at the table, and we want to get people invigorated to use the opportunity that we have to come together,” said Shelley. Their next meeting will be held on November 1, 2025, at FGCU and is open to the public. 

Joyce Fassbender, an ambassador for the Xerces Society, focuses on uniting communities as well. In fact, her work centers on the largest community in the world: invertebrates! “We do studies on monarchs, bumblebees, and fireflies by incorporating citizen science and outreach,” explains Fassbender. The international nonprofit organization hosts webinars and citizen science events that can be found on their website: www.xerces.org. 

In addition to the dozens of organizations that represented their contributions to environmental endeavors in Southwest Florida, the Conservancy set up their own informative booths to showcase their political, educational, and research initiatives. 

Nicole Johnson, director of environmental policy at the Conservancy, displays her team's work in protecting endangered species and promoting appropriate development through interesting exhibitions such as coloring books and stuffed animals. “Our props attract the kids to be interested while we chat with their parents about some of the environmental issues we’re involved with,” says Johnson. “We love to educate all ages about our work with endangered species like the Florida panther and the Florida bonneted bat.” The environmental policy team at the Conservancy tirelessly advocates to protect critical habitats through action alerts, social media campaigns, and participating in political discourse. 

To stay up to date with all things conservation, visit the Conservancy’s website: https://conservancy.org. 

Additionally, Vanessa Booher, a biologist with the Conservancy, shares her research on pythons, sea turtles, and mangroves. “Some of our research has been going on for over 20 years,” says Booher. The Conservancy’s research team is closely connected with advocation, informing the policy team on the most effective measures to protect Southwest Florida’s animals and environment. 

Beyond information, there was environmental celebration galore, with a dynamic, eco-focused lineup of activities. Guests of all ages explored nature through hands-on experiences, including critter encounters with reptiles and rescued animals native to Southwest Florida. Naturalists guided kids through touch tanks and introduced them to marine life like horseshoe crabs and sea stars, offering a rare up-close look at the wonders of local waterways. 

Outdoor adventure stations gave little ones a chance to become junior conservationists and firefighter for a day, climbing up behind the steering wheel of a Collier County firetruck. Music, face painting, and eco-friendly crafts added a festival flair, while local food trucks served up fresh bites and delicious desserts. From educational demos to nature-themed games, the Conservancy’s Earth Day event was a vibrant celebration of the natural world and a reminder of the power of community in protecting it. 

Luckily, the fun won’t be stopping anytime soon! Rookery Bay Research Reserve is excited to announce an upcoming event similar to the Conservancy’s Earth Day Celebration. Rookery Bay Community Day welcomes everyone from shark pups to grownups to their free festival. Located at the Environmental Learning Center on May 3, guests can enjoy a bustling touch tank, a live shark dissection, multiple interactive labs, and more. To RSVP and learn more, visit https://rookerybay.org/. 

As Stoll said best, “When you protect nature, nature protects you,” reminding us that protecting our planet is not a once-a-year effort but a daily commitment. The Conservancy’s Earth Day event demonstrates how that commitment can be a fun, communal venture that brings Southwest Florida residents closer to each other, the natural world, and ultimately themselves.