Ready to Celebrate Earth Day? 🌍✨ Explore, Learn, and Play at Calusa Nature Center’s Annual Event April 19!
- eraddatz7
- Apr 1
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Earth Day Birthday Celebration
April 19, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Celebrate Earth Day at CNCP with a full day of fun for all ages! Featuring guided hikes, live animal presentations, arts and crafts, and an array of local vendors, it’s the perfect family event to learn about environmental stewardship.
Earth Day Birthday Celebration at CNCP: The Only Place to Celebrate Earth Day in SWFL
April 19, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Celebrate Earth Day at Southwest Florida's Biggest Green Space—Where Nature is Nurtured and You Can Learn How to Do the Same
Fort Myers, FL – This Earth Day, the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium (CNCP) is the only place you need to be to celebrate and learn about the environment! Join us on April 19, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM for the Earth Day Birthday Celebration, a family-friendly event set within Southwest Florida's biggest green space—a 105-acre sanctuary dedicated to nurturing nature and fostering environmental stewardship.
The Earth Day Birthday Celebration offers a wide variety of activities designed to teach, engage, and inspire visitors of all ages, including:
Guided Animal Talks: Learn about the animals that call Southwest Florida home with two exciting live animal presentations.
Self-Guided Nature Walks: Explore the natural beauty of our trails with topics like Ethno-Botany and Invasive Species.
Crafts and Games: Enjoy several eco-friendly crafts and activities, including recycling games, seed planting, making plastic bag bracelets, manatee puppets, and taking the Earth Day Pledge.
Solar Observing: The SWFL Astronomical Society will be on hand to provide solar observing, offering a safe way to view the sun through specialized equipment.
Solar Cars and Solar Generators: See solar-powered cars in action and learn about solar energy at our Planetarium.
Leave No Trace Display: Learn about responsible outdoor practices and the decomposition rates of everyday materials in our Pavilion.
Heritage Room Setup: Explore microplastics in the environment and how they affect our planet.
Live Music: Enjoy live performances in our Museum while immersing yourself in the Earth Day spirit.
Planetarium Shows: We will have four planetarium shows throughout the day to inspire curiosity about the stars and beyond.
Ticket Information
Adults: $13
Children (Ages 3-12): $7
Members: Free!To become a member and enjoy free admission to this event (and other benefits), visit our website to get your membership today: www.calusanature.org.
We’re excited to welcome an amazing lineup of participating organizations for our Earth Day Celebration, including Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Florida Trail Association – Alligator Amblers Chapter, Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, Lee County Solid Waste, Southwest Florida Astronomical Society, Audubon of Southwest Florida, FWC staff, The Water School at FGCU, Calusa Waterkeeper, and ECHO—all joining us to inspire, educate, and celebrate nature with the community.
Additionally, we are thrilled to welcome Dhruva', a musician-educator and performing member of the Americana Community Music Association in Fort Myers. Dhruva’ will once again share her nature songs with children, helping young minds connect with the natural world through music. This is Dhruva’s third year participating in the Earth Day celebrations at CNCP.
“Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to nurture nature and reconnect with the world around us. At Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, we’re excited to celebrate this special day by offering a fun-filled, educational experience for the whole family. Join us on April 19 for a day of exploration, hands-on activities, and the chance to make a positive impact on the planet we all share.”
– Eric Raddatz, Executive Director, Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
Event Details
Date: April 19, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium (CNCP)
Address: 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33905
Admission: Adults: $13 | Children (Ages 3-12): $7 | Members: Free
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ALSO COMING UP:
Paint and Sip: Ocean Breeze & Evening Storm – Bob Ross-Inspired Painting Workshops in Fort Myers
Join us for two exciting Paint and Sip workshops in Fort Myers on Sunday, April 6th, 2025! These beginner-friendly, certified Bob Ross oil-painting sessions are led by Mathew Halstead C.R.I. from Lazy Painter Brushworks. Whether you're a beginner or experienced artist, these fun and creative workshops are the perfect opportunity to create a stunning masterpiece.
Ocean Breeze Workshop (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM): Dive into the beauty of the "Ocean Breeze" painting and take home your own 12x16 masterpiece.
Evening Storm Workshop (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM): Create a breathtaking "Evening Storm" painting in this second session of the day.
Both workshops include all painting supplies, and participants should wear clothes that can get messy. It’s essential to arrive on time as catching up during the session can be challenging.
Ticket Information:
Price per session: $100.00 (+$2.50 service fee)
Ticket Sales End: April 5th, 8:00 PM
Don't miss out on this chance to unleash your inner artist and enjoy a relaxing, step-by-step painting experience. Reserve your spot today and get ready for a fun-filled day of creativity!
Music Under the Stars
May 1, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Enjoy an evening of live music with Doug Sheminski opening for Andy Wahlberg at CNCP’s Music Under the Stars concert. It’s the perfect way to spend a night under the sky with great music and great company!
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Sponsorship opportunities are available for all upcoming CNCP events! Your support helps us continue offering these educational programs and ensures that our preserve remains a place for future generations to explore and enjoy. As a sponsor, you’ll receive recognition at our events and visibility among an engaged, community-minded audience.
For more information, contact Eric Raddatz at eraddatz@calusanature.org or call 239-275-3435.
Nurture Nature Campaign: Help Us Preserve Our Sanctuary
We’re excited with the success of our "Nurture Nature" Campaign in 2025, dedicated to improving CNCP’s facilities and educational programs. Your support will help us maintain essential infrastructure, repair boardwalks, preserve local wildlife, and expand our outreach efforts. This campaign is especially important as we work to create a deeper connection between local youth and the natural world—something that’s more vital than ever in an age where technology often pulls us away from nature.
Host Your Event at CNCP
Did you know CNCP offers a unique venue for events? Whether you’re planning a wedding, meeting, or party, our indoor and outdoor spaces offer a beautiful natural setting for any occasion. Contact us to learn more about holding your event at CNCP.
Mesmerica: A Visual Music Journey
Every Weekend
Mesmerica is a one-of-a-kind visual music experience, blending stunning 3D art with the soothing sounds of James Hood. It’s the perfect way to relax and experience a world of hypnotic imagery and sound.
Become a Member Today
When you become a CNCP member, you enjoy a host of exclusive benefits, including:
Free admission to trails, planetarium shows, and live animal talks
Discounts on camps, workshops, and select events
10% off at the gift shop
Free or discounted admission to over 180 nature centers nationwide
About Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium:
Founded in 1969, the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium has served as Southwest Florida's premier environmental education destination for over 50 years. CNCP is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are also available for those interested in making a significant impact together with us. The 105-acre sanctuary houses butterfly gardens, bird aviaries, nature trails, and the only public planetarium in the region. CNCP provides educational experiences that promote environmental awareness, scientific discovery, and a lifelong love of nature, inspiring future generations of environmental stewards and advocates.
• A Special Thank You: We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ace Hardware, the place with the helpful hardware folks, as well as continuing supporters, including Vulcan Materials, R4 Roofing, Aux Delicies, Famous Dave’s, The City of Fort Myers, HERC, SWFL PRODUCE, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, The Fred and Jean Allegretti Foundation, Heitman House, Babcock Ranch and the Fort Myers Film Festival.
• Stay Connected Cozy at home? Experience the Calusa Nature Center virtually. Visit our YouTube channel for fun videos! ! Enjoy our FREE T360 tour from your couch: #HomeBoundAdventures #NatureAtHome. Immerse yourself in our fresh interactive education videos here. Make your event unforgettable with one of Florida's unique venues! From weddings and showers to meetings and parties, we offer stunning indoor and outdoor spaces. Reach out now to reserve your date!
Media Contact:
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.calusanature.org or contact Eric Raddatz, Executive Director, at eraddatz@calusanature.org.
Phone: (239) 275-3435
Website: calusanature.org
#HolidayLights #SantaMeetAndGreet #HolidayLaserShows #SupportWildlife #NatureLovers #ExploreNature #CalusaNature #NurtureNature
Summer Camp
Camp registration will remain open until camps fill or until the Friday before the camp week begins. Don’t miss out – sign up early to secure a spot for your child!
For more information or to register, please visit https://www.calusanature.org/calusa-summer-camps and buy your tickets now!
Make this summer one to remember with unforgettable experiences, lifelong friendships, and the wonders of nature!
Call to Artists: Calusa Nature Center’s Arts and Crafts Fair
FORT MYERS, FL – Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium is excited to announce its first-ever Arts and Crafts Fair on May 10, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The event will showcase original, handcrafted works inspired by nature, animals, and space. We invite artists and artisans working in visual arts, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, textiles, and more to participate. Indoor and outdoor spaces are available for vendors, with a $50 participation fee. Featured artists are also encouraged to apply by emailing volunteer@calusanature.org. Space is limited, so apply soon for this unique opportunity to connect with the community and showcase your work in a beautiful natural setting.
For more details, contact:
Laina Kessler,
Event Coordinator
Media Contact:
Eric Raddatz,
Executive Director
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