BOGO admission to the Environmental Learning Center.

With each admission, guests will receive a 10% off coupon for purchases in the Rookery Bay Nature Store throughout the month of September.
Discount Code: NEC2021

Enjoy 20% off Rookery Bay’s exclusive biologist-led boat and kayak tours throughout the month of September. Voted #1 Best by all of you!
Discount Code: Estuary

Included with Admission

Join exhibiting local photographers & painters during our Summer Art Show. Featured artists include Dennis Goodman, Jean Hall, Martin Strasmore, Dora Knuteson, Paul Arsenault, and Clark Gill.

Included with Admission

Join us is the auditorium all month long for the Southwest Florida’s Mangrove Coast short film. A preview to the full documentary that will be shared on National Estuaries Day, September 25th.

We invite you to remember loved ones, honor friends, and commemorate special occasions by purchasing personalized bricks. Bricks will be featured in our new butterfly garden.

Thanks to the work of many dedicated volunteers, guests can now enjoy Rookery Bay’s new butterfly garden, located behind the Environmental Learning Center. Sit back, relax and take a deep breath as you experience the beautiful butterflies and water features of the garden.

Monday, September 20th
9:30am – 12:30pm
FEE-BASED

Want to get the best pictures possible, and truly understand your camera’s features? You will learn how to use your camera’s shutter, aperture, ISO control and the drive modes to create images with impact and creativity.

Included with Admission

Stream 1 new nature movie once a day at 11 AM

Monday – Manatees
Tuesday – Turtles
Wednesday – Sharks
Thursday – Birds
Friday – Ocean Life

All week long, our staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the interactive coastal and cultural exhibits in the Environmental Learning Center as well as the wildlife that call Rookery Bay Research Reserve home.

It’s good to have Friends, and we hope you will become one of ours.

So many of our Friends are drawn to Southwest Florida because of the beautiful and amazing environment, and they want to see it protected for generations to come. They say “Strangers are just Friends waiting to happen.” We look forward to having you as our Friend!

9:00am – 4:00pm
BOGO Admission

The Environmental Learning Center is open Saturdays starting on September 25, 2021 for you to enjoy all that our Environmental Learning Center has to offer!

Included with Admission

Adults and kids alike can enjoy coastal activities for all, peek through microscopes with educators in our labs and participate in scavenger hunts on National Estuaries Day.

11:30am – 12:00pm
Included with Admission

Meet the aquarist of Rookery Bay Research Reserve as they feed and care for the fish in our large mangrove aquarium.

2:30pm – 3:30pm
Free & Virtual

Join Rookery Bay Research Reserve in person and online for Trivia Time. Test your knowledge about the Reserve, birds and “all things” nature in SW Florida. The team will be on hand to dole out the fun, fellowship and tabulate results.

Every 30 Minutes
Reservations Required
Admission to ELC Included

For one day only, Rookery Bay and exclusive eco-tour partner, Rising Tide Explorers, offer sneak peek boat tours of Rookery Bay’s beautiful waterways. Reservations are required for this one-time special event. Space is limited. $10 per person.

Included with Admission

Also, get hands-on at our “Estuary Encounter” where staff members introduce guests of all ages to dozens of marine animals. Observe, touch or even hold a sea star, spider crab, lightning whelk or other sea critter!

Included with Admission

Southwest Florida’s Mangrove Coast is a documentary featuring the 40-year history of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Produced by Emmy award-winning cinematographer Elam Stoltzfus, this film displays the nature and beauty of Southwest Florida and what is being done to protect it for future generations.

Meet the author! From 9am-11am Katharine will be at the Learning Center signing books. 10% of sales from each book go toward funding OCEARCH’s shark research and educational programs. This children’s book is great for ages 3-8.