Rookery Bay Research Reserve, in Naples, will present Rookery Bay Community Day, a free day of fun for all ages celebrating the beauty, science and wonder of the coastal environment, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 2, 2026, at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center. The event will feature kayak and stand-up paddle demos, face painting, photo booths, music, science and nature activities, an art exhibit by Paul Arsenault, nature book author signings by Bob Gonzales and Susan Levine, and onsite food trucks.

There’ll also be hands-on experiences at Rookery Bay’s touch tanks full of marine life including sea stars, shrimp, tiny crabs and other critters that live in the reserve’s estuary waters.

Friends of Rookery Bay will also offer “sneak peek” 30-minute boat tours with its exclusive eco-tour provider Rising Tide Explorers, cited four times by USA Today as the top kayak tour company nationwide.

The two-story nature center, which is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, features aquariums, touch tanks, interactive exhibits, nature trails, picnic area, three loops of trails, a butterfly garden, an art gallery and a nature-themed gift shop. Collier County residents can also enjoy free admission for from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. In addition, visitors may purchase a two-day pass, valid for one year, which includes a 50 percent discount for the second day.

Cost: Free admission for Community Day; boat tours $20 with advance registration required. Location: 300 Tower Rd., Naples. For more information, call 239-530-5972 or visit RookeryBay.org.