Celebrations include art and creativity in honor of the planet at The Miccosukee Indian Village’s third annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 18. -BETTY OSCEOLA / COURTESY PHOTO
Betty Osceola wants Earth Day to be both educational and entertaining. That’s why she’s put together an event at the Miccosukee Indian Village that will showcase everything from traditional dances and cooking, to live musical performances and the unusual art of anthotypes.
“It is not the traditional Earth Day event,” Osceola stressed. “I want them to have fun like it is a birthday for the earth. I want them to have some environmental education, but have fun while they are there.”
The fun includes colorful dances and songs by The Ameyal Cultural Organization, a demonstration by a Miccosukee family on cooking over an open fire and talks by experts such as a shark expert from FIU and a graduate student that uses social media to make science fun. Guests will learn how to make photos with greenery by using a method called anthotypes that uses natural plant pigments as a light-sensitive emulsion. There will be arts and crafts, food and discounted air boat rides.
“I want people to fall in love with this environment that we have and learn more about it and try to defend it,” Osceola said. “We have so many pressures from development, to the changing climate, and I want them to know they can be involved and get into conservation and have fun while they are doing it, and find that passion.”
Cecilia Ortega will lead the Ameyal Cultural Organization in their quest to use song and dance to showcase the beauty of the earth.
Traditional dances are part of the Earth Day celebration at the Miccosukee Indian Village. -BETTY OSCEOLA / COURTESY PHOTO
The Miccosukee Indian Village hosts the third annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 18 with live music, dance and conservation education for a fun, informative day. -BETTY OSCEOLA / COURTESY PHOTO
“We are dancing, but it has ceremonial, spiritual elements,” Ortega explained. “It is all about nature like fire and water. The main dances we do are to Mother Earth.”
Their entertainment also focuses on peace on earth.
“What we want people to take is we are all together in this world,” Ortega stressed. “No matter the color or gender, we are one planet.”
The Earth Day celebration at the Miccosukee Indian Village is just one of many places celebrating the earth this month.
COLLIER COUNTY
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is holding a huge Earth Day event that includes the groundbreaking of their new John and Carol Walter Nature Experience.
Guests like Caylee and Colton Fournier, ages 9 and 7 and Paige Bernadette, 3, will be able to visit the Discovery Center at The Conservancy again and watch the turtle grow up. -ANDREA STETSON / FLORIDA WEEKLY
“The whole day is full of animal encounters and the natural environment,” said Renee Stoll, director of communications and marketing. “We want people to learn about the natural environment. When they learn more about the natural environment, they will be more likely to protect it. Some people just aren’t aware about how these resources play in our day to day lives. We wanted to find the best way to make the community want to protect the environment and protect it in the same way that the Conservancy does. And we felt the best way is education.”
Their Earth Day festival features a Super Science show with Glen Beitman, live music, presentations on Everglades preservation, gopher tortoise grazing, nature focused games, crafts, electric boat rides, food trucks, nature walks and the exhibits in the Discovery Center.
The new 7,000 square foot John and Carol Walther Nature Experience is expected to open in late 2027. It will feature what the Conservancy has done to protect nature, the problems the area is still facing, what can be done to solve those problems and how the public can help.
Further south on Marco Island people will be scouring for trash during the fifth annual Marco Island Wide Earth Day Cleanup. Volunteers will meet at the YMCA on Marco to clean around that area and then pick up trash near their homes.
“When I moved here full time and when I went for my daily walk, I saw so much litter,” said organizer Rene’ Ford. “And we are used to being in paradise and there is no litter in paradise.”
Ford teamed up with the YMCA and the noontime Rotary Club to create the clean-up. Ford said while there had been cleanups on the beach, there was nothing inland on the island so that is where she wanted to focus. Last year they picked up more than 100 pounds of litter.
“I was so frustrated with all the litter on Marco Island,” Ford continued. “I was getting so angry on my walk, and a walk is not supposed to get you angry. It is all about taking responsibility. I really would love for local businesses to join us in this effort. If everyone just did their part, we wouldn’t have this issue. The main thing for me is we are to be good stewards of the earth. We gather together to do it together and take a personal responsibility.”
LEE COUNTY
Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs will have animal meet and greets, local vendors and educational booths including one where people can take home micro greens and watch them grown. There will be games on the lawn, mommy and me yoga and recycling projects.
“Our goal is to foster animal empathy, so you are meeting an animal and they are representing their larger population in the wild,” said Kam Stoneburner, Education Manager. “They are the ambassador for their species. It is a big community event for community partners, local vendors and education for everybody.”
There will be live animal encounters, guided hikes, games, speakers, a new movie about butterflies, tree giveaways, and local vendors at the Calusa Nature Center Earth Day celebration.
Nature Nurturer bulletin board at the front of the Calusa Nature Center. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN / FLORIDA WEEKLY
The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium front sign at the entrance of the grounds. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN / FLORIDA WEEKLY
“It is the opportunity for us to give recognition to our planet,” said executive director, Eric Raddatz. “And we are hoping that for those that are enjoying the day, it is a reminder about how important the earth is with our habitats and our creatures. It is important for people to realize they need to connect with nature. It brings us together to celebrate our planet. For Earth Day there is no better place to celebrate than at our nature center.”
Keep Lee County Beautiful is holding an Earth Day Cleanup at Wild Turkey Strand Preserve.
Guests at the Earth Day Celebrations at the Wonder Gardens will meet some of the creatures that live there. -ANDREA STETSON / FLORIDA WEEKLY
“Unfortunately, we see a lot of trash dumped there and lot of tires and a lot of waste,” said Chris Romanchak, litter prevention and education coordinator.
Romanchak is hoping for 10 to 20 people to show up and help clean that area.
“It is trying to promote community engagement and coming together and having pride in the community you live in,” he concluded.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda will hold its first Earth Day event. Heal Our Harbor, SUP Englewood, Peace River Botanical Gardens, Punta Gorda Garden Club, Charlotte County One Water, CHEC, Peace River Wildlife Center, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and People Protecting Peace River will be there to educate visitors.
“I had wanted to do one for a number of years,” said Kathy Burnam, Marketing and Events Manager. “It won’t be huge the first time around, but you have to start somewhere. I think people will leave with some good information and a better understanding. It’s just letting people know about some of the organizations that are out there that they might not have known about. God granted this earth to us, so we need to take care of it.”
IF YOU GO:
Donna Kalil, known for her work preserving biodiversity by removing Burmese pythons from the Everglades, enjoys a plant to take home and the attendees to the Earth Day event, which returns to Miccosukee Village Saturday, April 18. -COURTESY PHOTO
Miccosukee Indian Village
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida
5th Annual Marco Island Wide “Earth Day” Clean Up
WHEN: 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 22
WHERE: Meet at the YMCA of Collier County, 101 Sand Hill Street, Marco Island
COST: FREE
INFO: ymcacollier.org/earthday
Wonder Gardens
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18
WHERE: 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs
COST: Festival is free with paid admission. (Admission is $17 for adults, $12 for children 3-12 and $15 for seniors.)
INFO: wondergardens.org 239-992-2591
Calusa Nature Center
Keep Lee County Beautiful
WHEN: 8:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 22
WHERE: Wild Turkey Strand Preserve, Rod and Gun Club Road.
COST: Free
INFO: (239) 334-3488
Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda will host Earth Day festivities. -FLORIDA WEEKLY / FILE PHOTO
Fishermen’s Village