October Programs

Admission to the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is $9 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12)
This one-price admission includes the Museum, Trails, and all Planetarium Shows scheduled that day.

Group rates are available for 15 or more people.

Butterfly Gardening Workshop

Interested in planting a butterfly garden?  During this presentation a naturalist will discuss types of nectar and larval plants that will attract Florida butterflies.  Butterfly garden plants will be available for purchase by participants following the presentation. Members will receive 10% off plants. This program is included with admission. 

Saturday, October 4th, 8:30am

FREE BIRD WATCHING & WADING TRIP AT BUNCHE BEACH

Sponsored by the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

Bunche Beach is one of the lesser known Fort Myers beaches and a place with great mudflats.  Bring the family and learn what lives in the waters here.  Program will start at 8:30am with bird identification provided by the SW FL Audubon Society and the wading trip will follow birding at 9:00am. The wading trip will be led by a Naturalist from the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium and we will provide the nets and identification materials. Please bring clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, a bottle of water, and sunscreen is highly recommended. Special thanks to the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program for funding this project.  Please call 275-3435 by 5pm on October 5th to register.  You MUST register to attend this program. This program will also be repeated on... November 1, 2008, February 7, 2009, March 7, 2009, April 4, 2009, May 2, 2009, June 6, 2009, July 11, 2009, August 1, 2009, and September 5, 2009.

Sunday, October 5th, 4pm – 6pm

Dog Day Sunday

Every first Sunday of the month is Dog Day Sunday.  Families can walk their dogs on three different trails. Take the Cypress Boardwalk Trail or Pine Loop Trail for one-half mile, or the Wildlands Trail for 1.5 miles through 105 acres.  Dogs must remain on a leash at all times.  Please don't bring dogs earlier than 4pm. Gates close promptly at 6pm. $5.00 per dog for non members, $2 per dog for members. People with their dogs are free.

Wednesday, October 8, 9:30am

Hikes for Tykes—Camo Critters

123 Hide-n-Seek! Did you know some animals hide in order to survive? Come walk our Pine Loop Trail to help a Naturalist find the hiding animals. Preschoolers will learn about the importance of camouflage and color and even play a game of hide-n-seek. This walk is not stroller accessible.  Appropriate for children ages 3 through 5 and their families. Included with admission. Please register by September 9th by calling 275-3435.

Thursday, October 9th, 8:00pm

Telescope Observing

See for yourself the stunning views of the Moon and other bright objects through our telescopes.  Participants are welcome to arrive at 8:00pm to see the show The Planets in the planetarium. Telescope observing will begin after dark (around 8:00 pm) in the clearing behind the planetarium building.  This event is FREE, but pre-registration is required.  Please register by October 8th by calling 275-3435.

10th Annual Friendly Forest

October 18th, 19th, 25th, & 26th, 3pm – 6pm

Trick-or-treat at the Nature Center!  Friendly Forest is an opportunity for families with younger children to get into the Halloween spirit without scaring the little ones to tears.  Children will meet friendly costumed characters as they trick-or-treat for candy on our stroller-accessible half-mile Cypress Boardwalk Trail.  The Friendly Forest will also feature live animals for visitors to meet up-close.  Enjoy the opportunity to have your face painted, create fun crafts to take home, visit the Mad Scientist lab to play with slime, watch Professor Patches the magician, and ride a pony provided by Hollyoak Farms for a small additional fee.  Kids will love the afternoon of meeting Nature Center animals and friendly forest creatures!  Costumes are encouraged.  Included with admission.

Tuesday, October 21st, 3pm – 4:30pm

Homeschool Afternoon-Buzz About Bees

8 – 12-year-olds

What’s the Buss? In this home school program we will learn all about blissfully, buzzing, busy, honey bees! We’ll talk about beekeeping and how important bees really are! We’ll study our beehive up close and even go on a bee hike. An exciting game of bee jeopardy will follow the lesson. $3 for member children, $6 for nonmember children; parents are free.  Non-participating siblings are regular admission.  Register by October 20th by calling 275-3435.

Tuesday October 28th, 11am

Preschool Program—And so they Build

Where do raccoons sleep during the day?  Why do spiders build webs?  Join us today as we investigate where animals live and how they weave, tunnel, carve, and build.  Children must be between the ages of 3 and 5.  Included with admission.  Register by October 27th by calling 275-3435.

The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is a private, not-for-profit environmental education center which offers fun for people of all ages! Voted Best Nature Center in Florida for 2004 by the readers of Florida Monthly magazine. The Museum, Aviaries and Trails are open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and on Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Please join Volunteer Docent Norm DeWolfe every Tuesday and Friday at 9:30am for a guided walk of the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk. He has been leading the walk for years and is one of the best interpreters of the swamp.

The Center consists of the Living Natural History Museum with live native animals including a skunk, bobcat, raccoon, Butterfly Aviary and Native Plant Nursery, an Audubon Aviary which houses permanently injured birds of prey (hawks, vultures, a bald eagle, owls and more!), nature trails, a picnic area, a gift shop with an excellent assortment of nature books and a Planetarium which features astronomy programs.

The Center is located at 3450 Ortiz Avenue at the intersection of Colonial Blvd. and Six Mile Cypress in Fort Myers, one minute from I-75 at Exit 136. Additional information is available at www.CalusaNature.com or by calling 275-3435. Admission to the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is $9 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12). This one-price admission includes the Museum, Butterfly Aviary, Trails, and all Planetarium shows scheduled that day. Group rates are available for 15 or more people. Family memberships are available which entitles members to free admission for a year and many other special prices on programs and discounts in the gift store. We welcome new volunteers; please call 275-3435 to schedule an orientation.

Programs are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.