Volunteers are the heart and soul of Rookery Bay Research Reserve, contributing their time and talent to help connect people with the Reserve’s coastal environment. Every few months Volunteer Coordinator Donna Young hosts an informational orientation to welcome a new group interested in volunteering. At the last one, seasoned volunteer Beth Thompson took the lead at the Environmental Learning Center Estuary Encounter touch tank.

The tiniest of tiny baby gecko recently made an unexpected appearance inside the Rookery Bay Administrative Building. The little hatchling was so young it still had a little piece of eggshell attached to its foot when staff found it roaming around inside.  

Adults interested in Florida’s wildlife, coastal environments and conservation can now register for the next Florida Master Naturalist Program Coastal Systems Module offered by Rookery Bay Research Reserve and expert partners.  This hybrid course combines online instruction with an optional hands-on field experience.  The online component allows people to join the program from all over Florida.

On Saturday, May 2nd, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve welcomed nearly 900 community members to the 2026 Rookery Bay Community Day. This family-friendly event was dedicated to celebrating the connection between people and the coastal environment.   It was a picture-perfect day filled with smiling kids, families and hands-on fun throughout the Environmental Learning Center grounds.

Four students from Yale University, Nico Theunissen, Isabella Chiaravalloti, Mingyu Zhang and Rocco D'Ascanio, recently visited Rookery Bay Research Reserve to study the Fruit Farm Creek mangrove restoration site. Guided by Research Coordinator Nerea Ubierna and Stewardship Coordinator Jared Franklin, the team explored both the land and surrounding waters to better understand how the restored mangroves are functioning.  

Registration has just opened for Rookery Bay Research Reserve’s popular Student Institute for Marine Science Camp (SIMS). Now in its 20th year, SIMS gives students entering grades 7–10 the chance to explore Southwest Florida’s coastal habitats alongside real biologists from Rookery Bay.  

Rookery Bay Stewardship Coordinator, Jared Franklin, hosted an international group of plant conservation experts for a field visit to Rookery Bay’s Cannon and Keewaydin Islands a few weeks ago.   The visiting scientists were in Southwest Florida for a meeting hosted by Naples Botanical Garden as part of the Caribbean and Central American Botanic Gardens Network.

Rookery Bay’s Education Team recently attended the 2026 STEM Fair at JetBlue Park, home to the Boston Red Sox spring training. Almost 1,000 elementary students rotated through hands-on exhibits hosted by eight science, environmental and technology organizations. Rookery Bay was proud to be among them.   The undeniable star of the day was Rookery Bay’s new Vusem Interactive Microscope!

Rookery Bay’s popular Lunch & Learn series continued its successful streak last week. The Environmental Learning Center auditorium was a full house for “Living with Bears in Southwest Florida.” This second program in the 2026 Birds, Bears and Bees series featured Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Bear Biologist Chris Boyce.

Rookery Bay’s Coastal Training and Engagement Team recently hosted another well-received session in the Reserve’s new Wildlife Interaction Workshop Series. This time the focus was placed on the mammals that call Collier County home. Participants explored the lives and behaviors of local species, from panthers and bats to dolphins and manatees. They also learned practical ways to protect these animals and the habitats they depend on.