Rookery Bay Enviornmental Learning Center
Rookery Bay Enviornmental Learning Center
Kids can enjoy hands-on fun as they learn about marine critters at the touch tank, take the helm of a replica research boat and meet the resident gopher tortoises at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center.
The two-story center features a 2,300-gallon main aquarium with a pop-out bubble into which kids can sit and be surrounded by fishing swimming by. Side aquariums feature local marine species, and interactive exhibits explain the cultural history and ongoing importance of the Southwest Florida coastal environment.
The center’s 1 ½ miles of easy walking paths (accessible to strollers) meander along mangroves and pine flatwoods, with observation platforms over Henderson Creek (where you may see sharks, manatees…and boaters going by).
The 12-week Kids Free Fridays summer program provides free admission for children 12 and younger offers storytelling, crafts, and other educational experiences. Kayak trips (ages 12+) and boat cruises (ages 16+) are also offered.
