Thank you to the many people who made the November 3, 2007 event so great. A summary report will be posted soon. The next festival will be held Saturday, November 22, 2008! Be sure to mark your calendars! (Please note that the day was changed from November 15.)
Please join us at the eighth annual
Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival
-- a day to learn about and enjoy the natural environment of southwest Florida.
Saturday, November 3, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Charlotte Sports Park at 2300 El Jobean Rd. (S.R. 776) in Port Charlotte
“Connecting with nature” is the message that will come to life at the Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival. The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program is pleased to sponsor the eighth annual festival – a day to explore, learn and enjoy the natural environment of southwest Florida.
Visitors can participate in activities geared toward all ages, including nature exhibits, local artists, live native animals, musicians, wagon rides and guided walks to the Tippecanoe Regional Park (if conditions permit).
Children won’t want to leave the Discovery Zone, which is packed with games and activities, and – new this year – children can learn about fish and fishing and then receive a free fishing pole! (Children ages 4 to 14 can participate in an educational program then receive a fishing equipment. Children must be able to cast a rod. This is limited to 500 children.)
Guest speakers will cover water issues and native animals. Musicians will perform throughout the day, including Rosie Emery, performing her original high-energy songs about the environment written specifically for children. Mote Marine Laboratory is bringing their mobile exhibit with its touch tanks. Food and beverages can be purchased at the event.
Festival organizers have again chosen to make this event free so that as many people as possible can enjoy it and – new this year – a free cloth tote bag will be given away (one/car).
The festival is funded through event sponsorship and a raffle that will be held at the festival. The event planning committee invites your business, organization or association to be promoted as a sponsor or exhibitor, joining many others, if their information is about the natural environment of southwest Florida. The festival is organized and planned by a dedicated group of volunteers representing a diverse number of organizations and associations.
Activities at the Festival ~ Exhibitors
Sponsors, A very special thanks to all of the generous sponsors (as of October 19):
Eagle ($2,500+): Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
Florida Panther ($1,000+): Aquatic Release Foundation ❇ Banks Engineering ❇ Charlotte Sun ❇ College of Life Foundation ❇ Mosaic Fertilizer ❇ Southwest Florida Water Management District ❇ WGCU Public Media
Scrub Jay ($750): Peninsula Property of Cape Haze
Osprey ($500): Barraco and Associates, Inc. ❇ DeLisi Fitzgerald, Inc. ❇ Kitson & Partners ❇ Mote Marine Laboratory ❇ South Florida Water Management District ❇ Stormwater Academy ❇ Waste Management ❇ WilsonMiller, Inc.
Sea Turtle ($250): Charlotte County Environmental & Extension Services ❇ Earth Balance ❇ Land Solutions ❇ Lemon Bay Conservancy ❇ McKinley, Ittersagen, Gunderson & Berntsson, PA ❇ Peace
River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority ❇ Tents & Events
Dolphin ($100): Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium ❇ Charlotte County Community Development Department ❇ Charlotte County Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources ❇ Charlotte County Visitor’s Bureau ❇ D.B. Sound System ❇ Five Star General Contracting ❇ Florida chapter of the American Planning Association (FAPA) ❇ Friends of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, Inc. ❇ Michael P. Haymans ❇ Moore and Waksler, P.L. ❇ Peace River Audubon Society ❇ Turtle Talks ❇ Wal-Mart Murdock Circle
We need your help.
Sponsor, Exhibit and Volunteer at the festival
Request for items for the on-site raffle.
Calendar Release (6/4) ~ Media Release (6/4)
This website www.CHNEP.org will include this brochure, sample press releases, discount information on nearby hotels and other important information. The most up-to-date information about the Festival will always be available on the website. To ease communication for additional event information, participants are encouraged to provide an email address if available. If you wish to talk with someone about the festival, please contact Maran Hilgendorf with the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (866/835-5785 x 240, mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org). Depending on your question, a member of the volunteer Planning Committee may return your call or email.
Please note that there is no rain date. On the day of the festival, updates on the status of the festival due to weather conditions will be available by calling 866/835-5785 x 240.
We hope that you will participate in the Eighth Annual Charlotte Harbor Regional Nature Festival, making it bigger and better than ever.
— Planning Committee Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival November 3, 2007
DIRECTIONS: From I-75 Southbound, take Exit 179 / Toledo Blade, travel approximately 6 miles south to SR 776, turn west/right and travel approximately 1.5 miles to Charlotte Sports Park on the left. From I-75 Northbound, take Exit 170 / Kings Hwy, turn left off the ramp, then turn right on Veterans Hwy at the first light, travel approximately seven miles to the stadium. (You’ll cross US 41 after traveling approximately 5 miles on Veterans Hwy.)
Overview of the development of prior Charlotte Harbor Nature Festivals
Details about the October 7, 2006 festival