It’s February 2026, and the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) is buzzing with activity. Educational events are front and center: take the “Animal Neighbors” series, for example, held at their Burnt Store Road site and led by Director of Conservation Ashley Cook. She’s not just talking about armadillos and gopher tortoises; she’s teaching people how to live alongside wildlife, which feels more urgent as the region keeps building up.
Meanwhile, Charlotte County is knee-deep in repairs at local parks battered by hurricanes. Amberjack Environmental Park and Allapatchee Shores Park are under construction, boardwalks, piers, and eroded shorelines are getting some much-needed attention. Cedar Point Environmental Park is also in line for a new pier.
CHEC isn’t just about talks and tours, they’re rolling out hands-on programs. Family Fishing Clinics are set for March 7 and April 4 at Cedar Point, where kids and adults learn knot-tying, casting, and the rules that keep local fisheries healthy. The “Vertical Oyster Gardening” workshop returns April 17 in Punta Gorda. This one’s especially important: local oyster populations have dropped by 90%, so these workshops are a real push to rebuild reefs.
For families, the “Little Explorers” series continues on February 20 and 27, making nature approachable for kids; think animal senses and following wildlife tracks. There’s also “Wild Wednesday: Animal Journeys” on March 11, where local migration stories take the spotlight.
Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center
The Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, or CHEC, has called Punta Gorda home since 1987. It’s a non-profit with a clear purpose: get people to care about the natural world around them. Education comes first, but you’ll also find research, recreation, and real conservation happening across more than 46,000 acres of protected land. Out there, winding trails cut through native habitats. You can wander through butterfly gardens, spot wildlife, or join a guided walk. Some locations even let you get your feet wet with snorkeling or boat trips.
CHEC’s mission isn’t just a catchphrase. They want everyone, young or old, to understand the value of Florida’s wild places. Their main base sits in Punta Gorda, right by Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, but their reach stretches to places like Ponce de Leon Park too.
Education runs deep here. Kids come on field trips, adults drop in for nature talks, and the community gets hands-on with workshops. For anyone looking to explore, the center offers hiking trails, bird blinds for quiet observation, and a dedicated butterfly enclosure. On the research side, CHEC studies local plants and animals, keeping close tabs on the health of these ecosystems.
They call it “Old Florida”—wetlands, mangroves, and all the creatures that call them home, from alligators to wading birds. Protecting these landscapes is the thread running through everything CHEC does.
Behind it all is a team who genuinely cares, often teaming up with Florida State Parks to manage these lands. Their work isn’t just about preserving nature, it’s about connecting people to it, so they’ll want to protect it too.
CHEC operates two main locations. At Alligator Creek in Punta Gorda (10941 Burnt Store Rd), the office runs weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cedar Point in Englewood (2300 Placida Rd) is open Monday through Saturday, same hours. Trails at both spots are open every day from dawn to dusk. Walking the trails is usually free, but some lectures or workshops charge $10–$15. Most guided walks and events need advance registration, go to the CHEC website to sign up.
In short, CHEC is doing what it does best, connecting people with nature and leading the charge to restore what storms have damaged. If you want to get involved, now’s the time.
For information checflorida.org.
