For more than 30 years, Rookery Bay has welcomed Collier County Public Schools students to our FREE Beneath The Bay, Estuary Explorers, and SURVIVORS programs—connecting young people with the wonders of our estuaries while introducing them to natural resource conservation, research, and stewardship.

Today, these programs reach all CCPS high schools and most middle and elementary schools, serving approximately 4,000 students every year.

But there’s a challenge: though the programs are completely free for students, providing the transportation needed to bring them to Rookery Bay is a significant expense.

Friends of Rookery Bay is raising $15,000 for the 2026–27 school year to directly fund bus transportation for CCPS students to visit the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Your gift will be 100% restricted to student transportation for these educational programs and will not be used for any other expense.

Your gift helps ensure that every student has the opportunity to experience, explore, and learn from the natural world at Rookery Bay.

Destination: Rookery Bay

Help us educate 4,000 students at Rookery Bay this year!