Don’t let the need to meet keep you away from the great outdoors in Southwest Florida. The following facilities combine eco experiences and state-of-the-art event space.
The Six Mile Cypress Slough Interpretive Center in Fort Myers was Lee County’s first LEED-certified building, constructed on an old road bed for minimum environmental disturbance and employing such eco-friendly practices as rainwater collection for use in the bathrooms. A multipurpose room can host up to 40 and has been used for meetings as well as retreats, says Heather Gienapp, senior program specialist at the center.
“It’s a good spot for stress reduction and meditation,” she says.
After the meeting, groups can check out the window viewing areas showcasing the slough ecosystem or take a guided walk along the boardwalk trails.
In Punta Gorda, the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center is home to a conference room that can accommodate up to 40, with presentations by naturalists also offered. The center boasts four miles of trails, a wildlife observation area, bird and animal displays, and a butterfly garden. Guided hikes, wading programs and boat tours can be tailored for group needs, says Eileen Tramontana, environmental program coordinator and educator at the center.
“We want people to learn about the environment,” she says. “Depending on the time of the year, we can sometimes break the groups in two and do trails and interpretive programs.”
CHEC’s second location, set near the beach in Englewood, also includes meeting space as well as a 115-acre park that has provided a home for nesting American bald eagles for over 20 years.
Special events, including meetings, receptions and seminars, are welcome at the newly renovated Conservancy of Southwest Florida Nature Center in Naples. The experience is enhanced by guided electric boat rides, lectures and tours of the 21-acre center, home to a wildlife hospital, learning labs and viewing platforms overlooking animal habitats.
Conservancy naturalists can also bring the great outdoors to meeting venues around town, says Cheryl Latif, environmental programs coordinator at the center.
“We do power point presentations, and many of our programs also feature live animals,” she says.
