Conservation Foundation Invites Local Youth to Get Wild About Nature

March 20, 2024 – Osprey

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is thrilled to announce the return of their annual Wild About Nature Festival on Saturday, April 6, 2024. This celebrated community event will take place from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the organization’s Bay Preserve headquarters located at 400 Palmetto Avenue, Osprey, 34229.

With an exhibitor line-up featuring many local environmental and youth-serving organizations, this free children’s festival brings the community together for a fun-filled day of nature-based activities and exploration. All festival activities are free and meant to get kids outside and excited about nature. Activities include tree climbing, nature printing, native plant planting, animal encounters, face-painting, crafts, games, and more! Multiple food trucks will also be onsite including Currywurst, The Empanada Girl, Simply Greek by Wynnberry, Kona Ice, and Surfing Coconut.

”We are delighted to bring this engaging and educational festival back to Bay Preserve,” says Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “Through both our year-round youth education programming and events such as these, we provide kids with the kind of WOW! moments in nature that lead to a lifelong respect for and appreciation of the great outdoors.

“Wild About Nature is the best,” adds Sam Valentin, Conservation Foundation director of marketing and events. “Not only are we connecting kids to nature and showing them how much fun they can have outside, we’re also bringing non-profits and community organizations from across the region together in the same place at the same time for families to learn more. And it’s free and open to everyone!”

Registration is not required for this community event though Facebook event RSVPs are requested. All parking is offsite at First Baptist Church of Osprey, Victory Baptist Church, and the historic Osprey Library. Limited handicapped parking is available on site. Those attempting to enter the Bay Preserve parking lot will be re-routed unless a parking permit is shown. A trolley will run on a loop to transport guests between the event space and parking areas. More details, including participating exhibitors, can be found on Conservation Foundation’s Wild About Nature Facebook event page. To sponsor the 2024 Wild About Nature Festival, visit conservationfoundation.com/wild.