Alexandra Johnson

Literacy Council Gulf Coast’s annual fundraiser shines a light on adult learners and rising urgency around English education in Southwest Florida.

Lee County families planning ahead for summer can begin registering their children for Parks & Recreation summer camps starting at 7 a.m. Monday, March 23. The registration date is later than in previous years, giving families more time to explore camp options and prepare for the upcoming season.Lee County Parks & Recreation offers several camp programs based on age and interests. Traditional Summer Camps are available for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade, while Middle School Summer Camps serve students in sixth through eighth grade. Specialty camps and special needs camps are also offered, with age ranges varying by program and location.Summer camps will run for eight weeks, from June 8 through Aug. 2, at a cost of $85 per week per child. Camp hours vary by location and are listed on the department’s website.

Members of Florida’s 501st Legion and its sister organization, the Rebel Legion, are turning their passion for Star Wars into community service across the state. Volunteers portray screen-accurate characters from the franchise at hospitals, charity fundraisers, conventions and public events, appearing at no cost while covering the expense of building and maintaining their own costumes.

Florida State Parks will open their gates for free day-use admission from Feb. 13–16 in celebration of George Washington’s birthday and the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. The limited-time offer gives residents and visitors the opportunity to experience parks connected to Florida’s role during the Revolutionary period. Several sites across the state preserve land where British plantations, trading posts and military tensions once shaped daily life in what was then British West Florida.

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife will host the 24th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival on Feb. 28 at Rotary Park, featuring wildlife experts from Florida and beyond. The event includes educational talks from biologists and conservation leaders, including a featured speaker traveling from Canada to discuss burrowing owl conservation. Along with the speaker series, the festival will offer live animal encounters, wildlife bus tours, a conservation expo, kids’ activities, food vendors and a silent auction. A $5 donation is suggested for guests ages 12 and up, with proceeds supporting local wildlife conservation efforts.

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife will host the 24th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival on Feb. 28, bringing conservation groups, tours and family activities to Rotary Park.

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife will host a Southwest Florida Birding Specialty Tour on Saturday, Feb. 28 as part of the 24th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival. The four-hour guided tour runs from 7 to 11 a.m., with participants asked to arrive by 6:45 a.m. at Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road.The tour will travel by bus to multiple birding locations in Cape Coral and surrounding areas, with short walks expected at select stops. Organizers say participants may see burrowing owls and other bird species common to Southwest Florida, including bald eagles, herons and egrets.Tickets cost $70 and include admission to the Burrowing Owl Festival. Advance purchase is required through ccfriendsofwildlife.org. The festival’s Wildlife and Environmental Expo will also take place Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rotary Park, featuring tours, vendors, speakers and family activities.

Rapid development in Cape Coral is putting pressure on wildlife habitats, prompting concern from conservation groups, city leaders and residents about the future of native species.