BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Boca Raton is heading into April with a full Earth Month calendar that stretches across the city, from dune restoration and cleanups to library events, family nature programs and hands-on workshops at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
The programming is being coordinated through the City of Boca Raton’s Office of Sustainability, which is using this year’s Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” to frame a month of local events focused on environmental protection, community involvement and long-term resilience.
In a message to residents and supporters, Sustainability Manager Tina Batoh-Jennings said the city’s Earth Month schedule was built to help people connect not only with the environment, but with each other. The office also announced the addition of sustainability intern Siena Botzer-Gunter, a Florida Atlantic University geoscience student and president of FAU’s Sustainability Club.
The city describes sustainability as a balance between social well-being, economic vitality and environmental protection. That framing runs through the April lineup, which mixes volunteer work, public education and family programming.
Several late-March events were set to lead into the April calendar, including a presentation on the city’s Resilience Adaptation and Action Plan at the Boca Raton Community Center, a dune restoration volunteer day at South Beach Park, and a Sustainable Yards Series lecture at Spanish River Library focused on pests and disease management in local landscapes.
The main Earth Month calendar begins April 1 with Beach Treasures, followed by a long list of events spread through the month. The schedule includes an Intracoastal family snorkel on April 4, stand-up paddleboarding on April 5, Boca Raton’s first Vertical Oyster Garden Workshop on April 9, a native plant giveaway and Golden Hour Tours on April 10, an e-waste recycling and shred event on April 11, and Arbor Day tree planting on April 24.
Other city events listed for the month include Earth Day Story Time, Family Gardening, Wild Wonders, Friday Night at the Museum featuring Bee Movie, The Great American Cleanup, a City Nature Challenge BioBlitz, Earth Day at the Garden, and an Intracoastal Cleanup on April 30.
A major part of the schedule runs through Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, which is offering both free and registration-based programming throughout April. The center’s April activities include Beach Treasures, Golden Hour Tours, the Great American Cleanup, EcoWatch lectures, Island Treks, daily marine aquarium feedings, daily sea turtle talks, Wild Wonders for young children, and several “Intracoastal Adventures” programs built around snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and lagoon seining.
Some of those programs are free and open to walk-ins. Others require advance registration through WebTrac, and some have age restrictions, resident and non-resident pricing, or equipment requirements. The city is also directing residents to Gumbo Limbo for summer environmental camp registration, including grade-based camp sessions in June and July. One tween section is already listed as sold out, and one grades 3-4 section is also sold out with a waitlist option.
For families looking for a rough guide to what Gumbo Limbo is offering, the center’s April calendar covers a wide range: guided beachcombing at Red Reef Park, birding walks during spring migration, conservation lectures with after-hours aquarium viewing, sunset tours through the butterfly garden and trails, marine-life programs in the Intracoastal, weekly boardwalk treks, weekend nature talks, and daily presentations focused on aquarium feeding and resident sea turtles. There are also children’s and homeschool programs built around science and local ecosystems.
The city is also highlighting ongoing April activities at other locations. At the Boca Raton Public Library, Farmer Jay’s Bug Boss Academy is scheduled for April 7, 14, 21 and 28. At Gumbo Limbo, Island Treks are listed on April 7, 14, 21 and 28, EcoWatch lectures are scheduled for April 8 and 22, and the center’s Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding and Resident Sea Turtle Talk are scheduled daily.
For residents, the practical takeaway is simple: April’s Earth Month schedule is broad, but some events require registration in advance and some offer free items or limited space. The native plant giveaway, for example, is date-specific. Some Gumbo Limbo programs require payment and registration, while others are free and open to walk-ins. Volunteer events may also count toward community service hours, particularly dune restoration and cleanup programs.
Responsibility for the overall Earth Month schedule sits with the City of Boca Raton’s Office of Sustainability, working alongside other city departments and partner facilities including Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, the Boca Raton Public Library and city parks.
What happens next is the public rollout itself. April programming begins immediately, and residents who want to take part will need to check which events require advance registration, especially for classes, tours and water-based activities. See the City's official website for more information.
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