September features National Public Lands Day, a holiday dedicated to celebrating the beauty and importance of public land conservation. To commemorate the event, Lee County Parks & Recreation is hosting a series of Parks for Pollinator BioBlitz events.

The free events will allow visitors to engage with the local wildlife while also assisting in park conservation. Through taking “snapshots” of wildlife using a special app on their phones, visitors will assist the park system by providing information about local pollinators, an essential part of the ecosystem, according to the department’s news release. 

Lee County Parks and Recreation is planning five events across different parks and preserves, ranging from guided walks and scavenger hunts to educational hikes and informational sessions. The dates and locations of the event are below: 

• 8 -10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, Pollinator Plant Walk, Hickey Creek Mitigation Park, 17980 Palm Beach Blvd., Alva 

• 8:30 -10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, BioBlitz Hike, Wild Turkey Strand Preserve, 11901 Rod and Gun Club Road, Fort Myers 

• 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, National Public Lands Day Community Event, Prairie Pines Preserve, 18400 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers 

• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, BioBlitz Event, Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers 

• 8:30-10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, Pollinator Walk, Manatee Park, 10901 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers

• 8:30-10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26, BioBlitz Hike, Pine Lake Preserve, 27225 Kent Road, Bonita Springs

For more information on the activities and how to register, participants can visit https://www.leegov.com/parks