Conservancy of Southwest Florida breaks ground on John & Carol Walter Nature Experience
During an April 18 Earth Day Festival gathering of dignitaries, wildlife and environmental supporters, and families, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida officially broke ground on the John & Carol Walter Nature Experience.
The groundbreaking turns the page into a new chapter for the Conservancy. The brand-new experience was made possible by a transformative $25 million grant from the John & Carol Walter Family Foundation in 2025, the largest philanthropic commitment in the organization’s history.
The John & Carol Walter Nature Experience will serve as a pivotal landmark in how the community will experience, understand and protect the systems that sustain Southwest Florida’s way of life. Featuring new spaces, program offerings and continuously evolving, highly interactive exhibits, the John & Carol Walter Nature Experience will inspire individuals to take action and support the Conservancy’s critical mission to preserve Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future for generations to come.
“I sincerely believe that this groundbreaking for the new John and Carol Nature Experience at the Conservancy is an opportunity to change this part of our world – our beloved home – Southwest Florida,” said Rob Moher, CEO and president of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. “There has never been a more compelling time than right now for engaging the public in our efforts to preserve our paradise as we are experiencing record growth, resulting in massive new pressures on environmentally sensitive lands and habitats – essential for iconic native wildlife such as the Florida Panther – but also essential for our water resources, our water quality and indeed on our quality of life. We are so fortunate to have a visionary family who truly are committed to preserving all aspects of the community they now call home and have agreed to support our envisioned transformation with a pace-setting $25 million commitment – the John and Carol Walter Family.”
The John & Carol Walter Nature Experience will feature a new nearly 7,000-square-foot welcome center, with interactive exhibits that bring the Conservancy’s work, challenges, and solutions to life, including live native wildlife displays. An expanded outdoor deck and new educational amphitheater will support a broader range of programming. Guests can explore a new half-mile trail through the Christopher B. Smith Upland Scrub Preserve, with a shaded picnic area and food truck space at the trailhead. Expanded electric boat access will enhance exploration of the Gordon River. Sustainability features include a half-acre stormwater lake and a solar-powered parking garage.
“My family has become deeply connected to the natural beauty and the quality of life that makes Southwest Florida so special,” said John Walter. “As a family, we feel a great responsibility and are committed to doing our part to ensure a sustainable way of life for generations to come. It’s our hope that the re-imagined Nature Experience will positively transform the Conservancy as a destination where members and visitors will not only gain a better understanding of the Conservancy’s mission, but they will be inspired to get involved in preserving our way of life to the benefit of the entire region and our future.”
The grant is part of the Conservancy’s Now & Forever Campaign and will expand the Conservancy’s 21-acre offerings, including the Susan and William Dalton Discovery Center and John & Carol Walter Discovery Wing, electric boat tours, daily programming, and conservation films in the Jeannie Meg Smith Theater. The Nature Center closes May 1 to begin construction on the John & Carol Walter Nature Experience. During construction, free public and member events will be offered in Collier and Lee County. The von Arx Wildlife Hospital will remain open throughout construction. Stevens Construction, Mudgett Parker Smith LLC, Coastal Vista, Museum EXP and Mainstreet Design will lead the project, with an anticipated opening date of the beginning of 2028.
To learn more about the John & Carol Walter Nature Experience, please visit Conservancy.org/NatureExperience.
About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a nonprofit environmental organization that has protected water, land and wildlife in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties for more than 60 years. Through environmental science, policy, education and wildlife rehabilitation, the Conservancy safeguards Southwest Florida’s natural resources for future generations.
Headquartered in Naples, Florida, the Conservancy is home to Collier County’s only native wildlife hospital and its vibrant Nature Center. Currently open to visitors, the Nature Center is undergoing a major transformation into a new, impactful community offering—the John & Carol Walter Nature Experience, set to open in 2028. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a gateway to conservation, offering immersive exhibits, hands-on learning and expanded programs to inspire environmental stewardship and enhance the region’s quality of life.
Learn more and support Southwest Florida’s environmental future at Conservancy.org.
