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![Monarch Butterfly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/64e8e0_b861d6f574c4456e970bfee8f74cb660~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_419,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/64e8e0_b861d6f574c4456e970bfee8f74cb660~mv2.jpg)
Monarch Butterfly
![Black Racer](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/64e8e0_93e62a7ce0ff4aec9e6ee1aaf03dd21d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_674,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/64e8e0_93e62a7ce0ff4aec9e6ee1aaf03dd21d~mv2.jpg)
Black Racer
![Gopher Tortoise](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/698f21_d2ca36f39376430abd5f817662fc294c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/698f21_d2ca36f39376430abd5f817662fc294c~mv2.jpg)
Gopher Tortoise
![Monarch Butterfly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/64e8e0_b861d6f574c4456e970bfee8f74cb660~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_419,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/64e8e0_b861d6f574c4456e970bfee8f74cb660~mv2.jpg)
Monarch Butterfly
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Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center
![Caniff_edited_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/64e8e0_d8cc06129a9240eba59539b8170b9bb4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_388,h_258,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Caniff_edited_edited.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/64e8e0_e148aeed60494df1b6ea7450bd9e178a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_365,h_258,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/64e8e0_e148aeed60494df1b6ea7450bd9e178a~mv2.jpg)
The Alligator Creek Welcome Center at our Punta Gorda location is temporarily closed for summer. Trails and other amenities are open as per usual.
The Cedar Point Visitors' Center at our Englewood location is open all year 'round. Trails and other amenities are open as per usual.
Upcoming Events
2024
Through October: Wading, Birding, Fishing & More!
August - Adopt A Pond Clean-up ~ Cedar Point
January - May: Eco Kayak Tours Punta Gorda
October - Haunted Halloween Event ~ Cedar Point
November - Harvest for the Harbor ~ Punta Gorda
Ongoing
![hiker image 2.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/64e8e0_9e1db9ed52c54a058c3e542f13914f5d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_224,h_226,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/hiker%20image%202.jpg)
Charlotte County Guided Walks
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/64e8e0_21c22f7e201e49caa80c2f7817638db5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_246,h_123,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/64e8e0_21c22f7e201e49caa80c2f7817638db5~mv2.png)
Field Trip Opportunities
![FOC Webpage thumbnail.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/64e8e0_2e80542e08284bcdaedaa560d73337f3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_226,h_226,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/FOC%20Webpage%20thumbnail.png)
Friends of CHEC Membership Program
What We Do
The Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center “CHEC,” a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, has been providing environmental education, recreation, environmental research, and conservation lands management services to the citizens and visitors of the greater Charlotte Harbor area since 1987. Find out how you can get involved with CHEC and our programs.
![raccoon-g4994a535f_1920_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/698f21_1708e6b0f8854ddba06d95938cb88b2f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_488,h_324,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/698f21_1708e6b0f8854ddba06d95938cb88b2f~mv2.jpg)
![Caniff.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/698f21_2d24e9bf38bc4c42a1ceb44f945370a8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_488,h_324,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/698f21_2d24e9bf38bc4c42a1ceb44f945370a8~mv2.jpg)
Who We Are
In 1983, Charles E. Caniff envisioned and worked toward creating a center in Charlotte County, Florida; where children and adults could come to experience and learn about the natural Florida environment.
Thanks to Mr. Caniff's hard work and dedication, and the support of Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center's sponsors, the Alligator Creek and Cedar Point Centers provide over 20 different educational programs, manage 8 environmentally sensitive lands and provide a total of over 8 miles of hiking trails and other recreational opportunities to the community.
Join the Cause
The core of our mission is so important. CHEC's education programs educate and inspire and empower people of all age ranges. CHEC is consistently and collaboratively working with all of the Charlotte County School teachers and principals, and have recently developed programs for new schools.
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Every year, CHEC educates over four thousand students. We work with the county to develop and educate the general public through lectures held at Bay Shore park in Port Charlotte and Cedar Point park in Englewood. An outstanding number of programs are executed each year (approximately 300) by a relatively small staff and numerous volunteers.
![Baby Alligator.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/698f21_3eab65260a724460baad091c4cbbde5a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_488,h_383,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/698f21_3eab65260a724460baad091c4cbbde5a~mv2.jpg)
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