Earth Day is just around the corner— and Cheeca Lodge & Spa is gearing up for a celebration of the environmental treasures that are the Florida Keys on Sunday, April 24th from 11am-4pm.

The holiday is all about appreciating nature’s bounty and preserving the wonders of the natural world—wonders like the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and National Key Deer Refuge, which are vital parts of the natural fabric of the Keys. This year, Cheeca will again kick off the festivities with the creation of a giant sand sculpture that will spell out the 2016 Earth Day slogan, “SAVE EARTH.” Teams of 8-10 from local schools and businesses will each sponsor a letter, which includes custom-designed “Cheeca Earth Day 2016” t-shirts along with food & beverage tickets for every team member. The team that designs the most eye-catching letter will be presented with a starfish-themed “Best Letter” plaque that afternoon.

There are plenty of other events on tap at Cheeca on Earth Day, which this year will highlight environmental education. Speakers from local institutions including the Dolphin Research Center, Sea Turtle Hospital, Sea Camp, Mote Marine Laboratory, and the History of Diving Museum will be on-hand to present to guests throughout the day, and will bring along interactive exhibits including touch tanks full of live animal friends.

And that’s not all: besides the sand art and touch tanks, kids will have the chance to play in their very own sandbox, where they’ll dig for Cheeca-themed treasures, and can also take fishing and casting lessons on Cheeca’s iconic pier. A live steel-drum band will set the laid-back island mood as guests enjoy a family-friendly beach BBQ menu including Cheeca’s very first custom brew, created especially for Earth Day, from the team at Florida Keys Brewing.

As the party winds down at 4pm, guests and locals alike will be invited to hang around for drink specials at the Tiki Bar—one of Cheeca’s favorite gathering spots—and a well-priced “Before 6” prix fixe menu at our flagship restaurant, Atlantic’s Edge.