Inspiring wonder
for the wild.
Education and exploration can help build a stronger future for Big Cypress National Preserve.
We provide essential funding to Big Cypress National Preserve for their outreach and educational programs.
Our support helps sustain important programs that raise awareness of the Preserve’s diverse ecosystems. By hosting events that connect people to the land, we also highlight the funding needed to sustain the Preserve’s critical work.
Through fundraising, we empower rangers and volunteers to carry out their essential work, from preserving the land to educating the public about its unique ecosystems. Our goal is to inspire the community to become passionate stewards of this incredible place, ensuring its protection for generations to come.
What we do
Together, we provide financial and volunteer support for several environmental, education, and outreach programs at Big Cypress National Preserve, creating more passionate stewards of this unique ecosystem each year. Without your donations, these programs would not be possible.
Education.
Each year, the preserve runs the Swamp Water And Me Program (S.W.A.M.P.), which brings nearly 3,000 sixth-grade students from Collier County into the preserve for hands-on science learning. Students become "S.W.A.M.P. Scientists," conducting field experiments and collecting data. This unique program has been running for over 25 years.
Citizen scientists also learn from projects such as the Dragonfly Mercury Project, which monitors mercury pollution.
Exploration.
The Preserve’s Education and Outreach Team provides programs for over 15,000 visitors, including individuals from schools, colleges, and adult groups from across the country. From swamp walks to canoe trips, festivals to Night Sky programs, students, schools, community groups, leaders and families explore the wonders of Big Cypress National Preserve throughout the year. Each time a visitor can learn more about the preserve, we are one step closer to helping it be cherished, protected, and responsibly experienced.
Conservation.
Big Cypress National Preserve is deeply committed to conservation, working alongside scientists and biologists to protect its diverse ecosystems. Efforts include habitat restoration, rare plant and wildlife research, invasive species management, and long-term monitoring of species like the Florida panther and white-tailed deer. These projects support the health of the Preserve and contribute to broader Everglades restoration goals.
Board of Directors
Meet our generous, dedicated Board of Directors, Clyde Butcher, Sheila Harris-Schutz, Susan S. Jones, and more.
Building a Legacy of Care and Conservation
A word from Clyde Butcher, Founder, Photographer and Conservationist
Big Cypress National Preserve is one of the most pristine and awe-inspiring landscapes in America—yet it remains one of the least recognized. Its quiet beauty rivals that of the most famous national parks, and it deserves our attention, respect, and protection.
In 1992, Niki and I built our home and gallery deep in Big Cypress National Preserve. After the heartbreaking loss of our son, Ted, the swamp became our place of healing—a sanctuary filled with peace, purpose, and quiet wisdom. Living in the heart of this wilderness changed us forever. That’s why my daughter Jackie and I, along with some amazing folks in Naples who love this place as much as we do, founded Friends of Big Cypress. We believe this land deserves our protection and care.
Through my black-and-white photography, I’ve spent decades sharing the soul of this swamp—hoping others would come to love it as deeply as I do. In 1999, Niki and I dreamed of starting a Friends group dedicated to preserving Big Cypress. But with the demands of building our gallery and using our art to raise awareness, that dream had to wait.
Now, more than twenty years later, that vision is finally being realized. With the support of a passionate group of local leaders and nature advocates, Friends of Big Cypress has come to life. My daughter Jackie and I are proud to be among its founding board members, and our entire family fully supports this mission.
As the wild backyard of Collier County, Big Cypress is still a hidden gem to many. This new organization is dedicated to changing that—by raising awareness, supporting education and park programs, and securing the resources needed to protect this vital ecosystem for generations to come.
— Clyde Butcher
“Whether you volunteer, donate, or help spread the word—your involvement matters. Let’s protect this gift of nature, together. There is no Planet B.”
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