By: Mike Hammond
Every year I ponder who I can recruit to be a speaker for the Calusa Blueway Speaker Series, and every year our paddling community steps up and offers great programs. We have three talks I’m excited about this year.
Our Jan. 6, 2026 the presenter will be Don Rice. Don is an American Canoe Association instructor, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary member and has an abundance of Southwest Florida paddling knowledge. His November talk and on-the-water safety training were very successful. The January presentation will be “Paddling the Everglades,” followed by a two-day free safety training session.
Chad Gillis will be our second presenter on Feb. 3. Chad is a longtime environmental reporter for The News-Press and an avid paddler. He paddles the Calusa Blueway so often that I believe he holds the distinction of being the person I most frequently run into on the water or at launches. During one of those random encounters, I thought, “Why hasn’t he been a speaker yet?” Chad graciously agreed to talk about his new book, which recounts his experiences paddling across the Everglades with tips and information on the ecosystem, the park and the best places to camp.
Our final program will be March 3, “Fishing Southwest Florida,” presented by Estero River Outfitters. Paula Stuller was the original owner of the iconic shop and one of the driving forces behind establishing the Calusa Blueway more than twenty years ago. Her three sons grew up at the shop and have been on, in or near the water almost every day of their lives. They now run Estero River Outfitters and will share their extensive paddling and fishing knowledge during the presentation.
As always, the strength of the Calusa Blueway Speaker Series comes from the passion of the paddling community itself. With this year’s lineup offering everything from Everglades exploration to environmental insight and local fishing expertise, we’re looking forward to another season of learning, connection and celebrating the waters we love.
The Calusa Blueway Speaker Series will be hosted at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers, on the first Tuesday of January, February and March. Programs start at 6:30 p.m., however participants are invited to arrive a few minutes early to enjoy light snacks and talk paddling with fellow enthusiasts.