Under the Stars at Pepper Ranch Preserve: Geminid Meteor Shower

Join us at beautiful Pepper Ranch Preserve for a special evening of meteor watching and stargazing beneath the night sky!

Please Read all details below !

We’ll be joining Conservation Collier for a rare after-dark experience celebrating the Geminid meteor shower, one of the most spectacular celestial events of the year.

🌠 The Geminid Meteor Shower

The Geminids are famous for their bright, colorful meteors and are considered one of the most reliable and impressive annual meteor showers. Peaking December 13–14, they can produce as many as 120–150 meteors per hour under ideal dark-sky conditions, although actual sightings vary.

Even better, this year’s meteor shower occurs close to the new moon, meaning minimal moonlight should interfere with our viewing. If the skies are clear, we could be treated to an extraordinary celestial show!

🌿 Discover Pepper Ranch After Dark

Nestled in northeastern Collier County, Pepper Ranch Preserve is a remarkable natural landscape of expansive prairies, pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, and wetlands.

Away from the bright lights of Naples, its wide-open skies provide a wonderful setting for watching meteors streak across the heavens.

Conservation Collier will also share information about the preserve, its wildlife, and its fascinating ranching history.

✨ What to Expect

This isn’t one of our usual hikes! We’ll settle into our lawn chairs or blankets, enjoy the peaceful surroundings, and spend the evening looking skyward.

There’s something pretty special about experiencing one of Southwest Florida’s beautiful preserves after dark, surrounded by nature, with nothing overhead but the stars.

Meteor sightings are never guaranteed and depend on weather, cloud cover, and viewing conditions. But even without a spectacular meteor shower, the opportunity to experience Pepper Ranch beneath the night sky is an adventure in itself.

🎟️ IMPORTANT: EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION REQUIRED

This event is hosted by Conservation Collier, and advance registration through Eventbrite is required.

RSVPing on Meetup does NOT reserve your spot or guarantee admission to the event.

Each attendee must secure their own Eventbrite ticket.

Register here:

**https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meteor-watch-tickets-2003289425599**

Please secure your Eventbrite ticket BEFORE RSVPing to our Meetup. This helps ensure our attendance list reflects members who are actually registered for the event.

🎒 What to Bring

• Lawn chair or comfortable blanket
• Bug spray
• Water and a light snack
• Comfortable clothing and an extra layer for cooler evening temperatures
• Flashlight with a red-light setting to preserve night vision
• Optional: A night-sky identification app downloaded in advance

📍 Location & Event Details

Pepper Ranch Preserve

6315 Pepper Road, Immokalee, FL 34142

Date: Sunday, December 13, 2026

Time: 9:00 PM – Midnight

Event Host: Conservation Collier

A Few Important Reminders

This is an organized Conservation Collier event that we’ll be enjoying together as Southwest Florida Solos.

Please arrive on time, respect the preserve’s natural surroundings, and keep your Meetup RSVP current. If your plans change, update your reservation so another member has the opportunity to participate.

Sometimes the most extraordinary adventures happen when we slow down, look up, and let nature put on the show. 🌌