FOUR NEW EXHIBITS TO OPEN AT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Published on September 28, 2026
Naples, Florida(September 28, 2026) — After months of anticipation, CMON proudly introduces three innovative exhibits and a revitalized library space as part of its second-floor reopening. Guests can explore the following new experiences:
Critter Care: Our beloved Adopt-A-Pet Vet Clinic has been completely reinvented as Critter Care, a hands-on adventure where visitors follow Miso, the clinic’s resident cat, as she guides Gary the dog through his very first veterinary visit. Kids will dive into animal care, biology, and empathy, while discovering the real skills professionals need to build a career working with animals. As visitors move through the exhibit, generously sponsored by BarkBox and Heidi Searle, each activity has levels of complexity, so there’s a genuine challenge waiting for everyone, from wide-eyed toddlers to curious elementary schoolers.
Junior Deputy Academy: Junior Deputy Academy puts visitors inside the world of law enforcement, from sharpening investigative techniques and running 911 operations to, yes, climbing behind the wheel of a patrol car. There’s even a friendly competitive edge built in, with a training obstacle course that lets kids race the clock and see who comes out on top.
Age-appropriate activities encourage children to practice critical thinking, build confidence, and learn when and how to ask trusted adults and emergency responders for help. Whether responding to a pretend emergency, locating destinations on a Collier County mission map, or collecting clues to solve a case, every child becomes an active participant in protecting and serving their community.
CMON on Ice: CMON on Ice is back at CMON! Step onto our indoor sock skating rink and glide across a “frozen” lake surrounded by a charming woodland landscape—no skates required. This immersive exhibit invites children and families to move, play, and imagine together while building balance, coordination, creativity, and confidence. Along with sock skating, families can enjoy dress-up opportunities, imaginative play, and interactive games led by CMON educators. Designed for children of all ages and abilities, CMON on Ice brings the excitement of a winter adventure indoors for a fun, active, and unforgettable museum experience. Open through January 3, 2027.
Additionally, on October 5, CMON will debut a new exhibit in our first-floor CMON Corner, expanding the museum’s interactive offerings.
Power Up!: Power Up! invites children and families to become electrical engineers as they design, build, and test working electrical circuits using hands-on components. Through open-ended exploration and guided design challenges, young learners discover how electricity flows, how circuits are completed, and how switches, motors, lights, speakers, and sensors work together to power everyday technology.
This exhibit encourages experimentation, problem-solving, and creative thinking by allowing visitors to build increasingly complex circuits while learning foundational engineering concepts. As children test ideas, troubleshoot designs, and modify their creations, they develop resilience, critical thinking, and confidence through the engineering design process.
Whether creating a light-up alarm, spinning fan, musical circuit, or motion-activated invention, every activity demonstrates that engineering is about curiosity, creativity, and discovering how things work. Power Up! inspires the next generation of inventors by transforming abstract STEM concepts into exciting, hands-on experiences that make learning both meaningful and fun.
“Reopening our second floor is an exciting moment for CMON and for the families who have been so patient during construction,” said Jonathan Foerster, CEO of Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. “These new exhibits and refreshed spaces give children new ways to care for others, solve problems, move their bodies, and follow their curiosity. We can’t wait to welcome families back upstairs to play, learn, and dream together.”
Admission to CMON on Ice, Critter Care, Junior Deputy Academy, and Power Up! is included with general museum admission.
About Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples
Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is a nonprofit, brain-building powerhouse and Southwest Florida’s first museum dedicated to children and families learning through play. Through immersive, hands-on exhibit galleries, CMON invites visitors of all ages to explore, imagine, and discover together.
Guests can journey through the swamps of the Everglades, climb a towering banyan tree, or experiment with interactive water play. Children can become a weather forecaster, a farmer, a chef, a fisherman, or an artist; explore the cold of an igloo, the whoosh of the wind, the sound of the sea, and the effects of gravity. Throughout the day special activities encourage our guests to get involved, try something new and be energized.
In addition to exhibits, CMON offers a wide range of educational programs, classes, camps, and special events designed to support creativity, curiosity, and early learning. Later this year, CMON will open a new Early Learning Center, expanding the museum’s impact by providing high-quality early childhood education for young learners.
About Discovery School at CMON
Discovery School at CMON is a play-based early learning center located within Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON). Opening in January 2027, the school will offer a unique educational experience for Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 students, integrating hands-on, child-centered learning with the museum’s interactive exhibits and resources.
The full-day, year-round program is designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning in a nurturing environment. Enrollment includes a complimentary CMON Family Deluxe Membership, providing families with year-round access to the museum and exclusive benefits. Discovery School at CMON is dedicated to supporting whole-child development and preparing students for long-term academic success.
Connect with Us
Facebook: @childrensmuseumofnaples
Instagram: @childrensmuseumofnaples
Facebook: @discoveryschoolatcmon
Instagram: @discoveryschoolatcmon
For more information about Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, or to make a contribution, visit cmon.org or call 239-260-1604.