Naples Children's Programs Pass on Respect for Nature

The opportunities for you to inform your children about earth-friendliness, marine ecology and more are exceptional on Florida's Paradise Coast. Professionally run programs at area resorts and organizations are designed to inform as well as entertain your children and assist you in helping them become successful stewards of the environment.

Better still, while children are engaged in a rewarding green learning experience, parents can take a break, relax and immerse themselves in some of the other enticing pastimes of Florida's Paradise Coast. Beach, golf, tennis, spa or gourmet dining, anyone?

Children's Programs

The Nature's Wonders program, offered at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, Naples, provides exciting and stimulating hands-on, interactive learning in nature-themed activities like nature walks, boat rides, guest speakers, and field trips such as sail through the mangrove islands and an excursion to the zoo. Led by the resort's team of certified Master Naturalists, the program begins at an on-site laboratory where nine aquariums offer a spectacular look at Florida’s ecosystems, and two touch tanks allow children to hold live turtles and starfish.

Resort children’s programs incorporate activities and information about the beach and the area environment for a combination of fun and learning. Other formal children’s programs may be found at:

• JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort - Tiki Tribe
• Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa - Hilton Hot Shots
• LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort - Kids Aquatic Camp

Area attractions also offer wonderful options for children to learn while having fun. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has many options, including hikes, cruises and nature center. Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center offers wildlife-themed Kids Free Fridays in the summer and many other science-based youth education programs. 

Naples Zoo offers Safari Squad program for little ones age 3-5 as well as week-long Camp Wild programs. There are two Seated Sarari shows daily at 11:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Be sure to make time for one of the shows in Safari Canyon, since they feature animals only seen during these presentations. The Dolphin Explorer cruise departing from Rose Marina on Marco Island invites kids to participate in the Dolphin Challenge, working alongside the marine researcher onboard who collects behavior data from every dolphin spotted during the daily cruises.