SAVE THE DATE! The 2026 Southwest Florida Family Back to School Expo at the North Collier Regional Park is coming. Get a head start on your back-to-school preparations at this popular free event. It is perfect for Collier and Lee County parents and kids looking to kick off the new school...
Deputy Eric Fitzgerald walks into the Sea Gate Elementary School cafeteria in Naples, giving kids high fives. He might help a youngster open their milk container while the other children chatter about their day. Later, he heads to a classroom where kids rush to hug him. While the Youth Relations...
Graduation ceremonies in Southwest Florida typically fill football stadiums or arenas, but that’s not what happens at Everglades City School, where just eight students will be walking across the stage to get their diplomas. And only six of them are seniors. The other two are juniors who are graduating early.It’s...
High School’s Final Year: Supporting Your College-Bound Child Ready or not, prepared or not, when summer is over, your child is set to begin the final, defining and transitory, year of high school. Whether this is your first or third child, each college-bound high school student walks a unique path. By...
The school year ends for students in Collier and Lee Counties on Friday, May 30, and they don’t go back until Monday, August 11. That’s 72 days—1,728 hours or 103,680 minutes—of freedom from school. While you might plan a vacation or spend time at the beach, pool, or park, there...
Shanae Griffin was working a minimum wage job at a local fast-food restaurant and barely able to pay her bills. Then her rent went up. “I knew I would be homeless with four kids,” she recalled. She found a place for her two oldest children to stay, but when she...
Southwest Florida offers a rich array of musical opportunities for students. However, it can be difficult for parents with a limited background in music to guide their children in this arena, particularly if they want to pursue a specific instrument. Similar to sports though, encouragement appears to be the number...
Meet JD Ribali, a Southwest Florida entrepreneur and the driving force behind Biz Kidz and Young Entrepreneurs and Rising Stars (YEARS)—two dynamic youth entrepreneurship programs. From overcoming challenges like dyslexia to launching dozens of businesses, JD’s personal story inspired him to create hands-on, local opportunities for kids to explore business...
Overnight and day camps are not only an excellent childcare option for working parents, but they also allow kids to find their voice, build resilience, and develop the confidence to fend for themselves.What’s more, being physically active outdoors can reduce stress and anxiety, support sleep habits, and help maintain a...
Darren Nieves is taking volunteering to a whole new level. The junior at Aubrey Rogers High School in Collier County spends most of his free time organizing charity events and rallying students to join the efforts. He’s run huge events for both Meals of Hope and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He...
I never thought we would have an only child. When we first got married in 2012, my husband and I used to discuss whether we would have three or four children – he wanted three, and I wanted four. Now, looking back on those dreamy, doe-eyed “arguments,” they feel silly. We’re...
Preparing your home Waiting until Southwest Florida is within the forecast’s “cone of concern” is risky. Supplies may be limited, and lines may be long. Early preparation is the best way to guarantee your home and family will be prepared for the next storm or hurricane.• Cordless drill and drill...
The glow of cellphones illuminates the faces of teens as they stand in the darkness waiting for the school bus. The students all know each other; they are neighbors and friends, yet at this bus stop in Naples, they stand apart, heads bent down to their screens.Later, a family sits...
“We must warn you that the images you are about to see are disturbing.” This is heard almost every day on the news as broadcasters talk about the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. It's essential to guide children through the disturbing images and stories that dominate headlines.The images are disturbing, and...
With all of the pressures facing young women today, and all of the statistics about the void of women in corporate and government leadership positions, one nonprofit in Southwest Florida is systematically seeking change. Based in Naples, Wellfit Girls provides comprehensive leadership and mentorship programs for young women in middle...
When a child makes a commitment to the arts, the entire family, performances, and academics, how do families fit it all in? Local parents shared their experiences supporting their kids’ dedication to the stage, dance, and band. Cyndee Woolley, Dance Mom of Bridget Bridget Woolley, a 13-year-old student at Gulf...
Many of you have met Way Too Tall Torrie at community events and birthday parties. When Torrie Heathcoat is not 8-feet-2-inches high on her stilts, the Southwest Florida mom of two enjoys spending time with her husband, Andy,a retired research analyst with the federal court, and their two children, Rowan and Ashton. Rowan attends...
Parents know that some kids are more dramatic than others. So why not give emotionally expressive students an outlet by getting them involved in theater? You likely already know if your child has a flair for the theatrical, and educational programs can offer kids benefits that are life-changing.Opportunities to participate...
Come for a ride on the Stinger and a heaping plate of fair fare, but don’t skip milking a cow at this year’s Collier County Fair and Exposition, March 16-26. Plus, it’s a chance to learn a thing or two about STEAM.Part of the Collier County Public Schools’ (CCPS) curriculum, STEAM...
No matter what your passion or your needs are, you should be able to find several local organizations right here in our community that meet your needs. If you are fortunate enough to be able to give back, please consider giving your time, attention or donations to one of these...