COLLIER COUNTY AQUATIC FACILITIES

Check out the Collier County aquatic facilities for an affordable way to make a splash. Each location features a 25-yard by 25-meter heated pool, a children’s activity pool, a wading pool, and thrilling water slides. Admission is budget-friendly, making it an excellent choice for families. The aquatic facilities include:

Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park

As the newest addition to Collier County’s aquatic parks, Big Corkscrew Island offers state-of-the-art facilities and fun for all ages.

Visit Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park

810 39th Ave NE, Naples

(239) 252-4900

Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park

Enjoy the amenities at this popular community park.

Visit Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park

11565 Tamiami Trail E, Naples

(239) 252-3527

Golden Gate Aquatic Facility

Experience the fun and cool off at Golden Gate, including swimming, aerobic and general classes.

Visit Golden Gate Aquatic Facility

3300 Santa Barbara Blvd, Naples

239-252-6128

RIVER PARK AQUATIC CENTER

The Aquatic Center offers fun for free! With six lap lanes, a teaching pool, and an exciting 360-degree water slide, this facility is perfect for families. The zero-depth beach entry pool with interactive water features adds extra excitement for youngsters.

Visit River Park Aquatic Center

451 11th St N, Naples

(239) 213-3040

VINEYARDS SPLASH PAD

For a smaller water play area, the Vineyards Splash Pad offers a variety of sprinklers and water features. The free activity area is tucked behind the recreation center next to the playground at Vineyard Community Park.

Visit Vineyards Community Park

6231 Arbor Blvd W, Naples

(239) 252-4105

LAKE AVALON AT SUGDEN REGIONAL PARK

If you want the beach experience without the salty water, visit Lake Avalon at Sugden Regional Park. The 60-acre lake features a roped-in swim area, keeping people safe from the sailors and water skiers who share the water. There is a playground right beside the beach and restrooms nearby.

Visit Lake Avalon at Sugden Regional Park

4284 Avalon Dr, Naples

239-252-4052

MORE RESOURCES

Our Favorite Family-Friendly Beach Parks in Southwest Florida

39 Great Ways to Play On The Water This Summer

Top Playgrounds With Shade in Collier and Lee Counties

The post Best Places to Get Wet and Cool Off in Naples appeared first on SWFL Family.

NAPLES

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park:

• canoe/kayak launch and great fishing, too

www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/delnor-wiggins-pass-state-park

Vanderbilt Beach:

• famous for pop-up sunset celebrations

www.collierparks.com/collier_park/vanderbilt-beach-park/

Barefoot Beach Preserve:

• it’s also a gopher tortoise sanctuary
• wonderful learning center

www.collierparks.com/collier_park/barefoot-beach-preserve

Lowdermilk Park:

• gazebos and picnic tables can be reserved for birthday parties

www.naplesgov.com/parksrec/page/lowdermilk-park

Clam Pass Beach Park:

• complimentary tram ride through the mangroves

www.collierparks.com/collier_park/clam-pass-park

Naples Pier Beach:

• bath and shower facilities open
• pier is partially open pending repairs.
• webcam on the website

www.NaplesPanorama.org

ESTERO

Lover’s Key State Park:

• fabulous Discovery Center
• guided hikes
• fishing and more

www.floridastateparks.org/Lovers-Key

MARCO ISLAND

Tigertail Beach:

• wade, paddle or SUP to a shell-rich barrier island, a habitat of protected shore birds and several osprey nests

www.collierparks.com/collier_park/tigertail-beach-park

Sanibel Island:

• the world’s best shelling beaches!
• the favorites are Lighthouse Beach, Gulfside City Park and Tarpon Bay Beach

www.sanibelisland.com

Keewaydin Island:

• stunning white-sand barrier island on the Intracoastal Waterway, accessible from Naples or Marco Island only by boat
• no facilities except visits from those super-cute food boats: Just Beachy Burgers and In the Pink Ice Cream

Coming back soon: 

Always a family favorite for its many beachy restaurants, souvenir shops, and historic pier, Lynn Hall Memorial Park/Times Square on Fort Myers Beach was hit especially hard by Hurricane Ian. Recovering like a champ, especially the wind and water sports options, it’s still a work in progress.

Our Travel Editor, Karen T. Bartlett, scours the globe for interesting and unique experiences to share with our readers. Her work has been published in scores of magazines and tourism guides in several countries. She’s the author/photographer of a dozen destination books and is the publisher of the “Mostly Kids’ Guides” family guidebook series. www.KarenTBartlett.com

The post Our Favorite Family-Friendly Beach Parks in Southwest Florida appeared first on SWFL Family.

The best times to find sharks’ teeth are at low tide and after a storm. Using a metal sifter is the quickest way to collect them.

Venice

Venice is known as the shark tooth capital of the world. The Venice Fishing Pier at Brohard Park is an excellent place to start, but any of the beaches in Venice should have some washing onshore. Free parking, food concessions, picnic shelters, showers, and boardwalks are available.

101 The Esplanade, Venice • www.venicegov.com

Englewood Beach

If you don’t want to drive north to Venice, check out this beach in Charlotte County. Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park has a boardwalk, restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and a playground.

2100 N Beach Road, Englewood • 941-681-3742 • www.charlottecountyfl.gov/departments/community-services/parks/all-parks/

Caspersen Beach

This beach is known as a terrific place to find prehistoric shark teeth. The area also has restrooms, a nature trail, a fishing pier, a picnic area, a playground, and a canoe launch

4100 Harbor Drive, Venice • (941) 861-5000 • www.sarasotacountyparks.com/parks-and-facilities

Don Pedro Island State Park

Don Pedro Island State Park can only be reached by boat or ferry, so there is not as much competition when finding shark teeth. Most of the island is still closed from damage from Hurricane Ian.

8450 Placida Road, Cape Haze • 941-759-2007 • www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/don-pedro-island-state-park

The post Best Spots to Find Sharks’ Teeth in Southwest Florida appeared first on SWFL Family.

Bird Gardens of Naples

During a recent visit, a bright red scarlet macaw walked along the arm of a young boy. Keriellen Lohrman, president of the Bird Gardens of Naples in eastern Collier County, provides a home for birds when their owner can’t care for them and finds them a new home. Guests can hold some of the larger birds. Peacocks, emus, and geese strut around the property while other birds fly in spacious cages. Tours are at 11 am on Friday through Sunday. Visits are free, but donations are welcome.

1060 Purple Martin Drive, Naples • (813) 841-1911 • www.thebirdgardensofnaples.org

Good Mood Ranch

On this 24-acre ranch, there are a variety of creatures to pet and feed. Children interact with rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, sheep, alpacas, cows, donkeys, and mules. Owner Luc Goemaere walks around dispensing information and letting children hold some of the smaller animals. Guests can purchase food to feed the creatures. There is a train ride and toy tractors to pedal.

306 Sabal Palm Road, Naples • (239) 351-6846 • www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086346034968

Funny Bunches of Goats

Children can play with and hold baby goats in the backyard at Funny Bunches of Goats in eastern Collier County. They can also hand them food and bottles to feed the youngest goats. The place also has goat yoga, private parties, and farm tours. Reservations are required.

3425 Smith Road, Naples • (754) 229-9919 • www.funnybunchesofgoats.com

West Coast Blessed Ranch

This nonprofit in eastern Collier County has been around for over two decades. Children can interact with horses, ponies, goats, chickens, rabbits, emu, and donkeys. Petting and feeding the animals is by donation. Trail rides and encounters for birthdays and other events. Visits are by appointment only.

3400 Smith Road, Naples • (239) 289-3837 • www.wcbrnaples.com

Kowiachobee Animal Preserve

Guests are greeted by a braying donkey, a crowing rooster, and squawking birds as they arrive. The greeting committee includes Sahara the Zebra and miniature horses. Children can pet horses, goats, skunks, birds, and reptiles. Visitors can view lions, tigers, and other mammals from a distance. There is no set fee, but donations are recommended.

2861 4th Avenue SE, Naples • (239) 352-5387 • www.kowiachobee.com

Wonder Gardens

The Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs offer Wild Wonders Animal Encounters. Guests can meet and feed the sulcata tortoises, the third largest tortoises in the world. They can also enter the lorikeet habitat and feed nectar to the colorful birds that often land on guests’ arms and heads.

27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs • (239) 992-2591 • www.wondergardens.org

Wooten’s Animal Sanctuary & Alligator Park

For a unique creature encounter, check out this place in the Everglades where you can hold a baby alligator and attend an alligator show.. Also, see a tiger, turtles, otters, crocodiles, and over 100 alligators.

32330 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee • (800) 282-2781 • www.wootenseverglades.com/attractions/animal-sanctuary-alligator-park

Southern Fresh Farms

Youngsters love interacting with Henry the Holstein cow on this five-acre farm. He is 6’ 1” and weighs 2,400 pounds. The other barnyard animals include goats, miniature donkeys, baby bison, and calves. Summer hours vary, and the farm will be closed from July 20 to August 10, so call first before visiting. Visiting the animals is free; a cup of of animal feed is costs $1.

8500 Penzance Boulevard, Fort Myers • (239) 768-0309 • southernfreshfarms.com

Shell Factory & Nature Park

Children can interact with a long list of creatures, including bunnies, guinea pigs, goats, pigs, bearded dragons, ball pythons, juvenile

alligators, birds, alpacas, tortoises, and leopard geckos. For an extra charge, families can enjoy a sloth encounter.

16554 North Cleveland Avenue, North Fort Myers • (239) 995-2141 • www.shellfactory.com

31 Produce Petting Zoo

Visitors can interact with tortoises, guinea pigs, dwarf goats, and rabbits. They can also see mini donkeys, horses, cows, chickens, and a pot-bellied pig. It is free to visit the animals and $3 for a cup of food or 25 cents for a handful of feed at the machines.

18672 State Road 31, Alva • (239) 313-8213 • www.31produce.com/petting-zoo

More Fun Activities for Kids

39 Great Ways to Play On The Water This Summer

Top Playgrounds With Shade in Collier and Lee Counties

Five Ideas for Family Fun in Naples

The post Top Spots for Interactive Animal Encounters in Southwest Florida appeared first on SWFL Family.

My children grew up on (and in) the water here in Southwest Florida, so together we’ve earned our dolphin researcher badges, gone scoop-netting for seahorses and baby octopi, paddled beneath spooky tunnels in the Ten Thousand Islands, and most of the other experiences I’ve chosen in this issue. As for the rest, stay tuned for future issues of Neapolitan Family. – KTB

Most Memorable Sea Creature Encounters 

Sanibel Sea School: Half-day beach and sea creature discoveries for Li’l Sea Squirts, a coral reef snorkeling sleepaway camp for older kids and more. SanibelseaSchool.org • (239) 472-8585

Adventures in Paradise Sea Life Encounter Excursion: The super-fun, biologist-guided big yellow boat takes you to an uninhabited island for scoop netting in the seagrass flats to discover tiny crabs, octopi, and seahorses. Port Sanibel Marina just before the toll booth. AdventureInParadise.com • (239) 472-8443

Best Teens & Tweens Family Sailing Course

Steve and Doris Colgate Sailing School: Held at Tween Waters Resort (Captiva Island) and Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina (Fort Myers Beach). In one week, even beginners can get certified to skipper a big yacht! OffshoreSailing.com • (239) 454-1700

Best Kids’ Scuba Lessons

Start in the pool at age 8, work up to PADI certification with the pros! Scuba Outfitters of Naples also offers open water dives and dive trips for all ages and levels. ScubaOutfittersNaples.com • (239) 280-5500 

Super-Close Encounters with Manatees

Get face to face with curious manatees on a gentle Jet Ski tour through the mangroves near Marco Island with long-time favorites, AviWatersports.com • (239) 777-9873 or Captain Ron’s Awesome Everglades Adventures. EvergladesJetskiTours.com •  (239) 259-4084 

Easiest Short Boat Tours

Conservancy of Southwest Florida: A fun 45-minute electric boat cruise along the Gordon River is included in your Nature Center admission. Conservancy.org • (239) 262-0304

Naples Zoo: Primate Expedition Cruise included in zoo admission. Collier residents get in free the first Saturday of each month. NaplesZoo.org • (239) 262-5409

Best Shell-Seekers’ Secret

Kice Island near Marco is accessible by boat only, but several shelling guides can take you there! Find sand dollars, fossil shells and colorful ones among the mangrove roots and sandbars, especially after a summer storm. Check out the popular four-hour tour by FloridaAdventuresandRentals.com • (239) 348-5551

Best Shuttles to Keewaydin Island

Several sightseeing boats stop briefly on the island for beachcombing. To spend a few hours or a whole day, book a shuttle.

The Fun Way from Marco Island: Hop aboard the Hemingway Water Shuttle (yes, they’re related to the Key West Hemingways!) for a picturesque ride through the back bays before drop-off on the beach. Bring your own supplies and picnic or grab eats when the food boats are there. Chairs and umbrellas are available to rent. HemingwayWatershuttle.com • (239) 315-1136

The Luxe Way from Naples: For a pampered experience, Gulf Breeze Charters provides everything from towels and canopy chairs and beach games to souvenir shell bags, kids’ buckets and shovels, and refreshments. Reservations required. NaplesWatershuttle.com • (239) 662-5574

Most Swashbuckling Pirate Cruise

The young and forever young walk the plank into the Pieces of Eight Spanish Galleon at Salty Sam’s Marina, Fort Myers Beach. Get sworn in as a pirate for 90 minutes of hilarity, pirate stories and games, face painting, grog ‘n grub, and pirate treasure to keep. FloridaPirateCruise.com • (239) 765-7272

Airboating Awesomeness: Thrills, Chills, & Decibels

Vroom Vroom! You know you want to! Kids love the speed, the noise from the aircraft or big truck engines and, of course, the close-up alligator sightings. Ear protection is provided. Try Seminole-owned Cory Billie’s (Naples). CbairBoatrides.com • (239) 389-7433, or EvergladesCity-AirboatTours.com • (239) 695-2400

Most Fun Kayak Lessons

Learn from paddling pro Mike Devlin with private customized instruction and tours in the protected backwaters of the Paradise Coast Blueway. From newbies to lifelong kayakers, everyone has something to learn from the paddler whose credentials include the Diana Nyad Xtreme Dream Team. ParadiseCoastKayakTours.com • (239) 450-2455

Picture-perfect Paddling

Ten Thousand Islands: Glide beneath the twisty, eerily beautiful mangrove tunnels near Everglades City. ShurrAdventures.com • (239) 300-3004

Bonita Springs: Launch from Riverside Park to time travel back centuries into Old Florida. The Estero River is part of the Great Calusa Blueway. CGTKayaks.com • (239) 221-8218

Collier-Seminole State Park: Meander along the shallow, tannin-rich Blackwater River, one of America’s cleanest rivers. Its sandy banks make great picnic spots. ForidaStateParks.org

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Reserve: Paddle through the mudflats with local biologists at Rising Tide Explorers. RisingTideFL.com • (239) 734-3231  

Easiest Kayaking in the Wild

On a boat assisted kayak eco-tour, the boat transports up to six guests of all skill and endurance levels to paddle and go beach combing among tiny uninhabited mangrove islands in the Everglades. MarcoIsland-BoatTours.com • (239) 695-0000

Beyond-Breathtaking Bird Rookery

Smallwood Store’s Sunset Boat Tour takes you into Chokoloskee Bay, where hundreds of great blue herons, ibis, cormorants, roseate spoonbills, and more descend to roost for the night. SmallwoodStoreBoatTour.com • (239) 695-0016

Seriously Cool Ways to Catch the Big One

Capt. Jake Brossard has been chasing sharks since watching Jaws at age 10, and he knows where they live. Kids love him. SharkChaserCharters.com • (239) 777-9279

Naples native Capt. Mike and crew at Ms. B Haven Fishing Charters always earn five stars. FishInNaples.com • (239) 642-1111

Love those deep-sea fishing charter boats? The 40-foot Alabama, with shaded deck and restroom, is where a third generation of locals still take their out- of-town guests. Naples-Fishing.com • (239) 263-3317

Perfect Parasailing

It may look daredevilish from the land, but on a calm day it’s like drifting through Heaven. You only get wet if you choose to. When the sun is high, it’s so clear you may spot a mama sea turtle or giant fish swimming near shore.

ParadiseParasail.com: Its iconic yellow smiley faces have been flying over Fort Myers Beach for 40 years. (239) 472-5577

MarcoIslandWatersports.com at JW Marriott Beach Resort

NaplesBeachWatersports.com at The Ritz-Carlton Naples. (239) 642-2359

YoloWatersports.com on Captiva Island. (239) 472-YOLO

Everything Everywhere All at Once

However you like to play on the water — Jet skis, dolphin tours, deep-sea fishing, sightseeing aboard the iconic Double Sunshine (or more), Pure Florida has you covered! There’s even a monthly three-hour sail aboard the MV Edison Explorer with your best fur-buddy. Summer Bark on the Ark dates: June 8, July 13, August 10, and Sept 14. Visit the Pure Florida hut at Tin City. PureFl.com • (239) 263-4949

Best Spot to Watch the Kiteboarders

The pros and practically-pros gather on the beaches north and south of the Naples Pier, whenever the wind is up, especially 4th Ave S. Visit NaplesPaddleboard.com • (239) 601-2700

Best Excursion for Key Lime Pie and Cheeseburgers in Paradise 

Take the double decker Lady Chadwick for a lunch cruise from Captiva Island to Cabbage Key with a pod of resident dolphins cavorting in your wake. Cruise, have lunch, walk the trail, climb the water tower, cruise back. Perfect! CaptivaCruises.com • (239) 472-5300

Coolest Catamaran tours: Huge, Tiny, and In-between

The Huge: The 53-foot Sweet Liberty, moored at Naples City Dock, is the region’s largest and most famous sightseeing catamaran. Fun narratives, covered cabin benches, snack bar and restrooms on board. Its baby sister, the new 23-foot Sweet Tiki, takes up to six passengers to Keewaydin. SweetLiberty.com • (239) 793-3525

The Tiny: Two-person CraigCat Tours. With 30 HP motors, they look like kid toys but zoom like a boss. BackwaterAdventure.com, (239) 293-9004. For families with kids aged 2 and up, check out the Lil’ Beans pontoon at CoolBeansCruises.com, (239) 277-0020.

The In-Between: The 45-foot motor powered catamaran Calusa Spirit is a family favorite. It departs directly from the beachfront at two Marco Island locations. MarcoIslandWatersports.com  • (239) 263-2359

Best All-day Everglades Eco-safari

Everglades Day Safari picks up guests in a colorful tour van at local hotels and pickup points between Fort Myers and Naples for a taste of everything Everglades: nature walk, airboating through a sawgrass prairie, scenic cruise, and a delicious southern lunch. EcoSafari.com • (239) 472-1559

Coolest Way to Earn Your Dolphin Researcher Badge

Join the DolphinExplorer’s official research crew for a three-hour expedition to identify and catalog dolphin activity and habits in estuaries around Marco Island. Look for mamas and babies, and if you discover a new one, you get to name it. Dolphin-Study.com • (239) 642-6899

Best Luxury Yacht for a Birthday Party

Bring your own cake and party favors or book the whole 105-foot Naples Princess and have it catered. Kids (and grownups) can help the captain steer. Perfect for multi-generational family reunions too. NaplesPrincessCruises.com  • (239) 649-2275

And a Great Way to Keep Going!

Key West Express: Take the 3.5-hour jet-powered catamaran from Fort Myers Beach for a full day round trip or overnight in the “Conch Republic.” KeyWestExpress.net • (239) 463-5733

Our Travel Editor, Karen T. Bartlett, scours the globe for interesting and unique experiences to share with our readers. Her work has been published in scores of magazines and tourism guides in several countries. She’s the author/photographer of a dozen destination books and is the publisher of the “Mostly Kids’ Guides” family guidebook series (KarenTBartlett.com). 

The post 39 Great Ways to Play On The Water This Summer appeared first on SWFL Family.

Martin the Mouse books

by Richard Ballo

Naples resident Martin Ballo’s latest book, Martin the Mouse in a Green House, is due this summer. The book includes illustrations and descriptions of various plants, from ground cover to trees so parents can help their children identify the greenery. He also wrote Martin the Mouse in the Firehouse along with Martin the Mouse in a Haunted House, Martin the Mouse in Santa’s House, and Martin the Mouse in the White House. Martin the Mouse books are available at www.richardballo.com and Amazon.com.

Dave Asks Permission

by Joy Good

Estero resident Joy Good took a story about her granddog and turned it into a picture book. The book is a true story about Dave, the dog, taking a cookie off the counter and asking permission to eat it. The tale teaches kids about integrity. The book, published in October 2023, is the first in a series of Dave books. Find it at joygood.net and Amazon.com.

Gilbert’s Migration Vacation

by Susan Levine

Naples resident Susan Levine creates picture books that fascinate all ages. Her newest one, published in July 2023, features the story of Gilbert as he migrates from Canada to Marco Island. While little ones love his adventures, older kids and parents will be entertained and educated by the wealth of shorebird facts that line the margins of this book. Find the book at www.susanlevinebooks.com and Amazon.com.

Lexi Lop and the Best Bunny Facts Ever

by Andrea Stetson

In this book, published in March 2024, Lexi is about to become a big sister, so she wants to learn all about baby bunnies. Readers start a journey with Lexi to discover some amazing facts about her furry family. Also check out Lexi Lop and the Best Library Book Ever, Lexi Lop and the Best Egg Hunt Ever and Lexi Lop and the Last Day of School.

The books are available at LexiLop.com (use coupon code FriendsOfLexi for a discount) and Amazon.com.

Wrigley at the White House

by Karna Small Bodman

Karna Small Bodman, a Port Royal resident, was deputy press secretary and the highest-ranking woman on the Reagan White House staff. Bodman writes about four-year-old twins who live in the White House and get a puppy for their birthday. The story follows the funny antics of this pup as he creates havoc in the nation’s capital while also solving a mystery for the president. Published in March 2023, this is the first in a series of Wrigley Books. Find the book at www.karnabodman.com  and Amazon.com.

A (mostly) Kids’ Guide to Naples, Marco Island, and The Everglades

by Karen Bartlett

When Karen Bartlett of Naples set out to create a guidebook, she made it timeless. Instead of prices and outdated times before it was even published, Bartlett filled her book with fun facts and illustrations. It’s a road map to regional discovery for the entire family. Get the book at www.mostlykidsguides.com, Amazon.com, and local gift shops. 

Ollie Finds a New Home

by Roseanne Pawelec

Marco Island resident Roseanne Pawelec was so fascinated by burrowing owls that she wrote a picture book about them in 2015.

The story features an owl named Ollie who must find a new home with his family. It showcases the little owl’s fears of moving and the friendships that help make the adjustment easier.

Get the book at Amazon.com and Marco Island bookshops.

Poppy the Awesome Opossum and the Book of Runes

by Julie LeBriton

Julie LeBriton of Naples wanted her books to be fun, adventurous, and educational. In the first book of a planned trilogy, Poppy the Awesome Opossum is starting to question what life is about. This book combines the quest adventure with knowledge about runes and Norse mythology. Get the book at www.julielebriton.com and Amazon.com.

N is for Naples

by Lisa Trebilcock

This alphabet book features everything Naples from A is for Alligator to Z is for Zzz at the end of a long day in paradise, and every letter in between. Even the letter Q didn’t stump this author. The rhyming picture book, published in 2012, introduces children to the nuances of Naples. Get the book at Amazon.com.

Toofer & The Giblet

by Paulette LeBlanc

The Toofer & The Giblet series was created by Pine Island author Paulette LeBlanc and Ukrainian artist Dmitry Morozov. At the heart of the series is a deep friendship, revealed through the innocence and wisdom of its characters. Available at www.tooferandthegiblet.com or www.dragonhorsepublishing.com.

Additional Content:

Top Playgrounds With Shade in Collier and Lee Counties

Free Indoor Summer Fun in Southwest Florida

The post Engaging Picture Books by Local SWFL Authors for Summer appeared first on SWFL Family.

Here are some tips you and your family can do to survive the Florida summers when planning to be outdoors safely. 

Shade

• Pick areas with shade or tree coverage to play
• It’s especially important between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the UV Index is the highest

Sunscreen

• Know how to find the best sunscreens by looking for these key words and ingredients.
• SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 or higher
• Broad Spectrum (has ingredients that effectively protect against both UVA and UVB rays)
• Water-resistant (look for resistance ratings of 80+ minutes)
• Physical blockers reflect UV rays, are better tolerated by sensitive skin, and are more environmentally friendly. Look for the active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide

Apply sunscreen effectively

• Apply enough sunscreen to ensure adequate coverage. An adult should be using 1 to 2 oz of sunscreen to cover their body
• Apply 15 min before sun exposure
• Don’t forget lips, ears, and scalps (especially where the hair parts or swirls)
• Water does not effectively block UV rays. Apply water-resistant sunscreen even if you plan on being submerged in water most of the time
• Reapply sunscreen every 1 to 2 hours, especially when swimming or sweating
• Apply even when cloudy or overcast. Up to 80% of UVB rays penetrate cloud coverage
• Children under six months should be kept out of the sun or use physical barriers to cover their sensitive skin. After six months old, you can apply sunscreen to any exposed skin. Protective hats and clothing are still highly recommended

Cover Up

• Many fabrics offer high-tech protection and breathability
• UPF (ultraviolet protective factor) shirts, buffs, and wide-brim hats provide sun protection that doesn’t wear off with water or sweating
• Don’t forget sunglasses

Bobbi Georgia Brady, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist at The Woodruff Institute. www.thewoodruffinstitute.com

TikTok preteen and teen skincare trend: A Naples dermatologist take on the damage to kids’ skin

ER, Urgent Care, or Pediatrician? How to know where to go for evaluation and treatment

The post A Doctor’s Skin Safety Guide for Florida Summers appeared first on SWFL Family.

Every hour, every day, more than 40 people lose their lives to drowning; 372,000 people drown each year, with those under five years old at the most significant risk, according to the World Health Organization. Globally, over half of all drowning deaths are under 25 years old.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about eleven people a day die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of accidental injury death in the United States.

The NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition recognizes that multiple layers of protection are necessary to prevent drowning. No single device or solution can prevent a child from drowning. Parents, caregivers, aquatic facility owners and managers, and operators should use layers of protection to provide a system of increased security to prevent unauthorized access to water, especially with children. This means that multiple strategies or devices are used constantly and simultaneously.

Drowning happens to the BEST PARENTS and the BEST PEOPLE.

Layers of protection and prevention include various barriers, including supervision, fences, pool covers, alarms, education, etc. Some layers aid in preventing access to the water, such as fences or pool safety covers. Other layers, such as alarms, will alert adults immediately if the barriers have been crossed. Finally, some layers minimize injury should a child gain access to the water, such as swim instruction, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, proper rescue techniques, and knowledge of CPR.

Four layers of protection to help prevent downing

• Supervise

Never take your eyes off children in and around any body of water. There is no substitute for active supervision! Actively supervise children in and around water, giving them your undivided attention. When several adults are present and children are swimming, use the Water Watcher card strategy, which designates an adult as the Water Watcher for a certain amount of time (such as 15-minute periods) to prevent lapses in supervision. If your child is missing, check nearby pools and other water areas first.

• Use Barriers

Fences, self-closing or self-latching gates, and secured doors with alarms can prevent young children from wandering into the pool, canal, lake or pond undetected. Check for broken or missing drain covers. Collier County residents can get free door or window alarms at www.floridadrowningpreventionfoundation.com/resources. These free alarms are possible thanks to a generous donation from the Kiwanis Club of Greater Collier.

• Learn to Swim

To stay safer in the water, all family members should learn to swim well. Teach children NEVER to swim alone; an ADULT MUST watch them in the pool/canal/lake. Young children and inexperienced swimmers need to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. NEVER leave a child alone around water. Remember, no one is drown-proof, no matter how well they swim. The American Association of Pediatrics says children can safely take swim lessons as early as age 1. The Coalition has life jackets available at 15 Life Jacket Loaner Stations at public access beaches.

• Know How to Respond

Get training in basic water rescue skills, first aid, and CPR. Make sure rescue equipment and a phone are by the pool.

The Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation offers scholarships for swim lessons to all age groups in the state. Visit floridadrowningpreventionfoundation.com/swim-scholarships.

The Water Smart Collier website has many resources for water safety, including locations for swim lessons and where parents/caregivers can get CPR certified. For more info, visit www.watersmartcollier.com.

The post Drowning is the Silent Killer: Keep Kids Safe in Water appeared first on SWFL Family.

Kids Bowl Free

Kids can bowl free during the summer at local alleys. Register your kids, and they will get two free bowling games every weekday. Bowling centers designed this program to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, fun way for kids to spend time each summer. Bowland Beacon and HeadPinz Naples, along with HeadPinz Fort Myers, are participating in Naples. If parents want to join their children, they can purchase a summer family pass starting at $34.95.

Multiple locations.

www.kidsbowlfree.com

Kids Skate Free

At Spinz Skating and Entertainment, children 12 years and younger can skate for free twice a week all summer. Parents sign up for the Kids Skate Free Club, a yearly membership of just $4.99, using the MyHownd app. Bring your skates or rent them for $5.

2095 Andrea Lane, Fort Myers • www.spinzskates.com

Public Library Summer Programs

Collier County and Lee County Public Libraries offer free summer programs for children, teens, and adults. This year’s summer theme is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.”

The Collier County Public Library program runs from June 1 to the end of July. Every time a participant reads five books, they receive a small prize and are entered to win a big prize at the end of the summer. Adults can win zoo or botanical garden memberships. Kids can win LEGO sets, lava lamps, and more.

The branches will have special adventure programs throughout the summer, including jugglers, wildlife animals, clowns, a petting zoo, magic shows, and more. There will also be weekly storytimes for younger children.

www.collierlibrary.org

Lee County Library System’s summer program runs June 3 to August 3. The program includes weekly storytimes, STEAM offerings, and movie and book clubs. Children can track their reading minutes and register on the READsquared app to earn badges and prizes.

www.leegov.com/library/summer-reading-program

Collier Museums

All five of Collier County’s museums are free, but only four are open. The Naples Depot Museum has been closed since Hurricane Ian and is expected to reopen in 2025. The four that are open give visitors a close-up and sometimes immersive look at the past. Elaina Gyure, curator of education, says there is a lot for children to enjoy.

www.colliermuseums.com

• Collier Museum at Government Center

Kids can climb aboard a real steam engine, plus there is a giant replica of a fort, fossils, historic artifacts, and lots of taxidermy. Visitors can view ancient tools and ceremonial masks while learning facts about the Calusa Indian civilization. There are also crafts and information about the Seminole Indians and the pioneers who settled here when it was an isolated frontier town.

3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples

(239) 252-8476

• Marco Island’s Historical Museum

It is best known for the Key Marco Cat, but children flock to the Calusa village. Drums are beating as guests walk in to explore this village replica. Visitors also enjoy sitting on the porch of a replica of a Florida cracker house and watching projections of fish and water going by.

180 South Heathwood Drive, Marco Island • (239) 252-1440

• The Museum of the Everglades

The museum is located in a historic building that once was the laundry area for the Rod & Gun Club. Visitors are greeted by a replica of a red-coated patrol officer that rode a Harley Davidson to keep order in the area long before Florida Highway Patrol existed. This summer, the museum showcases artwork from children at the Everglades School in a special exhibit. Additionally, it offers videos depicting the town’s history as the government seat of Collier County and its popularity as a vacation destination for the rich and famous.

105 West Broadway Avenue, Everglades City

(239) 252-5026

• The Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch

The museum is located in the 1926 home of cattleman Robert Roberts after he moved to Immokalee in 1914. Visitors can explore a hands-on garden where children learn about life long ago, see the stable, old farm equipment and much more.

1215 Roberts Ave W, Immokalee • (239) 252-2611

Children can participate in the Schools Out Museums Are In summer program that runs June 1 to August 10. Visit each of the four places for a free take home activity tailored to each museum and the history it covers.

(Almost Free) Kids Summer Movies

• Kids Summer Movies at Paragon Theaters

The movies are not free, but they are pretty cheap. The 10 a.m. movies every Tuesday through Thursday are just $2.

This summer’s movies include:

• Minions: The Rise of Gru (6/11–6/13)
• Paddington 2  (6/18–6/20)
• Despicable Me 3  (6/25–6/27)
• Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (7/2–7/4)
• Migration  (7/9–7/11)
• Trolls Band Together (7/16–7/18)
• Spider-Man Across The Spider Verse (7/23–7/25) 
• Secret Life of Pets 2 (7/30–8/1)

833 Vanderbilt Beach Rd, Naples • 239-920-2577

www.paragontheaters.com

 • AMC Summer Movie Camp For Kids

From June 24 to August 14, see a $3 summer movie every Monday and Wednesday at AMC Merchants Crossing 16.

The movies include:

• Minions: The Rise of Gru (6/24 and 6/26)
• The Lorax (7/1 and 7/3)
• Sing (7/8 and 7/10)
• Sing 2 (7/5 and 7/17)
• The Secret Life of Pets (7/22 and 7/24)
• Migration (7/29 and 7/31)
• Despicable Me 2 (8/5 and 8/7)

15201 N. Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers • 239-995-9303

www.amctheatres.com/amc-scene/summer-movie-camp-for-kids

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