Sanibel Sea School holding summer camp
The Sanibel Sea School’s Sea Squirts summer camps for ages 4-6 launched on June 8 at its new location at the Children’s Education Center of the Islands (CECI) on Sanibel.
“This exciting partnership brings together two organizations that share a deep commitment to nature-based education, hands-on learning, and the support of healthy early childhood development,” Director Shannon Rivard said. “We are thrilled to be working alongside CECI to connect our youngest explorers with the wonders of Southwest Florida’s coastal environment.”
During the first week, campers learned about ospreys and their chicks. Sea Squirts immersed themselves in the lives of the remarkable birds through hands-on exploration and imaginative play.
Campers searched for wildlife while netting and exploring, examined bird bones with magnifying glasses, created osprey talon prints in clay, and even spotted an osprey diving for fish. They also tested their engineering skills with nest-building activities and enjoyed games and outdoor adventures.
The Sanibel Sea School noted that CECI has proven to be a perfect home base for its youngest learners. The campus offers opportunities for discovery, including a large outdoor play yard filled with play experiences such as a mud kitchen, slackline, playgrounds, bicycles, swings and even mangroves that children help care for. Multiple indoor classrooms and a screened porch overlooking conservation land provide comfortable spaces for learning, while nature trails surrounding the campus invite exploration.
“The partnership between Sanibel Sea School and CECI feels like a natural fit,” it added. “Both organizations believe children learn best through meaningful experiences in nature, guided by curiosity, creativity and play.”