Summer at the Lagoon

This summer, children and families are invited to experience free, educational fun with Summer at the Lagoon at Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center. Get “Wild About Wildlife” in our award-winning virtual camp, and experience stories come to life with the return of our new and improved Manatee Tales: Adventures with Mia and Friends.

Now in its fifth year, the Wild About Wildlife Virtual Summer Camp program will include week-long virtual camp experiences with half-day morning schedules filled with animal observations, experiments, games, crafts and educational lessons hosted by educators from Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, The Reef Institute and Manatee Lagoon. Camp sessions will feature a mix of live, pre-recorded and do-at-your-own-pace content. Although lessons are geared towards children ages 6 to 9, other ages are welcome to register and participate. The first week will run June 10 – 14 and the second week will be available July 15 – 19.

“Children from all communities can benefit by participating in this unique virtual camp experience,” said Rachel Shanker, Manatee Lagoon’s Conservation & Education Manager. “Each participating organization is committed to teaching the next generation about the importance of conservation for Florida’s wildlife. This program offers a flexible and fun way to engage curious minds during the summer.”

The virtual summer camp is free for families and individuals with a voluntary donation option to support the environmental and educational missions of the organizations that make this program possible. Summer camp organizations can also register to access the camp’s content for $50 per week, including login access for one device.

Another FREE program offered this summer at Manatee Lagoon is Manatee Tales: Adventures with Mia and Friends. Every other Saturday throughout the summer from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., a Manatee Master will guide attendees on a short, kid-friendly tour of Manatee Lagoon, then head into our classroom to read from a selection of books filled with information about various marine life. After the story kids will get the chance to create and take home a craft based on that day’s book. This program will launch our new classroom which has been given an immersive under-sea makeover! To celebrate the launch, we will be giving out a FREE manatee plushie to each child who registers and attends the program during the month of June!

The program is available for children ages 3 and up.

For more information about Summer at the Lagoon and to register for the available programs, check out VisitManateeLagoon.com.