Reach Out Everglades operates a free Summer Camp from mid-June to mid-July for children aged 4 through 12. Older students can become "Counselors in Training" and help to take care of the campers. The Everglades City School offers its facilities as a base for the camp.
The Collier County Sheriff's Office visits once a week to give a talk or a special presentation. For example, they provided demonstrations by "McGruff" the traffic dog, a horse from the Mounted Patrol, and a real dog from the K-9 unit.
Each week there is also a special outing. Summer Camp has been to Shark Valley where they learned about Everglades National Park, Jack Shealy's Skunk Ape Research Center where they could observe or handle wild animals, Wannado City at Sawgrass Mills where they tried out different jobs, and the Museum of the Everglades.
Other treats included a boat ride through the Ten Thousand Islands (courtesy of Everglades National Park Boat Tours), a skating & pizza party, and a traditional ice cream social on the last day after they received their certificates and prizes. |