A Sampling of Summer Fun on Sanibel

The crowds are gone.

The Gulf is warm.

The prices are down.

There are many reasons to visit Sanibel in summer, and paramount among them are the number of great things to do on Island during June, July and August.

Of course the usual fare is still available. You can swim and sun and collect shells, bird watch, boat and bike to your heart's content. And there are also some wonderfully entertaining and educational ways to spend your and your family's time as well.

Summer "camp" at the Sanibel Sea School promises to offer hoots, hollers and cheers with their menu of offerings. Frogfish Week begins on May 28. And if you were wondering, here is a brief description of a frogfish which is the object of study: "Its body is lumpy and can change colors to match its surroundings. Although it is a fish, it walks around the bottom slowly on its pectoral fins." There is also Dolphin Week, Shrimp Week, Manatee Week and several others to bring a smile of delight to the whole family.


And speaking of camps and an abundance of activity, rarely is there a dull moment at the Sanibel Recreation Center.


The Sanibel Recreation Department “Summer Day Camp” is a traditional ten week day camp which will run from Tuesday, May 29th through Friday, August 3rd. Summer Camp is offered to children entering grades first through eighth and will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all days except Wednesday, July 4th. Campers will participate in activities such as swimming, arts and crafts and athletics, as well as, a variety of games. Special guests along with an enhanced field trip itinerary will also be a part of the action.


Last but not least, with support from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS), the refuge is offering five free education programs this year. No pre-registration is necessary:

Reading at the Refuge, every Monday and Friday at 11 a.m. in the Education Lab: Attendees of each 45-minute reading-and-crafts session will receive a free Nature Journal (one to each child) in which to record their impressions of their refuge visit and future nature encounters.

Indigo Trail Hike, every Tuesday at 10 a.m.: Join refuge naturalists as they lead a one-hour tour identifying and discussing the ecosystem’s plants, animals, birds, and reptiles - fun for adults and children alike. Bring water and bug spray. Meet at the flagpole in front of the Education Center.

Refuge Caravan Tour, every Wednesday and Saturday at 9:30 a.m.: Ride along on a car caravan tour of the refuge’s Wildlife Drive. This 90-minute tour highlights the natural wonders of the unique mangrove ecosystem and the wildlife that call it home. Meet at the flagpole in front of the Education Center.

NEW!! Natural Wonders, every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 1 p.m.: What makes a bird a bird? Why is a manatee called a sea cow? Is it a crocodile or alligator? Find the answers to these questions and more as you join a naturalist in exploring the refuge’s unique ecosystem. Geared for adults and children, this 30-minute program meets in the Education Center Lab.

Family Beach Walk, every Thursday at 9 a.m.: Back by popular demand and in partnership with the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, the program convenes at Gulfside Park for a one-hour exploration of the refuge’s gulf-front Perry Tract. (City parking fees apply.)