Nature's Wonders

The Nature’s Wonders program provides hands-on, interactive learning and fun in an assortment of nature-themed activities. Sample programs include:

 All about Alligators
Become an expert on these modern day dinosaurs. Find out where to find them, what they eat and how they have survived for so long. Discover the many differences between crocodiles and alligators.


At the Zoo
Revel in the surprising variety of exotic animals The Naples Zoo has to offer on this chaperoned field trip. Stay connected with many things wild by taking a guided boat ride around the monkey islands, viewing exhibits and shows and learning about the importance of conservation.


Back Bay Adventure
Join the captain and a naturalist on a sightseeing adventure of the Back Bay waters. Explore an island beach while searching for shells and other natural treasures. Return to the Nature’s Wonders center to identify and learn more about your finds.


Birds of Prey
Learn about Florida’s native birds of prey and search for them along the coast. Local experts will visit the Nature’s Wonders center and share their knowledge about these beautiful and unique species including the eagle, osprey, hawk and owl.


Butterflies and Blooms
Explore the fascinating world of caterpillars and butterflies and learn the different types and their life cycles. Take a tour of the resort’s butterfly garden and learn how to plant your own. Also, plant flowers on the resort’s grounds and perform lab work with living specimens.


Catamaran Sailing and Hike
Enjoy a sailing lesson aboard a 28-foot catamaran from a certified captain followed by a hike with a naturalist on a tropical, hardwood hammock nature trail. Follow up on this unique experience at the Nature’s Wonders center with lab activities.


Conservation Issues – Saving our Planet
Learn how to make a difference in the future of our planet by protecting species, reducing the threat of global warming and conserving our oceans. This program provides you with the tools you need to make sustainable living choices every day.


It’s Critter Feeding Time
Assist the Nature’s Wonders staff as they feed the many different critters throughout the tanks in the center. Learn about fish, shrimp, crabs and turtles – some of which you can touch – and view different marine environments like reefs, near-shore and estuaries.


Dolphin Watch
Climb aboard for a trip on the Gulf in search of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Learn about these friendly, intelligent mammals of the sea living in the waters right at our beach. Return to the Nature’s Wonders center and view underwater photography of dolphin behavior.


Estuary Adventure
Take a boat ride with the resort’s Naturalist into the estuary, witnessing firsthand all of the elements such as tidal mud flats, oyster bars and the all-important mangrove islands. Sightings may include eagles, ospreys, manatees, dolphins, turtles and more.


Florida’s Famous Reptiles
Alligators, snakes, lizards and turtles, oh my! Learn about the different types of reptiles that inhabit the resorts’ grounds and then spend some time holding and feeding the turtles in the center’s state-of-the-art touch tank. To put new skills to work, guests then venture outside in search of these reptiles in their natural habitat. Find out the truth about these ancient survivors. This is a fun, interactive and informative program for our Junior Rangers.


Manatee Field Trip
Take a narrated boat tour at Manatee World to look for these endangered gentle giants that grace our local waters. Discover their eating habits, parental instincts, the everyday dangers they face and ways to protect them.


Predators of the Sea
Around for approximately 400 million years, fascinating yet feared by most humans, these fish are a very important part of the underwater environment – SHARKS! Learn the habits of these highly intelligent creatures of the sea. We will explore a world unfamiliar to most.


Walk on the Wild Side
Join the resort’s naturalist Ranger Randy for a trip to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Nature Center. This adventure includes hands-on fun at the discovery center where guests can see live Florida reptiles. Pay a special visit to the “hospital” for injured and recovering birds including eagles, hawks and owls, take a guided boat tour of the mangrove-lined Gordon River, and much, much more!

Only at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples will you find the new fun and entertaining,
yet exploratory and educational summer experience for your child during the first ever Nature's Wonders Summer Camp. The atmosphere of the center and the interactive experience will leave your child with summer camp memories they will never forget.

Dates: June 16-20 
             June 23-27
             July 14-18
             July 21-25
             July 28-August 1

Cost  $400 per child plus applicable taxes

Hours of Operation:  Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm
Extended camp hours are available 8-9am and 4-5pm for an additional $20 per hour, per child.

Ages:  Minimum age requirement is 5 years old.
To ensure that the level of programming provided will engage all of our young guests, during certain programs in Nature’s Wonders, children will be separated by age into different groups. Little Rangers: ages 5 through 8, Junior Rangers: Ages 9 and older

Reservations, Drop-off and Pick-up:  Reservations for Nature’s Wonders Summer Camp are required. Please call Leisure Reservations at (239) 598-3300 or extension 6001 from within the hotel. Parents will be required to sign a release before their children participate in the camp. Parents also need to sign their children out at the end of each day.

Meals:  Lunch is included. Snacks and beverages are also available throughout the day.

Daily Programming:
Activities are subject to weather and may change. The program descriptions are general in nature; each program is not solely confined to that description. The programs are supplemented with other activities such as laboratory work, computer time, supervised swim, nature films and crafts.

Monday
• Exploring the Wonderful World of Aquariums – Delve into the world of the deep seas without even getting wet! Follow the Nature’s Wonders counselors on an aquarium tour of our very own Nature’s Wonders center. Learn about fish, shrimp, lobsters, crabs and turtles – some of which you can touch – and view different marine environments like reefs, near-shore and estuaries.

• Backbay Adventure – Join the captain and a naturalist on a sightseeing adventure on the backbay water. Explore an island beach, while searching for shells and other treasures. Return to the Nature’s Wonders center to identify and learn more about your discoveries.

Tuesday
• Marine Encounter – Our attendees assist our naturalists as they beach comb, sieve and seine for fish, crabs, and other beach inhabitants. This popular program increases awareness of the abundant life forms occupying the surf. Bring your swimsuit and have a ball getting wet and being a junior marine biologist. Return to the Nature’s Wonders center to learn more about your finds.

• Tennis Clinic – Pick up a racquet and have fun learning all about this great sport of a lifetime from The Ritz-Carlton Head Tennis Pro.

Wednesday
• It’s Critter Feeding Time – Assist the Nature’s Wonders counselors as they feed the many different critters throughout the tanks in the center. Learn about fish, shrimp, crabs and turtles – some of which you can touch – and view different marine environments like reefs, near-shore and estuaries.

• Butterflies and Blooms – Explore the fascinating world of caterpillars and butterflies and investigate the different types and their life cycles. Take a tour of the resort’s butterfly garden and learn how to plant your own. Also, plant flowers on the resort’s grounds and perform lab work with our living specimens.

• Beach Day Bonanza – Spend the rest of the day on the beach playing games and having fun in the sun! A separate area of beach cabanas and umbrellas will be set up for shade to retreat to throughout the day. Activities may include bocce ball, horse shoes, Frisbee golf, sandcastle contests and kickball to name a few.

Thursday
• Nature Scavenger Hunt – Teams compete to photograph specific critters, plants and trees. For instance, which team can identify the red mangrove among all the mangroves? Or, who can find the gopher tortoise? Learn more about your scavenger hunt finds back in the Nature’s Wonders Center and compare your photos with the other teams.

• Snorkel Lesson – Have fun splashing around in the water and learn to snorkel at the same time! Then use the new snorkeling skills to search for hidden treasures!

Friday
• It’s Critter Feeding Time – Assist the Nature’s Wonders staff as they feed the many different critters throughout the tanks in the center. Learn about fish, shrimp, crabs and turtles – some of which you can touch – and view different marine environments like reefs, near-shore and estuaries.

• Budding Botanist – Designed as an introduction to the flora of Florida, this activity focuses on three specific plants found on the hotel property. We will locate them and explain their importance in the environment. They are the mangrove, sabal palm and sea oats. View many other beautiful plants and flowers we have growing at the resort. Develop a green thumb helping our Nature’s Wonders counselors plant native flowers and trees.

• Dolphin Watch – Climb aboard for a trip on the Gulf in search of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Learn about these friendly, intelligent mammals of the sea living in the waters right at our beach. Return to the Nature’s Wonders center and view underwater photography of dolphin behavior.

Create exceptional memories for your child with a birthday celebration in the new Nature’s Wonders Center, exclusively at The Ritz Carlton, Naples. With an engaging underworld environment, the center and staff provide a fun, interactive and educational experience for your child and their party guests.

Fee:
$50 per child plus applicable taxes and service gratuities
(10 child minimum/25 maximum)
Note: minimum age is 5 years old.

Includes:
• Exclusive two hour party
• Party attendants
• Pizza and beverages
• Choice of one of the following activities: 
    - Treasure hunt 
    - Beach Olympics 
    - Ping pong tournament 
    - Sand castle building contest

Party Enhancements:
• Birthday Cake
• Balloons
• Gift Bags
• Tokens for the arcade
• Face Painting/Balloon Artist
• Helium Balloons
• Karaoke Entertainer/DJ
• Magician
• Guest Speaker from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Topics include: Nails and Scales, The Life Aquatic, Alien Invaders, Critter Scene Investigation, Hoot and Toot and Bird is the Word.

For more information please call Nature’s Wonders at (239) 514-6126.

In addition to our Nature's Wonders program, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples offers junior guests a variety of special services and amenities, including:

Loggerhead Arcade
Stocked with state-of-the-art arcade games and open daily from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Nanny Service
Nannies at The Ritz-Carlton are certified in infant, child and adult CPR as well as basic first aid.

Little Wonders Registration
Your vacation begins with "Little Wonders" registration where children receive their very own working keycard and welcome gift.

Special Holiday Activities
Celebrate in style! Check out our calendar for special events, such as Teddy Bear Tea or Children's Buffet Dinner.

P.O.L.O. Program
We will do everything possible to make your stay more comfortable with our "Protect Our Little Ones" program.

The Ritz Kids® program is available at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples!

Our Ritz Kids program offers a variety of supervised physical and creative activities designed especially for children aged 5-12. Offering full or half-day options, seven days a week, Ritz Kids has something for every child, including:

THE RITZ KIDS DAY CAMP

• Cost: $40 half day; $65 full-day
• Full-day session: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (includes lunch)
• Half-day sessions: 9 a.m – 12 p.m. or 1 – 4 p.m. (includes snack)

Offered daily on a full or half-day basis, children ages 5–12 can experience a variety of stimulating activities. The day may include crafts, games, swimming at the pool, tennis, golf and other exciting adventures.

KIDS NIGHT OUT

• Cost: $50
• Time: 6 – 9 p.m. (includes dinner)

On Friday and Saturday evenings, children can get away for a night of fun and excitement while parents enjoy a quiet dinner.  The night includes a special dinner, movies, and arts and crafts.

CRAFT HOUR

• Cost: $15
• Time: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

On Fridays and Saturdays, get creative! Finger painting, sand art and tie-dye projects are just a few of the crafts offered during the afternoon craft hour.

Bird Walk
Join us for this casual walk along the beach and boardwalks where Nature’s Wonders naturalists introduce you to migrating and resident shore birds, wading birds and song birds.

Fridays at 8:30am
Beach Towel Stand
Complimentary, No Reservations Required

Sea Turtle Walk
Join a Nature’s Wonders naturalist for a one of a kind experience to learn about these magnificent sea creatures and look for turtle nests. This program begins with an informative talk in the Nature’s Wonders center and ends with a guided beach walk.

Saturdays at 5:30pm
Nature’s Wonders
Complimentary, No Reservations Required

Nature Walk
Join a Nature’s Wonders naturalist on a casual stroll of the resort’s boardwalks and beach. search for and talk about some of the most colorful critters found in Southwest Florida including alligators, dolphins, turtles, eagles and other birds. Find out what mangrove swamps have to do with what is on your dinner plate. Learn the story behind a number of interesting plants such as Spanish bayonet, the gumbo limbo tree, the strangler fig, and sea oats.

Sundays at 9 am
Beach Towel Stand
Complimentary, No Reservations Required

Nature’s Wonders Open House
Exclusively at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Nature’s Wonders is a dynamic, interactive and educational program for children and families. All guests are welcome to visit the center during Open House. The Nature’s Wonders center features ten aquariums housing amazing sea life from freshwater turtles to baby alligators, an 11-foot mangrove tree replica and a small lab filled with microscopes.

Daily 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Nature’s Wonders
Complimentary, No Reservations Required

Family Back Bay Kayaking
Bring the family out to paddle on the Cocohatchee River, part of a pristine mangrove estuary, located just five miles from the resort. Your guide will teach you about the importance of this eco-system, while you explore endless waterways and hidden coves filled with wildlife. You will have the opportunity to see a variety of native wading birds such as herons, ibis, osprey, egrets as well as dolphins and other marine life. This 2-hour paddle adventure is ideal for novice and intermediate paddlers who wish to discover more about our dynamic environment.

Saturdays 9 – 11 am
$70 per person
Reservations required. Please phone Leisure Reservations at (239) 514-6001.

Nature’s Wonders Dolphin Encounter
Climb aboard a 28 foot catamaran sailboat with a Nature’s Wonders naturalist for a trip on the Gulf of Mexico in search of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Learn about these friendly, intelligent mammals of the sea living in the waters right at our beach.

Two Hours
$399 (6 guest maximum)
Reservations required. Please phone Leisure Reservations at (239) 514-6001.