Sanibel Sea School Camps and Day Courses

Sanibel Sea School Camps and Day Courses offers hands-on exploration of marine ecosystems through activities such as sunset kayaking experiences, night snorkel outings, and a Teen Fishing Camp that includes fly fishing. The program also runs a Coral Reef Snorkeling Sleepaway Camp in the Keys, a kayaking day camp called “Have Paddle Will Survive,” and private family sessions focused on catching and learning about little critters in the water. In addition, it offers half-day courses that are 3-hour marine science adventures where hands-on exploration meets interactive learning about marine science.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Half-day courses are 3-hour marine science adventures

Sanibel Sea School Camps and Day Courses operates with a mission to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time, and a vision of a world where all people value, understand, and care for the ocean. The organization is dedicated to vibrantly teaching children and adults about marine ecosystems, including animals, people, plants, land, ocean, and weather, and focuses on fostering an intimate connection with the ocean and lifelong stewardship. Its by-laws mandate conducting business in a manner that minimizes environmental impact and maximizes social contributions, and its Code of Ethics includes Benevolence, Social Justice and Equity, Stewardship, Civic Duty, Integrity, Collaboration, Individual Enhancement, and Transparency.

Sanibel Sea School Camps and Day Courses offers customizable, marine biology-based experiences for families, school groups, corporate groups, and more, and provides chances for students to touch, feel, and interact with natural surroundings in small group settings with an emphasis on meaningful experiences. Through its “A Chance to Sea” program, it serves deserving children of Southwest Florida by connecting them to the region’s natural environment, and it also serves a variety of local organizations, teaching underprivileged and at-risk children and teens, including some who live within twenty miles of the ocean and have never seen it. The program has been recognized with Visit Florida’s Silver Flagler Award and holds memberships in the North American Association for Environmental Education, Children & Nature Network, American Camp Association, and Association for Experiential Education, and its Children’s Center has offered programs for nearly a decade.

Parent feedback describes counselors as fun, energetic, encouraging, knowledgeable, and attentive, and notes small groups with counselors who keep kids engaged, busy, and focused on safety. Parents report children developing a new interest in fly fishing through Teen Fishing Camp, enjoying leadership experience as Counselors-in-Training, and highlighting activities such as night snorkel as especially fun. Families also describe private sessions catching and learning about little critters in the water as a wonderful and unique experience for both young children and adults, and note that counselors share many photos from camps and that children come home exhausted and happy.

Last updated June 2, 2026.