Captiva children's activities should include the beach because it's free, and kids almost always enjoy it. Go to Turner Beach to build a sand castle or to fish, but don't try to swim as the currents are swift and strong. Choose Captiva Beach for playing in the sand, shelling and enjoying the water. Captiva Island, like many islands, is actually composed of shells, and its east-to-west position means that it accumulates more shells than most other islands in the Gulf. All children need is a scoop, a net bag or bucket, and they might find almost intact conch, cockle, scallops, coquina and other types of shells. Best shelling times are low tide and after storms. Children might also enjoy visiting the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on neighboring Sanibel Island.
Sanibel Sea School on Captiva gives lessons in sea life to children ages 6 to 13 years old. Class size ranges from 24 to 30 students, who are divided into groups of 10. A supervising instructor, interns and volunteers lead morning and afternoon sessions with a different lesson taught in each session. Lesson topics can include ghost and hermit crabs, local fish, oysters, barnacles and bivalves. Children will participate in hands-on lessons as they search for manatees, learn to surf and snorkel, and touch marine life. Students receive a certificate of mastery at the end of sea school.
The entire family can enjoy taking a cruise into the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound. Children will especially enjoy seeing dolphins, manatee and other marine life swimming in local waters. Passengers are also likely to see many varieties of birds along the way. Charter boat companies on Captiva such as Captiva Cruises offer dolphin-watching cruises that include narration to educate passengers about local marine life, birds and islands. Other types of cruises children might enjoy include astronomy cruises at night to look at the stars and cruises to secluded islands where passengers can go ashore and explore.
South Seas Resort offers entertaining activities and programs for children. Skully's Family Interactive Center has an arcade and a section called Turtle Tots where recreational staff members teach kids how to make project-themed crafts. Parents must be present for craftmaking. Skully's will often offer a kids' night for children 4 to 11 years old. Kids' night includes dinner, games and crafts and is supervised by recreational staff. Skully's features a DJ, dancing and karaoke at Redfish Lounge, which is just for tweens and teens.
