One thing I miss most about Florida is living a stone’s throw away from the beach.  Boca Raton, specifically, has an amazing number of parks and recreation centers to teach kids about nature and conservation efforts.  One of our favorite weekend spots was Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, located across the street from the Atlantic.  Gumbo Limbo is a modest environmental complex, but it’s full of eco-education (ok, and fun too), inside and out.  They have saved many turtles and other fish, housed in large tanks around the center.  Walk through the nature trail, sit in the butterfly garden, watch a shark feeding or browse the eco-friendly gift shop. 

Now is a very special time of year at Gumbo Limbo.  From July through September, GL offers turtle hatchling release evenings for the general public to share (one of only three places in Florida).  It’s an incredible sight to see a group of tiny turtles make their way out to sea.  They tag and track the turtles to see who comes back in 20 years!  Check the calendar to find a class or lecture perfect for your little naturalist!