Children love to go boating. One great way to build their understanding of safe boating practices and procedures is to give them lessons. Estero River Outfitters offers lessons and tours for kayaking and standup paddleboarding (SUP). “Students learn/practice basic paddling strokes and safety topics to consider such as weather, wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), not paddling alone, and entry/reentry of your paddle craft,” says operations manager Kristen Stuller. Estero River Outfitters offers kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and roof racks for demo, rental, and purchase. Also onsite is fishing equipment, bait, and licensing.   

Fort Myers-based Offshore Sailing School offers family sailing packages at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva and Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach. These include the Tweens & Teens Learn Free package, where up to three children ages 7-17 learn for free with two adults. This three-day course is part of a five-night resort vacation package. 

Ann Marie O’Phelan is a Southwest Florida resident and a regular contributor to TOTI Media.