The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) is Southwest Florida’s first museum devoted for children and families to learn through play. With hands-on exhibit galleries, the accessible museum invites visitors of all ages to journey through the swamps of the Everglades, weave through a maze, climb a two-story banyan tree, or experiment with the water play station. Children can become a weather forecaster, a farmer, a chef, a fisherman, an artist, an architect or a veterinarian; explore the cold of an igloo, the whoosh of the wind, the sound of the sea, the effects of water and the colors of the rainbow. Throughout the day special activities encourage our guests to get involved, try something new and be energized.

When children play, they learn. Whether they are learning to move and control their bodies more smoothly, thinking through a problem at a new level of understanding, using their language skills more effectively, or increasing their abilities to get along with others, children are learning through play.

In providing an environment for play-filled learning, C’mon affirms that play is not merely something to be tolerated in the gaps between eating, sleeping, and periods for formal learning. Play is vitally necessary to a child’s health and full development. While kids are having fun, they are also:

• Using senses to explore
• Developing social skills through cooperation and collaboration
• Stimulating gross motor development
• Using curiosity, imagination and role play to investigate
• Working together toward common goals
• Employing creative decision making
• Using physical activity as a catalyst for problem solving

Children’s museum specialist Mary Sinker, and acclaimed exhibit designer Jack Rouse Associates, conceived each exhibit as a model of three interrelated principles: an appreciation of children’s play behavior, knowledge of how an environment can influence play and learning, and an understanding of children’s developmental milestones. These three core beliefs enabled them to transform the learning landscape so that serious learning looks like play… for those who know how to look.

The exhibits present a well-rounded universe that is rarely experienced by children or, for that matter, the adults in their lives, from the swamps of the Everglades to outer reaches of the galaxy, from the annual change of seasons to a farm to a day at the beach. At the heart of the exhibits is The Banyan Tree, a soaring, two-story banyan tree with cubbies nestled in vertical prop roots, a lookout platform, and crawling branches that lead to the fascinating tree house at the top, inspiring children’s imagination as well as body coordination.

Exhibits were created to meet Florida’s Sunshine State curriculum standards, and all are accessible for individuals with developmental, hearing, physical, social/emotional and visual challenges.

Usage Fees:
Golisano Children’s Museum charges the following admission fees:

C’mon members: FREE – Plan to visit the Museum more than three times this year? Become a C’mon Member!

Children under one: FREE

Children ages 1+: $10.00

Adults: $10.00

Seniors (55+): $10.00

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