EARLY LEARNING CENTER

Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) is a trusted place for children to play, learn and dream. We’re proud of our impact, and we know there’s more we can do to serve our community.

Since CMON opened in 2012, the school-age population in Collier County has increased by 20 percent. The county’s birth rate has grown more than 10% since 2019 and will grow by 30% in the next decade. Despite all these new young residents, we’ve lost more than 22 early learning facilities in the county since the start of the pandemic. There are 17,000 children younger than 5 in the county now, but only about 1,000 slots for high-quality early learning classes.

Our team is excited to serve this rapidly growing community by opening an Early Learning Center (ELC) serving PreK3 and PreK4 students as soon as 2026. CMON’s mission is to inspire a lifelong love of learning and exploration, and the ELC will provide a best-in-class, play-based curriculum for all economic backgrounds.

This will be a one-of-a-kind learning environment for students to develop and to be positioned for success throughout their academic careers. This spring we were lucky to be awarded $1.5 million in capital funding from the State of Florida to jumpstart this project. This will cover approximately 50 percent of the construction and start-up costs for the center.

To learn more about CMON’s Early Learning Center and how you can help build a brighter future for our community, please connect with Jessica Campbell at jcampbell@cmon.org or 239-260-1601.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

We’re building something special for our community. As CMON grows with the addition of a new Early Learning Center and refreshed second-floor exhibits, you may notice temporary changes during your visit. These thoughtful adjustments are designed to ensure families continue to have meaningful experiences throughout the museum. Explore the FAQs below to learn more about what’s changing and how we’re supporting families during this exciting transition.

What’s happening?

Beginning January 22nd and continuing through the completion of our Early Learning Center construction project later this year, the second floor of the museum will be temporarily closed to visitors. We know how meaningful this space is for so many families and we want to reassure you that this change is part of something wonderful we are building for the museum and our community.

Why is this happening?

For several years, CMON has been dreaming, planning, and working toward opening an exceptional Early Learning Center within the museum designed for children ages 3–5. This will be a place that is filled with high-quality early childhood education, joyful exploration, and nurturing support.

Building this new school in approximately 6,000 sq. ft. of what was previously our administrative area and the Inventioneer’s Lab requires significant updates to the internal structure, including the addition of two new fire exits. During construction, we won’t have enough usable exits to safely welcome families onto the second floor.

While the space is closed, we’re also taking the opportunity to refresh and improve parts of the second floor, including expanding the central play area and giving our Adopt-A-Pet Vet Clinic a heartfelt renovation.

How long will this last?

Our goal is to complete the project by September 2026. As with any major construction effort, unexpected delays can happen, but we promise to keep you updated. Your patience, flexibility, and support mean so much to us during this exciting time of growth.

What will change on the first floor?

The heart of your first-floor experience will remain full of joy, play, and connection. To make sure your family has plenty of room to explore, we’ve opened a new play space at the front of the building, in the area that once housed the museum store, and most recently served as classroom and birthday party space. It’s open for play starting today!

Classes and birthday parties will continue as well and will now take place in a classroom at the back of the building until the second floor reopens.

What about the library?

Our library is getting a temporary new home as well! While construction is underway, it will move to the first floor, into the space near the backyard currently housing our Creepy Crawlers exhibit. We’re transforming it into an inviting area with comfortable reading nooks, many of the books from our library, plus puzzles, games, and more. Our goal is to make it a sweet and soothing spot for families to relax and read together.

This move is only for the duration of construction. Once the Early Learning Center is complete and the second floor reopens, the library will return to its home upstairs, refreshed and ready to welcome families back.

What does this mean for my membership?

We understand that these changes mean you won’t be getting the full CMON experience during the construction period and we want to honor the trust and support you show us by being part of our member family. As a thank-you, we are adding an extra three months to every annual membership at no additional cost.

Note: This extension applies only to annual memberships and does not include monthly payment plans.

Are there any other changes?

Yes—and one of them is especially supportive for families who benefit from a calmer environment. Beginning February 4, we will be open on Wednesdays with a new, gentle approach: Exceptional Wednesdays.

From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the museum will offer a lower lights, lower sound, lower stimulation experience similar to our beloved Exceptional Nights, which will conclude on January 27th. This shift gives families who need sensory-friendly options more opportunities to explore, play, and enjoy the museum in a way that feels comfortable.

The museum will remain open to all members and visitors on Wednesdays and everyone can expect a more relaxed and lower impact environment during those hours.