NAPLES, Florida (October 10, 2022) – The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) has worked to be a resource for children and their families throughout the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. From October 1 to October 7, CMON welcomed over 5,000 visitors free of charge. Coming from every corner of Southwest Florida, visitors have been able to find a bit of respite, air conditioning and power to charge their devices, as well as a sense of normalcy during this difficult time for our community.
A traumatic event like Hurricane Ian can be hard for children to make sense of and process their complex feelings. CMON is partnering with the Emotional Wellness Team and Community Health Partners and has been providing the opportunity to speak with professionals and inviting service animals into the museum additional support. CMON will continue to host Licensed Clinical Social Workers from the Emotional Wellness Team and Community Health Partners on Thursdays through October from 10am-12pm.
CMON also partnered with Just Play by E. Co to host a complimentary therapeutic yoga class for children and their accompanying adults. Participants of this class were encouraged to bring nonperishable food items and toiletries for those impacted by Hurricane Ian.
Jonathan Foerster, CEO, shared that “the mission of Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is to provide an exciting, inspiring environment where children and their families play, learn and dream together. I think we can also say we are a place for children to be themselves, process their feelings, and hopefully start healing their wounds.”
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About the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON)
The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is a brain-building powerhouse and 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, and the effects of gravity. Throughout the day special activities encourage our guests to get involved, try something new and be energized. CMON offers a variety of interactive exhibits providing kids with education, play, learning, science, technology, engineering, inventions, space exploration, art, math, storybooks, creation, building, sensory, and child development.
Contact: Laura Bright
Chief Advancement Officer
Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples
239-260-1604 | lrbright@cmon.org
