Voluntourism Vacations in Florida

By Jennifer Michaels

Published: April 2, 2008

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I had a nagging feeling. Maybe it was from watching too many images of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie trying to save the world with their kids by their side.  Maybe it was caused by my fear that my kids were getting spoiled because my job includes taking them from theme park to theme park in search of the best family vacation.

But, whatever the cause, I knew I needed to find a Florida family vacation that included something more meaningful than simply logging more hours by the pool.  I found a “cure” for the guilt with a family trip that included cleaning up the beach in Naples, one of Florida’s most beautiful coastlines.

We began our own “voluntourism” experience at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, just after the New Year. My husband and I expected complaints (it’s a battle to get the kids to pick up their rooms, let alone sift through trash on the beach). But surprisingly, we didn’t hear any. In retrospect, I believe the boys’ lack of chagrin was a reflection of how well the resort’s voluntourism program is designed; it’s kid-friendly and Mother Earth approved, constantly engaging children’s sense of wonder and curiosity.

Take the white lab coats, for instance. My sons, ages 6 and 9, started the morning in the Nature’s Wonders program at the resort, learning about sea turtles, starfish and other native Florida species.  To encourage and empower the kids, the program provides starched, white lab coats that seemed to instantly put my boys into an investigative and dutiful frame of mind. My husband even joked later that it was like “CSI” for kids—and I, not so jokingly, suggested we buy a couple of coats for the boys to wear at home.

This learning sanctuary is a passion project for the hotel’s manager, David Rothwell. It includes ten aquariums, including two touch tanks where my family enjoyed holding turtles and starfish. The remaining tanks bring to life the reef and offshore ecosystems, hosting live denizens of the deep including sharks, Florida spiny lobsters and other species.

A certified Master Naturalist, Randy Sarton, whom we called “Ranger Randy,” became a mentor and guide for our beach excursion.   Sarton, a part-time professor, really impressed us with his knowledge. In fact, there wasn’t a question he couldn’t answer. For instance, when the kids asked how one of the tank’s sharks could lay eggs, Sarton explained that while most sharks bear live young (called viviparity), others do lay eggs. (Now, there’s a good Scrabble word: “Viviporous.”)

With the whole family now thoroughly captivated, Ranger Randy led us out to the beach. He held up a plastic bag and asked the kids, “What does this look like?” as he squeezed the top and filled the bottom with air.

“A jellyfish!” shouted Brandon, my 6-year-old.

“Exactly. And what would happen to a sea turtle if it tried to eat this bag, thinking it was a jellyfish?” Sarton asked.

The kids replied, “The turtle would choke and die.”

So, in that thought-provoking moment, my kids were able to answer their own questions as to why we were cleaning up the beach. It wasn’t just for beautification, but to help the sea creatures and the environment.

The boys were then set loose on the beach to start their cleanup. Sibling rivalry has its advantages, it turns out. My kids were very excited to compete to see who could get more trash in their bags. Beneath the white sand, lots of trash rested beneath the surface. Our goal on that windy day was to grab as much as we could before it was blown away and washed out to sea.

While the boys scoured the powdery white sand, I decided to have them search for some “treasures” while they were at it. Along with the trash, they also picked up some shells and seaweed to bring back to Nature’s Wonders’ special lab filled with microscopes, slides and Petri dishes. 

In our experience, Nature’s Wonders successfully lived up to its claim of “promoting awareness and respect of Florida’s natural beauty and environment, while also providing an understanding of how to live more sustainably.” The program hosts eco-friendly activities, including nature walks and a two-hour Eco-Sail through the mangrove islands to view sea turtles and manatees native to the area.  

With names like “Marine Encounter,” “Predators of the Sea,” “A Bug’s Life” and “Budding Botanist,” the programs piqued my boys’ interests so much they said they would rather go to Nature’s Wonders than the arcade.

“We are always looking for ways to enhance the guest experience, especially with more travelers embarking on educational trips where they can learn about the indigenous environment of the destination,” said Rothwell. “We live in a very unique place and it’s important for our guests to know more about this aspect of Naples.”

After our clean up and science lesson, Sarton drove us to the Southwest Conservancy of Naples to learn more about Florida’s wildlife.

In addition to the viewing sea turtles, reptiles and birds, the Conservancy’s volunteers offer guests a chance to take a boat ride through the mangroves.  

The boys became “Junior Captains” for the day and steered us down the Gordon River as we all took in the sights and sounds.

At the end of the day, we headed back to the resort and sat down to watch the sunset over the beach. We felt as if we had “earned” our spot to relax.  Giving back comes with its own rewards, both personal and real.

Take, for example, the fact that guests who join the Ritz-Carlton Community Footprints Give Back Getaway and help build homes for Habitat of Humanity of Collier County, are invited for a complimentary visit to the Spa to soothe their muscles in the aqua lounges.

The Sunshine State has joined a national bandwagon of “Voluntourism” vacations. Trying to sustain the Florida ecosystem and tropical surroundings has become a priority for a number of Florida’s hotels and resorts. While doing so, many are giving individual and family travelers just what they want: a chance to pitch in and do some good while on vacation.  

Statistics have shown that the trend is taking hold on the nation. Travelocity’s annual travel forecast poll recently found that 38 percent of respondents are likely to take volunteer vacations in 2008, whether that is an entirely charitable trip or extending a vacation to include volunteer activities. 

At the Ritz-Carlton, the hotel’s manager occasionally invites guests to join him, his family and his staff on many types of charitable outings, including building homes for Habitat for Humanity and participating in beach clean-ups such as the one we did.

If you choose to make a voluntourism trip out of your next Florida vacation, here are a few other ideas:

• Marco Island Beach Resort - “Volun-tours” can lend a hand at the local YMCA of Marco Island with landscaping or beautification efforts. Charitable vacationers at Marco Island Beach Resort will receive a 15% discount at the spa to soothe sore muscles. For information, visit www.marcoislandmarriott.com.

• Miami’s Doral Golf Resort & Spa - Guests can take part in a morning beach clean-up at the Biscayne Nature Center or sign up for mural painting with Hands on Miami. As a thank you, volun-tours at Miami's Doral Golf Resort & Spa will receive a complimentary breakfast to refuel. For information, visit www.doralresort.com.

• Island Grand Resort and the Sandpiper Suites – Located along the Gulf of Mexico on the island of St. Pete Beach, the Island Grand often commits 120 guest rooms during the holidays to benefit The Children's Home, a home to those who won’t be sharing the holidays with families of their own. Guests who stay at the TradeWinds Island Resorts to share special family time during the Christmas holiday season stay free for one night with a donation of $50 or more to The Children’s Home. Donations must be made directly at the resort upon check-in. Program details may change from year to year. For information, visit www.tradewindsresort.com.

From coast to coast, Florida offers a variety of choices for families to get together on their vacations and give back to the communities that they visit. We are proof that you don’t have to be a Hollywood family to give back on vacation, just willing participants with a sense of social responsibility and a wish to make this a better place for the next family that visits Florida.

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