Pure Florida invites the Southwest Florida community to join in supporting the school districts of Lee and Collier counties by hosting Cruise for Kids Jan. 15-17 at its Fort Myers location and Jan. 22-24 at its Naples location, with cruises setting sail at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and sunset cruises departing one hour before sunset. Cruise for Kids at its Fort Myers location will benefit The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools and its Naples location will support Champions for Learning™, the education foundation in Collier County. During each location’s Cruise for Kids weekend, Pure Florida will donate a portion of the proceeds from any of Pure Florida’s cruises or activities to the foundations to fund tools and resources for teachers and students.
“As another school semester commences, Pure Florida understands that budgets can be limiting and that many teachers are pulling from their own pockets to create a quality learning environment for their students. This is why the Pure Education program at Pure Florida is dedicated to supporting local educators and their students,” said Lance Julian, co-founder of Pure Florida. “The funds raised during Cruise for Kids will support Pure Education’s mission to provide the tools and resources that are essential to creating an exceptional educational experience, and empower teachers and schools to continue making a difference in the lives and futures of Southwest Florida students.”
Pure Florida’s Pure Education program focuses on enhancing educational programming and outreach that teach students about the natural Southwest Florida environment, inspire commitment to preservation efforts and encourage future environmental scientists and marine biologists. Pure Education offers Marine Science Field Trips, which feature a hands-on opportunity for Pre-K – sixth grade students. Marine Science Field Trip options include approximately 1.5-hour and 2-hour educational cruises, sailing from Pure Florida’s Naples and Fort Myers locations. During these cruises, children work in groups to test the quality of local waterways for phosphate, nitrate, pH, salinity, turbidity and other related activities depending on length of cruise and grade level. Schools can also include engineering challenges, such as “Float Your Boat” and “Submersibles” for students to participate in. Marine Science Field Trips are $15 per child and $15 per adult chaperones with free admission for teachers. All programming is coordinated with the Next Generation Florida Sunshine State Science Standards, and curriculum outlines with vocabulary and ideas for additional activities are provided to each teacher.
Pure Florida offers a variety of marine experiences that showcase the natural beauty of Southwest Florida including sightseeing, river and sunset cruises, popular with passengers of all ages. Tours are guided by Coast Guard-certified captains, also master naturalists, highlighting Southwest Florida and the unique wildlife native to this region. In addition to its cruises, Pure Florida offers eco-shelling-dolphin tours, fishing trips and charters, jet boat thrill rides, boat rentals, and Jet Ski rentals and tours. The M/V Double Sunshine departs from the historic Tin City, located at 1200 Fifth Ave. S. in Naples and the M/V Edison Explorer departs from The Marina at Edison Ford, located at 2360 W. First St. in Fort Myers. For more information on Pure Florida and its cruises, visit www.PureFL.com.
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools is a private 501(c)(3) organization established in 1986. Its mission is to enhance and enrich the quality of public education in Lee County for students and educators through programs, resources and experiences made possible through corporate, individual and educational partnerships. For more information on The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, visit www.LeeSchoolFoundation.org.
Champions for Learning™, the education foundation in Collier County, was founded in 1990, and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that makes it possible for our community to impact lives by enriching the environment for learning through educators and directly with students. For more information on Champions for Learning™, visit www.ChampionsForLearning.org.
About Pure Florida
In 2009, father-and-son duo Captains Lance and Harry Julian acquired the Naples-based Double Sunshine and Lady Brett fishing vessel, and have grown the company to include 19 vessels and two locations providing a variety of unique eco-excursions for its visitors that incorporate maritime history, tourism, sightseeing and entertainment. With locations in Naples and Fort Myers, the water attraction company offers sunset and specialty cruises as well as boat and Jet Ski rentals, fishing charters, group events and educational field trips for schools and students. In addition to Pure Florida, the founders are also partners in Marine Team International and Pure Image Productions, providing professional marine consulting, television and video production and photography services. With a long history in maritime productions, Lance and Harry Julian have helped to create some of the most memorable water scenes in film production, with credits including “Titanic” and “Waterworld,” and television credits such as the reality show, “Survivor.” As the fifth and sixth generation working within the maritime industry, Lance and Harry Julian enjoy sharing their passion and expertise with fellow adventurers in the Southwest Florida area. For more information, visit www.PureFL.com or call its Naples location at 239-263-4949 or its Fort Myers location at 239-919-2965.
