New program inspires outdoor family recreation while benefiting tourism businesses in Charlotte County

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Photo via BestSideYourSide.com

The Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau, in collaboration with the Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce, is inspiring outdoor family recreation while providing benefits to local tourism businesses in Charlotte County, through the sale of Englewood Youth Explorers (EYE) On Nature Youth Explorers Club Kid Paks at BestSideYourSide.com.

EYE On Nature is an educational program designed to help families discover natural attractions of the Englewood area.

It was developed by the Englewood Florida Chamber Tourism Assembly and Englewood Community Services Inc. with support from the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau and Visit Sarasota County.

According to Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau, EYE on Nature Youth Explorers Club is a program to introduce children to local wildlife by taking them on a series of rewarding adventures.

Led by the magic turtle guide named Scout, they learn how to help wildlife and become good stewards of the environment. Available for purchase online at BestSideYourSide.com for $25 with $5 donated to Community Organizations Active in a Disaster Florida (COADFL) fund for Charlotte County, each Kid Pak includes:

  • Heavy cotton backpack with EYE On Nature full-color logo
  • Book 1: “The Adventures of Scout: Turtle Tales” (16 pages/color)
  • Two laminated Q&A activity parent guide sheets (one being the answer key)
  • Field Notes journal with pen
  • Metal EYE On Nature medallion
  • Pewter sea turtle pin
  • Clear, paintable plastic turtle ornament

Children will be engaged by the book, “The Adventures of Scout: Turtle Tales,” and excited to experience a series of rewarding outdoor adventures focused on the fourth grade age group, but of interest to all ages.

The book is written by award-winning author and Sarasota resident Lucy Beebe Tobias, and beautifully illustrated by local Englewood writer and illustrator Becky Barbier.

BestSideYourSide.com was created to support local businesses and really bring the community together,” said Wendie Vestfall, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau Director of Tourism. “We’re humbled to see it grow with the addition of the EYE On Nature program, and thrilled to add the educational component for kids that can be used right now for outdoor activities while at the same time serve as an additional contribution toward COADFL.”

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