Collier County Parks and Recreation offers a free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program at Immokalee Community Park, which provides more than just the educational basics.
The program, designed to support working families in Immokalee, offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes swimming lessons and various activities.
The program runs from August to May, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is now open, and parents need to provide a birth certificate, physical, and immunization records.
"It's essential, because a lot of parents here in Immokalee, they work both parents, and there's nothing here to do, and the kids are just on the tablets, the phones," said Immokalee resident Estella Perez. "They take them swimming, they do activities with them, and they're occupied. They're not just home on the tablets, TikTok, and all these bad things."
Collier County says that in the VPK program, children show noticeable improvement in handwriting, social skills, math, and overall classroom expectations.
The progress is assessed and recorded every three months, allowing teachers and families to identify each child’s strengths and areas for growth.
Click here for the Collier County Parks and Recreation website to learn more.