The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman Family Activities

For children fascinated by the ocean, its wildlife and ecology, the Ritz-Carlton's Ambassadors of the Environment (AOTE) is a find. The educational program created by Jean-Michael Cousteau, Jacques Cousteau's son, is currently one of just two such resort programs available in the Caribbean or the U.S.

Instead of all-day activities, AOTE offers six of more than 40 themed experiences each day. Three modules are geared for ages 4 to 7 and three target ages 8 to 17. The brochure lists the ages as 8 to 18, but the written material states 8 to 17. The program divides into morning (9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.), afternoon (2 p.m. until 5 p.m.) and evening (6:15 p.m. until 9 p.m.) segments. Parents are encouraged to share these activities with their kids.

Cousteau's series is pure "edu-tainment" learning is fun, made even more so by an array of computers, video microscopes and digital cameras. In addition to experience working with children, the counselors are naturalists with college degrees in ecology, marine sciences or related fields.

The principle that "everything is connected" underlies Cousteau's program and an important tenet is sustainability. Located on the resort side, the Heritage House, AOTE's 2,700-square-foot. center takes a practice-what-you-preach approach. Energy comes from solar panels mounted on the roof, the floor consists of recycled materials and the small store sells purses made from recycled drink cartons. Outside of the Caymanian-style island cottage, kids get up close to gardens, including a tactile, sensory garden, a low maintenance sand garden, and an organic plot nourished by compost created from restaurant leftovers.

The diverse activities and hands-on approach keep kids engaged. In Fun With the Sun, young children create solar prints and eat cookies they've baked in a solar oven. In the Sea Turtles Discovery Lab, kids, after finding out about these age-old creatures, create crafts, walk on the beach pointing out trash that causes these critters to get sick and then via satellite track "Murph" a tagged green sea turtle. In addition, youngsters can splash like a turtle in the outdoor kiddie pool adjacent to the Heritage House.

In the Mangrove Kayak Adventure, ages 8 and older discover the importance of these estuaries by paddling through them. In Starry Nights kids peer at the skies through a telescope. On the Stingray City outing, kids take a boat to the sandbar to meet the stingrays. Although wild, these sea creatures with three to five-foot wing spans have become somewhat acclimated to people.

To go on our Reef Survey Snorkel, we walk a few minutes from the resort along Seven Mile beach to the entry point for Governor's Reef, named for its location fronting the Governor's house. The reef, easily accessed by a short swim from shore, shows the effects of popularity; much of the coral is dead or dying and fish don't teem in schools. Kids note the state of the reef as part of the survey.

Despite the mediocre health of the reef, we do see a good deal, snapping photos with the underwater camera Taya, our guide, lends us. She tells us about the critters we see-- French grunts, blue tangs, Trunk fish, sergeant majors as well as a five foot barracuda hovering nearby. Not to" worry," Taya tells us. (We forget why as we swim quickly away).

Taya also points out such hard to spot critters as a spiny Caribbean lobster and a flamingo tongue snail. Later on Taya gives us a CD of our underwater adventure complete with photos of us as well as of the images we took of the reef -- a nice touch.
Rates for the AOTE segments range from around U.S.$60- U.S.$ 120 per person. (rates for summer may go higher.)

In addition to the Ambassadors of the Environment program, kids at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman enjoy such classic beach resort fun as building sandcastles and swimming in the ocean and in the pools. Both the resort pool and the ocean side pool are nice, but nothing special. No waterfalls, slides, geysers or special areas entice kids.

The chaise lounges on the beach are set close together. Beach umbrellas are free, available on a first-come basis, a nice touch for those with babies or fair skin. The only kiddie pool, however, is located adjacent to the Heritage House. Resort guest can use the kiddie pool when AOTE programs are not operating.

The AOTE program is one of the prime reasons for families to come to this resort. Sharing an AOTE experience is a great way for families to explore sea life.

Also fun are the family-friendly, outdoor movies shown every evening in Periwinkle Park, a sandy patch nearby Periwinkle, the resort side pool eatery. Sit back in your lounge chair, cuddle up in a shawl, grab some popcorn and enjoy "Shrek," "Home Alone" and other family fare.

Golfers can swing through the Ritz's nine-hole Blue Tip course designed by Greg Norman. Year-round, kids 15-years old and younger play for free after 4 p.m. as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult. This lessens the cost of teaching your teens the game. During select seasons, the resort also offers junior golf clinics.

On the "Great Lawn," a green stretch on the resort side, the Ritz-Carlton sometimes sets up a volleyball net. Families can also rent a private session on the 20-foot, rock climbing wall located near the Heritage House.

The hotel's tennis center is operated by Nick Bollettieri's company. Although the resort does not at this time offer special clinics or programs, parents could always book private lesson for the budding stars.

Vacationers come to Grand Cayman for its reefs. Well-known dive and snorkel sites off Grand Cayman include Bonnie's Arch, known for sponges and green sea turtles as well as Soto's Reef, known for its sea fans, coral and schooling fish.

Visiting Stingray City is one of Grand Cayman's biggest attractions. And that's the problem. Avoid coming on cruise days when hordes from the ships crowd the waters or, if that's not possible, consider going in the afternoon when the majority of cruisers are likely to be back onboard. Over the years fisherman cleaned their catch near a reef in the North Sound, attracting stingrays. Eventually, dive masters jumped in the water to hand feed the critters and an attraction was born.

Stingray City consists of two sites, the deep water area and the sandbar. We like the sandbar where the water depth ranges between three to five feet. While the activity may not be PC, it is fun. The stingrays swirl around us and under our guide's watchful eyes, we place chunks of chopped squid in our palms, keeping our hands flat. The stingrays suck up their food like vacuums. Surprisingly, the graceful creatures feel like velvet.