Dolphin Experience Programs
By Crystal Sunshine - A partnership program between Find Your Sunshine and Crystal Ladder
Come experience swimming with wild dolphins in Panama City Beach, FL with our one of a kind programs. Crystal Sunshine provides intensive therapeutic camps and adventure recreational camps that both focus on the benefits of exploring the ocean and swimming with dolphins.
Details and FAQs
Alongside her work in Austin, TX, our Owner, Chloe Hanson, has developed programming and assisted in carrying out swim with dolphin programs with Water Planet in Panama City Beach, FL for 10 years. The new partnership know as, Crystal Sunshine, was born to help allow this amazing opportunity to more people. Families travel from all over the world to share in the experience of swimming with wild dolphins. Scientist have studied how receiving direct dolphin interaction and sonar applications can be beneficial in the areas of self-regulation, focus, attention span, confidence and self-esteem. You may have heard other similar programs refer to this as “Dolphin Therapy”, but because our programs take place in a dolphins wild habitat vs captivity, the effects are expected to be much greater. Additionally, our programs go far beyond the dolphin interaction by also combining various therapeutic techniques or recreational adventures to creating lasting change with our participants.
Find more details within out FAQs below. After reviewing the details below, if you would like more information on dates, pricing, or other specific questions, please click the button below to send or inquiry email or email Chloe directly at Chloe@findyoursunshine.org
Visit WWW.THECRYSTALSUNSHINE.COM for more pictures and information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do these programs take place?
The swim with dolphins part of our programs happens in the waters off the beautiful emerald coast of Panama City Beach, FL. Our therapies take place in our center located on the west end of Panama City Beach, FL. Our adventures take place at various locations in and around Panama City Beach, FL.
How many days are the programs?
Our Programs begin with an introduction session on Sunday and end the following Friday, last 6 days. Occasional we will run shorter programs for holiday weekends or by special request.
Where do the participants/families stay if they are from out of town?
Families are responsible for the accommodations for them and their children. If it is your first time traveling to the area, we are happy to offer you some recommendations. Families participating in our program typically stay in Panama City Beach or in various towns along 30A.
What programs does Crystal Sunshine offer?
Crystal Sunshine offers two main programs. Swim with Dolphins Intensive Therapy Program and Swim with Dolphins Adventure Camp.
Swim with Dolphins Intensive Therapy Program is a one week intensive therapeutic program designed for participants with special needs or emotional/behavior issues combining the unique experience of swimming with wild dolphins and other therapeutic techniques to create a one of a kind program.
Swim with Dolphins Adventure Camp is a one week inclusive adventure program designed for siblings of those participating in the therapy program, participants with out special needs, or participants with special needs who are looking for a more recreational based experience. Adventure Camp pairs swimming with wild dolphins along with many other adventures in the area and focuses on building confidence, character, and knowledge.
I have never been to your center in Austin, TX, can we still attend?
YES. The programs offered through Crystal Sunshine are open to the public, regardless of where you live or your prior affiliation with FYS. We have families who participate in our programs from Miami, FL, Canada, France, Austin, TX, Dallas, TX, Panama, Venezuela, and many other places around the world. Come Join Us!
What are the age requirements?
We have a loose age requirement of 3 years old. If you are interested in our programs and your child is comfortable in and around water and under 3 YO, we definitely encourage you to go ahead and inquire and we can talk 1 - 1 and see if it is a good fit. There is no age cap as this is a beneficial programs for adults as well as kids.
If one of my kids is in Therapy Camp, can siblings participate?
YES. We would encourage to sign them up for Adventure Camp so they can also experience the area in a unique and fun way. They may also sign up as an “additional participant”, meaning they would only participate in the swimming with the dolphins portion of the program - not the therapies or adventure activities.
Are these programs only for kids/participants with special needs?
NO. Our Swim with Dolphins Intensive Therapy Program is geared more towards kids, teens, and adults with special needs, but it can also be beneficial to participants who have recently experienced trauma, have PTSD, a learning disorder, sleeping issues, chronic illness, or have faced other life impacts. Our Swim with Dolphins Adventure Camp is an INCLUSIVE program open to participants with and without special needs.
What kinds of therapy will my child receive during therapy camp?
During our Swim with Dolphins Intensive Therapy Program our clinicians work together to design individualized programming that combines the valuable experience of swimming with dolphins, intensive brain training, occupational therapy/sensory integration, threabounce, and recreational therapy. Specializing in brain training, our team is proud to bring Neurofeedback, NeuroNet, Veilight, Interactive Metronome, and BlazePods to encourage brain growth and development throughout this program and beyond. With over 35 hours of therapeutic interventions, our intensive program is designed to promote growth and development of brain body connections, emotional health and regulation, and sensory responses.
What kind of Adventures will campers go on during Adventure Camp?
During our Swim with Dolphins Adventure Camp, our participants may experience activities like paddle boarding, going to the on water amusement park, canoeing or kayaking, surfing, yoga/meditation, exploring local caverns, swimming in healing fresh water springs, exploring wildlife at local nature preserves, snorkeling, beach play, and more!
Do parents attend with their children or can children attend alone?
Both of our programs are intended to be a FAMILY EXPERIENCE. Generally the whole family attends the dolphin experience together and then only the children/participants will attend the therapy or adventure programs in the afternoons. If staffing permits, adventure campers are allowed to attend the full experience independently for an additional fee.