How to Plan a School Field Day in Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida field days come with extra planning needs, strong sun, afternoon storms, and school calendars that differ by district. The School District of Lee County covers Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and Lehigh Acres. Collier County Public Schools covers Naples, Immokalee, and Marco Island, and Babcock Ranch charter schools follow Charlotte County. Check your own district calendar before picking a date.

Step 1, Pick a Date and a Rain Plan

Choose a primary date and a backup date, avoiding testing weeks and early dismissal days. Morning works best in Southwest Florida, since temperatures and storm risk both climb by afternoon. Family First delivers the day before and picks up the day after whenever the schedule allows, at no extra charge. Rain alone does not affect the safe use of inflatables, but lightning does, so read our rental reminders for the reschedule and refund policy before you commit to a date.

Step 2, Build Rotations and Pick a Location

Divide students into color groups with one station each. Nine stations at 15 minutes, plus 5 minutes to move, fills a three hour morning. Then walk the field for shade, power, and a clear truck path at least 4 to 5 feet wide.

• Space: bounce houses need 15x15 feet, water slides 20x30 feet or more, obstacle courses 40 to 60 feet long
• Power and water: a standard outlet within 50 feet per inflatable, plus a garden hose connection for water rentals, or add a generator rental
• Surface: grass uses stakes, concrete or pavers need sandbags, and sprinklers should be off during the rental
• Parks: the City of Cape Coral's park rules do not permit inflatable bounce houses, and larger events may need a special event permit, so school grounds are usually simpler

Family First is fully insured and a Lee County Schools badged vendor, and we provide certificates of insurance for qualifying venues, including schools. Ask your front office what vendor paperwork your campus needs.

Step 3, Build the Station Lineup

Mix classic games, relays, sack races, tug of war, and parachute play, with a few big rentals that keep lines moving. Obstacle courses and dual-lane water slides double as cooling stations in Florida heat. A foam party is a bubbly cool-down for younger grades, while the 24 FT Mobile Rock Wall and dunk tank are favorites with older students. Standard bounce houses and combos suit younger grades, and toddler mini combos work well for Pre-K.

47 FT Pixelated Obstacle Course 48 FT Alligator Alley Water Slide Foam Pit with 2 Hour Foam Party Dunk Tank With Window

Step 4, Plan for Heat and Lightning

Heat is the biggest risk at a Florida field day. The CDC recommends light, loose clothing, frequent water breaks, and avoiding drinks that are very cold or high in sugar, in its guide to children and heat. Build in a drink break at every rotation, use tents and water rentals as shade and cooling tools, and assign an adult to watch for warning signs, heavy sweating, dizziness, or nausea.

Our own weather policy follows this guidance. Inflatables are never used during lightning, and we text you at 15 mph winds so you can deflate them until it calms down. See our bounce house safety tips for more.

Step 5, Shade, Food, and Restrooms

Plan one tent for check-in, one for first aid, and one for a cool-down zone, sized with help from our guide, What Size Tent Do I Need for 50, 75, or 100 Guests. For food, our concession machines cover popcorn and snow cones, or bring in a truck from the Fort Myers Food Trucks directory. If restrooms are far from your field, local options include Gulf Coast Portable Restrooms and Premier Portable Toilet Rental. For sound or a DJ, try Epic Entertainment, which lists school functions.

Step 6, Book Your Rentals

Once your date, space, and lineup are set, reserve early, since popular spring dates fill up fast. Confirm delivery time, campus access, surface type, and power and water locations before delivery day. A signed contract is required before setup, and Family First accepts checks at delivery for church and school events. Questions before you book? Call or text (239) 299-0371 in English or Spanish, or see our FAQs.

Field Day Planning by City

Fort Myers, the Lee County seat along the Caloosahatchee River, is home to our warehouse. See Fort Myers bounce house rentals and Fort Myers tent rentals.

Cape Coral, the largest city between Tampa and Miami, restricts inflatables in its city parks, so school grounds work best. See Cape Coral bounce house rentals.

Lehigh Acres, an unincorporated community of about 94 square miles east of Fort Myers, has wide open school fields that suit large attractions. See Lehigh Acres bounce house rentals.

Estero and Bonita Springs, incorporated in 2014 and named for the Spanish word for estuary, sit in southern Lee County. See Estero and Bonita Springs bounce house rentals.

Naples and Collier County follow their own school calendar, so confirm dates with Collier County Public Schools. See Naples bounce house rentals.

Babcock Ranch, known as America's first solar-powered town, runs its public charter schools through Charlotte County. See Babcock Ranch bounce house rentals. We also serve North Fort Myers, San Carlos Park, Alva, Immokalee, and the islands, check our full delivery area.

Field Day FAQs