City News Blog: City of Lakeland Launches Learning Lakeland Program - Civic Exploration For Kids Gets a Fun Fresh New Look

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LAKELAND, FL (August 12, 2025) | The City of Lakeland is proud to officially launch Learning Lakeland, an exciting new youth engagement initiative. The program is designed to educate the City’s youngest residents about local government, public services, and those that make the City operate — all through the eyes of five animated characters known as the Learning Lakeland Explorers.  These colorful characters — Morty the Swan, Toby the Turtle, Ollie the Otter, Blinky the Alligator, and Polly the Butterfly — will serve as tour guides for children as they journey to learn what makes Lakeland such a unique and vibrant community.

“Learning Lakeland is our way of introducing civic pride and public service at an early age,” said City Manager Shawn Sherrouse. “These characters and their interactive guides make learning fun, accessible, and meaningful for kids and families alike.”

In-House Creation with Citywide Impact

The Learning Lakeland Explorers were developed entirely in-house by the City of Lakeland’s Communications Team as a creative way to centralize outreach efforts across Departments. The goal was to build a cohesive cast of characters that could be used not only for educational outreach but also as a shared storytelling tool across the City’s many divisions. By establishing a unified visual language and voice through these Explorers, the City is building an engaging, chapter-by-chapter way to educate and inspire future generations of Lakelanders.

What’s Included at Launch?

Several themed activities and coloring guides are already available for download or distribution, including:

• Morty’s City Swan Guide
• Blinky’s Guide to Traffic Safety
• Toby’s Water Warriors Activity Guide (now featuring a brand-new look!)
• Ollie’s City Water Guide

These free printable booklets include coloring pages, puzzles, and educational facts designed for children ages 4–11. Each one is hosted by one of the Learning Lakeland Explorers, giving kids an engaging introduction to real city services — from water conservation and road safety to Lakeland's natural lake systems and urban wildlife. Parents, educators, and community leaders are encouraged to use these guides at home, in the classroom, and during public events to spark conversations about civic responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Coming Soon: A Passport to Your City

While several activity guides are already ready for download and fun, the signature companion piece — “Learning Lakeland: A Passport to Your City” — is currently in development and will debut before the end of the year. This guide to Lakeland will allow children to follow all five Explorers across various departments and topics, collecting stamps, solving puzzles, and earning the title of “Official Lakeland Explorer.”

To view the available guides, meet the Explorers, and learn more about the program, please visit LakelandGov.net/LearningLakeland.

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