Edison & Ford Winter Estates Programs – April 2010

April at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates is highlighted with a National Arbor Day Celebration; the continuation of Sneak Peek Tours; and a new community initiative, a Canned Food Drive Easter weekend, as well as a variety of other special programs throughout the month.  The April schedule of programs and events include:

• Estates Open Easter Weekend, April 2, 3, & 4, 9 AM – 5:30 PM

• Registration for Edison & Ford Winter Estates Inventor’s Summer Camp
The Estates Inventor’s Summer Camp is back again this year and the Wild Wizard is here all summer long.  Camp begins on June 7, 2010 and runs through August 20, 2010.  Camps are open for grades 1 – 6 and sessions are separated by grade levels.  Campers will make movies, become science detectives, launch objects into orbit, construct bridges and animate their own short films.  Registration forms are available on line at http://www.efwefla.org/pdfs/Summercamp2010.pdf or are available at the Estates.  Estates Members $200; non members $230.  For more information on specific topics, dates and times contact the Estates Education Department at 239-334-7419.
 
•  Sneak Peek Tours  Every Thursday, year round,  10:30 AM – 1 PM
Behind-the-scenes tours inside the Edison and Ford homes open to the public and Estates members.  These unique tours are offered at no cost to Estates members and $40 for non members.  In addition, lunch will be served in the historic Edison Caretaker’s House following the tour for $15 per person.  Due to the intimate nature of “Sneak Peek Tours”, space is limited and registration is required. 

• Estates Canned Food Drive, April 2, 3, & 4
Staff, members and visitors to the Estates are encouraged to make canned food donations to support the Community Cooperative Ministries in Fort Myers (CCMI).  Visitors to the Estates throughout the weekend will receive a $1 off an Estates admission ticket (up to four dollars) for every can of food they donate.  CCMI has been providing food to the homeless, nearly homeless, homebound, seniors and children for twenty six years in Lee County.  

• New Volunteer Orientation, April 13, 10 AM
Join Estates staff to learn about volunteer opportunities, Estates policies and general Museum information.  This is a mandatory training for all new Estates volunteers but potential volunteers are welcome. 

• Docent Training, April 22, 9AM
New Estates volunteers who are interested in becoming Edison & Ford porch docents, Lab and Museum docents, or group tour docents of the Estates grounds must attend this mandatory meeting.

• Home Schoolers:  “Ford Aerodynamics & Flight,” April 23, 1 PM – 3 PM
In addition to cars, Henry Ford built airplanes.  Home schooled students will study the history of science and flight. The programs follow the Lee County mandated program and addresses environmental science, history and reading SOLS.  Pre-visit curriculum materials will be mailed to registered families.  Registration is required.  Cost:  Estates Members $5; non-members $15 (one adult, one child), additional $5 per child.

• National Arbor Day Celebration, April 23, 9 AM
In observance of National Arbor Day the public is invited to join the Estates in planting a tree on the Estates grounds with students from a local school.  In addition, the public can support the Estates Tree Planting Program by contributing funds to purchase a tree.  The Estates will assist with selecting a plant or tree and does not accept gifts of live plants or trees however donors can be involved in a planting ceremony.   

• Mother’s Day Brunch in the Gardens, May 9, 11 AM
Celebrate your Mom with a delectable brunch at the Estates.  The diverse menu will please every member of your family.  Leave time to enjoy the historical ambience and create treasured memories with a tour of the historic homes, gardens and Museum.  Ticket price includes brunch, an Estates tour and a special gift for Mom.  Registration required.  Estates Members, adults $30, children ages 4 – 12 and $12; non members adults $35, children ages 4 -12 and under $15; children 3 and under FREE.

• Destination Preservation, 32nd Annual Statewide Preservation Conference, May 12 – 14, Sanibel Harbour Marriot Resort and Spa
The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation’s Annual Statewide Preservation Conference kicks off on May 12, 2010. Showcasing Lee County, the conference will offer workshops, tours and special events designed to teach participants how historic preservation can play a key role in conserving national resources. To register, call (850) 224-8128. To download the conference program, visit http://www.floridatrust.org/news/373.  For information about the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, please visit www.floridatrust.org.

Inventor’s Summer Camp 2010 Registration Open

Registration for the fifth annual Edison & Ford Winter Estates Inventor’s Summer Camp is now open and this year the Wild Wizard will be offering classes all summer.  The Estates is a living lab where every project engages the campers in the sciences, arts, and history to ask questions and discover the answers for themselves while having fun.

Week-long camps begin the week of June 8, 2010 and continue to the final week, August 13.  Camp hours are 9 AM–4 PM, Monday – Friday.  Camps are open for grades 1–6 and sessions are separated by grade levels, 1st–3rd and 4th–6th.  Cost for Estates Members is $200; non members $230.  Scholarships will be available.

The Estates Inventor Summer Camp schedule is the following:

Session 1: June 8 – 11, Edison Invents, A five day adventure that captures the “Edison & Ford” experience.  Step back in time and investigate the inner workings of a light bulb, discover trees and plants brought here from around the world and create inspired works of art.

Sessions 2 & 7: June 14 – 18, July 19 – 23, Movie Making Magic, Act, direct, operate the camera and build sets.  Campers will be fully immersed in the art of filmmaking.  Participants will study Foley art (sound effects), movie magic (special effects), and script writing.  Campers will understand the basic techniques the pros use to get their ideas on the big screen.  After the camp is over each camper will receive a DVD of their film.

Sessions 3 & 8: June 21 – 25, July 26 – 30, Kitchen Chemistry, This mind-boggling camp is a combination of the best experiments the Wild Wizard has to offer.  Campers will learn how to take every day things found in the kitchen and make them do amazing things.  Top it all off with a solar cookout with hand made ice cream and root beer float party!

Session 4: June 28 – July 2, Animation, The perfect mix of science and art.  Campers will develop original characters, write their own story, choose between many different animation styles, and make a short film.  Discussions are based on positive character traits, conflict resolution, and the power of making good choices.  All the films are edited and formatted to a DVD for participants to take home and share with the whole family.

Sessions 5 & 10: July 5 – July 9, August 9 – 13, Spaceships & Rockets, The final frontier!  Campers will explore the outer reaches of the universe with our resident spaceman.  Campers will get to visit planets, collect samples, float on our Lunar Lander, and tons more!

Sessions 6: July 12 – July 16, ESI – Edison Science Investigation, Thomas Edison, known for his ability to turn normal objects into amazing inventions, made bamboo glow and tinfoil talk.  Now it’s your turn!  Each day, campers will be presented with a different mystery and they will only be given normal everyday items with which to solve them.  This fun and challenging camp will exercise your mind and body as the clock ticks away to solve the mystery!

Session 9: August 2 – August 6, Eager Engineers, “To be a good inventor you need a good imagination and a pile of junk” said Thomas Edison.  The Estate will supply the junk and jump start the imagination.  Campers will use recycled materials and develop Green Inventions such as robots that will perform a number of different tasks, conduct science experiments, participate in balloon car races, build bridges, and more!

Registration forms are available on line at http://www.efwefla.org/pdfs/summercamp.pdf or may be picked up at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates at 2350 McGregor Blvd.  For more information or to sign up, contact the Estates Education Coordinator at 239-334-7419.