March at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates is highlighted with the return of the Thomas Edison Black Maria Film Festival, a NEW event, Art in Bloom, and the continuation of Sneak Peek Tours as well as a variety of other special programs throughout the month. The March schedule of programs and events include:
Registration for Edison & Ford Winter Estates Inventor’s Summer Camp, continues through March, 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/summercamp.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, NEW, 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.
Art In Bloom, March 7, 1 PM – 5 PM, An exhibit of art and floral design in collaboration with the Estates and the Fort Myers – Lee County Garden Council. The exhibit combines art pieces with living arrangements of flowers and plants. Estates Members FREE, non members $5.
New Volunteer Orientation, March 9, 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.
Estates Annual Volunteer Recognition Event, March 12, 10 AM, Koreshan State Historic Site, Estates volunteers are invited to attend an afternoon of “utopian” fun. Event includes a guided tour exploring the unique society of the “Koreshans,” pizza lunch, awards and raffles. Registration is required.
Docent Training, March 18, 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 School: “Power & Energy,” March 19, 1 PM – 3 PM, Home schooled students will study the power of different sources of energy that are used in today’s homes and throughout the world. 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.
Volunteer Education Workshops, March 25, Times TBA, Two educational workshops available to Estates volunteers include a live presentation of Mina Miller Edison, Living with a Genius and Mastering Five Essential Presentational Skills with writer, playwright and professional actress, Nan Colton. Seating is limited and reservations are required.
Thomas Edison Black Maria Film Festival, March 26, 7:30 PM, Edison & Ford Winter Estates (Rain date March 28), March 27, 7:30 PM, Edison State College, Fort Myers, March 29, 7 PM, BIG ARTS, Sanibel Island, The award winning Thomas Edison Black Maria Film Festival will be back for a fourth season in southwest Florida since the Festival began its national tour in 1981. Festival Board of Directors member and filmmaker, Clayton Hemmert will introduce the films and facilitate discussion afterwards. There will be more than thirty films shown between the three sites. Tickets may be bought in advance at the Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., and BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Island. The cost is $7 per evening for adults, $5 for students. Tickets for all three nights can be purchased at a discounted rate of $15. Estates Members are free on March 26 and Edison State College students are free on March 27. Seating is limited. For more information call 239-334-7419 or visit the following websites: Edison & Ford Winter Estates at www.efwefla.org, Edison State College at www.edison.edu, BIG Arts at www.bigarts.org and the Black Maria Film Festival at www.blackmariafilmfestival.org.
Art in the Gardens “Butterflies at the Estates” Exhibit, continues through June 2010, In the heritage gardens at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Lee county students create an environmentally interactive artwork exhibit using recycled materials to make life-like garden art. The exhibit is sponsored by The Foundation of Lee County Public Schools, ArtFest, and Truly Nolen. The exhibit is FREE to the public.
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