Edison & Ford Winter Estates Programs – August 2010

August at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates includes a Summer’s End Celebration with FREE admission for teachers, school staff and their families; the introduction of a new Estates tour, Edison & Ford Young Inventor’s Family Tour; and Discounts to Southwest Florida Residents as well as a variety of other special programs throughout the month of August.  The August schedule of programs and events include:

Estates Inventor’s Summer Camp, Space  Available
For budding rocket scientists, film makers, animators and science detectives, registration is still open for Estates Inventors’ Summer Camp at the Estates. Weeklong camps continue through August 20.  Camp hours are 9 AM – 4 PM, Monday – Friday.  Camps are open for grades 1st – 6th 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.
• Spaceships & Rockets, August 9 – 13
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!
• Eager Engineers, August 16 – August 20
“To be a good inventor you need a good imagination and a pile of junk,” said Thomas Edison.  The Estates 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!

Behind the Scenes Lab Tour for Estates Volunteers, August 4, 9:30 AM
Estates volunteers are invited to a special behind the scenes tour of the Edison Botanic Research Lab.  Estates curatorial staff will present new Lab findings discovered while moving artifacts into the visible storage area in the Museum.  The tour will include a walk inside the visible storage area and restoration.  Registration is required.  

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

Summer’s End Celebration:  FREE Day for teachers, school staff & their families, August 14, tours begin at 10 AM
Besides FREE admission for teachers, school staff and their families, a full day of specialized tours (10:00 AM and 1:00 PM), hands-on sciences performances by the Estates Wild Wizard (12:00 PM), fish printing workshops (1:00PM – 3:00 PM) and the unveiling of the Estates newest tour, Edison & Ford Young Inventors Family Tour (3:00 PM) will be available throughout the day.   Educators and school staff must present a school issued identification badge to receive free admission.  Registration is required for specialized tours designed for educators. To register call the Estates Education Department at 239-334-7419. 

Docent Training, August 19, 9 AM
New Estates volunteers who are interested in becoming porch, Lab or Museum docents, or leading a group tour of the Estates grounds must attend this mandatory meeting.

NEW Edison & Ford Young Inventors Family Tour, August 21, 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM
The Estates newest Museum tour offers families an interactive, hands-on inventions experience focusing on children’s science activities including the Ford assembly line; the incandescent light bulb; creating their own rubber product and the history of the first recorded sound “machine” Edisons’ phonograph to the MP3 player. Due to limited space, the tour will be on a first come first serve basis and includes admission to the Lab and Museum.   Cost is $12 adults, $5 children ages 6 -12 and FREE to 5 and under.    

Summer Discounts for Southwest Florida Residents, August 21
Just in time for the end of summer vacation, the Estates is offering half price admissions for all Southwest Florida residents to tour the Estates Museum, Laboratory, Homes and Gardens.  Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5.50 for children (ages 6 -12; 5 and under FREE).  Residents must present a driver’s license or voter registration card with photo ID to show their address in Lee, Hendry, Collier, Charlotte or Glades County. 

Quilting and Stitchery Demonstration, August 21, 10 AM – 1 PM
Quilters from the Southwest Florida Quilter’s Guild and members of the Southwest Florida Embroidery Guild will demonstrate quilting and stitching and will be available to answer questions on techniques and care.   In the early 1900’s Henry Ford collected, celebrated and displayed quilts and other historical objects. Demonstration is FREE with purchase of Estates Home and Garden Tour ticket.

Sneak Peek Tour, August 26, 9:30 AM
Visitors will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour inside the Edison and Ford homes.  These unique tours are offered at no cost to Estates members and $40 for non members.  Due to the intimate nature of “Sneak Peek Tours”, space is limited and registration is required.

NEW Horse & Wagon Tours of Historic Downtown Fort Myers

Edison & Ford Winter Estates Open Easter Sunday
Canned Food Drive – April 2, 3, 4
NEW Horse & Wagon Tours of Historic Downtown Fort Myers 

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates located at 2350 McGregor Boulevard, will be open Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010 from 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM.  Tickets are available until 4:30 PM for self guided tours.  Estates members are admitted free and there are several reciprocal admission programs. 

In addition, Estates members, staff and visitors are encouraged to make canned food donations to support the Community Cooperative Ministries (CCMI) www.ccmileecounty.com in Fort Myers.  Visitors to the Estates throughout the weekend will receive a $1 off an Estates admission ticket (up to $4) for every can of food they donate.  CCMI has been providing food to the homeless, nearly homeless, homebound, seniors and children for 26 years in Lee County.

Easter weekend also kicks-off the Estates newest program, Horse & Wagon Tours of Historic Downtown Fort Myers.  On Wednesday, March 31 – Saturday, April 3 at 11 AM and 2 PM visitors can enjoy a horse and wagon tour that begins at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates and countinues along the Caloosahatchee River through downtown Fort Myers.  The tour is approximately one hour and is $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.  The Horse & Wagon Tours will continue to run weekly Wednesday – Saturday at 11 AM and 2 PM throughout the summer.  Tour tickets can be purchased at the Estates ticket office.

Brunch with Mina Edison – “Living with a Genius”

Due to popular demand, additional dates have been added for the upcoming theatre in the gardens program, Brunch with Mrs. Edison “Living with a Genius” at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.  The additional dates are February 12 & 13 at 11 AM. 

Storyteller, writer, playwright and professional actress, Nan Colton will bring to life the remarkable and charitable Mina Edison with unforgettable tales of “living with a genius.”  The performance will be presented under a tent at the Estates Moonlight Garden and includes brunch and mimosas amidst the beautiful historic plantings. Hats and gloves are encouraged!  

“Living with a Genius” is a witty, one woman show that engages the audience in what it is like to live with a genius – in this case, Mina Edison and her husband, Thomas Edison.  Colton is well known for her charming representation of historic women which includes storytelling and audience involvement. 

On February 12th, the event will include a show and sale of hats designed by southwest Florida artists and personalities.  The hats will be on display at Saks Fifth Avenue at Bell Tower, Fort Myers on February 4 – February 10.

Reservations are required, seating is limited.  Estates members, $50; non-members $60.  Group rates are available.  For additional information and reservations call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.efwefla.org.

Estates Home School Program 2009-2010

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates Home School Program is a great way for children to experience history, science and the arts first-hand at the National Historic Register Site.

Beginning September 18 from 1 PM – 3 PM, Home School Programs will be offered each month throughout the year.  Activities are centered in the air-conditioned and restored Edison Caretaker’s House and include experiences throughout the historic site.

The Estates is a living lab, where each project or activity challenges students in the sciences, art and nature to ask questions and discover the answers for themselves while having fun. The following sessions are open for enrollment:

•           September 18, Living Lab:  Thomas Edison’s Fort Myers home was the site of his research lab and gardens.  Home schoolers will learn about Edison’s quest for rubber while performing hands-on botanical experiments. 

•           October 16, Can You Hear Me Now?:  The science of communication technology is advancing every day.  The phonograph was Edison’s favorite invention.  Home schoolers will learn about Thomas Edison and Henry Ford’s contributions to community technology, from phonograph to nano-iPod.

•           November 20, Rocks & Minerals & Thomas Edison:  Home schoolers will learn about minerals and rocks including what Edison did with iron ore and Edison’s own concrete mixture.

•           December 4, Experiments for the Holidays:  Home schoolers will study the science of the holidays, performing experiments including how a jolly chubby man can fit down a chimney, how reindeer fly and how a spinning dreidel keeps from falling, as well as a variety of new experiments. 

•           January 8, Eager Engineers:   Inspired by Henry Ford, Home schoolers will learn how simple machines become complex machines, as well as the science of building bridges.

•           February 5, Movie Making Secrets:  Home schoolers will act, direct, operate a camera and build sets to produce their own film. 

•           March 19, Power & Energy:  Home schoolers will study the power of different sources of energy that are used in today’s homes throughout the world. 

•           April 23, Ford Aerodynamics and Flight:  In addition to cars, Henry Ford built airplanes.  Home Schoolers will learn the history and science of flight. 

•           May 21, Stormy Weather:  Home schoolers will test their skills as meteorologists as they learn the science of predicting weather. 

Home schooled students and their parents can enroll in a half day of curriculum that follows the Florida Sunshine State Educational Standards for learning.  The program follows the Lee County mandated program and addresses environmental science, history and reading SOLS.  Pre-visit curriculum materials will be mailed to registered families.  Registration required. Estates members $5; non members $15 (one adult, one child) additional $5 per child.