| Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Weekly News May 9, 2025 This Weekend We are OPEN on Mothers Day! Mothers Day is the perfect day to bring your mother or special ladies in your life to see the gardens! With the increased daylight hours, heat and humidity, many trees and flowers are blooming spectacularly. The Flame Vine on the pergola, next to the Butterfly Garden is bursting with tubular orange flowers; the Blue Sky Vine on the pergola at the entrance to the Garden Shoppe is welcoming visitors with huge lavender blooms; the Bougainvillea along the side of the community gardens is covered in dark pink bracts; amazing scents are coming from the roses and citrus trees on the Ford property; and bees are actively pollinating all the flowers. After your tour, stop by the Garden Shoppe to buy something pretty for your mother to take home. Just for Kids Educational Summer Camps! 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Edison and Ford Winter Estates is offering several summer camp options for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Students are separated into groups according to grade level (K-2 and 3-5). The camps are educational and focus on science, technology, en- gineering, art and math (STEAM), and incorporate fun activities. Campers get to invent, design, build, and learn in the same loca- tion where famous inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford in- vented some of the world’s best-known products. Summer camp starts on June 9 and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Camp options are listed below. (Sold out camps are not listed) Most camps are nearly sold out but “Electronics Power-up” on July 21-25 (Grades 3-5) still has several spots available! They sell out fast so secure your spot TODAY! Hands-On Chemistry June 9-13 (Grades K-2 and 3-5) In this camp, students will explore the exciting world of chemistry with a series of hands-on experiments throughout the week. The periodic table, structure of atoms, bonds, reactions, and solutions, are all covered. Some experiments include slime, lava lamps, pH indicators for color changing liquids, the popular exploding tooth- paste, and more. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 Energetic Engineers June 16-20 (Grades K-2 and 3-5) Campers will learn how to handle the problem space by learning the engineering design process and practicing it all week as they are given new design challenges each day. Challenges include a mini paddle boat race, marble roller coasters, bridges, towers and more. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robotics June 23-27 (Grades 3-5) This camp is one part code, one part mechanics, and one part creat- ivity. Campers will learn the code and mechanics of LEGO Mind- storm robotics. Using autonomous code and strategy, teams will send their robot into battle against other teams. Campers will de- sign and build a robot that can change its behavior based on sensor data. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 High-Flying Rockets June 30-July 3 (Grades K-2 and 3-5) In this camp, students will learn the physics of lift. Activities include gliders, stomp rockets, parachute design, and water rockets. Newton’s laws of motion are explored as well as Bernoulli’s principle, and the Coandă effect. This camp will also include a demonstration of the Edison Ford unmanned aerial vehicle. Cost: EFWE members: $175, non-members: $200 Machine Makers July 7-11 (Grades K-2 and 3-5) Campers will explore all things in motion in this STEAM camp. Con- cepts learned include the six simple machines, Newton’s Laws of mo- tion, the engineering design process, and rigid design. Campers will rapidly prototype using LEGOs and other common materials as they learn about mechanical advantage and how to apply it. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 Electronics Power-up July 21-25 (Grades 3-5) This crash course in electronics covers the history of electricity, and hands-on circuit design. Concepts of electricity such as current, volts, magnetism, insulation, conduction, and more core concepts will be covered. The week of circuits concludes as campers take home their own custom circuit. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 Code Camp July 28-August 1 (Grades 3-5) In this camp, students will explore the core concepts of code as they design a game, an interactive story, or anything they can think up. Campers will learn about loops, boolean logic, if/else statements, variables, and more. They will get a copy of their project at the end of the week that includes a code library for use after camp. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 Design in 3-D August 4-8 (Grades K-5) In this camp, students will explore the world of Computer Aided De- sign and 3D printing. They will learn how ideas go from concept to reality with this critical 21st century skill, then take home their own design. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 Summer Camp Registration is OPEN! Click here to register! Thank you to our Summer Camp sponsors: Homeschool Class at Edison Ford: Transportation Engineering Marvels “Hoover Dam” May 14 & 15, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Students will explore the engineering of the Hoover Dam. In the “Model of the Hoover Dam” activity, they will build a scale model using various materials. This hands-on experience allows students to learn about the dam’s construction, its hydroelectric power gen- eration, and its impact on water management and irrigation in the region. Classes take place in an outdoor classroom environment (weather permitting). Homeschool classes at Edison Ford are aligned with Next Generation Science and Florida State Standards. Classes are a combination of instruction and hands on activities that are de- signed to facilitate homeschool or virtual science education. Be- come a family member of Edison Ford and receive discounted registration! May 15: grades 1-3 May 14: grades 4-6 Members: $15 each or $120 for the series, non-members: $25 each or $200 for the series. Digital Discussion Step into History Digital Edition: The Seminoles – Their Lasting Legacy May 14, 10:30 a.m. Step into history for a few moments in time as historian, Carolyn Furman, takes you on a path to learn about the Seminole legacies. To register, click here. Step Into History archives are available on YouTube. Exhibits Exhibit: The Lure of Florida Fishing Closing May 18 This week is the last chance to see the “The Lure of Florida Fishing” Exhibit! The excitement of hooking a fish on the line and reeling it in lures people to Florida, especially Southwest Florida! This draw to fishing goes all the way back to the days of Edison, which is featured in the “Lure of Florida Fishing” exhibit in partnership with the Museum of Florida History. Two of the Edison family’s recrea- tional activities were boating and fishing – and they enjoyed both on and along the Caloosahatchee River and throughout Southwest Florida. The exhibit will be on display in the Edison Caretaker’s House through May 18. Included with admission. Become a MEMBER and get unlimited free visits, discounts on purchases in the Garden Shoppe, retail stores, special events and adult education classes! Join today! Ongoing Programs Piano Performance Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Edison Guest House Timeless beauty resides where classical music is performed by Curatorial Registrar, Chet, on Mina Edison’s 1932 George Steck piano in the guest house. Piano performances are BACK! Included with admission. Step into History Presentations Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Learn about subjects related to Edison and Ford with Site Historians. This program is held in the 15,000-square-foot museum. Included with admission. Yoga Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Class will be held in the River Pavilion (weather permitting). All skill levels are welcome. This class is taught by Bonnie D’Angelo, a certified yoga instructor. Edison Ford members: $15; non-members: $20 per class. Tickets may be purchased online or at the ticket counter. Bring a yoga mat, water, and towel. Admission to the site is not included. There will be no yoga on May 12 and May 26. National Wildflower Week! This week has been National Wildflower Week (May 4-10)! This week- long tradition was started in 1987 by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to celebrate the beauty and importance of native wildflowers ac- ross the United States. Visitors can view all of our featured flowers in the Wildflower Garden, located across from the Bromeliad Garden, near the Larchmont Avenue parking lots. All the pictured wildflowers are Florida natives! To learn more about National Wildflower Week click here! Help restore our beautiful gardens. Donate today! Copyright © 2025 Edison and Ford Winter Estates, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Edison and Ford Winter Estates 2350 McGregor Blvd Fort Myers, FL 33901 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. |
