| Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Weekly News March 7, 2025 This Weekend! Garden Talk- Dracaenas/Sanseverias March 8, 10 a.m. Did you know that the Estates has a Sanseveria garden? We’ll look beyond the invasive “Mother-in-Law’s tongue” plant to dozens of other species and learn what makes these easy-care plants so collectible. Garden Talk participants will receive a coupon for 20% off plant purchases in the Garden Shoppe. Guests should wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen and a hat, and bring drinking water. Purchase tickets for each talk at the ticket counter. Members: $15; non-members: $20 Tropical Floral Arrangement Class March 09, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Whether you’re a seasoned florist or just discovering your green thumb, this workshop is perfect for all skill levels. We’ll provide all the necessary mater- ials, including a wide selection of tropical foliage and containers. But here’s the exciting part – you’re also invited to bring your own tropical foliage from your garden! Incorporate your personal touch into your arrangement and make it truly unique. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn the art of tropical floral arrangement. Members: $75, non-members: $85 Space is limited and registration is required. Click here to register! In the Garden Garden Tour (Registration Required) March 12, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. On this tour, experienced garden staff lead visitors through the 20-acre site and highlights the different types of plants and their importance to the Edison and Ford families. Visitors will see the Moonlight Garden, many rare plants and get to go behind-the-scenes in the propagating nursery. Some of the plants in the gardens are available for sale in the on-site Garden Shoppe. The garden tour is offered the second Wednesday of the month, and tickets go on sale online the first of each month for that month’s tour. Registration is limited – click here for online ticketing! Members: $30, non-members: $35 Gardening Class: Plant a White Garden March 18, 1:30 p.m. White gardens were all the rage with the arrival of the Arts & Crafts move- ment that redesigned homes and gardens, and Vita-Sackville West’s white garden at Sissinghurst in England set the standard. Since we can’t use the same plants, we can appropriate the concept, and this class will cover plant choices and design ideas to create a sub-tropical white sensation on your lanai, balcony or in your garden. Each participant will receive a 20% dis- count coupon for plant purchases in our Garden Shoppe. Advance Registration is required, as class size is limited. Class will be held at the Garden Council building, located across the street from the Edison and Ford (Larchmont Street) parking lot. Click here to register. Cost: EFWE members: $45; non-members: $60 Just for Kids Homeschool Classes at Edison Ford Marvels -Panama Canal March 13: grades 1-3 March 12: grades 4-6 Students will learn about the engineering and construction of the Panama Canal with the “Lego Maze Water Test Challenge!” This involves creating a maze that allows water to flow through it, simulating the locks of the canal. This activity helps students understand the engineering challenges of waterway construction and the importance of effective water management. The class is designed to fac- ilitate homeschool learning for grades 1-6. 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 designed to fac- ilitate homeschool or virtual science education. Click here to register online. Edison Ford members: $15; non-members: $25 Future Makers Spring Break Camp March 17-21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join us as science and history come alive in our “living laboratory!” No experience is necessary to participate in these fun and fast-moving S.T.E.A.M. (science tech- nology, engineering, art, and math) camps. For students currently in grades K-5, unless otherwise noted. Campers must bring lunches, and snacks if desired. Be- come a family member of Edison Ford and receive discounted registration! Campers release their full potential in this project-based camp, getting a crash course in code, electronics, and robotics. The camp then focuses on open-end- ed projects as the campers apply what they learn. Registration is OPEN! To register, click here. Members: $225, non-members: $250 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, engineering, art and math (STEAM), and incorporate fun activities. Campers get to invent, design, build, and learn in the same location where famous inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford invented 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. 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 experi- ments 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 li- quids, the popular exploding toothpaste, 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 creativity. Campers will learn the code and mechanics of LEGO Mindstorm robotics. Using autonomous code and strategy, teams will send their robot into battle against other teams. Campers will design and build a robot that can change its behavior based on sensor data. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 Robotics Crash Course June 23-27 (Grades K-2) Campers will be introduced to the core code and mechanical concepts of robotics. Using LEGO tech- nics and Spike Essential robotic kits, creativity comes to life. Campers will learn about gears, pulleys, and how simple machines make work easier. Using code blocks, campers will learn about the logic of loops and other important ideas of robotics. 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. Concepts learned include the six simple machines, Newton’s Laws of motion, the engineering design process, and rigid design. Campers will rap- idly 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 Auto-Bots: Autonomous Robotics July 14-18 (Grades 3-5) Code, mechanics, teamwork, and strategy come together in this fast-paced camp. Campers will use the LEGO Mindstorm robotics platform as they attempt challenges on the First LEGO League challenge table. This camp teaches autonomous robotics as campers learn how to code the motion of the LEGO robot. Members of the Edison Ford robotics program will be on hand to help campers reach their full potential. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 LEGO Creators July 14-18 (Grades K-2) Each group of campers will design their own section of innovation city. Using Spike Essential LEGO kits, campers will design their part of the city with moving parts and lights. In order to flip the switch and get things moving, campers will learn basic code blocks to move their city into the future. 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 cover- ed. The week of circuits concludes as campers take home their own custom circuit. Cost: EFWE members: $225, non-members: $250 The Science of Art & Design July 21-25 (Grades K-2) Campers will delve into creative expression and learn the science behind art. The science of light and color are explored as they learn about the mixing of light and pigment with Newton’s disk. Campers will design soft circuits with conductive playdough and observe geometric patterns with a blackburn pendulum. They will also learn about the seven elements of art. 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 Video Creators July 28-August 1 (Grades K-2) This camp is focused on storytelling and the technology behind it. Campers will work on stop motion anima- tion, basic editing, and how to structure a simple scene. In small groups, campers develop their ideas and pro- duce short, animated scenes that they can share with friends and family. 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 Design 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: Adult Education Silk Scarf Painting Class March 15, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If you need some time to relax and unwind, join us for a silk scarf painting class with Marie Dyer surrounded by Edison’s gardens. You will leave the class with a silk scarf that can be worn or hung as a piece of artwork. All materials are included in the fee. No experience is required. Space is limited; click here to register. Members: $90, non-members: $100 Digital Discussions Step into History Digital Edition: The Hunt – Edison’s Search for Natural Rubber March 12, 10:30 a.m. Step into history with lead historian Chase with a discussion on Thomas Edison’s search for natural rubber. The 1920s saw the United States face a crisis with rubber prices rising and no source to be found domestically. Thomas Edison accepted this challenge by testing thousands of plants gathered from around the world thanks to his friends like Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone. Edison’s Fort Myers laboratory would find suc- cess, but it would be too late with advances in synthetic rubber and his passing in 1931. Join us for this free virtual presentation to learn about Edison’s quest for natural rubber and challenges he faced through his years of experimentation. Advance registration is required. Click here to register. Digital Discussion: The Boston Red Sox and Spring Training in Fort Myers March 18, 10:30 a.m. Edison Ford Winter Estates continues the celebration of 100 years since spring training began in Fort Myers by focusing on the Boston Red Sox. They moved to Fort Myers in 1993 and since that time have won four World Series titles. Learn about the rich history of the team and their spring training history in Fort Myers. Join museum manager, Holly Shaffer, for this free virtual presentation. Click here to register. 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 POSTPONED 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. We plan to bring this program back soon! 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 pro- gram 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 pur- chased online or at the ticket counter. Bring a yoga mat, water, and towel. Admission to the site is not included. 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. |
