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PHOTO: Students have fun during a chemistry experiment at Edison and Ford Winter Estates.  Unique Summer Camps Offered at Edison and Ford Winter Estates FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 15, 2023) — Edison and Ford Winter Estates is offering several summer camp options for students in grades K-5. Campers are separated into groups according to grade level (K-2 and 3-5). The camps are fun, educational, and unlike other local opportunities. 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 7 and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Students will explore the “living laboratory” of the Estates while the “Wild Wizards” teach topics in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), plus history and the natural world. Most of the camps are available for both age groups; camps for younger students are less complex. Summer Camp is sponsored by Captains for Clean Water, Fred and Gingy Quinn, Scientists’ Society of Southwest Florida, and TriCircle Pavers. Available camp options are listed below. CAMPS: Lego Builders: June 7-9; Grades K-2 (waiting list) and 3-5 Campers learn how to build and apply basic mechanical devices as they explore simple machines and how to develop a mechanical advantage. Campers will get their creations moving as they learn about robotics and introductory code concepts. Creative Chemists: June 12-16; Grades K-2 and 3-5 (waiting list for both grade groups) Students will explore the nature of matter by making slime, bubbles, chemical rockets and more. The periodic table of elements, the scientific method, and the history of science are all explored as campers learn about reactions and the world of chemistry. Robot Creators: June 19-23; Grades K-2 and 3-5 (waiting list for both grade groups) Campers are taught the basics of mechanics and code to build and control a LEGO robot. In the k-2 grade camp, students are presented with daily real-world problems that they will solve using the WEDO robotics platform. In the 3-5 grade camp, students will use the Spike Prime platform to solve various challenges on a First LEGO League field. A member of the Edison Ford robotics team will be present to help teach these camps. Jr. Designers: June 26-30; Grades K-2 The Jr. Designers camp offers students a better understanding of web, interactive, architectural, and other design concepts. The campers will explore the engineering design process, producing prototypes that will contribute valuable user input. This camp offers the students an outlet to create as well as share innovative ideas. They will maintain and improve upon any design content they are learning about to optimize performance and ease of use. Video Game Makers: June 26-30; Grades 3-5 Campers are taught the basics of computer science: if/else statements, loops, variables and more. Campers working in teams of two will develop their own program throughout the week. This program can be a game, a story, or anything else the campers decide. Daily guided lessons are taught to facilitate the camper’s development. High-Flying Rocketeers: July 5-7; Grades K-2 and 3-5 The dual focus of this camp is aeronautics and space science. Campers learn about the four forces of flight and how each force applies to daily activities. Campers will also delve into the exploration of light to learn more about telescopes and optics. The camp ends with a bang as students get to launch their own water rocket on the property. Exceptional Engineers: July 10-14; Grades K-2 and 3-5 (waiting list for both grade groups) Campers learn how to use the Engineering Design Process to navigate problem solving challenges in this fast-paced camp. Each day focuses on a different theme in engineering as campers use teamwork and creativity to solve challenges and apply new skills. Art and Innovation: July 17-21; Grades K-2 (waiting list) and 3-5 In this camp, art and design are both presented as campers learn about the fundamentals of art and the basics of design. Campers will work with a variety of media including computer aided design and 3D printing. Nature Explorers: July 24-28; Grades K-2 The Edison and Ford Winter Estates will be used as a “living lab” as campers explore the local environment and learn about the history and botany of this historic site. Hands-on activities will focus on the local botany and ecology. Clever Coders: July 24-28; Grades 3-5 (new this year) Campers will learn all about code as they explore different platforms throughout the week. Elements of electronics and robotics are presented to help apply the new skills being taught. This camp will provide a broad survey of several platforms and campers will develop a series of projects in each platform, rather than focusing on a single large project. Movie Making: July 31-August 4; Grades K-2 and 3-5 Campers will learn the step-by-step process to producing a film. Brainstorming, story boarding, camera operation, blocking scenes, editing and more are all taught in this one-week camp. The campers will present their creations to their audience at the end of the week. Camp Pricing: Three-day camps are $120 for Edison Ford members and $135 for non-members. Five-day camps are $200 for Edison Ford members and $230 for non-members. Scholarships Available Support from private donors make it possible for the Estates to offer one scholarship for each camp. A committee will determine scholarship eligibility based on financial need so that underprivileged children can experience camp. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is two weeks before the desired camp. Parents or guardians can apply through the website at https://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/education/camps/. Junior Camp Counselor Positions Available Applications are being accepted for junior camp counselors. To qualify, students must have completed 7th grade. The deadline to apply is April 23. To learn more and apply, visit EdisonFord.org. Throughout the year, other camps and classes are offered when school is closed, including one-day camps and spring and winter break. Edison Ford members receive a discounted rate. For registration and additional information, visit edisonford.org. Edison and Ford Winter Estates Edison and Ford Winter Estates is the internationally known winter home site of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. More than 220,000 visitors walk through the location each year from all around the globe. The organization has received many awards, including the National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Garden Clubs’ Historic Preservation Award. The property is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. The Edison Botanic Laboratory is a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The site is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and until 9 p.m. during the month of December for Holiday Nights. We’re located at: 2350 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33901 Forward to a friend      Copyright (C) *2023* *Edison & Ford Winter Estates * All rights reserved. |