Free art class available for island home school students
Last chance to register! The Calusa Land Trust is celebrating its upcoming StoryWalk to learn about gopher tortoises that live in the island’s pine flatwoods. CLT is partnering with Pine Island artist Zan Lombardo and the Beacon of Hope for three consecutive Mondays starting March 16 where Lombardo will guide students in creating papier mache baby gopher tortoises.
Students will have real artifacts and artist creations from Lombardo to examine. Students will first build the tortoise armature using cardboard, plastic bags and tape. The following week, they will papier mache the entire armature, a process that is challenging, messy and playful! In the final session, students will paint the hardened gopher tortoise.
The beautiful creations will be on display at Centennial Bank from March 25-April 1 and students will be encouraged to bring their “baby gopher” to the StoryWalk kickoff event at Wigert-Preserve on April 11.
Registration is limited to 12 students in grades 5-8. Younger students may attend with an adult present. Classes are free and all supplies are provided. The first class is Monday, March 16, at 10 a.m., at the Beacon of Hope. Please register with Ellen Ballard, (239) 980-0701, by March 13.
The Calusa Land Trust is Pine Island’s all volunteer land conservancy. The purpose of the CLT is to protect the natural diversity and beauty of the Pine Island region by acquiring, managing, and preserving, in perpetuity, land that is environmentally sensitive or historically significant. CLT also seeks to foster public appreciation and understanding of the environment and our shared history. It presently owns and stewards over 2,400 island acres. It was founded in 1976 by a handful of dedicated individuals concerned with maintaining the uniqueness of this island. 2026 is year 50!