Edison & Ford Winter Estates October programs
For the month of October at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, there are special programs and activities planned for visitors and residents, as well as the daily offering of tours of the historic homes, gardens and museum. October will include a special retrospect of the annual Thomas A. Edison Black Maria Film Festival; the 7th Annual Edison Ford Clothesline Quilt and Antique Car Show; and monthly Garden Talks; as well as a variety of other special programs throughout the month.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates October programs and activities include:
Thomas A. Edison Black Maria Film Festival Retrospective
Friday, Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m., hosted by Edison Ford Winter Estates at Royal Palm Yacht Club
Saturday, Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. Edison State College, Fort Myers Campus
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates and Edison State College will bring back the award winning festival with a retrospect of films from the festival collection chosen by film curator, John Columbus. Films include winning animated short films shown in Poland at the Animator Festival, as well as popular live action works. Tickets are available at Edison Ford for $10 per night, $15 for both nights. Edison Ford members are $8 on Oct. 5, and Edison State College students are free on Oct. 6. Seating is limited. On Oct. 5 movie goers can enjoy tapas at 5:30 p.m. at the Royal Palm Yacht Club for $20 while watching the sunset at Edison Ford. Reservations suggested by calling 239-334-7419.
Emerging Inventors Early Learners
Oct. 4 Super Shapes and Oct. 18 Pumpkin Party, 9-10:30 a.m.
Emerging Inventors Early Learners class for one three year old children and their parents, grandparents or other family members and includes socializing with others, education activities, story time, singing, crafts and exploring the homes, gardens and museum at the Edison Ford. Edison Ford Members $5, non members $15 (one adult, one child), additional $5 per child.
STEM Tour at Edison Ford
Oct. 6, 9 a.m. 2 p.m.
Elementary, middle and high school student teams are invited to participate in the STEM Tour challenge at the Edison Ford, the first in a series of STEM Tour challenge events by the STEM Team of Southwest Florida. On Oct.r 6, student teams (minimum of two and maximum of five students) will compete in three different and timed engineering challenges. Points received will be carried over to future STEM Tour events and the winning teams will be announced at an awards ceremony at Florida Gulf Coast University on April 6, 2013. Registration required. To pre-register contact the Edison Ford Education Department at 239-334-7419.
Edison Ford Monthly Volunteer Lecture & Meeting
Oct. 9, 9:30 a.m., South Water Management District Building
Edison Ford curatorial and retail staff will present a program that includes their favorite books as well as new books available in the Edison Ford stores. The program will also include Lee County Literacy Buddies coordinator, Robin Getz. Meeting and program is open to current Edison Ford volunteers as well as prospective volunteers and the public. For additional information contact the Edison Ford Volunteer Department.
Science Fair Workshop for Homeschoolers and Virtual Students
Oct. 10, 10 a.m. noon
The Edison Ford is hosting the 3rd annual Homeschool and Virtual Students Young Engineers, Scientists and Inventors Fair on Nov. 7, 2012. Homeschool and virtual students must enter to pre-qualify for the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Regional Science & Engineering Fair. The Edison Ford is offering workshops throughout the year to assist students with their science projects. The workshops focus on choosing a science fair topic, conducting the experiment, documenting results and designing a science fair display board. Cost: $5. Call the Education Department at 239-334-7419 to register.
Garden Talk: Color Your Garden
Oct. 13, 9 a.m.
The Edison Ford gardens are spectacular every month with splashes of color throughout the site. Join Edison Ford horticultural staff and learn which plants will thrive and color your garden for the upcoming season as well as learn new landscape design ideas for borders, beds and containers. Cost: Edison Ford Members FREE; non members $5. Participants will receive 20 percent off in the Edison Ford Garden Shoppe.
Homeschool: Designing Bridges
Oct. 15 or 19, 9:30 11:30 a.m. (student’s grades 1st 6th)
Homeschool students will learn about force, motion, gravity, earth landforms, landscapes and different types of bridges and will design their own bridge. Students and their parents can enroll in a two hour program with curriculum that follows the Next Generation Florida Sunshine State Standards. Pre-visit curriculum materials will be emailed to registered families. Registration required. Edison Ford Members $10; non members $20 (one adult, one child) additional $10 per child.
Photography Classes, Improving Your Travel Photography Skills
Oct. 17, 1 -3 p.m.
Travel photography is one of the most rewarding hobbies not only do you get to show off your photography skills, but you can re-live your travels every time you look at your photos. What makes one person’s travel photos better than another’s? Join professional photographers Paul Rodino and Dave Maki and learn how to achieve better photos no matter what type of camera you use; basic camera handling and settings for indoor and outdoor use; as well as composition and lighting tips to make your images pop. The Edison and Ford Estates will provide a beautiful backdrop to capture memory making images. Cost: Edison Ford Members $75; non members $95. Registration required.
Floorcloth Painting Class with Marie Dyer
Oct. 20, 10 a.m. 2 p.m.
Artist Marie Dyer, best known for her vivid floral and still-life paintings, will teach participants how to transform a piece of unfinished canvas into a tropical and practical floor covering. No prior painting experience is necessary. Materials included. Cost: Edison Ford Members $70; non-members $75. Registration required.
Annual Clothesline Quilt Show, Airing of the Quilts and Antique Car Show
Oct. 27, 10 am. 2 p.m.
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates and the Southwest Florida Quilter’s Guild will be “airing their quilts” on clotheslines in front of Seminole Lodge, the winter estate of Thomas and Mina Edison. The tradition of “airing” quilts dates back to Colonial America when women would take quilts out of summer storage and “air” them in autumn for use in winter. In addition to the contemporary quilts available for show and sale, a variety of antique quilts will be on display, live Edison era music will be performed, and a collection of antique cars will be on display.
Edison Ford Members FREE; non members $5.
The Edison Ford is open daily from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Edison Ford is the winner of the 2009 National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.