August events at the Edison Estates

COURTESY PHOTO Edision Estate The Edison & Ford Winter Estates offers a variety of children and adult programs, special exhibits, discounts and events throughout the month of August.

The August schedule of programs and events include:

• Mini Inventors Camp, Aug. 6 - 10, 10 a.m. - noon - Every morning budding scientists will discover a new area of the estates. Each day campers will enjoy garden strolls, art and science activities, snack and story time. Parents or guardians must attend. Sign up for one or all five camps. Estates members $20 daily, non-members $25 daily.

• Exhibit Opening, "The Everglades," Aug.10 - February 2008 - The Estates will be opening a new special exhibit in the Estates Museum, "The Everglades." The exhibit highlights the work of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, the Pulitzer Prize winning author; the camping explorations of Edison, Ford, Burroughs and Firestone in the Everglades; the natural history of Southwest Florida; and restoration plans for the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee.

• Free Kids Day at the Estates, Aug. 14 - Celebrate the last days of summer at Free Kids Day. Any child 18 and under, accompanied by an adult, will receive free admission to the Estates all day long.

• Design Your Own Moonlight Garden, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. -11 a.m. - Work alongside Estates horticulturist, Debbie Hughes, to learn how to create your own Moonlight Garden and be inspired by one of America's first female landscape architects, Ellen Biddle Shipman as you tour the award winning Edison Moonlight Garden. Estates members $10, non-members $15. Registration is required.

• Free Weekend for Educators, School Staff and their Families, Aug. 25 & 26 - Teachers, school staff and their families can visit the Estates and receive free admission all weekend. Estates educational materials will be available for use in curriculums. Educators and school staff must present a school issued identification badge to receive free admission.

• Wild Wizard Lab Show "The Wizard Invents" Aug. 26, 2 p.m. - The Super and Junior Scientists present a series of wild lab experiments exploring some of Mr. Edison's and Mr. Ford's illuminating inventions. Discover "hair raising" electricity, polymers and other "gooey" stuff. Fun for all ages. Estates members are FREE, non-members $10 adults, $5 children.

• Summer Discounts for Florida Residents and Seniors, July and August - The Estates is offering significant discounts for Florida residents and seniors (55+). Florida residents will receive $5 off a Homes and Garden ticket which includes the Museum and Lab. Seniors will receive a 50% discount off admission between the hours of 9 AM and 10 AM.

• Mr. Edison In His Lab Sundays noon - 4 p.m. - Mr. Edison will be in his historic Botanic Research lab every Sunday throughout the summer months. The historic interpreter portraying Edison will provide background and insight into the lab and the Fort Myers scientific research site where Edison searched for a source of natural rubber. Estate members are FREE.

• New Program for Youth Groups, Scouts and Camps - Groups can schedule visits and programs with "young Mr. Edison" during the summer months. Visitors will accompany Edison on a tour of the rubber research lab and complete a scavenger hunt. For more information or to schedule a group tour call 239-334-7419. Children (15 minimum) $5.63.

The Estates is an official project of "Save America's Treasures" at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a Florida Historic Landmark. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.efwefla.org.