Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium facts for kids
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is a special place in Fort Myers, Florida. It's a non-profit group focused on environmental education. This means they teach people about nature and how to protect our planet.
The Center covers 105 acres of land. Inside, you'll find a natural history museum. This museum has live animals native to Florida and teaching animals. It also features exhibits about the plants, animals, and environment of Southwest Florida.
A big part of the Center is its planetarium. It's 44 feet (about 13.4 meters) wide and can seat 90 people. The planetarium shows amazing full-dome shows every day, with new shows each month. They even have a collection of meteorites on display! Sometimes, they have evening laser shows. The staff also visit local schools and groups to teach them about nature and space.
Outside, you can explore three nature trails. There's also a butterfly house where you can see many beautiful butterflies. The raptor aviary is home to birds of prey, like eagles and owls. These birds were hurt but are now cared for at the Center. They can't go back into the wild, so they live safely here. The Center also has a gift shop, meeting rooms, classrooms, and picnic areas for visitors.
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Fun Learning Programs
The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium offers many programs for people of all ages to keep learning.
What Can You Do?
They have different activities each month:
- Nature Speakers: Experts come to talk about interesting nature topics.
- Science Sundays: Fun activities and experiments about science.
- Planetarium Shows: Explore the stars and planets in the big dome.
- Night Hikes: Discover what happens in nature after dark.
Learning for Kids and Families
The museum has a Montessori school for young children. They also have a special program for families who homeschool. This program meets three days a week. It offers classes on exciting subjects like astronomy (studying space) and ecology (studying how living things interact with their environment).
For homeschool families, the Center has monthly classes on topics like Zoology (the study of animals) and Entomology (the study of insects). Each class builds on the last one. Students can pick which classes they want to join. These classes include lessons, crafts, short walks, and even chances to meet animals up close! You can find more information about these programs on the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium education page on their official website: https://www.calusanature.org/.
For Older Learners
The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium works with the Southwest Florida Astronomical Society. This group helps older learners (18 and up) use the Center's facilities to learn more about space. The Center also has a small bookshelf where anyone can find free books, local magazines, and information.
Images for kids
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Eagle at Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium recovery center for large birds.
