A Night Under the Stars: Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium Celebrates Grand Reopening

On Friday, September 27, the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium celebrated its Grand Reopening and Red Carpet Ribbon Cutting with donors, sponsors, staff, and volunteers. The event marked the official unveiling of our newly renovated Planetarium to the public.The day began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., showcasing the transformation of our Planetarium, which now features new seating, enhanced visibility, fresh carpeting, and a state-of-the-art 5.1 surround-sound system powered by the advanced Digitarium Lambda Plus laser projection system.

In the evening, we hosted a VIP reception from 6 to 8 p.m., where donors, board members, dignitaries and staff enjoyed an evening of music, shows and recognitions. Executive Director Eric Raddatz praised our supporters in a heartfelt speech. He was joined by Todd Sherman and Wyn Everham in honoring Founder Bill Hammond and Planetarium Director Heather Preston with awards for lifelong vision and dedication in inspiring a love for nature, science and the cosmos.

We are so grateful for the support from our community! Guests enjoyed the premiere of the dome movie Undiscovered Worlds, adding to the excitement of the evening.Fun was had by all, and we raised vital funds to support our mission. The support from our community reaffirms our vision for the future as we embark on this new chapter of rebirth for the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium.

Help us bring our newly renovated Planetarium to life by donating to our capital campaign here. Explore special sponsorship opportunities, including naming rights for Planetarium seats and other key features here.

💖A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors:• Vulcan Materials• R4• Aux Delicies• Famous Dave’s• The City of Fort Myers• The Fred and Jean Allegretti Foundation• Heitman House• Fort Myers Film Festival

Upcoming Events:

• Mesmerica: Be mesmerized by our featured presentation, Mesmerica 360 – an extraordinary 360-degree projection experience offering virtual reality-like visuals combined with soothing and stimulating effects. 🎥✨ This immersive show features music by Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist James Hood and 3D animated art from international artists. Mesmerica 360 tickets are available. tickets are available. Tickets can be purchased at calusanature.org and Mesmerica Tickets. (OH and see a great News-Press article about our grand renovation of our planetarium here!)

• Preschool: Animals That Glow!Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMLocation: Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort MyersTickets available now!

Join us to explore the fascinating world of bioluminescent animals! Children will learn about creatures like comb jellyfish, scorpions, and fireflies through stories, exploration stations, and a live animal encounter.

• Homeschool: Nature's Night Lights (Ages 9-12)Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Location: Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort MyersTickets available now!

What do a scorpion, comb jellyfish, firefly, and a salamander have in common? They glow! This hands-on program includes activities, crafts, and a live animal encounter focusing on bioluminescent and biofluorescent adaptations.

• Sensory SundayDate: Sunday, October 6, 2024Time: 10:30 AM – 11:10 AMLocation: Planetarium at Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort MyersTickets available now! Designed for sensory-sensitive visitors, this event will explore the history of telescopes from their inception to their current uses in space. Adjustments will be made to accommodate the needs of attendees.

• Haunted WalkDates: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October Time: 7:30 PMLocation: Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort MyersTickets available now!

Experience our annual Haunted Walk and support our animal residents. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

• Forest BathingDate: Monday, October 14, 2024Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AMLocation: Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort MyersTickets available now!

Experience the calming effects of nature in the largest green space in Fort Myers. Join us for a rejuvenating session of forest bathing.

• Homeschool: Cryptozoology (Ages 9-12)Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PMLocation: Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort MyersTickets available now!

Delve into the intriguing world of cryptozoology and discover creatures that exist on the fringes of science.

Music Under the StarsDate: Thursday, October 17, 2024Time: 7:00 PMLocation: Planetarium at Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort MyersTickets available now!

Enjoy Acoustic Americana music featuring Brian Smalley, Bill Metts, and Roy Schneider in the Planetarium.

• Holiday LightsDate: Friday, December 6, 2024Time: 6:00 PM – 9:30 PMLocation: Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort MyersTickets available now!

Join us for our annual Holiday Lights event, featuring festive displays and activities for the whole family.

Daily Programming:

• Tuesday - Saturday:
• • 12:15 PM & 2:15 PM: Planetarium Show
  • 1:15 PM: Animal Talk
• Sunday:
• • 12:15 PM, 2:15 PM, & 3:15 PM: Planetarium Show
  • 1:15 PM: Animal Talk

Support Our Renovation: Help us bring our newly renovated Planetarium to life by donating to our capital campaign here. Explore special sponsorship opportunities, including naming rights for Planetarium seats and other key features here.

💖A Special Thank You: We extend our heartfelt thanks to our supporters, including Vulcan Materials, R4, Aux Delicies, Famous Dave’s, The City of Fort Myers, The Fred and Jean Allegretti Foundation, Heitman House, and the Fort Myers Film Festival.

Stay Connected Cozy at home? Experience the Calusa Nature Center virtually! Enjoy our FREE T360 tour from your couch: #HomeBoundAdventures #NatureAtHome. Immerse yourself in our fresh interactive education videos here. Make your event unforgettable with one of Florida's unique venues! From weddings and showers to meetings and parties, we offer stunning indoor and outdoor spaces. Reach out now to reserve your date!

Stay connected and learn more about our events and programming by visiting www.calusanature.org or following us on social media. For a recent look at our renovation updates, check out the NBC2 story here.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE CALUSA NATURE CENTER & PLANETERIUM

• "Executive Director Eric Raddatz addresses guests during the Grand Reopening ceremony, highlighting the community's vital support in bringing the newly renovated Planetarium to life."
• "Guests enjoy the premiere of the dome movie 'Undiscovered Worlds' at the VIP reception, celebrating the enhanced viewing experience in the newly upgraded Planetarium."
• "Founders Bill Hammond and Planetarium Director Heather Preston receive recognition for their lifelong dedication to inspiring a love for nature and science during the evening awards ceremony."

For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact:

Contact: Eric Raddatz

Executive Director

Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium

3450 Ortiz AvenueFort Myers, FL 33905

Email: eraddatz@calusanature.org

Phone: 239.275.3435Website: www.calusanature.org

We look forward to celebrating fall with you and sharing our newly renovated Planetarium!

Photo byCNCP

Photo byCNCP

Bill HammondPhoto byCNCP

Heather Preston with Eric RaddatzPhoto byCNCP

Eric RaddatzPhoto byCNCP