Volunteers needed for the Neighborhood Accountability Boards of Lee County
A Neighborhood Accountability Board (NAB) is a voluntary diversion program for youth who committed a crime. Volunteers attend a NAB conference with the youth, youth’s parent/guardian, victim, and other NAB volunteers to develop a case plan for the youth. Volunteers represent the community in this process, addressing the harm caused to the community and how to repair the harm.
Volunteers are asked to complete an application, attend a free, one-day training session and observe two conferences. A background check is conducted on all potential volunteers. Volunteers are not required to commit to a set amount of hours; any amount of time given to the program is appreciated.
The next Neighborhood Accountability Board volunteer training will be 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at the Lee County Human and Veteran Services Building, 2440 Thompson St., Fort Myers. For additional information or to reserve a spot, contact Nora Donato-Hitchcock at 239-533-7947 or NDonato-Hitchcock@leegov.com. Lunch will be ordered from the Oasis Restaurant. Cost varies from $7 to $12, or you can bring your own.
NABs are scheduled in the community that the crime took place, located throughout Lee County. Conferences can last up to two hours. For more information, log on to www.leegov.com/dhs/neighborhood/youth.
Summer Music Camps
The Music Foundation is holding summer music and art camps starting June 19 and running through July 21. There will be 23 different camps offered in all areas of instrumental and vocal music, including piano, guitar and ukulele as well as theater, visual arts and even digital design and culinary arts, This year there will be three special high school ensemble camps, however most of the camps are designed for middle school students with several for older elementary students and will include special master classes and exciting activities during break times. Camps run from 9 to 4 p.m. Cost is $150 per week, which includes breakfast, lunch and a T-shirt. Scholarships are available. The camps take place at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School. More information can be found at www.music-foundation.org or call 239-275-0057.
Summer ArtPlay Classes for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
The Alliance for the Arts will continue weekly art classes for young artists with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) this summer with three different sessions. The program, ArtPlay, is designed to engage children with ASD in the arts while focusing on identity development, self-awareness, self-esteem, social communication and building positive coping skills. Classes are taught by a certified art therapist and supported by an accredited behavioral analyst; classes run on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Cost is $10 per class; learn more at ArtInLee.org/ArtPlay.
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium NatureLab Summer Camp
The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium (CNCP) once again welcomes children of Southwest Florida from 6 years old to 15 years old, grades 1-10, to their weekly-themed “NatureLab Summer Camp” to be held each week from June 5 to August 9. The 105-acre nature center, located at 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, Fl., is the perfect backdrop for fun, adventure, exploration and education that include activities in the museum, nature trails, planetarium and outdoor areas. Each camper will enjoy arts and crafts, hands-on experiments, and observation and fun encounters with animals, butterflies and nature. There is no registration fee and camp prices are $202/week for non-members, or $157/week for members. All the information you need to know is located on the Calusa Nature Center website at calusanature.org/calusa-camp-general.
Laser Light Show for June Solstice
The Laser Light Shows for June at the Planetarium are planned for the weekend of June 16-18 and June 23-25, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with evening showings at 7p, 8p, 9p and 10p. The cost is $10 per show and each show averages 40 minutes.
Just for kids, there are special Laser Light Matinees with beautifully told mythical stories in light and sound, designed to engage young students and stimulate their interest in learning about the night sky. Kids Laser Light Matinees will be shown Monday – Friday at 4 p.m. from June 16 through the 25. Each ticket is $5 and each show lasts around 30 minutes. Guests must arrive and purchase their ticket in the CNCP Museum by 3:50p to secure entrance into the Planetarium.
For a complete listing of each show’s musical offering, see the show schedule at calusanature.org/laser-shows.
Daniels Road Baptist Church VBS
Residents are invited to join Daniels Road Baptist Church for its summer Vacation Bible School: Operation Arctic. Operation Arctic will take place June 12-16 from 9 a.m. to noon, and is open for children from 4 years old through 6th grade. Daniels Road Baptist Church is located at 5878 Daniels Parkway, one block west of Metro Parkway, off Daniels. For more information call 239-481-2416 or visit myDRBC.org to register.
