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Planetarium Leaders Summit - Ft. Myers, FL

Dates & Location
Description

Join us for the Planetarium Leaders Summit on Feb. 3-4, 2025, at the beautiful Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium in Fort Myers, Florida. Enjoy the opportunity to meet with fellow practitioners who have added substantial value to our craft—Planetarium Leaders. Enhance your educational skills, learn about important topics, and interact with peers, all while soaking up the Florida sun in January.

Whether you're new to planetarium programming or a seasoned director, this summit is your chance to learn, connect, and create new possibilities for your planetarium. With hands-on workshops, expert-led sessions, and the unique setting of Calusa Nature Center, you'll leave with the tools you need to make a real impact.

Why You'll Love This Summit:

  • Expert Insights & Inspiration: Get inspired by education and planetarium leaders who will share how they're making planetariums more engaging, inclusive, and impactful.
  • Hands-On Workshops: Gain practical skills, from creating sensory-friendly shows to adding closed captions, and take home skills that will truly elevate your presentations.
  • Networking & Community: Meet planetarium professionals from all over, share best practices, and build a network of colleagues as passionate as you are.
  • Exploration: Discover the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, a place that will remind you why you love what you do.

This Planetarium Leader Summit is hosted by Digitalis and Heather Preston at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium in Ft. Myers, Florida.

The Calusa Planetarium
The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium in Ft. Myers, Florida
Registration

Register now to be a part of this exclusive event and experience excellence in astronomy and science education.

Tickets include 2 days of professional development opportunities.
Price: $250

Don't miss your chance to be part of this summit — register now!

Speakers

Meet your hosts and speakers.

Heather Preston

With a background in Physics and Astronomy, Heather Preston has led the Calusa Planetarium as planetarium director for over a decade. Heather's commitment to bringing the wonders of the universe to her community has transformed the Calusa Planetarium into a beacon of inspiration and education, making space exploration accessible to anyone and everyone.

Karrie Berglund

Karrie is the Director of Education and a co-founder of Digitalis. Prior to Digitalis, she spent many years at Pacific Science Center. Her positions at PSC included several years with the Science On Wheels outreach programs and one year overseeing the Willard Smith Planetarium. Karrie is also the driving force behind the Live Interactive Planetarium Symposium (LIPS).

Kat Hunt

Kat joined Digitalis in 2022 after serving as the Planetarium Director at Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach, NC for six years. In addition to supporting planetariums all over the country through her work at Digitalis, she is also the incoming president of the Southeastern Planetarium Association which serves as a professional organization for planetariums across the Southeast.

Agenda

Day 1 (February 3): Planetarium

  • Meet your colleagues during a catered continental breakfast.
  • Planetarium Leader, Heather Preston, presents in the planetarium on sensory friendly shows.
  • Catered lunch
  • Learn about educational strategies for the unique planetarium environment.
  • Nightshade User Group meeting. Ask the Digitalis team any questions you may have about your Digitarium and learn some of our favorite tricks.

Day 2 (February 4): Classroom

  • Workshop on closed captioning, led by Heather Preston. Get hands on and learn how to add closed captions to your planetarium shows. This session requires your own headphones and computer running the application 'Audacity.'
  • Catered lunch
  • Nature walk
  • Workshop led by Karrie Berglund: "Storytelling with a Twist"
  • And more!
Travel & Lodging

Get to Ft. Myers

Browse direct flights to Southwest Florida International Airport

Hotels nearby

Things to do in Ft. Myers

See Visit Fort Myers for more information

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