Forest Lights

Eli Whitney Museum

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Vacation Program

  • Thursday, April 18, 2013
  • 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
  • Designed for ages 7 to 12

The sun sustains all living things. Trees and plants store the sun's energy which can become food or fuel. We have known for a century how to convert the sun's rays into electrical energy. We are beginning to learn how to match the solar electricity we can store to small specific purposes.

Construct a woodland birdhouse – a Wren house made rustic with branches, bark and moss. Then hack a simple solar garden light. Track its storage circuit, its daylight off switch. Connect its power leads to an LED. Hand the birdhouse where you can see it from your window. It will collect power during the day and light a lantern or beacon for your birdhouse at night.


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