Spring Break Staycation Ideas

No school? No worries. There’s plenty to do right in the Ridgewood area. Once you peruse this lengthy list of things to do with your kids next week, perhaps you’ll be in a better frame of mind to embrace seven days off with your children in tow. For some activities, signups are needed now to ensure they take place, for others space is limited. Take your kids on a day trip. You might not have time to see these exhibits normally, so a staycation is a great opportunity to get some culture. It will be a lot of fun and great education for the whole family.

Green Kids: “Spring in the Garden” Workshop. Tuesday, April 10th, 1 to 3 p.m., at The Stable, 259 North Maple Avenue. The Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department and Women Gardeners of Ridgewood invite students in grades 3 through 5 to be part of this “Green Kids” workshop during April school recess. Participants will see how this is a special time of rebirth, growth and transformation. Hands on projects will provide discovery of the benefits of live worms and compost in the soil and students will transplant pansy seedlings and pot one to bring home. They will learn to identify a variety of bird nests and create “nesting bags” to take home or place in nearby parklands. There is a $10 registration fee which includes all materials. Register online at Community Pass or you may print and mail the registration form to The Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.

Abrakadoodle’s Art Camp: Science Rocks! Art Camp for grades K-3 – Monday and Tuesday, April 9 and 10, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon each day, at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. This camp calls out to all artsy chemists and biologists! Come stir up some fun making your own paint and concocting icky, slimy, gooey clay dough for use. The cost is $100 which includes all materials.

Family Fun Night at the Ridgewood Public Library: Read Yourself Silly. Pre-K – Gr. 5 w/ families. Fri, April 13 at 7:00 pm. Through juggling & magic, the hysterical Paul Miller of Flow Circus tells the story of how a trip to the circus changed his life. Free for Ridgewood & Kids Card; $5 each for neighboring towns

Health Barn Camp: Don’t miss out on Health Barn’s one-of-kind week of fun at the barn for children ages 5-13. In Wyckoff, from 9:00 – 3:00 p.m. starting April 9 – 13, 2012. It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy the sun by participating in organic farming, cooking with delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables, learning about environmental science and participating in creative arts and crafts! All meals will be provided (including breakfast). Click here for the information flyer.

Circus Camp at the New Vic: Juggling, clowning and theater games are just some of the fun on tap at NYC’s famed family theater. Campers also get to attend a performance of Ahhh… HA!, the New Victory’s latest over-the-top circus-style production. Located at 229 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Monday, April 9-Friday, April 13 9am-4pm for $500. Ages 7-11.

Mad Science Camp: A week of science exploration in Ridgewood, cook things with chemistry, blast off into space with rocket launches, and take a walk on the wild side as we dissect bugs and owl pellets! Be prepared to create volcanoes, exciting explosions, and ooze things up with goopy globs of goo! After heating things up we will cool things down with freezing-cool dry ice! Experiment with wacky weather machines, light up lighting rods, and create a storm of fun right inside camp! If the weather is just right, step outside and explore the science of water with super-soaker science, and launch water pressure rockets! Go on-line today for more information and to register! Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm.

Gravity Vault’s Mini Camp: for ages 7 through 13 is the perfect blend of climbing, games, and much more! Sign-up for 1, 2 or all 3 days! April 10-11: 1 day $45, 2 days $85. Gravity Vault, Upper Saddle River.

Spring Cake Camp: at the Art of Cake in Oradell, NJ from April 9 -12. The camp will have the same program as the summer cake camp. The cost of the camp is $265.00, Monday – Thursday from 9-12 or 1-4. For additional information, please call 201-483-9176 or email us at artofcake@gmail.com.

Junior Police Academy Spring Recess Camp
Mon Apr 9–Thu 12 9:30am–4pm. New York City Police Museum. $240.
Drop your kids off at the downtown museum for a fun day of investigation and speculation as they explore museum exhibits and participate in science and art activities. Trips to the Burling Slip playground round out the offerings. Pregistration is required. Ages 6 to 10.

Free Spring Break Movies. 2:00 pm ~ Belcher Auditorium, Ridgewood Public Library. No registration. Mon, April 9: Dolphin Tale (2011; 113 mins/Rated PG) Tues, April 10: Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child (2009/2011; 54 mins/Rated G). Wed, April 11: Hugo (2011; 126 mins/Rated PG) . Thurs, April 12: The Muppets (2011; 103 mins/Rated PG).

MUSEUMS AND DAY TRIPS

The Morris Museum recently unveiled a permanent installation of the spectacular exhibition Musical Machines & Living Dolls: Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata. The new exhibition features more than 150 pieces and takes visitors on a journey through the history of on-demand musical entertainment. Live demonstrations of several of the objects from the Guinness collection are held daily: Wednesdays – Sundays at 2 p.m. Also at the Morris Museum, Super Science Saturdays. Saturdays Noon – 2:00 p.m.Appropriate for ages 5 and older. Families are invited to stop by and participate in hands-on science workshops. Children will be introduced to the scientific method as they conduct experiments and observe the results.

The Children’s Museum of the Arts is a hands on art museum dedicated to engaging young artists in innovative programming, workshops, and self guided art exploration. Read on for all you can see and do with your family during your visit. A 2,000 sq. foot Gallery, a state of the art Media Lab & Sound Booth, Clay Bar, Fine Art Studio, Lofted Ball Pond and Slide, and a WEE Arts Studio (dedicated to young artists ages 1 to 5). The Art Colony is CMA’s day camp program that allows children to immerse themselves in week-long innovative arts courses taught by professional artists. Classes run from 10 AM to 4 PM with supervised play from 9-10 AM and 4-5 PM included. Children’s Museum of the Arts, 103 Charlton Street, NYC 10014. 212.274.0986

Ridgewood’s School House Museum’s exhibit, The Civil War Years: At Home and on the Battlefield. contain’s Garret Ackerman’s Union infantry uniform, the embellished military drum, three Civil War dresses, the restored 34-star and 35-star U.S. flags, and the engraving of Abraham Lincoln with his signature. Hours: Saturdays 1:00–3:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00–4:00 p.m. and Thursdays 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Family Day at the Intrepid: April 11, 2012. The Festival will bring an exciting day of activities, including crafts, educational demonstrations, interactive exhibits and special performances. Intrepid Camp: Kids can geek out aboard the famous aircraft carrier in this camp whose theme is “Everything Space.” Over the course of the week little ones explore what it takes to be an astronomer or an astronaut. Ages 6 to 13.

Guggenheim Spring-Break Camp: April 9–13, 2012, 9:30 am–4 pm. In this exciting, five-day vacation camp, your kids will focus on building and improving their creative skills with our teaching artists through gallery and studio explorations. In the galleries, they will explore works of art in our permanent collection and special exhibition. In our studio, they will experience new approaches and techniques while developing a personal artistic style through a variety of mediums. Fee: $500 ($400 for members), which includes all art materials, snacks, a family pass, and photos documenting the program.

Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ is unveiling a new exhibit to the public on March 31st and JUST in time for Spring Break. The brand new KidZone, encourages children 6 and under to connect with nature by getting hands-on! Here, kids can slither and slide their way through a massive Banyan tree with suspended foam “roots,” or climb aboard to captain an interactive river boat. The voyage continues at Bobbi’s Beach, where kids can scale rocky shores and pose for photos with Bobbi the Penguin or her favorite surfboard. Don’t miss the “pet a stingray tank”, my kids loved that area.

Sony Wonder Technology Lab: Young techies can revel in this midtown spot’s hands-on activity stations. One of the favorites is the Dance Motion Capture exhibit; kids stand in front of the camera and do their best booty shake and hand jive. Then, they choose an avatar and watch as the character performs their unique moves. Also catch a film on the cheap. Every Saturday at 2pm, the education center’s high-def theater hosts free screenings of classics and hits. With only 73 tickets available for each show, you’ll want to call to reserve yours the Monday before the screening. 550 Madison Ave, Sony Plaza (at 56th St) Midtown East. (212) 833-8100.

Philadelphia Zoo: With the opening of its new exhibit “X•Tink•Shun,” America’s first zoo (it was founded in 1859!) offers a unique, kid-friendly look at wildlife conservation. The zoo partnered with the Jim Henson Company (of Muppets and Sesame Street fame) to create puppet replicas of endangered and extinct animals. Young visitors learn the critters’ stories at stations throughout the zoo and at the March of the Wild parade, a conservation rally led by the puppets. Apr 9–Oct 31. 3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA