New York is a summer festival — for kids too! Many of the ROUTES activities that have become favorites through the winter can be enjoyed during the summer. There also are numerous tailored-for-summer weather activities. Whether your children’s preferences run to indoor or outdoor fun, there is much to do, see and learn. School-free time shouldn’t be education-free time. Choose activities that whet the learning appetite. All the activities listed here are both informative and enjoyable.
The New York Aquarium
… is offering a new, exciting and very different camp-type experience: a three day workshop for 8-to-12-year-olds. There will be beach walks, fishing, crafts, sea-cooking and songs. Professional trainers and keepers will take the youngsters behind the scenes and share with them their love and awareness of the sea. The Aquarium camp adventure costs $55 and includes: aquarium admission, craft supplies, fishing equipment, snacks, lunch and T-shirts. Registration is of the sea. The Aquarium Camp is open Monday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rest of the week is devoted to teens (ages 13-16). This program is a Career Orientation one. Groups of 12 or less will be counseled on marine related careers: marine biologist, oceanographer, cetologist.
Fulton New York Zoological Society Fish Market
There will be breakfast outdoors, a pre-dawn trip to the Fulton New York Zoological Society Fish Market, crafts, and lessons in filleting fish, opening clams and the right way to eat a lobster. The teen program is $30 for the two days, August 10 and 11. Thursday, 9 am to 4 pm and 6 am to 3 pm on Friday. The $30 fee includes materials, snacks, admissions (to Aquarium and Osborn Laboratories), lunch and trip. For information: (212) 266-8624. The Aquarium is located in Brooklyn on the Board-walk W. 8th Street.
The South Street Seaport Museum
… is launching a new workshop program aimed at individuals rather than the customary groups. A Harbor at Work’’ is the theme for this four-day workshop that includes field trips, crafts, theatre games and partaking in the daily work routines on South Street’s legendary boats. ‘‘A Harbor at Work’’ is divided into two age groups. Six-to-Eight-year-olds come together July 31 through August 3, while the 9 to 11 year olds gather on August 7 through 10th. The hours are 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The groups are kept small (15 children per group) to enable the instructors and assistants to give individual attention. The $50 fee covers the cost for a trip to a working shipyard, visits aboard a tugboat, and model boat building. Snacks will be provided but you’ll have to supply lunch. ‘‘A Harbor at Work’’ should prove an exhilarating experience for the city youngster who rarely gets to ride on the high seas. For further information call or write the Education Dept., South Street Seaport Museum, 16 Fulton St., NY (212) 766-9062.
Animal Kingdom Zoo Camp
Contact with live animals is the feature of this five-day adventure. Campers will be exposed to animals of four continents. In ‘‘NorthAmerica,’’ campers will come face to face with an alligator. In “South America’s jungles, they’ll visit guanacos, tapirs and others. In ‘‘Asia,’’ they’ll ride the Bengali Express through WildAsia, which I’m sure you remember reading about in July ROUTES.African reptiles and amphibians will be examined close up while on safari in this continent. Each camper will experience the daily work routine of a zoo keeper—grooming horses, feeding scorpions and caring for both wild and domestic animals! Sessions run from July 31 through Sept. 1.The age range is 8 to 12, and camp fee is $90 per child for the entire week. This fee includes rides, animal events, snacks and all craft supplies. For an additional $25 your child could experience an adventure within an adventure: an overnight camp-out, highlighted by a cookout, a sing-a-long, and a flashlight safari through the zoo; makes you almost wish you were a kid again doesn’t it? The five-day camp experience runs Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The overnight extension fee includes Friday cookout supper and Saturday breakfast. For the teenagers, the Zoo offers ‘‘Animal Encounters of the Wild Kind, afternoon explorations on the behavior of animals, facts and myths. This animal workshop runs through August 18, Monday 1 p.m. to Friday 4:30 p.m. The fee is $60, which includes materials, snacks, admission and parking. Age range 1s 13 to 16. Groups are limited to 12, For further information or an application form, call Education Dept. (212) 220-5131 New York Zoological Society.
Theater Activities & More
Of course there are still the theater activities you discovered through ROUTES this winter. One favorite is the Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park. This quaint Swedish cottage has provided many youngsters with happy moments through puppetry and children’s films. Reservations are necessary, admission is free. For information: (212) 988-9093, Tuesday through Saturday.
If you are one of those active parents who heads up a scout group, church or organizational group of any kind and would like to really experience this marvelous city, Young Visitors Inc., has personalized itineraries matched to your group’s interest, ages and budgets. The ethnic divergence that has become commonplace to so many of us New Yorkers is made exciting again. Call Young Visitors, Inc., 250 W. 82 St., NY for more information (212) 595-8100.
Whatever your youngsters’ interests are, there is something for them in New York. Museums, parks, libraries, camps, swimming, concerts, arts & crafts, gardens theaters, zoos, sports. Have a wonderful summer!
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