Welcome to our Online Newsletter and Virtual Bulletin Board!

Question or Suggestion? Contact cslevin59 (at) gmail.org.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Celebrating Mother Earth and Earth Mothers!

@ the Library – Programs:


There will be no regular story time programs the week of May 3-5.  There will also be no Family Story Time  the next Tuesday May 10th.  Family Story Time will resume May 17th at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.   Toddler Time resumes on Wednesday May 11th at 10 & 11 a.m. and Thursday May 12th at 10:30 a.m. and Baby Lap Sit on Thursday May 12th at 9:30.  For full details on this and other programs, see the Bridgewater Library Online Calendar.



Note: There will be no children’s programs at Bridgewater Library Saturday May 14th and Saturday May 28th -- but you can attend programs at any of our NINE member libraries any time!  Just click on the “Events/Programs” tab at the top of our home page (or on the right side of our children’s home page) for complete schedules and information.


May Basket Craftacular with the Bridgewater Garden Club  Get ready for… The Merry Month of MAY!(For ages 3 and up)  Saturday, April 30 at 10:30 am. Join the Bridgewater Garden Club in an old fashioned tradition of constructing a May Basket…a lovely little container chock full of spring!  Registration Required.


Mothers’ Day Craft (Ages 2 - 10) Monday May 2, 2011 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM  Give your Mom a great big kiss and make her something wonderful! We’ll have the craft supplies but feel free to bring any photos or special decorations from home. Registration Required.



Advocating for your Child with Special Needs -- Transition to Preschool   Thursday, May 5 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.     Understanding the joint responsibilities of families, school districts and child study teams when transitioning out of early intervention, will be the focus of this presentation.   Presented by Shakira Linzey, MPH   Family Support Coordinator Mid-Jersey CARES   Regional Early Intervention Collaborative A program of Central NJ Maternal & Child Health Consortium  The workshops are free of charge and 1.5 professional development hours will be awarded to attendees. 

Celebrate Arbor Day (recommended for ages 4 and up) Saturday May 7, 2011  10:00 AM to 11:00 AM   Did you know that Bridgewater is a Tree City USA? For over 135 years Arbor Day has been set aside as a special day to recognize the importance of trees and the difference they make in our lives. The Bridgewater Shade Tree Board will help us celebrate all that's terrific about trees with stories and activities.  Registration Required

Lego Club (For Grades K -6) Registration Required Tuesday May 17, 2011  4:30  to 5:30 PM     Get together with other Lego-maniacs, share ideas and tips on building, and have a great time! Library Legos will be available for building.   (K-2 Parents and guardians, you are welcome to stay and build with your registered child.  However, due to the nature of the materials, if you plan to stay we ask you to please make other arrangements for siblings younger than Kindergarten age.)  Registration begins May 3 – please do not register pre-schoolers.

Talk It Up (Limited to grades 5 - 8)  If you love to read and talk about books, you are cordially invited to an hour of book talk and friendly company. Parents and parent substitutes are welcome to join in the discussion.
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix   Tuesday, May 17 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
New York City, 1910, Bella, newly arrived from Italy and desperate to send money home to her family, is one of the hundreds of workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory who endure grueling conditions and brutal labor for meager wages. Yetta, a Russian immigrant who also works at the Triangle factory, is an outspoken advocate for labor rights. Jane, a society girl unhappy with the stifling limits of her existence, gets involved with their cause. As the lives of the three girls become intertwined, all are in the factory the fateful day of the fire which becomes one of the worst workplace disasters ever.  Registration Required   


Celebrate Me!!  (For ages 3 - 9) Saturday May 21, 2011 10:30 to 11:30 AM We'll share the book 'I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!' then create our own colorful self-portraits!  Registration begins May 6.






Rocket Readers (Limited to grades 1-3) Tuesday May 24, 2011 4:30  to 5:30 PM   An exciting program for brand new readers! At each program we will discuss a book, play some games or create a “book-tiful” craft related to the story. Students should read the book prior to the program. Copies of the book will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk.  
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel   When Frog is unhappy, who is there to cheer him up? Toad! When Toad is sick, who brings him tea? Frog of course! Frog and Toad share five short stories of friendship to which everyone can relate.  Registration begins May 10


For Teens: 

Mark your calendars – Registration for teen summer volunteers will END April 30th at 5 p.m!  You can print a form by selecting the “volunteers” tab on left side of the teen home pages.
Forms MUST be returned in person to the library by April 30th – NO LATE FORMS will be accepted!
Volunteer Opportunities (For students in grades 5 - 6)  Attention students in grades 5 and 6, here is your opportunity to make a difference by volunteering at the library. Wednesday April 20, 2011 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Volunteer hours will be limited to the above listed date and time.  Registration required.


There is still time to enter your poems for publication in our Annual Teen Poetry Compilation.  Stop by the Youth Services Reference Desk for more information. 


 



@ the Library – Displays & Activities:


This month we recognize the contributions of our military service people and their families.  Check out our online booklist Families Together, Families Apart: Books and Internet Resources for Military Families.  Want to know how you can help the families of deployed military in our area?  Check out the website Joining Forces.

There is still time to put your poem on our Bulletin Board.   Take a look at the poems & add your do-it-yourself creations to our Time to Rhyme poetry display on the bulletin board behind the reference desk – we have poems to illustrate, poetry starters and blank paper for your original creations – bring them to a librarian and we’ll be happy to post them!   Or check out Bruce Lansky’s funny poetry website gigglepoetry.com!



In the mood for Little League?  Check out our Batter Up! Great Books about Baseball display atop the magazine section.  We also have books for Easter, Passover, and Earth Day atop the holidays section.





Around the Community:


Race To Nowhere PromoRACE TO NOWHERE  APRIL 28, 2011 7:00 PM  Bernardsville Performing Arts Center25 Olcott Avenue, Bernardsville, NJ   $10 in advance or $15 at the door  Click Here to Order Tickets   Race to Nowhere is a call to action for families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens.  Sponsored by The Somerset Hills School District and the Bedminster PTO, this movie  has been talked about all over the news.





So much to do this weekend – it is hard to choose!



Room on the Broom   Tall Stories   Sat., Apr. 30 at 1PM & 3:30PM The witch and her cat are flying happily on their broomstick — until a stormy wind blows away the witch’s hat, bow and wand. A helpful dog, bird and frog find the witch’s lost things, and they all hop on the broom for a ride. Will there be room on the broom for everyone?    Where: RVCC Theatre, Branchburg  When: 1 pm & 3:30 pm Who: Ages 4+  Visit RVCC online to reserve tickets  Cost: $10-12



Rutgers Day 2011 
Rutgers Day 2011  Saturday April 30th 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. rain or shine.   A full day of discovery awaits visitors of all ages at the Busch, College Avenue, and Cook/Douglass campuses at this year’s Rutgers Day.  There are scientific, musical, cultural, international, agricultural and many other areas of interest. Click here for more information. 


clip_image002_thumb The Children’s Museum’s last program  of this Spring is an Earth Day Celebration takes place on Saturday April 30th from 1 to 4 PM in The PeopleCare Center, 120 Finderne Ave., Bridgewater. Suggested donation is $3 per child. No registration is required.   For more info., call 908-595-0001 or www.childrensmuseumnj.org.
or
GO GREEN & CELEBRATE EARTH DAY IN MORRIS COUNTY

SPEND THIS SATURDAY WITH DINOSAURS!
DINO FAMILY DAY FESTIVAL
WHEN: Saturday, April 30, 11 AM – 4 PM
WHERE:
Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown
TICKETS: Free with museum admission: ($7/child, $10/adult)
Attend the grand opening of the new permanent exhibition, Digging Dinosaurs! Learn all about the lives of dinosaurs, featuring Hadrosaurus foulkii—the New Jersey State Dinosaur!

See Live Performances in the theater at11:30 AM and 1:30 PM
Travel with Dino Man as he takes his giant inflatable “dinosaurs” on a prehistoric adventure. Appropriate for all ages.
Activities all day:
  • Search for fossils in the dinosaur dig pit
  • Climb inside a model of a dinosaur nest
  • Touch an authentic hadrosaur egg
  • Reconstruct a dinosaur skeleton
  • Create a dinosaur puppet to take home
  • Examine real amber in the Fossil Lab
  • Check out dinosaur dung
  • Follow dinosaur footprints throughout the exhibition
  • Play “Feed the T. Rex”
  • Make a fossil footprint rubbing
  • Learn how to walk like a dinosaur
  • Play the “Dinosaur Name Game”: create a new species of dinosaur
Meet paleontologists and ask them your dinosaur questions
To celebrate the opening of the museum’s dinosaur exhibition, all museum members (and new members) who arrive at Dino Day before 1 PM will receive a free dinosaur souvenir for each child under 10.
E-mail programs@morrismuseum.org or call 973.971.3720 for more information.

Dinosaurs x2 – a Sunday Dinosaur Day as well!


FAMILY FUN @ A NEWARK “JURASSIC PARK” DAY

Dinosaur Day at the Newark Museum, May 1, 2011
WHERE: Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark

  5/1 BIG JEFF/CHILDREN'S CONCERT..at Farmstead Arts. Six foot, six inch singer song writer, "Big Jeff" DeSmedt will perform the first children's concert at Farmstead Arts on May 1. Jeff's blend of humor, learning and "super-interactive" audience participation has been captivating young audiences across the New York Metropolitan area. Sunday, May 1st 2:30 - 3:30 PM. Children and seniors: $10, adults $20, children under 6, $5. Purchase tickets on line at www.farmsteadbigjeff.eventbrite.com. Farmstead Arts, 450 King George Road, Basking Ridge. More info: www.farmsteadartscenter.org or call 1-347-927-8748 (1-347-9ARTS4U)
PUPPETS EXAMINE LIFE CYCLE OF MONARCH BUTTERFLY

WHEN: Sunday, May 1, 2 PM WHERE: South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way (behind train station), South Orange
Hudson Vagabond Puppets, known for larger-than-life puppetry and masks, examines the life cycle of the monarch butterfly, following the amazing metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to adult butterfly, culminating in an incredible 1,500-mile round trip journey to Mexico.
Each stage of the journey is brought to life by giant puppets, song and dance. Beautiful scrolling scenery helps make this scientific foray enjoyable for kids and adults alike.  Click here for more information.

Additional Upcoming programs:


RVCC Theater – Sampler Program


Pero or the Mysteries of the Night Speeltheater Holland Thu., May 12 at 7PM   Fri., May 13 at 7PM Sat., May 14 at 1PM & 3:30PM Ages: 6 & up  Shy Pero, a baker, closes his shop and stops making bread.  Why?  Because he has a broken heart.  His childhood sweetheart has run away with a flashy housepainter.  Puppets, performers, singers and musicians tell this charming, merry and mischievous tale. Visit RVCC online to reserve tickets  Cost: $12



If you’ve come to Carol Levin’s storytimes at Bridgewater Library, you’ve probably heard some of the many songs of this talented singer-songwriter.   Here’s an opportunity to see him in person!
Tom Chapin & Friends Sun., May 15 at 1PM & 3:30PM Come see the man Parenting Magazine honors with the title of the “Pied Piper of Children’s Music!” and whose music spans a variety of styles and generations.  Tom Chapin engages hearts, minds and imaginations with clever lyrics and earth-friendly messages!  Visit RVCC online to reserve tickets  Cost: $10-12


STAR SHOWS & LASER CONCERTS:

picture inside the planetariumRVCC Planetarium, Branchburg       All shows run approximately 40 minutes.  Admission:$6 for one show, $11 for two shows on the same day   Call 908-231-8805 for reservations. 
The Problem with Pluto Saturdays, May 7, 14, 21, 3:00 p.m. Follow Lucy on her trip through the solar system as she gathers data on Pluto’s status as a planet.  Discover current information about the planets and investigate where Pluto belongs in the overall structure of the solar system.  This program is paired with a brief tour of the current night sky. (Recommended for ages 7-12 accompanied by an adult)
Storybooks in Space Sunday, May 15,  2:00 p.m. Join us for a new programs for our younger visitors.  Pages from children’s books float among the stars today.  We’ll share stories and learn about the stars and planets too.  (Recommended for ages 4-10 accompanied by an adult)
Sky Lights Sunday, May 15,  3:00 p.m. A laser and video concert featuring songs by Mr. RAY and Jane Murphy. (Recommended for ages 4-8 accompanied by an adult)

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Art for Families at the Princeton Art Museum
(most Saturday Mornings, see calendar for upcoming programs.) 
Communiversity  04/30/11 12:00 - 5:00 pm   Plan to spend part of your day with us at the Princeton University Art Museum’s presentation booths. We will have fun educational craft activities for children (always free).
Exploring Sculpture     05/07/11 10:30 am - 1:00 pm   Sculpture: Another Look    05/14/11 10:30 am - 1:00 pm   Join us on Saturday mornings for family fun in the Art Museum. Drop in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and enjoy a self-guided, interactive tour followed by a related art project. Each week has a different theme. Come for fifteen minutes or two hours--whatever your schedule allows. All ages are welcome. No tickets or reservations needed. 
Family Day: A Passport to Art     05/21/11 10:00 am - 2:00 pm    Join us for a day of travel and adventure at the Art Museum. Grab your passport and hop on board as we explore art through the ages and from around the world. Family Day offers hands on activities, live performances, storytelling, scavenger hunts and prizes. Pizza and refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.

Home page image of the Zimmerli Museum building
The first Sunday of every month at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick is a free day of admission, activities, tours, and fun for the whole family. Scavenger hunts are offered between 12:30 and 4:00 pm. Tours for children and adults are available at 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm.

 
Holistic Moms Network of Somerset County, NJ   Monthly Meeting May 10th 7-9 p.m. at the Bridgewater Library.  Please join us for a viewing and group discussion of Davis Guggenheim's latest documentary "Waiting for Superman", in which he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth. In this Sundance Audience Award winner for Best Documentary, Guggenheim deftly examines the options to improve public education and provide America's teachers and students with the help they need Popcorn/Refreshments will be served! For more information email pmalangi@yahoo.com
 


Thanks to njartsmaven.com for some of these listings.


Looking for more things to do? Check out the many Events Listings under the USEFUL LINKS FOR FAMILIES  on the right side of our blog.  Two very useful events consolidators for our area are Hillsborough Macaroni Kid & Warren Macaroni Kid. 

Let Your Fingers Do MORE Walking:

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Mixing in Math has lots of ideas for mixing math activities with fun!
Looking for some fun math-related ideas for Earth Day? – check these out.
Have your kids grow some flowers or plants to give a special woman in their lives on Mother's day (May 8, 2011).  Measure how tall the plants over the next few weeks with Growing Plants.  Their May calendar  comes with a recording chart for the plant measurements. 
Cinco de Mayo is on May 5th.  Use this Cultural Calendar  to make a calendar for a month in Mexico.
Later in the month, commemorate Memorial Day with a peaceful twist on the card game War: Capture Cards.
Two articles excerpted from Macaroni Kids:
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Rebuilding The Food Pyramid
Last year, the United States Department of Agriculture released the updated 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  The dietary guidelines are revised every five years and this year’s report has a very clear message:  Make informed food choices, increase physical activity and maintain a healthy weight.  Take a look at the Food Pyramid from www.mypyramid.gov to see the current recommendations.








Moms4Moms Movement  -- Support Moms This Mother's Day
Americans will spend approximately $14.6 billion this year on gifts for Mother’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation. Despite this celebration of motherhood, hundreds of thousands of women worldwide die during pregnancy and childbirth — 1 out of 5 of them in the United States. The US ranks 50th in terms of maternal health care, meaning that 49 other countries provide better care.
Did you know?   There is one maternal death every 90 seconds.  Pregnancy is the biggest killer of girls ages 15-19.  For every woman who dies in childbirth, 20 more suffer from debilitating complications. We have the knowledge to prevent 90% of all maternal deaths.   Moms4Moms asks: what if 1% of that $14.6 billion could be given to this cause?
Every Mother Counts is an advocacy and mobilization campaign to increase education and support for maternal and child health. Every Mother Counts seeks to engage new audiences to better understand the challenges and the solutions while encouraging them to take action to improve the lives of girls and women worldwide.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Celebrate Spring with movies, poetry, and more…

@ the Library – Programs:


There will be no regular story time programs the week of April 16-20. Family Story Time continues on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Toddler Time on Wednesdays at 10 & 11 a.m. and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and Baby Lap Sit on Thursdays at 9:30.  For full details on this and other programs, see the Bridgewater Library Online Calendar.

Monday at the Movies 'TANGLED'  Monday April 18, 2011  1:30 PM to 3:30 PM  (For families with children) No Registration Required 
When the kingdom’s most wanted – and most charming- bandit Flynn Rider hides out in a mysterious tower, he’s taken hostage by Rapunzel, a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair.




Lego Club (For Grades K - 2 only) Registration Required Wednesday April 20, 2011  1:30 PM to 2:30 PM    Lego Club (For grades 3-5 only) Registration Required.  Wednesday April 20, 2011 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM  Get together with other Lego-maniacs, share ideas and tips on building, and have a great time! Library Legos will be available for building.   (K-2 Parents and guardians, you are welcome to stay and build with your registered child.  However, due to the nature of the materials, if you plan to stay we ask you to please make other arrangements for siblings younger than Kindergarten age.)



Earth Day - Invention Convention! (For ages 5 - 11) Monday April 25, 2011  4:30 PM to 5:30 PM  Registration begins April 11.
REDUCE**REUSE**RECYCLE! -- Join us as we celebrate Earth Day by making new things out of old materials....our only limit is our imagination (and the materials we have on hand)! Please bring in (clean) cardboard food boxes, bottle caps, yogurt containers, old DVDs, clean styrofoam trays, paper towel rolls -- and anything else you can think of to share with the group as our building materials -- then we'll see what we create!


Rocket Readers (Limited to grades 1-3) Tuesday April 26, 2011  4:30 PM to 5:30 PM.  Registration begins April 12   An exciting program for brand new readers! At each program we will discuss a book, play some games or create a “book-tiful” craft related to the story. Students should read the book prior to the program. Copies of the book will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk. Good Night Good Knight by Shelley Moore Thomas. The Good Knight is on his watch when he hears a sound. Roar! Is it a dragon? A great big dragon? He searches the woods and finds a surprise. Join us for a discussion and a craft.

Talk It Up (Limited to students in grades 5 - 8) Registration Required
Tuesday April 26, 2011  7:00 PM to 8:00 PM  If you love to read and talk about books, you are cordially invited to an hour of book talk and friendly company. Parents and parent substitutes are welcome to join in the discussion.  Extra Credit  by Andrew Clements. A forced pen-pal exchange turns into friendship between Illinois sixth-grader Abby Carson and Sadeed Bayat, the best English-language student in his Afghan village. When Abby's first letter arrives in Bahar-Lan, 11-year-old Sadeed is asked by the elders to compose his sister Amira's reply since it isn't proper for a boy and girl to correspond with one another. But soon Sadeed can't resist telling Abby that it is he who has been writing to her.

And don’t forget – you can attend programs at any of our NINE member libraries – just click on the “Events/Programs” tab at the top of our home page (or on the right side of our children’s home page) for schedules and information.



For Teens: 

Mark your calendars – Registration for teen summer volunteers will run from April 1st-30th.  You can print a form by selecting the “volunteers” tab on left side of the teen home pages.
Forms MUST be returned in person to the library by April 30th – NO LATE FORMS will be accepted!
Volunteer Opportunities (For students in grades 5 - 6)  Attention students in grades 5 and 6, here is your opportunity to make a difference by volunteering at the library. Wednesday April 20, 2011 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Volunteer hours will be limited to the above listed date and time.  Registration required.

@ the Library – Displays & Activities:


April gets into full swing this month with several new displays:
April is National Poetry Month.   Take a look at the poems & add your do-it-yourself creations to our Time to Rhyme poetry display on the bulletin board behind the reference desk – we have poems to illustrate, poetry starters and blank paper for your original creations – bring them to a librarian and we’ll be happy to post them!   Or check out Bruce Lansky’s funny poetry website gigglepoetry.com!


Teens, there is still time to enter your poems for publication in our Annual Teen Poetry Compilation.  Stop by the Youth Services Reference Desk for more information. 


In the mood for Little League?  Check out our Batter Up! Great Books about Baseball display atop the magazine section.  We also have books for Easter, Passover, and Earth Day atop the holidays section.
logoGoing Green -- Looking for some fun math-related ideas for Earth Day? – check these out from Mixing in Math.


April is also Autism Awareness Month – check out the books in our Parent – Teacher display area.


Make Paper Cranes for JapanOur display: Keeping Japan in our Hearts & Minds continues on the back side of the Youth Services Reference Desk, along with 8.5x8.5 paper & origami crane instructions.  You can help Japan by making paper cranes. The Bezos Family Foundation is donating $2 for each crane received to Architecture for Humanity’s reconstruction efforts in Japan. The goal is 100,000 submissions, then the cranes will be woven into an art installation—a symbolic gift from youth worldwide to their Japanese peers.  For more information, see StudentsRebuild.org.   Deadline for cranes is Monday April 25th.
Incidentally, if your child is upset about the news from Japan (or Egypt, Libya, or anywhere else!), check out the article “How to Ease your Child's Disaster Anxiety” from Macaroni Kid Safety.


Around the Community:

4/16 PUPPET ADVENTURES AT 4-H.
Children in Grades K- 5 are invited to participate in 3 workshops creating various kinds of puppets and puppetry techniques used for presentations. COST: $15.00 per child for all 3 workshops, includes all materials. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are free. 9:00 - 12:15, registration required. Then at 1:00 - 3:00 The "Puppet Potpourri Extravaganza" All ages are invited for this live presentation brought to you by the Garden State Puppetry Guild and the Somerset County Pretty Cool 4-H Puppetry Club. COST: FREE for all!! Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Ted Blum 4-H Center, 310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, 908-526-6644. www.4HisTops.org
JOIN THE WORLD’S LARGEST CHORUS LINE THIS SATURDAY
WORLD'S LARGEST CHORUS LINE FACT SHEETWorld's Largest Chorus Line
Don't forget to join NJPAC this Saturday morning  at The Shops at Riverside
Help them Break the Record for theWorld's Largest Chorus Line!
Park and enter at the Maggiano's entrance to register   
Saturday, April 16 at 10:00 AM
WHERE:The Shops at Riverside (Lower Level), 390 Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack, NJ
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?  All ages 5 and up, following a very simple 5-minute routine --children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
WHAT DO I GET?
  • Light refreshments
  • Goodie bag full of great stuff!
  • 20% off tickets to select performances of A Chorus Line at NJPAC, April 26-May 1
  • Automatic eligibility for free giveaways
  • Free parking in the mall parking lot
WHAT DO I WEAR?
  • Denim jeans
  • White shirt (T-shirt, blouse, polo shirt, etc.), please do not wear any logos/artwork on your shirts
HOW DO I LEARN THE DANCE STEPS AND SONG?
  • You can learn the simple dance routine by watching the instructional video on NJPAC’s YouTube page:www.youtube.com/njpactv
  • You can also find the song “One” from A Chorus Line on njpactv
LAST CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE BARD FAMILY STYLE
KIDS GO FREE! Captivating Short Shakespeare for Families!
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Shakespeare LIVE! Educational Touring Company presents Family Matinees at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre

WHEN: This Saturday, April 16
  • 11:00 AM: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
  • 2:00 PM: JULIUS CAESAR
Video Previews available on our YouTube channel.
(one free children’s ticket with each $15 adult ticket)



ClickonImageforCreditInformation Art for Families at the Princeton Art Museum (most Saturday Mornings, see calendar for upcoming programs.)   Useful Art Sat. 4/16 10:30 am - 1:00 pm The Writing is On the Wall Sat 4/23 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Join us on Saturday mornings for family fun in the Art Museum. Drop in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and enjoy a self-guided, interactive tour followed by a related art project. Each week has a different theme. Come for fifteen minutes or two hours--whatever your schedule allows. All ages are welcome. No tickets or reservations needed. 


RVCC Planetarium, Branchburg     When: 3:00 PM    Who: Ages 6-12     Also, Saturdays except April 23rd:  The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket Saturdays, April 2, 9, 19, 30, 3 p.m.picture inside the planetarium Travel with two adventurous youngsters in their cardboard rocket as they explore the Sun and the planets of the solar system. This show is designed to encourage the use of libraries, enhance language skills and develop individual imagination. (recommended for ages 6-12accompanied by an adult) 

Saturday, April 16 - The Berenstain Bears in Family Matters  There's trouble in the treehouse ... Brother hides his bad quiz in the cookie jar. Sister befriends a frog and hides it in the cookie jar. Papa hides the wrapper from a forbidden candy in the cookie jar... It's up to Mama to sort things out! Where: RVCC Theatre, Branchburg  When: 1 pm & 3:30 pm Who: Ages 4+ How: Visit RVCC online to reserve tickets  Cost: $12 


Saturday April 16 & Sunday April 17  Revolutionary Times Weekend
revolutionary timesThe Morris Museum is one of the participating sites in Morristown's Revolutionary Times Weekend. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., drop in anytime for Colonial crafts and games. Sunday, 2 p.m. screening of the film Morristown: Where America Survived.  Free with museum admission.


 
EXPERIENCE MARTIAL ARTS @ THE NEWARK MUSEUM WITH YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY!
Celebrate our feathered friends with family hands-on fun activites
WHERE: The Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark ADMISSION: Free


Thursday, April 21 - Imagination Movers in Concert
Imagination Movers: For Those About to HopDisney's Imagination Movers "in A Big Warehouse" Concert Tour comes to Morristown!  Dance and sing along with your kids and Mover Dave, Mover Rich, Mover Scott, Mover Smitty, Nina, and Warehouse Mouse!  Also, special guest Choo Choo Soul!
Where: The Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ, 07960.
1:30 PM & 4:30pm)   Tickets available on the Mayo Center website at www.mayoarts.org.  Prices range from $25 to $40. 
For more info: Go to www.imaginationmovers.com
Saturday, April 23 - Junior Golf Clinic
The Somerset County Parks Commission is offering free Junior Golf Clinics focusing on golf basics taught by Neshanic Valley Golf Course Learning Instructors.  The free clinics are being presented in an effort to expose more junior golfers to the game and to help those who already play to improve their abilities and enjoyment.  Optional discounted golf on the 9-hole Academy course will be available at the conclusion of each clinic for participants and parents/guardians.  The free clinic is an opportunity for kids to determine whether golf is a sport for them.
Neshanic Valley Golf Course Learning Center, 2301 South Branch Road, Branchburg 08853.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (Clinics are every Saturday in April)   Who: Ages 13-17.  How: Call the Neshanic Valley Learning Center at 908-369-8232 Cost: Free.
For more info: Go to www.somersetcountyparks.orgor call 908-369-8232.


 Planning on sticking around for Spring Vacation? – check out these (relatively) local possibilities:
IDEAS FOR YOUR SPRING STAY-CATION:
If the kids are driving you nuts during the Spring vacation, here are some ideas to entertain them within driving distance of home. Click the links to get more information.
  • My, what big teeth you have! The Digging Dinosaur Exhibit opens at the Morris Museum. (The Morris Museum has Super Science Saturdays and other programs for children as well.)
  • The Touch Tunnel is back at the Liberty Science Center! See how long it takes to navigate the pitch-black maze without using your eyes.
  • If the kids are bouncing around the house out of boredom, then take them to indoor play zone like Kid Junction in Branchburg. The Open Play option makes it easy to drop in when you just can't stay in the house any longer!
  • Did you know there's a zoo right in the middle of NJ? The Animal Kingdom Zoo in Bordentown houses an extensive wild animal collection--some of which are endangered. Teach your kids the importance of preserving the environment while they visit with their favorite animals.
  • Head on down to The Adventure Aquarium in Camden for the wildly popular Spring break event, Button's Birthday Bash. Party with Fisher Price's Little PeopleTM. Marvel at circus performers, and watch as Button the 3,000 lb. hippo devours a watermelon cake with vegetable decorations.
  • The Princeton Art Museum has a self-guided tour, The Writings is on the Wall, with activities for families to do together. Introduce your kids to the world of art or let their creative juices flow with thoughtful discussion and interaction.
(Thanks to Ruth Ross at njartsmaven.com for these listings.)

Youth-Spring-Break-Programs-RVCC-SomersetCounty-NJRVCC is also offering quite a few Spring Break Classes for Kids (April 18-21st). Click here for details.





Rutgers Day 2011



Rutgers Day 2011  Saturday April 30th 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. rain or shine.   A full day of discovery awaits visitors of all ages at the Busch, College Avenue, and Cook/Douglass campuses at this year’s Rutgers Day.  Click here for more information.




clip_image002_thumb The Children’s Museum’s next program  Earth Day Celebration takes place on Saturday April 30th from 1 to 4 PM in The PeopleCare Center, 120 Finderne Ave., Bridgewater. Suggested donation is $3 per child. More info is available at 908-595-0001 or www.childrensmuseumnj.org.

  5/1 BIG JEFF/CHILDREN'S CONCERT..at Farmstead Arts. Six foot, six inch singer song writer, "Big Jeff" DeSmedt will perform the first children's concert at Farmstead Arts on May 1. Jeff's blend of humor, learning and "super-interactive" audience participation has been captivating young audiences across the New York Metropolian area. Sunday, 2:30 - 3:30 PM. Children and seniors: $10, adults $20, children under 6, $5. Purchase tickets on line at www.farmsteadbigjeff.eventbrite.com. Farmstead Arts, 450 King George Road, Basking Ridge. More info: www.farmsteadartscenter.org or call 1-347-927-8748 (1-347-9ARTS4U)



Looking for more things to do?  Check out the many Events Listings under the USEFUL LINKS FOR FAMILIES  on the right side of our blog.  Two very useful events consolidators for our area are Hillsborough Macaroni Kid & Warren Macaroni Kid. 



Let Your Fingers Do MORE Walking:
Screen-Free Week  is April 18-24
Want to try to wean your family from constant media?  The Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood's annual Screen-Free Week is coming up April 18-24. One week, no screens -- for entertainment  (work, school, information-searching allowed.)    If your family is interested, check the Campaign’s link for more information.  And check out one mom's take on a media break from Commonsense Media (and remember, the library has lots of wonderful books for individual and family reading – including Lane Smith’s very clever picture book It’s a Book! – a hysterical look at the possibilities of this battery-free, non Wi-Fi device! 

Speaking of books,  Commonsense Media this week features a booklist on Raising a Kinder Kid – books that may encourage empathy in your children.  They also have some timely tips on Cyber bullying.