Must See Nature & Science Exhibits and After-School Programs

Must See Nature & Science Exhibits and After-School Programs: Here’s your guide to nature and science enrichment programs and interactive exhibits in & around our towns and beyond. 

Neigh! Arcadia Farm, Yorktown Heights: Arcadia Farm is a training and boarding stable that provides the full care, schooling and training of the horse and lessons for their riders. Arcadia specializes in the hunter, equitation, and jumper divisions. Arcadia Farm also offers lessons and horsemanship camps for young riders in a safe, fun environment. Call Molly or Patty at 914 455 2477  or arcadia6706@aol.com. (1300 Baptist Church Rd., Yorktown Heights; www.arcadiafarminc.com)

Young Geek Alert! Computer Adventures, Mt. Kisco: Computer Adventures offers after school computer and enrichment classes and birthday parties for grades 1-8. The curriculum includes animation, digital graphics, game design, electronics, programming and robotics. Popular classes include LEGO Brick Films, Python Programming, Web Design, and Minecraft Mod Programming. (605 Millwood Road, 914.218.8175; www.computeradventures.com)

For eco-geeks & hikers! Audubon Greenwich, Greenwich: Audubon Greenwich encompasses seven nature sanctuaries with great hiking trails and a vibrant education center and nature store. They offer year-round nature programs, a summer nature day camp, birthday parties and conservation-themed events throughout the year. Some signature events include a Spring Native Plant Sale, Great Backyard Bird Count a Citien Science program for kids, and their Annual Fall Festival and Hawk Watch. (613 Riversville Rd., www.greenwich.audubon.org)

Hilltop Hanover Farm & Nature Center, Yorktown Heights: Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center is a nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, community education, and accessible food systems for all. They offer a variety of youth education programs including summer and school break mini-camps, a U-pick farm stand  and seasonal events such as a spring plant sale, and spring and fall farm festivals. (1271 Hanover St., Yorktown Heights 914.962.2368; www.hilltophanoverfarm.org)

Hudson River Museum Planetarium, Yonkers: The Hudson River Museum Planetarium presents three weekend shows year-round from a collection of seventeen live and multi-media programs for kids, pre-k to 12. The shows range in scope from One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure produced by Sesame Workshop and the Liberty Science Center and The Victorian’s Guide to the Galaxies, that explores what 19th century scientists knew about the universe, to The Sky Tonight’s live tour of the heavens. (511 Warburton Avenue; www.hrm.org)

Must “Sea” TV! Maritime Aquarium, Norwalk: The Maritime Aquarium is Must “Sea” TV with an 11,000 gallon shark tank, harbor seals, river otters, sea turtles, a jellyfish dome, and (our kid’s favorites) shark and ray touch pool and moon jelly touch tank. They show three nature movies daily in their six-story IMAX movie theater and themed screenings of Hollywood movies. They offer a host of educational and recreational cruises on the Long Island Sound on their eco-friendly R/V Spirit of the Sound catamaran. (10 N. Water Street, Norwalk; www.maritimeaquaurium.org)

Local! Muscoot Farm, Katonah: This 777 acre county-run farm education center was a dairy farm from 1870 to 1920. It features over 50 animals, and a dozen historic buildings including the farm’s magnificent main house, a milk house, ice house, brooder house, and carriage house. The farm is open for self-guided tours, hiking on 6+ miles of trail and their in-season farmers market. Their active event schedule features art shows, bird walks, kids crafts and animal workshops, magic shows and storytelling. Their many signature events include Mapling Sundays, Morning Farm Chores, Movies on the Farm, Shakespeare on the Farm, Sheep Shearing, and a Run the Farm 5K and fun run. (51 NY-100, Katonah, 914.864.7282; www.muscootfarm.org)

Soundwaters After School Saililng, Stamford, CT: The SoundWaters After-school Science and Sailing curriculum is focused on teaching students the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that are inherent to sailing and offers a deeper look into many of the environmental science concepts learned during weekly experiments. The program meets twice a week for 3 hours a day after school for 10 sessions for beginners to seasoned racers. (Cove Island Park 1281 Cove Rd., Stamford; 203.323.1978; www.soundwaters.org)

Stamford Museum & Nature Center, Stamford, CT: SMNC full range of fun enrichment programs for kids start includes a pre-school program, adult +child classes, drop-in and astronomy programs at their planetarium, summer camps, birthday parties, and signature after-school programs like Junior Curator and Wild! Keeper, Outdoor Adventures, and Format Yourself. Their annual special events include Spring Mapling Fest, Heckscher Farm Festival (meet the baby animals) in June and a Harvest Festival in October. (39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 203.322.1646; www.stamfordmuseum.org)

Our kids loved this place! Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk, CT: Stepping Stones Museum for Children offers special programs, performances and activities for visitors to enjoy – from exhibit-themed activities, arts and creative play to storytimes, sing-a-longs, and active play Tuesday through Sunday. Their entrenched exhibits include the wet and wonderful Energy Lab (our kids never tired of it), a Build It construction lab, an Express Yourself art, music and games area and so much more! Put this on your Kids Bucket List! (Matthews Park, 303 West Ave.; www.steppingstones.org)

Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, Pocantico Hills: Stone Barns offer a wide range of resources for students interested in learning how food and farming affects their lives, communities and the world around them. Their Insider’s Tours offers a behind-the-scenes view of Stone Barns where students can stroll through the greenhouse and planting fields and get to know the livestock. Warm weather weekends offer pop up talks and tours with one-day admission tickets. (Chappaqua Library offers free tickets.) Not to miss events are their Spring Sheep Shearing Fest in late April and their October Harvest Fest – which sells out early! (630 Bedford Rd. 914.366.6200; www.stonebarnscenter.org)

Stratford Stables, Purchase:This full-service facility has a 80 X 200 covered indoor arena as well as 100 X 300 fully lighted outdoor arena. Beautiful grass turnout is available in a quiet setting. Stratford Stables offers group and private lessons for beginner through competitive riders, leasing, boarding, sales and summer camp as well as a rated and local showing programs. Their summer camps program is coordinated with Future Stars camps at SUNY Purchase, right next door, so they can mix in swimming and field activities with the core riding program. (120 Cottage Ave., Purchase, 914.939.9294; www.stratfordstables.com)

Teatown Lake Reservation, Ossining: Teatown is a 1,000 acre nature preserve and education center dedicated to environmental stewardship. They offer a variety of environmental education programs for children in Pre–K through 6th grade, the Teatown Environmental Science Academy for high school students, summer and school break mini-camps, birthday parties, and a full plate of hiking, planting and animal adventure events. Plus popular annual events such as a spring plant show and EagleFest in February timed to follow the bald eagle’s migration through the Hudson Valley. (1600 Spring Valley Rd., Ossining 914.762.2912; www.teatown.org)

The Rewilding School, Somers: Founder Eric Stone and staff offer year round programs for kids and adults going off trail at Westchester’s wildest preserves. Their summer camps, Forest Preschool, Rewilding Home School, Scout and School Programs, Birthday Parties and Family Forest Weekends teach survival skills from archery to fishing to building shelters, tools and baskets. Plus guided hikes and hunt, fish and forage trips for adults. (914.589.9536; www.rewildingschool.com)

Massive expansion underway! Westchester Children’s Museum, Rye: The Westchester Children’s Museum recently broke ground on an expansion that will more than triple the footprint of this STEAM fun center for kids. When completed the 6500 square foot interactive museum will occupy 22,000 square feet of the historic landmark Hoch Laager Boardwalk Galleries at Rye’s Playland Park. Go now for a fun day of STEAM exploration in their MakerSpace, Build Your Own Roller Coaster, Wind Tunnel Design Challenge, Creativity Table, Toddler Beach and more. (100 Playland Park, Rye; www.discoverwcm.org)

Local! Westmoreland Sanctuary, Mt. Kisco: This non-profit wildlife preserve and nature center, in a 200 year old church, promotes nature appreciation, preservation and conservation on it’s 640 acres. It’s great for hiking and they offer after school conservation, exploration, survival and nature science programs, school recess and summer camps, and birthday parties. Mark your calendars for Spring Maple Fest, Summer Shakespeare (auditions in May), and Fall Orienteering Weekend, the ultimate treasure hunt with three courses for beginners through adults. (260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco, 914-666-8448; www.westmorelandsanctuary.org)

Get to know Atka! Wolf Conservation Center, South Salem: The WCC helps protect and preserve wolves in North America through science-based education, advocacy, and participation in federal recovery and release programs for the critically endangered Mexican gray wolf and red wolf. They physically safeguard 24 Mexican gray wolves, 20 red wolves and 3 Ambassador wolves on site. And offer education programs, a summer camp and year-round events such as Wolves of North America, a wolf meet & greet, Pack Chats, Evening Howls, Photo Sessions and their Sleeping With Wolves overnight family camp-out. (7 Buck Run, 914.763.2373; www.nywolf.org)

More Kids Stuff

,