Winter in Rochester!
Winter is here!Indoor Recreation Centers Master list of local libraries: Quick links to their events Great Winter Hikes in Central/Western New York Museums and family fun centers  How to Bully-Proof Your Child: Practical Tips Those wacky Webster Children's Librarians! 
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KidsOutAndAbout.com newsletterSent May 30, 2008Click here to sign up for the newsletter. Dear KOA readers: This afternoon, the CMAC publicists (who are based in New York City) will draw the winner of the KidsOutAndAbout.com Laurie Berkner concert ticket giveaway, so for those of you who haven't sent in an entry, there is still a little more time. The Laurie Berkner Band will be at CMAC in Canandaigua at 1pm on June 8, and the publicists are giving away a Family Four-Pack of tickets to the show for a lucky KOA reader. They sent me a note on Monday, by the way -- they were really impressed that within a short time after this newsletter hit inboxes last Friday, they had 300 entries. (I like showing folks in the entertainment industry that there is more to New York State than the five boroughs, and that Rochester should definitely be included on family-friendly big-name tours.) To enter the drawing (PLEASE do not enter more than once, though!), go to: As I mentioned last week, if you are not the winner of the tickets but want to take your kids to the show, DO NOT order tickets without using this special code to get a discount off a family four-pack: KIDS. Instead of $35 apiece for shell seats, they're $25, as long as you use the secret code. And if you choose lawn seats, they're $20 apiece instead of $25 for the Family Four-Pack with that same secret code, KIDS. (Children under 1 are admitted free, by the way.) The Ticketmaster link is at: 2) Strong National Museum of Play has a new exhibit opening in about a week: Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog™ is an immersive, “paws-on” exhibit on view from June 7 through September 1. (Seems those busy folks over there never stop offering new stuff for our kids...I have yet to get myself over to see the Berenstain Bears section, life has been so busy this spring.) And, for those of you in the market for a Strong membership, there is a special code that you can use through June 30 to save $10 on a family membership: Go to https://museumofplay.diginex.com/membership and use code PA10 to get your $10 discount. 3) Speaking of PBS shows: When we were living in Virginia for a year in 2006, my daughter Ella (then 4/5) really liked the shows on the PBS Sprout network. This cable network is exclusively for preschoolers, and features shows such as Bob the Builder, Jay Jay the Jet Plane, Noddy, and many others. I liked that they were gentle, educational, and safe, as well as engaging, so Ella wasn't tempted by the more inappropriately stimulating shows for older kids on different networks. She particularly liked the fact that our cable network in Virginia carried PBS Sprout on Demand, and so she could choose from rotating episodes of Angelina Ballerina. Anyway, I was kind of surprised to discover that Time Warner doesn't carry PBS Sprout here in Rochester (although Sprout is available on DIRECTV channel 295 as part of the Choice Xtra package). Sprout seems to be better than ever: They now have lovely online interactive educational activities for parents and preschoolers to do together, at http://www.sproutonline.com. It turns out, though, that there is a telephone number that you could call to alert Time Warner if you'd like them to offer PBS Sprout in the Rochester area: It's 866-9-SPROUT. It seemed to me that there would be enough parents interested in this here to warrant passing the info on. Update 5/31: Several alert readers let me know that digital cable On Demand DOES have Sprout, as channel 706. Thanks, alert readers! 4) I get emails all the time from folks telling me they mistakenly deleted last week's e-newsletter and can I please resend some info. That's fine, I'm happy to do that...but I just thought I should let you know that in March, I started archiving all of the weekly e-newsletters. Just go to the red "Newsletter" tab on the top of any KOA page, and then click on "Click here for a list of archived KOA newsletters." I've been adding photos each week (almost always of my own kids -- copyright issues, you know) along with the newsletters, so enjoy. 5) Are you still dithering about activities for the kids for the summer? So am I, so are thousands of other parents. Procrastinators like us help keep camp slots open, often until the last minute...I'm sure we cause the camp and activity organizers to pull their hair out wondering if they'll have enough participants, but it does mean that there are typically spots left in all but the most popular camps. You can check out our 22 different types of camps, filled with dozens of camp offerings, at: 
6) As such a performance-oriented area, Rochester has its share of terrific music and drama camps for kids. I found out this week that two 2-week musical theater camps offered by A Magical Journey Thru Stages are still open. Each has a performance at the end: For ages 10-15, John Barthelmes is running a camp for a production of Mulan, Jr. That runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday from August 4 through 15, with performances August 15 and 16. For ages 5-10, Cara D'Emanuele is offering a camp for a production of The Aristocats. Camp runs from 9 a.m.-NOON, Monday through Friday, July 21 through August 1, with performances August 1 and 2. Both of these directors are well-known throughout Rochester; in addition, my daughter Madison has worked with both of them and has found their classes and camps to be top-notch. The prices are reasonable, especially when you consider it's a two-week camp. For more information, go to: 
7) Apropos of absolutely nothing, isn't broccoli hard to wash? I always break the little flowerets when I try to pull them apart to get the spray in there sufficiently. 8) Thank you so much for those teacher gift suggestions! I have compiled and put them up on a page at http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/main-articles/TeacherGifts.html Now is the time to coordinate with the other parents in your kids' classes, teams, scout troops, etc. Our kids' leaders need to see our (and their) appreciation. Keep the suggestions coming, please!!! 9) On September 21, 2008, the MOMS Club of Henrietta West is hosting a Scrapbooking Day fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester at the Diplomat Party from 9-5. Tickets are $35 for early registration before July 1, and after that, they are $40, including all meals, snacks, and some activities. A massage therapist will be on hand to pamper participants, and Creative Memories consultants will assist as needed with scrapbooking ideas. At this point, they are accepting registrations, and also are interested in donations from local businesses (including home-based businesses) for the raffle, proceeds of which go to the Breast Cancer Coalition. Any donations would be greatly appreciated, and are tax-deductible. I don't have the public contact information at the moment, so email me directly if you're interested and I will put you in touch with the right people. 10) Competitive cheerleading teams are now forming through Premier Cheer. There will be an information meeting on June 5. Tryouts are free. See the KOA calendar for more information. 11) If you're a home schooler wondering how to teach your kids writing, or if you're looking to help your child develop writing skills this summer, I have a link for you! Erika Dreifus, over at her site The Practicing Writer, has a post with links to some terrific articles about how to teach imaginative writing. That link is at: 12) What's up this weekend? Wicked is at the Auditorium Theatre all weekend. Tonight is the Stick Horses on Parade special event at the Red Wings Game. The event starts at 6pm, and the game starts at 7:05pm. Event proceeds will support the EquiCenter, a not-for-profit therapeutic horse center located in Mendon that benefits people with disabilities and at-risk youth throughout our community. Fireworks to follow the game (as with every Friday night Red Wings game). The Red Wings are also playing Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. There is a Night Hike tonight at the Genesee Country Nature Center at 7:30. It's called Bats, Bugs, and Beaver. The cost is only $5/$3 but reservations are required. Call 585-538-6822. There is a Prince and Princess Party tonight at 7pm at the Barnes & Noble in Webster, and an American Girl Club Meeting at 7pm at the B & N in Pittsford Plaza. There is a free Chamber Music Connection Concert at 5pm today at Hochstein School of Music & Dance. Saturday morning, the Little Theatre is presenting Superman: The Movie at 10am as part of its Little Buddies series. Cost is $5. As reported in last week's newsletter, tomorrow there will be an information meeting for the newly-forming Open School of Rochester at 11am at Pittsford Community Library. The Rochester Regional Invention Convention will be on display at Strasenburgh Planetarium at the RMSC from 3pm-5pm Saturday afternoon. Saturday at 6:30pm is a Magic Tree House book group at Barnes & Noble in Pittsford. Saturday at 7:30pm there is a Rochester Rattlers Outdoor Lacrosse game at PAETEC Park. Saturday evening at 8pm, there will be a free outdoor movie in Sweden Town Park in Brockport: The Sandlot III - Heading Home, it's free, courtesy of ZuperMovies. Sunday afternoon at 2pm is the last OrKIDStra concert of the year, at the performance hall at Hochstein. The theme is: Express Yourself. Sunday afternoon from 12-4pm at Genesee Country Nature Center is a Family Fun Day entitled Swamp Stomp. Bring your boots! The Rhinos have a soccer game on Sunday evening at 6pm at PAETEC Park. Don't forget, all of these events and many more are listed on this week's calendar at Have a great weekend as we sail into June!
Debra Ross Click here to sign up for the newsletter if you are not yet subscribed. . |
What's new!What to do in Rochester's winter Click to see live giveaways!Updated 1/5 with a special TYKES Theatre drawing! A whole kid's party on a CD: A review of ScrapSMART Food Shopping Away from the Grocery Store Shopping for Food Bargains in and around Rochester  New! Reviews of great new family board games New! Indoor recreation and play places 
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