Granite State Stuff : Kids & Family

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center Opening Celebration Free Admission for the Weekend

AskLisa — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:11:00 GMT

On Friday, March 6, the new McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will welcome the public to explore, discover, and be inspired from 4 to 9 p.m. Admission to the Discovery Center is free for the opening weekend, Friday, March 6 through Sunday, March 8, courtesy of Northeast Delta Dental.

"We are pleased to sponsor this opportunity for the public to visit the new Discovery Center," said Tom Raffio, President & CEO of Northeast Delta Dental. "As neighbors and ongoing supporters, we are excited about the learning opportunities that the Discovery Center will provide as a regional resource."

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will be constantly evolving. New exhibitions, programs and simulation experiences will be added in three major phases, beginning with this Phase One opening on March 6. Special Phase One opening weekend programming includes:

Friday, March 6; 4 to 9 p.m.
•       Guided tours through the exhibits
•       Educational programs and demonstrations
•       Dawn of the Space Age will be featured in the planetarium
•       Free guided sky watch outside, courtesy of NH Astronomical Society
        (weather permitting)

Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
•       Guided tours through the exhibits
•       Educational programs, demonstrations, guided observatory sky watches
•       Dawn of the Space Age featured in the planetarium, along with Tonight's Sky,
        Oasis in Space, Our Place in Space
•       Special guests Fritz Weatherbee (Saturday) and caricature artist Erica Golter    (Sunday)

For a full schedule of Opening Weekend programming, visit http://www.starhop.com.

The new McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a lively science center, featuring 21st century interactive exhibits on aviation, astronomy, Earth and space sciences, a state-of-the-art planetarium and a variety of science and engineering programs.

The engaging, robust educational programs are geared towards families, teens, seniors, students, community groups, and lifelong learners of all ages. The Discovery Center will also offer space for conferences and special events, and a NASA Educator Resource Center.

Currier Museum waives admission charges for February School Vacation Week, February 23-27

AskLisa — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:10:00 GMT

This winter during school vacation week, February 23-27, bring the family to the Currier Museum of Art on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday to enjoy the museum's collections and programs for free (the museum is closed on Tuesdays). The Currier is offering special programs this week for the entire family to enjoy including story time, family gallery talks, hands-on activities, tours, and a performance. Free admission for the week is underwritten by the Citizens Bank Foundation. Museum admission is also free every Saturday from 10 a.m. - noon and always free to children under 18.

"The Currier recognizes that in this challenging economy many families may chose to stay closer to home and will look for local family-friendly activities," said Currier director Susan Strickler. "We want to support our community by providing free museum admission during vacation week so our extraordinary collections and programs are accessible to everyone during this uncertain time. We are extremely grateful to Citizens Bank Foundation for making this possible."

"Citizens Bank Foundation is proud to partner with the Currier to offer admission-free weeks to families during February and April school vacation," said Cathleen A. Schmidt, president of Citizens Bank. "This is a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy a cultural experience together, at virtually zero cost."

February Vacation Programming (please note the Currier is closed Tuesdays)

Museum Tour
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12:30 p.m.
Welcome to the Currier: Highlights of the Collection
Discover the Currier's renowned collection with a public tour.

Storytime in the Gallery
Monday, February 23, 11:30 a.m.
Looking for a way to introduce your preschooler to art? Come to the Currier for an art-related story, Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh read by Manchester City Library children's librarian Karyn Isleb. Then enjoy a talk about Woman Seated in a Chair by Pablo Picasso in the galleries. Recommended for ages 3 to 5, but all are welcome

Story in the Gallery
Monday, February 23, 1 p.m.
When Pigasso Met Mootise by Nina Laden will be read by Manchester City Library children's librarian Karyn Isleb followed by a family gallery talk about the painting Woman Seated in a Chair by Pablo Picasso.

Family Studio
Wednesday, February 25, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Adults and children can drop by one of the beautiful new museum studios to participate in an art-related activity and brief gallery talk about the "Artwork of the Day." February's Family Studio theme is "Winter Blahs."

Family Drawing in the Galleries
Thursday, February 26, 1 – 3 p.m.
Enjoy drawing? Bring the family to the Currier and sketch amongst the works of art on view. An art educator will be available to offer advice and encouragement. Pencils and paper will be provided, or bring your own.

Family Performance "The Picasso People"
Friday, February 27, 1 p.m.
"The Picasso People" use creative costuming and masks enlivened by music, mime, and puppetry, to set Picasso's masterpieces into motion. A single actor embodies more than a dozen Picasso "people" in this professional production, translating the energy behind Picasso's work into an array of clever stories which reveal how his life experiences.

Focus Tour – Springtime in Winter
Friday, February 27, 3 p.m.
Focus Tours offer visitors the opportunity to join docents and staff members in the galleries for an in-depth discussion of a particular theme, work of art, or artist. Docent Carolyn Hollman will lead the tour.

About Citizens Bank Foundation
Citizens Bank Foundation is a subsidiary of the Citizens Charitable Foundation, which is a charitable contributions vehicle of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The foundation's support is focused on housing, community development and basic human needs CFG's Web site is http://www.citizensbank.com.

About the Currier
The Currier Museum of Art (http://www.currier.org) in Manchester, NH is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase highlights of the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy new café filled with light and equipped with WiFi.

The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages. The museum also owns the Zimmerman House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with the original furnishings and the owners' fine art collection. The Zimmerman House is the only Wright-designed house in New England open for public tours which are offered April – December. For more information, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, x108.

Kids Ski Free for New Hampshire Vacation Week in Waterville Valley

AskLisa — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:08:00 GMT

New Hampshire's February school break turns out to be a real break for families with a "Kids Ski Free" package deal that includes lodging and lift tickets at Waterville Valley Resort. For each paid adult, one child can get a free lift ticket. The package also includes a 50 percent discount on rentals, group lessons and all-day "Kids Venture Kamps" and child care. The package is priced from $43 per person, per night, quad-occupancy, with a two-night minimum stay required and at least two adults in the party. The package is available February 22 to 26, 2009.

This ski package includes access to the White Mountain Athletic Club with its indoor pool, Jacuzzis and steam rooms, plus the use of Waterville Valley Resort's free bio-diesel-powered shuttle bus. During this time, Waterville Valley's recreation department will host daily programs for kids, as well as art classes, kid's night out, yoga, crafts, and many more activities for children and adults. See watervillevalley.org/wvnh_recreation.html for more details.

At Waterville Valley's Rey Center, visiting children may take part in "chalk talks" and other activities. The Curious Kids program takes children and families into the White Mountain National Forest for learning experiences. See www.reycenter.com for more details on the Rey Center programs.

Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire's White Mountains is well known for its ski mountain, which has trails and activities for all skill-levels and ages. Boarders and hot-doggers, alpine and Nordic enthusiasts, kids and senior citizens can each find a niche on the slopes and trails. Kids' Venture Kamps offer "venture zones" designed with small features that build skiing and snowboarding skills. The Silver Streaks is an over-50 club that welcomes visitors.

Waterville Valley is just a 2-hour drive from Boston. Visitors to the valley can park the car once and relax for their stay. The valley is very walkable, plus everything is connected by a free shuttle that circulates constantly.

Waterville Valley Resort offers 250 skiable acres with snowmaking ability on every trail. The ski area peaks at 4,004 feet, with a vertical drop of 2,020 feet, 52 trails and 12 lifts.

For those who like their skiing with a little less altitude, Waterville Valley's Nordic Center features 75 km of wide-groomed trails with terrain for every ability level, groomed daily for both skate and classic skiing styles. Skiers take off from the Nordic Center in the Valley's quaint Town Square, or just step out the door of their vacation rental--the trails are only steps away from most of the resort's accommodations.

Every trail offers incredible views of the surrounding White Mountain National Forest. Warming huts along the trails make it easy to stop for a rest and a snack, and the Nordic Center offers a welcoming fireplace at the end of the run.

Waterville Valley was designed and planned specifically as a self-contained, four-season resort. In addition to its world-class ski area, Waterville Valley Resort has award-winning tennis courts, golf, hiking, biking, lodging, cultural activities and summer theater, an indoor ice rink, boating, a skate park, and a host of outdoor activities. Dining options include traditional favorites and elegant dining. For more information, call 1-800-GO-VALLEY or visit http://www.visitwatervillevalley.com.

The Currier Museum Art Center offers Family Comics Workshop

AskLisa — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:53:00 GMT

Every family has its own special stories. Now, your family's favorite anecdotes and tales could become an exciting new comic book!

On Saturday, March 15, the Currier Art Center will offer a Family Comics workshop. From 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., cartoonist and educator Marek Bennett will lead family teams in creating original comics that draw on their unique family stories. Participants will design cartoon versions of family members, interview each other, and create their own sequential graphic narratives (otherwise known as comic strips or comic books).

Since 2002, Marek Bennett's Comics Workshops have brought engaging, creative comics education to students of all ages. By composing original stories with pictures, words and symbols, students practice vital skills of literacy and artistic expression. Specific programs mix cooperative groups and individual work, dramatic reading exercises, and creative design of self-published comics projects. Bennett also draws the weekly newspaper comic strip "Mimi's Doughnuts," and teaches science, music, and Spanish at the Hopkinton Independent School.

To register for the Currier Art Center's workshops, call 603-669-6144, ext. 122 or visit http://www.currier.org for more information.

For more information about Bennett's Comics Workshop programs, see: http://www.marekbennett.com