By JILL ADAMS
If the holidays present too much unstructured time for your kids, local museums are ready to fill the void.
The activities range from artistic to scientific, and all include educational components in fresh settings and hands-on projects that make ideas concrete. As far as schedules go, the excursions range from a four-day camp to an afternoon class to a spontaneous drop-in activity.
Whodunnit at CMOST
At the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in Troy, kids from 6 to 10 years old can learn about the science of crime solving at Science Detectives Camp to be held Tuesday, Dec. 26 through Tuesday, Dec. 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The camp begins with a setup.
We’ll stage a little crime, said Sarah Fisk, director of education and museum Experience. `Then day by day, we’ll go through the steps of solving that crime.`
Activities will relate to different methods of crime solving and the science behind some of those methods. Memory activities, fingerprinting and lip printing, and methods to determine the type of pen used will get young gumshoes started.
Specialists will come each day to show kids how crime-solving techniques are used in real life. In addition to a state police officer and a forensic scientist, a molecular biologist will demonstrate how to extract DNA from a banana. These visits underscore a grander goal of the camp, to expose kids to different career choices.
`The specialists help make it real,` says Fisk, and show kids two things: how science relates to real life and you can have fun at work.
To register, call 518.235-2120 or visit the Web site, www.childrensmuseum.org. The fee is $180; museum members get a discount.
Art in Albany
The Albany Institute for History and Art is running a December Vacation Art Break for children between the ages of 6 and 12. Three different sessions will be held Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 27 to 29 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm.
Each session starts with a visit to the galleries to focus on specific aspects of painting and sculpture. Then kids will adjourn to the art studio to create their own masterpieces.
The format is tried and true, but the programs are all new, said Kristen Schweigard, public and family programs coordinator. And they are tied to the mission of the institute, `to expose them to a broad range of ideas and art forms,` she said.
One session focuses on snowy cityscapes. Schweigard said kids are asked how snow falls and how it would fall onto a building. Their suggestions are supplemented by examining snowy scenes in specific paintings.
Back in the studio, kids will `make a multi-layered snowy cityscape using paper, pastel and paint.` The process is broken down into steps, first designing the cityscape, then doing rubbings to add texture to the paper, then adding paint, she says.
The other two sessions are about sculpture.
Sessions are filling up quickly. To register, contact Schweigard at 518.463.4478 Ext. 435 or [email protected].
Afternoons in Schenectady
The Schenectady Museum has afternoon activities scheduled for Tuesday through Friday, Dec. 26 to 29.
December Break Wonder of Science sessions run between 1 and 4 p.m.; museum-goers can drop in anytime. Activities are recommended for second graders and up, with one exception– the chemistry session on Tuesday.
`Making slime is something that any child three to 103 can do,` said Ilene Frank, director of public programs and education.
Parents are expected to supervise their children, but Frank said they could participate or stand back as they wish.
`We have educators are in the room to help kids,` she said.
On Wednesday, kids will make an electroscope, a simple device that measures static electricity and is related to the museum’s Power House exhibit.
A physics activity on Thursday is about `persistence of vision,` said Frank. Kids can make a device that tricks the eyes into seeing two images as one. Friday presents alternative energy.
Activities are free with museum admission. For information, call 382-7890 or visit the Web site, www.schenectadymuseum.org.
Kids stuff in Saratoga
You can lead up to the new year at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga, where there will be vacation workshops from Tuesday, Dec. 26 through Friday, Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
The programs are designed for ages 4 and older, and help round out the museum experience for young children.
`Kids get a little break from doing things at the museum,` said Ashley Terwilliger, the museum’s director of education. `They have something they can bring home with them.`
During the week, kids can make kaleidoscopes, jigsaw puzzles, marbleized paper, and crowns.
The vacation workshops have been taking place for five years, since the museum moved into its location at 69 Caroline St. in Saratoga Springs. There is a $3 material fee, and registration is necessary. For information, call the museum at 584-5540.“