Celebrating spring on Long Island

Spring fever has arrived, and with it, Earth Day on Friday, while families are occupied with school break. There’s much going on throughout the area, including Earth Day celebrations, to keep the kids happily occupied for the remainder of the spring recess.

Long Island Children’s Museum
As always, Long Island Children’s Museum is an excellent resource of activities that are enjoyable and creative for the toddler through elementary school set, throughout the school vacation period. The museum encourages visitors to explore (or re-explore) its popular main exhibit, “Cyberchase – The Chase Is On,” before it’s time to say goodbye to Digit and the other Cybersquad friends, when the exhibit leaves on May 1.
Besides spending time at the fascinating exhibit, based on PBS’s math mystery cartoon Cyberchase,” the museum offers a full slate of programming throughout the spring break period.
One of the highlights is Australia’s Terrapin Puppet Theater’s presentation of “Boats,” on Friday and Saturday, April 22-23, at 2 p.m. The innovative show involves classic storytelling that unfolds in front of the audience. Boats tells the tale of sailors Jof and Nic, a pair of life-long friends who met through bizarre circumstances involving a chicken, a deserted island and a sombrero. The moving performance features a twist at the end that will leave a lump in the audience’s throat and a smile on everyone’s face. Sound effects are created live, a boat is cut from bread, a bird tied from rope, a circus hides in a jacket, and finally a storm is made with a teacup. Each scene is a unique and highly inventive use of space and puppetry. The performance is suitable for ages 5 and up. Fee: $4 with museum admission ($3 members), $8 theater only.
Commemorate Earth Day at a special workshop on Saturday, April 23, “The Growing Tree,” from 2:30-4:30 p.m. All ages can make trees “grow” by using eco-friendly fabric scraps and recycled paper.