By Andrew Coen
With many families not making travel plans this year, that upcoming vacation week can seem like endless days with house-bound children looking for something to do.
Families don’t have to look too far. Hofstra University has partnered with Long Island Children’s Museum for its first “Family Fun Day,” on Feb. 19. Parents will be able treat their children to some hands-on activities while all can enjoy a high-caliber women’s college basketball.
“We realize that a lot of families aren’t going away this year. We want to give them an opportunity to get of the house for an all-around family day,” said Genevieve Haney, Hofstra University’s assistant director of marketing and promotions.
The action kicks off at 10:30 a.m. inside the Mack Sports Complex on Hofstra’s north campus. A 90-minute pre-game festival includes such hands-on activities as face painting, interactive games presented by the Long Island Children’s Museum, arts and crafts, a bounce house, and raffles with prizes. The basketball action tips off at noon when Hofstra battles 17-time defending Colonial Athletic Association champion Old Dominion in a key conference battle.
Long Island's professional sports teams are also take part. Families can meet the mascots from the New York Islanders, Long Island Ducks and Long Island Lizards, and have an opportunity to support their favorite team by buying team merchandise.
“It’s going to be a carnival-like atmosphere before a basketball game,” said Rocky Silverstri, Hofstra’s assistant director of athletics for marketing and promotions. “We’re really making it a fun event.”
A section of the 5,046-seat Mack Sports Complex’s stands will be set aside for the family activities, which will continue until the end of the first half. There will also be a halftime basketball game with local Special Olympics athletes. On-court activities involving children will also take place throughout the Hofstra-Old Dominion game during timeouts.
Hofstra will face a stiff test in Thursday’s matinee in taking on an Old Dominion program they have only beaten once since joining the CAA in 2001. Early in the season, Old Dominion was ranked in the top 25 after toppling then 13th ranked Texas on Nov. 17 while playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules. The Monarchs, coached by legendary head coach Wendy Larry, have a storied program that has reached three Final Fours and captured the 1985 national championship.
“It’s a game my kids will be very up for,” said Hofstra women’s basketball head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey. “It should be a very exciting game to watch.”
Hofstra has had a solid season thus far posting a 14-8 record and 6-5 in the CAA, thanks to a balanced offensive attack led by junior center Jess Fuller (13 points per game) and freshman guard Nicole Capurso, who has drained a team high 43 three pointers.
Following growing pains with a 5-25 record last year, the Pride’s young team is second in the nation for the biggest turnaround season.
“My team knows we can compete with anybody,” said Coach Kilburn-Steveskey, a Point lookout resident. “We just have to play a complete game.”
In addition to having a successful season on the court, Coach Kilburn-Steveskey’s squad has proven to be role models off the court by conducting numerous clinics for local youth basketball teams who have become loyal fans. Many of the Pride players have even made an effort to attend some of the players’ games and practices completely on their own in appreciation, said Kilburn-Steveskey.
“We want the fans to have a personal connection with our players because our players love it,” she said. “They like the connection with the fans and families that come to the game.”
After the Feb. 19 matinee against Old Dominion, the Pride will have two more home games against Virginia Commonwealth on Feb. 22, at 2 p.m., and March 1 versus UNC-Wilmington, with a 1 p.m. tip-off. For further information about Hofstra’s Family Fun Day or the remaining schedule, call 516-463-TIXX or visit www.hofstra.edu/athletics.
Family Fun Day is sponsored by Herald Community Newspapers.
Photo: LICM Bubbles
Cap: Kids are fascinated by bubbles at Long Island’s Children’s Museum’s popular program.
Photo: LICM Marble Game
Cap: Where will the marble land? Test your skills with “Bounce Eye,” presented by LICM, and find out.
On the
road...
Long Island Children's Museum visits Hofstra
By Karen Bloom
Families are familiar with the full slate of activities the Long Island Children’s Museum provides during school break weeks. This time around, LICM takes to the road as it joins Hofstra University for its Family Fun Day. “We always like to bring cultural activities into the community,” said Maureen Mangan, Long Island Children’s Museum director of communications and marketing.
LICM staff will entice kids with four interactive programs at the pre-game festival. A main attraction is the museum’s popular Bubbles activity in which kids learn about the unique properties of bubbles by playing with bubble wands, making “bubble art” prints, and become bubble “scientists.” Youngsters will also have a chance to test their athletic skills with a ring toss game and the Australian game of “Bounce Eye,” a marble game in which players hold marbles three feet above a board and drop them to see where they land.
Then, to build some additional excitement for the day’s main event, everyone can make streamers at an arts and crafts workshop to cheer on Hofstra during the game.
After the game concludes, if families aren’t ready for the day to end, they can continue on to the museum, which has a full day of winter break programming scheduled. Visitors to Family Fun Day will receive coupons offering free admission to the museum.
Hofstra University’s Family Fun Day
When: Feb. 19; doors open at 10:30 a.m., tip off is at noon.
Cost: $5 admission, includes ticket to the game.
Where: Hofstra University's Mack Sports Complex, North Campus, Hempstead.
