Alex Berkley making snowflakes for Mashomak’s Saturday Seedling Program. (Credit: Rebecca Kusa)
Island parents facing the cold winter months need not worry about finding an abundance of activities for their children outside of school schedules.
Shelter Island Public Library
The 10+ 3D Printer Pen will be available this Friday, January 20th at 4pm. Create your own 3D creations with this super cool technology.
The 10+ party is from 1-3pm and is a fun afternoon of skating to music and drinking hot chocolate. Meet at the North Ferry for this private library skating event with friends. Roller skate rentals are included, but you are welcome to bring your own. A permit is required. For more information, see Sara Garcia in the Library.
An indoor program for younger children is a paper plate snowman craft for ages 2-5. You can pick up your kit between Tuesday, January 24th and Saturday, January 28th. A fun and easy craft for those days when it’s too cold to go outside, perfect for little fingers.
Paint Pouring is an activity for ages 10 and up on Wednesday, January 25 at 3:00 PM Pour, drip, drop and drizzle paint to shake off the winter doldrums with an afternoon of wild paint experiments .
Mashomak Preserve
Mashomack hosts a seedling program on Saturdays in February titled “I Love Nature”. There are not many places where you can get so many opportunities to come into contact with nature.
On Saturday, February 4th from 9-10am, kids can explore the natural world around us and learn about the different animals and habitats at the reserve. Activities include crafts, refreshments, and/or trail exploration. Ages 4-8. Advance registration is required. e-mail [email protected] to secure your place.
A fuller program will be offered during the winter vacation. “Winter in the Woods” takes place on Friday, February 24th from 9am to 2pm. Children can spend the day with this special winter vacation program at Mashomak.
Explore the forest on foot or by truck, build a nesting box for your bird companions, look for signs of deer and other wildlife, and create winter-themed treats. For ages 7-10. $50, scholarship available. Advance registration is required.Registration will open by email at the end of his January [email protected] Questions until then.
Sylvester Manor
School holidays are a great time to stay at Sylvester Manor, where Shelter Island School District’s “Vivaldi Break” takes place during school breaks. His next session is February 20-24. Children experience a dynamic, science-based rewilding curriculum created in the spirit of kindness and compassion.
All sessions will run through Vivaldi’s Four Seasons throughout the week, focusing on musical representations of the seasons inspired by the natural world. Children create art, listen to stories, design dolls, build animal burrows and plant saplings while developing a connection to the world from the forest or farm.
The program runs from 10am to 2pm for children ages 5 to 10 and can be enrolled on a daily or weekly basis.
All year round, Shelter Island residents receive a 50% discount.
The daily rate is $140 per day (non-residents) / $70 per day (residents).
Weekly fee is $600/week (non-resident)/$300/week (resident).
Shelter Island Recreation Town
Shelter Island Recreation offers fun after-school games and activities on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (2:45-5:00 PM). Wear sneakers for active games.
Children are picked up after school by the Recreation Officer and taken to the Youth Center. Parent attendance is not required. Pre-registration is required for this program. Contact Recreation Director Bethany Ortmann — [email protected] or 631-749-0309.
This program runs through the Shelter Island Community Center school year from Pre-K (age 4) through 4th grade. Fees: $10 per child per day.