Starting to think that you may have some spare time in your schedule this summer to check out all the great local offerings that you can’t get to during the school year? It’s a beautiful time of year to explore sites and activities that inspire lasting summer memories to anchor your children to Buffalo for years to come. Check out a few local gems, both in and out of town…
The Backyard Atelier Drawing inspiration from the adventure playground movement (playwork), Reggio Emilia Approach and Forest schools of Europe, the Backyard Atelier is an outdoor, play-based early childhood program for ages 2.5-6 years. Located on 17 acres off of Southwestern with spaces called Mud Kitchen, Loose Parts Shed, Forts and Dens, Art Studio and State, Dirt, Sand and Water, children explore nature through open-ended, child-directed, loose parts, play. Woodsy Family Play also available for all ages on Friday mornings. Visit www.thebackyardatelier.com for Open House and Information Session Schedule. Located at 6069 Southwestern Blvd, Hamburg
Elements Hip Hop Summer Day Camp, hosted by Verve Dance Studio @ Wasteland Studios 700-block Main Street, Buffalo. Dance, make music, dj, and learn design from artists, musicians, and performers over one week or two. Registration includes July entry to Battle at Buffalo, an all-ages & families monthly performance night. Age(s): 7-14. $225 if registered by June 30, $250 before July 15 www.vervedancestudio.com. Contact Verve at vervedancestudio@gmail.com
Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry. As of Summer 2015, Erie County re-instituted Park Ranger Program. Based out of Chestnut Ridge Park, they host a variety of programs across the entire park system while patrolling 10,000 acres of Erie County park and forestry lands. Join the Rangers to explore area parks, while learning about favorite destinations, plants, and wildlife. 6121 Chestnut Ridge Road | Orchard Park, NY 14127 | (716) 662-2843 | www2.erie.gov/parks/
Italian Day Camp, hosted by Judi Mazziotti at Daemen College. Looking for a cultural immersion for your children? Visit Daemen College for Judi Mazziotti’s 20 years running Montessori style Italian camp. Kids create a personalized Italian notebook to document their new vocabulary with all things Roman: soccer and bocce, pizza and cannoli-making, art, architecture, songs, Galileo’s discovery’s, Puccini’s operas, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and Michelangelo’s art. www.ItalianCamp.com. Contact Judi Mazziotti (716) 932-7577 | judi5@mac.com
Road Less Traveled Productions is a local independent theatre dedicated to the development and production of new theatrical works by regional playwrights. The Summer Institute for ages 11-16 addresses all aspects of the theatre industry and serves as an incubator for both academic and professional work pursuits in the theatre industry. It is the only youth theater camp which allows students to write and perform their own world-premiere plays, all crafted over a two week session, July 11-22. www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org
JoyWheel Yoga Studio, located in East Aurora, launches Park Yoga in the orchard at Knox Farms on Fridays. www.joywheelyoga.com. Swing by MUSEJar to check out their summer art schedule and pick up supplies. Elm Street Bakery is just down the block with locally sourced treats for morning, noon, or night.
For more ideas to mix up your usual summer kids routine, visit www.learningchoicesnetwork.com