Fun and Educational Things to Do in NYC in August

Here are the best educational AND fun things to do with your kids in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

Manhattan

Start with Art/Art Trek
WHEN: Through Aug. 31, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30-4:30pm; Saturdays, 11am-12pm, 2-3pm
WHERE: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side
AGES: 3-11
WHAT: Weekly art workshops split into two age groups (ages 3-6 and ages 7-11)
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $25; $17 seniors; $12 students; free for children younger than 12. 212-570-3961. metmuseum.org.

Sun to Print
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 7, 11am-2pm
WHERE: The Museum of The City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., East Harlem
AGES: 6-12
WHAT: Forget about iPhone photography, learn about how early photographers captured images and create your own sun print.
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $14; $10 seniors and students with ID; free for ages 19 and younger. 347-441-9181. mcny.org.

New York Horses
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 8, 1:30-2:15pm
WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
AGES: All
WHAT: What was it like to rely on horses for travel rather than the subway? Learn all about working horses and the history of the horsecar in New York and meet a working horse from Brooklyn’s Kensington Stables.
WANT TO GO? $7; $5 children 2-17. 718-694-1792. mta.info/museum.

Saturday Family Workshop: Photoshop, Getting Started
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 8, 10am-1pm
WHERE: Children’s Museum of the Arts, 103 Charlton St., Soho
AGES: 8 and older
WHAT: This introductory class will help both parents and children become familiarized with the basics of photo correction using Photoshop. Registration required.
WANT TO GO? $12 workshop only (does not include museum admission). 212-274-0986. cmany.org.

Summer Sunday Family Tour
WHEN: Sundays, Aug. 2 and 9, 10:30am-12pm
WHERE: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side
AGES: 5 and older
WHAT: A special tour for families. Registration required.
WANT TO GO? $20 per family (includes museum admission and tour for two adults and up to four children). 212-423-3788. guggenheim.org.

Be a City Hero!
WHEN: Wednesdays, Aug. 5 and 12, 4pm
WHERE: New York Public Library – 115th Street branch, 203 W. 115th St., Upper West Side
AGES: 6-10
WHAT: A hands-on science workshop exploring water, waste, and energy pollution. Kids discover ways they can lessen their impact on the city. Registration required.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 212-666-9393. nypl.org.

Sci-Tech Workshop: Electronic Keychains
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 15, 11am-1pm
WHERE: Sony Plaza Atrium, Sony Wonder Technology Lab, 550 Madison Ave., Midtown
AGES: 8 and older
WHAT: Create your very own unique electronic keychain to take home using solder and LEDs. Equipment provided. RSVP opens Aug. 1.
WANT TO GO? $10. 212-833-7858. sonywondertechlab.com.

Family Workshop: Architecture Adventure
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 15, 1-2pm
WHERE: The Cloisters Museum and Gardens, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Washington Heights
AGES: 4-12
WHAT: Find building parts such as columns, capitals, voussoirs, and arches throughout The Cloisters. Learn how medieval masons used these different features to build churches and castles.
WANT TO GO? Free with admission: $25; $17 seniors; $12 students; free for children younger than 12. 212-650-2280. metmuseum.org/cloisters.

Stroller Tours: America Is Hard To See
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 15, 9:30-10:30am
WHERE: Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St., Meatpacking District
AGES: 18 months and younger with an adult
WHAT: Join Whitney Teaching Fellows, Ph.D. candidates in art history, on a tour that highlights works in the exhibition America Is Hard to See. Crying babies are welcome.
WANT TO GO? $25 per adult plus museum admission: $22; $18 seniors; free for children younger than 18. 212-570-3600. whitney.org.

Living History Weekends
WHEN: Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 1-16, 11am-4pm
WHERE: New York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: Brigades from the American Revolution will be stationed throughout the museum in full uniform, ready to answer your questions and share their stories about life on and off the battlefield.
WANT TO GO? Free with admission: $19; $15 seniors, educators, and active military; $12 students; $6 children ages 5-13; free for children ages 4 and younger. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org.

Pop-Up Maker Space at 14th Street
WHEN: Through Aug. 23, Sundays, 1pm
WHERE: 14th Street Park, 14th Street and Tenth Avenue, Meatpacking District
AGES: All
WHAT: This series of guided workshops will challenge the whole family to make projects inspired by science and nautical themes.
WANT TO GO? 212-561-7462. hudsonriverpark.org.

The Rise of Sneaker Culture
WHEN: Through Oct. 4, Wednesday and Friday, 11am-6pm; Thursday, 11am-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-6pm; first Saturday of each month (except September), 11am-11pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
AGES: 8 and older
WHAT: Explore the history and see iconic sneakers such as the first Nike Air Trainer 1.
WANT TO GO? $16; $10 seniors and students with valid ID; free for ages 19 and younger. 718-638-5000. brooklynmuseum.org.

Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland
WHEN: Through Oct. 10, Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30am-5pm; Friday, 10:30am-9pm; Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, 11am-6pm
WHERE: The Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave., Murray Hill
AGES: All
WHAT: An exhibit of Lewis Carroll’s original manuscript, alongside drawings and rare artifacts.
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $18; $12 seniors, students, and children 13-16; free for children 12 and younger. 212-685-0008. themorgan.org.

American Museum of Natural History Presents: Spiders Alive!
WHEN: Through Nov. 29, daily, 10am-5:45pm
WHERE: American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, Upper West Side
AGES: All
WHAT: A live animal exhibit all about arachnids. Come and find out why this species is so amazing, and let your kids get up close to the popular creepy-crawlies.
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $27; $22 for seniors and students; $16 for children 2-12. 212-769-5100. amnh.org.

Brooklyn

Dinos and Fossils
WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 2, 12-3pm
WHERE: Staten Island Zoo, 614 Broadway, Staten Island
AGES: All
WHAT: Travel back millions of years and look inside rocks for hidden fossil evidence. Dinosaur fossils will be on display and there will be an exciting presentation about the many prehistoric species that lived on Earth. Plus, check out the fossil-finding station.
WANT TO GO? $8; $6 seniors; $5 children ages 3-14; free for children younger than 3. 718-442-3101. statenislandzoo.org.

New York Horses
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 8, 1:30-2:15pm
WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights
AGES: 5-12
WHAT: Learn all about working horses and the history of the horse-car in New York, and meet a working horse from Brooklyn’s Kensington Stables.
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $7; $5 children 2-17. 718-694-1792. mta.info/museum.

Checkmate 101
WHEN: Through Aug. 9, Sundays, 11am-1pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 6 Lawns, Atlantic Avenue and Furman Street, Brooklyn Heights
AGES: All
WHAT: Zebedee Collins will help you elevate your chess game during Checkmate 101.
WANT TO GO? 718-222-9939. brooklynbridgepark.org.

Transit Time Capsules
WHEN: Aug 1-2 and 9, 1:30pm
WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place at Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights
AGES: All
WHAT: MTA employees recently unearthed a 1950 time capsule buried just a couple of blocks away from the Transit Museum. Record your 2015 story of New York City travels for safekeeping in a time capsule of your design.
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $7; $5 children 2-17. 718-694-1792. mta.info/museum.

Books Beneath the Bridge
WHEN: Mondays, Aug. 3 and 10, 7pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 1, 334 Furman St., Brooklyn Heights
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT: Hear excerpts from new and classic works of literature set against the backdrop of the East River and the Manhattan skyline.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 718-683-5600. brooklynbridgepark.org.

Junior Science Club: Rubber Band Racecars
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 15, 10am-12pm
WHERE: Staten Island Museum, 75 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island
AGES: 8-13
WHAT: Join scientist Clay Wollney to learn through fun experiments. Parents may observe.
WANT TO GO? $8. 718-907-3488. statenislandmuseum.org.

Enhanced Thoughts Presents Science Saturdays
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 22, 12-2pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, 361 Lewis Ave., Central Brooklyn
AGES: All
WHAT: Two hours of hands on STEM fun. Registration required.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 347-930-8069. enhancedthoughts.com.

Pattern Wizardry
WHEN: Through Aug. 23, Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
AGES: All
WHAT: A new exhibit created to inspire interest in natural sciences and mathematics. Visitors will experience the magic of patterns found in nature, with hands-on activities featuring a rotating selection from BCM’s 29,000 cultural objects and natural science specimens.
WANT TO GO? $9; free for children younger than 1. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.

Fantastic Tunnels
WHEN: Aug 15-16 and 22-23, Saturday-Sunday, 1:30pm
WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights
AGES: 5-12
WHAT: What do engineers discover as they dig deep underground to build New York’s newest train tunnels? Find out, and then create and illustrate your own fantastic book about what you might find beneath New York City’s ancient rock.
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $7; $5 children 2-17. 718-694-1792. mta.info/museum.

Let’s Go Legos!
WHEN: Through Aug. 26, Wednesdays, 2pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library Greenpoint branch, 107 Norman Ave., Greenpoint
AGES: All
WHAT: A special summer Lego club! Kids will tackle a different secret building challenge every week.
WANT TO GO? 718-349-8504. bklynlibrary.org.

Train Operators School
WHEN: Saturdays, Aug. 1-29, 2-4pm
WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place at Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights
AGES: 9-17
WHAT: Drop by our Computer Lab to take control of a NYC Subway car and operate it over virtual miles of track in an incredibly realistic game.
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $7; $5 children 2-17. 718-694-1792. mta.info/museum.

Traveling in the New York City of Tomorrow
WHEN: Aug. 29-30, Saturday-Sunday, 1:30pm
WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights
AGES: All
WHAT: Take a look at some practical and fantastical transportation technology ideas, then use craft materials to design vehicles for the 21st century and beyond.
WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $7; $5 children 2-17. 718-694-1792. mta.info/museum.

Totally Tots Studio Program
WHEN: Through Aug. 31, Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30am and 2:30pm
WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
AGES: 1-5
WHAT: Every day enjoy a new hands-on experience for our littlest learners.
WANT TO GO? $9; free for children younger than 1. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.

Summer Safety Event
WHEN: Through Sept. 3; Sunday and Wednesday, 10am-5:30pm; Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Jewish Children’s Museum, 792 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights
AGES: 1-12
WHAT: This annual safety event was hugely popular last summer. Kids get to meet local heroes and learn road sense, as well as checking out other exhibits at the museum.
WANT TO GO? $13; free for children ages 2 and younger. 718-467-0600. jcm.museum.

Queens

Mad Science Saturdays: What Do We Know About H2O?
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 1, 1pm
WHERE: Rego Center, 61-35 Junction Blvd., Rego Park
AGES: 5-12
WHAT: Come and shake it up with the Mad Scientist and learn all about the amazing attributes of water while focusing on the importance of conserving this precious resource.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 718-275-2696. regocenter.com.

Animal Care Trainee
WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 2, 10am-12pm
WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 22806 Northern Blvd., Douglaston
AGES: 8-12
WHAT: Children will get hands-on experience learning all about the needs of APEC’s animals. Snack and animal care trainee certificate included. Registration required.
WANT TO GO? $21. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Make Your Own Superhero Book
WHEN: Monday, Aug. 3, 2pm
WHERE: South Jamaica Library, 108-41 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica
AGES: 8-12
WHAT: Kids will learn how to make their own superhero books.
WANT TO GO? 718-739-4088. queenslibrary.org.

Children’s Math Bee
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 3pm
WHERE: Bay Terrace Library, 18-36 Bell Blvd., Bayside
AGES: 5-12
WHAT: Can you add, subtract, multiply, and divide without using a calculator or pencil and paper? See how well you do at this contest. Prizes will be awarded.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 718-423-7004. queenslibrary.org.

A Reptile ‘Edventure’ with Erik Callender
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2pm
WHERE: Woodside Library, 54-22 Skillman Ave., Woodside
AGES: 6-9
WHAT: A unique opportunity to see and learn about reptiles, amphibians, and insects from around the world.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 718-429-4700. queenslibrary.org.

APEC Adventure Hour: Sand Fun
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 8, 1:30pm
WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 22806 Northern Blvd., Douglaston
AGES: 18-36 months
WHAT: Theme-related activities include live animals, art projects, outdoor play, trail walks, and music. Registration required.
WANT TO GO? $16. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Bio Bus
WHEN: Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 8-9, 12-4pm; Monday-Thursday, Aug. 10-14, 11am-4pm
WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona
AGES: All
WHAT: Travel into worlds smaller than the eye can see at the world’s only state-of-the-art microscope facility housed on a solar-powered 1974 transit bus. Come on board for a carbon-neutral, hands-on tour of the microscopic world.
WANT TO GO? $15; $12 seniors, children ages 2-17, students with ID. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Andrew Kelly

Rocket Park Recess
WHEN: Fridays, Aug. 7 and 14, 12-4pm
WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona
AGES: 5-8
WHAT: Enjoy scavenger hunts with prizes, demos, and informational workshops about making health and fitness easy, fun, and delicious.
WANT TO GO? $15; $12 seniors, children ages 2-17, and students with ID. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Vet Tech 101
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 29, 10am
WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 22806 Northern Blvd., Douglaston
AGES: 9-12
WHAT: Kids learn the specialized skills required to keep APEC animals healthy. Registration required.
WANT TO GO? $23. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Mad Science Saturdays: Sounds Like Science
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 29, 1pm
WHERE: Rego Center, 61-35 Junction Blvd., Rego Park
AGES: 4-12
WHAT: Rock out at this supersonic audio experience that explores how sound is made and how we hear it. Explore the science of speakers and enjoy a funky disco show.
WANT TO GO? FREE. 718-275-2696. regocenter.com.

Moon Drumming Workshop
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 29, 7pm
WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing
AGES: 9 and older
WHAT: Celebrate the Harvest Moon with a drum circle in the garden with master drummers from Puerto Rico. No prior experience necessary. Bomba and plena drums provided. Reservations required.
WANT TO GO? $20. 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Connected Worlds
WHEN: Through Dec. 31; daily, 10am-5pm
WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona
AGES: All
WHAT: In this fully immersive, digitally rendered interactive experience, visitors are encouraged to explore the interconnectedness of different environments, learn about the importance of keeping systems in balance, and see how our individual and collective actions can have widespread impact.
WANT TO GO? $15; $12 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.