How to keep your little ones entertained inside and out.
THE SESSION: DRAMA CLASSES LIVE
The Nantucket Dreamland’s Laura Gallagher Byrne is offering live virtual classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 3pm on Instagram @dreamlandstagecompany. Geared toward kids ages eight and older, these free classes focus on warm-ups, acting skills and scenes. This is a great way to hone your theatrical skills while staying connected to the Nantucket community and the Dreamland.
AT HOME WITH EXPLORATION STATION
The Exploration Station’s Melanie Hajjar has a host of fun, at-home Kitchen Science projects for children of all ages. From homemade play dough to her popular Rainbow Milk Races, you can keep your young scientist busy for hours. A favorite experiment is Clouds in a Jar, which demonstrates how clouds create rain. You’ll need the following materials:
- A clear mason jar
- Shaving cream
- Blue food coloring
- A cup of water
- A small spoon
- Cookie Tray
On top of the cookie tray, fill 3⁄4 of the jar with water. Spray some shaving cream on top of the water to fill the jar to represent the clouds. Add two drops of blue food coloring to a separate cup of water. Now drop a few spoonfuls of blue water onto the shaving cream. Repeat this several times until you notice the blue water dripping down through the “clouds.” For a list of other science projects, please visit explorationstationnantucket.com.
NANPUPPETS
No matter where you are, you can keep your little ones dancing and moving around by joining Lizza Obremski and her whimsical Nanpuppet friends for their virtual music classes. By visiting Lizza’s YouTube channel Out to See, you can not only watch Music with Lizza, but you can also find her four episodes of Out to See. This is a great way for your kids to stay connected to Nantucket and its community. For more information you can also visit nanpuppets.com.
NANTUCKET CONSERVATION FOUNDATION SCAVENGER HUNTS
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation has put together a wonderful series of scavenger hunts among their ten properties. These free self-guided, self-paced exploration adventures will introduce you and your child to each one of their unique conservation lands while teaching you a little something new about each property. Start by visiting nantucketconservation.org and select “Family Staycation Scavenger Hunt” under the “Events” tab. You can print out the packet and take it with you. There is a different scavenger hunt for each property from Squam Farm to The Serengeti with a checklist of natural objects, plants and species to find. You can also download their free mobile app, ACKTrails, for more information about their properties.
STORY WALKS
Get outside and enjoy the beauty of Nantucket with the Linda Loring Nature Foundation’s Story Walks. These popular half-mile, trail-side adventures are self-guided and are open year-round. Each month, a new story is posted along the trail for families to read along the way. This is a perfect family outing with its pristine views of Nantucket’s sandplain grasslands. Each story is also translated into Spanish. This wildlife sanctuary is open from sunrise to sunset and is located at 110 Eel Point Road. To learn more, visit llnf.org.
LAND BANK’S FAIRY TRAIL
Head outside with your little ones and build a fort along the Land Bank’s Fairy Trail. This circular trail located off Milestone Road directly across from Tawpoot Road is open to any child who would like to create their very own little tree house in nature. You’ll see a Land Bank Sign marking a cobblestone apron with a parking lot. You can start building where you see the Fairy Trail sign. Have fun and happy building!
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Launched in 2018 by fourth generation Nantucketer Stephany G. Hunter, Peachtree Kids is a children’s boutique located at 19 Main Street carrying a selection of timeless and classic children’s clothing, as well as toys, shoes and accessories. And for our island visitors, Peachtree Kids offers a full spectrum of baby equipment rentals at nicervacation.com, making trips to the Grey Lady seamless and easy for those traveling with little ones.
Visit peachtreekidsnantucket.com to shop online or call them at 508-228-8555 for gift cards, phone orders and home deliveries.
