Play Date: New Exhibit Opening, Free CPR Classes, Nutureshock, Play for Haiti, More

1/18/10 - By Anna Fader

Some neat tidbits to share this week with a new exhibit called Mission to Mars opening up at the Intrepid Museum, free CPR training classes that can also get you a free week at the gym, cool filmmaking vacation camps for kids, a great author speaks, and fun "Playdate for Haiti" event.

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New Exhibit: There is a new exhibit at The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum that young space enthusiasts may enjoy. MIssion to Mars includes a full scale model of the current Mars Rovers and highlights the history of space exploration as well as the new Mars probe which will be launched in March. On weekends, museum educators will lead interactive, multimedia demonstrations where visitors can touch objects that include Rover artifacts, a piece of a solar panel and parachute material while videos and robotics demonstrations illustrate how Rover operates in space. See our old review of the Intrepid to find out more about the Intrepid Museum and highlights for kids.

Free CPR Training: The New York Fire Department and New York Sports Clubs are teaming up to provide free CPR training to New Yorkers. Free CPR training classes are being offered at NYFD and NYSC locations throughout the five boroughs. This course does not provide certification, but could help to save a life of a family member. Everyone who completes the training will receive a week-long pass to NYSC and a CPR training kit to take home so that you can train at least 5 family and friends. Classes are filling up fast. Register online.

Film Workshops: The New York International Children's Film Festival has opened registration for its week-long filmmaking workshops for children aged 6-16. Choose from Claymation, Film Acting, 2-D Animation, and Puppet Animation. Six to 16 year olds will work side-by-side with experts to learn the tricks of the trade, developing a practical knowledge of how visions come to life on the silver screen. Enjoy a week of filmmaking and leave with a movie of their own making. Three sessions occur during winter, spring and summer school vacation breaks. Sessions are $550 and two scholarship positions are available for each session. Sessions are filling up fast. Find out more and register online.

Playdate for Haiti: Help Haiti the fun way by going to Williamsburg craft shop Spacecraft's Playdate for Haiti on Tuesday 1/19 at 11:30. Sing along with Rug Bug Music, learn how to make a "spirit bundle" like they do in Haiti, adding your own well wishes. The event is open to all ages and parents. Cost is $15 per child and all proceeds go immediately to local organizations in Haiti. Sacecraft is also collecting children's summer clothes to send to an orphanage in Port-au-Prince. There is no info about this event on their website, but you can get the address from there or call for more information.

Great Talk: Ashley Merryman, co-author of NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children will be speaking at the 92nd St Y in Tribeca. If you haven't read this book yet I urge you to read it. It is an incredibly interesting read with new science and thinking about many different aspects of parenting that challenges many of our common parenting beliefs. She will speak on Wednesday, 1/20 at 7pm. Tickets are only $12. Find out more or buy tickets at 92Y.org.