If you’re still trying to figure out what to do with the kids during April Vacation Week, take a look at these terrific workshops and camps. They provide fun opportunities for kids who enjoy arts & crafts, writing, theater, and history. If your child is more outdoorsy, check out my first roundup of 2014 April Vacation Week camps, highlighting programs that get kids outdoors and exploring nature. 

NYC kids, prepare to be blinded by science (and art, too) as Brooklyn debuts two STEAM (that's STEM with an A for Art) programs, along with a brand-new Coney Island thrill ride that's sure to get your hearts pounding. Plus, find out where to pick up FREE treats this Thursday in honor of Macaron Day, two of our favorite Queens ice cream spots close, a book swap no kid-lit lover will want to miss, and a notable new children's book by an iconic rock star.

Spring is coming!  Spring is coming!  SPRING IS COMING!!!! 

It's that time of year...time to get out and about!  Because both of my parents were teachers, my childhood years were full of road trips.  Many were the times that we packed up – two parents, 3 children, and an incessantly panting dog – and headed west to Colorado, and a few times, even all the way to CA.  These trips were both horrible and wonderful at the same time.  Horrible in that they involved hours of fighting with my two brothers, the inevitable boredom of the Kansas highway, and occasionally a very gaseous dog.  Wonderful in that we saw every nook and cranny of this country, felt insignificant in the shadow of the Rockies, and marveled at the sheer awesomeness of Crater Lake.

What I did learn in my many family road voyages were the essential ingredients of every road trip. Because, really, whats the point of heading to a great destination if getting there makes everyone cranky and irritbable? As spring approaches (I promise…it’s coming!), we will be getting ready for some of our favorite local day trips (Connecticut College lacrosse game, Old Saybrook, Mystic Seaport, Kent Falls), keeping these essentials in mind:

When my husband announced our family's plan to relocate from Southeastern Connecticut (city, seaside life), to the Western end of the state (suburbs and very inland), I felt very unsure how we'd fare.  Where would we live?  What would we do for fun?  How would I ever live without seeing the ocean out my front window?  We ultimately settled on Southbury in western New Haven, and what a fabulous decision we made.  Since our move, we've often said we hardly need to leave town to do anything!  There's so many super cool, fun things to do with the whole family!

Last fall, we asked our readers to take a short survey and share their thoughts about how to improve our Summer Camp Guide. Overwhelmingly, we heard that you wanted a combination of our editorial recommendations, plus the ability to search listings and find recommendations from other parents.

So we're happy to debut our newly updated Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, now featuring an improved search, parent reviews and star ratings, and other enhancements. Even better: Our overhauled Directory isn't just for camps. We have listings for party places and services, and enriching classes, too.

Read on to find out more or head straight to our Day Camp Guide and Directory to browse the listings and leave reviews for your favorite programs.

If you don't live nearby, you may best know Westchester as being the home of LAX. But, there is a lot more than just the airport and related businesses! Westchester is a bustling family-oriented community that continues north to the bluffs overlooking Playa Vista. There is a wide variety of things to do and see for kids of all ages—history, classes and camps, entertainment, food, and fun (and free!) play. Whether you are meeting someone with a 3-hour or overnight layover or you are a local looking for something different to try, there is something for you. (Done all of these? You can move on to 25 things to do in Marina del Rey, Culver City, or Redondo Beach next!)

Spring isn't just a great season to visit NYC's fabulous parks and playgrounds, it's the perfect time to volunteer in them, too. That's why we love It's My Park Day, an initiative organized by Partnership for Parks and held twice a year in the spring and fall. It's My Park Day brings together thousands of caring New Yorkers looking to help spruce up their neighborhood green spaces. It's a great way to teach your kids about the importance of giving back to your community. After all, these are the parks they play in!

There are It's My Park Day events throughout the five boroughs and they take place throughout the month of May, mostly on weekends. In addition to cleaning, weeding and other chores, many gatherings feature arts and crafts, giveaways and a celebratory atmosphere. We’ve got the details about how to get involved with It's My Park Day, as well as other ways your family can volunteer outdoors in the city this spring.

In last week's Mommy Poppins LA schools feature, we provided an overview of school choice and promised more information on each of the available choices. This week, due to rapidly approaching application deadlines, we are focusing on independent charter schools, attempting to separate myth from reality and address commonly asked questions, including: What is a charter school? Why are so many families choosing charter schools? What sets charter schools apart from traditional public schools? Why is there controversy around charter schools? And how do we build alliances between traditional neighborhood schools and charter schools?