With back to school right around the corner now is the perfect time for The Prospect Park Zoo to once again run their SPARKS workshops, created to help make science more understandable for children.  But unlike many programs at our city’s zoos, SPARKS isn’t for kids.  This unique and interactive seminar is for adults, specifically for parents (or caregivers) of preschool and elementary aged children.  SPARKS, which stand for, Supporting Parents in Advocacy, Reform, and Knowledge in Science, works by reinforcing and expanding on what adults already understand, teaching them what they don’t and ultimately giving them the opportunity to help educate the next generation in science.  Read on to learn more about this super cool (and free) program.

As usual, there is a ton going on this weekend, whether you are looking to beat the heat or relish in it. Whatever you prefer, definitely take advantage of these cool events before those Staples back-to-school commercials start to haunt you. If you need a little inspiration, check out the awesome days our readers have been having, and tell us about your own. If you don't know where to start, be sure to give the Mommy Poppins Summer Fun Guide a look. Remember, you can win a Flip and have your day featured on our homepage!

Some favorites for this weekend are the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Vaudville Festival, Celebrate Brooklyn Family Day, and a family festival that will spike your interest at Four Sisters Winery (NJ). If you are just looking to venture out, you might want to check out the popular car-free Summer Streets, make your first trip over to Imagination Playground, or Hunt for Pirate Treasure.

What's happening this weekend:

Put a little Pow Wow into your summer!  Native American tribes put on some impressive Pow Wows and Festivals during the Summer and Fall where you can experience authentic dancing in full costume, Native American drumming, crafts demonstrations, and the more adventurous can taste buffalo burgers and venison stew. 

It’s true that art museums don’t instantly come to mind when you think of outdoor water works where kids can splash around and cool off on a steamy summer day, but PS1’s unique “Warm Up” Saturdays do just that.  Their interactive courtyard exhibit entitled Pole Dance (fear not, there’s nothing “Bada Bing” or remotely suggestive about it), offers a wading pool filled with giant pastel colored exercise balls and nets to throw them in, a refreshing sprinkler-like water mister to stand under, a sandbox the size of a swimming pool (with some fun purple climbing structures), cushy hammocks for swinging in, more balls and nets for all-around exercise, and, of course, poles which you’re supposed to shimmy up or swing on to create weird whooshing sounds. Sound like a blast?! Read on to find out more!

Ahoy Mateys, there's treasure buried in NYC! And your kids can try to find it, no pullin' yer peg leg. The "Pirate Gold" is actually ten thousand dollars in real US mint one dollar coins (which are gold toned), it's buried in New York City in one of the five boroughs, and to get the clues to find the treasure you have to watch very silly videos of a motley crew of muppet-like pirates (and one Ninja!) giving secret hints as to the location.
 

We've asked our readers to share their awesome outings with us this summer. We'll be posting the best ones on the blog and one lucky winner will win a Flip Video Camera. Find out more details in our Summer Fun Activity Guide . Read this submission by Nataki Hewling about her fun day on Goveror's Island.

Each summer as August rolls around I get a little panicky because my son and I haven’t done all the cool stuff  that we  planned to. I don’t know if I make my original list too long or if I get distracted with play dates, playground visits and other things -- but we still have a lot of fun yet to have and we are quickly running out of summer. 

How about you? Have you been running around having awesome days with the kids in tow?  If so, be sure to tell us about them!  You can win a Flip and see your day featured on our home page. (If you haven’t been having awesome days you may want to check out The Mommy Poppins Summer Fun Guide including our post on 100 Free Things To Do This Summer – and get cracking.)

This weekend has so much fun stuff it is hard to decide where to start.  The NY Botanic Garden is throwing a Garlic and Onion Festival, kids can join in on a super cool Yo-Yo spinning workshop, listen to a kiddie rock concert, the bard at the battery, walk through the Lower East Side in the footsteps of a classic children’s book or ride on an old subway car.  

And it is the first Saturday of the month so many area museums and cultural institutions are offering free admission and special programming. Looking for something a little less scheduled, why not visit the brand spanking new Imagination Playground or another destination playground around town for a change of pace?

Read on to plan your weekend and I hope you have a great one.

Hard as it is to believe, we enter into August this weekend. Summer's winding down, folks, so get out there with the munchkins and enjoy these last few weekends. If your girl has a thing for Barbies, Ellis Island is exhibiting Barbies from around the world. If your boy has a thing for sharks, it's Shark Week at Adventure Aquarium. And if Mom and Dad are biting some nails over the small ones entering the hallowed halls of education, a trip to the Short Hills Mall to hear an author speak on preschool preparation might be in order. Whatever you choose, kick back and enjoy this last month of summer!