Earth Day is a big deal. It's a time to take stock of our environmental impact and reconsider the choices we are making. Befitting the importance of Earth Day, we have a big deal giveaway, in fact it's actually THREE giveaways! The grand prize is A YEAR OF FREE LAUNDRY from new eco-detergent dropps. First, Second and Third prize winners will all receive a set of the new must-have Munchlers lunch packs from Built NY. And we even have runner up prizes of Fruitabu organic fruit snacks. Read on to find out more about these recommended products and your chance to win.

Just cause the last time you sat down to read a newspaper was when ???pooped out??? still meant tired to you doesn??™t mean you can??™t stay up to date with what??™s going on. We??™ve rounded up the top stories you don??™t want to miss from the NYC media this week.

Another story in a growing trend of press about kids in Europe doing less academics in early years.

Empire United emphasizes an integrative, group approach to its training system. Students in all of the offered programs benefit from the insight and attention of our entire coaching staff. Empire United's cohesive approach translates into an enriched, structured training environment conducive to the growth of both our fencer's skill and overall enjoyment of the sport.

Unique to our approach is the prioritization of physical, mental, and body awareness skills that promote lifelong discovery. Students are challenged in ways that not only increase their flexibility and coordination, but also their ability to problem solves and overcome adversity.

The coaches and staff at Empire United Fencing are Olympic caliber, having been represented in the eternal games for the past twelve years: Atlanta, Sydney and Athens and have a combined 60 years of coaching expertise.

Fencing Day Camps

Fencing is unique in its capacity to engage and challenge a child. The sport encourages a union between physical and mental development. Students are challenged in ways that not only increase their flexibility and coordination, but also their ability to problem solve and overcome adversity. No two fencing bouts are ever the same. The fencing day camps at Empire United are designed to introduce fencing through activities and games aimed at the development of coordination, flexibility, and focus. Participants will experience the Empire United approach to fitness, coordination, and tactics.

Hours:

9am-4pm (Late pick-up or early drop off available for an additional fee)

For more information, visit www.empireunited.net

And for more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide! 

Italian Summer in the City 2009

Collina Italiana is pleased to announce the Italian Holiday Fun in the City mini camp on the Upper East Side for children.

The program is designed for kids who want to learn and practice Italian, meet new friends, have fun Italian style, and absorb the warm and lively culture of Italy while enjoying the holiday season in the city. The program includes:
- Il Tavolo in Italiano: summer school but more fun!
- Giochiamo in Italiano: learn Italian through play, music, theater, and games.
- Movimento: learn Italian through movement,modern dance and songs.
- Piccoli Cuochi: make the best foods of Italy; pizza, pasta, and biscotti... while absorbing Italian vocabulary of chefs.
- Cinema Italiano: study Italian through animated movies and cartoons.
- Arte Insieme: be creative; make art and speak Italian.
- Piccolo Teatro: perform your favorite star. Act in Italiano.
- Il Computer: create graphics and learn Italian software.

The Italian Summer in the City 2009 program runs from:
Summer Camp 1: June 3 - July 3
2009 Summer Camp 2: August 17 - September 4

Option 1 is $350 , Monday/Friday (5 days, 9am-3pm)
Option 2 is $250 , Tue , Wed ,Thu (9am-3pm)
Option 3 is $180 , Tue and Thu  (9am-3pm)
Option 4 is $110 , Tue and Thu from 9am to 12pm

10% Discount for siblings
Early Drop off (8.30 am): $10 per day / Late Pick up (4.30 pm): $20 per day

135 east 96th street new york, ny 10128
tel 212.427.7770
info@collinaitaliana.com
www.collinaitaliana.com

 And for more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide!

Broadway Superstars and Applause are bringing you week-long theater intensives for your children this summer for K through 8th grade., Monday through Friday for five and a half hours everyday, your children will arrive and attend theater classes all day long.

Many of the classes that your child will cycle through, throughout the week or weeks, are acting classes, singing classes, scene study, audition technique, Broadway dance class, Hip-Hop class, acting for TV, costume design, and so much more!

Each week will include an entirely new curriculum so you can join us for one week or all six. Come join in the best summer ever! Visit us at

http://www.applauseny.com for more information.

For more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide!

Get ready for another terrific summer at Summer Days Camp! We have lots of new and exciting adventures planned to make for fun filled summer days. For those of you who are new to the 74th St. MAGIC family, Summer Days Camp is located in the spacious, air-conditioned home of Epiphany Community Nursery School and 74th St. MAGIC. Summer Days Camp offers a well-rounded summer experience for children ages 2.5 -6 years old.
Children use fully equipped preschool classrooms, library and playground. Each of our weekly themes, such as Dinosaur Days and Space Odyssey, encompass both active and quiet activities, with arts and crafts, creative movement, music, story time, cooking, science, group games and circle time.

The Summer Days Camp experience would not be complete without outdoor time on our rooftop playground. Kids have a blast cooling off in our wading pool, riding bikes, shooting baskets and exploring our playground equipment. Our afternoon program is growing by leaps and bounds! Campers will learn age appropriate gymnastic skills through a progression on all apparatus and tumbling circuits on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons in 74th St. MAGIC's well equipped, air-conditioned gym. In addition, our afternoon campers will have tons of fun with our Monday afternoon theme-related activities.

We're in session Monday through Friday, with half-day and full-day options Monday through Thursday, and half-days on Fridays. One of the best parts about Summer Days Camp is that we allow for optimum flexibility--you're only required to sign up for two weeks, and they don't need to be consecutive. Additional weeks can be added on, but be sure you do so quickly because weeks fill up fast! Summer Days Camp tours are given on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

For more information about our program visit our website at www.74magic.com or call us at 212 737 2989. We look forward to spending our summer with you! Julie Flansbaum Director 74th St. MAGIC and Summer Days Campwww.74magic.com

For more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide!

HOLA! A Playgroup in Spanish is a unique language program where children learn to love Spanish because it's taught in the most original way.

HOLA!'s method and philosophy have proven to be most efficient with young age groups because HOLA! follows a natural approach to teaching in order to help develop oral skills. The program focuses on a very wide repertory of concepts to build vocabulary and to acquire the correct use of phonetics on topics of interest in the child' world.

Children are given the space to express and create freely while having fun and learning much more than language skills! The classes are taught through the use of original and traditional music, movement, props, games, visuals and art. HOLA!, provides a great introduction to Spanish, and a great way to reinforce Spanish to an already bilingual young child.

Programs run for 12 months-6 years. Multiple locations in Manhattan:

Summer HOLA! language programs, Ballet and Flamenco en Espa????offered at multiple locations: Appleseeds in the Flatiron District, Aha! Learning in the Upper East Side, Brooklyn Heights at The New York Kids Club and Chelsea. 

Summer Camp at the Kids Corner in Chelsea!

From July 6th -August 14th

Half (9am-12pm) and Full Day Options (9am-5pm) 

Please call us at (917) 648-5006

E-mail: info@holaplaygroup.com

Web: www.holaplaygroup.com

And for more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide! 

Earth Day and NYC Public School Spring Break are in alignment this year. Coincidence? ...Yeah, probably. (shrug). So, school's out but the fun, hands-on learning is just beginning. You don't have to go to a fancy resort to have an eco-vacation. With the Mommy Poppins Do-It-Yourself Spring Break Eco Camp kids can learn, do, make and play their way to a greener, smarter world right here in New York City.

We've organized a week jam -packed with the best of Earth Week's eco-friendly fun for NYC kids of all ages. It's almost completely free, will keep you busy all week, and registration is super-easy (just ask yourself if you still have spots available!)

Saturday, April 19
South Bronx EarthFest Celebration in St. Mary??™s Park.
A recycled materials fashion show, free boat rides in the Bronx River and electronics recycling are some of the highlights among the more than 30 activities booths at the South Bronx EarthFest Celebration in St. Mary??™s Park.
Saturday, Apr 19, 2008 from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
St. Mary??™s Park , St. Ann??™s between 146th and 148th Streets
FREE
South Bronx Earth Fest is a family celebration of the environment and of the South Bronx community. Enjoy food and entertainment, including: a "Music Gets Me Green" song contest, a recycled-materials fashion show, a musical performance by the Oscar-nominated Impact Repertory Theater, free boat rides on the Bronx River, a student dance performance, and a keynote presentation by Majora Carter of Sustainable South Bronx. Bring your old cell phones, computers, printers, fax machines, TVs, VCRs and stereos to be recycled. Donate gently used clothing for reuse. Bronx Green-Up will be among the more than 30 activities booths, which also include Bronx Community Solutions, CENYC, Butterfly Project, Solar Oven, and South Bronx Job Corps Academy.
Free admission

Habana Outpost, Fort Greene's new eco-eatery, is hosting a very cool Earth Day Expo 2008. Two Days of free workshops and events including beekeeping, recycling within your environment, composting, recycled art show and umbrella recycling. I like this event because the activities make you think differently about greening your life rather than the same old topics we hear over and over again.
Saturday, April 19th & Sunday April 20th 2008.
757 Fulton Street (corner of South Portland) Brooklyn
Kid??™s Corner-Saturday& Sunday 12-6
Check the website for the full schedule.
FREE

Go Green Go Greenpoint
Saturday, Apr 19, 2008
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
McCarren Park, behind the Field House, Lorimer Street between Bedford and Driggs Avenues
FREE
Educational programs, recycling stations, a scavenger hunt, tree planting, live music and more.

Earth Day Weekend at the Queens Zoo
Sat 19, Sun 20 11am??“4pm.
Queens Zoo, Flushing Meadows??“Corona Park, Queens.
Free with zoo admission.
Kids learn how to sort recyclables, plant seeds, design their own reusable tote, and learn about environmental projects or activities going on in your Queens neighborhood and discover ways to participate.

Sunday April 20
Ninth Annual Gowanus Canal Flotilla
Sunday April 20 11am??“3pm.
Gowanus Canal, between Second Ave and Bond St, Brooklyn
FREE
Go on an eco-cruise. Take a ride in a 21 person indian shipping canoe and pick floating trash out of the Gowanus Canal.

Join us for a fun-filled of environmental education through recreation. Paddle along this annual flotilla on the historic and notorious little estuarine waterway that flows in the heart of Brooklyn. Armed with landing nets, garbage bags, our fleet of skiffs, including our unique 32ft canoe (accommodates 21 paddlers at at a time). The Urban Divers Environmental Educators guide eco-volunteers on an eco-cruise and help pick-up floatable debris along the water and on shore...Everyone is also welcomed to bring their own kayaks or canoes or GET ON BOARD OUR FLEET OF VESSELS, including our unique GIANT 32ft INDIAN SHIPPING CANOE- vessel accommodates 21 paddlers at time. To register to volunteer call The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy at 718-802-9874, or 347-224-5828.

Earth Day Celebration in Central Park
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park
FREE
Activities for all ages begin at 12:00 pm, including recycled musical instrument-making, tree tours, make and take home your own mini vegetable garden and more. Get the full schedule online.

Monday, Apr 21, 2008
NATUREMANIA
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sherman Creek Campus (3725 10th Avenue)
SHERMAN CREEK PARK, Manhattan
FREE
Spring Break is marked by being outdoors and having fun. This year for Spring Break, come learn how to build a boat, grow plants and vegetables, plant and identify trees, explore habits and fish, and more. Also join in arts and crafts projects, story time, group games, and service projects during the spring break camp at Sherman Creek Park.

Tuesday, April 22
Earth Week at Still Hip
283 Grand Avenue Brooklyn
Cool Brooklyn resale shop, Still Hip makes it easy to be green during Earth Week. Drop your old clothes off for recycling and let the kids practice tree poses.
10-5 pm: Clothing Recycling | FREE
12 pm: Baby Wearing & Cloth Diapering Workshop | FREE*
2:30 pm: Yogi Babies Save the Trees | FREE*
3:30 pm: Tree Pose Kids Yoga FUNdraiser | FREE*

Wednesday, April 23
Earth Week at the Bronx Zoo
April 21-27
Bronx Zoo
Free with Admission
Party for the Planet at the Bronx Zoo. Visit the Human Footprint exhibit to learn the impact people are making on the Earth, see recycled animal sculptures, hear stories, make crafts and more all week. See the full schedule.

Thursday, April 24
Earth Week at the Audubon Center
April 21 ??“ 27, 12 ??“ 5 p.m. every day
Prospect Park Audubon Center
FREE
Celebrate Earth Week at the Prospect Park Audubon Center! This year??™s Earth Week will have a different theme each day, with programming for environmentalists of all ages. Learn how to do your part through lectures, tours, activities, film screenings, workshops, recyclable crafts, and a daily exhibit. Check www.prospectpark.org for a full list of what??™s going on.
Friday April 25
Still Hip
283 Grand Avenue Brooklyn
Private Picassos is offering FREE Recycled Art Workshops for kids age 2-7 at Still Hip on Friday, April 25th.
Pre-registration is requested. Email info@privatepicassos.com to reserve your spot today.
Workshops include:
Junk Printmaking Workshop
Young artists age 2-4 will use recycled materials for a relief printmaking activity. Feel free to bring any toilet paper or paper towel rolls,old dry sponges, wine corks, slightly used cardboard cup protectors and corrugated cardboard scraps. 10:00-10:45am

Recycled Robots Workshop
Young artists age 5-7 will use recycled materials to create their own robots. Feel free to bring old cereal boxes, small cardboard boxes, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, corrugated cardboard, etc. 11:00-11:45am

Saturday, April 26
Go Green Expo
Saturday, April 26th from 10 a.m. ??“ 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 27th from 10 a.m. ??“ 3 p.m.
Learn about eco-friendly alternatives available today. More than 200 booths showcasing organic food and wine, home and office products, health and beauty supplies, energy alternatives, and the latest cars and transportation. Find out more at GoGreenExpo.com
Sunday April 27
Gardening Day at the Queens Botanic Garden
Sun 27 noon??“5pm.
$5 Donation
Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing, Queens.
Learn about and celebrate the honey bee with puppet shows, storytelling, and clowns!

Stay tuned for next week when our Earth Week posts really HEAT up. An don't miss our GREAT GREEN GIVEAWAY.