Kids Almanac: In Sojourner Truth’s footsteps & other journeys for the young

You’ve made it this far, so you’re obviously great at reading words; but can you read the land like Dave and Cody on Dual Survival? On Monday, February 20 – Presidents’ Day – a special wildlife tracking program will be offered for the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Minnewaska State Park Preserve. This public program is open both to experienced trackers as well as to those with no experience. Although geared toward adults, teenagers who are enthusiastic hikers and learners are also welcome.

Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located on Route 44/55, five miles west of the intersection with Route 299 in Gardiner. Please call the Park Preserve Office at (845) 255-0752 for required preregistration and fee information.

Cracking good job to the Rosendale Theatre on its kids’ movie pick this weekend! This Monday, February 20 at 2 p.m., they will be showing the lovable English characters in “Wallace & Gromit Shorts: The Complete Collection.” “We try to mix up the offerings, and wanted something that was funny and appealing to all ages,” explained Stephanie Ellis, chair of the Children’s Programming Committee.

The ticket price is $3. The Rosendale Theatre is located at 408 Main Street in Rosendale. For more information, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.rosendaletheatre.org.

Newton’s First Law of Motion: A body in motion will remain in motion. A body at rest will stay under a down comforter until forced to move.

Bring your crew over to the Kingston Library for “Marvels of Motion!” an unforgettable “Mad Science of the Mid-Hudson” program as part of the Super Saturdays Performance Series for school-age children on Saturday, February 18 at 10:30 a.m. This Mad Science Special Event program focuses specifically on Newton’s Laws of Motion. There will be hands-on demonstrations, and audience participation is encouraged. There is no better introduction to physics! And it’s free!

The Kingston Library is located at 55 Franklin Street in Kingston. For more information, please visit www.kingstonlibrary.org or call the Children’s Library at (845) 331-0507, extension 7.

As Uncle Rock says: “I don’t know what’s in Ratboy Jr.’s juice box, but I want some of it.” Ratboy Jr. is a fun-loving, toe-tapping popular children’s band in the Hudson Valley. It will be performing on Saturday, February 18 at 11 a.m. in Woodstock as part of WDST’s “Kidtopia” concert series at Utopia Soundstage in the Bearsville Theater complex.

Tickets are $7 for kids, $9 for adults; a four-pack goes for $25. For more information, visit www.ratboyjr.com.

Whether you speak fluent Parseltongue or you don’t know your crocodiles from your canaries, make your way over to the Hudson Valley Reptile Expo, where it’s educational and fun for the whole family! The event takes place this Sunday, February 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie. Wendy Erikson, who attended a recent show, described it as “an awesome display of fascinating and interesting creatures: fun for those obsessed with the out-of-the-ordinary, or just curious about it.”

Ticket prices are $4 for children aged 7 to 12 years, $10 for adults, payable in cash only, and free for children under 7 years old. For more information, visit www.herpnerds.com or call (845) 902-8952.

Erica Chase-Salerno lives, loves and laughs in New Paltz with her husband Mike and their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at [email protected].