Adirondack Family Time™

Is your child interested in theatre? This year Pendragon Theatre , the Adirondack's only year-round professional theatre, will present performances of “A Christmas Carol” as its Holiday production. For the past several years a variety of different plays have been performed but the Theatre felt it time to return to a much loved holiday classic to conclude the 30th year celebration! Auditions and an informational meeting will be held on Saturday the 23rd of October at 1:00 p.m. Kent Streed will direct. The auditions will consist of readings from the script. The production will open on the18th of December and will have a couple of performances at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts after Christmas – the schedule will be available at the auditions. For other information or questions please call the Theatre at 518-891-1854.

The renovated barns at the Almanzo Wilder Homestead Farmer Boy!

This Saturday, October 2nd, there will be a green energy open house around New York and the Adirondacks supported by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association . With over 140 homes to tour across the state, people can find any example of sustainable energy from pellet stoves, geothermal, passive, solar and more. The opportunity to to see how these processes have worked and meet with people that have taken the step toward energy efficiency is invaluable. As a parent, I always try to be a good example for my own family. Taking kids on green energy tours like this may seem like its a bother but the payback will be well worth it. Just like any other activity, be prepared. Depending on the ages of your children inform them of what you want to look for. Are you interested in getting solar panels or just passive solar? What inventive ways are kids able to come up with to solve your own energy issues?  Let them ask questions, follow the tour around and be a part of the solution. Give the

Honorary Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder Most people have heard of the “Little House” books that preserved a personal account of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s frontier life. If you haven't read them it is never too late. Perhaps a trip to the library so you can share these memories of a challenging pioneer lifestyle with your child would be fun. The tie-in to the North Country is the third book in the series,  Farmer Boy , which chronicles the childhood experiences of Laura’s husband Almanzo Wilder.  From 1840 to 1875 the Wilders made Burke, NY (just outside of Malone) their home. Since 1987 the original homestead has been used as a museum and educational center.

You hear these songs all the time. They are some of the first songs your child will learn and it's not "Wheels on the Bus."  Answer is here 

Okay, not really a fly but still trapped in a web. Here nature is at work right on the side of our house. We didn't even need to visit a mountain or trail to see nature at work. My son's only comment, "Wow!" Just waiting for a meal This insect struggles to free itself from the web The spider just patiently waits for the insect to tire out Breakfast, lunch and dinner Fast and efficient There you have it. Just another day in the lives of kids in the Adirondacks.

Steve Hall gives a raptor demonstration By Diane Chase Labor Day weekend in the Adirondacks is a perfect time to be able to have kids get up close and personal with the wildlife that surrounds  them as we hike, walk and play.  Not so long ago my children discovered a baby robin out of its nest and floundering near our front stoop. The mother robin circled nervously. It was a difficult decision to stand back and let nature take its course. My husband and I were operating with a barrage of opinions, a few old wives tales, two crying children and a curious dog. The baby was a fledgling and managed to seek refuge under the deck while its mother continued to feed it. We assume that it flew away one morning like it was supposed to, with no help from us. The most challenging part of those few days was keeping overzealous children from creating a bird sanctuary as the dog whined for a nibble of Robin Red-Breast Tartare. Cree the Wolf This Saturday, September 4, 2010, childre

By Diane Chase Can you name one difference between a damselfly and a dragonfly? Here are two insects that adults and kids can meet walking an  Adirondack nature trail  or canoeing on a pond . It's all in a name! Dragon flies will actually eat Damsel flies if given the chance. It is easy to remember if any fairy tales come to mind where the dragons capture the damsel (another word for young girl) Dragonfly at rest Another difference is that when a dragonfly lands with its wings spread out while the damselfly rests with wings tucked in like a bird. Damselfly at rest

ABC Song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Baa Baa Black Sheep

The Lake Placid Center for the Arts is excited to announce open auditions for area children! This fall, LPCA Children's Theatre will present 101 Dalmations directed by Jessica Deeb. All children in grades 1-8 are invited to attend the auditions. Older and younger children will be considered. Each child should prepare a song (Happy Birthday is a great one) and be dressed for moving and dancing. Auditions are Sunday, August 29 and Monday, August 30 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. All children should enter the LPCA through the back door marked ‘Performer’s Entrance’. Approximately three-dozen children will be cast. Rehearsals will be held at the LPCA after school and on weekends. Participation in this program is free! 101 Dalmations will open on the LPCA stage on Thursday, November 4 at 7pm. Additional performances are Friday, November 5 at 7pm, and Saturday, November 6 at 2pm. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students under 18.

All you have to do is wander around Plattsburgh on August 28th with your winter ski gear on and hope that the Whiteface Road Warriors will see you. Don't fret. They have given us all some hints on where to look such as SUNY Plattsburgh, Target, Walmart, and the Naked Turtle! All you have to do is show up! If you see them and you are wearing a helmet, goggles, skis or ski boots you automatically get a FREE lift ticket. Don't have the gear, don't worry—there will be different opportunities for free lift tickets and other Whiteface freebies.

Children under 13 are free until September 7th at the Adirondack Museum . Adults wishing to get the same experience can go online for a $2.00 off coupon. (On the front page, lower right corner of the website is a blue box titled "Special Offer." Keep in mind that all admissions are valid for a second visit within a one-week period. For those year-round residents of the Adirondack Park the museum is open free of charge during the months of May, June and October. Proof of residency, such as a driver's license, is required.