Youth Activities

Battery Park City Parks Conservancy

2 South End Avenue, 212-267-9700, www.bpcparks.org

Sunset Singing Circle Come for a fun evening of folk songs, rounds and chants. All are welcome. Fri., May 12 & 19 and June 2, 9 & 16 from 7-8:30pm. Wagner Park. Free.

Stories for All Ages Listeners are transported to the far corners of the earth as storytellers tell tales, fables and myths from all over the world. Sat., May 13 at 11am. Rector Park West. Free. This week’s featured reading is The Clever Turtle: Folktales from Africa with Julie Pasqual.

Educational Alliance Art School

197 East Broadway bet Jefferson and Clinton Sts, 212-780-2300 x 378/428, www.edalliance.org/artschool

Young Artists Exhibit 2006 Artwork created by participants in the Educational Alliance Young Artists Program will be shown in this annual exhibit. Over sixty works in photography, ceramics, cartooning, painting, and more will be featured. Opening reception, Wed., May 17 from 5-7pm. Ernest Rubenstein Gallery. Free.

fraunces tavern museum

54 Pearl St., 212-425-1778, www.FrauncesTavernMuseum.com

Family Saturdays The first Saturday of every month is Family Saturday, which provides parents and children an opportunity to engage in fun hands-on activities while exposing them to varied elements of 18th-century life.

Manhattan Children’s Theatre

52 White St., bet Broadway & Church Sts., 212-226-4085, www.theatermania.com

Jack & The Beanstalk A beanstalk in Brooklyn? This very hip New York version of the classic tale follows Jack, an artist-type, who is forced to work for a living. When he finds the treasures the beanstalk offers, he realizes cell phones and bling may not be the real blessings he was looking for. Thru May 21. Saturdays & Sundays at 12 & 2pm. Ages 4+. $15.

Little Tales

A new theatrical series for the pre-school age child. This portion of the series features folk tales originating throughout the continent of Africa. Puppetry, masks, live action and plenty of audience participation make this performance perfect for children ages 2-6. View Anansi & Turtle’s Fishing Trip, The Merman Husband and Anansi’s Brief Wisdom. Tues. & Wed, Thru May 24 at 11am & 2pm. $10.

The Museum of the American Indian

One Bowling Green

Children’s Film Screening Children can view special films, just for them. Vnoksetv/Greedy, a film created by schoolchildren that explains the origins of the woodpecker. The Beginning They Told, the animals living in the sky work together to bring about the creation of the earth. Aguas con el Botas, tells the story of a town and their relationship to the sea turtle. Bear Dance, a look at the experience of young people who are participating in the festive annual Bear Dance of the Southern Utes of Colorado. Paulina and the Condor, an animation that tells the story of an Aymara girl of Bolivia who leaves her mountain home to live in the city. Thru May 21 at 10:30am and 11:45am daily. The Screening Room, Second Floor. On May 20 and 21, the films will screen on the hour from 10am – 4pm.

Children’s Storybook Reading and Workshop Listen to readings of "How the Night Came: A Folk Tale from the Amazon," retold by Joanna Troughton; "Feathers Like a Rainbow: An Amazon Indian Tale," story by Flora Castano Ferreira and "Amazon Boy," written by Ted Lewin. Also make a seed bracelet in a hands-on workshop. Sat., May 13 at noon. Resource Center, 2 nd floor.

Annual Children’s Festival Come for two days full of activities celebrating the indigenous cultures of Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Workshops include making shell necklaces, seed bracelets, Taino clay plates and Incan gold pendants. Sat. & Sun., May 20 & 21 from noon – 5pm.

Museum of Jewish Heritage

36 Battery Place, 212-945-2926, Ballet4u@worldnet.att.net, www.newamericanyouthballet.org

American Youth Ballet Spring Production Featuring local talent in the original ballet Planet Lavender as well as a delightful version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. June 11 at 2:30pm.

New American Youth Ballet

212-945-2926, Ballet4u@worldnet.att.net, www.newamericanyouthballet.org

Summer Intensive Fun Ballet Camp Students enjoy ballet, crafts, music, cooking, dance, museum visits, and many other activities. Your child will learn in a creative, professional environment that nurtures natural talent. Camp runs July 5 – Aug. 3. Session A: ages 4-6, 9am-2pm. Session B: ages 7-10, 10am-3:30pm. Register for all 5 weeks, or per week. 98 Battery Place.

Summer Classes for all Ages 2 yrs to adult. Offered on Mon, Tues, and Thurs. afternoons. Choose from Me & my shadow, open kids ballet, teens, and adult boot camp. Enjoy a unique ballet experience in a professional and relaxed atmosphere. Enroll in one class or take a summer of classes. Classes run July 5 – Aug. 3. 98 Battery Place.

New Amsterdam Branch Public Library

9 Murray St., 212-732-8186

Stories of Heroes Presented by Victor Stanton. Recommended for children ages 5 to 12. Tues., May 16 at 4pm.

skyscraper museum

39 Battery Place, 212-945-6324, www.skyscraper.org

Mother’s Day Card Workshop Come for an architecturally-themed Mother’s Day card workshop. Who needs Hallmark when you can make your own card for Mom? Sat., May 13 from 10:30 – 11:30am.

archkids Workshop A free workshop run by ArchiKids for children ages 9-13. Alongside architect Yves Roger, participants will explore skyscraper architecture and work on a hands-on building project which they will be able to take home. Sat., May 20 and June 3 from 10am- Noon. Call for reservations.

south street seaport museum

www.southstseaport.org

Give the Salts of the Sea Create an ocean inspired spa treatment for Mother’s Day. Learn about the ancient and pure qualities of sea salt and design a beautiful sea-inspired sachet and container to fill with relaxing and scented bath salts. Sat., May 13 from 1-4pm. 12 Fulton St. 212-748-8758. Free with museum admission.

Seaport Sunday Smarts Come to Pier 16 and drop by the Living Harbor Wet Lab aboard the tall ship Peking. Learn about the critters of the East River. Look through the lens of a microscope at plankton, diatoms, water bears and rotifers. Let them be your muse as you create aquatic arts and crafts. This week’s theme is "Give the Salts of the Sea." Sun., May 14 from 1-4pm. 12 Fulton St. 212-748-8758. Free with museum admission.

Free Friday: Women at Sea From 5-9pm, visit the exhibitions, including Antwerp=America, Eugeen Van Mieghem and the Emigrants of the Red Star Line, featuring portraits of women and men as they embarked on a transatlantic journey. From 5-8 pm, take part in Shiver Me Timbers, listen to a reading of Cornelia Funke’s new book, Pirate Girl, learn about the ways of pirates and make your own pirate-inspired craft to take home. Fri., May 19 from 5-9pm.

1930s Wooden Tugboat The W.O. Decker will be welcomed back to the South Street Seaport after a yearlong complete rebuild. The day will be filled with a parade of ships, a blessing of the fleet and other special programs. Sat., May 20.

Stuyvesant High School Community Center

Stuyvesant High School, 345 Chambers St., 646-358-6880, www.ccshs.org, Operated by Battery Park City Parks Conservancy

Lifeguard Training A 30-hour, all-inclusive course where participants learn necessary skills to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies at swimming pool facilities and in open water facilities. 5 Saturdays, May 20 – June 24 from 1-7pm. $300 members, $350 non-members. Call for reservations. Must be 15 years old by end of course.

Tribeca Performing Arts Center

Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers St at the West Side Highway, ww.tribecapac.org, 212-220-1460

Dance Soup A colorful and dramatic mix of folk tales from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean will be brought to life with vivid choreography. This world premiere features live music and over 10 dancers. Sat., May 13 at 1:30pm. $15 adults, $10 kids.