CUT: Grab a net and head out with Audubon on April 17 for a Swamp Romp in Bristol!  Photo courtesy Audubon Society of Rhode Island/Hope Foley


All you need to know for your spring break staycation

Many local students will be enjoying spring vacation next week, from April 16 through 20 — if you're staying in town, here are some ideas to help keep them entertained.

Spring Break at the New Bedford Whaling Museum
The Whaling Museum has planned a full slate of fun and educational programs, beginning with the Museum’s annual Right Whale Day on Monday, April 16. Kids and adults alike will have fun while gaining a greater awareness and appreciation of the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale. The fun doesn’t stop after Right Whale Day. The Museum will have plenty of family programming the rest of the week….Get to know the Museum with a highlights tour, be crafty at art stations, and learn from the experts as Museum docents share stories of life leading up to and aboard a whaleship. Then on Friday from 1 to 3 p.m., New Bedford Science Café Kids presents “Here Fishie Fishie!” an afternoon of activities to help young scientists learn about old and new ways of catching and counting fish. This event on is free for everyone; the remaining Spring Vacation Week programs are free for Museum members or with regular Museum admission. The Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford. For more information visit www.whalingmuseum.org.
 
Nature Art, Discovery Walk at Blithewold
Get creative and outside for an adventure into the flowers, woodlands, and gardens of Blithewold. The Nature Art workshop, Tuesday, April 17 from 1 to 3 p.m., will begin with a short hike to forage foliage, flowers, seed pods and other found natural objects on the grounds. Participants will then take the materials back to out classroom space to create one-of-a-kind botanical art creations. The creations can be framed later or photographed and then use the prints for cards or other fun projects. Fee is $7 for adult members, $10 for adult non-members, and $5 for children. Then on Wednesday, April 18, from 1 to 2 p.m., enjoy an afternoon of observing and making connections to our natural world, so important for both kids and adults in our busy world. Participants will use a special nature observation kit, which includes a magnifying glass and observation box, to explore the vibrant world around them. Gardens Manager and tour leader Gail Read will guide participants to discover for themselves the sensory delights of nature. Fee is $5 for adult members, $3 for member children, $20 for adult non-members, $9 for non-member children. Blithewold is located at 101 Ferry Road in Bristol. Preregistration is required for all events; visit Blithwold.org.
   
April School Vacation Week at Audubon
Become a Nature Explorer! Join Audubon in a weeklong voyage to discover and test your nature skills. Take off on an expedition with an Audubon naturalist and explore our local habitats with nets, magnifying glasses, and more. Each day will feature nature crafts from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m., a nature story at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., special programing at 11 a.m., and an animal interview at 1:30 p.m. Daily themes will include Explore the Shore, Swamp Romp, Meadow Madness, Forest Foray, and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and activities are green with admission. The Audubon Environmental Education Center is located at 1401 Hope Street, Bristol.

Spring Vacation Art Classes for Kids at Linden Place
Linden Place Mansion is offering art classes the week of April vacation on Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20. This two-day course runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is designed for young artists (ages 8-11). Students will learn to draw and paint in a beautiful, historical setting using a variety of materials while surrounded by exquisite artifacts and history. Taught by a professional artist and certified teacher, Joanne Murrman, activities and themes include portraits, landscapes, calligraphy, seascapes, sculpture, weaving and more! The cost of the classes are $95 per student. Linden Place members receive a $20 discount. For more information or to register, please contact the Linden Place office at 401/253-0390 or visit lindenplace.org to register online.

Spring ZooCrew Camp at Buttonwood Park
This years theme "The Most Extreme Body Parts": Why do elephants have long trunks? Why do fennec foxes have big ears? Join us as we discover some of the most extreme body parts in the animal kingdom and how they help these animals survive. April 17-20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For more information on prices and how to register, visit bpzoo.org.

A Super Spring Break at the Tiverton Public Library
Daily programs include Unmask Your Secret Identity (build your own superhero mask), Super Scratch Art, Up, Up and Away POP Art, Super Monkey’s Sleepover Party, and Read to Cash (the dog). Tiverton Public Library
is located at 34 Roosevelt Ave., Tiverton; all events are free. Visit Tivertonlibrary.org for more information.