April Vacation Programs and Events

April School Vacation is here!  Here’s a look at some programs and events that will be offered during April School Vacation week.  Also, if want a vacation from cooking during school break please see my Kids Eat Free page and my post about how kids can eat for FREE at T-Bones and Cactus Jack’s during vacation week!

FREE:

• Currier Art Museum, Manchester, NH:
  • Explore the themes of sustainability and problem-solving in conjunction with the special exhibition Crafting Settlement. Museum admission is FREE during School Vacation Week, April 22-26.  Please visit the museum’s website for a listing of all the free events and activities for the week.

• The National Park Service will be hosting its National Park Week during April School Vacation Week during which park admission will be FREE.

Actors:

• Palace Theatre, Manchester, NH:
  • From April 22-26, campers in Grades 2-8 will Journey Through Never Neverland!  at the Palace Theatre.  Students will learn about all aspects of theatre including singing, dancing, acting, costumes, set painting, games, and much more!

• Peacock Players, Nashua, NH:
  • February Vacation Camp: Aspiring young actors will rehearse and perform a workshop production during February vacation week.  For additional information please visit the Peacock Player’s website or email Peacock Players Education Department at .

Animal and Nature Lovers:

• McLane and Massabesic Centers, Auburn and Concord, NH:
  • During April Vacation the McLane Center in Concord and Massabesic Center in Auburn will be holding a series of one-day programs for children ages 6-10.  These programs are designed to build the skills of budding naturalists through hands-on activities, storytelling, crafts, games, outdoor exploration, and live animal observation.  You can register for individual days or the entire week. Themes for each day include Spring Revival, Treasure Seekers, Sensational Exploration, Walk on the Wild Side, and Animal Planet.

• NHSPCA, Stratham, NH:
  • The NHSPCA’s Humane Education department holds several one day camps for children ages 6 to 12 years old. The NHSPCA will offer many different games, activities and crafts as well as give the children some time to spend with the animals!  April Vacation Camp information is not yet listed on their website.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, Laconia, NH:
  • WildQuest Spring Camp: This program offers participants the chance to do some gardening projects, meet the animals, go on hiking adventures and more!  The camp runs from April 22-26 and is intended for children in grades K-7.  Please see their website for additional details and pricing.

• Stonewall Farm, Keene, NH:
  • Spring Vacation Camp – Farm Field Days: Spend the week with your favorite farm friends—hiking, cooking, games, sheep shearing and alpaca walks.  Sign up for one day or the entire week

• Seacoast Science Center, Rye, NH:
  • Treks for Tots: This program is for children ages 3.5-5 years old.  There are two sessions of the program, the first running from April 15-19 and the second from April 22-25.  Both sessions run from 9:00am-3:00pm each day.  This is an exploration program that encourages children to develop their minds while connecting with nature.  Daily Themes include Earth Day Celebration, Ocean Exploration, Bloomin’ Ocean and more!  Please see their website for additional information and program cost.
  • Seaside Safari: This program is for Grades K-5.  There are two sessions, the first runs from April 15-19 and the second runs from April 22-25.  Daily Themes include Earth Day Celebration, Ocean Exploration, Bloomin’ Ocean and more!  Please see their website for additional information and program cost.

Artists:

• Currier Art Museum, Manchester, NH:
  • Explore the themes of sustainability and problem-solving in conjunction with the special exhibition Crafting Settlement. Museum admission is FREE during School Vacation Week, April 22-26.  Please visit the museum’s website for a listing of all the free events and activities for the week.

• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA:
  • Artists to Warriors is a FREE drop-in program that runs from April 16-19 from 10:00am-4:00pm (10:00am-8:00pm on Wednesday).  Discover creative ways artists have used materials to make their work. Use tape, paint, paper and letters in inventive ways to make your own masterpieces to take home.  The week’s projects include tape tricks, free-moving paint, monochromatic moonjar and an op-art opportunity.  (Kids 6 and under always get FREE admission to the MFA, and kids 7 to 17 are free during non-school hours and vacation week. See Visiting with Kids for more information.)
  •  Story Hour: is at 10:30 and 1:30pm.  Drop in to enjoy stories about making art and thinking creatively. Stay for one story or for the whole hour.
  •  Family Tours will take place every 15 minutes from 10:15 am–Noon; ASL interpretation Wed at 10:15 am and 11:15 am.
  • Weekly Journeys Through Art: Your young artist can take one of several week long courses.  Please see their website for additional information and cost.

• Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA:
  • Sounding Off!  Explore art and movement with Nick Cave at the Museum.  From April 16-18, 2013 there is drop-in art and activities from 10:00am-4:00pm.  These activities are included in the regular admissions price.

• Sharon Arts Center, Sharon, NH: Salem, MA:
  • The Sharon Arts Center is offering vacation week programs for children from the tot age to teenagers.  Please see their website for details and pricing.

• The Refrigerator Door, Concord, NH and The Studio, Bedford, NH:
  • The Refrigerator Door is offering April vacation camp for young artists.  Please see their website for details and pricing.

Athletes:

• Amazement Actions Play Center, Harverhill, MA:
  • Amazement is holding a week long camp that runs from 9:00am-3:00pm with pool activities, arts and craft activities, games and relays and more.   Please see their website for additional details and pricing.

• ChildLight Yoga’s School Vacation Program, Dover, NH:
  • Yoga Camp activities include daily yoga, arts and crafts, journaling and reflection time and more.  This camp is designed for 5-13 year olds and more information can be found on ChildLight Yoga’s website.

• Fisher Cats Baseball Camp:
  • Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the Fisher Cats are partnering to offer an April Vacation Camp where children ages 6-15 can learn baseball and softball from the pros!  Campers will work on dry sing routine, batting tee drills, soft-toss drills and practice hitting using machines and batting cages.

• Rye Airfield Skate Park, Rye, NH:
  • Rye Airfield is offering Ramp Camp over Spring Break which looks like it would appeal to any young skater or skate boarder who is looking to improve his skills.

• Seacoast United, Hampton, NH:
  • This soccer camp run from 9:00am-12:00pm Monday through Friday during April Vacation Week.  The camp is intended for players ages 7-12 looking to improve their skills.

• Soccer Sphere at the SNHU Manchester, NH Campus:
  • From April 22-27, your young athlete can improve her soccer skills at Sphere Soccer.  Camp is open to children ages 5-14.

• Tri-Star Gym and Dance,Dover, NH:
  • Tri-Star Gym offers a weeklong April camp that runs from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm each day.  The program is designed for children ages 5-13.  Please check their website for additional information and pricing.

Chefs:

• Cake Camp! at The Culinary Playground, Derry, NH:
  • Cake Camp is a three day program where kids will learn all about making cake!  Campers ages 8 and up will make their own cakes and frostings from scratch.  Then campers will get to decorate with a variety of icings, including homemade fondant.

Scientists:

• Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, Dover, NH:
  • The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is hosting an Adventure in Science Vacation Camp.  This three-day camp led by Museum educators is a hands-on way to teach kids all about the scientific method, and science-based exploration. Campers will create their own field journals to collect data, and then take them on an expedition to the Cochecho River in order to determine whether or not the time has come to release the museum’s baby brook trout.

• Seacoast Science Center, Rye, NH:
  • Treks for Tots: This program is for children ages 3.5-5 years old.  There are two sessions of the program, the first running from April 15-19 and the second from April 22-25.  Both sessions run from 9:00am-3:00pm each day.  This program is an exploration program that encourages children to develop their minds while connecting with nature.  Daily Themes include Earth Day Celebration, Ocean Exploration, Bloomin’ Ocean and more!  Please see their website for additional information and program cost.
  • Seaside Safari: This program is for Grades K-5.  There are two sessions, the first runs from April 15-19 and the second runs from April 22-25.  Daily Themes include Earth Day Celebration, Ocean Exploration, Bloomin’ Ocean and more!  Please see their website for additional information and program cost.