Free Family Events This Weekend! (April 20-22)

Michael and the Rockness Monsters will perform during the High Line’s Season Kick-Off this Saturday! Photo via facebook.com.

Have an amazing weekend without opening your wallet! For even more activity inspiration, check out our Weekend Planner.

Friday, April 20

Teen Night: Currents and Bolts
5-7:30pm
The Brooklyn Museum
Ages 14 and up
During this free Teen Night, teens can celebrate David Bowie’s legacy by participating in a number of events centered around the museum’s new exhibit David Bowie is.

Saturday, April 21

NYFEST 2018
9am-5pm
Brooklyn Bridge Park
All Ages
Join Brooklyn Bridge Park for NYFEST 2018, an annual media industry charity soccer tournament and community event for all ages! The day will feature 5-on-5 competitions, food trucks, live music, a youth soccer showcase, skill challenges, and other activities for children.

38th Annual Spring Double Dutch Tournament
9:30am-4pm
Sorrentino Recreation Center
All Ages
Witness or participate in the annual spring double dutch tournament; participants can register solo or in teams. Divisions include novice, intermediate, and advanced, and judging categories are compulsory, doubles, freestyle and speed. Check-in begins at 9:30am and the tournament begins at 11am.

14th Annual Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
11am-1pm
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
All Ages
What’s spring without cherry blossoms? Bring your family along to Sakura Matsuri, an annual festival celebrating the spring blossoming of the cherry trees in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. There will be live drum performances (Taiko), a traditional Japanese chorus, a Japanese folk dance, tea ceremony, and more.

Earth Day Herb Gardening for Children
11am-1pm
The Battery
All Ages
Get your green thumb ready! The Battery will host an herb-planting activity and a self-guided scavenger hunt in celebration of Earth Day. Pre-registration is required.

Earth Day Celebration
11am-3pm
Harlem Grown
All Ages
Join Harlem Grown on April 21 at one of their three Uptown locations for a free Earth Day event. All ages can participate in family-friendly activities and help with planting. Check their website for more information and locations.

PEN America World Voices Festival
11am-8pm
Various locations
All Ages
The “Next Generation Now” segment of the PEN America World Voices Festival gives families and kids a chance to experience the literary festival on their own terms. Some events are free while others are ticketed, and include discussions, readings, workshops, and more. Check their website for a list of events, prices, and times.

Cherry Blossom Festival
12-4pm
Randall’s Island
All Ages
Each year Randall’s Island welcomes the warm weather with its annual Cherry Blossom Festival, and this year is no exception. Randall’s Island has prepared games, performances, and exhibitions for visitors to enjoy a wonderful spring on the island. Activities include face painting, kite flying, yo-yo balloon fishing, and more. There will also be live bands and dancing groups to deliver excellent performances.

Culture Shock: The High Line’s Season Kick-Off
1-7pm
The High Line
All Ages
Join Friends of the High Line as they kick off the 2018 spring/summer season with a bang. Culture Shock is an annual, full-day festival of music, art, performances, hands-on activities, and more. Bring your family and friends to experience the High Line in full-swing. This event will take place on the High Line between Gansevoort Street and West 26th Street. The rain date for this event is Saturday, April 28.

11th Annual National Grid Earth Day Celebration
2-5pm
Weeksville Heritage Center
Ages 4 and up
Bring your family along for the annual Earth Day event brought to you by Brooklyn Center and Weeksville Heritage Center. The National Grid Earth Day Celebration educates families on how they can take care of the Earth and what to do now in order to provide a more sustainable future. There will be interactive family activities, learning games, culinary demonstrations, live performances, and more.

Sunday, April 22

donateNYC Earth Day Fest
10am-2pm
JCC Manhattan
All Ages
The first Earth Day Fest includes a kid’s clothing swap by GrowNYC’s Stop ‘N’ Swap, arts and crafts, thrift shopping, an E-waste collection drive, and much more. Learn about conservation!

Earth Day Stories
11am
6 River Terrace
All Ages
All ages will enjoy as Luann Adams tells Why the Sky is Far Away & Other Marvelous Tales to Celebrate the Earth using props and more.

St. George Day
11am-5pm
Tompkinsville Park
All Ages
St. George Day is a community festival that celebrates Earth Day and the arts. Join in the fun with all the great activities this event offers! From music and dance to parades to an “Earth Day Zone,” this grassroots festival in Tompkinsville Park is the perfect way to observe Earth Day.

Earth Day Celebration
1-4pm
Prospect Park
All Ages
At the Aubudon Center, the Prospect Park Alliance will put on a celebration in honor of Earth Day on April 22. The event offers catch-and-release fishing lessons in Prospect Lake (fishing license included), as well as an opportunity to see birds of prey up close: Wildlife specialists will be on hand to answer questions throughout the two-hour, ongoing program.

Earth Day Shore Fest Spring Kickoff
1-4pm
Astoria Park
All Ages
This free, all-ages event kicks off the 2018 Shore Fest season of events. The celebration includes face painting, arts and crafts, relay races, and far more. The event will also take an environmental conservation-themed approach, focusing on education, green issues, and composting. Attendees are encourage to RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite.

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The Language Workshop For Children

<p dir="ltr">After offering both group and private lessons for many years and analyzing the results over time, The Language Workshop for Children, founded in1973, has decided to emphasize private remote lessons at shorter intervals. Our skilled educators will focus their attention exclusively on the unique needs, learning style, and interests of your child. This allows a bond to develop between teacher and student, which has been shown to drastically improve retention. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>OUR METHOD </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Developed by the pioneers of language education for children, our programs bring decades of experience to your living room with individualized, active language classes. Each lesson is based on proven methods and materials perfected to capture your child’s attention during the ages when he/she absorbs information the fastest.   </p> <p dir="ltr">While other online language classes rely on videos for passive learning, we deliver interactive, and engaging lessons with native-fluent teachers. In addition, all our teachers are certified in the Thibaut Technique which has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and many other well-respected publications.  </p> <p dir="ltr">Our short one-on-one lessons give kids the chance to focus, hear pronunciation clearly, and practice speaking in their target language. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>THE PROCESS</strong> </p> <p dir="ltr">First, students have a short meeting with our Director Francois Thibaut, in English, with their parent(s) present. Mr. Thibaut will determine the best course of study, including class length and frequency, the right teacher, lesson format and materials (or action games for younger students.) Then the learning begins! Mr. Thibaut will continually check in on your child’s learning to assure they are getting the most of their classes. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>OTHER OFFERINGS </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">We can also help your child prepare for: the French subject tests for SAT, AP & CLEP, the European DELF/DALF, the Canadian TEF and other standardized testing, college entry exams, studying or traveling abroad, cultural changes when moving abroad, and much more! </p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a97d759c-7fff-6e4d-8e93-70e093aa10f1"> </span></p>

The Tutorverse

<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">Join The Tutorverse for the highest quality in academic enrichment and test preparation! Whether your student is gearing up for the </span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">state exams, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, or SAT/ACT</span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">, their team of </span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">experienced and local professional educators</span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;"> can help. Have your student join a </span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">small-group class</span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;"> at our downtown or Upper East Side locations. Or, they can meet with a </span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">private tutor when and where it’s most convenient for your family</span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">. Does your student need help building study skills or improving grades? Whether your middle or high schooler needs help with </span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">STEM or humanities</span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">, The Tutorverse's patient and affirming tutors will teach them how to build </span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">confidence and content mastery</span><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;">. </span><a style="color: #1155cc; background-color: #ffffff;" href="mailto:info@thetutorverse.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Send an email</a><span style="color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff;"> or give them a call.</span></span></p>

Dedimus Potestatem

<p>Dedimus Potestatem provides fun, engaging, academically challenging programs to students in primary, middle, and high school. Programs include Leadership, Debate, Model United Nations, Computer Programming, Financial Literacy, Filmmaking, Philosophy, Model Congress, Mock Trial, Etiquette, Bioethics, Stem and Bioethics, and more. We currently offer both virtual and in-person private, semi-private, and group sessions and after-school programs. Contact us to bring us to your school today!</p> <p>Sessions</p> <p>We currently offer both virtual and in-person private, semi-private, and group sessions as well as after-school programs. To register, visit <a href="https://www.potestatem.co/bookclassesnow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.potestatem.co/bookclassesnow </a>or email us at <a href="mailto:info@potestatem.co?subject=REGISTER" target="_blank" rel="noopener">info@potestatem.co</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leadership: Middle School ages 10-13, High School ages 14-18</a></p> <p>This is a unique leadership course that gives students the skills they need to succeed in life. Using an activity-based syllabus centered around character traits most sought and admired in leaders (initiative, honesty, self-control, adaptability, empathy, persuasiveness, resourcefulness, diligence, tolerance, determination, generosity, punctuality, courage, reliability, endurance, deference, creativity and integrity) students learn how to deal with situations they encounter in life. These building blocks will ensure they grow to become the leaders so sought after by our burgeoning society. Our grading rubric was adapted with the permission of Neil Mercer, the Director of research and Head of Faculty at The University of Cambridge.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/little-leaders-prek-and-kindergarten" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Little Leaders: Primary School Ages 6-9</a></p> <p>Developed by former pre-school and elementary teachers, this ethics-centered program utilizes a play-based method to encourage students to explore and apply soft skills in their daily lives. While cultivating the skills they will need to build strong, successful relationships, they will learn how to find their voice and showcase themselves in the best way. Students will learn to communicate and negotiate so they can be better team leaders and team players. Students will learn how to deal with situations they encounter in life, such as bullying, cheating, conflicts between two or more parties, and more. The inculcation of these values in our children's formative years will ensure they grow to become the leaders so sought after by our burgeoning society.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/classes/beginnersdebate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Speech & Debate</a> (competitive and non-competitive programs available)</p> <p>This online after-school program prepares students for formal and informal presentations. Participants learn to craft and present arguments and inform, persuade, and motivate an audience in a variety of ways. According to the English Speaking Union, debate is a natural fit for students and compliments common core standards. Debate builds literacy and multi-media research skills, fosters critical thinking and expanded perspectives, enhances public speaking skills, increases confidence, trains students to listen effectively, supports diverse learners and strengthens civil engagement and discourse. </p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/model-un" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Model United Nations (Ages 11-18)</a></p> <p>Model UN simulates the six major organs of the United Nations. Students role play as delegates from a country of their choosing and learn to write and present resolutions based on topics they are passionate about-just as if they were representing member states of the United Nations. We utilize materials from National Model UN and video tutorials to teach students how to write and present position papers, working papers, and draft resolutions. Students use debate and negotiation to enlist the support of other delegates for their resolution. Model UN is a great way to teach students leadership skills like communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, and delegation.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/self-defense-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Self Defense and Empowerment</a></p> <p>Developed by a veteran Krav Maga specialist, this self-defense program will focus on the principle of healthy minds in healthy bodies. Students will focus on de-escalation techniques as well as safe and active means of self-defense. Through active games and fun drills, students will learn the disciplined focus, critical thinking, adaptability, and resilience necessary to achieve goals, as well as gain valuable social insights into leadership and teamwork. Students will expend energy and reduce stress while learning to stand and present confidently.</p> <p>Mock Trial (<a href="https://www.potestatem.co/classes/mock-trial-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fairy Tale Mock Trial for ages 7-9</a>, regular <a href="https://www.potestatem.co/mock-trial-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mock Trial Ages 10-18</a>)</p> <p>Mock trial is a hands-on simulation of the American judicial system. The goal is to help participants acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, display leadership in a court of law, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society. Materials for this course are provided by The American Bar Association.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/model-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Model Congress: Ages 10-18</a></p> <p>This civics course simulates the legislative process. Students will learn about the electoral process, lobby for issues they are passionate about, draft and deliver bills, amend legislation, debate international policy, and learn how to effectively represent a constituent body of their choosing. We utilize materials from The Constitutional Rights Foundation, ICivics (founded by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor) and the National Model U.S. Congress. These resources have been proven to improve students’ civic knowledge, presentation, and core literacy skills. New research has also shown that the use of the aforementioned materials has also led to increased participation in the democratic process. Our objective in this course is to educate the next generation, nurture and inculcate a passion for civics and history and encourage young people to advocate for themselves.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/philosophy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philosophy</a></p> <p>The focus of the Philosophy class is to examine and understand the ideas behind the most popular philosophies embraced throughout the world. To do this, students examine ethical situations through the lens of these philosophies and engage in a Socratic style debate. Students are presented with an ethical question and they must identify stakeholders and players within the dilemma, discuss the key moral issues and present opposing viewpoints. This class was built for students who wish to <a href="https://nhseb.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compete in the middle or high school Ethics Bowl</a>. </p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/classes/money-matters-financial-literacy-for-kids-afterschool">Money Matters: Financial Literacy for Students</a></p> <p>The Money Matters course is built to help students manage their personal finances, from building credit and loan applications to interest rates and investing strategies. This class will cover the basics of financial health, savings, spending habits, and budgeting. After learning how to store, track, and spend responsibly, students will learn about risk management, APRs, and tax preparation. This class will use real-life examples and teach students how to set and achieve financial goals. This course is ideal for middle and high school students.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/stem-dna-ethics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">STEM and Bioethics: (Ages 10-18)</a></p> <p>Our STEM program will give kids the opportunity to think critically about science and society, and to practice communicating scientific topics in ways everyone can understand. To be a successful scientist in our modern world, one must not only have a broad understanding of scientific material learned at school, but also the ability to communicate effectively and share that knowledge with others. Each week of this program will build on the previous while also introducing new scientific topics for discussion.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/classes/virtual-after-school-etiquette" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Etiquette (Ages 5 and up)</a></p> <p>Due to increasing popular demand from groups and individuals, we have decided to offer our etiquette course as an eight week after-school class. Students will not only learn how to introduce themselves and their friends, they will explore appropriate language for quotidian and special occasions, how to enter and leave conversations, proper table behavior for different scenarios, effective strategies for conflict resolution and negotiation, the importance of tone, expression, and body language in every social interaction and why manners and soft skills are essential to a successful life.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/classes/essay-writing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Speech and Essay Writing: Ages 10-18</a></p> <p>This group class includes eight one-hour online sessions focused on the creation, development, and delivery of informative and persuasive speeches. This program is tailored to the needs of the individual(s) in question and can include essay writing, use of stylistic devices, and persuasive rhetoric and/or instructions on how to craft and deliver a persuasive or informative multidimensional presentation with compelling slides, audio, and videos.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/classes/visual-storytelling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visual Storytelling</a></p> <p>Multimedia platforms have increasingly become more popular for educators, artists and businesses. Young people all over the world have begun using media to amplify initiatives, educate, share science, poetry, art, movement, culture and more. In this class students will learn to capture brief videos that share their voice and vision with the world.</p> <p>College application course </p> <p>Discover the fundamentals of style, narrative, and theme for the ideal college application essays! In these sessions, you will begin by examining outstanding Personal Statements and by brainstorming your own. Then, move on to draft and edit the specialized supplemental essays for each college on your list. Space is limited to ensure personalized attention.</p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/classes/essay-writing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Academic writing</a> </p> <p>These are sessions focused on academic writing. Our tutors have years of experience in drafting, editing, and teaching essay writing. Each package will include a consultation with our tutors to assess individual needs. </p> <p><a href="https://www.potestatem.co/classes/test-prep-sat-shsat-act-gre-gmat-asvab-tachs-more">Test Prep: SAT, SHSAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, ASVAB, TACHS + more</a></p> <p>These classes are focused on identifying the quickest and most efficient path toward improving students' standardized test scores. Starting with a diagnostic practice exam, this program will target the key subject matter your students need to master while integrating timing, triage, and practice strategies. We aim to regularly emulate the real-life conditions of tests until students are comfortable working quickly, accurately, and efficiently. Sessions can be one hour or two hours in length, as needed.</p> <p>Computer Programming: Coding for Kids</p> <p>In these sessions, we start by discussing the basics of computer programming, what it is, what it can do, and what it was built on. Then we will begin experimenting with block-based programming languages. Students will learn the basics of computer architecture, binary code, compilers, and algorithms. By the end of the course, students will be able to produce small programs of their own. The cost of materials is not included. This class is available to younger students (Ages K-1) and middle and high school students. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>