Parents, Play & Pride

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Enjoying Pride Night at CMOM

Different types of family trees continue to grow and thrive throughout NYC and across the country. Kicking off Pride Week, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) celebrated lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) families at their ninth annual Pride Night on June 23. The special after-hours event included creative art activities, healthy treats, and exclusive access to all of CMOM’s interactive exhibits. In partnership with Center Families, the family division of the LGBT Community Center, the Family Equality Council, and Goldman Sachs’ Community TeamWorks, the event was open to LGBT parents, their children, and extended family and friends.

“We are open for all families and want people to know that they are welcome,” says CMOM executive director Andrew Ackerman. “CMOM is safe, nurturing, and educational. LGBT families come to CMOM for fun because we are open and accepting—and we want to spread the word to younger families that they are always welcome to experience and enjoy CMOM.”

Pride Night craft projects
Pride Night craft projects

Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, CMOM has provided innovative and engaging programs that have reached a diverse audience of children and families since 1973. Hosting Pride Night serves to continue the celebration of family and diversity in our rich and culturally-diverse city.

Kids and families enjoyed activities that included a colorful mural wall painting, handprint family tree art, animated face painting—as well as exploring the museums’ five floors of hands-on exhibits.

Same-sex couple Paola Patino and Yanira Ildefonso brought their 5-year-old daughter, Liana, to Pride Night so she could her own family dynamic mirrored in others, and to enjoy all the venue has to offer. “We like to bring our daughter to meet other families with same-sex parents so she gets to see other families like our family,” Patino, a preschool teacher who lives on Long Island, explains. “We also thought the museum was a great place for Liana to explore and learn.”

Celebrating all types of families!
Celebrating all types of families!

With a rapidly-changing definition of family in our city and throughout the country, NYC and its institutions continue to reach out to an ever-changing population of residents. “The city has changed and is more open to the LGBT community, and even the mayor was at a recent pride parade,” Patino adds. “It’s a good feeling to know that everyone should be welcome, regardless of who they love or where they belong. I think NYC is getting a lot better.”

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Dwight Summer Camp

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Mix and match weeks — and make summer your own!</strong> We offer children ages 4-12 a wide range of age-appropriate creative, athletic, and action-packed activities! Campers can also focus on one area in our Specialty Camps, from dodgeball and tennis, to theater and performing arts. With swim instruction in our six-lane indoor pool, great trips, and Friday PJ-DJ parties, the fun never ends!</p> <p dir="ltr">We offer chaperoned bus transportation and extended day options. Learn more at an Open House, meet our team of Camp professionals, and see why Dwight Summer Camp is the right fit for your child!</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Open Houses:</strong> March 11, 3 pm; April 13, 5:30 pm (virtual); May 6, 3 pm</p> <p dir="ltr">Register for an Open House <a href="https://dwightsummercamp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://dwightsummercamp.org/&source=gmail&ust=1678381305752000&usg=AOvVaw3px3zJN2Ske-QDJAX_pEGA">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Register for Camp <a href="https://dwightsummercamp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://dwightsummercamp.org/&source=gmail&ust=1678381305752000&usg=AOvVaw3px3zJN2Ske-QDJAX_pEGA">here</a> and use <strong>code NYF23 to save 3%!</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>We Believe in Summer!</strong></p>

Fastrackids Summer STEAM Adventure

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" role="" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Children will explore the weeks’ topic interact with our SmartBoard Learning Station, engage in role play, do arts and crafts, conduct experiments, improve their math and literacy skills and have lots of free play time with their friends! Read more and apply. Academic programs available too!</span></p>

Bonjour Language Camps!

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bonjour Language Camps in French, Mandarin & Spanish</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our focus is on immersive experiences – building confidence, friendship, and foreign language skills through engaging themes and activities. 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Campers also delve into fun new themes, as well as makeovers of some tried-and-true favorites!</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All campers ages 3.5–11 are immersed in French, Mandarin, or Spanish, content-rich experiences, lots of outdoor time, and trips all over the city. 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All language levels are welcome – our campers range from bilingual to beginner!</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2024 Camp Locations</span></span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <ul style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #440600; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 20px; background-color: #ffffff;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" data-fusion-font="true"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Downtown Brooklyn: </strong>A. 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