Things to Do with Kids

Night in the Museum is an overnight experience at Old Sturbridge Village designed for scouts, schools and other youth groups.

With only a map and a tattered journal at their side, young historians will travel back in time and take part in a mysterious, candlelit adventure through the 1830s. The quest will exercise their detective skills as they hunt for clues, conduct experiments, and investigate the past. Back at the hands-on learning laboratory, they will experiment with historic crafts to learn more about 19th-century life.

While these programs fill up fast and are almost sold out through the rest of 2025, grab your spot now for January 2026 HERE!!!

1 Old Sturbridge Village Road

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Celebrate Martin Luther King's legacy with the Children's Museum of Manhattan's Peace Parade! Events throughout the week include:

• MLK Weekend Art Installation with Tijay Mohammad/ Anklave Arts Alliance
  Saturday, January 17 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Ages 5 & up
  Create a large-scale art installation with artist Tijay Mohammed, inspired by the legacy of MLK‍
• MLK Weekend Art Installation continues with CMOM Educators
  Sunday, January 18 | 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up ‍
• Mighty Marchers!
  Tuesday – Friday, January 13 – 16 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Ages 5 & up
  Saturday & Sunday, January 17 – 18 | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm | Ages 5 & up
  Create a banner inspired by a cause you believe in! Use inspiration from Civil Rights leaders and bring your banner to march for something important.‍
• Peaceful Watercolor Painting
  Tuesday – Friday, January 13 – 16 | 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger
  Saturday – Monday, January 17 – 19 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Ages 4 & younger
  Pick up a paint brush and mix paint with water to create a watercolor painting. As you experiment with color mixing, think of how colors help you feel when you see them. How do you feel when you look at the colors you’ve put together? ‍
• MLK Day of Service: Dream Art Bags
  Monday, January 19 | 10:30 am – 4:15 pm | All Ages
  MLK Day is designated as a National Day of Service to give back to our communities. Join CMOM to create a dream art bag for students in need at New York City schools, through CMOM’s Community Programs partnerships.

Activities included in museum admission. Get tickets here!

The Tisch Building

212 West 83rd St

New York, NY 10024

Join this free story time hosted by the Boston Public Library for age 0 - 5, featuring stories, scarves, and more!

Central Library

700 Boylston St

Boston MA 02116

Calling all coders!

What could you make with code? Games? Animations? Something else? Find out at the library's coding club with librarian Josh at the Adams Street Branch! We’ll learn skills like coding with Scratch, micro:bits, and more!

All equipment will be provided.

Can't make it? Catch the club every Wednesday over the next couple of weeks.

Adams Street Library

690 Adams St

Dorchester MA 02122

Find out why more students are taking a Gap Year between high school and college. Many teens want to increase college and workplace readiness by exploring interests, traveling, improving professional skills, and engaging in other experiences that increase confidence, independence, and maturity. Join Katherine Stievater, founder of Gap Year Solutions for a presentation and Q&A about why students choose to take a Gap Year, and how to plan transformational and purposeful Gap time on any budget.

This program is especially geared to high school juniors and seniors and their caregivers.

Please register here! It is an online event, a Zoom link will be sent to participants on January 13!

Virtual

Manure may seem like an automatic "no," but stick with us! This could be a great lesson in science for our homeschoolers!

Learn what is involved in maintaining a healthy environment for animals in the barn and healthy pastures. Discover the journey of spent bedding and manure from the barn to healthy soil.

Reservations required by one week prior! You will receive an email from the instructor with more details prior to the program. This program is a combination of indoor and outdoor activities. Please dress for the weather and to get dirty!

Cost is $21.25, register here!

Gale Woods Farm

7210 County Road 110 W

Minnetrista, MN 55364

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a designated National Day of Service, to encourage all Americans to volunteer within their communities and honor the life and legacy of the Civil Rights leader. Join the Acton Discovery Museum as they engage in small acts of service to benefit your neighbors.  

Make a Welcome Card and help collect “Welcome Basket” supplies to support the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center, an organization dedicated to providing comprehensive services to refugees, asylees, and immigrants in Massachusetts. Welcome baskets provide families and individuals with essential goods necessary for day-to-day life. Most needed new and unopened items are:  

• Cleaning supplies such as dish soap, hand soap, all-purpose cleaner, sponges, laundry detergent
• Household supplies such as toilet paper, paper towels, Ziploc bags, trash bags, First Aid kits, laundry baskets, brooms & dustpans, can openers

All supply donations can be dropped off in the Museum lobby from January 13 – January 31, 2026.

177 Main Street (Route 27)

Acton, Massachusetts 01720

Join the California Academy of Sciences for an amazing opportunity in the new year!

At a Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover, the adventure begins well before bedtime—and continues the next day. Spark your young science-lover's imagination by exploring our exhibits after hours. Go stargazing at a private planetarium show. Snack on milk and cookies before going to sleep under the starfish (or the penguins, if you prefer). And be the first to greet Claude in the morning—after breakfast, of course.

Don't sleep on it—sleepovers fill up far in advance! Book early to avoid disappointment. Sleepovers start at 6 p.m. and continue until 8 a.m. the following morning.

• Saturday, January 17, 2026
• Saturday, January 31, 2026
• Saturday, February 21, 2026
• Saturday, March 14, 2026
• Saturday, March 28, 2026
• Friday, April 10, 2026
• Friday, April 17 2026 (Girl Scout Exclusive)
• Friday, May 1, 2026
• Friday, May 15, 2026
• Saturday, June 13 2026 (Girl Scout Exclusive)

Buy tickets here (starting around $136)!

Ages 4-17 welcome.

Golden Gate Park

55 Music Concourse Drive

San Francisco, CA 94118

Directions & Parking

Keep the kids busy on the holiday with a free day in the spirit of MLK Day and national service!

Advance tickets are NOT required, buy at the door or online here for Stone Zoo and Franklin Park Zoo.

Join them for keeper and educator chats, your chance to dive into the world of our amazing animals, hear their incredible stories, and ask questions!

Last admission is at 3:00 p.m.

Stone Zoo

• 10:00 am: Arctic Fox Chat
• 11:00 am: Sloth Chat
• 1:30 pm: Reindeer Chat
• 2:30 pm: Cougar Chat

Franklin Park Zoo

• 10:00 am: Franklin Farm Chat
• 11:00 am: Camel Chat
• 1:00 pm: Swamp Chat
• 2:00 pm: Gorilla Forage Feed & Chat
• 2:30 pm: Tapir Chat

Stone Zoo

149 Pond St

Stoneham, MA 02180

Franklin Park Zoo

1 Franklin Park Rd

Boston, MA 02121

The first long weekend after winter break arrives quickly. The Discovery Museum's 1 day MLK camp turns “uh-oh, no school” into “aha, great plan”. With your curious kids busy learning, you’ll enjoy a more manageable Monday.

Cosmic Campers (ages 4-5 years)

Planet by planet, kids explore vivid terrains, meet whimsical space creatures, and collect fun facts they cannot wait to share at dinner. Campers become universe-makers as they create a custom comet and build an asteroid belt masterpiece from rocks and paint.

• $135/day
• Extended care available for $30

Electric Explorers (ages 6-7 years)

From wire to wow, kids learn how electricity flows as they wire closed circuits, flip switches, and troubleshoot like pros. Projects include a DIY flashlight and a sculpted creature powered by a custom circuit (think: glowing nose or beeping tail).

• $145/day
• Extended care available for $30

Enroll for camp online here!

557 McReynolds Rd

Sausalito, CA 94965

Calling all Scouts! Explore the night sky and view winter constellations!

Learn about stars, planets and other celestial objects in the sky. Learn tricks for navigating around the night sky and try out an app that helps identify objects.

Reservations required by two days prior. Adult leaders are free of charge and required to attend and participate with scouts. You will receive an email from the instructor with more details prior to the program. This program is outdoors; please dress for the weather.

Cost is $6/scout, register here!

Eastman Nature Center

13351 Elm Creek Road

Osseo, MN, 55369

Have you ever wondered what it takes to bring the past to life? This special program for older Girl Scouts goes beyond the visitor experience to reveal the inner workings of an 1830s living history museum (Old Sturbridge Village). Scouts will step behind the scenes to explore areas not usually open to the public and gain a deeper understanding of the skills, creativity, and dedication it takes to preserve and share history.

During this immersive program, Scouts will:

• Take Behind-the-Scenes Tours: Visit collection storage areas, workshops, and staff-only spaces where artifacts are preserved and prepared for exhibit.
• Meet Museum Professionals: Speak with staff who work in education, collections care, historical clothing, interpretation, maintenance and visitor engagement to hear about their day-to-day roles.
• Explore Career Pathways: Learn what kinds of education and skills are helpful for different museum jobs, and discover how interests in history, art, science, or teaching can all come together in the museum world.
• Participate in Hands-on Workshops: Try activities that are connected to museum careers, such as foodways, textiles, sewing, visitor experience and more. See workshops and sign up here.

This program is designed for older Girl Scouts (ages 12 and older) looking to broaden their horizons, connect their love of history to real-world opportunities, and see what lies beyond the gallery walls. It’s an experience that will inspire curiosity, leadership, and future career exploration.

*Preregistration is required!

Cost is $12 per Scout for full-day admission to Old Sturbridge Village (workshops included in cost). One adult per Scout ages 5 and above is admitted at the rate of $17. Additional adults pay the full price rate ($27).

Purchase standard daytime admission for the event here!

Old Sturbridge Village

1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Blossom and Fit4Mom SV invites you to their FREE clothing swap event for baby and maternity clothes. They will have light refreshments, snacks, and prizes. You will be able to exchange and find some great clothes, while meeting fellow parents!

Please bring your baby clothes and maternity clothes on February 1st @ 11:00am for the beginning of the event. Volunteers will help sort and organize the cloth.

Guidelines for Clothes Donations (clothing items only, no accessories):

• Baby Clothes 0 - 18 months
• Maternity Clothes - all sizes
• New or gently used
• clean and no stains please ​​

Items not picked up will be donated to charity.

**It is not necessary to bring baby and/or maternity clothes to participate.

Space is limited so be sure to get your ticket early before they "sell" out!

Oshman Family JCC

3921 Fabian Way

Palo Alto, CA 94303

Jeff Center for Families/Room G-106