Summertime is upon us and keeping the little ones busy can often be a challenge. The borough of Staten Island offers a multitude of different activities to keep the little ones active all summer long. Between the Snug Harbor Cultural Center along with the Staten Island Greenbelt Nature Center, the Carousel for all children, Staten Island Zoo, and the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan art, the only obstacle will be choosing one of the interesting options. In part 1 of Things to do with Kids this Summer (Staten Island Edition), local attractions included, Staten Island Children’s Museum, Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island Ferry, New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden, National Lighthouse Museum. Here, we are featuring more activities that will keep your children engaged and entertained with fun activities. Check out some of the features of these local attractions.
- Snug Harbor Children’s Museum – Snug Harbor, once a home for “worn out” sailors is now a thriving hub for arts and entertainment on Staten Island. The Snug Harbor Cultural Center features a plethora of events to keep the young ones busy. Take your pick. Art exhibits, botanical gardens, a heritage farm and live events happen on the grounds to capture the attention from children to the elderly. Snug Harbor which was founded by Robert Richard Randall was a place that housed residents who were once sailors, this cultural center which resides on 87 acres of land was a thriving community with farms, bakeries, workshops, hospitals , dormitories and recreation areas. Now, this cultural center has over 50 structures while serving as a pillar of arts and entertainment on Staten Island. The Staten Island Children’s Museum, located at 1000 Richmond Terrace, offers interactive play for children of all ages. The interactive exhibits allow children to use all five senses, creating a unique and pleasurable experience. Children are allowed to expand on their imagination using dress-up play and touching buttons that light up and sliding down fireman poles and exploring technology and science. One of the exhibits features an oversized chess set and checker set. The kids will feel like they are a part of the game! When you are done with the museum you can walk the grounds of Snug Harbor or have a picnic on the grass of one of their lush properties. (https://sichildrensmuseum.org/)
- The Greenbelt Conservatory – The Greenbelt Conservatory is a not-for-profit organization that works in conjunction with the NYC Parks department to manage 2,800 acres of open space trails and facilities located in central Staten Island. The Greenbelt Nature Center offers educational programs for children in kindergarten and older. The programs include: Interpretive Hikes , Young Naturalists Programs , Advanced Explorations . The programs include outdoor exploration in particular fields such as, first forest exploration, NYC Wildlife, Birds of the Greenbelt, Forest Ecosystems and more. Learn more about what the Greenbelt has to offer here, (https://sigreenbelt.org/)
- Tibetan Museum – Considered a “peaceful retreat” the Tibetan Museum, located on Lighthouse Hill was established in 1945 by Jacques Marchais. The museum provides a collection of Tibetan and Himalayan culture. The museum, which is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 1-5pm, offers exhibits that can be enjoyed by all ages. The exhibits and historical connections of art will surely grab the attention of your children. (https://www.tibetanmuseum.org/)
- Clay & Kiln Studio – The Clay and Kiln Studio located at 861 Castleton Ave, in the West Brighton section of Staten Island offers a fun activity for kids. At Clay and Kiln kids can purchase and decorate unique ceramic figures. This fun activity allows children to be hands-on in the process of creating art. This location offers studio painting along with a group option! Check out the website to learn more about this unique pottery experience! (https://www.clayandkilnstudio.com/)
Staten Island, the suburban borough of New York City, has many interesting activities to offer families. Fill your summer with activities that will keep your children busy and full of joy!