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hvparent.com n Hudson Valley Parent 37 26: Monday Preschool Story Hour. Preschool Story Hour taps into the boundless energy of three to five-year- olds to get your child involved in this interactive story time. This program will engage your children with stories, finger plays and songs and encourage them to learn sounds, letter recognition and new words. Each program is followed by a hands- on craft and snacks. 10:30-11:30am. Town of Ulster Public Library. 860 Ulster Ave., Kingston. 338-7881. Stories and More. Join us at the library for stories, songs, games and crafts designed with our youngest patrons in mind. We will focus on developing early literacy skills and have fun too! This program is for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. Mondays from 10-11am and Fridays from 11am-12pm. Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library. 479 Bdwy, Monticello. 794-4660 ext. 5. 27: Tuesday Community Meditation. All are welcome for silent sitting and walking meditation. For optional beginner instruction, please arrive 10 minutes early. Drop-in attendance welcome. Cushions, back-jacks and chairs available. 9-10am. Wellness Embodied: A Center for Psychotherapy and Healing. 126 Main St., New Paltz. Grow Yoga. Through movement, breath, and relaxation our young yoga students develop self-confidence, self-control and self-awareness. Starting them young on the mat reaps long-term benefits. Our program is 1 hour of yoga and creativity. Tuesday sessions for ages 9-11. Thursday sessions for ages 5-8. 4:30-5:15pm. Stone Wave Yoga. 2694 Rte. 44/55, Gardiner. 419-5219. New Mother's Social Circle. This group is for mamas looking to meet other mamas and babies for friendship, answers about your new baby, and socialization. We have a different weekly discussion topic with Q and A. We have everything a new mother could need. Continue the conversation in downtown New Paltz over lunch and shopping, or head to the rail trail or playground for some sunshine and running around. You can just drop in! This program occurs every Tuesday. 10am-12pm. New Baby New Paltz. 264 Main St., New Paltz. 255-0624. 28: Wednesday Baby Brain Time. Engage your little one in activities to help promote the ABC's of early literacy. Grown-ups and babies will explore different activities together as they develop these skills. This program is designed for ages birth through 18 months and for one child to take part with one adult. Registration is required. 10am. Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library. 479 Bdwy, Monticello. 794-4660 ext. 5. Lego Lounge/ Color Club. Play with our gazillion Legos, or have a quiet time coloring. All ages welcome! Every Wednesday. 4:30-5:30pm. Tivoli Free Library. 86 Bdwy, Tivoli. 757-3771. Geology Rocks! For children in grades 2-5. Children will witness a rock that floats, look inside a geode, be amazed by rocks that glow bright colors and more! Touch a variety of crystals, minerals and unusual stones during this hands-on geology program. 4:30pm. Tuxedo Park Library. 227 Rte. 17, Tuxedo Park. 351-2207. She says that dance is a creative outlet that offers numerous physical benefits. It helps foster creativity and self-expression, in addition to increasing self-esteem, improving social skills and reducing stress and anxiety. "Today kids today need constructive outlets, away from social media and electronics, and dance camps offer the perfect opportunity for experienced students and beginners alike," says Albright. The Hudson River Performing Arts Center offers numerous summer camps for all age groups which focus on dance training and the creative process. "Experienced and pre- professional students may like to try their hand at choreography - the ultimate in creative expression for dancers. We offer a Choreography Clinic for our company dancers, where they learn the basics of constructing their own pieces, ranging from solos to group works, which often then get performed by our Repertory Company at community performances." Beginning students can try a variety of dance styles at summer camps. "The creativity that dance offers should be nurtured year-round for best results," says Albright, who says that after students try a summer camp, parents should enroll them in year-long classes to really reap the benefits of dance training- self-discipline, technical skill, artistry, collaboration, self-confidence, and of course, creativity, to name a few. "Students should be encouraged to continue pursuing their own choreographic works, as well as dance works of others," she says. "Being around like-minded individuals in dance class can be inspiring and freeing." Learning, playing, gaining experience For Melissa McNeese, it was The Art Effect in Poughkeepsie - formerly known as Spark Media Project - that had a lasting effect on her two children. The Art Effect is an arts & education organization that focuses on nurturing creativity and building skillsets among youth through media arts and technology. "They made a virtual reality public service announcement on bees in the summer of 2016," says McNeese, who lives in Red Hook. At the time her children Bass and William attended, they were 15 and 19. "It was wonderful that they could do this together," she says. "It gave them experience with cutting-edge technology. They worked as a team with the other kids under a tight deadline. Great real-life experience. They learned about the importance of bees in our ecosystem. Since both of my kids are interested in storytelling through visual media it was educational but also affirming that this is something they can see themselves doing in their futures." Children want to learn, but they also want to play and Essinger encourages parents to find camps that allow children to do both. "Kids thrive with open-ended tasks and the ability to make choices," she says. She also advises parents to look for camp opportunities for your child that are different from what they do at home or at school. Lisa Iannucci is a local freelance writer. Her latest book, On Location: A Film & TV Lover's Travel Guide," will be released on February 1, 2018. Looking for a camp that fosters learning and creativity? Go to SpecialtyCamps.HVParent.com MAKE THE MOST OUT OF SUMMER (Continued from Page 29)