A reprint of my article in Springville Times: Happy February Break!

Here we are in the middle of February and it’s already time for the kids Winter Break. There’s no shortage of activities to participate in throughout Western New York, you just have to decide your preference of indoor or outdoor activities (and make sure the weather cooperates of course!)

Close to home you can enjoy so many outdoor winter activities, skiing at Kissing Bridge and Holiday Valley; sledding at Sprague Brook and Chestnut Ridge park. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking trails in Erie County and don’t forget ice skating and ice biking at Canalside and Rotary Rink in downtown Buffalo.

On Saturday Feb. 17 from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. head out to the Winter Woods Battle at Old Fort Niagara, Youngstown. The whole family will enjoy demonstrations including a reenactment battle in the woods, learning tips on surviving winter on the Niagara Frontier, how to make a fire with flint and steel and the art of tinsmithing.

The Fairgrounds Event Center at 5820 South Park Ave., Hamburg is hosting the Greater Buffalo Toy & Train Show  sponsored by the WNY Railway Historical Society on Sat. Feb. 17 from  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  and Sun, Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests can view over 400 tables with model train sets, collectibles, books toys and much more.

On Tue. Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. bring your kids to the Concord Public Library at 18 Chapel St, for Hawk Creek Wildlife Center presents Harry Potter’s Owls. Meet three owls firsthand and hear the lore and legend of these mysterious creatures.

The Springville Center for the Arts has a Winter Break Art Make – 3D Masks class on Mon., Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and SPARK II & III art programs available for students on Tue, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Buffalo Audubon Society has several programs available at the Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, located at 1610 Welch Rd, Java Center including the Great Backyard Bird Count and Animals in Winter programs on Sat, Feb. 17 and he Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt on Wed, Feb. 21.

Tifft Nature Preserve located at 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo will host a Budding Naturalists drop-off early childhood program on Mon., Feb. 19 and Wed. Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Or on Wed, Feb. 21 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. children can attend the Hide & Seek: Winter Clues Walk.

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in Depew will hold a nature walk through the woods and a Birding 101 class on Sat., Feb. 17. Other classes during the week include a Learn to Cross-Country Ski class, Family Snowshoe Walk, Winter Nature Play and Stories in the Woods.

At the Buffalo Museum of Science, located at 1020 Humboldt, Buffalo children ages 3-5 can participate in the Budding Scientists program on Tues. Feb. 20 and Thurs, Feb 22 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. While there visit digiPlaySpace, an interactive playground for kids and adults that explores new media technologies, learning-centric games and engage with 14 different hands-on installations.

For only $1 you can visit the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens located at 2655 South Park Ave on Wed. Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or come at 6pm during the weekend on Friday and Saturday for Lumagination. where the gardens are illuminated and stimulate the senses.

On Fri. Feb. 23 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am the Albright-Knox Art Gallery located at 1285 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, offers students the opportunity to view the special exhibit “Focus on Matisse and the Art of Jazz” and then have the chance to create their own Matisse-inspired print.

Every day during the month of February is Polar Bear Day at the Buffalo Zoo located at 300 Parkside Ave, Buffalo Admission is only $5 and there’s free parking available. Tell Luna we said hello.

Explore and More Children’s Museum located at 300 Gleed Ave. in East Aurora is hosting a Family Fun Week with daily classes from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. which include Process Art, Light and Color, Explore Even More, Color Mixing and Music and Dance.

The Buffalo History Museum located at One Museum Court, Buffalo will have activities all week from Tues Feb. 20 to Thu. Feb. 23 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Celebrate 716 Weekend at the Aquarium of Niagara located at 701 Whirlpool St., Niagara Falls with $7.16 admission for everyone on February 17th, 18th and 19th. Other activities for students during the week include Sharks in Depth, Junior Scientist, Meet a Seal and the Humboldt Penguin Encounter.