Avoid the “Covid Slide”- Keep Your Kids Learning While Having Fun!

If you are like me, you are willing to try ANYTHING to keep your kids active and learning over the summer- not to mention, really, since Covid became part of our existence. It’s hard when they aren’t in school, and many of us don’t know what to do to keep them from losing knowledge (or from wanting to be in front of the TV and video games all day, ugh). Here are a few DIY kits we’ve really loved.

Solar-Powered Rovers

Click Here for more info and to buy for your kids!

Want to build fun solar-powered vehicles and devices that move using electricity generated directly from sunlight? With this kit, you can construct five motorized models. Build three types of solar cars, a solar fan, and a solar robot model. Conduct science experiments with each model to learn about gear ratios, solar cells, and more. The ultralight materials, including strong bamboo rods, make your models speedy and durable. A modular gearing system lets you test out three different gear ratios. Experiment with a solar cell, electric motor, gears, and ultralight materials. Build five different solar-powered models. Learn about how solar cells work and  about the energy from the sun. Ages 8+ MSRP: $19.95.

Creatto

Click Here for more info and to buy for your kids!

With CREATTO, you can design and construct illuminated, three-dimensional creations that literally light up your life! The kit includes flexible yet durable interlocking plastic tiles and a string of LED lights that you can piece together to make animals, decorations, or your own custom creations. Each set includes an illustrated manual with easy, step-by-step instructions for multiple designs, but the building possibilities are nearly limitless using your imagination. Creatto is available in 3 fun sizes: mini, medi, and maxi. Kids can choose to build: Moonlight Elephant Safari: Ages 6+ MSRP: $9.95; Magical Moose & Forest Friends: Ages 6+ MSRP: $9.95; Starlight Kitty & Cutie Crew: Ages 8+ MSRP: $19.95; Shimmer Shark & Ocean Pals: Ages 9+ MSRP: $29.95; Sparkle Unicorn & Friends: Ages 9+ MSRP: $29.95.

Singer Jesse Neo Launches Gemtracks

Over the years, British-Australian singer, Jesse Neo has worn many hats; that of an international DJ, music reviewer and an artist of electronic music since 2017. These experiences not only have they helped him gain popularity, but it has also helped him launch a new music platform called Gemtracks.

Jesse explained why he moved over to starting the music platform. “I want people to know that I am a versatile and flexible writer who can easily adapt to different genres,” he told us. “I started out in the electronic music scene and have worked as a beat maker for major labels and media companies within the genre. However, as my taste in music changed, I felt like I could give other sounds a go too. That’s why I created Gemtracks as a way to showcase my work in whatever genre I feel like doing at a specific moment.”

While Gemtracks was initially a repository for Jesse’s unused tracks, he eventually turned the website into a marketplace where anyone could sell beats. This means artists and labels can visit Gemtracks and purchase unused beats for their own vocal releases.

“There is so much happening in the music scene today, that leveraging technology is the only way forward to harness the multitude of talent available across the globe,” Jesse explained. “I remember when I was working with a company, before a song it releases, several contracts must be signed, along with attending several meetings. My goal for Gemtracks is to enable all these tiresome tasks to be avoided through automation so that artists can concentrate on their music.

A beat sold over Gemtracks may sometimes go up as high as $600, as it can be sold only once, and the rights are transferred to the buyer. This means the buyer can distribute as many copies of the song as they want without having to pay any royalties.

Today, almost 300 people have signed up. Some of the well-known producers like Beowülf, Taylor Carroll, Milana Leybovich, I.Y.F.F.E, and Lucas Gold, who have worked with Universal, Sony or Warner.

Besides being a marketplace, Gemtracks also has a section dedicated to educating those new the industry. For example, there is a blog filled with articles, videos and tutorials on how to make it in the industry. For those that like to read, there is also a free eBook for download on how to skyrocket your career.

“I’m actually in the process of adding new features to the website too,” Jesse continued proudly. “I have just launched a directory to hire music producers, book music studios and even contribute to a Q&A database. My goal is to turn Gemtracks into the ultimate resource destination for musicians releasing music.”

As you can see, Gemtracks is a wonderful addition to the music industry. Artists can easily find assets for their songs, and producers can make some extra income. If this sounds interesting to you, make sure you head over to buy beats now!

 

STORY LAND FINALIZESSCHEDULE

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NH’s best amusement park for kids will conclude 2020 season on Labor Day

Glen, NH – August 20, 2020 – A roller coaster of a season at Story Land will come to a close next month. The good news: there’s still time to enjoy some summer fun with family and friends! Labor Day, Monday, September 7 will be your last chance to visit the Land Where Fantasy Lives, and tickets are just $19.99 for the remainder of the season.

To thank Guests for their patience and support, Story Land will automatically extend all 2020 Standard and Premium Season Passes to include the entire 2021 Season. Guests who previously purchased a 2021 Season Pass extension for Standard or Premium Passes will automatically receive a credit equal to the price paid for the extension product.

“We are so grateful for our entire Team, as well as our Guests, for adapting to these extraordinary times. Without their efforts, this year would not have been possible,” said Story Land General Manager, Eric Dziedzic. “Our Team Members implemented enhanced health and safety measures with unmatched enthusiasm and care, and allowed us to create the cleanest and safest environment possible for every visitor in 2020. We’ll wrap up this season on a positive note on Labor Day, and start getting ready for 2021.”

Preparations for the 2021 season will begin immediately after the park closes on September 7. Story Land looks forward to the return of many of its beloved attractions in 2021, including live shows and characters, which were sorely missed in 2020 due to essential safety precautions. Popular events like Sensory Sensitive Weekends, Coasting for Kids, and Story Land’s adults-only Nostalgia Nights are all slated to return in 2021.

Story Land will continue to operate five days per week, Friday through Tuesday, through September 7, 2020. The park is open 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and welcomes families to enjoy the last few weeks of summer in the Land Where Fantasy Lives!  Story Land continues to offer heavily discounted single-day admission at just $19.99 per person for the remainder of the summer. For more information, please visit www.StoryLandNH.com .

ADVENTURE AQUARIUM ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE

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While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Adventure Aquarium, we are committed to putting the health and safety of our team members, animals, and guests first. Doing our part to help prevent further spread of the illness in our community is important to us, and therefore we will be temporarily closing to the public effective Monday, March 16, 2020 as a precautionary measure and are planning on reopening on Saturday, March 28, 2020.

Our devoted animal husbandry teams and essential personnel will continue to maintain the vital systems and processes that ensure the highest level of care for the animals and aquatic life here at Adventure Aquarium. These team members have been trained on hygiene policies, social distancing methods, and have access to personal protective gear. Additional team members, who cannot work remotely, will receive paid leave.

During this time, we will continue to follow recommendations of public health officials and monitor the situation with regular updates posted to our website, adventureaquarium.com, and on our FacebookInstagram, and Twitter pages. We will work with guests to reschedule their visit or refund tickets as needed.

For further details, please call us at 844-474-FISH (3474) and visit adventureaquarium.com for FAQs pertaining to the temporary closure.

Adventure Aquarium continues to watch the conditions within the area, consult with its medical experts, and follow CDC guidelines. The aquarium will communicate any additional changes should they occur.

ABOUT ADVENTURE AQUARIUM

Adventure Aquarium is just minutes from downtown Philadelphia on the Camden Waterfront and features one-of-a-kind exhibits with more than 15,000 aquatic species throughout two million gallons of water. The Aquarium is home to the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast, including the only great hammerhead shark on exhibit in the United States, the only aquarium in the world to exhibit hippos, one of only six facilities in the US to have Little Blue penguins as permanent residents and exhibits the longest Shark Bridge in the world, a unique V-shaped rope suspension bridge just inches over Shark Realm. Adventure Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and is held to the absolute highest standards in animal care and exhibition. Open daily.  For more information, visit AdventureAquarium.com.

New England Aquarium offering virtual programming during temporary closures

With students across New England home from school amid closures related to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, the New England Aquarium is offering special virtual programming to keep families engaged.

Each day at 11:00 a.m., content will be posted on the Aquarium’s social media platforms that includes live videos with educators, a behind-the-scenes look at animal care, and fun activities for children. Online visitors will also find a special webpage on neaq.org to take a “virtual visit” to the Aquarium, featuring video, at-home projects, and other educational resources. This page will be updated regularly with fresh material.

Last week, the Aquarium made the decision to close to the public and suspend all events and educational programming for a minimum of three weeks as a precautionary move to protect staff and visitors and ensure continued care for the animals. Much of the special programming available online will focus on the important work still happening at the Aquarium amid the closure.

“Even though our doors are closed to the public, a limited number of Aquarium staff are onsite daily caring for and supporting our nearly 20,000 animals,” said Vikki N. Spruill, President and CEO. “Engaging and inspiring the public about the wonders of our blue planet is central to our mission. We are delighted to be able to provide an educational outlet for families and their students who are losing valuable time in the classroom.”

The New England Aquarium has a long-standing tradition of supporting education outside its walls. That includes homeschool program offerings, classroom resources for teachers, and educational tools for parents.

The public can find special features and projects on:

NEAQ.org

Facebook – @NewEnglandAquarium

Twitter – @NEAQ

Instagram – @newenglandaquarium

Temporary Closure of New-York Historical Society

In response to heightened concerns relating to the spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19, the New-York Historical Society will close temporarily as of Friday, March 13 at 6 PM until the end of March. All onsite programs will be cancelled through the end of April. These decisions were made to support New York City’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health of our staff and visitors. Although no case of COVID-19 has been connected to the Museum, we are taking these preventive measures out of an abundance of caution to help ensure everyone’s safety. Visitors who have purchased tickets to a program will be contacted shortly to arrange either a refund or a ticket-to-donation to New-York Historical. In the meantime, New-York Historical is encouraging the public to stay connected online and explore our wealth of digital content at nyhistory.org. We are also offering curated digital content through our weekly eblasts.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and look forward to resuming full operation as soon as possible. We will continue to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, Governor’s Office, Mayor’s Office, and Department of Cultural Affairs. For future updates, please visit nyhistory.org.

The Montclair Art Museum is temporarily closed in the interest of staff and community health

The Montclair Art Museum is committed to the health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and students. Beginning today, March 13, at 12 p.m., it will be temporarily closing the Museum and all programs, including Yard School classes and outreach programs, through March 31. In the interest of staff and community health, they feel it is best not to remain open.

The Museum will stay apprised of the evolving recommendations of the CDC and Montclair Township for avoidance and containment of COVID-19 and share updates as they become available.

Please continue to check the website and follow on social media @MAMmontclair for additional updates.

The Newark Museum of Art to Close Temporarily Starting March 14th

n the interest of protecting the well-being of our staff, members, volunteers, and visitors, and following guidance from local, state and federal authorities regarding measures that best promote public health, we have decided to temporarily close The Newark Museum of Art beginning on Saturday, March 14th. We will reopen on Thursday, April 16th. 

The Newark Museum of Art’s top priority is the safety and peace of mind for our members, visitors, staff and partners. Each decision we make during this challenge starts with us asking what is best for our visitors and staff. Lastly, we want you to know we are carefully monitoring the situation and will provide any new updates as quickly as possible. For additional questions about the virus, we suggest accessing the CDC website for the most reliable information.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Museum soon.