Jaime Sumersille

Latest posts by Jaime

Activities To Get You Out of the House This Weekend on Long Island

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Wed, 03/24/2021 - 6:34pm

The Vanderbilt Museum hosts an outdoor-only Vandy Land event throughout spring break week. Photo courtesy of the museum

This week brings spring break and an action-packed schedule of fun. Grab the kids and head to the Garvies Point Museum & Preserve to enjoy family-friendly programs, including crafts, hikes, films, and more.

We've got plenty of Easter egg hunts, and families can check out FREE drive-thru events in Cold Spring Harbor and Belmont Lake State Park.

If that's not enough, our Poppins@Home site invites kids to take virtual dance classes to perfect their hip-hop and ballet techniques.

You'll find more seasonal happenings in our roundup of 25 fun things to do this spring, plus our Event Calendar gets constant updates as we learn of family-friendly happenings.

STEM and STEAM Summer Camps for Long Island Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Mon, 03/08/2021 - 9:59am

Destination Science has options in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties for kids ages 5 to 11. Photo courtesy of the camp

If you have kids who wants to spend their summer camp experience building robots, learning to code, or launching rockets, you're in luck. Long Island has quite a few summer camps where kids can expand their knowledge of all things STEM. At these STEM summer camps, children can not only have fun and make new friends but also learn new skills to help them thrive during the next school year. Some camps even take it one discipline further, adding an A and including the arts.

For additional info on summer programs across Long Island, be sure to check out our Long Island Summer Camp Guide.

Spring Break Camps for Long Island Kids in 2021

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 03/05/2021 - 1:14pm

Kids in The Coder School's half-day camp explore Raspberry Pi, the powerful micro computer. Photo by Sarah Cruz/courtesy of the school

Most Long Island schools are closed for more than a week for this year's spring break this year, which begins in most districts on Monday, March 29, 2021, and continues through Monday, April 5, or Tuesday, April 6. With so much time to fill, why not consider enrolling your child in a spring break camp. We've rounded up several programs offering a combination of weekly and daily sessions.

So, whether you're entertaining a budding scientist, aspiring artist, or sports enthusiast, there's a camp to satisfy seemingly every interest. As always, find more enrichment opportunities in our Camp Guide for Long Island Kids. For entertainment ideas all break long, bookmark our Event Calendar.

Private Playtime: 9 Long Island Venues to Rent for Play Dates or Pods

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Tue, 03/02/2021 - 2:56pm

Book Once Upon a Sundae to enjoy an hour-long play date with arts, crafts, and ice cream—of course.

If you are looking to get out of the house but still stay safe in your bubble, take your pandemic pod or small play date to one of these spaces that will host a private session just for you.

For more indoor fun, check out our Guide to Play Spaces, and find plenty of seasonal entertainment on our winter fun list for Long Island kids.

Things To Do on Long Island This Weekend & Beyond: Fancy Nancy Party, Guided Winter Walks, Ice Skating

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 3:02pm

Get out in nature with the South Fork Natural History Museum's Young Environmentalists Society. Photo courtesy of SOFO

Dig out from under the snow and embark on an outdoor adventure this weekend. Join a nature educator from the South Fork Natural History Museum to explore the Promised Land in Napeague State Park, or traverse a wooded trail ending in a secluded area of the Block Island Sound, where seals can be seen on the rocks in Montauk.

If you're staying in, we've got plenty of fun, interactive classes to choose from on our Poppins@Home site. Enjoy the online series inspired by Harry Potter, the Wonderful World of Wizards, or have your preschooler engage in an on-demand science class with Stemtastic.

If you need more motivation to get out and get going, our Winter Fun Guide and Event Calendar are both chock-full of fun no matter the day.

What's Open Now on Long Island For Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 02/12/2021 - 4:43pm

The birds eat out of your hands at White Post Farms. White Post Farms. Photo courtesy of the Farm

Most of Long Island has reopened, and businesses are welcoming visitors at a reduced capacity, but the answer to what's open on Long Island right now is far from simple. While we've had plenty of fun enjoying winter walks, our glorious parks, and favorite playgrounds, indoor family entertainment is harder to come by. A handful of indoor play spaces have reopened, while other spots have remained shuttered since March.

We've scoured the web to come up with this list of what's open now on Long Island. Bookmark this page; we'll update it as more spots announce their reopening dates. Keep in mind, coronavirus safety restrictions often mean reservations are required, and capacity is capped, so it's a good practice to call before venturing out to confirm availability or book your tickets in advance.

Top Indoor Play Spaces on Long Island Open Now

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 02/05/2021 - 2:25pm

The tanagram exhibit at the Long Island Children's Museum helps little learners engage in spatial learning. Photo courtesy of the museum

Chase away the winter blues and embrace a change of scenery outside the walls of your living room at one of these Long Island play spaces open now and welcoming visitors . We've rounded up 11 fun places to play indoors, from toddler-friendly play spots to action-packed sports centers for bigger kids. Of course, no matter which you visit, expect to see some changes from capacity limits, to temperature checks, and reservations requirements.

For more indoor fun, check out our Guide to Play Spaces, and find plenty of seasonal entertainment on our winter fun list for Long Island kids.

Things To Do on Long Island This Weekend & Beyond: Scavenger Hunts, DIY Sweets, and More

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Wed, 01/27/2021 - 9:52am

Enjoy ice skating, hot cocoa, and s'mores by the fire at Waterdrinker Family Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

Outdoor fun is on the agenda this weekend. Long Island families can go on an outdoor adventure with Ranger Eric at the sprawling Sands Point Preserve or tackle a winter scavenger hunt at Sunken Meadow State Park. We have plenty of options to keep your squad entertained, energized, and enjoying the beauty of a Long Island winter. Speaking of which, we've found 15 spots to enjoy a winter walk, plus 18 spots to go cross-country skiing.

When you're done, reward yourselves—and your sweet tooth—at hands-on workshops at Carousel Bake Shop in Wading River or Stony Brook Chocolate.

If you'd rather stay in, we've got plenty of fun, interactive classes to choose from on our Poppins@Home site. Kids can learn to draw an iconic cartoon character or get their legs pumping with Happy Feet's online soccer series. Harry Potter fans are sure to enjoy a magic potions-inspired science class.

We've got more seasonal entertainment in our Winter Fun Guide, and our Event Calendar is, of course, updated daily with family-friendly fun.