CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24
THE PROVIDENCE
JOURNAL/BOB
THAYER
Student visitors look over the Lagoda, an 89-foot, half-scale model of the whaling bark built in 1916 at The
New Bedford Whaling Museum. During spring vacation, kids can tour the bottom deck of the model to survey
sailors’ living quarters. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL/BOB THAYER
weapons (including a 1910
Maxim machine gun), pic
tures and posters, models of
airplanes and ships, uniforms
and photos and mementos of
local residents who served in
various wars. “This museum
is about people,” said volun
teer Joseph "Zack" Sousa. A
visit to the museum would
work well after lunch, as it
opens at 1 p.m. For informa
tion, go to forttaber.org.
And then there is the But
tonwood Park Zoo, which
is owned and operated by
the city and is very close
to downtown. Considered
by the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums to be one of
the finest small zoos in the
nation, exhibits include bob
cats, Canada lynx, elephants,
harbor seals, North American
river otters and a cougar. For
information, go to bpzoo.org.
pelswort@providencejour
nal.com
(401) 277 7403
On Twitter: @peterelsworth
Thursday, March 19, 2015
A bigger-thanlifesize wooden
Indian that
served as the
figurehead
for the Boston
whaler Sachem,
in 1875, on display at the New
Bedford Whaling Museum.
The Prov dence Journa
for children 12 and younger include special tours, crafts
and films.
Other galleries showcase artifacts, including the fear
some harpoons and butchering tools, a large collection
of scrimshaw (carved and decorated sperm whale teeth
and whale bone) and period paintings. There are even
samples of whale oil you can sniff. They smell better in the
winter than the summer, according to Brian Witkowski,
director of apprentices and interns. For information on
the Whaling Museum, go to whalingmuseum.org.
For more about the city's whaling history, check out
the short film "The City that Lit the World," showing at
the National Park's Visitor Center, at 33 William St., just
up from the museum. The film's title refers to the whale
oil, which was used mainly for lamps, but also for lubri
cation. The demise of whaling started in the 1860s as
petroleum emerged as a replacement. For more informa
tion, go to nps.gov/nebe.
A couple of blocks down from the museum is the Buz
zards Bay Coalition education center (114 Front St.),
which features a very large topographical map of the
Buzzards Bay watershed area showing all the rivers and
inlets that run into the bay. Lighthouses and navigational
buoys are lit up.
The nonprofit organization is dedicated to the “restora
tion, protection, and sustainable use and enjoyment of
Buzzards Bay and its watershed,” according to coalition
literature. Around the topographical map are displays
addressing different issues the organization is involved
in. (The organization also organizes seal and seabird
tours.) For information, go to savebuzzardsbay.org.
Across JFK Memorial Highway is the state pier with
fishing boats as well as the schooner “Ernestina,” the
state ship of Massachusetts. It was launched as the Effie
M. Morrissey in 1894 and initially worked as a Grand
Banks fishing schooner out of Gloucester, Mass. It later
served as a research vessel in the Arctic before being
restored in the 1990s.
Additional attractions include Fort Taber Park at the
south end of town, which features Fort Rodman. It was
designed as a three tier fort, but ended up as a two tier
fort because construction, which began during the Civil
War, was halted at the end of the war. Large granite
blocks that were never used can still be seen on the beach
nearby.
While the fort itself is not open for visits, the Fort Taber
Military Museum features an enormous array of mili
tary paraphernalia, including a model of Fort Rodman,
25
Naturalist
Laura Carberry
(pointing) of the
Audubon Society
of Rhode Island
leads a bird
watching walk at
the Maxwell Mays
Wildlife Refuge
in Coventry. THE
PROVIDENCE
JOURNAL / BOB
BREIDENBACH
The Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge on Route 102 in Coventry, now an
Audubon Society of Rhode Island property, offers unspoiled hiking
trails and fishing and boating opportunities on Carr Pond. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / SANDOR BODO
A black-capped chickadee perches on a branch in North Kingstown. Plenty of birding opportunities
abound in Rhode Island’s protected spaces. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / BOB BREIDENBACH
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26
Lincoln, which is undergoing a face
lift, to add parking and trails. The Nature Conservancy also
maintains five preserves on Block
Island that offer monthly walks for
families with kids of all ages. Cel
ebrate spring March 21 with a hike
through the Clay Head Preserve,
where you'll discover species unique
to the island.
"The preserves have a feeling of
remoteness and feeling of the wild,
but with the security of knowing
you're only 10 minutes from a major
road," said Mooney, who added that
the preserves are free and open every
day.
On April 8, you can check out the
elaborate aerial mating displays of
the woodcock at the Francis Carter
preserve in Charlestown. And small
pools that blossom in spring at
Tillinghast Pond in West Greenwich
reveal up close views of squiggling
tadpoles and fairy shrimp.
"Tadpoles are magical," said
Mooney," after a long winter to see
something like that wiggling about."
Another popular spot for nature activi
ties is the Kettle Pond Visitor Center
in Charlestown, right off Route 1.
Kids can draw birds on a wall, check
out tanks with crayfish and turtles,
or climb a 30 foot post and beam
tower with views of Ninigret Pond
and Block Island. The center is
maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, which oversees five refuges in
the state, including Trustom Pond,
where you make your way through
woods and fields to a wooden dock
overlooking a large pond teeming
with swans and ducks.
All the service's programs are
free and designed for families, said
park ranger Neil Anthes. The visi
tor center is open every day except
Christmas and Thanksgiving. For details on activities offered by
the Audubon Society, visit asri.org.
The Nature Conservancy's website is
nature.org/rhodeisland. For the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, visit fws.
gov/ninigret.
[email protected] /
(401) 277 7492
ANIMAL ADVENTURES
Sometimes furry friends
make the best teachers
By Jenna Pelletier
Journal Staff Writer
Working with animals can
be a great way for kids to
learn lessons they can take
outside of the barnyard.
"What we find is that kids
are inherently interested
and excited about animals,"
said Shareen Knowlton,
director of education at
Roger Williams Park Zoo
in Providence. "They are
almost a universal context
in which other things can
be learned, including social
skills, literacy and how to be
responsible citizens."
The zoo offers
various educational pro
grams, including one hour
classes and weeklong day
camps for children, from
teenagers as old as 17 down
to toddlers as young as 18
months.
"With the younger
kids, we focus on lessons
about empathy and connec
tions," Knowlton said. "We
say, no doom and gloom
before the fourth grade."
One of the more popular
KATHY BORCHERS
programs for the younger
set is Zoo Explorers, a
one hour class for 6 to
8 year olds that takes on
a different theme, such
as "Fantastic Frogs" or
"Amazing Anteaters" each
month.
Once the kids are older,
lessons involve more
serious topics related to
conservation and ethics.
One option for kids ages
9 through 17 is the service
project based Roots &
Shoots program, founded by
Dr. Jane Goodall. "They're
learning how to be good
citizens," Knowlton said.
Zoo Camp, held summers
but older kids enjoy it as
well," she said.
The program is free for
members; $7 for non
member adults and $5 for
nonmember children. Spe
cific program dates were
not available at press time;
call for details. 1 Colt Dr.,
Bristol. (401) 253 9062,
coggeshallfarm.org.
Children can learn about
marine life at Save the
Bay's Exploration Center &
Aquarium at Easton's Beach
in Newport. The interac
tive facility is home to more
than 140 species from
Narragansett Bay. Exhibits
include rare lobsters, skates
and dogfish sharks. Save the
Bay also offers day camps
for all grade levels during
the summer.
The center is open from
10 a.m. 4 p.m. daily
during all school vaca
tions and on Friday through
Sunday from 10 a.m. 4
p.m. through Memorial
Day. General admission is
$6. Easton's Beach Rotunda,
175 Memorial Blvd., New
port. (401) 324 6020,
savebay.org. jpelletier@providence
journal.com
(401) 277 7281
Thursday, March 19, 2015
PROVIDENCE
JOURNAL / MARY
Aemilia Blais, 11, of Smithfield, tries out a milking station at
Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence. The zoo offers numerous
programs — including weeklong zoo camps — for children who
want to learn more about animals. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL /
and during school vaca
tions, is another big
draw. Activities include
animal encounters, zoo
tours, crafts and games.
The zoo also offers a year
long "zoo crew" program
for high school students.
For more detail on zoo
programs, contact (401)
941 4998 or go to rwpzoo.
org.
For kids who are more
interested in farm animals,
Coggeshall Farm Museum in
Bristol plans to resume
its Wake Up in the Barn
yard program (formerly
known as Breakfast in
the Barnyard) this spring.
At the circa 1799 work
ing farm, kids can get up
close and personal with
sheep, donkeys, turkeys
and cattle. Tasks at weekly
sessions, held Saturdays
from 9 10:30 a.m., include
milking cows, groom
ing and helping to feed
the animals.
The program is appro
priate for all ages, said
Coggeshall Farm's execu
tive director, Cindy Elder,
but best for kids ages 3 12.
"It's nice because it's
the kind of thing little kids
can do with their parents,
The Prov dence Journa
Shelley Otis, the
farm manager
at Coggeshall
Farm in Bristol,
feeds gray geese
in between her
planting chores.
The circa-1799
farm offers a
“Wake Up in the
Barnyard” for
families who
want to get up
close to the
farm’s sheep,
donkey, turkeys
and cattle. THE
“She loves it here,” says Scott Medeiros of Bristol as he and his daughter
Samantha, then age 2, visit an oxen, workhorse and donkey at Coggeshall
Farm in Bristol. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / BOB THAYER
MURPHY
29
Events
Hundreds of activities this spring can help children
discover and learn about the world around them
VENUES
Audubon Society of Rhode Island: 949-5454;
asri.org.
Audubon Environmental Education Center:
1401 Hope St., Bristol. $6, children 4-12
$4, children 3 and younger/ASRI members free.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge: 301 Brown Ave.,
Seekonk.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge: 99 Pardon
Joslin Rd., Exeter.
Fort Nature Refuge: 1443 Providence Pike
(Route 5), North Smithﬁeld.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge: 12 Sanderson Rd., Smithﬁeld.
Norman Bird Sanctuary: 583 Third Beach
Rd., Middletown. 846-2577; normanbirdsanctuary.org, mschenck@
normanbirdsanctuary.org.
Providence Children’s Museum: 100 South
St., Providence. 273-5437; childrenmuseum.org. "Water Ways" exhibit, a new
water play environment that invites visitors of all ages to splash, discover and
playfully explore the swirling, whirling
ways of water. Visitors can transform
billowing mist and water domes, send
objects spiraling and twisting through
vortexes, investigate and sculpt ice, form
fountains that funnel the ﬂow of mist and
more. Tue-Sun, Mon school holidays, 9
am-6 pm; selected Fri until 8 pm through
March; open daily April through August.
$9, babies 11 months and younger/
museum members admitted free.
RISD Museum: 224 Beneﬁt St., Providence.
454-6500; risdmuseum.org. Tue-Sun 10
am–5 pm; Thu 10 am-9 pm. $12, 62+ $10,
youth 5-18 $3, children 4 and younger
free. Free admission every Sun 10 am-5
pm and third Thu evening of each month
5-9 pm.
ONGOING EVENTS
Biomes Marine Biology Center: 6640 Post
Rd., North Kingstown. 885-4690; biomescenter.com. Private marine education
facility and aquarium specializing in
teaching children and adults about the
marine animals of Narragansett Bay and
the Atlantic Ocean. Daily noon-5 pm. $9,
children 2 and younger free. For special
programs and public demonstrations,
visit the website.
Coggeshall Farm Museum: Poppasquash
Road (off Route 114), Bristol. 253-9062;
coggeshallfarm.org. Visitors to this
historic farm can learn about the roles
of ordinary men, women and children
during the country’s founding years;
learn about nature while exploring the
farm’s woodland, ﬁelds and salt marsh.
Tue-Sun 10 am-4 pm. Weekdays $5,
children 3-12/seniors $3, children 2 and
younger free; weekends $7, $5; museum
members free. Advance registration for
special programs.
Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural
History and Cormack Planetarium: 1000
Elmwood Ave., Providence. 785-9457;
providenceri.com/museum. Museum
collections include fossils, mollusks,
minerals, rocks, mounted ﬂora and fauna
and more than 25,000 archaeological
and ethnographic specimens primarily of Native American, Paciﬁc and
African origin. Exhibits include “Africa:
Many Places, Many Faces,” "Circle of
the Sea: Re-Visited and Re-Imagined,"
“Dynamic Galaxies: Our Place in the
Universe,” Natural Selections: Museum’s
Victorian Past to the Present,” "Secrets
from the Vaults: Ancient Objects and
Hidden Treasures," and "Seismic Shifts:
Earth Through Time." Daily 10 am-4 pm
(last admission at 3:30 pm; closed ﬁrst
Monday of month Oct.-June. $2, children
3 and younger free.
Planetarium shows, Sat-Sun 2 pm; additional shows during school vacations;
daily July-August. $3; children 3 and
younger not admitted.
April 6. Discovery Tykes: Earth Day: Ages 2-4
accompanied by an adult investigate the
world around them as they sing, dance
and discover the museum. 9:30 am.
March 21, April 18. Early Morning Bird Walks:
Explore the park in search of colorful
spring migrants as they arrive from
wintering grounds and winter birds just
before their departure. Participants may
also encounter other residents of the
park including deer and ﬁsher. 9 am. $3;
includes museum admission; members
free. Advance registration. 4+.
Roger Williams Park Zoo: 1000 Elmwood
Ave., Providence. rwpzoo.org. Daily
10 am-4 pm (last admission at 3:30
pm) through March; until 5 pm (last
admission at 4:30 pm) April through September. $14.95, 62+ $12.95, children 3-12
$9.95; children 2 and younger/members
free. Visitors 15 and younger must be
accompanied by an adult.
Through May 2. Zoo Explorers: ages 6-8
Spy a harbor seal (or two or three) during a Save The Bay Seal Watch Cruise. The one-hour
cruises circle Newport Harbor to view seals on the rocks off of Rose Island and the Newport
Bridge. Various dates from March 21 to April 24. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / KATHY BORCHERS
learn about the world and the animals
in it. Each program features hands-on
learning opportunities in the classroom
followed by outdoor exploration of the
zoo to learn more about habitat, adaptation, niches and animal behaviors.
Themes change monthly. Advance registration required.
Through May. Preschool Adventures: Program designed for ages 3-5 focuses on
a special animal or area of the zoo and
presents opportunities for adult/child
pairs to make discoveries together. Each
90-minute program includes a lesson,
activities, a craft and up-close animal
encounter. Themes change monthly.
Advance registration required.
Through May 28. Paint at the Zoo: Instructor-led workshop is designed to guide
artists of all skill levels step-by-step
through creating artwork to be displayed
at home. $35 include canvas, paints,
brushes, a smock and age-appropriate
refreshments. Themes include peacocks,
giraffes, red pandas, zebras and barn
owls. Advance registration required.
March 28-April 3. Visits with the Easter
Bunny: Visitors can walk along the Bunny
Trail to the Big Backyard treehouse and
then visit with the Easter Bunny. March
28-29, 10 am-noon and 1-3 pm; April 3-4,
10 am-noon, 1-4 pm. $10 children 3-12, $5
ages 2 and younger, parents free. Price is
in addition to zoo admission.
March 29. Egg Hunt Safari: Participants
follow the clues to different locations
around the zoo to claim their eggs.
When the hunt is through they collect
a treat and enjoy the rest of the zoo's
spring activities. 11 am-3 pm. Last
hunt card given out at 2:30 p.m. Guests
strongly encouraged to bring their own
egg collection bags. The zoo does not
provide bags for this event. Free with zoo
admission.
March 29-May 17. Rock and Roar — A Rock-aBaby Kids' Concert Series: Different animal
or nature theme for each concert. $15
for two attendees of any age. Registration available until 9:30 am on show day.
March 29, Sea Creature Shimmy. April
19, Bird Ball. May 17, Butterﬂy and Bug
Boogie.
April. 2 Conservation Lecture — Quest
for the Tree Kangaroo: With scientist
Lisa Dabek. 7 pm. 16+ $25 per person
includes lecture, cheese and one glass
of wine for participants for 21+. Advance
registration.
April 11, May 9. Wild Art!: Children ages 6
through 12 are invited to join artist and
educator Eric Fulford in creating pieces
of animal art. Poster monkeys, April 11.
Portrait of a sloth, May 9. 10:30 am-noon.
$30 includes all materials. Advance
registration.
April 14-May 17. Weekend Animal Encounters:
Close-up animal experiences including
feeding seals.
April 20-24. Party for the Planet: Celebration
of the different regions featured in the
zoo (Africa, Tropical America, Australasia and North America). Visitors will
learn about the zoo's animals from those
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
EVENTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30
regions and their cultures. 11 am-3 pm.
Free with zoo admission.
April 20-Sept. 7. Camel Rides: Ride a
trained camel with an expert guide
close at hand. $6. No age restrictions;
all riders must be ticketed regardless of
age. Camel rides are not wheelchair or
stroller accessible.
April 20-26, July 1-Sept. 7. Rock Wall Open:
Four-sided rock wall has varying degrees
of difﬁculty from beginner to seasoned
climbers. In the Wilderness Plaza. Open
daily April 20-26, July 1-Sept. 7. $5 for
one climb, $10 for three climbs, $20 for
eight climbs. Must be 3 or older. Tickets
for multiple climbs do not need to be
used on the same day and can be used
on another zoo visit.
21. Pysanky Workshop: Powder Mill
Ledges. Participants learn about the
Ukrainian tradition of dyeing eggs
including the designing, planning and
dyeing of the eggs. Handouts will be
given regarding where to obtain Pysanky
tools and dyes to continue the tradition
at home. All supplies provided. Wear
clothes that can get messy as dyes are
permanent. 2-4 pm. $30, ASRI $25. 9+.
22. DIY Bike Maintenance: Audubon
Environmental Education Center. Amos
Brumble from Brumble Bikes discusses
the ins and outs of DIY bike maintenance
such as proper tire inﬂation, cleaning
techniques, narrowing down problems
to reduce repair costs and more. 3 pm.
$14, members free.
25. Lecture: Cavity Nesters: Power Mill
Ledges Wildlife Refuge. Learn about
animals that take advantage of natural
cavities in trees such as the woodpecker, porcupine, honeybee and
countless others, and also ﬁnd out how
to encourage these wild creatures with
nesting boxes and other efforts. 6:308:30 p. $14, members $10. Adults.
25-28. "BIRDS! Art Exhibit,": Audubon
Environmental Education Center. Curator Anthony Merino selected 12 ceramic
artists to focus on birds as the subject
matter in their work. These artists created two-dimensional works, as well
as prints, watercolors and drawings all
based on birds. 9 am-5 pm. Reception
March 25, 3-5 pm. Free with admission.
26. The Wild Life and Essential Service of
Soil: Audubon Environmental Education
28. Camouﬂaged Egg Hunt: at Audubon
Environmental Education Center,
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge and
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge. Children hunt for brown eggs in a natural
setting and quickly learn how well the
eggs camouﬂage. Prizes awarded to all
children, with grand prizes given to the
ﬁnders of the “golden eggs.” Participants asked to bring a basket. 9:30-11
am. Check-in begins at 9:30 am, egg hunt
starts at 10 am. Rain or shine. $7, ASRI
members $5. Ages 3-10.
28. Spring Migratory Bird Caravan: With
naturalist Bob Kenney to South County's
hot spots for ducks, geese and newly
arrived migratory birds. Spotting scopes
on hand. Bring binoculars, ﬁeld guides;
pack snack/lunch. Departs from East
Matunuck State Beach, 950 Succotash
Rd., South Kingstown. 10 am-2 pm. $14,
children $7; members $10, children $5.
12+.
April 22. Earth Day Environmental Fair:
Featuring environmentally-friendly organizations from New England sharing tips
on how to live green in your community
and at home. 11 am-3 pm. Free with zoo
admission.
April 26, May 17. Science Sundays: Meller
Danforth Education Center. Families/
individuals can conduct their own experiments using special science kits. From
ﬁnding out what an owl had for dinner to
exploring secrets of slime, participants
discover the world of science. Drop-in
program anytime between 1:30 and
3:30 pm. Advance registration available
online, but not required.
28, April 25. Audubon Eco-Stories and Art:
Audubon Environmental Education
Center, 1401 Hope St., Bristol. 11 am. $3
materials fee plus admission. All ages.
30. Seals and Seabirds on Prudence Island:
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve, Prudence Island. Day
exploration of Prudence Island features viewing the winter population of
harbor seals basking on the rocks off the
southern tip of the island. After lunch,
traverse the island in a passenger van,
making several stops along the way to
look for a variety of birds in protected
ponds and coves. Expect to see grebes,
eiders, mergansers and more. 9:45
am-3 pm. $12, children $6; members $8,
children $4.
May 23-Aug. 31. Daily Animal Encounters:
Close-up animal experiences including
feeding seals.
May 14. Conservation Lecture — Timber
Rattlesnake: With Lou Perrotti, RWP Zoo
director of conservation. 7 pm. 16+. $25
per person includes lecture, cheese and
one glass of wine for participants 21+.
Advance registration.
May 23-Sept. 7. "Flutterby: Butterﬂies in
Bloom": Hundreds of free-ﬂying native
North American butterﬂies ﬁll the zoo's
landscaped greenhouse. $3; ages 2 and
younger free. Final year.
MARCH
LOCAL PROGRAMS
Audubon Society of Rhode Island: Most programs require advance registration.
Hundreds of free-flying native North American butterflies — like these monarch butterflies —
return to Roger Williams Park Zoo this year during the “Flutterby: Butterflies in Bloom” exhibit,
which runs from May 23-Sept. 7. This is the exhibit’s last year at the zoo. THE PROVIDENCE
Coggeshall Farm Museum:
19, 26. Coggeshall Kids Workshop — Pastimes
and Pleasures: Children ages 8-12 learn
about how people in the 18th century
JOURNAL / KATHY BORCHERS
Thursday, March 19, 2015
30. Dune, Bay and Ocean of Westerly: Napatree Point Conservation Area, Watch Hill,
Westerly. Scott Ruhren, the Audubon's
director of conservation, leads this
winter walk along the beach. Participants will explore dynamic coastal
habitats and identify animals and plants.
9:30 am-noon. Walk is ﬂat but often
winding; dress warmly in layers. Meet
in parking lot at entrance to beach. $14,
members $10. 5+.
The Prov dence Journa
May 16. Bowling for Rhinos: Beneﬁt to raise
funds for rhino and habitat conservation
efforts.
20. Vernal Equinox Nature Walk: Fort Nature
Refuge. Brisk walk to second pond.
Dress warmly, wear sturdy warm foot
gear. Hike will go in the snow, cancels if
the trails are icy. $14, members $10. 9+.
Center. Loren Byrn, a soil scientist from
Roger Williams University, will "dig in"
to the underground world to uncover
dynamic characteristics of soil, its
wildlife and the ecosystem services it
provides that enables humans to survive
and thrive. Evening includes hands-on
materials and demonstrations. 7 pm.
Free; donations welcome.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
31
EVENTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33
one for day of registrations, one express
line for online registrants).
28. Easter Egg Hunt: Wilcox Park, 44 Broad
St., Westerly. 596-7761; westerlychamber.org. Children ages 1-8 hunt for
Easter eggs and meet with the Easter
Bunny and Luck the Duck. Candy for all
in attendance. 1 pm. Bring your own
basket.
31-April 26. Daffodil Days: Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum, 101 Ferry
Rd. (Route 114) Bristol. 253-2707; blithewold.org. Visitors can tour the ground
and see tens of thousands of daffodils in
bloom as well as budding trees. Afternoon teas begin April 7, Tue-Fri 1, 3 pm.
A Fairy Festival is scheduled for April 26.
APRIL
LOCAL PROGRAMS
Audubon Society of Rhode Island: Advance
registration for most programs.
2-3. Animal Tales: Audubon Environmental
Education Center. Program includes a
story ( “Skunk’s Spring Surprise”) with
nature lesson followed by a craft and
live animal visit. Adults must accompany
children. Thu 10 am, 1 pm; Fri 1 pm. $7,
members $5. Ages 3-5.
3. Do You Hear What I Hear: Audubon
Environmental Education Center. Ages 4
and older learn to sharpen their listening skills and to identify the calls of
American tree frogs, spring peepers,
green frogs and bullfrogs as they usher
in spring. Participants may also hear
the call of the red fox or an Eastern
screech owl. 6 pm. Dress warmly, bring
ﬂashlight.
4. Free Family Fun Day: Audubon Environmental Education Center. 9 am-5 pm.
Crafts table, 10 am-2 pm; nature story,
10 am and 2 pm; nature walk, 11:30 am;
animal interview, 1:30 pm. Free. All ages.
11. Sea Glass Jewelry Workshop: Audubon Environmental Education Center.
Adult participants design and create a
pendant with sea glass found on local
beaches. They will learn to choose the
right piece of glass and transform it into
jewelry using quick and easy wire wrapping techniques. 11 am. The cost is $35,
members $30, includes all materials.
12, 26. Fairy and Gnome Gardens: Audubon
Environmental Center. Ages 5 and older
use natural materials such as ﬂowers,
shells, seeds, moss and stone to create
a garden for magical guests. Children
are welcome to dress in a fairy or gnome
costume and must be accompanied by
an adult. $14, members $10, includes all
materials. April 12 at 10 am; April 26 at
1:30 pm.
18. Recycled Boot Planters: Audubon Environmental Center. Ages 5 and older will
turn old shoes, rubber boots and work
boots into recycled planters using paint
to decorate the footwear, ﬁlling them
with soil and a plant. 2 pm. $14, members $10. Adult must accompany child.
20. Explore the Estuary!: Narragansett Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve,
Prudence Island. Ferry trip to Prudence
Island features exploration of the
diverse estuary, from tidal creeks and
salt marshes to the rocky shoreline. Participants can try their hands at catching
shrimp, ﬁsh and crabs with nets and get
a closer look at the plants and animals
that call the bay home. 9:45 am-3 pm.
$12, children $6; members $8, children
$4. 8+.
20-24. April School Vacation Week: Audubon
Environmental Education Center Nature
Explorers: Visitors are invited to discover
and test their nature skills including a
nature expedition to explore ﬁeld, forest,
wetland and coastline. They will join
their expedition leader and using nets,
magnifying glasses, ﬁeld equipment and
their senses, uncover nature’s secrets.
An indoor nature program will be held
in case of rain. 11 am. for ages 6 and
older. Free with admission; no registration. April 20: Meadow Madness. Look
for insects and play a game to learn
about the hunting skills of birds of prey.
April 21: Forest Foray. Join an Audubon
naturalist to learn about the different
animals that call this habitat home, play
nature games, work together to create
fairy homes in the forest. April 22: Earth
Day Extravaganza. Earth Day celebration
features eco-friendly activities including
building a recycled birdhouse, a scavenger hunt and guided nature walks. April
23: Swamp Stomp. Participants head to
the wetlands to look for signs of spring
including turtles, frogs and other animals. April 24: Explore the Shore. Guided
walk to Narragansett Bay to learn about
the animals that live in the tidal zone.
Participants will try to catch some in
their nets and, with an Audubon naturalist, identify their ﬁnds. Nature crafts,
10 am-2 pm. Nature story, 10 am, 1 pm.
Animal interview, 1:30 pm.
20. Meadow Madness: Look for insects and
play a game to learn about the hunting skills of birds of prey. All free with
admission.
21. Sea Glass Earrings Workshop: Audubon
Environmental Education Center. Participants ages 13 and older design and
create a set of earrings with sea glass
found on local beaches. They will learn
to choose the right piece of glass and
transform it into jewelry using quick and
easy techniques. 10:30 am. The cost is
$20, members $15 includes all materials.
21. Recycled Paper Bead Bracelets: Audubon
Environmental Center. Ages 8-12 learn
quick and easy techniques to create
and incorporate eco-friendly beads into
creative jewelry. $14, members $10;
Thursday, March 19, 2015
11. Herring Run: Audubon Environmental
Education Center. Audubon van tour to
observe the river herring migrating from
ocean to freshwater to spawn. Observe
ﬁsh ladders on Woonasquatucket and
Ten Mile rivers. 9 am-noon. $30, children
$15; members $25, children $12; family
(one adult, two children) $45, members
$40. 8+.
The Prov dence Journa
11. Harbor Seal Walk at Rome Point: John H.
Chafee Nature Preserve, Route 1A across
from Gilbert Stuart Road, North Kingstown. Walk with Audubon naturalist
Laura Carberry to see a hundred seals or
more. One-mile hike each way between
the parking lot and the end of Rome
Point. Good walking shoes, warm clothes
and binoculars or spotting scopes helpful. 9-11 am. $14, ASRI members $10. 8+.
Sophie Buchanan of Warwick takes a camel ride on “Mickey” at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Beginning April 20, camel rides will be offered daily for
$6 per person. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / BOB THAYER
CONTINUED ON PAGE 36
35
EVENTS
10. Open Studio — Scaling Up: Experimentation with creativity through artist-led
explorations in the galleries that inspire
making in the studio. All ages. 1 pm.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37
12:30, 1:30 pm. Recommended for ages 5
and older.
MAY
23. Animal Experiences: Ages 3 and older
meet an assortment of live animals,
have close encounters with furry friends,
slithering snakes and other creatures,
and learn fascinating facts about them
from animal expert Dave Marchetti of
Animal Experiences. Shows at 11:30 am,
1, 2:30 pm.
OTHER EVENTS
24. Farm Friends: Families encounter a
soft sheep, a lively llama and other farm
animals in the museum's children's
garden. Visitors get a close look at the
animals and meet experts from Rhode
Island farms who demonstrate washing,
carding, dying and spinning animals’
ﬂeece into yarn. 1-3 pm.
RISD Museum:
12. Families See + Sketch — Buckminster
Fuller, Six Part Push Pull Tensegrity, ca 1979:
Farago Lobby. Drawing, sketching and
art-making in the galleries. Program
gets the family talking together in front
of original works of art that spark creativity. All materials provided. Drop-in.
2 pm.
14-28. Tours for Tots: Interactive tour
with read-aloud story time and gallery activities introduces children ages
3-5 (accompanied by adult) to art. 2
pm. Watch It, April 14. Ready to Wear,
April 18. Sparkle and Shine, April 21. All
Tied Up, April 25. Building Up, April 28.
Free with museum admission. Advance
registration.
26. Open Studio — Objects in Relation/In
Context: Experimentation with creativity through artist-led explorations in
the galleries that inspire making in the
studio. 1 pm. Drop-in. All ages.
APRIL
38
Thursday, March 19, 2015
The Prov dence Journa
OTHER EVENTS
4. Easter Egg Hunt: Casey Farm, 2325
Boston Neck Rd, Saunderstown. 2951030; historicnewengland.org. Children
hunt for plastic eggs. Each participant
receives a half dozen eggs to take home,
tours the farm, visits the chickens, plays
farm games and makes an Easter craft.
Refreshments available. Rain or shine.
Children participating in the egg hunt
must register in advance. $5, adults are
free. Refunds not available.
4. Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch (26th annual):
Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Ave., Newport.
847-1000, ext. 140; newportmansions.
org. Seated family brunch, an egg hunt
and a visit with Easter Bunny, who will
share lots of eggs, candy and prizes. 10
8-10. Misquamicut SpringFest: Misquamicut
State Beach, 257 Atlantic Ave., Westerly.
322-1026 misquamicutfestival.org. Outdoor international food court, Rockwell
Amusements, Circle K Petting Zoo, pony
rides, classic car show, magic shows,
ﬁre juggling, stilt walkers, 50 vendors.
Fri 5-11 pm, Sat 11 am-11 pm, Sun 11
am-5 pm. Tickets $7 per day, children 3
and younger free; on-site parking free.
Let the kids climb the walls this spring. Rock Spot Climbing has two Rhode Island locations: 100
Higginson Ave. in Lincoln, pictured, and 1174 Kingstown Rd. in Peace Dale. They’re both open
daily from 10 a.m. to midnight. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / KATHY BORCHERS
am. Rain or shine. $60, children 6-12 $35,
children 3-5 $30, children 2 and younger
$12. Reservations required.
11. Rhode Island Robot Block Party: Brown
University's Pizzitola Memorial Sports
Center, 235 Hope St., Providence. risf.
net. Presented by Rhode Island School of
the Future and the Humanity Centered
Robotics Initiative at Brown University
and featuring more than 50 robot demonstrations and exhibits from industry,
universities, community organizations
and public, private and parochial school
groups. Noon-4 pm. Free admission.
13. Guided Nature Play Series: Norman
Bird Sanctuary. Parents paired with pre
K-aged children join an NBS educator for
nature play time. Dress for the weather.
10:15 am. $5 per program, includes one
child and one parent; $2 per additional
child per parent.
30-May 3. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Circus Circus Extreme: Dunkin' Donuts
Center, One La Salle Square, Providence.
April 30 at 7 pm; May 1 at 10:30 am, 7
pm; May 2-3 at 11 am, 3, 7 pm. $25-$65.
MAY
LOCAL PROGRAMS
Audubon Society of Rhode Island:
2. International Migratory Bird Day: Audubon Environmental Education Center.
A celebration to increase awareness
about migratory birds and their habitats. Spot the Birds; visitors try to ﬁnd
all 10 birds hiding in the exhibit hall, 9
am-5 pm; avian craft table, 10 am-2 pm;
bird nature story, 10 am, 2:30 pm; owl
presentation, 11:30 am; nature walk, 1:30
pm. All ages. Free.
16. Eppley Wildlife Refuge Kayak Paddle and
Hike: Paddling and hiking trip to celebrate the spring wildﬂowers and the
arrival of songbirds. Refuge is closed to
the public except for guided tours and is
maintained as an unspoiled and unbroken tract for wildlife habitat and study.
Meet at Kenyon Cornmeal Company
Mill and paddle upstream on the Queen
River. At the refuge, participants will be
met by director of conservation Scott
Ruhren for a walking tour and then
return by kayak to the mill. 9 am-1:30
pm. Ages teen to adult. Cosponsored by
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association. Register online at wpwa.org/
events.php.
Providence Children's Museum:
10. Happy Mother’s Day!: Admission free
all day for mothers and grandmothers. 9
am-6 pm. Visitors can make a variety of
ﬂowers for Mother's Day from 11 am-2
pm including a watercolor ﬂower from a
coffee ﬁlter and craft tissue paper, and
use recycled materials to make crazy
ﬂower creations.
16-17. Electricity Exploration: Visitors ages
5 and older can make simple circuits,
test conductors and use citrus to create
electricity; watch a Van de Graaff
generator demonstration and learn
about energy saving tricks. Presented in
partnership with online parent resource
Kidoinfo. 11 am-2 pm.
RISD Museum:
2-16. Tours for Tots: Interactive tour
with read-aloud story time and gallery
activities introduces children ages 3-5
(accompanied by adult) to art. 2 pm.
Spaces Real and Imagined, May 2. Grand
Gestures, May 5. Spring Blooms, May
9. Nature's Patterns, May 12. Artists'
Journey, May 16. Free with museum
admission. Advance registration.
16. Rhode Island Wool and Fiber Festival:
Coggeshall Farm Museum. Artisans,
crafters and vendors specializing in wool
and natural ﬁbers; demonstrations of
ﬁber arts and sheep shearing, the "sit
and knit" tent, children's crafts and
games, acoustic music and handcrafted
foods. 9 am-4 pm.
17. Birds and Breakfast (33rd annual):
Norman Bird Sanctuary. Breakfast buffet
prepared by executive chef Rich Silvia
of the White Horse Tavern, guided bird
walks along the sanctuary trails and
nature activities for children. Breakfast
seatings at 8, 9 and 10 am. 7:30-11 am.
$25 in advance $30 door. [email protected].
21-24. Rhode Island Lighthouse Cruises and
Newport Harbor Tours: 1347 Roger Williams Way, North Kingstown. 295-4040
rhodeislandbycruises.com. Narrated
sightseeing cruises viewing 10 lighthouses, 10 islands, sail under the
Jamestown and Newport bridges and
through Newport Harbor. Depart from
Quonset. Free parking. May 21, 24 at 1
pm. Sunset cruise, May 22 at 6:30 pm.
In advance $29, 60+ $27, children 3 and
younger $16. Walk-in purchase $35, 60+
$33, children 3 and younger $21. Cruises
continue through October; visit website
for schedule.
23-24. Virtu Art Festival (18th annual):
Wilcox Park, 44 Broad St., Westerly.
596-7761; westerlychamber.org. Fine
arts and crafts festival featuring works
by 155 selected artisans, live entertainment and free "creation station" area
for children with free make-it and take-it
activities. 10 am-5 pm. Free admission.
23-25. Gaspee Arts and Crafts Festival: Narragansett Parkway, Pawtuxet Village,
Warwick. Exhibit/sale by more than 100
artisans, family music and entertainment, food court, amusement rides,
games. May 23-24, 10 am-5 pm; May 25,
10 am-4:30 pm. Beneﬁt for the Gaspee
Days Parade.
— Jan Flanagan
ENTERTAINMENT
Sports fun for all, on ﬁeld, court and ice
Run the bases at McCoy, skate at The Dunk and marvel at the Globetrotters
By Andy Smith
Journal Staff Writer
A sure sign of spring in Rhode Island is when the
Pawtucket Red Sox take the field at McCoy Sta
dium in Pawtucket to open their home schedule no
matter what the weather's like. This season, that will
be April 16 against the Rochester Red Wings.
Bill Wanless, the PawSox's vice president for
public relations, said families are the heart of the
team's fan base.
"It makes us happy when families can come and
bring their kids, maybe to their first professional
baseball game," he said. "We want to create the next
generation of baseball fans. We see parents who
came here as kids, and now they're bringing their
own kids, and that makes it special."
Wanless said the PawSox have several programs
geared for kids and families. After every Sunday
home game, for example, kids are invited to come
onto the field and run the bases. The first opportuni
ties will be April 19, May 3 and May 17.
The team also runs free clinics for young play
ers once a month, sponsored by ABC 6 and Citizens
Bank, during which PawSox players and coaches
provide instructions and tips on playing the
game. The first clinic will be May 16 from 2 to 3:15
p.m.
The PawSox also offer a Kid's Club and a program,
run through area schools, to recognize the most
improved students.
For information, go to the official PawSox web
site at milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t533 and click
on "Kids Corner."
There are plenty of other sporting events on tap
this spring:
The Harlem Globetrotters will be at the Dunkin' Donuts
Center March 21 at 1 and 6 p.m. This is being billed
as the "Washington Generals' Revenge Tour." Apparently the Generals, the hapless foils to the
acrobatic Globetrotters, are determined to get
another victory over the Globetrotters. (The last
one was almost 50 years ago.) Tickets are $25 $120.
Go to dunkindonutscenter.com or call Ticketmaster
at (800) 745 3000.
NCAA Division I Men's Hockey East Regionals will be held
at the Dunk on March 28 29. There will be 16 teams
in the tournament; teams are selected on March
22. Regional competitions will be held in Provi
dence, Manchester, N.H., South Bend, Ind., and
Fargo, N.D. The winners from each region meet at
PawSox fans fish for autographs by lowering buckets into the dugout at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.
First baseman Travis Shaw signs a bat for one lucky fan. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL/BOB BREIDENBACH
CONTINUED ON PAGE 41
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40
the Frozen Four finals at TD
Garden in Boston on April 9
and 11.
Tickets for the Providence
regional tournament are
$77 for all the sessions, $57
for children under 12 and
seniors over 65. They are
available through Tick
etmaster and the Dunk's
website.
Providence Bruins regular
season continues until April
19. The Bruins have pro
grams where youth hockey
teams can skate on the ice at
the Dunkin' Donuts Center,
Fans crowd the glass as the Providence Bruins take on the Manchester Monarchs at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The season lasts through
April 19. Youth hockey players can enjoy a taste of the pro experience by taking the ice at The Dunk before and after games and during
intermissions. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL/KATHY BORCHERS
either at intermission or
before and after P Bruins
games. Older teams get to
play one hour games.
"We try to give them
the full pro experience,"
complete with music, video
and announcer, said Narin
Sundarabhaya, vice presi
dent of ticket sales.
Members of non hockey
teams can watch from ice
level as the P Bruins play
ers warm up, and give them
high fives as they come off
the ice.
For information, contact
nsundara@provsportsent.
com.
asmith@providencejour
nal.com
(401) 277 7485
On Twitter: @asmith651
In rounding the bases, father and son ﬁnd common ground
My 12 year old son, Jude, is like
many kids. Take him to McCoy, fill
him full of hamburgers, chili nachos
(grosser than I can describe) and
sports drink, and he's suddenly a huge
baseball fan.
That's not to say he hates the
game. He's been playing it since he
was about 4. But put him in front
of a TV to watch the Red Sox (even
against the Yankees), and he's in
his room 10 minutes later watching
YouTube videos on his iPhone.
It was totally different when I was
a kid. We lived sports, played them
endlessly, watched them as much as
you can with only three TV net
works (which actually was quite a
lot), fantasized being Bobby Hull or
Jerry West or Reggie Jackson, made
up crude table top games with our
baseball cards and bottle caps.
But my son and I found common
ground Strat O Matic Baseball. If you haven't played it, Strat O
Matic is a statistics based board
game it also makes games for
football, basketball and hockey, as
well as computer versions of all.
They're played with dice and cards
representing major league play
ers. You act as the manager, picking
your pitcher, setting your batting
order, choosing to steal or bunt or hit
and run. The player cards are based on a
player's statistics for a given season.
So if Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in
1927, he should approach or slightly
surpass that total if you were to
re create the Yankees' full 1927
season. I did this on my computer,
playing solitaire, and he hit 59
homers.
I've played the game ever since
my best friend introduced me to it
in the mid '70s and we re created a
30 game season, playing about 400
games in all. I wondered how Jude would take
to it. It's not flashy; it's a board
game (some would say the key word
is bored). Even the computer game
is graphically tame in comparison
to any video game just a picture of
a stadium (say the Polo Grounds), the
player cards, an electronic dice roll
and a graphic of the flight of the ball.
(To spice it up, you can add pictures
of the players.) The excitement rests
in matching strategies with your
opponent and in seeing whether the
players can match their real life
heroics.
My son a history nut like me
loved it. We play mostly using a set of
cards representing some of the great
est teams of the early day of baseball
the '27 Yankees, '36 Yankees, '08
Cubs, '34 Cardinals, '11 Athletics, '09
Pirates (there aren't a lot of old Red
Sox teams in the set).
He usually chooses the Bronx
Bombers of Ruth and Gehrig fame,
and many times he wins. But we talk
baseball, talk about the history of the
game and eat anything but chili
nachos.
Tony LaRoche
ENTERTAINMENT
Dancing in Ernie's footsteps at PPAC
‘Little Mermaid,’ Mr. Molecule and
a dark fairy tale add to the choices
By Andy Smith
Journal Staff Writer
As first jobs out of college go,
Jenna Lorson found something
a little out of the ordinary. She
plays Ernie in the production of
"Sesame Street Live: Make a New
Friend" playing at the Providence
Performing Arts Center from March
27 29.
Characters wear full body cos
tumes and do a lot of dancing during
the show. Songs and dialogue come
from a pre recorded soundtrack.
"It's a big, Broadway quality
musical production for children,"
Lorson said. The plot involves the
"Sesame Street" gang welcoming
Chamki, Grover's friend from India,
to the neighborhood.
Lorson said the costume took
some getting used to, but the elabo
rate outfits are designed so that
the performers can dance in them.
"The show is pretty much non stop
dancing," she said.
Lorson, 23, grew up in Hughes
ville, Pa., and said she's been
dancing since age 7. She went
to The University of the Arts in
Philadelphia and majored in dance
education, with a minor in musi
cal theater. She graduated last
May, went to a lot of auditions, and
by August she had been hired by
"Sesame Street Live."
"I was very fortunate," she said.
While she was studying musical
theater in school, did she ever figure
she'd be portraying Ernie? (For
those unfamiliar with the "Sesame
Street" cast, the press kit describes
Ernie as "the outgoing foil to the
more serious and responsible Bert.")
"You have to put it in your mind
that you'll be doing a lot of differ
ent kinds of dancing in your career,"
she said, noting that she grew up
watching "Sesame Street."
"I love performing for children,
that's one of the things I put on my
bucket list," she said. "I've been
teaching children's dance since I was
18. I love showing them movement,
and watch how they interact with
one another ... when we're doing
'Sesame Street,' it's cool to look
down the aisles and see kids trying
to learn the moves.
"Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend"
is at PPAC March 27 at 10:30 a.m.
and 6:30 p.m.; March 28 at 10:30
a.m., 2 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.; and
March 29 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. Tick
ets are $21 to $66. Tickets may be
purchased online at ppacri.org,
by phone at (401) 421 2787 or at
the box office, 220 Weybosset St.,
Providence.
Other entertainment events
geared for children and families:
"Disney's Little Mermaid Jr." at the
Stadium Theatre at 28 Monu
ment Square in Woonsocket,
adapted from Disney's 2008 Broad
way production, will be at the
theater on March 20 and 21. Tick
ets are $16. For information, go to
stadiumtheatre.com or call (401)
762 4545.
"Mr. Molecule's Bing, Bang Boom Science
Show" will be at the Stadium Theatre
on April 14, in which Mr. Molecule
unleashes the power and excitement
of science. Tickets $10.
"Into the Woods," at the Ocean
State Theatre, 1245 Jefferson Blvd.,
Warwick, April 29 May 17. Ste
phen Sondheim's musical looks at
familiar fairy tale characters, but
the story takes a dark turn in the
second act and may not be suitable
for younger children. Tickets are
$39 $54. For information call (401)
921 6800 or visit oceanstateth
eatre.org. [email protected] /
(401) 277 7485
The Prov dence Journa
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Best friends Ernie
(Jenna Lorson) and
Bert (Jairus Becson)
in “Sesame Street
Live: Make a New
Friend,” playing
March 27-29 at
the Providence
Performing Arts
Center.
43
2FHDQ 6WDWH 9HWHULQDU\ 6SHFLDOLVWV YRWHG
%HVW KRXU (PHUJHQF\ 9HWHULQDU\ +RVSLWDO
LQ WKH 5KRGH ,VODQG6RXWKHDVWHUQ 0$ DUHD IRU \HDUV LQ D URZ
2&($1 67$7( 9(7(5,1$5< 63(&,$/,676
2696 SURYLGHV VSHFLDOL]HG DQG HPHUJHQF\ FDUH
IRU \RXU SHWV 2696 LV DYDLODEOH KRXUVDGD\
LQFOXGLQJ ZHHNHQGV DQG KROLGD\V IRU HPHUJHQF\
DQG FULWLFDO FDUH FDVHV 7KH KRVSLWDO WUHDWV GRJV
FDWV SRFNHW SHWV H[RWLFV DQG ELUGV 2XU UHIHUUDO
VHUYLFHV LQFOXGH LQWHUQDO PHGLFLQH VXUJHU\ FDUGLRORJ\
DYLDQH[RWLFV
RSKWKDOPRORJ\
UDGLRORJ\
RQFRORJ\
QHXURORJ\ DQG HPHUJHQF\FULWLFDO FDUH 2696 LV IXOO\
HTXLSSHG ZLWK WKH ODWHVW DGYDQFHV LQ YHWHULQDU\ WHFKQRORJ\
LQFOXGLQJ HQGRVFRS\ XOWUDVRXQG WUDQVIXVLRQ PHGLFLQH &7
VFDQV DQG 05, 7KH FRPELQDWLRQ RI VSHFLDOLVWV KLJKO\
WUDLQHG VWDII GRFWRUV DQG WHFKQLFLDQV DQG D VWDWHRIWKHDUW
IDFLOLW\ SURYLGH WKH ILQHVW PHGLFDO FDUH DYDLODEOH
44
Thursday, March 19, 2015
The Prov dence Journa
2696 DOVR KDV D VLVWHU KRVSLWDO LQ 6ZDQVHD 0DVV
%$< 67$7( 9(7(5,1$5< (0(5*(1&<
6(59,&(6 LV D KRXU HPHUJHQF\ KRVSLWDO ZLWK
VRPH VSHFLDOW\ VHUYLFHV E\ DSSRLQWPHQW
&RQYHQLHQWO\ ORFDWHG
DW WKH LQWHUVHFWLRQ RI
5RXWHV INDOOR FUN
Skill, strategy abound in
top board games of 2015
By Krista Hojnowski, Beth Honeyman
and Ellen Harter Wall
Tribune News Service
Our tester families played dozens
of entries to select the top 10 board
games of 2015, evaluating them on
clarity of rules, design, value and, of
course, fun. And the winners are …
Pyramix
Good visual skills are key in this
strategy game. After the cubes are
randomly placed in the base, play
ers take turns pulling out those with
at least two sides showing, with the
goal of collecting the most matching
pieces. As the players pull, the stacks
can slide, freeing up or blocking other
cubes. 2 to 4 players. Ages 8 and up.
$23.99, gamewright.com
Noodle Speedoodle
Players get 30 seconds to draw a
picture and have other players guess
what it is. The catch? At least one
plastic noodle has to be included in
the doodle. The game spinner adds
other challenges, such as drawing
with your non dominant hand. 3 to
6 players. Ages 8 and up. $24.99,
peaceablekingdom.com
Fire Dragons
Battle Sheep
Press Here: The Game
In this creative challenge based
on Hervé Tullet’s best selling book,
players take turns placing red, yellow,
Its simplicity and lots of bounc
ing balls made this carnival inspired
entry a winner with our testers. Play
ers bounce Ping Pong like balls off
the table and into the tray, aiming to
match the pattern on a specific card.
Whoever wins three rounds claims
victory. 2 to 4 players. Ages 7 and up.
$17.99, walmart.com
Leaps And Ledges
Contenders race to the top of the
tower, playing cards and facing perils
that can send them back to the base:
having an opponent land on the same
ledge (bye bye!) or getting hit with
a rampage card, which knocks off
everyone on the way up. 2 to 4 play
ers. Ages 8 and up. $29.95, mindware.
com
Trafﬁc Jam Matching Game
Testers loved the beautiful graphic
design of this new take on the clas
sic memory game. Players flip the 36
heavy duty cards, seeking pairs of
road signs, scooters, fire trucks, and
the like. Bonus: It comes in a sturdy
storage box. 2 or more players. Ages 3
and up. $14.99, chroniclebooks.com
Twist and
count!
Got an old Twister game in the closet?
Give it a smart new lease on life by playing
Twisted Math.
Write numerals on sticky notes and set
them on the dots at random. Call out a
number (say, 24), then place your hands
and feet on a set of numerals that can be
made to equal that number using addition,
subtraction or multiplication (4 + 2 x 4).
Players who make a math error or fall
over are out. Last mathlete standing wins.
Tribune News Service
Kitten Caboodle
The cats in this sweet pet adoption
themed game need various items
before they can go home with you.
To collect what they require, players
draw and trade cards “go fish” style:
“Do you have any cans of food?” Play
is done when all the pets are adopted.
(Prefer pooches? Diggity Dogs is also
available.) 2 to 4 players. Ages 5 and
up. $14.99, educational insights.com
Robot Face Race
After a quick shake of the Robot
Randomizer (included), players
scan the board of 120 robot heads,
racing to be the first to spot an exact
matchup (say, a green head, red nose,
yellow eyes, and purple smile). 2 to 4
players. Ages 4 and up. $19.99, edu
cationalinsights.com
Kids play at a game of regular Twister — right hand on red,
left foot on blue, etc. But adding numbers to the circles is a
fun way of turning the game into a math exercise.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
While families were initially drawn
to this entry for its cheeky name, its
quick, strategic game play was what
kept them enthralled. Players move
their flocks across the board in an
attempt to claim the most pasture
and block their opponents from doing
the same. 2 to 4 players. Ages 7 and
up. $24.99, store.blueorangegames.
com
Bounce-Off
By the light of their lone lantern, Jesse Poznanski, left, and Kirstie
Siedzik and their four-month-old, Scarlett, play Monopoly in their
Foster living room in 2012 during a power outage caused by superstorm Sandy. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL/BOB THAYER
The Prov dence Journa
With a little luck from the dice
and some savvy strategy you’ll
emerge victorious in this magical
world. Players move their dragons
around the board, amassing rubies
from the central volcano. The erup
tions (when you lift a piece, the rubies
and carbon chunks spill across the
board) were a tester highlight. 2 to
4 players. Ages 5 and up. $39.99,
habausa.com
or blue circles atop empty spots on
cards to create color sequences.
While obvious options abound (such
as setting a red circle inside a match
ing shape), testers loved creating
unique patterns to fill and win the
cards. 2 to 6 players. Ages 3 and up.
$19.99, chroniclebooks.com
45
INDOOR FUN
Monopoly facts you can take to the bank
By Jennifer Berger
46
Thursday, March 19, 2015
The Prov dence Journa
Tribune News Service
More than 1 billion players have
enjoyed Monopoly around the world,
and the classic characters, iconic
tokens and chance to own it all con
tinue to resonate with generations
of fans who can now experience the
game on social and mobile platforms.
There are more than 300 licensed
versions in 47 languages.
To celebrate Monopoly’s 80th
anniversary, Rhode Island based
Hasbro launched the 80th Anni
versary Edition game, featuring
a vintage style board, cards and
houses. And in September, fans
from around the world will gather in
Macau for the 14th Monopoly World
Championships.
We pulled together a bunch of
fun facts you may not know about
Monopoly.
Charles Darrow of Philadelphia first
developed the Monopoly game in
1933.
The original game was made from
materials from Darrow’s own home.
A piece of oilcloth covered the board,
and the cards were handwritten.
The original Monopoly die cast tokens
were inspired by Darrow’s nieces,
who recommended metal charms
from charm bracelets.
The Monopoly board is based on Atlan
tic City, N.J. Darrow attempted to sell Monopoly
to Parker Brothers, but was initially
rejected for “52 fundamental errors”
that included the game’s length,
theme and complexity.
Following the local success of the
game, Parker Brothers reconsidered
its initial rejection and negotiated
the rights to market the game and
began manufacturing it and selling it
in the United States in 1935.
Within a year of the game’s release in
the United States, 35,000 copies
were being made each week.
Escape maps, compasses and files were
inserted into Monopoly game boards
smuggled into POW camps inside
Germany during World War II. Real
money for escapees was slipped into
the packs of Monopoly money.
In the 1970s, a Braille edition of the
game was created for the visually
impaired.
In 1972, the commissioner of public
works in Atlantic City threatened to
Mr. Monopoly
in the Hasbro
showroom at
February’s
North American
International Toy
Fair in New York.
MATT PEYTON/
INVISION
change the names of the real Baltic
and Mediterranean avenues, but
public outcry vetoed the bill.
The Monopoly 80th Anniversary Edi
tion features one iconic token from
each of the game’s eight decades.
The brand’s ofﬁcial birth date is March
19, 1935, when Parker Brothers
acquired the rights for the game from
Charles Darrow.
The original Monopoly game sold for
about $2.
The London version by Waddington
was the first licensed Monopoly
game. To make the game relevant to
British consumers, the names of the
properties were changed to well
known streets in London.
Currently, Monopoly is published in 47
languages and sold in 114 countries.
The Alex and Ani Monopoly Collection
of jewelry features the most beloved
tokens: the house, the car, the Scot
tie dog and the cat.
In 2010, residents of Canada, Turkey,
Russia, South Korea, Peru and Hong
Kong voted to create updated ver
sions of the game for their areas.
The ﬁrst winner of the World Cham
pionships, which was held in 1973 in
Liberty, N.Y., was Lee Bayrd from
the United States. The last U.S.
winner was in 1974. A new Monopoly token, a cat, rests on the game board at Hasbro headquarters in
Pawtucket in 2013. Voting on Facebook determined that the cat would replace the
iron token. AP/STEVEN SENNE
Digital versions of the game are
available for all major platforms and
online through collaborations with
licensees such as Ubisoft and EA.
The ofﬁcial Monopoly Facebook page
has more than 11.5 million fans.
In 1998, San Francisco jeweler Sidney
Mobell created the most expensive
Monopoly set in the world, valued at
$2 million.
The property with the highest rent on
the Monopoly board varies by region.
In the United States, it is named
Boardwalk after a street in Atlantic
City. In Spain, it’s named Paseo del
Prado after a Madrid street, and Rue
de la Paix is the name of the most
coveted property space in France.
The longest game ever played on
record lasted 70 straight days.
The Prov dence Journa
Thursday, March 19, 2015
47