The school year seems to be flying by, but for many families, the mid-winter break is a great time to slow down and relax for a bit. Most breaks start on Saturday, February 15th and continue through Sunday, February 23rd. To help you make the most of the February vacation, we've rounded up various indoor and outdoor things to do, or fun day camps to send your kids to.  

THINGS TO DO:

Third & Fourth Graders Can Ski for FREE!

SKI/NY Kids Ski Free Passport Program - Third & fourth graders can learn to ski for free! Please note: There is a processing fee. Passport Cards are mailed out Monday-Friday and will arrive at your house within 1-2 weeks - please plan accordingly. For participating mountains, click here.

This passport gives your child 3 lift tickets at each participating ski area. When an adult ticket is purchased the child gets a lift ticket free, adult ticket does need to be purchased at the ski area or ski area's website, third party discounted or free tickets are not applicable. It does not include lessons or rentals.

Visit the Empire “Skate” Plaza

Rentals are available whenever the rink is open and cost $3 for children 12 and under and $4 for adults. A photo ID is required to rent skates. Every Saturday is Free Skate Rental Saturday courtesy of Hannaford Supermarkets.

Explore the Caves at Howe Caverns

About 45 minutes from Albany. The caves are open year-round with several tour options: The Traditional Tour, The Lantern Tour, the Family Flashlight Tour, the Photo Tour, and they also offer Private Tours. New at Howe Caverns - Howe To Escape - the most immersive escape room in the Capital Region.

Release Their Energy at an Indoor Trampoline Park

Airdrenaline Adventure Park - Colonie

Get Air Trampoline Park - Albany

Sky Zone Trampoline Park - Clifton Park

ClubLife SportsZone - Valatie

Solve a Puzzle at an Escape Room

5 Wits - Albany

All In Adventures Escape Rooms - Albany

Enigmatic Escapes - Troy

Tru Escape Mystery and Escape Rooms - Queensbury

Howe To Escape - Howes Cave

Spend the Day at a Museum

Tip from US: Make sure to check your local library for free museum passes!

miSci (Museum of Innovation & Science) - Schenectady

Children’s Museum of Science & Technology - Troy

Children’s Museum of Saratoga - Saratoga. Designed for children under 7 years old.

New York State Education Building - Albany. Free tours of the historic State Education Building are held on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Each tour can accommodate 25 people and reservations are required.

New York State Museum - Albany. Offering many engaging programs for children during the week off.

Albany Institute of History & Art - Albany

Free Admission Day on Presidents’ Day, courtesy of M&T Bank!

In the Art Studio, we’ll design our own bookmarks with collage art and tassels. Our Research Library will host How Albany Learned to Read, a pop-up display featuring children’s books and reading primers from 1800-1935. Plus, our friends from the RED Bookshelf will be on hand to give all children in the area the opportunity to own their own books and become readers, and Albany Public Library will lead a fun story time (great for ages 2-5) too!

They are ALSO hosting Clifford the Big Red Dog birthday parties throughout the day! WMHT will be at the museum for a special screening of a birthday episode and we will make crafts and even get a chance to take pictures with Clifford! (Attendees are asked to bring their cameras.) Space per session is limited and registration is required. Open to families with children in Pre-K through 3rd Grade. Register online or call (518) 463-4478 ext. 403.

DAY CAMPS:

Afrim’s Sports - School Break Action Camp. 2/17-2/21, 9 AM-4 PM or AM/PM Half-Day, Ages 3-12. Cost: Full Day: $55/day, Half Day: $40. Before/Aftercare available for an additional charge.

Action Camp is a fun interactive camp that partakes in team-building activities, a fun variety of upbeat games and making some magical arts and crafts. Here at Action Camp, we welcome all kids from ages 3-12 to join in on the adventures! We have an action-packed day planned for you including bounce time on our bounce houses field time on our indoor and outdoor areas and more. All Campers will receive two snacks and a lunch that varies every day along with some long-lasting memories! We hope you come along and join us for the adventure!

Arts Center of the Capital Region - Stained Glass Studio. 2/17-2/21, 9 AM-4 PM, Ages 9-12. Cost: Members: $275, Non-members: $300. Call (518) 273-0552 to register.

Learn the basics of this art form during our stained glass camp. You’ll learn to work safely with the tools required, such as soldering irons and glass cutters, while creating your own stained glass designs and practicing construction, glass cutting, copper foiling, soldering, and cleaning. You’ll create a few of your own unique stained glass pieces to take home! Please note: fine motor skills required.

Children’s Museum of Science & Technology - Daily Science Camps. 2/17-2/21, 9 AM-4 PM, Ages 5-11. Cost: Members: $50/day, Future Members: $55/day. Before/Aftercare is also available for an additional cost.

2/17 Winter Warm-up: How do animals stay warm in the winter? What happens to plants when the weather is cold? Learn the answers to these questions as we explore insulation, energy, hibernation, and dormancy through hands-on experiments and activities.

2/18 Ocean Explorers: Instead of thinking about the cold and the snow, today we will focus on the ocean’s ecosystems. Learn about ocean animals, saltwater, watersheds and human impact. We will get our hands wet and explore using inquiry-based, hands-on learning.

2/19 Snowman Summit: Experience snowman relay races and glacier games. Delve into the science of snowflakes and blizzards. Bring your boots and dress for the weather, as some of our hands-on fun will happen outside (weather permitting).

2/20 Back FROM the Future: Have you ever wondered what kids did before TV’s and computers? This fun, hands-on camp will give us a chance to go back in time and see how things were done. Make your own butter and play games that don’t require electricity. How different do you think things were back in days gone by?

2/21 What’s Up Next?: Today’s activities will find CMOST staff and campers looking ahead. What do you imagine the future will be like? We will plan a future city, imagine life on Mars and invent some items that will be useful in the world to come!

Ninja Lab - 2/17-2/21, 9 AM-12 PM. Cost: $200/week, or $45/day. Register online.

Age-appropriate/specific drills will always be used, with a heightened emphasis on skill and long-term athlete development. Every child will be engaged and having fun while building strength and self-confidence and finding their inner-ninja!  Class ratio: 8:1.  Max number of campers: 48. Campers are required to bring their own snacks/beverages. (No nut products)

The Theatre Institute at Sage - Winter on Stage: Sketch Comedy. 2/17-2/21, 9 AM-4 PM, Ages 8-16. Cost: $250. Register online.

Kids ages 8 – 16 will love this full-day camp where they become part of creating and performing in an original sketch comedy show complete with comedy, music, dancing (and perhaps a little stage combat…there always is!). Students will develop their own scenes, skits, musical numbers and whatever else their awesome brains can come up with..ALL IN ONE WEEK! Parents can join us for a show on the final afternoon of the program…“Live From Troy New York!  It’s Friday Afternoon!”

The Wonder Room School - Create a Home Workshop. 2/18-2/20, 9-11:30 AM, Ages 6+. Cost: $140/members, $150/non-members. Email thewonderroomny@gmail.com for a registration form.

A special design and create program for kids who love art and being creative.  Each participant will develop a blueprint plan, design wall features, and furniture elements, and create a unique house of their own.  We will be drawing, painting, using wood and felt or fabric in our designs.  Every child will go home with their own house to use for imaginative play or display.

Tumbling Tykes - 2/17-2/21, 9 AM-12 PM, Ages 3-7. Cost: Non-members $30/day, Current members $25/day.

Camp will incorporate cooking, arts & crafts, games, outside playtime (weather permitting), and much more!