Homeschooling can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In this month’s Mini City Magazine our longtime contributor and author Jessica Herberger breaks down the nuts and bolts of homeschooling and shares how it works for her own family. Click here to read Jessica’s piece in the latest issue of Mini City Magazine.
Thinking about Homeschooling? Read on...
The Mini City Back to Learning Guide
The Mini City Back to Learning Guide is LIVE and we are making additions and changes as we receive them. To read the Guide click HERE or click the photo above!
Click the button below if you would like to see your school or local business featured in the guide!
Mini City Magazine :: August The Back to Learning Guide
Myers Ballet School Offering In Studio and Zoom Classes this Fall
Applications are now open for Myers Ballet School fall session, but there are only 10 spots per class so apply now before they fill up! Click the button below to apply now:
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Back to Learning Issue Directory
Fill out the form below for more info on how to be in the upcoming Back to Learning Guide Directory! A one of it’s kind local resource only from Mini City!
The Children's Museum at Saratoga BIG TRUCK DAY 2020
Fun is not canceled! The Children’s Museum at Saratoga is gearing up for its annual fundraising event, Big Truck Day, taking place on Saturday, August 8 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. This year, due to restrictions placed on gatherings, the popular event will take a slight detour to keep participation safe incorporating a driving truck tour the whole family will enjoy.
Participants can purchase a to-go kit and pick it up at the museum before heading out on the driving tour. The to-go kit includes a fire hat, construction hat and two vehicle maker kits of either a monster truck, race car or train, which will be selected for you. The ticket price also includes two certificates for an ice cream cone from Stewarts, a link to an exclusive online Big Truck Day video and a Truck Trail map featuring the seven vehicles that you can see while touring through historic downtown Saratoga including a Fire Truck, Police Car, Trash Truck, Cleaning Van, Ambulance and two vintage automobiles.
With each ticket purchased, participants will be entered into a drawing to receive one of the following prizes including a captained boat ride around Lake George for a family of four donated by Freedom Boat Club, a Big truck Day T-Shirt size youth large, a Tegu racer car, or a Melissa and Doug car carrier truck. Winners of the drawing will be announced on Facebook and contacted directly by August 12.
“These have been challenging circumstances for families so we are pleased to offer a fun and safe activity the whole family can enjoy together,” said Sarah Smith, executive director, The Children’s Museum of Saratoga. “As you can imagine, it has been a challenging time for our team as well. We are a nonprofit museum, with a small annual operating budget all dependent on the revenue we earn from museum admissions, school field trips, education programs, and birthday parties at the museum, which have been on hold since early spring. Events like Big Truck Day are crucial fundraisers for us so we can continue to create new, engaging exhibits and experiences when the museum opens again.”
Tickets for this year’s event range from $20-$40 packages. The $20 package will get you the trail map and exclusive video while the $30 package includes the map, video and a to-go kit for museum members and is $40 for non or future members. To purchase tickets, visit the Eventbrite page HERE.
To sustain the Children’s Museum during the COVID-19 closure, the organization has introduced The Fund to Sustain CMAS, so it can continue and improve the virtual education for children during this health crisis and reopen safely when the time is right. To read more about the Fund and how your gift will directly bring educational programs to children, click HERE. To make a donation, click HERE.
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Kids Outdoor Art on the Farm at Pitney Meadows
Head over to Pitney Meadows for some fun outdoor summer art on the farm! This class runs for 6 weeks, you may sign up for one, two, three, or all six classes!
$12 per child/per class ($5 discount for those who sign up for all 6 classes)
Ages 5-10
Masks are required entering the farm for anyone over the age of 2; but children may remove masks once seated for art class.
This class is instructed by Julie Lewis. Click the button below for tickets:
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Congress Park Scavenger Hunt with the Saratoga Springs Public Library
The Saratoga Springs Public Library Congress Park Family Scavenger Hunt has been changed to a multi-day event. Have fun exploring Congress Park and completing a scavenger hunt with your family. The first 50 children to complete the scavenger hunt will receive a prize when the Children's Room reopens!
Check this link for more information and the link to the hunt: https://sspl.libcal.com/event/6894387
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Adventure Close to Home at West Mountain
Check out our Mini City review of the amazing Aerial Treetop Adventure Park at West Mountain, located just minutes from Saratoga Springs in this month’s Mini City Magazine! Plus, don’t forget you can use CODE wmjo for 10% off Aerial Treetop Adventure Park tickets! Click the button below to read the review now and visit them at westmountain.com for more info.
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Mini City Magazine :: July
click on any of the images to read the issue online now
The Mini City BACK TO LEARNING GUIDE
click the image above for more info
West Mountain Aerial Treetop Adventure Park Ticket GIVEAWAY
West Mountain is OPEN and offering a variety of outdoor activities including: the new Aerial Treetop Adventure course(s); expanded mountain biking terrain; scenic chairlift rides; access to hiking trails; and NEW FOR THIS SEASON introducing Mountaintop Picnic Packages and Outdoor Adventure Camps – the perfect outing for family and friends. In addition, West Mountain plans to host a variety of summer events such as mountain-top yoga, fireworks and more!
West Mountain, a local family run business is welcoming the community back for outdoor fun and exercise all while keeping the public safe. West Mountain is following all social distancing and prevention hygiene measures as put forth by the CDC’s Covid-19 public health guidelines and New York State’s New York Forward plan.
TICKETS: Tickets are available to buy online at www.WestMountain.com. Certain activities such as Aerial Treetop Adventure and the Mountaintop Picnic Package require purchasing online up to 24 hours in advance of visit.
HOURS OF OPERATION: West Mountain is located at 59 West Mountain Rd.– just 3 miles off the Adirondack Northway (Interstate 87) Exit 18, Queensbury, NY. West Mountain is centrally located within a two-hour drive from Vermont, Massachusetts and Western New York. For summer season 2020, West Mountain will open on Saturday, July 4 and will be open seven days a week through Labor Day weekend September 6, 2020, open daily Monday through Sunday from 9AM to 3PM.
West Mountain is committed to the safety of their community and guests. To reduce interpersonal contact and congregation among people who are not members of the same household/family unit, West Mountain has established a Site Safety Plan, which includes a density reduction component, incorporating this guidance and all applicable Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DOH COVID-19 guidance.
Now for the fun part, the GIVEAWAY!
West Mountain is giving away a Four Pack of tickets to their Aerial Treetop Adventure Park!
West Mountain’s five-acre Aerial Treetop Adventure offers six (6) high ropes courses for all different ability levels. The park is situated at the peak of West Mountain and is nestled in amongst the trees. It is accessible by the West Express chairlift. Guests age 7 and up are invited to come and test their skills on various courses ranging in skill level from beginner to advanced. Adventurers will be met by the West Mountain climbing crew who will outfit guests with helmets and harnesses before participating in a safety clinic. Adventurers will then climb up to a treetop platform to begin their journey through rope spider webs, zip lines, log waves and more. The Aerial Treetop Adventure includes a variety of climbing, swinging and zipping challenges. Each trail can take approximately 12-15 minutes to complete, aside from the black trail which has the highest difficulty. The park is designed for adventurers ages 7 and older, and all ability levels are welcome. Climbers should be at least 55 inches tall (approx. 4 1/2 feet) in order to reach the clip/unclip points throughout the park. Maximum weight limit is 265 pounds.
To enter the giveaway simply comment below and be sure to include your email to be contacted if you win! ONE WINNER will receive all four tickets. Good luck!
***this giveaway closes on Friday, July 17th and the winner will be notified via email, you can only win IF an email is included in at least one of your entries***
Mini City Magazine: The WHAT'S OPEN GUIDE for June
The question we have been getting every day? What’s open? Parks, camps, pools? Well in this issue we have ALL of the latest info on the kid friendly places and spaces that are open and ready for you to visit. We also have the MOST up to date info on what camps are open and how to register. Click on any of the images below to read the issue online now!
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UPDATED Summer Camp Guide 2020
Are there any camps still opening for this summer? The answer is YES! There are local camps both virtual and online that are currently open for registration and you can find them in the UPDATED Mini City Camp Guide! Click the button below to see them now and check back often as we add more as businesses begin to open up again. Want to see your camp featured? There’s info on the post as well, now click that button and start planning!
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Mini City Magazine :: May
Click on any of the photos to read it online now!
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Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park Virtual Wildlife Festival
Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park is hosting their Virtual Wildlife Festival this week to replace their in-person event. Each day for a week you can go on-line anytime after 10:00 am to view the new post or LIVE program! Click the button below for more info:
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Palette Online Mom Meetup :: Thursdays at 11am
Join your friends from Palette for a new kind of mom group where we have real talk about real life!
Mamas with babes of any age are welcome, from newborns to not-so-newborns. We want you to have some time to decompress and chat honestly about life as a mom. We have what you need: support and positivity!
Every Thursday at 11am
RSVP to get on the VIP MOM LIST, click here for more info.
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Northshire Bookstore Open for Curbside Pickup
Hurray! Northshire Bookstore is now able to accept curbside pickup orders both by phone (518-682-4200) and on their website, www.northshire.com.
Their store hours for curbside pickup are Tuesday-Saturday 10 am - 3 pm. They are closed on Sundays & Mondays.
Mini City Magazine :: April
This month’s issue has two special pieces by local moms that I just loved including, and also a Mother’s Day Gift Guide featuring all local businesses that can either arrange pickup or delivery of some amazing treats for Mom. Our small local businesses need us now more than ever to keep going, so if you see something you love, drop a hint (or treat yourself!). Click any of the images below to read the issue now!
