by Linda Kostin
Having kids enriches your life in lots of ways. Learning to
function on four hours of sleep was just the beginning. In Greater Rochester,
there are plenty of opportunities for you to return the favor by enriching your
kids’ lives — and your own — through the arts, family entertainment, and
sports and recreation.
Arts
Why let your kid watch cartoons on TV when she can take a Manga
class? The MemorialArtGallery’s Creative Workshop offers kids from preschool through high school
the chance to nurture their love of art and develop technical skills in a
welcoming environment. Working artists, professional art educators, and art
historians teach classes including drawing, painting, pottery, bead design, and
jewelry. Fees vary based on the number of sessions, with many seven-week
classes priced at $100 for members, $115 for non-members. Summer programs also
available. The workshop is located behind the MAG, 500
University Avenue. Call 473-7720, ext. 3056, or
visit mag.rochester.edu/creativeworkshop.
           Bush Mango Drum and Dance offers a
multi-racial, multi-generational experience spanning all social and economic
classes. Named Cultural Organization of the Year 2006-2007 by the Arts &
Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, Bush Mango’s performing ensemble has
appeared extensively throughout New YorkState at concerts, corporate and
community events. The Youth Project offers Saturday classes at the BushMangoCommunity Center,
located at 34 Elton Street.
Theater class for ages 4-6 is a child-centered, playful introduction to theater
and creative movement. Two levels of dance instruction are offered: beginning
dance for ages 5-9, and dance for ages 9 and up in which adult members of Bush
Mango’s dance company participate. All all-ages drum class is also available.
Bush Mango offers extensive scholarship opportunities. Call 235-3960, or visit www.bushmango.com.
           It used to be a
bad thing when a kid went through stages. Not anymore. At Magical Journey Thru Stages‘ productions, your family can enjoy
quality theater while supporting not-for-profit corporations. MJTS produces and
performs shows as fundraisers. “Usually, you work three or four months on a
show, then perform for a couple weeks. We wanted to find a way to perform more
shows and give back to the community,” explains MJTS board member Chris
Henning. Sponsoring organizations set ticket prices, generally in the $20
range. Info, including summer drama camps, at www.mjtstages.com or call
935-7173.
Entertainment
Once upon a time, the only entertainment you’d find in a library
was watching the librarian hiss at a pack of rowdy kids. Nowadays, libraries
offer fun family programs, ranging from traditional story hours for young kids
to family movies, crafts, clubs for teens, and summer reading programs. Visit
your local library or check out www2.libraryweb.org to see what’s offered in
your neighborhood.
           For older kids,
the Parma Public Library (7
West Avenue, Hilton) offers extensive programming
for teens that’s open to non-residents, too. The library has something for
teens every Tuesday at 4 p.m., including popular video games Dance Dance
Revolution and Guitar Hero on PlayStation, teen anime and manga clubs, and a teen
book discussion group. Go to parmateens.wordpress.com or call 392-8350.
           It’s never too
early to ingrain a love of independent cinema in your kids. They may be too
young to see the first-run movies, but they can still soak up the indy ambience
at the Little Theatre’s Preferred Care
Little Buddies Series at 10 a.m. on the last Saturday of the month.
Family-friendly movies will be shown, preceded by an activity or speaker
related to the movie’s subject matter. Tickets are $5. The Little is located at
240 East Avenue; info at www.thelittle.org
or call 258-0400.
Sports
With a wide range of athletic options, everybody can be a good
sport these days. The City of Rochester
and its surrounding suburbs offer sports leagues year-round. Some programs are
run by the municipalities’ recreation departments, others are run by
independent organizations such as Little League baseball and Pop Warner
football. A quick call to your local recreation department is all it takes to
assess your options.
           With 24
recreation centers, the City of Rochesteroffers both house (instructional) and
travel (competitive) leagues for kids ages 6-18 in the following sports:
softball, basketball, flag football, floor hockey and soccer. House sports
include volleyball and ice hockey. Boxing, swimming, and martial arts are also
offered. There are no fees, and you don’t need to be a city resident to play,
but registration at the recreation center sponsoring the team is required.
Visit cityofrochester.gov/prhs/recreation, call 428-6755, or visit your local
rec center for details.
           If an individual
sport suits your needs, consider fencing. The Rochester Fencing Club (777 Culver Road,
654-6047, www.rochesterfencing.com) offers two introductory programs, one for
kids 6-12 and another for teens and adults. Meeting once a week for six weeks,
participants will learn basic footwork and bladework, and fence other
participants. All equipment is included in the $80 fee.
           For nature
lovers, the Genesee Valley Chapter
Adirondack Mountain Club offers some family-friendly hiking and paddling
trips appropriate for families with kids ages 10 and up. The group meets on the
second Wednesday of the month from September through June at the RochesterMuseum and ScienceCenter’s Eisenhart Auditorium, 657
East Avenue. There’s an educational workshop at
6:30 p.m., followed by a program at 7:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the
public. Go to www.gvc-adk.org or call 987-1717 for info.
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For more ideas for what to do with your kids, check out the
Family Valued section every week in City Newspaper, or visit www.rochestercitynewspaper.com
and find the Family section.
This article appears in Mar 21-27, 2007.
