Check out The Birdfeeder board book
As a delightful companion to any bird fun, I recommend Sprout Publishing’s wonderful little board book The Birdfeeder, illustrated by Stefan Crain. This seven-word treasure consists of charming illustrations marking each day that a family waits for birds to discover the new birdfeeder outside in the yard. I won’t give away how it ends, but it’s a fantastic reminder of how very long this process can seem for a young child. The part that makes it extra-Hudson Valley is the Shawangunk Ridge scene on the back cover.
The Birdfeeder is available locally at Inquiring Minds Bookstore, the Gardiner Library, Handmade & More in New Paltz and the Mohonk Mountain House. For more information, visit Sprout Publishing at www.facebook.com.
Scouting Open House in Kingston, Volunteer Day at Black Creek
Now that the ground is thawing, perhaps you are looking for more ways to spend time outdoors. Here are two wonderful opportunities for area families.
On Saturday, March 30, the 91st Sojourners will host a traditional scouting Open House in Ulster County. This co-ed, inclusive and traditional scouting group serves the Mid-Hudson Valley. It is based in Kingston and is part of the Baden-Powell Service Association/US For more information, call (845) 339-9441, e-mail 91stsojourners@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/91stsojournersscoutsbpsa.
Perhaps your family is looking for ways to volunteer in the community doing outside activities? On Saturday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Scenic Hudson hosts a Volunteer Training Day. Learn about monitoring and maintaining the parks and preserves, take a guided walk and replace the cedar steps and the water bars on the Yellow Trail. Participants should wear work clothes and gloves and bring a bag lunch. Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult guardian.
Volunteer Training Day takes place at Black Creek Preserve, located at Winding Brook Road in Esopus. For more information, call (845) 473-4440, extension 273, or visit https://scenichudson.org.
King Arthur at Center in Rhinebeck
Excalibur! All of the Center for Performing Arts’ Saturday Morning Family Series shows are so good, and here’s another one. Give your kids a chance to connect with a historic tale in an interactive way with Hampstead Stage Company’s The Legend of King Arthur. The show takes place on Saturday, March 30 at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $7 for children, $9 for adults and seniors.
The Center is located at 661 Route 308 in Rhinebeck. For tickets or more information, call (845) 876-3080 or visit www.centerforperformingarts.org. To learn more about the performers, visit www.hampsteadstage.org.
Sunday family events at Storm King Art Center
Do you enjoy combining the arts with the outdoors? Well, this is your week! Storm King Art Center opens for the season this Wednesday, April 3. So round up your family, bring your picnics, your cameras and your walking shoes and go exploring! In addition to the daily 2 p.m. tours, the Arts Center hosts family events on Sunday afternoons.
Current hours at Storm King are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for students and free for members and children under age 5. Storm King is located at 1 Museum Road in New Windsor. For more information, call (845) 534-3115 or visit www.stormking.org.
Now for something completely different: upcoming events to try that might be new for many readers.
Kids’ Stuff at Pine Hill Community Center
I know that Saturday mornings are valuable family real estate, so I try to share with you the best programs available here in Kids’ Almanac. It sounds like the Pine Hill Community Center is one spot that you should check out with your crew. Its new Kids’ Stuff program promises fun, interesting and engaging activities for young people every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The hands-on workshops are geared toward all kids from ages 6 to 12 years, and they are free!
The Pine Hill Community Center is located at 287 Main Street in Pine Hill. For more information, call (845) 254-5469 or visit https://pinehillcommunitycenter.org.
Roller derby match at Skate Time 209
Do you like “firsts”? Be among the first fans to cheer on the Mid-Hudson Misfits roller derby team’s inaugural home bout! Live roller derby is awesome to watch; I get all fired up watching the teams lap the rink. The scoring system always takes me a while to get used to, but it’s fun to see how it all happens.
The excitement takes place on Saturday, March 30 at Skate Time 209, and the doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $10 in advance through https://brownpapertickets.com, $12 at the door and by donation for kids age 12 and under. Skate Time 209 is located at 5164 Route 209 in Accord. For more information, visit www.midhudsonmisfits.com.
International TableTop Day at Dragon’s Den
Our family got hooked on the board game Settlers of Catan a couple of years ago, and our daughter has been winning game after game of Sleeping Queens. If your family is into tabletop games or you want them to be, consider participating in International TableTop Day to cultivate a joy in this type of gaming.
International TableTop Day is the local embodiment of Wil Wheaton’s and Felicia Day’s online series, TableTop. For International TableTop Day, gamers gather together to play various tabletop games. It takes place on Saturday, March 30, and the Dragon’s Den in Poughkeepsie is a participating store in our area. Find out more, including additional locations, at www.tabletopday.com. To learn more about Dragon’s Den, visit www.gamersgambit.com. For more information about the series that inspired this day, visit https://tabletop.geekandsundry.com. Happy gaming!
Erica delights in Bright Spring Promises in New Paltz with her husband Mike and their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
