Wednesday February 1
Art n Facts Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Ct., Buffalo, 6pm to 7pm, $20 (discount for Museum members). Let the Museum’s collection of Niagara Frontier artifacts inspire your creativity. Make a Valentine based on images and icons of days goneby. for details or call 873-9644. Visit www.bechs.org
Saturday February 4
Frosty Fun Festival Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, 10am to 2pm, $5 per person (Buffalo Museum of Science members save 10%). Celebrate winter in WNY with or without snow! Weather permitting, take a snowshoe hike or sculpt an animal in snow. Learn how to track animals and how animals adapt to the season. Inside the cabin, make wintry crafts, enjoy hot beverages and snacks. Preregistration is encouraged. Call 896-5200 ext. 338 or visit www.sciencebuff.org.
Parent Member Training Workshop Early Childhood Center (People, Inc.), 3131 Sheridan Dr. (Northtown Plaza), Amherst, 9:30am to 2pm. This New York State Education Department training prepares Parent Members on the Committees on Preschool and School Age Special Education by helping them understand the special education process and their role. Presented by the Parent Network of WNY and registration is required. Call 332-4170 or 1-866-277-4762 or visit www.parentnetworkwny.org.
Open Art Studio Park School, 4625 Harlem Rd. (Kimball Hall), Snyder, 9am to 11am, FREE. Students in grades 5 through 12 will learn sculpting, ceramics and other art techniques from Park’s art instructor, Dave O’Malley. These sessions continue Feb. 11 and 18. Space is limited and registration is required. Call 839-1242. Visit www.theparkschool.org.
Winter Wood Carving Class Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., N. Tonawanda, 9am to Noon for beginners and 1pm to 4pm for intermediate/advanced students. Woodcarving could be a lost American art form, but the experts at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum are determined to continue this important tradition. Learn the basics of woodcarving from a master carver in four sessions (Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25). The sessions are open to adults or children age 12 and older; mornings are reserved for people with no or limited experience in woodcarving. Registration is required; $90 per person includes a tool kit and materials. In the afternoon, intermediate and advanced students may hone their skills and learn new techniques. All classes are in a series and may not be taken individually. Class size is limited. Registration and prepayment required. Call 693-1885. See details at www.carrouselmuseum.org.
Sunday February 5
African American Storytelling Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Ct., Buffalo, 2pm, FREE with regular Museum admission. Noted storyteller Sharon Holley tells traditional tales in honor of Black History Month. Details at www.bechs.org or call 873-9644.
Monday February 6
Family Play Group Williamsville Public Library, 5571 Main St., Williamsville, 10:30am, FREE. Sometimes it’s fun to just play… no structure, no rules, just giggles and games. Call 632-6176 for information.
Wednesday February 8
Miss Nancy’s Preschool Story Hour Central Library, 1 Lafayette Sq., Buffalo, 10:30am, FREE. For 2 to 5 year olds with their favorite adult, this weekly (through March 14) story time also includes crafts, songs and games. Follow the happy noise to the West Room on the first floor. Groups of 6 or more, please register by calling 858-7192. See www.buffalolib.org for more activities for kids at Central Library and neighborhood branches, too.
Thursday February 9
After School Escape Reinstein Woods and Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 4:30pm, FREE. This one-hour program features a different outdoor activity for kids from kindergarten to grade 5, Feb. 9, 16 and 23. No need to register. Visit www.dec.ny.gov/education for details or call 683-5959.
Saturday February 11
Do It Yourself Valentine’s Day Craft Central Library, 1 Lafayette Sq., Buffalo, 1pm to 2pm, FREE. Great for children and families. Stop by the Children’s area and make Valentine cards and crafts. All materials will be provided. Registration is not required; more info is online at www.buffalolib.org or call 858-8900.
Flower Crafts With Seeds and Nuts Audubon Public Library, 350 John James Audubon Pkwy., Amherst, 1pm, FREE. Members of the Smallwood Garden Club help 6 to 12 year olds create flowers from objects found in nature, just in time for Valentine’s Day giving. Call 689-4922 to register.
Sunday February 12
Free Family Film Series Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo, 2pm (doors open at 1pm), FREE. This month’s feature, “The Never Ending Story,” is an imaginative adventure and is a good reminder that everyone needs a hero and a friend. Tickets are available one week prior at any Wegmans location in Erie or Niagara County. See the rest of the film series schedule at http://www.sheas.org/ or call 847-1410.
Monday February 13
Little Tykes Snowshoe Stroll Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, 10am to 2pm, $6 for an adult with a child, $3 for an additional child with the same adult (Buffalo Museum of Science members save 10%). Our littlest hikers love wearing bear-claw youth snowshoes and exploring Tifft’s urban nature trails. This session is best for kids 3 to 5 years old with an adult. This event is weather permitting and registration is required. Call 896-5200 ext. 338. See www.sciencebuff.org for other events and activities.
Wednesday February 15
Functional Behavior Assessment Parent Network of WNY, 1000 Main St. Buffalo, 6pm to 8pm. Does a child’s behavior create problems in the classroom? Functional Behavior Assessments are part of the special education process that examines specific student behaviors and what that form of communication means. Participants will learn about the process, behavior plans and goals that can be built into a children’s individualized plan. Registration is required. Call 332-4170 or 1-866-277-4762 or visit www.parentnetworkwny.org.
Thursday February 16
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Activity Audubon Public Library, 350 John James Audubon Pkwy., Amherst, 4pm, FREE. This After School Special, inspired by Greg of wimpy kid fame, features reading, games and crafts. Call 689-4922 to register.
Understanding Special Education workshop Mullen Elementary School, 130 Syracuse St., Tonawanda, 7pm to 9pm. Participants will learn advocacy skills, the steps in the special education process, and what to expect at meetings of the Committee on Special Education. Registration required. Call 332-4170 or 1-866-277-4762 or visit www.parentnetworkwny.org
Saturday February 18
WinterFest Burchfield Nature and Art Center, 2001 Union Rd., West Seneca,10am to 7pm, FREE admission. Enjoy all the fun of winter. Take a horse-drawn carriage through the park that inspired Charles Burchfield’s beautiful watercolor paintings. See woodcarvers and ice sculptors and make your own creation in a Snowman building contest. Shop for handmade specialties from local vendors, artists, and craftspeople.
Visit www.burchfieldnac.org or call 677-4843 for details.
LEGO Club Riverside Library, 820 Tonawanda St., Buffalo, 1pm to 3pm, FREE. Calling Lego-loving kids from 6 to 12 years old, have fun building and creating your own structures. Registration is required. Call 875-0562.
Tuesday February 21
Warm Up with Sunshine Bear Clearfield Branch Library, 770 Hopkins Rd., Williamsville, 1pm, FREE. Kids 6 and older will love reading Care Bear stories and playing silly games. Register by calling 688-4955.
Thursday February 23
Outdoor Adventure Club: Winter Adaptation Walk Reinstein Woods and Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 10am, $4 per person for snowshoe rental (half-price for Friends of Reinstein members). Search for animals who have adapted to cold winter temps. Registration required. Call 683-5959 or visit www.dec.ny.gov education for information.
Friday February 24
CSI: The Experience Final Friday Date Night If you feel your child is a little too young for CSI: The Experience, come to the Buffalo Museum of Science’s Final Friday Date Night when the museum is open until 9pm. BMS is offering a drop-off program from 7pm to 8:30 for kids aged 4-10 so parents can enjoy the exhibit. Adults are required to purchace admission to CSI: The Experience and general admission is required for children participating in the drop-off program. Due to limited availability, pre-registration is encouraged at 896-5200 x338. More details at www.sciencebuff.org
Saturday February 25
Learn to Snowshoe Reinstein Woods and Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 10:30am, $4 per person for snowshoe rental (half-price for Friends of Reinstein members). Kids from 5 to 8 years old will learn how to use snowshoes on this guided walk. Registration required. Call 683-5959.
Journey to Mars: Science Saturday Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester, FREE with Museum admission. Hands-on experiments and lively demonstrations led by scientists teach valuable lessons while having fun. Learn the science behind rockets and how building flying model rockets is a cool hobby. Visit www.rmsc.org for details.
Tuesday February 28
Evening Snowshoe Walk Reinstein Woods and Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, 6pm, $4 per person for snowshoe rental (half-price for Friends of Reinstein members). Enjoy the crisp, cold beauty of a winter’s night on this guided walk. It’s a fun family night. Call 683-5959 to register.