Have Fun Over Winter Break

Ah, Winter Break in Livingston! The kids are out of school and ready for some fun down time.If you’re not going away and celebrating with a family “Staycation,” we have some suggestions on how to take advantage of this time to occupy their young minds and bodies without breaking your wallet:

• Livingston’s Senior Youth & Leisure Services (SYLS) offers two programs during the break, aimed at kids ages six through 12. Egyptian Dig/Buried Treasure Digs, for kids six through 11, helps them discover the amazing science of archaeology as they uncover ancient artifacts and learn about Egyptian life. They’ll excavate, using real tools, and take home a scarab, hieroglyphic tablet, ankh symbol, and jackal. Kids will also create sand sculptures for display. This program runs Dec. 29-30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $124. Blowfish Robocraft is for children ages seven through 12. They’ll build and take home a Robotfish which will actually propel forward using its tail. They’ll also learn about gears, circuits and motors and can enter their Robotfish in Sciensational races. Lastly, children will have fun building other robots and a speedy car for use on an obstacle course. This program runs Dec. 27-28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at a cost of $124. All participants should bring brown bag lunches and drinks. For more information, call (973) 535-7925 or log onto http://livingstonsyls.org where you can register by clicking on the Community Pass link.   
• On Tuesday, December 27th, head over to the Morris Museum (morrismuseum.org) for their Toyland Family Festival which promises tons of craft fun and features “Exit 5,” Livingston’s own all-girl robotics team comprised of 5th and 7th grade students. They’ll be running demos of their First LEGO League robot competition field. This event takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is free for museum members and costs $7 per child, $10 per adult for non-members. The “Exit 5” demonstration will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (973) 971-3718.
• The Little Gym of Livingston (thelittlegym.com/LivingstonNJ) is offering a three-hour drop off Holiday Camp for kids between the ages three and eight from today through Dec. 30. Kids will have a blast playing games, learning gymnastics and honing their sports skills. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a light snack provided. You can send your child one day or many days – you choose. The cost is $40 per day for members, $45 for non-members. Note that little kids must be fully potty-trained. For more information, call (973) 422-1722. 
• Your kindergarteners through third graders will have fun exploring the outdoors at the Essex County Environmental Center’s Winter Break Camp from tomorrow through Dec. 29. Forest Explorers, aimed at kindergarteners and first grade children, offers stories, crafts and forest adventures with hot cocoa served after a fun guided nature walk. They’ll also learn about wintertime wildlife, snow shelters, and campfires. This program runs from 9 a.m. through 12 p.m. Wildlife Adventures is for second and third graders and explores who lives in our wooded wetland forests in the wintertime. Children will have fun discovering winter birds, show shelters and campfires plus learn about animal tracking and Native American Life. This program runs from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sign your child up for one, two or all three days.  Camp is $30 per day, per child, or $75 for all three days. The Essex County Environmental Center is located at 621B Eagle Rock Ave. in Roseland. Advance registration is required. Call (973) 228-8776 for a registration form or visit essexcountynj.org. 
• Diamond Gymnastics in East Hanover celebrates the break with its Winter Half-Day Camp for kids ages four through 12 from today through Dec. 30th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Your child will have tons of fun with gymnastics, rock climbing, open gym and a variety of indoor games. The cost is $50 per day for one to three days but if you sign up for four or five days, it drops to $45 per day. A morning snack and drink will be provided; please pack a brown bag lunch for your child. For more information or to register, call (973) 560-0414. 
• The West Essex YMCA challenges your child to be active while they're off from school with its Vacation Club program from today through Jan. 2, 2012.  The program includes indoor and outdoor games (weather permitting), arts and crafts, swimming, trips and special events. Drop your child off between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and pick them up by 6 p.m. Pack a morning snack, bagged lunch, towel and bathing suit; an afternoon snack will be provided. This program costs $70 per day for members, $85 per day for non-members. For more information, call (973) 992-7500. 
• Imagine That in Florham Park offers events every day of Winter Break. Today, kids can learn how to extract oil from olives during an Olive Press Demonstration with Rabbi Yisroel Rosenblum of the Living Legacy and Rabbinical College of America. Kids will also decorate a donut and meet Judah the Maccabee. This program takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Preregister for $10.99 per child (adults are free) or buy tickets at the door for $11.99 per child, $3.99 per adult. On Dec. 27, bring the kids at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. so they can make a Sock Snowman. This event costs $12.99 per child, $7.95 per adult. On Dec. 28, kids can learn about Going Green and saving our planet with a craft and presentations about solar energy and recycling. This program runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is $11.99, adults free with preregistration; tickets at the door cost $11.99 per child, $7.95 per adult. Choose a time on Dec. 29 (10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.) for your child to make a Fleece Pillow. Stuff and fluff a cozy knot pillow craft with your child and then stay and play for the day at a cost of $13.99 per child, $7.95 per adult. Lastly, you and your child can craft a sparkly New Year’s Eve Countdown Ball on Dec. 30 at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. Use glitter and sequins to countdown the New Year; each child will receive a party hat or tiara and a horn for this celebration. The cost is $11.99 per child, $7.95 per adult.  Preregistration is recommended for all events. Call (973) 966-8000 for more information or log onto their website at imaginethatmuseum.com.