All posts by newtonstem

Mass Audubon Offers Activities, Both Online and In-Person/Outdoors

Events, Virtual/Online

The Massachusetts Audubon Society is offering:

Museum of Science: Race to the Vaccine: Exploring Public Confidence in a COVID Vaccination, Dec. 14

Events, Virtual/Online

Boston’s Museum of Science and the Mass League of Community Health Centers will host a free, online event — Race to the Vaccine: Exploring Public Confidence in a COVID Vaccination — on December 14, 4PM-5PM to discuss the results of a new poll of Massachusetts residents about their readiness to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Analysis of the poll results indicates opportunities to improve vaccination rates through communication via key channels to boost confidence and reduce inequities in vaccination. Registration is required for the online event.

Newton Parks & Rec: New, Permanent Orienteering Courses!

Resources

The City of Newton has recently installed permanent courses for orienteering, a sport of navigation that individuals and families can enjoy at their own pace, walking or running as they move from point to point in the woods with map and compass. Newton Parks & Recreation Program Manager, Channon Ames, has been working with a local Eagle Scout as well as with an experienced orienteering mapper to create maps for multiple orienteering courses in each of five Newton parks. The City’s Orienteering webpage has links to the maps for the first courses, which are in Auburndale Park. You can print them out and get navigating anytime during daylight hours. The webpage also has links to resources for learning more about this sport of “thinking+running” as well as links to local orienteering clubs that hold public events throughout the Greater Boston area in the spring and fall. You can also take the new Parks & Recreation courses, Introduction to Orienteering for families or individuals and Orienteering Programs for Youth. Next April, Parks & Recreation will install additional permanent courses — with increasing levels of challenge — in Cold Spring Park, Kennard Park, Nahanton Park, and Edmands Park.

FSU Virtual Planetarium: Ages 10-14 on Dec. 29, Ages 5-8 on Dec. 30

Events, Virtual/Online

The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University will hold a live, virtual, interactive sessions during the Winter Break. These shows are usually offered for school classes, and these sessions are for individual and family sign-ups. Register for them by 5PM on December 22.

  • Europa Encounter for ages 10-14 on December 29, 2:30PM-3:30PM. $10 per person or $15 for two.
  • Solar System Explorers for ages 5-8 on December 30, 2:30PM-3:30PM. $10 per person, $15 for two, or $20 for three.

iCode Wellesley: In-Person Holiday Camps During December Break

Vacation Programs

iCode (73 Central Street in Wellesley) is offering on-site holiday camps for ages 6-18 during the upcoming December school break, December 21-31. The holiday camps have popular and fun STEAM activities like Minecraft Modding, Roblox, Stop-Motion Animation, Robotics & Engineering, Drones, VR/AR, 3D Digital Arts, 3D Architecture, Coding/Programming, Python, Java and more. In addition, each camp provides fun activities that offer time away from screens. iCode ensures a safe environment for students through rigorous safety protocols and procedures for its on-site camps. Space is particularly limited due to Covid restrictions, so register soon.