The Beat

Waterford, N.Y. --- Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the NYS Canal Corporation invite youth and families from across New York State to participate in Erie Canalway Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, August 1, 2026 from 10am to 4pm. Free events and activities are being hosted at 15 canal sites and museums throughout the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Millbrook, NY — Innisfree Garden will offer a new summer program series for children this July and August. The Innisfree Explorers Series for Curious Kids invites young participants and their grown-ups to spend Friday afternoons exploring the garden through hands-on outdoor activities, close observation, creative projects, and guided discovery.

Designed especially for children ages 6 to 10, the four-part series will take place on Fridays from 2:00 to 3:30 PM, July 31 through August 21, at Innisfree Garden in Millbrook, NY.

Gloversville, N.Y. - Join the Fulton County Historical Society on special Thursday mornings for Hands on History at the museum! Each week, we’ll focus on a different theme and use our exhibits and collections to explore these themes in local history. We’ll finish the morning with an activity. This FREE program is geared toward kids ages 5-10, but all kiddos welcome! All programs begin at 11am and are about one hour.

Staatsburg, N.Y.  (6/24/26) —Staatsburgh State Historic Site invites you to explore the site’s beautiful Hudson River landscape by taking a photographic scavenger hunt challenge!  A camera and walking shoes are all that’s needed to complete ten fun riddles on a loop through the grounds of the historic Gilded Age estate. All ages are invited to participate – play solo or with a group. Learn some of the highlights of the former grounds of the Mills family country estate, exploring the landscape and various buildings. All participants who submit their pictures before October 31 can receive a free ice cream cone, courtesy of Stewarts Shops, while supplies last.

Interactive Pine Bush Programs Give Families the Chance to Learn from Museum Experts

Albany, N.Y. - The New York State Museum and Albany Pine Bush Preserve are teaming up for a summer of exploration, discovery, and hands-on learning through a new educational program series, In the Field. Museum scientists will lead three monthly programs at the Pine Bush, giving families and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to experience exciting field science firsthand and learn directly from experts at both institutions. Each program highlights a different aspect of the preserve’s unique ecosystem, from moths and migratory birds to fungi, showcasing the diversity of plants and animals found throughout the 3,400-acre preserve.

Saratoga Springs, NY (June 17, 2026) — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College invites the public to Frances Day 2026, the museum’s annual summer community open house, on Saturday, July 18, from 2 to 6:30 pm. The free, family-friendly celebration offers an afternoon of art, art making, guided tours, music, food, and activities for visitors of all ages.

Glens Falls, NY —The Glens Falls Collaborative hosts its annual FitFest event in Glens Falls City Park on Saturday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to noon. It is free and open to the public.

This year, the 5K returns! Walk, run or jog to benefit the WAIT House. Registration for the race is at 8 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m. The first 50 registrants get a free T-shirt. Registration is $50, free for ages 10 and under. Groups of three or more get $10 off each participant, and coupon codes are available for select running groups. Sign up at www.GlensFallsCollaborative.com.

Family Fishing Fun for All Ages and Abilities on Saturday, June 6

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Onondaga County Parks today announced a free, family-friendly learn to fish event on Saturday, June 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, 1672 Route 321, in Elbridge.

New Era of Discovery Takes Shape with Immersive Dinosaur Experience for Young Explorers

RFP Issued for New York State Museum Comprehensive Plan as Part of Governor’s $400 Million Investment into Downtown Albany

Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner of Education Betty A. Rosa today announced the grand opening of the first exhibit of the New York State Museum’s highly anticipated Kids Zone — a new dedicated, hands-on learning environment designed specifically to ignite curiosity, inspire awe, and spark imagination for children and families from New York and beyond. The Kids Zone represents a major step forward and a cornerstone achievement in Phase One of the Museum’s ongoing revitalization, advancing a vision for a more interactive, inclusive, and family-centered destination. As part of Phase Two, Empire State Development issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified firms to develop a comprehensive plan for the future of the Museum.

Featuring New Book Release by Best-Selling Author Jessie Sima

Cape Vincent, N.Y. - The new book from New York Times bestselling author Jessie Sima will be released as part of a series of events taking place in Cape Vincent as it hosts the 1000 Islands Children’s Book Festival. On June 6 at 1 pm, Sima and other authors will be on hand to sign and discuss their books in an event open to the public. It will take place on Real Street in Cape Vincent in the backyard of The Little Book Store (183 W. Broadway St.), directly across from the Cape Vincent Community Library. Admission is free and all are welcome.