R5 Summer Fun in Westchester County: Kids

Kids can root, root, root for the home(ish) team at the Hudson Valley Renegades’ Dutchess StadiumTake Them Out to the Ballgame

The Yankees may play in the Bronx and the Mets in Queens, but you can still catch some quality baseball outside the boroughs throughout the summer months.

Hudson Valley Renegades
Home plate: Dutchess Stadium, Wappingers Falls, NY  Time from White Plains: One hour
The lineup: Not only were the Renegades Minor League Baseball’s New York-Penn League champions last year, they were also awarded the Vincent McNamara Outstanding Club Award and voted by the fans as MiLB.com Team of the Year for 2012. And, since the team was once the home of big-leaguers like former American League MVP Josh Hamilton and previous American League Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria, there’s a chance you just might catch MLB’s next big star.
Tickets: $6 – $15  For more information: (845) 838-0094; milb.com

Rockland Boulders’ Provident Bank ParkRockland Boulders
Home plate: Provident Bank Park, Pomona, NY
Time from White Plains: 30 minutes
The lineup: With 50 home games throughout the summer, there’s plenty of time to catch Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball’s 2012 Organization of the Year. And, even better, there’s something for everyone at Provident Bank Park. Kids (and parents) will love the Boulder Berg kids zone, complete with slides, swings, climbing walls, and a rubberized floor, all in view of the field for parents to catch every strike. Adults will also like to catch the game (and buffet meals) in the Short Porch ($25.95 per person), Group Picnic Area ($21.95 per person for groups of at least 12), and the Sunset Deck (for up to 75 people at $25.95 per person), or simply grab a drink at the Bridge Bar. It may just give Yankee Stadium a run for its money.
Tickets: $8 – $17 For more information: (845) 364-0009; rocklandboulders.com

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Help Them Skate The Issues

Is your child a budding Tony Hawk or Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins? Then 2nd Nature, a skater-owned and -operated skate shop and park located in Peekskill, can help them harness their skills. Throughout the summer months, 2nd Nature runs various skate camps and lessons at different skate parks throughout the County, aimed at beginner and novice skaters.

“We usually have at least a few skaters who have little to no experience,” says owner Doug Brown. The folks from 2nd Nature will take your little up-and-coming skater through everything—from the basics of riding a skateboard to building his or her own board. “We make sure they know the basics and don’t try anything they shouldn’t, but also try to push them to try new tricks,” Brown says.

During the five-day camps, other activities are also available—from dodgeball to hiking. “It’s laid-back and fun,” says Brown. “We have structure to the camps and everyone is going to learn a lot, but at times they can relax and play games.” And, lucky for you, there are a couple of different sessions and locations from which to choose.

Peekskill Summer Skate Camp
What: Five-day skate camp designed to teach young skaters everything from the basics to high-skill tricks in both group and individualized instruction. During the last two days of each session, campers will get to show off their newly mastered tricks in a friendly competition.
Where: 2nd Nature Skate Park, Peekskill
When: Eight separate sessions from the week of July 8 to the week of August 26, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 2:30 pm
Cost: $300 for first session; $250 each additional session

Peekskill Saturday Skate School
What: Expert instructors will teach your young ones everything they’ll need—whether they’re just looking for basic help or to learn new tricks en route to the X Games.
Where: 2nd Nature Skate Park, Peekskill 
When: Saturdays June through August, 9 am to 11 am
Cost: $30 per class; $125 for five classes

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Beginner and Advanced Beginner Lessons
What: Different sessions, depending upon skill level
Where: Chappaqua Train Station (Skate Park is located in the back of the overflow parking lot); New Rochelle, Intersection of 5th Ave and Potter Ave; Yonkers Skate Park, 348 Tuckahoe Rd, Yonkers
When: Saturdays throughout June; times vary depending on location
Cost: Varies depending on location

2nd Nature
Highland Industrial Park, Peekskill (store and skate park)
(914) 402-4624
614 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck (store only)
(914) 315-1464, http://2ntr.com


Park Them Outside

They may be too young for Shakespeare in the Park, but they can still enjoy outdoor theater. The Fort Hill Players present evenings with Jackson Gillman, aka “the Stand-Up Chameleon,” who will perform a mix of comedy, drama, music, dance, mime, and sign language. He’ll be popping up in White Plains parks throughout the month July.
July 8: Gillie Park, Gedney Way
July 9: Druss Park, Prospect Ave
July 10: Turnure Park, Lake Street
July 11: Battle Whitney Park, Battle Ave
July 15: Mattison Park, Lynton Pl
July 16: George Washington School, Orchard St
July 18: Gardella Park, Ferris Ave
Start time is 7 pm. For more information: (914) 946-5143 (general information); (914) 422-1336 (rain cancellations); forthillplayers.com.
 


On Rainy Days…

Let the Kids Bounce Off the Walls
Are your kids positively expiring from boredom? Let them bounce off the walls, walls that are located somewhere other than your own home—namely at BounceU in Elmsford, one of the country’s largest indoor children’s inflatable entertainment centers. Your kids will flip for this ultra-cool bounce stadium that’s like the ultimate indoor—and air-conditioned—children’s playground. And boy, is there plenty to keep them entertained here, including nearly 14,000 feet of super-sized inflatable slides, an obstacle course, and other wall-to-wall fun for kids of all ages, from 2 to adult. Bouncers must be 34 inches or taller and able to walk; walkers up to age 2 should have an accompanying adult. (Lucky you! You’ll also have a ball.) Offerings include birthday parties, open bounce times, family bounce nights, and scheduled pre-school play-date times with music and games for the little ones.

BounceU
150 Clearbrook Rd, Elmsford
(914) 874-5200; bounceu.com

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Kids can marvel at famous landmarks rendered small in Legoland’s Miniland.Bring Your Family to the Biggest Indoor Block Party
Looking for a rainy-day activity? Have your kids build towers—then see how structurally sound they are by putting them on “earthquake tables” and ratcheting up the seismic activity. Or perhaps they’d want to build cars and race them on a technologically advanced track, getting their times down to a tenth of a second. Then again, maybe they’d rather learn how to build models with a master builder, or flex their muscles on an indoor climbing structure, or see a 3D movie (complete with in-theater special effects to enhance the experience). And, sure, it may be raining, but would it be possible to throw in some rides, too?
Actually, there is a one-stop destination where your kids can do all of the above—and play with some of their favorite plastic building blocks, too. The Legoland Discovery Center, a 32,300-square-foot facility that opened at the end of March in Ridge Hill in Yonkers is tailor-made for rainy days in Westchester. Chances are if you kept the kids home, they’d want to play with their Lego sets anyway—and leave them strewn all over your house—so it’s better to save yourself the hassle.
Tickets cost between $18 (for children up to age 12) and $22 (adults), and children age 2 and under are free.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center
39 Fitzgerald St, Ridge Hill, Yonkers
(866) 243-0770
legolanddiscoverycenter.com
 


â–º For more from the June issue, click here.
â–º For more Summer Fun, click here.

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