Summer Fun At The Vanderbilt

Children will find lots of fun and creativity in the summer educational workshops offered by the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum. Sessions for children ages 3-4 and in kindergarten through third grade are offered in July and August at the Vanderbilt Education Center.

All workshops begin with an educator-led tour of the Vanderbilt Museum’s marine-life, natural-history and ethnographic-artifact collections and animal habitats, followed by hands-on creative projects.

Pre-school Workshops

Six workshops for children ages 3 and 4, accompanied by one adult, will be offered on Wednesdays, 11:00 to 12:30. Fee: $20 per child, $16 for members.

July 11 – Dolphin Planter

Learn about marine mammals and make a recycled planter for a summer garden. 

July 18 – Elephant Paper Sculpture

Learn about Africa’s grasslands and make a paper sculpture.

 July 25 – Fish Print Tee Shirt

Explore the marine collections and make a tee shirt using the Japanese Gyotaku technique.

 August 1 – Bear Storyteller Mask

Listen to a story in the Museum’s wildlife dioramas and create a bear mask.

 August 8 – Sailor’s Valentine

Explore the seashell collection and create a love letter for someone special. 

August 15 – Butterfly Handprint

Explore the Museum’s collection of butterflies and moths and make a unique work of art.

 Workshops for Grades K-3

 Sail Away with Mr. Vanderbilt

Week-long workshops for children in kindergarten through third grade will be offered daily, 10:00 to 1:00. Fee: $200, or $160 for members. Participants are asked to bring a bag lunch. Monday-Friday sessions: July 9-13, July 16-20, July 23-27, July 30-August 3, August 6-10. 

Beth Laxer-Limmer, manager of Vanderbilt education programs, said students will “travel around the world” with William K. Vanderbilt II on his explorations of world’s oceans, African grasslands and Pacific islands, make amazing discoveries, and create works of art to take home. 

Advance registration is required for all workshops. For more information and to register, please call 631-854-5552.