A campus wide open house with activities for all ages: aquarium tours, reptile show, lab activities, tours of the R/V Savannah, plankton drop, ROV’s, and more! Collaboration between Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, NOAA’s Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, and UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium
For more information visit www.marex.uga.edu/aquarium  or call 912-598-2496

The Fall 2011 4-week Mommy and Me program session at  UGA’s Marine Education Center and Aquarium  are on Saturday’s Only this fall. Visit www.marex.uga.edu/aquarium and click on community events for the pre-registration form needed to register for Mommy and Me. A maximum of 20 pairs can be accepted into the program for the fall semester. Reserve your spot as soon as possible. Call 912-598-2356 or email kpaquin@uga.edu.

The educational programs for children between the ages of 1 and 4 include learning techniques that allow for the development of motor skills, understanding of different sizes, shapes, weights, and movements among a variety of marine animals native to Georgia waterways and the ability to identify the difference between fish, crabs, turtles, and invertebrates. The programs will include hands-on experiences with different animals, arts and crafts, a story time, and a game.

WIN FREE TICKETS! SouthernMamas.com is giving away a family-four pack of tickets. Details here.

Live Fun, Family Concert!
All Ages
A Portion of the proceeds goes to support GPB – Georgia’s PBS station! It’s the kick-off of the Laughing Pizza Georgia Tour!
Details here: http://www.laughingpizza.com/1760

FREE Storytime at Mommy & Me Play and Fitness every first Thursday of the month at 1 PM. Reservations Required. Call 912.756.2828

Mommy & Me Play and Fitness  also offers parent/child classes, birthday parties, Mommy’s Morning Out, free play, pay to play and more. For children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

2552 US Hwy17, Richmond Hill, 31324
912.756.2828, email: mommyandmeplayandfitness@live.com

FREE Storytime at Mommy & Me Play and Fitness every first Thursday of the month at 1 PM. Reservations Required. Call 912.756.2828

Mommy & Me Play and Fitness  also offers parent/child classes, birthday parties, Mommy’s Morning Out, free play, pay to play and more. For children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

2552 US Hwy17, Richmond Hill, 31324
912.756.2828, email: mommyandmeplayandfitness@live.com

Free kazoo show & free air conditioning!
Kazoos on Vacation is free this Tues. July 26 in celebration of summer. Rick Hubbard’s hit family show of Music, Comedy, and Fun on stage @ ARTworks, where your kids are the stars and kazoos are free! Doors open at 7pm, tickets are usually: adults $10, kids $5. Info & reservations 843-379-2787, www.ArtWorksInBeaufort.org  in Beaufort Town Center!

Christmas in July Craft Bazaar will include over 20 vendors on hand with their original creations. Children s clothing, bows, jewelry, teacher resources and books for children from toddler to teen, ceramics, wood-working, paper crafts, hotdog lunch and a silent auction.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

When it comes to summer camps, there are those for whom only tulle and tiaras will do.

If your tot falls into the frilly set, check out The Ballet School’s Perfect Princess Camps in Savannah.

Little princesses will receive an introduction to the fundamentals of both movement and classical dance techniques while learning about fun fairytale characters and famous ballet stories.

The tiny Cinderellas and Snow Whites will also have dress-up time and craft time, including decorating their own tu-tus and tiaras. Dancers may bring their favorite princess gown or costume on Monday to use throughout the week at “special dress-up times”.

The camp includes a magical tea party, princess spa and hair day. A photograph will be taken on her majestic throne. On the last day, “A ROYAL INVITATION” is offered for the family of the princess for a fabulous “Runway Show” and a short dance combination will be performed. Don’t forget your cameras!

For ages 3-5.

Perfect Princess Camps: One week sessions beginning June 13th-Aug 12th
June 13-17th
July 5-8th
July 25-29th
August 8-12th            

Times: 9:30 AM-NOON
Fee: $135 per session ( $25 deposit, applied to camp)

For the older set, The Ballet School also offers a Young Dancers Program
For Ages 6-9 years
June 27-July 1
Time: 4-7 PM
Fee: $145 ($50 deposit, applied to camp)

Enrollment is under way for both programs. Register now. Click here for more info.

The Ballet School, 10010 Abercorn St., Suite 8, Savannah, Piccadilly Square, (912) 925-0903 or email theballetschool@comcast.net, www.theballetschoolsav.com The Ballet School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Savannah Autism Conference 2011 Register now for best ticket prices

For more info and to read the line-up of speakers, click here.

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
Sun. Aug. 14 | 1:30 PM
Braves vs. Cubs

Join the Atlanta Braves and help raise awareness for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Children and adults with autism may receive a free ticket with the purchase of one Terrace Pavilion ticket. Families are welcome to participate in a pre-game parade around Turner Field. A portion of all proceeds will go to support The Nathan’s Something Special Scholarship Fund, Inc. which promotes inclusion in college and adult life for students with disabilities.

ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM GET IN FREE with a paid ticket when you order tickets using the form posted here.

The Savannah Children’s Choir will present their End-of-Camp concert.

Tickets, which are $5 at the door, are available beginning at 6:15, and the doors open at 6:30.

The concert, sponsored in part by Atlanta Gas Light and Blue Turtle Bistro, is the culmination of a two-week, full day choral camp experience, and will feature over 70 singers in 2nd to 8th grades, and 20 Mini-choral campers, aged 4-7. This year’s camp is held on the campus of Calvary Day School.

The 2011 Summer Choral Camp theme is “Your Voice is an Instrument”, and classes focus on a capella music, sight singing, music history and theory. The addition of a dance and movement class allows campers to add choreography to some of the pieces they will perform.

Classes are taught by college instructors working on their masters or doctorates in music education or related field, or professionals in the field. Instructor stipends were generously sponsored by Savannah Friends of Music and Turner Ratrie. In addition to daily group choral work and classes, campers enjoy play time and healthy snacks provided by N’Laws Produce, and an End of Camp feast for the campers, sponsored by Lady & Sons Restaurant.

The camp day ends with Daily Enrichment, an afternoon concert or lecture that gives campers a chance to interact with musicians or professionals while building their audience skills. In addition to concerts by Ricardo Ochoa, Jackson Evans, Eric Jones and Donna Ruiz, and a ballroom dancing demonstration by Lisa Clarke, the campers also enjoyed lectures and question and answer sessions with Rebecca Haas, a pediatric speech pathologist, and David Pratt, executive director of the Savannah Philharmonic. The campers, instructors and SCC staff also put on a talent show during afternoon enrichment.

Summer Choral Camp, in addition to being a fun and educational experience for musically-interested children, is the only audition into the Savannah Children’s Choir for the following season.

For more information, go to www.savannahchoir.org or call (912) 228-4758.

Bring the family to J. F. Gregory Park, next to the playground, for a special December Richmond Hill Farmer’s Market. The market will offer the best in local produce and crafts, fresh pasta, pizza dough, local organic peanuts, local honey, organic meats, fresh shrimp, popcorn, live music
912-756-3345
For more details, click here.

If you’re interested in being a vendor at the Holiday Farmer’s Market on Dec. 10, please contact the RHBC Chamber at 756-3444 or info@RHBCchamber.org

All booths must be reserved in advance for Holiday Farmer’s Market on Dec. 10. Limited space is available.

You can’t go on a beach vacation without a great book and Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort wants to help you find that perfect beach read.

Palmetto Dunes is throwing a party on Twitter July 20 all about the best summer books. Highlights include giving out lots of fun prizes, including signed books and a Kindle, and talking up favorite authors.

Join the Beach Book Bash on Twitter, July 20 from 8-10 PM for a night of prizes, trivia and fun. If you can answer questions about Palmetto Dunes and Hilton Head correctly, you’ll have a chance to win books, Palmetto Dunes items and more. Winners will be selected randomly from those who answer each question correctly within the allotted time, but only one prize per participant. All participants must follow @PalmettoDunesSC on Twitter to be eligible to win.

Details on how to enter to win here.

Curious Moon Puppet Theatre
This year’s show is “A World of Puppet Stories,” a journey of folk tales from around the world — England, Russia, Africa, and South America. Audiences will cheer for their favorite dog, Skeeter, to finally get his chance to be in the show! This is a traditional puppet show, performed inside a professional, colorful puppet booth. All puppets are handmade by the puppeteer. The show is followed by a demonstration speech about the puppets and puppeteering. All questions will be answered, and children will have a chance to take a closer look at the puppets that interest them. Ages 3 and up.
www.curiousmoon.com
Islands Library, Thursday, July 28 @ 10:30 a.m.
Oglethorpe Mall Library, Thursday, July 28 @ 2:30 p.m.

The shows are among several free children’s library performances  (storytellers, musicians, animal acts, artists & more) happening at various Live Oak Public library branches throughout the summer in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties.

For more local free or discounted children’s activities happening this summer, click here.

Chad Crews, Magical Educator
Chad’s program this year, “Around the World with a Book,” is a combination of magic, storytelling, music and live animals. He’ll bring out a snake or two and feature stories and routines involving places from around the world. Chad encourages children to read and always lets them know that most of the tricks he learned he learned from reading books on magic. Ages 5 and up.

The program is among several free children’s library performances  (storytellers, musicians, animal acts, artists & more) happening at various Live Oak Public library branches throughout the summer in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties.

For more local free or discounted children’s activities, click here.

Forest City Library, Monday, July 25, 1 p.m.
Oglethorpe Mall Library, Monday, July 25, 4:30 p.m.
Thunderbolt Library, Tuesday, July 26, 11 a.m.
Islands Library, Tuesday, July 26, 2 p.m.
Tybee Island Library, Tuesday, July 26, 4:30 p.m.
West Broad Library, Wednesday, July 27, 11 a.m.
Bull Street Library, Wednesday, July 27, 2 p.m.
Southwest Chatham Library, Wednesday, July 27, 4:30 p.m.
Pooler Library, Thursday, July 28, 10:30 a.m.
WW Law Library, Thursday, July 28, 3 p.m.

Frank Theatres Summer Movie Series 2011
Victory Square 9
912.355.5300
$1 movies Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 AM
10 AM Aug. 2 & Aug. 4
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

For more local free or discounted children’s activities happening this summer, click here.

Programs meet at the Interpretive Center unless otherwise noted. Come see the center’s display of the Giant Ground Sloth replica, wildlife exhibits, live reptiles and birding station: 912-598-2300

Wednesday July 27:
9:00 AM Sandpiper Nature Hike: Come for a 1.5-mile walk to learn about native plants and animals that inhabit the marsh.
1:00 PM Coastal Georgia Jeopardy: All ages! Come test your Georgia knowledge
3:00 PM Marsh Talk: Georgia has 1/3 of the salt marsh on the East Coast. Learn about this diverse and critical ecosystem.

Friday, July 29:
9:00 AM Big Ferry Trail Hike: Come for a 2-3 mile walk through a Maritime Forest. Meet at the Big Ferry Trail Entrance.
12:00 PM CRAFT: Rain Sticks
3:00 PM Birds of Prey: Come and learn about different Birds of Prey in this area
7:30 Campfire: Join us as we trade stories and put together s’mores. Bring your own to share or use some of our limited supply. Meet at the Amphitheatre.
9:00 PM Frog Hike: Join us after the campfire to listen and identify frog calls along our trails.

Saturday, July 30:
11:00 AM CRAFT: God’s Eyes
3:00 PM Toads & Turtles: Learn the difference between reptiles and amphibians.
8:30 PM Bat Watching Program: Learn all about these misunderstood mammals while
seeing and hearing them using our bat detector. Bring a flashlight! Meet at the Amphitheatre.

Sunday, July 31:
2:00 PM The Painted Bunting: Find out all about one of America’s most beautiful birds

Programs meet at the Interpretive Center unless otherwise noted. Come see the center’s display of the Giant Ground Sloth replica, wildlife exhibits, live reptiles and birding station: 912-598-2300

Wednesday, July 20:
11:00 AM Interpretive Center Tour: Join in a tour of the museum and see and touch fossils, reptiles, and more.
3:00 PM Wilderness Survival: We will talk about lost prevention and show you simple items to take with you on a hike.

Friday, July 22:
12:00 PM Fossil Friday: Come check out fossils and artifacts that can be found around the park.
3:00 PM Fossil Rubbings: Learn how to do fossil rubbings and identify fossils.
8:15 PM Sunset Hike: Enjoy a relaxing hike while watching the sun set over the Sandpiper Trail.

Saturday. July 23:
10:00 AM Sandpiper Nature Hike: Come for a 1.5-mile walk to learn about native plants and animals that inhabit the marsh.
12:00 PM Roving Ranger: Ask the roving Ranger any questions and see our creature of the day.

Sunday. July 24:
2:00 PM Coastal Georgia Jeopardy: All ages! Come test your Georgia knowledge
4:00 PM Snakes Alive! Learn all about snakes. See live examples