Free (or cheap!) for kids on Long Island in November
Mackenzie, 5, and Emily Osterman, 4, of Levittown, make clay pots at the Native American Feast at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve in Glen Cove on Nov. 17, 2012. Credit: Alexi Knock
Need weekend plans or something to do with the kids during the week? There are a ton of free children's events at local libraries, but we also found free and cheap things to do elsewhere this month. Whether you have one, two, three or more kids in tow, here's a roundup of fun, budget-friendly events in November.
Free
Nature Tales at Seatuck Environmental Association (550 South Bay Ave., Islip), on the second and fourth Friday of each month, from 2 to 2:30 p.m., excluding Nov. 28. Enjoy an exploration of the natural world through books, for children ages 18 months to 5 years, accompanied by a caregiver. Registration is required.
Saturdays at the Suffolk County Environmental Center (550 South Bay Ave., Islip), weekly from 11 a.m. to noon. Nature programs center around what's happening in nature that day, suitable for all ages and weather permitting. Registration is required.
College for a Day at Hofstra University (Hempstead Turnpike, Hempstead) on Tuesday, Nov. 4 and 11. High school seniors and their parents can spend the day listening to presentations from current students and administrators, followed by an academic and student services fair.
Nature Club at Suffolk County Environmental Center (550 South Bay Ave., Islip) on the first and third Sunday of every month, from 1 to 2 p.m. Programs are geared around the current season, including topics such as seasonal birds, trees and signs of the season. Registration is required.
Sculpture Art Caper and Exploration Activity Backpack at Hofstra University's Emily Lowe Gallery (Hempstead Turnpike, Hempstead), running weekly throughout the year, ending Sunday, Dec. 21. Times vary. Pick up a backpack and solve an Art Caper mystery by unraveling clues found while exploring the outdoor sculpture collection. Appropriate for children ages 5 to 10.
Nature Club at South Shore Nature Center (130 Bayview Ave., East Islip), on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, from 1 to 2 p.m. Programs are geared around the current season and include topics such as seasonal birds, trees and signs of season. Registration is required.
Cinema for Kids: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” at Cinema Arts Centre (423 Park Ave., Huntington) on Sunday, Nov. 16, at noon. An afternoon viewing of this classic movie. Free for children ages 12 and younger.
Farmingdale Chamber Holiday Parade along Main Street. in Farmingdale on Saturday, Nov. 22, at noon. See the parade along Main Street and visit Santa at the Village Green. Santa will be handing out candy canes and saying hello to all the children. Assemble at Northside School.
Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony in Huntington on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. The parade gathers on New York Avenue by the Big H Shopping Center. After the parade, there is a holiday festival on Wall Street, where there is a tree lighting ceremony and kids can meet Santa and have a picture taken.
Cheap
Moon River Walk at Bayard Cutting Arboretum (440 Montauk Hwy., Great River) on Friday, Nov. 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a walk along moonlit trails of the arboretum, weather permitting. Registration is required. Price: $4 adult, $3 children, free for ages under 3.
Fun for Kids: Call of the Wild at Connetquot River State Park Preserve (Sunrise Highway, Oakdale) on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Children ages 5 and older can discover the way animals communicate with each other. Price: $4 adults, $3 children ages 3 to 17; $8 parking fee.
Second Saturday at the HUM: Weave It! at Hofstra University Museum: Emily Lowe Gallery (Hempstead Turnpike, Hempstead) on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Children ages 5 to 10 can create woven images inspired by Dinh Q. Le's Vietnamese grass-mat weavings. Registration is required. Price: $5 (admission is free for adult companions).
Children's Habitat Program: Invent An Animal at Bailey Arboretum (194 Bayville Rd. and Feeks Lane, Lattingtown) on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m. Kids can learn about animal adaptations by inventing an animal of their own. Price: $10 suggested donation.
Family Adventures: Enlarging Life at Connetquot River State Park Preserve (Sunrise Highway, Oakdale) on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. Discover a variety of creatures that inhabit the pond, marsh and seawater using microscopes. Registration is required. Price: $4 adults, $3 children ages 3 to 17; $8 parking fee.
Family Nature Walks: Long Island 1000 Years Ago at Bailey Arboretum (194 Bayville Rd. and Feeks Lane, Lattingtown) on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. Learn how people lived on Long Island long ago and test yourself on the skills that were needed to survive. Price: $10 suggested donation.
America Recycles Day at The Whaling Museum and Education Center (301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor) on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. Spend a day at self-serve craft-making stations using recycled materials. Price: Free with paid admission ($6 adults, $5 children ages 4 to 18).
Geology Rocks at Nissequogue River State Park (799 Saint Johnland Rd., Kings Park) on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Kids ages 5 and older can learn how a rock floats and more as they perform experiments to discover some of the secrets of rocks. Price: $4 adults, $3 children, free children under 3.
Celebrate Native American Culture at the Long Island Science Center (11 W. Main St., Riverhead) on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find out who welcomed the settlers and what they taught the newcomers. Price: $5.
Leonid Meteor Shower at Heckscher State Park (Heckscher Parkway, East Islip) on Sunday, Nov. 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. See the meteor shower named after the constellation Leo, the peak of this meteor shower can be 20 meteors per hour, for ages 5 and older. Registration is required. Price: $4 adults, $3 children, free ages under 3.
Native American Feast at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve (50 Barry Dr., Glen Cove) on Saturday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families can enjoy demonstrations of American-Indian cooking and fire-making, pottery-making, films, corn-grinding, tools and spear-throwing. Price: $5, free ages 4 and younger.
Science Center Thanksgiving at the Long Island Science Center (11 W. Main St., Riverhead) on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn about the turkey, a native bird of America, and find out the difference between a turkey and a chicken. Price: $5.
Family Adventures: Make a Dream Catcher at Connetquot River State Park Preserve (Sunrise Highway, Oakdale) on Sunday, Nov. 23, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Make your own dream catcher and decorate it with features, beads and shells; registration is required. Price: $4 adults, $3 children ages 3 to 17; $8 parking fee.
American Indian Heritage Celebration at The Whaling Museum and Education Center (301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor) on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. Celebrate American-Indian Heritage Month and explore the native cultures on Long Island and beyond. Price: Free with paid admission ($6 adults, $5 children ages 4 to 18).
Family Adventures: Take a Hike at Connetquot River State Park Preserve (Sunrise Highway, Oakdale) on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Hike to the hatchery and back, about three miles. Bring water and wear hiking shoes; registration is required. Price: $4 adults, $3 children ages 3 to 17; $8 parking fee.
Southold Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Party at Agawam Park (Pond Lane, Southampton) on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 5:15 p.m. Tree lighting ceremony followed by a holiday party with Santa at the Southampton Cultural Center, light refreshments will be served.
Native American Games at Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center (Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh) on Sunday, Nov. 30, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Children ages 6 and older can play games that American Indians learned to help develop their skills for survival. Reservations are required. Price: $4.
