Just Buffalo Literary Center has led the way for literary arts education in Western New York. One of Just Buffalo’s greatest strengths is our ability to reach students of all ages and abilities—gifted and talented, at-risk, or special needs—and we’re proud to work with public, private, Catholic, and charter schools, as well as community centers throughout Western New York.

For PreK-6th Grade: Tri-Cities Opera Opera invites you to the farm, where most of the animals like things to be ‘normal and pretty’–not noisy or different! When the new ducklings hatch, there is one ‘ugly duckling’ who doesn’t fit in with the others and spends her days reading by herself. But when a big, bad wolf comes on the scene, it will take someone like the ugly duckling–who has learned about big, bad wolves in her stories–to outwit him and teach the whole farm about the value of being true to yourself. Named as a nod to Binghamton’s famous carousels, Opera-Go-Round has been delivering the excitement of a fully-staged children’s opera to schools throughout New York State and northern Pennsylvania for nearly 50 years. Students engage with our singers and pianist to explore this unique art form with stories connected to curriculum standards and take away valuable social-emotional learning lessons. The program includes a 35-minute performance and 15-minute question and answer session with the Opera-Go-Round team. Dates are available from late September 2024 through May 2025. Contact ogr@tricitiesopera.org for more information or to schedule your performance! Cost: $1,400 within 50 miles of TCO Opera Center, $1,500 over 50 miles from TCO Opera Center. For Middle & High School Groups: TCO is excited to offer free tickets for your group to attend any of our mainstage productions. The Magic Flute (Sept 6 & 8, 2024) is an abridged version of a Mozart favorite. All Is Calm (Nov 15, 16, & 17, 2024) tells the story of the WWI Christmas truce. A Grand Night for Singing (Mar 8, 2025) includes favorites from Rogers and Hammerstein. Rigoletto (Apr 27, 2025) will be a grand version of a Verdi masterpiece. Contact operations@tricitiesopera.org to reserve your bloc of seats!

Multi-award-winning, bestselling author Paul Volponi (38 years of classroom experience) teaching 4 to 5 workshops per day, combing how literature is a daily part of our lives and creative writing. Not a lecture, but a group dynamic where everyone speaks and writes -- powerpoint presentation in the background.

The “Silly Nomads” book series is a five-volume collection of children’s literature that target children ages 7- 12. I drew heavily on my own vibrant childhood experiences while growing up on the island of Jamaica. These stories, immersed young readers in a world of imaginative adventures and cultural discovery. Each book within the series encourages creativity and exploration, fostering a love of reading while subtly reinforcing essential life lessons and positive character traits. Beyond the books themselves, I actively engage with students through interactive school readings, aiming to ignite a lifelong passion for literature. The “Silly Nomads” offers a unique opportunity to introduce students to a different culture, enriching their understanding of the world and fostering empathy and appreciation for diverse perspectives. I look forward to sharing my childhood adventures with you and your students.

The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium offers engaging programs for students from pre-K to college, featuring live animals. Our programs align with New York State Learning Standards and can be customized to meet your specific needs. Participants will have the opportunity to explore outdoor ponds and living wildlife displays in our two aquarium buildings. Program Offerings: Guided Tours: Discover various animal exhibits discuss themes such as Fins & Jaws, Aquatic Habitats, Life Cycles in Nature, Adaptations, Hatching Trout, Reptiles & Amphibians, Aquaculture, and General. Seasonal Activities: Participate in seasonal programs such as Egg Stripping, Pond Life, and Freshwater Ecology. If you are unable to join us for a field trip, we also provide outreach and virtual options.

The Ultimate Human Board Game features a LIFE-SIZE game board with three color-coded sides! The board is made up of 16 squares, each representing a different exciting activity. The entire group is divided into three teams (green, blue, and red). The game begins when one team rolls the dice and lands on an activity in which all three teams compete to win. The Ultimate Human Board Game is based on character building, teamwork, sportsmanship, and total participation. Activities such as the Silly Dance and Lip Sync Challenge are audio-enhanced. This fast and spirited game is sure to generate a level of excitement and teamwork in students which will amaze you! Indoors preferred. Indoor backup plan required for inclement weather.

The Unique Game Show uses multi-media trivia and team-building activities to combine team spirit, character education, and curriculum enforcement into one program. This multi-purpose assembly is perfect for any subject because you can customize the program if you wish! The Unique Game Show can be customized based on your school’s curriculum. Math, Science, English, Reading, Social Studies and History, Drug and Alcohol Awareness, and Character Education are only a few subjects to which we can tailor the show. The most popular curriculum show, however, is built around the core subjects of history, science, English, and math. The entire assembly is divided into teams (red, yellow, blue and green.) The game begins with a curriculum-based reading question; followed by a video question about pop culture trivia with large-screen video projection and music enhancement. Each round finishes with an audio bonus question. Teams can generate points not only by answering correctly but also by demonstrating good sportsmanship and team spirit. The team-building part of the game includes activities such as physical challenges and team karaoke. This program is a great way for your students to work together while reinforcing their studies.

The Apple-Y EverAfter Show is an arts-infused literacy program designed to spark imagination, strengthen reading comprehension, and inspire a lifelong love of reading in students from Pre-K through Elementary. Our program captivates children’s attention with catchy rhymes, sight words, and interactive songs that make literacy fun. In addition, through music, dance, and delicious apple-filled adventures, the show teaches kids to be brave, try new things, and celebrate cultural differences. Students will be actively engaged with interactive activities throughout the show. Theatrical experiences have been proven to not only benefit students’ academic achievement, but to also foster socioemotional learning, improve communication skills, enhance memory and concentration, and develop critical thinking skills. You also choose one of our add-on programs as part of the student experience: Cuddle and Read: with this program, kids create a cuddly reading pal, celebrate with Judge Bear’s adoption ceremony, and take home a Reading Tracker. Schools get a year’s supply to keep the reading fun alive! Playful Picasso: with this creative literacy program, books spark imagination and stories leap off the pages. Students begin with a playful scavenger hunt, then bring their discoveries to life through painting or a hands-on activity. This experience helps strengthen comprehension, encourages self-expression, and builds confident, joyful readers So join Novel, Novella, and Chef de Pomme as they hop from one exciting destination to the next, whipping up scrumptious apple desserts and learning that everyone can grow to love apples—maybe you will too! Let’s bring this adventure to your students!

The T-A-Y Anti Bullying prevention program focuses on students talking, asking questions and showing empathy towards others Tay will lead the topic by discussing the 3 types of bullying: Physical, Verbal and Cyber Bullying T stands for TALK: Tay will encourage ALL students to not be afraid to talk to adults, parents, teachers, principals, older siblings etc when they come across bullying. This can include them being bullied or if they see it happening to others (bystander). Tay will end with a quick activity from a volunteer to demonstrate the importance of TALK. A stands for ASK QUESTIONS: Tay will encourage ALL students to not be afraid to ask questions if they need to find a place to feel safe. We will discuss places for students to go to and things for them to do to escape any negativity going on in their lives which includes being bullied. Y stands for YOU: All students will be asked to repeat after Tay, "IT'S NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT YOU." This will teach students about the word EMPATHY. Showing empathy towards each other is important. Flipping the two letters in the word EMPATHY "EM" will result in the word "ME". That's how Tay will teach the concept "IT'S NOT ABOUT ME, ITS ABOUT YOU. Volunteers will be selected to participate in a life changing experience with Tay that they will never forget .

Abracabully – The I.C.A.R.E. Program Abracabully is an interactive school assembly that blends magic, storytelling, and powerful lessons to inspire students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The program is built around the I.C.A.R.E. values: Individual, Community, Attitude, Respect, and Empathy. Through amazing illusions and real-life stories, students are entertained while learning how their actions affect others, why kindness matters, and how to make better decisions to build a safer, more supportive school environment. Now in its 11th year, Abracabully has empowered thousands of students to stand up against bullying, show respect, and embrace empathy—making schools stronger, kinder communities.

I have an MFA in Art Photography from Syracuse University and teach college photography. I am available for artist talks and artist workshops exploring a variety of digital and analog processes such as digital photography, digital collage, darkroom photography, cyanotypes, and more! I am also offering the following pre-college summer 2025 workshops in Darkroom Photography, Digital Collage and College Portfolio Prep at SUNY Albany campus. For more information visit: https://www.albany.edu/summer-camps-2025#art-writing-camps

Cuentos de Triadas Inc. offers bilingual, multidisciplinary, author visits, writing workshops, parent and family engagement programs, cultural events, poetry performance, small book fairs and literacy programs. Our programs focus on brining immersive cultural experiences for the youth, showcasing the vibrant Latinx/Afrolatinx culture, incorporating literature, dance and movement, and storytelling. Our original stories are relatable, dynamic and educational, promoting a sense of belonging and cultural pride amongst all participants.