John Collins is The Paper Airplane Guy. He is a keynote speaker with more than 30 years of experience, as well as an author, and a world record holder for paper airplane distance. His presentations are visually stunning and entertaining with the goal of engaging the audience and presenting great information. Students will explore science using the fun and wonder of paper airplanes. The Paper Airplane Guy’s 45-minute school show demonstrates a wide variety of aerodynamic principles: Lift, Drag, Gravity, Wing Loading, Control Surfaces, Dihedral Angle, Theories of Lift, Stalls, Slope Soaring, Canard Design, Scale Effects, Glide Ratio, Sink Rate, and the crazy cool secret of the world record paper airplane. Twenty-four of John’s original designs provide real proof for the theories, plus a whole lot of fun for students (and staff too!). It’s real aerodynamics instruction, teaching the physics of flight, demonstrated and explained using paper airplanes. It’s fun and the materials are inexpensive and readily available in most schools because it’s only paper. The interactive school assembly includes 30 minutes of live and engaging instructional demonstration with about 15 minutes of hands-on paper airplane making.

Brian Zickafoose is an award-winning Hudson Valley muralist, illustrator, and educator whose work bridges fine art and community engagement. As founder of Splash Art Murals, he transforms storefronts and public spaces across New York with vibrant seasonal and thematic designs that celebrate creativity, collaboration, and local identity. His large-scale projects—such as the Seeds of Connection mural at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds and the Art Day in the Village community banner series—demonstrate how art can activate public spaces and inspire collective pride. Through interactive workshops and artist-in-residence programs, Brian guides students in exploring visual storytelling, symbolism, and design thinking while building confidence and teamwork. His programs align with Visual Arts and SEL standards and can be adapted for grades 3–12 in classroom, assembly, or mural formats.

Like Spanish traditional Flamenco dancers and Flamenco guitarists did in the Middle Ages,, students move their bodies in fun, new ways to create triumph over any troubles. Miss Coco Flamenco’s fabulously funny flair for character education will have your students stomping out bullying “ultimate fast,” soaring with power and peace, making hilarious music together, grabbing their goals, and sharing each other’s creative awesomeness. All audience members are encouraged to get up and get moving to infectious dancing, hand claps, and Spanish guitar. All with a professor’s approach that’s so high-energy, even teachers and staff love to join in! Sharing SEL Strategies through Simple Body Movement, Fun Rhythm, and Triumphant Dance Social Awareness >> Stomping out bullying – Flamenco Feet (Taconeo) Responsible Decision-Making >> Choose both power and peace – Flamenco Falcon and Dove Arms (Brazeo) Relationship Skills >> Make music together – Flamenco-style Clapping (Palmas) Self-Awareness >> Be self-confident and grab your goals – Flamenco Bullfighter Moves (Postura) Self-Management >> Create beauty and share it with a neighbor – Flamenco Hands (Floreo)

Scuba Steve will read and discuss portions of his book(s) with students, there will be video and photos to bring the books to life. Scuba Steve will engage with the students, speaking and answering questions about what inspired him to become a professional scuba diver and environmental conservationist and how he was able to redirect this passion into writing books as well as his writing process. Additional topics will include current issues facing the marine environment, its inhabitants, and what each of us, even children, can do to help. Proceeds from book sales go to his “Read4Reefs” program to help ensure their sustainability and future.

Andre Chevalier offers various music based school assemblies on the topics of Anti-Bullying/Character Building, Mindfulness, Reading Celebration Show and a Multicultural assembly. From start to finish Andre will have your students engaged by utilizing lines of inquiry, storytelling and interactive songs to deliver the theme of the assembly. Andre's music styles range from Rock to Blues to Reggae to Folk and will have your Kindergarten through Eighth Grade classes up and moving. He specializes in working with Elementary aged children and has worked with educators to make sure his connection to curriculum is spot on. Andre was born and raised in Glens Falls NY and graduated from Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe where he earned a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies Sustainability with a focus on music and education. Having recently moved back to the North Country, Andre has been traveling the west coast performing his assemblies in cities from San Diego to Seattle.

The Seward House Museum offers a variety of educational experiences for students of all ages and adult learners. We host field trips and group tours between the months of March and December in person. Virtual field trips and live streams can also be scheduled year round. Admission is $6.00 for students in a group. Teachers and bus drivers receive complimentary admission. One chaperone is offered complimentary admission per every twenty students. School tours for November-December and May-June tend to book quickly. Teachers are encouraged to make reservations for these seasons as quickly into the school year as possible. The Seward House Museum does its best to fulfill special requests for interpretation. If you would like a particular point of emphasis—Civil War, anti-slavery, women’s rights, etc.—emphasized, please give as much notice as possible when booking your trip. Field trips may be paired with Hands-On History workshops in the Museum. Lectures and Hands-On activities can also be brought into classrooms. The Seward House also offers a variety of virtual resources for students, including lesson plans and resource kits. It also hosts an interactive website for 4th and 5th graders that revolves around the legacy of Fanny Seward.

This Visiting Author Presentation focuses on disability acceptance & inclusion while connecting to the presenter's various children's books. By attending this program, students learn about different disabilities and the process of writing realistic fiction while becoming inspired to make a positive difference in their schools and communities. Great presentation for Autism Awareness Month (April) and Disability Awareness Month (October). Contact Author directly through her website for free Reading Guide. Amy also offers parent workshops related to raising a child with disabilities and understanding the unique needs of siblings.

Ballet Performances

I offer large group author assemblies for 3-8th grade, live scavenger hunts, and small group writing workshops!

Caldecott medalist Paul O. Zelinsky’s school visits are about making connections: between a story’s key ideas and the artist’s tools he uses to express them; between the characters in a story and the reader, and hugely, his own connection to audiences of schoolchildren. Drawing for and with them, bringing them into his studio with slides and animations, he loves to get across how making books is fun, funny, interesting and an endless opportunity to learn. Many authors and illustrators with long careers and many honors and awards no longer visit schools and classrooms, but this is a connection Paul Zelinsky hopes never to give up. Paul O. Zelinsky is the creator of the classic moving-parts book THE WHEELS ON THE BUS and the Caldecott-medal-winning RAPUNZEL and its companion RUMPELSTILTSKIN, among others, and the illustrator of numerous notable books including Z is for Moose (written by Kelly Bingham), Dear Mr. Henshaw (Beverly Cleary) and many more.

The Erie Canal Museum offers Field Trips Experiences Tailored for the 2nd, 4th, 7th, and High School curriculum, however we welcome students of any age and classrooms of any size. A field Trip experience includes an hour-long docent-led indoor tour, with the option of an additional hour-long outdoor walking tour. Lesson plans are available for pre-visit and post-visit enrichment. Lunch space is available upon request. Financial Assistance is available. If you would like to bring your students to the Erie Canal Museum, reach out today.

CEPA (Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Art) promotes photographic and related media artists of all levels, supporting the arts community through exhibitions, education, and critical public access to image-making resources. CEPA provides individuals, schools, and nonprofits with workshops, classes, and community spaces that are accessible to all ages, abilities, and incomes.