Kevin Kurtz is an award-winning nonfiction children's author (www.kevkurtz.com) of over 25 books for kids grades kindergarten to middle school about science, nature, and technology. Kevin can provide up to five 45-minute presentations during an all day school visit. He can do different presentations for each grade level. For assembly programs, Kevin can read and discuss one of his books or present highlights from more than one book. The highlights can be focused on specific science curriculum topics, on the process of writing nonfiction, or be a grade level-appropriate “greatest hits” selection from my books (You can see the list of highlight topics here: http://www.kevkurtz.com/school-visits.) The book reading and highlights presentations will also include sections on how Kevin became a children’s author, the process he uses to write nonfiction, and a Q&A session at the end. Kevin can also do writing workshops for smaller groups with a maximum of 30 students per program. Workshops are for grades 3 and up. Kevin will lead students through the process of researching, writing, and editing nonfiction and work as a group to produce informational texts. Writing workshops can be extended to a week-long residency where Kevin will lead groups of students through the steps of creating nonfiction texts in more detail.

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)

For over 20 years, Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra have been visiting schools, ranging from elementary to universities, performing on and demonstrating Afro-Caribbean instruments, roots and rhythms. They have provided a comprehensive and student tailored lecture/demo/hands-on program that has proven extremely successful and well received at the schools. These "assemblies" consist of three components. First the lecture component which provides knowledge, insight and answers the who, what, where and when. The second component is the demo. During the demo component the orchestra performs the Afro-Caribbean rhythms such as salsa, cha-cha & merengue. The third component is the "hands-on" component which is everyone's favorite part. Students are invited up on stage to perform a few bars of music with the musicians and become part of the band! The students realize many aspects of the music including that many of the Afro-Caribbean percussion instruments play an integral part in the music and also gain a sense of respect for the instruments and the performers. The orchestra has performed Arts In Education in over 100 schools, colleges and universities. For more information on our program, please call (518) 330-6917.

The Children’s Food Lab brings food and nutrition education to schools throughout the NYC and Mid-Hudson region. The Children’s Food Lab (CFL) offers food arts and sciences discovery labs, where curious minds of all ages can connect to the transformative power of food — food that is integral to the health of their bodies, minds, communities, and environment. CFL labs are hands-on, multi-sensory with a STEAM-based approached. They incorporate science, technology, math, nutrition, social studies, ELA, and the arts whenever possible. Students learn the incredible stories behind ingredients they eat all the time, foods like corn, wheat, milk, eggs, herbs, oats, vegetables, spices, cacao, and on. Students explore how food is grown, processed, and prepared, as well as how their food choices affect the health of their bodies and environment. The context and backstory of each ingredient creates a deeper connection between students and their food – a connection that will last a lifetime and shape the course of a child’s health and well-being.

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.

Looking for a little less trouble at your elementary school? Then it’s time to call Les Trouble Problem Investigator! Maybe your school doesn’t have a big problem with bullying, but you’d like a little more help getting kids to get along. Les Trouble PI and his sidekick Spike will show your students the skills they need to handle little problems on the playground or in the classroom completely on their own. This Conflict Resolution School Assembly and Leadership Assembly Show is all about Safety, Responsibility and Respect, and how leaders utilize these positive behavior traits to solve problems even when they are upset or angry. Les Trouble PI guides students into discovering that getting along with each other takes Cooperation, Communication, and Treating others with Mutual respect during this conflict resolution school show. Support your PBIS program or celebrate Red Ribbon Week with Les Trouble PI. Throughout the conflict resolution school assembly show, students will learn more about the simple four-step process to solving their own problems in peer to peer conflict resolution.

It’s not just a highly engaging circus-themed school show! And it’s not a normal character education school assembly. While most character ed assemblies focus only on defining character traits and explaining how to use those traits, Diversity Circus goes much deeper. This powerful and effective character assembly will teach your students that every person belongs. “Be Fair, Be Aware, include others, and use Respect” are the four lessons students will learn during the Diversity Circus character education school assembly. This effective elementary character education program also covers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s character message, Cultural Diversity, Diversity in the Classroom, Being Fair, and more. It’s a perfect program to honor the MLK Holiday, and Black History Month, and to support your school’s PBIS program and anti-bullying efforts. The Diversity Circus character school show uses TONS of audience participation, hilarious comedy, kooky characters, costumes, incredible one-of-a-kind magical illusions, and non-stop hysterical action to engage students and to keep kids talking long after the show is over.

For more than 20 years we, (the VanRipers), have enjoyed the privilege of presenting at schools, libraries, conferences, and on radio and television with our message: The 3 R’s: Reading, (w)Riting & Relationships. Thousands of students, including many reluctant readers, have been encouraged to remain engaged with reading and been challenged to try their own hand at writing. During a typical presentation, students are exposed to the fundamentals of the craft as the mystique of the publishing process is also removed. Our primary goal is to inspire children to read and write. We also encourage them to set aside their electronic devices to get out and explore the great outdoors!

I teach Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom. Students learn the basics of Photoshop using layers and layer masks and the new Generative toolbar. They will also learn how to composite two or more images into one and how to enhance photographs. I am a professional wedding and portrait photographer with 30 years of experience in photography and over 25 years in Adobe software. My three day photography program is geared towards high-school students and will focus on photo-based image making for story telling, communication, creative expression, personal exploration and digital output. The three-day Adobe Photoshop program teaches how to use Photoshop to enhance images, composite images using layer masks and much more. Students will learn the Photoshop interface which includes: Document window, Menu bar, basic tool bar, the new Generative AI toolbar, Options bar and Panels. In this program, I walk students through building a composite image using different images and text. Then they will learn how they can enhance their own images using adjustment layers and other techniques.

Daniel Carlton is a multiple award-winning actor, storyteller, playwright, poet, lyricist, director, and teaching artist. His performances and workshops, for practically every age level, address a vast variety of topics including poetry, storytelling, history through drama, life skills through dramatic role plays, and so much more. He is also a published author. Recent performances include productions of “Finding North”(with David Gonzalez) and “The Meeting”, in addition to seventeen Off-Broadway productions, multiple solo shows, and performances with the Children of War Theater Project. Directing credits include “Jabari Dreams of Freedom” (New Victory Theater NYC, National tour), “Hero: Boy From Troy" (First Woman Productions.National Tour), “48 Hours in Harlem" (Harlem 9 Theater Co.), “Freedom Riders” (Mad River Theater Works), and “What If” (Negro Ensemble Company). An enthusiastic creator of new works, Daniel wrote and directed the national tour of “Keep Marching” (Mad River Theater Works), “March On” (Apollo Theater), “Pigfoot Mary Says Goodbye To The Harlem Renaissance” (Schomburg Center For Research and Black Culture), “Night Train 57” (Kennedy Center workshop), and “Freedom Flight” (national tour), as well as penning “A Whistle in Mississippi”, (with Micheal Green )“Check Yo Invite Parts 1 and 2”( Live Theater and Radio Play HarlemStage) and “Timeless Journeys (various tours)”. With Nambi E. Kelley, he also co-wrote “Hidden Inside”, “This Ability”, and “So Journey To The Truth”. Daniel’s work as a Storyteller has been presented in places as varied as Summerstage Kids and Family Series( Parks throughout the 5 boroughs), The Museum For The City Of NY, The Brooklyn Museum, The BrooklynChildren’s Museum, hundred of libraries, schools, temporary housing facilities, and even war zones. Solo Storytelling For Family audiences shows Include:The Eagle in Harlem and Other Tales.” Urban “Folktales Remixed” Memories of Self Journey To Weeksville, and many more. Daniel teaches acting to all ages, poetry for both the page and performance , life skills, public speaking, playwriting ,and devised theater for organizations that include : Apollo Theater Education , Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Community Works, Blackberry Productions, MadRiver Theater Works, YAFFA Performing Arts, JazzMobile, CityParks Foundation , First Woman Productions , NYU, University Of Iowa, and many more. Daniel can perform solo or, depending on budget, in duo or trio format. There are other videos on YouTube. Here's video of an interview explaining the Finding North project he performs with David Gonzalez. Daniel can perform this solo. https://youtu.be/uj7KZ4SF4nQ?si=qSk4SjB7cLr9hqFv Daniel has several other shows which we can send you information about upon request.

Through the Caffe Lena "On The Road" program, we coordinate 2-3 day residencies with professional touring bands and musicians, sending them around the Saratoga Springs community and wider Capital Region for private, unadvertised, 30-60 minutes performances and/or interactive workshops. The program is supported by grant funding and donations to our non-profit venue, and each community visit is FREE for the host organization. The locations range from school visits (music classes, assemblies, after-school programs) to elderly care centers, shelters, soup kitchens, recovery programs, and other spaces which serve people who may not be able to seek out this professional music in a standard venue for a variety of reasons. *IMPORTANT* These residencies do not occur on a regular basis. Please reach out if you would like to be added to the list of host organizations, and we will contact you when there is an opportunity to coordinate a visit from a band or artist.

"A MUST-SEE…” J. K Frimer, Dir. Special Programs, NY Aquarium, Central Park/Bronx Zoo, NY “David was a smash… our teachers loved him …and staff said the kids were engrossed and loved the interaction.” Maureen Daly, Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, N.C For over 30 years, veteran family entertainer and arts educator David Engel has toured nationwide to performing arts centers, festivals, libraries, museums and schools. David offers FOUR distinctly different assembly programs for schools on STEM, Environmental Stewardship and Anti-bullying. See descriptions below. As an eccentric clown, David has performed in venues across the USA, 11 European countries, the Caribbean, Indonesia, and in China. He has worked as a Clown Doctor in major NY metro pediatric hospitals and does annual residencies in NYC for children with special needs with ADAPT Network. Mr. Engel is known for his rich characterizations, scrupulous attention to quality costuming and creative details of his props and scenery. His vaudeville-like talents feature immersive audience-participation, adept magic, bubble-play, witty banter, eye-popping puppetry, cartoon-like sound effects and hilarious brain challenges that keep children and adults mesmerized. David Engel Assemblies: 1. “CAPTAIN NEMO’S ADVENTURE ACADEMY!” 20,000 Laughs Under the Sea! Take a deep dive into environmental stewardship, earth sciences, and plastic abatement with Captain Nemo who helps students discover the vital inter-dependence of living things above and below the waves. During this hilariously interactive show, the reclusive Captain surfaces to inspire kids to become "Guardians of the Deep" and caretakers of our watery-blue planet. Grades K-5. 2. PIRATE SCHOOL: The SCIENCE of Pirates This engaging STEAM-based assembly helps break out of the "mad scientist" theme with an exciting nautical twist! Mariners have pushed knowledge and technology forward ever since humans launched the first log-raft, so who better to explore STEAM and excite kids' curiosity than a swashbuckling pirate!? Featuring real-life demonstrations and immersive audience participation this show asks: How are the winds and ocean currents made? How is a sail like a wing? What are the forces behind a cannon ball's flight? Are navigation and map-making really math? Did pirates use simple machines? These and other mysteries are explored and exploded during "Pirate School! The Science of Pirates!” Grades 2-5. 3. PIRATE SCHOOL: Follow Your Compass! Pirate School! Follow Your Compass is an innovative, humorous and moving character education/anti-bullying assembly that promotes empathy, social courage and provides memorable strategies for the witnesses and victims of bullying.  Students are prompted to follow their hearts, their inner compasses and the vital concepts of Respect, Responsibility, Compassion and Courage are explored and underscored. This 60-minute assembly is designed to reflect state curriculum standards, and features lighthearted mayhem with a boisterous blend of full-audience participatory clown-theater, cartoon-like sound effects, a rich musical score. Grades K-5. 4. “Dinosaur Hunter Safari!” is a wholly hilarious, educational romp into the Jurassic Era with the bumbling Paleontologist Professor Livingpebble. Join the nutty professor and his full-sized puppet velociraptor Mary on an inspirational dino-dig. Embody your favorite slithering herbivores and roaring carnivores, meet the missing link and carefully cart a fossilized bone to its final resting place in the museum in this popular assembly. How do dinosaurs sound? How are fossils made? Why look into the past to understand our future? These and other questions will be answered in this engaging act that features full audience participation, magic, bubble-play, puppetry and cartoon-like sound effects. “All the teachers surveyed said Captain Nemo was their favorite part of the festival.” Producer, SUBMERGE Marine Science Festival, Hudson River Park, NYC “David had 2000 Pre-K-5th graders on the edge of their seats for the entire hour performance. He tied the STEM curriculum into the performance in a way that engaged and motivated the kids to want to learn more. His humor, use of props and sound effects were top notch! David was easy to work with from beginning to end and I highly recommend his act. Book him! You won't regret it. A. Roellgen, Caldwell Arts, Broyhill Theatre, Lenoir, NC