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.

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.

Our mission at BIG INK is to encourage appreciation for woodblock printmaking: one impression at a time. In 2012, Lyell Catongguay founded BIG INK to provide woodblock printmaking workshop opportunities for people of all skill levels. As a result, thousands of individuals have learned how to carve wood by following Castonguay’s online master class, and numerous community members have attended BIG INK’s workshops to witness the spectacle of large-scale woodblock printing. With its community-driven and public art education model, BIG INK is committed to ensuring a promising future for printmaking. Hire BIG INK for a workshop at your school. We’ll travel to your location and set up The Big Tuna, our custom-designed giant mobile printing press. Does your group have limited woodblock carving experience? That is okay. We’ll be your guide!

I am the author of Charlie and Sophie's Great escape, a 32-page illustrated children's book. The story is about two curious puppies who run off by themselves, leaving their boy behind. Charlie and Sophie enjoy their freedom until they run into a scary situation. They manage to escape but realize they are lost. They work together, relying on their senses to find their way back home. The story's moral is that mistakes are part of life's journey, but when we learn from them, they become stepping stones to growth. I present an interactive storytelling session of my book, touching on themes of friendship and faith in our abilities, with time at the end for some Q&A. We also discuss how dogs use their senses to learn about their world and how our senses compare with those of dogs. I am open to doing a related activty as an add-on to the book reading.

Hudson Valley Dance Cultivators (HVDC) provides dance residency programs for children and teens in grades PK to 12. All HVDC programs are designed to provide sequential dance learning that nurtures students’ creative expression while teaching foundational skills. Residencies are developed in collaboration with teachers and administration to integrate with grade level learning goals. HVDC artists have extensive experience teaching diverse students including students with disabilities in inclusion and self-contained classrooms. Residencies are designed to meet the access needs of ALL students.

The Wacky Science Show takes the magic of theatre, attention-grabbing comedy, and scientific truths to your students in a fun-filled way! More than twelve students will participate throughout the show, putting science in their hands! In this school assembly with a focus on science, the wacky and zany presenter, Dr. Science, helps students learn about the Scientific Method in a fun and straightforward way with lots of magic tricks and some comedy too! Your students will crack up at the craziness, but your staff and teachers will really enjoy the lessons. Our science show includes learning the Scientific Method, Physical Sciences, Math, Life Sciences, Earth Science, the Human Body, Air Pressure, Acids/Bases, Levers/Machines, Dinosaurs, the Natural World, Outer Space, States of Matter, Safety in the Lab, Bernoulli, Reactions between Chemicals, and more. Additionally, older students in middle school will learn Centripal/Centrifugal forces, kinetic energy, potential energy, inertia, connections in technology, and using chemicals in observations. The Wacky Science Show has exercises and science concepts for students at different levels of scientific discovery!

Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve is a 54-acre park located the site of a former cement quarry in Hamburg, NY. Our visitors can collect and keep Devonian Period fossils including trilobites, brachiopods, crinoids, and more! Penn Dixie’s guided tours are led by our trained staff and volunteers who provide age-appropriate presentations on the history of planet Earth. Participants will learn about deep time, extinct life, Western New York’s environment during the Devonian Period and – of course- fossil collecting! Your group will experience earth science in a unique, hands-on, outdoor setting. All geological specimens found during field trips may be kept by participants! Additionally, we offer in-person and virtual classroom outreach programs focused on the natural sciences.

Daryl Cobb is the author of 18 books for children, and a premier children's educational presenter. Daryl's experience as a professional actor, musician and singer makes him one of the most imaginative and dynamic author presenters in the country. Daryl's versatility makes him the perfect choice for in school author visits at every age level. Very few authors can captivate children the way Daryl does. His music instantly grabs everyone's attention, and he keeps them on the edge of their seats with his storytelling. His interaction with the student body is playful and fun. And his life experiences (in baseball, with bullies and ADHD) make him relatable to all and his literacy message very powerful. His author visits programs are inspiring! Daryl's programs are interactive and include his "Music, Sign-along & Storytelling" assembly for K-2 and his interactive "A Writer's Journey" assembly that uses storytelling, music, graphics and live action readings to teach the kids about the writing process.

Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises has developed two field trip cruise opportunities highlighting local history, and geography, in an attempt to create a sense of place for students grades K through 7. This cruise is in the GST BOCES exploratory enrichment coser #426. K through 4th grade is a 50 minute cruise at a rate of $15 per student for 2025. Grades 5 through 7 is a more in depth look at geology, history and the ecology of our area This is a 90 minute cruise at a rate of $23 per student fir 2025.

We offer a one of a kind school mural program where the students are centered in the work and entire process from brainstorming to final painting. Our mural process involves a brainstorming session where we have the students drawing and coming up with ideas that touch on the theme that is chosen by their school. We then take those drawings and create a digital sketch using the actual drawings from the students. We involve every student from the school in the painting process so that they are able to have ownership and a hand in the creative process. Our unique approach creates a sense of joy and excitement for all participating students and staff as we are able to transform these hallways into large colorful pieces of public art that have an authentic student look and feel to them. We make sure that the final outcome looks professional and clean while still elevating student work from the paper to the wall. We have painted with over 7000 students in the past 2 years creating about 25 murals! We also offer a variety of arts based hands on workshops crafted for all age groups like mask making, printmaking, paper pulp sculptures, paper mache and much more!

I offer an entertaining and educational group presentation, Mind, Body and Spirit, focused on how I develop the Mind, the Body and the Spirit for success. I perform poetry from my books and show each attribute's role in my life and work. There is no audience size limit. I also offer poetry and photography workshops and a popular new addition, Becoming a Ninja: The Secret to My Success, which focuses on goal setting and achievement. Due to the participatory nature of the workshops, participant size is limited to 30 students. I can also do virtual visits, which can be customized to your needs.

Amapola Arts Bilingual, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Art Education: Where Culture Meets Creativity! Amapola Arts is a bilingual, family-run art studio co-founded by Hector (Nino) Morales and Dr. Gliset C. Morales. Based in Kenmore-Tonawanda, NY, the studio specializes in on- and off-site art classes and culturally and linguistically responsive workshops that engage learners of all ages through canvas painting, pottery, photography, and mixed media. Rooted in Puerto Rican, Afro-Caribbean, and Taíno cultural traditions, Amapola Arts creates space for youth to explore identity, express themselves creatively, and build community. Programs are grounded in the Windows and Mirrors framework, helping students see themselves reflected in their work while gaining insight into cultures beyond their own. Offerings for P–12 Schools, Afterschool Programs & Community Organizations: On or Off-Site Art Classes & Workshops – Canvas Painting – Hand-building Pottery – Photography & Visual Storytelling – Mixed Media Projects Potter’s wheel experiences available for on-site sessions at the studio. Programs can be booked as single-day sessions, multi-week series, and summer or after-school enrichment. Inclusive, Culturally Responsive Curriculum Sample themes include: – Nature, symbolism, and visual storytelling – Celebrating multilingual heritage and family culture – Art as a tool for advocacy and connection – Identity, belonging, and creative expression. All Materials & Bilingual Instruction Provided. Amapola Arts brings all supplies and handles setup—just provide the space. Customizable to Your Needs Programs are adaptable by age group, schedule, theme, and budget. In addition to partnering with schools and organizations, Amapola Arts also offers bilingual classes and community events at its Tonawanda studio. Learn more at www.amapolaarts.com or reach out to glisetmorales@amapolaarts.com to begin planning a workshop!