Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens provides visitors with an immersive connection to the calming and restorative power of plants. Through our living collections and imaginative programming, we create memorable experiences that inspire curiosity about our natural world. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens welcomes everyone to engage with our gardens, historic conservatory, and each other. The Botanical Gardens' Education Team offers a number of fun and engaging hands-on field trips for students in grades Pre-K-12.

Traveling shop class is a unique program that makes wood working accessible and safe for students grades PreK-8. Students learn about a trade that is both a career and an art form. Students get to make wood sculptures with specialized tools in a safe environment; all materials and supplies provided. With guidance and one-on-one attention, students will design and create their own unique wood sculpture to make and keep. Traveling shop class easily aligns with any visual arts curriculum addressing goals for sculpture, critical thinking and problem solving, culture and careers. Traveling shop class addresses the NYS standards for the visual arts for creating and connecting. Students will generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. They will organize and develop their ideas and work experimenting with forms, materials and artmaking approaches, balancing experimentation with safety and responsibility, while interacting in ways that enhance and empower their lives. Through artmaking students develop awareness, knowledge and experiences, and solve artistic problems. Part of the traveling shop class presentation is about environmental conservation which has cross curricular connections to science goals for habitats. 21st Century Skills such as critical thinking, creativity, social skills, communication, flexibility, problem solving, productivity, adaptability, curiosity and imagination, self-direction and perseverance are embedded as students plan and build, share, take turns, make corrections, and practice safety. Traveling shop class programming is easily adaptable for unique school-wide or individual class experiences including a modified format to be inclusive of all abilities.

Alan Katz is the author of more than 50 picture books, poetry collections, and middle grade novels for young readers (including Take Me Out of the Bathtub, Got Your Nose, OOPS!, The Funniest Joke Book Ever for Kids, and Misty the Cloud, a NYT bestseller written with Dylan Dreyer of the Today show). Alan's program is an inspiring look at his career as a reader and writer. In a virtual multimedia presentation that includes his work as an award-winning author, TV writer, animation creator, comic book/trading card writer, theater producer, kids' radio host and more, he laughingly fosters a “hey, I can read that/I can write that” attitude. Silly Dilly singing, ridiculous rhyming and a recap of his wildly creative career make for an insightful and enjoyable presentation. (Incidentally, he's also got three-person musicals based on my Silly Dilly songbooks and on my joke book, and can bring them to your school or library...starring my son, who's now playing Peter in the Pinkalicious musical Off-Broadway!)

Our educational programs allow learners of all ages to see live birds of prey up-close and to learn about the impressive adaptations and behaviors of these remarkable birds. We also discuss the conservation issues that impact them and how to make a difference. Several different Birds of Prey programs are available with discussion on the various species behaviors and habitats along with hands-on learning with real feathers, talons and bones, as well as information on local wildlife, wildlife rehabilitation and what to do if you find injured or orphaned wildlife. In addition, we offer owl pellet dissection programs, we bring one owl (who sits on his perch supervising during the presentation). We talk about the owl and the pellet process and then move on to dissecting. We provide the pellets, plates to dissect on, diagrams to help identify the bones and baggies to take home their discoveries. All programs are designed according to the audience. Special requests are always considered.

We offer accessible, interesting, and fun Historic Songs programs and Special Music programs. 1) Our Historic Songs programs bring a selection of actual historic songs, and include descriptive narrative and anecdotes. Programs include American Revolution Historic Songs, Labor Union Historic Songs, Adirondack Lumber Camp Historic Songs, Erie Canal Historic Songs, and the new Appalachian Historic Songs. 2) Special Music programs include "Songwriting Workshop for Everyone," "Songwriters in the Round," where we talk about our artistic process and play our original songs; and custom designed Sing-along Songs program. 3) Short Bio: Cosby Gibson & Tom Staudle are award-winning songwriters and singers and live near the Adirondacks in upstate New York. As a duo, they have been performing for fifteen years, and tour both regionally and nationally. Together they play originals and favorites with a variety of instruments such as guitar, fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, and harmonica, and in many settings such as festivals, concert series, theaters, libraries, museums, livestreams, community events and those funded by Saratoga Arts grants. Thank you very much! We look forward to working with you, and bringing great music for everyone.

In the Footsteps of History is a transformative educational experience that takes students on extraordinary journeys led by renowned modern-day explorers. The culmination of 14 years of dedicated teaching in both public and private schools across the nation, this groundbreaking program, developed by a diverse team of leading educators, professors, writers, award-winning documentary filmmakers, explorers, and world-class game designers, is unlike anything you’ve experienced in the classroom before! Presenting a new way of learning history that ignites curiosity and passion, In the Footsteps of History seamlessly blends live explorer-in-residence programming, with cutting edge technology, investigation, and academic rigor that brings history to life through the excitement of adventure and exploration. (Works on Chromebook, PC or Mac).

THE WESTERN NEW YORK BOOK ARTS CENTER promotes greater understanding of printing and book-related arts through education, creation, and exhibition for a broad and diverse community. Located in the heart of downtown Buffalo, just a block away from the downtown library, our Center is a vibrant place of creativity! We boast a rotating gallery showcasing the work of local artists working in book & printmaking, an artisan shop representing 75+ regional artists, stocked with handmade wares like handprinted cards, posters, apparel and handmade books of all kinds. The gem of our center is ouR studio, where we host hands-on origami & hand stitched bookmaking workshops, and classes in screen print and letterpress printing by hand on our antique presses - for students of all ages. create a letterpress printed poster with your own custom saying, hand-print a t-shirt or tote bag with your custom design, or bind a handmade journal to use back in the school classroom! in classes students will learn about the history of the craft they're engaging with, and work with specialty artists' tools to create a work of art by hand from start to finish.

I am a visual fiber artist based in the Catskill Mountains who spent the last three school years as a visiting artist for 8th graders at Van Antwerp and Iroquois Middle Schools in Niskayuna working with art teachers Katherine Chwazik, Alyssa LaPatra, and Dana Sela. I visited students for two days per quarter (different groups each quarter and averaging around 75 students per day). I collaborated with the schools prior to my arrival to collect recycled fabrics from quilting fabric to second hand clothing, which were the basis of a recycled fabric collage project. My visits began with a brief power point lecture about my practice working with fibers in needlepoint, chair weaving, and fabric collage to set the stage. Each year, the teachers I worked with wanted the project to have a different focus based on the gaps they thought it could fill in the curriculum. The fabric projects were: landscapes ('21-'22), merit medals ('22-'23), and yarn/fabric abstract works based on music ('23-'24). The projects allowed students to express their individuality through choosing subjects that meant something personal to them, whether that be a landscape of their hike in the Adirondacks, or creating abstract shapes based on their love for Taylor Swift. As a fiber artist, this project does not fit neatly into the Visual Arts categories listed, and therefore I think provided kids with an unusual opportunity to explore an unorthodox medium for a public classroom setting. This project is flexible in terms of subject and I can accommodate the lesson plan for a wide age range of kids, from 6th grade to 12th grade.

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.

The Arts Engagement and Education Department serves as a vital bridge between artistic expression and community involvement. Rooted in the belief that art is transformative and essential for personal and societal growth, the department is dedicated to fostering creativity, nurturing talent, and promoting cultural understanding through various educational and engagement initiatives. Our mission is to enrich lives and strengthen communities through the power of the arts. By providing accessible and inclusive arts education, innovative programs, and meaningful community engagements, we aim to inspire creativity, cultivate diverse talents, and foster a deep appreciation for the arts. We offer many programs such as Junior Theatre Celebration, On School Time performances, a high school musical theatre awards program, residencies, 4 theatre camps, and more.

An visually exciting presentation for all ages of an ongoing art project that explores a broad range of artistic and scientific disciplines with a strong sense of humanity.

Social Studies Songwriting Assembly with Mr. Nicky (Virtual Program) Mr. Nicky is an accomplished songwriter and certified teacher bringing a fresh approach to teaching social studies by creating parody songs. His YouTube channel (Mr. Nicky’s World History Songs) has gained over 20 million views and 130,000 subscribers by helping students recall and review their lessons on ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Mr. Nicky’s virtual assemblies (via Zoom/Google Meet/etc.) meet state learning standards in both social studies and ELA. The students write a history song together throughout the course of the hour as Mr. Nicky keeps the time fun and interactive by singing his hits, showing how he creates his channel, taking questions and having a blast celebrating ancient civilizations!