Explore Frederic Church’s masterwork, Olana, through a field trip, virtual tour, or professional development! During each program, participants learn more about the art, culture, and history of Olana and the Hudson River Valley through place-based learning activities and lessons. Each offering can be modified to suit classroom and curriculum needs. FIELD TRIPS include a historic house tour and Landscape Walk and cost $10 per student. Add-on art workshops cost an additional $5 per student and include all artmaking materials. Students will leave with a completed work of art. All themes can be tailored to meet specific curriculum goals and student needs. Themes include: 1. "Place as Inspiration" where students learn how Church and his contemporaries were inspired by the Hudson Valley before exploring how they can connect to and advocate for important places in their own lives and communities. 2. "Land as Canvas" where students consider nature as a source of creativity and invention in Olana's designed landscape, collecting natural materials to observe patterns in local flora and fauna. 3. "Sketching as Seeing" where students dive into Frederic Church’s artistic process and experiment with his outdoor sketching (plein air) techniques. 4. "Adventures in Architecture" where students learn more about how global architectural traditions influenced Frederic Church’s design of Olana’s historic house and explore his handling of scale, engineering, and design. VIRTUAL TOURS can be tailored to meet specific curriculum goals and classroom needs and conducted via Zoom or Google Meet, and other platforms by request. All virtual sessions are designed to be 1 hour in length and can be scaled for various age ranges, groups, and audiences. All field trips and virtual tours are for grades PreK-12 and other education groups. $5-$15 per student. FREE for schools in Columbia and Greene Counties. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT days for teachers and administrators can be booked upon request and include a tour of the historic house and landscape, a workshop session, and use of the Wagon House Education Center. Please contact education@olana.org to learn more.

Award-winning author of The Memory of Things will share why she wrote a young adult novel set in NYC during 9/11, the research she did to create authentic characters and story, and how reading and writing historical fiction builds empathy, often far better than non-fiction. Can be paired with writing workshops and other interactive presentations. Author can do similar presentations on any of her seven award-winning novels, both middle grade and young adult.

The bGreat Show is presented by comic-magician Brian Richards, one of the most humorous assembly performers in the country. Using the perfect blend of entertainment and educational content, Brian’s assemblies are loved by students and staff alike. Though they will laugh and be fooled by his tricks, your school will also get excited about character! In this interactive, 45-minute elementary school assembly and camp show, Brian Richards will use magic, comedy, storytelling, audience participation, and more to help your students learn about Anti-Bullying, Trustworthiness, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility, Caring, and Citizenship. The message to students is: “Do you want to be great? It begins with you taking the first step!”

You Inc provides engaging programming for K-12 to encourage students to develop good money habits and growth mindsets about money early on and continuously throughout their development. Topics related to money and personal finance should be introduced to students at each grade level. Just as math and reading have several different facets and sub topics for children to master from kindergarten to 12th grade and beyond, personal finance also has its own nuances and categories that can and should be mastered early in a child's development and continue to evolve into more complex topics and subtopics as children grow and develop into young adults. By doing so, we develop a generation of financially secure adults who experience better financial outcomes due to making better financial decisions. Our workshops help students understand the basics of earning, saving, budgeting, and giving back. For younger children, we use interactive activities and storytelling to introduce financial concepts in a fun and relatable way, laying the groundwork for good habits and smart decision-making. For older students, we dive deeper, covering topics such as goal-setting, smart spending, credit, and pathways to building wealth—all tailored to prepare them for the responsibilities of adulthood. We also emphasize the importance of financial independence and provide students with tools to break free from cycles of financial instability that they may see in their communities. Our culturally competent approach ensures that all students see themselves reflected in the material, and we prioritize empathy, understanding, and real-life application in a way that fosters financial inclusion for all. Our team is certified in financial education from the National Financial Educators Council with over a decade of experience teaching financial literacy across New York State. We are also a certified NYS Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE). Our goal is to help K-12 students gain essential life skills and grow up feeling confident and capable in managing their financial lives. Let's inspire a generation of students who are not only financially aware but also equipped to pursue their dreams with a strong, sustainable financial foundation. In addition to k-12 programs, we offer Family Finance Programs for the entire family unit, including parents and caregivers. These one day programs can take place in the evening and students attend with their parents/guardians and two separate workshops take place simultaneously, equipping the family ecosystem to elevate their money conversations in the home, and providing tools and strategies to help parents optimize their family finances while nurturing a culture of healthy financial habits in the home.

Dj Willy WOW is a Grammy Nominated children's artist who provides an array of kid friendly DJ Services, Live Performances, Character Shows that highlight the importance of doing the right things in home, school and preserving nature. He is also a burst of energy that electrifies family friendly radio stations across the world. This year DJ Willy WOW is celebrating 20 years of many adventures and his continued mission to bring positivity into the development of young hearts and minds of all people!

At Pimentel Murals, we welcome students into a warm, imaginative space where creativity blossoms and empty walls are transformed into colorful murals through teamwork and collaboration. In each session, young artists work side by side, sharing ideas and painting techniques, guided by a professional muralist who helps them harness their imagination and learn valuable new skills. Patience and focus grow naturally as students mix paint, practice brush strokes, and contribute to a larger design, each stroke reflecting personal creativity and the group’s collective vision. Throughout this creative journey, students find joy in exploring colors and shapes, gaining confidence in their artistic abilities and discovering that their ideas truly matter.

Sculpture/ Written Word Residency In this residency, students will work with multi-media artist Erin Eckler to construct poetry or a creative writing piece that will be transcribed onto a sculpture that visually illustrates their writing. The sculptural element will be constructed using recycled materials ranging from fiber to paper. The first half of sessions will guide the student to begin creating their written work while learning techniques for breaking down and reforming the recycled materials. The second half of sessions will be supporting the constructing of their sculptural pieces while fine tuning their poetry and prose. The students will be taught hand sewing, weaving, 3D construction, collage, and how to deconstruct recycled materials for use. Resident artist will provide technical support and problem solving as needed while the students construct their pieces.

I coordinate Onondaga Lake education experiences for elementary and middle school students. The lake field trips involve hands-on learning stations that include fishing, water quality testing, a nature walk to learn about the ecosystem, a local history lesson related to Onondaga Lake, and an integrated art project.

New York Times bestselling author of middle grade and young adult author of over 40 books, Jen Calonita offers both large and small group author assemblies and writing workshops that focus sparking creativity in children. Using popular fairy tales, Jen offers both a "Twisting Tales" workshop for younger and older grades as well as an editing workshop for older students. Her assemblies focus on how she went from a reluctant reader to a writer and how students can turn their own ideas into story magic.

Via Aquarium is the only full-scale aquarium in the Capital Region. We provide an avenue for students of all ages to explore the natural world from freshwater to saltwater and even terrestrial life with reptiles and amphibians. If your school can't make their way to us, our education team can travel with select animals to provide these experiences within your classroom. Field Trips - $12 admissions per student, free admissions for staff, $14 admissions for chaperones, $5 for add-on educational programs, and $10/cup of stingray food. Outreach Programs are $350 for a 60-minute program, $200 for a 30-minute session, and any session after that is discounted. Our travel fee is $0.75 per mile over 30 in both directions (i.e. first 60 miles are excluded in the fee). Programs are available for students in preschool through high school.

Created to serve school districts, college, libraries, and theaters across Upstate New York, CNY Jazz Management is dedicated to the educational mission of the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation, the region’s primary provider of jazz programming in concert, cabaret, scholastic and festival settings in schools and in public. Our core cultural history shows are available separately or in a group: All That Jazz, a whirlwind history of jazz; Blues Shout, a history of male blues and jazz singers of the 20th Century; Music & Musket, exploring the role of the musician in the Civil War; and Jazz On Demand, unlocking the secrets of songwriting and listening creatively! All programs are narrated and include a vocabulary/teacher’s guide. We also offer full-day or multi-day residencies by all of our large ensembles, with or without national guest soloist/teaching artists, co-designed with you to fit your program needs – clinics, jams, and grand concerts. you may preview all of our shows and watch an overview of our entire arts-in-education service at the video link on our web site. Contact us for more information about presenting any of our offerings in your school!

Jordan Taylor Hill & Ensemble: Celebrating Rhythms from the Diaspora Join Jordan Taylor Hill & Ensemble for a vibrant journey through the rich tapestry of African Diasporic music and dance. As a seasoned educator and performer, Jordan Taylor Hill brings to your school an interactive exploration of traditional drumming, dance, and song that illuminates the cultural heritage and historical significance of these art forms. Jordan's workshops and performances are designed to engage students of all ages, providing them with a hands-on learning experience that enhances their understanding of world cultures, rhythm, and movement. Our offerings are tailored to complement educational curricula in arts and humanities, aiming to foster an appreciation for cultural diversity and inspire creativity among students. We are available for bookings across multiple regions, ready to bring our dynamic and educational presentations directly to your school. Whether it's a one-time assembly, a detailed workshop, or a short-term residency, Jordan Taylor Hill & Ensemble are prepared to create a memorable and enriching experience for both students and faculty. For bookings or more information on how we can tailor our programs to meet your educational goals, please reach out to us. Let's make learning unforgettable through the power of live performance and active participation!