Historic Pursuits utilizes high interest, hands-on programming to create an intrinsic love for history. The emphasis is on character development through historic examples. We train high school, college and community docents to lead these programs as a means to further leadership and community connections. WHY HISTORIC PURSUITS? Interactive and Experiential. We learn best by doing, and remember best through experiences. We put history into people’s hands, to get people trying “new things from the past.” We don’t have audiences; we have participants. Engaging. Yes, you will learn a great deal of “gee whiz” history, but more importantly, you will leave with a desire to learn more. Our goal is to promote an intrinsic curiosity for history. Depending on the program, you can expect to spark flint and steel, practice pioneer survival skills, crunch on some hard tack, spit some beeswax, use decoders from Washington’s spy ring, craft a love note with ink and quill, experience life on the Erie Canal…there are no, “Please do not touch” signs at our programs. Educational. Our staff are retired school teachers. They know about state standards, SEL, SLOs, Learning Targets, etc. They know that social studies plays second fiddle to Math and ELA because school report cards don’t emphasize history. They know that teachers often are forced to “squeeze in” history when they can and that very little professional learning opportunities are available. We teach teachers because we are teachers. We get it. Accessible. Some history venues just don’t fit everyone’s budget and calendar. We will come to you with a truckload of goodies. Or you can come to us for experiences you can’t find anywhere else for anywhere near the affordability. We will work with you to ensure all your objectives are met or if you prefer, we will do the work for you. We will design programs specific to your community and your local history. We strive to bring history to the community because it’s their history. Passionate. We love what we do, and this means that our passion drives our profession. We are insanely curious, always learning new skills, seeking out new history toys and forging new relationships. This passion drives our profession.

What is Opera Saratoga’s Education Program? Each year, Opera Saratoga tours an Opera production to more than fifty public and private schools throughout the greater Capital and lower Adirondack regions of NY. The performances feature charismatic professional artists who love to share their joy of music and theater through the opera, as well as through question and answer sessions where students have the opportunity to meet the artists and learn about the music and what it takes to put on a performance. In a world where the default forms of entertainment for children are primarily television, video games, and the Internet, Opera Saratoga’s In-School Opera program provides youth with an all-too-rare opportunity to experience the visceral thrill of the live performing arts, up close and personal! Opera Saratoga's touring program includes a lesson plan that arrives a month before the performance, a professionally staged opera performance in your school, along with a post-performance discussion between the artists and your students. Schools will also receive an invitation to the dress rehearsal of the performances in Opera Saratoga's summer festival. Contact us now to book your opera performance for March 2025!

“Stand Up for Your Greatness!” In this inspirational program, Ed Gerety shares with his audience specific strategies, principles, and techniques to be resilient, embrace change, achieve goals, and step up as a leader. The social and emotional needs of students today are more important than ever. Ed delivers a powerful message that connects with the hearts and minds of his audience. He reminds students of the importance of taking care of themselves, taking care of one another, standing up for their greatness, and for the greatness of others. Areas of Focus in this assembly program include: • The power of respect and responsibility • The impact and consequences of our choices and decisions • The issues of bullying and peer pressure • Appreciation for our abilities and the people in our life • The courage to believe in oneself • The power we have to reach out and make a difference Ed speaks in the education industry specifically at middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities, and conferences. His primary audiences include students, teachers, administrators, coaches, parents, and student-athletes. For 30 years Ed has spoken on character education topics that build and support a positive and inclusive school climate. His expertise is in teaching the skills that teens and young adults need to develop to become leaders in school and in life. Ed’s longevity as a paid-professional speaker is rooted in the excellence he brings to the platform, the relationships he forms with his clients, and the results produced in positive outcomes measured by schools. Clients say that there is authenticity and vulnerability in his presentations that distinguishes him from other speakers.

Act With Respect Always is a “pay it forward” movement stressing the importance of one’s personal character. Through presentations and continued communication through mailings and social media, Act With Respect Always hopes others will join this mission or way of life and look to improve the world around them daily. Stressing kindness, love, compassion, empathy, acceptance and gratitude, Rich strives to make everyone aware of their daily actions. He introduces to each audience the 99% (Whats Your 99} and the 1% (Accept The 1), a personal character assessment plan. With this knowledge each person can access their own character “score” every minute of every day. The 99 has now brought the concept of mindfulness to everyone, to help to constantly draw ‘reflection’ towards their actions. Introducing The Visible Project to every audience has encouraged everyone to send notes of gratitude to someone: a friend, relative, a teacher or anyone that has shown kindness to them. The hope is that everyone will create their Solid Five (Who Are Your Solid5) connections that can be cultivated. They are the people who you can go to anytime, anyplace for physical and emotional support without judgement.

The Wild Center, located in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate NY, spans 115 acres and offers visitors a variety of experiences. Named the 2024 #1 science museum in the country by USA Today readers, The Wild Center’s mission is to ignite an enduring passion for nature that inspires action to ensure a thriving natural world. Highlights include a vast trail system, treetop adventures on Wild Walk, Raquette River Roll interactive ball runs, Forest Music, Birdly Virtual Reality, art installations and 54,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space with interactives in Planet Adirondack and Climate Solutions, all year long. The Wild Center offers on-site and virtual field trips for students, camps, scout groups, and youth groups. The Wild Center blends natural history, science, technology, and art into a unique experience that builds upon classroom learning and lifelong memories. Experiences can be a Virtual Field Trip, an onsite Wild Classroom Workshop lead by Wild Center staff, and/or an onsite Self-Guided Experience. The Wild Center’s programs are experiential, student-driven, and designed to support New York State Educational Standards while engaging students in hands-on, interactive learning experiences. Please contact the School Programs Coordinator at schoolprograms@wildcenter.org, call us at (518) 359-7800 x 123, or visit our website at www.wildcenter.org/schoolprograms for more information and/or to schedule a field trip.

Rachel’s Challenge provides school presentations that inspire kindness, connection, and hope. Our assemblies for students and staff address bullying and violence prevention while equipping schools with practical tools to improve culture and strengthen relationships.

Youth motivational speaker David Flood has been speaking with and helping teens and young adults for over 20 years. He teaches teens through the telling of his own very personal stories about his family in the past and present. At David’s student assembly programs he uses simple examples that students can relate to in order to show them how to improve their lives and how to have a profound impact on those around them. David will reinforce any social and emotional learning (SEL) that your school is already providing. He believes in proactive emotional literacy to encourage dignity and respect throughout the building. It is for this reason that he has spoken in over 600 middle schools and high schools as well as leadership conferences, parent workshops, and professional development days for teachers. He’s been a featured speaker at middle school assemblies, high school assemblies, colleges, and teacher/counselor conferences throughout the United States and Canada and established himself as a national youth motivational speaker that students connect with on an emotional level. David is one of the best youth motivational speakers in the country today.

We offer an interactive Author Visit for grade Prek-5 where we bring our character Farley (the world's favorite penguin!) We have three signature songs that we incorporate into our visit. We teach the children the process on becoming an author and getting your book published which we focus more on with the older grades. We offer a bundle pack where the children can get a book and a Farley plush for a discounted price. The class that has the most book order forms can win a pizza party with Farley.

One of the top Polka bands in the region, we perform Polka Music for Cultural Diversity/ Arts In Education programs.

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.

Sukanya Burman Dance is a contemporary dance company that combines Indian diasporic dance forms with modern dance to create meaningful artistic experiences and performances. Rooted in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and modern dance vocabularies, the company produces professional-level performances across New York State and beyond and fosters artistic collaboration among local and regional dance artists. SBD also provides dance education, offering classes and workshops that deepen understanding of both Indian classical and contemporary movement, and engages communities by bringing dance into spaces where people live, learn, and connect.

Be part of a fun, interactive experience with Utica City FC! Attend practice and a skill clinic run by the Utica City players and staff! Each student receives a game voucher. To sign up: uticacityfc.com/boces