With a summer at home ahead us, Strawtown Studio's new summer camp in a box provides a creative nature program for families to do on their own schedule. While the educational non-profit's summer program typically includes outdoor exploration, botanical and wildlife study, and creating art with natural materials on-site at the base of Hook Mountain on the Hudson River, this year, families can bring the fun and exploration home with the Strawtown NatureArt Adventure Box Program for ages 5 to 13. This paid program includes a scheduled series of Zoom workshops, but free at-home activities will also be available online throughout the summer.

As you stare down the bottom of empty glue bottles and paint jars after months in quarantine, the Strawtown NatureArt Adventure Box Program will be a welcome sigh of relief. As the name suggests, all families participating in the at-home summer camp receive a travel-friendly, water- and impact-resistant art box to guide their summer learning. The box is packed with more than 25 high-quality items (valued over $150), including watercolors and brushes, pencils and paper, modeling clay and colorful beeswax, strings and craft wire, plant ID cards and a magnifying glass, plus a few more surprises you can bust out as needed. A list of the materials with helpful tips and an illustrated activity booklet for hands-on nature art experiences are conveniently included for on-the-go inspiration.

Nestled in the heart of Brooklyn's cultural district—only a few blocks from major arts resources like the Mark Morris Dance Center, Theater for a New Audience, and BRIC—MUSE Academy has put itself on the map with an academically rigorous, arts-enriched curriculum. Currently offering Pre-K3 to Grade 2, with plans to expand through 12th grade as current students advance, the co-ed independent school encourages kids to become lifelong learners, expressive artists, and active citizens in their communities.

If ever there was a time we needed Mister Rogers, right? Chock full of inspiring messages about kindness, caring, and reliance on our neighbors, the classic TV icon is perfectly timely right now, as our communities and kids navigate the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic. While some of our challenges have changed since the show first aired in 1968, Mister Rogers Neighborhood has always offered children and their families a way to understand and talk about difficult topics—all while finding hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to fill your home with the nostalgic comfort that only a certain man in a certain red cardigan can bring. Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell just released a brand new book called "Hello, Neighbor! The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers" (the only authorized picture book biography of Fred Rogers, by the way), which tells the tale of Fred Rogers' early life and the creation of his historic show. Brought to life with playful, scribbly illustrations and soft watercolors paired with exclusively published archival photographs, kids get a behind-the-scenes look at the thought, care, and hard work that went into the production, along with a much bigger lesson about what it means to truly come together.

Can't wait for the book? Make the most of your time at home with the activities below—brought to you by the team behind Matthew Cordell's beautiful book—from watching a classic episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, to writing a poem about being special, to printing out a sign to hang on your door when you're busy daydreaming. So, get to work, and make sure to place your order for "Hello, Neighbor! The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers"