We offer engaging author visits to schools and organizations, either virtually or in person with our author(s) and book character(s). Each 45-minute assembly is designed for students in Pre-K through 4th grade and includes a read-aloud from a book of your choice, interactive storytelling with music, games, and lively discussion. Students will also have access to discounted pricing on books. These read-aloud sessions aren’t just entertaining—they’re educational. They help motivate children to read, strengthen their comprehension, expand vocabulary, and introduce language patterns not typically heard in everyday conversation. Students are encouraged to make meaningful connections between the stories and their own lives, making reading both fun and relevant.

Perry Ground is a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. Perry is a Master Storyteller and Cultural Educator who has shared his stories for over 25 years. He enjoys working with students of all ages to teach about the history & culture of Native Peoples. The Storyteller will bring the stories to life through vivid descriptions, his rhythmic voice, and a VERY active stage presence. These stories become ‘interactive’ as Perry is known to include audience members in the stories. His Storytelling and Cultural Enrichment programs include cultural and historical information that meets the expectations of the NYS ELA and Social Studies Curriculum. Talking Turtle Stories offers a wide range of programs for students of all ages. Three different Storytelling programs include stories from the Haudenosaunee (NY) or from across North America. The Cultural Encounter sessions are curriculum-based presentations and/or hands-on workshops that give deeper insight into the history and culture of the Haudenosaunee. Book individually or combine programs for a full day of learning!! These programs are available year-round and can be done in school or virtually. Contact Perry at TalkingTurtleStories@gmail.com for a full list of presentations and pricing information.

Programs include weekday matinee performances for student field trips, school partnerships, artists-in-residence, sensory friendly experiences, programs for those with autism and other sensory needs, professional development for educators, and master classes.

At Mindful Yoga With Liz, we bring the benefits of yoga and mindfulness directly into schools, helping children of all ages build focus, confidence, and emotional resilience. Through playful movement, breathwork, and guided relaxation, students learn tools to manage stress, regulate their emotions, and cultivate kindness toward themselves and others. Our programs are age-appropriate and engaging, combining storytelling, games, and interactive activities to make learning fun while supporting social-emotional growth. Teachers also benefit by learning strategies to manage classroom energy, foster a calm environment, and support students’ well-being—helping the whole school community thrive.

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.

MUSH with Noggin, the Sled Dog! Have you ever wondered… What does it feel like to ride the runners behind a team of dogs, steering a loaded sled through mountainous terrain, crossing the vast Alaskan tundra, hugging the shoreline of the great Bering Sea? What does it take to care for a team of Alaskan huskies? Could my dog be a sled dog, too? Musher, Karen Land, will answer these questions and more when she and Noggin, the Alaskan husky, visit (your school/library name, date, time). Dog mushing, a traditional mode of arctic transportation, is a unique subject perfect for every classroom. From STEM (climate change and environmental studies) to literature (Gary Paulsen and Jack London) to the arts and physical education, the options for exploration are endless. Land is an Outdoors columnist, songwriter, public speaker, and three-time participant in the 1000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as well as many other sprint and endurance races in Alaska, Canada, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Maine. Since 2000, Land has traveled to nearly every state with her dog sled, mushing gear, Arctic clothing, and beloved dogs, giving over a thousand school and public library presentations. “Tethered to my string of dogs, trusty leaders find the trail, together we are free…” —from “Into the Northern Lights,” lyrics by Karen Land

Richard Celestin Consulting Group LLC offers skill development, social-emotional and law-based programming and services to K-12 school communities, including students, parents and teachers. This includes workshops, assemblies, trainings and consulting. The founder, Richard Celestin, Esq., is an experienced attorney, educator and author with extensive experience working with youth and adults within schools, CBO's and not-for-profits. Topics include college and career readiness, debate and advocacy, healthy relationships, social media use, critical and consequential thinking and much more.

Expand your students' marine science experience via live, interactive presentations! Our 1-hour videoconference sessions incorporate live animal observations (whenever possible) and current research projects happening right here at the Alaska SeaLife Center. The materials for each program include a teacher's guide with background information and activity ideas, as well as supplies for the session's hands-on activities.

A comprehensive year-long classroom program designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to learn music composition, create original compositions, form music groups, bands, or ensembles, and to promote their work on local and national stage. Through a combination of instrumental training, music theory, composition techniques, and industry tools, students will embark on a journey from individual musicians to collaborative creators, culminating in the production of their original work and how to bring their efforts to market.

Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Inc. (known familiarly as “the Bardavon'') is a New York State nonprofit corporation that owns and operates two historic theaters. The 928-seat Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie is the oldest continuously operating theater in the state, among the oldest in the country, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 1500-seat Ulster Performing Arts Center/Broadway Theater (UPAC) is a National Register property built in Kingston in 1927. UPAC was merged into Bardavon's corporate structure in 2007. The Bardavon consistently presents the highest quality music, dance, theater, and classic films in both its venues. The Bardavon has brought together artists, businesses, and government to produce outdoor events that draw thousands of residents and visitors to the region annually, providing free access to superb art as a source of community pride, urban revitalization, and cultural tourism. The Bardavon Education Program partners with regional schools in offering unique arts-based learning experiences for students and innovative tools for teachers. The continued restoration and preservation of the Bardavon 1869 Opera House and the Ulster Performing Arts Center/Broadway Theater is also a vital aspect of our mission.

Alisa Sikelianos-Carter offers dynamic, multi-day art workshops, artist talks, studio visits, and assemblies designed to engage students in creative exploration and critical thinking. Her programs invite participants to connect personal stories, cultural memory, and material experimentation through hands-on projects in drawing, painting, printmaking, collage and mixed media. Each session encourages curiosity, reflection, and collaboration, while introducing students to contemporary art practices and the role of art as a tool for self-expression and community building.

Féraba – The African Rhythm Tap Company offers dynamic school assembly programs that blend traditional West African music and dance with American tap, creating an engaging, educational experience for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Féraba's assemblies are interactive and culturally enriching. They are an immersive experience that combines storytelling, music, and dance to take students on a cultural journey, emphasizing the interconnectedness of global traditions.