I offer an interactive, hilarious juggling show for all ages that has been proven successful for the last 25 years in the continental USA as well as many other countries. You see !

The author/illustrator of over 30 children’s books, Eric Velasquez is also the recipient of the NAACP Image Award for outstanding literature of children. His pre-K - 12 programs are admired by students and teachers alike-- Eric is as good a storyteller in person as he is on the page. During his 45-60 minute presentations, Eric generally relates his personal dual-heritage experience growing up in Spanish Harlem, accompanied by the autobiographical illustrations and music featured in his books. He also explains his writing and artistic process from brainstorming through revision, culminating in a live portrait session (projected on screen so every student can see), which is accompanied by a Q&A.

The Farmers' Museum and Historic Village has lots to offer for School groups. We have a variety of tours and workshops, most of which can be tailored to a specific age group. We offer guided and self-guided tour options, as well as workshops in the Fall and Early Spring. We are also the permanent home of the Empire State Carousel, a carousel all about New York State, one of the only museums you can ride! Please feel free to reach out via phone or email with any questions.

A successful author visit doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of hard work, organization, and continued communication. Booked Authors ensures you achieve a successful and impactful author visit – every single time. With years of orchestrating successful author visits and their corresponding book sales, we know how to coordinate the best author experience for your students. Working with more than 75 children's authors, we strive to ensure you host the best option for a successful author visit experience for your students!

“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.

STEM education has never been more important, and Liberty Science Center understands educators' needs to teach science and technology in alignment with the newest national standards. The Science Center is a premier field trip destination and provider of STEM experiences for students, educators, and families. Our STEM education programs can enhance your science instruction with engaging activities online, at LSC, or at your school (within a 60-mile radius). We also offer highly interactive professional development programs for individual educators or groups. Start planning your fun and engaging day of science learning with Liberty Science Center. For more information about our offerings call 201.253.1214 or email mmcdonald@lsc.org.

In "Fact or Fiction" performers tell stories through dance. Are they true? The audience decides! The show is a ton of fun, with an electrifying cast and a ton of heart! Audiences laugh, maybe cry, and definitely have something to talk about after the show. We bring the auction paddles for voting; you bring the students! This show has inspired multiple offshoot projects amongst students and teachers.

MUSIC OF THE EARTH - A Celebration of World Cultures and Our Planet! Mysterious, exciting, information-packed! World cultures come alive through the powerful vibrations of exotic instruments from around the globe. Unique, interactive assemblies with giant drums, crystal singing bowls, Australian didgeridoos, Chinese gongs, Native American flutes and chants, Indian snake charmer, Aztec wind whistle, Scottish Bagpipes, and much more! Special programs available for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice, Earth Week (April) and St. Patrick’s Day.

"A MUST-SEE…” J. K Frimer, Dir. Special Programs, NY Aquarium, Central Park/Bronx Zoo, NY “David was a smash… our teachers loved him …and staff said the kids were engrossed and loved the interaction.” Maureen Daly, Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, N.C For over 30 years, veteran family entertainer and arts educator David Engel has toured nationwide to performing arts centers, festivals, libraries, museums and schools. David offers FOUR distinctly different assembly programs for schools on STEM, Environmental Stewardship and Anti-bullying. See descriptions below. As an eccentric clown, David has performed in venues across the USA, 11 European countries, the Caribbean, Indonesia, and in China. He has worked as a Clown Doctor in major NY metro pediatric hospitals and does annual residencies in NYC for children with special needs with ADAPT Network. Mr. Engel is known for his rich characterizations, scrupulous attention to quality costuming and creative details of his props and scenery. His vaudeville-like talents feature immersive audience-participation, adept magic, bubble-play, witty banter, eye-popping puppetry, cartoon-like sound effects and hilarious brain challenges that keep children and adults mesmerized. David Engel Assemblies: 1. “CAPTAIN NEMO’S ADVENTURE ACADEMY!” 20,000 Laughs Under the Sea! Take a deep dive into environmental stewardship, earth sciences, and plastic abatement with Captain Nemo who helps students discover the vital inter-dependence of living things above and below the waves. During this hilariously interactive show, the reclusive Captain surfaces to inspire kids to become "Guardians of the Deep" and caretakers of our watery-blue planet. Grades K-5. 2. PIRATE SCHOOL: The SCIENCE of Pirates This engaging STEAM-based assembly helps break out of the "mad scientist" theme with an exciting nautical twist! Mariners have pushed knowledge and technology forward ever since humans launched the first log-raft, so who better to explore STEAM and excite kids' curiosity than a swashbuckling pirate!? Featuring real-life demonstrations and immersive audience participation this show asks: How are the winds and ocean currents made? How is a sail like a wing? What are the forces behind a cannon ball's flight? Are navigation and map-making really math? Did pirates use simple machines? These and other mysteries are explored and exploded during "Pirate School! The Science of Pirates!” Grades 2-5. 3. PIRATE SCHOOL: Follow Your Compass! Pirate School! Follow Your Compass is an innovative, humorous and moving character education/anti-bullying assembly that promotes empathy, social courage and provides memorable strategies for the witnesses and victims of bullying.  Students are prompted to follow their hearts, their inner compasses and the vital concepts of Respect, Responsibility, Compassion and Courage are explored and underscored. This 60-minute assembly is designed to reflect state curriculum standards, and features lighthearted mayhem with a boisterous blend of full-audience participatory clown-theater, cartoon-like sound effects, a rich musical score. Grades K-5. 4. “Dinosaur Hunter Safari!” is a wholly hilarious, educational romp into the Jurassic Era with the bumbling Paleontologist Professor Livingpebble. Join the nutty professor and his full-sized puppet velociraptor Mary on an inspirational dino-dig. Embody your favorite slithering herbivores and roaring carnivores, meet the missing link and carefully cart a fossilized bone to its final resting place in the museum in this popular assembly. How do dinosaurs sound? How are fossils made? Why look into the past to understand our future? These and other questions will be answered in this engaging act that features full audience participation, magic, bubble-play, puppetry and cartoon-like sound effects. “All the teachers surveyed said Captain Nemo was their favorite part of the festival.” Producer, SUBMERGE Marine Science Festival, Hudson River Park, NYC “David had 2000 Pre-K-5th graders on the edge of their seats for the entire hour performance. He tied the STEM curriculum into the performance in a way that engaged and motivated the kids to want to learn more. His humor, use of props and sound effects were top notch! David was easy to work with from beginning to end and I highly recommend his act. Book him! You won't regret it. A. Roellgen, Caldwell Arts, Broyhill Theatre, Lenoir, NC

Student or Teacher Raku Pottery Workshops Are you interested in doing raku firing with student artwork? Interested in a teacher raku firing day? I bring the firing to you! Contact me for information about how to set up a day-long visit.

We offer programs by Theresa Eckler, whose book "Limitless" is the perfect story to inspire young children around the world. Limitless is the beautiful story of a determined young girl, named Harper, who is on a mission to find her “thing.” After several failed attempts, she stumbles upon a group of children trying to fix a broken kite. Harper uses her creativity to fix not only the kite, but also inspires those around her to use their minds to help them succeed. For the last 16 years Theresa has been a local elementary teacher and has begun doing author visits at schools throughout New York State. Theresa's visits include reading her brand new children's book, sharing a beautiful presentation highlighting the writing process behind the science to make the book happen, engaging activities such as "spot the difference" where students become the editors and see if they can find the inconsistencies between the illustrative drafts and the final illustration and so much more! Theresa wrote this book as while teaching she noticed a need for books that highlight students creativity, ability to problem solve, and being proud of what makes you unique!

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