AROUND TOWN – VIRTUAL AND LIVE
Compiled by Janice Llanes Fabry
<<The Rye Free Reading Room>>
Curbside services begin June 15 for patrons with pre-arranged pickups. Appointments can be made at ryelibrary.org/appointment. In addition, laptops will be available for use in outdoor spaces.
Library staff will continue providing online services, such as reference, readers advisory, technology assistance, and more at ryelibrary.org. Virtual programs are offered for both adults and children.
In collaboration with the Rye Historical Society, the library is compiling personal accounts of the pandemic. Visit covid19.ryelibrary.org to share experiences about navigating sheltering-in-place, working from home, distance learning, and more.
<<Rye Historical Society>>
Summer camps for ages 7-13 begin on July 13 for three weeks. The rich educational program will follow social distancing and safety guidelines. Maximum camp enrollment is 12 campers per week. Outdoor spaces will be utilized, along with the Square House Museum.
A Native American Camp will run from July 13-17, Colonial History Camp from July 20-24, and Wars and Woodstock from July 27-31. For more information, visit ryehistory.org.
<<Rye Nature Center>>
Summer camps begin June 29. Visit ryenaturecenter.org for new policies and registration information. In the meantime, virtual classes and nature videos are available and two miles of hiking trails are open daily from dawn until dusk.
<<Bird Homestead & Meeting House Conservancy>>
The Spring Enviro Film series continues with an online screening of the award-winning documentary “Seed: The Untold Story”. Few things on earth are as vital as seeds and in the last century a shocking 94 percent of seed varieties have disappeared.
The film follows some of the passionate seed keepers who protect our 12,000-year-old food-growing legacy from biotech chemical companies. It will be available for viewing all day June 20 and 21. To obtain a link and password, email a request to birdhomestead.meetinghouse@gmail.com.
<<The Rye Arts Center>>
<Fryeday Not Live> episodes continue at ryeartscenter.org with performers of all ages and Ladies Comedy Night, emceed by Rye’s Kim Berns.
Sign up for summer classes that include drawing, painting, ceramics, coding, robotics, and more. An Online Resource web page for kids’ activities, as well as museum and art project videos, is also available
<<The Rye YMCA>>
The Rye Y continues offering plenty of online resources at ryeymca.org. Adults may take advantage of exercise classes, Master Trainer Home Workouts, yoga, and meditation.
Families can log in to view a Water Safety Month calendar to learn safety practices and pool rules. Also, see STEAM and visit museums and national parks, too. Programming for kids includes: Story Times, Singing, Sports, Gymnastics, Swimming, and much more. Registration is required.
Volunteering is available through the Y’s Togetherhood Project and Open Door Family Medical Centers. Knit or crochet infant caps or booties for Open Door’s Baby Boxes and drop them off at the Rye Y. For more information and patterns, visit the website or email DeniseWoodin@ryeymca.org.
<<Wainwright House>>
Although the physical space remains closed, wainwright.org continues to provide online yoga, movement, and meditation classes. Participants may register and set up a Zoom account for Therapeutic, Yin, and Energy Flow yoga; Mindfulness Meditation; Tai Chi; and QiGong.
<<Rye Youth Council>>
Visit ryeyouthcouncil.org for connecting kids, teens, families, and seniors. While KidCast provides virtual playdates designed by teens for kids, the Grandfriend program connects teens to local senior citizens.
Covid-19 Resources offers information from RYC youth educators, as well as local mental health professionals. “Helping Children Cope with Emergencies,” “Talking to Children About Coronavirus,” “Supporting Teens and Adults” are a few of the many links available.
<<Rye Recreation>>
Tennis courts at Disbrow are now available for play through advanced reservations at ryeny.gov/government/recreation-department. Virtual programs are posted daily on Facebook, @RyeRecreation, and Instagram, Rye_Recreation.
<<The Jay Heritage Center>>
A virtual book talk featuring 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist George Packer will be held June 17 at 7:30. The talk will focus on his latest book, “Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century.” The New Yorker staff writer won the National Book Award for his 2013 book, “The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America.”
In addition, Jay for Kids newsletter is available online. Learn to identify birds with the Merlin app and collect flora and fauna in your own backyard with Meadow Bingo.
<<Read Wildlife Sanctuary>>
The grounds of the 179-acre wildlife sanctuary remain open for park users who practice safe social distancing. Enjoy the shoreline on Long Island Sound, Manursing Lake, marsh wetland, trails through a deciduous forest, a bamboo groove, and fields of native grasses and wildflowers.
<<Westchester Children’s Museum>>
The Museum believes “learning can be done anywhere, especially at home while social distancing.” Visit discoverwcm.org for weekly STEAM-based activities for the whole family that are free to download.
Every first and third Wednesday on Zoom at 11, Early Childhood Manager Jeannette runs a virtual adaptation of a Young Discoverers program. Story times will be held every second and fourth Wednesday.
<<The Carver Center>>
The Center’s Market continues to see an increase in the need for emergency food relief and basic supplies. The Market is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1-5 or until supplies last. It is operating from the back entrance where pre-packaged bags of groceries are distributed. Carver staff is working hard to adhere to strict safety and self-distancing measures.
