rain or shine ... it's reading time June 12, 2013 :  10:30 A.M. - September 25, 2013 :  11:15 A.M. Description:   Wednesdays:  June 12 and 26; July 10 and 31; August 14 and 28; September 11 and 25  Read a story with Museum staff and visit a special exhibit to learn more about New York State.  Meet outside of Kids Cove. Free program for  Preschoolers.

environmental change at thacher park, 400 million years ago June 29, 2013 :  10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Registration:  Call 872-0800 for more information. Description:   The layered rocks of Thacher Park preserve 30 million years of the ancient past. The fossils and rocks tell of ever-changing life and environments, from tidal flats and coral reefs to deeper water. Take a walk through time with Dr. Chuck Ver Straeten, NYS Museum geologist, and see how Thacher Park and eastern North America changed. Meet at Paint Mine parking lot and picnic area. The program is free but the parking fee is $6 per vehicle.

oakwood cemetery tour – casualties of the civil war June 29, 2013 :  9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Cost: $12.00 Registration:  To register, please call Oakwood Cemetery at 1-800-556-6273. Description:   Historian Michael Barrett guides this tour just a few days short of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. He will take us to graves of many veterans that were KIA and WIA from that battle.  Participants meet at the site. Program designed for adults and teens. Co-sponsored by the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway.

oakwood cemetery tour – veterans from the civil war July 13, 2013 :  9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Cost: $12.00 Registration:  To register, please call Oakwood Cemetery at 1-800-556-6273. Description:   One of the most popular tours ever, walk with famed military historian, Michael Barrett and see if he can really introduce you to 9 ½ Civil War Generals (½…?!!)  Learn of their private lives and the battles they fought. Participants meet at the site.  Program designed for adults and teens.

trash to treasure June 02, 2013 :  1:00 P.M. - August 04, 2013 :  3:00 P.M. Description:   Saturdays: June 2, August 4 Location: Classrooms 2 & 3 Trash to Treasure features an art project using manufacturing mistakes and materials destined for the landfill.  Join Museum art instructor Peggy Steinbach for an interesting video and an Earth-friendly afternoon.

family fun day June 15, 2013 :  1:00 P.M. - September 21, 2013 :  4:00 P.M. Description:   3rd Saturday of every month  The Museum offers fun for everyone with family games, make and take crafts, and educational opportunities based on each month's theme. Saturday, June 15: Butterflies Saturday, July 20: This Summer Let Reading Take You to Many Neat Places! Saturday, August 17:  Beneath the City – Our Dutch Heritage Saturday, September 21: Raptor Rapture

national endowment for the humanities landmarks of american history: heaven on earth: shakers, religious revival, and social reform in america July 07, 2013 :  9:00 A.M. - July 20, 2013 :  5:00 P.M. Description:   July 7-13 OR July 14-20 (Sunday through Saturday) This week-long workshop focuses on the nineteenth-century Shaker movement and the communitarian society it produced. A wide range of topics are covered, including health, diet, celibacy, spirituality, gender roles, education, children and material culture. The workshop meets Common Core State Standards and includes several visits to Shaker sites throughout the region. To learn more about these workshops or to register, visit www.nysm.nysed.gov/education/teacher/workshops.html

the dh cadwell earth science workshop July 08, 2013 :  8:00 A.M. - July 10, 2013 :  5:30 P.M. Cost: $200.00 Description:   This three-day workshop (24 contact hours), designed by geologists at the State Museum, helps Earth Science teachers improve student test scores by increasing their familiarity with the geologic environment and geologic history of New York State. To learn more about these workshops or to register, visit www.nysm.nysed.gov/education/teacher/workshops.html.

archaeology for the classroom! July 23, 2013 :  9:00 A.M. - July 24, 2013 :  5:00 P.M. Cost: $30.00 Description:   This two-day workshop (16 contact hours) is designed for social studies teachers in grades 2-8. Teachers actively participate in the process of archaeology and learn about regional history through classroom lectures, fieldwork, and analysis of material objects in Museum collection areas. This approach addresses the Common Core State Standards. To learn more about these workshops or to register, visit www.nysm.nysed.gov/education/teacher/workshops.html.