From the Boy Scouts (bsa.siigroup.com) and Girl Scouts of America (gsneny.org) to the Boys and Girl's Clubs of Albany (bgcalbany.com), youth organizations offer events and activities for kids ages 3 and up. The Boys and Girls Clubs offer programs for toddlers that include fingerpainting, playdough and shaving cream writing and activities for older children that include helping teens learn how to set life goals, develop poise and improve their public speaking ability.
Check out the kids' activities at the Empire State Plaza (ogs.state.ny.us), where kids and adults can enjoy fountains, pools, an observation deck, year-round events, a museum, a farmers market, parks, shops, theaters, fine art and more.
The city of Albany (albanyny.gov) hosts a number of kid-friendly events throughout the year, such as the PAL Bike Rodeo, annual Easter egg hunt and the Walk for Friendship. Albany's annual Tulip Festival draws families to view the 200,000 tulips on display as well as musical performances, food and kid's activities in the "Kid's Zone."
Kids can participate in a number of educational activities including youth theater, creative movement and ballet classes and photography at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts (slca-ctp.org). At the time of publication, the Sand Lake Center offers kids activities every Sunday. Private music classes, cooking classes and other learning activities are also held around town. Several YMCA (baymca.org) locations in Albany offer classes in hip hop dance, tumbling, karate and the arts as well as summer camps for all ages. Kids and teens can also participate in youth sports, such as boxing, little league, flag football, youth soccer and swimming.
Besides the usual fast food play places and outdoor parks, kids' entertainment activities include laser tag, bowling, and skating. Kids and adults alike may enjoy seeing a movie or live act at the Palace Theater (palacealbany.com) or taking a short drive to Six Flags Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom (sixflags.com/greatescape), featuring over 135 rides, shows and attractions just 50 miles outside of Albany. More children's activities abound at the Children's Museum of Science and Technology (cmost.org) less than eight miles north, in Troy, New York, and children may enjoy seeing the Barnum & Bailey Circus (ringling.com) when it comes to town.
