South County might be best known for its surf-and-sand summers, but our coastal towns have plenty of fun activities to warm hearts during winter’s coldest month. From active adventures like rock climbing and snowshoeing to theater and art camps for creative kiddos, February is a fabulous time to grab your hat and mittens and explore.
NOTE: Be sure to check with the local businesses for cancellations or changes before you head out.
With over 100 species of aquatic animals, BIOMES Marine Biology Center boasts the largest collection of New England animals in the world. Most of the sea creatures are rescued – many off fishing vessels – and the ones that can survive in the wild are rehabbed and released. BIOMES is a great way for kids to get up close and personal to all sorts of aquatic life. There’s even a petting pool filled with small sharks, stingrays, and horseshoe crabs. Hard to miss is the 23-year-old tortoise, Darwin, whose presence is awe-inspiring.
“Our main goal is for the kids to have an appreciation for the animals,” says owner Mark Hall. “They can’t get that without a personal interaction. Even if you can’t touch them, just being in close proximity creates a connection.” North Kingstown
While there are no live sharks at the Living Sharks Museum in Westerly, there’s plenty to learn about these majestic creatures. Among its several exhibits is one that’s all about prehistoric shark fossils, one that explores the technology behind shark research, and one with artifacts from the 1975 movie Jaws. The museum is hosting a special Paint Your Own Megalodon workshop on February 23, which includes a lesson in shark dental anatomy while painting a prehistoric tooth model to take home. Westerly
RI Riddle Room’s two locations have brain-busting riddles for the whole family to solve. Choose from an interactive who-done-it at the Murder Mystery – A Killer’s Revenge in East Greenwich or ride the nostalgia wave to Warwick to try out their Rocky Point room. East Greenwich
For creative kids, South County is a playground. From theater arts to fine arts, there are camps, classes, and exhibitions galore. Harbor Creative Arts is holding three days of fun-filled themed workshops over the vacation week that include a mix of projects like painting, collage, and sculpture. Vacation week themes are Kitty Camp (art featuring your fave felines), Galaxy Camp (an artful exploration of the cosmos), and Interior Design Camp (filled with drawing, design, pattern, and play).
Both the Hera Gallery in Wakefield and the Jamestown Art Center are hosting student exhibits in their gallery spaces throughout the month. Hera celebrates their 30th Biennial Children’s Exhibition, which features kindergarten through eighth grade artists from across the state. At the Jamestown Art Center, work from students at the Melrose School’s pre-K through fourth grade is on display.
For your budding Master Chef, Taste Buds Kitchen in East Greenwich offers three-hour camps for kids during the February break: the morning session is devoted to younger kids (ages four through eight) while the evening session caters to the nine through 14 crowd. Three to four from-scratch recipes are made during each daily session. “We don’t just do sweets,” owner Ann Wiard says, adding that even picky eaters find that they actually like spinach in spanakopita or broccoli in the broccoli flatbread. “[The kids] are usually very surprised,” she says. They also make healthier versions of things that they already love, like chicken nuggets – some kids say they’re even better than the ones they get at the drive-through.
Kids love the team environment and they enjoy seeing separate ingredients come together in the finished dish. Wiard notes that “kids are willing to try new tastes and flavors” if they make it themselves. “They are willing to eat outside of their comfort zone.”
Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield is holding a winter break version of their popular summer camp. On the first day, kids create their own unique characters. Then, together, everyone brainstorms a story featuring their creations. Two adult playwrights go off and start the script, with scenes ready for rehearsal the next day. The week-long camp culminates in a full performance of the original play, which friends and family can attend.
Young thespians love the chance to create stage-worthy performances, but kids don’t need to be budding Meryl Streeps to take part. “You can do any job if you don’t want to go on stage,” says CTC general manager Maggie Cady, noting that some kids prefer behind-the-scenes work like running lights and sound, being part of the stage crew, or creating the sets and costumes. “Whatever inspires and is exciting for kids is the focus.”
Cady points out that theater is a great way for kids to gain confidence and a safe place for them to break out of their shells. “Theater is a place for people who don’t know where they belong to find themselves,” she says. “It’s a comforting thing. You see it in the kids’ eyes when they figure it out.”
For cold weather-loving families, there are plenty of options to take it outside. In Westerly, ice skaters glide along at the Washington Trust Community Skating Center. If the weather’s not cooperating, head indoors to URI’s Boss Ice Arena in Kingston. Of course, there’s snow tubing, skiing, and snowboarding at the venerable Yawgoo Valley. With 36 acres of skiable terrain, there are plenty of trails to make it a fun day. Night owls can try Snowshoeing by the Full Moon with the Audubon Society of RI at Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter.
For thrill seekers who prefer a backwoods adventure, sledding at the sand dunes at the Big River Management Area is unparalleled. Created from a former stone quarry, this desert-like setting becomes a mountainous winter wonderland when the white stuff hits. Sledders love the steep hills and ungroomed paths. For a tamer ride, try Wilcox Park in Westerly. Its smaller hills are better suited to littler kiddos.
For those who still have energy to burn, but don’t appreciate the relentless blast of winter cold, indoor options are plentiful. Coastal Ninja Warriors in Ashaway has open gym times and classes for kids during the week; reservations are required. Extreme Airsoft in South Kingstown is offering two vacation camps; one uses Nerf guns for the under-13 set.
Rock Spot Climbing in Peace Dale has COVID-compliant camps in both full- and half-day options for ages six and up. “It’s for all experience levels,” explains gym manager Heather DeSantis. “No previous climbing experience is necessary.” The day is split between climbing and games on the ground as well as arts and crafts to mix it up.
Besides being fun, rock climbing instills confidence in kids. “You can walk off the street with zero athletic ability and you can climb,” says DeSantis. “The nice thing about climbing is that it’s not a team sport but it is community based. Everyone cheers each other on and helps each other get over a hard move. They get that boost of energy from their friends.”
Calling all little cinefiles! South County kids are ready for their close up with several cinematic options to choose from over February break.
With the lingering pandemic, Providence Children’s Film Festival is planning at least a partial, if not fully, virtual fest this February, which is great news for SoCoers who won’t travel past the Tower. Festival artistic director Eric Bilodeau called the virtual option “a silver lining to a dark cloud,” noting that last year’s virtual event was a hit.
“The film line-up this year is lovely,” he says, noting that every year is different. “I can never predict the narratives or topics.” As in past years, the festival will screen 10 family-friendly feature films and 10 shorts programs. The short films all fit into a “thematic bucket,” which this year includes Passionate Pursuits, Gender Journeys, and CinemaEspañol, which features films from Uruguay, Columbia, Spain, and Mexico, as well as the return of Cinema Oh La La, a reel of French shorts.
There is also a Youth Filmmaker Showcase, which features films made by local kids as well as from all over the world. “It’s fun to see what kids from other cultures are thinking about,” he says. “The similarities and contrasts are so interesting. Youth can be very passionate about movies.”
Craving an in-person option? Little film buffs (kindergarten through fifth grade) can head to the United Theatre in Westerly for a three-day multi-media camp, which includes a daily film screening followed by a discussion about the movie and fun activities throughout the day, including crafts. The slate of films include How to Train Your Dragon, Rise of the Guardians, and Happy Feet.
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