CENTRAL PARK CONSERVATORY
Conservancy offers basketball, climbing courses, fitness programs & more; North Meadow Recreation Center, Central Park (midpark at 97th St.), 212-348-4867, reg. req.; Weds.-Tues., call for times, free.
DROP-IN WORKSHOPS
Museum educator conducts weekly program for families. This week, create a pop-up book at Queens Museum of Art, New York City Bldg., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 718-592-9700, www.queensmuse.org; Sun. 1-4, free.
EARTH CELEBRATIONS
"Fostering Ecological Awareness Through the Arts" program feat. workshops for children 8+ at the Green Oasis Garden, 8th St. (betw. Aves. C & D), 212-777-7969 or www.earthcelebrations.com; Thurs. 3:30-5:30, free [through 5/31].
FISHING: CATCH & RELEASE
Central Park Conservancy staff teach you the proper way to release a fish without hurting yourself or fellow fishermen?the fish might feel a little sting, though; Dana Discovery Center, Central Park, 110th St. (5th Ave.), 212-860-1370 to reg.; Weds.-Sun. & Tues. 10-5, free.
FREE-FOR-KIDS PROJECT
Fly-By-Night Dance Theater, the trapeze dance troupe, holds its third annual festival in a different Manhattan or Brooklyn location each weekend; 212-924-0077 for location & res.; $15, $12 st., free for those 18 & under [through 5/28].
FREE FAMILY PROGRAM
Catskill Puppet Theater closes out weekly series w/an adaptation of "Puppetry: Hiawatha" at The New-York Historical Society, 2 W. 77th St. (Central Park W.), 212-873-3400; Sat. 11-12:30, free w/mus. adm.
HEADS UP: KITEMAKING
For ages 5-12; Tompkins Sq. Library; 331 E. 10th St. (betw. Aves. A & B), 212-228-4747, res. req.; Thurs. at 3:30, free.
METALWORK & JEWELRY
Five-session design workshop for kids ages 8-12 who are interested in creating objects out of brass, nickel & copper; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-996-1100; Weds. 4-6, $100.
MUSEUMKIDS
Film screenings, tours of the museum, gallery workshops, introduction to the encyclopedia collection & storytelling?call for complete sched.; Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave. (82nd St.), 212-570-3961; call for times, free w/mus. adm.
THE NY BOTANICAL GARDEN
Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden is now open. Discover the fun of gardening flowers & herbs; plus demonstrations & yummy compost facility. Highlights incl. animal garden, reflection garden, row row row your boat, flower bed, plant philharmonic & shoe families; NY Botanical Garden, 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700 or www.nybg.org; Weds.-Fri. & Tues. 1-5, $4-$10.
ON THE WEB: PARENT & CHILD TOGETHER
Introduction to the world wide wait for patient children ages 7-12; Donnell Library Center, 20 W. 53rd St. (5th Ave.), 212-621-0636, res. req.; Sat. at 2, free.
PLACE FOR JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS
Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts interactive classes incl. "The Portfolio Class," for grades 7 & 8, which teaches technical skills & art-making in the studio (Sat. through 5/12); plus "Sunday Adventures" workshops about African & Asian art (Sun. through 5/20); 1000 5th Ave. (82nd St.), 212-570-5121 to reg.; free w/mus. adm.
SEAWORTHY SATURDAYS & FAMILY FESTIVALS
Monthly creative explorations for quizzical kids, today: learn the different forms of communications seamen use during "Ship to Shore" program at Intrepid-Sea-Air-Space Museum, W. 42nd St. (12th Ave.), 212-245-0072; Sat. 10-3, free w/mus. adm.
SONY WONDER
Sony hosts weekly activities for families. This week, create a visual map for your website during "Planning Your Website" workshop; Sony Plaza, 550 Madison Ave. (55th St.), 212-883-8100 or www.sonywondertechlab.com; Sat. at 11, $25.
SPACE ADVENTURE SWEEPSTAKES
Enter to win a round-trip all-expenses paid jaunt to the Parent/Child Space Camp in Titusville, Florida, incl. accommodations & spending money; log onto www.nabiscoworld.com for details; contest ends July 14.
SUNDAY SCIENCE SPECTACULAR!
Monthly science workshop is "Sensory Communication"?learn how those five senses operate; 92nd St. Y; 212-996-1100 for res. & info; Sun. 10-12, $35/adult & 1 child., $10/additional person.
Things to See & Hear
AN ARTS ODYSSEY
Museum festival for teens & their families presented by Target. This Fri.-Sun., get into 35 museums for only $5; 212-hi5-TKTS or www.high5tix.org for more info.
JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH
As part of the "Family Folk & Fairy Tales" series presented by Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St. (betw. Greenwich & West Sts.), 212-346-8510; Sun. at 1:30, $13, $8 kids.
THE LITTLE MERMAID: A MUSICAL
Will she choose a new love on land or her old life in the sea?; YWCA, 610 Lexington Ave. (53rd St.), 212-866-5170; Sat. & Sun. at 2, $15 [through 5/20].
MAYA THE BEE
Entertaining families for a year now, the jazz puppet play for kids 3-9 is based on German book about a bee who runs away from her hive; Salon Theater, 45 Bleecker St. (Lafayette St.), 212-539-6644; Sat. at 2, $7-$15.
MISS MAJESTY'S LOLLIPOP PLAYHOUSE
The Princess & the Pea (1:30); Pinnochio (3:30); Grove St. Playhouse, 39 Grove St. (betw. Hudson & Bleecker Sts.), RSVP 212-741-6436; Sat. & Sun., $8.50 [through 6/17].
MOTHER'S DAY CARDS
Design the sort of homemade card that moms love so much, during arts & crafts time at the Scholastic Store, 557 B'way (betw. Prince & Spring Sts.), 212-343-6166; Sat. at 11, free.
RAP WRITERS & PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP
Free seminar for teens on the history & business of rap music, perhaps w/a spotlight on "P Diddy's" most recent PR event; Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Ave. (betw. 120th & 122nd Sts.), 212-870-6739; Fri. 7-9 p.m. [through 5/11].
RUMPLE WHO?
Revival of children's classic Rumplestilskin at Thirteenth St. Rep, 50 W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-675-6677; Sun. at 3, $7.
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCKS LIVE! JR.
NY Youth Theater's adaptation of popular 70s cartoon series; 593 Park Ave., 7th fl. (64th St.), RSVP 212-888-0696; Fri. & Sat. at 7, mats. Sat. at 2, Sun. at 3, $12 [through 5/20].
WISEACRE FARM
A birthday on the farm at Thirteenth St. Rep, 50 W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-675-6677; Sat. at 1, $7.