February vacation week is fast approaching and kids will be looking forward to a whole week of play and fun. Parents will be wondering what to do to keep them busy, and perhaps learn something at the same time.

Lucky for them February vacation week is also National Engineering Week at the Boston Children's Museum and the Boston Museum of Science. Children can have a ball experimenting with all different types of projects that will also help them explore the world of engineering.

For the first time, the Boston Children's Museum is offering five days of fun engineering activities that challenges kids to build, design think and rethink in order to build creative construc tions from common household items.

`` We'll be building cars out of paper and straws and weight-bearing bridges out of paper,'' said Alissa Daniels, the science program manager at the Boston Children's Museum. `` It's basically `build the tallest, build the strongest,' there's no right or wrong answer. It's about using what you've got and being creative with it.''

The MIT chapter of the Society of Women Engineers will be there daily from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will be bringing along their own favorite activities like the egg drop, building canister rockets, experiments in kitchen chemistry and making bubble toys. `` Part of their mission is to reach out,'' said Daniels. `` We're really excited to be working with them and give kids a chance to talk with real people who are going to school to be an engineer.''

Activities are daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission into the museum is $9 for adults and $7 for seniors ages 65 and over. Children ages two to 15 are $7. Children aged one year are $2 and children under age one are free. For more information call 617-426-8855 or visit www.bostonkids.org.

The Boston Museum of Science has been holding National Engineering Week since 1990 and is still offering new and fun activities. Activities range from designing and prototyping a cell phone holder (Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) designing, testing and improving creations that kids (eight years and older) can build themselves (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and taking on the role of an engineer where children can design, construct and test a prototype (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon). Some of the items that children will be able to build in the design challenges include windmills and bobsleds.

Engineers and scientists from the museum will also be available for children to talk to and ask questions along with helping kids with daily engineering activities in the exhibits offered by the museum Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission into the engineering activities is included with the exhibit halls admission which is $15 for adults, $12 for children ages three to 11 and $13 for seniors ages 60 and over.

For more information call 617-723-2500 or visit www.mos.org for a complete schedule of daily activities.

Here are some other great activities for children during February vacation week that will keep them busy, having fun and learning:

qc Local/area

The Hockomock Area YMCA in North Attleboro is offering a combined art/music program for children ages eight to 10 from Feb. 21 through Feb 23. The program will feature drawing in the morning which will be conducted by Peter Dudley, a professional artists from the Attleboro Art Museum and learning the art of drumming in the afternoon which will be taught by Rick Moran, a professional music instructor. Participants can choose to attend any of the workshops. Activities will run daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and costs $25 per day per child. Registration for the program is available at the North Attleboro branch members service desk. For more information call 508-695-7001.

The Attleboro YMCA is offering a vacation club and basketball club from Monday Feb. 20 to Friday Feb. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children can participate in arts and crafts, swimming, games and also have time in the gym and to play on computers in the vacation club. It is recommended to register ahead of time. Children will be given the chance to practice their basketball skills in the morning and then use them on the court as they scrimmage in the afternoon in the basketball club. Registration is also recommended. Both clubs are $100 for the whole week. However, children can sign up for individual days for the basketball camp only. Each individual day costs $20. For more information call Corey Guglietti at 508-222-7422 x114 or visit www.attleboroymca.org.

The Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Norfolk is offering a program with daily themed activi ties from Feb. 21 through 24. Tuesday Feb. 21 will be Totally Tubular, `` The World of Weasels,'' Wednesday Feb. 22 will be `` Whoooo's Awake?'' Thursday Feb. 23 will be `` Frozen Frogs: How Do They Spend the Winter?'' and Friday Feb. 24 will be `` Fat, Feathers and Fur.'' People may sin up for any of the programs and they are being offered to children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Admission is $35 for members and $42 for nonmembers per day per child. Pre-registration is required and a confirmation letter and health form will be sent upon registration. For more information call 508-528-3140 or stop by Stony Brook at 108 North St. off Route 115 in Norfolk. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon presents its `` Elemental Vacation Days'' from Feb. 20 to24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for children ages five to 11. Daily activities range from indoor activities, outdoor exploration, crafts and games and each day is a different theme. Monday's theme is `` Fire,'' Tuesday's theme is `` Earth,'' Wednesday's theme is `` Wood,'' Thursday's theme is `` Air,'' and Friday's theme is `` Water.'' Children can sign up for the whole week or sign up for individual days. Each individual day is $50 dollars for members and $60 for nonmembers. A discount of $20 dollars is offered on the fourth and fifth days per week. Children are encouraged to dress for the weather. For more information call 781-784-5691 or visit www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Moose_Hill/index.php for a complete listing of activities.

The Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary presents `` Preschool Meanders'' for children ages four to six on Tuesday Feb. 21 and Thursday Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon. Children can spend part of their vacation exploring for signs of the season and learning about our feathered friends. Kids can enjoy games, crafts, stories and outdoor exploration. The fee is $25 per day for members and $35 for nonmembers. Children are encouraged to dress for the weather. For more information call 781-784-5691 or visit www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Moose_Hill/index.php for a complete listing of activities.

Children's Museum in Easton presents February School Vacation Week: Ben Franklin Style. The museum invites children to come learn about and pay tribute to Ben Franklin as he celebrates his 300th birthday this year. Children can make a lightning bolt in a jar, attend a birthday party and eat cake and even meet Ben Franklin. Along with hands-on exhibits that feature the arts, sciences and humanities, daily activities that highlight the work of Ben Franklin will also be available. Museum hours during February vacation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. All activities are free with admission. Admission is $6 per person and members and children under one are free. Daily activities change so for a complete schedule or more information call 508-230-3789 or visit www.childrensmuseumineaston.org.

qc Boston area

Disney Presents Pixar's The Incredibles in a Magic Kingdom Adventure is coming to TD Banknorth Garden in Boston Feb. 17 to 26. Tickets are $15 and are available at the TD Banknorth Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 617-931-2000 or online at www.tdbanknorthgarden.com and www.disneyonice.com.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston presents February School Vacation Week Adventures, Feb. 20 to 24. The Museum will offer Artful Elements, where kids can participate in art-making such as sculpting clay objects and drawing and making collages while also exploring art exhibitions like `` West African Gold: Akan Regalia from the Glassell Collection'' and `` Facets of Cubism.'' Kids can also enjoy musical performances of African Dancing and Drumming with Jafar Manselle and friends and Grand Master Tsuji XI Samurai Taiko Drummers. February School Vacation Week Adventures is free for children ages 17 and under with paid adult admission. Admission is free for members. Nonmember adults are $15 and seniors and students 18 and older are $13. For more information call 617-2679300 or visit www.mfa.org for a full schedule of events.

The USS Constitution Museum will be offering crafts for children and families from Feb. 22 to 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. You can create your own puppet and participate in the museum's puppet theater. You can also visit the model show and the exhibits as well as participate in other free hands-on activities. Admission into the museum is free. For more information call Sherri Sklar at 617-4261812 x106 or email her at ssklar(at)(at)ussconstitutionmuseum.org. For directions and general information about the museum visit www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston is showing a special viewing of the Wizard of Oz from Feb. 19 to 23 at noon along with a special presentation of The Ugly Duckling presented by Tribe for Children on Feb. 25 and 26 at 10:30 a.m. Tickets for the Wizard of Oz are $3 for both adults and children. Tickets for The Ugly Duckling are $10 for adults and $8 for children. For more information call 617-734-2501 or visit www.coolidge.org.

The Boston Museum of Science presents Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination and The Millennium Falcon, from Feb. 18 to Feb 26. This exhibit allows visitors to see a combination of props and costumes from all six Star Wars episodes with realworld technologies. Tickets for adults are $20 for nonmembers and $3 for members, $18 for nonmember seniors ages 60 and over and $3 for senior members. Children ages three to 11 are $17 for nonmembers and $3 for members. There are additional prices for the multimedia tour add-on and the Millennium Falcon simulation. Reserved tickets are strongly recommended. For more information call 617-723-2500 or visit www.mos.org for a complete schedule of daily activities.

The Bostonian Society is offering Historical Children's Crafts and Games during February school vacation week. Kids can learn what children their age did for fun during the 18th and 19th centuries. Children can try calligraphy and make and take home arts and crafts at the Old State House. Activities run all week from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free with admission. Admission is free to Mass. residents.

qc Providence/RI

Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence is presenting `` Hibernation Celebration'' from Feb. 20 to 24. The celebration includes winter-themed activities, crafts and presentations. Children can learn to identify animal tracks and learn the different methods that animals use to survive the cold winter months. They will also get a chance to meet Arthur, the popular PBS animated character when he makes a special appearance on Thursday Feb. 23. Activities are daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are free with zoo admission. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children ages three to 12. Children under three and zoo members are admitted for free. For more information call 401-785-3510 or visit www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org.

Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI is holding a series of school vacation activities designed to demonstrate how people lived during the Industrial Revolution. Daily hands-on activities will be held throughout the week. Monday there will be spinning and weaving; Tuesday and Thursday ttin-smithing and puppetmaking; Wednesday and Friday open-hearth cooking. All activities take place during the mill's regular hours, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the exception of tin-smithing and puppet-making on Tuesday and Thursday at 1 p.m. Admission for adults ages 13 to 64 is $9. Seniors ages 65 and over are $8 and children ages 6-12 are $7. Children under 6 free. Additional $5 material charge for each activity if children are interested in making and taking their projects home. For more information and complete scheduling call 401-725-8638 or visit www.slatermill.org.

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FAMILY FUN WEEK, presented by Rhode Island PBS and CollegeBoundfund 5&10 Matching Grant Program runs from Monday Friday, Feb 20-24, with free things to do each day of February vacation in five different locations throughout the greater Providence area. On Monday, there will be hugs and photos with Clifford the Big Red Dog at the Warwick Mall from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. On Tuesda,y see `` Deep Sea 3D'' at the Feinstein Imax Theatre at Providence Place Mall at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. before the film officially opens next month (Limit of four passes per family and advanced registration required) Wednesday, there will be ice skating and free skate rentals at the Bank of America City Center skating rink at Kennedy Plaza in Providence from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Limit of four passes per family and a parent or adult guardian must be present). .On Thursday, kids can meet the animated character Arthur the Aardvark from PBS's popular animated series at the Roger Williams Park Zoo from noon to 3 p.m. There will be free zoo admission advanced registration is required. On Friday, there will be free admission into the Providence Children's Museum on 100 South Street from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Children can meet both Clifford the Big Red Dog and Arthur. For event registration and more information visit www.Ripbs.org or call 401-222-3636 ext. 220. For photos, parents and guardians are encouraged to bring their own cameras to the events.

The 18th Annual Newport Winter Festival presents `` Harbor Lights and Frosty Nights'' from Friday Feb. 17 through Sunday Feb. 26. The festival features over 150 events throughout the week. Purchasing a Winter Festival button for $7.00 will result in free admission or significant discounts to certain events. Events include the two-day Children's Fair on Feb. 19 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for games, art projects, face painting and balloon artists, plus magic shows at 2:30 p.m. each day, gymnastics demonstrations, Danoe the Clow, the Live Rainforest Reptile show, and Newport Fire Department demonstrations. On Tuesday, there will be a Balloon Making Workshop from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Newport Harbor Hotel. On Wednesday there will be Teddy Bear Story Time at 11 a.m. at the Hampton Inn and Suites. Also on Wednesday, the `` Kid's Dance Party'' will feature a performance by the dance team, `` Dance Force'' from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Rhino Bar & Grille at 337 Thames Street. `` Jazz for Kids'' will take place Thursday, 1-4 p.m. at Greenvale Vineyards located at 582 Wapping Road in Portsmouth. `` The Lucky Show,'' a magic show by the magician Lucky will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom on Goat Island. For a free Winter Festival brochure, contact the Festival Office at 401-847-7666 or visit online at www.newportwinterfestival.com for more information and a complete schedule of events.

Blackstone River Valley is offering `` Seasonal Recreation in the Valley'' where people can enjoy a winter walk or even a bicycle ride, such as the Blackstone River Bikeway which span through Lincoln and Cumberland, R.I. The bike bath is adjacent to the Blackstone River and the Blackstone Canal and also runs through historic factory villages. Other sites include the Wilbur Kelly House, located under the George Washington Highway and the Blackstone River Bikeway Visitor Center which offers information on other area attractions and destination, restrooms and coffee and ice-cream shops. For more information contact the State of Rhode Island Parks & Recreation Division at 401-222-2632 or visit www.riparks.com/blacksto.htm

qc Worcester and points west

The EcoTarium in Worcester is hosting February Vacation Week Fun where kids can participate in hands-on activities that help them explore the wild. Kids can learn about the different creatures that live in trees, see different images of tree houses from all over the world and try different building techniques at the EcoTarium's Tree Houses exhibit. The museum floor will also have hands-on investigations such as decorating the museum trees by making their own leaves, birds and bugs or a hands-on investigation of owl pellets. The events will take place on Feb. 19 and Feb. 21 to 26. The Tree Houses exhibit and hands-on investigations are free with admission into the EcoTarium. Planetarium tickets are $3.50. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $8 for children ages three to 18, seniors and students. For more information call 508-929-2700 or visit www.ecotarium.org for a full schedule.

Old Sturbridge Village presents Winter Kids Fest from Feb. 18 to Feb. 26 where kids and families can enjoy various hands-on activities, tours and performances. Visitors can go for rides on horse drawn sleighs or wagons and those who bring skates can go skating at the skating area on the historical common. Hot cider and cocoa will be sold at the Miner Grant Store and Bake Shop. Activities run daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and over, $5 for youths ages three to 17 and admission is free for children under three. For more information call 508-347-3362 or visit www.osv.org.