April Vacation: Saturday, April 24

Bessie Suncatchers.
Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. Drop-in 10 a.m. – Noon. (Also April 25).
Hang it in a window at your home and let the sunlight dazzle your dinosaur creation. Admission to both museums $10.50 PP, under 12 months, free. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org

Beany Baby Necklace.
Science Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. Drop-in 1 – 3 p.m.
Make your own special living necklace and watch your baby mung or pinto bean sprout and grow! . Admission to both museums $10.50 PP, under 12 months, free. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org.

Kelsey Flynn is Mother Goose.
The Eric Carle Picture Book Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. Sat., April 24, 1 p.m. Join her and her merry minstrels and sing, rhyme, and even dance your way through beloved tales, songs, and poems. Arrive early, paint a picture and see it used in the production. Lots of audience participation! For prices and details: carlemuseum.org .

North Shore Mothers of Multiples Children's Sale.
North Shore Mothers of Multiples, Second Congregational Church of Beverly, 35 Conant St., Beverly. 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Toys, gear, clothing and more! $1 admission, age 14 and under free. Members of a mothers of twins club can shop at 9 a.m. Cash only sale!
nsmom.org

Art in Bloom Family Day at MFA.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The MFA's annual festival of flowers and art, includes a Family Day, featuring nature-oriented activities for children, as well as special programs and tours. A $20, $18 Sr./St., FREE (17 and under. 617-369-3169, mfa.org

Junior Ranger Day at Boston Harbor Islands.
Boats depart from Quincy Shipyard and Boston’s Long Wharf. Visit the stations of Fort Warren on Georges Island. Climb the stairs of this historic Civil War Fort.Earn your Junior Ranger badge and picnic. Activities are for children and families.Ferry Fare – A $14, C $8. 617-223-8666 or BostonHarborIslands.org

Curious George Flies a Kite.
Boston Children’s Museum. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Learn all about the wind, and kites from around the world. . A $12, C $9, under 1 free. 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org

Conservation Clues!
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge. Choice of two 45-minute sessions: 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Why can’t we touch the artifacts in the museum? Why can’t we eat and drink in the museum? Why are some of the galleries so dark? Explore artifact conservation science and the behind-the-scenes role of conservators. Handle and learn about conservation tools. Then join an educator and hunt throughout the museum to find evidence of conservation at work. A$9, C$6. Free with regular admission; advance registration required and space is limited, call 617-495-2916. Recommended for children ages 7-12 with an accompanying adult. peabody.harvard.edu

FREE Cambridge Science Festival.
MIT, in collaboration with Harvard, the City of Cambridge, WGBH, and the Museum of Science, Boston. See website for times and locations. April 24 – May 2.
The nine-day Cambridge Science Festival features hundreds of events, almost all of them free, taking place throughout Cambridge. The festival promises to make science accessible and engaging through its hands-on workshops, demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, talks, performances, film screenings, and more. This year's highlights include: FREE Science Carnival: Saturday, April 24 Noon – 4 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library and Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School Field House, 449 Broadway St., Cambridge. Be “wow”ed by a unique laser show made especially for the festival,then enjoy more than 50 booths of hands-on science demonstrations and activities for children of all ages -- from grade school to teens. cambridgesciencefestival.org .

FREE Storytime & Craft at the Coop.
The Harvard Coop, 1400 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 11 a.m.
Celebrate earth day with stories and a green craft.

Earth Day Celebration.
Hands On 4 Kidz, 44 Main St., Gardner. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Re-art in the Creation Station! Learn how to reduce, re-use, recycle in unique ways!
Each creation is $4. Bring a canned good and save another 10%. 978-632-2815, handson4kidz.com

FREE Cherry Blossoms.
Arnold Arboretum,125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Drop by the Visitor Center for special family activities on
the last Saturday of each month, April through October. Activities
may include scavenger hunts,science investigations, craft activities, stories, guided walks, and more—discover something new each month!
617-384-5209, arboretum.harvard.edu

Earth Day Celebration.
Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Activities include an aquarium-wide scavenger hunt and pledge station where guests can make a magnet containing an Earth-friendly pledge. Guests can also build their own toy boats out of recycled materials and race them, or play games at various exhibits that test their recycling and