Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend Jan 11-12: Geocaching, LEGO Windmills, Fancy Nancy & More!

1/8/14 - By Sasha Muzzarelli

Hang in there Jersey! Though you probably can’t feel your toes (or nose or fingers) because of the bitter cold, milder temps are headed our way! If you’ve got a major case of cabin fever, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty of fun and educational outdoor events this weekend. Burn off some energy with the kids at the Winter Exploration Geocache at Stony Brook-Millstone Reserve or learn about maple syruping with hands-on demos at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum. If you’re looking to stay indoors, get pumped for the Super Bowl with the Gridiron Glory exhibit at Liberty Science Center or take in a performance of Fancy Nancy at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. And don't miss our great giveaway--a winter session at Kidville Montclair, valued at $400, so enter today!

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Gridiron Glory (Jersey City, NJ)
Just in time for the “Big Game” at MetLife Stadium, this awesome exhibit at Liberty Science Center combines sports, history and culture into an interactive exhibition. Explore the history and vigor of this all-American sport with rare historical artifacts (like the Vince Lombardi trophy) and hands-on fun with an instant replay booth and the chance to try on vintage football gear! The exhibition even features a Hometown Heroes section showcasing the Giants & Jets teams.

Saturday, January 11th

Winter Exploration Geocache (Pennington, NJ)
This “event-cache” at Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve is a great introduction to the popular hobby of geocaching, as well as the ecology of wintertime. Track different animals, learn to identify winter weeds & insect galls and much more. Appropriate for both beginners and experienced cachers.

Windmills and Wind Power (Morristown, NJ)
Head to Morris Museum and join together with 50 families to build a windmill with LEGO brick building blocks! You’ll learn about the importance of wind power off the coast of New Jersey while rolling up your sleeves to get creative.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (West Windsor, NJ)
Laugh and sing along with Alexander’s misadventures in this hilarious musical from Theatreworks/USA and Two Beans Productions featuring book and lyrics by Judith Viorst, author of the best-selling classic book.  Discover along with Alexander that sometimes, everyone has a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Lenape for a Day (Newtown, NJ)
How did the Lenape make their clothing, build shelters, grow crops, fish & hunt and make tools hundreds of years ago? Participants at Kittatinny Valley State Park will have the opportunity to touch authentic masks, clothing, musical instruments, tools and other artifacts during this unique slide-illustrated program focusing on the everyday village life of Lenape men, women and children of New Jersey.

Tap that Tree! (Summit, NJ)
In late winter, buckets can be seen hanging from many of the maple trees at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum. In this program, families will not only learn the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ behind tapping trees, but will get experience first hand by actually helping staff do it!

Insects in Winter Hike (Pennington, NJ)
During the cold winter months, insects and spiders seemingly disappear outdoors. Join the Stony Brook-Millstone Education Director Jeff Hoagland on an outdoor insect safari in search of their winter homes. Learn about insect ‘antifreeze’ and how to identify eggs and cocoons. And of course, let the kids burn off some energy as they hike the winter trails!

Sunday, January 12th

Fancy Nancy: The Musical (Morristown, NJ)
When it comes to being fancy, Nancy believes more is better. From her tiara to her sparkly shoes, she’s out to teach her family a thing or two about being fancy. Sit back and enjoy this entertaining musical (based on the popular book series Fancy Nancy) at the Mayo Performing Arts Center with Nancy and her pals as they audition for a play and deal with the ups and downs that follow.

Check out our GO NJ List, with our top picks of awesome things to do for kids in the upcoming month; GO JANUARY is hot off the presses!

And don't forget: We have additional activity listings in our Event Calendar. And if you are heading into NYC for the weekend make sure you visit the New York City Mommy Poppins events calendar to get the latest on all the fun to be had NYC-style.

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