Dear Friends,

Thank you to everyone who visited CMEE recently! We had 60% more visitors last month than we did in April 2010. In addition to our "Mad Hatter Tea Party" and our daily Spring Break programs in April, CMEE hosted "Respite Night" with the Flying Point Foundation for Autism and Sag Harbor Elementary School's Bingo Night. We have just as many activities planned for the month ahead with Peconic Family Fun Day, Roots and Shoots Gardening Class, and Welcome Summer Day! On May 18, we're also helping to sponsor Classroom Connection for area Third Graders in Sag Harbor's Mashashimuet Park. I'm also delighted that CMEE is collaborating with the Cornell Cooperative Extension and Hampton Community Healthcare starting this month on a weekly family nutrition class at the Museum. Read below for more details about these programs.

Kids at CMEE weren't the only ones getting active, I was thrilled to participate last month with dozens of CMEE parents and friends in the first ever Spin for CMEE fundraiser organized by CMEE Trustee, Adeline Neubert. Thank you to Romaine Gordon for providing the bikes and class instructors at B-East!

This month, CMEE will undertake its annual "Spring Clean Up" from May 16 through 20 when the Museum will be closed to the public. While we're painting and rearranging CMEE, we're also planning updates to several of the permanent exhibits to further promote learning through play. In light of our increasing traffic and wear-and-tear, CMEE needs to "Refresh and Refurbish" just as our growing children need new outfits, school supplies, and shoes. For example, we're renovating the Windmill exhibit and installing a new exhibit in place of the computers in the General Store. Make sure to visit CMEE during the next few months to see what other changes we've made! I also hope you'll help CMEE continue to grow by supporting our "Refresh and Refurbish" fundraising effort.

Not only is CMEE busy during the month of May, read our new Community Calendar below for information about many other events being sponsored by non-profit organizations serving families in our community. If you'd like CMEE to list your charity event in a future edition of CMEE's E-News, please email [email protected].

Looking ahead, this month's E-News has plenty of information about our plans for the summer. We're offering a full slate of classes in art, tumbling, sports, gardening, and music, along with weekly performances in our outdoor amphitheater. In addition, we're planning our annual family fair, CMEE's summer fundraiser for July 23. Save the date!

Because of your interest and support, CMEE can enrich the lives of children and families and strengthen the East End community. I'm very grateful!

Sincerely,

Stephen Long

Executive Director

This Saturday, May 7

10am - 12 noon 

CMEE is delighted to provide the venue for the debut in the East End of

"Kids in Sports" classes for a week long camp during the first week of school vacation!

This popular drop-off program is geared for 3-5 year olds and will run from 9am-12pm and includes a snack and juice. Little athletes can play baseball, football, soccer, capture the flag and participate in relay races and parachute games with friends and great "Kids in Sports" coaches. 

For fee information or to register, visit www.kisnyc.com or call 212-744-4900.

Tractors are a common sight on farms and fields across the East End, particularly this season, but to the delight of young CMEE visitors, an antique John Deere tractor is now a big attraction inside, in the Museum's lobby.

This spring and summer, CMEE is planning to "Refresh and Refurbish" the exhibitions at CMEE. Dean Foster, whose family has farmed here for generations, helped us make one of our first changes by loaning a 1935 John Deere Tractor, which he restored when he was twelve years old. According to Dean, this medium-sized tractor was used for light tillage, pulling a two bottom tow plow, or a small disc harrow.

Thank you to Dean and the entire Foster Family!

CMEE will be closed Monday to Friday, May 16-20 for our annual spring cleaning. During this time, we'll be making repairs, painting, and enhancing exhibits! We will reopen on Saturday, May 21.

You can help celebrate our fresh look at CMEE's "Welcome Summer Day" on Sunday, May 22!

Memorial Day may be the unofficial start of summer, but we're welcoming summer a week early at CMEE. On Sunday, May 22 from 12pm - 1:30pm, join us for a festive mix of indoor and outdoor activities including a "Family Cultural Fair," sponsored by Global Awareness and Au Pair in America! 

Take a 'trip around the world' visiting au pairs from Au Pair in America. All children will receive a 'passport' to use while visiting the au pairs' country tables where they will receive flag stickers and learn about each country, participate in crafts and even learn a few words in a new language.

In addition, you can find out about all of the great programs happening at CMEE this summer, including classes, amphitheater performances, and exhibits.

Special Golf Opportunity!

Monday, May 9 

Golf Fans...this is for you! 

First round of the season? Enjoy a great day of 'warming up' -- CMEE golfers are eligible to tune up their game on Monday, May 9 by playing the Olde Vine Golf Club in Riverhead, which was specially designed to blend the East End's rich environmental qualities with a challenging course layout. Flexible tee times are available.  Following the round, participants can stay overnight at the Hotel Indigo. Thanks to Olde Vine Golf Club and Hotel Indigo, the cost for the round of golf and overnight stay is $150 and is considered a fully tax deductible contribution to CMEE.

To register, call the Hotel Indigo at 631-369-2200 or email [email protected].

Pictured from left: Stan Shopkorn, Heidi Wald, Tracy Shopkorn, Donato Cuttone, Emilie Cuttone, Christine Mastro and Frank Gallipoli.

CMEE's annual Summer Family Fair is 'going to the circus' this year! In fact, the circus is coming to CMEE.

On July, 23, you can step right up to CMEE's Family Fair, the Greatest Show on the East End this summer! Featuring performers from the famed Big Apple Circus, this day of family fun will benefit the Children's Museum of the East End.

Juggling, bounce houses, slapstick, face painters, pony rides, magic, music, games, arts & crafts, great food, and more. It will be big-time big-top fun!

For ticket information, visit www.cmee.org or call (631) 537-8250.

CMEE is delighted to announce a partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Hampton Community Healthcare to present a free Nutrition and Well Being program at the Museum. Designed for parents of young children, the program meets on Thursdays from 4:30pm - 5:30pm.

Every participant will receive a completion certificate from Cornell University Cooperative Extension and a personalized nutrition analysis.

To register, call Hampton Community Healthcare at (631) 726-8033, or Cornell University Cooperative Extension / Juana Huertas (631) 727-7850 ext. 378.

As you can see, being a Museum Mascot isn't all work and no play! Here I am with my winning Bingo card at the recent Sag Harbor Elementary School Bingo Night at CMEE. But speaking of fun....have you seen the simply glorious green tractor in the lobby yet? It's quite a beauty, and fun to climb on and drive. I think it's the perfect d�cor and view from my hutch, and makes me think of all the wonderful yummy tidbits growing in the ground for my munching pleasure. By the way, hope to see you here next Wednesay for CMEE's New "Roots & Shoots" Gardening Class! (My personal vote for 'Best New Class' at CMEE...no surprise!)

MoonSoup, which rents and runs the gift shop at CMEE will soon be adding 'sushi' and other healthy snacks to their family-friendly menu! Now parents will have more lunch options to extend their visit to the Museum, and children can also still enjoy a variety of yummy ice-cream bars and treats.

In addition, the store is carrying an extended line of beautiful, distinctive Indian clothing for both girls and boys - even Mom's, as you'll see in the photo below! 

It was a day of mad fun all around at CMEE's annual Mad Hatter Tea Party in April --- complete with a Zany Kakes multi-tiered "tea cup" cake, a visit from "Alice" herself and

Henry the Rabbit, CMEE's mascot.