Calendar

Come and play games galore!  We will have a lot of your favorite board games available: Monopoly, Clue, Connect Four, Twister, and MORE. For ages 4 and up.

Boswick Turnstyle the Clown!"

Come see the wonderful Boswick! 

Summer Reading Begins!

Come and take your turn petting all kinds of farm animals: A pig, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, bunnies, guinea pigs, and more! Call to sign up for a time slot!

This SPCA program pairs trained dog-and-owner therapy teams with children to grow children's literacy, self-confidence, and socio-empathic skills. Wonderful for those learning to read, who  "underperform," or for whom extra attention in vocabulary or grammar is desired.  Your child will adore reading to this calm canine companion in a non-judgmental setting!  For ages 4-7 but older welcome. Call 415-355-5707 to reserve your spot. Space limited.

Family Theater with Marionettes for little kids!  Sing-along and Dancing. For kids 5 and younger!

Summer is the time for bubbles and no one blows bubbles like Rebecca Nile. She will astound you with her unique bubble creations! For ages 5 and younger.

Join us at the 3rd San Francisco Green Film Festival for this special free event!

This year, attendees will learn about the threats of plastic pollution to animals and humans, and talk with experts in this area.

Film line-up:

-  Winners from the 2013 Breathe California student video contest (8 mins) - sponsored by SF Green Film Festival.

-  “Scars of Freedom” (6 mins) - A moving film about a whale’s struggle for survival off the coast of Chile’s Juan Fernandez Archipelago, from filmmaker Celine Cousteau.

-  “Coastguards” (4 mins) - A short film about humanity’s obsession and mixture of fear and fascination for sharks.

-  “Plastic Paradise” (57 mins) - Travel with filmmaker Angela Sun to Midway Atoll, a remote island in the Pacific, as she seeks to uncover the mystery behind the island of garbage that everyone has heard of but no one truly understands. What she discovers is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an island littered with plastics, causing great harm not only to our beaches, oceans, and sea life, but to ourselves. Midway sees 20 tons of plastic trash wash ashore each year and as we watch her sift through ordinary household items among the debris – reusable coffee mugs, flip flops, lighters, even a computer monitor – we find ourselves uncomfortably complicit. This film tackles a seriously daunting problem with high energy and humor, archival footage, and animation as it tracks down the who, what, where and why of this phenomena. Along the way Sun speaks to scientists, environmental activists, the plastic bag guy, marine researchers, plastics industry representatives, even Jack Johnson, to get a sense of how our obsession with plastic began, where it all went wrong and how we can fix it.   Discussion following films.

All are welcome to attend this free festival program. Further Information: http://sfgreenfilmfest.org  

 This is a Stegner Environmental Center, San Francisco Green Film Festival and Green Stacks Program.

Our homes are sacred places that should be safe and free of contaminants but they're typically one of the most polluted places we encounter.  One of the easiest ways to rid your home of these contaminants is to switch to natural and safe home cleaning products, but why spend ten dollars for a fancy brand-name bottle when you can make your own for pennies on the dollar?  

Learn how to save money and "green your cleaning" by making your own safe and natural home cleaning supplies!  From dishwasher to laundry soap, glass cleaner to wood polish, we de-mystify natural cleaning and free you from expensive brand name cleaners.  You'll leave with  some cheat sheets and recipes to make your products at home.

Presented by Nicole Easterday who is an Oakland resident, urban farmer and founder of FARMcurious, an organization dedicated to educating, inspiring and equipping urban homesteaders in the Bay Area. 

Igor, the assistant of an evil scientist, is determined to become a scientist himself and win first prize at the Evil Science Fair.

The San Francisco Zoo will bring animals from different habitats, including some that live in our own backyards, but you might not realize they are there. The exact species visiting will be a surprise - possible animals include tortoises, owls, snakes, opossums and more. For children ages 4 and older.  Space is limited to 35 people.  For more information or registration, please contact Alice at 415-355-2848 or alicechan@sfpl.org

Stretch and pose with Michelle Wing from It's Yoga, Kids.

Dana Smith - California's Phenomenal Juggler!

The San Francisco Zoo brings animals from different habitats, including some that live in our own backyards, but you might not realize it. The exact species visiting will be a surprise - possible animals include tortoises, owls, snakes, opossums and more. For children ages 4 and older.  Space is limited to 35 people. Tickets will be given out at Children's Ref desk day of performance.

Tons of bubbles fun with the Bubble Lady, Rebecca Niles!

In this hands-on, jewelry workshop, local designer and entrepreneur Chelsee Robinson will guide you in creating your own beautiful bracelet, necklace or earrings. Materials provided. Space is limited. Please call for a reservation. For children 5 and older.

Come pet friendly farm animals, including goats, sheep, rabbits, a pot belly pig, and more. For children of all ages.

Brave San Francisco firefighters will come to talk simply about fire safety and show off their marvelous firetruck. A must for all firetruck fans! Firefighters are on duty, so there is a chance they will get called away to fight a fire.  For ages 5 and under.

Author and photographer, James Martin, presents a slide show of over 220 photographs from his coffee table-sized book. The Islands of San Francisco Bay chronicles the Bay’s 48 islands, and aims to capture the wildness of these Island habitats. Learn more about Island ecology, the birds, animals, plants and Island topography.

Perrin and Cluzaud clearly aim to discourage pollution and encourage conservation, but their movie mostly serves as a treat for the eyes and ears As narrator Pierce Brosnan states, "The Ocean is alive," and the crew spent four years crossing the globe to capture its most intriguing sights, from the salt-encrusted marine iguanas of the Galápagos Islands to the silky fur seals of South Africa.

Green Saturdays@ Bernal takes place the second Saturday of every month. The program features hands-on activities and useful information for sustainable living.  This program is for all ages and we encourage family participation.

This SPCA program pairs trained dog-and-owner therapy teams with children to grow children's literacy, self-confidence, and socio-empathic skills. Wonderful for those learning to read, who  "underperform," or for whom extra attention in vocabulary or grammar is desired.  Your child will adore reading to this calm canine companion in a non-judgmental setting!  For ages 4-7 but older welcome. Call 415-355-5707 to reserve your spot. Space is limited.

Rebecca Nile - "The Bubble Lady!"

The biggest bubbles in the world!  Big bubbles!  Huge bubbles!

Much fun with lots of chances for children to participate with the amazing Bubble Lady!

Brave San Francisco firefighters will come to talk simply about fire safety and show off their marvelous firetruck. A must for all firetruck fans! For ages 5 and under.

Clown Around with Jimbo the Clown

Toddler tales

Explore the world of sharks, skates and rays!  Participants will also discover the importance of sharks in marine environments, the threats they face, and what Aquarium of the Bay is doing to help protect them. For ages 6-11.

Clown around with Jimbo the Clown!

Come learn about the principles of air and pressure. The Mad Scientist will make a hot air balloon and a vortex generator that makes giant smoke rings. Children will get to see an incredible exothermic reaction take place. For ages 4 and older. Groups, please call for reservations at (415) 355-5770.

Join Sophie in a  fun filled evening of family crafts.  All ages welcome!

Explore the world of sharks, skates and rays, with Aquarium of the Bay!  Through Naturalist-led, hands-on activities, find out how sharks are a special kind of fish with unique adaptations to help them find food and survive.  Participants will also discover the importance of sharks in marine environments, the threats they face, and what Aquarium of the Bay is doing to help protect them. Ages 6 and up. Advance sign-ups Required

Want to pick up a new skill and have tons of fun in the process? Come join us in this hands-on workshop and learn how to fold paper into just about anything. Origami artist Shinta Arifin will show you how! All materials provided. For ages 4-12.

Power-up your engineering skills with Play-Well TEKnologies and over 100,000 pieces of LEGO®! Kids apply real-world concepts in physics, engineering, and architecture through motorized projects designed by engineers.  For ages 5 and older.

Drop-in and get creative building with LEGOs. We provide all the pieces you'll need to create vehicles, robots, castles and more.

Learn about honey bees with beekeeper/educator Tim Muhrlin. Space is limited. Please call for a reservation. For children 3 and older.

It’s a show that is in love with the library. You'll be amazed! For children of all ages.

Origami artist  Shinta Arifin will get you folding some wonderful things! For ages 6-up.

Learn to create and draw dynamic comic book characters, backgrounds, and storylines with expression and movement. You will produce several cartoon scenes and the start of a comic book. Space is limited, please call for reservations, 355-2880.

Have you always been disappointed by your efforts to grow your own vegetable starts from seed? Do your seeds turn out long-necked and weak looking? Do they fall over dead before you can even put them in the ground? If you’ve ever frustrated by growing seeds out, or have never tried and want to, this class will teach you the basics you need to know to get growing. The class will also introduce the SFPL seed library at Potrero Hill so attendees can take advantage of the free seeds on offer! Attendees will leave with one container, planted (correctly!) with their choice of vegetable.

Magic Dan will WOW you with amazing sleights of hand and magic! Magic for children of all ages.

Toddler tales

Build a monkey out of LEGOs and learn how to program it to move and tap out a beat on a drum using motors and gears. For kids ages 7 and up. Space is limited. Sign-up by calling the library at (415) 355-5770.

Siblings run away from home and decide to move into the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art , where they soon discover there is a mystery to be solved.

The Insect Discovery Lab

The Center for Ecosystem Survival presents The Insect Discovery Lab.  Real live insects for you to learn about and maybe even hold!

Love LEGOs? We do too! Join us to build fabulous LEGO projects. Ages 5 and older.

Glenn R. Stewart of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group and Nick Dunlop, photographer, will discuss falcons in a changing world.  Their presentation will be accompanied by Dunlop's extraordinary photographs and video of wild peregrine falcons in the Bay Area, and a live falcon.  Falcons that once nested in remote cliffs are now nesting in cities on man-made structures such as buildings and bridges.  In 1970 there were only two known nesting pairs of peregrines in California; today the population has recovered to over 250 known nesting pairs, including several in the Bay Area. 

Sponsored by the the Wallace Stegner Environmental Center.

Magician Gerald Joseph will WOW you with amazing sleights of hand and magic! For ages 4 and up.

Magician Gerald Joseph will WOW you with amazing sleights of hand and magic! For ages 4 and up.

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with a perfect introduction to the joys of gardening. In this hands-on workshop, Jonathan Silverman, Founder and Managing Director of Feel the Earth, will offer LEARN the ART of SEEDING for children and their families. You will learn how seeds work, best ways to plant seeds, how to care for your seedlings, and begin to cultivate fresh produce or blossoms. Research shows that gardening improves children’s learning, self-confidence, health & feeling of community spirit. For ages 2 and older.

Clown around with gentle Jimbo and his accordian!

Featuring music, clowning, juggling, and audience participation. For ages 5 and younger.

Join the fun and sing along with Alison Faith Levy, a wonderful children's musician, songwriter, and formerly "Sippy Alison" from the beloved San Francisco band The Sippy Cups!

Brave San Francisco firefighters will come to talk simply about fire safety and show off their marvelous firetruck. A must for all firetruck fans! Firefighters are on duty, so there is a chance they will get called away to fight a fire.  For ages 5 and under.

Come and play games galore!  We will have a lot of your favorite board games available: Monopoly, Clue, Connect Four, Twister, and MORE. For ages 4 and up.

Simple Machines

Recommended ages: 8+

Simple Machine & Powered Machines were designed for ages 8-up.  The kits enable children to be young engineers, designers & scientists.  Through use of the materials children are encouraged to think creatively about how things work and establish links between cause and effect.  The materials provided enable children make machines such as windmills, power cars, dogbots, clock mechanisms, fishing rods, letter balances & various vehicles. Limit 10 children. Please call for a reservation. 355-2822

Bonnie Lockhart - Songs and Stories!

For children of all ages

Join Tammy from Destiny Art Center and learn a new skill! Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial-art that incorporates dance, agility, grace, music, instrumentation and play. Participants will learn the fundamentals of capoeira movements, philosophy, instruments and call and response songs. For ages 5-up, space limited to 30 participants arriving day of class.

In this hands-on workship with Jonathan Silverman children will learn how seeds work, best ways to plant seeds, how to care for their seedlings, and begin to cultivate their own fresh produce or blossoms! For ages 5 and up.

Simple Machines

Recommended ages: 8+

Simple Machine & Powered Machines were designed for ages 8-up.  The kits enable children to be young engineers, designers & scientists.  Through use of the materials children are encouraged to think creatively about how things work and establish links between cause and effect.  The materials provided enable children make machines such as windmills, power cars, dogbots, clock mechanisms, fishing rods, letter balances & various vehicles. Limit 10 children. Please call for a reservation. 355-2822

San Francisco has some of the greatest landmarks in the world. Join Felicia as she shares a little history. Create an edible mosaic of the site you like best. Ages 5 and up. Advance sign-ups required.

Feel the Earth and Learn the Art of Seeding:  In this hands-on workshop learn how seeds work, the best ways to plant seeds and begin to cultivate fresh produce or blossoms. Take home your very own seedling and learn how to take care of it.  Open to children 2 yrs. old and their families.

Warm up to some cool, cold-blooded creatures. The Lizard Lady will show and share her extensive knowledge of snakes, lizards and exotic reptiles. For ages 5 and older. Groups, please call for reservations at (415) 355-5770.

Green Golly Project presents "Little Kids Little Songs." A wonderful introductionto live music, comedy and theatre for little kids. Space is limited. Please call up to six days in advance for a reservation. For children of all ages.

Toddler tales

Toddler tales

Toddler tales

Kodi SKodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mitz-Plasse

Focus Focus Features; Directed by Chris Butler and Sam Fell

Rated PG; 92 minutes; 2012 When a small town comes under siege by zombies, who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst, of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.

Space is limited. Please call up to 6 days in advance for a reservation.

The Insect Discovery Lab provides youth with an opportunity to handle and explore the fantastic lives of millipedes, walking sticks, whip scorpions and more while learning about the extraordinarily diverse world in which they live and their key role in the web of life.

 Green Saturdays@ Bernal takes place the second Saturday of every month. The program features hands-on activities and useful information for sustainable living.  This program is for all ages and we encourage family participation. Limit to first 25 participants

Perrin and Cluzaud clearly aim to discourage pollution and encourage conservation, but their movie mostly serves as a treat for the eyes and ears As narrator Pierce Brosnan states, "The Ocean is alive," and the crew spent four years crossing the globe to capture its most intriguing sights, from the salt-encrusted marine iguanas of the Galápagos Islands to the silky fur seals of South Africa.

Green Saturdays@ Bernal takes place the second Saturday of every month. The program features hands-on activities and useful information for sustainable living.  This program is for all ages and we encourage family participation.

Perrin and Cluzaud clearly aim to discourage pollution and encourage conservation, but their movie mostly serves as a treat for the eyes and ears As narrator Pierce Brosnan states, "The Ocean is alive," and the crew spent four years crossing the globe to capture its most intriguing sights, from the salt-encrusted marine iguanas of the Galápagos Islands to the silky fur seals of South Africa.

Green Saturdays@ Bernal takes place the second Saturday of every month. The program features hands-on activities and useful information for sustainable living.  This program is for all ages and we encourage family participation.

Perrin and Cluzaud clearly aim to discourage pollution and encourage conservation, but their movie mostly serves as a treat for the eyes and ears As narrator Pierce Brosnan states, "The Ocean is alive," and the crew spent four years crossing the globe to capture its most intriguing sights, from the salt-encrusted marine iguanas of the Galápagos Islands to the silky fur seals of South Africa.

Green Saturdays@ Bernal takes place the second Saturday of every month. The program features hands-on activities and useful information for sustainable living.  This program is for all ages and we encourage family participation.

Perrin and Cluzaud clearly aim to discourage pollution and encourage conservation, but their movie mostly serves as a treat for the eyes and ears As narrator Pierce Brosnan states, "The Ocean is alive," and the crew spent four years crossing the globe to capture its most intriguing sights, from the salt-encrusted marine iguanas of the Galápagos Islands to the silky fur seals of South Africa.

Green Saturdays@ Bernal takes place the second Saturday of every month. The program features hands-on activities and useful information for sustainable living.  This program is for all ages and we encourage family participation.