The World’s A Classroom

THE WORLD’S A

Whatever your young scholar’s passion, there’s a nearby place to visit for lively, on-the-spot learning.

By Darius Amos

Kids have proved they can learn in any environment, from a traditional school setting to a makeshift desk at the kitchen table. But enrichment often goes beyond a classroom curriculum, and students are encouraged to explore their interests by going out into the “real” world— whether they’re a budding William Shakespeare or Elon Musk. Happily, our area abounds in educational places to visit for which no textbook or computer-screen image is an adequate substitute. Which of these categories describes your young scholar? (Hint: You don’t have to stick with just one.)

HISTORY BUFFS:

Perhaps your kids saw the Broadway production of Hamilton, either on TV or on stage prepandemic, or maybe they’re curious about life in their greatgreat-great-great grandparents’ time. If so, a trip to The Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus is a must. The 4.9-acre property includes the 14-room Gothic Revival house/ museum, Bergen County’s first National Historical Landmark. The Hermitage, along with another dwelling on the original estate owned by the Bartow family, at one time housed revolutionary figures including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe and the Marquis de Lafayette. It’s also the site where Theodosia Bartow Prevost married Aaron Burr after her first husband (a British Army officer) died during the war in 1782. Besides the Hermitage, which is open all year long, the grounds include revolutionary artifacts, the 1890 John Rosencrantz home and gardens maintained by the Master Gardeners of Bergen County.

• The Hermitage, 335 N. Franklin Tpke., Ho-Ho-Kus, 201.445.8311; thehermitage.org

MUSIC MAKERS:

Whether your budding musician excels on a string, a key or a wind instrument, he or she will appreciate the Mahwah Museum’s Les Paul exhibit. Paul, who lived in Mahwah for nearly six decades, is credited with the creation of the solid-body electric guitar, the preferred style of many of today’s players. In fact, Gibson’s Les Paul model is one of the world’s most popular and recognizable guitars, and many are on display at the museum. Visitors can also catch a glimpse of the music legend’s recording equipment, gear that can be used across many genres, from classical and rock ‘n’ roll to jazz and R&B. Want to play like a legend? Schedule an appointment for a jam session in which you can use a guitar once owned by Paul himself.

• Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Tpke., Mahwah, 201.512.0099; mahwahmuseum.org

CLASSROOM

BOOKWORMS:

Books are said to open a world of possibilities; they’re tools to further one’s knowledge and help stimulate imagination. Of course there are books in the classroom and the local library, but not the multi-colored array of freshly published ones that make an independent bookstore a browser’s paradise. Bookends in Ridgewood, for instance, has an extensive collection of new releases that haven’t hit the library shelves. But they also have classics and titles that appear on kids’ summer reading lists. Older students may enjoy the “Images of America” series by Arcadia Publishing; each book in the set is dedicated to a Bergen County town and tells its history through old-time photos. Bookends has plenty of these; so does Books & Greetings in Northvale. So stop by with your children to pick out this week’s new releases for their next read. Who knows? You might run into one of your favorite writers, as local authors like New York Times best-seller Harlan Coben have been known to frequent the stores.

• Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, 201.445.072; book-ends.com • Books & Greetings, 271G Livingston St., Northvale, 201.784.2665; booksandgreetings.com

YOUNG EINSTEINS:

When it’s open, the William D. McDowell Observatory in Lyndhurst welcomes all ages to its research-grade telescope for viewing the heavens. While we wait, note that one of the premier science-minded facilities for children is just outside of our county’s boundaries. The Liberty Science Center (LSC) in Jersey City has interactive programs, exhibits and 3D shows that are aimed at students who love all things STEM (that’s science, technology, engineering and math). For those future astronauts and space explorers, LSC’s Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium is the largest in the Western Hemisphere, with live shows covering such topics as black holes and asteroids. For the younger set, characters like Big Bird and Elmo help make the education go down easy.

• Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, 201.200.1000, lsc.org

ECO WARRIORS:

Students with a passion for the environment can discover more about the great outdoors in the great outdoors, Mother Nature’s classroom. Educational programs such as Tenafly Nature Center’s Forest Defenders and the Meadowlands Festival of Birding hosted by the Bergen County Audubon Society and Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst offer a handson opportunity for youngsters to learn how to protect natural habitats and native plants and animals—and why such protection matters. Of course, students can also study by hiking or simply observing the environment at locations like the J. A. McFaul Environmental Center in Wyckoff and the Celery Farm in Allendale.

• Celery Farm, Franklin Turnpike, Allendale, 201.818.4400; fykenature.org • J. A. McFaul Environmental Center, 150 Crescent Ave., Wyckoff, 201.891.5571; co.bergen. nj.us/ja-mcfaul-environmental-center • Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, 201.568.6093, tenaflynaturecenter.org

ARTISTS IN TRAINING:

Has your child fallen in love with sidewalk chalk or the 64 colors packed into a crayon box? To further promote kids’ fondness for brilliant hues, take them directly to the source: Pantone world headquarters in Carlstadt. The company is known for the color swatches of its Pantone Matching System, which standardizes all the colors of the rainbow and more (Pantone has more than 3,000 shades) so that global manufacturers, graphic artists and fashion designers will know that the blue they’re using is the right blue. Visitors to the facility (trips to the site must be pre-arranged) can tour the space and see where workers mix inks for the swatches—and even create new colors. Of course, getting the right shade is a meticulous process, and employees take yearly exams to make sure they can detect even the slightest imperfection.

• Pantone, 590 Commerce Blvd., Carlstadt, 201.935.5500; pantone.com