The Mighty Rainforest

It’s a Cool Zoo Summer at the Staten Island Zoo. Thanks to Con-Edison, children can enjoy fun activities and events now through the end of August. They’ll explore, learn, participate, and of course, beat the summer heat.

On June 14 is the Mighty Rainforest event, where children can explore the most bio-diverse place on Earth, the rainforest. Did you know that the rainforest is the lungs of the planet? It produces more than 40 percent of the world’s oxygen.

Children can also visit with a rainforest denizen — the sloth — do an eco-craft, and discover ways they can help the rainforest.

The Mighty Rainforest on June 14 from noon to 3 pm. Free with zoo admission.

For a full schedule of all Cool Zoo Summer events visit our calendar page.

Staten Island Zoo [641 Broadway at Martling Avenue in West Brighton, (718) 442–3101; www.statenislandzoo.org]

USC Gymnastics & Baseball Training Facility

We offer sports activities, after school programs, birthday parties &amp; private lessons for kids ages 3&ndash;13 years! Our gymnastics classes are a great way to keep your child active and healthy. We strive to empower and challenge children through the sport of gymnastics.

Gaga Madness

Gaga is the hottest new sport in NYC. We've taken the fun of GAGA and pushed it into overdrive. Energetic coaches, pumped up music, sideline commentary, gear giveaways and more. Stay active and keep fit with this new craze that's sweeping the city.

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"