The Andy Warhol Museum, North Side. 412-237-8300 or www.warhol.org. Ongoing activities for kids include hands-on creative activity in the "Weekend Factory" and more.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, various locations. Branches of the library offer story-telling hours and other activities all summer long. Events range from a June 21 "Smelly Scavenger Hunt" at the Woods Run branch to "Wacky Wednesday" puppet-making and other activities in Squirrel Hill. Call your local branch, or check www.carnegielibrary.org for events in your neighborhood.
Center for Creative Play, Regent Square. 412-371-1668 or www.centerforcreativeplay.org. This indoor play space features a 17-foot-long suspension bridge, music room, indoor tree house and the "Street of Pretend Play." Regular activities include scheduled playtime, sing-alongs and art activities. Membership registration required.
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, North Side. 412-322-5058 or www.pittsburghkids.org. Attractions include a replica of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood; the outdoor "Backyard"; a garage/workshop with an actual automobile to examine; and a "Waterplay" exhibit. The museum offers a wide array of interactive hands-on exhibits and artwork, plus kid-friendly art classes.
Citiparks Recreation Centers, various locations. 412-422-6543 or www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/parks. Nine city rec centers are open, serving Arlington, Belthoover, Brookline, Carrick, Greenfield, Lincoln-Lemington, the North Side, Polish Hill and the South Side. Activities include sports, art-making, talent shows, and other events. Most centers are open from 3-10 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m-3 p.m. on Saturdays.
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Highland Park. 412-655-3640. The Zoo includes Kids Kingdom, a hands-on experience for kids. Interactive exhibits allow kids to understand animal movement and behavior. Kids can also meet some animals -- like deer, kangaroos and goats -- up close.
Roving Art Cart, citywide, 412-665-3665. From late June through late August, the Cart offers activities like pottery and kite-flying throughout the city. A schedule of appearances is at www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/parks/html/roving_art_cart.html. Groups of 10 or more can reserve an Art Cart visit by calling at least a week in advance.
May 16-20
Pittsburgh International Children's Festival, various locations. 412-321-5520 or www.pghkids.org. This year's festival offers performers from around the world, hands-on art activities, and admission to attractions like the Pittsburgh Aviary. Also this year, outdoor activities like kayaking sponsored by Venture Outdoors, and "Camping With Kids" -- games and instructions about surviving in the outdoors.
May 17-20
Water's Edge Grand Opening, Pittsburgh Zoo, Highland Park. 412-655-3640. A variety of kid-friendly events -- including a visit from Mr. McFeely, juggling, and traveling puppet performances -- celebrate the opening of the Sea Otter Cove and a new underwater tunnel for viewing the zoo's polar bears.
June 2
Car Kids: Shape, Rattle and Roll, Frick Art & Historical Center, Point Breeze. 412-205-2022. An interactive tour of the Frick's collection of antique vehicles.
June 3
Mother/Son Pirate Game and Cookout, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, North Side. 412-322-5058 or www.pittsburghkids.org. The day features a scavenger hunt and a cookout at the museum, followed by a baseball game against the L.A. Dodgers. Be sure to tell junior about how, when you were his age, the Pirates actually had a winning season.
June 7-Aug. 17
Zoo Camp, Pittsburgh Zoo, Highland Park. 412-655-3640. Kids aged 4-13 can visit the zoo for weeklong half-day and full-day sessions. Age-appropriate programming covers topics like animal young-rearing, and the relationship between nature and indigenous people. Registration required.
June 9-10
Dragon Renaissance Festival, Pittsburgh Zoo, Highland Park. 412-655-3640. Learn about real-life dragons like the Komodo ... while watching "knight events," fire-breathing and medieval-period entertainment.
June 11-July 16
Kinder Camp, Frick Environmental Center, Squirrel Hill. 412-422-6538. A weeklong half-day camp for kids ages 3 through kindergarten. Events include nature walks, stories, and other nature-themed events. Registration required.
June 11-Aug. 17
Camp Earth, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Oakland. 412-622-3288 or www.carnegiemnh.org/doe/camp/index.htm. Half- and full-day camps for kids ages 4-12. Campers get to conduct "weird science" experiments, compete in a mummy-wrapping contest, explore the "Land of Giants," and much more. Registration required.
June 11-Aug. 24
Science Summer Campus, Carnegie Science Center, North Side. 412-237-1637 or www.carnegiesciencecenter.org. Half- and full-day camps for kids ages 4-12. Weeklong sessions include old favorites like "Kennywood Science" as well as new programs like "Science Scrubs," which features animal dissection. Registration required.
June 16
Kids VIP, Center for Creative Play, Regent Square. 412-371-1668 ext. 1005 or www.centerforcreativeplay.org. Leave your children for up to five hours this Saturday night, where they'll play games and music, make art, and see a G-rated movie. Meanwhile, parents get an evening to themselves for a change. Registration required.
June 18-22
Mini Camp: A Peek at the Past, Frick Art & Historical Center, Point Breeze. 412-205-2022. Kids ages 4-6 spend mornings building time machines and exploring music, art and history. Registration required.
June 18-Aug. 24
Art Camps, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Shadyside. 412-361-0873 or www.pittsburgharts.org. The PCA hosts a series of weeklong camps for kids ages 2 (with adult) to 17. Programs range from basic drawing to T-shirt making to digital photography and video production. Registration is required, and costs vary widely.
June 18-Aug. 27
Art & Architecture Camps, Carnegie Museum of Art, Oakland. 412-622-3131 or www.cmoa.org/programs/camps_arch.asp. Half- and full-day camps offering art instruction to kids 4-13. Courses teach a variety of art forms including dance, textiles, drawing and architecture. Registration required.
June 25-Aug. 10
Powdermill Nature Reserve. 724-593-6105 or www.powdermill.org/camp/index.htm. Kids 5-12 can take weeklong nature programs at this Carnegie Institute-affiliated biology station. Activities include storytelling, field exploration and an overnight stay for older campers. Registration required.
July 7-Aug. 11
Art Classes, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Shadyside. 412-361-0873 or www.pittsburgharts.org. This Saturday-morning program teaches kids art techniques ranging from sculpting clay to drawing the human figure. Registration required.
July 9-13
Survival Camp, Frick Environmental Center, Squirrel Hill. 412-422-6538. A weeklong day-camp for kids who have completed sixth grade, this camp teachers wilderness skills like fire-building, first aid and map reading. Registration required.
July 23-27
Pittsburgh Environmental Investigation, Frick Environmental Center, Squirrel Hill. 412-422-6538. A weeklong day-camp for students who have completed the fourth and fifth grades. Hands-on exploration of local streams, night hikes, and more. Registration required.
July 30-Aug. 7
Kids Nature Camp, Frick Environmental Center, Squirrel Hill. 412-422-6538. Weeklong day-camps for kids who have finished the first, second or third grades. Activities include nature hikes, cooperative games, and more. Registration required.
Aug. 6-10
Summer Day Camp: Passport to Imagination, Frick Art & Historical Center, Point Breeze. 412-205-2022. Kids entering grades 2 through 5 explore different cultures and historical eras, investigating antique cars and learning new art techniques. Registration required.
Aug. 10-11
Three Rivers Storytelling Festival, Northland Public Library, McCandless. 412-366-1800 or http://home.comcast.net/~3rstf/. Local and national storytellers ply their trade. Children's activities, storytelling workshops and food vendors are also available.
Aug. 13-31
Summer Kids' Zoofari. Pittsburgh Zoo, Highland Park. 412-655-3640. Kids get a chance to see animals up close and personal.
Aug. 18-19, 25-26
Animal Activity Days, Pittsburgh Zoo, Highland Park. 412-655-3640. Kids get a chance to "stimulate the senses" of some beloved zoo animals, by fixing them lunch treats and in other activities.
Sept. 8
Storywalk, Frick Park, Squirrel Hill. 412-361-8560. Giant-sized story sets constructed throughout the park let families to see books come to life. Readings, games and activities will be held throughout the day.
