Teens and Tweens

The Book Buddies Shelter Pet Program lets kids to adore animals make a real difference in the lives of shelter pets.

As part of the Book Buddies Shelter Pet Program with the Humane Society of Missouri, kids ages 6-12 are trained to read to shelter pets. Reading to the shelter dogs helps to bring comfort them and reduces anxiety. It also makes the pet more adoptable. Reading helps shy dogs learn to relax around people and teaches high energy dogs and calm behavior is desirable.

Celebrate aerospace technology at the new, highly interactive special exhibition at the Saint Louis Science Center: Above and Beyond. This special exhibition will immerse you in flight and space travel, with simulations that allow visitors to design and test-fly a supersonic jet, experience flight as a bird, and ride in a space elevator. 

Above and Beyond takes you faster, farther and higher for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's produced by Evergreen Exhibitions in association with Boeing, in collaboration with NASA and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.

Day Camps at Great Griffin Farm are designed to help your child expand on both horsemanship and riding by teaching them the how and why behind a multitude of skills. Camps include riding lessons, as well as learning barn safety, proper care, and stable management. Campers will also have time for crafts and games. Sessions are available for riders from beginner through advanced levels.

Day camps are open to any child between the ages of 5 and 15. The cost of the camp is $75 and includes lunch and an afternoon snack. On Jan. 18, camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Before he became "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali was just a boy named Cassius Clay growing up in Jim Crow Louisville, Kentucky. In a rage over a stolen bicycle, 12-year-old Cassius meets the white cop who will be his first boxing coach on his way to Olympic glory. This play, presented by Metro Theater Company and performed at the Missouri History Museum, is a true story of courage, conscience and community. 

Stop in to The Lodge Des Peres and take in free exercise sampler classes for Sunday Funday.

The Lodge Fitness Team will showcase some of the new exercise classes being offered in 30 minute sessions from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Sessions are open to all, members and nonmembers, residents and non-residents.  Free.

Sessions include zumba, yoga, pilates and group strength. In the Lodge group exercise studio. For adults and teens ages 16 and up. Child care is not available.

Celebrate Jewish camping and Jewish music at this new event at the Chesterfield Amphitheater. At the Jewish Camp JamFest, families can learn about day and sleep-away camps and hear great music from the nationally recognized Jewish children's musician Craig Parks.

1 to 4 p.m. Free. More information: jccstl.com

Families can spend a morning at the Saint Louis Science Center with anatomy and physiology experts from Adventures in Medicine and Science (AIMS) and Physical and Athletic Training Programs at Saint Louis University. 

Activities include a virtual tour of the major organs and body systems utilizing a fully dissected human cadaver and hands-on anatomical dissections. There will also be discussions of some medically important disease processes and ways to stay healthy and unjury-free. Ideal for parents and their children in grade 5 and up.

Sessions include: