Balsa wood gliders were flying through the air and youngsters took great care to measure how far their model airplane was able to travel before hitting the ground. They had stretched a 50-foot long measuring tape that was marked off at 5-foot intervals. This was just one of the activities that children were able to do during the first “Ellie and the Clouds” program held July 8 at the Eric Sloane Museum. This free class will be repeated Aug. 5 from noon to 2 p.m. for children ages 8-15.

Children will also be asked to observe clouds and then paint what they see (or imagine) of the sky, as well as write in their cloud journal. Each participant will be presented with a copy of the book, Ellie and the Clouds, by Wil Mauch, who will lead the presentation with his adult daughter, Edith. The book is a story of Ellie, a young girl who is captivated by clouds, and features dozens of illustrations by Eric Sloane. Sloane was well known for his interest and expertise in exploring weather through his cloudscapes, of which several are on display in the museum.

This program is made possible through generous federal grant funding from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) administered by the town of Kent. The class is free but registration is required due to limited space, https://bit.ly/EllieInClouds. All students must be accompanied by an adult.

Eric Sloane Museum, 31 Kent Cornwall Road, Kent, CT 06757
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-eric-sloane-museum-32672883341