Find something fun to do during February vacation

School vacation week brings fun, family activities throughout the Merrimack Valley.

Organizations host a variety of unique events, including arts and crafts, ice skating, cultural activities, games, safety workshops, music and dance performances, and much more.

Here’s a sampling of a few great events. Don’t forget to investigate further on your own.

Andover

The Youth Services department planned a week of excursions around New England. Open to Andover students in grades 6-8, activities range from rock wall climbing to skiing and roller skating. There are also two high school opportunities being offered during the vacation week — a winter camping hike and a skateboard trip to Skater’s Edge in Taunton. For details and costs, visit andoveryouthservices.com.

Memorial Hall Library has put together a variety of teen room (grades 6-12) activities, starting Tuesday, Feb. 21, with a Movie Night starting at 6:30. Drop by Wednesday for a random craft at 3 p.m., followed by group puzzle fun on Thursday at 3 p.m. Friday get locked into the library at 5 p.m. (Pre-registration and permission slips required). A group of students in grades 6 through 10 are locked into the library on a Friday evening when the building is closed. Teen librarians supervise the group. Pizza and drinks are served.

Ironstone Farm is hosting a Horsemanship Clinic on Feb. 23. Spend a day down on the farm and learn how to care for horses, including lingo, treats, tack and more. The cost is $25 and registration required, call 978-475-4056.

North Andover

The Stevens Memorial Library has a bevy of fun activities planned, including a drop in craft workshop on Wednesday at 1 p.m. and a pajama jam show on Thursday at 1 p.m. (signup requested.) For more visit stevensmemlib.org or call 978-688-9505.

Don’t forget that Brooks School is open Sunday nights for public skating through Feb. 26. It costs $3 per person and is BYOS (Bring Your Own Skates).

Youth Services hosts trivia and other tournaments throughout the week, and also a class on rock climbing. For days, times and details, visit nayouth.com or call 978-682-9000.

Methuen

The Nevins Library is also hosting events throughout the week. The fun starts at 10 a.m. Tuesday with Science Quest: K’NEX Bridge Building Challenge (4th to 6th grade). If you like to build things and enjoy playing with LEGOS, this club is for you. This month celebrate National Engineering Week with bridge building. Contact: Children’s Department 978-686-4080 ext. 6.

Wednesday at 10 a.m., the American Girl Book Club (for second- and fourth-graders) meets. Explore the stories of Marie, Grace and Cecile. Feel free to bring your American Girl doll to the book group. Please register online or call the Children’s Department at 978-686-4080, ext. 26.

Thursday at 10 a.m. brings Drawing Out Stories to the library. (Family Time-Parents and their children in K to sixth grade). What sparks your imagination? A book? An event? A work of art? Professional storyteller Nicolette Nordin Heavey draws stories out of famous works of art. Swirling stars become a Native American myth; a lighted window transforms into a European folktale. After the performance children and their parents are guided to find stories in Nevins Library’s collection of American art prints, looking at details and then developing a plot. By the end, everyone will have a new story to tell! This program is for parents and their children who are in K to 6th grade. Come create a new family story! Funding for this program is from The Community and Family Literacy Engagement Project sponsored by the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC). Contact: Children’s Department, 978-686-4080 ext. 26. Location: The Great Hall.

Friday at 10 a.m. Pastel Drawing with Sharon Morley (for fifth- and sixth-graders). Learn how to draw a still life arrangement using pastels. Space is limited. Call 978-686-4080, ext. 26.

Lawrence

The Boys Girls Club of Lawrence will be open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during school vacation week, offering themed days and various activities. For more information, contact the club at 978-683-2747

Haverhill

The Boys Girls Club of Greater Haverhill is offering a variety of activities during school vacation week next week. Cost for the week is $25 for members and $60 for non-members. It includes lunch and snack each day. Sports activities include a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, home run derby, free throw and 3-point contest, 2-ball/jump rope competition, a spelling bee and computer whiz trivia, bumper pool and air hockey tournaments, as well as jewelry making and paper mache. Trophies, medals and awards will be given out Feb. 23. More information is available by calling 978-374-6171.

The public library plans a variety of activities for children during school vacation week.

They are:

Mardi Gras program: Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. For ages 5 and up.

Video Game Program for Teens: Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. For ages 12 to 18.

Science Magic: Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. For ages 5 and up. RSVP is required.

Dance Party: Feb 22 at 3:30 p.m. For ages 5 and up.

Scavenger Hunt: Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. For ages 5 and up.

She Me Book Club: Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. For grades five through eight. RSVP is required.

LEGO Club Jr.: Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. For ages 4 to 6. RSVP is required.

LEGO Club: Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. For ages 7 to 12. RSVP is required.

Hunger Games Training: Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. For ages 12 to 18.

Kids Book Club: Feb 24 at 3:30 p.m. Bring a snack. For ages 7 to 12. RSVP is required.

More information is available by calling 978-373-1586, ext. 626, or at haverhillpl.org by clicking on Calendar of Events.

Lowell

Different events take place each day, Monday through Saturday, and all children participating in a program must be accompanied by an adult.

While activities are free, some events have limited space and pre-registration is recommended.

Offerings include:

Monday, Feb. 20

GAMES AROUND THE WORLD: Join park rangers to play a ball game from Peru and a challenging Cambodian jump-rope game. 10 to 11 a.m., Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Fourth Floor, 115 John St., 978-970-5000. All ages. No registration required.

MEET THE CANALIGATOR!: The Lowell Spinners mascot never met a camera he didn’t want to smile for or a kid he didn’t want to hug or high-five! 11 a.m. to noon, Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market St., 978- 970-5000. All ages. No registration required

PARK RANGER BOBBLEHEADS: Join the rangers of Lowell National Historical Park to build your own personalized park ranger bobblehead! Pick a uniform, take your picture, then cut, color, and bobble your way into the tradition of the National Park Service! Plus, when you’re done, try on a real park ranger uniform. Noon to 1:30 p.m., Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market St., 978-970-5000, ages 6-12. No registration required.

Tuesday, Feb. 21

CODE CRACKERS!: Test your skills, make a decoder ring, and have fun solving some of history’s trickiest codes. From ancient cultures to the Civil War, people have been using codes to communicate — now it’s your turn! Noon to 1:30 p.m., Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 115 John St., 978-970-5000, all ages. No registration required.

OLDE TYME ART: Learn how to write with quill pens and ink while designing your own journal to write in! And if you want to take a break, you can have your silhouette made, just like Francis Cabot Lowell. 2 to 3 p.m. , Tsongas Industrial History Center, Boott Cotton Mills, Museum Third Floor, 115 John St., all ages. Registration required, 978-970-5000

Wednesday, Feb. 22

WEAVING WORKSHOP : Learn how cloth is designed, patterned, and made in this unique hands-on workshop. Weave your own piece of cloth using hand looms. 2 to 2:45 p.m. (other times available), Tsongas Industrial History Center, Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Third Floor, 115 John St., all ages. Registration required, 978-970-5000

Thursday, Feb. 23

ICE SKATING:Hit the rink at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell! If you bring your own skates then skating is free. Skate rentals are $5, and availability is limited. Call for reservations. 9 a.m. to noon, Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, all ages. Registration required, 978-674-4175.

INVENTOR’S WORKSHOP: Let your imagination go wild and just start building. Take inspiration from some of Lowell’s famous historical inventors, or dream up your own contraptions. 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 115 John St., 978-970-5000. All ages, no registration required.

Friday, Feb. 24

ORIGAMI ANIMALS OF THE MERRIMACK RIVER: Do you know what kind of animals live in the Merrimack River? Come find out by making origami animals with national park rangers. 11 a.m. to noon, Tsongas Industrial History Center, Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Third Floor, 115 John St., 978-970-5000. All ages, registration required 978-970-5000

Saturday, Feb. 25

SENSATIONAL SNOWFLAKES: These are no ordinary paper snowflakes! Learn how to make amazing 3D snowflakes, then decorate them. 11 a.m. to noon, Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 115 John St., 978-970-5000. All ages, no registration required.

FAMILY DANCE WORKSHOP: ANGKOR DANCE TROUPE

Lowell’s world-renowned Angkor Dance Troupe preserves the traditions of Cambodian performing arts. Join their amazing dancers for this special, interactive family workshop and performance. 2 to 3 p.m., Mogan Cultural Center, 40 French St. All ages, no registration required.

See the full schedule of events at www.lowellkidsweek.blogspot.com.

New Hampshire is on vacation next week. For a list of local activities check out this Thursday’s Accent section.