Children’s museum provides many types of activity

Children’s Museum of Maine, in the former Chamber of Commerce Building, 142 Free St., Portland, Maine 04101, 828-1234.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

General admission: $3.75, children under 1 year are admitted for free. $2 per person in groups of 10 or more, with advanced reservations. Admission is free from 5-8 p.m. Fridays.

Family memberships are available at $30 a year for the first person, $10 for the second person and $5 for each additional family member up to six people. Benefits include free admission, a 10-percent discount in the museum store and a 30-percent discount on the rental of a special party area on the lower level.

Directions: I-295 to Exit 7, Franklin Street Arterial. Take Franklin Street Arterial to Spring Street Arterial (also called Middle Street), turn right. Take Spring Street Arterial to High Street, turn right. Turn right again onto Free Street. Children’s museum is second building on the right.

Parking: Continue on Free Street to Municipal Garage one block away. There are two hours of free parking available for museum visitors. Parking lot tickets can be validated at the museum’s admission desk.

Upcoming museum activities are as follows:

Museum closes at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24, and remains closed through Christmas Day.

Closed Dec. 31 through Jan. 3.

Tuesday, Jan. 4: Dinosaurs.

Wednesday, Jan. 5: Figures of Speech Puppet exhibit opens.

Thursday, Jan. 6: Pee Wee Science. Hands-on science for ages 3-6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Call to pre-register.

Saturday, Jan. 8: “Camera Obscura,” 11 a.m.-noon and 2-3 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 9: “Camera Obscura,” 1-2 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 12: Dinosaur puzzles, pictures and games.

Thursday, Jan. 13: Pee Wee Science. Hands-on science for ages 3-6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Call to preregister.

Saturday, Jan. 15: “Mosaics,” with Nancy Glassman. Come with materials that you have gathered. Ages 4-6, noon-1 p.m. Ages 7 and up, 3-4:30 p.m. Space limited. Call to preregister.

Wednesday, Jan. 19: “Puppets of Paper,” with Annie Boydon.

Thursday, Jan. 20: Pee Wee Science. Hands-on science for ages 3-6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Call to preregister.

Saturday, Jan. 22: “The Maine Woods: Art Workshops,” with Judy Faust. Ages 4-6, noon-1 p.m. Ages 7 and up, 3-4:30 p.m. Space limited. Call to preregister.

Sunday, Jan. 23: “The Maien Woods: Art Workshops,” with Judy Faust.

Wednesday, Jan. 26: “Hand Puppets,” with Annie Boydon.

Thursday, Jan. 27: Pee Wee Science. Hands-on science for ages 3-6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Call to preregister.

Saturday, Jan. 29: “Camera Obscura,” 11-noon and 2-3 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 30: “Camera Obscura,” 1-2 p.m.