Education | Princeton Magazine

Princeton Area Community Foundation

Collective Philanthropy Impacts Those Close to Home and Hearts

By Wendy Greenberg | Photos courtesy of PACF

When John Hatch and David Henderson attended Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey’s performance of Trenton-born composer George Antheil’s Ballet Mecanique and other compositions at the Roebling Machine Shop this past spring, with the Trenton Circus Squad charming audiences at intermissions, they were “ecstatic.”

As advisors of the Trenton Arts Fund through the Princeton Area Community Foundation (PACF), Hatch and Henderson had played a behind-the-scenes role in bringing the festive evening to fruition, and as Trenton residents they could see their generosity in action. more

Princeton Battlefield Society Launches Cadwalader Lectures

(Photo courtesy of Princeton Battlefield Society)

The Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) is launching the Cadwalader Lectures, a new educational series, to showcase issues and authors relevant to the Battle of Princeton and the struggle for independence.

First in the series, celebrated historian and author Richard Brookhiser will discuss his latest book, Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution, during the group’s Cadwalader Lecture on Wednesday, November 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Nassau Club. Tickets for the lecture may be secured at pbs1777.org.

Brookhiser will discuss the significance and meaning of artist John Trumbull’s works, which chronicled the American Revolution and the early days of the fledgling American nation. Trumbull’s Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton is one of the nation’s most famous American Revolution paintings. A historian and the senior editor at the National Review, Brookhiser is the author of 15 books and a recipient of the National Humanities Medal. He will also sign copies of Glorious Lessons before the talk. more

Einstein Magnetism Exhibit in Dohm Alley

What’s a museum to do when there is not yet a site for the museum? The Princeton Einstein Museum has created a pop-up exhibit, “Einstein’s Attraction to Magnetism.” Funded by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation, it is on view 24/7 through September 15 in Dohm Alley, located by 102 Nassau Street.

When he was 5 years old, Albert Einstein’s father gave him a compass, sparking his curiosity in invisible forces. The exhibit explores what magnetism is, how physicists use it, and includes an Einstein selfie for fun photos. There is also an image of the actual compass Einstein owned, which is in the collection of the Historical Society of Princeton at Updike Farm. more

Public Speaking and Debate Summer Camp at PPL

During this season of pre-election political debates, rising fifth to ninth graders can learn the basics of debate and public speaking under the guidance of experienced high school student debaters. Both beginner and experienced debaters can sign up for a weeklong Princeton Public Library (PPL) program that starts on June 24. Students will learn research and analytical skills that will extend beyond debate, and can also be helpful in future class presentations and essay writing.

The five sessions, which run through Friday June 28, are in the STEAM Studio Story Room. Hours are 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. daily except Friday. Friday’s program, the final debate, starts at 2 p.m. and is open to family and friends. more

A Child’s Garden of Science Books: Einstein, Pi Day, and the Brooklyn Bridge

By Stuart Mitchner

When 5-year-old Albert Einstein was sick in bed, his father gave him a compass. According to Curt Wilkinson in Words That Changed the World: Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity (Laurence King 2020), the boy was “entranced by the invisible forces that attracted the needle, keeping it pointed to the magnetic north.” Six years later, Einstein was given a volume that he called his “sacred little geometry book.” In time the compass and the book became “two wonders” that roused his curiosity about the way the universe worked. more

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live on Stage in Red Bank

Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank will welcome Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live on Stage on Saturday, February 17 at 1 and 4 p.m.

A show that is 65 million years in the making, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live will guide families on a tour that begins in pre-historic Australia. Attendees will meet and interact with a collection of amazing life-like dinosaurs and other creatures in a theatrical performance that thrills and entertains kids while also being educational. Brought to life by a team of skilled puppeteers, visitors won’t believe the detail and realistic quality of these majestic and fearsome creatures. more

Eighth Graders at Stuart Country Day School Deliver TED Talk-Inspired Speeches

Have you ever felt compelled to action and change after listening to a TED Talk?

The intended purpose of these passionate presentations (that often go viral) is to inspire and enlighten the audience. Knowledge is power and can be paid forward in a multitude of ways, both big and small. This is Goal 3 in action at Stuart Country Day School. more

Oppenheimer Walking Tour Led by Historical Society of Princeton

Princeton’s local history experts are eager to present a new walking program highlighting all of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life and work while living in Princeton.

On Sunday, February 4 at 2 p.m., the Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) will traverse the Princeton University campus, town, and filming locations for the award-winning Christopher Nolan production. more

Lunar New Year Celebration 2024 at NJPAC

The New Jersey Symphony will help to ring in the Lunar New Year on February 3 at 3 p.m. at Prudential Hall at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). The classical repertoire will be conducted by Yue Bao with Tony Siqi Fun on piano.

The concert is designed as a cultural exchange and is perfect for all ages. To mark the start of the Year of the Dragon, Music Director Xian Zhang has chosen some fiery and dramatic pieces of music. more

Learning Ally

Providing Access to the “Amazing World of the Written Word” for 75 Years

By Donald Gilpin

“I remember back in elementary school, I was taken out of regular classes and put into remedial classes for English,” said Justin Purvis, who is now a 24-year-old graphic novelist with a college degree. “It was hard.”

When Justin was in ninth grade his mother attended a seminar on dyslexia where she found out about Learning Ally. a Princeton-based nonprofit seeking, through audiobooks and other programs, to improve literacy across the country.

“I remember I was in ninth grade, and my mother told me to download a book,” Purvis recalled in a conversation at Learning Ally’s 75th Anniversary Celebration in October, where he was a featured guest. Joining Learning Ally, formerly known as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, was a turning point in his education and his life. “I was suddenly able to have access magically to all these books that I was using at school. I went back into the mainstream immediately. I was able to participate more and keep up with what was going on.” more

The Art of the Crossword Puzzle

Do you love completing crossword puzzles in your spare time? Do you ever wonder how they are created with such regularity and precision by professional crossword puzzle experts?

On Sunday, January 14 at 3 p.m., the Arts Council of Princeton will be joined by crossword puzzle author and celebrity Mangesh Ghogre. Alongside bagels and coffee, Ghogre will give a refresher course on completing crossword puzzles and some handy tools for making puzzles of your own. Ghogre’s puzzles have been published in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. In an age of burgeoning artificial intelligence, Ghogre hopes to advocate for utilizing our own natural intelligence when it comes to clue making and problem solving. more

Groundhog Appreciation and Celebration at The Watershed Institute

The Watershed Institute will be celebrating Groundhog Day a little early this year to share fun facts about these unique, comedic, and sometimes misunderstood animals. On Saturday, January 27 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., visitors will be led through a series of educational outdoor stations that include learning about the characteristics of a groundhog, searching for groundhog holes, meeting with naturalists for a treasure hunt/nature hike and, eventually, finding Wally the Woodchuck. Attendees will also be able to try chucking wood with a catapult or trebuchet. more

“Experience the Battle of Princeton” on Jan. 7

On Sunday, January 7, the Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) will mark the 247th anniversary of the Battle of Princeton with its signature educational event, “Experience the Battle of Princeton.”

The event will begin at 9:45 a.m. with introductions and comments on the background of the battle. Members of the public are urged to arrive at the site by 9:15 a.m. to secure space and parking. A narrated reenactment of a portion of the Battle of Princeton will begin at 10 a.m. featuring reenactors portraying Crown and Continental forces. The reenactment will conclude by 11 a.m. more

French American School of Princeton Hosts Open House

Interested students and families are invited to join the French American School of Princeton (FASP) for their Winter Open House on Saturday, January 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. This event is designed for prospective preschool through eighth grade students. more

Volunteers Plant 100 Trees in Lambertville

Sixteen volunteers recently gathered to plant 100 native trees and shrubs along a new section of the Lambertville Nature Trail. The group, including Lambertville Mayor Andrew Nowick, planted a variety of native trees and shrubs including eastern red cedar, flowering dogwood, sweet birch, white oak, and eastern redbud. These trees and shrubs will help to reduce flash flooding from this hillside neighborhood, filter and cool air and water, and provide important wildlife habitat. more

Princeton Holiday Trolley Tours

Image Source: Palmer Square and Princeton Holiday Trolley Tours

On December 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Princeton Holiday Trolley Tours will take visitors past some of the town’s most significant sites. 2023 marks a complete re-design of the popular experience with an expanded route that will teach participants about the area’s prize-winning thinkers, writers, scientists, and noteworthy history. From Woodrow Wilson and Albert Einstein to F. Scott Fitzgerald and Toni Morrison, this tour is action-packed! more

Neurodiverse Crafting Circle and Social Networking at PPL

On Thursday, December 21 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Princeton Public Library (PPL) welcomes any neurodivergent individuals who are looking to connect with Princeton community members while working on their own crafting projects (brought from home). The crafting session will be held at PPL’s STEAM Studio. The program is intended for people ages 17 and older. more

Q&A with Jonathan Lee Walton President of Princeton Theological Seminary

Interview by Donald Gilpin | Photo courtesy of Princeton Theological Seminary

Jonathan Lee Walton became the eighth president of Princeton Theological Seminary on January 1, 2023. He is the first African American and the first Baptist to hold that position.

Walton earned his Ph.D. (2006) and Master of Divinity (2002) degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS). Before his return to PTS, he served as dean of Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity, where he was the Presidential Chair in Religion and Society, and before that as the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church at Harvard University. more

First Washington Crossing Reenactment for 2023

The reenactment of George Washington crossing the Delaware River in 1776 is one of the region’s most popular and well-attended traditions. Taking place on Sunday, December 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the famous Crossing will also be accompanied by Colonial Era activities, learning sessions, and games. Jason Q. Bohm will narrate events in the Historic Village and children’s author Jenny Cote will be sharing two of her novels. The day promises to include fun and learning for all. more

Owl Research Presentation at Watershed Institute

Join The Watershed Institute on Thursday, November 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for a special presentation on the biology and ecology of the northern saw-whet owls. Led by local researchers at the Wild Bird Research Group, the ecologists will discuss data collected through the Owl Banding Program. Tyler Christensen, Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolution at Rutgers, will lead the discussion. more