COOPERSTOWN, NY - Spring Break is almost here for area school districts, but that won't stop the Baseball Hall of Fame's Education Department from celebrating Youth Baseball Week April 18-24 with educational programs for kids of all ages.

Families can learn about Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, tour the Louisville Slugger Museum and recreate a 1920s era baseball broadcast during Spring Break at the Hall of Fame. Several special programs will take place during the week:

• On Sunday, April 18 and Monday, April 19, Ron Rabinovitz comes to the Hall of Fame to share the amazing story of his relationship and correspondence with Jackie Robinson in Jackie and Me at 1 p.m. in the Bullpen Theater.
• On Tuesday, April 20 and Thursday April 22, Visitors connect live with the Louisville Slugger Museum for a virtual tour of the factory and a lesson in bat making at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 3 p.m. on Thursday in the Bullpen Theater.
• On Saturday, April 24, STITCH 'N PITCH day will come to the Museum between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., giving visitors the chance to create their own needlework projects with a baseball theme in the Education Gallery. This National Needlearts Association program will consist of an interactive session where visitors can use their hands to stitch a baseball-themed needlepoint or crochet project which can be brought home.
• Among the daily programming to be offered throughout the week, the National Baseball Hall of Fame will celebrate National Poetry Month by encouraging visitors to express their thoughts about baseball in poetic form all week. Using their experience in the Museum to inspire their thoughts, visitors can record their own poems at a poetry journal station in the Education Gallery on the third floor. Selected visitor poems will appear on the Hall of Fame's Cooperstown Chatter blog. At 11 a.m. daily (except on Tuesday when it will take place at 2 p.m.), visitors can learn about the science behind hitting at Science on the Sandlot in the Education Gallery. At 1 p.m. each day, Tools of the Trade will teach visitors about the evolution of baseball equipment in the Education Gallery, and at 3 p.m. daily (except for Thursday when it will take place at 2 p.m.)in the Bullpen Theater, Going, Going, Gone! will recreate a historic 1920s era baseball broadcast.

All programs are free with Museum admission and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Open seven days a week the year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, the Hall of Fame is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. until Memorial Day Weekend. Summer hours extend until Labor Day, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. Ticket prices are $16.50 for adults (13 and over), $11 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $6 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children six years of age or younger, active and retired card-carrying military personnel. For more information, visit our Web site at www.baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.