Kids VT, July 2016

PUPPY LOVE

✱ HORSE-ASSISTED THERAPY

✱ VENTURE VERMONT OUTDOOR CHALLENGE

✱ WILDLIFE REHAB

THE WEEKENDER: WOODSTOCK/ KILLINGTON

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

Copublisher/Executive Editor Cathy Resmer cathy@kidsvt.com ext. 74

Copublisher Colby Roberts colby@kidsvt.com ext. 77

Managing Editor Alison Novak alison@kidsvt.com ext. 75

Contributing Editor Meredith Coeyman meredith@kidsvt.com ext. 75

Art Director Brooke Bousquet brooke@kidsvt.com ext. 41

Marketing & Events Manager Corey Grenier corey@kidsvt.com ext. 76

Account Executive Kaitlin Montgomery kaitlin@kidsvt.com ext. 72

Calendar Writer Brett Stanciu brett@kidsvt.com ext. 78

Proofreaders Katherine Isaacs

Marisa Keller

Production Manager John James

Creative Director Don Eggert

Designers Rev. Diane Sullivan

Charlotte Scott

Circulation Manager Matt Weiner

Business Manager Cheryl Brownell

P.O. Box 1184 Burlington, VT 05402 802-985-5482 kidsvt.com

• Published 11x per year. Circulation:

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Contributing Writers: Darcie Abbene, Sarah Galbraith, Megan James, Mary Ann Lickteig, Ken Picard, Benjamin Roesch

Photographers: Matthew Thorsen, Tristan Von Duntz

The Power of Pets

WHEN I WAS 8 years old, I really wanted a dog. Problem was, my dad was extremely allergic to most animals with fur. But my 6-year-old sister, Leslie, and I were relentless. We drew up and signed a contract promising my parents that if they let us have a puppy, we’d take full responsibility for it — and keep it away from our itchy-eyed father.

In what can only be described as a major lapse of judgment, my mom and dad agreed to let us get a dog on a trial basis. I remember driving to a breeder to pick up a “hypoallergenic” standard poodle with black, curly hair. We named him Max. Taking him on his first walk in a park near my house, I felt like I could burst with pride.

But, after just a few days, my parents realized that keeping the dog away from my dad wasn’t realistic. We couldn’t give that sweet pup the life he deserved. So, a week after we got Max, we tearfully returned him to the breeder. The following year, another member joined our family — a baby sister of the human variety — and that put the kibosh on any more talk of pets.

Many children before and after me — including my own — have begged their parents for a dog. Ironically, I still haven’t given in to mine. For now, my little sister’s rescue dog, Beeker, gives them some occasional canine camaraderie.

In this month’s Animal Issue, Mary Ann Lickteig writes about her kids’ begging for a dog in “Use Your Words.” Growing up on a farm, Lickteig long thought of animals as food, not pets.

But she recently had a change of heart. Read about her journey from dog skeptic to dog owner on page 47.

“Riding it Out” (page 22) proves that animals can provide more than just cuddly companionship.

Contributor Darcie

Abbene talked with families and instructors at local barns about how horses help kids navigate both physical and emotional challenges.

We’re also shining the spotlight on 12-year-old Edward Joczik — an animal activist who’s built shelters for feral cats and protested greyhound racing — in this month’s “One to Watch” (page 10). In “Habitat” on page 43, we meet an intergenerational pair who use a grandma’s Colchester home as an animal rehab station. And we’re delighted to share a sweet photo collage featuring reader-supplied snapshots and stories of local kids and their pets (page 20).

For our travel feature, “The Weekender,” Benjamin Roesch took a fun, overnight trip with his wife and two sons to the Killington/Woodstock area in June. Read all about their adventures — from encounters with colossal cows and birds of prey to glassblowing demos — on page 26.

If it’s outdoor adventure you’re seeking, turn to “Fit Families” on page 11. You’ll learn about the Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge, a Vermont State Parks initiative to get families outside during the warmer months — with or without four-legged companions.

ALISON NOVAK, MANAGING EDITOR

Some of this month’s Kids VT contributors:

KEN PICARD (“Checkup”) is a staff writer for Kids VT and Seven Days who lives in Charlotte with his wife, Stacy, their two kids and their rescued cockapoo, Artie Stevenson. In a previous career, Ken was a park ranger in Texas and trained search & rescue dogs.

MARY ANN LICKTEIG (“One to Watch,” “Habitat” and “Use Your Words”) has worked as a reporter for the Des Moines Register, the Burlington Free Press and the Associated Press. The Burlington mother of four relishes dining al fresco and morning runs followed by a dip in the lake. She writes at her kitchen table.

The Novak kids with their doggie cousin, Beeker

Readers Respond

Water-Balloon Warning

Christy Witters, a Richmond mom, sent us this letter written by her son about the hidden dangers of water balloons.

Hi kids, Remember to pick up water balloons after water balloon fights. It’s really important because after the water balloon fights and a rainstorm comes, the rain will wash the broken balloons into storm drains. The storm drains lead to rivers and streams where fish and frogs might think that the balloons are food. Have fun, but remember to pick up the popped water balloons!

BEN WITTERS, AGE 8

Beat the Heat

Taking a dip in a pool is a great way to cool down. But, for many families, joining a swim club is a budget buster. While lakes are a refreshing option, pools o er reliably clean and cold water — and a place to gather for playdates, too.

• BARRE CITY POOL

PALLING AROUND WITH PETS

We asked Kids VT staffers and contributors to share photos of themselves with their furry friends. Enjoy the cute and cuddly shots!

59 Parkside Terrace, Barre, 476-0257

We’ve compiled this list of public pools that are open to the public and inexpensive to visit. We hope it will come in handy during those steamy days of summer.

• BUTTON BAY STATE PARK

5 Button Bay State Park Road, Ferrisburgh, 475-2377

• ELM STREET RECREATION CENTER

Elm Street, Montpelier, 223-6829

• GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA 266 College Street, Burlington, 862-9622

• MAPLE STREET PARK POOL 75 Maple Street, Essex Junction, 872-3370

• MIDDLEBURY TOWN POOL 298 Buttolph Drive, Middlebury, 388-4020

• SAND HILL POOL 208 Sand Hill Road, Essex, 878-2973

• ST. ALBANS CITY POOL

99 Aldis Street, St. Albans, 524-6796

• WATERBURY COMMUNITY POOL

Anderson Field, Waterbury, 244-6340

Megan James with Haley

Brooke Bousquet with Rosie

John James with Rufus

Matthew Thorsen with Shogun

Darcie Abbene with Ellie

Corey Grenier with Copper

Charlotte Scott with Lightning

Benjamin Roesch with Stella

Cathy Resmer with Ginger, Ruby and her kids, Graham and Ivy

Ben Witters

Winners Circle

On June 20, Vermont PBS announced winners of their Kids Writing Contest, which calls for students in kindergarten through third grade to write and illustrate original stories. Throughout the summer, PBS will air footage of first-, second- and third-place winners reading their creative works aloud. Visit vpt.org/writers to see the winners and their stories.

In last month’s Dad Issue, we asked young writers to pen a poem celebrating their pop

The two winners each receive a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop in Burlington. Below are the winning poems.

COLORING CONTEST

The winners of annual family memberships to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium are…

KINDERGARTEN

1ST PLACE

“The Narwhal Rescue”

Lucas Pazos, Sunderland

2ND PLACE

“Dragon & the Princess”

Eliska Seibenbrunner, Danville

3RD PLACE

“The Day the Boys Saved Candyland”

Avery Cain, South Hero

FIRST GRADE

1ST PLACE

“Dinosaur Time”

Iris Mayer, Brattleboro

2ND PLACE

“Buzz and Rocket”

Elias Herridge, Underhill

3RD PLACE

“Morgan’s Adventure Back in Time”

Lucy Fischer, Middlebury

SECOND GRADE

1ST PLACE

“Thunder the Lost and Found Dog”

Max Goldfine, Stowe

2ND PLACE

“Imagine”

Jeremy Holzhammer, Orwell

3RD PLACE

“Super Monkey and the Attack of the Giant Ape”

Jacobie Marotti, Norwich

THIRD GRADE

1ST PLACE

“Honey and Duck”

Brantley Stock, West Pawlet

2ND PLACE

“Adventures with Wolves”

Keira Kegelman, Hartland

3RD PLACE

“Poems: VT’s Five Seasons”

Edith Lane, East Montpelier

Reading, telling jokes. Biking, running, fun with you.

I love you forever.

June’s coloring contest entries sent a clear message: The fun, carefree days of summer have arrived. Seven-year-old Antonia mailed in a masterpiece with fluttering butterflies, neatly mown grass and a yellow beach ball. Ten-yearold Grace of Richmond created a sparkly composition with a gold-and-orange sun, blue sky, and brilliant rainbows. And 11-year-old Dominic made our judges laugh out loud with his depiction of two kitty brothers playfully tussling over the kibble. We appreciate all of your artistry. While school’s out, keep the submissions coming in!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

PUSSYCATS IN PARADISE

Ella McEntee, 9, Underhill

ORANGE YOU HAPPY

Hlodyn Sidaway, 7, Rochester

ROLLICKING RAINBOWS

Seanna Lemieux, 10, Berlin

LOVIN’ IT UP

Jammie Bush, 5, Fairfax

MAMA AND BABY

Eisley Devitt, 5, Williston

WHAT’S UP, GARFIELD?

Kape Clements, 10, Jay

PIRATE PATCHWORK

Hayden Hopkins, 4, Woodbury

OPPOSITE DAY

Tory Fitzhugh, 8, Jericho

COLORFUL KITTENS

Finn Sturm, 5, St. Albans

ORANGE

I love my Dad. He is not bad.

He is strong.

And sometimes wrong. He shines the light, And is sometimes right.

I love my dad.

Like I said, “He is never bad, and he is glad.” Dad and me are a very good team.

SUPER-DUPER DAD

Lillianna Avila, 10, Orange

MIDNIGHT MEOW

Tobias, 8, Arlington

FLYING FURBALLS

Eleonore Wilson, 6, Weybridge

TOP TITLES

“MARMALADE”

Anaia Uthmann, 4, Websterville

“THE 4TH OF JULY COLORFUL CATS WATCH FIREWORKS UNDER THE MOON!”

Elijah Elliott, 6, Burlington

“FIX IT TIME”

Cynthia Smith, 12, Berlin

“A Small Cat and a Rainbow Cat”

Corinne Courtemanche, 5 BOLTON

“Purple Bandits”

Willow Clements, 8 JAY

“Yarn Trouble”

Matthew Vidrine, 9 MIDDLEBURY

Find this month’s coloring contest on page 46. The deadline is July 15.

Ziva Baker, 7

WESTFORD

Lilliana Avila, 10

Third-grader winner Brantley Stock

Beth Anne McFadden T.C.R.G. (802) 999-5041 www.mcfaddenirishdance.com

DANCE On Point

BEAT

BY ALISON NOVAK

WONDERS

June 27–July 1; July 25 – 29

OUTDOOR ADVENTURERS

July 5–8; August 1–5

WILD ABOUT WILDLIFE

July 11–15; August 8 -12

BUDDING NATURALISTS

July 18–22; August 15-19

Ages 6 – 9 (HURRY! Almost full!) & 10–12 Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington $200/campers (Scholarships & Discounts available) www.wvpd.org

Pirouetting pigs? Leaping lettuce leaves? If these things sound improbable, you clearly haven’t heard of the FARM TO BALLET PROJECT. Now in its second season, the initiative uses classical repertoire ballet and sections of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to tell the story of a Vermont farm from spring to fall. Ballet instructor and Boston Ballet alum Chatch Pregger began choreographing the performance nearly two years ago, taking inspiration from outdoor adult ballet classes he taught at Burlington’s Oakledge Park, as well as the convivial atmosphere at his farm-share pickup. Classical dance isn’t always accessible to families, says Pregger, who has two young kids. But during Farm to Ballet performances, which will be held in July and August at eight farms across the state, spectators of all ages can enjoy a packed picnic or food from on-site vendors; little ones who can’t sit still are free to frolic in the fields during the 80-minute show. It’s a “super easy environment to bring your kids,” he says, and “a way to introduce families to ballet in a way that’s totally comfortable to them.”

To find out more about FARM TO BALLET PROJECT performances in July and August, visit farmtoballet.org. Purchase tickets through flynntix.org.

TRAVEL Well Read

It’s said that books have the power to transport you anywhere in the world. This summer, lit lovers can get the passport to prove it. For the second year, the Vermont Library Association is running its PASSPORT TO VERMONT LIBRARIES program. From now until September 1, families can pick up pocket-size yellow booklets at one of 115 participating libraries around the state. When they travel to di erent towns, they can stop in to those libraries to have their passport stamped. At the end of the season, town libraries will award prizes to the patrons who’ve collected the most stamps; the top travelers will

be honored at a statewide ceremony in October. Librarian and writer Jessamyn West, a member of the Passport committee and the Vermont Library Association’s Advocate of the Year, says the program is a great way to explore the “funky and interesting” libraries across the state — from the Windsor Public Library, which has a seed-lending program, to the Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line, a neoclassical building that straddles the Vermont/Québec border (the boundary line is marked inside by a stripe in the middle of the floor). The passport, says West, gives parents the chance to say, “Hey kids, we’re going to Lake Elmore. Why don’t we stop at the local library along the way?”

To find out more about the PASSPORT TO VERMONT LIBRARIES, visit vermontlibraries. org/passport.

JESSAMYN WEST

BOOKS

Sea Worthy

Parents who want to relive the magic and adventure of overnight camp would be wise to add THE PIRATES OF DINGLEY DELL to their stack of summer reading. Published last year by South Hero author and historian Bret Corbin, the adult book tells the true story of a remarkable South Hero boys’ camp in the 1920s and ’30s. Its director, Francis Godfrey Baker, was a boat builder who helped teenage campers construct a 75-foot-long pirate ship, Aladdin, which they sailed on Lake Champlain, through Vermont, New York and Canada. Using accounts from surviving family members, newspaper stories and campers’ diaries, Corbin spins a yarn of ingenuity and determination.

POETRY

Going Places

It’s been a busy few months for the quartet of teenage slam poets known as MUSLIM GIRLS MAKING CHANGE. The rising high school juniors from Burlington and South Burlington — Balkisa Abdikadir, Lena Ginawi, Hawa Adam and Kiran Waqar — have performed at ArtsRiot, the Unitarian Universalist Society, the Vermont Comedy Club and the Flynn Center for Performing Arts. They’ve been featured on the local news and on National Public Radio’s “On Point.” This month, the 15- and 16-year-olds will compete as a Young Writers Project-sponsored team in the 19th annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival in Washington, D.C. The five-day event, which runs from July 12-16, will host thousands of youth poets from around the world for

When you finish the book, recount the story to your kids — then take them to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Ferrisburgh, where you’ll find a model of the impressive vessel.

THE PIRATES OF DINGLEY DELL, by Bret Corbin, Red Barn Books of Vermont, 142 pages, $18.95. thepiratesofdingleydell.com

workshops, showcases and a poetryslam competition. Hawa refers to the month leading up to the competition as “crunch time.” The four teens have been meeting with their coaches three times a week, editing existing work and writing new material. They’re planning to bring a dozen finished poems to the competition, some of which will be performed solo and others as a group, like “Wake Up, America,” a piece that powerfully challenges Muslim stereotypes. “Sometimes we need to just sit back and realize where we’ve gone,” Hawa says of the group’s success. “It’s really fun.”

To learn more about MUSLIM GIRLS MAKING CHANGE, visit youngwritersproject.org/bnv2016.

To learn more about the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival, visit youthspeaks.org.

Animal Activist

A Shelburne kid cares for creatures big and small

EDWARD JOCZIK’S LOVE for animals has inspired some pretty wild pursuits. He’s built cat shelters, carried signs in fundraising marches and protested an infamous greyhound racetrack in Macau.

He’s also rescued some creatures from certain death.

Edward’s neighbors in Shelburne have a fish tank with a jaguar cichlid, a big fish that eats little fish. One day, Edward scooped up a feeder fish and took it home, because “I wanted to have one for a pet,” he said. “But also so it could be saved.”

The neighbors also had a Brazilian rainbow boa — a snake that dines on mice. Edward’s mom, Jenny, wasn’t surprised when Edward and the neighbor’s son showed up with a tiny mouse. They told her that they found it along the road, but she knew that they’d rescued it from the reptile’s jaws. They named it Trixie, built it a shoebox home and fed it using an eyedropper.

Lots of kids feel deeply for their pets. But 12-year-old Edward has a soft spot even for animals he’s never even met, said Green Mountain Animal Defenders president Sharon MacNair. “His circle of compassion is widened beyond his years,” she said.

Edward — who recently applied to be a wildlife-rehabilitation assistant — puts those feelings into action.

His achievements include participating in GMAD’s Walk for Farmed Animals and the Humane Society of Chittenden County’s Walk for the Animals and 5K Doggie Fun Run. He rallies with Ivory Free Vermont to stop elephants and rhinos from being poached. And one morning last year, he got up early to appear on the local news with his mom and their 21-pound orange tabby to talk about caring for feral cats.

With the help of his brother and sister and the family’s retired

greyhound racer, Highness, he made a video and sent it to the Macau government urging them to close Canidrome stadium, known for having inhumane conditions and for euthanizing racing dogs too slow to win.

Edward may have inherited his passion for animals from his mom. Jenny, who’s on GMAD’s board of directors, routinely brought home abandoned animals as a child. She calls herself a member of the Crazy Cat Lady Committee, which rescued and found homes for 35 feral cats from the South Carolina university where she taught.

When Edward was a newborn, the family dog brought home what Jenny assumed was a tiny squirrel. “I wanted to help the squirrel, so I get up in the night to feed Edward and I would feed the squirrel with kitten milk,” she said. The “squirrel” ended up being an extremely large rat. The family called it City Mouse and, even

though Edward’s dad didn’t like the rodent, he bought it a fancy cage with a wheel.

As a little boy, Edward would come home from school and feed the family pets without prompting — a ritual he does to this day. It’s no small task, considering that they’ve “always managed to have about six animals,” Jenny said.

In 2009, shortly after moving to Vermont from South Carolina, Edward’s family built their first feral cat shelter — a double-walled, two-story structure with a hinged, shingled roof. They’re designed to provide refuge and a place to eat for managed feral cat colonies — groups of wild cats that have been neutered or spayed and released. GMAD had received a request for a shelter in Newport, and the Jocziks delivered it that snowy Christmas Eve.

Edward has been an activist ever since.

MacNair, who finds his work exciting and encouraging, said it best: “He’s in it to win it for the animals.” K

“One to Watch” shines a light on a young Vermonter who is going places. Know a local child or teen who’s recently done something amazing? Nominate him or her at kidsvt.com/vermont/kidsvtonetowatch/page.

NAME: EDWARD JOCZIK

TOWN: SHELBURNE AGE: 12

Edward and Highness

Edward with a baby bird

Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge

WESTFORD DAD BRIAN MILLER

is on a very Vermont-y quest: to visit every one of the state’s 52 state parks. He and his family of four have made it to 25 so far. When they set out, they make sure to bring one very important document: their Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge score sheet.

Venture Vermont is a scavenger hunt-style activity that invites participants to choose from a variety of outdoor tasks, worth five to 15 points each. Some are straightforward and simple, like making a bike obstacle course or finding a salamander in the woods. Others require a family outing, like going for a hike or river tubing. And some — sleeping under the stars or camping in a lean-to at a Vermont State Park — are overnight experiences. To prove a task has been completed, the Millers will take photos of themselves in action.

When they earn their 250 points, they’ll send their scoresheets and their photos to the Vermont State Parks — the deadline is October 15, the end of the 2016 season. In return, they’ll receive VIP medallions entitling them to free day entry to all Vermont State Parks for the remainder of this season and all of the next one.

The parks launched this initiative in 2008. The tasks change slightly from year to year, to encourage repeat participation. It’s working for the Millers.

This is the fifth summer the family has attempted the challenge. “We do it because it gives us the opportunity to do things we would not normally do on an everyday basis,” Miller says. Like their recent hike at Niquette Bay State Park in Colchester.

Venture Vermont may help drive visitors to the parks, but Vermont State Parks director Craig Whipple describes it as “a tool” to incentivize people to get outside and reap the physical and emotional health benefits that brings. Spending time in nature fosters a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors for kids, who will be the “next generation of environmental stewards,” he says.

Daniela Michaels of Ferrisburgh is another repeat customer. She’s been doing the challenge with her husband and three kids for the past five years. It appealed to her partly because she lives near Button Bay State Park.

Each member of the family must submit a completed score sheet to receive their medallion.

So Michaels prints out a master copy of the sheet for the fridge to keep track of family accomplishments. At the end of the season, she submits five PDFs of the form. Using Google Drive, she makes a folder of photos that correspond to

A TASTE OF THE TASKS

each completed task and emails that to Vermont State Parks as well.

She likes the fact that it’s an inexpensive way to enjoy the warmer months. “I think we’d be disappointed if we didn’t do it,” she says of the adventurous summer tradition.

Taking the challenge is also pretty fun. Miller recalls a recent hot day when the kids were on their devices all morning. He encouraged them to go outside and complete a Venture Vermont task with him: Make your own slip and slide. They laid down a big piece of plastic, soaked it with water and “away we went,” Miller says. Then they added it to their tally of summer fun. K

COURTESY OF VERMONT STATE PARKS

Salisbury Fish Culture Station

646 Lake Dunmore Road, Salisbury

IT WAS BLUSTERY AND COLD on the June day I decided to take my 2-yearold daughter, Joni, to the Salisbury Fish Culture Station. Not exactly what I’d envisioned when planning this summer outing, which included a visit to nearby Branbury State Park.

Fortunately, Joni loves an adventure. So, after getting pancakes at Middlebury Bagel and Deli (easily the best, and biggest, stack in our area), we pulled on our sweaters and headed south on Route 7.

I’ve driven past the fish hatchery on Route 53, on the way to Lake Dunmore, many times, but didn’t know it was open to the public (seven days a week, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.). Nor did I know what goes on there.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department raises millions of fish to release into the state’s rivers and streams each spring. There are four other hatcheries in the state: Bennington, Grand Isle, Newark and Roxbury. Salisbury is home to the biggest fish; it’s where they mate male and female trout, producing

approximately five million eggs each year for the other hatcheries.

At the station’s front gate, the hatchery’s assistant supervisor, Gabe Cameron, greeted us with two big Solo cups filled with fishmeal pellets.

Four di erent trout species — brook, brown, rainbow and lake — live in a long, segmented trough that leads to a small pond behind the station, Cameron explained. I was relieved to see that the trough is covered in chicken wire; there was no way Joni (or her beloved stu ed pal,

Fishmeal floats, so when we threw it in the water, swarms of thrashing, scaly fish rushed to the surface. Joni was delighted. “Pick up one!” she shouted with glee. I explained that would be tricky, and she tossed more fishmeal into the frenzy.

After about 45 minutes, we tootled up the road to the Kampersville

General Store — the one with the twostory-high statue of a squirrel wearing an old-fashioned bathing costume outside.

Joni was more interested in what we found inside: a tank of tropical saltwater fish, some of which resembled characters from Finding Nemo. “Nemo!” Joni told me, breathlessly. “Dory!”

The clouds looked ominous, but I had promised Joni we’d try the new playground at

PROS

• Entrance to the hatchery is free.

• The supervisor offered us more fishmeal after we used up his initial pour.

• It’s close to other great attractions, such as the Falls of Lana and Silver Lake

CONS

• Some of the state’s other hatcheries have visitor centers; this one does not.

Branbury State Park.

So we continued down the road, paid the $4 entrance fee (for one adult; kids 3 and under are free) and braved the gusts coming o of Lake Dunmore.

The spiral slide has to be at least 20 feet high, but fearless Joni bounded up the stairs, then launched herself down. We slid and swung until her teeth started to chatter, then hopped back into the car and drove home, smelling of fishmeal and rain.

Local parents review a play space

Joni feeding the fish

Fish

Beastly Reads

Looking for an engaging nonfiction title for your kids? Any book featuring cute and cuddly creatures is likely to be a hit. For our Animal Issue, we asked Toni Gildone, children’s librarian at the Chelsea Public Library, to tell us about her favorite informational books about animals. Find her recommendations below.

Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and their Parents

BY LITA JUDGE

2016 SUMMER

Classes & Camps

• Week-long ballet themed camps for ages 3-9; Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Toy Shop Ballet and more!

• Week-long ballet Mini-Intensive for ages 12-18, for the serious dancer looking to stay in shape for various summer-long intensives

Ages 5-8

Says Gildone: “A delightfully informative book. The adorably childlike and playful illustrations of the babies and their very maternal — loving, supportive, protective, nurturing, teaching — mothers are warm and reassuring depictions of the ways mammals parent. While the big message is mother love, the book offers plenty of fun facts for informationseeking animal lovers.”

Rascal

BY STERLING NORTH

Ages 8-12

Says Gildone: “A charming memoir about growing up, making bonds, understanding life and letting go. It spans the year Sterling North was 11, when he adopted a baby raccoon, which he raised, loved and eventually returned to the wild. North learns a lot about life during that year.”

Little Squire: The Jumping Pony

BY JUDY ANDREKSON

Says Gildone: “A [true] horse story about grit, determination, spirit, and the incredible love and respect between animal and human. Little Squire’s jumping talent is discovered early, when, as a colt, he is first separated from his mother in the pasture. He jumps a stone wall to get back to her. The book chronicles the little pony’s life as he makes it to the United States and into the hands of an extraordinary horse trainer, Irish immigrant Mickey Walsh.”

Ages 9-12

• “A Jazz Genre a Day” Jazz Camp for ages 7-11, learn a new jazz genre each day and perform your favorite at the end of the week.

• Weekly ballet classes for young dancers - adults - beginner - advanced

This summer come dance with the best at VBTS! For schedule and enrollment information at both the Essex & Shelburne Campuses visit us at WWW.VBTS.ORG OR CALL: 802-878-2941 OR EMAIL US AT: INFO@VBTS.ORG

Farmhouse Family

A Peacham pair discuss chores, childcare and life lessons

TOM GALINAT AND HANNA WHEELER GALINAT had always aspired to live off their land. But it wasn’t until they bought a 200-year-old farmhouse in the small town of Peacham in 2013 that they were able to realize their dream. They now own a Belgian draft horse, chickens and honeybees — all of which help them pay the bills and eat local.

Their horse, Pete, hauls wood from felled trees on the Galinats’ 180 acres of rented land and gives wagon rides for special events. Tom also works 20 hours a week as the town clerk and treasurer of Peacham. And in the early morning and after-dinner hours, he helps with chores and milking at Kempton Farms, a local dairy farm.

Hanna works at Peacham Elementary School, which has about 50 students. She used to teach math and science but scaled back this year to a part-time teaching gig in the afterschool program focused on gardening, yoga and cooking.

The couple is still trying to decide whether working with animals is going to remain a hobby or expand into a fullfledged business. “We’re kind of stuck in the middle,” says Hanna. That’s because farm animals come with huge expenses like barn repair, electric fencing and water heaters.

For now, Tom and Hanna are holding down the home front by working multiple jobs, parenting their toddler, Josiah, and preparing for a new baby due this summer.

On newborn craziness:

TOM: After Josiah was born, Buck [one of their former horses] was bit by an animal. He had a bad wound, and I had to walk him every four hours so he wouldn’t go lame. We found that out the day we got home from the hospital, so in the middle of the night I had to walk the horse and do IVs. And Hanna was waking up every few hours to feed the baby. [That day], we also found out the septic line was broken.

HANNA: I walk in and Tom was like, “If you have to go to the bathroom, go in the woods.” And I said, “No, I just gave birth to a child.” So Tom got a shovel and fixed it.

TOM: I had to go to Home Depot in Littleton, covered head to toe in human feces. But I didn’t care. I was on a mission: My wife had to use the restroom! I was up until midnight shoveling by headlamp.

On the daily schedule:

TOM: I get up around 6:30 or 7, pull together some clothes, drink some cold coffee and head out the door to work [at the dairy farm, then the town office]. During the school year, Hanna teaches in the afternoons while I stay home and watch Josiah. We were able to get away without childcare, which is a huge cost savings. At home, I do a lot

Dad: Tom Galinat, 33, Peacham town clerk and treasurer, dairy farm assistant, horse owner

Mom: Hanna Wheeler Galinat, 35, Peacham Elementary School after-school program teacher

Kids: Son, Josiah, almost 3, and a baby on the way

of farming tasks while Josiah tags along and helps. After Hanna gets home from work, I go back to the dairy farm at 7 p.m. to do farm chores.

HANNA: We used to have crazy mornings. Before, it was getting up, getting Josiah to daycare, Tom taking care of the animals. But this year was better because I was part-time.

On caring for their horse:

TOM: We brought [Pete] home — we used to have him on a separate nearby property. I would only see him for 30 minutes a day. Now that he’s here, he

has less space, but we see him a lot more. And he actually gets more activity because he’s here with us.

HANNA: Tom also fixed the plumbing so pipes bring water right to Pete, and added a heated water system [so the water doesn’t freeze in winter].

On the cost of living:

TOM: In Vermont, land is expensive. You have to be independently wealthy, inherit it or find someone who will rent it [to you]. So we’re renting land that has not been maintained for 25 years. We’re using Pete to take down 20-inch pasture pine [to turn the land into hay fields]. The hay is going to Pete now [for food], but in the future we would like to sell the hay.

On the value of raising their son around animals:

HANNA: It teaches [Josiah] responsibility and empathy, life cycles, and science. It’s good for his immune system. He learns where food comes from. Josiah goes and helps on the dairy farm, where he’s learned about life and death.

TOM: He’s seen baby cows that are dead and he knows that it’s sad. He gets it, and then he moves on. And that’s the thing I was most afraid to teach him, and now he’s learned it at such a young age. It’s sad, but he also grasps the joy of life. When he talks about his family, he talks about the chickens and Zorro the dog and Pete the horse.

On how farm and family life teaches responsibility:

TOM: [When you become a parent], you really understand what it means to put your head down and get the job done. And then, even though you’re exhausted and it’s 11 at night and all you want to do is go to bed, you’ve got to go take care of the animals. Or you’re at a party and it’s the first time you’ve hung out with friends in six months, and you’ve got to go home and feed the chickens.

HANNA: My sister lives in a city and they’re always going to shows and on vacations and going out to eat, and we’re like, Well, we have to buy hay K

Josiah goes and helps on the dairy farm, where he’s learned about life and death.

HANNA WHEELER GALINAT

TRISTAN VON DUNTZ

Keeping Kids Safe Around Animals

IN THE SUMMERTIME, animals are everywhere. Whether it’s frogs and garter snakes in your backyard, baby goats at a local farm, or a new puppy at a friend’s house, children cross paths with critters on a regular basis.

Dr. Anja Wurm, a small-animal veterinarian at Full Circle Home Veterinary Care in Vergennes, offers tips on teaching kids to avoid injuries by reading the animals they’re most likely to encounter in their daily lives.

KIDS VT: What are some general guidelines for keeping kids safe around animals?

ANJA WURM: My biggest concern is about being bitten or scratched. The first thing I always tell kids is, don’t assume that the way you treat your own dog or cat is the way you can treat anybody else’s dog or cat. You can roll your own dog over, touch his ears and look inside his mouth because he knows you. The same with your cat. You can pick your kitty up and walk around with him, but another person’s cat may react very differently.

KVT: How should children be taught to approach an unfamiliar animal?

AW: With a toddler, let the owner bring the dog or cat to the child. Have the child sit on a couch quietly and let the dog or cat initiate contact. The owner should be present at all times because toddlers can be so unpredictable. One second they’re gently petting the animal, and the next they’re grabbing a clump of hair.

KVT: What about with older children?

AW: With kids 5 and up, I recommend they stay still, put their hand out and let the animal come to them. They should talk to the animal in a soft, quiet voice, not a high, squeaky voice, because that can rile the animal up. There’s a lot of animal language that you can learn to read.

KVT: Like what?

AW: For a dog, look at its tail. If it’s wagging, that’s a good sign. If it’s tucked between its legs, that’s a bad sign. Look at its eyes. If they’re making eye contact, that’s a good sign. If you can see the whites of his eyes and he’s looking away from you, that means he’s not sure about you and would rather leave the situation. Look at the fur. If the hair around the back of the neck is up, that’s a sign he’s nervous but not necessarily aggressive. Watch the ears. With a dog with ears that point up, like a German shepherd, if the ears are pinned back, I’d be much more cautious than if the

ears are up and curious. It’s the same with flat-eared dogs, although it’s a bit harder to see on them.

KVT: Does the same go for cats?

AW: With cats, if the tail is wagging, that’s not a good sign. That means it’s nervous and you shouldn’t approach it.

KVT: Any rules with smaller pets?

AW: It’s simpler with “pocket pets” or small animals, such as guinea pigs and hamsters. If it comes to you, that’s generally a good sign that it wants to be held and petted. If it runs away and hides, it doesn’t want anything to do with you. I’ve never seen it, but some rabbits will growl at you, especially females.

KVT: What about mother animals and their young?

AW: Never go toward a mother’s babies unless you have an adult with you because you have no idea how the mother will react. The mom could be great with her owner, but excited children coming toward her? Not good. A good rule of thumb is: leave mother and babies alone.

KVT: How about wounded animals?

AW: An injured animal will often have its ears tucked back, its eyes will be huge, its pupils will be dilated, you’ll see the whites of its eyes and the tail will be tucked. Teach kids to leave injured animals alone and alert an adult.

KVT: What diseases can domesticated animals transmit?

AW: There aren’t many diseases that will transfer from companion animals to humans. With dogs and cats, you should be wary of gastrointestinal parasites, such as tapeworms or roundworms, which are transmittable to humans. If a child eats a roundworm egg, which come from the feces of an animal, the roundworm can hatch and the larvae can migrate to the eyeballs and cause blindness. It’s very rare. I’ve never seen it but it’s one of those things they pound into you in veterinary school.

KVT: Any advice for kids when they’re around wild animals?

AW: With my kids, if we see a turtle on the side of the road, we’ll always stop and move it — after making sure it’s not a snapping turtle. They have a long tail and a head that can’t retract into the shell. They’ll hurt you. Painted turtles and red-eared sliders will almost always pee on you, so you should wash your hands afterward. Same with frogs and garter snakes. I want my own kids to explore nature and try to catch animals, but teach them to be gentle because the animals are so afraid. Imagine how scary it would be if this giant creature came and scooped you up. Always put them back where you found them. My kids always want to keep them overnight, but I don’t let them. They can watch them in a terrarium for about an hour or so, but then they’ve got to let them go. K

INTERVIEW COMPILED AND CONDENSED BY KEN

PICARD

With cats, if the tail is wagging, that’s not a good sign.

DR. ANJA WURM

Beets & Carrots

Two veggies to grow at home

MY SON, HENRY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD EATER. From a young age, he would munch on just about any vegetable and was willing to try “adult” foods like sushi and mussels. For this, I gave myself a huge pat on the back. No need for an endless parade of chicken fingers and pasta have to do is put healthy foods in front of them

, I thought. All you

Then came my daughter, Lucy. I took the same approach, but she’s the pickiest eater I’ve ever known. Even kid standards like grilled cheese aren’t on her list of acceptable foods. This taught me that my son’s adventurous appetite had very little to do with me; it’s just a part of who he is. (One of many parental bubbles I’ve had burst over the years.)

However, my daughter, now 9 — and still finicky — will try anything if it comes from the garden. We have a very elaborate kitchen garden full of diverse veggies. She pulls up carrots, rinses them with the hose and chomps away. She’ll pick o spinach leaves and eat them like a rabbit. And my kids actually fight over peas when they plump up in early July.

If you have the space and the sun, I recommend starting a backyard garden with your kids. They’ll delight in the process, and fussy eaters may be more inclined to try veggies they’ve had a hand in growing. July isn’t too late to start a few rows of carrots and beets. Carrots because, well, who doesn’t love carrots? And beets precisely because they’re not as popular; the deep color and sweetness may win your kids over and teach them to try new things.

When introducing children to gardening, keep it simple. Plants need space to grow, so keep the area weeded. They also need water, but not too much. Most vegetables like full sun. Their food comes from healthy soil, sometimes with a little help from fertilizer. If you can explain these basic principles to your kids, all the work will make sense.

The rest is all weeding and watering. Though weeding is not typically kids’ favorite activity, you can encourage them with an enthusiastic, “Let’s go give those carrots some space!”

Watering is an easy sell, especially on a hot day. But make sure your junior gardeners don’t get overzealous with the watering can. A soaking every other day should do the trick.

seedlings come up, you can give them a boost, either by laying granular fertilizer alongside the row and gently working it into the soil or watering with a liquid fertilizer. Follow the directions on the label and don’t give in to the temptation to add more than is recommended.

by laying granular fertilizer alongside the row and gently

on label is you

by late summer or early fall. And, hopefully, you’ll find that even your pickiest eater will enjoy harvesting and

If all goes well, you should have beets and carrots by late summer or early fall. And, hopefully, you’ll find that even your pickiest eater will enjoy harvesting and tasting veggies from your home garden.

The deep color and sweetness of a fresh beet may win your kids over and teach them to try new things.

and

Lucy tending to her family’s garden

LAURA SORKIN

Blue Paddle Bistro

316

Route 2, South Hero

IN OUR HOUSE, the first week in June meant end-of-school madness. By the weekend, the “what’s for dinner” grind had me worn down. So our visit to Blue Paddle Bistro in South Hero came at a perfect time.

“We’re going to dinner on an island!” I announced to Leo and Mila, 7 and 5, respectively. They cheered. “Do we have to take a ferry?” they asked. “Will there be pirates?” I explained how the Sandbar Causeway would transport us across Lake Champlain — and that we probably wouldn’t encounter any pirates.

Initially Blue Paddle’s upscale cuisine had me leery about bringing my kids. But I was reassured by their recent Seven Daysies nomination for Best Family Restaurant Outside Chittenden County. And also that their Facebook page is filled with pictures of young patrons. Over the phone, chef and co-owner Phoebe Bright explained, “We’re not deterring of kids at all.” But they don’t exactly cater to them.

To increase our chances of success, we planned to arrive right when they opened their doors at 5. The drive from our house in Burlington was beautiful and felt much shorter than the 25 minutes it took to get there. Passing through the Sandbar Wildlife Management Area, we saw osprey on nesting stands and a great blue heron in the cattails.

When we pulled in, people were mingling on the porch of the restaurant, a white-clapboard colonial with a bright blue awning and wooden canoe out front. It wasn’t open yet, so we filled the time by exploring the backyard that abuts an endless field. There were rockers and a swing to lounge on and a funky bird sculpture made from welded kitchen utensils.

I was hoping to sit on the back deck but, without a reservation, we took what we could get — up a central staircase to a table in what was once a bedroom. Its “closet” is now a diorama complete with painted-lake background and an upright canoe nestled in fake grass.

The camp theme was ubiquitous — from the wooden canoe above the cozy bar to the driftwood moose head hanging above us as we ate — and added whimsy that seemed to welcome kids to the table. It also affected my taste buds: We decided on the P.E.I. mussels ($16) to start. Dave taught the kids to use emptied shells as tongs to extract the tender meat. Leo loved them; Mila not so much, though she chomped bread drenched in the savory broth.

There’s no kids menu, so we made it work by splitting a LaPlatte River burger between them ($15). We also spooned a bowl of Phoebe’s Black Bean soup ($7) into mugs to share. Our server was more than happy to provide extra plates and

was all smiles when Mila spilled ketchup on the floor.

I ordered the lobster sauté with prosciutto ($30), which came on a tangle of fettuccine. The delicate meat was fresh and the sauce clear and bright. Dave chose the filet mignon with mashed potatoes ($30) and was not disappointed. Both were pricier entrées we’d usually save for a quiet date night, but we embraced the opportunity to enjoy them with children in tow.

As our meal wound down, the kiddos began to unravel, making me very aware of the couple that had just sat down at a nearby two-top. We turned down dessert

Hits

Kid-friendly fine dining

• Backyard space for kids to explore

• Near Sandbar beach and wildlife area

Outdoor seating

High chairs

• Fun décor

• Local bands play in the backyard Misses

at the restaurant in favor of Seb’s, a South Hero scoop shop with picnic tables and a climbing tree.

• No kids menu or coloring supplies Some dining areas are intimate and not ideal for kids

On our way home, we passed people fishing, boating and paddle boarding in the lake as the sun moved toward the water. I was still thinking about the great flavors at Blue Paddle. And while they don’t have crayons or cups with lids, the dining experience fills a niche: fine food in an atmosphere that’s inviting to everyone — kids included. K

CIRCUS-PALOOZA

July 17, 2016

tttttttttttttttttttt

MEREDITH COEYMAN

Mila showing off her mussels

Reading to a Dog

AT EDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL, Ms. Dempsey’s kindergarten students squealed when Becca Reggio arrived at their door. Though it probably wasn’t her they were most excited to see; rather, it was Cora, her knee-high, pointy-eared companion. Reggio’s Swedish vallhund has the charming ability to help kids feel more comfortable — and confident — when they read aloud.

Reggio and Cora usually work with three pairs of students on their hourlong visits to the school, spending 20 minutes with each pair. Olivia and Liv were Cora’s first readers of the day. Together they decided that Liv would hold Cora’s leash as they walked down the hall to the library. Once there, the girls chose their books and helped little Cora up into the bay-window reading nook. Olivia opened an easy reader titled Sally’s Red Bucket, and began reading as she absentmindedly stroked Cora’s brown-and-black fur. Liv listened intently, scratching the dog’s ears as the sun streamed in.

When Olivia paused at a tricky word, Cora’s head popped up. Reggio, who was watching nearby, looked at the troublesome part and helped the girl sound it out. “That’s good, Olivia,” she said. “Keep going.”

With the sprawled-out pup sandwiched between her and Liv, Olivia finished the book. After both girls had a turn, Reggio moved Cora out of the window because it was too warm. The girls didn’t mind — as long as they could continue reading to her. Afterward, Liv mentioned how she loves to pet Cora’s soft fur. Olivia has dogs at home, she said, but when she tries to read to them they run away.

pooch to be a reading dog.

Reggio got easygoing Cora three years ago, and soon after started obedience and agility classes in preparation for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test. AKC examiners assessed how easily Cora was distracted, how she handled being left alone, how calmly she greeted new dogs and her reaction to sudden, loud noises. She passed with flying colors, which certified her for therapy work in community settings. Cora soon visited a handful of local schools and a nearby nursing home.

Reggio, whose love for animals runs deep, became interested in animal therapy after observing a

reading-therapy dog at a school where she used to work. Her dog at the time was not suited to the job, so she trained as a therapeutic horsebackriding instructor. When Reggio got Cora, she broadened her work to include dogs.

Reading with a dog helps kids deal with their nervousness and performance anxiety, Reggio said. “There’s no judgment when reading to a dog,” she explained. “If kids stumble reading, it’s no big deal because it’s just Cora.”

By the time a second pair of kindergarteners, Luci and Je rey, settled down on the library floor next to Cora, the dog was dozing o . Luci’s fingers played in Cora’s hair while Je rey looked on, stroking the dog’s belly. When Je rey started his second book, his voice was a bit louder and clearer than it had been at first.

Do the kindergarteners think that sharing books with Cora helps them become better readers? “Mmmm

hmm,” said Luci. “I can read Cat in the Hat books!”

When their time was up, Reggio asked Luci to grab Cora’s leash. “Come here, friend,” the little girl said, clipping it to her collar.

It’s sweet moments like this that Reggio enjoys most. “It’s novel for kids to step out of class and read to a dog,” she said. “They love it.”

WANT TO READ TO A DOG?

Here are some opportunities:

• Milton Public Library 39 Bombardier Rd., Milton (893-4644): July 12 & 26, 9 a.m.

• Burnham Memorial Library 898 Main St., Colchester (264-5660): July 5, 12, 19 & 26, 3:30 p.m.

Look for reading dogs to return to these libraries when school starts in September:

• Carpenter-Carse Library 69 Ballards Corner Rd., Hinesburg (482-2878)

• Brownell Library 6 Lincoln St., Essex Junction (878-6956)

There’s no judgment … If kids stumble reading, it’s no big deal.

BECCA REGGIO, VOLUNTEER

Luci and Jeffrey reading with Cora

Swedish vallhund Cora

Natural Connections

Readers share sweet snapshots and stories of their kids and pets

COMPILED BY ALISON NOVAK

My son Mason is 6. His best friend in the entire world is our 2-year-old basset hound, Red. They are truly inseparable and love each other beyond belief! From playing outside, sleeping, bathing and even eating, where one is the other is not far behind. Red has to have birthday parties, be incorporated in holidays and even go trick-ortreating. I’m not sure which one of them loves the other more.

MARGARET DANIELS

All of my kids have an amazing bond with our two English mastiffs, Remi and Deja. They are true gentle giants. They love to cuddle and are very friendly, but I know they wouldn’t hesitate to protect the kids if they needed to. Even though they each weigh three times as much as my daughter, Ellie, she is able to walk them both at the same time with no problem.

KACIE BADGER

We have owned chickens for six years now, never having more than 15 at a time, and our girls love them. Have you ever gone sledding with a chicken? They have.

MANDY

KNEELAND

Rosie has been dubbed the chicken whisperer.  Ever since we got the chickens as baby chicks, Rosie has made sure to spend some time every day with them, and they seem to have taken to her as their mama figure.  She has been the one to go in and show the chickens how to make their way into the upper roost of their coop and is the one the chickens turn and run to rather than away from.

HAROLD VANCE

My daughter, Mykenzie, adopted Blueberry November Rey, a guinea pig, this winter, taking it upon herself to be 100 percent responsible for her care and attention. Blueberry is the little sister Myk never had. Myk spends her allowance on all of Blueberry’s needs, and spends her time with Blueberry as much as possible. The cutest is watching Blueberry follow Myk around when outside, just like a dog might.

REBECCA REY

Mason and Red

Mykenzie and Blueberry

Andre, Annika and Phantom

Kaleb and Ruger

Coralyn and Marley

Arlo and Ginger

Daisy and Colton

Ari and Ellie with Remi

Jake and Annabelle

Sophia and Parsley

Rosie and her chickens

Natalee sledding with her chicken

Panda and Luca

THE ISSUE

My son Kaleb and his Xoloitzcuintli, Ruger, became friends in February of this year. Ruger sleeps with Kaleb every night and purrs in the funniest way when he is scared. However, if Kaleb speaks to him and walks over to him he will calm right down.

KIMBERLY THORNTON

Coralyn has loved animals every since she was a baby. The bond between her and her dog is so special. Marley is so patient with her and lets her do anything she wants to her. You can often find Marley wearing some of Coralyn’s dress-up clothes like headbands and beaded necklaces.

MAEGAN LAURIE

Our pitbull, Ginger, has been a sweetheart since the day we adopted her — she’s even certified with Therapy Dogs of Vermont! But the depth of her kind and gentle nature has really shown itself since our son, Arlo, joined the family. At two and a half years old now, Arlo can sometimes get a little rowdy, but he’s always gentle with Ginger, and she always seems to enjoy the attention from him the most.

ELISA KIVIRANNA

When people ask our 4-year-old grandson, Andre, if he has a pet, he tells them his dog lives with his grandparents. Andre was allergic to dogs when he was smaller, an allergy he seemed to magically outgrow when Phantom joined our family. Phantom, now nine months old, is a gentle and protective pup with Andre and his older sister, Annika, 10. They love giving him treats to get him to do tricks. (High five is a favorite.) It’s a great mutual admiration society. I’m the kid’s school chauffeur, and if they miss a weekday drop-off at our house, the result is a very glum puppy.

THEA LEWIS

Colton and Logan are best friends with their “big sister” and pet, Daisy. Daisy is a redbone coon hound and golden retriever mix and is a gentle protector of her human siblings at our home. As Daisy has gotten older, she is not as active as she once was, but that doesn’t keep her from snuggling with and making sure her little brother and sister are kept safe!

ERIN REED

After dog sitting for a friend for a few days, we knew our family was missing a furry family member. We found Panda through All Breeds Rescue, or rather she found us. Both of my children love her so very much, but she and my son, Luca, are truly the best of friends. Every day since she came home with us, they have walked together to school.

GRETA D’AGOSTINO

Our kiddo, Sophia, is 15 and I’m assuming she’s been a cat lover since before birth, because it runs so strong in her. She fosters kittens, has four unique cats that she adores, and found it to be a treat when her school dissected cats this semester. She shows cats at New England cat shows and has worked as a cat-show steward, under the tutelage of a well-regarded Egyptian mau breeder. She plans to be a veterinarian, with hopes of serving large cats in Africa. The photo shows Sophia with a kitten named Parsley that she fostered and found a home for.

JAMES LOCKRIDGE

This year we are fostering a puppy for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. The puppy’s name is Jake, and after a year of raising, training and socializing him, we’ll return him to the organization so he can get further training and be paired up with his blind or visually impaired person. Our daughter, Annabelle, is 9, and this is the first time we’ve ever had a dog, so we are all learning as we go. We know it will be incredibly hard to give back the puppy at the end of the year, but we thought this would be a great opportunity to teach Annabelle about volunteering, responsibility, love, giving to others and the concept that we don’t truly own anything or anyone. It’s been challenging having a puppy — lots of biting and peeing inside and the need to take constant walks, but it’s been great watching Annabelle rise to the challenge. Being an only child means she usually has all our attention. Now she needs to share the attention and be a responsible “sibling” and take care of someone else.

DELIA GILLEN

Riding instructor Sarah Seidman stands in the middle of the arena at Pease Farm Stable in Middlesex. Her two students — 13-year old Celina Torres on a medium-size, white mare named Molly and Celina’s grandmother, Elaine Boyce, on the elegant, brown-and-black Windsong — rein in their mounts to listen to her directions. They’re about to play a game.

“Okay, see that?” the wiry Seidman says to Celina. She motions to the other side of the arena, past three poles dividing the dirt floor into two zones. “That’s North Korea, where you live,” she says. She explains that Celina should try to steer her horse back over the poles to her grandmother’s side, aka “South Korea.”

“I’m the evil dictator here in North Korea,” Seidman continues, “where you have very few freedoms and can’t do anything unless I say so.”

“So don’t smile until I tell you to do so,” the instructor deadpans.

The Waterbury Center teen, clad in an animal-print top, brushes dark brown hair out of her face, revealing a grin as she nudges Molly to her end of the arena.

Seidman tells Boyce to try to rescue her granddaughter by walking Windsong into North Korea while Seidman isn’t looking. Seidman hams it up as the dictator, commanding the riders around the arena in their separate “countries.” She thwarts several of Boyce’s attempts to free her granddaughter.

Finally, when Siedman’s back is turned, Celina makes a break for freedom, steering Molly toward the

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Celina Torres riding Molly

Riding it THE ISSUE

Out

BY DARCIE ABBENE

border. The horse obediently follows her direction.

“Aaaah! She’s getting away!” Seidman mock-wails. The teen’s focused face turns into an expression of proud triumph as Molly walks across the center line.

Atop Molly, Celina navigates the arena with ease. Once she dismounts, though, getting around is more of a challenge.

Celina was born with spina bifida: Her backbone and spinal cord weren’t fully developed. The severity of the condition varies from case to case. For Celina, lower spinal nerve damage makes basic motions below her waist difficult. She usually wears leg braces to help her balance as she walks. But because most of her muscle loss is below her knees, Celina is able to ride brace-free.

According to her mom, Mary Sanders, Celina always has someone available to help her — except when she’s with Molly. In the arena, she takes the lead.

“That has been huge for Celina,” Sanders says. And it’s not the only way riding has benefitted her daughter in the two years since Celina started taking lessons. Riding isn’t just fun for her — it’s also therapeutic.

Seidman, her instructor, was certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International in 2006. In 2008, she founded the nonprofit Vermont Horse-Assisted Therapy, which operates out of her farm, to help make riding more accessible to people with disabilities.

Horses are particularly well-suited to therapeutic work, Seidman says, because they’re large animals — their

size forces students to manage safety issues and take risks. And horses communicate differently than people do.

Amber Bennett, director of Hope Grows Community Farm Therapeutic Riding Program in Hyde Park, another horse therapy program, says riders learn powerful lessons when they have to interact with another species. “A horse doesn’t respond verbally like a human being does,” she says. “You can make mistakes with a horse, and the horse doesn’t hold it against you like a human might. So it’s a different kind of relationship.”

A Restoring Ride

Horse-assisted therapy first attracted widespread attention after the 1952 Olympics. That year, the silver medalist in the equestrian sport of dressage was a Danish woman, Lis Hartel, who used a wheelchair. Riding had helped her recover from polio, she said.

During the 1960s, horse-assisted therapy became popular in Europe, then later in the U.S., as a complement to traditional therapies. In the 1980s and early ’90s, therapists developed a standardized hippotherapy curriculum — “hippos” is the Greek word for horse.

Hippotherapy is provided by a licensed therapist, in conjunction with a trained instructor, and the horse’s movements assist the client in meeting clinical goals. Seidman’s program, on the other hand, emphasizes learning riding skills as a way of improving physical and mental health.

“We offer riding instruction regardless of disability, adapting to what a student needs in order to learn how to ride,” Seidman explains. “If a student is blind, we offer more verbal

instruction. If they are deaf, you’d see me using signs. If they are an amputee, we’d adjust their leg position. If they have ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder], we’d have a strong emphasis on movement in the ring and moving quickly so as to keep their attention.”

All of Seidman’s horses go through a vetting process. At least two of VHAT’s instructors ride and assess the temperament of any horse new to the program. Then there’s a one-month trial period, during which instructors test the horse’s ability to tolerate unbalanced riders, unexpected movement or loud noises, and boredom, since lessons sometimes involve repetitive activity. Once accepted, each animal is limited to two lessons a day with a rest interval of at least two hours in between.

To determine how to best help her students, Seidman reviews their applications, then meets with them to see how they respond to a horse. She observes their physicality, how they react to the horse’s touch, how they communicate with the animal, whether they can follow more than one step at a time and how they respond to instruction. She then designs lessons based on her observations.

After the North Korea/South Korea

activity, Seidman explains that what might have seemed like just a silly game was actually a powerful teaching tool. Celina and her grandmother were practicing riding skills like walking, halting, steering and leaning forward with their weight off the saddle.

The tasks also required Celina to work on building core stability and strength as she directed Molly around the arena.

Riding helps Celina learn to “trust her body,” says her mother. “For example, one foot is weaker than the other and for a while it kept slipping out of the stirrup. Celina had to learn how to get that foot back in, how to deal with things as they come up.”

There are cognitive benefits, too, says Seidman. Celina has to quiet her mind, focus, listen to directions and follow through on a goal. Seidman sometimes sets up obstacle courses to work on Celina’s short-term memory, which is weakened because of her spina bifida. She’ll explain a sequence of steps to Celina just one time but offer the teen unlimited chances to follow them, eliminating the fear of failure.

You can make mistakes with a horse, and the horse doesn’t hold it against you like a human might. So it’s a different kind of relationship.

AMBER BENNETT, DIRECTOR OF HOPE GROWS THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM

How horse-assisted therapy is helping kids in and out of the barn

Get Ready THE GAME IS

Riding it Out

Beyond the Saddle

As a licensed mental health counselor, Bennett, of Hope Grows, diagnoses patients with conditions like anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and ADHD. She works with parents, teachers, doctors and other service providers to develop treatment plans that include equine-assisted therapy, which doesn’t involve riding instruction. “Most of it is taking natural situations with horses and connecting them to individual lives,” she says, to “help them to problem-solve, work on communication skills and hopefully, in turn, take that back to their lives.”

“Take grooming,” she offers. “Grooming a horse helps individuals get a sense of relationships.” It offers a wide range of benefits: A person who has difficulty forming bonds must build the trust of a horse before they

can touch it; grooming helps model self-care behaviors for clients who struggle with caring for their own bodies; clients with sensory issues can address them through touching the horse and using different types of brushes. Successful grooming can also lead to a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of pride.

For kids with ADHD who struggle to stay focused, Bennett devises activities that require them to maintain their attention for an extended period of time. She might set up stations where a client walks a horse around the arena and stops at cones to perform different tasks, like pausing for 10 seconds or walking the horse over a bridge. The client might start by completing the task at just one cone and build up to all of them.

Horses can help children with autism build spatial awareness. Since

Celina with her instructor, Sarah Seidman

many kids on the autism spectrum don’t want to be held or touched, an exercise where they hug a horse helps them get comfortable with physical closeness. Another exercise, in which a client must maintain eye contact with a horse, can help ease social anxiety. Since horses can’t respond verbally, they’re often less threatening. This helps kids focus on the message they are sending and not the response. Often, “it seems like there is a more natural bond with an animal for someone with autism,” says Bennett.

Mane Benefits

Horses can also aid with emotional trauma. When 11-year-old Morgan Foster’s father was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2014, she resisted traditional psychotherapy. A family friend, knowing Morgan’s passion for horses, suggested the program at Hope Grows. For two and a half years, she’s been working with Bennett, riding and doing chores. She bundles up on the coldest of winter days to clean out stalls and volunteers at the barn during summer vacation.

The settling effect of time spent at the stable was immediate for Morgan, says her mother, Samantha Foster. “The difference was huge. In confidence, in disposition,” she says. Foster works at an organization that helps survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and, after watching Morgan’s transformation, began referring clients to the program.

Some weeks, Morgan spends time in the barn, grooming horses and talking with Bennett. Other weeks, Bennett and Morgan spend more time riding in the arena. Always, they’re focused on processing Morgan’s situation. By practicing communication skills with horses, Morgan is better equipped to explain her feelings in the outside world, says Bennett. A simple task like gently directing a horse to move prepares Morgan to ask for help outside the barn.

“When Morgan gets home, she is relaxed,” says her mom. “She is excited about what she’s learning.”

Celina’s mom sees her daughter experiencing similar benefits from her time with Molly.

Says Sanders: “Celina doesn’t always assert herself, and Molly can be tricky when putting on her saddle. Celina has to handle that.”

And, she says, “Celina learns to be a pack leader, making choices for herself and the horse.”

Celina has started to stick up for herself more, speaking up about how she’s feeling both at school and at home, Sanders says. She’s able to do things more independently, too, like following a verbal list of directions, taking her medications and getting ready for school.

Though Celina still jokes about the possibility of getting bitten when she tacks Molly up, it’s clear the teen is comfortable with her horse.

“I trust Molly no matter what,” she says. “When I’m on her, she does what I want her to do. She isn’t going to do anything unless I ask her to.” K

Where to Find Equines

Interested in learning more about horse-assisted therapy? Check out the following local programs.

Hope Grows Community Farm Program, Hyde Park, 851-8081, hopegrowsfarm.org

Vermont Horse-Assisted Therapy, Middlesex, 223-4828, vhat.org

Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program, South Hero, 372-4087, vtchamp.org

Rhythm of the Rein, Marshfield, 426-3781, rhythmoftherein.org

High Horses, Norwich, 356-3386, highhorses.org

For more than 160 years, New England families have welcomed Hood® Milk into the heart of their homes. And it is an honor to have a seat at the table.

I trust Molly no matter what ... She isn’t going to do anything unless I ask her to.

CELINA TORRES, 13

The Weekender

Woodstock/ Killington

Long Trail brewery, Worthy chicken wings, glassblowing and raptors: adventures in central Vermont

BY BENJAMIN ROESCH

Though we’ve often driven by the exit on our way to Boston or Connecticut, my family had never explored the Woodstock/ Killington area until recently. In an effort to see more of Vermont outside of Chittenden County, we decided it was time to head south from our home in Burlington. It was rainy and unseasonably chilly on the early June weekend of our visit, but that didn’t deter us. The area is so loaded with great food and family-friendly activities that we wondered why it took us so long to get there.

WHERE TO STAY

We tried to get a room at the On the River Inn (1653 West Woodstock Road) in Woodstock because their indoor pool, sauna and kids’ game room enticed us. But Dartmouth’s graduation had them all booked up. Nearby Killington o ered some solid options, though, so we stayed at the Killington Mountain Lodge (2617 Killington Road). They o er a stunning panoramic view of Killington Peak, and we greatly appreciated the massive outdoor Jacuzzi on the cool Saturday we visited.

Our room — at the o -season $170 rate — was bare bones and showing its age, but the communal lodge area has a bar and a pool table and was well maintained and cozy. After a long day of exploring, we elected to order pizza rather than venture out for dinner. The concierge graciously suggested we watch a movie in their movie room.

He popped us some popcorn and we munched pizza in plush chairs while watching Frozen on a big screen.

Other hotels and inns in the area include the Sleep Woodstock Motel (4324 West Woodstock Road) right on Route 4, the pricey but luxurious Kedron Valley Inn (4778 South Road) in South Woodstock and the Killington Grand Resort Hotel (228 East Mountain Road), as well as a number of chain accommodations.

WHAT TO DO

Though we were staying in Killington, we wanted to focus on activities in the Woodstock/Quechee area, so we took Exit 1 o of I-89 and worked our way over to Killington via Route 4, which is packed with beautiful scenery.

A good friend who grew up nearby recommended Quechee’s Vermont Institute of Natural Science (6565 Woodstock Road), which is committed

Seeing them fly back and forth between the trainers demonstrated the birds’ fierce hunting potential, and my sons were definitely impressed.

to avian education and rehabilitation. We started our journey on their campus, which features 17 raptor enclosures where you can observe eagles, falcons, hawks and owls. We arrived just in time for the “Raptors Up Close” talk, where our good-natured and knowledgeable guide showed us the rough-legged hawk, the American kestrel and the great horned owl from only an arm’s length away. Seeing them fly back and forth between the trainers demonstrated the birds’ fierce hunting potential, and my sons, 8-year-old Felix and 6-year-old Leo, were definitely impressed. The campus also o ers a bird hospital, rotating exhibits and nature trails. Admission for two adults and two children was over $50, but it was memorable and worth it to us.

Just down the road from VINS in Quechee is the lavish flagship Simon Pearce facility (1760 Main Street) in a converted mill on the Ottauquechee River. It houses a fine-dining restaurant, bar and store filled with wondrous hand-blown glassware. The thought of my kids surrounded by fragile glass objects made me a little nervous, but the store is worth passing through to get to the basement for a glassblowing demo. Halfway down the stairs, you can hear the hum and feel the heat from the 2,500-degree ovens that soften the glass into a malleable form. Glass blowers field questions from visitors while working at an assembly-line pace. Our kids were entranced by the gleaming globs of

molten glass that magically transformed into drinking glasses.

A short drive down the road into Woodstock is the Billings Farm & Museum (5302 Old River Road), a working dairy farm and window into Vermont’s past. The restored farmhouse was a forestry operation in the late 19th century. Many of the barns feature casual exhibits with antique tractors and farm equipment, but the dairy cows were the highlight of our

trip. When we arrived, they were in the barn for milking, which happens twice a day. The sta was warm and informative, and the cows — bony on top and bulging around the middle — were surprisingly massive. Our boys were amazed and repulsed to witness the cows relieving themselves; a sta member was quick to make it a teachable moment about the vital role manure plays in the farm’s ecosystem. Visiting the dairy bar, which is only a short walk from the cow barn, is a must. It serves flavorful, creamy ice cream made with locally sourced milk (all the milk produced on the premises goes to cheesemaking), and, though the day was cold, we sampled chocolate chip and vanilla with peanut butter cups. On the way out, we tasted three varieties of Billings Farm cheddar and shopped for souvenirs in the gift shop.

The Woodstock welcome center has a friendly sta and clean public restrooms. The downtown is quaint and worth a walk around; we enjoyed window-shopping up and down Main Street. Don’t miss Yankee Bookshop (12 Central Street), Vermont’s oldest independent bookshop, where we stopped to buy some summer reading material.

Further down Route 4 in Bridgewater Corners is Long Trail Brewing Company (5520 US-4). There’s a gorgeous wraparound bar, cleverly repurposed tables for two made from aging barrels, and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating for lunch and dinner. The brewery’s open design and high ceiling was inspired by the famous Ho räuhaus in Munich, Germany. Our boys enjoyed walking the catwalk, which overlooks the brew floor and o ers views of the beer-making process, and skipping stones in the adjacent river. My wife, Shannon, and I squeezed in a quick tasting of Long Trail’s craft beer o erings including the tart and sweet Cranberry Gose and their seasonal summer ale. A wide selection of beers

and assorted souvenirs is available for purchase in the gift shop.

The weather kept us indoors for most of the weekend, but we snuck in a visit to Thundering Falls in Killington (2295 River Road). It’s one of the largest waterfalls in Vermont and is breathtaking, even when the water is low, like it was when we visited. A raised boardwalk leads from the small parking lot to the base of the falls, making them wheelchair accessible. Even if you’re pressed for time, you could park, see the falls and be back on the road in less than 20 minutes. From the falls, you can also hike portions of the Appalachian Trail. We ventured up to peek at the cascading water from the top and enjoyed watching it slip out of the mountain and plummet over the slick rock face.

On our next trip, we’ll hope for better weather so we can hike down into Quechee Gorge, Vermont’s deepest at 165 feet. We’ve heard the hike down into “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon” is family-friendly and provides photo-worthy views.

WHERE TO EAT

Our top food priority was Woodstock’s Worthy Kitchen (442 Woodstock Road). Friends who’d dined there had given it rave reviews. The restaurant is light and spacious, and the amiable host immediately greeted us and explained their ordering system: the menu is on a large chalkboard adjacent to the bar counter, where you order, receive a beeper and, if you’re in the mood, choose a craft beer from their extensive, stellar selection to sip while you wait.

My buttermilk fried-chicken sandwich, topped with pickled red onions and Sriracha mayo, was heaven on a homemade bun. Shannon enjoyed a double patty burger, served pink in the middle, with crispy fries. The kids’ mac and cheese was also delicious,

Our kids were entranced by the gleaming globs of molten glass.

Felix, Shannon and Leo at Thundering Falls

Back Country Café in Killington

Worthy Kitchen in Woodstock

Playhouse Junior presents

The Weekender: Woodstock/Killington

but the star of the meal was the maple-bacon chicken wings served with pickled carrots for a tangy twist. We licked our fingers and marveled at the sweet and smoky flavor. Our only regret was that we couldn’t sample more of the menu that day. Next time we’ll try the poutine with duck fat gravy, the truffle fries and the homemade cinnamon doughnuts.

The Woodstock Farmers’ Market (979 West Woodstock Road) is a small gourmet grocery just outside of town. Its pricey wares and tight aisles don’t make it especially kid-friendly, but we’re glad we ventured in to purchase some homemade pastries and gourmet coffee to go. The peanutbutter-chocolate-chip cookies were huge, and the chocolate mousse cake was decadent and dusted with shaved chocolate.

Just down the street is the White Cottage Snack Bar (863 Woodstock Road), which has been in business since 1957 and features assorted seafood and sandwiches. The fried whole belly clams were succulent, and the fish sandwich was crispy and served with the holy trio: lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce. The kids’ grilled cheese sandwiches were well above average, with thick-cut, buttery wheat bread and perfectly melted cheese. The only weak link was the New England Clam chowder, which didn’t pack enough flavor. But the classic fish shack atmosphere makes it a good stop if you’re craving casual seafood. On hot days, visitors stop there for ice cream and a dip in the Ottauquechee River, which runs through the restaurant’s backyard.

GET TICKETS NOW!

Willy Wonka follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Mr. Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. The five children who come up with these tickets win a lifetime supply of candy, a free tour of the Wonka factory, and learn many important life lessons along the way.

Featuring the songs from the film starring Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka is an enchanting musical guaranteed to delight everyone’s sweet tooth as it takes the audience on a fantasy ride into the land of pure imagination!

August 5 at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.

August 6 at 10 a.m.

August 7 at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.

$10 per ticket

In the Killington area, the pizzas we ordered in from iPie Pizzeria (1307 Killington Road) were excellent, served on thin crust with just the right amount of cheese and sweet tomato sauce. We weren’t too adventurous with our toppings (cheese for the kids, meatball and mushrooms for us), but a number of their specialty pizzas, including an Alfredo version and one with arugula, prosciutto and ricotta, sounded tempting. They also serve a variety of salads and specialty paninis.

On our way out of town, we stopped for breakfast at Killington’s Back Country Café (923 Killington Road), a kitschy diner with a long bar and walls crammed with deer heads and funny signs. (One promised to add $25 to the tab if you were a pain to deal with.) The kids chowed on chocolate chip pancakes, Shannon had a homemade popover smothered with loaded scrambled eggs and I had corned beef hash. The service was friendly and the food was well prepared. But, for the kids, the massive bear rug suspended over the exit made the biggest impression.

LOGISTICS

The drive from Burlington to Woodstock is around 90 minutes. At the kids’ request, we had a Hamilton soundtrack sing-along, which made the ride fly by. The area was easy to navigate, and our off-season visit meant that most of our destinations weren’t crowded. When booking accommodations check the rates; they tend to be significantly more expensive in season. K

The scrumdidilyumptious adventures of Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale.

Leo and Felix at Billings Farm

The Ottauquechee River behind White Cottage Snack Bar

JULY

CALENDAR

Sponsored by:

Independent Spirit

Looking to celebrate the Fourth of July with pep? The capital city holds its inaugural FAMILY OLYMPICS on the Statehouse lawn the Sunday before Independence Day. Ceremonies commence with a joyful display of flags and streamers along with singing and dancing. Then kids and adults team up for friendly competition in silly variations of soccer, tennis, hurdles and javelin. Bouncy houses, inflatable slides and a scavenger hunt add fun to the playful party. The feel-good games culminate with medals for everyone and a bubble extravaganza that aims to best the state’s bubble-blowing record. Festivities continue into the night with live music, food vendors, a 5K race at 6 p.m. and fireworks after dark.

Like the University of Vermont Medical Center on Facebook and get weekly updates from Dr. First!

See “First With Kids” videos at uvmhealth.org.

SPOTLIGHTS & LISTINGS BY BRETT STANCIU

CRAFTSBURY CHAMBER PLAYERS MINI-CONCERTS: Elley-Long Music Center, Wednesdays beginning July 13. East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church, July 28. Hardwick Town House, July 14 & 21. See listings on page 36 and 42.

FARM TO BALLET: Philo Ridge Farm, July 16, and Golden Well Farm & Apiaries, July 30. See listings on page

FAMILY OLYMPICS: Sunday, July 3, 2-5:30 p.m., on the Statehouse lawn in Montpelier. All ages. Free. Info, 223-9604. montpelieralive.org

NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY: Billings Farm & Museum, July 17. See listing on page 38.

1 FRIDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: Mothers-to-be build strength, stamina, comfort and a stronger connection to their baby. Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, 8:15-9:15 a.m. $15 or $130 for 10-class pass. Info, 864-9642.

Mother’s Gathering: Moms and new babies spread out, sip tea, nurse and swap stories. Children under 2 welcome. Yoga Mountain Center, Montpelier, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-5302.

Food

5 Corners Farmers Market: Shoppers stock up on local veggies, meats, cheeses, crafts and a variety of savory dinner options. Lincoln Place, Essex Junction, 3:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 5cornersfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

ArtsRiot Truck Stop Burlington: Foodie families enjoy an eclectic array of local grub and live music during this hip block party. ArtsRiot, Burlington, 5-10 p.m. Free; cost for food. Info, 540-0406.

Burger Night: Picnickers bring a blanket or chair to this local feast of grilled fare and festive music. All ages. Bread & Butter Farm, Shelburne, 4:307:30 p.m. Free admission; cost of food and drink. Weather dependent; visit breadandbutterfarm.com for latest information. Info, 985-9200.

Foodways Fridays: Guests tour the heirloom garden, then watch as veggies make their way into historic recipes prepared in the 1890 farmhouse kitchen. All ages. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $4-14; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

Hardwick Farmers Market: Local produce, plants, artisan cheese, syrup and more fill shoppers’ market baskets. Diverse dinner delectables available. Storytime for small ones from 3-4 pm. Atkins Field, Hardwick, 3-6 p.m. Free.

Pizza Fridays: Hungry kiddos consume a nutritious lunch with whole grains, local veggies and milk.

Ages 18 and under. Jericho Town Library, 12:30-1:15 p.m. Free; preregistration required. Info, 899-4686.

Richmond Farmers Market: Vendors peddle handheld pies, honey ice cream, homemade pickles, just-picked produce and much more at this lively showcase of locavorism. All ages. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free.

Games

Circus Skills 101: Juggling: Professional entertainer Austin Smith teaches eager learners how to wow their friends with the three-ball toss. Ages 7 and up. Jericho Community Center, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Craftsbury Lego Club: Youngsters create with plastic blocks and enjoy companionship. Ages 4-12. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

Magic: The Gathering: Novice and experienced players team up for card playing. Ages 8 and up. Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 3:15 p.m. Free. Info, 422-9765.

Health & Fitness

Fitness Friday: Eager amateur athletes enjoy exercise with a di erent theme each Friday. Grades 1-5. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Holidays

Brandon Independence Day Celebration: Family fun kicks o on Friday with a food fest and street dance. Saturday festivities include karaoke, a pieeating contest, children’s games, a 1 p.m. parade and live music. Fireworks burst over the village at dusk. All ages. Central Park, Brandon, 5 p.m. Most events are free. Info, 247-6401.

Library & Books

Family Story Time: Librarian and storyteller Molly Pease leads little ones in stories, crafts, music and more. Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-1441.

Garden Adventures with the Bookworms: Junior green thumbs gather with Miss Meg and friends to enjoy stories, crafts and gardening. Ages 3-6. Wheeler Homestead and Garden Park, South Burlington, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

St. Albans Animalympic Sleepover: Kids bring a favorite stu ed animal friend for a pajama party on Thursday at 6 p.m., then return at 10 a.m. Friday morning to watch a slideshow of the night’s furry fun. All ages. St. Albans Free Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Summer Story Time: Stories and crafts stimulate small ones. Ages 3-6. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Music

City Hall Park Concert Series: Each week, lunchtime musical performances from folk to rock and bluegrass to country entertain al fresco diners. Burlington City Hall Park, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: Toe-tapping tunes captivate kiddies. Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 660-9346.

Theater

‘James & the Giant Peach’: Young actors bring to the stage this beloved book of an immensely oversize fruit and larger-than-life insects. FlynnSpace, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $8-10. Info, 652-4500.

2 SATURDAY Arts & Crafts

Kids Building Workshop: Handy helpers learn doit-yourself skills and tool safety as they construct seasonal projects. Ages 5-12. Home Depot, Williston, 9 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister at workshops. homedepot.com. Info, 872-0039.

Baby & Maternity

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: Women prepare for birth through yoga, with a focus on strengthening the body and mind. See prenatalmethod.com for class descriptions. Prenatal Method Studio, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $15. Info, 829-0211.

Food

Burlington Farmers Market: Growers and artisans o er fresh and prepared foods, crafts and more in a bustling marketplace. All ages. Burlington City Hall Park, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 310-5172.

Capital City Farmers Market: Veggies, honey, maple syrup and more change hands at a celebration of locally grown food. All ages. Downtown Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-2958.

Champlain Island Farmers Market: Farmers, specialty food businesses and artisans sell their high-quality wares. St. Joseph Church, Grand Isle, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 617-652-2304.

Middlebury Farmers Market: Crafts, cheeses, breads, veggies and more vie for spots in shoppers’ totes. Marble Works District, Middlebury, Free. Info, 537-4754.

esList your class or camp here for only $20 per month! Submit the listing by July 15 at kidsvt.com or to classes@kidsvt.com.

ClaIntro to Fiddle: Thursdays, July 14 and July 21, 7 p.m. Class Two will be held on Thursdays, August 4 and August 11. Participants can sign up for either class. Woodbury Strings instructors will teach an introduction to fiddle to youth ages 10 and up and adults. $45 includes two classes and a two-week fiddle rental. Instruments provided by Burlington

Violin Shop. Location: Burlington Violin Shop, 23 Church St., Burlington. Info: Contact Sarah Hotchkiss at 223-8945, visit woodburystrings.com or email woodburystrings@gmail.com.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for children promotes self-esteem, self-defense and bully-proofing, self-confidence, character development, a physical outlet with discipline, cooperation with other children, respect for peers and adults, perseverance, and a healthy lifestyle. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will help your kids to learn realistic bully-proofing and self-defense skills that they can use for the rest of their lives; regular BJJ training builds endurance, resilience, patience, discipline, self-respect, and helps to instill courage and self-confidence. First class is free! Please stop by our school, call 660-4072 or email julio@bjjusa.com to register your son or daughter and receive a free uniform with their first month enrollment. www.vermontbjj.com

Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga Classes at Evolution

Prenatal & Family Yoga Center: Have a more comfortable pregnancy and prepare for birth with stretching, strengthening and relaxation in prenatal yoga — and then bring your body back to balance and strength in postnatal yoga. Join our community of mothers at any point in your pregnancy, and 6 weeks or later in your postpartum time (until baby is crawling). No yoga experience necessary.  Prenatal Yoga: Sundays, 10 a.m.; Mondays, 5:45 p.m.; Tuesdays, 4:15 p.m.; Wednesdays, 5:45 p.m.; Thursdays, 12:15 p.m.;

Fridays, 8:15 a.m. Postnatal Yoga: Sundays, 12:15 p.m.; Tuesdays, 10:45 a.m.; Thursdays, 10:45 a.m.; Fridays, 8:15 a.m.; Fridays, noon (postnatal core).  Drop-ins welcome; $15/class or $130/10 class pass.  Location:  Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington.  Info: evolutionprenatalandfamily.com, 899-0339.

EvoBaby & EvoKids Yoga at Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center: Register now for summer baby and kids yoga classes. Join us to bond with your baby or give your child tools to help self-regulate and find more joy. Classes seven days a week for all ages, 6 weeks to teen. See detailed schedule on website for age groupings, descriptions and pricing. Location:  Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington.  Info: evolutionprenatalandfamily.com, 899-0339.

Glass Blowing for Ages 7+: At the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., July-August. Make two fun projects — a blown ornament and a pressed glass suncatcher — in a 20-minute one-on-one session. Families encouraged. Schedule consecutive sessions and work as a glass blowing team. Details at orwellglass.com.

Kids & Parents World Drumming in Burlington!: Tuesday Taiko in Burlington for ages 6 and up; 4:00-5:20 p.m. starting June 21; $75/child or $125/parent-child for five weeks. (No class 7/5.) August 30, $30/child or $58/parent-child for three weeks. Wednesday Djembe (ages 6 and up), 4:30-5:20 p.m., starting June 22, $60/child or $105/parent-child for five weeks; August 31 (No class 7/6), $24/child or $46/parent-child for two weeks; September 21, $48/child or $92/ parent-child for four weeks. Five-person minimum required to run most classes, so invite friends. Please register online or come directly to the first class. Info: 999-4255, burlingtontaiko.org.

Kids & Parents World Drumming in Montpelier: Taiko or Djembe instruction Thursdays, 3:30-4:20 (ages 3-5) and 4:30-5:20 (ages 6 and up) starting June 23. $60/child or $115/parent-child for five weeks (No class 7/7). September 1, $25/ child or $48/parent-child for two weeks; October 6, $36/child or $69/parent-child for three weeks (No class 10/20). Five-person minimum required to run most classes, so invite friends. Please register online or come directly to the first class. Info: 999-4255, burlingtontaiko.org.

Rutland Farmers Market: Local vendors peddle farm-fresh veggies and fruits, handcrafted breads, artisan cheese and more at this outdoor emporium. Downtown Rutland, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 342-4727.

Games

Native American Games: Storyteller and musician Michael Caduto engages kids in hoop and stick, cat’s cradle, the Cherokee butter bean game and more. All ages. Warren Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 496-3913.

Health & Fitness

Color the Kingdom Run: In this noncompetitive 5K, runners and walkers dressed in white get splattered with a rainbow of nontoxic colors, then enjoy a community block party. Craftsbury Common, 9-11 a.m. $15-25; free for children under 7; proceeds benefit the Art House’s educational art programming. Info, 586-2200.

EvoKids Saturday Yoga: Youngsters master basic yoga poses through games, songs and dance. Mindfulness activities improve focus and concentration. Ages 3-9. Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $15. Info, 864-9642.

Holidays

Bakersfield Independence Day Celebration: The community comes out for old-fashioned fun, with a parade at noon, followed by a chicken BBQ, a horseshoe tournament, live music, an airshow at 7 p.m. and a fireworks grand finale. Route 36 and Route 108, Bakersfield, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Free; food available for sale. Info, 827-6145.

Brandon Independence Day Celebration: See July 1, 10 a.m.

Rutland Fourth of July Celebration: Awardwinning fireworks at 9:45 p.m. cap Summer Smash 2016, which includes carnival-style concessions and the Woodbooger Demolition Derby. Gates open at 4 p.m. Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland, 4 p.m. $10-20; free parking. Info, 775-5200.

Ticonderoga Independence Day Weekend Celebration: History bu s celebrate America by seeing reenactments and listening to patriotic music on the very ground where soldiers served to secure independence. Fort Ticonderoga, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. $9-22; free for children under 5. Info, 518-585-2821.

Nature & Science

Summer Naturalist Program: Hands-on exploration of the natural world — from bugs to trees — piques the curiosity of kids of all ages, followed by a craft or game. Mill Trail Property, Stowe, 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. Free. Info, 253-7221.

Tour the Cosmos: This 50-minute live presentation takes the audience on a journey deep into the universe. Ages 6 and up. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, 1:30 p.m. $6 plus regular museum admission, $7-9; free for children under 5. Info, 748-2372.

Theater

Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour in St. Johnsbury: High-flying feats into the wild blue yonder abound as Smirkus troupers ages 10 to 18 dazzle crowds with jugglers, high-larious clowns, and air-borne aerialists. All ages. Green Mountain Mall, St Johnsbury, 1 & 6 p.m. $13-21; free for children under 2. Info, 877-764-7587. ‘James & the Giant Peach’: See July 1, 1 & 4 p.m. 3 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: Moms tote their precrawling kids to an all-levels flowing yoga class focused on bringing the body back to strength and alignment in a fun and nurturing environment.

Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, 12:15-1:30 p.m. $15; $130 for a 10-class pass. Info, 864-9642.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 10-11:30 a.m.

Food

Colchester Farmers Market: Rain or shine, local farmers, artisans, food vendors and musicians gather on the green. All ages. Colchester Town Green, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

South Burlington Farmers Market: Locavores skip the grocery store and head to this outdoor market for produce, meat and eggs, plus goods from local artists and ethnic lunch options. University Mall, South Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Stowe Farmers Market: Live music, agricultural and craft vendors make for a bustling atmosphere. Stowe Farmers Market, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 279-3444.

Health & Fitness

Essex Open Gym: Energy-filled kids flip, jump and tumble in a state-of-the-art facility. Ages 6 and under, 1 p.m.; ages 7-12, 2:30 p.m.; ages 13 and up, 4 p.m. Regal Gymnastics Academy, Essex, 1-5:30 p.m. $8. Info, 655-3300.

Family Fun Day at the Pool: Families meet up for fun in the water and at the poolside. Open to all. Montpelier Public Pool, 1:30-4 p.m. Free. Info, 225-8699.

Holidays

Burlington Fireworks at the Waterfront: Live bands and fun-filled activities set the scene for spectacular fireworks over Lake Champlain. Burlington’s Waterfront Park, 5-10 p.m. Free. Info, 864-0123.

Montpelier Independence Day: The Statehouse lawn hosts opening ceremonies for the 2016 Family Olympics with friendly games promoting teamwork and self-confidence. A 5K at 6 p.m., followed by a parade, live music and fireworks, finishes the

evening with a flourish. (See spotlight on page 29.) Downtown Montpelier, 2 p.m. Free; food available for sale. Info, 223-9604.

Ticonderoga Independence Day Weekend Celebration: See July 2.

Williston Fourth of July: Williston fêtes the national holiday over two days, with a 5K Firecracker Fun Run Sunday at 6 p.m., a library book sale and an ice cream social. A 10 a.m. festival parade launches Monday, followed by music and activities, and it all ends with a bang at dusk. Williston Green. Free; fees for some activities. Info, 876-1160.

Nature & Science

Discovery Sundays: Families have fun with handson science experiments and investigations using wheels, towers, magnets, feathers, water and bubbles. All ages. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center, Quechee, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11.50-13.50; free for children under 3. Info, 359-5001, ext. 228.

Sundays for Fledglings: Aspiring junior birders learn all about the work birds do through observation, research and goofing around. Ages 5-9; siblings welcome. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 2-3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $3.50-7; free for members and children under 3. Info, 434-2167.

Tour the Cosmos: See July 2.

Theater

Bread & Puppet Performance: The renowned politically-oriented theatrical company showcases new works, with live music and papier-mâché puppets. Bread and Puppet Museum, Glover, 3 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 525-3031.

Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour in St. Johnsbury: See July 2, noon & 5 p.m.

Happy Fourth of July!

Arts & Crafts

Webby’s Art Studio: Gnome on the Range: Inspired by the museum’s outdoors, crafty ones construct their own garden elf. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $7-24; free for children under 5. Info, 985-3346.

Community

VT Governor’s Institute on the Arts Parade: More than 100 high school students in this intensive art program parade with giant puppets, stilts, streamers and a samba band, followed by a full day of town-sponsored festivities. Castleton State College, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 505-9442.

Holidays

Cabot Fourth of July: A Main Street parade at 11 a.m. leads to an afternoon of fun in the sun, including field games, a chicken barbecue and a dunk tank. Cabot Recreation Field, 9 a.m. Free; food available for sale. Info, 563-9907.

Colchester Fourth of July Celebration: All-American revelry includes a fun run, a parade at 11 a.m. and live music, topped off with fireworks at dusk. Various locations, Colchester. Free for most events; $5 for fun run. Info, 264-5640.

Fairfax Fourth of July: Beginning at 1 p.m., a twomile parade route to the recreation park is followed by the always-popular Ducky Race. Fairfax Community Park & Recreation Path, Free. Info, 849-2641. Independence Day Viewing Party: Parade-watchers celebrate on the library lawn. Watermelon is gratis! Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Old Vermont Fourth of July: Traditional holiday happenings feature flag-making, hand-cranked ice cream, wagon rides, sack races, a spelling bee, patriotic speeches and debates. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $4-14; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

Stowe Fourth of July Celebration: An old-fashioned shindig starts at 10 a.m. with marching music in the Moscow parade. Face painting, music, clowns and food in the village follow from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fun picks up at Mayo Farm at 6 p.m., with fireworks at dusk. Various locations, Stowe. Free. Info, 253-7321. Ticonderoga Independence Day Weekend Celebration: See July 2.

Williston Fourth of July: See July 3.

Music

Jeffersonville ‘Vermont’s Own’ 40th Army Band: Traditional patriotic tunes and contemporary American favorites make for an inspiring musical evening. All ages. Smugglers’ Notch Resort, 8 p.m. Free. Info, 338-3480.

Vermont Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival

Tour: Shelburne: Listeners pack a picnic and listen to toe-tapping melodies from around the world — from the Great Wall to a gypsy encampment. The night ends with a bang featuring the 1812 Overture, marches and fireworks. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Shelburne Museum, 7:30 p.m. $5-32; free for children under 6. Info, 864-5741.

4 MONDAY, P.32

Miniature Marvels

As a young child, photographer Sam Jaffe was in love with nature’s hidden creatures. So it’s fitting that the Massachusetts native created the Caterpillar Lab, a nonprofit that runs shows throughout New England aimed to “open people’s eyes to the natural value of their backyards, neighborhoods and green spaces.”

Jaffe brings his traveling setup to the Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s INCREDIBLE INSECT FESTIVAL this month. Using a combination of live critters and artistic photographs, the show captures the scientific curiosity of kids of all ages. The twoday shindig also features arts and crafts, face painting and bug hunts.

Nature & Science

Bald Eagle Day: Avian admirers discover why the nation’s beautiful bird boasts center stage. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center, Quechee, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Regular museum admission, $12.50-14.50; free for children under 4. Info, 359-5000.

5 TUESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Milton Crafts: Creative kiddos dig into artistic materials. All ages. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Tech/Craft Time: Imaginative youngsters make masterpieces. Ages 7-11. Waterbury Public Library, 1:30-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

Tinkering Tuesdays: STEM-minded small scientists experiment with electrical circuits, gears, pulleys and more. Ages 8 and up. Lunch served afterward for everyone ages 18 and under. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Free. Info, 865-7216.

Baby & Maternity

Breastfeeding Support Clinic: A certified lactation counselor answers nursing questions in a supportive setting. Prenatal Method Studio, Burlington, 9 a.m. $15. Info, 829-0211.

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Montpelier Postnatal Yoga: Brand-new mamas and their littles relax, stretch and bond. For moms with infants and early crawlers. Emerge with Amy Lepage-Hansen, Montpelier, 10:45 a.m.-noon. $15. Info, 223-5302.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 4:305:30 & 6-7 p.m.

Education

Time-Travel Tuesdays: History buffs of all ages learn what daily life was like in 1890 by helping

INCREDIBLE INSECT FESTIVAL: Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee. All ages. $12.50-14.50; free for children under 4. Info, 359-5000. vinsweb.org

prepare seasonal meals, churn butter and wash laundry the old-fashioned way. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $4-14; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

Games

Chess Club: Strategists enjoy competition and camaraderie. All ages. Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 3:15 p.m. Free. Info, 422-9765.

Fairfax Gaming Group: Game lovers bring their own boards — or borrow from the library’s stash — for tabletop fun. Ages 10 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420.

Magic: The Gathering Drop-In Gaming Tuesdays: Players of all skills levels team up for card playing. All ages. Haston Library, Franklin, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

Summer Chess Club: Teens teach novices new moves. All ages, but children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Health & Fitness

Preschool Ballet: Young ballerinas belly up to the barre. No shoes or equipment necessary. Ages 3-5, accompanied by a caregiver. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Tuesday Night Trail Running: Runners of all ages and abilities lace up for the largest weekly trail-running series in the country. This fun event includes 2.5K or 5K options for ages 12 and under and a short loop for ages 8 and under. Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Williston, 6 p.m. $3-8; free for kids 8 and under. Info, 879-6001.

Library & Books

Bike Lingo: The Craftsbury Outdoor Center sets up three stations to get kids savvy about cycling maintenance, drills and safety. Bring your bike and helmet. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

‘Booked for Lunch’: Young listeners bring a lunch to eat, while enjoying stories and a provided dessert. Grades K and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Get in the Game: READ!: Summer readers rendezvous at the library for snacks, crafts, games and prizes. For kids entering grades 5-8. South Burlington Community Library, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Hinesburg Crafternoons: Maker-minded kiddos create cool projects. Ages 7 and up. CarpenterCarse Library, Hinesburg, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 482-2878.

Spanish Musical Kids: Niños celebrate Latin American culture through tunes and games en español, followed by lunch for everyone under age 18. Ages 1-5 with a caregiver. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Teeny Tiny Backyard Explorers: Wee ones gather with Miss Meg and friends in the garden for stories, songs and bubbles. Ages 2 and under. Wheeler Homestead and Garden Park, South Burlington, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Music

Castleton Summer Concert Series: Listeners enjoy a live performance under open skies. Castleton State College, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 468-6039.

Enosberg ‘Vermont’s Own’ 40th Army Band: Traditional patriotic tunes and contemporary American favorites make for an inspiring musical evening. All ages. Enosburg Opera House, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 338-3480.

Preschool Music: Bitty ones dance and sing to a brisk beat. Ages 3-5. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Nature & Science

Summer Gardening: Green-thumbed kiddos enjoy earthy and educational activities. Ages 3-12; children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Highgate Public Library, Highgate Center, 9-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 868-3970.

Parenting

Starksboro Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, develop empathy and determine how to empower their family. A light dinner and childcare are

included. Robinson Elementary School, Starksboro, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 498-0607.

6 WEDNESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Art in the Park: Fledgling creators head outside to paint, sculpt, draw and imagine. Ages 5 and up. Wheeler Homestead and Garden Park, South Burlington, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 5:45-7:15 p.m.

Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: New moms tune in on toning and relaxation. Prenatal Method Studio, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $15. Info, 829-0211.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: Expectant mothers get a ballet-inspired workout. Prenatal Method Studio, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $15. Info, 829-0211.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 12:151:15 p.m.

Community

Community Evenings at the Farm: Families bring a picnic or buy some farm-fresh fare, then settle on blankets for live music. Gates open for picnicking at 5:30 p.m. Shelburne Farms, 6:30 p.m. Free; burgers and salads available to purchase. Info, 985-8686. Family Fun Night: Each week, activities alternate, from soap making to a frisbee challenge. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:45 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

Leddy Park Beach Bites: Families enjoy a lakeside evening with kids’ activities, food trucks and entertainment. Leddy Park, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free; food available for purchase. Info, 864-0123.

Education

Kingdom Community Wind Tours: Green Mountain Power gives curious community members the chance to experience an operating wind farm up close and learn how wind power generates electricity during this 90-minute visit to the turbines. All ages. Kingdom Community Wind Farm, Lowell, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 744-6664.

Food Champlain Island Farmers Market: Farmers, specialty food businesses and artisans sell their homemade wares. St. Rose of Lima Parish, South Hero, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 617-652-2304.

Middlebury Farmers Market: See July 2.

Rutland Farmers Market: See July 2, 3-6 p.m. Woodstock Market on the Green: Fresh vegetables, farm eggs, local meats and cheeses, cut flowers, and seasonal fruits and berries represent the best of the growing season, with the accompaniment of live music. Woodstock Village Green, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3555.

Games

Jericho Dungeons & Dragons: Novice and experienced players put their imaginations together. Ages 10 and up. Regular attendance needed to follow the ongoing storyline. Jericho Town Library, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 899-4686.

Health & Fitness

Aim for the Gold Archery: Professional archers teach young admirers arrow safety and marksmanship. Ages 7-9 at 9 a.m.; ages 10-12 at 10 a.m. Milton Public Library. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Fitness Fun: Yoga: Instructor Danielle Brown guides games good for young bodies. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Itsy Bitsy Yoga: Kori Gelinas leads families through basic breathing and relaxation poses using games, team work and song. Ages 4-7 with an adult. Jericho Center Green, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4686.

COURTESY OF VERMONT INSTITUTE OF NATURAL SCIENCES

Jazz and Modern Dance Workshop: Dance Works Academy gets girls and boys grooving. Ages 10-12. Milton Public Library, 1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Wednesday-Night Mountain-Biking: Pedalers of all ages and abilities wend their way along the trails in a nonintimidating atmosphere. This fun event includes 2.5K or 5K options for ages 12 and under and a short loop for ages 8 and under beginning at 6 p.m. Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Williston, $3-10; free for kids under 8. Info, 879-6001.

Library & Books

Dorothy’s List Book Club: Middle readers make conversation around DCF pick Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead. Ages 8-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Highgate Story Time: Bitty book lovers hear a story and enjoy giggles and wiggles. Ages 6 and under. Highgate Public Library, Highgate Center, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 868-3970.

Ongoing Exhibits

ECHO LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE

CHAMPLAIN, BURLINGTON

Info, 864-1848

Run! Jump! Fly!: Four comic-book-inspired sets, with themes from surfing to kung fu to flying bicycles, physically challenge kids while teaching about the activities’ cultural origins. All ages. Through September 11.

FAIRBANKS MUSEUM & PLANETARIUM, ST. JOHNSBURY

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. (open Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April through October)

X-Ray Vision: Fish Inside and Out: This temporary exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute illustrates the history of evolution through the translucent images of ancient fish, in an elegant union of science and art. Through 2017.

HELEN DAY ART CENTER, STOWE

Info, 253-8358

‘Exposed’: National and local outdoor sculpture of all sizes spreads through the town of Stowe. July 23 through October 15.

MILTON FARMERS MARKET, MILTON

Connecting the Drops Rain Barrel Exhibit: Barrels featuring original art by local artists raise awareness about storm water runoff. Visitors also have a chance to read “Stormwater Story,” a tale created by Kids VT that relays how storm water impairs natural waterways and how people can help. Through July 7.

MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, NORWICH

Info, 649-2200

The Tinkering Loft: Creative thinkers are challenged to craft STEM-related constructions, including a wind-powered race car, a robot or a pinball machine, using the museum’s materials and their own savvy. Through August 28.

NIQUETTE BAY STATE PARK, COLCHESTER

Info, 893-5210

Poetry Walk: Literacy, learning and a deeper appreciation of the natural world add another dimension to an easy hiking trial. Poems change throughout the season. Park is open 10 a.m. to dusk. Through Columbus Day.

Marshfield Story & Activity Time: An engaging read-aloud is followed by activities and free lunch. Ages 7 and under. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

Peter Burns, Storyteller and Bicyclist Extraordinaire: Stories and cycling lore combine to keep kids clapping. Ages 5-13. Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 422-9765.

Reading Buddies: Teen mentors make time to read with youngsters. Bring a favorite book. Grades K-5. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956.

Music

Burlington 40th Army Band and True North: Traditional patriotic tunes and contemporary American favorites make for an inspiring musical evening in the big band style. All ages. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 338-3480.

City Hall Park Concert Series: See July 1. VT 40th Army Band Rock Show: Community members gather with a picnic dinner and lawn chairs and enjoy music under the evening sky. Bombardier Park, Milton, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4922.

Nature & Science

Animal Athletes: In this Southern Vermont Natural History Museum program, the amazing feats of local wildlife take center stage, then kids see how they size up. Ages 5-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Programs for Preschoolers: Farm activities wow little learners with themed stories, hands-on activities and a special visit to the barn. Ages 3 and up. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 9-10:30 a.m. $3-5; preregister; includes admission to the Farm & Museum. Info, 457-2355.

Science Loves Art: Curious thinkers of all ages combine the natural and artistic worlds using bubbles, prisms, watercolors and more to make take-home creations. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 & 2 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10.50-13.50; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

Summer Gardening: See July 5.

Wagon-Ride Wednesdays: Horse-drawn rides deliver delight to the whole family. Admission includes all farm programs and activities. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $4-14; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

7 THURSDAY

Arts & Crafts

Art on Park: White tents house the works of jewelers, potters, painters, fiber artists, food vendors and more. Live music adds to the atmosphere. Park Street, Stowe, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 253-7321. Make Your Own Bug Repellent: Aspiring herbalists mix up insect-proof potions with essential oils. Ages 7 up; children under age 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Fairfax Community Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. $5; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

Baby & Maternity

Essex La Leche League: Moms bring their little ones to a discussion of parenting and breastfeeding. Siblings welcome. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3, 10:4511:55 a.m.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 4:305:30 p.m.

Community

Summervale: Slow Food Vermont tastings, live music, kids’ crafts and food-focused activities varying by week promise locavore fun in the sun. No pets. Burlington Intervale Center, 5:30-8 p.m. Free admission; cost for food and drink. Info, 660-0440.

fishing

7 THURSDAY (CONTINUED)

Health & Fitness

Dancing with Ashley: Little ones move and groove to music and poetry. St. Albans Free Library, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Hard’ack Trail Running Series: Running and walking feet get going in 1K, 3K and 5K races. All ages and abilities. Hard’ack, St. Albans, 6 p.m. $4-6; free for kids in the 1K. Info, 524-1500, ext. 266.

Library & Books

Chocolate Olympics: Challenges with candy cause lots of laughs. Ages 6 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

Colchester Lego Club: Mini-makers participate in surprise challenges with colorful interlocking blocks. Ages 6-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Lego Thursdays: Young constructionists combine their creativity with the library’s supplies. All ages. Haston Library, Franklin, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

Story Hour with Trooper Robinson: A state trooper and his canine take center stage and talk about teaming up. All ages. Haston Library, Franklin, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

Movies

Stories On The Screen: Cinema lovers beat the heat with a family-friendly movie and popcorn. South Burlington Community Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Music

Battery Park Concert Series: Listeners gaze out at Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks while swaying to summer tunes. Battery Park, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-2396.

Brown Bag Concert Series: Community members spread out their picnic dinner and blanket while listening to regional musicians. Food and wine available for sale. Woodstock Village Green, 5:30 p.m. Donations accepted. Info, 457-3981.

Burlington Taiko Drumming: Thunderous drums and graceful movements get the audience’s admiration. All ages. Stowe Elementary School, 1-2 p.m. By donation. Info, 253-6138.

Fair Haven ‘Vermont’s Own’ 40th Army Band: Traditional patriotic tunes and contemporary American favorites make for an inspiring musical evening. All ages. Fair Haven Town Green, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 338-3480.

Music for Preschoolers: Lively tunes with local musicians strike the right note among the wee crowd. Ages 5 and under with a caregiver. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Free; limited to one session per week per family. Info, 878-4918.

Snow Farm Vineyard Summer Concert Series: Weather permitting, crowds gather for a weekly rotation of classical, jazz, swing, bluegrass and rock. Picnicking begins at 5 p.m.; music starts at 6:30 p.m. Food and drink available to purchase from various vendors. Snow Farm Vineyard, South Hero, Free. Info, 372-9463.

Sonny Knight & The Lakers: This raucous R&B band gets the crowd grooving. A preshow makerspace tent engages children of all ages with simple crafts. Dartmouth Green, Hanover, 4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 603-646-2422.

Summer Concert Series: Picnickers settle down for the evening with a family-friendly band. Old Schoolhouse Common Gazebo, Marshfield, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

Thursday Evenings on the Green: Folks wind down into the weekend with a di erent outdoor band each week, from the Starline Rhythm Boys to blues and Beatles tributes. Bring a chair or blanket. Maple Tree Place, Williston, 6-8:30 p.m. Free; dinner options available for purchase. Info, 764-3035.

Nature & Science

Discovery Drop-In Day Camp: Young explorers ages 3-8 learn about the many ways nature changes with games, activities, puppet shows and hikes. 3and 4-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult. The Nature Museum at Grafton, 10 a.m.-noon, $8-10 per session; preregister. Info, 843-2111.

Parenting

Milton Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, develop empathy and determine how to empower their family. A light dinner and childcare are included. Milton Family Community Center, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 498-0607.

Theater

A Magic Show of Everyday Science: Naturalist Kurt Valenta mesmerizes youngsters with the marvels of science and stages a snail race. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 472-5948.

‘Matinicus Through the Storm’: Written by the young director as her college honors project, this musical features brave children who band together during a storm at sea to keep a lighthouse illuminated and spirits soaring. Vermont Children’s Theater, Lyndonville, 7 p.m. $5. Info, 626-5358.

8 FRIDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1.

Mother’s Gathering: See July 1.

Community

Friday Night Family Fun Series: Eclectic entertainers — including magicians, theater troupes, musicians and jugglers — get the crowd cheering at this weekly outdoor fête. Maple Street Park, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-1375.

Fairs & Festivals

Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival: Floating orbs transport people through the sky at a balloonlaunch fest with plenty of eats and entertainment, including a children’s tent. (See spotlight on page 36.) See website for a detailed schedule of launch and activities times. Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, $10; free for children under 12; $10 tethered rides; $275 hot-air balloon rides. Info, 253-7355, ext. 5538.

Waterbury Arts Fest: The streets are transformed into a lively outdoor gallery and fair with gourmet food, live music and goods from local artisans. Downtown Waterbury, 5:30-10 p.m. Free. Info, 496-6466.

Food

5 Corners Farmers Market: See July 1.

ArtsRiot Truck Stop Burlington: See July 1.

Burger Night: See July 1.

Foodways Fridays: See July 1.

Hardwick Farmers Market: See July 1.

Pizza Fridays: See July 1.

Richmond Farmers Market: See July 1.

Games

Craftsbury Lego Club: See July 1.

Lego Day and Movie: Amateur architects snap together buildings of their own design, followed by a family-friendy flick and free popcorn at noon. All ages. Children ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

Magic: The Gathering: See July 1.

Health & Fitness

Fitness Friday: See July 1.

Get Up to Speed: Local Motion leads game-based bike skills and safety instruction. Bring your wheels and helmet. Ages 6 and up with an adult. Jericho Town Library, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Library & Books

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Craftsbury DCF Book Club: Avid readers dive into a discussion of prize-winning literature while polishing o pizza. Grades 4-8. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

Family Story Time: See July 1.

Garden Adventures with the Bookworms: See July 1.

Summer Story Time: See July 1.

Music

City Hall Park Concert Series: See July 1.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See July 1.

Newport ‘Vermont’s Own’ 40th Army Band and True North: Traditional patriotic tunes and contemporary American favorites make for an inspiring musical evening in the big band style. All ages. Newport Gazebo Stage, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 338-3480.

Nature & Science

Bats!: Winged creatures captivate children with high-flying facts about echolocation, migration, amazing eyesight and more. Bring a T-shirt, or purchase one for $4, for bat art. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 472-5948.

Bird Banding: Science in Action: In this drop-in morning, Audubon sta demonstrate the banding process, from mist nets to data sheets. Participants view wild birds up close and learn about conservation. Bring a camera and wear mud boots. Weather dependent. All ages. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 7-11 a.m. $5 suggested donation. Info, 434-3068.

Locomotion in Motion: Mr. K. and aspiring naturalists examine how animals get from place to place. Ages 5 and up. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

Theater

‘Matinicus Through the Storm’: See July 7.

9 SATURDAY

Baby & Maternity

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2.

Community

Kids Trade & Play: Families exchange clean and gently-used clothing and toys, size newborn to 12. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9:30-11:30 a.m. $3 per family. Info, 337-8632.

Traditions Day: Song-loving families join Revels Singers for an impromptu chorus, followed by a choice of workshops in music or acting. A community potluck and family dance festively end the evening. All ages. East Thetford Pavilion, 2:30-7:30 p.m. Dance by donation; fee for workshops; preregister at revelsnorth.org. Info, 866-556-3083.

Fairs & Festivals

Discover the Heart of the Islands: Open Farm & Studio Tour: Island artisans and farmers open their doors for in-depth tours. All ages. Various locations, Grand Isle, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 372-6680.

Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival: See July 8. Waterbury Arts Fest: See July 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Food

Burlington Farmers Market: See July 2.

Capital City Farmers Market: See July 2.

Champlain Island Farmers Market: See July 2.

Grafton Food Festival’s Children’s Culinary Competition: Junior chefs competitively cook mac and cheese using local ingredients to claim top prizes. All ages. Grafton Inn, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 800-843-1801.

Middlebury Farmers Market: See July 2. Rutland Farmers Market: See July 2.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids Saturday Yoga: See July 2.

Library & Books

Second Saturdays: This child-friendly afternoon, a collaboration between the Norwich Public Library and the Norwich Bookstore, celebrates reading with various themed activities. Check norwichlibrary. org for location. Norwich Bookstore, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1184.

Movies

Ben & Jerry’s Summer Outdoor Movie Festival: Cinema lovers bring blankets and chairs to watch a flick under the stars. Showtime begins at dusk. Ben & Jerry’s Factory, Waterbury, free. Info, 882-1024.

Music

Vermont Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival

Tour: Randolph: Listeners pack a picnic and listen to toe-tapping melodies from around the world — from the Great Wall to a gypsy encampment. The night ends with a bang featuring the 1812 Overture, marches and fireworks. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Three Stallion Inn, Randolph, 7:30 p.m. $20-25; free for children under 18 with adult ticket in advance or $5 at the gate. Info, 864-5741.

Nature & Science

Bird-Monitoring Walk: Beginning birders embrace ornithology on an identification walk. All ages. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 7-9 a.m. Donations appreciated. Info, 434-3068.

Games of Nature Hike: Naturalists of all ages take a walk, learn about the games nature plays and enjoy some sports together, too. Moretown Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Free.

Garden Tea Party at the Inn: Pinkies up! Tea time follows a treasure hunt and exploration of the picturesque gardens. Ages 4 and up. Shelburne Farms, 1-3 p.m. $20-22 includes one adult and one child; $6-7 each additional child; preregister. Info, 985-8686.

Summer Naturalist Program: See July 2.

Tour the Cosmos: See July 2.

Theater

‘Matinicus Through the Storm’: See July 7, 2 p.m.

10 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 10-11:30 a.m.

Fairs & Festivals

Discover the Heart of the Islands: Open Farm & Studio Tour: See July 9.

Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green: Music-loving families delight in daily concerts all week long, including “brown bag” family-friendly jam sessions at noon each day. Festivities begin Sunday at 7 p.m. and evening performances fill the night air Monday through Friday. A Vermont Jazz Ensemble street dance closes the festival Saturday, July 16, starting at 7 p.m. Middlebury Green. Free; donations welcome. Info, 462-3555.

Playgroups

Kids enjoy fun and games during these informal gettogethers, and caregivers connect with other local parents and peers. The groups are usually free and often include snacks, arts and crafts, or music.

MONDAY

Charlotte Playgroup: Charlotte Central School Early Education Program, 9:30-11 a.m. Free.

TUESDAY

Bradford Playgroup: Grace United Methodist Church, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24.

Brookfield Playgroup: First Congregational Church of Brookfield, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24.

Burlington Dads’ Night: VNA Family Room, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Burlington New Moms Playgroup: Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Free. Info, 864-9642.

Johnson Baby Chat: Church of the Nazarene, fourth Tuesday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470.

WEDNESDAY

ArtisTree Playgroup: Purple Crayon/ArtisTree, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 457-3500.

Fairfield Playgroup: Bent Northrop Memorial Library, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 827-3945.

Milton Playgroup: Milton Public Library, 9:3011 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

South Royalton Playgroup: United Church on the Green, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24.

Toddle Time: St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 748-8291, ext. 303.

THURSDAY

Alburgh Playgroup: NCSS Family Center, Alburgh, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Brandon Stories & Crafts: Brandon Free Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 247-8230.

Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival: See July 8.

Food

Colchester Farmers Market: See July 3. South Burlington Farmers Market: See July 3. Stowe Farmers Market: See July 3.

Health & Fitness

Essex Open Gym: See July 3.

Family Olympics: Mirthful team games spread over the capital’s lawn every Sunday, with di erent weekly themes, including silly relays and parachute fun. All ages. Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.

Library & Books

Charlotte Library Book Sale: Bibliophiles browse bargain-rate books, while enjoying festive refreshments from area food trucks. Charlotte Public Library, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 425-3864.

Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip: Books are celebrated in this outdoor festival featuring signings with local authors, activities, crafts and a photo booth. Cli ord and Geronimo Stilton characters join the crowd, too. Ages 5 and up. The Flying Pig Bookstore, Shelburne, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 985-3999.

Music

Vermont Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival

Tour: Stowe: Listeners pack a picnic and listen to toe-tapping melodies from around the world — from the Great Wall to a gypsy encampment. The night ends with a bang featuring the 1812 Overture, marches and fireworks. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, 7:30 p.m. $30 for adults; free for children under 18 accompanied by a ticketed adult purchased in advance. Info, 864-5741.

Randolph Playgroup: White River Craft Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24. West Fairlee Playgroup: Westshire Elementary School, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24.

Williston Play Time: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

FRIDAY

Montgomery Tumble Time: Montgomery Elementary School, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 347-1780.

Randolph Toddler Time: Kimball Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 728-5073.

Rutland Playgroup: Rutland Free Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

SATURDAY

Hinesburg Family Playtime: Hinesburg Community School, second Saturday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 482-4667.

Morrisville Baby Chat: Lamoille Family Center, second Saturday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-5229.

Nature & Science

Discovery Sundays: See July 3. Sundays for Fledglings: See July 3. Tour the Cosmos: See July 2.

Theater

Bread & Puppet Performance: See July 3.

11 MONDAY

Arts & Crafts

Webby’s Art Studio: ‘Here Comes the Circus’

Posters: Crafty ones of all ages create an elaborate circus poster like the true-life ones in the museum’s display. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $7-24; free for children under 5. Info, 985-3346.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 5:45-7 p.m.

Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 12:151:15 p.m.

Fairs & Festivals

Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green: See July 10, July 16.

Food

Mama Mangez: Families prepare and share a meal and conversation. Tulsi Tea Room, Montpelier, 4-6 p.m. Free; ingredient donation optional. Info, 595-7953.

Library & Books

Babies & Toddlers Rock: Little musicians ages 2 and under sing songs and engage in early literacy activities. Rutland Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

Essex Lego Challenge Club: Inventive kiddos press together plastic-piece creations. Ages 5 and up. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Ready, Set, Stories with Megan: Little listeners learn and laugh. Ages 3-6. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

STEM Lego Club: Amazing architects build balloon-powered plastic cars, Lego catapults, zip lines, marble mazes and more. All ages. Highgate Public Library, Highgate Center, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 868-3970.

Music

Music & Movement for Preschoolers: Educator Emily Lanxner gets the beat going with creative storytelling, movement and rhythm. Geared toward preschoolers, but all are welcome. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 472-5948.

Music for Preschoolers: See July 7, 11 a.m.

Preschool Music Hour: Little ones rock and roll. Stowe Free Library, 10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145.

Nature & Science

Grow Yourself A Meal: Little gardeners make the trek to the Summit Street School to tend plants and harvest veggies, then return to the library and relish their bounty. Grades 1 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Milton Olympic Gardening: Young green thumbs grow and cook veggies. Grades 1-5. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Nature Playgroup: Little ones and their caregivers explore the woods, meadow, and beaver and peeper ponds while meeting new friends. Ages birth to 5 years. Open to Richmond, Huntington, and Hinesburg residents. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 9:30-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

The Noble Sport: Falconry: Three live raptors swoop in from VINS for an amazing avian adventure. All ages. Jericho Town Library, 1-1:45 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Summer Gardening: See July 5.

12 TUESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Milton Crafts: See July 5.

Nature Boat Races: Small sailors create buoyant crafts from natural materials, then launch their vessels in a race down the Mad River. Moretown Memorial Library, 3:30 p.m. Free.

Tech/Craft Time: See July 5.

Tinkering Tuesdays: See July 5.

Baby & Maternity

Breastfeeding Support Clinic: See July 5. Burlington La Leche League: New moms bring their babies and questions to a breastfeeding support group. Older children welcome. Lending library available. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 985-8228.

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 4:15-5:30 p.m.

La Leche League of the Northeast Kingdom: Expectant, novice and experienced moms join nursing experts for advice and support. Enter through the children’s section of the library. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 720-272-8841.

Montpelier Postnatal Yoga: See July 5.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 4:305:30 & 6-7 p.m.

Education

Time-Travel Tuesdays: See July 5.

Fairs & Festivals

Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green: See July 10.

Games

Fairfax Gaming Group: See July 5.

Magic: The Gathering Drop-In Gaming Tuesdays: See July 5.

Summer Chess Club: See July 5.

Health & Fitness

Preschool Ballet: See July 5.

Tuesday Night Trail Running: See July 5.

Library & Books

‘Booked for Lunch’: See July 5.

Cleo the Therapy Dog: Canine and reading enthusiasts visit with a personable pooch from Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Ages 3 and up. Milton Public Library, 9 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Fun With Mr. K: Science-minded kids explore different technology themes through hands-on trials. Highgate Public Library, Highgate Center, 11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 868-3970.

Get in the Game: READ!: See July 5.

Roll It!: Curious young physicists discover the how and why of moving objects. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

Spanish Musical Kids: See July 5.

Teeny Tiny Backyard Explorers: See July 5.

Music

Castleton Summer Concert Series: See July 5. Preschool Music: See July 5.

Nature & Science

Discovery in the Nestlings Nook: Bird enthusiasts stretch their wings during a themed session of tales, crafts, music and outdoor exploration. Intended for preschoolers, but all ages are welcome. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. regular museum admission, $3.50-7; free for members and children under 3. Info, 434-2167.

Summer Gardening: See July 5.

Parenting

Starksboro Nurturing Parent Program: See July 5.

13 WEDNESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Art in the Park: See July 6.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 5:45-7:15 p.m.

Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 12:151:15 p.m.

Community

Community Evenings at the Farm: See July 6.

Education

Kingdom Community Wind Tours: See July 6. Young Writers & Storytellers: Small ones spin their own yarns. Ages 5-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Fairs & Festivals

Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green: See July 10, July 16.

Rainbow Skies

For 30 years, a colorful array of helium-fueled beauties has filled the skies over Stowe during the town’s annual STOWEFLAKE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL. During the three-day event, 25 balloons take flight during two sunrise and two twilight launches. Sign up in advance for a lofty ride over the white-steepled village and fields, or get a little lift in a tethered basket. On terra firma, visitors can enjoy a children’s corner with bouncy houses and face painting, live music and food stands. Don’t forget to tip your head back and admire the view from below.

STOWEFLAKE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL: Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 10, at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort in Stowe. Gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday; 7 p.m. sunset launch on Friday & Saturday; 6:30 a.m. sunrise launch on Saturday & Sunday. All ages. $10 admission; free for children under 12. Additional cost for balloon rides. Info, 253-7355, ext. 5538. stoweballoonfestival.com.

Woodbury Strings Concert: Instructors Sarah Hotchkiss and John Mowad perform duos with student guests. The audience is invited to pluck a fiddle, too. All ages. Burlington Violin Shop, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-8945.

Nature & Science

Programs for Preschoolers: See July 6. Science Loves Art: See July 6.

Summer Gardening: See July 5.

Summer Science: Archeology: Amateur aficionados of ancient civilizations dig for artifacts, create sandpaper petroglyphs and piece together clues from the past. Ages 6 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420. Wagon-Ride Wednesdays: See July 6.

Theater

On Your Mark, Get Set, Magic!: Magician Tom Joyce mixes it up with mystery and marvels. Ages 5-13. Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 422-9765.

14 THURSDAY

Arts & Crafts

Art on Park: See July 7.

Sewing Basics: Crafty ones cover the basics of simple stitching. Ages 10 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3, 10:45-11:55 a.m.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 4:305:30 p.m.

Community

Cardboard-Box Parade: Youngsters dressed as Olympic athletes or wearing a decorated cardboard box meet at the top of College Street for a mirthful march to City Hall Park. Ages 3-12. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 864-0123. Summervale: See July 7.

Fairs & Festivals

Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green: See July 10.

Games

Movies

LCATV Young Producers Video Day Camp: Aspiring Spielbergs explore using film equipment, then create a feature program. Ages 8-9. Milton Public Library, 1-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Movie Night: Film buffs relax with a family-friendly flick while munching popcorn. All ages. Warren Public Library, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 496-3913.

Movie Screening: Cinema lovers chomp popcorn while catching a feature film. All ages. Haston Library, Franklin, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 285-6505. Stories On The Screen: See July 7, 2 p.m.

Music

Battery Park Concert Series: See July 7. Brown Bag Concert Series: See July 7.

Craftsbury Chamber Players Mini-Concert in Hardwick: Small music lovers experience an excerpt of the group’s evening concert, with selections and commentary geared toward young audiences, followed by ice cream. Hardwick Town House, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 800-639-3443.

Music for Preschoolers: See July 7.

Snow Farm Vineyard Summer Concert Series: See July 7.

Summer Concert Series: See July 7. Thursday Evenings on the Green: See July 7.

Nature & Science

Bird Banding: Science in Action: See July 8.

Discovery Drop-In Day Camp: See July 7.

Montshire Museum @ Your Library: Savvy young scientists check out a one-of-a-kind vertical wind tube. Ages 4 and up. South Burlington Community Library, 9:30 & 11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 652-7080.

Parenting

Milton Nurturing Parent Program: See July 7.

Theater

‘The Lion King’: On the library’s lawn, young actors from the Very Merry Theatre perform the tale of a young feline heroically protecting his homeland. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Food

Champlain Island Farmers Market: See July 6.

Middlebury Farmers Market: See July 2.

Power Smoothies: Junior chefs prepare drinks to fuel for peak performance. Ages 9 and up. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

Rutland Farmers Market: See July 2. 3-6 p.m. Woodstock Market on the Green: See July 6.

Games

Dungeons & Dragons Night: Players don invented personas and use cleverness and luck to overcome challenges, defeat enemies and save the day. Beginners welcome. Ages 9-13. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6-7:45 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Jericho Dungeons & Dragons: See July 6.

Legos for the Little Ones: Budding builders fashion architecturally sound constructions. Ages 4-7. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Health & Fitness

Tai Chi on the Green: Instructor Shaina Levee leads all ages and abilities in the method of moving

meditation and noncontact martial arts. Jericho Center Green, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4686.

Wednesday-Night Mountain-Biking: See July 6.

Yoga For Kids: Easy moves energize folks enjoyably. Ages 8 and up. Jericho Center Green, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Library & Books

Highgate Story Time: See July 6.

Marshfield Story & Activity Time: See July 6. Reading Buddies: See July 6. Waterbury DCF Book Club: Bookworms in grades 4-7 gab about Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones. Pizza and refreshments provided. Waterbury Public Library, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

Wednesday Wacktivity: Themed summer reading crafts and games change each week. Ages 5-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Music

City Hall Park Concert Series: See July 1.

Craftsbury Chamber Players Mini-Concert in Burlington: World-class musicians present classical works from the baroque to the contemporary era in this special series for children and their families. Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 800-639-3443.

Lego Contest: Block builders compete to create the coolest athlete. St. Albans Free Library, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Health & Fitness

Hard’ack Trail Running Series: See July 7.

Hula Hooping and Juggling: Aspiring circus members check out different juggling pins and bean bags, and get crazy with hula hoops. Ages 3 and up. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Library & Books

Colchester Lego Club: See July 7.

Lego Thursdays: See July 7.

Milton DCF Book Discussion: The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands strikes up spirited conversation. Snacks provided. Milton Public Library, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Peter Burns, Storyteller by Bicycle: The renown storyteller travels by two wheels to the library, for singing, stories and bicycle safety tips. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 472-5948.

St. Albans Library Legos: Aspiring architects engage in construction projects with their peers. St. Albans Free Library, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

‘Shrek The Musical, Jr.’: Thespians-in-training sing the story of an ogre who organizes outcasts to save a princess in distress and discover happiness. Vermont Children’s Theater, Lyndonville, 7 p.m. $5-10. Info, 626-5358.

15 FRIDAY

Arts & Crafts

Tinker Time with Tad: Curious kiddos take apart their electronic toys to tease out their magical mechanics. Ages 5 and up with an adult. Jericho Town Library, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1. Mother’s Gathering: See July 1.

Community

Family Fun Night: See July 6.

Friday Night Family Fun Series: See July 8.

Kids’ Night Out: While their parents appreciate time off, youngsters enjoy dinner, a movie and games. Grades K-6. David Gale Recreation Center, Stowe, 6-10 p.m. $15 per child. Info, 253-3054.

Education

Vermont Lake Monsters: Our own local heroes read stories and sign your memorabilia. All ages. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Fairs & Festivals

Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green: See July 10. July 16.

Food

5 Corners Farmers Market: See July 1.

ArtsRiot Truck Stop Burlington: See July 1.

Burger Night: See July 1.

Foodways Fridays: See July 1.

Hardwick Farmers Market: See July 1.

Pizza Fridays: See July 1.

Richmond Farmers Market: See July 1.

Games

Craftsbury Lego Club: See July 1.

Magic: The Gathering: See July 1.

Health & Fitness

Fitness Friday: See July 1.

Library & Books

Family Story Time: See July 1.

Garden Adventures with the Bookworms: See July 1.

Summer Story Time: See July 1.

Movies

Family Movie: Viewers enjoy a family-friendly film while munching free popcorn. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-8:15 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Music

City Hall Park Concert Series: See July 1.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See July 1.

Nature & Science

Bats in the Barn: Nocturnal flyers steal the show with a colorful slideshow and an evening flight from the Farm Barn. Shelburne Farms, 7:30-9 p.m. $5-7; preregister. Info, 985-8686.

Fizzy Fest: While young scientists explore the secrets of spray and foam, locally made sodas and root-beer floats provide a pick-me-up to ECHO guests. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10.50-12.50; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

Theater

‘Shrek The Musical, Jr.’: See July 14.

16

SATURDAY

Arts & Crafts

DIY Cardboard Arcade: Imaginative youth construct cardboard games for competition with companions. Ages 8 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 10 a.m.noon. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

Baby & Maternity

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2.

Dance

Farm to Ballet: Arts and agriculture come together in this dance performance celebrating Vermont’s farming culture. Doors open for picnicking at 5 p.m. Locally prepared dinner and dessert available for purchase. Philo Ridge Farm, Charlotte, 6:30 p.m. $16-37.50; free for children 12 and under but must have ticket. Info, 593-2912.

Tap Kids Showcase Spec-TAP-ular: Some of the country’s best young tappers take to the stage in this rousing celebration of dance. Ages 5 and up. Black Box, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 2 & 7:30 p.m. $25. Info, 540-0700.

Fairs & Festivals

See Dr. First videos

“First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Do Good Fest: Food trucks, kids’ activities and a village showcasing local nonprofits make for a family-friendly celebration. Live music begins at 4 p.m. headlined by Big Head Todd & the Monsters. National Life Group, Montpelier, 3 p.m. $20 parking fee benefits Cancer Patient Fund. Info, info@ dogoodfest.com.

Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green: See July 10.

Food

Burlington Farmers Market: See July 2.

Capital City Farmers Market: See July 2.

Champlain Island Farmers Market: See July 2.

Middlebury Farmers Market: See July 2.

Rutland Farmers Market: See July 2.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids Saturday Yoga: See July 2.

Movies

Ben & Jerry’s Summer Outdoor Movie Festival: See July 9.

Movie Night at Fisher Brothers Farm: A wholesome flick amuses the audience at this berry farm. Fisher Brothers Farm, Shelburne, 6-8:30 p.m. Free; food available for purchase. Info, 735-0005.

Nature & Science

Bird Banding Demonstration: Avian admirers catch, measure and band a variety of songbirds, studying their survival success. Come anytime. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 6:30-11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-6206.

Butterfly & Bug Walk: Aspiring naturalists of all ages explore fields and forest while learning about small flying creatures. Binoculars, a magnifying glass, an insect net and a picnic lunch are suggested. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 10 a.m.noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, 434-2167.

Fizzy Fest: See July 15.

Pollinators in the Garden: Beekeeper Scott Wilson brings a live honeybee observatory and gets kids buzzing with questions before they head out to help plant a butterfly/bee garden. Gardener’s Supply, Williston, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 658-2433. Summer Naturalist Program: See July 2.

Tour the Cosmos: See July 2.

Parenting

Navigating the Complexities of Death with Children and Teens: Local grief and youth support experts discuss ways to discuss death with children and teens. Techniques and tools for dialogue are o ered, and participants are encouraged to come with questions. Adults only. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 793-9111.

Theater

‘Shrek The Musical, Jr.’: See July 14, 2 & 7 p.m.

17 SUNDAY, P.38

JULY CALENDAR

Story Times

Early-literacy skills get special attention during these read-aloud sessions. Some locations provide additional activities such as music, crafts or foreign-language instruction.

MONDAY

Hyde Park Story Time: Lanpher Memorial Library, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 888-4628.

Richmond Story Time: Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

St. Albans Story Hour: St. Albans Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Stowe Story Time for 2- to 3-Year-Olds: Stowe Free Library, 10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145.

Waitsfield Story Time: Joslin Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 496-4205.

Waterbury Baby & Toddler Story Time: Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Woodstock Baby Story Time: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

TUESDAY

Alburgh Story Hour: Alburgh Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 796-6077.

Charlotte Preschool Story Drop-In: Charlotte Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 425-3864.

Colchester Toddler Story Time: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Craftsbury Story Time: Craftsbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

Fairfax Preschool Story Time: Fairfax Community Library, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 849-2420.

Hinesburg Youngsters Story Time: CarpenterCarse Library, 9:30-10 a.m. Free. Info, 482-2878.

Lyndonville Story Time: Cobleigh Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 626-5475.

Montpelier Story Time: Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

Williston Story Time: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Woodstock Preschool Story Time: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

WEDNESDAY

Barnes & Noble Saturday Morning Story

Time: Barnes & Noble, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

Enosburg Story Hour: Enosburg Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 933-2328.

Essex Summer Story Time: Brownell Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Hyde Park Story Time: See Monday, 10 a.m.

Jericho Story Hour: Jericho Town Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4686.

Johnson Story Time: Johnson Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 635-7141.

Lyndonville Story Time: See Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.

Norwich Story Time: Norwich Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1184.

Quechee Story Time: Quechee Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 295-1232.

Randolph Morning Story Time: Kimball Public Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 728-5073.

Richmond Toddler Story Time: Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

Swanton Storytime: Swanton Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 868-7656.

Warren Preschool Story & Enrichment Hour: Warren Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 595-2582.

THURSDAY

Bristol Story Time: Lawrence Memorial Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2366.

Enosburg Story Hour: See Wednesday, 3:304:30 p.m.

Franklin Story Time: Haston Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

Northfield Children’s Story Time: Brown Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 485-4621.

Rutland Story Time: Rutland Free Library, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

St. Albans Story Hour: See Monday.

Vergennes Story Time: Bixby Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 877-2211.

Waterbury Preschool Story Time: Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Westford Story Time: Westford Public Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-5639.

FRIDAY

Craftsbury Story Time: See Tuesday.

Enosburg Mommy & Me Story Hour: Enosburg Public Library, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 933-2328.

Essex Musical Story Time: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Georgia Preschool Story Time: Georgia Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 524-4643.

Huntington Story Time: Huntington Public Library, 10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 434-4583.

Killington Storytime: Sherburne Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 422-9765.

Lincoln Toddler/Preschool Story Time: Lincoln Library, 11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2665.

Milton Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Montpelier Story Time: See Tuesday.

South Burlington Pajamarama: Barnes & Noble, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

St. Johnsbury Story Time: St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 748-8291.

Stowe Baby & Toddler Story Time: Stowe Free Library, 10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145.

Swanton Storytime: See Wednesday, 10 a.m.

SATURDAY

Barre Story Time: Next Chapter Bookstore, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-3114.

Burlington Story Time at Phoenix Books: 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 448-3350.

Colchester Saturday Drop-In Story Time: Burnham Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Enosburg Story Hour: See Wednesday.

Franklin Walk-in Story Hour: Haston Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

17 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1. 10-11:30 a.m.

Food

Colchester Farmers Market: See July 3.

National Ice Cream Day: Got a sweet tooth?

Visitors learn the history and science of “the great American dessert” by hand-cranking their own frozen treats. Horse-drawn wagon rides and 19thcentury games are the cherry on top. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular museum admission, $4-14; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

South Burlington Farmers Market: See July 3. Stowe Farmers Market: See July 3.

Health & Fitness

Champ’s Challenge for Cystic Fibrosis: Active types choose from a scenic 8- or 40-mile bike ride or a 5K walk/run, followed by a barbecue and ra e. All ages. Basin Harbor Club, Vergennes, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Funds raised support grants to help people with cystic fibrosis improve their health through physical activity; preregister. Info, 310-3176.

Essex Open Gym: See July 3. Family Olympics: See July 10.

Nature & Science

Discovery Sundays: See July 3. Sundays for Fledglings: See July 3.

Tour the Cosmos: See July 2.

Theater

Bread & Puppet Performance: See July 3.

Circus-palooza: Aerial artists pull o fanciful feats under the big top while kids take part in carnival games and activities galore. All ages. Shelburne Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Regular museum admission, $7-24; free for children under 5. Info, 985-3346.

18 MONDAY

Arts & Crafts

Webby’s Art Studio: Reflective Sculpture: Inspired by the museum’s sculpture, crafty kids of all ages construct their own three-dimensional delight. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $7-24; free for children under 5. Info, 985-3346.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 5:45-7 p.m.

Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 12:151:15 p.m.

Health & Fitness

Whoop! Whoop! Hula Hoopla: Sprightly kids shake it up in this swirling workshop. Ages 5-10. Jericho Center Green, 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Library & Books

Babies & Toddlers Rock: See July 11.

Essex Lego Challenge Club: See July 11.

Milton Legos at the Library: Junior builders bust out interlocking blocks. Grades K-5. Milton Public Library, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Ready, Set, Stories with Megan: See July 11.

STEM Lego Club: See July 11.

Music

Music & Movement for Preschoolers: See July 11.

Music for Preschoolers: See July 7. 11 a.m.

Nature & Science

Grow Yourself A Meal: See July 11.

Milton Olympic Gardening: See July 11.

Moonlit Campfire: A flickering bonfire sets the scene for s’mores, a visit from a live owl and other nature activities. All ages. Shelburne Farms, 6:30-8 p.m. $5-6; preregister. Info, 985-8686.

Nature Playgroup: See July 11.

19 TUESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Milton Crafts: See July 5.

Plattsburgh Preschool Story Hour: Aspiring art connoisseurs and their caregivers listen to a picture book, look at original works and create a project to take home. Ages 3-5. Plattsburgh State Art Museum, 10 a.m. Free; preregistration appreciated. Info, 518-564-2474.

Tech/Craft Time: See July 5.

Tinkering Tuesdays: See July 5.

Toy Hacking Workshop: Curious kiddos deconstruct old electronics to investigate their inner workings. Ages 10-14. Milton Public Library, 2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Baby & Maternity

Breastfeeding Café: Moms nurse their babies, chat and ask for answers from a certified lactation consultant. Pregnant women, supportive dads and older siblings welcome. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 349-3825.

Breastfeeding Support Clinic: See July 5.

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3, 11 a.m.12:15 p.m.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Montpelier Postnatal Yoga: See July 5.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 4:305:30 & 6-7 p.m.

Education

Time-Travel Tuesdays: See July 5.

Games

Fairfax Gaming Group: See July 5.

Magic: The Gathering Drop-In Gaming Tuesdays: See July 5.

Summer Chess Club: See July 5.

Health & Fitness

On Your Mark, Get Set, Healthy: Family nurse practitioner Jeri Wohlberg engages the community in hands-on activities to educate folks about good eating habits, the importance of exercise, and basic first aid. All ages. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

Preschool Ballet: See July 5.

Tuesday Night Trail Running: See July 5.

Library & Books

‘Booked for Lunch’: See July 5.

Fun With Mr. K: See July 12.

Get in the Game: READ!: See July 5.

Spanish Musical Kids: See July 5.

Teeny Tiny Backyard Explorers: See July 5.

Music

Castleton Summer Concert Series: See July 5.

Owl’s Head Music Night: Berry pickers groove to local bands while gathering nature’s little treasures.

Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm, Richmond, 6 p.m. Two-quart minimum blueberry purchase for entry. Info, 434-3387.

Preschool Music: See July 5.

Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate: Shiver me timbers! Listeners learn about pirate lore and history in a jolly-good concert. Ages pre-K and

up. Aldrich Public Library, Barre, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 477-1217.

Parenting

Starksboro Nurturing Parent Program: See July 5.

Theater

‘Look Out Olympics, Here Comes

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Zeus!’: Youth thespians from Summer Encore invite audience participation into their theater tale of the Greek gods’ battle between good and evil. Ages 4-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

20 WEDNESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Art in the Park: See July 6.

DIY Foosball Game: Clever ones bring a shoebox and their imagination to construct a cardboard game for competitive fun. Ages 5 and up. Jericho Town Library, 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 5:45-7:15 p.m.

Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 12:151:15 p.m.

Community

Community Evenings at the Farm: See July 6.

Food

Champlain Island Farmers Market: See July 6.

Middlebury Farmers Market: See July 2.

Rutland Farmers Market: See July 2, 3-6 p.m.

Woodstock Market on the Green: See July 6.

Games

Jericho Dungeons & Dragons: See July 6.

Health & Fitness

Hula Hoops!: Artsy kiddos create their own crafts and then get moving and grooving. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 10 a.m. May be a nominal fee; preregister. Info, 472-5948.

Wednesday-Night Mountain-Biking: See July 6.

Library & Books

Highgate Story Time: See July 6. 10 a.m.

Marshfield Story & Activity Time: See July 6.

Pajama Story Time: Small ones cozy up for bedtime tales, cookies and milk. Ages 18 months-5 years. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Reading Buddies: See July 6.

Wednesday Wacktivity: Arts, crafts and games change each week. Ages 5-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 2 & 3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Movies

Marshfield Family-Themed Movies: A wholesome flick fascinates viewers of all ages. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

Milton Family Movie Night: Flim lovers see a feature flick on the library’s big screen while savoring snacks. Milton Public Library, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Music

City Hall Park Concert Series: See July 1.

Craftsbury Chamber Players Mini-Concert in Burlington: See July 13.

Woodbury Strings Concert: See July 13.

Nature & Science

Batty About Bats: The Vermont Bat Center teaches young naturalists about the mysteries of these winged nocturnal animals. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Bug Out: The praying mantis, wooly bears, dog day cicada and more introduce young investigators to the where, why and how of tiny creatures. All ages. Jericho Town Library, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Bug Walk: Creepy-crawly fans grab their nets and go for a stroll in search of insects. Come anytime. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. $5; free for members; preregister. Info, 229-6206.

Programs for Preschoolers: See July 6. Science Loves Art: See July 6. Wagon-Ride Wednesdays: See July 6.

Parenting

Breastfeeding Families Group: Nursing moms (and supportive dads, too!) gather for snacks and advice. Church of the Nazarene, Johnson, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 888-3470.

Theater

‘Look Out Olympics, Here Comes Zeus!’: See July 19, Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 422-9765.

21 THURSDAY

Arts & Crafts

Art on Park: See July 7.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3, 10:45-11:55 a.m.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 4:305:30 p.m.

Community

Summervale: See July 7.

Food

Super Snacks Taste Testing: Local foodies furnish a healthy sampling of farm fare. All ages. St. Albans Free Library, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Health & Fitness

Bike Day: Riders with wheels and helmets check out a bicycle safety course and chug a cool drink. All ages. Fairfax Elementary/Middle School, 1011:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

Hard’ack Trail Running Series: See July 7.

Martial Arts Workshop: Youngsters learn basic moves of mindful movement. Ages 11-12. Milton Public Library, 1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Library & Books

Book Discussion: The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind sparks lively discussion. Ages 10 and up. Joslin Memorial Library, Waitsfield, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 496-4205.

Colchester Lego Club: See July 7.

Lego Thursdays: See July 7.

Preschool Tea Party: Tea and treats delight little ones. Ages 2-8. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, noon. Free. Info, 264-5660.

The Vermont Center on Behavior and Health is conducting a study to help mothers quit smoking.

With your participation, you could earn up to $1,310.

If you have at least one child under the age of 12, you may qualify for this study.

To see if you qualify, go online at http://j.mp/1MSDgeE to take our online survey or call (802) 656-1906 to learn more about this study.

Thursday Evenings on the Green: See July 7.

Movies

‘Finding Nemo’: In this animated flick, an overly protective clownfish embarks on a rescue mission when his beloved son, Nemo, gets scooped up by a diver. Ages 3 and up. Spaulding Auditorium, Hanover, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 603-646-2422.

Middle School Books-to-Film Discussion: Bookworms read Inkheart by Cornelia Funke in advance, then relax watching the big-screen version. Snacks provided. Milton Public Library, 6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Stories On The Screen: See July 7.

Music

Battery Park Concert Series: See July 7.

Brown Bag Concert Series: See July 7.

Craftsbury Chamber Players Mini-Concert in Hardwick: See July 14.

Music for Preschoolers: See July 7.

Snow Farm Vineyard Summer Concert Series: See July 7.

Summer Concert Series: See July 7.

Nature & Science

Best of Audubon Preschool Program: Naturalists-in-training take to the woods and water, discovering insects, birds and wildlife. Ages 3-5 with an adult companion. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 9-10:30 a.m. $8-10 adult-child pair; $4 each additional child; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

Discovery Drop-In Day Camp: See July 7.

Parenting

Milton Nurturing Parent Program: See July 7.

Theater

Variety Show: Steve Corning wows the crowd with fast-paced juggling, a Houdini-style rope escape and a light show finale. All ages. Stowe Elementary School, 2-2:45 p.m. By donation. Info, 253-6138.

‘Willy Wonka’: Silly singers tell the tale of a mysterious candy maker and the sweet child, Charlie Bucket, who steals his heart. Vermont Children’s Theater, Lyndonville, 7 p.m. $5-10. Info, 626-5358.

Open-Air Shenanigans

The Queen City’s zanier side takes center stage during the FESTIVAL OF FOOLS. Presented by Merchants Bank, the outdoors celebration showcases circus arts, music and comedy. A costume parade featuring a brass band gets the three-day event off to a rollicking start on Friday evening. Weekend highlights include the acrobatics and physical comedy of Galumpha, clowning around from Montréal-based mime Mr. Smythe and an oversize unicycle driven by agents from the Secret Circus. Sunday, the rollicking Kids Rock the Park shines the limelight on kiddos, with performances from Very Merry Theatre and hands-on art activities. The festival’s artistic director, Woody Keppel, describes it as “theater for the people.”

FESTIVAL OF FOOLS: Friday, July 29, 5 p.m.; Saturday, July 30, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, July 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in downtown Burlington. All ages. Free. Info, 8657166. vermontfestivaloffools.com

22 FRIDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1.

Mother’s Gathering: See July 1.

Community

Family Fun Night: See July 6.

Friday Night Family Fun Series: See July 8.

Fairs & Festivals

Lamoille County Field Days: Families enjoy a payone-price event, kicking off the summer season of fairs. Kids fun includes pedal pulls, clowns, magic shows, games, rides and prizes. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. Lamoille County Field Days, Johnson, 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. $10-12; $30 per person for a 3-day pass. Info, 635-7113.

Food

5 Corners Farmers Market: See July 1.

ArtsRiot Truck Stop Burlington: See July 1.

Burger Night: See July 1.

Foodways Fridays: See July 1.

Hardwick Farmers Market: See July 1.

Pizza Fridays: See July 1.

Richmond Farmers Market: See July 1.

Games

Craftsbury Lego Club: See July 1.

Lawn Games: Bocce, badminton, horseshoes and more get folks grooving on the grass. Ages 2-8. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Magic: The Gathering: See July 1.

Health & Fitness

Fitness Friday: See July 1.

Kids Rock: Vermont Climbing and Adventure School leads a children’s rock climb at Bolton Notch. Preregister for directions and other info.

Ages 8 and up. Jericho Town Library, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Library & Books

Craftsbury DCF Book Club: See July 8.

Family Story Time: See July 1.

Garden Adventures with the Bookworms: See July 1.

Summer Story Time: See July 1.

Movies

Friday Afternoon Movie: Kids snuggle in for snacks and a screening. Children under 10 must be accompanied by a caregiver. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 482-2878.

Music

City Hall Park Concert Series: See July 1.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See July 1.

Nature & Science

Carman and the Cosmos: A three-toed box turtle teaches novice naturalists about its habits and how to help these wild creatures. All ages. Jericho Town Library, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Theater

‘Pride’: The local Vermont Youth Dancers perform a hip-hop production based on The Lion King Young Simba struggles to accept himself and overcome his evil uncle, Scar. Mount Mansfield Union High School, Jericho, 6:30 p.m. $7-8. Info, 448-0893.

‘Willy Wonka’: See July 21.

23 SATURDAY Baby & Maternity

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2.

Community

Classic Car Show: Classic and antique vehicles delight devotees of all ages. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Education

Kingdom Community Wind Tours: See July 6.

Fairs & Festivals

Fairy House Festival: Author Tracy Kane reads from her book of wee whimsical homes, then children visit the homestead’s Fairy Village and build a bitty bower of their own. Costumes encouraged; all ages. Justin Morrill Homestead, Strafford Village, 1-3 p.m. $5-10; preregistration required by July 17. Info, 765-4288.

Lamoille County Field Days: See July 22.

Food

Burlington Farmers Market: See July 2. Capital City Farmers Market: See July 2. Champlain Island Farmers Market: See July 2. Middlebury Farmers Market: See July 2. Rutland Farmers Market: See July 2.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids Saturday Yoga: See July 2.

Movies

Ben & Jerry’s Summer Outdoor Movie Festival: See July 9.

Music

Family Concert: Christy Martin and Aodh Og O’Tuama of Four Shillings Short put on “Around the World in 30 Instruments,” featuring a fantastic array of musical devices including dulcimers, tinwhistles, recorders, medieval and renaissance woodwinds. All ages. South Burlington Community Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Nature & Science

Incredible Insect Festival: Nature fans of all ages explore the importance of these amazing creatures through hands-on activities, music, story and crafts. In the Caterpillar Lab, expert Sam Jaffe introduces eager guests to multiple live critters. (See spotlight on page 32.) Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center, Quechee, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $12.50-14.50; free for VINS members and children under 4. Info, 359-5000.

Summer Naturalist Program: See July 2. Tour the Cosmos: See July 2.

Theater

‘Pride’: See July 22, 2 p.m.

‘Willy Wonka’: See July 21.

24 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 10-11:30 a.m.

Fairs & Festivals

Lamoille County Field Days: See July 22, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Food

Colchester Farmers Market: See July 3.

South Burlington Farmers Market: See July 3.

Stowe Farmers Market: See July 3.

COURTESY OF FESTIVAL OF FOOLS

Health & Fitness

Essex Open Gym: See July 3.

Family Olympics: See July 10.

Nature & Science

Discovery Sundays: See July 3.

Hay Day: Fledgling farmers learn about 19th-century haying techniques while enjoying horse-drawn wagon rides, rope-making demonstrations and penny-in-the-haystack games. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular museum admission, $4-14; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

Incredible Insect Festival: See July 23. Sundays for Fledglings: See July 3.

Tour the Cosmos: See July 2.

Theater

Bread & Puppet Performance: See July 3.

25 MONDAY

Arts & Crafts

Outdoor Art: Hosted by MC Baker, these drop-in hours help aspiring artists make masterpieces inspired by the wisdom of words. All ages. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Webby’s Art Studio: Fabulous Flowers: Young artists go wild with watercolors and flowers in bloom. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $7-24; free for children under 5. Info, 985-3346.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 5:45-7 p.m.

Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 12:151:15 p.m.

Community

Community Kickball Game: The Mad River Valley hosts a giant game with book-related fun between the innings. All ages. Couples Field, Waitsfield, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 496-4205.

Health & Fitness

Archery: Expert marksmen teach target skills and safety. Ages 7-10. Space is limited to participate; spectators unlimited. Burnham Memorial

Library, Colchester, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Whoop! Whoop! Hula Hoopla: Sprightly kids shake it up in this swirling workshop. Ages 10 and up. Jericho Center Green, 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 899-4686.

Library & Books

Babies & Toddlers Rock: See July 11.

Essex Lego Challenge Club: See July 11. Fairy Garden with Ms. Virginia: Little ones construct wee homes for magical creatures. Highgate Public Library, Highgate Center, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 868-3970.

Ready, Set, Stories with Megan: See July 11.

STEM Lego Club: See July 11.

Music

Music & Movement for Preschoolers: See July 11.

Music for Preschoolers: See July 7, 11 a.m.

Nature & Science

Grow Yourself A Meal: See July 11.

Milton Olympic Gardening: See July 11.

Nature Playgroup: See July 11.

26 TUESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Milton Crafts: See July 5.

Tech/Craft Time: See July 5.

Tinkering Tuesdays: See July 5.

Baby & Maternity

Breastfeeding Support Clinic: See July 5.

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Montpelier Postnatal Yoga: See July 5.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 4:305:30 & 6-7 p.m.

Education

Time-Travel Tuesdays: See July 5.

Games

Fairfax Gaming Group: See July 5.

Magic: The Gathering Drop-In

Gaming Tuesdays: See July 5.

Summer Chess Club: See July 5.

Health & Fitness

Gymnastics Workshop: Young tumblers get turning and twisting.

Ages 6-9. Milton Public Library, 1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Preschool Ballet: See July 5.

Tuesday Night Trail Running: See July 5.

Library & Books

‘Booked for Lunch’: See July 5.

Cleo the Therapy Dog: See July 12.

Get in the Game: READ!: See July 5.

Spanish Musical Kids: See July 5.

Teeny Tiny Backyard Explorers: See July 5.

Music

Castleton Summer Concert Series: See July 5.

Owl’s Head Music Night: See July 19.

Preschool Music: See July 5.

Nature & Science

The Noble Sport: Falconry: Three live raptors swoop in from VINS for an amazing avian adventure. All ages. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 586-9683.

Parenting

Starksboro Nurturing Parent Program: See July 5.

27 WEDNESDAY

Arts & Crafts

Art in the Park: See July 6.

Outdoor Art: See July 25.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 5:45-7:15 p.m.

Prenatal Method Postnatal Rehab: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Barre: See July 6.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 12:151:15 p.m.

Community

Community Evenings at the Farm: See July 6.

Family Fun Night: See July 6.

Education

Kingdom Community Wind Tours: See July 6. Young Writers & Storytellers: See July 13.

Food

Champlain Island Farmers Market: See July 6. Middlebury Farmers Market: See July 2. Rutland Farmers Market: See July 2, 3-6 p.m. Woodstock Market on the Green: See July 6.

Games

Chocolate Olympics: Avid athletes (and their appetites) compete in the sports of Oreo stacking, sweet trivia, M&M sorting and more. All ages. Warren Public Library, 3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 496-3913.

Dungeons & Dragons Night: See July 13.

Jericho Dungeons & Dragons: See July 6. Legos for the Little Ones: See July 13.

Health & Fitness

Meet the Roller Derby: The Green Mountain Roller Derby shares basic rules and some oskate games that can be done in socks. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Tai Chi on the Green: See July 13.

Wednesday-Night Mountain-Biking: See July 6.

Library & Books

Dance Party: Children’s artist Judy Pancoast puts on a musical show to celebrate summer reading.

Ages 3-10. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Highgate Story Time: See July 6, 10 a.m.

Marshfield Story & Activity Time: See July 6.

Reading Buddies: See July 6.

Summer Celebration: A summer’s worth of reading ends with the bang of Bread & Puppet performers, Cirque del Fuego fire performers, games, live music, workshops, community art and an ice cream social. All ages. Jericho Center Green, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 899-4686.

Wednesday Wacktivity: See July 13.

Music

City Hall Park Concert Series: See July 1. Craftsbury Chamber Players Mini-Concert in Burlington: See July 13.

Trad Camp Showcase: Campers and instructors from this musical summer program get the crowd cheering with song and dance. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Nature & Science

The Noble Sport: Falconry: Live raptors swoop in from VINS for an amazing avian adventure. Ages 5-13. Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 422-9765.

Programs for Preschoolers: See July 6.

Scavenger Hunt: Naturalist Gail Johnson tells a few tales, and then adventuresome kids take to the woods. Hazen Trails, Hardwick, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 472-5948.

Science Loves Art: See July 6.

Wagon-Ride Wednesdays: See July 6.

28 THURSDAY

Arts & Crafts

Art on Park: See July 7.

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3, 10:45-11:55 a.m.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2, 4:305:30 p.m.

Community

Family Campfire Sing-Along: Songs, stories and s’mores satisfy families. Moretown Memorial Library, 6 p.m. Free.

Summervale: See July 7.

Fairs & Festivals

Lake Champlain Maritime Festival: Kids’ activities at this musical waterfront event include a tie-dye workshop on Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and train rides from Burlington to Shelburne. Tickets available at rails-vt.com. See lcmfestival.com for more details. Waterfront Park, Burlington, 5-10 p.m. Free; admission charged for nightly concerts; $10 per person for train ride; free for children under 3. Info, 482-3313.

Health & Fitness

The Big Blue Trunk: Kids of all ages delve into creative games, including cannonball shooters, an obstacle course, ring toss and more. Stowe Elementary School, 1:30-3:30 p.m. By donation. Info, 253-6138.

Hard’ack Trail Running Series: See July 7.

Library & Books

A Bonnie Afternoon in Scotland: Harpist and Gaelic singer Dominique Dodge and bagpiper Iain MacHarg share Scottish storytelling, dancing and music with small ones, followed by face painting and a family-friendly film. Ages 12 and under. Aldrich Public Library, Barre, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 477-1217.

Colchester Lego Club: See July 7.

Fairfax Library Olympics: Families enjoy field day festivities on the school lawn. Ages 4 and up. Fairfax Elementary/Middle School, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420.

Lego Thursdays: See July 7.

St. Albans Library Legos: See July 14, 3-5 p.m.

Movies

Stories On The Screen: See July 7, 2 p.m.

Music

Battery Park Concert Series: See July 7.

Brown Bag Concert Series: See July 7. Craftsbury Chamber Players Mini-Concert in East Craftsbury: Small music lovers experience an excerpt of the group’s evening concert, with selections and commentary geared toward young audiences, followed by ice cream. East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 800-639-3443.

Music for Preschoolers: See July 7. Snow Farm Vineyard Summer Concert Series: See July 7.

Summer Concert Series: See July 7. Thursday Evenings on the Green: See July 7.

Nature & Science

Discovery Drop-In Day Camp: See July 7. Paws on the Go: Feline lovers explore the world of these furry friends, learn their secret handshake and craft toys for the humane society. Ages 4 and up. South Burlington Community Library, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 652-7080.

Parenting

Milton Nurturing Parent Program: See July 7.

29 FRIDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1.

Mother’s Gathering: See July 1.

Community

Friday Night Family Fun Series: See July 8.

Marshmallow Roast & Lawn Games: Teens host a piping hot dessert and coordinate hopscotch, marbles, bocce, badminton and more. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Fairs & Festivals

Festival of Fools: Wacky entertainers take over the Queen City with mind-boggling circus arts, music and comedy, with four main-stage locations featuring continuous street theater. (See spotlight on page 40.) Downtown Burlington, 5 p.m. Donations accepted. Info, 865-7166.

Lake Champlain Maritime Festival: See July 28, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Food

5 Corners Farmers Market: See July 1.

Tabletop Games: Families share their favorite game or select one from the library’s stash. Snacks provided. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 264-5660.

Health & Fitness

Fitness Friday: See July 1.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Kids Adventure Games: Teams of two kids, ages 6-14, navigate outdoor obstacles including zip lines, climbing walls and mud pits as parents and spectators cheer them on. Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, noon-5 p.m. Free to watch; $75 per person to participate; preregister by July 7. Info, 970-401-3804.

Library & Books

Family Story Time: See July 1. Garden Adventures with the Bookworms: See July 1.

Summer Story Time: See July 1.

Music

City Hall Park Concert Series: See July 1. Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See July 1.

Theater

‘Pinocchio’: Seriously seasoned youth actors perform this classic tale of a wooden puppet. All ages. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall Auditorium, 5:30 p.m. $5-10. Info, 229-0492.

Robert Rivest: Comic Mime: Crazy antics keep audience laughing in this one-man show. St. Albans Free Library, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

‘Willy Wonka’: See July 21.

30 SATURDAY

Arts & Crafts

Mini Comic Con: Area artists o er expertise in comic styles in open workshops, collaborating with the museum’s “Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action” exhibit. All ages. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10.50-13.50; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

Baby & Maternity

Prenatal Method Prenatal Yoga: See July 2.

Community

Fairfx Mini Renaissance Faire: This familyoriented festival features longsword and jousting demonstrations, a VINS Bird on Glove presentation, Renaissance games galore, goodies and more. All ages. Fairfax Elementary/Middle School, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420.

Dance

ArtsRiot Truck Stop Burlington: See July 1.

Burger Night: See July 1.

Foodways Fridays: See July 1.

Hardwick Farmers Market: See July 1.

Pizza Fridays: See July 1.

Richmond Farmers Market: See July 1.

Games

Craftsbury Lego Club: See July 1.

Magic: The Gathering: See July 1.

Farm to Ballet: Rain or shine, arts and agriculture come together in this dance performance celebrating Vermont’s farming culture. Wood-fired pizza and salads from the farm available for purchase. Gates open at 5 p.m. for picnicking. Golden Well Farm & Apiaries, New Haven, 6 p.m. $16-37.50; free for children 12 and under but must have ticket; proceeds help fund educational programming. Info, 870-0361.

Fairs & Festivals

Festival of Fools: See July 29, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Lake Champlain Maritime Festival: See July 28, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Food

Burlington Farmers Market: See July 2.

Capital City Farmers Market: See July 2.

Champlain Island Farmers Market: See July 2.

Middlebury Farmers Market: See July 2.

Rutland Farmers Market: See July 2.

Games

Make Your Own Board Games: Imaginative creators draw, design and color their own board games in the classic Candy Land style. Joslin Memorial Library, Waitsfield, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 496-4205.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids Saturday Yoga: See July 2.

Kids Adventure Games: See July 29, 8 a.m.

Movies

Ben & Jerry’s Summer Outdoor Movie Festival: See July 9.

Movie Night at Fisher Brothers Farm: See July 16.

Nature & Science

Bird-Monitoring Walk: Eagle-eyed participants bring binoculars to search the museum’s property for fluttering feathers. Best for adults and older children. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 7:30-9 a.m. Free; donations welcome; preregister. Info, 434-2167.

Green Mountain Draft Horse Field Day: Onlookers discover the true meaning of “horsepower” as they watch plowing, haying and logging in action, including the use of a 1910 threshing machine. Shelburne Farms, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $5-8; free for children under 3; $8 per person for horse and wagon tour. Info, 985-8686.

Summer Naturalist Program: See July 2. Tour the Cosmos: See July 2.

Theater

‘Pinocchio’: See July 29, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Vermont Vaudeville: As part of the Festival of Fools, old-school entertainment combines with cutting-edge music, acrobatic stunts and comedy for a one-of-a-kind theater experience. All ages. Contois Auditorium, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15. Info, 472-1387. ‘Willy Wonka’: See July 21, 2 & 7 p.m.

31 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

Evolution Postnatal Yoga: See July 3.

Evolution Prenatal Yoga: See July 1, 10-11:30 a.m.

Fairs & Festivals

Festival of Fools: See July 29, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Lake Champlain Maritime Festival: See July 28, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Food

Colchester Farmers Market: See July 3.

South Burlington Farmers Market: See July 3. Stowe Farmers Market: See July 3.

Health & Fitness

Essex Open Gym: See July 3.

Family Olympics: See July 10.

Kids Adventure Games: See July 29, 8 a.m.

Nature & Science

Discovery Sundays: See July 3. Sundays for Fledglings: See July 3.

Tour the Cosmos: See July 2.

Theater

Bread & Puppet Performance: See July 3.

Wildlife Rehab

TWO SUMMERS AGO, Katie Chicoine came home from day camp at Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue in Addison all fired up. After learning how wildlife rehabilitators care for injured animals, she was inspired to do similar work.

At 15, Katie has three years until she can get her wildlife rehabilitator permit. So her grandma, Lisa Germaine, put in some 50 hours working as a rehabber’s apprentice, then acquired her permit last August. She cleared out two bedrooms in her Colchester home and created Safe and Sound Wildlife Rehabilitation. Katie is listed as an authorized assistant on the permit.

Together, the pair have tended to squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, four newborn possums and a weasel named Willie Nelson. They’ve also cared for a host of birds — robins, starlings, grackles and blue jays — which requires a federal permit. The animals arrive with a variety of ailments, from broken wings to predatory injuries, while others were abandoned as babies. At Safe and Sound, they are treated and released back into the wild.

In one room, syringes, nipples and cans of squirrel and bunny formula sit on a table alongside antiseptic and pain medications. A mini fridge holds fresh fruits and vegetables and paste-like bird food. Cages, terrariums and pet carriers house wobbly baby birds and orphaned squirrels. The scene brings to mind the phrase, “If

Mom says no, ask Grandma.” Katie’s mom loves animals, but between her four kids and three dogs, she has no extra room.

As for Germaine, “I never thought about doing this, that’s for sure,” she said. But her love of animals — and her granddaughter’s enthusiasm — convinced her otherwise. She sold toys, gave away furniture, pulled up the carpet and installed linoleum to create a suitable space for the critters.

Rehab work isn’t always warm and fuzzy. The hours can be long, and the work is often exhausting; baby birds, for example, need to be fed every 20 to 30 minutes during the day. Rehabbers also cover their own operating expenses, which add up quickly. Thankfully, some people drop off a donation along with an animal in need.

Safe and Sound is one of 18 authorized wildlife rehabbers in the state, reachable through a link on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department website. When people call, “They ask if they have reached the wildlife rehabilitation center,” Katie said with a laugh.

The “center” in question is her grandma’s modest, three-bedroom home complete with baby gates at the stairs to keep the wildlife safe from her four rescue dogs downstairs.

Germaine likes to joke, “we live in a gated community.” K

Permit Procedure

Anyone interested in caring for wildlife in Vermont needs to obtain a rehabilitation permit. The Fish & Wildlife Department encourages apprenticeships first. Permit applicants must be at least 18 and submit an application and $50 fee, as well as pass a test to demonstrate proficiency. A Fish & Wildlife staffer and local game warden also conduct an in-person interview and on-site inspection.

“Habitat” celebrates places where Vermont families live and play. Got a sweet space you’d like us to see? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

PHOTOS: MATTHEW THORSEN

Katie Chicoine

Lisa Germaine and Katie

PUZZLE PAGE

Jumble

BY DAVID L. HOYT & JEFF KNUREK

The letters of these crazy words are all mixed up. To play the game, put them back into the right order so that they make real words you can find in your dictionary. Write the letters of each real word under each crazy word, but only one letter to a square.

These winners get gift certificates to:

JON lives in Bolton and turns 5 on July 11. He’s a kindhearted and generous boy who loves going on adventures in the woods, swimming in the brook behind his house, roasting marshmallows and playing cars with his older brother, Ollie. Jon wins entry for two to Petra Cliffs’ Friday Night Kids Club.

To enter, submit information using the online form at kidsvt.com/birthday-club. Just give us your contact info, your children’s names and birth dates, and a photo, and they’re automatically enrolled.

You are now ready to solve this month’s Jumble For Kids. Study the picture for a hint. Then play around with the letters in the circles. You’ll find you can put them in order so that they make your funny answer.

Maze

Print your answer here:

Puzzles4Kids

Riddle Search — SUMMER CAMP ACTIVITIES

Look up, down and diagonally, both forward and backward, to find every word on the list. Circle each one as you find it. When all the words are circled, take the UNUSED letters and write them on the blanks below. Go from left to right and top to bottom to find the answer to this riddle: What is green and goes to a summer camp?

ARTS

BALLET CANOEING

DANCE

GARDENING

GOLF

GYMNASTICS

HIKING

JAZZ

JEWELRY JUDO

LACROSSE SWIMMING THEATER WOODSHOP YOGA

BY HELENA HOVANEC

ABBY lives in Jericho and turns 8 on July 16. She has a contagious laugh and smile, and enjoys dance, gymnastics and jewelry making. She also loves spending time with family and friends and going to the movies.

Abby, Madison and Jax each win a day pass to Petra Cliffs.

Riddle Answer:

MADISON lives in Essex Junction and turns 9 on July 17. She’s an easygoing kid who loves horseback riding and being outside.

JAX lives in Hinesburg and turns 5 on July 18. He’s adventurous and loves to swim, boat and fish on Lake Iroquois. He also enjoys hiking, skiing and riding bikes with his big brother, Cole.

COLORING CONTEST!

Three winners will each receive an annual family membership to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. Send Kids VT your work of art by July 15. Be sure to include the info at right with your submission. Winners will be chosen in the following categories: (1) ages 5 and younger, (2) ages 6-8 and (3) ages 9-12. Winners will be named in the August issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com, or mail a copy to Kids VT, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

Baby Fever

WE’RE EXPECTING A LITTLE ONE now, and no one could be happier — or more surprised — than I am. With my husband and I in our early 50s and our four kids finally old enough to stay home by themselves, we’re enjoying a level of freedom we haven’t had in 15 years. And here we are, going back to sleep interruption and potty training.

In two or three weeks, I’ll be cradling a baby girl and marveling at her cute, floppy ears, her little wet nose, those sweet 16 toes.

We’re getting a dog! I never thought I’d write that sentence. Dogs just don’t run in my family. I grew up on a farm in northern Iowa where animal was a two-syllable word: livestock. Why feed it if you aren’t going to eat it?  I remember asking for a dog, but the answer, as I expected, was no. “Dogs chase pigs,” my dad said.

My husband, Joe, had a dog when he was about 12. It was a little black bulldog named Max. But Joe’s family only kept him for about a year; he doesn’t recall why. “Dog arrived one day. Dog left one day,” he said when I pressed for details. “I remember going for a walk. It was a pet parade or something.” Max was about the size of a loaf of bread, Joe said.  “After a half mile, he couldn’t walk anymore. I had to carry him home.”

Somehow, despite both of their parents’ relative dog indifference, our kids inherited canine cravings. Maybe it’s a fluke of genetics. Or maybe it’s a universal law of nature: Kids love dogs. So they beg. For years, my kids have been asking for a dog, and, for years, I have been saying no. I had borne four kids in 3 years. Cleaning up after one more thing that pooped had zero appeal — the same goes for drool, shedding, muddy paw prints and that dog smell.

A couple of years ago, Joe caved. In front of our kids, and without consulting me first, he said, “I could be ready for a dog now.”

With me under the bus and Daddy in their corner, the kids persisted. My 12-year-old son, Jack, worked getting a dog into school writing projects. “Why I Should Get a Dog,” is the title of one essay. “Here are some facts how getting a dog can help you,” he wrote. “1. Dogs can sense cancer in a human body. 2. Dogs can give you good heart health. Petting a dog gives you lower blood pressure and heart rate. 3. A dog can make you happier. 4. Kids with dogs have less allergies.” In fifth grade, he wrote a peace poem: “Peace is warmth, no more war, sleeping, laying down, sitting with a dog on your lap.”

Mom guilt piled on. How could I have four kids and not give them a puppy? Slow-motion frames of them

romping and giggling in a sun-dappled backyard played in my mind. Until I came to my senses, grabbed my brain remote and pushed No! Are you kidding me?! No!

And then, about a year ago, something changed. I’m not sure I can entirely explain why. Part of it stems from continual reminders that life is short. Live before you die, one saying goes. Better to regret the things you have done than the things you haven’t, says another. My mother died last summer. Then, more than ever, I needed proof that there is a heaven. In the airport, on my way home from her funeral, I bought the book Heaven is for Real. It’s the true story of a little boy who recovered from a serious illness, then astounded his parents by describing heaven and relatives he met there. He also said there are dogs in heaven.

I looked out of an airplane window somewhere over the eastern United States and thought, “We need to get a dog.”

And I started really wanting a dog. I scanned the available dogs on shelter websites. Pulling out newspaper inserts for recycling one morning, I lingered over a pet store ad and actually considered shopping for dog toys. Out for a run, I was so focused on two dogs running toward me that I almost didn’t see the people they were with, friends of mine.

Everything started moving quickly when my friend Laurie told me about Gator, her English lab. Blockier than American-type labs, English labs are considered calmer and quieter. When Laurie offered to send me contact information for Gator’s breeder, I said yes to be polite. Still thinking we would adopt a rescue, I didn’t intend to use it. But Joe and I considered the benefits of knowing a dog’s lineage, its likely good health and temperament, and the thrill of knowing a dog its whole life. When Laurie sent me a photo of Gator as a puppy, oxytocin surged as I texted back, “I’m in love!”

I sent a check to a breeder and came out to my 85-yearold father: I think I’m a dog person.

Our summer schedule now revolves around the dog that’s not even here yet. The Art of Raising a Puppy — the canine What to Expect When You’re Expecting — is on my nightstand, and I’m planning to post Jack’s essay on the refrigerator. “I will feed him. I will walk him and it will be a great way for me to get fresh air,” it says. I think I’ll highlight my favorite line: “I will clean up after him and pick up his poop.” K

After years of resistance, a mom of four has a change of heart

I grew up on a farm in northern Iowa where animal was a two-syllable word: livestock.