Kids VT, October 2014

Tom Wilson, actor/writer/comedian

nose.”

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

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

Copublisher Colby Roberts colby@kidsvt.com ext. 77

Managing Editor Megan James megan@kidsvt.com ext. 73

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

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

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

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Contributing Writers: Liz Cantrell, Sarah Galbraith, Thea Lewis, Mary Ann Lickteig, Ken Picard, Benjamin Roesch, Erinn Simon, Elaine Young

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the tug of tech

While i Was nursing my 6-monthold daughter, Joni, one night, my husband unfurled the giant projector screen we use as a TV and began browsing Netflix. As the colorful movie titles scrolled by, Joni turned her face from the thing she loves most right now — my boob — to gaze at the beautiful, mesmerizing screen.

Like most new parents, we were told Joni shouldn’t have any screen time before she’s 2. We’re on board with that recommendation, but it sure is hard to keep screens out of her life entirely. And it’s spooky to watch her watch them: Her typically squirmy body goes still, her mouth drops open and she stares, captivated by the glow.

That’s when I slip down the rabbit hole of worry. Is she growing up in a world increasingly devoid of human contact? By not letting her look at shiny, new technology, will we drive her to covet it? Is it a bad sign that she’s always reaching for my iPhone?

It’s easy to be fearful of the changing world. But the digital era also gives parents plenty of reasons to celebrate.

We’re delving into both the good and the bad in this month’s tech issue, timed to coincide with the 8th annual Vermont Tech Jam. This family-friendly job fair and tech expo, organized by our parent company, Seven Days, takes place on Friday

and Saturday, October 24 and 25, at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington.

So let me count the ways that I love being a mother in the online age.

I’ve spent innumerable hours over several months bouncing with Joni on an exercise ball in the middle of the night. Instead of losing my mind to the sound of the ball squishing against the floor, I’ve been soothing myself with “The Longest Shortest Time” podcast on my phone. This program for parents of young children bills itself as a “3 a.m. bedside companion.”

Listening to the voices of other beleaguered new moms makes me feel part of a bleary-eyed sisterhood. Another

perk of modern technology? I can snap photos of Joni and instantly archive them on the Vermont-born app, Notabli (“Just Post It,” p. 22), which is similar to Facebook, but doesn’t burden my childless friends with baby pictures.

And I can look forward to my daughter learning to code as part of her school curriculum (“Cracking the Code,” p. 18). Her tech-savvy dad is counting down the days until they can program a game together.

I think I’ll hold off on getting her an iPad, though (“Screen Wars,” p. 51). I’d love to keep watching movies the old-school way, everybody piled onto the couch in front of one big screen.

Megan JaMes, Managing editor

Some of this month’s Kids VT contributors:

Sarah Galbraith (“Fit Families”) is a freelance writer covering outdoor sports, nature, environment, renewable energy and agriculture. She and her husband live in Marshfield and are expecting their first baby in November.

Benjamin Roesch (“Use Your Words”) is a novelist, short-story writer and essayist whose work has appeared in Word Riot, Brilliant Corners, The Bangalore Review, Seven Days and other publications. He teaches English at Burlington High School and lives in the Queen City with his wife, Shannon, and their sons, Felix and Leo.

Joni monitors her digital footprint.

ReadersRespond

Early Learning

I have to tell you, the article [“Class Acts: Six Teachers Prepare for the Big Day,” September 2014] was great. I live in Fairfax and the Imagine School House is a wonderful addition to our community. Fairfax is becoming a great place for children to get a head start on their educational future.

TOM FEERICK FAIRFAX

Feerick is the co-owner of Going Places Learning Center in Fairfax.

Obstacle Course

[Re “Muddy Buddies: Adventure Racing,” September 2014]

My 6-year-old son, Hays, and his buddy Sawyer participated, and it was a blast!

FRANCESCA ARNOLDY BURLINGTON

A Corn Maze Roundup

Hathaway Farm Corn Maze, Rutland

Pick Your Own

We asked you, readers, to submit photos on Facebook of your kids picking apples, and 120 of you delivered sun-dappled adorableness. Here are some of our favorites.

The Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville

Through October 17

This maze, on a thirdgeneration dairy farm, has a new design every year. Situated on 10 acres, it’s a serious challenge; visitors should be able to walk for about an hour, without a rest, to find their way out. Looking for something less intense? There’s also a smaller maze on the property.

Through October 26

The theme of this year’s 12-acre corn maze — which features a built-in sound system and a series of bridges — is “I’ve Got the Music in Me.” Toddlers can explore a mini-maze, an OK Corral play area and a livestock barn with donkeys, bunnies and pigs. On Saturdays, the maze is open late and admission includes marshmallow roasting and a glow stick.

Sam Mazza’s Corn Maze, Colchester

Through October 31

Visitors can take a one- or twomile jaunt through seven-foot walls of corn, tracking their progress by punching a card at numbered stations scattered throughout the course. Don’t miss the farm market, animals and a few wooden play structures also on the premises.

Percy Farm Corn Maze, Stowe

Through mid-October

The maze takes approximately one hour to complete. Visitors can pet and feed baby calves and goats, as well.

A Corn Maze Adventure, Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y. Weekends through October 19

Visitors navigate this six-acre maze, in the shape of the Fort, looking for history clues and collecting stamps. A short maze for children age 4 and under — and their adult companions — provides an easier option.

Bestofthe Kids VTBlog

COLORING CONTEST

The winners of our three $25 gift certificates to Creative Habitat are:

On the Fly: Kyoto, Japan

BY JESSICA LARA TICKTIN

Kids VT contributor Jessica Lara

Ticktin is traveling the world with her family, homeschooling three daughters along the way — while pregnant. She’s documenting her family’s adventures until they return to Vermont in December.

…The walls are literally paper: Shoji screens separate our few rooms. And the houses are so close together, you can hear every word (even if we don’t understand it) from our neighbors. I am afraid we must be the loudest house in the neighborhood.

This is a big change from what we are used to — a Burlington house with high ceilings, more than 3,500 square

Home Cookin’: Pizza Muffins

BY ALISON NOVAK

When I was a kid, my mom once made me a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich on a leftover Pillsbury breadstick for school lunch. When I turned back the tin foil in the cafeteria to reveal this homely creation, I was horrified. For many years, I wouldn’t let her live it down.

I truly didn’t understand what would prompt her to make such a makeshift PB&J — until I had to start packing school lunch for my own kids. The task isn’t always bad. When my kitchen is stocked from a trip to the grocery, and I have the forethought to pack lunch boxes the night before school, the chopping fruit and veggies,

feet and three bathrooms. Here, we sleep side by side on thin mattresses laid out on tatami mats. We share one toilet and one bathtub. The girls love it and are starting to understand the concept of simple living.

On my first day as their teacher, I felt like a fraud. They looked up at me expectantly while we watched Japanese children on their way to school. I wanted to shout, “Go with them. I don’t know what I’m doing!”

But I didn’t. Instead, we went for an exploratory walk. Then, to transition into school time, I lead the girls in a series of yoga poses and stretches and a five-minute meditation. This has become our morning ritual …

More than 100 young artists stuck their necks out last month to boldly embellish our jaunty gira e. They reimagined the long-legged creature frolicking near jack-o’-lanterns, marching in a bedtime parade, shopping for new duds and snacking on bananaleaf sundaes. We were especially impressed with the range of media on display — from watercolor and pastels to sparkles and stamps. Congratulations to all the winners!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

CLASSY COUTURE

Sophia Van Zyl, 6, Addison

DELICIOUS DESSERT

Zebediah Wilcox, 7, Milton

BEST DISCO BALL

Raegan Decker, 9, Fairfax

YELLOWEST BRICK ROAD

Evalin Pachman, 11, Starksboro

WONDROUS WINGS

Alyce Dorman, 5, Underhill

WONDERFUL WATERCOLOR

Quinn LeBeau, 5, Vergennes

CHEERIEST CHEETAH PRINT

Lizzy Considine, 5, Hardwick

FANCIEST FRENCH MAID

Sophia Kittredge, 8, West Danville

SUPER SPARKLES

Alice Ide, 3, Richmond

BEDTIME BEAUTY

Tanisha Gerg, 9, Georgia

PERFECT PJS

Aranne Jung, 8, South Burlington

PICTURESQUE PUMPKINS

making sandwiches and filling cute Tupperware containers with pretzel goldfish and cheesy bunnies can actually be kind of fun. But when it’s 7a.m., I haven’t been to the grocery in a week, my kids need help squeezing the toothpaste from the tube and getting their socks on and I still haven’t showered, it’s another story ...

Isidora Dickstein, 11, St. Johnsbury

TOP TITLES

“STRANGER IN A CITY”

Mikhail Zhebrunov, 4, Burlington

“CLOUDWALKER”

Haven Brunell, 5, Newport

“JAZZY JRAFF”

Hadley Harris, 9, Ferrisburgh

“Giraffe Riding”

Katelyn LaBerge, 7 VERGENNES “My Pet Giraffe”

Rebecca Moriarty, 11 JERICHO “Born Different”

Find this month’s coloring contest on page 49. The deadline for submissions is October 15.

Colin DeCarvalho, 5 ESSEX

THE BEAT

BY MEGAN JAMES

TECHNOLOGY Survival of the Fittest

“There’s certainly magic in evolution,” says Je rey Sprenger. His Vermont-based company, Xemory Software, is using a National Science Foundation grant to create NEUROBOTIK allows kids to design and perfect robot brains by simulating evolution. “When you evolve the robots, you get some really crazy results,” he says.

NEUROBOTIK, a game that

Sprenger hopes Neurobotik will engage middle and high school students in science and technology and inspire them to pursue careers in those fields. He’s working with University of Vermont professors Josh Bongard, Maggie Eppstein and Kieran Killeen at the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies to make the game both educational and engaging.

Neurobotik is completely virtual; you don’t need to worry about buying robot materials or fiddling with circuit boards. And it starts out simply. Kids choose from a preexisting robot design or create their own from an inventory of body parts and sensors. Then they practice moving their bot around its environment.

Next, they play around with evolution by diving into the robot’s “biologically inspired” brain. “It’s a very simplistic model of the neurons in your brain,” says Sprenger, whose previous job was vice president of research at MBF Bioscience, a Williston firm that makes software and systems to analyze brain images at the microscopic level. “You might have a dozen neurons in this robot’s brain, compared to billions in ours. But it’s the same idea.”

Similarly, evolution in this game isn’t the billion-year process it can be in real life. Kids can work through 50 generations of their robot in less than 30 seconds. Over time, their bots will become better at challenges such as navigating a ramp-filled maze to reach a square of cheese.

During the month of October, students at Essex High School, Champlain Valley Union High School, Edmunds Middle School and Williston Central School will test Neurobotik. Sprenger says the game itself will evolve based on their feedback.

NEUROBOTIK: Created by Xemory Software. Want to try the game but don’t go to one of the schools listed above? Get your hands on Neurobotik at the Champlain Mini Maker Faire at Shelburne Farms on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5; or at the Vermont Tech Jam at Burlington’s Memorial Auditorium on Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25. xemory.com

EDUCATION

Making Mealtime Count

Why should learning math be relegated to school? What if kids had a chance to develop their number sense at the dinner table?

That’s the idea behind THE MULTIPLES, a line of children’s dinnerware created by a husband-andwife team of Montessori educators. Each plate, bowl and tumbler is illustrated with one of 12 quirky characters and a set of times tables to encourage kids to play with numbers instead of their food.

“It’s not, ‘Sit down and finish your peas and do your five multiplication tables.’ It’s more to have the kids lead the conversations about numbers,” says Brooks Addington, co-president of Realtimes Products LLC, The Multiples’ Vermont-based children’s educational company.

And the colorful characters — such as Professor One Hoot, a scientist owl from Berlin, and Madame Two Moos, a happy-go-lucky Australian cow — add to the fun.

Afraid you’re not prepared for spontaneous math lessons? “The answers are right there on the plate,” notes Addington, “so parents don’t have to be intimidated.”

BOOKS

Off the Charts

THE MULTIPLES: Appropriate for ages 2-10. For sale at nine Vermont stores, including Kids City and Healthy Living Market and Café in South Burlington, Toy Factory in Rutland and Stowe Kitchen Bath and Linens. “Curriculum sets” of bowls, plates and tumblers available for $29.99-$34.99 at usa.themultiples.com.

Shipwrecks. World powers at war. A hidden island. THE EXPEDITIONERS AND THE SECRET OF KING TRITON’S LAIR, the second book in Vermont author S.S. Taylor’s middle-grade Expeditioner series, has it all.

In Taylor’s alternate universe, computers were invented in 1880 and abandoned in 1980, leaving huge swaths of the Earth uncharted. Kit, Zander and M.K. West are new students at the Academy for the Exploratory Sciences when Kit discovers a mysterious map left behind by their father, a famous — and presumed dead — explorer. The discovery leads the West siblings on what Kirkus Reviews calls, “a quickly paced and entertainingly twisty adventure.”

Illustrations by Katherine Roy, a Center for Cartoon Studies grad, add to the steampunk feel.

THE EXPEDITIONERS AND THE SECRET OF KING TRITON’S LAIR: Recommended for ages 10-14. McSweeney’s McMullens, 320 pages, $22. Taylor will conduct writing workshops on Saturday, October 18, at Bear Pond Books in Montpelier at 11 a.m., and sign her book on the same day at Phoenix Books in Burlington at 5 p.m.

Children who face mental illness deserve excellent care in a clinically advanced setting that helps them to heal, and encourages them to be kids. Our program combines best practices in clinical space design and treatment options. Highlights include:

• Comforting, child-friendly design and decor

• Private bedrooms for up to 12 children

• Sensory room with soothing bubble tubes and other sensory integration tools

• Multi-use community rooms

• Low stimulation suite and quiet room

• Dedicated family visiting space. Learn how we’re leading the way at brattlebororetreat.org Get help

Remodeled for 21st Century Care: Inpatient Mental Health Program for Children Ages 4-12

To help him see hope, we looked at care through a child’s eyes.

The Connector: Biking the Cross Vermont Trail

It’s not easy to ride your bike to school in rural Vermont. The journey is usually too long or too treacherous — unless you live along the Cross Vermont Trail.

The Cross Vermont Trail Association describes the route as a "patchwork quilt" of roads, recreation paths, single-track trails and old railroad beds criss-crossing the state from east to west, Burlington to Wells River. The XVT offers access to five schools it passes: Central and Allen Brook Schools in Williston, U-32 in East Montpelier, Twinfield Union School in Marshfield and Blue Mountain Union in Wells River.

“Connecting these schools to the trail gives students a safe route to school, and teachers can use it as an outdoor learning environment,” says Michael Thomas, a Cross Vermont Trail Association board member.

On the annual Bike to School Day last month, my husband and I joined a gaggle of kids, parents and teachers preparing to

travel to Twinfield Union School by bike along the XVT. My husband and I know the trail well. We have traveled the nine-mile section between our home in Marshfield to Groton State Forest many times.

Because this section follows an old rail bed, it’s free of cars except for several short sections of quiet dirt road. There’s never more than a 3 percent up- or downhill grade. It’s a wonderful escape into deep woods, with the occasional foray into a village center.

When we get to Groton, we like to picnic on the shores of Bailey Pond, taking in the

dramatic view of Marshfield Mountain. Or we venture into one of the state parks bisected by the trail, such as Ricker Pond and Stillwater. Someday we’ll pack camping gear and make it a car-free, human-powered, overnight vacation.

And the path isn’t just for cycling; it’s open year-round for hikers, walkers, cyclists, skiers, snowshoers and horseback riders. Says Thomas, “It connects communities.”

Find trail descriptions and maps at crossvermont.org.

FIeLd guIdes

interpreting the natural landscape together can make exploring the trail even more fun. here are a few kid-friendly field guides to throw in your pack:

• Field Guide to Nature of New England by Kenn Kaufman and Kimberly Kaufman

• Field Guide to New England by the national audubon Society

• Pocket naturalist laminated field guides by acorn

By Sarah gal B raith

naturalists

Groton State Forest

4.

In Wells River and Newbury, the XVT connects to several nature trails.

3.

If your family has road cycling experience, you can pick up the trail in Moretown where it travels along Route 100B, which has a wide shoulder and smooth pavement.

1. Sections in Williston and South Burlington include recreation trails that are perfect for families learning to ride together.

2. The views are spectacular in Bolton and Richmond, where the XVT follows a quiet, dirt road along the Winooski River.

Picard

How can parents prevent cyberbullying?

ToDAy’S KIDS HAVE THE WorlD at their fingertips. Smartphones, tablets and laptops offer countless opportunities for learning — and, potentially, bullying. This month, Winooski school psychologist Dr. Mary Ann Donnelly-DeBay describes this behavior, and how parents can help kids avoid it.

KIDS VT: What’s the nature of most cyberbullying?

MARY ANN DONNELLY-DEBAY: It can be someone sending mean messages or threats, spreading rumors online, posting hurtful or threatening messages, stealing a person’s account information, pretending to be someone else online, sending unflattering or sexually suggestive pictures or sexting.

KVT: How often do kids approach you with concerns about it?

MADD: It comes up almost every day. Sometimes it’s around Facebook, but texting seems to be the biggest issue. Often someone gets cyberbullied and then retaliates.

to the attention of administrators or the public-safety officer.

If it’s happening outside of school, parents should save a screenshot or copy of a text and bring it to the school administration. Parents can also contact their cellphone companies to get a new number, and learn how to block bullying users from social-media sites.

KVT: At what age should parents begin talking to their kids about it?

Studies show that 90 percent of adolescents say they’ve seen it, and nine out of 10 of those haven’t reported it to anyone. It can happen 24 hours a day, so even if it doesn’t happen in school, it can still affect kids chronically.

KVT: What are some of the consequences of cyberbullying?

MADD: It’s been associated with depression, anxiety, social isolation, violence, even suicide. There’s a term for that now: bullycide.

Many times bullies themselves suffer from anxiety or depression, too. It’s easier to perpetrate than other types of bullying because it’s anonymous. Kids who wouldn’t otherwise bully in person may be more apt to do so online. In a face-to-face situation, many more kids would stand up for the victim or intervene.

KVT: What should parents do if they discover their child is being cyberbullied?

MADD: There are cyberbullying and sexting laws. If it happens on school grounds, it’s a school issue and should be brought

MADD: It’s now common for kids in the 3rd grade to play interactive online games where they get messages from others, so start that social-media training early. One common mistake is to take the cellphone or computer away from a child who is a victim. Parents are trying to protect them, but all that does is prevent children from telling an adult in the future, because they don’t want to lose this vital connection to the world.

KVT: How should parents begin this conversation with their kids?

MADD: Start by explaining what cyberbullying is. Encourage kids to tell an adult if they witness or experience it. Kids need to learn that people they communicate with online aren’t always who they say they are. Young people should never share personal information online and should be taught that anything they post online or send through a cellphone is not private.

Parents should respect their kids’ privacy but also have access to their accounts and review their kids’ computer activities periodically. Also, keep the computer in a busy area so there can be more conversations about what they’re doing, and establish rules about turning cellphones off at a certain time each night. Finally, let kids know that no one deserves to be bullied.

Find more cyberbullying prevention resources online at dosomething.org.

Kids who wouldn’t otherwise bully in person may be more apt to do so online.

Seasonal Reads

For our October issue, Kids VT asked local educators and librarians to recommend books with a technology focus.

Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover

BY CECE BELL

Ages 5-9

In this Easy Reader story, Rabbit has created a list of four things to do when Robot sleeps over — make pizza, watch TV, play Go Fish and go to bed. But things don’t go according to plan. Robot wants nuts and bolts on his pizza, Rabbit can’t find the television remote, and Robot’s batteries run out when it’s time to play Go Fish.

Mary Graf, youth services librarian at Brownell Library, says the hilarious story is reminiscent of the classic Frog and Toad series. In the course of the book, Rabbit learns from Robot to relax and go with the flow, she says.

Things Come Apart

BY TODD MCLELLAN

McLellan has photographed old and new mechanical and electronic objects, broken down and meticulously organized for this fascinating book. Fifty disassembled items, including a Walkman, blender, bike, piano and airplane, appear in its pages.

Ages 8+

Book-Review Winners

Congratulations to these enthusiastic young critics who shared their reading recommendations with us in September. Each wins a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop in Burlington. We loved reading about all the entrants’ favorite books and have included some excerpts below.

Adeline Cannella, 6 EAST MONTPELIER recommends:

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!

by Grace Lin

“My favorite part is when Ting sneezed and her bangs got messy. Then she wasn’t the same as Ling, her twin sister.”

Milo Centers, 10 MONKTON recommends:

Heat

by Mike Lupica

“My favorite part of the story is when the Clippers lost one of their best players because he was a good pitcher, and people thought he was older than 12. He needed to find his birth certificate (to prove his real age), and at the end he found it, and his team won the finals.”

The book “is a real eye-opener when it comes to the engineering behind all that plastic and metal,” says Thad Gembczynski, youth librarian at Deborah Rawson Memorial Library in Jericho, who recommends that parents and children peruse it together. It’s likely to inspire young hackers to take apart electronic gadgets to see what makes

The Eye of Minds

BY JAMES DASHNER

Camila Van Order Gonzalez, 10 MIDDLEBURY recommends:

Ages 12+

In a world where technology has spun out of control, protagonist Michael spends most of his time playing the extreme virtual-reality game VirtNet. When another gamer begins taking players hostage inside the game, Michael must track down this cyberterrorist to keep the virtual world safe.

Amy Blauvelt, library media specialist at Tuttle Middle School in South Burlington, says she can’t keep this book on the shelves. The story integrates many kids’ love of gaming with real-life adventure and excitement. “They can imagine this happening to them as they play their video games,” she says.

Space Station Rat by Michael

J. Daley

“The book is about a rat who lives on a space station (duh). She is trying to live on the food scraps that a human boy, Je , leaves out. Will she survive? (Dramatic music.) But seriously, you should read this book.”

Mei Dwyer, 12 BARRE recommends:

Unsinkable: A Young Woman’s Courageous Battle on the High Seas by

Abby Sunderland

“When both autopilots were malfunctioning and Abby was drifting into the middle of the ocean, she still didn’t give up. Even though her hands were almost numb, she worked with her support team over the phone for 10 hours (without complaining) to get her engine repaired.”

TECH ISSUE

Parental Control, Minecraft & the Digital Endorphin Rush

Q: What’s the best way to monitor where your kid goes online — and what they text, Snapchat, etc. Also, where should parents draw the line between keeping kids safe and giving them privacy?

A: Monitoring your child’s online activities is an important part of being a digitally savvy parent — but every family manages this differently. Here are some basic guidelines for helping your children learn to navigate online content safely and intelligently.

First, start the process as soon as you allow your children to use a device that goes online. Your little one is using an iPad? Be sure to set up controls so she can only have access to certain things. As she gets older, begin discussions about online safety, inappropriate content, screen time and respectful information sharing — and set some ground rules.

Familiarize yourself with your devices’ safety settings and don’t be afraid to use monitoring software such as Net Nanny or Mobicip. These parental-control tools cost anywhere from $5 to $100, depending on how many devices you want to protect, but they’re a good investment.

Most importantly, keep communication lines open with your children. This will build a foundation that will allow you to trust them as they get older and want more independence and privacy. Have good conversations about what they’re doing, but also don’t be afraid to step in and verify it every once in a while.

Q: Everybody I know with an elementary-school-age child is telling me I should download Minecraft because my 8-year-old will love it. What the heck is Minecraft and why are people so crazy about it?

A: Minecraft is an online world known as a “sandbox” game, essentially the equivalent of a box of LEGOs, with some virtual twists. After downloading the game,

players are dropped into an environment made up of blocks with little to no instruction or rules. The point is to explore, learn how to excavate and then build.

Players can build pretty much anything with the blocks they mine. They can work in teams or go solo. Some build underground; others build up in the sky. Players are only limited by their creativity and game knowledge and can seek out online forums and YouTube videos to help them get started.

A variety of settings change the experience; for example, in certain modes, monsters and zombies come out to attack the player at night. Minecraft also incorporates in-game, interplayer chats, and players can wreak havoc on others’ creations if they want to.

Minecraft, Mojang AB, for $2.5 billion. It’s unclear how this will change the game experience, but one thing is certain: Microsoft has indicated that it plans to harness Minecraft for STEM [science, technology, engineering, mathematics] education in schools. The game has already been turning up in classrooms as teachers discover its value as a learning tool.

Q: How can I keep my child's screen time in check when I’m addicted to my own digital endorphin rush?

A: We all know that the “do as I say, not as I do” parenting philosophy doesn’t work — and it really doesn’t work when it comes to digital tools.

We’re familiar with the pull of the screen, whether it’s to check email, read the news, play a game or see what friends are up to on social media. Naturally, our children feel the same pull, perhaps even more strongly because their lives aren’t full of adult responsibilities.

Early Childhood Programs designed specifically for the developmental needs of children.

Monday - Friday 7:00 am to 5:30 pm for children ages 6 weeks - Pre-K Full-time and part-time openings Richmond Berlin 434-3891 229-2869

The free-form nature of the game makes it addictive. Just as kids — and their parents — might sit down for hours to build LEGO worlds, people spend long stretches of time in front of their screens building and creating in Minecraft.

If you decide to let your 8-year-old play the game — Common Sense Media recommends it for ages 11 and up — be sure to join in the first few times so you can get a sense of what it’s all about. Make sure your child is only playing with real-life friends and take this warning from Minecraft seriously: “Please watch out if you are talking to people in our game. It is hard for either you or us to know for sure that what people say is true, or even if people are really who they say they are. You should think twice about giving out information about yourself.”

Also good to know: Microsoft recently purchased the company that created

First, parents should acknowledge that we all enjoy screen time, then decide how much is healthy for their children, which will vary from family to family. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding all TV and entertainment media for children under age 2. That’s a good recommendation, but the proliferation of screens is making it harder and harder to pull ourselves, and the kids, away.

Your first step should be to set some screen-free zones or times in your home (the AAP also recommends this). Challenge yourselves as a family to turn off your digital devices on some weekends for a “digital vacation.” Most adults remember life before the internet, and it wasn’t so bad. Get in touch with your childhood self and show your kids how much fun it can be to go outside, open a book (not a Kindle) or play a board game.

Finally, when you’re with your children, focus on your children. If you have teenagers, agree that during certain times, you’ll all put down your phones and tablets and be present with each other. Take time to be together in all ways possible — in both the digital and physical worlds — and you’ll find the balance that works for your family.

Elaine Young is the author of Tuned-In Family: How to Cope, Communicate & Connect in a Digital World, and is a professor at Champlain College, where she specializes in digital marketing and social media. Got a question about navigating the digital world with your family? Send it to ideas@kidsvt.com.

SCRUMPTIOUS OCTOBER

CREAMY CARAMEL SAUCE THE LEARNING CENTER AT HEALTHY LIVING

INGREDIENTS

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick butter)

salt (a pinch for classic caramel sauce or 1/2 teaspoon for salted caramel)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

In a medium saucepan, mix together the sugar, heavy whipping cream, butter and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for about 4 minutes, whisking slowly and making sure nothing sticks to the bottom.

Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the vanilla extract (be careful, the mixture is hot) and stir. Let mixture cool in the pan for 2 minutes, then pour into a jar. Let cool to room temperature and refrigerate until ready to use (up to 5 days). Warm it up in the microwave before using.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN IN OCTOBER

Recreating Nana’s Cake

My parents worked full time when I was growing up in the ’80s, so my brother and I spent our after-school hours and summer days at Nana’s house. I remember arriving to find her dusty with flour, up to her elbows in a crazy cooking project, singing along to West Side Story on the boom box.

Nana was adventurous — in the kitchen and in life. I never saw her consult a cookbook. Instead, she kept battered, stained, spiral-bound notebooks filled with tiny, swirly, handwritten ingredients and vague directions for dishes passed down from her mother, grandmother and mother-in-law. She often ignored those notes, too, cooking from memory, or inspiration.

When she had an idea for a dish, she went for it, whether or not she had all the ingredients. Beef stew, lemon chicken, her incredible meatballs. The results were always delicious, even more so because they tasted a little different every time.

Desserts were another matter. Baking is more of a science than an art, demanding precision in ingredients and measurements. This was at odds with her natural inclination to improvise. Still, she had some stunners in her repertoire.

Her plain and simple molasses cake, which her mother taught her to make, always came out perfectly. I loved the way it smelled while it baked, and she

molasses cake

(adapted from kingarthurflour.com)

ingredienTs:

3 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

1 cup sugar

1 cup cold, unsalted butter

1 cup molasses

2 large eggs

1 cup hot water

1 tsp baking soda

direcTions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour a 9-x-13-inch pan. in a large bowl, mix together the flour and

always let me sift powdered sugar over the top once it had cooled.

I often think wistfully of our time in the kitchen together. But while I own many cookbooks, I don’t have her spiral notebooks; my mom and her two sisters are keeping those safe.

Lucky for me, I have the internet. Recently, when I wanted to make Nana’s

molasses cake for my kiddos, I searched online for a recipe.

I scanned all my favorite sites — Smitten Kitchen, the New Potato, Epicurious and FOOD52 — and finally landed on a great-looking recipe on the King Arthur Flour site.

I omitted a crumb topping, since Nana never made hers that way, and

made a batch of homemade whipped cream to serve on top.

Sadie, 3, and Eli, 10, were eager to help out, especially when I told them that this was one of my favorite things to eat as a kid. They loved the cake, which tasted just the way I remember it.

Even though I followed a recipe, I think my Nana would have been proud. K

Homemade sweetened Whipped cream

sugar. Using a pastry cutter or two butter knives, cut the butter into the mixture until it looks like loose crumbs.

Add the molasses, eggs, water and baking soda to the crumb mixture and beat with a wooden spoon until a smooth batter forms.

Pour the batter into your prepared pan.

bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. remove from the oven and let cool a bit — but not too much! it’s delicious warm. Serve with whipped cream.

(from epicurious.com)

ingredienTs:

1 cup heavy cream

2 tsp confectioner’s sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

direcTions:

Put all ingredients into a chilled, stainlesssteel mixing bowl and whip, using an electric hand mixer or immersion blender with the whisk attachment, until the cream forms stiff peaks.

The batter

Eli helps make the cake batter

Molasses Cake

sTeVe camardo sOutH burlingtOn real esTaTe appraiser

Daughter, Emily, 19; son, Peter, 17

My daughter, Emily, got her first big scare when she was about 4. A bunch of twentysomethings lived at the edge of our neighborhood. They really did it up for Halloween — grave markers and stuff hanging from trees. My wife was home handing out candy, so I thought I could give Emily a little scare, while acknowledging my neighbor’s efforts.

I really built it up as we made our way there, telling her we were going to the “scary house.” She didn’t object. When we got close, they had some scary motionactivated sounds in the yard, but Emily wanted to keep going. The door was open, but there was nobody there. When Emily rang the bell, one of the residents snuck up wearing a wolf costume and said, “ROAR!” Emily screamed, and we were out of there.

Brian Hoar WillistOn

wner and general manager, oss dodge cHrysler

Daughters Rachel, 13, and Taylor, 12

When I was a kid, I loved trickor-treating. But when our kids were young, we lived in the country without many neighbors, so we’d get them dressed up and go to my sister’s development in Williston.

One year, my brother-in-law and I got a couple of huge pumpkins, carved them and put them on our heads. We had a lot of fun spooking all the kids, including our own, who had no idea we had come home from work early to do it.

Three years ago, our family moved into that Williston neighborhood. Now, we put a speaker in the bushes and turn on eerie music. We’ve got a system where we watch kids come up the driveway and if they’re the right age, we work hard to surprise them. It’s good, healthy fun.

cHucK Bongiorno grAnd isle sales manager, THe essex

Daughter Brittany, 25

One year, when my daughter, Brittany, was about 10, she asked if we could put together a Halloween party for her friends. She said she wanted us to scare them. I got in touch with a friend of mine, Walter Wood. He was the guy to talk to when it came to Halloween. He did a massive display at his place in Shelburne every year.

He came over and helped me create a haunted cellar. We draped the whole place with heavy, black plastic with scary, cut-out designs and lit it with black lights. We got out the dry ice. There was a casket, and when you walked by, the lid would rise and a Dracula figure would come out.

We also set up scarecrows around the cellar, and I dressed up like one. Twelve kids came through a couple at a time, and we scared the daylights out of them.

Have you ever successfully scared your kids on Halloween?

There was a casket, and when you walked by, the lid would rise and a Dracula figure would come out.

cHucK Bongiorno

Do-It-Yourself Costumes

REPURPOSE

HOUSEHOLD

Plan ahead. And don’t forget that the end of October tends to be chilly in Vermont. These were some common refrains when we asked readers to submit tips for making homemade Halloween costumes.

Why make your own?

Several parents mentioned that it’s more cost-e ective than buying costumes. But most said it’s all about the joy it brings to their family. Just don’t overdo it. “It’s not an Olympic sport,” said Ferrisburgh mom Daniela Michaels. “Keep it simple, and just have fun.”

1. LONNIE KING, HINESBURG

Kids: Oliver, 8, and Mitchell, 11 months

To create a Transformer costume that could actually transform, Dad Lonnie picked up thick cardboard boxes from the grocery store and scored them with an X-Acto knife so they would fold down. He used screws to secure wheels in place that would really turn. While trick-or-treating, Oliver crouched down on the ground and transformed into a car at the doorstep of every house he visited, said mom Calen.

2. KATIE FRAZIER, SOUTH BURLINGTON

Kid: Braelynne, 4

For the base of the cupcake, Frazier removed the bottom of a round laundry basket, covered it with fabric, then attached ribbons as shoulder straps. She made frosting from stu ed strips of fleece, and sprinkles from sticky foam pieces. A red plastic ball with a pipe cleaner became the cherry on top.

3. REBECCA CRITTENDEN,

UNDERHILL

Kids: Wyatt, 3, and Skylar, 1

Crittenden, who has been sewing since she was 10, used a lion pattern from Jo-Ann Fabrics, shortening it to fit Wyatt’s small frame. The mane is made from ribbons cut to di erent lengths. The costume took Crittenden about a month to complete, but it will get good use, she said. Little brother Skylar will wear it this year.

4. JOANNA ELLIOTT,

Kids: Elijah, 5 and Micah, 2

Art teacher Elliott used cardboard boxes, hot glue, paint and ribbon to make this costume for choo-choo enthusiast Elijah. He helped by painting the body of the train and the wheels. A small box hidden inside the smokestack allowed Elijah to drop his candy down the tube instead of carrying a treat bag.

5. SHANNON LY, BURLINGTON

Kids: Aden, 6, and Canaan, 2

Ly hot-glued cupcake liners to an orange hooded sweatshirt to make Canaan’s goldfish costume. PingPong ball halves glued to the top of the hood made the perfect fish eyes. The costume took just two hours to complete, Ly said.

is a digital media consultant, artist and instructor for Burlington City Arts. Here are her tips for DIY costume making:

Organize a costume swap. Families can exchange old jewelry, hats and costumes from years past and turn them into something new.

them into something new.

Pull out old junk from the closet. A broken umbrella makes great wings. Take apart old electronics and machines to find pieces that add steampunk flair.

Recycling bins are a treasure trove. Plastic bottles can be cut and turned into creature eyes; a mailing tube and a flashlight make a great laser arm.

Score at the thrift store. Treasures await at secondhand shops.

DIY Halloween makeup, too. Most Halloween face paint tests positive for heavy metals and toxins. Find recipes for making your own at thesmartmama.com or inhabitots.com.

Hooper will teach a DIY Halloween Costumes class for kids ages 6-12 on Thursday October 16, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the BCA Center in Burlington. It’s a school vacation day for many Vermont kids. For more information, contact Burlington City Arts at 865-7166 or visit burlingtoncityarts.org.

“The Art of” spotlights creative skills that enrich kids’ lives. Got a class or teacher to recommend? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

CraCking the Code

Trailblazing teachers bring computer programming into the classroom

by AliSOn nOvAk

Studying a foreign language is a rite of passage in middle and high school. But though many students learn to speak and understand basic French or Spanish — which they may never even use — just a few can interpret commands in a language that is increasingly important in their lives: computer code.

As computers become more prevalent in the workplace and in daily life, it’s important to have a baseline understanding of how they operate, says Caleb Clark, faculty chair of the educational technology program at Marlboro College. Not every kid is going to grow up to be a computer programmer, he notes, but “we live in this new world surrounded by technology, and we all need to know the basic phrases.”

Kids are often eager to learn programming, or coding. In August, a group of 65 students and six educators gave up a week of summer vacation to participate in an intensive “code camp” at the University of Vermont. Run by UVM’s Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education, this weeklong program introduces kids entering grades 5-12 to programming.

I spent an afternoon there, watching students light up with enthusiasm

Young programmers work on digital art at Code Camp.

— sometimes literally. “Are you affected by flashing lights?” 15-year-old Nathaniel Mercer asked me, before activating a visual design he’d created using the programming language Java. He pressed a computer key and 100 small squares pulsed different colors on the screen. “What I want to do is video-game graphic design,” he said. “I thought this would be a good place to start.”

Each year, industry professionals join educators at the camp, leading classes in digital art, interactive games and apps. Vanessa George, a sixth grader at Mater Christi School in Burlington, showed me a project she was working on using Scratch, a free programming language developed at MIT. She was coding a game in which an on-screen monkey had to collect colorful balls.

“This is something I could do for a career,” she said emphatically.

That’s music to Penny Bishop’s ears. The Tarrant Institute director cites a report released this year by the Association for Computing Machinery that shows the number of computing jobs is rapidly increasing across the country, outpacing all other types of science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs. The positions pay well, too; the national

average for computing jobs is $80,020 a year.

Despite these statistics — and student enthusiasm — few K-12 schools across the country teach computer programming. In Vermont, fewer than 20 offer such a class, estimates Peter Drescher, education technology coordinator for the Vermont Agency of Education.

Just 33 students in the state took the computer science Advanced Placement Exam last year.

“It’s something we’ve neglected in schools for quite some time.” Drescher says.

“Schools are hungry for it.” During a visit to Essex High School last year, Drescher asked a student, “If you could choose one thing to improve upon, what would it be?”

More programming courses, the student replied.

The biggest barrier? Finding people

to teach them, Drescher says. Only 34 educators in Vermont have teaching endorsements in computer science, and a number of those received them years ago, in a different tech time. The state only has one approved program that grants teaching licensure in computer science — at Middlebury College.

Vermont colleges and universities are scrambling to fill the void, but certification takes time. Rather than waiting around, some teachers are forging ahead, using whatever resources they can find. Luckily for them, the state has entrepreneurs and tech companies eager to inspire a tech-savvy future workforce. The Tarrant Institute, for example, is supported by the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant foundation; Tarrant co-founded the healthcare tech company IDX Systems, now GE Healthcare. His

sons run another local tech company, Winooski’s MyWebGrocer.

And then there’s Code.org, a privately funded national nonprofit, that aims to make coding more accessible to kids. Its backers include Microsoft, Google, Amazon and LinkedIn. Last December, during National Computer Science Week, the organization enticed K-12 schools across the world to offer a single hour of coding instruction, called the Hour of Code.

Teachers didn’t have to know how to code; they simply had to set aside one class period for their kids to use Code.org lesson plans, a series of free, self-guided tutorials that used video games such as Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies to teach coding concepts.

The initiative was a hit. Code.org reports that 20 million kids in 170 countries participated, including thousands of students at 110 schools across Vermont.

Whitney Machnik, a Montpelier High School math teacher with an undergraduate degree in computer science, says the success of last year’s Hour of Code prompted her school to create an Introduction to Computer Science course, which she’s teaching this semester. Some of her students are beginners, others are more cracking

it’s something we’ve neglected in schools for quite some time. schools are hungry for it.

PeTer drescher, VermonT Agency of educATion

Kids work in teams to make scanable QR codes out of M&M’s at Code Camp.

cracking the code

experienced, but Scratch is appropriate for all levels.

Coding “really opens up their creative mind and their linear mind,” Machnik says. Students dream up unique games, then work step-by-step to execute their vision. More advanced students also have the opportunity to undertake self-directed projects, such as learning the programming language HTML to create web pages.

Nic Phillips, the library media specialist at Oxbow High School in Bradford, is young enough to have learned basic coding as a student at Blue Mountain Union High School in Wells River (class of ’04). Last year’s Hour of Code “got my gears turning,” he says. After his eighth grade students — Oxbow is a 7-12 school — completed the challenge, they moved onto Code.org’s 20-hour online programming course.

Initially, some of the kids were not interested or were intimidated by the topic, Phillips says, but Code.org’s approach — focusing on computational thinking rather than the complex syntax of coding — helped most of them warm up to it.

This past summer, Phillips taught at Young Hacks Academy, a problem-solving camp for kids ages 9 to 14. The program, started in 2013 by Colchester School District communications consultant and parent Tom Bacon, teaches kids to be makers rather than just consumers of technology. Campers act as “special agents” carrying out missions to solve local and global problems. How? They might use Scratch to create interactive games. Throughout the curriculum, they learn the four steps of problem solving — understand,

Get With the Program

Want to see more coding in your school? peter drescher from the Agency of education recommends identifying knowledgeable people in the school community, and from local companies, who might be able to teach kids through afterschool clubs and informal activities.

“if we get enough of that going from a groundswell perspective,” he says, “there will be kids coming out of these ranks motivated to do this.” Here are some resources for parents, teachers and kids who want to learn more about programming:

scratch (scratch.mit.edu) is a free programming language designed for kids ages 8 to 16. the website has a step-by-step tutorial for newbies and a “Getting Started” pdf available for download. Kids can program objects, called sprites, to create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music and art. An online community lets users explore and build on projects others have created.

scratchJr is a free ipad app that lets children ages 5 to 7 create more basic stories and games. the interface is designed to be developmentally appropriate for younger children — no reading required.

Want to try the Hour of code tutorials? Visit code.org, where you can complete the same program many Vermont students tried last december. the nonprofit’s K-8 intro

to computer Science course provides an additional 20 hours of tutorials and activities that educators can use in classrooms or afterschool clubs.

A new program called code Studio, for kids in grades K-5, includes lessons that blend online, self-guided tutorials with “unplugged” activities. Young Hacks Academy introduces kids ages 9-14 to basic coding while also encouraging them to be leaders and problem solvers. the program is offered in 10 locations throughout the state. Visit younghacksacademy. com to learn more.

The Tarrant institute for innovative Education collaborates with middle schools to provide technology-rich learning. the institute also provides technology-based professional development to teachers. Visit uvm. edu/tiie to learn about its initiatives.

coding really opens up their creative mind and their linear mind.

WHiTnEY mAcHniK, monTPEliEr HiGH scHool mATH TEAcHEr

plan, create and review — and acquire presentation and leadership skills.

Phillips says the Young Hacks curriculum inspired him to try a similar approach with his eighth graders this year. Over nine weeks, his students will use Scratch to create games that address real-world problems such as the decimation of trees by the emerald ash borer and bringing technology to rural communities.

It’s never too early to start coding. At the beginning of school at Flynn Elementary in Burlington last year, fourth grade teacher Nick Mack introduced himself to his class with a story he created using Scratch. Throughout the year he set up workstations where kids could learn to make racecar and helicopter games. When it came time to write thank-you cards to local engineers who had helped the class with a project, kids worked in pairs to code them instead of write them.

Mack, one of the original Young Hacks Academy instructors, learned to code at Saint Michael’s College, where he double majored in math

and education. This year, he plans to integrate computer programming into his social studies curriculum. He and his fourth grade teammates will teach their students to use a program called Aris, which allows them to create maps and artifacts showing their understanding of a specific time period.

Mack’s coding expertise has come in handy beyond the classroom. He wrote a computer program to help the school with scheduling, then shared the code he wrote with his students — not because he expected them to understand it, he says, but so they could see the practical applications of programming.

His efforts seem to be paying off. Mack recounts that last year, some of his students got so excited by coding that they began creating computer games at home. They’d email him in the evening asking for help.

“Working with kids when they’re really excited about a new concept,” he says, “is probably one of the greatest things you could see.” K

Vermont Virtual Learning cooperative partners with middle and high schools to offer online courses — including coding classes — to Vermont students. Last year, 99 students from 21 different middle and high schools took courses related to programming through VtVLc to learn more, visit vtvlc.org.

Teaching The Teachers

Vermont colleges are starting to take steps to ensure more teachers-intraining understand programming — and how to use it in their classrooms.

At UVM, assistant professor carmen Smith requires her undergraduate students to do a Scratch project in

her educational technology class, a requirement for all secondary education majors. From creating digital narratives in a Language Arts class to exploring rotations and reflections in geometry, coding can make them better teachers, Smith says. UVM is currently working toward creating a pathway for education students to get a dual endorsement in computer science and another subject.

At champlain college, a 15-credit educational technology specialization introduced this fall allows education majors to take classes in web development and game design. Students looking for a teaching job after graduation will have a leg up on the competition because they “will be able to go on the job market and say ‘I’m a history teacher but I can create games and build websites,’” says assistant professor John Stroup.

A “sprite” that kids can control using Scratch

Just Post It

Kids VT puts family-scrapbooking app Notabli to the test

by megan J ames

childhood is fleeting. I see my 6-month-old daughter, Joni, grow and change daily, and I feel an irresistible urge to document that process.

It’s never been easier to satisfy that craving. Smartphones and social networks make it simple to record Joni’s special moments and share them immediately. Even far-flung family and friends can keep up with the highs and lows of Joni’s life.

But this connectivity also raises troubling questions. Who is seeing all of those images I post to Facebook?

How much of my family life do I really want to share with coworkers and people I barely know? Will pictures of a diaper-clad Joni come back to haunt her as a teen?

Burlington dads Jory Raphael and Jackson Latka started grappling with these questions a few years ago. The 34-year-old friends wanted to keep sharing their family lives, but with fewer people.

They’re both tech-savvy designers — Raphael focuses on branding and logos; Latka works with user interfaces and product design — so in 2012, they created their own app, Notabli. Parents can use Notabli to post photos, notes, quotes and audio recordings of their kids on a simple, scroll-through time line, which they can then share with a small, curated audience of family and friends.

“I’m only sharing with people I would invite into my living room,” Raphael explains. “There’s no one I’m sharing with that doesn’t have a personal relationship with my children.”

Over the past two years, the service

has accumulated thousands of users — more than 20,000 in 96 countries so far — and fans. Kids VT Digital Dilemmas columnist Elaine Young is one of them. The Champlain College professor and author of Tuned In Family: How to Cope, Communicate and Connect in a Digital World, doesn’t actually use Notabli; she doesn’t take as many pictures of her teenage daughter as she used to.

But Young likes the app, which she says resonates with parents because “you ultimately have a great deal of control over who sees your family photos, it has a nice archive option, is ad-free and allows you to share to other social networks if you choose.”

In July, Notabli announced some big news: Two new dads — Mike DeCecco and Tom O’Leary — were joining the startup. They both left Dealer.com, a Burlingtonbased company that creates online marketing solutions for car dealers and recently sold to Dealertrack Technologies for $1 billion.

DeCecco was Dealer’s director of business development for 10 years; for the last four, O’Leary was chief customer officer, leading the sales and marketing efforts. The two men brought invaluable experience — and $1 million in investment capital.

With Notabli poised to become even more notable, now seemed like the perfect time for Kids VT to try it out. Designer Brooke Bousquet and I downloaded the free app at the beginning of September and spent the next few weeks posting as often as we could. We wanted to see if we could really use it to create beautiful

archives of our children. Did the app’s privacy affect what and how we posted? And was it worth the effort, or was it just another social-media time suck?

more social media?

When Joni was born last April, I didn’t want to be that mom — the one who clogs her friends’ Facebook feeds with daily baby pictures.

I aspired to be like my friend Sarah Wylie. She and her husband posted a single photo of their daughter as a birth announcement last December, then vowed to avoid further Facebook postings. They didn’t want her to have “a huge online presence before she has a chance to decide for herself what it will look like,” Sarah told me. Ten months later, they’ve stuck to their guns.

Their babe still has a digital footprint, though. Like most modern moms, Sarah takes near daily snaps of her daughter, texts them to the grandparents and posts them on the less-populated Google Plus. “It’s a question of which evil corporation you’d rather [give] access to your kid’s photos,” she joked.

Sarah hasn’t tried Notabli yet, but said she’d be open to it. “I like the idea of an app where people decide if they want to join. The reason people [friended me on] Facebook was to keep up with my life. It was not to see pictures of my child.”

Kids VT designer Brooke Bousquet is an Instagram lover. She uses its Sticky9

i could post about my baby as much as i wanted without annoying anybody.

feature to print favorite photos of her sons Noah, 6, and Henry, 3, as refrigerator magnets. She tries (with some success) to post more sparingly on Facebook. “I would hate to be someone’s ‘scrollthrough,’” she says.

Brooke, who has been using Notabli for about a month, likes it because “it’s almost like a journal that I can refer to.” And because there are only a couple of people in her network, she said, “I’m not sanitizing what I post.”

In early September, Brooke posted this note:

TECH ISSUE

“I don’t want everyone on Facebook to know that I dye my hair at home,” says Brooke, who was OK with the Kids VT readership knowing her dirty little secret.

Unlike Brooke, I’m an over-sharer. And unlike Sarah, I have minimal willpower. After about a week of trying to explain to my parents why I didn’t want them to post pictures of Joni on Facebook, I caved. Now, the Jonester has an undeniable social-media presence. I try not to post more than once a week, but I’m tempted daily.

Which is why I took quickly to Notabli. I could post about my baby as much as I wanted without annoying anybody.

WhaT To PosT?

I started using Notabli at the beginning of what might have been our worst week as a family so far. Joni had her first cold, and my husband, Daniel, and I had it, too. The three of us spent 10 miserable days sniffling, snorting, hacking phlegm and definitely not sleeping. So much for creating a beautiful catalogue of Joni’s childhood.

But, hey, this wasn’t Facebook; maybe I didn’t have to make our lives look rosy. I could use Notabli to present the cold, hard truth of parenting: Sometimes it sucks.

I posted a photo from bed, Joni’s face looking oddly swollen, Daniel collapsed on the mattress behind her. I snapped a pic of Joni staring at me with a glazed-over look at the crack of dawn after another sleepless night. If I’d used a better camera, you might be able to see the dried mucus crusted around her eyes and nostrils. Don’t get me wrong, my Notabli feed wasn’t all doom and gloom. I posted a pic of Joni sitting on the kitchen table while I rolled out homemade pizza dough. And I took advantage of my favorite Notabli feature: the audio recorder. I recorded Joni laugh-squealing and cooing, sounds I love so much I’d like to listen to them on repeat for the rest of my life.

I decided not to record her blood-curdling bedtime screams.

Notabli also allows you to post written quotes and notes, which I didn’t try since Joni’s not speaking her mind quite yet.

But Brooke tried it. “The quote thing is my favorite because I feel those are the moments that you forget,” she told me. “You could easily take a picture of a moment,

but you forget the ridiculous stuff that comes out of your kids’ mouths.”

Great, right? But did the moments we’d captured have an audience?

Technical difficulTies

The Notabli app is intuitive once you get going, but I had a tough time setting it up. You can view the time lines of kids you follow on the web on a laptop or desktop computer, but you can only post from a mobile device. Notabli plans to fix this: Raphael says developers are currently rebuilding the web version so users can add content from any device.

When I attempted to download the app, I discovered it would only run on the iPhone operating system iOS 7, which I didn’t have.

It took me longer than I care to admit — and the help of a patient coworker — to figure out how to update my OS. Once that was in place, I downloaded the app.

But then I hit a snag. Notabli is a private network; users must invite everyone they want to have access. You can send invites via text, email or your phone’s contacts. I chose email. I added about a dozen addresses — mostly relatives and a few close

friends — to the invite. I was excited to start sharing. Minutes later, I heard back from my mom. “Cool!” she wrote. “I’m signed up!” But then I started hearing from everyone else. A friend responded, “So, I accepted your invitation and created an account but I can’t figure out how to see any pictures.”

Another wrote, “Am I being dumb? When I click on the link, it asks me to sign in, and that confuses me.” My aunt chimed in, “It says Notabli requires iTunes and I have a Samsung, not an iPhone.”

I passed this feedback on to Raphael. “So, it looks like you may have sent the same invitation to multiple people,” he said. Invitations are intentionally one-use-only to keep Notabli as secure as possible.

Still, he acknowledged that this is “a bit of a bug in our invitation process,” and added that they’ve recently addressed the issue. Now, when you choose the inviteby-email option, you are told to invite only one person at a time.

And yes, he said, the app is currently only available on Apple devices. An Android version is in the works and should debut by the end of the year. Also in the works: a way to monetize the app, likely through creating various levels of service.

I resent my invites individually, and, this time, it worked. One friend immediately started “hearting” my entries and commenting on all my photos. “This is so fun,” she wrote.

“Joni in my pocket!”

At least for now, my Samsung-toting aunt will wait until the Android version launches to follow Joni’s feed.

THE TAKEAWAY

After a few weeks, both Brooke and I felt confident we’d continue to use Notabli, even though neither of us could convince more than a handful of people to follow our kids.

“I’m OK with that,” Brooke told me. “I found it was more for me. And someday, I’d love to put it in book form.”

I loved scrapbooking Joni’s life on Notabli. But it brought up another issue for me: I noticed that Joni looked at me di erently when I pointed an iPhone at her. If she was smiling at me seconds before, she stopped when I lifted the phone. She seemed to know I was distracted. I worry that I’m teaching her that capturing the moment is more important than experiencing it. And sometimes scrapbooking isn’t enough. When the whole family is sick and sleepless, it helps to throw a line to the wider world, which is where Facebook comes in.

I reposted one of my sick-Joni pics there and instantly felt buoyed by the feedback. It helped to hear from people — even those I hardly speak to in person — that they’d been there, too, and that we’d survive.

And, yeah, I’ll admit it: that my baby is pretty darn adorable.

Liz Cantrell contributed reporting to this story.

Founding Fathers

Notabli’s four partners — Jackson Latka, Jory Raphael, Tom O’Leary and Mike DeCecco — agree that using their app has changed the way they approach documenting their kids’ lives. “For me, the biggest change that’s come out of using Notabli is consciously curating this archive of my son’s childhood, and thinking about building something for him that he can look back on,” says 39-year-old DeCecco, whose son, Dominick, is 2. “It’s not about the now, it’s about the future.”

DeCecco’s octogenarian dad keeps up with Dominick through Notabli’s email digests; users are given the option of receiving email versions of the updates to their favorite kids’ time lines. “Every time I talk with my father, he already knows what my son did that week,” says DeCecco.

“One thing that I was surprised at is how much I love keeping up with my friends’ kids,” says Latka. “Many of my friends are going through the same stage in life, and we get to experience the same things through the app.” His two sons, ages 4 and 18 months, seem to like it, too. “Our older son asks for moments to be added and can’t get enough of keeping up with his cousins and friends.”

O’Leary, 45, loves capturing his 8-year-old daughter’s priceless quotes, such as this gem during a recent chess game with him: “Byebye, horsey! Now you know what the meaning of revenge is!”

If he’d shared that on Facebook, he’d have probably gotten an ego boost from making his friends LOL. But posting it on Notabli is different, he says. “The act of sharing is less about you as a parent.”

Raphael agrees. “It’s been nice to take the ego out of posting,” he says. And the pressure is off to share just parenting highlights. “We’re trying to capture a representation of childhood,” he says, “good and bad.”

There’s no one I’m sharing with that doesn’t have a personal relationship with my children.

JORY RAPHAEL, NOTABLI COFOUNDER

From top: Mike DeCecco, Jackson Latka, Tom O’Leary and Jory Raphael

CALENDAR

Who could imagine fall without pumpkins?

Smashing Pumpkins

Highlights

The season’s signature squash takes center stage at Cedar Circle Farm’s 12th annual PUMPKIN FESTIVAL. A horse-drawn wagon transports visitors to an organic pumpkin patch, where the fun awaits. After grabbing a gourd, families graze on farm-fresh fare — think grilled sausages and butternut apple crisp — watch cider pressing, listen to stories and groove to live music. Themed craft activities get kiddos psyched about the pumpkin pie or jack-o’-lantern they can make at home.

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL: Sunday, October 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center in East Thetford. All ages. $10 per car. Info, 785-4737. cedarcirclefarm.org

5 Sunday

HARVEST FUN RUN/WALK FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Fleet feet romp through farm fields in 1K and 5K races followed by family activities, healthy snacks and pumpkin prizes. Proceeds benefit the Sustainability Academy. Burlington Intervale Center, 9 a.m.-noon. $5-15; $30 per family. Info, tillmanleddy@gmail.com.

9 Thursday CRITTER CONSTRUCTION

Hold on to your hard hat! Preschoolers explore different styles of animal structures, from bird nests to beaver lodges, then create their own cozy hideaway. Ages 3-5. Meet at the sugarhouse parking area. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 9-10:30 a.m. $8-10 per adult-child pair; $4 for each additional child; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

18 Saturday S.S. TAYLOR WRITING WORKSHOP

The author of the Expeditioners middlegrade series gives advice to educators looking to enhance their teaching techniques and improve their own writing from 11 a.m. to noon, then follows it with a session for young authors in grades 6-12 from 1-2 p.m. Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, 11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 229-0774.

26 SUNDAY HALLOWEEN AT THE HOMESTEAD

Kids come dressed in costume for an afternoon of spooky arts and crafts, yummy fall treats and a live bird show. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5744.

SPOTLIGHTS & LISTINGS BY ALISON NOVAK

1 WEDNESDAY

Baby & maternity

montpelier Postnatal Yoga: Brand-new mamas and their littles relax, stretch and bond. For moms with babies one year and under. Emerge Yoga, Montpelier, 10-11 a.m. $12. Info, 778-0300.

Education

school open House: Prospective parents tour the facilities and meet the dedicated teachers behind the school's innovative educational program for children ages 5-13. River Rock School, Montpelier, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-4700.

Food

Kids in the Kitchen: caramel Apples: Using locally sourced fruit, sweet-toothed chefs make this classic fall treat. All ages. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 4-5 p.m. $20 per parent-child pair; preregister. Info, 863-2569.

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. Woodstock Village Green, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3555.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: Energy-filled kids flip, jump and tumble in a state-of-the-art facility. Ages 6 and under. Regal Gymnastics Academy, Essex, 11 a.m.-noon. $8. Info, 655-3300.

shelburne open Gym: Tumbling tots burn energy on trampolines, balance beams, rings and more. Gymstar Gymnastics, Shelburne, noon. $3-6. Info, 985-8948.

Williston open Gym: Petite gymnasts bounce, bend and balance. Ages 9 months-6 years, accompanied by an adult. Green Mountain Gymnastics, Williston, 9:30-11 a.m. $10 per child; $15 per family. Info, 652-2454.

Library & Books

creative Writing club: Young wordsmiths let their imaginations take off on the page. Ages 9 and up. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

dorothy canfield Fisher Book discussion: The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata is the subject of a spirited conversation. Ages 8-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

music

moving & Grooving With christine: Tots let loose to the rhythms of rock-and-roll and world music. Recommended for ages 2-5, but all are welcome. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Preschool music With derek: Kids tap their toes in time to a fun, tune-filled gathering. Ages 3-5. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate: Small scallywags "ooh" and "aargh!" during swashbuckling songs, movements and guessing games. Ages 7 and under, accompanied by an adult. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

2 THURSDAY

Arts & crafts

Pollywog Preschool Art drop-in: Multimedia projects involving homemade playdough, finger paint and paper introduce young kids to artistic expression. Ages 6 months-5 years, accompanied by an adult. BCA Center, Burlington, 9:30-11:30 a.m. $6. Info, 865-7166.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: Mothers-to-be build strength, stamina, comfort and a stronger connection to their baby in this all-levels class. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 5:45-7:15 p.m. $14. Info, 864-9642.

Essex La Leche League: Moms bring their little ones to a discussion of parenting and breast-feeding. Pregnant and planning moms are also welcome. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, first Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 383-8544.

dance

'carry on... A song Will Rise': The Vermont Youth Dancers combine pop music with contemporary dance, jazz, hip-hop and ballet to tell a modern-day tale of rebellion inspired by Les Misérables. Ages 10 and up. Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College, 7-9 p.m. $5. Info, 863-1476.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon & 2 p.m.

Library & Books

Lego Thursdays: The library supplies the building blocks, and kids bring their imagination and creativity. All ages. Haston Library, Franklin, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 285-6505. Library Teen Advisory Group: Adolescents gather to plan library programs and munch on pizza. Grades 7-12. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. Numbers are magical!: Elementary schoolaged children learn tricks and memory aids to help build math skills. Fairfax Community Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

music

music for Preschoolers: Lively tunes with Peter Alsen or Derek Burkins 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.

music With mr. chris: Singer and storyteller Chris Dorman leads kids in music and dance. All ages. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

spanish musical Kids: Niños celebrate Latin culture through songs and games en español Ages 6 and under with a caregiver. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 917-1776.

Nature & science

children's orchard Program: Apple-loving kids and their grown-up companions spend a morning touring the picturesque grounds, picking fruit and eating cider doughnuts. Call Nick or Tina to arrange a visiting time. Shelburne Orchards, $5. Info, 985-2753.

Farmyard storytime: Little animal lovers enjoy books about cows, chickens, pigs and more, then visit them in the barn. Shelburne Farms, 10:15-11 a.m. $5-8 general admission; free for children under 3. Info, 985-8686.

3 FRIDAY

Arts & crafts

Family Wheel drop-in: Parents and kids make bowls, cups and sculptures from clay. All ages. BCA Print & Clay Studio, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $6 includes one fired and glazed piece per participant; additional pieces are $5 each. Info, 865-7166.

community

Girl scout Registration & Bowling Party: An information session for girls in grades K-12 is followed by pizza and pins. Waterfront Lanes, Newport, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 252-6565.

Food

ArtsRiot Truck stop Burlington: Families of foodies 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, artsriot.com.

Richmond Farmers market: Vendors peddle maple iced tea, honey ice cream, vegan chocolates, just-picked produce and much more at this lively showcase of locavorism. All ages. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, rfmmanager@gmail.com.

Games

magic: The Gathering: Planeswalkers seek knowledge and glory in this trading-card game. New players welcome. Grades 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1.

shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon, 2 & 6 p.m.

Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Library & Books

Early Bird math: Young children and their caregivers put two and two together using interactive books, songs and games to explore arithmetic concepts. Ages 3-6. Richmond Free Library, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036. songs & stories With matthew: Musician Matthew Witten helps kids start the day with tunes and tales of adventure. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

music

Kids music With Linda 'Tickle Belly' Bassick: Toe-tapping good tunes captivate kiddies. Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 660-9346. music With derek: An immature audience shakes out its sillies with tune-filled activities. All ages. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

Nature & science

Fall migration Bird Walk: From warblers to vireos, tanagers to thrushes, beginning birders keep an ear out for migrating songbirds. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 7:30-9 a.m. $10; free for members and kids. Info, 229-6206.

Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Kids Program is designed to promote self-esteem, discipline, “bullyproofing,” cooperation with peers and overall health and well-being. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu promotes mental toughness and perseverance and builds and instills courage and self-confidence. Your son or daughter will interact with other kids and have a chance to make new friends! Ages 4-7: Weekly on Wednesdays, 4:15 p.m. & Saturdays, 8:15 a.m.; Ages 8-14: Weekly on Wednesdays, 5 p.m. & Saturdays, 9 a.m. First class is free! Vermont Brazilian JiuJitsu, 55 Leroy Rd., Williston. Info: julio@ bjjusa.com, 660-4072, vermontbjj.com.

YmcA Aquatics: The Future One Stroke At A

Time: The Greater Burlington YMCA is the premier destination for swim lessons. We encourage you and your family to engage in swimming starting at 6 months through adulthood. Lessons occur Tuesday through Thursday & Saturdays. Fall season begins November 3. Register now. Info: Jess Lukas, jlukas@gbymca.org, 652-8143, gbymca.org.

Jell-o Printmaking Family Workshop: Spend the morning with your family creating beautiful abstract prints. We will use the Jell-O printmaking technique to create one-of-a-kind monoprints, creating layers of textures in vibrant colors. Saturday, October 18, 9 a.m.-noon. $45 per adult-child pair, $15 for an extra family member. Helen Day Art

montshire unleashed: An Evening for Adults: The museum opens its doors after hours so grownups can let their inner curiosity run wild. Beer and wine available for purchase. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 6-9 p.m. $14 museum admission; free for members. Info, 649-2200.

Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: 253-8358, education@helenday.com, helenday.com.

Hand-building with clay: Develop handbuilding techniques through an array of fun, creative ceramics projects. Practice sculpting by creating science-fiction clay critters and discover the art of clay portraiture. Explore vessel making through pinch pots and folk art “ugly face jugs” and make your own decorative tiles and ornaments. Ages 8-12. Weekly on Tuesdays, November 4-December 16, 3-5 p.m. $135; $110 for members. Includes clay, glaze and firing of ceramics. Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: 253-8358, education@helenday.com, helenday.com.

drawing with mixed media: Through paint, pastel, collage and paper students will create funky, fun drawings. This class will focus mainly on painting, but students will have the freedom to experiment with a variety of media to create their own unique masterpieces. Students will examine various styles and artists for inspiration. Ages 5-7. Weekly on Wednesdays, November 5-December 10, 3-4:30 p.m. $115; $90 for members. Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: 2538358, education@helenday.com, helenday. com.

sculptural investigations: Explore sculpture through the use of tin foil, fabric, clay, elements of nature and found objects.  We

4 SATURDAY

Arts & crafts

Kids Building Workshop: Handy helpers learn do-it-yourself skills and tool safety as they construct seasonal projects. Ages 5-12. Home Depot, Williston, first Saturday of every month,

will look at the work of various sculptors and create pieces of art in a setting of play and imagination! Ages 3-6. Weekly on Thursdays, November 6-December 11, 3-5 p.m. $115; $90 for members. Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: 253-8358, education@helenday.com, helenday.com.

The Birth That’s Right For You: Doctors, midwives and doulas, oh my! Lisa Gould Rubin’s unique approach helps you discover how to make decisions that are just right for you. She’ll help you gather your inner knowing of who you are and show you how to apply it to the process of giving birth so your experience of having a baby is custom fit to you and what you need every step of the way. One-day session: October 18 or December 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Two-day session: November 15 and 16, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $175. Yoga Roots, 6221 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne. Info: 985-0090, yogarootsvt. com.

Prenatal Yoga: This class is designed to nurture your body during pregnancy and create a loving connection with you and your baby. We will use yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to relieve physical and emotional discomforts during pregnancy and prepare your body for birth. These classes are suitable for all stages of pregnancy. Weekly on Tuesdays, 5:45-7:15 p.m. $15 per class. Yoga Roots, 6221 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne. Info: 985-0090, yogarootsvt.com.

9 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister at workshops. homedepot.com. Info, 872-0039. Kids craft: Bat Hands: Kids practice tracing and cutting skills while making this festive hanging project. Ages 5 and up. Creative Habitat, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $5. Info, 862-0646.

4 sATuRdAY, p.30

B-Tru Dance Kids! &

150 Dorset Street (The Blue Mall) South Burlington 497-0136 www.honestyogacenter.com

Old-School Skills

legend has it that ethan allen and his brother Ira decided to settle an argument over who was the better woodsman by racing from bennington to burlington. ethan barreled through natural obstacles, while the cerebral Ira took a more developed route. the siblings arrived in the Queen city at the same time and celebrated their tie together. The eThan and ira challenge travels back in time and introduces attendees to the survival skills the allen boys used during their friendly competition. Kids learn to light a fire using flint and steel, navigate with a compass and map, grind corn, and forage for wild edibles. and just like ethan and Ira’s race, everyone’s a winner: each participant takes home a prize.

The eThan and ira challenge: Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ethan Allen Homestead Museum in Burlington. Recommended for ages 6-12 with an adult. $4-8; free for children under 3. Info, 865-4556. ethanallenhomestead.org

saturday Kids drop-in class: Hand builders create clay projects with seasonal themes, including flower vases, fall leaves, animal creatures and coil pots. Shelburne Craft School, 10-11:30 a.m. $12; $10 for accompanying friend or sibling; children must be accompanied by an adult. Info, 985-3648.

community

Walk for Farmed animals: Green Mountain Animal Defenders hosts a memorial walk to mourn the loss of animals to food production. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 861-3030.

education

indigenous Peoples movie: Vermont ethnographer, Ned Castle, award-winning Vermont filmmaker, Matt Day, and ECHO screen

four jointly created films focused on Native American topics including basket making, drumming, language and fellowship. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free with $10.50-13.50 admission. Info, 877-324-6386.

Fairs & Festivals

champlain mini maker Faire: Tech enthusiasts celebrate the DIY mindset at this quirky science fair featuring robotics, student experiments, arts and crafts and more. See spotlight, page 39. Shelburne Farms, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $1027; free for ages 10 and under. Info, 863-5956. sam mazza’s harvest Festival: Pick your own pumpkin straight from the patch, or sample the fall staple in pies, doughnuts, fudge and more. Pony rides, face painting, fall games and a petting zoo round out the fun. Sam Mazza's Farm Market, Colchester, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 655-3440.

submit your november events for print by october 15 at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com.

4 saTurday (cOntInued)

Pumpkin & apple celebration: Apple tasting, cider pressing, pumpkin bowling and wagon rides make for a seasonal celebration. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular museum admission, $4-14; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

Food

See Dr. First videos

“First With Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Burlington Farmers market: Producers and artisans offer 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. State Street. Downtown Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-2958.

chili cook-off: Adventurous eaters sample the spicy stuff from different makers. Woodstock Village Green, 12-5 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3555.

shelburne Farmers market: Musical entertainment adds cheer to this exchange of fruits, veggies, herbs, honey, maple syrup and more. All ages. Shelburne Village Green, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 985-2472.

Games

drums, drumming & shakers: A one-hour program for parents and children presented by VSA Vermont includes percussion-focused read-alouds and music making for all. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids saturday yoga: Youngsters master basic yoga poses through games, songs and dance. Mindfulness activities help them improve their focus and concentration. Ages 3-9. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $15; preregister. Info, 864-9642.

shelburne open Gym: See October 1. 9 & 10:10 a.m.

yoga Tots: Young yogis stretch it out in exercises meant to build self-esteem and positive attitudes toward physical activity. Ages 1-8. Highgate Town Office Building, 9 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 868-3970.

young athletes special olympics Program: Children with and without intellectual disabilities engage in developmentally appropriate play activities to foster physical, cognitive and social development skills. Ages 2-7. Kids' RehabGYM, Colchester, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 861-0280.

Library & Books

Fairfax Reads 'Wonder' Treasure Hunt: Dogooders make bookmarks and other sweet gifts to hide around town for others to enjoy. Nonperishable food donations appreciated. Fairfax Community Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

Therapy dogs of Vermont: Canine enthusiasts visit with a friendly pooch from Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Ages 3 and up. Milton Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

movies

smart series: 'The Princess Bride': A viewing of this cult classic fairytale is followed by activities on the museum's grounds. Ages 6 and up. Shelburne Museum, 1-4 p.m. Regular museum admission, $5.50-22; free for children under 5. Info, 985-3346.

nature & science

Batteries & motors: Light bulbs flicker — both literally and metaphorically — as kids make and measure electricity. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

EcHo story Explorers: 'The Very Quiet cricket': Junior scientists observe real live chirpers and learn their secrets. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10.50-13.50; free for members and children under 2. Info, 877-324-6386.

Lab coat investigations: Young scientists explore a range of topics, from extracting DNA to making batteries. Ages 9 and up. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200. milk to cheese magic: After cow milking at 11 a.m., dairy-loving families taste some cheddar and learn about the cheese-making process. Shelburne Farms, 11:30 a.m. $5-8 general admission; free for children under 3. Info, 985-8686.

Theater

Hopstop Family series: Revels north: The Upper Valley's own performance troupe shares excerpts from their upcoming Christmas show, The Mysteries of Haddon Hall. Spectators learn a song and traditional dance, and how to bow and curtsey. Ages 3 and up. Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 866-556-3083.

saturday drama club: Thespians help Very Merry Theatre produce a show in just three hours. Ages 5-12. 333 Stage Performing Arts Studio, Burlington, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $15 or pay what you can. Info, 863-6607.

5 SUNDAY

arts & crafts

Fungi Friends: Budding naturalists build their tree identification skills in order to become better mushroom foragers. Adults and children 12 and up. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 1-3 p.m. $15-20; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Postnatal yoga: Moms bring their pre-crawling kids to an all-levels flowing yoga class focused on bringing the body back to strength and alignment in a fun, nurturing environment. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, first Sunday of every month, 12:15-1:30 p.m. $14. Info, 864-9642.

Burlington Prenatal yoga: See October 2. 10:05-11:30 a.m.

Education

indigenous Peoples movie: See October 4.

Fairs & Festivals

champlain mini maker Faire: See October 4. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

marshfield Harvest Festival: An afternoon of family-friendly fun includes face painting, cider pressing, field games and a chili cook-off. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

5 sUNday (cONtiNUeD)

Pumpkin & apple celebration: See October 4. food

city market harvest festival: Foodies meet local producers and sample their delicious products. Face painting, door prizes and live music add to the fun atmosphere. Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 861-9700.

south Burlington farmers market: Skip the grocery store and head to this outdoor market for produce, meat and eggs, plus goods from local artists and ethnic lunch options. South Burlington High School, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, sbfm.manager@gmail.com.

stowe farmers market: Live music, face painting and cooking demos complement an array of food and craft vendors. All ages. Stowe Farmers Market, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 472-8027. Winooski farmers market: Local produce, farm goods, artisan crafts, kids activities and tunes come together on the banks of the

Winooski River. Champlain Mill, Winooski, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 413-446-4684.

health & fitness

essex sunday open gym: Little gymnasts stretch, bounce and jump in an open play space. The under 7 crowd is welcome from 1-2:30 while the 7-12 year-olds come from 2:30-4 followed by ages 13 and up from 4-5:30. Regal Gymnastics Academy, Essex, 1-5:30 p.m. $8. Info, 655-3300.

harvest fun Run/Walk for sustainability: Fleet feet romp through farm fields in 1K and 5K races followed by family activities, healthy snacks and pumpkin prizes. Proceeds benefit the Sustainability Academy. Burlington Intervale Center, 9 a.m.-noon. $5-15; $30 per family. Info, tillmanleddy@gmail.com.

Nature & science

fossils: evidence of the Past: Youth sleuths clue into the origins of preserved remains. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free

for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

hoopster gliders: Creativity soars as kids craft a flying contraption. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

See Dr. First videos “first With Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

sundays for fledglings: Aspiring junior birders learn all about feathers and flying 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; preregister. Info, 434-2167.

Theater

flying Trapeze show: Circus students of all ages showcase their talents as a captive audience watches from the lawn. Located at Town Crier Drive location. New England Center for Circus Arts, Brattleboro, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 254-9780.

'The Lightning Thief': This musical adaptation

submit your November events for print by october 15 at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com.

From Page to Stage

Percy Jackson is in a bit of a predicament. Not only does the protagonist of rick riordan’s middle-grades adventure series encounter mythological monsters and Greek gods, but he’s also been accused of stealing Zeus’ master lightning bolt. theatreworks USA gives riordan’s best-selling book a musical makeover in a production of ‘The LighTNiNg Thief.’ the show chronicles Percy’s quest to bring peace to the warring Mount Olympus and return Zeus’ stolen property. The New York Times calls the show “sassy though not snarky, energetic without being hectic.”

‘The LighTNiNg Thief’: Sunday, October 5, at 3 p.m. at Hopkins Center for the Arts’ Spaulding Auditorium in Hanover, N.H. $13-23. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Info, 603-646-2422. hop. dartmouth.edu

of Rick Riordan's best-selling series for kids brings Greek mythology into the present. Ages 8 and up. See spotlight, page 32. Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, 3 p.m. $13-23. Info, 603-646-3991.

6 MONDAY

Baby & maternity

montpelier Prenatal yoga: Pregnant mamas focus on movements that will ready their bodies for the next phase of life. Yoga Mountain Center, Montpelier, 5:30-7 p.m. $15. Info, 778-0300.

games

Lego club: Builders fashion architecturally sound constructions. Ages 7-12. Milton Public Library, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

health & fitness

essex open gym: See October 1. shelburne open gym: See October 1. 10 a.m., noon & 5:30 p.m.

Beat It

Get ready to make some noise at BOOM VT. Music lovers find rhythm at this percussion party hosted by VSA Vermont, a nonprofit arts and education organization that supports Vermonters with developmental disabilities. Kids and adults kick off the revelry by crafting drums and shakers out of recycled juice bottles, beans, pails and tape, then try their hand at basic drumming techniques. Burlington Taiko, Jeh Kulu, Sambatucada and others rock the house with afternoon performances that give way to an epic jam session open to audience members and their handmade instruments.

BOOM VT: Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Elley-Long Music Center at St. Michael’s College, Colchester. All ages. Free; donations to VSA appreciated. Info, 655-4606. vsavt.org

Playgroups

WEDNESDAY

Barre Open Gym: Sunrise Gymnastics, Mondays, 10 a.m.-noon. $10 per child. Info, 223-0517.

Burlington Playgroup: Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 578-6471.

Colchester Playgroup: Colchester Village Meeting House, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 264-5643.

Essex Building Bright Futures Baby Playgroup: Move You Fitness Studio, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555.

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

Hinesburg Playgroup: Hinesburg Town Hall, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 482-4667.

Richmond Playgroup: Richmond Free Library, 8:45-10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415.

Shelburne Playgroup: Trinity Episcopal Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 764-5820.

St. Albans Building Better Families Playgroup: NCSS Family Center, St. Albans, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Williston Babytime Playgroup: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, first Wednesday of every month, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Williston Evening Playgroup: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, first Wednesday of every month, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 876-7555.

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.

Kids enjoy fun and games during these informal get-togethers, and caregivers connect with other local parents and peers. The groups are usually free and often include snacks, arts and crafts, or music. Contact the playgroup organizer or visit kidsvt.com for site-specific details.

Essex Junction Building Bright Futures

Playgroup: Maple Street Recreation Center, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555.

Essex Junction Building Bright Futures

Spanish Playgroup: Maple Street Recreation Center, first Thursday of every month, 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 876-7555.

Hinesburg Infant Playgroup: CarpenterCarse Library, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 482-4667.

Montgomery Playgroup: Montgomery Town Library, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Morrisville Baby Chat: First Congregational Church of Morrisville, first Thursday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470.

Winooski Family Center Playgroup: O'Brien Community Center, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 655-1422.

FRIDAY

Burlington Playgroup: See Wednesday.

Colchester Playgroup: See Wednesday.

Essex Center Toy Library Playgroup: Memorial Hall, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555.

Huntington Playgroup: Huntington Public Library, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 899-4415.

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.

Swanton Playgroup: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 868-3033.

Underhill Playgroup: Underhill Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415.

Williston Playgroup: Allen Brook School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555.

Worcester Playgroup: Doty Memorial School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 223-1312.

SATURDAY

Franklin Tumble Time & Playgroup: Franklin Central School, Oct. 11, 9-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 370-0838.

Williston Spanish Music & Movement Playgroup: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Last Saturday of every month, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Free. Info, 876-7555.

MONDAY

Barre Open Gym: See Wednesday. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-noon.

Burlington Crawlers, Waddlers & Toddlers: St. Joseph School, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 862-2121.

Burlington Playgroup: See Wednesday.

Charlotte Playgroup: Charlotte Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 764-5820.

Fusion 802 Playgroup: Fusion 802, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555.

Jericho Playgroup: Jericho Community Center, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415.

Richford Playgroup: Richford Elementary, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 370-4797.

Swanton Playgroup: Swanton Elementary School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Waldorf Playgroup: Orchard Valley Waldorf School Main Campus, 1-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 456-7400.

Williston Playgroup: Alice in Noodleland: Buttered Noodles, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

Winooski Family Center Playgroup: See Thursday. 10-11:30 a.m.

TUESDAY

Burlington Dad's Night: VNA Family Room, 3-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

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

Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Library & Books

Babies & Toddlers Rock: Little musicians ages 24 months and under sing songs and engage in early literacy activities. Rutland Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

Essex drop-in story Time: Sensational stories thrill emergent readers ages 5 and under. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Write Now!: Best-selling authors-to-be get inspired to start penning a book or poem. Grades 6-12. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

Young Adult Advisory Board: Teens help make the library a destination for their peers.

Ages 12-18. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

music

music for Preschoolers: See October 2. 11 a.m.

7 TUESDAY

Arts & crafts

creative Tuesdays: Artists engage their imaginations with recycled materials. All ages, but kids under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See October 2. 4-5:30 p.m.

Food old North End Farmers market: Fresh fruit and veggies, breads and baked goods, prepared foods, pickles and more draw a crowd. All ages. Dewey Park, Burlington, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 376-1977.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1.

shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon & 2 p.m.

Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Yoga with danielle: Curious toddlers and preschoolers learn movement techniques through social interaction, repetition and play. Buttered

Noodles, Williston, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1800.

Library & Books

Fairfax Preschool story Time: Kids and their caregivers settle in for themed gatherings around books. Ages 6 and under. Fairfax Community Library, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

Gaming For Teens & Adults: Players of all skill levels engage in Magic: The Gathering and other amusements. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult or have parental permission to attend. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Read to a dog: Pet-loving kiddos share books with registered therapy pooches. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

Table Top Game Night: The entire family has fun with borrowed or brought board games. Ages 5 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420.

music

children's sing-Along With Lesley Grant: Parents sip coffee while wee ones break into song with a local musician and educator. Preschool-age kids and younger. The Bees Knees, Morrisville, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 888-7889.

Kids music with Raphael: Local favorite Raphael Groton plays tunes to make the little ones dance and giggle. All ages. The Skinny Pancake Burlington, 11:30 a.m.-noon. $3 per family. Info, 540-0188.

Nature & science

children's orchard Program: See October 2. EcHo story Explorers: Leaf Jumpers: Leaves of all shapes, colors and sizes are celebrated to mark the changing seasons. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10.50-13.50; free for members and children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

8 WEDNESDAY

Baby & maternity montpelier Postnatal Yoga: See October 1.

Education

History for Homeschoolers: Harvesting and food preparation is the topic of this month's

TEACH MINDFULNESS TO

installment of this Vermont Historical Society-sponsored series. Ages 6-12. Vermont History Center, Barre, 1-3 p.m. $4-5; free for parents and nonparticipating children; preregister. Info, 828-1314.

Games

See dr. First videos “First With Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Family Game Night: Players sit down for friendly competitions of Candy Land, checkers and Monopoly. Bring your own board or borrow from the library. Georgia Public Library, Fairfax, second Wednesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-4643.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Library & Books

creative Writing club: See October 1. sumo Bots: Tech-savvy kids learn to build and program autonomous robots that battle for supremacy in the ring. Ages 6-9. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

Williston Baby/Toddler Time: Early literacy gets a boost with rhymes, songs and play. Children 2 and under. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

music

Preschool music With derek: See October 1. Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate: See October 1.

9 THURSDAY

Arts & crafts

Pollywog Preschool Art drop-in: See October 2.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See October 2.

community

stuttering support Group: School-age children with stutters and their families are invited to join these community-building gatherings. Meets at Pomeroy Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, 4:15-5:15 p.m. Free. Info, 656-0250.

Education

History for Homeschoolers: See October 8.

Food

Kids in the Kitchen: Butternut squash soup: Seasonal veggies become a creamy, yummy and nutritious potage. All ages. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 4-5 p.m. $20 per parent-child pair; preregister. Info, 863-2569.

Games

Lego Fun: Budding builders share blocks. Grades K and up; kids under 5 are welcome to participate with adult supervision. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

st. Albans Legos: Block lovers keep busy with the library's giant collection. All ages. St. Albans Free Library, second Thursday of every month, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon & 2 p.m.

Library & Books

card making: Crafter Karen McNall provides inspiration and materials for kids to make their own paper greetings. Fairfax Community Library, 5:30-7:45 p.m. $2 per card made; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

Lego Thursdays: See October 2.

music

music for Preschoolers: See October 2. music With mr. chris: See October 2. spanish musical Kids: See October 2.

Nature & science

Behind-the-scenes Tour: Fans of feathers learn what it takes to care for the myriad of avian patients at the nature center and tour the Wild Bird Hospital. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center, Quechee, 2-2:45 p.m. $4-6 fee for ages 8 and up with $11-13 regular admission; free for children under 4. Info, 359-5000.

9 THuRsdAY, p.36

6 moNdAY (cOntinued)

“I have been using the new mindfulness program and I am LOVING it!”

~ Helen-Anne Cafferty, Smilie Memorial School, Bolton, Vermont

CHILDREN & YOUTH

children's orchard Program: See October 2. critter construction: Hold on to your hard hat! Preschoolers explore different styles of animal structures, from bird nests to beaver lodges, then create their own cozy hideaway. Ages 3-5. Meet at the sugarhouse parking area. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 9-10:30 a.m. $8-10 per adult-child pair; $4 for each additional child; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

Farmyard storytime: See October 2. searsburg Wind Facility Tours: Members of the public get a closer look at an operating wind power site. Ages 6 and up. Searsburg Wind Power Facility. Free; call to schedule a tour. Info, 244-7522.

10 FRIDAY

arts & crafts

Family Wheel drop-in: See October 3.

Education

Homeschool Project day: Out-of-classroom learners share their current projects with an audience of parents and siblings. Grades K through 12. Milton Public Library, second Friday of every month, 2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Food

artsriot Truck stop Burlington: See October 3. richmond Farmers market: See October 3.

Games

dungeons & dragons: Players exercise their problem-solving skills in imaginary battles and adventures. Grades 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon, 2 & 6 p.m. Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Library & Books

Early Bird math: See October 3. middle school Planners & Helpers: Students play games and plot cool projects for the library over snacks. Grades 6-8. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

movies

Family movie Night: 'The Pagemaster': A cowardly boy is transformed into an animated illustration in this flick for all ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

music

Kids music With Linda 'Tickle Belly' Bassick: See October 3. music With derek: See October 3. music With robert: Families sing along with a local legend. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

arts & crafts

Kids craft: spider Handprint canvas art: Using paint, glitter, foam and google eyes, small artists create a creepy piece of art to hang up for Halloween. Ages 5 and up. Creative Habitat, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $5. Info, 862-0646. saturday Kids drop-in class: See October 4.

community

Ethan & ira challenge: History buffs light a fire using flint and steel and practice navigational skills to learn what life was like when brothers Ethan and Iran Allen lived. Prizes for all. See spotlight, page 30. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $4-8; free for children under 6. Info, 865-4556. Franklin Harvest Hoe-down: An autumn celebration filled with dancing and snacks means a good time for all. Franklin Town Hall, 7 p.m. $3-5; tickets sold at the door. Info, 868-3970. Park improvements celebration & Fire department open House: Community members mark improvements to Bombardier Park with a ribbon cutting and refreshments, then gather at the firehouse for tower truck rides, safety demos and music. Bombardier Park, Milton, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4922.

Tractor day: Auto enthusiasts tour a tractor "petting zoo," listen to themed stories and settle in for related crafts. Highgate Public Library, Highgate Center, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 868-3970.

Education

indigenous Peoples movie: See October 4. oak meadow open House: Families gather to celebrate and learn more about the homeschooling curriculum, resources and support offered by this education center. Refreshments, hands-on crafts and music augment the affair. Parents and children in grades K-12. Oak Meadow School, Brattleboro, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 251-7250.

Fairs & Festivals

Fall Festival: Avian lovers celebrate the season with live birds, music, crafts and outdoor meadow games. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5. Info, 434-2167.

Harvest Weekend: Visitors revel in the seasonal bounty with a husking bee and barn dance, cider pressing and root veggie harvesting. Spiced cider and homemade doughnuts are free for the noshing. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular museum admission, $4-14; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

Vermont apple Festival: Apple crisp, hearty chowder and crafts from Vermont artisans busy the adults, while the kids have fun with pony rides, a puppet show and carnival rides. Riverside Middle School, Springfield, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 885-2779.

Food

Burlington Farmers market: See October 4. capital city Farmers market: See October 4. shelburne Farmers market: See October 4.

Games

chess club: Game players have fun with the library's sets. All ages, but children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids saturday Yoga: See October 4.

shelburne open Gym: See October 1. 9 & 10:10 a.m.

Young Athletes special olympics Program: See October 4.

Library & Books

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

'Five Little monkeys' celebration: A fun-filled party marks the 25th anniversary of the release of Eileen Christelow's tale of rambunctious simians. The Flying Pig Bookstore, Shelburne, 11 a.m. Free; RSVP. Info, 985-3999.

shelburne Book sale: Bibliophiles peruse thousands of gently-used tomes at this 50th anniversary sale. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 985-5124.

'star Wars' Reads day: Jedi fans celebrate the mind-trick of reading with themed crafts, giveaways and appearances by costumed characters. All ages. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3350.

music

Fiddling Workshop: Young fiddle students receive musical instruction from experienced musicians. Burlington Violin Shop, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 223-8945.

Kids creating music: Bob Brookens leads children in a toe-tapping playtime with instrument activities, song and dance. 18 months-4 years. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

siân Phillips & Friends: The renowned Welsh fiddler showcases her unique style of music making, with accompaniment from accomplished local instrumentalists. Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, 7:30 p.m. $10-19. Info, 728-6464.

Nature & science

color mixing: Mini mixologists blend primary colors into brand-new hues. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

EcHo story Explorers: Leaf Jumpers: See October 7.

Exploring magnets: Budding scientists experiment with invisible pull. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

milk to cheese magic: See October 4.

saw-Whet owl Banding: Families have a hoot as they view these seldom-seen, pintsize migrants. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Donations accepted. Info, 229-6206.

Theater

saturday drama club: See October 4.

12 SUNDAY

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See October 2. 10:05-11:30 a.m.

Education

indigenous Peoples movie: See October 4.

Fairs & Festivals

Charlotte, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 425-4444.

Harvest Weekend: See October 11.

Jewish Harvest Festival: sukkot on the Farm: Families enjoy a morning of workshops, crafts and singing and an afternoon of planting activities, blacksmithing demos and horse-drawn wagon rides. A potluck harvest lunch provides midday nourishment. New Leaf Organic Farm, Bristol, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 385-1039.

Pumpkin Festival: Visitors see orange at this quintessential autumn affair, featuring pumpkin picking, cider pressing, storytelling, live music and horse-drawn wagon rides. All ages. See spotlight, page 27. Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, East Thetford, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $10 per car. Info, 785-4737.

Food

south Burlington Farmers market: See October 5.

stowe Farmers market: See October 5.

Winooski Farmers market: See October 5.

Health & Fitness

Essex sunday open Gym: See October 5. sugarbush mad dash & Kids Fun Run: The Mad River Path Association raises funds and promotes community fitness with a choice of 5K and 10K races, as well as a shorter course for young athletes. Bib pickup from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Registration fee includes lunch and a commemorative t-shirt. Mad River Path, Waitsfield, 10 a.m. $15-35 for 5K and 10K races; free for kids fun run. Info, 496-7284.

Library & Books

shelburne Book sale: See October 11. 10 a.m.3:30 p.m.

Nature & science

The Big sit: Eagle-eyed participants circle up to find out how many birds they can spy from seated positions. Bring your own binoculars; snacks and coffee provided. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Free; pledges and donations accepted. Info, 434-2167. microscopic investigations: Microscopes help kids discover there's more to the world than meets the eye. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

mirror, mirror: Little ones use looking glasses to investigate reflection and symmetry. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

13 MONDAY

Baby & maternity

Early obstacles to Breastfeeding: Pregnant and nursing moms discuss questions and tricks of the trade with a licensed nurse. Babies welcome. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 595-7953.

montpelier Prenatal Yoga: See October 6.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1.

shelburne open Gym: See October 1. 10 a.m., noon & 5:30 p.m.

East charlotte Tractor Parade: Antique and modern farm vehicles rumble down Spear Street at 1 p.m. amidst a town party with food, live music, pony rides and games. Spear Street, 13 moNdAY, p.38

Looking for a babysitter?

Oct calendar

13 monday (cOntinued)

Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Library & Books

Essex drop-in story Time: See October 6.

nature & science

optical illusions: Young minds discover that things are not always what they seem during this science-based session. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

straw Rockets: Imaginative inventors use air power to make space contraptions fly. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

14 TUESDAY

arts & crafts

special creative Tuesday Event: Artist Melinda White-Bronson helps kids celebrate Big Guy's return to the library with a papier-mâché project. Ages 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Baby & maternity

Burlington La Leche League: New moms bring their questions to a breast-feeding support group. Babies and older children welcome. Lending library available. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, second Tuesday of every month, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Free. Info, 879-3000.

Burlington Prenatal yoga: See October 2. 4-5:30 p.m.

Food

old north End Farmers market: See October 7.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon & 2 p.m. Williston open Gym: See October 1. yoga with danielle: See October 7.

Library & Books

Fairfax Preschool story Time: See October 7. Gaming For Teens & adults: See October 7.

Read to a dog: See October 7.

music

children's sing-along With Lesley Grant: See October 7.

Kids music with Raphael: See October 7.

nature & science

children's orchard Program: See October 2. EcHo story Explorers: Trouts are made of Trees: Budding biologists learn about a stream's food chain and mimic an underwater feeding frenzy. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10.50-13.50; free for members and children under 3. Info, 864-1848. storytime in the nestlings nook: Little ones listen to stories about feathered friends. Tales are followed by a nature walk, craft project or music. 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 children under 3. Info, 434-2167.

15 WEDNESDAY

Baby & maternity

montpelier Postnatal yoga: See October 1.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Library & Books

Bringing 'Wonder' To Life: A conversation about what it's like to live with a disability is facilitated by teacher Sam Drazan, founder of advocacy group Changing Perspectives. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

creative Writing club: See October 1.

Lego club: Mini-makers participate in surprise challenges with colorful interlocking blocks. Ages 6 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420.

Pajama story Time: Small ones curl up for bedtime tales, cookies and milk. Ages 18 months-5 years. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660. sumo Bots: See October 8.

movies

marshfield Family-Themed movies: A wholesome flick entertains viewers of all ages. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, third Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

music

moving & Grooving With christine: See October 1.

music makers: Little ones ages 18 months to 6 years and their grown-ups sing joyful songs as a tool for learning. Richmond Free Library, third Wednesday of every month, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

Preschool music With derek: See October 1. Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate: See October 1.

16 THURSDAY

arts & crafts

Pollywog Preschool art drop-in: See October 2.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal yoga: See October 2. montpelier La Leche League: Breastfeeding moms make new friends as they discuss the joys and challenges of nursing. Snacks provided. Lending library available. Babies and toddlers welcome. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, third Thursday of every month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-1254.

community

montpelier moonlight madness: Discount sales throughout downtown are followed by stargazing and moon watching at the North Branch Nature Center. Downtown Montpelier, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.

Education

Windows on Waldorf: Prospective students and their families tour the grade school.

Student work showcases the core curriculum. Preregister. Orchard Valley Waldorf School Main Campus, Montpelier, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 456-7400.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1.

shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon & 2 p.m.

Library & Books

Lego Thursdays: See October 2.

movies

Vacation movie: 'Hotel Transylvania': Dracula operates a high-end resort in this spooky and funny kids flick. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

music

music for Preschoolers: See October 2.

music With mr. chris: See October 2. spanish musical Kids: See October 2.

Nature & science

children's orchard Program: See October 2. Farmyard storytime: See October 2.

17 FRIDAY

Arts & crafts

Family Wheel drop-in: See October 3.

Food

Richmond Farmers market: See October 3.

Games

magic: The Gathering: See October 3.

maze By moonlight: Get lost! Using a flashlight as a guide, visitors search for hidden stations in the Fort's corn maze after dark. Fort Ticonderoga, 7-10 p.m. $10. Info, 518-585-2821.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon, 2 & 6 p.m.

Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Library & Books

Early Bird math: See October 3. songs & stories With matthew: See October 3.

music

Kids music With Linda 'Tickle Belly' Bassick: See October 3. music With derek: See October 3.

18 SATURDAY

Arts & crafts

'Break it, make it': Handy kiddos bring old toys to transform into new creations using basic maker skills. Ages 8-12. BCA Center, Burlington, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $25; preregister. Info, 865-7166.

Free Wheelin': Clay enthusiasts learn their way around the potter's wheel. Price includes one fired and glazed piece per participant. Ages 6-12. BCA Print & Clay Studio, Burlington, 1:303:30 p.m. $25; preregister. Info, 865-7166.

DIY Day

Looking to cook up smokeless s’mores in a solar oven, assemble lava lamps or fold pop-up books? head to the cHAmPLAiN miNi mAKER FAiRE. Kids become creators at this two-day showcase of inventions by tinkerers of all ages. this year, families can check out air rockets, interactive robots, 3-D video games, blown glass and a pop-up science tent run by Montshire Museum. the champbot challenge takes the action to the shores of Lake champlain, where teams race waterproof robots through a series of nautical obstacles. Afterward, youngsters can replenish all that burned-up brainpower with tasty eats from food trucks.

cHAmPLAiN miNi mAKER FAiRE: Saturday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms. All ages. $10-15 one-day passes; $18-27 two-day passes; free for children 10 and under. Info, 626-4124. champlainmakerfaire.com

Kids craft: cone Witch: Paper artists have a wickedly good time making a bewitched decoration. Ages 5 and up. Creative Habitat, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $5. Info, 862-0646. saturday Kids drop-in class: See October 4. Webby's Art studio: spool Pixies: Fairy fans create miniature sprites using felt and yarn. Ages 5 and up. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $5-22; free for children under 5. Info, 985-3346.

community

Tractor day: Library goers meet local farmers and their machines. Stories, crafts and refreshments add to the agricultural fun. Haston Library, Franklin, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

Education

indigenous Peoples movie: See October 4.

Food

Burlington Farmers market: See October 4. capital city Farmers market: See October 4.

Kids in the Kitchen: Fall Fondue: Locally sourced produce and cheese combine for a delicious dipping party. All ages. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 10-11 a.m. $20 per parent-child pair; preregister. Info, 863-2569.

Games

maze By moonlight: See October 17.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids saturday yoga: See October 4. Health & Fitness day: The roster of kids activities at this community health fair includes kids yoga, music, nutritious snacks, giveaways and

games. Pomerleau Family YMCA, Burlington, noon-3 p.m. Free. Info, 860-1417. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. 9 & 10:10 a.m.

Holidays

Haunted Forest: A guided tour through the woods of Bombardier Park gives Halloweenminded kids a good scare. Bombardier Park, Milton, 1-4 & 7:30-11 p.m. Visit miltonpack43. org for ticket prices. Info, 324-8108.

Haunted Horns: A Brass Quintet Family concert: The Vermont Symphony Orchestra presents a 60-minute Halloween concert with wacky, mysterious and fun musical selections. Come in a costume! McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael's College, Colchester, 11 a.m. BFA Performing Arts Center, St. Albans, 4 p.m. $6-8; $20 for a family of 4 or 5. Info, 800-876-9293; ext. 10.

Ongoing Exhibits

doWNToWN moNTPELiER

montpelier Fall Art Walk: Central Vermont artists showcase their work for public enjoyment. First Friday of every even month.

EcHo LAKE AQUARiUm

ANd sciENcE cENTER

Info, 864-1848

'coffee: The World in Your cup': Visitors to this traveling exhibit learn how coffee‚ “one of the world's most widely traded commodities‚” affects cultures, economies and environments around the world. The beverage's origins, methods of production and producers are also explored. Through January 4.

coRN mAZEs

Info, 518-585-2821

A corn maze Adventure: Get lost! Families navigate their way through a life-size puzzle in the shape of the historic fort. All ages. Weekends through October 19.

Open Columbus Day.

Info, 748-1399

Great Vermont corn maze: A 10-acre maze of maize lures labyrinth lovers outstanding in their field. Through October 17.

Info, 775-2624

Hathaway Farm corn maze: Scavengers collect hole punches as they navigate through a 12-acre course. A mini-maze and barn full of animals delight the younger set. Through October 26.

Info, 655-3440

sam mazza’s corn maze: Autumnal explorers get lost in this three-mile labyrinth with 12 hidden checkpoints. Through October 31.

moNTsHiRE mUsEUm oF sciENcE

Info, 649-2200

'only owls': Forty two-dimensional artworks from the Woodson Art Museum's collection provide insight into the fascinating world of these wise old birds. Through December 7.

sHELBURNE FARms

Info, 985-8686

Farmyard storywalk: Eager readers follow the pages of the children's book, The Day the Goose Got Loose, along a farm trail, watching the plot unfold with every step. Through October 19.

WoNdERFEET Kids' mUsEUm

Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info, 282-2678

Wonderfeet Kids' museum: This children's museum features interactive exhibits that allow kids to explore, role play and create.

18 sATURdAY (cOntinued)

Pumpkin & Pirates: Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate provides entertainment as kids paint pumpkins and search for buried treasure among the jack-o'-lanterns in the nursery. Gardener's Supply, Williston, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 658-2433.

Trunk or Treat: Costumed kids collect candy and trinkets from decorated vehicles and take part in a hayride. Ages 2-12. North Beach Campground, Burlington, 1-4 p.m. $2 per child. Info, 316-1512.

Library & Books

dorothy canfield Fisher Book club: Bookworms in grades 4-7 gab about The Expeditioners and the Treasure of Drowned Man's Canyon by S.S. Taylor. Pizza and refreshments provided. Waterbury Public Library, noon. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

'The Expeditioners and the secret of King Triton's Lair': Vermont author S.S. Taylor reads from her newest middle grades tale, which Kirkus Reviews calls "adventure served with heaping helpings of cleverness." A Q & A and book signing follow. All ages welcome but recommended for ages 10-14. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

John dewey day: A mask-making session to celebrate the birthday of the Burlington-born philosopher and educator is followed by a parade down Church Street from noon to 1 p.m. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 865-7216.

manga club: Like-minded peers share their favorite Japanese comics. Grades 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

s.s. Taylor Writing Workshop: The author of the Expeditioners middle grades series gives advice to educators looking to enhance their teaching techniques and improve their own writing from 11 a.m. to noon, then follows it with a session for young authors in grades 6-12 from 1-2 p.m. Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, 11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 229-0774.

Teen Advisory Board: Young adults make origami and snack on Japanese treats, then learn about what's new at the library. Grades 9-12. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Therapy dogs of Vermont: See October 4.

music

Boom VT!: This community drum festival aims to bring people with and without disabilities together through music with drum-making workshops, percussion instruction and performances by Burlington Taiko, Jeh Kulu and others. See spotlight, page 34. Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 655-7772.

Nature & science

EcHo story Explorers: Trouts are made of Trees: See October 14.

Fingerprints: Kids get up close and personal with their prints, exploring what makes them unique. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

milk to cheese magic: See October 4. Turtle discovery: Young explorers get up close and personal with shelled reptiles, feeding them

and learning about their habitat. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

music

music for Preschoolers: See October 2. 11 a.m.

See dr. First videos

“First With Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Wagon-Ride Weekends: Farm fans explore a 19th-century working dairy the old-school way in the height of foliage season. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular museum admission, $4-14; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.

Parenting

Vermont coalition for Vaccine choice Workshop: Dr. Suzanne Humphries leads a program educating parents on how to maintain a healthy immune system. Refreshments and discussion follow. Main Street Landing, Burlington, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, 626-6007.

Theater

saturday drama club: See October 4.

19 SUNDAY

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See October 2. 10:05-11:30 a.m.

Education

indigenous Peoples movie: See October 4.

Health & Fitness

Essex sunday open Gym: See October 5.

Holidays

Haunted Horns: A Brass Quintet Family concert: See October 18. Mahaney Center for the Arts, Middlebury, 2 p.m.

Nature & science

skulls: Neophyte naturalists explore skeletal remains of local wildlife. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for children under 2. Info, 649-2200. straw Rockets: See October 13. 3 p.m. sundays for Fledglings: See October 5.

Wagon-Ride Weekends: See October 18.

20 MONDAY

Baby & maternity

montpelier Prenatal Yoga: See October 6.

Games

After-school Games: Gamers bring their own Magic, Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, or borrow a deck from the library. Snacks provided. Grades 3 and up. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. Lego club: See October 6.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. 10 a.m., noon & 5:30 p.m.

Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Library & Books

Babies & Toddlers Rock: See October 6.

Essex drop-in story Time: See October 6.

Nature & science

Books & Beyond: science for Preschoolers: Children’s literature and hands-on activities combine for fun science learning and exploration. Ages 3-5 with a parent or caregiver. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10:15-11 & 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Parenting

'How to survive & Thrive in the children's mental Health maze': Families with children with mental health or behavioral challenges build community and learn teaming and coping skills. CSAC Administrative Building, Middlebury, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 343-4114.

21 TUESDAY

Arts & crafts

creative Tuesdays: See October 7. i spy shapes: Young artists ages 3-5 and their caregivers go on a shape hunt in the museum's galleries and create a Mondrian-inspired masterpiece. Plattsburgh State Art Museum, 10-11:30 a.m. Free; preregistration appreciated. Info, 518-564-2498.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See October 2. 4-5:30 p.m.

Food

old North End Farmers market: See October 7.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon & 2 p.m.

Williston open Gym: See October 1. Yoga with danielle: See October 7.

Holidays

Family Pumpkin carving & spooky Tales: The whole gang embellishes library-supplied gourds with their own carving tools, then listens to seasonal stories starting at 4 p.m. Waterbury Public Library, 3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

Library & Books

Fairfax Preschool story Time: See October 7.

Fairfax Reads 'Wonder' Activity: Readers of all ages make masks while discussing why Halloween is main character Auggie's favorite holiday. Fairfax Community Library, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420.

Gaming For Teens & Adults: See October 7. Read to a dog: See October 7.

science story Time: Ancient Trees & stony seeds: Educator Kristen Littlefield shares real fossils to help curious kiddos learn about forests of long ago. Ages 3 and up. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

LOOK CLOSER…

music

children's sing-Along With Lesley Grant: See October 7.

Kids music with Raphael: See October 7.

Nature & science

children's orchard Program: See October 2. EcHo story Explorers: Every Autumn comes the Bear: What does a black bear do to prepare for the winter? This question is explored in a science-focused story time. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10.50-13.50; free for members and children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

22 WEDNESDAY

Baby & maternity

montpelier Postnatal Yoga: See October 1. Nursing Beyond a Year: Moms gather to discuss the joys and challenges of an older nursling. Discussion topics include nighttime feeding, weaning and setting limits. Bring a snack to share. Aikido of Champlain Valley, Burlington, fourth Wednesday of every month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-3000.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Library & Books

creative Writing club: See October 1. sumo Bots: See October 8.

movies

'Project Wild Thing' screening: A showing of this "hilarious, real-life story of one man's determination to get children out and into the ultimate, free wonder-product: Nature" is paired with a moderated discussion. Ages 9 and up. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. News Bank Conference Center, Chester, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 843-2111.

music

moving & Grooving With christine: See October 1.

Preschool music With derek: See October 1. Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate: See October 1.

song circle: community sing-Along: Songbirds raise their voices while Rich and Laura Atkinson accompany on a variety of instruments. All ages. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:45 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

23 THURSDAY

Arts & crafts

Pollywog Preschool Art drop-in: See October 2.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See October 2. multiplici-Tea!: Twins? Triplets? Good Beginnings hosts an informal meet-up where parents of multiples discuss their unique challenges. Coffee and tea provided. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 595-7953.

Education

Early math Literacy Workshop: Childcare providers learn how to instill little ones with a strong mathematical foundation. Books and math toys provided. Milton Public Library, 7-9 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Growing Readers in a digital World: Author Lisa Guernsey talks to parents about how electronic media affects young children and how to responsibly incorporate technology into a child's life. UVM Davis Student Center, Burlington, 7-8:15 p.m. Free. Info, 262-1352.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon & 2 p.m.

Holidays

slightly spooky Pajama story Time: Jammieclad young'uns bring a teddy bear to snuggle then listen to books that celebrate Halloween. Ages 2-6. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 482-2878.

Williston Pumpkin Painting: Mini-gourd painting and a reading of J.K. Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard get kids in grades kindergarten and up into the Halloween spirit. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

Library & Books

Lego Thursdays: See October 2.

music

music for Preschoolers: See October 2. music With mr. chris: See October 2. spanish musical Kids: See October 2.

Nature & science

children's orchard Program: See October 2.

24 FRIDAY

Arts & crafts

Family Wheel drop-in: See October 3.

Games

dungeons & dragons: See October 10.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon, 2 & 6 p.m.

Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Holidays

Pumpkins in the Park: A bonfire, carving tools, stencils, decorations and refreshments greet revelers bearing pumpkins. The evening ends with a lighting of the decorative gourds. Bombardier Park, Milton, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4922.

Library & Books

Early Bird math: See October 3. Teddy Bear sleepover: Kids drop off their favorite stuffed animals on Friday before 5 p.m., then return at 10 a.m. the following morning to hear about their overnight adventures over

21 TuEsdAY (cOntinued)

breakfast. Milton Public Library. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

movies

Teen movie Night: 'Amazing spider-man 2': Free popcorn and beverages fuel young adults as they take in a superhero film. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

music

See Dr. First videos

“First With Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Kids music With Linda 'Tickle Belly' Bassick: See October 3. music With derek: See October 3. music With Robert: See October 10.

Nature & science

Friday Nights for Teen Tinkerers: Would-be Ben Franklins create, design or build something cool. Grades 6-9. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 6:30-8 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; preregistration encouraged. Info, 649-2200.

Vermont Tech Jam: Tech-savvy middle and high schoolers take in educational and career opportunities at this annual job fair and tech expo featuring robotics demos, a STEM student showcase, Vermont-made video games and a tour of the Generator, Burlington's new maker space. Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, techjamvt.com, 864-5684.

25 SATURDAY

Arts & crafts

Kids craft: Frankenjar: A canning container is transformed into a Halloween-worthy decoration in this hands-on session. Ages 5 and up.

Creative Habitat, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $5. Info, 862-0646.

saturday Kids drop-in class: See October 4.

Education

indigenous Peoples movie: See October 4.

Fairs & Festivals

Bouncy Fest: Kids catch some air while hopping to their hearts' content. Adults must stay with children. University Mall, South Burlington, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $7 for unlimited bouncing. Info, 527-5725.

Food

Burlington Farmers market: See October 4. capital city Farmers market: See October 4. Kids in the Kitchen: Turkey Pot Pie: Flaky pastry is filled with tender meat and veggies and a creamy filling to create a homey dish. All ages. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 10-11 a.m. $20 per parent-child pair; preregister. Info, 863-2569.

Pancake Breakfast: People craving a hearty morning meal chow down to raise funds for Boy Scout Troop 635. Essex VFW, Essex Junction, 8-10 a.m. $8 per plate; kids under 12 eat free. Info, 373-6893.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids saturday Yoga: See October 4. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. 9 & 10:10 a.m.

Holidays

carving contest & Pie sale: Pumpkins are free and pies baked by community members and restaurants are for sale at this seasonal celebration. Montpelier City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.

community carving & Pumpkin Glow: Families bring their own pumpkins to carve, then end the evening with a lighting of the spooky creations. F. H. Tuttle Middle School, South Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4108.

Fall Pumpkin Fest: Squash it! Families enjoy food from local vendors, pumpkin crafts, storytelling by the bonfire and the Great Pumpkin Walk, starting at 6 p.m. Bring a carved pumpkin with your name on it. All ages. Maple Street Park, Essex Junction, 4:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 878-1375.

Halloween Hustle 5K & Kids Race: Runners hoof it toward the finish line in short road races. Prizes awarded per age group and for best costume. Ages 3 and up. Maple Street Park, Essex Junction, 9-11 a.m. $12-15 5K registration; $5 for kids race, or free with a registered runner in the 5K. Info, 878-1375.

Halloween Parade: Floats fill main street as marching bands and local dignitaries celebrate the spooky holiday. All ages. Downtown, Rutland, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 773-1822.

Parents Night out: Halloween Party: Young yogis arch their backs like spooky black cats and fly on their Warrior 3 broomsticks while parents enjoy a night on the town. Ages 4-11. Evolution Physical Therapy and Yoga, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $25 for one child; $15 for siblings; preregister. Info, 864-9643.

PBs Halloween Party: Costume-clad kids celebrate the spooky holiday with cookie decorating, pumpkin painting, doughnut bobbing, crafts and games. Dress as a PBS character and pose for pictures with show backgrounds. Grades 5 and under. Vermont Public Television, Colchester. Call for reservations. Info, 800-639-3351.

Library & Books

Family Tinker series: squishy circuits: The entire brood uses conductive play dough to make clay figures that really light up. Ages 6 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 10 a.m.noon. Free; preregister. Info, 849-2420. Vermont comic con: Comic book fans of all ages meet artists and costumed characters. Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center, Burlington, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. $20 for a one-day pass; $35 for a two-day pass. Info, 447-0091.

Nature & science

Behind-the-scenes Tour: See October 9. 12:30-1:15 p.m.

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, 8-9:45 a.m. Donations welcome; preregister. Info, 434-2167.

champlain Lake Watch: Budding birders search the Champlain Valley for ducks, geese and other migrating waterfowl. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $40-50; free for teens. Info, 229-6206.

EcHo story Explorers: Every Autumn comes the Bear: See October 21.

OCT CALENDAR

25 SATURDAY (CONTINUED)

Leafcutter Ants: Nature fans examine the secret lives of "insect fungus farmers" during this hands-on investigation. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $11-14; free for members and children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Milk to Cheese Magic: See October 4.

Optical Illusions: See October 13. 11 a.m.

Spiny Softshell Turtle Nesting Beach Work Day: Families pull up plant growth to prepare for next June's turtle-egg-laying season, and meet some baby turtles in the process. Bring lunch, a trowel and work gloves. North Hero State Park, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 658-8505.

Vermont Tech Jam: See October 24. 10 a.m.3 p.m.

Theater

KidsACT Performance: This jungle-themed

show is the culmination of a 7-week musical theater program for kids in grades 1-6. Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 496-8910.

Saturday Drama Club: See October 4.

26 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See October 2. 10:05-11:30 a.m.

Education

Indigenous Peoples Movie: See October 4.

Health & Fitness

Essex Sunday Open Gym: See October 5.

Holidays

A Family Halloween: All Hallow's Eve inspires pumpkin carving, doughnuts on a string, wagon

Story Times

WEDNESDAY

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

Highgate Story Time: Highgate Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 868-3970.

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

Marshfield Story Time & Playgroup: Jaquith Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

Norwich Story Time: Norwich Public Library, 10:30-11 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.

South Burlington Baby Book Time: South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7539.

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

Swanton Story Hour: 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

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

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

Fairfax PJ Story Time: Fairfax Community Library, Oct. 16, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

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

Rutland Story Time: Rutland Free Library, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

Shelburne Story Time: Pierson Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 985-5124.

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

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

rides, animal programs and "not-too-scary" stories. Costume parades at noon and 2 p.m. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $4-14; free for children under 3 or in costume. Info, 457-2355.

See Dr. First videos

“First With Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Halloween at the Homestead: Kids come dressed in costume for an afternoon of spooky arts and crafts, yummy fall treats and a live bird show. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5744.

Halloween Parade & Trick-or-Treating: A small-town costume parade is followed by music, trick-or-treating and a costume contest in the town gym. Shelburne Village Green, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 985-9551.

Halloween Spooktacular: Haunted fun includes carnival games, bingo, arts & crafts and a pumpkin walk. Families with kids in grades

Early-literacy skills get special attention during these read-aloud sessions. Some locations provide additional activities such as music, crafts or foreign-language instruction. Contact the story-time organizer or visit kidsvt.com for details.

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

Winooski Preschool Story Time: Winooski Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 655-6424.

FRIDAY

Brandon Preschool Story Time: Brandon Free Public Library, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 247-8230.

Enosburg Story Hour: Enosburg Public Library, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 370-4797.

Essex Junction Drop-In Story Time: Brownell Library, Oct. 10, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Essex Musical Story Time: Essex Free Library, third Friday of every month, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Fletcher Story Time: Fletcher Memorial Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 228-8921.

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

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

Lincoln Toddler/Preschool Story Time: Lincoln Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2665.

Milton Toddler Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Montpelier Story Time: Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

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

South Burlington Story Time Adventures: South Burlington Community Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7539.

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

Stowe Baby & Toddler Story Time: Stowe Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145.

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

SATURDAY

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

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

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

South Burlington Story Time: See Wednesday.

St. Johnsbury Story Time: See Friday. First Saturday of every month, 10:30 a.m. Swanton Story Hour: See Wednesday. 10:30 a.m.

Winooski Saturday Story Time: Winooski Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 655-6424.

SUNDAY

Williston Russian Story Time: Buttered Noodles, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 730-2673.

MONDAY

Barre Children's Story Hour: Aldrich Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-7550.

Burlington Stories With Megan: Fletcher Free Library, Oct. 20, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Colchester Preschool Story Time: See Thursday.

Milton Infant Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Northfield Children's Story Time: See Thursday.

St. Albans Story Hour: See Thursday.

Stowe Story Time for 2- to 3-Year-Olds: Stowe Free Library, 10 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 Community Education Center, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 796-6077.

Barre Children's Story Hour: See Monday.

preK-5. F. H. Tuttle Middle School, South Burlington, 12-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4108.

Haunted Happenings: From the magical to the mystical, kids don fantasy-themed costumes to trick-or-treat on the museum's grounds. All ages. Shelburne Museum, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $5; free for museum members and children under 3; bring a donation for the food shelf. Info, 985-3346.

Library & Books

Vermont Comic Con: See October 25. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Music

'The TRUE Story of Peter & the Wolf': This one-hour costumed performance includes an introduction to di erent instruments and

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

Essex Junction Baby & Toddler Story Time: Brownell Library, Fridays, 9:10-9:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956.

Essex Junction Preschool Story Time: Brownell Library, 10-10:45 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956.

Georgia Pajama Story Time: Georgia Public Library, third Tuesday of every month, 6:307:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-4643.

Highgate Story Time: See Wednesday.

Hinesburg Preschool Story Time: Carpenter-Carse Library, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 482-2878.

Hinesburg Toddler Story Time: CarpenterCarse Library, first Tuesday of every month, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 482-2878.

Milton Preschool Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Montpelier Story Time: See Friday.

Richmond Story Time: Richmond Free Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

South Burlington Tiny Tot Time: South Burlington Community Library, 9:15 & 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Williston Fall Story Time: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. Woodstock Preschool Story Time: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

several spooky musical selections. Audience members are welcome to come in costume. Maple Street School, Manchester Center, 2 p.m. $6-8; $20 for a family of 4 or 5. Info, 800-8769293, ext. 10.

Nature & science

Lab coat investigations: See October 4.

27 MONDAY

Arts & crafts

crafternoon: Art-minded kids make magical masks. Grades 4 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Baby & maternity montpelier Prenatal Yoga: See October 6.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. 10 a.m., noon & 5:30 p.m.

Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Holidays

Halloween story Time: Slightly spooky tales accompany a make-and-take craft session. Ages 2-10 with a parent. Highgate Public Library, Highgate Center, 6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 868-3970.

Library & Books

Essex drop-in story Time: See October 6. intergenerational dessert Book discussion: Lit lovers gather for a good read-and-rant session, complete with something sweet. Grades 6 and up. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 264-5660.

music

music for Preschoolers: See October 2. 11 a.m.

musical story Time with Lesley Grant: Tuneful kids sing along with a local musician and educator. Ages 18 months to 4 years. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

28 TUESDAY

Arts & crafts

creative Tuesdays: See October 7.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See October 2. 4-5:30 p.m.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1.

shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon & 2 p.m.

Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Yoga with danielle: See October 7.

Holidays

Halloween celebration: Creative costumes add flair to this safe night of treats, games, crafts, a spooky maze and more. Preschoolers to fourth graders and their families. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-1375.

Library & Books

Fairfax Preschool story Time: See October 7.

Gaming For Teens & Adults: See October 7. Read to a dog: See October 7.

music

children's sing-Along With Lesley Grant: See October 7.

Kids music with Raphael: See October 7.

Nature & science

children's orchard Program: See October 2.

EcHo story Explorers: Bat Loves the Night!: Little listeners explore the world of nocturnal gliders. All ages. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10.50-13.50; free for members and children under 2. Info, 864-1848.

29 WEDNESDAY

Baby & maternity

montpelier Postnatal Yoga: See October 1.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1.

shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Holidays

colchester Halloween Party: Boys and ghouls dress up for treats at the library. Ages 4-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4:30-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 879-7576. moving & Grooving costume Party: Costumed tots jam out to rockin' seasonal sounds. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Williston Halloween stories: Book lovers dress for bed or in costume and bring a favorite stuffed friend to hear themed tales. All ages. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Library & Books

code for Girls: Technology-minded fourth through sixth grade females learn how to make their own interactive stories using Scratch, Hopscotch and Arduino. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036. creative Writing club: See October 1.

music

Preschool music With derek: See October 1. Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate: See October 1.

30 THURSDAY

Arts & crafts

Pollywog Preschool Art drop-in: See October 2.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See October 2.

Food

Kids in the Kitchen: Painted Pumpkins & Pie: Kids with a culinary knack make this classic fall dessert topped with maple whipped cream, then decorate orange orbs while their pies bake. All ages. Healthy Living Market and Café, South

submit your November events for print by october 15 at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com.

Burlington, 4-5 p.m. $20 per parent-child pair; preregister. Info, 863-2569.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon & 2 p.m.

Library & Books

Lego Thursdays: See October 2.

music

music for Preschoolers: See October 2.

music With mr. chris: See October 2. spanish musical Kids: See October 2.

Nature & science

children's orchard Program: See October 2.

31 FRIDAY

Arts & crafts

Family Wheel drop-in: See October 3.

Health & Fitness

Essex open Gym: See October 1. shelburne open Gym: See October 1. Noon, 2 & 6 p.m. Williston open Gym: See October 1.

Holidays

Halloween Trick or Treat: Dressed-up kids ages 3-12 collect candy from downtown merchants. Downtown Montpelier, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.

stowe Halloween Party: Costumed kids enjoy spooky games, music and food before heading out for candy. All ages. Stowe Elementary School, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 253-6138.

Library & Books

Early Bird math: See October 3.

music

Kids music With Linda 'Tickle Belly' Bassick: See October 3. music With derek: See October 3. K

Ca ing a B kworms!

Have you read any awesome books this summer? We would love to hear about them. Send us a book review by October 15 and you could win a $25 gift card to Crow Bookshop!

See page 50 for details.

PUZZLE PAGE

Puzzles4Kids

Riddle Search — THE U.S.A.

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 did the ocean say to the sand?

BLANKET BOAT CORAL

GRAND-PRIZE WINNER

TEDDY lives in Fairfax and turns 6 on October 1. He loves to play outside, help in the garden and show his little sister how to do everything!

Teddy wins a birthday-party package for up to 10 kids.

Congratulations to these October Birthday Club winners! Join the 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.

Wyatt, Braden and Aiden each win a player pass.

WYATT lives in Waterbury and turns 4 on October 7. He is fascinated with trains and loves snuggling with his cats. He is currently perfecting his 18-wheeler horn impression.

SURFBOARD

BY HELENA HOVANEC

BRADEN lives in South Burlington and turns 2 on October 21. He loves swinging on the playground and learning about the world by watching older kids. Crackers and ice cream are his favorite foods.

VT’S BIRTHDAY CAPITAL

More to do under one roof than anywhere in VT!

MINI-GOLF • GIANT PLAY STRUCTURE PIZZA • CAKES • LASER TAG ARCADE • BATTING CAGES BIRTHDAY CROWN OR TIARA

Riddle Answer:

AIDEN lives in South Burlington and turns 5 on October 27. He is a sensitive and loving kid who makes everyone laugh.

Sculptural Woodpile

As A Kid, sArAh AdAms-KolliTz hATed sTAcKing wood, a regular chore at her home in Underhill. “I think I might have said, ‘I’m never going to stack wood when I grow up,’” she says.

How things change.

Her family’s elaborate woodpile is likely the first thing people notice when they pass her Pine Street home in Burlington’s South End. Two and a half cords, perfectly interlocked, encircle the trunk of a green spruce.

Four big, hollow logs perforate the wall like portholes, and thin wood strips cut across it at random intervals. At night, when the Christmas lights inside the structure are glowing, the woodpile

looks lacy. It is the ultimate jigsaw puzzle — part art, part landscape, and, given that wood is the family’s primary source of heat, wholly functional.

“I decided if I was going to have to [stack wood], we should make it fun,” says Adams-Kollitz, director of Burlington Children’s Space. She collaborates on the pile with her husband, Jon, who trained as a landscape architect, and their 12-year-old daughter, Grace.

Until four years ago, they had an ordinary pile stacked against the side of the garage. Then, inspired by British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy and traditional Scandinavian round woodpiles, they built their own spiral stack around the green spruce.

• Size of the wall: 4.5 feet tall by 16 feet in diameter

• they start sketching new designs in the spring.

• Stacking takes about 20 person-hours.

• they work with the existing landscape, laying horizontal wedges to even out the ground.

Every year since, they’ve changed the design. For this year’s South End Art Hop, the family added a fog machine to the yellow and white lights inside the pile. “And I’m going to classify that as a failure,” Jon says, “because I think everyone in the neighborhood, and all the cars driving by, thought my woodpile and tree were on fire.”

The eye-catching pile gives commuters something beautiful to look at while chugging along in traffic, but by late March, it will be gone. And that’s OK, the Adams-Kollitzes agree. “That’s why it’s so fun,” Sarah says. “We’ll make another one next year.” K

Parents: Jon and sarah adams-kollitz daughter: grace, 12

Stuart “Red” Martin

1913 - 2005

The Man Who Brought Television To Vermont

Television took off in the U.S. after World War II, but Vermont didn’t get its own station until 1954, when Stuart “Red” Martin founded WCAX-TV.

Martin—nicknamed Red because of his hair—was born in 1913 in Brooklyn, N.Y. As a boy, he loved math and science, and went on to study physics at Duke University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 1954, Martin moved with his family to Vermont, so he could help his stepfather, Charles P. Hasbrook, expand his Burlington radio station to broadcast television.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, developing communica- tions systems for the government. When the war was over, he taught engineeringelectrical at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and researchconducted on radar.

There was one problem: Harsh winters made carrying the station’s signal difficult. So Martin designed a transmitter that could survive the arctic conditions at the very top of Mount Mansfield.

It was tough to get the big antenna up the mountain; crews had to build a road first. Finally, after weathering two hurricanes during its construc- tion, the transmitter was ready for broadcasting. The station went on air 60 years ago.

Martin became a familiar figure known for his conservative opinions, and his humor.

Martin never retired. He could be found behind his desk at WCAX until he died at the age of 91.

COLORING CONTEST!

Three winners will receive $25 gift cards to Creative Habitat and free framing of their artwork for its Kids Gallery, located at the store on 555 Shelburne Road in Burlington. Winning artists can pick up their framed work to display at home any time in November. Send Kids VT your work of art by October 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 November issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com or mail a copy to KidsVT, PO Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

Screen Wars

Picking your battles against technology

BY BENJAMIN ROESCH

THE OTHER NIGHT, I walked into the living room and saw a puzzling scene: My sons, Felix, 6, and Leo, 4, were watching a Batman cartoon. They were sitting so close to one another that their bodies touched, but each boy was watching on his own separate iPad. They’d started the episode just seconds apart, so that one iPad slightly echoed the other.

Why did they each need their own iPad? The set-up seemed ridiculous and excessive. And it infuriated me.

I flashed back to the good old days of two years ago, when my adorable kids cuddled in my big bed after a bath, their hair scented with Johnson’s baby shampoo. They would watch “Super Why!” and “The Backyardigans” for 20 minutes before books and tuck-in, grateful for the media I had chosen for them.

I thought about when Felix was a toddler, and I started reading him long books: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Gulliver’s Travels, Moby-Dick. OK, not Moby-Dick, but still, we would sit together on the couch and I’d read to him for 30 minutes or an hour or more. We’d pull a blanket over our laps and he’d lean his tiny body into mine, building pictures in his imagination. My voice would start giving out before he lost interest. I loved that.

I asked them why they needed both iPads. Couldn’t they easily enjoy the episode together with one?

I’m an avid reader, and I hope that rubs o on my boys. But it wasn’t just a love of literacy that prompted me to reach for longer books; I was also thinking about helping them develop focus and stamina.

My boys live in a screen-drenched era saturated with digital temptations. We’ve already got quite a few in our house: We own two smartphones, two iPads, two laptops, a desktop and a big-screen television.

Our devices let us FaceTime with grandparents in Indiana and Connecticut, explore pyramids and the Great Wall of China on Google Earth, and helped Felix make his first stop-motion movie at LEGO camp this summer. The other night, when I found out the kids had never seen Michael Jordan in action, we spontaneously pulled up a few compilations on YouTube.

But it’s scary how fast this technology is changing. Who knows what it will look like by the time Leo’s in high school 10 years from now? It’s already so alluring, so distracting.

Even for me. When I wake up in the morning, I check my phone before I even go to the bathroom or brush my teeth. During the recent U.S. Open, after the kids went to bed, I often found myself watching a match on television, while simultaneously reading Twitter comments about it on my smartphone, all while tweaking the next day’s lesson plans on my laptop.

I went to Montréal for the day this summer and turned o my phone to avoid roaming fees. Ten hours without smartphone access banished me to an emotional, paranoid Siberia. My wife, Shannon, and I are aware of the influence we have on our kids, so we’ve been trying hard to curb our screen time around them, and to limit theirs to less than an hour a day. This summer, we spent a lot more time at the pool than we did at the movies. Our family dinners are screen-free, our art supplies are always at the ready, and we end each night with a long session of books and hugs.

But I still fear that as my boys grow up, their attention spans will shrink and technology will become a brightly lit barrier between them and real human interaction. When I saw them watching the same show on separate iPads, I feared I was failing to protect them from this fate. Which is why it made me so angry.

Still, I kept my calm when I asked them why they both needed iPads. Couldn’t they easily enjoy the episode together with one? They looked at me like I had 17 heads. Felix told me that he’d started his episode first, but that Leo had missed the very beginning and had cued it up on the second device so he didn’t miss anything.

Actually, that kind of made sense.

It still seemed wasteful, but I let it go. Kids these days. Maybe I should stick to worrying about the content itself and the amount they’re consuming, and let them decide how they’re going to consume it. At least, for now, it’s only Batman I’m up against.

JUmbLES toy. sank. pill. warm

RIDDLE ANSWER: the mouse wasn’t supposed to be in the movie, but he ended up having a — SmALL PARt

RIDDLE SEARCH ANSWER: How you dune?