Kids VT, Spring 2024

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

SPRING 2024

APRIL8 ECLIPSE ACTIVITIES

BIRDING TIPS FROM THE BIRD DIVA

RECIPE: SWEDISH CINNAMON ROLLS

SEVEN SPRING EVENTS

Lookin’ Up!

June

June

June 16–21

June 23–July 5 All Levels Circus Camp Age 8–16

July 7–19 Intermediate Camp Age 12–18

July 7–August 10 Road Show Age 12–18

July 21–August 9 Advanced Camp Age 12–18 *scholarships available*

Ifirst heard about the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse way back in 2021 — when my cousin from North Carolina called dibs on my couch — but it wasn’t until January that I realized what a big deal it would be here. A pregnant friend who’s due on April 6 told me she was starting to get freaked out that she might go into labor during the eclipse.

What’s

sign of spring?

MOGULS ARE BIG ON

ELISA

She wasn’t superstitious, or worried about missing the big event. She was anxious that she might not be able to get to the University of Vermont Medical Center because of all the eclipse-related tra c, even though she lives five minutes away, in Winooski.

At first I thought she was overreacting. But then she explained that she’d recently heard a presentation from a tourism o cial in Wyoming, where there was a full solar eclipse in 2017. Her message to Vermonters: Prepare to be seriously disrupted.

Because Vermont is in the “path of totality,” the roughly 100-mile-wide zone that will experience a full eclipse, we should expect to see tens of thousands of tourists that day, maybe more if the weather forecast is favorable. They’ll be headed to places with the best view of the action — basically the part of the state including and north of Middlebury, Montpelier and St. Johnsbury. Burlington is smack-dab in the middle of it.

This is great news for the local economy, and it’s the perfect opportunity to teach kids — and adults — about astronomy. Read more about family-friendly eclipse-related activities on page 22.

But it also means that there could be many more people clogging the roads on April 8 — and they’ll likely all leave around the same time once the eclipse is over at 3:30 p.m. If you normally pick up your kids from childcare at 4, for example, you might want to make other plans. Many schools are closing early or canceling classes that day, too.

Hotel and Airbnb bookings in the area are already much higher than usual during the spring season. In January, the New York Times ranked “the path of totality” as the No. 1 travel destination in 2024.

However you decide to experience this remarkable event, be sure to give yourself time to get where you need to go — and try to enjoy it! If my pregnant friend hasn’t delivered yet, she might watch it from the UVM campus.

CATHY RESMER, EDITOR/COPUBLISHER

© JBROWN777 DREAMSTIME

Summer programs on college campuses for Vermont students in 9th, 10th, & 11th grade.

Each Institute offers an adventure of learning and community, with tuition starting as low as $10.

Vermont Ballet Theater

School Center for Dance presents Celebration of Dance 2019

Classes & Camps

Our annual showcase of talent from ages 4 through pre-professional will dance their way onto the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington for 2 exciting performances,

• Week-long ballet and jazz camps for ages 5–12

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

Saturday, June 1

Saturday May 25, 2019 at 1:00 & 6:30 pm.

For show & ticket information visit www.vbts.org.

• Weekly ballet classes for young dancers, beginners and advanced pre-professional dancers

Our annual showcase of talent from ages 3 through pre-professional will dance their way onto the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington for two exciting performances.

Classes & Camps 2019 SUMMER

ballet themed camps for ages 3-9; Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker and more!

• All That Jazz Musical Theater Camp, plus STORM Dance Co. Summer Intensive with Kate Stevens

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

• Ongoing yoga and tness classes for adults

VBT Summer Intensive 2019 Auditions Sat. March 9th for ages 8 & up. Visit website or call for details!

For show & ticket information visit vbts.org.

This

This summer come dance with the best at VBTS! For schedule and enrollment information, visit us at

or call 878-2941, or email

A Franklin County Nonprofit Is Drawing Young Women Into Aviation Careers

February 21, 2024

In Case You Missed It

Recent stories from Seven Days reporter Alison Novak

A

ward-winning education reporter Alison Novak covers K-12 schools and childcare for Seven Days, our parent publication. As a former elementary school teacher — and the parent of two teens — Novak draws from firsthand experience to cover her beat.

Here are a few stories she’s written since the Winter Issue of Kids VT. Follow Alison’s coverage each week in print in Seven Days and online at sevendaysvt.com. K

SCAN TO READ THESE STORIES AND MORE.

Donor Milk Center for Breastfeeding Moms Opens in Manchester January 17, 2024

Boys Wonder: Montpelier High School Students Dig Into What It Means to Be a Man January 17, 2024

Vermont Voters Reject School Budgets in 29 Districts March 6, 2024

Chronic Absenteeism in Schools Has Soared. Getting Students Back Takes Teamwork. December 20, 2023

Judge’s Decision to Release Restraint and Seclusion Forms Could Open Up More Educational Records to the Public December 20, 2023

SPOTLIGHT: PCBS IN SCHOOLS

Toxic chemicals known as PCBs have been found in schools around the state — most notably in the former Burlington High School, which is being demolished and rebuilt while students continue to learn in the former Macy’s building downtown. Fixing the problem is costing millions — and will require many millions more. Alison has written extensively about this important and complicated issue, including, most recently, about a proposal to halt the state’s PCB testing program.

FILE: ANDREW MULHEARN

Sage Willow midwife Lindsay Lachant accepting a milk donation

Joe Carroll at Montpelier High School

Emma Cornett, 16, a Habitat for Aviation student

From left: Ethan McCoski, Izzy Cline and Sarah Daluisio at the Sara Holbrook Teen Center

FILE: SEAN METCALF

FILE:JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

FILE: DARIA BISHOP

FILE: SEAN METCALF

Save the Dates

Spring fun for the whole family

BY EMILY HAMILTON

APRIL 11-14

Wiz of a Wiz

MARCH 23 & 24

Sweet Tooth

Audubon Vermont marks the annual Maple Open House Weekend with a two-day SUGAR ON SNOW PARTY at the sugarhouse. Guests of all ages sample frozen maple candy, tap trees, collect sap and explore the Audubon Center’s bird-friendly sugar bush. The person who finds the Golden Tap wins treats from Lake Champlain Chocolates.

Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., at Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington. Free. Info, 434-3068, vt.audubon.org.

MARCH 25-APRIL 30

Words, Words, Words

Burgeoning bookworms and their lit-loving parents find plenty to enjoy at POEMCITY 2024, Montpelier’s annual festival of words hosted by the KelloggHubbard Library. National Poetry Month in the Capital City features crafts, readings, a joint project with ArtWalk and Geof Hewitt’s beloved All Ages Anything Goes Poetry Slam.

Monday, March 25, through Tuesday, April 30, at various Montpelier locations. Free; some activities require preregistration. Info, 223-3338, kellogghubbard.org.

APRIL 5-7

Sun and Games

Theatergoers journey over the rainbow and down the yellow brick road with Lyric Theatre at the beloved local troupe’s 50th anniversary performance of THE WIZARD OF OZ. Lavish costumes, spectacular sets, iconic musical numbers and plenty of magic make this a trip to Oz unlike any other.

Thursday, April 11, and Friday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.;

Saturday, April 13, 1 & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 14, 1 & 6 p.m., at the Flynn in Burlington. $20-49. Info, 863-5966, flynnvt.org.

Find more family fun each week in the Seven Days calendar, or online at sevendaysvt.com/familyfun.

The run-up to totality on April 8 is absolutely stellar at the ECHO Center’s SOLAR ECLIPSE FESTIVAL. Visitors get spacey at an eclipse pop-up exhibit, imagine themselves as astronauts at the immersive “Mission Aerospace” exhibit, learn about all the ways to watch an eclipse safely and enjoy other hands-on, all-ages activities. Find more eclipse-related events on page 22.

Friday, April 5, through Sunday, April 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington. Regular admission, $14.50-18; free for members and kids 2 and under; preregister. Info, 864-1848, echovermont.org.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF STEPHEN MEASE

Lyla Trigaux as Dorothy Gale

APRIL 27 & 28

I Kid Ewe Not

With an oink-oink here and a cheep-cheep there, families mark the start of spring at Billings Farm & Museum’s annual BABY FARM ANIMAL CELEBRATION. Between crafts, games, stories and sheepshearing demonstrations, families get to meet the guests of honor themselves: the farm’s first-year class of calves, lambs, goat kids, piglets and turkey chicks.

Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. Regular admission, $12-19; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 457-2355, billingsfarm.org.

MAY 10-12

Sound of Music

Vermont’s young up-and-coming musicians and dancers get their time in the spotlight at the YOUNG TRADITION FESTIVAL, a three-day celebration of intergenerational arts education. Acts at the Burlington Farmers Market and City Hall Auditorium include the student and mentor showcase, Himalayan Dreams, and Genticorum; families join in the fun at a jam session and contra dance.

Friday, May 10, through Sunday, May 12, at various Burlington locations. Prices vary. Info, 388-4964, vtfolklife.org.

MAY 13

Don’t Stop Me Now

St. Albans throws the block party of the season with its third annual KINGMAN FEST. Party people enjoy a street fair packed with food, drinks and other goodies; games and activities for all ages; and a blowout concert featuring “The Voice” finalist Morgan Myles and the Music of Queen front man Jesse Agan. Proceeds benefit the revitalization e orts of St. Albans for the Future.

Saturday, May 11, 5-9 p.m., at Kingman St. in St. Albans. Free. Info, 617-431-8015, kingmanfest.com.

© ARNE9001

DREAMSTIME

are male; at Community College of Vermont, it’s 32 percent.

A NIGHT WITH RICHARD REEVES

According to data from the Vermont Department of Labor, just 58.5 percent of Vermont men ages 16 to 24 had a job in 2022, down from 69 percent in 2017. Even worse: Men account for nearly three out of four so-called “deaths of despair,” either by suicide or an overdose.

Competition for Young Composers

Senior fellow at the Brookings Institution

On May 4, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra will present the world premiere of Nico Muhly’s new concerto at the Flynn in Burlington. While he’s in town for the performance, the renowned Vermont-born composer will also work with the finalists of the VSO’s third annual MasterClef competition.

4th, 2024

you like, as long as we can still recognize that what you have created is derived from it.”

The finalists will workshop their music with Muhly on May 3 and 4 and attend the concert. The grand prize winner and two runners-up will also receive cash prizes — $300 and $150 each, respectively.

6:00 PM Grand Maple Ballroom 590 Main St, Burlington, VT Parking

Open to students in grades 6 through 12, MasterClef invites young musicians to arrange, perform, compose, produce or improvise a new work based on a melody from Muhly’s piece. Submissions can riff on the melody in any musical genre — “from classical, pop and rock to indie, house and beyond,” reads the announcement on the VSO’s website. “We invite you to transform this theme in any way

Novice student composers shouldn’t be intimidated by the challenge. In a 2017 interview, Muhly — who has scored films and received commissions from the Metropolitan Opera and orchestras all over the globe — told Seven Days that he was “a relatively late bloomer” as a musician. “I didn’t start until I was 9 or 10,” he said.

That last statistic, from a 2019 Joint Economic Committee report, appears in the preface to Richard Reeves’ 2022 book Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It, named a best book of the year by the Economist and the New Yorker

A coalition of local groups, including UVM, CCV and the Vermont Community Foundation, is bringing Reeves to Burlington on April 4, in hopes of launching a public conversation about these startling trends. Reeves, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, will give a public presentation and participate in a discussion with community leaders during his visit.

Lauren Curry, executive director of the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation, said the event is aimed at a general audience, including teens, young men, parents, educators and people who work in human services. “So many of us can point to a boy or young man in our lives who we feel like is struggling in some way,” she said. “We want to learn how to have this conversation.”

Thursday, April 4, 6 p.m., Grand Maple Ballroom at the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Admission is free.

Find more information and submission guidelines at vso.org/educationarchive/masterclef-competition-2024. Deadline for submissions is March 31.

Picture Book Celebrates a Pioneering Female Scientist

Ever heard of Nobel Prize winners James Watson and Francis Crick?

If you took high school biology, you’ll recognize them as two of the famous scientists who discovered DNA. Less well known is Rosalind Franklin, a researcher at King’s College in London who provided some key information that influenced their work. Franklin, who died in 1958, was never recognized for her accomplishments while she was alive. Among the recent e orts to shine a light on her remarkable story is a new picture book by Vermont author Tanya Lee Stone — Remembering Rosalind Franklin, published in late February, just in time for Women’s History Month in March. The prolific and award-winning

writer often focuses on true stories about women whose accomplishments deserve greater attention. Her works include Elizabeth Leads the Way, Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?, and Pass Go and Collect $200: The Real Story of How Monopoly Was Invented. “Rosalind Franklin was a one-of-a-kind person whose work impacted quite arguably one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time,” Stone told Kids VT. In other words, it’s a story worth reading.

Remembering Rosalind Franklin by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Gretchen Ellen Powers, Christy Ottaviano Books/ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages. $18.99.

Swedish Cinnamon Rolls

A recipe for Kanelbullar Yield: 30 cinnamon rolls

In Sweden, the traditional coffee break, known as fika, is an institution. Dating back to the 19th century, fika is not just about grabbing a cup of joe — it’s also about the treats, the conversation, the actual break. Along with coffee, it’s common practice for the host to serve seven types of baked goods, such as cookies, biscuits and breads. Any less and the host would be considered stingy; serving more could be seen as showing off.

Incidentally, this is a great example of one of my favorite Swedish words, lagom, which is best translated to “perfect but not braggingly so” — just right.

Here’s a recipe for one style of acceptable fika fare: kanelbullar, or cinnamon rolls.

Cinnamon has been popular in Sweden since the 1600s, and cardamom seems to have arrived in Scandinavia as early as the Viking era. King Gustavus Vasa was said to be particularly fond of cinnamon and imported massive amounts of the spice for his wedding. Both are central to many Swedish baked goods, including kanelbullar, which first appeared after World War I. These rolls can be made ahead of time; bake them on the weekend and you’ll have a supply of quick snacks for the week.

In Sweden, kanelbullar would not likely be a breakfast item, but here in the States, a sweet breakfast is more common. These work in lunches, too. I have not met a kid yet who doesn’t love them.

The recipe I’m sharing makes about 30. There are a few different shapes of kanelbullar, including a complicated knot, but I chose to share the simplest style: Roll the filled dough up like a jelly roll and slice.

INGREDIENTS

Dough:

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 1/2 cups warm water

• 4 1/2 cups flour, divided, plus more for rolling out dough

• 1 tablespoon instant yeast

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)

• About 1/4 cup more water, as needed

• Cooking spray

Filling:

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

To finish:

• 1 egg

• 1 teaspoon water

If you have cardamom, it adds a beautiful earthy aroma to the dough — and it only takes a little bit. Skip it if you don’t have any. Another option would be to top the rolls with Swedish pearl sugar, which adds a delightful crunch. I didn’t happen to have any on hand, but it is traditional.

The recipe I used is a Vermont adaptation of the traditional kanelbullar; I sweetened the batch with maple syrup. I don’t think any Swede would turn their nose up at these. K

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together maple syrup, warm water, 1/2 cup flour and yeast. Allow to sit about 10 minutes, until slightly bubbly.

2. Add butter, salt, cardamom (if using) and remaining flour and knead until a soft dough forms. Add a little more water if needed to incorporate all the dry ingredients but keep an eye on the dough; it should be smooth and not sticky. After reaching the proper texture, knead for about 5 more minutes.

3. Spray a medium bowl with cooking spray and put the dough in it. Cover with plastic wrap. Allow to proof in a warm place for about 45 to 60 minutes, until puffy and approximately doubled in size.

4. In a small bowl, make the filling by mixing butter with brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla until smooth and creamy.

5. Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a wellfloured surface. Roll out to a large rectangle, about 12 by 30 inches. (Dough should be about 1/4-inch thick.)

6. Spread the filling evenly in a thin layer over the entire rectangle.

7. Roll the dough into a tight spiral so that the resulting log is about 30 inches long.

8. Cut into 1-inch slices with a sharp serrated knife.

9. Place the slices on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, leaving about 1 inch between them.

10. Cover the rolls with clean towels and allow to rise for about 30 minutes. While they are rising, preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

11. Whisk together egg and 1 teaspoon water. Brush the tops of the rolls evenly with the egg wash.

12. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked all the way through.

13. Cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Any remaining rolls can be refrigerated for up to four days or frozen for longer storage. Just remove them from the freezer the night before you want to serve them. Enjoy at room temperature or lightly warmed in a toaster oven or air fryer.

Teen Tweets

Burlington middle schoolers make colorful avian collages

BY CATHY RESMER

Black, brown, white and gray are the dominant tones of Vermont’s natural landscape in the first few months of the year. Birds provide a welcome burst of color before flowers start blooming — and their chirping is also a sign of spring.

In Burlington, Edmunds Middle School art teacher Judy Klima asked her students to look through a variety of photographs of Vermont birds and choose one for an art project. “Then we practiced torn and cut paper collage techniques. Students chose from assorted papers, old books, maps, letters, et cetera to create a collage of the bird,” she said.

Their colorful mixed-media creations caught my eye when Klima posted them on social media, which is how they wound up in Kids VT.

The artists expressed themselves not just through the bird they chose but also through the torn scraps they used for its backdrop — and, often, through the names of their creations: for instance, “On the Map,” “Looking at You” and “The Crow Who’s All Alone.”

Klima submitted some of her students’ pieces to “Winged Wonders,” a student art competition and expo sponsored by the Vermont Wildlife Education Fund; the deadline to enter is March 15. K

“Looking

“The

BIRDING TIPS FROM THE BIRD DIVA

Want to get outside this spring and look for birds with your kids? Naturalist Bridget Butler, aka the Bird Diva, has some suggestions for you. Butler has been helping Vermonters explore and understand the outdoors for years, through work with organizations including the Green Mountain Audubon Society and ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. She’s also been a correspondent on local media, including NBC5, WCAX-TV and Vermont Public.

While some birders turn their hobby into a competitive game by trying to find as many different species as possible, Butler is a fan of “slow birding,” a more holistic approach that focuses on developing a connection to the outdoors.

A mom of three, ages 10, 11 and 12, she offers online courses in slow birding at birddiva.com, including a $100 option that gives specific guidance on slow birding with kids. Here are a few of her tips for where and how to interest children in the feathered creatures all around us. K

WHERE TO GO

• Specific: The Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington has it all! Gaze at wood carvings of birds from the biggest vulture to the tiniest wren, linger at the birdfeeding window, hang out in the gazebo overlook or walk the trails. A gem of a spot to spend the day with bird friends.

• General: Any place there’s water! Spring birds are abundant by rivers, ponds, streams and lakes — from majestic herons to raucous red-winged blackbirds to serene waterfowl. Go with the flow and you can’t go wrong.

• Simple: Your neighborhood and yard! Get to know who’s who right near you. Pigeons, starlings and robins have endless behaviors to watch, all of which will pique your curiosity if you slow down and look.

HOW TO TALK WITH KIDS ABOUT BIRDS

Use these prompts to frame what you’re seeing:

• I notice... (brings attention)

• I wonder... (brings curiosity)

• It reminds me of... (builds connection)

And get the free Merlin app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It will walk you through identifying birds by sight — and it can identify the birds as they sing around you!

Opposite page, clockwise from top left:

“Purple Finch,” Julia Blackman, grade 7

“On the Map,” Htoo Kawdoh, grade 7

“Tufted Titmouse,” Daniel Lubovsky, grade 7

at You,” Zia Grannis, grade 7

Crow Who’s All Alone,” Liban Hassan, grade 7

This page:

Above: “Cardinal in Winter Song,” Lucy Esckilsen, grade 8

Below: “Evening Grosbeak,” Eljak Enok, grade 7

“Bird Diva” Bridget Butler

The Merlin app

Attached

Favorite Camp Memories From 2023

We asked camp directors whose programs participated in this year’s Kids VT Camp and School Fair to share a favorite memory from last summer to summon the sunshine. They’re looking forward to the start of camp season and hope you are, too! It’s just a few months away now. If you’re still searching for spots for your kids, find camps with openings i n these pages or at campfindervt.com

We started a new tradition of Wacky Water Wednesdays, with the entire camp taking part in an on-the-water relay race. Campers ages 6 to 16 teamed up for sailing, paddling and swimming, and the way everyone supported one another and the team spirit was incredible.

Last summer, we got the chance to take the kids on many field trips, including to the Maple Street Pool, on the Spirit of Ethan Allen, to the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain and to the Lake Monsters stadium, to name a few. Despite this, some of our favorite memories were right here on our Mater Christi School campus, especially playing with the blow-up waterslide that the kids just can’t get enough of, or our cardboard fort-building competition at the end of the summer during Olympic week.

— GRACE CALLAHAN, MATER CHRISTI SUMMER CAMP

There are countless memories, but some of our favorites occur at program areas like the high-ropes course, the pool or the waterfront, where campers learn to try new things and often discover that they’re capable of far more than they thought possible.

— JULIA MARTINI, DOUBLE H RANCH

Last summer was extra rainy, with a bunch of thunderstorms. One day, after a storm, there was a huge puddle on the field, and campers just starting throwing themselves in it with reckless abandon. It was inspiring to see them making the most of a wet summer.

— BRIAN DEGROAT, POK-O-MACCREADY CAMPS

Everything Eclipse

You’ve probably heard that something big is coming to a sky near you. On Monday, April 8, parts of Vermont will be in the “path of totality” for a full solar eclipse. Starting a little after 2 p.m., the moon will begin to obscure the sun, covering it completely at 3:26 p.m. The full eclipse will last for about three minutes, depending on your viewing location; the partial eclipse will end at 4:37 p.m.

The last time a total eclipse was visible here was 1932, and it won’t happen again until 2106.

It seems like every organization around the state is commemorating the eclipse in some way, making this celestial spectacle a fantastic learning opportunity

PRE-ECLIPSE

At Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, fletcherfree.org:

• Carrie Cruz, aka the Planetarium Lady, brings her traveling “immersive sky theater experience” to the library on Saturday, March 23.

• A presentation on the science of eclipses features sta members from the local o ce of the National Weather Service on Sunday, March 24.

• On Wednesday, March 27, kids ages 5 to 10 visit the STEAM space to make pinhole cameras to view the eclipse.

• Tweens and teens ages 11 to 18 make pinhole cameras and chalk art in the teen space on Wednesday, April 3.

At Bixby Memorial Free Library in Vergennes, bixbylibrary.org:

• An eclipse party for kids on Saturday, March 23, includes corona crafts and a solar telescope demonstration. Attendees get a pair of eclipse glasses!

• Learn all about the science of the eclipse, plus see a solar telescope and Sunspotter demonstration, on Saturday, March 30.

ECLIPSE FESTIVALS AND VIEWING PARTIES, APRIL 5-8

Here are some family-friendly events across the state. Times and venues vary; see Seven Days’ 2024 Solar Eclipse Guide online at sevendaysvt.com/eclipse for all the details — and check the weather forecast before you go!

for the whole family. Here are a few ways to take advantage of it, and a reminder about safety. Find a full collection of articles, events and viewing tips at sevendaysvt.com/eclipse — and cross your fingers for a sunny day!

Alburgh Totality Festival

The tiny town throws a big party, with three days of live music, fun runs, fireworks and more family fun to make the most of the dark side of the moon, from Saturday, April 6, through Monday, April 8.

Palmer’s Eclipse Party

Palmer’s Sugarhouse in Shelburne serves food, drinks and syrupy sweet treats to live tunes from the Tenderbellies at a very Vermont shindig on Monday, April 8.

Obscura BTV

Burlington’s o cial total eclipse celebration runs all weekend long, including events at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (see page 10), Waterfront Park, city hall and numerous other venues.

©

Shadows of Sun & Totality

Two days of stellar programming on Sunday, April 7, and Monday, April 8, at Burlington’s Hula Lakeside campus include an educational presentation from a NASA expert and a totality-viewing shindig.

Solar Eclipse Day at the Montshire Museum of Science

The Norwich museum hosts a gathering on Monday, April 8, where activities include making a pinhole viewer. Eclipse glasses will be for sale in the museum store.

Solar Eclipse 2024 at VINS

A uniquely nature-themed viewing party on Monday, April 8, at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee features live music and an educational program on how animals experience an eclipse.

Solar Eclipse Gathering at Camp Hochelaga

The lakefront camp in South Hero hosts sun peepers at an outdoor festival on Monday, April 8, with proceeds benefiting YWCA Vermont.

Sun+Moon+You

Astronomers and educators offer up a full day of programming on Monday, April 8, at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, including interpretation stations, craft tables, a NASA live stream of the eclipse, and a live broadcast with Jane Lindholm, “But Why?” podcast host and executive producer, and Mark Breen, director of the Lyman Spitzer Jr. Planetarium.

Total Eclipse Cele-BEAR-ation

A family-friendly eclipse festival on Monday, April 8, at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company in Shelburne features face painting, astronaut crafts, mini golf and food trucks.

Totality in Taylor Park

The Ryan Sweezey Band soundtracks an afternoon of fun, games and eclipse viewing on Monday, April 8, at Taylor Park in St. Albans.

Totally Amazing Eclipse Party

Family-friendly music, food and activities make a oncein-a-lifetime experience extra special on Monday, April 8, at Middlebury Recreation Park. K

HOW TO WATCH THE ECLIPSE SAFELY

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG

Thousands of people across northern Vermont will marvel as the skies go dark in the middle of the afternoon on April 8.

One thing no one should be in the dark about: eye safety.

The stakes are high. The sun can burn the retina in seconds. Looking at the sun without proper protection — even when it’s partially blocked by the moon — can cause permanent blind spots, distorted vision and altered color perception. What’s more, says Berlin ophthalmologist Jessica McNally, it won’t be obvious that it’s happening. Sun damage doesn’t hurt, McNally said, and vision problems don’t show up for hours.

There is no treatment for such injury, called solar retinopathy.

Most people know to wear eclipse glasses or use solar filters to protect their eyes. “I think the most important thing is to understand what kind of glasses you’re getting,” said McNally, president of the Vermont Ophthalmological Society.

Eclipse glasses and their alternative — index-card-size, handheld eclipse viewers — need to meet international safety standard ISO 12312-2. However, some are stamped with that ISO number even though they haven’t been tested or proven to meet that standard. Along with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, astronomers and other experts, McNally urges consumers to use only glasses and filters that come from the trusted suppliers vetted by the American Astronomical Society.

That list — along with specific guidelines for use — can be found at Solar Eclipse Across America, a website devoted to the April eclipse, at eclipse.aas.org.

Among those guidelines is to always inspect your solar filter or glasses before use. If they’re damaged, throw them

At the risk of being obvious, put eclipse glasses on before looking up at the bright sun.

out. Also, be sure to read and follow any accompanying instructions.

At the risk of being obvious, put eclipse glasses on before looking up at the bright sun. If you normally wear eyeglasses, put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them. Turn away from the sun before removing your eclipse glasses or filter.

© Viktoriya Dmitriyeva | Dreamstime.com

Cameras, telescopes and binoculars need their own filters, which must be attached to the front — not the eyepiece — of each device. Eclipse glasses will not protect your eyes if you look through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or any other optical device.

And keep an eye on your kids while they watch the eclipse. “If a 4-year-old were to develop solar retinopathy, then that could be pretty devastating throughout that child’s entire life,” McNally said.

The sun is about half a million times brighter than the full moon, and it emits potentially harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation, according to the American Astronomical Society. Its rays don’t change or become more dangerous during an eclipse, McNally said, but because the sun is partially obscured, it can be

easier for people to look directly at it. What’s more, she said, as the light around us grows darker, our pupils dilate to allow more light in, increasing the potential for damage to the retina, the layer of light-sensing cells that lines the back of the eye’s interior.

“You may have seen how sunlight can start a fire when focused through a magnifying glass,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology says on its website. “The sun can do the same thing to your retina.”

Many Vermont schools and libraries will be distributing glasses in advance of the eclipse, and some cities and venues will have them for sale. Don’t wait until the last minute to make a plan! K

VIKTORIYA DMITRIYEVA| DREAMSTIME

Make this summer COUNT

Make this summer COUNT WITH SUMMER LEARNING AT SYLVAN

Make this summer COUNT

WITH SUMMER LEARNING AT SYLVAN

Make this summer COUNT

Kids can lose up to 2 1/2 months of learning in the summer. Stay ahead of the curve with Sylvan's summer sessions!

Make this summer COUNT

WITH SUMMER LEARNING AT SYLVAN

WITH SUMMER LEARNING AT SYLVAN

Kids can lose up to 2 1/2 months of learning in summer. Stay ahead of the curve with Sylvan's summer sessions!

Make this summer COUNT

WITH SUMMER LEARNING AT SYLVAN

WITH SUMMER LEARNING AT SYLVAN

Academic and STEM Summer Camps!

WITH SUMMER LEARNING AT SYLVAN

Kids can lose up to 2 1/2 months of learning in the summer. Stay ahead of the curve with Sylvan's summer sessions!

Kids can lose up to 2 1/2 months of learning in the summer. Stay ahead of the curve with Sylvan's summer sessions!

We offer programs in reading, writing, math, study skills, test prep, STEM and more! Secure your spot now!

Kids can lose up to 2 1/2 months of learning in the summer. Stay ahead of the curve with Sylvan's summer sessions!

Summer sessions are filling up fast. Call today!

Academic and STEM Summer Camps!

Summer sessions are filling up fast. Call today!

can lose up to 2 1/2 months of learning in summer. Stay ahead of the curve with Sylvan's summer sessions!

Sylvan Learning of Essex

Register for Academic Summer Camps Now!

Academic and STEM Summer Camps!

802-586-5004

1 Market Place, Unit 10 Essex, VT 05452

Academic and STEM Summer Camps! We offer programs in reading, writing, math, study skills, test prep, STEM and more! Secure your spot now!

Academic and STEM Summer Camps!

We offer programs in reading, writing, math, study skills, test prep, STEM and more! Secure your spot now!

Summer sessions are filling up fast. Call today! SYLVANLEARNING.COM

Summer sessions are filling up fast. Call today!

We offer programs in reading, writing, math, study skills, test prep and more! Secure your spot now!

We offer programs in reading, writing, math, study skills, test prep, STEM and more! Secure your spot now!

We offer programs in reading, writing, math, study skills, test prep, STEM and more! Secure your spot now!

Sylvan Learning of Essex

Sylvan Learning of Essex

802-586-5004

Sylvan Learning of Essex

1 Market Place, Unit 10 Essex, VT 05452

802-586-5004

Sylvan Learning of Essex

802-586-5004

1 Market Place, Unit 10 Essex, VT 05452

802-586-5004

SYLVANLEARNING.COM

1 Market Place, Unit 10 Essex, VT 05452

1 Market Place, Unit 10 Essex, VT 05452

Summer sessions are filling up fast. Call today! SYLVANLEARNING.COM

Academic and STEM Summer Camps!

We offer programs in reading, writing, math, study skills, test prep, STEM and more! Secure your spot now!

Summer sessions are filling up fast. Call today! SYLVANLEARNING.COM

SYLVANLEARNING.COM

Sylvan Learning of Essex

KIDS JUST FOR

Coloring Contest!

Three winners will each receive a $10 Tinkering Turtle gift card. Send Kids VT your work of art by May 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 Summer Issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com with “Coloring Contest” in the subject line, or mail a copy to Kids VT, P.O. Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05401.

Contest sponsored by

obsessed? 12V-Nest042821.indd

Find, fix and feather with Nest Notes — an e-newsletter filled with home design, Vermont real estate tips and DIY decorating inspirations.

Sign up today at sevendaysvt.com/enews.

Our judges were astonished by the 100-plus submissions mailed in as part of this month’s coloring contest. Jelina, 9, decked out her trekking fox in a pale-pink sweater with matching hat and sneakers. Eight-year-old Harper awed us with a fox under a starry night sky complete with a crescent moon. Vivienne, 5, sent us a red fox surrounded by a bunch of hearts and stars. Thanks to all who entered — you brightened our days! Special shout-out to art teacher Julie Carino of Northfield Elementary School and her talented art students. We can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

“SNOW BALL FIGHT!”

Kitty May, 11 Bolton

a $10 Tinkering

4:05 PM KIDS VT SPRING 2024 26

“SQUIRREL”

Marion Millard, 4 Walden

“RAMBOX”

Henry Miller, 8 West Berlin

“FESTIVE FOX”

Thomas Lewis, 9 Shelburne

“CHAOS CAMP SIGHT”

Mesa Garnett, 10 South Burlington

“LITTLE FOX’S BEST DAY”

Weezy, 6 Shelburne

“MABEL THE SKATER”

Annabelle Adler, 4 Shelburne

“FOREST WALKER”

Elijah Tatro, 11 Milton

“RAINBOW WINTER”

Ada Eberle, 9 Northfield

EAST MONTPELIER

“Fox

“FRIENDLY FOX” Nico Ferrara, 5 Montpelier

TOP TITLES

“HAPPY MISTAKES”

Benji Silowash, 8 Northfield

“JACK FOX”

Oona Russell-McDade, 9 Woodbury

Cedar

LOBSTER”

Johnson, 3 Underhill

‘In This Together’

A doula and birth photographer has her third baby at home

My first baby was born in September 2017. I became pregnant right after graduating college, and although it was an unexpected pregnancy, I dove into reading books and planning for the birth. Nine months later, I ended up with a 36-hour labor, an epidural, Pitocin, coached pushing, a few stitches and my sweet baby boy. It wasn’t until processing the experience afterward that I realized it could have been so much better if I had been more prepared.

When I became pregnant the second time, we stayed home as long as possible before driving to the hospital; our girl was born less than an hour after we were admitted. I gave birth without medication and felt the birth high again as soon as she was placed in my arms, but again, there were parts that frustrated me.

Our family moved to Vermont between our second and third babies. I knew home birth was an option, but it wasn’t until we moved that I realized it was a real option for me. Before our third baby was conceived, I knew I would give birth at home. We found a great midwife. Every prenatal visit felt fun and comfortable. I felt respected and in control.

I had invited my sister, Katie, to come up from New York City to witness the birth of her niece and be our birth photographer. She arrived when I was 39 weeks pregnant and planned to stay for a week.

But my baby had no interest in being born; Katie postponed her flight home three times before labor started. I had contractions every night which turned out to be prodromal, or false labor. By 2 a.m., they would stop, and I’d wake up in the morning feeling frustrated. Katie had to fly

home on November 10. On the 9th, I drank castor oil to see if I could get the prodromal labor to turn into actual labor.

After choking it down — mixed with scrambled eggs and cheese — I watched TV with Katie and my husband, Kyle. I sat on an exercise ball and did hip circles. My midwife, Jen, arrived around 7:30 p.m. with her assistant, Sienna. When nothing seemed to be happening, Jen suggested we try to get some sleep. She and Sienna slept on the couches in the living room.

Soon after I laid down, the castor oil started working, and I spent the next hour making trips to the bathroom to poop. I was ready to sleep around 11 p.m., but as soon as I had given up on labor, the contractions started. By 2 a.m., instead of stopping, they continued.

on opening. Kyle would rub my back and squeeze my hips. In between contractions we would all talk and laugh and enjoy each other’s company. It was such a fun morning.

During each contraction I would visualize my cervix opening and picture my uterus squeezing my baby down. This kind of visualization had been helpful during my last birth, and it was this time, too.

It was so special to feel her moving and know that she was working with me to be born.

Around 5 a.m., they became painful enough that I woke up Kyle. We went to the living room, where we could have more space. Jen and Sienna went into our older kids’ rooms to rest. Our kids were staying with my parents; I knew from my previous labors that I tend to swear a lot and don’t like distractions.

We woke up Katie, and she joined us. During the contractions, I enjoyed leaning over our kitchen island. Kyle put air in the birth pool so it would be ready. At 8:30 a.m., Jen asked if I wanted a cervical check and I said yes. I was 5 to 6 centimeters dilated and was reassured that I would probably meet my baby that day.

Once I was up, the contractions came back. I just listened to my body and focused

Around 10 a.m., Kyle, Katie and I went for a walk. We live on a quiet dirt road with views of the mountains, and it was surprisingly warm. We didn’t go very fast or very far, but the sunshine felt so nice. When I would feel a contraction coming, Kyle would allow me to lean on him for support. After a short walk, I wanted to go inside and get into water.

Sienna helped Kyle and Katie fill the pool. I snacked on crackers and string cheese and drank water in between contractions. Getting in the water felt amazing. Kyle sat outside the pool holding my hands, rubbing my shoulders and pushing on my lower back. I kept changing positions as I felt myself opening.

I started to feel the pressure that meant my baby was coming soon. I reached a finger down and could feel my bag of water and my baby’s head right inside. She was so close. I moaned and swore through the contractions and took deep slow breaths.

During the moments between contractions, my baby would move and wiggle. It was so special to feel her moving and know that she was working with me to be born. We were in this together. I trusted her to help me when it was the right time.

The pressure got very intense. I knew it was almost time, and I went to go labor on the toilet. We have a small bathroom that our kids use, and it felt safe and comfortable to be there. Jen reassured me that she has seen a lot of babies born in bathrooms. She waited in the hallway while Kyle and I went in. He sat on the edge of the tub and held my hand and rubbed my thigh while I had a couple of contractions on the toilet. After two contractions there, I knew my baby was coming.

“I feel the pushing urge,” I said.

“You’re doing great,” Jen said.

I knelt down next to the toilet with one knee down and one knee up in a half squat. Kyle sat behind me on the edge of the tub, holding me and telling me how amazing I was doing. My body completely took over at this point. I reached a hand down and felt my baby’s head starting to be born. I wasn’t pushing — if anything I was trying to hold her back. I whispered “slow down” as she started to crown. I had allowed my body the space and time to do the work for me, and my body pushed entirely on its own. My water broke in a splash right before her head was born. Her body followed a second later in the same contraction.

Jen helped catch her as she came flying out, and immediately she was on my chest. It happened so quickly, and I was amazed at what my body just did. Feeling the fetal ejection reflex was like an out-of-body experience. She came out pink and screaming. I held her to me and talked to her. Kyle and I admired the perfect little girl we had created. We named her Quinn Katherine. K

This story is adapted from Beauchamp’s book Birth Happens: A Collection of Birth Stories, which features 128 stories from women who gave birth in 2021. Learn more at birthsmiles.com.

Sarah, Kyle and Quinn Beauchamp

Sarah and Quinn Beauchamp hiking in the Adirondacks