Kids
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere online EDITION
March 2011 Sug ret $3.95
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IN G N R A E L O E G A L IL
s r to va o n in e m o c e b s where camper
>
Pre K -
5 th
GRADES
• Have a blast exploring art, science & outdoor activities • Learn teamwork, creative thinking & problem solving skills
• Immerse yourself in exciting topics like Fashion Design, Go-Karts & Claymation • Learn from mentors who do what you love
LOCATIONS INCLUDE:
Berkeley, Danville, Fremont, Lafayette, Oakland
AV I O D T H E WA IT L I ST - E N RO L L NOW ! W W W.G A LI L EO - L E A R N I N G .CO M/ BA KI D S P H : 1 . 8 0 0 . 8 5 4 . 36 84
Kids
BayArea
Volume 3, Number 2 March 2011 www.BAKidsMagazine.com Publisher/Editor/Father Everard G. Strong estrong@bakidsmagazine.com
the regular
4 small talk 6 play dates
Kathryn Sibley ksibley@bakidsmagazine.com
7 ask the trainer
» Editorial General Editorial Inquiries editor@bakidsmagazine.com Calendar calendar@bakidsmagazine.com » Photography Photographer: Jay Dixon Producer: Christina Strong Contributing Writers Kelly Pollard, Patricia Kutza, » Accounting Mike Harrar, The Tax Pros » Submissions Send photos, events, news, and story requests to editor@bakidsmagazine.com Send all products to address below. Include return postage.
Doing our Part Bay Area Kids magazine is printed on 10 percent recycled paper using only soy based inks. Our printer meets or exceeds all Federal Resource Conservation Act (RCRA) Standards and is a certified member of the Forest Stewardship Council.
Small Print 2010 Big E Productions (DBA Bay Area Kids magazine). No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Big E Productions assumes no liability or responsibility for any claims made by advertisers in the magazine.
BAY AREA KIDS magazine P.O. Box 30442 Walnut Creek, CA 94598 www.BAKidsMagazine.com
March 2011
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call of the wild
» Sales General Inquiries sales@bakidsmagazine.com
Ayiko Konopaski ayiko@bakidsmagazine.com
the good stuff
march events
best age for a child to start exercising
time 8 reading book reviews walk 10 nature sticks and stones help
5
make a great home
outdoor fun 18 the benefits of having
what’s inside
your child go to a nature camp
14 uniform laws of nature
stylish standards for wild school days
the four tops 20 meet the winners of our
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child modeling contest
24 the little movie
12-17
race to nowhere, Vicki Abele’s little movie about the effects too much homework is having on our youth, is making a big stir
special section
that could
Summer Camp & Activity Guide Six pages of camps and activities to keep your child busy these summer months.
28 family fun in the
kitchen
DIY cake popsicles
suburban queen 30 dirty laundry GO ONLINE To experience our interactive summer camp guide, separated by county and including maps and other information! Bay Area Kids
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editor’s letter
call of the wild “Ishkamiligee alakazetski umptybumpty laooo!”
6 small talk
U
nless you are an alumni to Camp Roger (www.camproger. org), located close to Grand Rapids, Michigan, the above is completely nonsensical. For those who have spent time at the camp, you will recognize it as the “National Call of Camp Roger.” If you were lucky enough to have spent any of your summer months away at camp, than you probably have your own fun calls, secret handshakes, badges, and maybe even some craft projects (popsicle-stick teepee) that have withstood the test of time. Summer camp is a magical time for children and for their parents as both parties learn the big lesson of Letting Go. Children learn to live on their own and form their own identities, and parents get used to a quiet, empty house, if even for a week or two. It’s been thirty years since my summer camp days, but I stil remember not only the activities — archery, canoeing, shooting a .22 rifle — many of these activities lit my creative fires that still burn today. Today, with an ever-shrinking backyard, summer camps will provide my children the opportunity to explore their world in ways I could not compete with, nor would I try: going hiking with your children is one thing; having them spend a week in a cabin with 12 other children their age away from you is a whole different experience. The call of the wild is being drowned out by iPhones and Xboxes and the hum and drum of modern-day living. Send your child away from all of that, and let them heed that call while they still can.
Connect With bay area kids
Sincerely
Click on the button to take you directly to our Facebook or Twitter page.
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Everard G Strong Editor/Publisher/Father estrong@bakidsmagazine.com
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
March 2011
Bay Area Kids
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very important dates
march 2011 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA’s most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the 80s. The anthem-powered musical Rock of Ages is an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Night Ranger, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake, and countless others. Take your Aquanet cans out of the closet and get ready to relive the metal mayem that is Rock ofAges.
8 play dates
March 12-April 3 Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Thurs and Friday 7:30pm; Saturday 2pm, 6:30pm; Sunday, 11am, 3:30pm. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. Pay What You Can Nights: Friday, 3/18; Thursday, 3/24 (Pay half-price and reserve your seat in advance online or paywhat-you-can at the door.) Tickets available online at www.berkeleyplayhouse. org or by calling (510) 845-8542 X397. Based on the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Follow along with four adventurers who discover a world within a wardrobe. Ongoing Adoption Workshop First Tuesday of every month, 7-9 pm. AASKAdopt a Special Kid 8201 Edgewater Dr. Ste.103, Oakland, (510) 553-1748. Find out if there are children in your community in need of a loving family, and learn more about the adoption process.
These listings are provided as a free service to our readers. Submit your event to us (include place, date, and description) online at calendar@ BAKidsMagazine.com
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March 5 Northern Light School Hollywood Nights Gala and Auction Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr., Oakland. For tickets, call (510) 957-0570. On March 5, between 6:00 and 11:00pm, the stars will be shining at the Scottish Rite Center; the evening will be full of great food, flowing wine
and incredible silent and live auction items. All of the funds raised during this event will go to benefit the children of Northern Light School. This year our special guests include Peter Coyote, Actor; Lars Ulrich, Drummer for Metallica; Connie Nielsen, Actress; Dana Carvey, Comedian; Michael Johnson, Olympic gold medalist; Vida Blue, Cy Young award winning pitcher; and Jennifer Azzi, Olympic gold medalist and former WNBA player.
March 25 – April 3 A S.T.A.G.E. Musical Production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown Fri, 7:15pm; Sat, 2:15 & 7:15pm; Sun, 2:15pm. Tickets $12. Lesher Center for the Arts, Knight Stage3 Theatre, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. www.lesherartscenter.org. For information and tickets, call 943-SHOW. This beloved musical is composed of little snippets from the life of Charlie Brown and the lives of his friends. All your favorite characters will be there, and you will feel Charlie Brown’s optimism, enthusiasm, and endearing view on life and friendship. March 26, 27 A Year With Frog and Toad Sat & Sun, 2:00pm. Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 548-1761, www.bactheatre.org. Nominated for three Tony awards, including Best Musical, Robert and Willie Reale’s “A Year With Frog And Toad” follows outgoing Frog and reserved Toad through four seasons as they plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding, sing up a storm, and learn about the magic of friendship. Faithful to the original Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel, whose daughter, Adrianne Lobel, created the original production, this warm comedy appeals to young and old alike with delightful songs like “Eating Cookies” and “Toad Looks Funny in a Bathing Suit.
March 8 – April 9 Rock of Ages Fri & Sat 2 & 8pm; Sun 2pm; Tues, Thurs, 8pm; Wed 2 & 8pm. Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St., San Francisco, shnsf.com. In
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
ask the trainer
by Rob Gibson
Find beauty in the East Bay …
best age to start at?
Q
I workout regularly at the gym, at home (have a small weight bar/set), and I go running, play sports, and so on. My 8 year old son has started to show a lot of interest in what I’m doing, especially the weights and strength exercises I do (I do some boxing too). However, I was told by a family doctor that for children under 10 or so it’s not safe for them to do any real strenuous sports or workouts because their bones, joints, and tendons haven’t fully strengthened yet. I would hate to loose this opportunity of urging on his interest in sports and physical fitness, but don’t want to hurt him either. What is the right age for children (boys and girls) where they can start exercising, beyond the basic running around for soccer and baseball and such?
A
Great to hear about your son’s enthusiasm and interest in what you are doing. Learning the importance of exercise, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle should be learned as early as possible. Childhood obesity is growing rapidly every year and it’s always great to hear about kids who want to do something more than play video games. However, your family doctor brings up some valid points. Children who have not yet reached puberty shouldn’t participate in weight baring exercise because it can result in some negative reactions which can ultimately affect their growth. Kids can however use the sports/activities they love for exercise. It’s good to encourage your kids to participate in every sport/activity as possible so that they not only get their exercise but also figure out which one is their favorite. Body weight exercises are a great alternative for helping develop strength, stabilization, speed, and quickness. With today’s obesity epidemic, especially in children and young adults rapidly growing, it is important to teach children at a young age that physical activities can be fun, so you are certainly doing the right thing by supporting his interest in your being active. Every person is an individual and needs an individualized program, kids are no different. I would suggest that you consult with a nationally certified fitness professional to help with building a good foundation of all basic movements, proper form, range of motion, and most importantly to educate your son on why these things are important to his safety and performance. Rob Gibson (MS, CES, PES) is the fitness director at the UFC Gym in Concord (www.ufcgym.com). Have a question for Rob? Send it to editor@bakidsmagazine.com
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March 2011
Bay Area Kids
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book shelf » LOCAL AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT Paris Goes to San Francisco (Liberty Morris, New Year Publishing, www.newyearpublishing.com)
8 reading time
The Paris series of books has become a family affair — Liberty, sister to the real-life Paris and one of the twins written about in earlier titles — decided to tackle the latest release, bringing Paris home to the City by the Bay, San Francisco. Under the premise of seeking the perfect birthday gift to bring home to the twins, Paris leads young readers through the city, pointing out fun spots like Union Square (where she even grabs a hot dog), Coit Tower, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Pier 39. Traveling by foot, cable car, and boat, Paris makes sure to point out tidbits of information about each of her stops: “We love watching a ball game at the baseball park on the water. My dad always gets the garlic fries and boy does his breath smell bad afterwards!” A fun read that will get your little ones interested in taking a ride over the Bay Bridge to the fun that lies beyond.
Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make with your Kids (David Erik Nelson, No Starch Press, www.amazon.com) Whenever I picked up a hammer, nails, or other tool, most people would run the other way. So when this book came in the mail, I found it to be a possible road to redemption. But then reality it and I brought the book to Chuck, a friend of mine who actually owns a large set of tools and knows how to use them. He was also the father of three boys, so it was an even better fit. After a month of experimentation, he came back with this report: “If you want to get your kids involved in what you do in the garage with all of your hammers and saws and power tools, this is a great book for you. I even learned how to sew as we put together the octopus sock monster thing! Each craft expands their skills a little more, and whatever I don’t understand they explain pretty well. For all you dads out there, get this book!” Thank you, Chuck, for that report.
Bongo Fishing (Thatcher Hurd, Henry Holt & Co, www.amazon.com) What? A science fiction book for young children not involving vampires? Can it be (finally)? Jason leads the life of a normal young boy until he meets a blue alien named Sam, who drives a spaceship that looks eerily similar to a 1960 Dodge Dart. As the two explore the universe together, Jason finds out there are sinister forces at work, including a Dr. Zimburger. A fun, light read for young children and preteens, Bongo Fishing doesn’t complicate plot and character development, giving his audience a mostly smooth reading experience.
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Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
Spanish for Kids and adults too!
You Can Still Jump In! It’s not too late to join the April Bay Area Kids’ Summer Camp and Activity Guide!
• Immersion program • Small class sizes • Experienced teachers • Classes for toddlers to teens • Day camps too!
E-mail sales@bakidsmagazine.com to receive a free informational PDF If you are a summer camp or activity center, you need to be a part of this well-received and sought after resource guide for parents.
March 2011
(925) 962-9177 www.vivaelespanol.org Alameda • Lafayette • Pleasanton
Bay Area Kids
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the great outdoors
by Cat Taylor, courtesy Bay Nature magazine
sticks and stones can make a home
Sticks and Stones Caddisfly larvae lack the luxury of a nursery furnished by their parents. Instead, these infant insects are the aquatic “three little pigs” of streams, building their own protective fortresses out of leaves, sticks, or stones. Each type, or genus, of case-making caddisfly builds a different structure from an instinctive blueprint. Glued together with silk, the heavy tubular home prevents the insects from being washed away by strong currents and offers a sturdy, camouflaged refuge from predators. The larva holds on to the silken lining with special limbs, leaving the rest of the body free to harvest food or drag the home to another location. If you see a “stick” or bundle of pebbles slowly moving across the bottom of a stream, that isn’t your eyes playing tricks on you — the caddisfly is taking its mobile home on the road.
10 nature walk
“Home”— the word evokes many images: memories of your childhood abode or the smell of a homecooked meal. Maybe you’ve lived there a lifetime, or perhaps home is wherever you temporarily hang your backpack. Animals, too, have different ideas of home — nursery, fortress, or merely a place to rest.
Cadflish larvae make little mobile homes for themselves out of pebbles or bits of plant bark and twigs on the floors of the creek where they live.
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Nest Suspenders In the spring, flurries of feathered activity and bursts of song announce the nesting season of birds. Among Bay Area nest-building notables are Bullock’s orioles. Orioles are brilliantly colored — they look like winged California poppies — but they might be nesting right nearby and we’d never know it. That’s because their nests are highly camouflaged and can
For Rent . . . Wouldn’t it be great to find a home that was pre-built and fully furnished, with all the food you could eat and even built-in transportation? Many creatures, known as parasites, do just that. In wintry ponds, puddles, and sluggish streams, horsehair worms wriggle, searching for mates. The females lay strings of eggs. When they hatch, the larvae swim to plants near the water’s edge, latch on, and form a pro- tective shell called a cyst. As the water recedes, beetles, crickets, or grasshoppers might eat the plant, along with the dried cyst. A young horsehair worm just found its home. Once inside the insect, the larva burrows into the tissues of its unwitting host, where it grows in comfort, protected and surrounded by food. As the worm slowly digests and absorbs its host from the inside, it grows up to 27 inches long, but remains tightly coiled like a spring. When the horsehair worm is ready, it somehow causes its host to visit a body of water, where the
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
Photos: oriole, Jeffrey Rich/JeffRichPhoto.com; caddisfly larvae, joyce gross/joycegross.com
be best described as resembling dirty gym socks. Using natural fibers, hairs, and string, oriole parents weave a long, strong, pendulous bag lined with soft moss, fluff, or wool in which to rear their brood. The nests sway with the breeze because they’re hanging from branches too slender to bear the weight of potential predators. You’re most likely to see these nests in winter long after they’ve been vacated, once deciduous trees have dropped their leaves. Just keep an eye out as you walk along a stream or forest’s edge.
worm emerges to begin the cycle once again. What happens to the vacant rental unit? Unfortunately, it doesn’t survive the ravages of its tenant. Look around you. Homes can be burrows, dens, caves, webs, leaves, rocks, trees, hives, galls — almost anything! Some may not look like much to us, but be it ever so humble, there’s no place like “home.” Get Out! Help nesting orioles by filling a strawberry basket with nesting material—natural yarn, string, raffia, hair (pet, horse, human), and moss—and then hanging it from a branch in their tree. Or just drape fibers from branches. You can also leave the winter stalks of milkweed in your garden and break some stems to expose fibers inside, which the birds will harvest for nest-weaving. Orioles are attracted to hummingbird feeders or cut fruit (oranges, grapes, or even grape jelly are favorites). Watch for caddisfly larvae moving along the bottoms of clear ponds or streams. And try to spot horsehair worms the next time you find large puddles in trails after a good rain. Puddles that last for a week or more are best for successful worm-watching. Just look for a long horsehair slowly swaying in the water. Some are straw-colored and some are darker. During mating, the worms can be coiled around each other, sometimes many of them in a large knot (their other common name is Gordian worm).
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Cat Taylor, who works at Sunol Regional Wilderness, has been a Bay Area naturalist for 20 years. Other incarnations include ranger, researcher, scatologist, archaeologist, illustrator, and artist.
March 2011
Bay Area Kids
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ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE Rising 5th – 8th graders, this is your camp! At Galileo Summer Quest, you can try your hand at a variety of topics, experiencing one Major and two exciting Minors every day during your 2-week session. Work with mentors who do what you love, along with the latest tools and technology, to complete a final project you can show off to your friends and family.
Galileo Summer Quest
Six Bay Area locations, including Oakland, San Francisco, Corte Madera, Palo Alto, Hillsborough, Saratoga (800) 854-3684 www.galileo-learning.com/BAKIDS
2011 Major and Minor offerings include brand-new unique curriculum especially created for our 7th-8th graders! Major options include Go-Kart Makers, Fashion Design, Chefology, Video Game Design and Digital Photography. Minor options include Hip-Hop Dance, Sports and Cartooning. To enroll or learn more, visit www.galileo-learning.com or call 800-854-3684.
Welcome to Camp Galileo, where Pre-K –rising 5th graders bring their ideas to life! Engage in hands-on art, science and outdoor activities every day, plus have tons of fun with camp traditions like dress up days, water day and the rubber chicken cheer. Each of our four unique 1-week sessions at Camp Galileo revolves around an engaging story or theme that sparks campers’ imaginations in exciting new ways.
Camp Galileo
21 Bay Area locations, including Berkeley, Danville, Fremont, Lafayette, Oakland (800) 854-3684 www.galileo-learning.com/BAKIDS
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Check out our 4 brand-new themes at Camp Galileo in Summer 2011: • Lost in The Forbidden City: Chinese Art & Building Design • Inventor’s Workshop: The Art & Science of Toy Design • Detective in Paris: Impressionism & The Science of Sleuthing • We Built This City: Urban Art & Environmental Engineering To enroll or learn more, visit www.galileolearning.com or call 800-854-3684.
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE
Oakland Zoo 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland (510) 632-9525 x280 | info@oaklandzoo.org The Oakland Zoo invites campers for a week filled with animal adventures, nature discovery, and excitement. Camp includes up-close animal presentations, games, stories, science activities, and crafts. The Oakland Zoo takes great pride in creating age-appropriate options for campers age four through high school. Partial Payment Option we understand a summer filled with kid-friendly activities can get expensive. Make your budget easier by paying a 50 percent deposit upfront, with the balance due one month before camp. ZooCamp Registration Opens Mid-March: Detailed program descriptions, schedules, fees, and camp policies are available on our website. Please visit www.oaklandzoo.org/zoocamp. Still have questions? Call the ZooCamp Hotline at 510-632-9525 ext 280 or email info@oaklandzoo.org.
Park’N It Summer Day Camp
Saint Mary’s College of California Athletic Summer Camps
East Bay Regional Parks (888) EBPARKS | www.ebparks.org
1928 Saint Mary’s Rd., Moraga (925) 631-4386 | www.smcgaels.com
Explore the Regional Parks through field trips, art, swimming and play. Recreation Leaders, Naturalists, Rangers and Lifeguards will take you behind the scenes to discover nature’s secrets. (Ages 6-10)
For 42 years, Saint Mary’s College has been offering outstanding athletic summer camps to children 4-18 years old. One of the first institutions in Northern Calif. with day camps specializing in athletics, our campers will use the same courts, diamonds, and playing fields that the Saint Mary’s (NCAA Division 1) athletes use throughout the year. Camps offered include baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.
June 20-24 Contra Loma-Antioch, Castle Rock-Walnut Creek Jun 27-Jul 1 Don Castro-Castro Valley, Lake Temescal-Oakland Aug 1-5 Ardenwood-Fremont* ages 5-12 9 am – 4 pm, Mon-Fri; extended care available. Financial assistance is available. Camps fill up fast, register today!
March 2011
Registration Our camps fill up early, so register now at “CAMPS” at www.smcgaels.com.
Bay Area Kids
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ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE
Bladium Camp 800 West Tower Ave., Bldg 40, Alameda (510) 814-4999| www.bladium.com camp overview Bladium Sports and Fitness Club provides a variety of specialty and theme-based camps for the summer of 2011. Our camps provide the best value in the Bay Area, nutritious and healthy lunches provided by Kid Chow, and extended care from 7:30a - 6:00p. Kids can experience a wide variety of sports and activities, including soccer, flag football, rock climbing, basketball, dodge ball, kickball, arts and crafts and much more. With our energetic staff leading the way, campers will learn teamwork, positive social interaction, and making new friends. We hope to see you this summer at Bladium! Activities Bladium’s facility offers opportunities for rock climbing and bouldering, volleyball, sneaker and inline hockey, skill-building basketball, and intensified soccer camps. We also offer a variety of inflatables and a youth entertainment zone for recreation. REGISTRATION Camp starts June 13, 2011. Registration is now open. For more information, including fees and registration contact alamedasales@bladium.com
Sherman Swim School 1075 Carol Ln. (off Mt. Diablo), Lafayette (925) 283-2100 www.shermanswim.com Private Swim Lessons T-Th or M-W-F
Oakland Feather River Camp Located in Quincy, CA Operated by Camps in Common (510) 336-2267 www.featherrivercamp.com Kids and families can create skits, laugh out loud, discover the great outdoors, and have a blast together! Registration
Family Camp: June 19 - August 14 Camp Kidd & Camp Sierra: July 6 - 10
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Camp Kee Tov 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley (510) 848-2372 www.campkeetov.com With a focus on sports, dance, arts and crafts, singing and performing arts, our programming and traditions have inspired thousands of campers from a diverse cross-section of our community. Camp Kee Tov is the premier Jewish day camp in the Bay Area!
Session 1: June 27-July 22 Session 2: August 1-26 Register now at www.campkeetov.org”
Hours 2-7 pm, March-May 10 am-7pm, May-Aug Sessions begin every few weeks: March 7-April 1 April 4-29 May 2-20 May 23-June 10 June 13-July 1 July 6-22 July 25-Aug 12 Aug 15-Sept 2 Registration Call or download registration information. We do our best to accommodate each person’s needs.
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE
Sienna Ranch
3232 Deer Hill Road, Lafayette www.siennaranch.net Offering inspiring, unique, and fun week-long nature immersion and animal experiences for campers 4-14. Full-day or Half-Day Camps Available. Day camps (9:00-1:00): • Farm Hands: farm life, animal care, old fashioned arts & crafts • Survival in the Wild: A Wilderness Skill Adventure • Keepers of the Lost Arts: A Primitive Experience • Natural Adventures: Challenges in Nature • Horse Ranchers: Riding and Groundwork Afternoon Special Interest Camps (2:00-5:00): • Fun with Horses: Just “Horsing” Around • Experiential Building: Tree Forts and More • Archery: Real Bows and Arrows • Art and Animals: Two Favorite Hobbies, One Fantastic Camp
Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek (925) 935-1978
www.wildlife-museum.org Wild times abound at our Summer Science Camps! Enjoy a week full of adventures with live animals, science experiments and crafts. Camper to counselor ratio is 3:1 in camps for ages 4-9. All camps are held at the museum and adjacent Larkey Park. Register online for fantastic summer fun!
March 2011
Viva El Espanol Spanish Immersion Camps
3451 Golden Gate Way, Lafayette (925) 962-9177 | www.vivaelespanol.org A unique opportunity for children to learn or improve their Spanish language skills! During each week-long camp, students participate in interactive games, music and movement activities, and art projects that center around a specific kid-friendly theme. Students learn useful vocabulary and phrases related to each theme. Each week culminates with a sing-along and presentation, where the kids get to show off what they learned. Registration For specific dates, themes and registration information please visit www.vivaelespanol.org or call (925) 962-9177.
Berkeley Playhouse Julia Morgan Center 2640 College Ave., Berkeley (510) 845-8542 x376 www.berkeleyplayhouse.org Berkeley Playhouse offers fun, 1-3 week, half and full day performance-based camps with developmentally appropriate focus on singing, acting, dancing, choreography and vocal performance techniques. Summer 2011 will be inspired by stories of Dr Seuss and the Ahrens/Flaherty musical, Seussical, the Musical playing on our summer stage!
The Academy 2722 Benvenue Ave., Berkeley (510) 549-0605 | www.theacademyk-8.com The Academy offers academic and recreational summer classes and a full daycare service. You may sign-up for any one or more classes and for as much daycare as you need. Classes run June 20 - July 22. Morning academics include Pre- Kindergarten, Lower School and Upper School programs. Afternoon recreation includes swimming lessons, recreational swimming, drama, Arts&Crafts, Friday Adventures and more. Come join the fun!. Registration Registration is now open. Visit our website for details.
Bay Area Kids
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ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE
Camp Winnarainbow (510) 525-4304, www.campwinnarainbow.org Camp Winnarainbow, California’s Premiere Circus and Performing Arts Sleepaway Camp was founded by cultural icon Wavy Gravy more than 35 years ago. Located 3 hours north in beautiful Mendocino County, Camp Winnarainbow offers one and two week sessions during the summer for children ages 7-14. Classes include circus arts, drama, multi-cultural dance and martial arts, play production, trapeze & aerials, tightrope, juggling, unicycling, stilt-walking, gymnastics, magic, music, clowning, art, and environmental awareness. All sessions end with a fabulous show for families & friends. Our mission is to create a living environment of love, safety and harmony by building a diverse community of children and adults, where all can learn to appreciate one another through the performing arts.
Camp EdTech
Camp Edmo
8 Bay Area Locations: Alameda, Moraga, Oakland, San Francisco, & more www.campedtech.org
9 Bay Area Locations: Alameda, Moraga, Oakland, San Francisco, & more www.campedmo.org
Camp EdTech teaches preteens and teens entering 5th–9th grade how to create their own digital movies, photographs, sound-tracks, graphic designs, and animations. Every week includes a specialized digital media theme, camper contests, art show or movie screening.
Camp Edmo – Voted “#1 Summer Day Camp” two consecutive years – is for kids pre-K—entering 4th grade to explore, create, have fun and grow. Our Arts & Science and Animation themes are designed in partnership with the Exploratorium, California Academy of Sciences, Zeum and MOCHA.
Registration Camp EdTech runs the weeks of June 6 — July 25.
Registration Camp Edmo runs the weeks of June 6 — August 15.
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ID Tech Camps Held at Stanford, UC Berkeley, St. Mary’s College, and 60 Universities Nationwide (888) 709-8324 • www.internalDrive.com Ages 7-18 create video games, websites, C++/Java programs, iPhone apps, robots and more. Weeklong, day and overnight programs at 60 universities nationwide including Stanford, UC Berkeley, St. Mary’s, Harvard, NYU and others. Also, iD Teen Academies at Stanford in Gaming, Programming and Visual Arts. Free year-round learning. Save with code CAU38L.
Growing Light Montessori of Moraga
1450 Moraga Rd., Moraga (925) 377-0404 www.growinglight montessori.com Summertime fun includes water play, field trips and weekly/biweekly activity themes such as: Zoo Week, Jungle Safari and Ocean Exploration. Registration Openings for 18 mos.PreK/K available. Download application online or visit campus for details.
Escuela Bilingue Internacional
410 Alcatraz Ave., Oakland (510) 653-3324 www.ebinternacional.org Join us at EBI, the Bay Area’s first Spanish-English dualimmersion, independent school, for a summer of adventures in the Spanish language. Guided by our experienced teachers, your child will explore art, music, science, gardening, movement and dozens of other enriching and dynamic themes. Registration First camp starts June 20 Registration begins February 7
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL SUMMER CAMP & ACTIVITY GUIDE
Camp Arroyo 5555 Arroyo Rd., Livermore (925) 455-5119 | www.ttff.org | ttff@ttff.org Over the past two decades, The Taylor Family Foundation has helped more than 40,000 children and 70,000 parents by providing respite and unique camp opportunities for children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities and youth at-risk. Nestled in the foothills of the Livermore Valley, The Taylor Family Foundation at Camp Arroyo, allows children to do what they do best - be themselves. No one is singled out for being different, there’s just lots of fun in a safe, nurturing, camp environment. During their stay at Camp Arroyo, children enjoy water activities, a high and low ropes course, rock wall climbing, campfires, healthy meals and snacks, and much more. Memories at Camp Arroyo Are Made By Children Living With:
To learn more about The Taylor Family Foundation, to make a donation, or to volunteer at camp, visit us online at www. ttff.org or find us on Facebook.
SewNow! Sewing Camp
960 Moraga Rd., Lafayette (925) 283-7396 • www.sewnow.com Learn fashion design and sewing at sewnow! fashion studio. One-week camps for Second Grade through teens—beginner to advanced—morning, afternoon, or full day. Have a fun week learning new skills and walk away with two unique personalized fashion items. Camps include all fabrics, notions, computerized custom-fit patterns, and custom embroidery. Registration Registration is open now. Camps sell out quickly. For details visit www.sewnow.com or call (925) 283-7396.
March 2011
Hemophilia Diabetes Pediatric Brain Tumors Bereavement Skin Disease Crohn’s, Colitis and IBD Autism and Developmental Disabilities
HIV/AIDS Bi-Polar Disorder Congenital Heart Disease Celiac Disease Asthma Congenital Hand Deformities Pediatric Cancers Preschool Burn Survivors
Tax ID 94-3262932
Mad Science of Mt. Diablo Find specific camp locations online (925) 687-1900 | www.madscience.org/mtdiablo Mad Science Summer Camps offer children the chance to see just how cool science can be! Each day includes a take-home experiment that the kids make themselves. Designed for preschoolers and kids grades 1-6, our various programs include Crazy Chemistry, NASA: Journey into Outer Space, Secret Agent Camp, and many others! Camps are week-long, half-day sessions (9AM-Noon or 1-4PM). Registration Check with your City’s Parks and Recreation Guide for Camp Registration information and dates. Links to camp locations can be found at our web site www.MadScience.Org/MtDiablo.
Bay Area Kids
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camp it up!
by Ally Kushin
Getting Back to Nature
Photos courtesy NatureBridge
18 Camping Tips
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any of us fondly recall our carefree childhood experiences at summer camp spending endless hours exploring and learning about the natural world. For decades, outdoor summer camp adventures have been a rite of passage for many kids, but it’s a tradition that is dwindling in popularity as more and more children are whiling away their vacations sitting in front of television screens and video games.
click for more The online version of this article includes a slideshow and more information
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Why are nature-based summer camps so important? Let us count the ways: Summer camp fosters a love of nature and the outdoors, which is vital to building good environmental stewards. With our planet threatened by increased urbanization and climate change, it’s important that we foster a sense of responsibility to nature among future generations so they will be inspired to care for the Earth, not only through simple activities such as recycling and composting programs but also becoming the environmental leaders of tomorrow. Summer camp offers kids a chance to keep learning. Students are at risk of suffering learning losses during long breaks from school. Moreover, the Nation’s Report Card, released in January, shows fewer than half of U.S. students are proficient in science. Yet science and environmental education are vital to the future to the Bay Area and the state of California. Having an opportunity to learn about science in an outdoor environment not only keeps children’s
minds engaged, it can also positively impact learning throughout the year. Summer camp can boost confidence because it presents new challenges and opportunities. When a child completes a hike that he may have never thought he could do, he experiences a heightened sense of accomplishment. A girl who may be shy at school can find a common bond with a campmate and forge a new friendship. An underachieving student realizes that he is fascinated by wildlife and eager to learn as much as he can thereby increasing his self esteem and knowledge of the natural world. Nature-based summer camp instills an unexplored sense of wonder. Because it is often full of new experiences, the great outdoors opens up new worlds for kids, especially those from urban areas who have had little to no exposure to nature. For many kids, it is the only chance to see plants and animals in their natural settings. Perhaps most importantly, summer camp is fun. It’s a time when a kid is free to really be a kid, without the strict rules of a classroom. It’s an opportunity for new experiences, to make new friends, and just be a kid. About the Author: Ally Kushin is Director of Camp and Family Programs at NatureBridge’s Headlands Institute. Coastal Camp runs in weeklong sessions from June 13 August 15, 2011. For more information, visit: www.coastalcamp.org
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
pack it in!
Compiled by Sunny Chanel
19 Camp Correspondence Set (Yellow Owl Workshop, $16.50) Your kid might be too busy having fun and frolicking at camp to remember dear old dad and mom all the way back at home, but this Camp Correspondence kit from Yellow Owl Workshop encourages them to send the occasional update from their home away from home. The set comes with a dozen notes, a dozen envelopes and one very special Howdy Scout engraved pencil. Sure, some may just want to type out an email or send a text, but a handwritten letter is so much more personal. And since the kids will be out at camp doing that whole nature scene, it’ll be good to know that the set is made from recycled paper. Yellow Owl Workshop is based in San Francisco so you’ll be supporting our local campers at the same time. Available from www.yellowowlworkshop.com
camping gear
Camp Funtime T-Shirt (Worn Free, $29.95) If it was good enough for Debbie Harry than it’s good enough for your kid, or any kid for that matter. The Camp Funtime T-shirt by Worn Free is just one of the many that they’ve made that pay tribute to the iconic graphic T-shirts worn by rock stars and celebrities back in the day. And no, there wasn’t actually a real sleep-away Camp Funtime, this was reportedly a nod to the Iggy Pop/ David Bowie tour that helped launch Blondie’s career. Worn Free has a selection of their collection made in kid’s sizes, and this yellow Camp Funtime shirt happens to be one of them. You can buy one of these soft cotton T-shirt from www.wornfree.com.
March 2011
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Hand-powered Lego Flashlight (Lego, $24.95) When you send your child off into the wilderness, you want them to be prepared. One way? To give them light, and in this instance, a really really cool light in the form of this Lego Hand Crank Dynamo Flash Light. This ain’t no tiny Lego either, it’s about 7.5” tall perfect to really shine a light on the matter (like getting to the nearest out house in the middle of the night). An added bonus? You won’t need to pack any batteries for it, it is hand generated. Just crank the Lego man’s arm and you’ll get power. It’s fun and practical, a very bright combination. It’s available at a variety of establishments but you can pick one up from Amazon.com.
click for more The online version includes a sleeping bag, cool shoes, and a nifty back pack!
Bay Area Kids
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The Four Maleah
TOPS Teagan
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Bay Area Kids bakidsmagazine.com
For three issues in 2010 Bay Area Kids, along with JE Model, searched for the next four top children models in the East Bay. We have found them, and present them to you here!
Alex
Gielle
March 2011
Bay Area Kids
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Special Thank You to JE Model, Looking Glass Photo, Jay Dixon/Jay Dixon Photography, the parents of these four models, and all of those who submitted photos of your own beautiful children. Stylist: Anne Kunisaki
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Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
THERE’S MORE ONLINE The online, digital version of this issue includes more photos and complete style and wardrobe information. Go to www.bakidsmagazine.com.
March 2011
Bay Area Kids
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movie mama
by Kelly Pollard
The Little Movie that Could Race to Nowhere, Vicki Abele’s little movie about the effects too much homework is having on our youth, is making a big stir
School stress begins earlier and earlier these days.
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Cover Story
click for more The online version of this article includes a slideshow, movie excerpts, and more
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Lafayette mother of three Vicki Abeles noticed little things building up, stemming from nightly battles over homework and panic over upcoming tests. A wakeup call came when she had to rush her twelve year old daughter to the hospital, for what was diagnosed as stress-induced abdominal pain. Abeles started investigating the causes, talking to other parents and pouring over research from education experts and child psychologists. She questioned the value of her family’s overscheduled days, juggling monumental piles of homework, tutoring and extracurricular activities. Abeles, whose only experience with film was watching movies, surrounded herself with a team of experts and picked up a camera. “I was determined to give voice to those on the front lines of education—students and teachers,” Abeles says. A mutual friend introduced Abeles to Danville mother Kerry Dickinson, who in 2007 successfully lobbied for San Ramon Valley School District to amend their outdated homework policy to fall in line with current research: that more homework isn’t necessarily better and can even harm a child’s educational experience. “We’re telling our kids that it’s okay to be working nonstop,” she says. “Everyone is plugged in all the time, checking work e-mails during dinner. How is it okay to expect kids to put in even more hours of homework time after sitting in class for six hours?” Dickinson signed on as an advisor to the film and has been an advocate for Race to Nowhere, occasionally leading discussions after the showings. In the middle of editing and production of the film in 2008, thirteen year old Devon Marvin committed suicide, triggered from a bad test grade. Devon’s family lived in Abeles’ community and the urgency of the film’s message intensified. Race to Nowhere earned its name from a student comment during an interview. With the pressure to achieve, children are brought up through the school
system, some accepted to elite colleges, then are completely lost in the real world. Experts have estimated around 40 percent of college freshman need remedial math or English, the very same students who aced Advanced Placement tests. Vicki’s production company, Reel Link Films, got creative in how to get the movie to the public. She screened the film at local schools and churches before it premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October 2009. Lennis Sadler, a mother of three children ages eight to twelve and a teacher in Pleasanton saw the film last year. “The stories in the movie dealt mostly with middle and high school age children, so they resonated with me first as a mother of a 7th grader who spends three to four hours on his homework,” Sadler says. As she watched the images of teens and tweens stressing out about grades and often turning to prescription drugs, cheating schemes and depression, she considered her classroom of second and third graders at Valley View Elementary. “I thought about my own contribution to the ‘race’. Was I caught up in the assigning of too much homework?” Sadler brainstormed late into that night ways she could make a difference in her classroom. Sadler’s new plan incorporated the required worksheets usually sent home into her daily lesson plans. The children were ecstatic with the time it freed up after school. “By having the children do homework in the classroom, they have teacher and peer support. I can catch mistakes easily. They can ask questions that parents may not always be able to answer.” Julie Nostrand’s two daughters have the pleasure of being in Sadler’s classroom. Nostrand also saw the film last May at her community church. “The change in the homework policy in my kids’
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
“My hope is that Race to Nowhere creates a tipping point in education reform policy. Even a parent having a dialogue with their child about pressure contributes to this change.” — Vicki Abeles
March 2011
Bay Area Kids
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Steps for change to take right now • Avoid overscheduling your child • Attend school board meetings and support the PTA. • Challenge accepted homework practices and policies • Talk to your children about their experiences in school • Make time for play, family, friends, downtime and sleep • Approach your child’s school or a local church
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about screening the film Race to Nowhere. Anybody can request a screening of this documentary and bring it to their community. The website offers tools to facilitate discussions after the movie, petitions and more. Proceeds from ticket sales can be used as a fundraiser for the school. Find more ideas and information at www.racetonowhere.com.
class has changed our family life,” Nostrand says. “I’m no longer the task master. We have more time in the evenings and I find we linger more over dinner, we play games. They still have some homework, but it’s much less busy work and more age appropriate.” When told about this specific example of change sparked by seeing her film, Abeles is thrilled. “Of course I want to see huge sweeping changes instantly,” Abeles admits. “I know that is not possible. These small changes add up to something much bigger. My hope is that this film creates a tipping point in education reform policy. Even a parent having a dialogue with their child about pressure contributes to this change.” Dickinson cites the importance of strength in numbers when thinking about approaching a teacher or school administrator about change in a particular school. “If one parent complains, it can be easily brushed off,” she says. “If ten parents complain, teachers take notice.” Educational statistics point to the glaring fact that although the US is sprinting, we are ultimately losing the ‘race’. Countries with less homework have children scoring higher on tests. When curriculum is built around standardized testing, students are less likely to retain the knowledge. Abeles’ model of a movie as a social action campaign has spread across the country. She says over 100,000 people have watched the film and over forty other countries have expressed interest in bringing the movie to their own educators and families. “It’s too important to wait for change,” Abeles says. “Together we have power, strength in numbers. We’d like to show this movie to millions of people and create a real movement.” For more information Official Film Site: www.racetonowhere.com Kerry Dickinson’s homework advocacy blog: eastbayhomework.blogspot.com.
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
East Bay Homework Blog Danville mother Kerry Dickinson noticed her once easy-going, spirited son was buckling under the pressures of school work in x grade. She started an email exchange with other parents in his class and quickly found he wasn’t alone. After gathering more information about the effects of excess homework through San Ramon Valley School District’s outdated policy, she scheduled a meeting with an administrator. That meeting launched a task force, which Dickinson joined, of teachers, parents and administrators to rewrite a homework policy based on encouraging more time to spend relaxing or hanging out with family and friends. She says that in order to create change in your child’s school, it’s important to reach out to other families and start a dialogue with the teacher first. Now that her sons are in high school, she takes a hands-off approach to their homework. ”I realize now that my sons relied on me too much when they were younger, so how would teachers know what kids are really capable of if parents are hovering over each assignment.” Other small steps parents can do, especially for younger children, is note exactly how long certain assignments take their child to complete. Dickinson, who holds an MA in Reading and a teaching credential, now shares informative research and anecdotes on her blog: East Bay Homework Blog, in an attempt to empower people to change the reality of their school lives. Her next project is called Gap Year, which offers high school graduates an opportunity to live in Costa Rica before starting college. Taking a common rite of passage from other countries, allowing teens a breather before the hectic college years in what she calls ‘the school of life’. The program will launch in January 2012. Find a wealth of information about homework advocacy at: http://eastbayhomework.blogspot.com.
March 2011
“A must-read!”
— Sunset Magazine
an exploration of nature in the Bay Area
Meet Your Neighbors! Learn about the world around you. Use code AMK6BK and receive $2 off a year's subscription — only $21.95 $19.95! To subscribe or get more information visit us online or call 888-4-BAYNAT
BayNature.org Bay Area Kids
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fun family recipes
“pop” into spring with these fun cake ball pops any child can help make
28 fun food finds
Basic Cake Pops Yields 48 tablespoons Makes 48 — 1-Tbsp sized cake ball pops (each about 1 1/4-inch diameter) Makes 24 — 2-Tbsp sized cake ball pops (each about 1 1/2-inch diameter) Makes 16 — 3-Tbspn sized cake ball pops (each about 1 3/4-inch diameter)
WANT MORE? Three more pop recipes included in the online version!
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1 box (about 18 ounces) cake mix 1 box (about 3.4 ounces) instant pudding mix 4 eggs 1 C water 1/3 C vegetable oil 1/2 C creamy white decorator icing 1 bag (14 oz.) candy melts 16-48 Lollipop Sticks, depending on number of cake balls you are planning
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 8-inch or 9-inch round pans or one 13 x 9 x 2-inch sheet pan with vegetable pan spray. In large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil; beat at medium speed with electric mixer 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round pans; 35 to 40 minutes for sheet pan, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling grid and cool completely. Divide cake in half; freeze one half for future use. In large bowl, use hands to crumble cake until no large chunks remain. Add icing; mix with fingers until well combined. Form mixture into balls. Chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours. Melt Candy Melts according to package directions. Dip sticks into melted Candy Melts and insert into cake balls; let set. Wait until candy is completely firm before dipping the pops completely in melted Candy Melts.
Lark Creek Walnut Creek 1360 Locust Street, Walnut Creek (925) 256-1234 • www.larkcreek.com
Order ahead for parties and events Dedicated gluten-free kitchen Cupcakes, bread, quiche, tarts and MUCH MORE Delivery available
Serving seasonal farm-fresh American fare for the whole family since 1995
Located at Front Street and Hartz Way
• Kids menu includes fresh fruit plate, hand-breaded fresh crispy chicken fingers with house cut fries, peanut butter and housemade jelly sandwich • Award winning all-American wine list for Mom and Dad Lark Creek Walnut Creek serves lunch daily, brunch Sunday, cocktails, and dinner nightly, and private parties.
March 2011
480 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Suite A, Danville 925.831.9016 or find us: www.migletsgf.com *Applies to regular size cupcakes only. While supplies last. Offer expires April 30, 2011.
Miglets_BAK_Spring.indd 1
Bay Area2/13/11 Kids
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7:22:08 AM
diary of a suburban queen
by Kelly Pollard
dirty laundry
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30 last words
auling yet another overflowing basket of laundry to the garage, a dizzying sense of déjà vu strikes me. You see, I just upgraded to the Mercedes Benz of washer/dryer systems: a deluxe front loader with steam, fierce spin cycles, and a heartattack-inducing price tag. Here I was, in the very same garage with the very same kids’ laundry. I couldn’t help but look back at how far I’d come in my last eight years as a mom. The opening of my first freelance article starts in the same place. I was slouched over the ancient washing machine with a grime of dust, lint, and detergent caked on its surface, pre-treating foot pajamas with stain remover. Extremely sleep deprived, I wobbled dangerously on the edge of a nasty bout of postpartum depression. Bobby was barely two and Shane was six months old, just coming to life and waking up. I was powering down. I remember thinking that I would spend my entire years of motherhood in that very same spot, splashing detergent into the tray, particles of lint hovering in the air. I remember pondering the ridiculousness of being expected to keep the top of the washing machine sparkling clean. Who really has time for that? I remember the suffocating sensation of knowing I had over fifty microscopic articles of clothing smeared with carrot and squash puree needing my individual attention. I penned my first lines: If my life was a commercial, it would be a failed advertisement for a stain-remover. Instead of the idealized television mother, well dressed and made up, I’d still be in ratty pajama bottoms and my husband’s work shirt, cherry-flavored baby Tylenol dribbling down my left shoulder. The bright, clean laundry room of Tide commercials replaced with a dusty garage and our muddy blue minivan butting up against my lint-covered washer and dryer.
click for more The online version of Bay Area Kids includes direct links to the Web sites featured on this page
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The pay for the article was next to nothing and the magazine folded after a few issues. Reading the article today, almost six years later, I’m transported to the days when a devious toddler named Bobby used to lock me out of the house while I flung dirty clothes into the wash, while his baby brother kicked and cooed in his bouncy seat. That first writing assignment gave me a voice; it was my baby step toward adding more to my identity than a
mother. My birth as a professional writer curved along the same twisted path as my crash course into motherhood. Just as I learned to navigate the grocery aisle with two unpredictable and energetic toddlers climbing out of the cart, I learned how to put my feelings into stories, and then learned I could actually sell them. In time, my spit-up drenched onesies and stain treatments on explosive diaper accidents has evolved to bleaching white baseball pants and scrubbing grass stains out of soccer jerseys and jeans. My tears and feelings of overwhelming helplessness have morphed over some very crazy years into acceptance, occasional moments of wonder, and plenty of plain bafflement. Depression has been replaced by the mechanics of managing two boys’ daily lives, and I admit I’m starting to feel like a seasoned pro. Sometimes the realization hits me: Do I really have two school-age kids? I spend so much time saying “I can’t wait for these boys to be older…to be out of diapers, to be sleeping through the night.” I should be holding on tight to every baby gurgle, deep belly laugh, even the fleshy rolls of thunder thighs, and the high pitch of Bobby’s voice when he sees a big rig on the freeway. Soon enough, they will be men and I will wonder where it all went. Before, I sniffled back tears as a zombie-mommy in a funnel cloud of Dreft and Bounce sheets. Now I’m wading in Febreeze and HE performance detergents, racing to get sports uniforms clean in time for the next game, while the boys wield their light sabers and play Star Wars. How did Elmo get replaced by Anakin Skywalker so quickly? And, my once dirty and disgusting duo of top loading, off balanced washer/dryer has upgraded to this massive, shiny beast. Now I really am expected to keep this one clean. And I can do this with care because I’m fairly certain my sons know better than to lock me out of the house now. Kelly Pollard is a writer and mother of two living in the East Bay. For a full reprint of Kelly’s first article “Mach 3 with My Hair on Fire: A Day in the Life of a Stay at Home Mom”, visit www.kellypollard.net.
Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com
Help us Create Another 10 Years of Memories for Kids at Camp Arroyo Serving children living with brain tumors, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, skin disease, Crohn’s, colitis, celiac, diabetes, autism, bereavement, bipolar disorder and many more.
We need your help to continue to provide critically and chronically ill children in Northern California with camp experiences at no cost to their families. Our wish is for kids who attend Camp Arroyo to check their worries at the door, make new friends and feel included in every activity. With your support, each child will take home joy, love, hope and memories. Every dollar of your tax deductible kids-to-camp donation goes directly to funding camps, allowing us to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience to these children. For ways to help, visit ttff.org.
nd us se Help c a mp ! to kids
To be a Camp Hero and help The Taylor Family Foundation send kids to camp, visit www.TTFF.org
The Taylor Family Foundation’s Camp Arroyo
5555 Arroyo Road, Livermore, CA 94550 • (925) 455-5118 • www.ttff.org • e-mail: TTFF@ttff.org Tax ID No. 94-3262932