Bear Essential News Jan 2019, Phoenix Edition by Bear Essential News

Bear 40 YEARS!

Happ y New Year!

essential news

January 2019 • Phoenix Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com

2019 Birthday Guide! See pages 12 thru 14

In This Picture: Find a New Year’s party hat, a cupcake, a football, a glass of punch, a lollipop, MLK Day, 2019, a crown, a pig and the word FUN!

FEATURE

NEWS

Dealin g with Your Money Government S hutdown The Krayon Kids Currency and using it wisely! pages 10 & 11

Spotlight on fab space photos News Highlights page 3

& more news kids can use Scoops pages 4, 5, 6, 8 & 17

WILDLIFE

PARTIES!

t hday G uide Livin g In a Desert BLetirthe fun begin! An animal burrow maze! Page 7

Pages 12 thru 14

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January 2019

Scien-Tastic! Bigger Questions, Better Answers, Bear Down A monthly science feature sponsored by

cz/shutterstock.c

SHARK! It is a bone-chilling cry that sends swimmers and surfers alike rushing for the sandy shore. But are these creatures really the killing machines we have made them out to be? Every year, all across the world, sharks are responsible for approximately six human deaths, while it is estimated that humans are responsible for the death of more than 100 million sharks a year. In fact, there are more than 500 shark species and over a quarter of them are threatened by The bull shark is one of the fierce extinction. Between overfishing, st predators in the ocean. destruction of habitat, trophy fishing and shark finning – a quickly. As a top oceanic predator, sharks help cruel practice in which sharks keep these populations under control. Sharks are are caught only to have their fins removed and important for the environment! then thrown back into the ocean to drown – huSharks are apex predators, which means they mans are removing sharks from the oceans much have very few natural predators in the wild. They faster than they are able to reproduce. This is a prefer warmer waters, like those off the coast of sad situation considering sharks have been on Southern California and Indonesia, but can be the Earth for more than 400 million years! found in all the world’s oceans – including the What would happen to our oceans if sharks frigid waters of the Arctic. And while we have disappeared? Sharks play an important role in learned a lot about them through research and maintaining balance in the ocean ecosystem. study there are still many things we have yet to Their main sources of food include marine understand about these magnifi cent and misunmammals such as seals, and a variety derstood creatures. of fish that reproduce In all, sharks are creatures to be appreciated, not feared!

Sharks Help Keep Oceans in Balance

“Sharks: Magnificent & Misunderstood” This exhibition opens on February 15th, 2019 at Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium. Featuring hands-on interactive exhibits, models, and much more. This exhibit is fun for the whole family and a great ﬁeld trip for school groups.

Did You Know? Sharks shed their teeth constantly. Some species lose as many as 35,000 teeth in a lifetime. However, sharks’ teeth vary according to their diet, from sharp and pointy to dull and rounded.

By Francesco Volpi Ghirardini/wikimedia.org

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Martin Prochazka

The giant megalodon had teeth that could grow as large as 7 inches long or more!

Fun Facts! Sharks have no bones. Their skeleton is made up of cartilage like the part of your ear that feels stiff but can be bent. Sharks only bite to see if they like the taste. If they do not, they swim away. This is why people are accidentally bitten by sharks. Sharks much prefer the taste of their natural diet – seafood and marine mammals! Sharks have the ability to detect electrical ﬁelds at short distances. Since all living things give off electricity, this puts the hunting shark at a distinct advantage. Flexible scales on the bodies of these predators allow them to change direction while moving at full speed. This is called “denticle bristling”.

Contacts To learn more about sharks, visit our newest exhibit Sharks: Magniﬁcent and Misunderstood. To plan a visit or for more information, call 621-4516 or visit flandrau.org.

January 2019 •

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News Highlights Wikimedia Commons phot o

As of press time, many places like the Smithson ian Museum of Natural His tory were closed.

the nation’s capital. On Jan. 3, two women were sworn in to represent Arizona in the Senate: Kyrsten Sinema, who won the November election, and Martha McSally, who was appointed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to fill Sen. John McCain’s seat. Sinema is the first woman elected to represent Arizona in the Senate, but she was not the only member of Congress to make history on Jan. 3. Marsha Blackburn became the first female senator from Tennessee, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman ever in Congress, Kansas and New Mexico sent the first Native American women to Congress, and Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar became the first Muslim congresswomen.

Elusive Marsupial Is Spotted in Indonesia Can you imagine what it would be like to spot an animal that hasn’t been seen in nearly 100 years? A tourist and amateur botanist from England may have done just that when he photographed what scientists believe is a rare tree kangaroo that hasn’t been seen since 1928. The Wondiwoi tree kangaroo was assumed to be extinct until Michael Smith photographed a creature high in the trees of the Wondiwoi Mountains in Indonesia last summer. Smith and his group traveled to an elevation of more than 5,000 feet in dense forest when they started seeing signs of a tree kangaroo: scratch marks on tree trunks and dung. Tree kangaroos are tropical marsupials and close relatives to wallabies and ground-dwell-

Amazing Unmanned Spacecraft

Politics Shut Down Federal Government January has been a big month in the nation’s capital and across the country. A partial government shutdown that began on Dec. 22, 2018, continued into the new year. This means that about 25 percent, or 800,000, federal employees have been in unpaid status since the shutdown. Some are FURLOUGHED, meaning they cannot go to work, while others are being required to work without pay until the shutdown is resolved. The shutdown is not just a problem for the federal workers who aren’t receiving a paycheck. There are others who are being affected as well—from people who cannot visit the National Parks and the Smithsonian because they were forced to close due to the lack of funding to local businesses that rely on the business of government workers during the week. The shutdown may become a bigger problem for more people if it continues to drag on. January is the time when many people start filing their taxes and some people receive a refund from the federal government. While the IRS will be accepting tax returns, refunds will be delayed during the shutdown—which could cause lots of frustration for people around the country who rely on that money to pay bills. Our state also made big news earlier this month in

BEAR 40 YEARS

ing kangaroos. They weigh up to 35 pounds and have muscular forearms to pull themselves up tree trunks. They remain surprisingly well hidden in tree canopies and are hard to spot. Smith and his group were feeling discouraged on their search and were beginning to turn back and head down the mountain when Smith spotted what he thought might be a Wondiwoi tree kangaroo. He was able to snap a few excellent photos and reached out to several experts on tree kangaroos before he made his finding public. Experts seem to think there is little doubt that the shy little creature is a Wondiwoi tree kangaroo. Smith’s images were clear and show a distinctive coat color. Plus, the Wondiwoi Mountains are miles away from a suitable habitat for related kangaroos. It’s thought that the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo has a very limited habitation area, perhaps just 40 to 80 square miles. However, scientists at Global Wildlife Conservation are working to confirm the sighting. They are attempting to obtain permits to verify the critter’s identity through DNA sampling and protect it with conservation safeguards. Here’s hoping the shy and elusive little critter is in fact the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo and that it’s safe in the tree tops!

Unmanned spacecraft sent to explore some very special places in our solar system recently beamed back some fantastic photos! The first was taken in early December by OSIRISREx, a sample return mission by NASA being run by the University of Arizona. The spacecraft flew more than two years, covering more than a billion miles to catch up with an ancient asteroid named Bennu. As it neared, cameras built by the UofA snapped a series of images, carefully pieced together by the imaging team back on Earth to create an awesome GIF of the spinning asteroid! On New Year’s Eve, OSIRIS-REx MANEUVERED perfectly to orbit about a mile away from the asteroid, which could be older than our solar system. It is the smallest object in space ever to be orbited by a spacecraft! On New Years, the New Horizons spacecraft, launched in 2006, had made it to the Kuiper Belt near the edge of the solar system to do a flyby of Ultima Thule, a minor planet which may be the result of a collision that stuck Ultima and Thule together. At more than 4 billion miles from Earth, it’s the farthest object in our solar system ever visited. New Horizons is headed even deeper into the Kuiper Belt. Then on Jan. 2, China’s National Space Administration landed its Chang’e-4 spacecraft on the far side of the moon (the side we don’t ever see from Earth), deploying its rover Yutu 2 to cruise the bottom of the Von Karman crater.

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January 2019

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There’s Still Time to See Lights of the World by Reporters Zoe Moosman, Necka Moosman & Drayden Moosman Arizona Desert Elementary Have you ever wondered what the Lights of The World is all about? The Lights of the world has many activities, carnival rides, terrific lights and colorful lanterns. This is an amazing experience and can create lots of fantastic memories with family and friends. The Lights of the World display is at the Arizona State Fairgrounds and is open until Feb. 3, 2019. When you walk in you get your picture taken and then you can see all the amazing lights and rides they have. When you walk in through the tunnel there is a fountain made from lights. When it turns dark outside all the lights in the Lights of the World turn on. There are different displays of lights and everyone had different themes like dinosaurs, the ocean, the artic, castles, gingerbread men, and Santa and his reindeer. There are circle swings that light up in neon colors. In the middle of the whole place there is a volcano made from lights and at the top of it there are two beams of light shooting into the sky. They had some scary and fun rides such as G-force, Ferris wheel, teacups, yoyo, and other fantastic rides. There are a lot of very interesting stands. One of the stands that stood out the most was where you could get your name painted in cool designs. There was also a person who would draw you either realistically or as a cartoon. There is also sugar blowing. This is when you blow sugar into the shape of something. The Lights of the World has now been around for eight years. The displays are made in factories for two months while the setup takes 40-45 days by hand. Overall, the Lights of the World is memorable and can bring lots of joy to those who go. Visit www.phoenix. lightsoftheworldus.com for ticket prices and more information. Adviser: Karen Golden

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Brush Regularly to remove plaque and to

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Floss Daily to keep gums & roots healthy Schedule Regular Dental Visits to keep my healthy smile

Kids:

Can you answer the following questions? The answers can be found in your 2019 Resolution! 1. Flossing daily helps keep _________ and __________ healthy. 2. Brushing helps to control _____________ and _____________ . 3. What can you do to keep smiling? _______________________.

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‘Krayon Kids’ Teach Problem Solving by Reporter Denys Aguilera Arizona Desert Elementary

“The Krayon Kids” is a book about working together and solving problems no matter our differences. The krayons discovered it is better to work together instead of against each other. Karen Morales, children’s book author, started writing poems when she was 7 years old. “I also made a newspaper for my neighborhood,” says Morales. “I knew I wanted to be an author when I was very young.” Morales taught second grade for 30 years in Avondale, Arizona, at Michael Anderson School. Morales is inspired most by Pam Munoz Ryan because, “We read ‘Mice and Beans’ in our classroom and it was so magical.” It took Morales two months to write “The Krayon Kids.” Morales had to organize her thoughts and ideas, thinking of characters, setting the plot—figuring first, next and last parts of the book. “Then I threw in some imagination,” she says. When the story was completed, Morales sent it to her publisher. “I chose my illustrator because she used bright colorful illustrations,” says Morales. “I wrote this book to teach my students one more lesson… always follow your dreams and never give up.” “The Krayon Kids” book is available through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and from Morales at thekrayonkids.com. Adviser: Karen Golden

Learning About Victory Gardens by Reporter Zoe Santos Arizona Desert Elementary Gardening was promoted during World War I. War gardening, or victory gardens, provided American citizens an opportunity to assist with the war effort. Americans were encouraged to produce their own food, planting vegetable gardens in their backyards, city parks and school playgrounds. William Nodine is a Certified Texas Master gardener. Nodine is also certified in vegetable specialist training, plant health and diagnostics educator specialist training. Nodine grew up in New England. “There were no large stores so you planted crops, then harvested and stored your food throughout the year,” says Nodine. “I was 5 years old and remember driving to Vermont with my Uncle Bill and family to pick potatoes from the field. While we were there, my grandmother made all of us fresh tomato sandwiches and for dessert we had homemade applesauce from her Macintosh apple orchard.” Nodine says that gardening processes were passed down from generation to generation from his

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News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids Sodalicious Is a Fun Hangout for Teens by Reporter A’naiyah D’Addabbo Highland Jr. High School Sodalicious, says it all in the name! This amazing new hangout spot with unique soda flavors has something for everyone. You can try an extra-dirty butter beer, cotton candy sprite or other yummy drinks. You start with soda, horchata, hot chocolate, tea or lemonade and add a flavor mixer to create a unique taste. There are also amazing treats like crispie treats, popcorn and delicious pink

frosted sugar cookies. To make this fun place even better, they have free Wi-Fi and board games! All you have to do is ask an employee about a game and they are more than happy to let you borrow it! They even have an awesome satisfaction-guarantee! If you're not 100 percent satisfied with your custom drink, they will gladly re-make it at no extra cost. They have three locations across the Valley. So, invite your friends, order a custom drink, pair it with a delicious treat and have a great time at Sodalicious! MORE SCOOPS, page 6 ➧

aunts, uncles and grandparents. Nodine’s favorite thing to garden is vegetables because you have to learn the laws of plant growth. You learn how to seed, care, harvest, store and prepare the food. Nodine says you have to learn about bugs, the good and the bad ones. You have to learn about soil, nutrition and how to feed your vegetables. Nodine is a strong supporter of the Junior Master Gardener program. There may be one in your area. To learn more, go to www.jmgkids.us. Adviser: Karen Golden

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Continued from page 5

Schools Tackle Juvenile Diabetes by Reporter Jayden Rodriguez Arizona Desert Elementary Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. Your pancreas does not make insulin. To fix this problem, you need insulin shots that are ordered by your doctor. Scientists are not sure what causes Type 1 diabetes, but it may be genetic. Sharon Nodine, RN and nurse facilitator, has been a nurse for 46 years, a school nurse for five years and a Nurse Facilitator for seven years. Nodine is in charge of school nurses on 24 campuses with over 15,000 students. “We have many students with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes,” says Nodine. According to Nodine, diabetes is a disease that affects the way our body uses glucose. Glucose is a sugar source in your body and the body uses it for fuel. You could say it is like a battery for your body. The pancreas is a

long gland in your body and when you digest food, it makes a hormone called insulin. People with diabetes cannot make insulin, or their bodies do not allow insulin to work as it should. Because of that, sugar does not move into the cells so their blood sugar gets really high and it can make them sick, says Nodine. According to Nodine, doctors and school nurses are seeing an increase in children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. “Schools are providing more nutritious foods in order to help children make healthy choices,” says Nodine. Nodine says kids can stay healthy and help avoid the risk of diabetes with exercise and healthy food choices and food portions. Adviser: Karen Golden

7.0 Quake Shakes Alaska by Reporter Adrian Renteria, Arizona Desert Elementary On Nov. 30, some residents of Alaska were shaken by a 7.0 earthquake—one they will never forget, especially Julie Peterson, who has been a resident in Alaska for 27 years. It was her birthday. Peterson lives in Eagle River, Alaska. She was in bed when the earthquake hit. “It started off like any other normal day. I got up with my husband at 4:30 a.m. that morning, made his lunch and got him off to work. He leaves the house at 5 a.m. I did a few things on my computer for a little over an hour. My sister called me from Arlington, Texas, to wish me a happy birthday. It will be a birthday I will never forget,” says Peterson. According to Peterson, it was about 8 a.m. when she decided to lay back down. Not even 30 minutes later, at 8:29 a.m., the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit. The first aftershock, about a minute later, was 4.8 and the second 5.8, about six minutes later. Peterson was home alone with her three dogs. Her husband works in Anchorage, 25 miles away. It took him six hours to get home. On a normal day, Peterson says it takes him 30–45 minutes depending on the traffic. “It was so loud and things were crashing all around me, glass was breaking and the house looked like a war zone,” says Peterson. According to Peterson, many roads, bridges, schools, homes and businesses were badly damaged in the quake. MORE QUAKE, page 8 ➧

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January 2019

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Spider-Man Has a Cool New Verse by Reporter Rowan Griffith

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This February, make your Presidents’ Day weekend a time to explore, discover and learn at the Sustainable Solutions Festival! Sustainability Play Day

at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix Sunday, February 17

Gardening, cooking and fitness demonstrations. (All activities at the booth locations are included with paid admission.)

Sustainability Family Day at the Arizona Science Center Monday, February 18

Explore solutions and innovations for our planet. Features Arizona wildlife, award-winning projects created by students and scientists as well as crafts, games and giveaways. (All activities at the booth locations are included with paid admission.)

ASU Open Door!

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” was released in movie theaters Dec. 14. So far it has gotten good reviews from critics. I think this movie was absolutely and positively fantastic. The plot was wonderful, plus it had jokes and fun while still keeping the movie heavy enough that it wasn’t boring. The characters were all wonderful because none of them were perfect and a few even had their relatable moments. For a spoiler free example, at the beginning, Miles Morales, the main character, was partially singing along to a song—humming along to the beat and only saying the words that he knew, which I find is common when I’m trying to learn new lyrics. Plus the soundtrack was good, too. I’ve become bored with the style of some recent blockbuster animation that I find repetitive. This movie, however, was jaw-droppingly gorgeous, magnificent and beautiful. I got to the point where I was crying about how beautiful the animation was. Was that just my over-emotional self or my animation fanatic self? That’s debatable. Should you see this movie? It depends. The animation does take advantage of constant flashing in many scenes due to the style and action. But if you are not prone to seizures due to strobing lights I highly recommend this movie!

More Quake Continued from page 6

“Many of the schools are closed for the remainder of the school year,” says Peterson. America Weise, resident of Anchorage, says, “When the quake first hit, I was in the kitchen of our home with my daughter and two step-children. It was strange because you could hear it before you could feel it,” says Weise. The four of them ran into Weise’s walk-in closet where there are two door frames. Fortunately Weise did not have much damage. “Candles fell off of the fire place mantel, but didn’t break”, says Weise. According to Weise, pictures also fell off the wall and various things were on the floor in the pantry. Weise feels lucky that her home and things were left intact, whereas some people couldn’t even go home. “The aftershocks were scary at first, but now we just expect them,” says Weise. Adviser: Karen Golden

MORE SCOOPS, page 17 ➧

Volume 40 • Issue 5

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Are You Ready? Thousands of Girl Scouts Are! Cookie Season Is Here! In the last few issues you have read about Maddie and Kaitlyn—cookie bosses extraordinaire! They were both top cookie entrepeneurs in 2018, each selling thousands of boxes of Girl Scout Cookies. Did you know that the Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world! This month, Girl Scouts all across Central and Northern Arizona will become cookie bosses. They will learn teamwork and planning, goal setting, money management and more. Girls will gain new skills and confidence as they interact with people in the community, too. Girl Scout Cookies will be here Jan. 21–March 3.

Girls will get to know their neighbors by going door-todoor and taking orders for Girl Scout Cookies. Some girls will put their tech skills and computer know-how to use by building their own cookie website and managing virtual sales through the Digital Cookie program. Girl Scouts earn cookie money to use for amazing adventures like Girl Scout camps, unforgettable trips with their troops, or service projects that can change their lives and the lives others in their communities. Girls will be setting up a temporary “shop” in front of local businesses and other locations like sporting events, church and community events, and selling cookies.

Maddie (left) and Kaitlyn (above) were Top Cookie Bosses in 2018!

You will find Girl Scout Cookie booths at partner locations including: Fry’s Marketplace, Bashas, Safeway, Joann Fabric and Craft Stores, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, Goodwill, ASU and GCU. If you don’t know a Girl Scout in your neighborhood and you don’t see a booth at one of your regular local stores, you can use the Cookie Finder App to find Girl Scout Cookies near you! All you have to do is visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/cookiefinder and enter your ZIP code to find convenient cookie booth locations. Through the entire month of February, the 6th Annual Girl Scout Cookie Dessert will happen in restaurants around Arizona. Chefs will compete using their culinary skills to reimagine the classic Girl Scout Cookie as a delicious dessert menu item. A portion of proceeds from dessert sales will go to support local Girl Scouts, and the chef/restaurant with the most votes at the end of the challenge will be crowned the Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge Champion! To learn where you can try a delectable Girl Scout Cookie inspired dessert, and to vote for your favorite, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/dessertchallenge. It’s time to join the adventure! Join today at girlscoutsaz.org/join.

Join a Troop, Start a Troop or Volunteer! Visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, email join@girlscoutsaz.org or call 602-452-7040. EVERY GIRL can become a Girl Scout! Find out more at girlscoutsaz.org/join

Page 10

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January 2019

What’s the DEAL with

M NEY? T

he use of objects for exchange goes back to ancient times. Sometimes people would barter things directly, but they also used currency to trade goods. Natural items like shells were used as money to make trading easier.

The shekel in Mesopotamia—the oldest known CURRENCY—was used about 5,000 years ago. By the ﬁrst millennium (1–1000 A.D.) coins made of materials like lead, copper, silver and gold were being used in Europe, Asia and Africa. Paper money, like coins, could be easily carried and made trading faster and more convenient. But paper money has its problems, including counterfeiting and losing its value. Early paper money was a written promise to pay in the future, usually in gold or silver bullion. The bills often had elaborate engravings and signatures by the bankers to try to defeat counterfeits (fakes).

Counterfeiting Colonists The Massachusetts Bay Colony used the ﬁrst American paper money. It was issued in 1690 to pay for a military expedition to Canada, according to the American Numismatic Society. Numismatics is the study of currency, including coins and paper money. Counterfeiting was a big problem in colonial times. Founding father Benjamin Franklin was a renowned printer who, besides printing newspapers and his famous almanac, provided currency for several colonies.

An employee uses a magnifying glass to inspect the printing plates to make sure all of the details are perfect before printing begins!

Franklin was named as the official printer of Pennsylvania in 1730 at age 24. Franklin and partner David Hall were also the official printers for New Jersey and printed currency for Delaware, too. One way Franklin tried to foil counterfeiters was to make his printing plates from molds of real leaves! By the time of the Revolutionary War, when the 13 Colonies were fighting for independence from England, paper money was used to pay for military expenses and for running the colonial governments. Each colony was printing its own currency. Great Britain challenged the colonial currency, not only because it supported the war efforts but because it also was used as propaganda. Unflattering, incendiary images of King George III and patriotic depictions of the Minute Men were common artwork on the paper bills. TIC A national form of paper money was first N E UTH issued by the Continental Congress in 1775. A % 100 But this money was almost worthless after the war, making many Americans reluctant to use paper money. If you’re one of the lucky fans who has seen megahit musical “Hamilton,” or if you listen to the soundtrack or watch the online videos, you may already know that George Washington’s “right hand man,” Alexander Hamilton, was the first Secretary of the Treasury. You can see likenesses of Founding Fathers and original money men Franklin and Hamilton on the $100 and $10 bills. Hamilton helped establish the Bank of the United States in 1791 and established credit for the fledgling U.S. government. The Bank of the United States was a private bank, but it is considered the first central bank. Other private banks around the country continued to issue their own currency. With so many different banknotes around, counterfeiting was a big problem. There were also problems with paper money being depreciated (losing value). During the Civil War, both the North and South printed money to cover the costs of wartime. Confederate money, even more than Continental currency, was worthless after the war. Americans were once again suspicious of paper money. After a financial panic in 1907, the Federal Reserve was created in 1913 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act. Its job is to be a buffer between the government and the economy in order to prevent financial crises. The Fed manages

! K O

January 2019

ow that you know the origins of American currency, think of the ways you and your family use money. First off, how do you get money? Do you earn an allowance? Maybe you just got some money during the holidays or on your birthday! More enterprising young people might pick up extra chores around the house, pull weeds at a trusted neighbor’s house or sell stuff they’ve outgrown or don’t need any longer! Of course, you can try to go the celebrity route—singing, dancing, acting or become a YouTube phenom like 7-year-old Ryan. His family-run channel, “Ryan ToysReview,” has hit it big with 17 million followers and earned $22 million from June 2017 to June 2018. But being a child star doesn’t always turn out so well, and we’ll stick to more ordinary ways kids can earn a buck with more moderate amounts to work with.

Now that You’ve Earned It, What Should You Do With It? When it comes to money, young people usually think of the things they can start buying with it—toys, apps, clothes, favorite foods or treats, books, tickets to the latest blockbuster or more stuff for your collection or hobby. Teens might start thinking of some services they might spend their money on like getting their nails done, having their hair styled and colored or getting their wheels serviced. Do you know the difference between buying the things you want versus buying things you really need? Sure you can spend it, but there are other things you can do with your money. Top on the list is to save it. You also can invest it or share it.

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Sometimes what you really want to buy costs more than you have. And it’s a really good idea to have money set aside for future, unexpected needs. Both require saving money. Sit down with your mom or dad or an older brother or sister who is good with their money and set some goals. How much would you like to save each week? How much are you going to BUDGET for spending per week? And, if you think giving or lending your money (maybe to help other people) is something you’d like to do, how much of your money are you willing to share? Younger kids can ﬁnd three clean jars, label them SAVINGS, SPENDING and SHARING, and ﬁnd a safe place to keep them. Keeping your goals in mind, when you get some cash, decide how much to put where. And if you meet your savings goal, maybe use some of your spending money to treat yourself to something for doing a good job! Gift cards generally end up in your spending jar, which can free up cash in there to transfer to your savings jar! But you also can donate gift cards and put them into your sharing jar. And if you’re saving up to purchase something special, keep an eye out for sales and shop around (online is convenient) so you don’t end up paying too much.

The Art of Money Have you ever held up a bill to see the watermark or metallic band in the paper? Do you ever wonder why there are so many designs, patterns, numbers, pictures and signatures on bills? A big reason is to prevent counterfeiting. But besides the practical reasons, the design of paper money and coins can also be considered works of art. An early coin designed by Ben Franklin reminded Americans to “Mind Your Business,” or pay attention to your work. First President George Washington did not want his image to appear on coins, as he thought this sent the wrong message—since kings and emperors put their likenesses on coins, he believed that he should not follow their example. Instead, the personiﬁcation of Liberty was used to adorn U.S. coins, and still is. Washington did not appear on the $1 bill until 1869. Many people collect coins and old money for the interesting features and artful designs. Of course, old and rare coins and bills can be very valuable, too! Do you have a coin collection?

This is Interesting!

hen you’re serious about saving your money, visit your parent’s bank or credit union and have them open your own savings account! Check ﬁrst to make sure you have the minimum amount to start one—for many places, it’s around $50. And from time to time, you can take the money out of your savings jar and go with your parent to DEPOSIT it into your account. It’s a really good habit to save—your money is safe and insured by the government. Plus, for every dollar you keep in your savings account, the bank or credit union will pay you INTEREST to help your savings account grow. On top of that, it will start paying you based on the combined amount of what you put in and the interest you’ve earned. This is known as compound interest. Traditionally, savings accounts don’t pay a whole lot of interest. So being a good consumer, you can see what other higher interest rates are offered for certain minimum amounts and for certain amounts of time that you’re willing to INVEST your money into. Some of these higher interest-yielding accounts also are federally insured but other types of investments might not be. To help you understand more about money and to help you get into good money habits (the earlier the better!), check out “Money As You Grow,” put together by the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability. A PDF summarizing 20 Things Kids Should Know to Live Financially Smart Lives can be seen here:

http://moneyasyougrow.org/_print/activities_ poster.pdf

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January 2019

What’s the DEAL with

M NEY? T

An employee uses a magnifying glass to inspect the printing plates to make sure all of the details are perfect before printing begins!

! K O

January 2019

•

BEAR 40 YEARS

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This is Interesting!

http://moneyasyougrow.org/_print/activities_ poster.pdf

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January 2019

Boomer Bear’s 2019

BIRTHDAY GUIDE

venue you will need and what interest the kids have in common. • Decide which venue you will hold the party at, call the venue to reserve your party. See if the venue provides decorations, plates, napkins, goodie bags, etc. • Choose a theme for the invitations. Decide if you will purchase them at the store or find out if the venue you have selected will provide them. Four weeks before the party: •Plan the order of events during the party. Will you have activities or games when the guest arrive, when will you serve food, when will you serve cake and will your child open gifts at the party or wait until they are at home? • Place your cake order with the bakery. Three weeks before the party: • Mail the invitations asking the invitees to RSVP by a certain date if they can attend. • Purchase party supplies, goodie bags and items for goodie bags (if your venue does not provide them). • Have the birthday child decide on the outfit they will wear at the party. Most parents will buy the child a new outfit because a lot of pictures and videos will be taken of the child that day.

irthdays are a special time for kids. On their special day, they get to be the center of attention and share their day with family and friends. Planning a party can be stressful for parents and trying to find a unique party place that is within the parent’s budget can be stressful too! Bear Essential News has done some research for you and put together a Birthday Guide to help you with your planning. There are many places in Phoenix to celebrate or you could even take a road trip to Tucson to have an exciting party there. Does your child like animals, sharks, painting, science, dinosaurs, dancing, laser tag, trampolines, gymnastics, mini golf or the old west? There are so many great venues that offer these themes and more! Here are some helpful tips for planning your party: Six weeks before the party: • Decide how many guest to invite. This will help you decide how large of a

ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM

520-883-2702 • Tucson 2021 N. Kinney Road www.desertmuseum.org/bday/ www.desertmuseum.org Is your child ready to party with cool cats, zippy bats, and playful packrats? Then slink, swoop, or scamper to the Desert Museum for an unforgettable birthday adventure! You and your guests recieve all-day admission to the museum, 1.5 hours of playtime in the Packrat Playhouse, a T-shirt for the birthday child, animal tracking booklets for all guests and staff support that will provide a fun activity.

BRICKS DANCE STUDIO 602-954-5200 • Phoenix 4550 E. Indian School Rd. Nicole@bricksstudio.com www.bricksstudio.com

A children’s dance and cheer studio located in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. Join us for great birthday parties for all ages — you pick the theme: Sports, Hip-hop, Ballet, Dance, Yoga, Cheer, Princess Tea Parties, Gymnastics, Karate and more. Birthday Child plus to to 12 guests. Parties include: Party planner, Teacher, Cupcakes/Cookies and drinks. Crafts, Decorations, Games and all clean-up.

BUTTERFLY WONDERLAND AT ODYSEA IN THE DESERT 480-800-3000 x 210 • Scottsdale 9500 E. Via de Ventura birthdays@butterflywonderland.com www.butterflywonderland.com/birthday

Searching for the perfect place for an indoor birthday party for your child? Our parties include all day admission for up to 15 children and 3 adults, a party hostess and a

One week before the party: • Call those you invited that have not responded. • Call the venue to adjust the amount of people coming, if needed. Day before the party: • Pick up cake or make arrangements to pick up on the way to the venue. • Fill the goodie bags with candy and small party favors. • Make sure camera and video cameras are charged or have fresh batteries. • Pack a notepad and pen to write down names and the gift the guest brought so that you can write thank you notes. One week after party: • Mail thank you notes to guests. Check out Boomer Bear’s 2019 Birthday Guide and start planning for your child’s big day! Happy Birthday from Boomer Bear!

special gift for the birthday child. Three packages available for you to customize your party.

CRACKERJAX FUN PARK 480-998-2800 • Scottsdale 16001 N. Scottsdale Rd. www.crackerjax.com

Birthdays are a Blast at CrackerJax! Parties for every budget! 4 outstanding Party Packages to select from. All include 45 min. in the party room with party supplies. Pizza or hot dogs, ice cream and drinks,

party hostess and invitations, 5 tokens for each child and 10 tokens for birthday child, redemption tickets. You choose the attractions—Go Karts, Bumper Boats, Mini Golf, Laser Tag.

DOLPHINARIS AT ODYSEA IN THE DESERT

480-407-5154 • Scottsdale 9500 E. Via de Ventura lwitt@dolphinaris.com www.dolphinaris-arizona.com An unforgettable birthday! Meet our dolphins and delight in a dolphin kiss and a high-five – a magical experience! You and your friends can greet a dolphin from land or in the water. Party in the Beach Club and pool with an underwater window to the dolphins. Party packages for 8+ include a private cabana. Ask about a special delivery by one of our dolphins or personal appearance from our mascot, Dolly the Dolphin!

January 2019 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

ENCHANTED ISLAND

602-254-1200 x 221 • Phoenix 1202 W. Encanto birthdays@enchantedisland.com www.enchantedisland.com

The Perfect location for your child’s next birthday party. We offer several options. For the smaller party, try our all inclusive Birthday Bash Package. For the larger party, try our do-it-yourself Pete’s Package. Book online. For those who want to be pirate captain of the crowd, we have added a new BOUNCE PARTY in our private one-acre Pirates Cove area. 200 person maximum for the bounce party.

Centrally located. What’s your choice? — a Trampoline Party, Dance Party, Gymnastics Party, Ninja Party, or Tutus & Tiaras Party. Party Package is based on 10 or 15 guests, 1 hour private jump time, 45 min. private party room, a bottle of water/soda for each guest and a party hose. Pizza can be added. All parties are private so book early because space is limit.

I.D.E.A MUSEUM 480-644-3690 • Mesa 150 W. Pepper Place www.ideamuseum.org

Come party with us! Nurture your child’s creative side with an i.d.e.a. Museum party where the museum staff keeps your special day running smoothly. We offer 3 creative party packages for children starting as young as 1 year old.

THE LITTLE GYM OF PARADISE VALLEY 602-996-1380 • Scottsdale 4848 E. Cactus, Suite 510 www.thelittlegym.com

FLIP DUNK

602-277-0067• Phoenix 1515 E. Bethany Home Rd. www.flipdunksports.com Come celebrate your Birthday Party with us. We have parties for every budget.

Kids ages 1-12. An Awesome Birthday Bash gives your birthday kid and their friends the full run of the facility, filling the celebration with instructor led games created especially for your child. 1.5 hour with base price at 20 kids, not including the birthday family. Trained instructor, all paper goods, party room, lemonade, balloons and invites. No set-up and clean-up for you!A variety of party packages to choose from.

More Birthday Listings on page 14

BEAR 40 YEARS

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Boomer Bear’s 2019

BIRTHDAY GUIDE

Continued from page 13

OLD TUCSON

520-883-0100 • Tucson 201 Kinney Road www.oldtucson.com/birthday-parties/ www.oldtucson.com Saddle up for an adventure in the old west! A birthday party at this famous movie location will take you back in time with stuntshows, horse and stagecoach rides. You and your guests can ride the carousel, train and drive the miniture antique cars. Birthday packages with pizza and drinks available.

ODYSEA AQUARIUM

480-291-8000 • Scottsdale 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Suite A100 Odyseaaquarium.com www.odyseaaquarium.com/birthday-parties/ Three great birthday party packages to choose from! For up to 12 children and 2 adults. Each package includes unlimited Bumper Boat rides for children, pizza and juice, scavenger hunts, digital invitations! The Land, Sea & Sky Party Package also includes admission to Butterfly Wonderland.

PANGEA LAND OF THE DINOSAURS At OdySea in the Desert 480-362-3466 • Scottsdale 9500 E. Via de Ventura pangealandofthedinosaurs.com

Dinorrific Birthday Party Packages! Guests are transported back to the age of dinosaurs. With more than 50 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs roaming through exhibits. The Stegosaurus Birthday Party includes; Access to Pangea Land of the Dinosaurs, guided tour, dinosaur inflatable obstacle course, fossil digging, all interactive stations and invitation. Check out our web site for more details and for info on the expanded T-Rex Birthday Party.

PHOENIX ZOO WILD BIRTHDAY PARTIES! 602-914-4333 • Phoenix 455 N. Galvin Parkway www.phoenixzoo.org/events/birthdays/

Let the Phoenix Zoo host your child’s next birthday party and enjoy a fun stress-free day celebrating. Can’t make it to the Zoo? Have our animals come to you! Hosted birthday party package includes: Admission

to zoo for up to 10 children and 12 adults, reserved party ramada-for 1.5 hours, your own personal party host, party favor bag for each child, t-shirt for birthday child, craft activity with party host, cake, ice cream and lemonade for all party guests, plates & napkins, One Carousel ride or Stingray Bay admission, and member discount.

STRATUM LASER TAG

480-545-5500 • Mesa 1455 S. Stapley Drive, Suite 11 www.stratumhq.com

Experience the Best Full Service Birthday Party in the Valley as your guests are immersed in our signature multi-level arena that is like no other! Celebrate your child or teen’s special day with our all-inclusive Glow Party including laser tag in the World’s largest arena, pizza, drinks, party room, host and glow in the dark plates and décor! The birthday guest will tag with an exclusive laser tag vest equipped with special powers and a green laser!

UPTOWN JUNGLE 480-376-6955 • Mesa 5741 E. McKellips 623-203-3315 • Peoria 7608 W. Cactus 480-749-0858 • Chandler 2061 N. Arizona Ave. www.uptownjungle.com

The ultimate birthday party venue for your kids! We provide everything to make sure your party is a raging success.Housed in an indoor family-friendly fun park, we have private party rooms to accommodate groups

of various sizes along with your personal party host. Leave the party to us. A typical party is 2 hours: 90 minutes of playtime and 30 minutes in the party room. Parties come with a standard set of decorations, which includes a tablecloth, paper plates, napkins and plastic ware. You are welcome to bring additional decorations. We’ve crafted the perfect formula to throw your child’s birthday party, packed with fun, adventure and endless attractions to enjoy. Our private party rooms get booked quickly. So, call weeks in advance to book yours.

WILDLIFE WORLD ZOO, AQUARIUM & SAFARI PARK 623-935-9453 • Litchfield Park 16501 W. Northern Ave. www.wildlifeworld.com

There’s something for everyone at the Wildlife World Zoo which houses Arizona’s largest collection of exotic and endangered creatures. You have the opportunity to observe more than 600 species, including lions, penguins, giraffes, sting rays and sea lions. Additionally, there are a variety of fun pay-as- you-go rides to enjoy at the new Adventureland.

Bear Essential News

Come Dance with Us! Reserve Your

is looking for young writers who would like to report on

Birthday Party NOW!

SCIENCE.

You pick the theme: Sports, Hip-hop, Dance, Yoga, Cheer, Princess Tea Parties & more!

Offering classes for all ages: Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Mommy & Me, Tumbling

A great opportunity to interview scientists, participate in special ﬁeld trips, dig deeper into subjects that interest them and get published and read by their peers. Serious Fun.

Classes for All Ages! Register NOW! 4 months to 12 years. Call or schedule your free class online

Birthday Parties, Too!

Paradise Valley • 602-996-1380 tlgparadisevalleyaz.com

For more information, send your request to

info@bearessentialnews.com Arizona’s most trusted and awarded newspaper for young readers.

Bear Essential •••••••••••••••• NEWS ••••••••••••••••••• BearEssentialNews.com

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BEAR 40 YEARS

Field Trips Spark the Imagination!

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Society Proudly Presents: The 65th Annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show ®

FREE Field Trip Transportation Available to Any School! The State of Arizona has given you an opportunity to decide exactly where your tax dollars will be spent. ARS §43-1089-01 allows taxpayers a tax credit if they contribute to extracurricular activities in public schools. Your class wants to go on a ﬁeld trip but a bus is not in the budget? Parents and friends can donate the money and take exactly the amount of their donation off their state taxes.

Up to $200 for an individual Up to $400 for a married couple Complete information can be found on the AZ Dept. of Revenue website.

http://www.azdor.gov/TaxCredits/ SchoolTaxCreditsforIndividuals.aspx

Wulfenite owner Les Presmyk Photographer Jeff Scovil

What could be better than seeing kids interested, engaged and actively learning inside a classroom? Not much! But how about the chance for those same kids to learn outside of the classroom? Field trips offer all kinds of learning opportunities—from seeing real-world solutions being played out, to meeting scientists, artists, educators and other professionals out in the community, to experiencing wildlife, natural surroundings and native environments up close. History, agriculture, the arts, science and technology, literature and more await you at exciting educational destinations around the Valley. A study by the U.S. Travel Association shows the learning and life upsides to field trips. Kids who got to go on field trips tended to do better in school, benefit from higher graduation rates from high school and college, and earn more in the workforce! As an article by the National Education Association about these findings notes, “educational trips had a positive, lasting impact on (students’) education and career because the trips made them more engaged, intellectually curious and interested in and out of school.” In other words, field trips matter! It’s not too late to schedule a field trip this school year. Whether it is an experience that complements a curriculum block, or a respite and reward after testing, there are a lot of field trip options available. If you are looking for the right field trip for your class, a good place to get started is by browsing Bear’s online Field Trip Guide at BearEssentialNews.com

Tucson Gem & Mineral Show ® Tucson Convention Center February 14–17, 2019

2 OFF

$ 00

One Adult General Admission

February 14th –17th, 2019 Tucson Convention Center Thursday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. • Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. • Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Junior Education areas opens on Friday, 2/15/19 starting at 2 p.m. and runs through Saturday, 2/16/19 and Sunday, 2/17/19 until 4 p.m.

Children 14 and under FREE with a paying adult. Coupon cannot be used with any other discount.

For more information go to

www.tgms.org or call the TCC for ticket info

(520) 791-4101 option 1

BEAR 40 YEARS â&#x20AC;¢

January 2019

www.bearessentialnews.com

January 2019 •

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Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 8

OSIRIS-REx Arrives at Asteroid by Reporter Ruby Amick, Homeschool On Dec. 3, the OSIRIS-REx went into orbit around the asteroid Bennu, 241,000 to 209 million miles away from Earth (depending on its orbit). OSIRISREx is a spacecraft created to gather the largest sample of solid outer space material since the Apollo missions from 1969–1972, when the moon rocks were brought to Earth. For now, it will be scanning and mapping the entire surface of Bennu, which is 500 meters in diameter. The engineers’ planned method to make contact with the asteroid is called Tacsam. It will be a touch and go kind of mission, with only five seconds to collect samples with a vaccuum like arm. The team hopes to get at least 60 grams (a little more than 2 ounces) of pristine asteroid material to study. The University of Arizona has partnered with NASA on this sevenyear project and put in a great deal of research and planning, and has provided 150 students to help work on this mission. The UofA has been part of major

BEAR 40 YEARS

NASA planetary explorations, including missions like HiRISE and Pluto New Horizons; it was also the first public university awarded a principal investigatorled mission, the Phoenix Mars mission. For the next month OSIRISREx will perform flybys of Bennu’s north pole, south pole and equator. Then for the next 18 months researchers will survey the asteroid, looking for possible landing spots. The sample is scheduled to be retrieved in July 2020 and will hopefully return to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023, landing somewhere in Utah’s desert. OSIRIS-REx is two years into its seven-year journey. It will be the first mission to retrieve a sample from an asteroid. NASA believes the asteroid is a time capsule from the early solar system, rich with organic compounds that may have helped seed life on Earth. Keara Burke is a UofA student majoring in systems engineering and math; she plays an important role in this NASA mission. Her job is to examine surface images of the asteriod, then count every rock on Bennu and determine its size in efforts to find the perfect spot to collect the sample from. Burke says she had no special math or computer classes prior to college, and she encourages young people not to be afraid to try something new when they start at a university. “You can come to college and not be sure what you want to do and still get to this point, you just have to be willing to seek out those opportunities,” she says. When asked how he felt about the successful arrival of the spacecraft to Bennu on Dec. 3, Dante Lauretta, principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx replied, “It’s like Christmas came early!”

BEAR 40 YEARS •

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January 2019

The 2019 Summer Camp Guide Is Coming in our March, April & May Issues!

B Letters to Boomer He’s ‘Beary’ funny and will answer your letters—write to Boomer Bear at Bear Essential News • 2525 E. Broadway Blvd., #102 • Tucson, AZ 85716 or e-mail your letters to boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Dear Boomer, My New Year’s resolution is to get better at spelling so I can write a big story! Your friend, P.H. Good for you, P.H.! Writing gives you valuable practice when it comes to spelling. And just because you don’t spell well yet, don’t let that keep you from writing your BIG story. Once you’ve written your first draft, you can go back and edit it for spelling, punctuation, etc. And one of the best ways to learn new words and how to spell them is to read a lot!

Don’t miss out on promoting your summer program in Arizona’s premier resource for kids and families!

Reserve your space NOW! Nancy (480) 752-2327 or E mail Nancy@BearEssentialNews.com Call Kathy at (480) 752-2327 or E mail Kathy@BearEssentialNews.com

Yours truly, P.

What a great time, P.! I stayed up with my folks, watching the rainy Times Square celebrations on TV. We watched the dazzling ball drop, complete with fireworks and cheers from the crowd below. Make it a great year! Boomer Bear Dear Boomer, This year, I want to write about kids who are making differences in their communities. Thanks, H.B. Dear H.B., There are so many young people who volunteer their time and energy to making things better for others. Some are part of park or neighborhood clean up crews. Some collect food, coats or blankets for those who need them. Some help at their local animal shelter. I’m looking forward to your story!

from H.

Thanks for writing, Boomer Bear

Hey Boomer, For New Year’s Day, we partied at our house with all our family.

Happy New Year, Boomer! When it came time to celebrate New Year’s, we played games, watched movies with family and ate many snacks.

Your buddy, Boomer Bear

Sounds like a plan, S.S.! Young Reporters are our eyes and ears for what’s happening at their schools, in their clubs, on their teams and wherever they may be. Any kid in grades 2 through 8 who would like to start writing for Bear Essential News can sign up for my Young Reporters Program! When you mail in your sign-up form that you printed from BearEssentialNews.com, I’ll mail you your official press pass and Young Reporters Kit, which includes the Bear Essential Stylebook that covers gathering your facts, conducting interviews and writing your first news story for Bear Essential News. Now’s the perfect time to start!

Happy New Year to you, too, H.! Sounds like a great way to say goodbye to the old year and to usher in the new one. Have a fine 2-0-1-9, Boomer Bear Dear Boomer, As a (Young) Reporter, I would like to write about activities happening at school. Young Reporter, S.S.

Write for me, Boomer Bear

Hi, Boomer! (As a Young Reporter) I want to write about the weather and my vacation. — V.O. Dear V.O., Start writing before the snow melts! It was fantastic that many places around Phoenix and Tucson got snow on New Year’s Day and a few days later. A lot of kids traveled to some interesting places that make for a good news stories, too! Your buddy, Boomer

Black Mountain BMX

Races Every Friday & Saturday Night Sign ups–6:30—7:30 pm Races starts at 8:00 pm

Winter Nationals

Wed. Night Practice

Feb. 15, 16 & 17

6:30—8:30 pm

Beginner Clinic!

Every Monday, 6:30–8:30 pm • Call for details Race once without a membership. Must wear long sleeved shirt, long pants, helmet and tennis shoes.

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

January 2019 â&#x20AC;¢

BEAR 40 YEARS

BEAR 40 YEARS •

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January 2019

Teachers! Plan Your 2019 Spring Field Trips NOW!

Make Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & SafariPark part of your classroom experience! Admission includes access to scheduled lory parrot feeding, wildlife encounters shows, children’s play area and petting zoo. Teachers receive special discount pricing for your class and adult chaperones. Check out www.wildlifeworld.com or call 623-935-9453 for rates, info and to reserve online visit. School Onsite Outreach Program also available.

Aquarium

•

Zoo

•

Safari Park

•

Dragon World

•

Adventure Land

•

Mining Experience

Complete the puzzles to find these animals and hundreds more at the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium!

Unscramble the letters to discover the baby animals on display. (First letter is given) B K 1. tcaobb titenk __________ _____________

B 2. nisob ______________________________ L S 3. ase onli __________ _________________

START

3 4

Safari Park

5. eatulreticd fraigfe R ___________ G________

B S 6. kalbc wsan ___________ _____________

8 9

10 11

83 82 81 80

Do the dot-to dot to find the baby 20 warthogs! 21 23

52 51 50

25 26

69 74

75 68 79 67 76 66 78 77

C L 10. niol bucs ___________ ______________

18 19

P C___________ 9. guinpen kischc __________

57 55 58 54 72

8. martina T ____________________________

12 13 14 15 16

W 7. gawrtoh ____________________________

Come enjoy our newest 8 acre addition, with 20 new species. It’s a year-round family fun destination!

C M 4. bolocus kemony __________ __________

Answers: 1. bobcat kitten, 2. bison, 3. sea lion, 4. colobus monkey, 5. reticulated giraffe. 6. black swan, 7. warthog, 8. tamarin, 9. penguin chicks, 10. lion cubs

Fun for thely! whole fami

For more information: 623-935-WILD (9453) or visit us on facebook, Instagram or Twitter @zoowildlife, and wildlifeworld.com

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Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is located at 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ (SE corner of State Route 303 and Northern Ave.) We’re open seven days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays. Zoo exhibits are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last zoo admission is at 4:30 p.m.) Aquarium exhibits are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Daytime admission includes access to the zoo, aquarium and safari park.

e l i Sm

Wild