Bear Essential News June 2023, Tucson Edition

Be Safe In & Around Cars this Summer!

Keep your kids safe around driveways. Many preventable injuries occur when drivers are unaware of children near vehicles.

SAFETY TIPS!

• Take a few minutes, walk all the way around your parked car to check for children.

• Limit play in the driveway. Teach kids to play in safe areas instead of in, around or behind a car. Consider making your driveway a toy-free, kid-free zone.

• Don’t allow children to play unattended in parking lots or driveways when cars are present.

• Hold younger kids hands while walking near moving vehicles in driveways, in parking lots or on sidewalks.

Bike Safety

and obeying the “Rules of the Road”

• Ride WITH the traffic.

• Obey all traffic laws and signs.

• STOP at Red Lights and Stop Signs.

Wear bright clothes at night. Use headlights and reflectors.

Signal for Stops & Turns

LEFTSTOP RIGHT

Never

PREVENT HEATSTROKES

• Never leave your child in a car, not even for a minute.

• Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car that is needed at your final destination—like a purse or briefcase.

• Take action—if you see a child alone in a car—call 911. One call could save a life.

leave your child in a car, not even for a minute.

2023–’24 Editorial Calendar

JULY

Feature: Cool Summer Fun & Games

AUGUST

Feature: Space Exploration

Special Guide: Field Trips & Programs

SEPTEMBER

Feature: The New Generation—That’s You!

Special Guide: Field Trips & Programs

Here’s a look at the Features and Special Guides coming up in Bear!

OCTOBER

Feature: Arizona’s Water Future

Special Guide: Fabulous Fall Family Fun

NOVEMBER

Feature: Get Into Scouting!

Special Page: Holiday Performances & Contest

DECEMBER

Feature: Kid Treasures

Special Guide: Kindergarten & Academic Guide

JANUARY

Feature: AZ SciTech Festival

Pullout Guide!

Special Guide: Bear’s Birthday Guide

FEBRUARY

Feature: MY OH MY, HERE COMES AI!

MARCH

Feature: Amazing Baby Animals

Special Guide: Bear’s Summer Camp Guide

APRIL

Feature: Arizona Recycles!

Special Guide: Bear’s Summer Camp Guide

MAY

Feature: Jump Into Art!

Special Guide: Bear’s Summer Camp Guide

JUNE

Feature: Arizona Places

Thirsty States Agree to Curb Water Use

After years of draining Lake Mead, the largest water reservoir in the country, Arizona, California and Nevada have agreed to reduce their use of Colorado River water in exchange for about $1 billion from the federal government.

Lake Mead supplies water to 25 million people in these states and gets most of its water from the Colorado River. Upstream along the Colorado is Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir. But a longterm drought in the West has reduced the flow of the Colorado, even though our growing, thirsty population continues to use more water. So both reservoirs have seen dramatic drops in their water levels.

After Lake Mead dropped to dangerously low levels, the Secretary of the Interior declared a Tier 1 water shortage in August of 2021.This forced Arizona and Nevada to take less water from the Colorado. Through old water agreements, California has not had to cut its use.

But the drought continued and Lake Mead continued to dry up, forcing the federal government to declare a more severe Tier 2 water shortage last August, which would force even deeper cuts in water use this year.

Arizona, Nevada and California are the three Lower Basin States of the Colorado River. Arizona

already has taken the biggest cuts, including to the Central Arizona Project, a large aqueduct that carries water from the Colorado to the middle of the state, including Phoenix, and then continuing down past Tucson.

Rare Rembrandts Up for Auction

Two Rembrandt paintings previously unknown to art scholars will be up for auction this summer after not being seen in public for 200 years!

The desert Southwest’s rivers, lakes and canals

The federal government insisted that the states come up with a new plan that would further cut water use to help Lake Mead replenish. A battle was brewing over a new round of cuts. But with a deadline looming, the three states agreed each would take 10 percent less water from what they’re currently allowed. In turn, the states will get around $1 billion in federal funds to share. This will reduce the strain on the Colorado River by 3 million acre-feet of water through 2026. Large amounts of water are measured in acre-feet, which equals about 326,000 gallons.

President Joe Biden called the agreement “an important step forward in our efforts to protect the stability of the Colorado River System in the face of climate change and historic drought conditions.”

Griner Returns to the WNBA Court

Brittney Griner made a triumphant return to basketball last month for the Phoenix Mercury!

Griner’s first game back saw the Mercury playing an away game against the Los Angeles Sparks. According to ESPN, the matchup was the most viewed regular season WNBA game on cable in 24 years. While the Sparks won the game, Griner led the Mercury with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Not bad after spending 600 days away from the league! Her return to the court even drew a standing ovation, but Griner was all business when speaking after the game.

“At the end of the day, I’m at work. I have a job to do,” Griner said after her first game back. “I can’t get caught up in the moment. Kind of feel it, but put it to the side for a little bit and feel it later.”

Griner was arrested in Russia in February 2022 and convicted of a crime before being sentenced to nine years in prison. She spent nearly 10 months in prison in the Eastern European country.

While she was detained, many of Griner’s fellow athletes, including LeBron James, were outspoken about supporting the WNBA star and advocating for her release. Many of her WNBA teammates wore special shirts and pins as a tribute to Griner while she was detained. After declaring her wrongfully detained, the United States government worked for months to negotiate Griner’s release. She was ultimately released on Dec. 8, 2022.

At the time she was detained, Griner was overseas playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA off-season. It is common for WNBA players to play for teams overseas in the off-season to supplement their salaries in the WNBA.

Griner has been playing for the Phoenix Mercury since 2013 and had been playing for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg in the off-season since 2014. Before playing professionally, she played at Baylor University. She made history there by setting the all-time single season record for blocked shots during her freshman year!

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, often known simply as Rembrandt, created the paintings in 1635. They feature an elderly husband and wife from a prominent Dutch family. The paintings stayed in Europe until James Murray put them up for sale with Christie’s, a well-known auction house, in June 1824. Since the sale two centuries ago, the paintings have remained in Britain in a private collection. Experts were unaware of the paintings until the family completed an inspection of their possessions.

Once discovered, the paintings’ provenance, or their origin and history, were investigated. Experts reviewed the details of the 1824 sale and conducted research,

including scientific analysis, to confirm that the paintings were original Rembrandts. The paintings are again being auctioned through Christie’s. Henry Pettifer, the international deputy chairman of Old Master Paintings at Christie’s, says the rediscovery of the paintings was incredibly exciting.

“Painted with a deep sense of humanity, these are amongst the smallest and most intimate portraits that we know by Rembrandt, adding something new to our understanding of him,” said Pettifer in a statement.

Rembrandt was a Dutch painter best known for his realism and portraits. His work is world-renowned and hangs in some of the most high-profile museums.

The recently rediscovered paintings are expected to bring between $6.25 million and $10 million for both. This is certainly no small sum but may be cheap by comparison. In 2009, another Rembrandt portrait sold for a whopping $25.3 million. Seven years later, two Rembrandt portraits were acquired by the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum, two museums in Europe, for more than $85 million each! They became the most expensive Old Master paintings ever sold.

Image: ESPN

Get the Scoop!

Rex Tackles Tough Issue in Kid Friendly Way

by Reporter Ysrael Hernandez, Arizona Virtual Academy

Would you like to talk to the author that wrote the book in your hands? Or meet the illustrator of that game you like to play? I got to meet an author and illustrator, Adam Rex, who lives in Tucson, and was lucky enough to interview him about one of his novels, “The True Meaning of Smekday ” I was very surprised when I read the opening chapters of this book. The story was turned into the Dreamworks movie “Home.” That wasn’t the only surprising thing I learned!

I asked Rex about his inspiration for “The True Meaning of Smekday ” Back in 2001, Rex became interested in history, particularly when he read about how the Native Amercians were forced out of their homes and off their land by western colonizers.

He became greatly saddened that people could ever treat each other this way. He felt that the struggle of the people who were colonized and mistreated needed to be addressed. Rex wanted to write a book that helped young people understand what colonization means. He attempted this by telling the story through a middle schooler who has lost her only family and her home.

Rex says he begins by writing a bunch of nonsense that may or may not be useful. During the writing process he tries to ignore the fact that it doesn’t make sense, but remembers it has the potential to be great.

Author Loves Storytelling—for All Ages!

by Reporter Zahra Rafiyath, BASIS Oro Valley

I had the pleasure of interviewing an amazing author and interfaith activist, Saadia Faruqi. She has written books for different age groups. I met her at the Tucson Festival of Books at the U of A campus.

She has written books for all ages, including the Yasmin series for early readers. Faruqi says she was 8 years old when she began to write stories, but she didn't get serious about writing novels until later.

“I always loved storytelling, in all sorts of formats, and I wrote for fun almost all my life,” says Faruqi. “I decided to turn that love into a career when I was in my early 30s.”

Faruqi told me that she doesn’t have a favorite among her books. “All my books are equally precious to me because I wrote all of them, and the same amount of hard work and emotion goes into each book,” she says.

I recently read her book “A Thousand Questions.” I asked Faruqi how long did it took her to write it. She told me that she wrote the first draft in two or three months, and spent another month on revisions.

“However, there's a long gap between writing a book and getting it published, because there is editing, copy editing, cover design, marketing and all that,” Faruqi explains. “I wrote the first draft in 2017 and it was published in 2020.”

She is currently writing several more books. Later this year her first picture book, “Rani's Remarkable Day,” and her first graphic novel, “Saving Sunshine,” will be released.

It’s Travel Season and Air Travel Is Up

by Reporter Xavier Wu Sunrise Drive Elementary

With the COVID-19 pandemic officially over, and summer vacation looming ever closer (or arrived, for some), the travel industry is looking optimistic for the summer travel season, especially after the disastrous dive holiday travel took during the pandemic.

In fact, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, already 770 million passengers have traveled by air this year since February, an 18.1% increase from 2022, with only 652 million passengers. And keep in mind that the summer travel season has barely started, which gives you a glimpse on how chaotic this season may be, especially after the past few quiet summers.

And for hotels, this is also a major bounce back up. In 2020, during the midst of COVID, the number of hotel and motel businesses over time dropped to 77.9 thousand. In 2022, it rose up to 90.6 thousand. That’s a 12.7% increase.

Rental home listings are up, too. In fact, according to NewSilver.com, there were more than 2 million rental home listings on VRBO!

So, are you going anywhere this summer?

MORE REX, page 8 ➧

MORE FARUQI, page 8 ➧

BGet the Scoop!

More

Rex

Continued from page 7

Continued from page 7

According to Rex, having his book turned into a movie “was amazing.” “The True Meaning of Smekday” was his first novel. Unlike other authors Rex talked to, Dreamworks often called Rex into their studio and asked for his suggestions on the movie.

One of the things Rex does is to “not write in order.” If there is a scene that you want to write, he explained, go ahead and write it. Everything doesn’t have to be in order until you finish the draft and are ready to revise.

Some characters can be mean, others are kind. To create relatable characters, Rex says, the best thing is to base them on real people. There shouldn’t be a character that is just there. All characters should be their own, full individuals.

In the end, I learned about different techniques for prewriting and writing, the story behind one of Rex’s books, and what authors do when their stories become movies.

More Faruqi Continued from page 7

Faruqi is currently working on a second graphic novel and a new middle grade novel.

Faruqi advises young writers to “Keep a journal or notebook and a regular writing time where you practice the art of writing. Also, read a lot for inspiration and to give free rein to your imagination.”

I am looking forward to reading more of Faruqi’s books, and I encourage you to do so as well!

Have You Ever Eaten Cactus?

Try Nopales!

by Reporter Zhanna Hernandez Arizona Virtual Academy

Did you know you can eat cactus? Not any cactus, but a cactus you might see in the desert called nopales! This cactus has been eaten by indigenous people for centuries and is a modern food promoted for treating diabetes and high cholesterol.

So, how do you eat nopales? First, find a nopales cactus that is healthy and has no white mold. Cut a pale green cactus “ear” three levels up from the “trunk” of the cactus. Don’t touch the small needles, instead use tongs to carry. Next, have an adult take a sharp knife and move across the skin of the “ear” to remove all needles off the sides. Then cut the entire perimeter off. Finally, dice the nopales into cubes. Blanch, or drop into boiling water for a short time, to quickly cook the nopales.You must rinse them after removing the cactus slime!

Cooked nopales can be used sauteed with eggs or in red chile sauce. You can also grill nopales or freeze them and use them in healthy smoothies. If you want to learn more ways to cook nopales or other native foods, you should visit the museum on my native lands. The museum is called the Yoemem Tekia Museum and it is on the Pascua Yaqui Reservation at 4721 W. Calle Vicam in Tucson. At the museum you can learn all about my people and our traditions. The museum is open Tuesdays–Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. I hope you like it as much as I do! To learn more, visit yoememtekiafoundation.org

Keep Cool with Water Park Fun!

by Reporter Jesus Lara

Summer is coming up, which means it will be getting really hot! Lots of places are open, like water parks! Here are a few places to go to during your summer.

The first option is Hurricane Harbor located in Glendale! Hurricane Harbor is a great water park that has a large variety of rides. Around the park you can also find a lazy river, spots for food and several water fountains so you don’t get dehydrated. It is a safe and cool place for summer fun!

ARIZONA! ARIZONA! Amazing Boomer’s

The second option is Waylon’s Water World, located in Yuma! It includes a water park, arcade games, mini golf and go-karts!

The third and final option is Funtastics Family Fun Park located in Tucson! It includes the Cactus Springs water play area, laser tag, go-karts, roller coasters and mini golf!

So, be ready and have a fun time!

Discover Pinetop this Summer

by Reporter Jason Pluta

One of my favorite places to visit during the summer is the White Mountains in Pinetop, Arizona. My mom, grandma and I go there every year. We rent a special hotel called a timeshare, but you can also rent a cool cabin. There are so many things to see and do in Pinetop.

Pinetop has many hiking trails you can explore. In my opinion, the best hiking trail is by a lake called Scott Reservoir because there is a natural ice cave you can visit on that trail. There is also amazing scenery on hiking trails like tall pine trees and different wildlife including elk, black bears and wild horses. There are even some poisonous plants like poison ivy and poison oak, so it’s important to stay on the trails to be safe.

Fishing is also a popular and fun thing to do in Pinetop. Rainbow Lake is a big lake where you can rent a boat to fish, or you can fish in a smaller body of water called Silver Creek. Silver Creek is connected to a hatchery, which is a place where they breed and release fish to restock the lakes. The hatchery even offers tours so you can see how it operates.

Have you ever been to the White Mountains? There is fun for the whole family in Pinetop. I hope someday you can have adventures in Pinetop, too.

Visit Saguaro National Park

by Reporter Natalie Jones

Saguaro National Park is a great place to visit. It has two sides, the east side and the west side.

Saguaro National Park East has a beautiful hiking loop called Desert Ecology Trail. The easy trail is ¼ of a mile and paved. There are lots of signs to read and learn about wildlife and plants. Many different levels of trails are open for different skilled hikers.

Want to have some quiet time? Saguaro National Park is the perfect place for you. Our family set a timer for 1 minute and enjoyed the sounds of nature. We heard birds and the wind blowing through the palo verde trees.

There is lots of wildlife. You could see javelina, lizards, hawks and woodpeckers. We saw a coyote behind a small shrub. If you want to see some wildlife, ask a park ranger about sightings so you know where to look for some animals.

The west side of Saguaro National Park has unique cacti. We saw a cactus that was bent at the top and had no arms at all, quite a few cacti that were skinny at the top, and a prickly pear pad shaped like a heart.

There is so much to see at Saguaro National Park!

The west side also has some petroglyphs. They are located on a hiking trail called Signal Hill. It is half a mile and has a stunning view at the top. If you would like a harder trail there are lots to choose from.

The Visitor Center on the west side is small but fasci-

nating. There is an example what a bird’s home inside Center leads to an easy The east and west and explore. Saguaro place to visit. There is

Image: visitpinetoplakeside.com

Bear Reporters are hitting the road to discover cool places to visit and fun things to do across Arizona. Get your family or friends on board and have a super summer outing. Here’s a thumb’s-up list of some chill places Boomer’s friends found!

Image: shutterstock.com

ARIZONA! ARIZONA! Amazing

Cool Down In Flagstaff

by Reporter Benjamin Baker

Are you looking for a place to cool off in the summer and keep from melting? Head up to Flagstaff, a wonderful place to beat the heat. Flagstaff has things for everyone to enjoy, including great restaurants, parks and places to stay.

Flagstaff also has a train station, a visitor’s center, hiking trails, dormant volcanoes, stunning sunsets, and yummy food and drinks at Macy’s European Coffee House and Bakery. If you have time, try to head down to Downtown Flagstaff, which has good things to eat, summer events and unique shops.

Some of the summer events are include a farmers’ market, outdoor movies, and music. It is 257 miles from Tucson, but well worth the 3 hours and 37 minutes that it takes to get there. I think that the best time to go is during July, since that is when it is hottest here in Tucson, but cool and refreshing there. So get your luggage and head on up, and have an amazing time!

P.S. Try to avoid rush hour in Phoenix. The traffic can get a bit chaotic during rush hour, which makes it take longer to get to Flagstaff.

Enjoy Tucson Botanical Gardens!

by Reporter Madison Divijak

example of the inside of a saguaro and inside a cactus looks like. The Visitor trail that is wheelchair accessible. sides are both amazing places to visit National Park is truly a wonderful something for everyone!

The Tucson Botanical Gardens is located in midtown Tucson and has many attractions to visit along the many paths. The Botanical Gardens has something for everyone!

There are things for all people to do because there is a children's garden, special exhibits, Zen gardens, butterfly gardens, and even more. In the spring, the gardens featured a special event with

LEGO sculptures that ranged in size from small bunnies to large animals like lions and deer. As you walked around to see these masterpieces, you could look at signs that had information about each item, including the number of hours each took to create! Some took over 100 hours.

The Botanical Gardens is a beautiful place for everyone to admire and wander through. It is so peaceful even though it is right next to a main road! One of the most wellknown attractions is the butterfly garden which you can walk through as butterflies land on you.

Tucson Botanical Gardens is a wonderful place for all to visit. For hours and information about the current exhibits, go to tucsonbotanical.org.

Golf N’ Stuff Offers Tons of Fun

by Reporter Easton Knight

A hole-in-one in family fun is what you will find at Golf N’ Stuff! With activities like miniature golf, batting cages, go-karts, laser tag, bumper boats, plus the arcade, you are sure to find an adventure for the whole family.

Golf N’ Stuff is great for all ages—from 1 to 101. It is a great place for birthday parties, corporate events and even field trips.

Golf N’ Stuff is like stepping into a mountain oasis without having to leave Tucson. With all its tall pine trees to give you shade all over the golf courses and the amazing wildlife, you are sure to have a good time! Don’t be surprised if you see a sneaky squirrel or two running around, popping out of the holes on the golf courses. These playful squirrels enjoy the scenery and have been known to steal popcorn or drink Icees. My brother and I know firsthand how sneaky these squirrels can be!

While enjoying a day out with your family, or a day off from school with your friends, make sure to stop by the refreshment stand to grab some munchies. Don’t forget to bring your quarters to purchase a handful of fish food so you can feed the giant koi in the pond. Don’t be surprised if the ducks join in on the snacking, too!

If your family is looking to beat the boredom blues, then Golf N’ Stuff is the place for you!

Image: fl agstaffaz.gov

Image: tucsonbotanical.org

Image: golfnstuff.com

It’'s a Road Trip!

Heading out for a road trip with the family is always an adventure, and often includes a few wrong turns along the way.

Check out this month’s feature to get some great ideas for your own family road trip this summer!

Meet Me at the Movies!

Boomer’s Top 10 Boredom Busters

#1–Invent a crazy dance

#2–Draw a self portrait

#3–Write a poem about you

#4–Count the coins in your piggy bank

#5–Plan a party for someone

#6–Call a friend and say hi

#7–Make up some jokes

#8–Write a nice note for your parents

#9–Play an instrument

#10–Invent a new game

How Many Players?

There are many types of sports teams fielding different numbers of players in the game.

Can you match the kind of team to the number of players it officially has?

More Amazing Arizona!

Continued from page 11

Take a Magical Day Trip to Sedona

by Reporters Allie Miller and Keira Turner

Sedona’s famous red rocks provide a backdrop for a magical day trip. The Pink Jeep Tour is one of the most famous attractions. Hop in a Jeep to see the rocks from a new perspective while learning about Sedona’s history.

Another way to see a new view is climbing at Bell Rock. Any age or skill type can climb on the rocks and boulders. If you want to climb to the top of the rock, it takes roughly one to three hours depending on your skill level. When you are climbing up you will come across some amazing views, especially at the top. This is a highlight in Sedona, especially if you love to free climb.

When you get hungry, visit the Javelina Cantina for the best Mexican food made fresh daily. The dress code is casual, so no need to change out of your hiking clothes. From $14 guacamole dip to $25 fajitas, the food is well worth it! And if you’re lucky, you can see the javelinas up close from the patio outside.

If you want to cool down after a long hike, Slide Rock is a nice place for a quick swim. This park contains naturally made waterslides.

Have Some Great Wolf Fun!

by Reporter Aeneas Pedregó

Great Wolf Lodge is a fun and wet place. They have food, games, and bedrooms to stay the night. They even have a candy shop.

My favorite part when we visit is going to the water park. It has lots of fun slides. My favorite slide is the tube slide because it’s fun—but also very scary! My little brother’s favorite part is the hot tub because it’s so relaxing.

The closest Great Wolf Lodge to us is in Phoenix. Make sure to ask your parents to go and have a week of fun.

LETTERS to Boomer

Dear Boomer,

For summer reading, I like the “I Survived” series. I like all of them!

Your friend, S.P. Boomer Bear, I would like to meet the lady who writes the “I Survived” books.

Young Reporter D.K.

Summer’s a great time to read, S.P. & D.K.!

The “I Survived” books are written by Lauren Tarshis. This series of realistic fiction started in 2010 with “I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912.” And her 22nd one is “I Survived the Wellington Avalanche, 1910.” The next one comes out in October about the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964.

Drop by your nearest Pima Public Library branch to get reading trackers for your entire family for the summer learning program “All Together Now.” The goal is for everyone to read at least 20 minutes a day! Or your parent can register everyone online and track everyone’s reading times there: pimalibrary.azsummerreading.org/

Readers are winners, Boomer Bear

Hello, Boomer Bear!

School’s out, and I went to Rose Canyon Lake and caught crawfish.

Yours truly, L.B.

What a cool little escape, L.B.!

For those who don’t know about this little lake, it’s up in the Santa Catalina Mountains and part of the Coronado National Forest. While I don’t think you need a license to catch crawdads, if you plan on fishing for trout there, you will need a fishing license!

Enjoy, Boomer Bear

Hi, Boomer!

This summer, my family is going to the Hoover Dam and to London Bridge.

Your friend, I.W.

What fun, I.W. !

Two famous landmarks are just a car drive away.

Completed in 1936, the Hoover Dam is massive, holding back the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. The dam is 721 feet tall, and when you walk on top of it, the views of the river and desert are unforgettable.

The London Bridge was originally built in the 1830s and spanned the Thames River. It was bought in 1968 and moved to Lake Havasu, AZ, and reopened in 1971.

Take some photos! Boomer Bear

Boomer Bear, This summer, I’d like to go to a Spanish dance camp and (also) a math and science camp.

Your friend, F.A. Great choices, F.A.!

I saw a great group of folklorico dancers perform in March at the Tucson Festival of Books. The colorful costumes, dance moves and lively music were amazing.

Summer is a great time to do more handson projects that explore subjects like math and science. I need to work on my math, too!

Enjoy, Boomer Bear Dear Boomer Bear, When were you created, and who made you?

Thank you, M.C.

Interesting question, M.C.! I was born almost a decade ago up in the northern reaches of Canada. But my parents moved us to sunny Arizona when I was still a cub. These days, I like to call myself the coolest polar bear in the desert! Your buddy, Boomer Bear

Hello, Boomer! Do you write any stories for Bear Essential News?

Sincerely, T.M.

Nice question, T.M.!

Answering my fan mail and giving advice here in “Letters to Boomer” is one of my favorite parts of my job here at the newspaper. Most of the stories are covered by my Young Reporters, but I do write some of the main features and News Highlights. But my main job is deciding what stories go into Bear Essential News each month. Readers are winners, Boomer Bear Boomer, This summer I’d like to attend the Girl Scouts camp again because it is fun!

Yours truly, S.B. Scout camps are a great choice, S.B.! This year, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona is calling their camp “It’s in our nature—to camp!” You and your parents can find cool summer camps in my 2023 Summer Camp Guide online. Go to BearEssentialNews.com and look under Guides. Camps ROCK, Boomer Bear

Hello, Boomer

I like writing for other kids because I like writing for anyone about anything and I like reporting!

Young Reporter C.W.M.

My Young Reporters are SO GOOD!

And if you want to have a great time as you become a better writer and interviewer, join my free Young Reporters Program! With so many places to see and things to do, summer is a perfect time for kids in grades 3 thru 8 to join! Just mail in the sign-up form from BearEssentialNews.com.

Yours truly, Boomer Bear

Get the Scoop!

CSO Develops Reading Survey for School

by CSO Brayan Alejos, Guanajuato, Mexico Chief Science Officer Alejos

Hello, my name is CSO Brayan and I am from Guanajuato, Mexico. I am part of the CSO program. When I first joined the Chief Science Officer ’s Program, I did not know what I was going to do for my Action Plan. I came up with the idea of making an advertisement for the technology courses offered at my school. I also shared about my own experience in the technology courses and gave examples of the class work. That way students would have an idea of what courses would be most attractive to them.

By sharing my experience, there might be fewer students who leave in the middle of their course. I chose this as my Action Plan because I would have loved to have someone to help me choose my courses. Being a CSO has helped me

grow in a lot of ways. For example, I used to get embarrassed about speaking in front of a lot of people, but now I feel confident to present in front of any sized group. I am very proud to be part of the Chief Science Officers program; I meet people from all over the world, I learn from them and they learn something from me.

For my current Action Plan, I am developing a survey at my school to learn about the promotion of reading. I want to find out how many people at my school are interested in literature and how many are not interested. I will use this data to promote literature in my school so that more students will be interested in reading.

Are you interested in joining the CSO program?

To find out how you or your school can get involved, contact Sarah@chiefscienceofficers.org.

Hola, mi nombre es CSO Brayan y soy de Guanajuato, México. Formó parte del programa CSO. Cuando entre a este bello programa no sabía muy bien de qué se trataba con el pasar del tiempo cuando nos pedían hacer nuestro plan de acción empecé a pensar en qué plan de acción podría realizar entonces se me vino a la mente realizar una publicidad a mi escuela de las carreras técnicas que hay en mi escuela y además de contarles lo que yo he vivido en mi carrera técnica, mostrándoles ejemplos de las cosas que realizamos, esto con el fin de que los alumnos en el cual iban a ingresar en un futuro les entre una idea de que es lo que más les llama la atención y así no cometan el error de salirse a la mitad del curso.

Realice este plan de acción ya que a mí me hubiera encantado que alguien me mostrara que es lo que se ve en cada una de las carreras para no cometer el error de entrar a la carrera equivocada y arrepentirme en un futuro. Ser un CSO me ha cambiado mucho de buena manera como la de socializar más con las personas, me ha quitado la pena de hablar enfrente de muchas personas.

Me siento muy orgulloso de formar parte de este programa, de convivir y conocer gente de otros lugares, aprender de ellos y que ellos aprendan algo de mí.

Actualmente estoy desarrollando una encuesta en mi escuela acerca del fomento de la lectura para conocer las estadísticas de cuántas personas les interesa la literatura y a cuantas no les llama la atención esto con el fin que las personas les interese un poco más la literatura la cual tiene muchos beneficios para la vida.

Desarollando una encuesta acerca del fomento de la lectura

Brayan reviews survey information about the student’s interest in literature at his school.

Kids!

Make this Simple and Healthy Protein Packed Treat!

Blueberry Yogurt Bark

Ingredients

2 cups plain greek or regular yogurt

1/4 cup 2% Milk

2 tbsp honey, plus more for drizzling

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup blueberries, or your favorite fruit, divided

Instructions

• Stir together yogurt, milk, honey and vanilla. Stir in 1/2 cup of blueberrie.

• Spread into even layer on parchment paper–lined baking tray

• Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup of blueberries on top and drizzle with additional honey

• Place tray in freezer for approximately four hours or until the mixture is frozen through

• Using the tip of large knife, break into shards. Serve immediately.

• Store leftovers in airtight container in freezer