APRIL 13, 2012
THE PRESS
CAMPS Building summer memories SAMIE HARTLEY
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n the land of Legos, anything is possible. With the right bricks, a Lego engineer can build a house, a car, the Eiffel Tower, Hogwarts or the Death Star. At Bricks 4 Kidz in
Brentwood, there are no limits to the imagination. The only requirement is that you have fun. see Building page 7B
Photo by Angelo Garcia, Jr.
APRIL 13, 2012
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Riding for recreation and sport SAMIE HARTLEY
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hen asked what she likes most about her job as owner and manager of Orchard Creek Ranch, Erin Mathias doesn’t need Orchard Creek Ranch offers lessons for every level of horse enthusiast, including these beginners seen putting their mounts through their paces last weekend.
long to come up with her answer: “Everything!” But if Mathias absolutely must choose her favorite part about working at a horse ranch, “It would be working with the kids,” she said. “I love watching them grow as riders as they learn new skills, but I also love watching them grow as individuals as they gain confidence in their abilities. They develop communications skills, and their demonstration of responsibility is phenomenal. I’m continually impressed. These kids become like family.” Mathias has been sharing her love of horses with East County residents since she opened her ranch in 2004, marshaling years of experience to train riders and horses alike. In her career, she has won more than 35 championships, hi-point and all-around titles. While Mathias trains with show teams and prepares young riders to present their horses at shows and exhibitions, she also works with novice riders. Orchard Creek Ranch offers beginners’ lessons year-round for children interested in learning more about horses and horse riding. “Some kids just want to learn for fun – to ride recreationally, but some kids want to take it to the next level and take a horse to shows,” Mathias said. “We can customize lessons to ON THE COVER: Birthday boy Tony Munoz launches his Lego creation down the zip line at Bricks 4 Kidz in Brentwood. Photo by Angelo Garcia, Jr.
Photo by Angelo Garcia, Jr.
whatever your goals are. A lot of kids start out just wanting to learn how to ride, but after a few lessons, they’ve got the bug and they want to join a show team.” Mathias is quick to caution parents that equestrian activities are to be taken seriously. Training with a horse takes time, commitment and dedication. Some kids take beginners’ lessons and realize riding isn’t for them, and that’s OK. “Horseback riding has a lot to do about the feel of it – that comfort and trust you have with the horse,” Mathias said. “If it’s not there, then it’s not there. It’s not something you can
force. But we welcome families who want to get a taste for riding.” Traditionally, Mathias hosts summer horse camps as a way to introduce new riders to the culture of horse riding. But as she is expecting her first child in June, this year’s camps have been put on hiatus. She hopes to squeeze in at least one camp around the end of August or early September. For more information about lessons, call Mathias at 925-570-3929 or visit www.orchardcreekranch.webs.com. To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
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APRIL 13, 2012
Tiger Challenge to help Brentwood’s PAL JUSTIN LAFFERTY
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ne Brentwood martial arts studio will fight for good later this month when it
hosts an event with the city’s police department. The Brentwood Police Activities League (PAL) Tigers Challenge, hosted by Twin Tigers Academy of Self-Defense, will bring Bay Area martial arts schools to East County to help the PD’s nonprofit organization. PAL works to create a positive relationship between kids and cops, providing alternatives to a life of crime by facilitating sports such as bowling and golf. Brentwood PD Officer Roger Wilson, who heads up Brentwood’s PAL, has been instrumental in making the Tigers Challenge a possibility. The tournament is slated for Saturday, April 28 at Liberty High School, 850 Second St. Registration starts at 8 a.m. The first-timers’ tournament starts at 9:30 a.m. and the main event kicks off at 10 a.m. Participants can also register at www. active.com. Tickets are $5 for adults and kids older than 5. Admission is free for seniors over 65 and kids 5 or under. The Tiger Challenge will feature several styles of self defense – karate, kung fu
Jessica Carrillo of Twin Tigers Academy of Self-Defense performs during the Golden Gate Nationals.
Photos courtesy of Bear Carrillo
and kickboxing – and is open to everyone, from first-timers to experienced young competitors. Heber “Bear” Carrillo, owner of Twin Tigers, brainstormed the idea and brought it to PAL a few months ago. The response has been enthusiastic. So far, schools from Santa Clara, Sacramento, San Leandro, Hayward and
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Walnut Creek, as well as Pittsburg, Antioch and Brentwood, have signed up to participate. Carrillo is hoping the event does more than introduce kids to martial arts. He’d like to see youngsters catch a glimpse of the importance of community service. “I wanted to do something for the community and I wanted to help PAL with
their program,” Carrillo said. “I haven’t done (a tournament) for about 15 years, so I brought it up to PAL about doing a fundraiser.” Carrillo is hoping this first event will become an annual tournament. For more information, call Carrillo at 925-513-7591.
APRIL 13, 2012
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Nurturing young nature lovers
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hether you’re a parent, classroom teacher or homeschool instructor, you know
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that students learn best when they can interact with their subject. It can be fun and inspirational to explore and experience an educational concept firsthand. The educator website MyBotanicPlanet. com is a creative collaboration between TruGreen, the nation’s largest professional lawn, tree and shrub care service provider, and the Memphis Botanic Garden. Through online and hands-on experiences, this resource lets students customize an avatar to explore colorful plant environments and interactive games as they learn: What you need ♦ Gather enough real flowers for pairs or groups to work on. Alstroemerias and gladiolus work well and are available year-round in supermarket floral departments. Azaleas or any member of the lily family could also be used because the parts are well defined and easy to see. ♦ Plastic knives and tweezers can be used as dissecting equipment. ♦ A magnifying glass allows for closer inspection. Getting started ♦ Open up the flower. This is easily done by first
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www.loveforlearningbrentwood.com locating the base and slicing or splitting it in half. Use a dissection tool or even a fingernail. ♦ Next, slice or pinch off the petals. Remind students to be careful with all of the tiny pieces. It’s easy to damage or brush away some of the most important parts. Review the parts of the flower ♦ Petal: This is the colorful part of the flower that attracts the attention of birds, bees and butterflies, letting them know that there is food inside the flower. Students should record the number of petals and what they look like. ♦ Stamen: This is where the pollen is made. The top part – the anther – holds the pollen; the stem is called the filament. Students should record the number of stamens. If the flower has six petals, it will also have six stamens. (If it see Nature page 8B
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APRIL 13, 2012
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Volkssport to lead Diablo walks
L
ocals are invited to experience stunning spring wildflower displays and spectacular vistas
on the northern slopes of Mt. Diablo on the weekend of May 12-13 with members of the Sacramento Walking Sticks Volkssport Club. The walks begin at Clayton Community Park, 7411 Marsh Creed Road in Clayton. Registration runs from 9 a.m. to noon on both days; the walks will be finished by 3:30 p.m. Participants who want “volkswalk credit” pay $3 per walk; otherwise, the walks are free. Water and restrooms are available at the registration point. Walkers should bring enough water to avoid dehydration. Both walks require you to drive to a remote start and walk into the park unless you want to add an extra 2K (1.2 miles) onto each by walking instead to the start. The first walk goes up Donner Canyon Road on an all-dirt trail at an easy grade and then joins the steep, narrow and sometimes slippery Falls Trail. The 5K (3.1 miles) route is rated 2C; the 10K (6.2 miles) route is rated 3C. The second walk explores Mt. Diablo’s Mitchell Canyon. The 5K (3.1 miles) walk is an easy grade rated 1B; the 10K (6.2 miles) walk is a moderate grade rated 2B. These routes are not recommended for people in wheelchairs; only jogger strollers would be able to negoti-
Photo by Ger Erickson
ate the Mitchell Canyon walk. Dogs are not allowed in Mt. Diablo State Park. Walkers are encouraged to bring sack lunches. Following the walks, participants can walk the streets of the quaint town of Clayton and enjoy its shops and restaurants. Volkssport membership is not required, but dues are only $8 for individuals, $14 for families and $5 for seniors (55 and over). In addition to weekend walks, the club offers group walks on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings plus Wednesday evenings. The walks are fun and the people are friendly. It’s excellent exercise, good for your body and soul, and guaranteed to expose you to places you’d never find on your own. The Sacramento Walking Sticks meet the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the SMUD Headquarters Building in the Conference Center, 6201 S St. in Sacramento.
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Building from page 1B “Legos are probably one of the greatest toys of all time,” said Bricks 4 Kids co-owner Mike Shirk. “Kids get to build whatever they want whether they’re working from a kit or just creating as they go. The things the kids come up with here are really impressive.” Bricks 4 Kids, which Shirk opened with wife Jenny last July, has become a go-to place for birthday parties and recreational play, and this summer the Shirks are expanding their summer camp program to welcome builders of all levels. Camps run in five-day increments, and each session is three hours long. Camps cost $30 per day or $150 for the entire week. In honor of the upcoming Olympic Games, Bricks 4 Kidz will host the 2012 Brick Olympics, in which campers will build models of sports featured in the summer games, such as soccer, basketball, cycling and gymnastics. Competitors’ models will be scored and medals will be award to the best builders. For the adventurous types, Extreme Expedition Camp offers builders the thrill of creating lavish landscapes as they learn about geography and nature. In Animal “Grassology” Camp, builders construct animal models and learn about animal biology and habitats. “Each camp follows its own lesson plan, so the kids are doing more than building and playing with the bricks,” Mike said. “If the kids are building an animal, they’ll learn about where it lives, what it likes to eat and how big it gets in real life. If the project is building a lawnmower, the kids learn a little bit about the science and history of how and why the first lawnmower was created.” Building a lawnmower could be one of the projects in the Robotics Camp, which is back by popular demand. Divided into groups based on age, kids spend the afternoon working with gears and motors. Older, more experienced campers get to play with the Mindstorm NXT Robotics kits, which guide kids through the process of building and programming a Lego robot. Though Legos are gender neutral, they’re stereotypically considered a boy’s toy. Bricks 4 Kidz is out to change that misconception with Bricks 4 Girlz Camp, a girls-only program that introduces girls to the art of Legos. Campers build houses and other sets for Legos’ new cast of female characters, marketed to encourage girls to build and
Photo by Angelo Garcia, Jr.
Ayden Weitz creates an edifice of bricks that towers above him. learn with the popular, colorful bricks. “Girls can be a little hesitant to play with Legos, so this camp is a combination of Lego projects and crafts,” Jenny said. “Once they’re comfortable, they dig in the piles of blocks and start building like pros. They realize Legos aren’t just for boys.” Throughout the summer, Bricks 4 Kidz will continue to offer drop-in play times, which costs $5 per child, and Kidz Night Out on Fridays, when parents drop their builders at Bricks 4 Kidz from 6 to 10 p.m. for $20 per child. Kids get hours of play and pizza. For a full schedule of upcoming camps, visit www.bricks4kidz. com/california-eastbay-brentwood. To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
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Kid-friendly indoor fun
SHORELINE FISHING AVAILABLE ON SOUTH SHORE OF LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR Shoreline fishing continues to be available along the reservoir’s south shore, and bait and tackle sales will continue from the south entrance kiosk. The Los Vaqueros Marina building and boat docks are currently closed for construction. For more information, visit www.ccwater.com or call the reservoir’s south shore kiosk at 925-371-2628. www.ccwater.com Parking fee is $4 per car for ratepayers $6 per car for non-ratepayers.
Too much time indoors can lead to cranky, stir-crazy kids. But you can keep them occupied with kid-friendly, educational activities that appeal to their imagination. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Pitch a tent and build a campsite When bad weather cancels your camping plans, pitch a tent in your living room. Use a table, chairs and sheet to create a tent or fort in your dining room or living room. Lay a blanket in front of the tent and make a circle using potatoes in place of rocks, and a flashlight or lantern for a fire. Get the whole family involved and take turns telling entertaining stories. Pack your favorite campsite treats. Embark on an adventure From your campsite, go exploring through the jungle of the living room. Encourage your child to use their imagination. What animals do they see? Do they hear
Outside from page 5B has an extra piece, one should look different, and is actually part of the pistil.) ♦ Pistil: This is where the seeds are made The pistil comprises three parts: The very top of the pistil is called the stigma, which is where the pollen falls when a pollinator brings it in. The pollen travels down the tube (style) and goes down to the bottom (ovary) where the seeds will form. Split the pistil lengthwise to look inside. You should see unfertilized beginnings of seeds. The seed pattern inside will match the pattern of seeds within the fruit later. (If you
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any strange sounds? How tall are the trees? Will they need to cross a river? If so, will they need to build a bridge? If a bridge is needed, let them use some throw pillows to use as crossing stones. Remember, if you’re excited, they’ll be excited too. A great adventure story, like the serial story “Quetzalcoatyl,” can get their imagination going. This tale about a magical sea creature and the boy he befriends can be found each month in the pages of the free children’s newspaper Kidsville News! Create a journal Ask your child to describe their adventure – or just their day – by writing, painting or drawing on a series of pages. Get them to start from the beginning: what they had for breakfast, what they found in the jungle. You can use a hole punch and yarn or string to put together a journal to help them recall their exciting day. – Courtesy of Family Features cut an apple in half horizontally and see the five seeds in a star pattern, you know that the flower’s pistil had five compartments.) ♦ Sepal: These are the tiny leaves on the lower part of the flower that protect it before it begins to bloom. Every flowering bud is hidden safely behind these two little leaves until the flower is fully developed. When the bloom begins to grow, the sepal will split open and the petals can break out. For more information, visit www. mybotanicplanet.com. – Courtesy of Family Features
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Childhood-allergy myths BY JULIE RUIZ-WIBBELSMANN
vents childhood allergies
But how do we know which are true?
“Children with allergies tend to have overly sensitized immune systems that react to certain airborne substances called ‘triggers,’” said Dr. Susan Adham, a pediatrician affiliated with Sutter Delta Medical Center and Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation. “One of the best ways to help your child’s allergies is to avoid triggers.” Typical triggers for seasonal allergies include pollen, mold or dust. When a child’s immune system reacts to these triggers, it releases a chemical called histamine that causes allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, a runny nose and sneezing. Can hypoallergenic pets help relieve your child’s allergies? According to Adham,
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what causes, cures or pre-
they probably will not: “Pet allergies – usually related to a dog or a cat – are triggered by a protein found in your pet’s skin flakes known as dander. Because even hypoallergenic dogs and cats have skin, they can cause allergies, whether they have short fur, no fur or nonshedding fur. How much dander a pet sheds can vary by breed and even between animals of the same breed, so it’s important to ‘try out’ a potential pet around your child to see how she or he will react.” There are things you can do to alleviate your child’s allergies. Consider keeping your child’s bedroom a no-pet zone so that dander doesn’t accumulate, and be sure to use a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air filter. Another way to avoid triggers is keep your child inside when the pollen count is high. Julie Ruiz-Wibbelsmann is the writer/ publications coordinator for Sutter Health East Bay Region.
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e’ve all heard claims about
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