October 2015 • Free
NATURAL PLAYSCAPES
of the Triangle Where Kids Connect With Nature
Travel Sports OPTION OR NECESSITY?
Fall Festivals Across NC
From the Mountains to the Coast
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Ghoulish Halloween Happenings Plus more online!
MUS.104 - CP Flea October Insertion - HW Tag.indd 1
If you were a flea, you could jump farther than 130 times your height.
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Get the shot not the flu. Help protect yourself and your family against the flu by scheduling your flu vaccination today. With offices conveniently located throughout our community, UNC Physicians Network offers flu shots as an important step in preventing the flu. And if you do get a cold or the flu, our highly trained, compassionate care team is here to help you feel better. Visit us online at uncpn.com to find a doctor near you.
• Family medicine • Primary care • Women’s HealtH • sPecialty care
• Pediatrics • Preventive care • Urgent care
uncpn.com
carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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PHANTOMS OF THE ORCHESTRA
SAT, NOV 1, 2014 | 1PM & 4PM Magic Circle Mime Co.
2015/16
Young People’s Concerts MEYMANDI CONCERT HALL, RALEIGH
Halloween at Hogwarts The Music of Harry Potter FRI, OCT 30, 2015 | 7PM SAT, OCT 31, 2015 | 1PM & 4PM Rei Hotoda, conductor Lyn Dillies, illusionist 1PM Concert Sponsor
Emily Saves the Orchestra
SAT, JAN 9, 2016 | 1PM & 4PM Christopher James Lees, conductor Platypus Theatre
Lemony Snicket’s The Composer Is Dead SAT, MAR 12, 2016 | 1PM & 4PM David Glover, conductor
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OCTOBER 2015 |
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October CONTENTS
FEATURES
20
23
47 Halloween Happenings Corn mazes, pumpkin patches and spooky haunts
Our Big Backyard
Natural play areas blend into the Triangle
26 28
Sports Travel Teams Option or necessity?
Career Paths Chosen With Motherhood in Mind Mastering the balancing act
IN EVERY ISSUE
5
October Online
6
Editor’s Note
8 FYI 8 Community 8 Education 9 Food 11 Health 12 Style 14 Tech Talk 17 Understanding Kids
19 Hammer, Nails and Diaper Pails
30
Excursion
CALENDAR
31
32
Our Picks Daily Calendar
36 Festivals
Photo courtesy of the Museum of Life and Science
carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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WHAT’S NEW AT …
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Walk or Run for Great Causes
Social Savvy
Take your kids to these family-friendly
A mom explains why everyday etiquette
October 5ks around the Triangle.
for tots, tweens and teens matters in the
…carolinaparent.com/cp/ thingstodo
long run.
…carolinaparent.com/cp/ health-development
Change Up Lunch Try a Chapel Hill chef’s
Win Fall Prizes
tips and recipes to spice up the food in
This month, enter to win fall prizes such as passes for
your child’s lunch box. …/carolinaparent.
family outings, books and DVDs.
…carolinaparent.com/cp/contests
facebook.com/ carolinaparent
twitter.com/ carolinaparent
com/cp/food-fun
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carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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EDITOR’S NOTE morrismedianetwork.com
GROUP PUBLISHER
Fall Fever
Sharon Havranek
PUBLISHER
Brenda Larson blarson@carolinaparent.com
A
EDITOR
few weeks ago, I saw a cute family walking into the Streets at Southpoint Mall in Durham. The mother elegantly tapped by in candy apple red high heels and wore a matching shawl. The daughter donned a plaid skirt, tights and leather boots. The father and son had on long-sleeved shirts with vests. It was mid-September and 77 degrees! But, fall was — and is — in the air. And as many of you know, once fall fever hits, it changes our mindsets, calendars and, of course, wardrobes. Fall fever hit the Carolina Parent office in August when we began creating content for our October issue. There is so much to do and explore in the Triangle this time of year — we’ve tried to capture it all. You’ll find a reader favorite — “Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Patches and Spooky Haunts” — on page 20. Read a more detailed version of this roundup at carolinaparent.com (search for “Corn Mazes”). We’ve also got the scoop on 40 fall festivals taking place across North Carolina — including 18 in the Triangle — on page 36. Fall weather provides the perfect setting for outdoor explorations. Our October Excursion column on page 30 takes you to Mount LeConte in North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains. If you go, consider packing some of our mountain retreat wardrobe picks on page 12. Turn to page 23 to learn about a movement promoting the creation of natural playscapes across the Triangle, which encourage children to use elements from nature to inspire active, engaged play. Fall is also a popular time for outdoor sports. But how level is the playing field? “Sports Travel Teams: Option or Necessity” on page 26 delves into the popularity of indoor and outdoor club sports, which take competition — and team fees — up a notch. Don’t forget to read part two of our series covering how Triangle moms balance work and life on page 28. We’ll introduce you to two moms who, despite personal challenges, managed to build successful careers that didn’t conflict with their other job title: Mom. Speaking of moms, there’s one more we’d like to bring your attention to: Carolina Parent's publisher, Brenda Larson. Brenda joined us five years ago and brought with her a passion for publishing, contagious enthusiasm and a sly sense of humor. Recently her husband, Brian, began a new job in Atlanta, so we must bid farewell to Brenda since, as she noted in her own words, “family comes first.” We wish you joy and success, Brenda, as you and your family embark on this new adventure. You will be missed!
Beth Shugg bshugg@carolinaparent.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Janice Lewine jlewine@carolinaparent.com
ART DIRECTOR
Melissa Stutts melissa.stutts@morris.com
WEB EDITOR
Odile Fredericks ofredericks@carolinaparent.com
DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
Lauren Isaacs lisaacs@carolinaparent.com
SALES TEAM LEADER MEDIA CONSULTANT Candi Griffin cgriffin@carolinaparent.com
MEDIA CONSULTANTS
Regina Alston ralston@carolinaparent.com Sue Chen schen@carolinaparent.com
ADVERTISING SALES COORDINATOR Kia Moore ads@charlotteparent.com
MORRIS VISITOR PUBLICATIONS REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT KAREN RODRIGUEZ
PRESIDENT
DONNA KESSLER
DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING DONALD HORTON
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR SHELONDA WEST
PUBLICATION MANAGER KRIS MILLER
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR CHER WHEELER
CONTACT US
carolinaparent.com
Phone: 919-956-2430 Fax: 919-956-2427 5716 Fayetteville Rd., Suite 201, Durham, NC 27713 advertising@carolinaparent.com editorial@carolinaparent.com Circulation 35,000. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. Carolina Parent reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing that is not in keeping with the publication’s standards. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
A Publication of the Visitor Publications Division of Morris Communications Company, L.L.C. 725 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901 Chairman and CEO William S. Morris III
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President Will S. Morris IV
Explore your WCPSS Magnet and Early College Options MAGNET AND EARLY COLLEGE SCHOOLS FAIR saTurdaY, noVeMBer 7, 2015 southeast raleigh Magnet hs 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Magnet and Early College Schools enhance the North Carolina Essential Standards with innovative approaches to learning that maximize student potential. Magnets open doors of opportunity and spark the imagination of students, preparing them to become responsible citizens in a global society.
CONTACT US AT: The MagneT and CurriCuluM enhanCeMenT PrograMs offiCe Crossroads I 5625 Dillard Drive Cary, NC 27518 Hours: Monday – friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Phone: (919) 431-7355 E-mail: Magnetcenter@wcpss.net Website: www.wcpss.net/magnet
twitter.com/wcpssmagnets facebook.com/WCPSSMagnetPrograms
carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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Photo courtesy of BikeLoud
› FYI
| education
COMMUNITY
Boy Scouts Bike 3,900 Miles to Battle Cancer BikeLoud! Boy Scouts, a group of 15 high school students from Chapel Hill, biked 3,900 miles from Oregon to North Carolina, to raise awareness and funds for teen cancer programs. The extreme cyclists, who embarked on their journey June 15, navigated the Cascade and Rocky mountains, traversed the Appalachian Mountains and rolled through North Carolina without vehicle support. They arrived at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, on Aug. 19. Learn more online at bikeloud.org/landing.
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EDUCATION
WCPSS Expands Breakfast Program More students in the Wake County Public School System can start their day with a nutritious, free breakfast, thanks to funding authorized by the Wake County Board of Commissioners. The $90,000 allocation in the 2016 budget expands the Universal School Breakfast program from 12 to 25 schools. All children, regardless of financial means, who attend the 25 schools offering the breakfast program are welcome to take advantage of the free meals. Learn more at wakegov.com/news.
Raleigh Students Named 2015 Kroger Scholars Two children of local Kroger associates each received $1,000 scholarships to assist with educational expenses. Dhaval Patel, a graduate of Sanderson High School, recently began his first year at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he will study business management and accounting. Sindoos Awel began her first year at Emory University this fall after graduating from Wake Forest High School in June. Kroger Scholars is open to children of Kroger associates. Funds can be used at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational program. Learn more at kroger.com.
carolinaparent.com
POLL
What fall sports do the kids (or adults) in your family like best? Soccer
Football
47%
Other
26%
Volleyball
21%
5%
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FYI
|
food
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Freshley's
Batty Pops Make this fun — and easy — Halloween treat for parties or trick-or-treaters. INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • •
Mrs. Freshley’s Peanut Butter Flavored Swiss Rolls Popsicle sticks Wax paper 1 package of chocolate candy bark or candy melts Piping bag Large yogurt chips Toothpicks
DIRECTIONS
1. Insert one Popsicle stick in each of the peanut butter Swiss Rolls and place them in the freezer to harden. 2. Draw a stencil of the wing shape on a piece of wax paper; be sure to make the wings wide enough to accommodate the Swiss Roll. 3. Melt a portion of the chocolate candy bark or melts and pour the mixture into a piping back with a small tip. 4. Pipe out the outline of the bat wings. In the center, pipe a chocolate rectangle approximately the size of the Swiss Roll. 5. Place the Swiss Roll on the chocolate rectangle and put it in the freezer to harden for 3-5 minutes. 6. Remove the bats from the freezer and use a little chocolate to place the large yogurt chips on the bat for eyes. Put the pointed side of the chip into the Swiss Rolls. Use a toothpick and chocolate candy bark to apply pupils on the flat side of the yogurt chips to finish the eyes. 7. Use the chocolate candy bark mixture to pipe the mouth and fangs. 8. Allow the Batty Pops to set before you serve them. Recipe courtesy of Mrs. Freshley’s.
We Welcome Dr. Clark Morris to our practice The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend the first dental appointment by one year of age to prevent most dental problems. Dr. Johnson and her children
Specialists in Dentistry for Infants, Children, Teens and Children with Special Needs 2800 Wakefield Pines Dr., Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27614 (next to SunTrust bank in Wakefield)
www.carolinapedo.com
919.570.0180 NEW HOURS: Monday - Friday 6.45 am -5:00 pm.
carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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Imagine a School... That Doesn’t Tell Students What to Think, But Teaches Students How to Think.
Join Us for an Open House October 21, 2015 8am
Superior Academics and Authentic Christian Faith trinityacademy.com • 10224 Baileywick Road, Raleigh, NC • 919.786.0114 10
OCTOBER 2015 |
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›
FYI
|
health
COMPILED BY KATHERINE KOPP
Flu Vaccine: Nasal Spray or Injection?
Signs That Your Child May Have ‘Entitlement’ Issues Amy McCready, author of “’The Me, Me, Me’ Epidemic” (Tarcher/Penguin, $26.95), writes that many parents struggle to say “No” to their children when they most need to hear it in order to develop compassion and gratitude. McCready suggests a child may feel entitled if he or she: • Expects bribes or rewards for good behavior. • Rarely lifts a finger to help out around the house. • Is more concerned about himself than others. • Passes blame when things go wrong. • Can’t handle disappointment. • Needs a treat to get through the store. • Expects to be rescued from her mistakes. • Feels like the rules don’t apply. • Constantly wants more, more, more. Learn more about this “guide to raising capable, grateful kids in an over-entitled world” and find more of McCready’s tips at amymccready.com.
The national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that all persons ages 6 months and older be vaccinated annually against influenza. For 2015-16, the ACIP did not renew its 2014-15 preference for using the nasal spray flu vaccine instead of the flu shot in healthy children ages 2-8. The decision not to renew this recommendation was made based on new data from more recent seasons that did not confirm the superior effectiveness of the nasal spray vaccine observed in earlier studies. ACIP recommends that children ages 6 months and older get an annual influenza vaccine with no preference stated for either the nasal spray vaccine or flu shot. The ACIP is a panel of immunization experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Part of the ACIP charter is to continually evaluate new data and update or change recommendations as warranted. The new data considered by ACIP included vaccine effectiveness estimates for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
25%
The increased risk of asthma in children born to mothers who experience prenatal depression. The use of antidepressants during pregnancy also resulted in a 25 percent increased risk of asthma, compared to children born to mothers who did not experience depression. Source: Pediatrics (April 2015)
5 Tips for a Safe and Healthy Life 1. Eat healthy. Visit choosemyplate.gov for suggestions. 2. Be active for at least two-and-a-half hours per week, engaging in activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and strengthen your muscles. 3. Protect yourself and your family. Use seatbelts and practice other safety skills. 4. Manage stress. Balance work and play, and encourage and model healthy behaviors. 5. Get check-ups. Schedule appropriate check-ups for your children and don’t overlook your own need for regular medical evaluations. Source: CDC
carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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FYI
|
style 1.
October
STYLE
2.
Elevate your look! Pack these casual-chic selections for a fall mountain retreat.
3.
4.
5.
1. Dark Denim Blue Flared High Jeans, hm.com, $49.99 2. Green Stripe Women’s Herringbone Striped Scarf, oldnavy.com, $16.94 3. Soft Moss Freeport Field Jacket, llbean.com, $89 4. Dark Purple Jersey Top, hm.com, $9.99 5. Cognac ‘Nevin’ Sole Society Faux Leather Drawstring Bucket Bag, nordstrom.com, $59.95 Lauren Bell Isaacs is the digital media specialist for Carolina Parent.
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For the Smile Of a Lifetime... global learners • engaged • inquisitive • energetic • self-paced classroom leaders • responsible • self-disciplined • strong academics
Call today for an appointment! 919.489.1543 durhamPDO.com
“MCS has fostered a great deal of independence in my child. He is responsible, sustains interest, and shows a keen interest in learning.” — Current Primary parent “The classrooms are beautifully prepared with age-appropriate furnishings, access to the outdoors, and consideration for various learning styles.” — AMS Review
Community is Our Middle Name We are a vibrant Montessori community where together, through our dynamic and relevant curriculum, we guide students toward self-discovery and the realization of their unique contributions to the world.
121 W. Woodcroft Pkwy, Durham, NC 27713
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John R. Christensen DDS, MS, MS
Felicia V. Swinney DMD, MS
Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Pediatric Dentistry Montessori Community School | 4512 Pope Rd. | Durham, NC 27707 | (919) 493-8541 | www.mcsdurham.org
3/4/15 10:54:45 AM
carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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› TECH TALK Does the toy gather information about the child? Whenever a toy connects to the cloud, parents have to assume that anything a child says in its presence is being recorded. What use will companies make of those recordings? The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood worries that Hello Barbie can eavesdrop on children. “It’s creepy,” says Executive Director Susan Linn, “and it creates a host of dangers for children and families.” Others are concerned that toys that depend on Wi-Fi become targets for hackers.
Should Toys Talk to Kids? BY CAROLYN JABS
H
aving a toy that talks is a persistent childhood fantasy. Adults have been trying to bring that fantasy to life ever since Thomas Edison installed
miniature, hand-cranked phonographs in porcelain dolls. Over the years, toy manufacturers have experimented with toys that say recorded phrases or tell entire stories when a child pulls a string or presses a button. More recently, toys have become truly interactive, equipped with software that makes them seem responsive to children. Mattel is introducing Hello Barbie to the toy market that, with the help of a Wi-Fi connection, analyzes what a child says so Barbie can respond with something appropriate. CogniToys has introduced a talking dinosaur named “Dino” that answers questions and responds to commands. Both toys are supposed to “learn” as a child uses them, so their responses become tailored to the child. Other talking toys range from a baby doll that can “read” 70 words to a “talk back” doll that repeats what a child says in a squeaky voice. Then there are programmable “pets” and radio-controlled robots. Some people think all this responsiveness has educational potential. One intriguing study found that children who played with toys programmed to
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say their names and other personalized information were more attentive when the toy presented unfamiliar material. At the same time, many experts feel that young children, in particular, are better served by toys that allow them to control the script. Playing is a way for children to work out their own ideas about the world, and toys that seem amusing to adults may actually limit a child’s imagination. Before purchasing the season’s most seductive talking toys, here are some questions worth asking. Will the toy work? Before choosing a talking toy, be sure your child is developmentally ready to manage the controls. Think about whether the toy will challenge or frustrate your child. Consider durability, too. A toy that breaks down or has technical glitches can interrupt the flow of play.
Is the toy a good role model? Some toys are surprisingly sassy. Other toys embody exaggerated ideas about gender — hypermuscular action figures or heavily made up dolls. If a toy is going to function as a child’s friend, it should be a positive influence. Is the toy affordable? Interactive toys tend to be expensive. Talking Barbie, for example, costs $75. Think about whether the price matches the play value of the toy. Does the toy stimulate imaginative play? The toy does the work, so your child becomes a passive consumer of entertainment. Once the novelty wears off, your child is likely to be bored, a sure-fire indication that the toy isn’t giving your child room to think and grow. It’s important to understand the limitations of talking toys. Children need to become skilled with language because it’s the best way to share information, express feelings and build a sense of closeness with other people. Toys that talk may be amusing, but they cannot help a child develop understanding and empathy. That’s something they can learn only in the company of living, breathing, caring people. Carolyn Jabs raised three computer-savvy kids, including one with special needs. Visit growing-up-online.com to read more of her columns.
Chapel Hill Pediatrics
&Adolescents
Open DAILY, including weekends and holidays
JOIN US FOR 10.3 Nursery/Kindergarten
Open House, 10 am - 12 pm
11.6 Nursery/Kindergarten
WE WELCOME Dr. Shruti Nagaraj, M.D.
Open House, 9:30 - 11 am
to our practice
11.21 Holiday Faire 10 am - 3 pm
"Walk-in availability" for established patients: Monday – Friday 7:15-7:50am & Sat/Sun 9am-2pm • Care from birth through college • Complimentary "meet and greet" sessions • International adoption care • Convenient parking • Same-day appointments • Comprehenisive sports & camp physicals TWO locations welcome NEW and established patients 205 Sage Rd., Suite 100 Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919-942-4173 249 East NC Hwy 54, Suite 230 Durham, NC 27713
www.chapelhillpeds.com
Inspired Learning. A school where students are engaged, encouraged & enriched. VISIT TO LEARN WHY FAMILIES HAVE MOVED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ENJOY OUR AMAZING LITTLE CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE. EMERSONWALDORF.ORG • 6211 NEW JERICHO RD, CHAPEL HILL NC • 919.967.1858 carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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PEDIATRIC THERAPY ASSOCIATES & Sports Medicine • • • • • • • •
Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Speech-Language Pathology Music Therapy Developmental Therapy Early Intervention Services Ready to Read Feeding Therapy
What did your two-year-old do in preschool today? Our twos had fun coding with PRIMO.
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Spanish & Chinese • Reading, Math & Writing • Art, Music, Science Smart Boards and iPads • Yoga • International Assessments After School Classes: Dance, Soccer, Chess, STEM Club Tour now for registration in January for the 2016-2017 school year.
International Preschool of Raleigh 2730 Godley Lane, Raleigh, NC 27617 (Brier Creek next to Frankie’s)
☎ 919-957-7249
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ipraleigh.com
›
UNDERSTANDING KIDS
symbolizes power, control or safety — can be taken in stride.
Coping With Loss
Wins and Losses Helping children understand what they mean BY LUCY DANIELS CENTER STAFF
Y
ou win some, you lose some. You can’t win them all. Winning isn’t everything. There are all sorts of sayings to help children cope with feelings that come with
winning or losing. For some, winning evokes the temptation to boast or belittle the losing side, while losing can trigger meltdowns or resistance to joining in activities that have unpredictable outcomes. Understanding what winning or losing means to your child can be helpful in determining how to support her social and emotional development.
Ages 6 and Younger: Winning is Magical
Kindergarten and Beyond: Winning Isn’t Everything
Until the age of 6 or so, children have an enchanted view of their world. They often believe in magical powers, such as wishes, Santa and the Tooth Fairy. They also believe in their parents, of course, who protect them and make everything better. Furthermore, young children tend to view their world in concrete ways: Good guys vs. bad guys. Good guys win and bad guys lose. Winning means I’m good and losing means I’m bad. With all of this in mind, we can see that winning a game, to a young child, means so much more than an isolated achievement. It supports a young child’s feeling that he is powerful and can stand up to life’s dangers.
While elementary-aged children can be very competitive, their magical thinking about the world gradually shifts into a more mature world view comprised of shades of grey, as in sometimes good guys lose, but they’re still good guys and good guys have flaws, too. Struck by the reality that there aren’t magical fixes to life’s challenges, they begin to understand that parents cannot read their minds, nor can they always be right there to fix everything. They start to realize that magical characters don’t protect them or give gifts to children around the world. As this worldview fades, a child’s ability to cope with the world’s realities grows, and an event such as the loss of a game — which no longer
For some children, the process of letting go of magical thinking and accepting life’s realities does not come easily. Of course, determining how to help a child manage any feeling begins with understanding the reason for the feeling, as well as factoring in the child’s age and where he falls along the developmental line of magical thinking. For a young child who fears bad guys or monsters, for example, winning remains important while exposure to an occasional loss lends itself to reassurance that losing a game every now and then doesn’t produce a “bad guy.” As a child grows, comments that separate outcomes from what those outcomes may symbolize help prepare a child for the unpredictability that lies ahead. For example, you could say, “Now remember, sometimes you win, sometimes I win, but a game is just a game.”
When to Seek Help Some children struggle extensively with the unpredictability of certain activities, so much so that their need for control interferes with their ability to fully participate. Some children may avoid games or competition with their peers altogether, protecting themselves from the dangers of the unknown, while others may bend the rules or cheat to control the outcomes. Persistent struggles in this area of development may indicate that there are emotional interferences with the ability to comfortably win, lose or relinquish a sense of power and control. In such cases, a mental health professional can provide a place to explore and work through the feelings that prevent a child from entering games in a comfortable and carefree way. The Lucy Daniels Center is a nonprofit agency in Cary that promotes the emotional health and well-being of children and families. Visit lucydanielscenter.org to learn more. carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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Don’t miss the annual Durham Public Schools Magnet Fair Saturday, November 7, 2015 10am-1pm At Southern School of Energy & Sustainability 800 Clayton Road, Durham, 27703 ■ Information about the innovative
Magnet and CTE Pathway options ■ Representatives available from each of the 23 Magnet Schools Trinity School of durham and chapel hill Tour and Information Session | October 21 • 9–11 a.m. TK–12 • 4011 Pickett Road, Durham • trinityschoolnc.org where bright minds and open hearts meet
Durham Public Schools
■ Staff on site from Student Assignment, Magnet Programs, Transportation and other DPS departments For more details, please visit the magnet website at magnet.dpsnc.net
go.ncsu.edu/kidstuff NC State LIVE Kidstuff Series presents TheatreworksUSA
Skippyjon Jones, Snow What
Saturday, October 17 at 3pm ■ Stewart Theatre 919.515.1100 ■ Online at go.ncsu.edu/kidstuff ■ All seats $12 SAVE 25% WHEN YOU PURCHASE BOTH KIDSTUFF SHOWS!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites Sunday, April 3 at 3pm ■ Stewart Theatre
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HAMMERS, NAILS & DIAPER PAILS Photo courtesy of Patrick Hempfing
Halloween House BY PATRICK HEMPFING
O
n a beautiful Saturday morning three weeks before Halloween, I decided to wash my wife’s van. Mattie was returning from a business trip that night, so I thought it would be a nice welcome-home surprise. Jessie, my 10-year-old daughter, likes to help wash cars and anything, or anyone, else the hose will reach. When Jessie helps wash the family vehicles, she prefers rinsing over scrubbing. As I vacuumed the van’s interior, Jessie watered the watermelon plants, air and grass. Since she likes to be in charge of the water hose, the new nozzle added to the excitement. Of course, Jessie had to try all the settings, clicking from one to the next by twisting the plastic nozzle head to achieve a spray, jet, or various other configurations of water flow. Jessie is a lot like her mom. Mattie’s younger brother bestowed upon her the title “Dictator of the Bathroom,” when they were growing up together in a one-bathroom house. Jessie is apparently striving to be “Dictator of the Water Hose.” During a snack break, I asked if Jessie would like to decorate for Halloween before her mom got home. She enthusiastically responded, “Yay! May I do it all myself?” I retrieved the box marked “Halloween” from the garage, then left my experienced decorator in charge while I finished the car. Back outside, I enjoyed my freedom to squirt the hose whenever I wanted. About 30 minutes later, I walked into Halloween. Jessie had taped a foam ghost to my computer. She hung spider webs from the light above my desk. Two stuffed animals, a white ghost and a black cat, peeked out from under the comforter in the master bedroom. If they didn’t scare Mattie, the spider attached to the toilet tank would. When I walked into the living room, I found Jessie at the coffee table, crayon in
hand. She had printed Halloween-themed coloring pages from the computer, as she felt the walls needed a little more color. Jessie and I picked up Mattie a few hours later. I thought we’d surprise her with the clean car and Halloween decorations. Jessie had a different plan. She greeted her mom with a hug and promptly gave her a detailed report. We had a nice evening, which included Jessie dressing Sadie, our dog, in her Halloween costume. Jessie decided to be a cat and dress Sadie as a mouse. Sadie didn’t mind the gray T-shirt, but I can’t say she enjoyed the gray sock pulled over her tail. Mattie, tired from her trip, went to bed early. I allowed Jessie to stay up past her bedtime to watch a little college football. My two favorite teams lost, one on a lastsecond field goal. As I crawled into bed, disappointed over the loss, I landed on something. I reached behind me and pulled a ghost and black cat out from under my back. My frown changed to a smile. I smiled again a few weeks later when
a cat, a mouse and a 6’5” block of moldy cheese greeted trick-or-treaters on our front porch. The cat, who had painted my face and selected my cheese-colored shirt, wore a big grin, too. As for the mouse, she was the cat’s best friend. Jessie already has this year’s costumes planned. Recently, Mattie purchased a swimsuit and removed the foam pads from the top. Jessie held each pad to my chest and said, “This year, we’re going to be cheerleaders.” Here’s my response, Jessie, in the form of a cheer. “Give me an N. Give me an O. Give me a W-A-Y. What’s that spell? NO WAY!” Patrick Hempfing had a 20-year career in banking, accounting and auditing before he became a father at age 44. He is now a full-time husband, stay-at-home dad and author of a monthly column titled “moMENts.” Follow Hempfing at facebook.com/patricklhempfing and twitter.com/patrickhempfing. carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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Corn Mazes,
Pumpkin Patches BY JANICE LEWINE
Fall has arrived in the Triangle. Pick a pumpkin, stuff a scarecrow or allow yourself to be scared silly by playful ghosts. Our selection of fall festivities in the Triangle offers something for all ages. Events that are free are listed below. Other events require a fee or registration. *Events requiring a ticket are marked with an asterisk. View a more detailed version of this article at carolinaparent.com (search for “corn mazes”) and browse the daily calendar for more seasonal fun. Parents: Use discretion as to whether activities are suitable for your children. Don’t forget your camera, and be sure to call ahead to verify hours and dates.
DELIGHT-FALL FAMILY FUN Farmer Ganyard Upchurch Farm 2521 Louis Stephens Dr., Cary 919-812-7370 pumpkincountry.com Open daily Sept. 25-Nov. 15 (call for dates and hours after Oct. 31); Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fearrington Village’s Pumpkinfest 2000 Fearrington Village Center U.S. 15-501, Pittsboro 919-542-2121 fearrington.com Oct. 29, 6-8 p.m. Free. Green Acres Farm 1132 Morrisville Carpenter Rd., Cary greenacrescary.com Open Sept. 26-Oct. 31; Fri. 4-10 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (ticket office closes at 9 p.m. Fri. and Sat.); and Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (No night maze; ticket office closes at 6 p.m.) Hill Ridge Farms Harvest and Pumpkin Festival 703 Tarboro Rd., Youngsville 919-556-1771 hillridgefarms.com/harvest.php Open through Nov. 8; Mon.-Fri. and Sun. 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; extended hours until 9 p.m. on October Saturdays. Ken’s Korny Corn Maze 3175 Benson Rd., Garner 919-779-4765
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kensproduce.com Open through Nov. 8; Fri. 4-10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sun. noon-8 p.m. A separate haunted attraction requiring a $17 fee is open 7-11 p.m. Oct. 23-24 and 29-31 and is not recommended for young children. McKee’s Cornfield Maze 5011 Kiger Rd., Rougemont 919-732-8065 mckeemaze.com Open Sept. 26-Nov. 1, Fri. 3-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sun. 1-7 p.m. Haunted trail and cornfield maze Oct. 23, 24, 30 and Oct. 31, 6-10 p.m. Naylor Family Farm and Giant Corn Maze 6016 U.S. 401 N., Fuquay-Varina 910-249-2258 naylorfamilyfarm.com Open through Nov. 8; Mon.-Thurs. by appointment only for groups; Fri. 1-6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. 1-6 p.m. Page Farms 6100 Mt. Herman Rd, Raleigh 919-451-5534 pagefarmsraleigh.com Open Sept. 26-Oct. 31; Mon.-Thurs. by appointment only for groups; Sat.Sun 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Phillips Corn Maze 6701 Good Hope Church Rd., Cary phillipsfarmsofcary.com Open through Oct. 31; Fri. 3-6:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and Sun. 1-6 p.m. A separate haunted attraction, not recommended for children younger than 12, is open 8-10:30 p.m. Sept. 25-26 and Friday and Saturday
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nights in October. Ragan & Holly’s Pumpkin Patch Corner of Hwy. 751 and Lewter Shop Rd., Apex 919-362-5800 Call for dates and hours. Free.
NOT-SO-SCARY EVENTS FOR BOYS AND GHOULS Apex Trick-or-Treat on Salem Street Downtown Apex apexdowntown.com/downtownapex-events Oct. 31. See website for times. Free. Costume Dance Party Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave., Cary townofcary.org Oct. 24, 1-2:30 p.m. Creepy Crabtree Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville 919-460-3355 wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree Oct. 24, 2-6 p.m. Free. Durham Symphony’s “Halloween Spooktacular” 1058 W. Club Blvd., Durham northgatemall.com Oct. 25, 4-7 p.m. Free. Fall Festival at Park West Village Morrisville parkwestvillage.net/event/fall-festival Oct. 29, 4-8 p.m. Free.
Glow in the Dark Party at Monkey Joe's Raleigh 6220 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 104, Raleigh 919-510-6925 monkeyjoes.com/raleigh Oct. 30, 5-8 p.m. Goblin’s Groove* The Halle Cultural Arts Center 237 N. Salem St., Apex etix.com Oct. 30, 7-9:30 p.m. Hallow-Eno at West Point on the Eno Park 5101 N. Roxboro Rd., Durham 919-471-1623 dprplaymore.org Oct. 31, 6-9 p.m. Free. Halloween Carnival Carrboro Town Commons 919-918-7364 carrbororec.org Oct. 30, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Halloween in the Village Lafayette Village, 8450 Honeycutt Rd., Raleigh 919-714-7447 lafayettevillageraleigh.com/ halloween-in-the-village Oct. 30, 5:30-9 p.m. Free. Halloween Spooktacular Flaherty Park Community Center 1226 N. White St., Wake Forest 919-435-9560 wakeforestnc.gov/halloweenspooktacular.aspx Oct. 22, 4:30-8:30 p.m. Free.
and SP Harvest Festival Downtown Cary townofcary,org Oct. 24, 2-6 p.m. Haunted Mordecai Festival and Lantern Ghost Tours* Mordecai Historic Park 1 Mimosa St., Raleigh 919-857-4364 reclink.raleighnc.gov Oct. 24, noon-4 p.m. Half-hour lantern ghost tours of the Mordecai House are from 5-10 p.m. and depart every 15 minutes. Haunted Trail Carroll Howard Johnson Park 301 Wagstaff Rd., Fuquay-Varina (919) 552-1400 fuquay-varina.org Oct. 17. Family Fright for younger kids is 5-6 p.m.; full fright is 7-9 p.m. Free. Haunting at Harris Harris Lake County Park 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill 919-387-4342 wakegov.com/parks/harrislake Oct. 17, 1-6 p.m. Free. Herbert’s Haunted House Herbert C. Young Community Center 101 Wilkinson Ave., Cary 919-460-4965 townofcary.org Oct. 24, 6:30-9 p.m. Marbles Kooky Spooky Halloween Party* 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh 919-834-4040 marbleskidsmuseum.org Oct. 24, 6-8:30 p.m. N.C. Symphony’s "Halloween at Hogwarts: The Music of Harry Potter"* Meymandi Concert Hall, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts 2 E. South St., Raleigh
KY HAUNTS 919-733-2750 ncsymphony.org Oct. 30, 7 p.m.; Oct. 31, 1 and 4 p.m.; Nov. 1, 3 p.m. Pumpkin Carving Hayride Harris Lake County Park 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill 919-387-4342 wakegov.com/parks/harrislake Oct. 18, 5-7 p.m. Registration required. Safe-N-Sane Halloween Celebration Cary Towne Center Mall 1105 Walnut St., Cary 919-771-1295 townofcary.org Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. Free. Spooktacular at The Factory 1839 S Main St., Wake Forest eatshopplay.com Oct. 23, 5-8 p.m. Free. Track or Treat: Halloween Express at New Hope Valley Railway* 3900 Bonsal Rd., New Hill 919-362-5416 triangletrain.com Trains run Oct. 24 and 31 at 4, 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. Trick-or-Treat in Downtown Fuquay-Varina Main, Broad and downtown side streets 919-552-0848 fuquay-varinadowntown.com Oct. 30, 2-5 p.m. Free. Trick or Treat the Trail Morrisville Community Park 1520 Morrisville Pkwy., Morrisville ci.morrisville.nc.us Oct. 24, 4-9 p.m. Free. Trick-or-Treat the Trails White Deer Park 2400 Aversboro Rd., Garner
etix.com Oct. 24. 7 p.m.
919-773-4442 garnerparks.org Oct. 30, 3-6 p.m. Free. Zebulon Trunk or Treat Zebulon Community Center 301 S. Arendell Ave., Zebulon 919-823-0432 townofzebulon.org Oct. 29, 5-7 p.m. Free.
THRILLS AND CHILLS Clayton Fear Farm 1620 Loop Rd., Clayton 919-553-0016 claytonfearfarm.com Open Oct. 2-31 on select nights. Darkside Haunted Estates 11875 N.C. 222 W., Middlesex 919-269-8620 darksidehauntedestates.com Open Sept. 26-Nov. 7 on select nights, 7-11 p.m. Halloween at Morehead Planetarium* 250 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill 919-962-1236 moreheadplanetarium.org/ programs/special-activities/specialcarolina-skies Scare-olina Skies Oct. 30-31 and Nov. 1. The Haunted Forest at Panic Point 2808 Cedar Creek Rd., Youngsville raleighhauntedhouse.com Open select nights Oct. 2-Nov. 1. Haunted Tales of Yesteryear* Page Walker Arts & History Center 119 Ambassador St., Cary 919-460-4963
Haunted Trolley Tour* Departs Mordecai Historic Park 1 Mimosa St., Raleigh 919-857-4364 reclink.raleighnc.gov Oct. 23, 24 and 30; 6:45-9:30 p.m. Historical Ghost Walk* Riverside Cemetery, corner of S. Second and Church streets, Smithfield 919-934-2836 Oct. 29, 7 p.m. Raleigh Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour* Departs on Fayetteville St., Raleigh tobaccoroadtours.com/raleighhaunted-footsteps-ghost-tour Fri. and Sat. evenings in September, October and November. Tours begin at 7:30 p.m. Raleigh Zombie Walk Assembles at Moore Square, downtown Raleigh facebook.com/ raleighzombiewalk2012 Oct. 24, 7 p.m. Free. Reel-ly Scary Cary* Booth Amphitheatre 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary 919-462-2025 boothamphitheatre.com/reel-lyscary-cary Oct. 22-24, movies start at dusk (gates open at 6 p.m.). Spirits of Hillsborough* Tours meet at the Hillsborough Visitors Center 150 E. King St., Hillsborough 919-732-7741 visithillsboroughnc.com Oct. 24, 5-9 p.m.; one-hour tours depart every 20 minutes.
Janice Lewine is the associate editor of Carolina Parent. carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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Photo courtesy of the Museum of Life and Science
Natural play areas blend into the Triangle
BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC
A
t Prairie Ridge Ecostation’s Nature PlaySpace, a small girl stirs pine needles into the mud in her stone bowl. Nearby, two boys armed with stick wands explore a pathway through tall grass, while a few yards away several children create a complicated waterway using a water tap, plastic pipes and wooden blocks. Prairie Ridge is one of a growing number of Triangle area institutions that offer natural play areas for children. Sometimes called natural playscapes or playgrounds, these areas use elements from nature such as boulders, sand, water and branches, and incorporate them into children’s play spaces in ways designed to inspire active, engaged play. Natural play areas have become increasingly popular both nationally and locally over the past decade. In the Triangle, 11 natural play areas have been built for public use over the past six years, while the Natural Learning Initiative at North Carolina State University has been actively developing many more in local schools and preschools.
The Movement Toward Nature-Based Play In 2005, Richard Louv brought widespread
U.S. attention to nature-based play experiences with his bestselling book, “Last Child in the Woods,” which suggests methods to combat what Louv calls “nature deficit disorder.” Louv believes spending time in nature is essential for children, and medical research supports his belief. In 2010, Frances E. Kuo, a natural resources and environmental sciences associate professor at the University of Illinois, reviewed medical studies examining the effects of nature-based experiences on human health. She found that regardless of all other factors, experiences in nature are good for people. Spending time in green areas helps combat obesity, relieves anxiety, helps children with attention difficulties to focus, reduces aggression — the list goes on. “Rarely do the scientific findings on any question align so clearly,” writes Kuo.
Introduction to the Natural World Designers of natural play areas believe naturebased play opportunities can teach children about their local environments. By delving into the land through play, children learn about the seasons, plants, small creatures and insects in their area. The designers hope
to make outdoor experiences habitual for children so they continue to explore the outdoors into adulthood. “Hands-on nature play experiences … are retained as vivid memories, often for the rest of life” writes Robin Moore, director of the Natural Learning Initiative. Most of the natural play areas available in the Triangle offer child-appropriate introductions to larger natural areas for people of all ages. The Prairie Ridge Ecostation, for example, is designed for multigenerational use. “Prairie Ridge is a lifelong destination,” says Jan Weems, a member of the team that designed the Nature PlaySpace. “You spend time in the play space getting comfortable with nature. Once you get a little more adventuresome, you venture out to hike down by the woods, in the prairie, by the stream – there’s 45 acres to explore.” Weems and Dawn Mak, another member of the Nature PlaySpace team, hope children learn to love experiences in the natural world for the sake of the land as well as for their own well being. “We try to create a love of nature,” Weems says. “You can’t expect people to care for and protect something they don’t, in some way, know and love.” carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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Photo courtesy of the Museum of Life and Science
A Different Kind of Play Most natural play areas differ from traditional playgrounds in their emphasis on loose, natural parts, giving children creative autonomy and room to explore as they play. “Children can manipulate the environment,” Weems says. “You can make
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a merry-go-round go around, but you can’t move it; you can’t change it.” “The space doesn’t dictate the play” Mak adds. “Here they can use all their senses. It’s picking up the leaves and the mulch and
Natural Play Areas in the Triangle
moving them around and smelling things.” Kids might stack wood pieces, or bake them as “cookies;” they might plant a “garden” using soft dirt, shovels and branches. The possibilities depend on the child’s imagination and creative use of the materials.
Designing Natural Play Areas
The following places in the Triangle offer publicly available natural play areas:
Because children themselves are experts on
• North Carolina Botanical Garden: ncbg.unc.edu
children as they plan. Both Weems and
the type of play they enjoy, it makes sense for designers of these spaces to consult with
“Pathway networks can be exploratory — curvy pathways where a child never knows what’s around the next corner,” Moore says. Like many natural play areas, Hideaway Woods is designed for children to grow into its challenges. The exhibit contains Explorers’ Crossing, an area for young children to gain the experience and confidence they need to explore other parts of the exhibit. “We hope that children discover a deeper sense of themselves; think, ‘What am I capable of?’” Kloda says. Moore says the overall goal for a natural play area is to provide “something that a child can return to time and time again and never get bored because there is always something new happening. That’s the nature of nature.”
What Happens Next? Both Moore and Nilda Cosco, director of programs at the Natural Learning Initiative, have seen other U.S. communities focusing on making natural play areas more easily accessible to the general public, and they hope
• Prairie Ridge Ecostation*: naturalsciences.org/prairie-ridge-ecostation
Michele Kloda, a member of the team that
• Annie Louise Wilkerson, M.D. Nature Preserve Park: raleighnc.gov (search for “Wilkerson”)
say their teams consulted with children as
where children’s families spend their time,”
they designed their play spaces. The Prairie
Moore says. Public parks are ideal locations for
including children, vote on which elements to
• West Point on the Eno: enoriver.org/whatwe-protect/parks/west-point-on-the-eno • Hideaway Woods: lifeandscience.org • Into the Mist*: lifeandscience.org • Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve: townofcary.org (search for “Hemlock Bluffs”) • White Deer Park*: garnernc.gov (search for “White Deer Park”) • Mary Hayes Barber Holmes Park: pittsboronc.gov (search for “Mary Holmes”) • Kiwanis Park*: pittsboronc.gov (search for “Kiwanis Park”) *Play area contains one or more water elements in warm months. OCTOBER 2015 |
the Museum of Life and Science in Durham,
Ridge team even had community members,
• Blue Jay Point County Park: wakegov.com/parks/bluejay
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designed the new Hideaway Woods exhibit at
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include in their play space. Kloda also emphasizes the role that the space itself plays in determining how the play area will take shape. “We allow the site to speak and figure out what it really wants to be,” she says. “You could place play elements because you want those elements, but what if they didn’t fit the site?” The Hideaway Woods team followed natural terrain patterns whenever possible in their design. The streambed in the exhibit, for example, was moved from its location in the original plan to what had once been a natural streambed in the same area. Creators of natural play areas hope to implement elements of mystery and
to see the movement grow in the Triangle. “Kids need to have them in the places
natural play spaces because they are designed with easy public access in mind. Some cities are even linking natural play areas to children’s libraries. “They see the connection between children’s literature and the natural world,” Moore says. “It is a powerful, synergetic kind of relationship.” This approach makes nature play part of a child’s routine — a day-to-day activity rather than an exceptional event. Normalizing experiences in nature is, after all, the essential reason designers create natural play areas. Their goal is for children to return to nature habitually, interacting with it daily and, through play, making these spaces their own.
exploration that excite children and encourage
Elizabeth Brignac is a writer and mother of two
them to push themselves.
adventurous boys. She lives in Cary.
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2/12/15 11:12:40 AM
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ts travel teams OPTION OR NECESSITY? BY CAITLIN WHEELER
I
f, as author Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hour rule” theory suggests, 10,000 hours of “deliberate practice” are all it takes to become world-class, there will be a stunning number of elite athletes in college and professional sports in the next few years. Ten thousand hours is nothing to the increasing number of kids playing a yearround sport for a club travel team — that’s a five- or six-day-a-week commitment to a single sport for 11 months a year. “I’m scared to really do the math,” jokes Amy Tornquist when asked how many soccer games she’s attended over the last year. This full time chef in Durham has two daughters who play competitive “classic” soccer. “Twenty regular season games,” she says, “plus three or four games per tournament — times two.” Tornquist’s daughters play because they love the sport and because Tornquist appreciates soccer as a teaching tool. Experts couldn’t be more in sync with parents like Tornquist about the more-thanphysical benefits associated with playing youth sports. At Triangle Volleyball Club in Morrisville, associate director Mike Schall is proud of the club’s commitment to their mission statement: “Educating the whole
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OCTOBER 2015 |
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person.” Schall says Triangle Volleyball Club strives to teach athletes not only the sport of volleyball, but also discipline, respect, responsibility, commitment, leadership, work ethic and the importance of teamwork. These lessons come in handy down the road. A study done by the Harvard Business Review found that more than half of women in top executive positions had played a college sport (97 percent had played a sport growing up), and hiring partners noted these sport-learned traits as being key to their hiring.
Go for the Goal Here are some of the reasons athletes — and their parents — decide to commit to a club team.
Fitness. Club sports, with their regular
training sessions, offer an easy, year-round solution in a protected environment. Most clubs emphasize conditioning and offer separate fitness programs, usually identified as speed or agility training.
Advanced training. Clubs often offer
professionally trained coaches who have years of high-level coaching and playing experience. Many clubs focus on
fundamentals, offering additional skillspecific sessions.
Life lessons. Studies have found that sports involvement leads not only to improved health, but to better grades, less drug use, higher self-esteem and key social skills. Payback. Many kids dream of playing for
their favorite college, while parents dream of corresponding scholarships. Most clubs offer exposure to college coaches and scholarship potential as a selling point.
Keeping up. “No parent wants their kid to fall behind,” says Ian Andersen, whose 11-year-old son, Zack, plays soccer for Greensboro United. Peer pressure doesn’t motivate Andersen — Zack has adored soccer since age 2 — but he knows some parents who are already thinking about high school or college and are out there because, he says, “everyone else is doing it.” The Trappings Clubs offer sleek uniforms, personalized sweatsuits, matching backpacks and, of course, the cute car sticker or magnet in team colors. And there’s the travel. What kid doesn’t like staying at a hotel with a team of friends and eating sport-approved snacks
Members of Triangle Volleyball Club’s 13 Black team compete at a travel tournament in Atlanta. Photos courtesy of Michele Schwartz.
for four or more weekends per year? As club teams get stronger and attract upper- to middle-class athletes and their sport-focused parents, recreational and community teams naturally weaken. School programs are suffering, too. A nonprofit promoting youth sports, Up2Us, notes the recent cumulative $3.5 billion cut in public school sports, and estimates that by 2020, 27 percent of U.S. public high schools will no longer have any sport teams or programs of any kind.
Playing Defense Should athletes really play 10,000 hours of any one sport? In addition to an increased chance of overuse injuries, visions of playing at a Division I college on full scholarship are rarely realized. According to ScholarshipStats.com, only about 2 percent of high school varsity athletes end up playing Division I sports, let alone getting a scholarship to do so. Scholarly and nonscholarly critiques offer additional reasons to proceed with caution.
Cost. In addition to yearly club fees,
families must figure in the cost of uniforms, equipment, travel, meals and hotels for weekend tournaments. According to a 2014 University of Florida Sport Policy and Research Collaborative report, travel-team parents spend an average of $2,266 annually on their child’s sports participation, and at the elite levels some families spend more than $20,000 per year.
Exclusivity. Increasing specialization at an early age means more casual youth athletes drop organized sports altogether before they even have a chance to try out for a middle school team.
Overuse injuries. Dr. Scott Burbank at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte and team physician for the Charlotte Independence professional soccer team, has observed a substantial increase in overuse injury among his young patients. “It’s not
surprising given how much they play,” he says. “Kids are particularly susceptible to growth-plate injury, and if you stress a growing skeleton all year long, it will start to feel that stress.”
Mental toll. The mental drain of overspecialization is equally clear. “These kids who started playing for travel clubs at age 9, 10, 11 — by the time they’re in college, they’re just tired, their bodies are worndown. It has become a job,” says Greg Dale, an author, professor of sport psychology and ethics at Duke University, and director of the Sport Psychology and Leadership Programs for Duke Athletics. Less time for academics and other interests. “I’m a big believer in getting
done what needs to get done academically before a player comes to the field,” says Jim O’Neill, head lacrosse coach at R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, a coach for Winston-Salem Lacrosse and district attorney for Winston-Salem. “It’s the academics that will benefit these athletes in the long run. Your ability to play competitively is a small window. Academics are for life.”
Parental pressure. “When I was growing
up, youth sports was about children competing against other children,” says John O’Sullivan, founder of the Changing the Game Project, an initiative to “put the ‘play’ back in ‘play ball.’” “Now, far too often, it’s about adults competing with other adults through their children, and as a result 70 percent of kids quit before they reach high school,” he says. Burbank agrees. “It’s a societal pattern of behavior. Intuitively, parents think the more you play, the better you get, and it has become a race. Kids will do anything to please parents and coaches: even play through serious pain.” Parents who sign their kids up for year-round clubs recognize the problem. “Club sports cost a lot and some
parents expect to see a return,” Andersen says. “We have to remember that no one is making us sign up. No one is promising us our kid is going to be a star. Expectations put pressure on everyone, including the kid. We’ve got a lot of young kids thinking too hard, afraid to mess up.” So, should your child play year-round, travel team club sports? On practical, financial and philosophical grounds, it works for some families, but not others. Club sports can deliver a lot of benefit and enjoyment to your family if you take advantage of it in a healthy way. “If your kid is smiling and having fun, then you’re getting something right,” Andersen says. Caitlin Wheeler is a freelance writer living in Durham. carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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Jennifer Daniels gracefully balances a career as a dentist with single motherhood.
Career Paths Chosen With
Motherhood in Mind Part two of our series on working mothers focuses on two Triangle moms who planned successful careers that didn’t conflict with their other job title: Mom.
BY ODILE FREDERICKS
Working mothers know the challenges of caring for children and succeeding at work. We often make life decisions to help us fulfill these dueling roles. But what happens when our plans fall apart? Two Triangle women — one divorced and one separated — have faced unforeseen obstacles with courage. Here are their stories.
A HEALING CHOICE
tend to be few compared with the medical
Ever since she was a child, Dr. Jennifer
emergencies pediatricians often face.
Matthews knew she wanted to be a pediatrician. She wanted to help others heal. But as she got older, she realized she also wanted to be a mother. In college, she opted to study dentistry, a career that would allow her to help patients while maintaining a flexible lifestyle, since dentists generally
Matthews reasoned that she could earn a good salary and be relatively independent, since dentists can own their own businesses. What she didn’t foresee was that she would face parenthood as a single mother. “You never imagine when you get
everything with,” she says. But in 2010 — five years after graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry — Matthews found herself divorced, single-parenting and running the Reflections Dental practice in Raleigh for a friend who had bought it. “I was building a brand-new business for someone else, while my home life was falling apart, she recalls. “I did experience a tremendous amount of unbalance in myself — emotionally, spiritually and physically — for probably about the first three years (after my divorce). And it took me some
work fixed hours four days a week, unlike
married and have a child that you’re not
time to understand the extent of my
pediatricians, and dental emergencies
going to one day have a co-pilot to balance
domestic responsibilities and (to achieve) a
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comfortable balance.” In 2014, Matthews bought Reflections
and admits to working seven days a week. But she finds time to volunteer at her
Dental from her friend, adding “business
daughter’s school and make home-cooked
owner” to her many roles. Her daughter,
meals. She may appear to be at the top of
Saylor, is now 7. Although life can be
her game, but getting there was a rough
stressful, she says she has managed to prevail with the help of friends, family, a strong spiritual community and some effective strategies. “One thing that’s really important that I’ve done is having a support circle — a loving social network of people, friends,” she says, adding that even when “you don’t want to step forward and ask for help because you don’t want to seem weak … it’s very important that you accept help for the love of your child and for the love of yourself.” Having a “back up” plan is also essential in case of emergencies, such as a sick child or a broken water heater. Getting enough sleep and exercise is equally important. She says she sticks to her routine of heading to the grocery on Sundays, list in hand, so she can make meals for the week. She reads self-help and motivational books and believes in seeking therapy if it’s needed. At work, she says she surrounds herself with staff members who have a positive attitude and tries to lead them the same way “because you always get back what you put out to the universe.” Still, Matthews believes in giving herself a break when she needs it and will, for example, head to a restaurant if she’s just too tired to cook. “I think that is really hard for women because we really try, we really think we can do it all,” she says. “You have to make the time for yourself. In order for me to be a good mother, I have to take care of myself, so that is very, very important.”
A CAREER CURE Erin Studdard is the owner of Burn Bootcamp in Durham, which provides
climb. In 2007, Studdard was a stay-at-home mom. Shortly after having surgery, which forced her to abruptly stop breast-feeding, she sank into a deep postpartum depression, although she did not know what was happening to her. At the time, she thought she was being lazy and felt embarrassed about it. “It was the worst time of my life,” she recalls. “I knew something was wrong. I knew it was ridiculous that I couldn’t get up and live life, but I physically wasn’t able to.” Then her brother died unexpectedly, and she decided to seek help from a psychologist and her physician, who helped her move out of the depression with medicine, therapy and exercise. She trained for her first half marathon, began eating healthy foods and started the climb back up
Single mom and fitness instructor, Erin Studdard, prioritizes family time with daughter, Hailey.
to good health, which took a year and a half. “Once I realized what I was going through I was like, ‘I know it isn’t laziness, and now I know how to fix it.” Studdard worked out during the day. “Honestly, fitness was probably the biggest lifesaver for me — even at the time I was on medication,” she says. “But the fitness component of it was what was really building up my confidence.” Her life took another unexpected turn in February 2009 while having lunch with a friend who told her that her daughter was going through postpartum depression. “I remember leaving that lunch telling her that fitness was really helping me,” Studdard says. “She was going to tell her daughter about the program I was doing. I left there thinking I needed to become a personal trainer — and not just a personal trainer —
In 2010, she began personal training mothers part-time before opening Burn Bootcamp in June 2013. She says she leaped at the opportunity to open Burn Bootcamp because the franchise offers onsite childcare to mothers, a service she could never offer customers in her backyard. Her business, she says, creates a community of mothers who support each other. “When our moms walk in here in the gym, it doesn’t matter where they come from, what they do for a living, who they are, how old they are — they come into this community and they are friends,” she says. “They lift together, they work out together. They go to breakfast together. They encourage each other. They run races together. But they bring it outside of fitness and start bringing it to the real world.”
personal training for women and onsite
I needed to be a personal trainer for moms.
childcare while they work out. Recently
… Within three months, I had enrolled in
separated, she juggles co-parenting her
the personal trainer school in Raleigh and
Odile Fredericks is the web editor at
9-year-old daughter and running a business,
six months later, I graduated.”
Carolina Parent. carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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EXCURSION
Photo courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A Weekend Hike to Mount LeConte BY DEBORAH R. HUSO
G
rowing up in Virginia, only minutes away from Shenandoah National Park, mountains have always been a part of my life. As a child, I often hiked with my parents, and once my own daughter was old enough to travel, I was eager to share my love of the outdoors with her. We decided to head south to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. While my 2-year-old, Heidi, was already a veteran of several day hikes, I bravely decided to try an overnight hike up the Smokies’ third highest peak, Mount LeConte, which towers 6,593 feet. Mount LeConte offers the only lodging available within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The catch? LeConte Lodge is a hike-in-only lodge with no electricity or running water. Reservations in advance for LeConte Lodge are necessary. Friday: Old Mill Heading into the Smoky Mountains Friday afternoon, we spend the night in Pigeon Forge. We skip the tourist hoopla and head to Old Mill Square, home of an operational 1830 gristmill. From there, we grab dinner and turn in for the night. Saturday: The Hike Early Saturday morning we head into
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Gatlinburg to the famous Pancake Pantry to load up on hike-worthy fare. Stomachs full, we enlist local hiker shuttle service A Walk in the Woods. Shuttle services drop hikers off at a trailhead in one place, so they can park their car at a different end spot. (Shuttle costs vary.) We’re dropped off with our gear and we set off on our steep 5-mile journey to the top of LeConte. The first stretch of the trail gives us a good opportunity to warm up. The path parallels Alum Cave Creek and we pause for Heidi to wade in the chilly water. As we continue on our way, we come to Arch Rock, a narrow tunnel formed by centuries of freeze-thaw conditions on this mountainside. From there the trail climbs more steeply, and we reach Inspiration Point, which affords us views of jagged slopes. At the halfway point, we come to the trail’s signature feature — Alum Cave Bluffs. These arching rock formations create a rain shelter with such an arid climate in their shadow that precipitation never reaches the dry soil beneath them. The trek becomes more challenging as we navigate narrow rock ledges using steel cables to pull our way along. Within a few hours, we approach LeConte’s summit and
the lodge comes into view. Exhausted, we turn in early. Sunday: Down the Mountain We rise early the next morning, heading down the Rainbow Falls Trail, electing to stop for a picnic lunch on the boulders below the falls, which make a dramatic drop over a rock ledge and create a veil of water out of a fairytale setting. Heidi toddles around on the rocks, bending to touch the stream below the falls. When we reach the trail base and the parking lot with our car, it’s about 3 p.m. We drive back toward civilization, hitting Gatlinburg, where we pay a visit to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Heidi is delighted by the long glide path under the shark lagoon where sharks and stingrays swim over our heads. After dinner, and before we head back to the hotel, we take a sunset ride up the Gatlinburg Sky Lift, which carries us over the town for a mountaintop view. Plan your very own Mount LaConte getaway and mix in some fun by stopping in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg for a trip the entire family can enjoy. Deborah R. Huso is an outdoor recreation and travel writer who has the good fortune of living on a farm in central Virginia within walking distance of two wineries.
October OUR PICKS
5ks Around the Triangle Go to carolinaparent.com and search for “October 5ks” to see a list of 5ks and fun runs taking place around the Triangle this month.
Music and Stories Under the Stars Take the family and a blanket to enjoy music and stories outdoors Oct. 23, 5-7:30 p.m., on the Weaver Street Lawn in Carrboro. A costume contest begins at 5 p.m. Cider and cookies will be provided. Admission is free. Weaver Street Lawn is at International Festival of Raleigh artwork courtesy of Bob Rankin
101 E. Weaver St., Carrboro. 919-918-7364. carrbororec.org.
International Festival of Raleigh The International Festival of Raleigh celebrates its 30th birthday and brings together nearly 60 international groups that call the Triangle home. The annual celebration of multiculturalism is Oct. 9-11 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Explore the world through performances, cultural exhibits, world bazaars, sidewalk cafes, craft demonstrations, Sophia’s Courtyard for kids, a Biergarten and a naturalization ceremony. See website for hours. $9.95 adults, $7.50 ages 7-12. internationalfestival.org.
StrollerThon Kids’ Carnival Enjoy face painting, carnival games, art activities, a Music Together Class by SproutSongs and more at the StrollerThon Kids’ Carnival Oct. 17, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., at Bond Park Senior Center. Admission is free. Download tickets at pesnc.org/get-involved/strollerthon. This event supports the programs of the nonprofit Postpartum Education and Support for women in the Triangle.
Photo courtesy of Candace Laughinghouse of AriZoe images. carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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1 THURSDAY
KidzStuff Consignment Sale. Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. 7-8:30 p.m. FREE. Shop for gently used children’s clothing, furniture, baby equipment and more. hbbc.org/kidzstuff.
2 FRIDAY
C E N A D
REGISTER for
Come try a FREE Trial Class! Wake Forest Location: 1976 S. Main Street Raleigh Location: 6801 Falls of Neuse Rd
Ages 18 mos & up!
NansDanceNC.com
919.803.6044
Kids Fun-Days: Animal Appetites. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 1-3 p.m. $12/resident, $16/nonresident. 919387-5980. Kids hike, make projects and engage in nature activities. Ages 5-8. Registration required. townofcary.org. KidzStuff Consignment Sale. See Oct. 1. 9 a.m. -7 p.m. Nature Nuts: Raccoons. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 10-11 a.m. $10/ resident, $13/nonresident. 919-3875980. Children and parents learn about nature together. Ages 3-5 with parent. Registration required. townofcary.org. Sunset Campfire. Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill. 6:30-8 p.m. $5/family. 919-387-4342. Learn how to build a fire and roast marshmallows. Take a chair and water bottle. All ages. Meet at the Cypress Shelter. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/harrislake.
3 SATURDAY
410 Market Street, Suite 430 • Chapel Hill, NC • 27516 919.967.2773 • www.svpediatricdentistry.com
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American Doll Dance Party. DanceArt Studio, 82 DanceArt Dr., Garner. 6-7:30 p.m. Call for fees. 919-550-6556. Enjoy crafts, games and more with your doll. Ages 5-11. Registration required. danceartinc.com. Author Visits. Barnes & Noble, 8030 Renaissance Pkwy., Durham. 2 p.m. FREE. Wylde Scott reads from his new children’s book, “Seaside.” bn.com. Birding With Vernon. Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville. 8:30-10 a.m. FREE. Join bird enthusiast Vernon to discover different types of birds and their
habitats. Meet at the Waterwise Garden. All ages. wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree. Bull City A Capella Slam. Riverside High School, 3218 Rose of Sharon Rd., Durham. 7 p.m. $10/student, $15/adult. Hear a capella music from a variety of guest performers. Proceeds benefit Urban Ministries of Durham. Purchase tickets online. heartofcarolinachorus.org. Curiosity Club: A Lorax Adventure. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 2-4 p.m. $12/resident, $16/nonresident. 919-387-5980. Children learn about the natural world. Ages 5-8. Registration required. townofcary.org. KidzStuff Consignment Sale. See Oct. 1. 8 a.m.-noon. Minion Dance Party. DanceArt Studio, 82 DanceArt Dr., Garner. 6-7:30 p.m. Call for fees. 919-550-6556. Dance like minions and enjoy crafts and games. Ages 6-14. Registration required. danceartinc.com. Monarch Magic. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill. 1-3 p.m. $10/member, $12/ nonmember. Learn about Monarch butterflies and their journey to Mexico. View live specimens and learn how to tag them. Registration required. ncbg. unc.edu. Nature Nuts: Raccoons. See Oct. 2. Pop-out Paper Landscapes. Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., Holly Springs. 2:30-4:30 p.m. $20/resident, $30/nonresident. 919-567-4000. Kids ages 9-13 create pop-outs for use in decorations or greeting cards. Registration required. hollyspringsnc.us. Save the Garden for the Birds. Atlantic Avenue Orchid and Garden, 5217 Atlantic Ave, Raleigh. 10 a.m. $10/person. Learn how to clean a nesting box and how to help them through the winter. Register online. atlanticavenuegarden.com.
› Super Simple: Paper Rockets. Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., Holly Springs. 1-2 p.m. $10/resident, $15/nonresident. 919567-4000. Kids ages 7-11 make rockets using everyday items. Registration required. hollyspringsnc.us. Tracks and Skulls. Wilkerson Nature Preserve, 11408 Raven Ridge Rd., Raleigh. 2-4 p.m. $5/child. 919-9966764. Identify the tracks and skulls of animals that live in or near the preserve. Make a plaster cast of a track to take home. Ages 5-8. Register online. reclink.raleighnc.gov. Traveling Tortoise. Wake Academy, 107 Quade Dr., Cary. 3-4 p.m. $8.50. See this mobile program dedicated to making science education fun. Interact with reptiles, amphibians, insects and other animals. Register online. eventbrite.com.
4 SUNDAY
Junior Naturalist: Backyard Bugs and Spiders. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 2-3 p.m. $8/resident, $10/nonresident. 919-387-5980. Participants develop their naturalist skills. Ages 5-8 with parent. Registration required. townofcary.org.
5 MONDAY
Tiny Tots: Bugs in Nature. Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 10:30-11 a.m. $2/child. 919-662-2850. Explore bugs of different colors and shapes. Count the number of legs spiders and beetles have and go on a bug safari. 18 mos.-3 yrs. with adult. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/crowder.
6 TUESDAY
Nature Families: Camo Critters. Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 11 a.m.-noon. $5/family. 919-662-2850. Learn how neighbors in nature hide in plain sight. Play a camouflage game and go on a walk to
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look for critters. All ages. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/crowder.
7 WEDNESDAY
Cookies for NAEYC. Legacy Academy of Chapel Hill, 515 E. Winmore Ave., Chapel Hill. 5-6:30 p.m. FREE. Enjoy cookies as the school celebrates its accreditation by National Association of Young Children. lachapelhill.com. History Corner: The Discoverers? N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 10-11 a.m. $1/member, $3/nonmember. Learn about the Spanish, who were the first Europeans to explore what became North Carolina. Ages 6-9. Register online. NCMOH-programs.com. History Hunters: Early Spanish Explorers. N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $1/member, $3/ nonmember. Learn about the Spanish, who were the first Europeans to explore what became North Carolina. Ages 10-13. Register online. NCMOH-programs.com. Nature Friends: Now You See Me, Now You Don’t. Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 11 a.m.noon. $4/child. 919-662-2850. Find out how and why friends in nature are good at blending in. Try experiments, hike and play games. Ages 6-9. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/crowder. Nature Stories: Nature Colors and Shapes. Blue Jay Point County Park, 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd., Raleigh. 1-2 p.m. $4/child. 919-8704330. Take a hike to see nature’s array of colors and shapes. Ages 3-5 with parent. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/bluejay. Nature Watchers: Nature’s Hide and Seek. Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 1-2 p.m. $4/child. 919-662-2850. Discover how animals play hide and seek. Play games, read a story and make a craft. Ages 3-5.
ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, November 5 • 6:45 - 8:00 pm
Strong Athletic Program
Fine Arts Curriculum
Excellence in Education for 60 Years Our Lady of Lourdes is a nationally-recognized, Blue Ribbon, K-8 School 2710 Overbrook Dr. Raleigh 27608 • 919-861-4635
Our Lady Of LOurdes CathOLiC sChOOL
www.olls.org
carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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Explore a school where your child’s imagination has room to flourish.
At Carolina Friends School, we believe in the intellectual and creative capacity of every student. And that a critical part of our job is to provide all of our students with engaging opportunities for problem-solving, innovation, and expression. Through our integrated and experiential curriculum, we strive to engage our students’ imaginations in the study of humanities, arts, technology, engineering, and science. To learn more about how your child can flourish at Carolina Friends, please call us at 919.383.6602. We’d like to get to know you!
Carolina Friends School www.cfsnc.org
Farmer Ganyard at Upchurch Farm
Open Sept. 25 - Nov. 15 pumpkin pickin’ (including weird & exotic pumpkins) hayrides • hay mountain farm animals • mazes • corn crib • farm tour • picnicking
2521 Louis Stephens Drive Cary, NC 27519 upchurch.farm FarmerGanyard
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Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/crowder. Operation Firefly/ADHD Awareness Month Fundraiser. Tijuana Flats and Orange Leaf, Holly Springs, 161 Grand Hill Plaza, Holly Springs. 5-9 p.m. FREE. 919-986-2767. Help kick off ADHD Awareness Month. Tijuana Flats and Orange Leaf will donate 20 percent of their net sales to Operation Firefly for all purchases made from 5-8 p.m. at Tijuana Flats and 6-9 p.m. at Orange Leaf. Event includes live music, raffle and ADHD awareness activities. facebook.com/operationfireflyinc. Storytime for Tots: “Henry the Impatient Heron.” Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville. 1-2 p.m. FREE. Read the story by Donna Love, search for herons and play a camouflage game. Ages 2-5. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree.
8 THURSDAY
Kid Creations: Tie Dye Bandanas. Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., Holly Springs. 10-10:30 a.m. $2/resident, $3/nonresident. 919567-4000. Kids ages 3-5 and caregiver make a craft together. Registration required. hollyspringsnc.us. Wee Walkers: Numbers in Nature. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 10-11 a.m. $8/resident, $10/ nonresident. 919-387-5980. Children discover shapes, colors and textures in nature. Ages 1 and older with parent. Registration required. townofcary.org.
9 FRIDAY
Curious Creatures: Bats. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Raleigh. 10 a.m.noon. $12/resident, $16/nonresident. 919-387-5980. Discover wildlife through hikes, activities and crafts. Ages 5-8. Registration required. townofcary.org. Durham Mocha Moms Support Group. Grey Stone Church, 2601 Hillsborough Rd., Durham. 10 a.m.noon. FREE. Take part in a support group for mothers of color and mothers
raising children of color. Children welcome. durhammochamoms.wix. com/durham-mocha-moms. Wee Walkers: Numbers in Nature. See Oct. 8.
10 SATURDAY
Eco-Explorers: Birds. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Raleigh. 2-4 p.m. $12/ resident, $16/nonresident. 919387-5980. Children make treasured memories while increasing their knowledge of plants and animals. Ages 7-10. Registration required. townofcary.org. Family Wildlife Series: A World of Webs. Blue Jay Point County Park, 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd., Raleigh. 2-3:30 p.m. $5/family. 919870-4330. Learn about spider webs and search for them. Ages 5 and older. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/bluejay. Make It, Take It: Second-Season Gardens. N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 1-3 p.m. FREE. Drop in to enjoy the museum’s “History of the Harvest” program. NCMOH-programs.com. Nature Stories: Nature Colors and Shapes. See Oct. 7. 10-11 a.m. Operation Pumpkin with WakeMed Pediatric Surgeons. Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $5 ages 1 and older. Carve a pumpkin alongside the steady hands of a surgeon. marbleskidsmuseum.org. Pitchin’ for Wishes Charity Cornhole Tournament. Midtown Park, North Hills, Six Forks Rd., Raleigh. 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. $50. Take part in a charity cornhole tournament to benefit Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina. Enjoy appearances by local mascots, kids’ activities and more. Register a two-person team online. raleighpitchinforwishes.com.
11 SUNDAY
Alvin and the Chipmunks Perform. Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, 2 E. South St., Raleigh. $25. Alvin and the Chipmunks deliver a music-filled show
› for all ages. 2 p.m., 5 p.m. Purchase tickets online. ticketmaster.com. Canine Contests at Crowder. Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 1:30-3:30 p.m. FREE. 919-662-2850. Showcase your dog’s best tricks. Canine costumes encouraged. wakegov.com/parks/crowder. Curiosity Club: Birding for Kids. See Oct. 3. Downtown Cary Food and Flea Market. Ashworth Village parking lot, 200 S. Academy St., Cary. Noon4 p.m. FREE. Enjoy local food trucks, vintage items, antiques, crafts, edible goods, music and more. facebook.com/ downtowncaryfoodandflea. Tennis Carnival. Wilson Park, 101 Williams St., Carrboro. 4-6 p.m. FREE. 919-918-7364. Take part in games to promote tennis and enjoy prizes. Ages 5 and older. carrbororec.org.
12 MONDAY
Forest Friends: Fall Colors. Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill. 1-2 p.m. $2/child. 919-387-4342. Read a story, make a leaf picture and enjoy cookies and juice. Ages 3-5 with adult. Registration required. wakegov. com/parks/harrislake. Nature Tots: Fall Colors. Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill. 10:30-11 a.m. $2/child. 919-3874342. Read a story, make a leaf picture and enjoy cookies and juice. Ages 1-3 with adult. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/harrislake. An Orienteering Outing. Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 3-4:30 p.m. $6/child. 919-856-6675. Use a compass to navigate through an obstacle course. Ages 8-12. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.
13 TUESDAY
Pop-In Playtime Club. Pump It Up of Raleigh, 10700 World Trade Blvd., Raleigh. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $8/child, $6/sibling. 919-828-3344. Drop-in inflatable play. Wear socks. Free for adults. pumpitupparty.com/raleigh-nc.
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Tired of sitting in the carpool lane? CALL US
Pop-In Playtime Club. See Oct. 13.
919.413.4700
15 THURSDAY
Eco-Express: Birding 101. Stevens Children Transportation Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 To-and-From School Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 10 a.m.-noon. ● safe, dependable & convenient $12/resident, $16/nonresident. Take ● clean & reliable vehicles ● fully insured the fast track to nature in a hands● licensed & experienced drivers on study of ecology. Ages 8-12. ● all drivers CPR and first aid certified Registration required. townofcary.org. info@tstransportation.org Little Historians: Take Me to the State Fair. Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 11 a.m.-noon. $4/child. 919-856-6675. 1 Learn about the N.C. State Fair and143361-A1-3.indd the history behind some of its treats and events. Read a story, play games and make a paper quilt to take home. Ages 5-7 with adult. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.
16 FRIDAY
Crowder by Night: Spooky Spiders. Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 6-7 p.m. $5/family. 919-6622850. Explore a few arachnids found in the park. Learn how and why spiders build webs and make a spider craft. All ages. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/crowder. Curious Creatures: Raccoons and Foxes. See Oct. 9. 1-3 p.m. Microscope Monsters. Wilkerson Nature Preserve, 11408 Raven Ridge Rd., Raleigh. 2:30-4 p.m. $5/child. 919-996-6764. Use optical and digital microscopes to get a closer look at the creatures around us. Ages 8-13. Register online. reclink.raleighnc.gov. Nature Nuts: Spiders. See Oct. 2. Where Good Sleep Begins Workshop. GreenPea Baby & Child, 316 Colonades Way, Cary. 6:30-8:30 p.m. $10. Learn sleep tips and hear expert advice for newborns through kindergarten age, sleep strategies and more. Registration required. greenpeababystore.com.
●
tstransportation.org
2/18/15 8:15:12 AM
Track or Treat
Track or Treat Saturdays and 31 Oct. 19Oct. & 26,242013 & 26,6:30pm 2013 & 7:45pm Ride times:Oct. 4pm,19 5:15pm, www.triangletrain.com Spooky Ride on the Halloween Express
Spooky Ride on the Halloween Express
www.triangletrain.com
17 SATURDAY
Family Gardening Series: Pumpkin Harvest. North Carolina Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill. 10-11:15 a.m. $8/member, carolinaparent.com | OCTOBER 2015
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FALL FESTIVALS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA Savor autumn by taking a day trip or weekend getaway to one of the many fall festivals across our state. From the mountains to the coast, these events showcase cultural arts and crafts, seasonal food, live music, children’s activities and much more.
IN THE TRIANGLE
RAILROAD DAYS FESTIVAL Oct. 2, 7-9 p.m.; Oct. 3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Selma selma-nc.com Railroads and trains with live entertainment, vendors and a children’s area. FREE.
FOX 50 FAMILY FEST AND THE GREAT AMERICAN TOBACCO DUCK RACE Oct. 3, noon-5 p.m. American Tobacco Campus Blackwell St., Durham fox50familyfest.com Music, face painting, mascot appearances and a rubber duck race in the Ol’ Bull River. FREE. Rubber ducks are $10.
HERITAGE DAY Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Historic Oak View County Park 4028 Carya Dr., Raleigh wakegov.com/parks/oakview Heritage craft displays, agricultural displays, re-enactors, live animals and more. FREE.
TRIANGLE OKTOBERFEST Oct. 3-4; noon-10 p.m. Oct. 3, noon-6 p.m. Oct. 4 Booth Amphitheatre 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary triangleoktoberfest.org Wiener dog races, a children’s play area, games, prizes for German attire, live music from the Little German Band, German food and more. $20 adults, $5 ages 6-15 and free for ages 5 and younger.
FESTIFALL ARTS FESTIVAL Oct. 4, noon-6 p.m. Downtown Chapel Hill chapelhillfestifall.com
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Chapel Hill’s annual celebration of the arts includes live entertainment, an artist market, local food and hands-on activities. FREE.
WOOFSTOCK Oct. 4, noon-4 p.m. Rock Quarry Park 701 Stadium Dr., Durham durhamnc.gov/836/woofstock Canine entertainment and stunts, a treibbal competition, a Skyhoundz canine disc championship, a pet market and more. FREE.
SHAKORI HILLS GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND DANCE Oct. 8-11; see website for hours and fees. 1439 Henderson Tanyard Rd., Pittsboro shakorihillsgrassroots.org Family-friendly celebration of music, dance and art.
30TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Oct. 9-11; see website for hours and fees Raleigh Convention Center 500 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh internationalfestival.org Live performances, cultural exhibits, sidewalk cafes, world bazaars, face painting and storytelling.
Pumpkin painting, face painting, a bouncy train, hayride and games. FREE.
Wristbands are $2 for ages 2 and older. FREE for adults.
CARY DIWALI
BEAGLEFEST
Oct. 10, gates open at 10 a.m. Booth Amphitheatre 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary humsub.net Cultural dance, cuisine, handicrafts and more in a celebration of India. FREE.
Oct. 24, 2-6 p.m. Sunny Acres Pet Resort 5908 U.S. Hwy. 70 E., Durham tribeagles.org Games, contests, raffles, vendors and more for families and their dog of all breeds. $5/person.
CREATIVE FOOD DRIVE Oct. 10, 2:30-6:30 p.m. Durham Central Park 501 Foster St., Durham creativefooddrive.com Live music, food trucks, pumpkin painting, a bounce castle and more. View sculptures that local companies and community members build out of donated food items. FREE.
N.C. STATE FAIR Oct. 15-25; see the website for hours and fees. 1025 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh ncstatefair.org Carnival rides, agricultural and heritage exhibits, livestock competitions, performances and more.
HOLLYFEST Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sugg Farm Park 2401 Grigsby Ave., Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.us (search for Hollyfest) Arts and crafts, pumpkin-carving contest, live entertainment, inflatables, cornhole, kids corner, food and more. FREE.
DAY IN DOWNTOWN STREET FESTIVAL Oct. 10, noon-9 p.m. fuquay-varina.com Arts and crafts, inflatables, a food truck rodeo, mechanical bull and more. FREE.
ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE
CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN IN THE ARTS
RIVERFEST
Oct. 17, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Cary Ballet Conservatory 3791 N.W. Cary Pkwy., Cary caryballetconservatory.com Local visual and performing artists, pumpkin painting, make-and-take crafts and more. FREE.
Oct. 2-4; see website for hours. Downtown Wilmington wilmingtonriverfest.com Street fair celebrating local artists features arts and crafts, fireworks, exhibitions, live music, play area and more. FREE.
LOGAN’S HARVEST DAY
DOWNTOWN HARVEST FESTIVAL
Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Logan Trading Co. 707 Semart Dr., Raleigh logantrd.com
Oct. 24, 2-6 p.m. Downtown Cary heartofcary.org Carnival games, bounce castle and slide, cornhole, food and live entertainment.
CAROLINA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
MEBANE AUTUMN FEST Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Mebane downtownmebane.com Hayrides, live music, crafts and antiques. FREE.
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Weekends from Oct. 3-Nov. 22; see website for hours and fees. 16445 Poplar Tent Rd., Huntersville carolina.renfestinfo.com
› Circus-style entertainment and medieval games, live comedy, jousting tournaments, artisan marketplace and food.
Living history demonstrations, battle re-enactments, cute critters competition, live music and more. FREE.
BRUSHY MOUNTAIN APPLE FESTIVAL
Oct. 10-11; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 10, noon-6 p.m. Oct. 11 Shelton Vineyards 286 Cabernet Ln., Dobson sheltonvineyards.com Hayrides, face painting, live music, vendor booths and more. FREE.
Oct. 3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown North Wilkesboro applefestival.net Mountain heritage celebration offers live entertainment, crafts, food and plenty of apples. Pre-festival Apple Jam with live music on Friday at 6 p.m. FREE.
ASHEBORO FALL FESTIVAL Oct. 3-4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Downtown Asheboro randolphartsguild.com Music, amusements, vendors, a livestock show, heritage village and more. FREE.
AUTUMN JUBILEE Oct. 3-4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dan Nicholas Park 6800 Bringle Ferry Rd., Salisbury dannicholas.net Crafts, live entertainment, food and children’s area. FREE.
CHEROKEE INDIAN FAIR Oct. 6-10, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; see website for fees. Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds 545 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee cherokee-nc.com Games, rides, music, fireworks, Ferris wheel and more.
GOLDSTON OLD FASHION DAY Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Bellevue Ave., Goldston visitpittsboro.com/events/goldston-oldfashion-day Local arts and crafts, classic cars and tractors, pony rides, face painting and carnival food. FREE.
THE GATEWAY FESTIVAL Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Downtown Kings Mountain cityofkm.com/calendar_events.asp
HARVEST FESTIVAL
PLEASURE ISLAND SEAFOOD BLUES AND JAZZ FESTIVAL Oct. 10-11, gates open at 11 a.m.; $50 advance tickets. FREE for ages 12 and younger. Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area 118 Riverfront Rd., Kure Beach pleasureislandnc.org Live music, coastal cuisine, arts and crafts, magicians, clowns and juggling acts.
SUGAR MOUNTAIN OKTOBERFEST Oct. 10-11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sugar Mountain Resort 1009 Sugar Mountain Dr. oktoberfest.skisugar.com Children’s activity area, German cuisine, live entertainment, and arts and crafts. FREE.
BOONE HERITAGE FESTIVAL Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Daniel Boone Park 591 Horn in the West Dr., Boone booneheritagefestival.com Celebration of Appalachian heritage offers 18th-century living history demonstrations, storytelling, children’s activities and craft vendors. FREE.
LAKE EDEN ARTS FESTIVAL Oct. 15-18; see website for hours and fees. Camp Rockmont 375 Lake Eden Rd., Black Mountain theleaf.com
Culinary arts, handcrafts, poetry, seven family adventure villages and live music. Advance tickets only. FREE for ages 10 and younger.
MAGGIE VALLEY FALL ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL Oct. 17-18, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Maggie Valley Festival Grounds U.S. 19, Maggie Valley maggievalley.org Local and regional craftsmen and food vendors. FREE.
SALTY PAWS FESTIVAL Oct. 17, 11 a.m.; $7/person. FREE for kids 9 and younger. Carolina Beach Lake Park Lake Park Blvd. and Atlantic Ave., Carolina Beach pleasureislandnc.org Furry fun for families and four-legged friends includes arts and crafts, food, music, pet contests, children’s activities and more.
VALLE COUNTRY FAIR Oct. 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Valle Crucis Fairgrounds Hwy. 194 S., Valle Crucis vallecountryfair.org Harvest-season celebration features crafts, home-cooked food and mountain music. FREE admission, parking fee is $10/car.
HARDLOX JEWISH FOOD AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Pack Square Park 121 College St., Asheville hardloxjewishfestival.org Traditional Jewish food and culture, Israeli dancing, kids zone and more. FREE.
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NASCAR show cars, racing simulators, three stages of entertainment, autograph sessions live music, crafts and more. Held in conjunction with the Richard Petty Fan Club Convention. FREE.
32ND ANNUAL BARBECUE FESTIVAL Oct. 24, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Uptown Lexington barbecuefestival.com Crafts, food, rides, music and famous Lexington barbecue. FREE.
DOWNTOWN ALBEMARLE FALL FESTIVAL Oct. 29, 4-6 p.m. Downtown Albemarle albemarledowntown.com Arts and crafts, face painting, kids costume parade and more. FREE.
HALLOWEENFEST IN TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY Oct. 31; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Downtown Brevard halloweenfestnc.com Spooky fun includes pumpkin carving, costume contest, parade, pie bake-off, street vendors, live music a pumpkin roll down Jailhouse Hill. FREE.
RURAL HILL SHEEPDOG TRIALS AND DOG FESTIVAL Nov. 7-8, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; see website for fees. Rural Hill 4431 Neck Rd., Huntersville ruralhill.net National Border Collie Sheepherding Championships, dog sports demonstrations, cooking and craft demonstrations, pumpkin chunking, antique tractors, kids activities and food vendors.
27TH ANNUAL NASCAR DAY FESTIVAL Oct. 24, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Downtown Randleman randlemanchamber.com
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3175 Benson Rd. (Hwy 50 S.) Garner, NC 27529
919.779.4765
September 11 - November 8
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Friday 4 - 10 pm Saturday 10 am - 10 pm Sunday 12 - 8 pm
ORIGINAL Corn Maze
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IN OUR
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Other days and times may be added by appointment for groups 20 or more
HOLIDAY/CHRISTMAS CLOTHING & ACCeSSORIeS: OCT. 10th FALL TeNT SALe Mid October Call for Details Trade in. Trade up. Swift Creek Shopping Center 2865 Jones Franklin Rd., Raleigh/Cary
919-852-0550
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Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department Arts Aquatics Nature Summer camp
919-996-4800 38
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Athletics Before school After school Track-out
parks.raleighnc.gov
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$10/nonmember. 919-537-3770. Explore what’s growing in the fall garden and harvest mini pumpkins. Decorate a pumpkin to take home, hear stories about the pumpkin life cycle and sample garden treats. Ages 5-10 with adult. Registration required. ncbg.unc.edu/youth-family. Historic Trades: The Printer. Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 1-4 p.m. FREE. 919-856-6675. Learn about printing presses and make a “penny print” to take home. All ages. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/ yatesmill. Junior Naturalist: Fabulous Fall. See Oct. 4. 1-2 p.m. Kids’ Art Activity. Southern Home Crafts, 111 N. Salem St., Apex. 4-6 p.m. FREE. 919-233-1598. Kids ages 4 and older enjoy a free art activity and twisted balloons. Nature Nuts: Spiders. See Oct. 2. Nature Play Day. Wilkerson Nature Preserve, 11408 Raven Ridge Rd., Raleigh. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. FREE. 919996-6764. Dig for gemstones, make a fort out of natural materials, fly a kite, make mud pies and more. All ages. Register online. reclink.raleighnc.gov. Octoberfest. Legacy Academy of Chapel Hill, 515 E. Winmore Ave., Chapel Hill. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. FREE. Take the family for games, food and fun to celebrate October. lachapelhill.com. Pop-out Paper Landscapes. See Oct. 3. Super Simple: Paper Rockets. See Oct. 3.
18 SUNDAY Discover Your
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Concerts for a Cause. The Plant, 220 Lorax Ln., Pittsboro. 5-8:30 p.m. $20 advance tickets, $25 at the door. Free for ages 12 and younger. Enjoy a family-friendly outdoor concert event to benefit Family Violence and Rape Crisis of Pittsboro. lupineproductionsnc.com. Free Family Sundae. Contemporary Art Museum, 409 W. Martin St., Raleigh. Noon-5 p.m. FREE. 919-261-5920. Create your own ice cream sundae and enjoy student-led tours of museum exhibits. camraleigh.org.
Natural Explorations: Who’s Passing Through? Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 2-3 p.m. FREE. 919-856-6675. Learn about and identify migratory birds. Ages 6 and older. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill. Pop-Up Art. N.C. Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh. Noon-3 p.m. FREE. Take the family for art-making activities. All ages. ncartmuseum.org. TABLE’s Empty Bowls Event. Provence of Carrboro, 203 W. Weaver St., Carrboro. 3:30-7:30 p.m. $30/ticket. Enjoy live music and a meal of soup, bread and a dessert to raise awareness of childhood hunger. Proceeds benefit TABLE, a nonprofit that provides emergency food aid to children in Chapel Hill/Carrboro. tablenc.org.
19 MONDAY
Pop-In Playtime Club. See Oct. 13.
20 TUESDAY
Kids Fun-Days: Backyard Birders. See Oct. 2. 10 a.m.-noon. Nature Peekers: Fall Leaves Fall. Blue Jay Point County Park, 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd., Raleigh. 10:30-11 a.m. $2/child. 919-8704330. Read “Fall Leaves Fall” and look for critters. Ages 18 mos.-3 yrs. with parent. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/bluejay.
21 WEDNESDAY
Wee Walkers: Fall Fun. See Oct. 8.
22 THURSDAY
Wee Walkers: Fall Fun. See Oct. 8.
23 FRIDAY
Durham Mocha Moms Support Group. See Oct. 9. Going Batty. Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill. 6-7:30 p.m. $5/family. 919-387-4342. Learn about bats and scan the evening skies for them. All ages. Meet at the Loblolly Shelter. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/harrislake. Kid Creations: Clothespin Dragonflies. See Oct. 8.
› Tree Houses for Animals. Wilkerson Nature Preserve, 11408 Raven Ridge Rd., Raleigh. 12:45 p.m.-2:15 p.m. $3/child. 919-996-6764. Look for nests and discover other ways animals use trees for shelter. Ages 3-5. Register online. reclink.raleighnc.gov.
24 SATURDAY
Creative by Nature. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 10 a.m.-noon. $12/resident, $16/nonresident. 919-387-5980. Ages 7-10 create autumn-themed art. Registration required. townofcary.org. Family Fishing Fun. Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 9-10 a.m. $5/family. 919-856-6675. Learn to fish the oldfashioned way. Supplies provided. Ages 5 and older with parent. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/ yatesmill. Family Fun Saturday. N.C. Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh. $5/member, $8/nonmember. Families with children ages 5-11 enjoy a gallery tour and studio workshops. 10-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m. Purchase tickets online. ncartmuseum.org. Family Wildlife Series: Howl-O-Ween. Blue Jay Point County Park, 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd., Raleigh. 2-3:30 pm. $5/ family. 919-870-4330. Learn about the reintroduction of Red Wolves and expansion of coyotes into North Carolina. Ages 5 and older. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/bluejay. Little Sprouts: I Spy Fall. N.C. Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill. 10-11:15 a.m. $8/member, $10/nonmember. 919-962-0522. Parent and child play games, enjoy hikes and crafts, and listen to stories. Ages 3-5. Registration required. ncbg.unc.edu. Paddle the Pond. Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 11 a.m.-noon. $10/boat. 919-856-6675. Explore the pond by canoe. Canoes, paddles and life jackets provided. Ages 5 and older with adult.
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Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill. Paint a Pumpkin. Logan’s Trading Company, 707 Semart Dr., Raleigh. 9-10 a.m. $1/person. Paint a pumpkin and enjoy treats. Costumes optional. Ages 4-12. Registration required. logantrd.com. Pancake Luncheon. New Hope Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 4301 Louisburg Rd., Raleigh. Noon-2 p.m. FREE. Take the family for a pancake lunch. nhbcrnc.org. Raleigh Boychoir Performs. Soapstone UMC, 12837 Norwood Rd., Raleigh. 3 p.m. FREE with donations. The Raleigh Boychoir performs its fall concert. raleighboychoir.org/schedules-events/ upcoming-concerts. Super Spiders. Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill. 11 a.m.-noon. $5/family. 919-387-4342. Learn about spiders and take a hike to look for them. All ages. Meet at the Cypress Shelter. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/harrislake. Tree Houses for Animals. See Oct. 23. 10:30 a.m-noon.
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Exceptional Faculty Encouraging Fun While Building Technique and Artistry
~ OPEN ENROLLMENT ~ CampaneriaBalletSchool.com 919.446.5330
25 SUNDAY
Pumpkin Time. Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 2-3 p.m. $5/ family. 919-662-2850. Study and explore the uses of pumpkins, past and present. Paint a small pumpkin to take home. All ages. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/crowder.
26 MONDAY
Eco-Express: Nature Adventure Tools. See Oct. 15.
27 TUESDAY
Full Moon Halloween Hike. American Tobacco Trail, 1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd., Apex. 6:308 p.m. $5/family. 919-387-4342. Wear a costume for a moonlit hike. Search for bats, owls and other nighttime wildlife. All ages. Meet at the New Hill Parking Area. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/att.
Merit Scholarships Available OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, October 4, 2015, 2-4 PM • Grades K-12 • Custom-Designed Instruction • 10:1 student/teacher ratio • Mastery-based learning
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CALL 919-467-7777 CARY & NORTH RALEIGH OFFICES!!!
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28 WEDNESDAY
Family Fun Night Spooktacular. Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh. 5:30-8 p.m. FREE. Kids with special needs and their families enjoy the museum in a calmer, quieter environment. Celebrate Halloween with an evening of boo bubbles, splotch monster art, ooey-gooey pumpkin science and bat bungees. Costumes encouraged. marbleskidsmuseum.org. Home School Day: A-Maize-ing Grains and Grist-Grinding Mills. Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 10-11 a.m. $6/child. 919-856-6675. Investigate grains, make a craft and take a history hike to Yates Mill. Ages 7-16. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.
29 THURSDAY
Pop-In Playtime Club. See Oct. 13.
NOT T JUST
30 FRIDAY
PAPER
Night Out in Nature. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Raleigh. 6-9 p.m. 919-387-5980. Kids spend a night out in nature making friends in a camp-style program. Ages 8-12. Registration required. townofcary.org. Yates By Night: Monsters of the Millpond. Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 6:30-7:30 p.m. $5/family. 919-8566675. Join a park naturalist for a hike to explore nighttime critters. Ages 7 and older. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.
Find Fall savings on:
● School supplies for students & teachers ● Earth-friendly party supplies ● Home office supplies ● Cleaning & storage supplies
31 SATURDAY
1010 W. Main St., Durham Across from Brightleaf Square
Fall Wagon Ride. Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill. 11 a.m.-noon. $5/family. 919-387-4342. Take a wagon ride to enjoy the fall colors and weather. Take a blanket. All ages. Meet at the wagon in front of the playground. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/harrislake. Pumpkinpalooza! Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 10-11 a.m. $5/family. 919-856-6675. Learn about autumn gourds and paint a pumpkin to take home. All ages. Registration required. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.
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CALENDAR POLICY The Carolina Parent calendar lists local and regional activities for children and families. To submit an event for consideration, visit carolinaparent.com by the 8th of the month for the next month's issue. Readers, please call ahead to confirm dates and times. This calendar may include some events not intended for young children.
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