Lawrence Kids, Summer 2023

Lawrence Kids

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Cover photo by Amber Yoshida.

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Lawrence, KS

Season’s Readings

by Dan Coleman from the Lawrence Public Library

Are We There Yet?, by Dan Santat

A boy on a road trip with his parents asks the age-old question in this picture book by Caldecott medalist Dan Santat. Eventually the child’s boredom slows time so much that it flows backward, and the family car travels past a medieval joust and the Sphinx (just finished), all the way to the age of dinosaurs. Readers turn the book upside down and flip pages backward, then rotate again and resume flipping forward to reflect the direction of time in a nifty trick of book design.

If I Built a Car, by Chris Van Dusen

After a few hours in the backseat, the car is a kid’s worst enemy. Chris Van Dusen, whose signature retro-futuristic designs pop with color and mid-century style, dreams up many new models.

The Boy Who Loved Maps, by Kari Allen, illustrated by

G. Brian Karas

Sometimes the biggest adventures are the closest to home. Here, a boy who loves to draw maps realizes how much ground he covers around his neighborhood, and maps it all for a friend. A fun story that calls for young mapmakers to document their own local travels.

Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas, by National Geographic Kids

Nobody does maps like National Geographic, and they really know how to make an atlas fun for kids. This one has maps of every state, along with places of interest, lots of photos, and fascinating facts.

Girl on a Motorcycle, by Amy Novesky, illustrated by Julie Morstad

Anne -France Dautheville departed from Paris on her motorcycle in 1973 and rode around the world, crossing Canada, India, Afghanistan, and Turkey on her own. This nonfiction picture book for older readers is worthy of a line from one of her best-selling memoirs: “I want the world to be beautiful, and it is beautiful. I want the world to be good, and it is good.”

Nellie vs. Elizabeth: Two Daredevil Journalists’ Breakneck Race around the World, by Kate Hannigan, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

In 1889, journalists Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland took off in opposite directions from New York in a race to travel around the world in less than eighty days: the challenge set forth in Jules Verne’s classic novel. Would Nellie, Elizabeth, or Verne’s fictional Phileas Fogg win the nineteenth-century version of “The Amazing Race?” This nonfiction picture book contains

many surprises, not least of which are notions of female frailty disproven by these travelers.

The Jules Verne Prophecy, by Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer

This chapter book series opener drops an American middle schooler in Paris for the summer, where he finds a mysterious, unpublished Jules Verne manuscript and sets off on a treasure hunt. The book comes complete with bad guys, police chases, and puzzles for readers who will be ready for the second volume as soon as they finish the first.

Everything and Everywhere: A Fact-Filled Adventure for Curious Globe-Trotters, by Marc Martin

Each two-page spread of this unique title overflows with the wonders of a specific global destination. Where is the longest outdoor escalator in the world? What is the only mammal native to Iceland? What gem is Australia’s Coober Pedy mine famous for? Kids will answer these and many more questions they didn’t realize they had. (Answers: Hong Kong, Arctic fox, opals.)

The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid, by Dylan Thuras and Rosemary Mosco, illustrated by Joy Ang

Another guide to the world’s wondrous places, this title travels to one hundred off-the-beaten track locations in forty-seven different countries.

Explorapedia: Amazing Explorers of the World and Their Journeys of Discovery, by Emma Marriott and Michelle Pereira

Who were the great explorers who came before us? Travel guide publisher Lonely Planet lays out a history of exploration for kids in this compilation of real-life characters who dared to venture beyond the familiar. It includes the usual suspects like Magellan and Columbus, along with lesser-known explorers finally getting their due, like Matthew Henson, the Black man who may have been the first to the North Pole, and Jeanne Baret, the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.

How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark, by Rosalyn Schanzer

One of the most epic journeys in the history of exploration passed right by our own backyard. When Lewis and Clark travelled up the Missouri River over two centuries ago, they also created one of the great travel journals of all time, serving as an inspiration to young scribes and artists on their own road trips.

have enough players to field a team, Husbenet has to piece together kids from multiple schools to form a team.

LPRD’s Alex Husbenet manages all

youth summer sports for Lawrence.

The Man Behind the Madness the

The madness of the summer baseball/softball season starts with a simple announcement: Registration for summer sports is now open. The benign message sent to thousands of parents in Lawrence is the soft opening to the busiest part of the busiest season for Alex Husbenet, Lawrence Parks and Rec Sports Supervisor.

“We open registration for summer baseball and softball very early in the spring,” Husbenet explains. “But, of course, most registrations don’t come in until the last day of registration. We probably get a third or more of all registrations on the last day. Or a day or two after the last day.”

All told, between recreation and competitive leagues, more than a thousand Lawrence kids play baseball or softball in the summer. Husbenet is the person charged with sorting all the registrations, forming as many teams as needed, finding coaches for each team, developing game schedules, assigning fields, and hiring umpires for all youth baseball and softball leagues.

“Setting the schedules is the easiest part of the puzzle,” Husbenet says with a laugh. “That’s basically done with a computer program. Forming teams that kids and parents are pleased with is the biggest piece to put together. I really try to get friends on the same team, but I can’t always make that happen.”

Husbenet looks at all the registrations for an age group and starts by dividing by schools. If, for instance, enough kids to form a team from Deerfield register to play softball, then the team is pretty easy to set. When a school doesn’t

“We do ask for a friend’s name on the registration and I really work hard, if two people ask to play with each other, to get them on the same team. Sometimes, however, many kids ask to play with the same friend—like five or six kids list the same friend—so we have to make some decisions. This isn’t professional sports so we can move some kids around if they just aren’t comfortable with their team assignment, but that doesn’t happen often. We want kids to play with their friends because that makes the experience more fun. But being on a team with new kids is a great way to make new friends, too.”

Parents do, occasionally, call and complain about why their kid isn’t on a team with their friends. Typically, Husbenet says, that only happens when a registration is late.

“We want everyone involved to be happy and enjoy their season,” Husbenet says. “It’s not a problem to move a player to another team if the coaches agree.”

While assigning more than 1,000 kids to teams, scheduling hundreds of games, and finding volunteer coaches for every team is a challenge, Husbenet says those are the easy parts of mastering the summer sports madness. Finding umpires to control the games is the hardest.

“It’s not a new story for us,” Husbenet explains. “But finding reliable umpires to work all these games is getting more and more difficult. I think there is a declining interest in the job and social media clips of youth umpires getting yelled at isn’t a big help. We’ve had some upset parents and coaches, but I’m proud of our umpires and they really do a great job.”

Husbenet says he asks coaches to imagine their kid is the umpire and how they would feel if someone was yelling at them while they were just trying to do their job.

“We’re pretty lucky in Lawrence,” Husbenet says. “Our parents do a good job respecting, and even helping, our umpires. That being said, if you know someone looking for a fun way to make some extra money, have them call me.” LK

BRACES LIFESTYLE to fit your

The kids of Lawrence might not know it, but Mark Hecker is a pretty big deal. As Lawrence Parks and Recreation’s (LPRD) Assistant Director for Parks, he is, after all, in charge of all thirty-eight of the city’s parks.

“I don’t how big of a deal I am, but we work hard to have parks safe and fun for families,” Hecker says with a laugh. When the city develops a new park or existing play equipment is damaged or begins to show wear after years of action from little hands and feet, Hecker is the person tasked with fixing, or replacing, the equipment.

“Well, it’s not as exciting as it might sound,” Hecker explains. “Unfortunately, I don’t get to design the most fun new playgrounds I can think of and tell somebody to build them. That would be great, though.”

When new equipment is needed, a budgetary process begins. LPRD has a “wish list” for park repair which is, essentially, a list of parks oldest to newest. Hecker says it’s a wish list because things never work out just the way the department plans.

“We plan for playground equipment to last twenty-five years. Some parks have equipment that’s nearly thirty-five years old. Inevitably, something will crack or break,” Hecker says. “That’s when we rearrange the list and prioritize.”

If new equipment is required, LPRD sets the budget and requests bids from playground equipment manufacturers. Companies send their best ideas for the space and budget provided. When the decision is made, the waiting begins.

“Selecting the design from proposals is fun, but after the initial excitement, the waiting game starts,” Hecker explains. “After contracts are signed, we spend a fair amount of time waiting for equipment to be delivered. It’s probably the most frustrating part of the process. We have the new design, and we know what we need to do to complete the project, but we have to wait. So the kids who miss their park have to wait, too.”

How a Patch Becomes a Park

When Lawrence needs a new playground, Mark Hecker gets to work.

When equipment is delivered, LPRD staff assemble the pieces—sometimes.

“More and more often, the playground equipment is pretty complex, so it’s easier and more efficient to have the manufacturer install the pieces,” Hecker explains.

As Lawrence grows, the need for parks increases. Hecker says his office is always thinking of areas that might be in need of a playground and works to be ahead of the curve. His office is also open to suggestions from the public for park improvements and new equipment ideas.

“We want all of Lawrence to have access to fun and safe playgrounds,” he says. “If someone notices a problem with equipment at any park, or if they have fun ideas for possible new equipment, please let us know.”

Hecker says he’s proud of all the parks he and his staff maintain, but one stands out among the rest: South Park.

“I know a lot of people have a special place in their hearts for South Park,” Hecker says. “I understand the feeling. It’s hard not to live in Lawrence, with or without kids, and not have fond memories of South Park. It is easily our most-visited park and the play equipment is the most used. If I have to pick, I’d say South Park is the best park in Lawrence.” LK

The Vardar’s

Seasonal Essential

Courtney and Suleyman Vardar, with daughters Talua (9) and Nida (6), don’t sit still much during summer. Whether it’s swimming at the outdoor aquatic center, getting ice cream at Sylas and Maddy’s, or grabbing books at the library, the family is on the go. When temps rise too much, the crew heads to Climb Lawrence for a few routes.

photos by Amber Yoshida

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It’s a quest. It’s a quest for fun. You’re gonna have have fun. fun, and I’m gonna

From thousands of miles on the road to flights across the ocean, three Lawrence families share their tales of EPIC FAMILY VACATIONS.

“

- Clark Griswold

Pete DeFilippo on the beach in Tarifa, Spain. Photo by Caitlin DeFilippo.

These trips are “ a beautiful way to experience new places.“

- Emily Boedeker

Adelaide Boedeker at White Sands National Park. Photo by Emily Boedeker.

Julietta Keathley-Helms at Badlands National Park. Photo by Tasha Keathley-Helms.

I wanted my “ kids to appreciate how vast America is.“ - Tasha Keathley-Helms

Photos by Caitlin DeFilippo.

Photos by Emily Boedeker.

Photos by Tasha Keathley-Helms.

Tasha Keathley-Helms had the idea to take a tour of America’s national parks only days before hitting the road. Her kids were visiting their grandparents in South Dakota when she decided to head west after their stay. That was it. That was the plan. After thirty-ve days, fifteen states, twenty-two national parks, and seven cities, Tasha and her kids had visited every contiguous state west of Kansas and driven more than 3,500 miles.

“The trip was almost completely spontaneous,” Keathley-Helms admits. “I wanted to take our children on a great adventure before activities and part-time jobs made it impossible. I pulled out an old atlas and hatched a plan to explore as many national parks as possible and visit a few cities. We didn’t make reservations anywhere. I simply let the parks guide our route. We spent the days exploring then loaded up the minivan and drove as far as I could manage before we found a place to spend the night.”

The crew drove through South Dakota then headed north through Yellowstone in Wyoming and into Montana. After a few days in Missoula, Montana (where the family had lived before Lawrence), Keathley-Helms and the kids made their way to Glacier National Park then headed toward Seattle. From there they drove south, zigzagging their way through the West Coast stopping in each national park and major city along the way.

“After the first few days, my children (twin thirteen-year-old girls, a nine-year-old son, and a five-year-old daughter) started to get in the groove of not really knowing where we would spend that night, but being excited about where we were during the day,” Keathley-Helms says. “We were screen free which helped force interaction. It was such a fun, playful time. I really focused on saying ‘yes’ to every request. When asked if they could ‘climb that’ or ‘jump in there,’ I almost always enthusiastically encouraged them to go for it.”

The road trip combined hiking through national parks and swimming in secluded lakes with days spent in museums and exploring major cities. Keathley-Helms didn’t want to waste the daylight in the car, so most of the driving was done after dusk. She drove and the family listened to audiobooks (the kids fell in love with David Sedaris on that trip), until they came across a hotel.

By the time the family returned to Kansas (Keathley-Helms’s husband joined them for the last third of the trip in California), all were exhausted and exhilarated.

“I’m so glad we did it,” Keathley-Helms says. “We all have the best memories of our time heading west and still talk about it often. I wanted my kids to appreciate how vast America is and to learn that if they want to do something big, the most important step is starting.”

///////

Caitlin and Anthony DeFilippo’s grand adventure took them—and their three kids (Malcolm, 6; Pete, 4; Millie, 1)—across the Atlantic Ocean for a European vacation.

Last spring, the crew hopped on a plane and headed to London to

start their journey. The couple had previously lived in Spain (Malcolm was born in Spain), and they planned a trip to visit friends and introduce their kids to the continent.

“We thought there was no time like now to do it,” Caitlin DeFilippo says. “Flights were inexpensive and our friends invited us, so we jumped at the opportunity. We want our kids to be open to adventures and the only way to make kids comfortable with adventure is to go.”

The family toured London and Italy and stayed with old friends in Spain. From playing outside Westminster Abbey to imagining gladiators battling in the Colosseum of Rome, DeFilippo says the young kids were troupers.

“Anthony and I were really surprised with how well they handled all the walking,” she says. “Once they adjusted to a more European time schedule of eating a bit later than normal, they did great. We would take our leads from them. So, if they were getting tired or a little worn down, we’d rest or sit in a beautiful park for a bit. If they were energetic, we’d take advantage and tour neighborhoods or sites.”

Though the family doesn’t currently have any European trips planned, DeFilippo says they will certainly be back.

“Absolutely we’ll take our family back to Europe,” she says enthusiastically. “We want our kids to experience the world and experience different cultures and build a wonder and empathy for things that are different from their everyday lives.”

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As a music teacher in Lawrence schools, Emily Boedeker has her summers free. During the pandemic, she, her husband Mark, and daughter Adelaide decided to act on a long-held desire. They bought a pop-up camper.

“Luckily we bought ours before the market caught up,” Boedeker laughs. “It had already been restored and was ready for the road. We thought that if we used it for one big trip, it would pay for itself. It didn’t take long for Adelaide to decide the camper needed a name. We decided on Dorothy, ‘cause, well... we’re from Kansas.”

After a few weekend trial runs with Dorothy, Emily and Adelaide set out west (Mark had to work). Their first big trip was a threeweek jaunt through national parks in Wyoming and Montana. That trip was topped the following year with a five-week trip down the West Coast, hitting national parks along the way.

“Not having to find a hotel room is such a big help,” Boedeker says. “We’ve got Dorothy right behind us, so we know we have a bed ready. Adelaide has learned a lot about what it takes to set up and take down the camper so her level of responsibility increases with each trip. We love knowing that we have Dorothy ready for any adventure we want and these trips are a beautiful way to get me and Adelaide out of our comfort zones and experience new people and places.” LK

Full SEND

The Kaw Valley Junior Golf Foundation strives to grow the game one swing at a time.

by Amber Yoshida

photos

As the young golfer addressed his ball on the third tee box, his orange ball fell off the pink tee.

“Whoa,” joked a playing partner. “Sweet drive, bro.”

“Yeah, man, you crushed that one,” another deadpanned.

After re-teeing his ball, the player took a practice swing, let out a fake laugh, and, with a few select words, advised his playing partners to stay quiet before driving his ball down the right-hand side of the fairway.

To the casual observer, this exchange is just fun ribbing between boys. To the educated observer, the simple conversation is proof that the modest goals of the Kaw Valley Junior Golf Foundation (KVJG) are being achieved.

“We want more kids involved in golf and to make the game of golf more accessible to more kids in Northeast Kansas,” say Tyce Bruns, chairman of the KVJG board of directors. “Everyone involved in this loves golf and we want more and more kids to fall in love with the game.”

In 2020 a group of local golfers decided to work together to find ways to introduce the traditionally challenging game to a new generation. In a few short years, the group has created a welcoming program for young golfers of all experience levels and abilities. KVJG hosts weekly golf lessons and manages a series of golf tournaments across the region throughout the summer.

“I think we’re all proud of what we’ve accomplished so far,” Bruns explains. “But we are excited for what we hope to accomplish.”

KVJG started as a weekly lesson open to all at Twin Oaks Golf Complex just east of Lawrence. The small pitch-and-putt course with driving range offered the perfect set-up to invite new golfers to the game.

“The number of kids attending the lessons slowly began to grow from week to week,” Bruns says. “That was encouraging because when we started we didn’t really know if there was an interest in the idea. We worked hard to make the lessons as fun and approachable as possible. We talked a lot about how if we want these kids to love golf, their introduction needs to be about how much fun it is to smack a golf ball.”

This season Twin Oaks is under renovation, so the Saturday morning lessons have moved to Eagle Bend Golf Course by Clinton Lake.

“When we learned we wouldn’t be able to host the lessons at Twin Oaks we had a minor panic,” Bruns says. “But the crew at Eagle Bend have just been tremendous to work with. They stepped up and have been phenomenal partners this season. We’re really grateful for their help.”

KVJG offers two sessions of lessons on Saturday mornings ($10 a week). “Kids at 10” is for kids up to middle school—age. “Teens at Noon” is for teenagers. Local golf coaches and foundation volunteers use the hour to introduce golf to the kids. Most sessions are divided into two groups with one focusing on putting and the other working on the full golf swing. Kids don’t need to bring clubs or pay for range balls—everything is provided by KVJG.

Coaches keep a keen eye on each kid at lessons and use their

best judgment to challenge more-accomplished players. While the crew works hard to instill good, simple habits for beginners, the real goal is to make the experience fun. One week the putting lesson might be a mini golf–styled competition and the full-swing portion could revolve around hitting a target.

“Obviously we’ve found that by introducing golf with more fun games and not strict, sterile rules, kids respond better,” Bruns says. “And for the more-experienced players, the games are a fun change to what they’ve probably experienced on the putting green or driving range. It helps keep things interesting and challenging.”

KVJG also operates a series of regional tournaments for middle school– and high school-aged golfers. Summer 2023 will feature five different nine-hole tournaments. While the tournaments are competitive and winners take home prizes, Bruns says the environment isn’t intense.

“We allow and even encourage parents to walk with their kids during the tournaments. That can certainly help with the comfort level for some kids. If the parent is a golfer they can be a big help with helping young golfers learning the rules and expectations of a tournament while helping the play move along.”

Bruns says the group has had a number of players play for local high school teams and some have even qualified for the KSHSAA state tournament. Younger kids seeing that success

helps with growing both the program and the game.

“A big part of this program is mentorship in the game,” Bruns says. “The older kids help the younger kids appreciate the game by helping them learn the game. Lots of times, an older kid is better at teaching the youngsters because it’s just not as cool to listen to an old man. We love it when the older kids get invested in the kids just learning the game.”

Peyton Wright has been playing golf with her parents since she was five years old. The soon-to-be freshman in high school says KVJG helped grow her love of golf.

“I had a great coach named Jeff Burey,” Wright says. “Not only did he help me with my swing, but he helped me have confidence with the game. He always talked about how golf has a lot to do with life. He taught me that it isn’t about the shot you hit previously, it is about the shot you are about to hit. That really helps me enjoy the moment. I feel like that is how life is, too.”

Wright’s experience with KVJG introduced her to new people and grew her confidence.

“Golf is such a fun game and you can meet so many new people that could be your lifelong friends,” she says. “I tell younger kids that golf is a hard game but it can take you far in life if you work really hard. If you stick with golf it is a very long road and

you will have your ups and downs, but it is completely worth it.”

Wright’s love of the game led her to help start the girl’s golf program at Baldwin High School. In part because of her efforts, which included speaking in front of the Baldwin School Board and fundraising, Wright will be able to represent her school on the golf course.

“I am so excited to be one of the first girls playing on the Baldwin High School golf team,” she explains. “I’m obsessed with all sports, but golf has always been special to me. It is so special that I get to compete for my school.”

Bruns says the growth of the game and the role KVJG has played in that growth are inspiring. After all, the whole point of the foundation was to get kids to fall in love with golf. Maybe teaching them how to play the game will lead to learning bigger lessons.

“Having Peyton attend lessons when we started and now seeing her take on a strong leadership role in her community is really inspiring to us,” he says. “Anyone that loves golf will tell you that the lessons from the game have nothing to do with playing golf and go way beyond the course. We’re teaching life lessons about grit and determination and accountability. We just use a little ball and some clubs to deliver the message.”

Ages 3 - 4 or 5 - 6

Session 1: June 19 - 23

Session 2: July 17 -21

A Place of Their Own

Summer means kids playing outside. Few things are more iconic than a backyard playhouse.

Hannah Hurst’s dad built a pirate ship playhouse fifteen years ago. Now that her kids have grown, the ship in Old West Lawrence has been claimed by neighborhood marauders like Lena Saltmarsh, who command the seas.

The Roth tree house on 7th Street is a Lawrence staple. Recently remodeled and updated, the tree house has hosted traveling musicians and performers, but most often serves as a place for Thomas to relax and read.

a

The Carver-Allmond playhouse in north central Lawrence is the product of

fullfilled promise. Dad Blaine designed and constructed the playhouse during the pandemic with input from Knox and Bette. One demand: “It has to have a slanted roof!”

photos by Amber Yoshida

The Hothan family didn’t buy their house because of the playhouse in the backyard, but don’t tell Maggie. Now that her dad has fixed the floor, the adorable square that peeks through the trees off Kasold is the focus point of her most imaginative play.

The two-platform adventure park in the backyard near the hospital was a lifesaver during the pandemic. Ozzy and his older sister Pepper spent countless hours tramping across the bridge and still escape to the outdoor platform.

Every kid needs to spend a summer night sleeping

under the stars of the great big Kansas sky. to make your family campout a success.

The crew at Sunflower Outdoor and Bike offers tips

Do a practice run at home a couple of nights prior to the campout. Practice setting up your tent in the backyard and let the kids sleep outside.

Always pack a first aid kit, bring lots of sunscreen, and never, ever forget bug spray.

When you head to the great wide open, set up camp before it gets dark. It’s just easier.

Plan activities for daytime and nighttime, but leave plenty of unscheduled time for exploring and storytelling.

Games can be a lot of fun for the whole family, but since you don’t want to bring the whole house to the woods, you need to get creative. So keep the games from home to a minimum or save them for nighttime and try to spend the day with imaginative nature play... but always have the frisbee at the ready.

Bring lanterns and string lights to add a really fun and unexpected twinkle to your campsite.

Don’t forget binoculars for birds, bugs, and a closer look at your beautiful natural surroundings.

Meal prep is key. For the most authentic experience, use a camp stove and bring dehydrated meals to cook at your site. Freeze-dried food and desserts are delicious, and pretty easy, too. Keeping meals simple is important. One pro tip: If you cook pasta in your camp pot, reserve the water after the pasta is cooked and use it while making hot chocolate. (The starch from the noodles makes it super yummy.)

Have a constellation chart for stargazing on clear nights. Pack lots of books for quiet time and reading in the tent.

This is Kansas, so be prepared for unexpected wind and rain. It’s always a good idea to pack an extra blanket, too.

Unplug, relax, enjoy, and remember to leave no trace: pack it in, pack it out!