Lawrence Kids
Summer 2024
photo by Mallory Thompson
Cover photo by Amber Yoshida
Open 7am - 2pm
Season’s Readings
by Dan Coleman from the Lawrence Public Library
Summer Is Here, by Renee Watson, illustrated by Bea Jackson
Swimming with friends, ripe strawberries, and the song of an ice cream truck are among the delights that fill this colorful catalog of the best things about being a kid in summer.
And Then Comes Summer, by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaime Kim
This picture book offers another list of summer’s charms, most of which occur outdoors: bike riding, watching fireworks, lemonade stands, and lots of other things to do during the season “when every day is like a Saturday.”
Little Houses, by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
Who needs to live by the ocean to go to the beach? We have two nearby at Clinton Lake (Bloomington Beach on the west side of the lake and Clinton State Park Swim Beach on the north side) and others at Perry and Lone Star lakes. This homage to the wonders of sand and water makes great reading before and after your next day at the beach.
Canoe Days, by Gary Paulsen, illustrated by Ruth Wright Paulsen
Maybe exploring the lake on a canoe or kayak is more your family’s style, in which case this picture book by Gary Paulsen, author of the middle-grade wilderness survival classic, Hatchet, might be for you. It’s illustrated with naturalistic paintings of wildlife (above and below the surface of the water) by the author’s wife, Ruth Wright Paulsen.
It Began with Lemonade, by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Lian Cho
The classic startup business of summer has a new twist in this tall tale. A girl starts a lemonade stand only to find the market saturated with other kids. Seeking a more profitable location, she ends up at the riverside serving a string of fantastical customers traveling downriver.
This Is a Window, by Lauren Paige Conrad
A picnic table can be a boat, a flashlight can be the sun, and a shoe can be a hat to an imaginative child. This great new picture book shows how.
Among a Thousand Fireflies, by Helen Frost, with photographs by Rick Lieder
Fireflies are a magical part of summer in Kansas and a great excuse to do a little science with your kids or at least provide answers to that perennial favorite question: Why? Lieder’s photos of fireflies in action at dusk call to mind BBC’s Planet Earth series in their dreamlike clarity, and Frost’s text explains the reason for these natural backyard fireworks.
You’re Invited to a Moth Ball, by Loree Griffin Burns, illustrated by Ellen Harasimowicz
Fireflies aren’t the only fun critters flying around the backyard on a summer night. This book shows how to set up a simple trap with a bedsheet and light to host a party for moths, including such showstoppers as Polyphemus and Luna moths.
Out of the Park! by James Buckley Jr.
Summer sounds like the crack of the bat and roar of the crowd. If you live with a young baseball player or fan, there is no better book than this to pore over facts, figures, and photos of baseball’s greatest players ever.
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Paletero Man/ Que Paletero Tan Cool! by Lucky Diaz, illustrated by Micah Player
Speaking of summer sounds, none are better than that of an ice cream truck. This picture book celebrates the seller of paletas, Mexican-style popsicles beloved by Grammy- and Emmy-winner Lucky Diaz, who sings a musical version of this story on his album Made in LA, also available on CD at the library.
Little Guides to Nature, by Nina Chakrabarti
These new pocket-sized guides, each dedicated to a particular set of things to be found in nearby woods and fields (trees, bugs, fungi, fossils), feature colorful, cartoon-like illustrations, but the facts are all there, too. A great way to make what kids see outdoors even more interesting.
Lonely Planet Kids America’s National Parks, by Alexa Ward, illustrated by Mike Lowery
If your kids are lucky enough this summer to visit one of the national parks, or if they just want to learn about their fascinating flora, fauna, and history, grab this newly updated guide to all sixty-three.
Ode to the Lake Shop
We’re not necessarily nostalgic, we just appreciate simple, analog things (you know, like magazines). Simply put: summer means trips to the lake. What is a trip to the lake without stopping at the shop for a bag of ice?
The Clinton Store is the exact type of store we remember from our youth.
Our family would head to the lake for a day of fun in the sun, but we always had to get those last-minute supplies at the lake store. Maybe it was a bag of ice or buns for the hot dogs. Sometimes Dad just needed to get some minnows or a six pack of beer.
The Clinton Store, established almost 100 years ago, is a quaint shop about a halfmile before the entrance for Bloomington Beach, the best beach in Douglas County. The gas pump hasn’t worked in years. The beautiful signs are hand-painted and the minnow shack is stocked. The understated shelves stock lake essentials, and that is it. That means you can almost always get what you need, as long as you’re not too picky.
The next time you plan a trip to the beach (and you should plan a couple this season!), skip the picnic basket and grab a fresh, handmade sandwich, a cold Coke, and an ice cream treat from The Clinton Store. The crew at the counter are friendly and always happy to help.
When you get back in the minivan, roll the windows down, turn the radio up, and enjoy the trip to a more simple time.
The Mitchell’s
Seasonal Essentials
Phil and Lauren Mitchell, with kids Olive (13), Milo (9), and Birdie (3) make the most of the summer. Both parents work for USD 497, so as the sun heats up, the family gets going around town.
photos by Amber Yoshida
The Mitchell’s Seasonal Essentials
1
All the things at Lawrence Public Library - The library is a gem of the community and you can catch us at story times, classes, puppet shows, and logging in those reading challenges so we can get the prizes. Our library is just the best! 2 3 4 5 6
U-Pick Fruit - There are quite a few surrounding farms that have various “pickings” available and we love to make a day of stocking up on fresh local produce. We’re a big fan of blueberries, so we like to load up and then have them around for snacking and baking.
Tad’s Shaved Ice - Few things scream “summer in Lawrence” more than slurping from a paper cup filled with ice and flavor in a parking lot. Tad’s is a must-do as soon as they open for the season.
The Boys of Summer - We have to catch a Royals game. It might be a little bit of a drive, but there is nothing like summer evening at the baseball game. Bring on the peanuts and Cracker Jacks!
Lawrence Arts Center - How lucky are we that we have the Lawrence Arts Center to have such amazing art and theater camps for the Lawrence kids?! They’ve got a little something for everyone and our kids always love spending days at LAC.
Sylas and Maddy’s - We try and fail every year. So maybe this year we’ll finally complete the try-every-flavor-of-ice-cream-in-the-shop challenge. (It’s important to have goals!)
La Prima Tazza Spritzers - Our kids love making a fresh spritzer with various flavors and then maybe a quick stop into Squishington’s for some candy!
Lawrence Public Pool and Splash Pads - Who could forget the downtown pool and various splash pads around town? When the Kansas summer really starts to steam, there’s a very, very good chance you’ll find us cooling off in the water! 7 8
How to Beat “I’m Bored”
Summer is here! Relaxation and fun are in full swing… until they’re not. While summer brings many wonderful things, the change in routine can be difficult, not only for parents, but also for our children. Moving from the structured schedule of the school year to an unstructured and ever-changing summer schedule can create more stress than relaxation. With camps, childcare changes, and/or a significant increase in downtime, it can be hard to keep up. How many of you have already heard these infamous words from your kids: “I’m bored.”?
Children crave structure and routine even if they aren’t able to always tell us. If fact, a routine can benefit all members of the family and can be easy and fun to implement. It may be as simple as reading a book every night before bed with your child or eating a family dinner once a week. For the remainder of summer, creating a summer bucket list with your child can help to provide specific structure to the season while promoting creativity. It’s an opportunity for new experiences, and it gives you another response option when you hear the monotonous phrase, “I’m bored.”
You can make your own bucket list! The list can be as long or short as your child desires and can be adapted in many ways to accom-
by Kimberly Williams, M.S., CCC-SLP
modate a variety of developmental stages.
•Have your child draw the things they want to do if they can’t write.
•Your child may tell you what they want to do and you write it or draw it for them.
•Encourage your children to think of as many activities as they can; you can edit the brainstorm later.
•Look through pictures in books, magazines, or online for ideas on what to add to their bucket list.
Stumped on how to create your own? Use our template here.
Bonus: You have a keepsake of the things your child is interested in during the summer of 2024!
Remember that your child doesn’t have to complete every item on their bucket list. Simply use it as a resource to help provide structure, routine, creativity, and experiences while setting fun goals for your child and your family. If you child does complete the entire list, you can always make a sequel! LK
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The Girls of Summer
Every summer local Girl Scouts head to Hidden Valley Day Camp for two weeks, romping through the woods of central Lawrence.
photos by Mallory Thompson
For Ruby Hoffer, Girl Scout Day Camp at Hidden Valley has been an integral part of her life.
“I’ve been an aide at camp for six years,” the recent Lawrence High School graduate says. “I’m not sure what my summers will be like without a couple weeks at Hidden Valley. I already miss it.”
Lawrence Girl Scout Day Camp at Hidden Valley has been a staple of summer for more than three decades. For two weeks each summer, the campground, located just north of Bob Billings between Kasold and Monterey Way in central Lawrence, hosts hundreds of Lawrence Girl Scouts for an excursion into the woods for adventure.
“This year we hosted more than 250 campers, more than 100 aides, and dozens of volunteers,” explains Lauren Yoshinobu, Hidden Valley Day Camp director. “It was another tremendous year for the campers. We never get tired of seeing these girls growing in confidence and knowledge.”
A “typical” day at camp begins and ends with a flag ceremony and announcements. Between the ceremonies, girls cook meals over open fires, learn archery, create crafts, hike through the woods, zipline, clean campsites, spot wildlife, tell stories, and share smiles. While the camp is overseen by a dedicated group of adults, almost all of the day-to-day activities are under the watchful eye of aides—experienced girls who have completed extensive training
to help guide the campers.
“I’m always astonished by how responsible the aides are,” Yoshinobu explains. “They really are the superstars of the day camp. The aides always take ownership of the experience of younger campers. Having older girls help younger girls feel welcome does wonders for each girl’s confidence. Building individual’s confidence is really the whole point.”
For Yoshinobu, seeing girls who started the week of camp as shy and reserved leave on Friday beaming and excited to tell their parents about their adventures never gets old.
“We love seeing young girls come out of their shells during the week,” she explains. “Getting kids off screens and into the woods does wonders for their social interaction, which does wonders for helping them learn from and with other kids.”
Hoffer has already seen the impact her time as a camp aide has made. She says being recognized outside of Hidden Valley is one of the best perks of working as an aide.
“Just the other day a girl came running up to me at the grocery store,” she says with a laugh. “I love that. To think that I might have made a positive impression on a girl is pretty inspiring. I remember the first year I attended the camp and the impact of the experience. I’m proud I can help other girls have the same experience.” LK
Dancing Queens
The Dance Gallery production troupe has won a national championship for four consecutive years. This summer the crew heads to Texas to defend their title.
photos by Tasha Keathley-Helms
“The girls work incredibly hard for almost ten months to prepare for the national championships. We practice almost every week, sometimes six days a week, for two to three hours. I’m so proud of their work, their dedication, and the passion they show for their art.”
- Sydney Rebeck, Dance Gallery Troupe Director
