Lawrence Kids Winter 2023
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Winter 2023 8
Season’s Readings The Overstakes’ Seasonal Essentials
12
Local Crush
18
Boys & Girls Club - Youth of the Year
22
The Best Sledding Spots in Lawrence
30
How to be a Winter Person
34
Thank you for reading. (785) 766-5669 / info@lawrencekidsmagazine.com Cover photo by Amber Yoshida A project of Four Birds Media. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
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Season’s Readings
by Dan Coleman from the Lawrence Public Library Bear’s Big Dreaming, by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Daniel Egneus A baby bear prepares for his first hibernation during the coming winter by gathering dreams from other animals in the forest. When he loses his way, he relies on their messages of hope to make his way back home. Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury’s We’re Going on a Bear Hunt turns thirty-five this year, and Rosen has penned another classic bear tale to bookend his career. /
After the Snowfall, by Rich Lo Gorgeous watercolors capture a fox’s journey through the woods on a winter’s night. A simple, quiet, and cozy bedtime book. We Are Starlings, by Robert Furrow and Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Marc Martin A mesmerizing spectacle fills the Kansas sky in late fall and winter as birds flock together and form shape-shifting murmurations. This beautiful book delves into the science of starling flocks. Usually we stumble onto such a sight, but if you wish to seek it out, head to the Baker Wetlands a half hour before sunset to see spectacular clouds of red-winged blackbirds and starlings as they return en masse to roost in the reeds overnight. Snow Birds, by Kirsten Hall, illustrated by Jenni Desmond If your kids ever ask how cardinals and blue jays survive the cold, have this one ready. This is an homage in art and rhyme to the winged winter companions who stick around all year and remind us how warm we are on our side of the window. Just One Flake, by Travis Jonker A boy, a snow day, a quest to catch a snowflake—this comical, minimalist picture book is reminiscent of Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” in its celebration of a simple childhood joy. The Magical Snowflake, by Bernette Ford, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson Another elusive snowflake mysteriously beckons a young girl to follow it through town in this tale, penned by Bernette Ford, a groundbreaking Black children’s book author and editor who died in 2021. As more flakes begin to fall and more people gather, an entire community turns out to enjoy the snowfall together. I’m Going to Build a Snowman, by Jashar Awan Finally, a picture book that tells the truth about snowmen: They can be tricky to build! If your kids have ever confronted a wintry landscape that was too cold, too warm, or not quite snowy enough to craft the snowman of their dreams, this is the picture book for you. Luckily, the protagonist of this upbeat tale takes it
in stride, realizing the best snowmen are created through the art of the possible. Winter Tales, by Dawn Casey, illustrated by Zanna Goldhawk This beautifully illustrated collection of folktales includes winter stories from various cultures around the world. Some may be familiar, like the Snow Queen and The Mitten, but we also meet the Cailleach, a Gaelic winter weather spirit, and the Japanese animal trickster, Tanuki. The Voice in the Hollow, by Will Hillenbrand As a wee lad my favorite book was Bears in the Night, a bit of an outlier for the Berenstains in that it was a non-rhyming tale of a spooky journey with no moral in the end, but a jump scare and a safe return to a cozy bed, along with a map to retrace bear’s perilous route. Will Hillenbrand’s latest has the same feel to it, right down to the map and book-loving mouse on a shortcut through a blizzard on his way home from the “branch library (it’s in a tree).” He is menaced by the elements, embodied in Hillenbrand’s illustrations as animal spirits, until a mysterious stranger guides him home. This is one of my favorite books of the year in any season. Sleep Tight Farm, by Eugenie Doyle, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander A beautiful picture book about a family putting their farm “to bed” for the winter through various chores such as harvesting the last of the crops, chopping wood, and moving machines into storage. The quiet, incantatory feel of this book makes it a perfect combination of a nature and bedtime story. Brave Little Bear, by Steve Small We’ll end winter where we left off: with a baby bear’s first hibernation, only now he’s waking up from a long winter’s nap. He feels anxious leaving the cozy den to travel with his mother and sister across a mountain to Spring Valley, but finds courage in a surprise snowstorm to save his sister and embrace the change of seasons.
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The Overstake’s Seasonal Essentials Tre Overstake and Reesa Allee, with sons Dawit (12) and Natnael (10), spend much of the season hoping to celebrate a fresh snowfall. Even if the weather doesn’t cooperate, the family of four still makes the most of the season. photos by Amber Yoshida
The Overstake’s Winter Seasonal Essentials 1
Hoping for a snow day - As the season progresses, Dawit and Natnael begin checking the forecast more and more. They love a good day sledding, but they really love a day without school!
2
Holiday “crackernuts”- Each year Dawit and Natnael pick out their own holiday nutcracker, or crackernuts as they call them. We now have so many we have to visit several stores to find the perfect one.
3
Watching KU basketball - Like many locals, we love KU basketball season. Whether it’s at Allen Fieldhouse or at home, we rarely miss a game.
4
Baking - We love to bake when the weather cools. Reesa makes the best giant chocolate chip cookies. Tre bakes sourdough bread almost every weekend and Dawit and Natnael love it when we do pizza night (and the cookies).
5
Holiday light tour - We really enjoy driving all over town to see the holiday lights. Downtown is always beautiful and so many neighborhoods do a great job of decorating for the season.
6
Evenings around a fire - If the weather is dry and not too cold, you can usually find us spending the evening around a fire with neighbors.
7
Youth bowling season - Dawit and Natnael start league bowling in the fall. They’ve only been bowling for a year or two but they love it and we love cheering them on!
8
Greta and Winifred - Known as the neighborhood greeters, our Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Greta and Winifred join us for as many activities as they can.
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Local Crush
A Lawrence family uses their ingenuity to support the entire community.
The Kirkland family does things a little bit different than other families in Lawrence. “We had been thinking about a penny press for a year or two and we had a good amount saved in our art project slush fund, so we decided to make it happen,” explains Erika Kirkland. The family had spent the better part of a year researching the classic tourist stop souvenir maker and found a secondgeneration penny press manufacturer in Colorado that could build their unit to spec. The kids, Felix (14) and Trudy (12), went to work designing the colorful case. “It’s kind of surprising how much time we spent researching penny presses,” Matt Kirkland says with a laugh. “We learned it was as efficient to have one custom-built for us as it was to refurbish an old model, so as a family we decided to make it happen and started working with the manufacturer.” The result is Local Crush, a Lawrence-centric souvenir penny press that travels to local shops monthly and generates cash donations for charities. Each month the Kirkland crew designs a unique press for a Lawrence shop (so far the press has been in Wonder Fair, the library, Liberty Hall, and Goldmakers) and all proceeds benefit the charity selected by the host shop. The project launched in September at Wonder Fair. At the time, the family didn’t know where the press would locate to when the month ended. “We talked to Meredith at Wonder Fair about the idea and she was immediately on board,” Erika explains. “We didn’t plan much after that, but after about a week, a handful of
local shops had expressed interest in hosting the press and suggested possible beneficiaries of the proceeds. (Felix handles the coins each month). When a host store is selected, Matt, a designer by trade (and the mastermind behind the brilliant Dracula Daily), sketches a few drafts that represent iconic aspects of the store and the family offers feedback. “Trudy is pretty good at expressing her thoughts,” Erika laughs. “Matt will come up with a few designs and we’ll decide which we like the best. He does a great job of minimizing the design so it shows up well on the penny.” The press works the same as all those you remember. Put in two quarters and a penny, turn the crank, and out pops a souvenir pressed penny. The crank in the machine features four designs—the host store and the three most recent hosts. “It’s pretty cool that we can do this for places we like in Lawrence,” explains Trudy. “I like showing my friends the press when we move it to a new spot each month and I know a lot of kids that are collecting the pennies.” The family says Local Crush is on a one-year deal but, of course, with the Kirkland crew, there’s really no telling. LK
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Boys & Girls Club
Youth Year of the
Each year the Boys & Girls Club nominates kids who embody the values of leadership, service, academic excellence, and healthy lifestyles as their Youth of the Year. The winner will be announced January 25th at the Lied Center. And the nominees are... photos by Jason Daily
Abby
Benally Abby is a freshman at Free State High School and the daughter of Peggie and Daniel Benally. Her bright smile and infectious laugh are welcoming to anyone who attends the Center for Great Futures. She does an excellent job of getting involved with her Firebird family, including the marching band, theater, and the pre-med club. Her musical talent is undeniable—Abby plays clarinet in the Lawrence Youth Symphony and the John Philip Sousa Junior Honor Band. At the Club, Abby is a dedicated member of the Keystone Club, which focuses on community service. She would like to attend Baker University or the University of Kansas to become a nurse.
“Youth of the Year gives me a better chance to explore myself and to give myself and others confidence.”
La’Ron
Williams La’Ron Williams is a senior at Free State High School and the son of Contressa Woodson and Jermell Taylor. La’Ron is an everyday face at the Center for Great Futures (CGF)—you can find him participating in any number of activities at CGF, but he shines brightest as a member of the Ball 4 All basketball league and is also one of the leaders of Keystone Club, a very active community service group. La’Ron is a gifted writer with a natural speaking presence. He hopes to become a writer or a public speaker after earning a journalism degree from the University of Kansas.
“Youth of the Year is important to me because I can be me. I can speak without limitations.”
Alex
Johnson Alex is a sophomore at Lawrence High School and the son of Angie and Eric Johnson. Alex is an excellent presence at the Center for Great Futures who makes it a personal journey to be inclusive to all of his BGC peers. At LHS, Alex is in choir, theater and plays volleyball when he has a bit of extra time. Alex is actively involved in the PRIDE Club with Ms. Sydnie at the CFG, where his artistry skills have shined. He apires to become a meteorologist and is interested in attending the University of Kansas or the University of Oklahoma.
“Youth of the Year is important because I love getting my story out. I want to inspire people to be their true self.”
The Best
Sledding
Spots in Lawrence
It has to snow again sometime, right? Get your sleds, toboggans, and snowboards ready....
1. Centennial Park - Between 6th and 9th Streets, Iowa St and Rockledge
The thirty-five-acre park is one of the most centrally located parks in Lawrence. Oregon Trail settlers once used the land now known as Centennial Park as an area to graze livestock as they traveled west. The most popular sledding spot is the big hill just west of the 9th street parking lot. On a snowy day, cars fill the lot and families take to the hill en masse. The wide sledding area has a steep downhill which levels on a large field. Get moving too fast, and you might need the foot brakes before landing in the creek. North of the parking lot and playground is another popular hill. Though not as steep, when ridden correctly, the hill offers a longer ride. Centennial Park is filled with hills and trees, so ditch the crowds, take a walk, and find your own sledding slope.
2. “Dad” Perry Park (two parks) - Between Monterey Way and Parkside Road, Harvard Road and Tiffany Drive The park is named in honor of the “Father of Gymnastics in the State of Kansas,” L. R. “Dad” Perry. The forty-five-acre park is
filled with naturally wooded areas, native grasses, and includes nature trails that wind throughout the park. In addition, two large park shelters with restrooms and parking are available for families and groups to reserve. Both west and north parks feature solid sledding slopes. The hills near the west playground are steeper and more popular. The playground is on a small plateau with short, steep hills bordering the east and north sides. Tall natural grass puts the brakes on any runaway sleds. The north park has smaller hills, perfect for younger children (and lazy parents). Also, the vast open field is perfect for snow angels, snowmen, and snowball fights. The more adventurous sledders can take to the woods. The central portion of “Dad” Perry Park is dense woods dissected by trails. Many steep, tree-lined routes are available, but sled at your own risk!
3. Campanile Hill - North Side of Memorial Drive
Is there a more iconic sledding destination in Lawrence than in the shadow of the symbolic bell tower? Even after recent construction on “The Hill,” the long slope directly north of KU’s Campanile remains a “must-do” for Lawrence sledders. The hill is wide enough to comfortably accommodate the crowds and it’s almost a guarantee that someone will build a snow jump. Without question, Campanile Hill features the most varied selection of rides. Everything from sleds and skis to trash sacks and cardboard boxes will likely be spotted. Speed junkies have been known to forgo the grassy hill and opt for the ice-covered sidewalk. (Bring a helmet!) If classes are in session, parking can be an issue so plan on walking from your car. Be aware that students like to hit the hill after hitting the bar, so you might have to cover Jimmy’s ears a few times. Don’t forget to bring a camera and capture the views of Lawrence and Douglas County.
4. Carruth O’Leary Hall - 1246 West Campus Road
The hills just beyond the parking lot behind Carruth O’Leary Hall on KU’s campus are often overlooked by Campanile Hill sledders. The hills are steep and fast, so they may not be the best fit for younger kids. The parking lots west of Memorial Stadium have cut the length of a few routes, but many options remain for the more daring. If you can dodge sidewalks, a great run could land you on the banks of Potter Lake. Beware of rocks and branches covered by the snow. Like Campanile Hill, parking can be an issue when classes are in session. The buildings on campus may be open, so you might be able to sneak in for a quick restroom break or to warm your hands and toes.
5. That Hill at the Dam East of Clinton Lake - E. 900th Road / Near Outlet Park
For the older kids and parents that are a bit more adventurous, head out west to Clinton Lake. Park on E. 902nd Road and hike up the hill to E. 900th Road. BE VERY CAREFUL AND WATCH FOR TRAFFIC. Be sure to watch for rocks and hold on tight—the ride down is fast and not for the meek. We warned you! LK
How To Be a Winter Person story and photos by Rebecca Zarazan Dunn
5 Ways to Be a Winter Person (or at least pretend to be) Go for a winter walk People don’t believe me when I say winter is the best season for walks in Lawrence, unless they’ve experienced it themselves. Local nature walkers love winter for many reasons. The colors of the prairie are beautiful. Visit the Baker Wetlands or the KU Field Stations in the late afternoon when it’s warmest to see the array of copper, tan, sepia, blond, and tawny browns of the prairie glowing in the golden sunlight. There are NO BUGS. And if it has snowed, keep an eye out for animal tracks. Snap a photo with your phone and try to solve the mystery of which animal left their marks behind. The trick to winter walks is making sure you have the appropriate clothing. Hat, mittens, coat, sweater, sweatshirt, warm pants, socks (maybe two pairs of socks), and you’ll be good to go. And of course the sweetest reward for a winter walk is some tea or hot cocoa after. Bird Watching If winter walking (see above), look for birds. With trees bare, it is easy to spot winged friends in the area. At Clinton Lake, Baker Wetlands, and on the Kansas River a good variety of birds can be found at all hours of the day. Be sure to take binoculars and have a handbook handy. On drives, play a game of how many hawks you can spot. My kids and I have enjoyed playing this i-spy game for years. If you’re homebound, put out a feeder and watch from home. There are plenty of helpful local winter birder tips on jayhawkaudobon.org. Winter Stories I don’t know about you, but reading and stories always motivates me to explore the outdoors. At the Lawrence Public Library there are hundreds of children’s books about winter related topics. Learn about how animals hibernate, how no two snowflakes are alike, or how to identify trees in winter. There are storybooks that take place in winter and nonfiction books to stock inquisitive minds. Check out a book and explore what you read outside. Star Gazing Winter means long, dark nights missing the days of playing outside after dinner. But just because it’s dark doesn’t mean you can’t still play outside. Winter skies have some of the best star gazing. Download the Skyview App and search for constellations overhead. Check out planetary.org for what astronomical events are happening at this very moment. There’s a whole other world up there.. Look up! Snow Play Lawrence has been in a drought for awhile now with warmer than usual temps, so snow seems like a dream (but we are still hoping and wishing fingers crossed). Snow makes it easy to love winter. It’s hard not to look outside, especially if you have nowhere to go, and not feel at peace watching snowflakes fall softly outside. Making snowpeople, sledding, snowball fights, snow forts, shoving snow down the back of your sister’s coat just to hear her squeal… that’s the stuff childhood is made on. If you have dark mittens or a dark jacket, see if you can squint and spot the beauty and uniqueness of a flake of snow. Winter is cold, dark, and oftentimes snowy. It’s a necessary part of life in the world we live. Do you know the expression if you can’t beat ‘em, join’ em? Celebrate and enjoy it.