FYI Family Magazine April/May 2017

2017

Summer Camp Guide!

Keep Your Kids Engaged This Summer!

Helpful Hacks for Spring Cleaning String Up a Mother’s Day Bouquet Family-friendly events, recipes and more!

Published by

Kalamazoo Public Schools

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fyiswmichigan.com •

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Tiffany Andrus ren briggs brian lam anne lape

Tiffany, and her cute-as-anything son Landen, show us how a little string and cardboard can make spring flowers to take those winter blues away. Check out this creative and dreamy project on page 12. Tiffany lives in Alamo and is the mother of two boys.

2017

Summer Camp Guide!

Keep Your Kids Engaged This Summer!

Helpful Hacks for Spring Cleaning String Up a Mother’s Day Bouquet Family-friendly events, recipes and more!

When Ren creates her recipes for FYI, she keeps an eye out for something that’s easy, an eye out for something low-cost and another eye out for something delicious. Which means she has three eyes — making it true that she has one in the back of her head (like all moms swear they do).

An Allegan mom, Ren is a graduate of Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia School of Culinary Arts.

Brian never shies away from unpleasant subjects, especially if they make you laugh in the end. In this issue, our Family Man tells us why poop, airplanes and iPads make for good family memories.

Really. Brian, owner of Lam Creative Solutions in Kalamazoo, is the father of a seven-year-old.

Do you know what we like about Anne? Besides everything? It’s that she says it’s okay to take shortcuts when spring cleaning and then gives us some timely tips to do just that. Anne lives and teaches in Kalamazoo and is the mother of a high schooler.

Published by

Publisher

encore publications, inc.

Editor

marie lee

Graphic Designer

alexis stubelt, peter brakeman

Contributors

tiffany andrus, ren briggs, brian lam, anne lape, david miles, emily townsend

Advertising Sales

tiffany andrus, celeste statler, krieg lee

Office Manager hope smith

Distribution mark thompson

FYI is published 6 times a year by Encore Publications, Inc. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.

Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to Encore Publications, 117 W. Cedar St. Suite A, Kalamazoo MI, 49007. Phone: 269 383-4433. General email correspondence to publisher@encorekalamazoo.com FYI is distributed free of charge at locations throughout Southwest Michigan; home delivery subscription rate is $18 per year. Advertising rates and specifications at fyiswmichigan.com or by request.

FYI does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors; articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect FYI’s opinions or those of the FYI staff.

David Miles

To learn more about us visit fyiswmichigan.com

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4 • April/May 2017

Do you find it ironic that David Miles was preparing for a family trip by airplane while creating our Family Man illustration this month? We hope his trip went way better than the vacation scenes he drew for us on page 38. David is a Kalamazoo illustrator who has created pictures for Zonderkidz, Highlights, Sleeping Bear Press and, now, FYI Family Magazine (yay, us!).

About the cover:

Campers rinse off after a swim at Sherman Lake YMCA Camp. A special thank you to Sherman Lake YMCA Camp for providing this photo and the photo on page 5.

April/May 2017

In Every Issue 3

From the Editor

4

Our Contributors

6

Fun for Free

8

Family-friendly fun at no charge!

Make This!

Lasagna Soup — easier and less expensive than the real thing

10 Is This Normal?

Why does she throw up when she cries?

You ask, experts answer!

12

Creation Station

String up some spring flowers

15 Everyday Hacks

FEATURE

17

2017 Summer Camp Guide Get ready for a summer of fun with our comprehensive guide of area camps and activities!

Timely tricks for easier spring cleaning

PARENT TO PARENT 38 Family Man

Sometimes traveling with your family can really stink …

Ac tivities 30 Family Events

The area’s best and most comprehensive calendar of family events

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Fun For Free FYI

Hunt for Easter Eggs

Spring comes and so does Easter egg hunting. There are many hunts around the area, but here’s a handful to check out: Centerpoint Church Easter Egg Hunt When: 10 a.m.—noon April 8 Place: Centerpoint Church, 2345 N. 10th St., Kalamazoo Ages: 3 years—5th grade, accompanied by parent More Info: centerpointkzoo.org, 375-4815 Lifespring Church Easter Egg Hunt

City of Kalamazoo 20th Annual Egg Hunt

When: 1—2 p.m. April 15

When: 2—4 p.m. April 15

Place: Lifespring Church, 1560 S. 8th St., Kalamazoo

Place: Homer Stryker Field, 251 Mills St., Kalamazoo

Ages: Up to 9 years, accompanied by parent

Ages: Up to 9 years, accompanied by parent

More Info: 808-3934

More Info: kzooparks.org/events

Show the Earth Some Love

Find fun, education and admiration for the Earth at Portage’s Green-A-Thon April 15.

This annual celebration features games, face painting, activities and giveaways, including tree seedlings of eastern redbud, tulip poplar, black cherry and white pine.

Representatives from more than 30 local organizations and businesses will be on hand to provide entertainment and education about environmental ideas that can be utilized at home or work.

The event is put on by the Portage Youth Advisory Committee with the Portage Environmental Board and Park Board to raise awareness of environmental issues affecting the greater Kalamazoo area.

When: 11 a.m.—3 p.m. April 15 Place: Celery Flats, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage Ages: All ages More info: portagemi.gov, 329-4512

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April/May 2017

See History Through Quilts

Show your children how history can inspire creativity at the And Still We Rise: Race, Culture and Visual Conversations exhibit at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.

Nearly 70 handcrafted story quilts provide a fabric narrative on four centuries of African-American history — including depictions of famous African-American figures such as Jesse Owens, Frederick Douglass, Mae Jemison and Barack Obama.

The quilts were created by the Women of Color Quilters Network and not only give voice to the historic and contemporary social challenges faced by African-Americans, but also show the beauty and power of art created with fabric.

When: Until June 4 Place: Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St., Kalamazoo Ages: All ages More Info: kalamazoomuseum.org In Memory of Jesse, Julius J. Bremer

Get Hooked on Fishing

Have an angling adventure with your family at the Family Fishing Fair at Ramona Park May 20.

The event offers to teach fishing skills such as casting and knot tying and to provide information on local resources for fishing and the environmental conservation aspects of fishing. There will be giveaways, including free fishing rods for 250 lucky kids. The event is sponsored by Portage Parks, Suez Water Environmental Services, National Recreation and Park Association and the Take Me Fishing Initiative.

Enjoy a Block Party

Music, food trucks and information on community resources for families will all be part of the North Burdick Street Block Party on May 5.

Sponsored by the Community Services Charity, which provides community support as part of the Michigan 60th District Service Office, this is the third year that the block party has been held. Residents of the area as well as families from all over are welcome at the event.

When: 5—7 p.m. May 5 Place: 300 block of North Burdick Street Ages: All ages More Info: facebook.com/60thdso

When: 10 a.m.—1 p.m.

Place: Ramona Park, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road, Portage Ages: All ages More Info: 329-4522

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Make this! FYI

Family Dinner Lasagna Soup by

Ren Briggs

L

asagna! I love it. But it can be complicated and expensive to make. So, why not mix things up a bit and make lasagna as a soup? Not only is this recipe just as hearty and comfort-filled as its layered pasta counterpart, it’s also a slow cooker-easy, quick and economical weeknight treat!

INGREDIENTS • 1 lb. ground beef • 1 lb. ground Italian sausage • 24 oz. marinara sauce • 2 14.5-oz. cans diced tomatoes with basil and garlic • 1/4 cup diced Vidalia onion • 64 oz. beef broth • 4 cups water • 1 Tbsp. chopped garlic • 1 Tbsp. dried basil • 1 Tbsp. dried oregano • 2 bay leaves

How To

• 16 oz. no-boil lasagna noodles, broken into bitesize pieces

1. Brown ground beef and sausage together; drain, rinse and add to slow cooker.

• 5 oz. shredded Parmesan cheese

2. Add marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, onion, beef broth, water, garlic, basil and oregano to slow cooker.

3. Cook on low for 6–8 hours.

4. Add broken noodles to soup at least 30 minutes before you plan to serve the soup.

5. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese.

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8 • April/May 2017

Hints • Instead of using plain marinara sauce, pick out a zesty or more flavorful one to give the soup added flavor (we used fireroasted tomato and garlic marinara sauce).

• You can use any kind of diced tomato (including one that has diced onion in it for ease!) that you think sounds good. There are a multitude of varieties available, from zesty versions with chilies to those already flavored with Italian herbs. Experiment until you find the one you like best in this recipe.

• If you are watching your family’s intake of salt, choose lower-sodium or no-sodium beef broth.

• Let your kids break up the noodles for fun. Put the noodles in a large, zip-top resealable plastic bag, zip it tight and let your children roll over the noodles with a rolling pin.

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fyiswmichigan.com •

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Is this normal? FYI

You Ask, Experts Answer She cries so hard she throws up

Q:

When my 6-year-old daughter gets upset, she will cry so hard she throws up. She does this at home and at school. Of course, if she does it at school, they call us to come pick her up because they think she’s ill. We have no idea how to even start to deal with this. Any suggestions? — Kalamazoo Mom

A:

By the sound of it, your little one has a difficult time regulating her emotions. To rule out a medical or sensory concern, having a discussion with her doctor or an evaluation with an occupational therapist would be a good place to start. Some children have an over-sensitive gag reflex that kicks into gear, especially when losing emotional control, and occupational therapy can assist with that.

Exploring triggers for your daughter may also be helpful in order for your family to understand people, places or events that may lead to her becoming so upset. Assist your daughter in planning for some of these triggers to help decrease the magnitude of the effect these triggers have on her. Help your daughter work on emotional intelligence (identification and positive expression of emotions) to assist her in expressing herself in a more effective and positive way.

Most importantly, assist your daughter in calming her body to help decrease such an unpleasant response for her and for others around her. Teach her body relaxation techniques and deep breathing, and practice with her, to help her gain the

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10 • April/May 2017

ability to calm her body and set herself up to physically handle strong emotions.

If she continues to have a difficult time handling herself, it may be helpful to seek a mental health professional to work on emotional regulation.

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My 5-year-old son has been telling me lately he wants to “dress like Mommy.” I am not sure what that means or what to do about it. Any advice? — Portage Mom

A:

Children often want to mimic what they see as they learn and explore the world around them. At the age of 5 it is difficult to say whether the desire to “dress like Mommy” is simply out of age-appropriate curiosity, enjoying the comfort of Mommy’s clothes, an exploration of different gender roles or just wanting to be more like the mommy he loves.

Regardless of the reason he wants to dress like Mommy, it is important to avoid responding to him in a way that could cause feelings of shame. It is age-appropriate for children his age to dress up and pretend to be and do all sorts of things. Fostering creativity and imaginative play is beneficial to his development. If your son continues to want to dress like Mommy and this causes you to feel uncomfortable, it may be beneficial for you to seek further guidance and explore and process these feelings as they arise for you.

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fyiswmichigan.com •

11 •

Creation station FYI

String Up Some Spring Flowers by

Tiffany Andrus

I

t feels too good to be true, but spring is nearly here. While you and your children are waiting for flowers to burst from the earth, it’s the perfect time to make your own rainbow tulip bouquet. The process is fun and the final vase with flowers is the perfect decorative antidote to winter’s final gray grip.

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12 • April/May 2017

Materials Needed • Corrugated cardboard • Craft string in various colors • 16 oz. canning jar with lid • Jumbo craft sticks or tongue depressors • Green tissue paper • Assorted markers that match craft string colors • Scissors

How to

Make the stem: 1. Use green markers to color both sides of three jumbo craft sticks.

2. Set the green sticks aside for later.

Make the tulips: 1. Use the outline of tulip flower drawing on this page and copy it onto cardboard.

2. Use scissors to cut around the outline on the cardboard. Depending on the age of your child, you may have to assist him or her in tracing the shape and cutting out the tulip.

3. Select string and a marker in a matching color. For example, choose a yellow marker and yellow string.

4. Use the marker to color both sides of the cardboard flower.

5. Cut an 18-inch piece of craft string.

6. Wrap the string around the cardboard tulip top.

You may need to show your child how to hold the end of the string in place with one hand and use his or her other hand to wrap the string around the flower. Let go of the end after it has been crossed over once or twice.

fyiswmichigan.com •

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7. Criss-cross the string around the tulip’s shape, using the three points at the top of the tulip to catch the string and act as a pivot point to wrap the string in a new criss-cross direction.

8. When an inch of the string remains, tuck the tail end into a tightly wrapped section of string on the tulip, tying it off if needed.

Prepare the vase: 1. Remove the canning jar’s lid and ring. Keep the ring for later use.

2. Crumple one sheet of green tissue paper and loosely push it into the jar. It should fill the jar.

3. Thread the ring onto the jar’s mouth.

4. Place completed tulips into the jar.

9. Repeat steps 1 through 8 to make three different colors of tulip tops with three string colors.

10. To finish the flowers, slide a green colored craft stick under the criss-crossed string on the tulip head.

Hints • Wrap the string tightly around the tulip head. This is important for it to be able to hold the stem.

• These are beautiful, even when kids go crazy with their color choices, over-wrap the tulip with string or even slide the stem in at an odd angle. Nature is imperfect, so have fun with the process. The end product will be wonderful, no matter what.

• Sometimes jumbo sticks are hard to find. I have had the best luck at large shopping centers like Meijer.

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14 • April/May 2017

Everyday Hacks FYI

Ready, Set …

Spring Clean! by

Anne Lape

When I was growing up, I loved reading biogra-

phies of pioneer girls. I reveled in the descriptions of long hard winters, itchy woolen underwear and blizzards so fierce that your father got lost on his way to milk the cows and was not seen again until his frozen body was found when the snow melted in the spring.

The spring cleaning rituals that followed those terrible winters fascinated me. I envied those girls their tasks of stuffing mattress ticks full of fresh hay, scrubbing the pine table until it shone and sweeping their dugout’s dirt floor.

Fast forward to the 21st century and now my idea of spring cleaning is — once the temperature climbs above 60 degrees — to fling open the doors and windows and let the stale winter air out and the warm spring breeze in.

Spring cleaning: done.

Out, out darn dust!

Spring’s longer hours of daylight suddenly make dust that’s gone unnoticed in winter’s gloom practically gleam in the waning light of the afternoon, particularly on televisions and other electronics. Use coffee filters — great lintfree dust cloths — to de-dust.

Don’t overlook your lampshades in your de-dusting efforts. A lint brush from the dollar store with peel-away sheets can clean up dusty, fuzzy lampshades and make them ready-to-wear for the spring season.

Fresh showers Give your showerhead a freshen up. Pour a quarter cup of vinegar into a gallon-size Ziploc bag and fasten the bag over the showerhead, securing it with a rubber band.

Turn on the shower and fill the bag with hot water. Let the showerhead soak in the vinegar/water solution for 15–20 minutes. Remove the bag from the showerhead and let the water run for five minutes.

Steam clean your microwave Eliminate those reminders of the winter’s stews, soups and comforting pastas in your microwave by giving it a steam bath. Fill a microwave-safe glass measuring cup or bowl with two cups of water and a lemon cut in half. Boil the water and lemon halves in your microwave for three minutes. Leave the microwave’s door closed and let the steam do its work. After five minutes, open the microwave and wipe away the residue with a wet sponge.

fyiswmichigan.com •

15 •

How does your veggie garden grow?

Out, out darn spots!

Winter boots and wet clothes leave dirty marks on carpets and upholstery. To remove stains, pour a bit of white vinegar on the spot that needs cleaning, sprinkle baking powder over the vinegar (make sure to spot test this method first on your fabric) and let the vinegar and baking soda bubble up and absorb the stain. Rub away the stain with a damp cloth, let it dry and vacuum away any residue.

Buff the blinds

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16 • April/May 2017

Cleaning window blinds may be the task that is most often pushed to the bottom of my to-do list.

Or maybe it just stays permanently at the top of my “NOT to-do” list. It’s a tedious and noisy task. But then I found this ingenious hack: Wrap a dusting cloth on each side of a pair of kitchen tongs, and secure it with a rubber band. Slide the tongs along each slat of the blinds and they will be dust free in no time.

The scent of spring When spring arrives, I want my house to smell like it. Put a light and fresh scent in the air by boiling a pan of water on the stove and add your favorite fresh scents: lemon, lime, lavender, mint or parsley. Soon your whole house will tell you spring is in the air.

None of these spring cleaning hacks will up your pioneer woman street cred, but frankly, wouldn’t we all like to be cleaning showerheads and microwaves rather than boiling water over a fire for bathing and chopping wood for our Franklin stoves?

2017 p m a C R SUMME Guide

G

ood News! Thanks to the abundance of area camp options, kids will be hard pressed to find a dull moment this summer.

Many parents have expressed that one of the hardest things about planning kids’ summer activities is just knowing what options are out there. That’s why FYI Family Magazine has compiled this comprehensive guide of camps and summer activities for kids. Whether your children want to explore space or sports, be artistic or dramatic, or just get close to nature, there’s a camp that’ll fit their interests and your schedule.

So prepare to plan, but don’t take too long, because summer will be here before you know it!

(See, we’re just full of good news around here.)

DAY CAMPS Academically Talented Youth Program (ATYP), Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, 387.3553

Air Zoo LEGO Robotics Camp — 7th–8th grade, Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Road, Portage, 382.6555, airzoo.org

Air Zoo Test Pilots Camp — 3rd–4th grade, Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Road, Portage, 382.6555, airzoo.org

Air Zoo Junior Test Scientist — PreK– K, Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Road, Portage, 382.6555, airzoo.org

June 26–27, 9 a.m.–noon. Develop your inner scientist using your five senses to observe and investigate the world around you. See, touch, taste, hear and smell all the fun that handson experiments have to offer. See ad on page 21.

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18 • 2017 Summer camp Guide

July 10–14, 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Design, build, and program a LEGO EV3 robot to navigate a maze, locate a target by sound, and push opponents off a challenge mat! Families can watch the final showdown on Friday afternoon! See ad on page 21.

Aug. 14–18, 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. Train like a real test pilot while exploring aviation design, stealth capability, and drone technology. Conclude your training by catapulting an F-14 off the deck of the “Kitty Hawk” aircraft carrier. See ad on page 21.

REGISTER NOW SPRING & SUMMER CAMPS & CLASSES Spring Break Art Camp

Monday-Friday, April 3-7: full and 1/2 days for grades K-5

Spring Art Classes

6-week term begins Saturday April 15 Scholarships for spring available: apply by March 21

Summer Art Camps

Camps run June 19-August 4 for grades 1-12

Summer Art Classes

Summer term begins in June Scholarships for summer available: apply by May 9

Register online: kiarts.org

Ultimate Summer Camp Guide!

Fill your child’s summer vacation with a variety of full and half-day camps!

Choose from more than 200 exciting science, sports, drama and art camps and classes promoting learning, activity and new friendships.

Adult programs too!

Register by phone: (269) 349-7775

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Check out our online catalog!

To register, call 269-323-6700 or

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2017 Summer camp Guide •

19 •

Air Zoo Young Engineers STEM Academy — K–2nd Grade, Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Road, Portage, 382.6555, airzoo.org

Camp Kzoo — Early Drop Off, City Civic Academy of Theatre Arts, 329 of Kalamazoo Department of Parks & S. Park St., Kalamazoo, 343.2280, kaRecreation, 251 Mills St., Kalamazoo, zoocivic.com.

337.8191, kzooparks.org

Aug. 7–11, 9 a.m.–noon, $110. Test your imagination and creativity as you use the design process to engineer roller coasters, catapults, hovercrafts, and much more. Leonardo da Vinci never had this much fun! See ad on page 21.

EARLY MORNING DROP-OFF! Get the kids to camp and parents to work, all on time! Drop off starts at 7:30 a.m. and the kids will be transported to their specific camp site after breakfast. See ad on page 25.

Art Bayou Summer Camp, 3306 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, 375.2600 Binder Park Zoo, 7400 Division Drive, Battle Creek, 269.979.1351 Bruins Bots Youth Robotic Camps, Kellogg Community College, 405 Brady Hill Road, Battle Creek, 269.965.4137 Camp Kzoo, City of Kalamazoo Department of Parks & Recreation, 251 Mills St., Kalamazoo, 337.8191, kzooparks.org

Nine weeks of special activities! We will be taking the kids on trips to fit each themed week in addition to fun and exciting games onsite! See ad on page 25.

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20 • 2017 Summer camp Guide

Day camps for ages 9–18. Acting Day Camp: “On the Scene!” July 31–Aug. 4 9 a.m.–4 p.m., $200; Musical Theatre Day Camp: “Broadway Revisited,” Aug. 7–18 9 a.m.–4 p.m., $325.

Financial aid may be available. See ad on page 27.

Children’s Place Learning Cen- Community Learning Center, 6330 ter Campus Kids, 2210 Wilbur St., King Hwy., Kalamazoo, 345.7243 Kalamazoo, 387.2277, wmich.edu/ Crescendo Academy of Music childcare/campuskids.org Summer Programs, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall (Epic Center), Suite 12, Kalamazoo, 345.6664, crescendoacademy.com

T e Campus Kids summer program runs from June 13 to Sept. 2. Each week features a different theme with special interest topics. Open to children who have completed kindergarten up to age 12. See ad on page 25.

Music for infants to adults. Private lessons, chamber ensembles, Music Together for infants and toddlers, Community Voices for teens and adults with physical and mental challenges, Epic Broadway! musical theater camp, master classes, workshops and more! See ad on page 27.

Take Flight this Summer!

The Air Zoo’s Summer Camps for grades PreK-12th offer amazing, hands-on experiences kids will remember for the rest of their lives. From Biology to Rocket Science and everything in between, there’s truly something for everyone!

Learn more today at AirZoo.org 6151 Portage Rd. Portage, MI 49002 (866)524-7966 fyiswmichigan.com • 21 •

Curious Kids Summer Academies, Gilmore Piano Camp, held at Sher- & July 24–28; Toy & Model Design 1010 W. Milham Ave., Portage, man Lake YMCA, 6225 N. 39th St., Camp, ages 9–12, July 10–14. See ad 323.6764, ppscommed.org Augusta, 342.1166, thegilmore.org on page 19.

Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, 381.1574, KNCCamp.org

SUMMER ACADEMIES To Register:

269-323-6700 or online

www.ppscommed.org

Summer fun for ages 6+. Field trips, crafts, food and activities to keep kids busy and learning new things all summer long. Sign up for one or all!

Curious Kids is a program of Portage Public Schools. See ad on page 19.

Immerse yourself in music at The Gilmore’s Piano Camp. Pianists of all levels and experience enjoy daily lessons and performances. Electives include music production, composiExcel Dance Centre, 6775 West Q tion, jazz and improvisation, Sherman Ave., Kalamazoo, 568.0582 Lake outdoor camp activities and Family Center for the Arts, 6136 S. more. See ad on page 27.

Westnedge Ave., Portage, 321.8385 Girl Scouts of America Heart of Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Camp, Michigan, 601 W. Maple St., Kalama508 E. Main St., Niles, 845.4054 ext. zoo, 532.7063 4013 Kalamazoo Creative Art Camp, held 4-H Camp Kidwell, 39000 1st Ave., at Wesley Foundation, 820 Rankin Bloomingdale, 521.3559, camp- Ave., Kalamazoo, 569.0146 kidwell.org. See listing under Residential Camps. See ad on page 23.

22 • 2017 Summer camp Guide

KAMSC Sizzlin’ Summer Math & Science Program, Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center, 600 W. Vine St., Kalamazoo, 337.0004, kamsconline.com

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Summer Camps, 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, 366.8488, kiarts.org

Half- and full-day camps June 12– Aug. 4 for preK-5th grade. Young Artists Mixed Media Camp, ages 11–16, July 17–21 & July 31–Aug.4; Teen Filmmaking, ages 12–17, June 26–30

•

Enjoy a summer of fun OUTSIDE! Try the giant Slip ’n’ Slide, Nature’s Playground, farmyard friends. Older campers can soar on the zip-line, onand off-site adventures and campouts. For ages 3–Grade 12. See ad on page 25.

Put some STEM fun and learning in your summer! Part- or full-day for ages 4 and older. Look for brochure at school or online. Online registration goes live April 1. See ad on page 28.

Kazoo School Summer Session, 1401 Keith Hall Summer Drum IntenCherry St., Kalamazoo, 345.3239, sive, Western Michigan University, kazooschool.org/summer-session 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, 201.406.5059

New Genesis Inc. Summer Camp, 1225 W. Paterson St., Kalamazoo, 343.7023

Kids Gym, 9027 Portage Industrial Drive, Portage, 323.7657

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 W. Cloverdale Road, Hastings, 721.4190

Kids Sports, 6712 Financial Parkway, Kalamazoo, 544.3000

Portage Parks & Recreation, 7719 S. Westnedge Ave., Portage, 329.4522

Mad Science, 6811 West KL Ave., Kalamazoo, 978.8543

Robin’s Nest Art Camps, 5115 Texas Drive, Kalamazoo, 508.801.5242

Marshall Music, 951 Mall Drive, Portage, 321.0415

The Kazoo School Summer Session programs challenge and develop the Opening Act Theatre Company, intellectual, physical, creative and ar61268 County Road 657, Lawton, tistic interests of students who want 714.757.4971 to reap the benefits of exciting experiences when school lets out in June.

See ad on page 27.

2017 Summer camp Guide •

23 •

Sherman Lake YMCA Summer Camp, 6225 N. 39th St., Augusta, 731.3000, www.ShermanLakeYMCA. org

Third Coast Camp for Young Writers, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, 387.4356.

Wellspring Dance Academy, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 204, Kalamazoo, 342.4354 Western Michigan University Summer Camps 2017, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., 387.2773, wmich.edu/admissions/camps

Adventures await at Sherman Lake YMCA Camp! Fun activities abound with swimming, hiking, canoeing, indoor/outdoor climbing, sports, horseback riding, ropes course and more. There’s something new and different every week! See ad on page 25.

Summer Explorers at Appletree & Gilden Woods, 4620 Arboretum Pkwy., Kalamazoo, 389.0118; 909 Dix St., Otsego, 692.3695; & 1528 E. Centre Ave., Portage, 359.1115; gildenwoods.com, appletreekids.cc

From aviation to archaeology and business to athletics, Western Michigan University offers a summer camp for everyone. Catering to a wide variety of ages and interests, WMU’s summer camps span throughout the summer. Register now! See ad on page 19.

YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo Summer Camps, 1001 W. Maple St., 345.9622 ext. 166, kzooymca.org.

See listing under Sports Camps. See ad on page 23.

Summer Explorers offers school-age camps during elementary school breaks so your family routine can stay consistent throughout the year.

Our fun themed curriculum will keep your child’s mind active during the summer. See ad on page 28.

RESIDENTIAL Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, 300 E. Crystal Lake Road, Twin Lake, 800.221.3796 Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo, 915 Lake St., Kalamazoo, 349.4485 Camp Henry, 5575 Gordon Ave., Newaygo, 616.459.2267 4-H Camp Kidwell, 39000 1st Ave., Bloomingdale, 521.3559, campkidwell.org

Through overnight and day camp programs, children learn about themselves and explore nature. All the fun includes activities like horseback riding, rock climbing, water trampoline, canoeing, archery and more. Check out our website for more details! See ad on page 25.

Greenwood Camp for Boys, 84600 47-1/2 St., Decatur, 269.423.3091 Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, 381.1574. See listing under Day Camps. See ad on page 28.

Lake of the Woods Camp for Girls, 84600 47-1/2 St., Decatur, 423.3091 Lincoln Lake, 15113 Lincoln Lake Ave. NE, Gowen, 616.984.2125 Miracle Camp, 25281 80th Ave., Lawton, 624.6161

•

24 • 2017 Summer camp Guide

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT® FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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AMP! VISIT C 2-4 pm • 9 1 h c r m Ma • 1-4 p m 3 2 il r p Ap 2 2 1 • May 21

A SHERMer Camp 201769.731.3000 rg 2 Summ ymca.o nlake sherma

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For Children who have completed kindergarten to age 12. Sign up per week or for the summer. wmich.edu/childcare/campuskids 2210 Wilbur Street | (269) 387-2277

fyiswmichigan.com •

25 •

Pretty Lake Vacation Camp, 9123 Q Ave., Mattawan, 375.1950

SPORTS

Sherman Lake YMCA Camp, 6225 N. 39th St., Augusta, 731.3000, ShermanLakeYMCA.org. See listing under Day Camps. See ad on page 25.

City of Kalamazoo Department of Parks & Recreation, 251 Mills St., Kalamazoo, 337.8191. See listing under Day Camps. See ad on page 25.

Western Michigan University Summer Camps 2017, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., 387.2773, wmich.edu/admissions/camps. See listing under Day Camps. See ad on page 19.

YMCA Camp Eberhart, 10481 Camp Eberhart Road, Three Rivers, 269.244.5125

Climb Kalamazoo, 136 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, 385.9891 Courthouse, 7365 S. Sprinkle Road, Portage, 329.0033 Gull Lake Schools Sports Camps, 11775 East D Ave., Richland, 488.5018 Junior Golf Association of SW Michigan, 4200 Lovers Lane, Kalamazoo, 447.1484

KVCC Sports Camps, 6767 West O Ave., Kalamazoo, 488.4799 KVCC Volleyball Camp, 6767 West O Ave., Kalamazoo, 488.4780 West Hills Athletic Club Tennis Camp, 2001 S. 11th St., Kalamazoo, 387.0437 Western Michigan University Summer Camps 2017, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., 387.2773, wmich.edu/admissions/camps. See listing under Day Camps. See ad on Page 19.

YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo Summer Camps, 1001 W. Maple St., 345.9622 ext. 166, kzooymca.org.

Kalamazoo Christian Sports Camps, 2121 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, 381.2044 Kalamazoo College Boys Soccer Camp, 1200 Academy St., Kalamazoo, 615.5682 Kalamazoo College Girls Soccer Camp, 1200 Academy St., Kalamazoo, 615.5245 Kalamazoo College Volleyball Camp, 1200 Academy St., Kalamazoo, 337.7086 Kalamazoo Growlers Baseball Clinics, 251 Mills St., Kalamazoo, 492.9966 Kids Sports, 6712 Financial Parkway, Kalamazoo, 544.3000 Kingdom Sports, 8151 Merchant Place, Portage, 226.2000 KVCC Baseball Camp, 6767 West O Ave., Kalamazoo, 488.4781 KVCC Basketball Camp, 6767 West O Ave., Kalamazoo, 488.4421

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26 • 2017 Summer camp Guide

The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo offers half-day sports camp at both our Portage and Maple branches. Participants will have fun while learning to play different sports each week. See ad on page 23.

RELIGIOUS Camp Henry, 5575 Gordon Ave., Newaygo, 616.459.2267 Kalamazoo Christian Summer Programs, 3800 S. 12th St., Kalamazoo, 544.2332 Miracle Camp, 25281 80th Ave., Lawton, 624.6161 Pine Ridge Bible Camp, 8415 17 Mile Road, Cedar Springs, 616.696.8675

Gilmore Piano CamP Music Instruction for All Ages & Abilities

Our mission is your musical growth and enjoyment!

Member

• Study & learn in a positive & supportive atmosphere with professional, enthusiastic, experienced, university-trained teaching artists including Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Artists-in-Residence • Private instruction on strings, woodwinds, brass, piano, guitar, percussion, voice, theory & composition • Crescendo Fiddlers • Chamber Ensembles • Workshops & Masterclasses • Community Voices ensemble for teens & adults with mental & physical challenges • Music Together® classes for infants, toddlers, & preschoolers • Orff Studio classes for ages 5 & up • Epic Broadway! musical theater camp starts in June!

Epic Center, Suite 12, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall information@crescendoacademy.com www.crescendoacademy.com 269/345-6664

July 9-14 at Sherman Lake YMCA

DAILY LESSONS

FUN INSTRUCTORS

CAMP ACTIVITIES

NEW FRIENDS

Day and Overnight Camps 269.342.1166 thegilmore.org/education

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27 •

Vacation Bible School

Haven Church, 5350 N. Sprinkle Road, Kalamazoo, 344.5871

Southridge Church, 6726 Texas Drive, Kalamazoo, 353.2700

The following churches have Vacation Bible School programs. Call churches for information on dates and times of VBS programs.

Hope Reformed Church, 910 Jenks Blvd., Kalamazoo, 349.9788

Trinity Lutheran Church, 504 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, 344.6181

Berean Baptist Church, 7813 S. 12th St., Portage, 375.0244

Kalamazoo First, 5550 Oakland Drive, Portage, 329.1977

Milwood United Methodist Church, 3919 Portage St., KalamaCalvary Bible Church East, 5495 E. zoo, 381.6720 Main St., Kalamazoo, 344.4472 Oakland Drive Christian Church, Centerpoint Church Adventure 7331 Oakland Drive, Portage, Camp, 2345 N. 10th St., Kalamazoo, 327.7602 375.4815 Portage United Church of Christ, Chapel Hill United Methodist 2731 W. Milham Ave., 327.3114 Church, 7028 Oakland Drive, Portage, 327.6643 St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1150 W. Centre Ave., PorCherry Creek Community Church, tage, 327.5165 10641 Shaver Road, Portage, 327.9090 St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Drive, Portage, 327.7832

Fun and varied STEM experiences for students pre-K to high school since 1987.

Brochures online or at school by April 1st.

Visit kamsconline.com.

600 W. Vine Street, Kalamazoo kamsconline.com • 269.337.0004 •

28 • 2017 Summer camp Guide

Valley Family Church, 2500 Vincent Ave., Kalamazoo, 324.5599 Victory Baptist Church, 308 W. Milham Ave., Portage, 344.0842 Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road, Kalamazoo, 344.7165 This guide is researched and compiled by FYI Family Magazine editorial staff. Enhanced listing information provided by those entities. While every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, FYI assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Information contained here is subject to change without notice.

P.S. If you’re not in this listing, we didn’t do it on purpose, we promise. Email us and we can add your camp to our online guide and keep you on the list for 2018’s guide!

we will be visiting local attractions, including:

Kids’ Corner FYI

Activity Page

fyiswmichigan.com •

29 •

Spring Break APRIL 3–7

WHERE IS?

Addresses, phone numbers & websites of venues frequently appearing in the calendar: Air Zoo — 6151 Portage Rd, 382-6555, airzoo.org Comstock Township Library — 6130 King Highway, 3450136, comstocklibrary.org Kalamazoo County Expo Center — 2900 Lake St, 383-8778, kalcounty.com/parks/expo Kalamazoo Institute of Arts — 314 S Park St, 349-7775, kiarts.com Kalamazoo Nature Center — 7000 N Westnedge Ave, 381-1574, naturecenter.org KalamazooValley Museum — 230 N Rose St, 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org KPL-Alma Powell — Kalamazoo Public Library-Alma Powell, 1000 W Paterson Ave, 553-7960, kpl.gov KPL-Central — Kalamazoo Public Library-Central, 315 S Rose St, 342-9827, kpl.gov KPL-Eastwood — Kalamazoo Public Library-Eastwood, 1112 Gayle Ave, 553-7810, kpl.gov KPL-Oshtemo — Kalamazoo Public Library-Oshtemo, 7265 W Main St, 553-7980, kpl.gov KPL-Washington Square — Kalamazoo Public LibraryWashington Square, 1244 Portage Rd, 553-7970, kpl.gov Parchment Library — Parchment Community Library, 401 S Riverview Drive, 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org Portage Library — Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info

Spring Break Field Trip Camp, creative activities, games & field trips, 7:45 am–5 pm, Youth Development Center, 230 Crosstown Pkwy, Kalamazoo, 337-8191, kzooparks.org, ages 5–12, $95 city resident, $132 non-resident Air Zoo Preschool Camp, Tree Homes: build a child-size tree & make raccoon models, April 4; Bubble Festival: fun with bubble shapes & body bubbles, April 5; Treasure Boxes: learn math & science by sorting & counting treasures, April 6; each camp 9 am–noon, Air Zoo, ages 3–5, $25 per half day Air Zoo K–5 Day Camp, Innovation Station: design a bridge & bristle bot creation, April 4;

WEEKLY Mondays

The Little Star That Could, animated story about a star searching for a home, 11 am, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, all ages, $3 Discovery Programs, a different activity each day during Spring Break, 11 am, ages 3–5; 2 pm, families, Kalamazoo Nature Center, all ages, regular admission Spring Break Hands-On Happenings: Heroes & Villains, create & design objects: Wild Baby & Me Time, bounces, rhymes & songs with Mrs. B, 11:15 am, Parchment Library, ages 0–24 mo, FREE Wednesdays

Toddler Talk, toddlers play & adults share with a parent educator, 10:15 am, KPL-Oshtemo, ages 1–3 FREE

Animal Encounters, story, coloring & a live animal, 10 am, Kalamazoo Nature Center, ages 0–5, regular admission plus $2/ child

1–3 Year Olds Storytime (April only), stories, songs & craft (registration requested), 10:30 am, Comstock Library, ages 1–3, FREE Baby Talk, talk infant care with Carolyn Call, RN, 2:30 pm, KPLOshtemo, birth–12 mo, FREE Play & Learn, play for early learning, 5:30–7 pm, KPL-Eastwood, ages 1–5, FREE Tuesdays

Toddler Tales, stories, rhymes & songs, 10:15 am, Parchment Library, ages 2–3, FREE 1–3 Year Olds Storytime (April only), stories, songs & craft (registration requested), 10:30 am, Comstock Library, ages 1–3, FREE

Toddler Storytime (April only), songs, movement & stories, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, ages 2–3, FREE

30 • April/May 2017

Spring Break Art Camp, view works of art & create 2D & 3D art, 9 am–4 pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, non-members $170 half day, $270 full day

Playtime at the Point, indoor playtime for toddlers, 9:15– 11:30 am, The Point, 2595 N 10th St, thepointkalamazoo. org, ages 0–5 with caregiver, FREE

Preschool Storytime (May only), stories, songs & activities, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, ages 3–5, FREE

•

Super Cool Science: experiment with liquid nitrogen & dry ice, April 5; Up, Up & Away: a flight & space adventure, April 6; each camp 9 am–4 pm, Air Zoo, grades K–5, $50 per day

Playtime at the Point, indoor playtime for toddlers, 9:15– 11:30 am, The Point, 2595 N 10th St, thepointkalamazoo.org, ages 0–5 with caregiver, FREE

Baby Lapsit (April only), songs, bounces & rhymes, 10 am, KPLCentral, birth to walking, FREE Baby Lapsit (May only), songs, bounces & rhymes, 10:15 am, KPL-Oshtemo, birth to walking, FREE Preschool Pals Storytime, stories, songs, fingerplays & a craft, 10:15 am, Parchment Library, ages 3½–5, FREE 1-2-3 Play with Me (April only), play, make friends & talk with child development specialists (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Oshtemo, ages 1–3 & caregiver, FREE 1-2-3 Play with Me (May only), play, make friends & talk with child development specialists (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Central, ages 1–3 & caregiver, FREE 3–5 Year Olds Storytime (April only), stories, songs & a craft (registration requested), 10:30 am, Comstock Library, ages 3–5, FREE

West, April 3; Space, April 4; Legendary Heroes, April 5; Heroes of History, April 6; Superheroes, April 7, 1–4 pm, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, FREE Challenger Experience, simulated space flight, 1:45 pm, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, all ages, 12 & under with adult, $3 Spacepark 360, travel thru an amusement park spanning the Solar System, 2 pm, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, all ages, $3 Voyage to Mars Mini Mission, interactive hands-on simulated space mission, 3 pm, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, ages 8 & up, accompanied by a partner 16 years & older, $3 Spring Camp, explore the outdoors (registration for one day or for five days), 9 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo Nature Center, ages 4–5, half day, $25; grades 1–5 full day, $45 Baby Steps (April only), rhymes, songs & books, 10:30 am, KPLCentral, walking to 24 mo, FREE Baby Steps (May only), rhymes, songs & books, 11 am, KPLOshtemo, walking to 24 mo, FREE Thursdays

Family-Style Storytime, stories, songs & fingerplays, 10:15 am, Parchment Library, ages 2–5, FREE 3–5 Year Olds Storytime (April only), stories, songs & a craft (registration requested), 10:30 am, Comstock Library, ages 3–5, FREE Family Storytime, stories, songs & fingerplays, 10:30 am, KPL-Oshtemo, ages 0–5, FREE Play & Learn, play for early learning, 10:30 am–noon, KPLEastwood & KPL-Washington Square, ages 1–5, FREE Reading with Tucker (April only), read to a friendly Golden Retriever (registration required), 4–5:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, all ages, FREE Reading with Tucker (May only), read to a friendly Golden Retriever (registration required), 4–5:30 pm, KPL-Eastwood, all ages, FREE Fridays

Family Storytime, stories, songs & fingerplays, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, ages 0–5, FREE Play & Learn, play for early learning, 10:30 am, KPL-Alma Powell, ages 1–5, FREE

ONGOING Thru April 9, The Wizards of Pop: Sabuda & Reinhart, a pop-up book exhibit with 63 framed pieces, museum hours, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, all ages, FREE Thru April 30, The Golden Age of Sports Cars, 1949–1967, sports cars of the 1940s–1960s, museum hours, Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners, 671-5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org, all ages, $13 adults, $10 ages 7–17, 6 & under free Thru June 4, And Still We Rise: Race, Culture & Visual Conversations, works that draw on the tradition of storytelling thru

April Saturday, April 1

Mom to Mom Sale, gently used items, 9 am–1 pm, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Dr, 3451125, wingseventcenter.com, all ages, $2 adults, 12 & under free

Kalamazoo Numismatic Club Annual Spring Coin Show, buy, sell & trade coins, paper money & memorabilia, 9 am–3 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 381-8669, kalamazooexpocenter.com, all ages, FREE

Spring Cleaning Model Railroad Swap Meet, buy & sell model railroad items, 10 am–3 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center Room A, 344-0906, kmrhs.org, all ages, $3, 10 & under free LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 10:30 am, KPLOshtemo, all ages, FREE Creature Feature: Chicken, see animals up close & ask questions, 11 am, Kalamazoo Nature Center, all ages, regular admission

First Saturday @ KPL, stories, activities & door prizes, 2 pm, KPL-Central, all ages, FREE The Jackal & the Lion: A Zulu Folktale, All Ears Theatre presentation, 6 pm, First Baptist Church, 315 W Michigan Ave, 342-5059, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, FREE Monday, April 3

Family Fun! With Crossfit AZO, run, jump, spin, climb, crawl & leap, 10 am, Portage Library, all ages, FREE

quilts, museum hours, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, all ages, FREE Thru June 11, The Little Star That Could, animated story about a star searching for a home, 1 pm Sat, 2 pm Sun, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, all ages, $3 April 7–22, The Wiz, Tony Award-winning musical based on The Wizard of Oz, 7:30 pm April 7–8, 13–15 & 20–22; 2 pm April 9, Williams Theatre, WMU, 387-6222, wmutheatre.com, ages 4 & up, $10–20

23, Parish Theatre, 405 W Lovell St, 343-1313, kazoocivic.com, grades 6 & up, call for ticket prices April 23–May 21, Healthy Kids Running Series, a weekly run for kids, 4:30 pm Sundays, Portage West Middle School, healthykidsrunningseries.org, ages 2–14, $10 a week, $35 for 5 weeks April 29–June 4, High School Area Show, art work by area high school students, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, all ages, regular admission

April 7–23, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, humorous play dealing with issues of racial stereotypes, 7:30 pm April 7–8, 14–15 & 21–22; 2 pm April 9 &

May 5–21, Sister Act, a comedy about friendship & family, 7:30 pm May 5–6, 12–13 & 19–20; 2 pm May 7, 14 & 21, Civic Auditorium, 329 S Park St, 343-1313,

Western Dance Project, performance of contemporary ballet to hip hop, 11 am, KPL-Central, all ages, FREE

Slime Works, Air Zoo program exploring slimy substances (registration required), 2 pm, KPLCentral, ages 8–11, FREE

Avian Wonders, Denise Heath’s colorful parrots, 2 pm, KPL-Eastwood, all ages, free with ticket Tuesday, April 4

Family Fun! Bitty Ballet Class, simple concepts, rhythms & positions of ballet, 10 am, Portage Library, all ages, FREE 4-H Bunny Hop, small animal care (registration required), 2 pm, KPL-Washington Square, all ages, FREE

Rockin’ Rollercoasters, Air Zoo program exploring speed, mass, g-force & energy (registration required), 2 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, ages 8–11, FREE Martial Arts with Charles Parker, self-defense techniques (registration required), 2 pm & 3 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, ages 7–10, FREE

Speak It Forward Presents, a bi-monthly poetry writing workshop for teens & tweens, 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, grades 5–12, FREE Tech Tuesdays, experiment with technology tools: Tech Take Apart, 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, grades 5–12, FREE

Teen Talent Show, performance competition, 5:30–7 pm, KPLAlma Powell, grades 5–12, FREE Wednesday, April 5

Family Fun! Family Yoga Storytime, stretch & move, 10 am, Portage Library, all ages, FREE Binder Park Zoomobile, live animals & artifacts (registration required), 2 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, all ages, free with ticket

Build a Fairy House with Your Family (registration required), 3–4:30 pm, Portage Library, all ages, FREE

Teen Game & LEGO Club, video games, comics & build with LEGOs, 4 pm, Portage Library, grades 6–12, FREE Thursday, April 6

Chemical Kim, science show, 10:30 am, KPL-Eastwood, ages 6–11, FREE Tablet Tales, interactive stories using a tablet (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Central, ages 3–5, FREE Elementary Stop Motion Workshop, build a stop-motion puppet & use animation, noon–3 pm, Portage Library, grades 3–5, FREE

Puppet Show by Alex & Friends, interactive show with jokes, prizes & stories, 6:30 pm, Portage Library, all ages, FREE Friday, April 7

Foodways Symposium, cooking demonstrations & children’s activities, times vary, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, all ages, FREE

Edible Book Festival, competition of “books” made from food, 4–8 pm, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W Kalamazoo Ave, #103A, 373-4938, all ages, FREE Create-a-Craft for 1st–4th Graders (registration required), 4:30 pm, Parchment Library, grades 1–4, FREE

Writings on the Wall: A Teen Poetry Showcase, participants of Leading Through Poetry showcase their poetry, 5 pm, KPL-Central, grades 6–12, FREE

kazoocivic.com, ages 10 & up, call for ticket prices May 9–14, Motown the Musical, story of Motown founder Berry Gordy featuring 40 classic songs, 7:30 pm May 9–11, 8 pm May 12 & 13, 2 pm May 13, 1 pm & 6:30 pm May 14, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium. com, ages 12 & up, $38–88 May 19–27, The Borrowers, Civic Youth Theatre production about a family surviving in a grown-up world, 7:30 pm May 19 & 26, 1 & 4 pm May 20 & 27, 2 pm May 21, 9:30 am & noon May 24–25, Parish Theatre, 405 W Lovell St, 343-1313, kazoocivic.com, all ages, call for ticket prices

Art Hop, art at locations around Kalamazoo, 5–8 pm, 342-5059, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, FREE Saturday, April 8

Foodways Symposium, cooking demonstrations & children’s activities, times vary, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, all ages, FREE

Kal-Haven Trail Run, a 33.5mile race for individuals or relay teams, 8 am–3 pm, Kalamazoo Trailhead, 10th Street, 929-4954, kalhaventrailrun.wordpress. com, $30 relay, $45 solo Friends of the Library Book Sale, 9 am–3 pm, Portage Library, all ages, FREE

Easter Egg Hunt, 10 am–noon, Centerpoint Church, 2345 N 10th St, Kalamazoo, 375-4815, centerpointkzoo.org, ages 3– grade 5, FREE Southwest Michigan Postcard Club Show & Sale, postcards from the 1890s to present, 10 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 517-2300734, kalamazooexpocenter. com, all ages, $2, 16 & under free

Tumble Toddlers, movement & music (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Central, ages 1–2, FREE

Creature Feature: Eastern Box Turtle, see animals up close & ask questions, 11 am, Kalamazoo Nature Center, all ages, regular admission Rockin’ Rovers, dancing dogs from West Michigan Canine Connection perform, 11 am, KPL-Oshtemo, all ages, free with ticket

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Art Detectives: Make an Impression, cut, roll & stamp objects to make relief prints, 11 am– 12:30 pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, ages 4–8, FREE

Movie & Snacks, view Guardians of the Galaxy, 2–4 pm, KPLCentral, grades 7–12, FREE Sunday, April 9

Birds of Prey – Live, see a redtailed hawk, barred owl & great horned owl up close, 1–2:30 pm, Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, 12685 East C Ave, Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu, all ages, $5 ages 2–17, $7 adults Second Sundays Live: Hired Hands, country western, pop & rock, 2 pm, Parchment Library, all ages, FREE Sunday Tour: Young Artists of Kalamazoo County, work by artists from kindergarten thru 8th grade, 2–3 pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, all ages, regular admission Monday, April 10

Baby & Toddler Storytime, stories, fingerplays & movement, 9:30 & 10:30 am, Portage Library, ages 0–23 mo, FREE

Little Scientists, stories & science (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Central, ages 3–6, FREE Eggnificent Creation, decorate holiday eggs (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Eastwood, ages 6–11, FREE Anime Club, watch anime & check out manga, 4:30–6 pm, Parchment Library, FREE

Musical Storytime, songs, stories & special guests, 6:30 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, ages 1–11, FREE Tuesday, April 11

Family Storytime, stories, rhymes, music & a mystery letter, 10 am, Portage Library, ages 2–5, FREE

Small Wonders: Bountiful Bugs, interactive nature stations, 10 am, Kalamazoo Nature Center, ages 0–5 with adult, outdoors, regular admission plus $2 fee Bookworms, a book club for kids & their grown-ups: Sideways Stories from Wayside School,

by Louis Sachar (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, grades 3–5, FREE Eggnificent Creation, decorate holiday eggs (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, ages 6–11, FREE

Mommy & Me for Teen Moms, songs, puppets, finger plays & bubbles, 6 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, ages 0–5 & teens, FREE

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32 • April/May 2017

Wednesday, April 12

I’m a Big Kid Now Storytime, stories, rhymes, music & a mystery letter, 10 am, Portage Library, ages 3–5, FREE

Eggnificent Creation, decorate holiday eggs (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, ages 6–11, FREE LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 4:30 pm, KPL-Alma Powell; 6:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, all ages, FREE Thursday, April 13

Time for Two’s, interactive stories, songs & movement, 10 am, Portage Library, age 2, FREE

Kalamazoo Spring Carnival, 4–9 pm, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Dr, 345-1125, wingseventcenter.com, all ages, $17 armband

Eggnificent Creation, decorate holiday eggs (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, ages 6–11, FREE LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 4:30 pm, KPL-Eastwood, all ages, FREE

Teen Book Club, discuss One Last Word, by Nikki Grimes (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPLAlma Powell, grades 5–12, FREE Friday, April 14

Kalamazoo Spring Carnival, 4–11 pm, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Dr, 345-1125, wingseventcenter.com, all ages, $17 armband Friday Teen Night, art-making, museum-strolling & pizza, 6–8 pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, teens, FREE Saturday, April 15

Small Wonders: Bountiful Bugs, interactive nature stations, 10 am, Kalamazoo Nature Center, ages 0–5 with adult, outdoors, regular admission plus $2 fee LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, all ages, FREE

Green-A-Thon, Earth Day festival with music, exhibits, games & giveaways, 11 am–3 pm, Celery Flats, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage, 329-4512, portagemi.gov, all ages, FREE Three Book Battle, teams compete in rounds of questions on three books, noon–3 pm, KPLCentral, grades 6–8, FREE

Kalamazoo Spring Carnival, noon–11 pm, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Dr, 345-1125, wingseventcenter.com, all ages, $17 armband

Easter Egg Hunt, 1–2 pm, Lifespring Church, 1560 S 8th St, Kalamazoo, 808-3934, ages 0–9 with parent, FREE

Earth Day Crafternoon, recycle & repurpose items into creative art, 4:30 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, ages 6–11, FREE

Wally’s Garage, All Ears Theatre presentation, 6 pm, First Baptist Church, 315 W Michigan Ave, 342-5059, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, FREE

Thursday, April 20

20th Annual Egg Hunt, egg hunt & Easter activities, 2–4 pm, Homer Stryker Field, 215 Mills St, 337-8191, ages 0–9, outdoors, FREE

Sunday, April 16

Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo, buy, sell or trade, 10 am–3 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center Room A, 779-9851, kalamazooexpocenter.com, all ages, $5 adults, $2 children, under 6 free

Kalamazoo Spring Carnival, noon–9 pm, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Dr, 345-1125, wingseventcenter.com, all ages, $17 armband Egg-citing Natural Dyes, make colored eggs using natural dyes, 2 pm, Kalamazoo Nature Center, all ages, regular admission Monday, April 17

Baby & Toddler Storytime, stories, fingerplays & movement, 9:30 & 10:30 am, Portage Library, ages 0–23 mo, FREE J-Pop Club, the latest from Japan, 4 pm, KPL-Central, grades 6–12, FREE

Earth Day Crafternoon, recycle & repurpose items into creative art, 4:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, ages 6–11, FREE Tuesday, April 18

Family Storytime, stories, rhymes, music & a mystery letter, 10 am, Portage Library, ages 2–5, FREE Stroller Stroll, walk on strollerfriendly paths, 10 am, Kalamazoo Nature Center, ages 0–5 with adult, regular admission

Earth Day Crafternoon, recycle & repurpose items into creative art, 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, ages 6–11, FREE Wednesday, April 19

I’m a Big Kid Now Storytime, stories, rhymes, music & a mystery letter, 10 am, Portage Library, ages 3–5, FREE

Teen Game & LEGO Club, video games, comics & build with LEGOs, 4 pm, Portage Library, grades 6–12, FREE

Pizza & Pages, discuss Shadowshaper, by Daniel Jose Older (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, grades 5–12, FREE Time for Two’s, interactive stories, songs & movement, 10 am, Portage Library, age 2, FREE

Preschool Play & Learn, literacy-based games & toys, 1 pm, Portage Library, ages 3–5, FREE

Pinball at the Zoo, games for sale & play, auction & tournaments, 2–10 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, 6284628, pinballatthezoo.com, all ages, $15 adults, $8 ages 5–13, under 5 free Earth Day Crafternoon, recycle & repurpose items into creative art, 4:30 pm, KPL-Eastwood, ages 6–11, FREE Friday, April 21

Pinball at the Zoo, games for sale & play, auction & tournaments, 1–10 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, 6284628, pinballatthezoo.com, all ages, $15 adults, $8 ages 5–13, under 5 free LEGO Club, imagine & build (registration required), 4–5:30 pm, Comstock Township Library, all ages, FREE Saturday, April 22

Earth Day Celebration, 5K & Raccoon Run, activities & crafts, 9 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo Nature Center, all ages, FREE Earth Day Free Admission, 9 am–5 pm, Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, 12685 East C Ave, Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary.kbs. msu.edu, all ages, FREE

Pinball at the Zoo, games for sale & play, auction & tournaments, 9 am–6 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, 6284628, pinballatthezoo.com, all ages, $15 adults, $8 ages 5–13, under 5 free Color Run, a 5K race for all ages & fitness levels, 10 am, Arcadia Creek Festival Place, thecolorrun.com, all ages, $35 team, $40 individual

KazooPex Stamp & Cover Show, buy & sell stamps, covers, postcards & supplies, 10 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 375-6188, kalamazooexpocenter.com, all ages, FREE

RAWK Creative Writing Workshop, write about the earth, take a hike & get ideas for stories & poetry, 1–5 pm, Kalamazoo Nature Center, grades 3–5, FREE

LEGO One Scoop Challenge, design & compete with one scoop of LEGOs, 2 pm, KPLCentral, grades 5–12, FREE Kalamazoo Concert Band: Off the Shelf, music inspired by books, 7:30 pm, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S Westnedge Ave, kalamazooconcertband.org, all ages, free with ticket Sunday, April 23

KazooPex Stamp & Cover Show, buy & sell stamps, covers, postcards & supplies, 10 am–3:30 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 375-6188, kalamazooexpocenter.com, all ages, FREE Interactive Family Health Fair & Camp Extravaganza, vendors, arts & crafts, open swim & bounce house, 1–4 pm, Sherman Lake YMCA, 6225 N 39th St, Augusta, 731-3000, shermanlakeymca.org, all ages, FREE Monday, April 24

Baby & Toddler Storytime, stories, fingerplays & movement, 9:30 & 10:30 am, Portage Library, ages 0–23 mo, FREE Maker Mondays, drop in for gift making, 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, grades 5–12, FREE

Money Smart Kids, Save!, decorate a ceramic bank & learn to save (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, KPL-Eastwood & KPL-Oshtemo, ages 6–11, FREE LEGO Club, build & imagine, 6 pm, Parchment Library, all ages, FREE

Pizza & Pages, discuss Bronx Masquerade, by Nikki Grimes (registration required), 6 pm, KPL-Eastwood, grades 5–12, FREE

Musical Storytime, songs, stories & special guests with Mr. Bill, 6:30 pm, KPL-Central, ages 1–11, FREE Tuesday, April 25

Family Storytime, stories, rhymes, music & a mystery letter, 10 am, Portage Library, ages 2–5, FREE Money Smart Kids, Read!, a reading of A Dollar for Penny, 10 am, KPL-Central, ages 3–5, FREE

Preschool Explorers: Spring Wildflowers, experience the natural world & go for a hike, 10 am, Kalamazoo Nature Center, ages 3–5, regular admission

Teen Murder Mystery, examine evidence & crack the case (registration required), 6:30 pm, Portage Library, grades 6–12, FREE Wednesday, April 26

I’m a Big Kid Now Storytime, stories, rhymes, music & a mystery letter, 10 am, Portage Library, ages 3–5, FREE Game Central, tournament game play, 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, grades 5–12, FREE

Money Smart Kids, Save!, decorate a ceramic bank & learn to save (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, ages 6–11, FREE Portage Page Turners, a book club for kids with dinner, discussion & games, 5:30 pm, Portage Library, grades 3–5, FREE Thursday, April 27

Time for Two’s, interactive stories, songs & movement, 10 am, Portage Library, age 2, FREE Bookworms, a book club for kids & their grown-ups: Sideways Stories from Wayside School, by Louis Sachar (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPLCentral, grades 3–5, FREE LEGO Club Grades 2–5, build & imagine, 4:30–6 pm, Portage Library, grades 2–5, FREE

April 1 The JACKAL and the LION: A ZULU FOLKTALE April 15 WALLY’S GARAGE April 29 DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT May 13 MAN-SIZE in MARBLE May 27 The ADVENTURES of KING ARTHUR Back in the “Golden Age” of radio, weekly radio programs brought families to their living rooms to listen to adventurous, mysterious and comical tales. Dedicated to promoting this rich history, All Ears Theatre performs newly scripted radio programs for live audiences, complete with old school sound effects. Shows are later broadcast on 102.1 WMUK-FM. Performances are at 6:00 pm at the First Baptist Church and are FREE TO THE PUBLIC. VISIT

Funding provided by

KalamazooArts.org

Friday, April 28

Kalamazoo F.O.P. Country Music Spectacular, 7 pm, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S Westnedge Ave, cheneryaud.com, all ages, $15 Saturday, April 29

Family Nature Club: “Weather” or Not to Play, learn to read the skies & make plans to play outside (registration required), 10–11:30 am, Kalamazoo Nature Center, all ages, outdoors, $25 per family The 2017 Great American Eclipse, Kalamazoo Astronomical Society’s Astronomy Day, 10 am–4 pm, KVCC Texas Township Campus, 6767 West O Ave, Kalamazoo, kasonline.org, all ages, FREE

APRIL 3 - 7 | 1-4 PM | FREE Create, assemble and design images and objects from classic heroes and villains.

APRIL 3 - WILD WEST APRIL 4 - SPACE APRIL 5 - LEGENDARY HEROES APRIL 6 - HEROES OF HISTORY APRIL 7 - SUPERHEROES

Cuentos y Canciones, bilingual stories & songs, 10:30 am, KPLWashington Square, all ages, FREE

Read & Write Kalamazoo: Moving UniVERSE: Youth Poetry Animation, celebrate poetry, visual art & animation, 11 am, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, FREE Small Sounds, hands-on, interactive music, 11 am, KPL-Oshtemo, ages 3–5, FREE

230 North Rose Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.373.7990 | 800.772.3370 kalamazoomuseum.org

Dinosaurs are coming! June 17, 2017

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees

fyiswmichigan.com •

33 •

Dances of India, see Bollywoodstyle dance performance & learn a dance, 2 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, all ages, FREE

Small Sounds, hands-on, interactive music, 3 pm, KPL-Central, ages 3–5, FREE Dangerous Assignment, All Ears Theatre presentation, 6 pm, First Baptist Church, 315 W Michigan Ave, 342-5059, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, FREE Sunday, April 30

Kalamazoo Record & CD Show, collector records, music memorabilia & supplies, 11 am–4 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center Room A, 734-604-2540, rerunrecords.com, all ages, FREE Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, featuring the Concerto Competition winner, 4 pm, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S Westnedge Ave, kalamazoojuniorsymphony.com, ages 4 & up, $15 adults, $5 students

May Monday, May 1

LEGO Club, build & imagine, 6 pm, Parchment Library, all ages, FREE Tuesday, May 2

Tech Tuesdays, experiment with technology tools: Paper Circuit Greeting Cards, 4:30 pm, KPLCentral, grades 5–12, FREE Wednesday, May 3

Ramadan Kareem, learn about Ramadan & make a craft, 4:30 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, all ages, FREE Thursday, May 4

Just Between Friends Children’s Consignment Sale, children’s & maternity consignment sales, 4–9 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616-4505611, kalamazoo.jbfsale.com, all ages, $3 Pizza & Pages, discuss Words with Wings, by Nikki Grimes (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, grades 5–12, FREE Friday, May 5

Just Between Friends Children’s Consignment Sale, children’s & maternity consignment sales, 9 am–9 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616-4505611, kalamazoo.jbfsale.com, all ages, FREE

•

34 • April/May 2017

Kalamazoo Rock, Gem, Jewelry, Fossil & Mineral Show, learn about rocks & pan for gold, 4–8 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, 979-3348, kalamazoorockclub.org/annual-show/, all ages, $4 adults, under 12 free North Burdick Street Block Party, music, food & information on community resources, 5–7 pm, 300 block of North Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, facebook. com/60thdso, all ages, FREE

Art Hop, art at locations around Kalamazoo, 5–8 pm, 342-5059, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, FREE The Erwins, Chenery Gospel Series presents the sibling quartet, 7 pm, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S Westnedge Ave, cheneryaud. com, all ages, $15 Saturday, May 6

Humane Society Dog Walk & K9 Festival, walking trails, dog contests, kids’ area & entertainment, 9 am–2 pm, Prairie View Park, Vicksburg, kazoohumane. org/dogwalk, all ages, $20–30

Spring Arts & Crafts Show, 9 am–4 pm, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Dr, 345-1125, wingseventcenter.com, all ages, call for ticket prices Just Between Friends Children’s Consignment Sale, children’s & maternity consignment sales, 9 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616-4505611, kalamazoo.jbfsale.com, all ages, FREE

Kalamazoo Rock, Gem, Jewelry, Fossil & Mineral Show, learn about rocks & pan for gold, 10 am–6 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, 979-3348, kalamazoorockclub.org/annualshow/ all ages, $4 adults, under 12 free LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 10:30 am, KPLOshtemo, all ages, FREE

First Saturday @ KPL, stories, activities & door prizes, 2 pm, KPL-Central, all ages, FREE Hamilton Throwdown, Hamilton-themed trivia & singing, 2 pm, KPL-Central, all ages, FREE Sunday, May 7

Kalamazoo Marathon & Borgess Run for the Health of It, full & half marathon, 10K & 5K runs, 5K walk, times vary, Borgess Nazareth Campus, 3427 Gull Rd, 345-1913, borgessrun. com, all ages, see website for schedule & fees

Spring Arts & Crafts Show, 10 am–4 pm, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Dr, 345-1125, wingseventcenter.com, all ages, call for ticket prices

Kalamazoo Rock, Gem, Jewelry, Fossil & Mineral Show, learn about rocks & pan for gold, 10 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, 979-3348, kalamazoorockclub.org/annualshow/ all ages, $4 adults, under 12 free Monday, May 8

Anime Club, watch anime & check out manga, 4:30–6 pm, Parchment Library, FREE

Bach in Jammies, Jessica Louise Coe & Carl Witt perform bedtime stories & lullabies, 6:30 pm, KPL-Central, all ages, free with ticket Musical Storytime, songs, stories & special guests, 6:30 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, ages 1–11, FREE Tuesday, May 9

Bookworms, a book club for kids & their grown-ups: Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel, by Nikki Grimes (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, grades 3–5, FREE

Bach in Jammies, Jessica Louise Coe & Carl Witt perform bedtime stories & lullabies, 6:30 pm, KPL-Central, all ages, free with ticket Wednesday, May 10

LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 6:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, all ages, FREE Thursday, May 11

Scholastic Book Fairs Warehouse Sale, book sale, 11 am–7 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 800-843-0112, scholastic.com/bookfairs/warehouse, all ages, FREE National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day Carnival, information on community services, 4–7 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 553-7122, kalamazooexpocenter.com, all ages, FREE

Saturday, May 13

Kalamazoo Expo Mom to Mom Sale, buy & sell children’s items, 9 am–1 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 903-5820, kalamazooexpocenter.com, all ages, $2 adults, children free

Scholastic Book Fairs Warehouse Sale, book sale, 9 am–3 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 800-843-0112, scholastic.com/bookfairs/warehouse, all ages, FREE Touch-a-Truck, see & touch unique vehicles & learn about healthy eating, 10 am, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 8150034, jlkalamazoo.org/TouchA-Truck, all ages, outdoors, $10 family, $4 adults, $2 children, 2 & under free

KSO Peter & the Wolf, KSO’s woodwind quintet, instrument petting zoo & a craft (registration required), 10:30 am & noon, KPL-Central, all ages, FREE Art Detectives: Make an Impression, read a book, look at art & make a project, 11 am– 12:30 pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, ages 4–8, FREE

Sky Kids Club: Light & Sound Waves, Air Zoo program about light & sound, 11 am–3 pm, Air Zoo, 350-2848, airzoo.org, ages 6–11, $2 with general admission, members free Man-Size in Marble, All Ears Theatre presentation, 6 pm, First Baptist Church, 315 W Michigan Ave, 342-5059, kalamazooarts. org, all ages, FREE Sunday, May 14

Second Sundays Live: Megan Dooley, torch, folk & blues, 2 pm, Parchment Library, all ages, FREE Monday, May 15

J-Pop Club, the latest from Japan, 4 pm, KPL-Central, grades 6–12, FREE Maker Mondays, drop in for tinkering, creating & exploring different projects, 4:30 pm, KPLCentral, ages 6–11, FREE

Mother’s Day Gift Making, make a gift with provided materials, 4:30 pm, KPL-Eastwood & KPL-Oshtemo, ages 6–11, FREE

Pizza & Pages, discuss Everything, Everything, by Nicola Yoon (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, grades 5–12, FREE

Scholastic Book Fairs Warehouse Sale, book sale, 9 am–7 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 800-843-0112, scholastic.com/bookfairs/warehouse, all ages, FREE

LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 4:30 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, all ages, FREE

Friday, May 12

Friday Teen Night, art-making, museum-strolling & pizza, 6–8 pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, teens, FREE

Wednesday, May 17

Washington Square Branch Library Spring Celebration, music, Ghostbusters Kalamazoo, crafts & games, 5:30–7:00 pm, KPL-Washington Square, all ages, FREE

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Thursday, May 18

Beginning Filmmaking, information from local film expert Louis Barrett (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, grades 6–12, FREE LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 4:30 pm, KPL-Eastwood, all ages, FREE Saturday, May 20

Antique Toy Show, antique, vintage & collectible toys, 9 am–2 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 262-366-1314, kalamazooexpocenter.com, all ages, $7 Family Fishing Fair, activities & instruction on fishing, environmental conservation & safety, 10 am–1 pm, Ramona Park, 8600 S Sprinkle Rd, Portage, 329-4522, portagemi.gov, all ages, outdoors, FREE

Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo, buy, sell or trade, 10 am–3 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center Room A, 779-9851, kalamazooexpocenter.com, all ages, $5 adults, $2 children, under 6 free

Cuentos y Canciones, bilingual stories & songs, 10:30 am, KPLWashington Square, all ages, FREE

LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, all ages, FREE

Tumble Toddlers, movement & music (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Central, ages 1–2, FREE Medieval Faire, a medieval village with weaving, blacksmithing, armored combat & music, 1–4 pm, Parchment Library, all ages, FREE

Ballet Arts School of Dance Recital, 2 & 7 pm, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S Westnedge Ave, 387-2300, millerauditorium. com, all ages, $10 Sunday, May 21

Thursday, May 25

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 9 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616706-2314, midogshows.com, all ages, $5 per vehicle

Bookworms, a book club for kids & their grown-ups: Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel, by Nikki Grimes (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, grades 3–5, FREE

Create-a-Craft for 1st–4th Graders, (registration required), 4:30 pm, Parchment Library, grades 1–4, FREE

Kids ROAR: Rogue Obstacle Adventure Race, climb over obstacles & run thru mud, noon–2 pm, Sherman Lake YMCA, 6225 N 39th St, Augusta, 731-3000, shermanlakeymca.org, ages 5–14, $20 early bird, $25 on site

Friday, May 26

Maker Mondays, drop in for beeswax sheet sushi making, 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, grades 5–12, FREE

Saturday, May 27

Monday, May 22

Wednesday, May 24

Game Central, tournament game play, 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, grades 5–12, FREE

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 9 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616706-2314, midogshows.com, all ages, $5 per vehicle West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 8 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616706-2314, midogshows.com, all ages, $5 per vehicle

The Adventures of King Arthur, All Ears Theatre presentation, 6 pm, First Baptist Church, 315 W Michigan Ave, 342-5059, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, FREE Sunday, May 28

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 8 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616706-2314, midogshows.com, all ages, $5 per vehicle Monday, May 29

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 8 am–5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616706-2314, midogshows.com, all ages, $5 per vehicle Wednesday, May 31

Party in the Park, stories & costumed storybook characters, healthy snacks & a gift book, 10 am, Bronson Park, ages 0–5, FREE Events may change without notice.

FYI Family Magazine makes all reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of the events listed here, but makes no warranty for the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the events information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for results obtained from the use of the information.

LISTEN TO THE BEST CLASSICAL MUSIC ON AIR ONLINE

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LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR •

36 • April/May 2017

Family Man (continued from page 38)

thought: “I have to get this poop off my hands.” Naturally, he wiped them on his pants.

Now, Caleb is a thorough child. He knows the value of checking things twice. So, even with one hand still soiled, he did another check with his other hand. Once again, the result was resoundingly positive and, once again, he wiped the proof on his pants.

That question exhausted, Caleb moved on to another way to alleviate his boredom. He picked up his dozing dad’s iPad and proceeded to swipe and press the screen, as you do. It didn’t take many games of Fruit Ninja to determine that the pants-wipe method was not a very effective way to have cleaned his hands. He nudged his dad and handed him the poop-streaked iPad. And then came the “Noooooooo!”

In the cramped airplane bathroom, Jeff did his best to clean Caleb but realized that (a) they needed a much bigger sink for a proper rinse-off and (b) Caleb’s pants were done. Caleb spent the rest of the flight in his Underoos with his trickle-sink washed hands held in the “stick-’emup” position.

If this is where the story ended, we could chalk it up as just another nightmare flight that couldn’t end too soon, but as they say, Wait, there’s more.

When they landed at the connecting stop of their flight, the plan was for Jeff and Caleb to sprint to an airport bathroom to wash up, and then the family would head to an airport shop selling spirit wear and T-shirts with the hope of finding some sort of sports team kid sweat pants.

Or any pants at all; it was no time to be picky.

Brittany and Abby weren’t too far behind the boys but decided to quickly run into the women’s restroom for their own purposes. They didn’t know that by the time they finished and headed to the entrance of the men’s restroom to meet Jeff and Caleb, the boys had already gone on to scout for pants — Caleb still in his Underoos.

Time passed, and with Jeff and Caleb yet to emerge from the bathroom, Brittany got worried that Operation Clean-up wasn’t going well. Believing it inappropriate for a grown woman to enter a men’s room, but that a young child in a men’s room would be assumed by others to just be with her father, she sent Abby in with the task of retrieving Jeff and Caleb.

Young Abby bewilderedly entered the hustle and bustle of an international airport men’s bathroom and began calling out for her daddy. After a few minutes, scared and sure that her dad was not there, she came out. Brittany, desperate at this point, was not convinced: perhaps

Abby had not looked long enough. She sent her back in for another look. One can only imagine the courage it must have taken for Abby to go stall to stall knocking and calling out for her dad. Needless to say, the child became very distressed.

The story concludes as a completely flustered and agitated Jeff, unsuccessful in his pants procurement mission, returned to the restrooms with an embarrassed and hysterical Caleb to find an equally flustered and agitated Brittany calling out to an embarrassed and hysterical Abby, who was still in the men’s room. By the time they boarded their next flight, the entire family was frazzled, exhausted and agitated. And Caleb was still in his Underoos.

And this, dear reader, is what Jeff, and all of us parents, have signed up for. What we committed to. These loving, frustrating, but still loving, but mostly frustrating, moments we will one day look back on, as Jeff does, with uncontrollable laughter. The kind of laughter that anyone instantly recognizes as coming from a parent who has realized that having such a horrible day-slash-week was actually part of the fun.

It’s the nature of being a family man. But it still doesn’t hurt to keep the sleeping pills handy.

Invention Is the Mother of Necessity None of us would be here if it wasn’t for moms. We don’t always appreciate just how inventive mothers have to be. The trials of pregnancy and birth can test the strength of anyone, but that’s just the beginning.

Being a good mother means years of tough decision making.

Some people say necessity is the mother of invention. However, invention can be the mother of necessity. Just think about how much we rely on inventions the next time you pick up a phone or use a car.

Any way you look at it, hardworking mothers make pretty good role models. We rely on mothers and the inventive solutions they find in times of need.

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fyiswmichigan.com •

37 •

Family Man FYI

You May Think Things Stink Now …

Brian Lam

David Miles

by

I’ve flown on an airplane with my

child a handful of times. On those occasions, I’ve been incredibly blessed that my daughter has been relatively well-behaved, or that the person next to me — my wife, parents or random stranger — has kept her entertained while I succumbed to the effects of prescription-grade sleeping pills.

(Don’t judge. My “World’s Greatest Dad” coffee mug broke last year, so the expectations have been lowered.)

But I still feel sympathy for parents of children who become unruly on planes. Most of the time these parents are doing their best to keep their

•

38 • April/May 2017

kids happy and occupied, and when they can’t, they are as mortified as everyone else when their child melts down.

But as parents, we give up such luxuries as peaceful plane rides. We get frazzled, exhausted and agitated when we can’t figure out why our kids can’t chill out for few measly hours or, God forbid, go to bed within three hours of our first “It’s bedtime” declaration. But we signed up for this job.

We committed to it. And, ultimately, we’ll look back at all the loving, but frustrating, but still loving, but mostly frustrating, parental moments along the way and laugh.

Case in point: Jeff’s story.

My friend Jeff (all the names have been changed to protect the innocent) was traveling with his wife and two children, a boy and a girl, who were between the ages of 4 and 7.

Like me, Jeff’s chief desire on family plane trips is for his kids to behave and for him to sneak in a nap.

Settled in next to his son, Caleb, with his wife sitting on the other side of the aisle with their daughter, Abby, Jeff had slyly earned himself some snooze time by keeping an iPad out and accessible for Caleb in the event that the youth got bored. Jeff had just begun to doze off when Caleb nudged him and said, “iPad.” Something on the device needed his dad’s attention.

When he saw the iPad, Jeff immediately screeched a long, sustained “Noooooooooo,” which grew in pitch and intensity as he saw the iPad and then looked at his child and saw the true depth of the situation. It was the kind of “nooooo” that anyone will instantly recognize as coming from a parent who has just realized that it’s going to be a horrible day-slashweek.

Seems that while his dad began to doze, young Caleb was staring out the plane window, thinking, “I wonder if I pooped my pants.” To satisfy his curiosity, Caleb put his hands down the back of his pants. The result was positive and Caleb had a new (continued on page 37)

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40 • April/May 2017