August 2015 Island Parent by Island Parent Group

Island Parent Celebrating

27 Years

The Resource Publication for Vancouver Island Parents

August 2015

To Market, to Market summer island Markets

Kids Dig It 4 Projects to Get kids out in the Garden

Education 10 Things to Do Before Summer Ends

schools & educational services

Experience the precision of customized vision

Dr. Joslin, Dr. Morin & Associates Doctors of Optometry

Langford: #105–814 Goldstream Ave 250-474-4567 www.langfordoptometrists.com Sooke: #5–6726 West Coast Rd 250-642-4311 www.sookeoptometrists.com

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Your Children and UV Light Just as the sun causes sunburn, UV light is also absorbed by the ti ssue of the eye and can cause serious eye damage. Children are more vulnerable to UV in the summer than adults, in fact the World Health Organizati on esti mates 50% of lifeti me exposure to UV happens before the age of 18. Protecti ng your child now from UV light will decrease the potenti al for serious eye problems later in life. And remember, sunglasses aren’t just for summer months. Doctors of Optometry recommend wearing sunglasses to reduce the glare from snow and the winter sunshine.

Curiosity • Diversity Exploration • Nature Play-Oriented Learning

Open House

Thursday, Sept. 3 1 – 4 pm

3905 Haro Road, Victoria BC

250-477-3731 arbutusgrove.ca

Irish Dance Classes

Learning Together

Offered in Victoria & Nanaimo Ages 4 years to Adults Beginners to Champions Recreational & Competitive

Toys, games and puzzles for all ages

www.victoriairishdancers.com alisonpaladini@shaw.ca

250-888-9421

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Saanich

Parks an

d Re

Fall Prog creation Active Living Guide and Sch rams edules Effective Septembe r to

Join saanichp Us on Facebook arksandr ecreation

Decembe

r 2015

Contents

Registratio n and Facility Inform ation ........ Low-Cost ..............2 / No-Cost Recre Family and Special Even ation ...3 Early Child ts ..........4 hood ........ ................ Birthday Parties ........ 5-8 ................ School Age ...9 and Youth Teen ........ ........... 10-13 ................ .............. Adult ........ 14-15 ................ ........ Health and Fitness........ .....16-28 Racquets ........ 29-32 ................ ..............3 Swimming 3-34 ................ .............35 Skating........ -40 ................ Arts ........ .......... 41-44 ................ ................ Parks ........ ....45 ................ ................ Golf ........ ................ .46 ............... 47-48

saanichr ec.ca

Fall Active Living Guide

NOW

Saanich has everything you need to stay active, fit and engaged this fall with 4 recreation centres offering hundreds of Fall programs. Be sure to register TODAY for best selection of program dates and times. Also check out our guide for more details about Saanich's 169 beautiful parks, 100 km of trails, and our Cedar Hill Golf Course too!

saanichrec.ca

RECREA TION

AGES 2 TO 5

QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

OR FULL DAY PROGRAMS QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Shawnigan Lake AND FULL-TIME OPTIONS AGES 2 TO 5

Contents: August 2015

AGES 2 TO 5

Montessori PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME OPTIONS Montessori Shawnigan Lake OR FULL DAY PROGRAMS MORNING

MORNING OR FULL DAY PROGRAMS

Articles

PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME OPTIONS Lessons from the Wild Berry Patch.................................................................. 8 10 Things to Do Before Summer Ends........................................................... 10 The Toddler Two-Step................................................................................... 14 City Critters.................................................................................................. 16 Sleep in a Tree............................................................................................... 18 QUALITY EARLYCHILDHOOD CHILDHOOD EDUCATION QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION Kids Dig It..................................................................................................... 20 AGES 2 TO 5 AGES 2 TO 5 To Market, to Market................................................................................... 22 MORNING OR FULL DAY PROGRAMS MORNING OR FULL DAY PROGRAMS Schools & Educational Services..................................................................... 24 Lessons of Old.............................................................................................. 48 PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME OPTIONS

PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME OPTIONS

Columns

com Located at 1979c Renfrew Road On Shawnigan Lake School campus T: 250 743 6279 Located at 1979c Renfrew Road E: shawnigan.montessori@gmail.com

On Shawnigan Lake School campus niganmontessori.com

T: 250 743 6279 E: shawnigan.montessori@gmail.com

shawniganmontessori.com Located at 1979c Renfrew Road On Shawnigan Lake School campus T: 250 743 6279 E: shawnigan.montessori@gmail.com

Editor’s Note................................................................................................... 3 Dadspeak...................................................................................................... 52 Maternity & Beyond..................................................................................... 54 Healthy Families; Happy Families................................................................. 58 Is There an App for This?.............................................................................. 60 Book Nook................................................................................................... 62 Just Eat It!..................................................................................................... 64 New Parent Pages.......................................................................................... 68 Nature Notes................................................................................................ 70 Cut It Out..................................................................................................... 72

shawniganmontessori.com Departments

Located at 1979c Renfrew Road On Shawnigan Lake School campus T: 250 743 6279 shawniganmontessori.com E: shawnigan.montessori@gmail.com

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IPM Notes....................................................................................................... 5 Party Directory........................................................................................ 34, 35 Family Calendar............................................................................................ 36 Around the Island......................................................................................... 46 Family Services Directory........................................................................ 56, 57 Preschool & Child Care Directory........................................................... 66, 67 Island Parent Magazine, produced by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a monthly publication that honours and supports parents by providing information on resources and businesses for families, and a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Letters (max 250 words) should be emailed to the Editor at editor@islandparent.ca. No material herein may be reproduced without the permission of the Editor. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome and should be emailed to editor@islandparent.ca. Island Parent Magazine is distributed free in selected areas. Subscriptions can be obtained by sending $35.00 (includes GST) with your name and address to the address below. Canada Post: Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement 40051398.

Island Parent Magazine

830-A Pembroke St, Victoria, BC V8T 1H9 Tel: 250-388-6905 Websites: islandparent.ca, kidsinvictoria.com Publisher/Owner: Mark Warner Editor: Sue Fast Sales & Marketing: RaeLeigh Buchanan Publisher’s Assistant & Sales: Linda Frear Distribution: Ray Cutts, Ted Dawe (Mid-Island) Founders: Jim Holland & Selinde Krayenhoff Production: Eacrett Graphic Design Printed at Black Press, Victoria Cover printed at Hillside Printing ISSN 0838-5505

2 Island Parent Magazine

On the Cover: Olivia F. (7) Cover Photo: Belinda Fontes of Belinda Fontes Photography, belindafontes.com

1,000 Words Plus (Eventually) One Photo

t’s a lazy Sunday morning and my 21-yearold daughter, Ali, and I are sifting through boxes of old photographs, searching for a picture of the two of us together when Ali was young. You’d think this would be an easy task, that I’d have boxes full, or at least a photo or two. But it’s turned out to be surprisingly hard and now we are surrounded by hundreds of photos spanning the past 30 years—and the lives of all four children. Most of the photos are some variation of Ali with her older brothers and sister, or of that combination plus my husband, Barry, or me. “How about this one?” I ask, holding out a photo of Ali when she was just hours old, swaddled in a hospital blanket and cradled in my arms. She glances at it and shakes her head. She wants one of when she was older, maybe two or three years old, and where we’re both at least looking at the camera. I put the photo down and start leafing through the others. For years I have meant to sort through the boxes of photos and transfer them into albums for everyone to enjoy. But for one reason or another, I’ve never found time. So now we are jumping from one decade to the next and back again as though we are traveling in some misguided time machine— all the while enjoying the wild ride. Sitting here on the floor with Ali, the two of us getting swept up in our memories and stories of the past, I realize the value in not only taking photographs in the first place, but in viewing and sharing them from time to time, too. Some of the photos make us laugh so hard

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we cry. There’s one of Ali and her brothers, Kohl and Luc, dressed up for Halloween, Luc’s superhero mask skewed at a dangerous angle, almost covering both eyes. There’s one of the three kids on the first day of a new school year, each sporting their own interpretation of a back-to-school look. And there’s one of Ali’s first birthday—not to mention every one since then. But there are none of Ali and me together, or none that fit the bill, anyway. Being the youngest of four children, Ali has often joked that she’s been short changed not only when it comes to childhood photographs but also when it comes to other memorabilia as well, including things like birth announcements, salvaged art projects and school work, and even my and Barry’s memories and stories of her growing up. She says the cliché—that by the time the third or fourth child comes along, the parents are too distracted or too exhausted to snap any photos of the new baby not to mention remember to keep a journal of her firsts—appears in our family to be true. Except it isn’t. Entirely. Granted there are fewer photos of Ali when she was young than there are of her siblings. But there is still a fair representation of her first 21 years. And true, she and I might not be in many of the photos together, but we were in real life. Memories fade. Hers. And mine. That’s where the photos come in. To look at a photograph is to glimpse the past. It is a way to strengthen memories, to recall stories, and to reinforce connections to days—and people—gone by.

What we see in a photograph is gone, it will never come back. Just like this moment with the two of us sitting here together. Every once in awhile, Ali or I stops to show the other a photo we’ve found. Look at this… Do you remember… Ha. This one’s so funny…

Editor’s Note Sue Fast Finally she finds one she likes. In the photo, Ali is maybe four years old and dressed in her favourite outfit at the time, a hot pink moose print sweatshirt and matching pants made especially for her by a family friend. She’s in my arms, leaning backwards, her blue eyes the colour of the sky behind her and her red hair the colour of the setting sun. We are both laughing, completely caught up in the moment and each other’s company. “This one’s good,” she says, her eyes even bluer than in the photo and her red hair now dyed black. A friend is picking her up soon, she tells me, so she has to go. We pack away the photos and I walk her outside. Henri Cartier-Bresson once said “it is an illusion that photos are made with the camera…they are made with the eye, heart and head.” This morning I had no camera. But I took many pictures. Some were of the photos strewn across the floor. Some were of the room. Most, though, were of Ali…and the two of us together.

August 2015 3

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IPM Notes The fourth annual Gorge Swim Fest is on Sunday, August 9. The iconic inland waterway is a clean and warm swimming spot. The 2015 Swim Fest events and celebration of the Gorge’s storied past and accessibility will be from noon to 4pm in Banfield Park (Vic West) and Kinsmen Gorge Park (Esquimalt). Along with these two spots, another popular swimming location is Curtis Point at Gorge Park (Saanich). The family-oriented event emphasizes the Gorge’s viability as a perfect place to swim. The water is clean, warm and accessible. Mid-day water temperatures over the past month have consistently been 23-24˚C. Again this year there will be a variety of food, beverages, live music, face painting, bubble making and other playful and fun activities. The Gorge Swim Fest venues feature sandy beaches, pebble beaches, rocky cliffs and swim floats. For more information, visit gorgeswimfest.ca.

families at provincial park locations. Participants are asked to arrive on time for the sessions as fishing techniques and ethics are taught in advance of the hands-on portion. Pre-registration is required for most urban programs in regional parks. Children under 16 do not require a freshwater fishing licence to participate. Learn to Fish events teach fish identification and biology; habitat and conservation; proper fish handling; ethics, safety and fishing regulations. Instructors explain fishing tackle (rods, reels, lines, and lures) and knot-tying. Participants get hands-on experience while learning about casting and retrieving and tips and techniques for catching fish. All equipment is provided and two-hour programs run rain or shine. There is no cost to participate, thanks to support from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Columbia Basin Trust, Rapala, Ram Trucks Canada, and Teck, but donations are gratefully accepted. For a complete listing of Learn to Fish and other programs throughout Vancouver Island visit gofishbc.com.

Learn to Fish Program Expands

Kids At Tennis

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC is expanding the summer Learn to Fish programs for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Seven new events have increased the number of Learn to Fish sessions to 40 at 19 locations in regional parks and urban lakes for local and visiting youth and their families. Learn to Fish events are held throughout Greater Victoria over the summer. Events in Langford take place at Glen Lake on August 5 from 6-8pm and Lake Ida Anne, August 19 from 6-8pm. Early registration is recommended. Register at 250-478-8384 or westshorerecreation.ca. Drop by Goldstream Provincial Park July 31 or August 21 for a lesson (no fishing) from 7-8pm. Meet at the Goldstream Campground Amphitheatre. Advance registration is not required but participants must arrive on time to participate. On August 22 at Elk Lake from 10am1pm, Learn to Fish participants can fish from the dock or from a boat. Register at 250-886-1488 or email viprograms@ gofishbc.com New this year, Learn to Fish programs will also be offered in Port Renfrew at Fairy Lake on August 6 and August 20 from 1-3pm. Meet at Fairy Lake Campground. Learn to Fish events are hosted on a drop-in basis for kids aged 5-15, and their

For the past year, Kids At Tennis (KATS) has provided free equipment and tennis lessons to financially disadvantaged youth in Victoria. KATS works in conjunction with community centres, schools and social agencies, reaching 875 children. KATS has a team of 12 tennis professionals and has trained 35 volunteers to assist the certified instructors, matching the Tennis Canada recommended instructor-to-student ratio of 1:4. Youth range in age from 5-19, with approximately 50 per cent girl-to-boy ratio. Each group receives one hour of instruction per week for 6-10 weeks. Classes are conducted year round. Locations vary but have included: Vic West, Burnside/Gorge, Quadra Village, Fernwood, James Bay, Saanich Neighbourhood Place and Oaklands. Schools include: George Jay, Tillicum, Quadra, Lansdowne Middle, Lau Welnew Tribal High School and Sidney Elementary. KATS has also worked with the Cridge Centre for the Family, Boys and Girls Clubs, Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Society, The Inter-Cultural Association, Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Songhees Wellness Centre and Lau Welnew. KATS will be conducting classes at various locations throughout the year. For more information visit KidsAtTennis.ca , email tenniskids@shaw.ca or phone 250-412-1406.

Gorge Swim Fest

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August 2015 5

IPM Notes Victoria Conservatory of Music Open House On September 12, from 10am-3pm, the Victoria Conservatory of Music invites families into the school for an entertaining day filled with live musical performances, tasty treats, musical goodie bags, bouncy castles and a free concert by winner of three West Coast Family Magazine Readers’ Choice Gold Awards, Music With Marnie. For parents with little ones, watch their eyes light up as they get a chance to have musical fun on the stage of Alix Goolden Performance Hall. Explore all the cool sounds in the instrument petting zoo. From drums to violins, trumpets to keyboards, see what sounds you love the best. Then get dancing in the music plaza as DJs spin and faculty from the School of Contemporary Music perform rock, blues, folk and more. If classical music soothes your soul then soak in each note from the student and faculty musicians as you learn about the Conservatory’s music programs, the teachers and hang out with fellow music lovers. Over 4,300 students experience the power of music at the Conservatory each year. From babies to seniors, beginners to professionals, the programs create lasting relationships with music that enrich lives. On September 12, start your musical journey at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. For information, visit vcm.bc.ca, phone 250386-5311 or email info@vcm.bc.ca. To learn more about the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s open house, visit vcm.bc.ca/events/ open-house-2015.

The Little Fox Run

COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY DENTISTRY family centered practice extended hours evenings and weekends the latest equipment and caring staff request an appointment online

saanichdentalgroup.com 119–1591 McKenzie Ave, Victoria

250 477 7321

info@saanichdentalgroup.com

The Terry Fox Foundation is looking for daycares and preschools to host their very own Little Fox Run. This fun-filled event teaches children the value of giving, raises cancer awareness, and provides them with the opportunity to be a part of the Marathon of Hope. As a Little Fox Run host, you will have the creativity to plan a route and determine how you would like to fundraise. For example, children could make a wish and throw their donations into a “Wishing Well” or participate in a “Loonie Parade” as you map out Terry’s route with loonies on a giant map of Canada. Foundation staff will be happy to provide you with free pro-

Victoria’s favourite dentists believe a healthy smile starts early. Free first visit for children under 5.

Island Parent Magazine

kidsinvictoria.com

S T A G E S Su m mer Pro g ra ms 2015

motional material: stickers, tattoos, pledge forms, and posters. Join in continuing Terry’s battle against cancer and be a part of his dream of finding a cure. If you are interested in registering your childcare centre for the 2015 Little Fox Run, call 1-888-836-9786 or email bcevents@terryfoxrun.org.

35th A n nual

A New Playground Buddy Looking for playgrounds? Playground Buddy is a free app for smart phones (now including iPhones) that can help you find playgrounds anywhere you go…even if you go to Iceland. Two Victoria parents built a mobile phone app that finds playgrounds in both local and global neighbourhoods. You can look for playgrounds wherever you are by simply clicking “Find Playgrounds Near Me” or by entering an address to find playgrounds near that location. Research the playground amenities (swing set, toddler swings, slide, water park, bathrooms) or look at a street view (where data is available) to see if the playground suits your needs. The app lists over 200,000 playgrounds and numbers increase weekly as users have the ability to add and update playgrounds. Playground Buddy is free and available for Androids through the Google Play store or for iPhones through the App Store. For more information, visit playgroundbuddy.com.

Da nce I ntensive Aug ust 18 th - 29 th

Part-day program for dancers 10 years old & up

in Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop & Acrobatics

Plus

Week-long, part day

Youth Da nce Ca mps Throughout July & August for dancers 6-12 years old in Jazz, Hip Hop & Acrobatics

A nd

Week-long, morning

Preschool Dance Camps Throughout July & August for 3-5 years olds in Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre & Tap plus

Little Dancers Classes

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentors

are running through the summer for those 18 months to 3 years old

photos by D Haggart

By becoming a mentor you can help a child succeed. Big Brothers Big Sisters is seeking volunteers who are committed and consistent, willing to serve at least a year, but hopefully until a child graduates high school. Studies show that by doing so, BBBS mentoring helps kids stay in school, avoid risky behaviour, and experience first-hand the importance of helping others in their community. Professional staff will work with you, the child and the family throughout the course of the mentoring relationship to provide necessary training and support. Funding allows BBBS to carefully make and support more matches. Sometimes, the supply of volunteers and kids is greater than the necessary agency funding. Visit bbbsvictoria.com for more information or to apply to become a mentor.•

Come Da nce With Us

For more information call (250) 384-3267 email us at stagesdance@shaw.ca or visit us at www.stagesdance.com

• Reggio •

Preschool Children’s Program

N E W SC H O O L

Designed for ages 3 to 5 Monday to Friday – 8:30am to 3:30pm or Monday to Friday 1/2 Day – 8:30am to 12:30pm

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Spaces available for both SUMMER FUN & REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR 2015/16.

Please check our website for more information

3307 Wishart Rd, Victoria V9C 1R2 www.reggiopreschool.ca

Call us for a Tour! 250.590.0781

August 2015 7

Island Parent Celebrating

on for Vancouver Island

Years

The Resource Publicati

August 2015

To Market, to Market Summer Island Markets

Kids Dig It 4 Projects to Get Kids Out In the Garden

Educat&ion Schools Educational Services

10 Things to Do Before Summer Ends

Rachel Dunstan Muller

Parents

Lessons from the Wild Berry Patch I

t’s the second day of summer vacation. After a quick breakfast, my two youngest and I head for the steep embankment on the other side of our road. Our quarry this morning is Rubus ursinus, aka the trailing blackberry. Unlike their more well-known and aggressive Himalayan cousins, trailing

Please visit any of our valued partners to pick up your latest copy of Island Parent. GREATER VICTORIA Greater Victoria Public Libraries Vancouver Island Regional Libraries Greater Victoria Recreation Centres Thrifty Foods All 25 Serious Coffee locations Island-wide Victoria Gymnastics Country Grocer Chapters Vitamin Shop The Bay Centre (info booth) Scallywags Royal BC Museum Buddies Toys Crumsby’s Market on Yates Market on Millstream Victoria Conservatory JamTots Lifestyle Market Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre

DuNCAN Duncan Mall (centre court) Indigo Red Balloon Cowichan Recreation Centre Cowichan Aquatics Centre Kinderbeez Duncan Tourist Information CHEMAINuS Chemainus Theatre SHAWNIGAN LAKE Community Centre LADYSMITH Ladysmith Recreation Centre NANAIMO Nanaimo Aquatic Centre Quality Foods Country Club Mall Regional Library – Boban Fairway Market Island Natural Health Foods Woodgrove Centre

For a complete list of where you can find a copy of Island Parent Magazine, go to

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ours to fill her yogurt container. Judging by the trails of flattened grass that snake up the lower part of the hill, we are not the first human visitors to this berry patch. Most of the remaining berries are hidden on the underside of their thorny vines. Though we work diligently, after half an hour the three of us have only managed to gather a few cups of fruit—not including the “test” berries that ended up in our mouths. It’s not quite 9:00 a.m., but already the sun is beating down oppressively. It’s time to head home, where we’ll turn our modest harvest into jam.

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blackberries are native to Vancouver Island. They ripen at least a month earlier, and have a lovely, subtle flavour. But the berries are also significantly smaller and more difficult to collect. We have our work cut out for us. We spread out once we reach the embankment. My six-year-old heads as high as I’ll let him, crowing with delight when he finds an especially large berry—about 2 cm long. Most of the berries here are only the length of his smallest fingernail. My eight-year-old remains a little lower, giving me a running commentary on her progress as she endeav-

There will be more wild berry picking excursions as the summer progresses and each species ripens in turn. We’ll graze on thimbleberries and salmonberries as we find them along trails. We’ll gather handfuls of tiny huckleberries from forest clearings to kidsinvictoria.com

supplement our picnic fare. We’ll nibble on salal berries, and bring some home for smoothies. And we’ll fill bucket after bucket with Himalayan blackberries once the season gets underway, until our freezer can’t hold any more. But tasty fruit isn’t the only reward of this activity. In a world that is increasingly disconnected from nature, wild berries invite us to reconnect with the land around us, land that has supported our indigenous friends and neighbours for thousands of years. Berry picking invites our children to come outside, to use all five of their senses. It encourages observation and rewards focused attention: my kids can spot a huckleberry bush from a good 20 paces, and would happily spend 15 minutes stripping it of every reachable berry if we’d let them. (They have to leave some for the birds, and other passersby.) Berry picking also encourages more adventurous palates. With their tart, slightly bitter aftertaste, I suspect most kids would turn up their noses at salmonberries if they came from a store. But they appear so enticing in their natural setting—like many-lobed jewels sparkling in the sun—that my children fight over who gets the next one. Wild berries generally grow in smaller quantities than their domestic cousins, so

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they often lend themselves better to casual grazing than outright harvesting. Blackberries are an exception, of course! If you do end up with a bucket of berries, there are many ways you can preserve them. In the past I’ve simply stashed them in the freezer, but this year I’ll be experimenting with the some new methods. Just for fun, I’d like to try my hand at drying salal and huckleberries singly and in mashed ‘cakes,’ as the original inhabitants of our coast did for millennia. And of course many of the berries my kids and I gather will end up as jam. Including clean-up, it took me less than half an hour to transform the three cups of fruit we picked this morning into a simple but delicious jam. I put the berries into a small saucepan, let my son mash them, and then cooked them over medium heat until they became soupy. My daughter added one cup of sugar, and we carefully stirred the mixture until it came to a boil. Since blackberries contain their own pectin, we didn’t add any commercial pectin as a thickener—but this did mean that the berry mixture had to boil significantly longer. I stirred the pot occasionally as the mixture continued boiling gently for about 20 minutes, then transferred it into two half-pint

jars. Since we will be consuming our jam within the next few weeks, I did not sterilize the jars or lids. I could also have stored this jam for a year in the freezer, if I had used freezer safe containers. Not all wild berries are safe to eat. Make sure that you and your children know what you’re picking before you head out in search of wild fruit. If in doubt, ask a nature-savvy friend to be your guide, or consult reference material. Northernbushcraft.com has links to descriptions of 32 edible berries that can be found in British Columbia. If you’d prefer something a little more portable, Richard J. Hebda’s “A Field Guide to Edible Fruits and Berries of the Pacific Northwest” is a weatherproof booklet in pamphlet form with lots of useful photos to make berry identification easier. When identifying edible berries using a field guide, take note of the plant’s height, location and foliage, as well as the description of the berries themselves. And be sure to leave some for others, including the wild creatures who need them to survive. Rachel Dunstan Muller is the mother of five, and a children’s author. Her previous articles can be found at kidsinvictoria.com.

August 2015 9

10 1

Things to Do

Before Summer Ends

Visit a Festival

There’s no shortage of festivals this month. For starters, there’s the Filberg Festival in Comox (filbergfestival.com), a celebration of all things arts, crafts, and music, from July 31-August 3 where, along with artisans’ wares, you’ll find the Enchanted Forest, a kids’ interactive area that includes storytelling, face painting, sandboxes, painting, crafts, and games. Then there’s the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival (victoriadragonboat.com) from August 14-16 where you can cheer on the paddlers and enjoy live multicultural entertainment, crafts for kids, the Forbidden City Food Court and Grand Dragon Challenge. Don’t miss FringeKids Fest (intrepidtheatre.com) in Victoria’s Market Square on Saturday, August 29 from 11am-4pm. This completely free one-day family festival in Market Square introduces young children to the magic of theatre, with strolling performers and music, along with craft activities including puppet making, and a life-sized cardboard castle for small artists to paint.

Catch a Show James & the Giant Peach, for the young and young-at-heart, is running Tuesday through Saturday until August 15 at Chemainus Theatre. Imaginations come together with incredible puppeteers. Suddenly Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story of a magical journey into a giant peach is more than

fun fantasy and the great adventure begins. chemainustheatrefestival.ca. For rainy day entertainment, check out the IMAX productions Gold Fever, and embark on a glittering trip around the world to learn more about the “eternal element”; Humpback Whales, offers audiences an up-close look at how these whales communicate, sing, feed, play and take care of their young; and Journey to the South Pacific, transports moviegoers to the lush tropical islands of remote West Papua, where life flourishes above and below the sea. For showtimes and information, visit imaxvictoria.com or phone 250-953IMAX (4629).

See a Movie under the Stars

If you feel like seeing a show, but don’t feel like being cooped up indoors, why not drop by one of Victoria or Esquimalt’s outdoor venues? Esquimalt is hosting the Summer Outdoor Movie Series at Bullen Park every second Wednesday (August 5 and 19, and September 2) at dusk, roughly 9:45pm. Weather permitting. Visit esquimalt.ca. The Victoria Film Festival (victoriafilmfestival.com) is once again presenting the

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Free-B Film Fest screenings on Friday and Saturday nights until August 29. The first screening (Batman) will take place on the Legislature lawn on August 7. After that the screenings will be at Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park on a 20-foot-wide inflatable screen. The line-up includes Princess Bride, Raising Arizona, The Mummy, and The Secret of Nimh, along with a list of others. For the complete line-up, visit freebfilmfest.com. Movies start at 9pm and are free. Bring your own snacks and blankets.

Visit the ucluelet Aquarium

From their first day through to graduation. Aspengrove is there for your children.

Visit the Ucluelet Aquarium and experience the marine life that inhabits the waters of Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds. Starfish, clams, green surf anenomes, Californian sea cucumbers, rock fish, jelly fish, even the occasional octopus, are just a few examples. Knowledgeable interpreters explain the mysteries of the sea and how specimens are released back into the wild at the end of each season. Enjoy an up-close encounter with a diversity of local marine life. The touch tanks provide an interactive and fun hands-on learning environment for children and adults. Open daily from 10am-5pm, located along the Main Street Waterfront Promenade at 180 Main Street. For more information visit uclueletaquarium.org

Explore Newcastle Island

Beaches swept by the tides. Forest touched only by nature. Rocks that silently witness the cycles of land and sea. Newcastle Island is a place of natural discovery. Take a walk through history on part of the 22km trail system, stop by the Pavilion for a snack, bike or kayak around the island for a unique way to tour, or escape and spend a night or two in seclusion at one of the island’s camp sites. After exploring all day, camp under the stars in one of the 18 individual campsites or 5 group campsites. The Newcastle Island Café is open daily from 10am-8pm until early September and serves burgers, wraps, and more. If it’s a hot day, go for a swim in one of the island’s many protected bays. Dogs are permitted on the island but must be onleash. Newcastle Island Provincial Marine Park is located a short boat ride across the Nanaimo Harbour, leaving from Maffeo Sutton Park near downtown Nanaimo. For information, visit newcastleisland.ca. IslandParent.ca

Learn more today! 250 390 2201 AspengroveSchool.ca

NANAIMO ’ S JK-12 INTERNATIONAL BACC AL AURE ATE WORLD SCHOOL

R.A.D. Classes

Pre-school Ballet R.A.D. Graded/Vocational Syllabi Youth Beginner Ballet Adult Ballet

Peggy Bain Artistic Director Tara Crouse Shannon Delaney Roberta Waal

CENTREPOINTE BALLET SCHOOL 2015 | 2016 Season Register: online www.centrepointedance.com OR at the Studio Satursday, Sept. 12th,

9:15 – 11:15 a.m.

Dance Studio St. Margaret’s School 1080 Lucas Avenue Victoria BC T 250.592.4260

E centrepointe@shaw.ca www.centrepointedance.com

August 2015

Make Homemade Creamsicles (makes 6 pops, depending on popsicle mold size) 2 cups orange juice 1⁄3 cup honey 4 egg yolks 2 cups fresh cream 2 cups fresh whole milk 1⁄4 teaspoon orange extract 1 tsp vanilla extract Combine honey and orange juice then pour the mixture into a heavy-bottomed sauce pan. Heat juice mixture over a medium flame until reduced by half (will become syrup-like). Remove from heat and cool. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks, cream, milk and extracts until all the ingredients are combined. Whisk the juice mixture into the egg mixture. Pour the creamsicle mixture into the popsicle molds and freeze until solid, at least 12 hours.

EXHIBITION ON NOW UNTIL NOV 1 Purchase tickets at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/gold

IN COLLABORATION WITH EN COLLABORATION AVEC

Gold Rush! El Dorado in British Columbia is organized by the Royal BC Museum, Victoria, BC, Canada, in collaboration with Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, QC, Canada / Ruée vers l’or! El Dorado en Colombie-Britannique est réalisée par le Royal BC Museum, Victoria, Colombie-Britannique, en collaboration avec le Musée canadien de l’histoire, Gatineau, Québec.

Client: Royal BC Museum Publication: Island Parent Shipping Date: July 15, 2015; Ad Size: 4.75” X 4.5” Produced By Form Creative T: (250) 589 5966

Presenting the first Independent School Montessori High School Graduates in Canada!

Come and discover the benefits Montessori Education can offer your child. Our Students: ♦are valued as unique individuals. ♦are part of a close, caring community. ♦are enthusiastic, self-directed learners. ♦think critically. ♦work collaboratively.

confident, enthusiastic, self-directed

1841 Fairburn Drive | Victoria | 250.479.4746 office@mariamontessoriacademy.net Pre-School to High School Education Tours available upon request.

Island Parent Magazine

Sample Spelunking

Keep cool by caving at Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park. The how-to’s of basic rock climbing are covered in the four-hour “High Adventure Expedition,” so no previous climbing experience is needed. Be prepared to crawl through small passages and try some basic rope climbing, but cavers must be 13 years or older. Instruction and equipment are provided. 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily. Reservations recommended. The younger set (minimum 5 years old) can take the 90-minute Family Cavern Tour. Designed to teach the geology and history of the caves, this tour starts with a 25-minute hike to the entrance along the Karst Trail. Explore the larger and easier passageways, with views of crystal formations. Don’t worry about any crawling sections or tight passages in this tour. Reservations and walk-ups welcome, runs every hour on the hour 10am to 5pm. For more information, visit hornelake.com.

Hop Aboard for a Ladysmith Harbour Tour

The Ladysmith Maritime Society offers daily harbour tours until Aug 31 in its restored lifeboat, the Maritimer. Enjoy a 90-minute cruise (leaving at 10:30am and 2pm) through the area’s history, viewing eagles, seals, otters, cormorants, starfish, jellyfish and other wildlife along the way. The Maritimer holds up to 10 people. Skippers are Transport Canada certified. While you’re on the docks, check out the award-winning kidsinvictoria.com

floating museum, take the kids to the kids’ marine life viewing dock by the “kids don’t float” lifejacket loaning area, or peek into a purple martin nest using the webcam on the second blue boathouse. If you’re hungry, stop for a snack at Oyster Bay Cafe, open 8am to 2pm, Fridays to Mondays. For tour reservations, phone 250-245-1146.

Fire it up at Fireworks

Confident girls. Inspiring women.

If you’ve never seen the Fireworks at Butchart Gardens (every Saturday night through August), you are missing a great opportunity to be delighted and amazed. This is not your standard high-in-the-sky shower of stars—although there’s lots of those—it’s a full-on pyrotechnic extravaganza set to music. You may be treated to sparkling, buzzing bees flying out of hives, brilliant trains rolling along tracks or waterfalls of fire. Anything is possible and it’s pure magic. This show—along with the beautiful gardens that you can stroll through beforehand—is a summer must-see. It changes every year, it’s truly fabulous and it’s all ours. Plan for the crowds, pack a picnic, some warm clothes, and spend a family evening hanging out being awed. Visit butchartgardens.com.

Learn to Fish

If you have never fished before it’s easy to get started. You can sign your family up for one of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC’s Learn to Fish programs taking place at lakes across the Island. In one hands-on session you’ll learn where, when and how to catch fish. The program is designed for youth between the ages of 5-15 and their families and covers fish identification and biology, habitat and conservation, rods, reels, lines and tackle, knot tying, proper fish handling and ethics, safety and fishing regulations, casting and retrieving, where, when and how to catch fish, and hands-on fishing (all tackle and equipment provided). Families not registered in the Learn to Fish program are still welcome to borrow spinning rods and reels complete with a tackle box of gear. During the summer, roaming Rod Loan locations are set up at lakes throughout the province. For a location near you, for more information on Learn to Fish classes, or to download a Learn to Fish guide, visit goﬁshbc.com or read more on page 5.•

IslandParent.ca

•

Leaders in Early Childhood Education

•

Nature-based curriculum with focus on STEM* learning

•

Empowering girls’ leadership program

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Small school beneﬁts: safe, supportive, high engagement

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Continuity in education from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 *STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

ST. MARGARET’S SCHOOL SPOTS AVAILABLE IN SELECT GRADES FOR 2015/2016 SCHOOL YEAR 1080 LUCAS AVE, VICTORIA 250.479.7171 | WWW.STMARG.CA

Spaces Available

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program

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connecting children to nature

August 2015

The Toddler Two-Step Games, toys and play to keep ’em hopping

laytime is an important part of your child’s development. Your toddler doesn’t need expensive or complicated toys. As much as possible, avoid TV and other electronic media. Children learn best by interacting with people, not from screens. When your baby becomes a toddler and starts walking, running and climbing, playtime becomes a whole new experience. As their physical abilities improve, children between 12 and 24 months are learning a wealth of other new skills: how to talk, play games, socialize, and make friends. Playtime is an important part of these developments. Toddlers like to touch and explore. You can encourage curiosity by creating a safe home environment where you don’t have to say “no” all the time. By putting forbidden objects out of reach, you’ll have fewer confrontations. Outdoor spaces also offer great opportunities for children to learn about their world, with new and exciting things to experience, touch and discover. Always supervise your toddler in the outdoors.

14 Island Parent Magazine

Toddlers are in constant motion, testing their new skills: walking, running, jumping, kicking and throwing. Be sure to build lots of outdoor playtime into daily routines, so that your child can develop these skills and stay active. Toddlers want to climb. A safe way to encourage this skill, and to enjoy some fresh air, is at your local playground or park. Play structures should be age-appropriate and well maintained, with lots of sand or another safe surfacing underneath to cushion a fall. Supervise playground activities closely at all times, and stay within arm’s reach of your child on play equipment. Toddlers want to do what they see others doing. Encourage your toddler to help around the house by giving him simple things to do— pick up toys, fold laundry, or sweep. Toddlers are developing their imagination. By the end of the second year, your toddler will start to engage in pretend or imaginative play. She might incorporate household objects into playtime or make up little stories about her cars, trains, or dolls.

Resist the urge to always direct your toddler’s play. Sit back and observe, and let him come to you when he needs you. Toys for toddlers. Toys become more interesting now that your toddler is better able to handle them. Simple things like blocks, floating bath toys, your own pots and pans or empty plastic containers, often make the best toys. Toddlers are learning how things work, and experimenting with cause and effect. They are also fascinated by measuring and pouring. Your toddler doesn’t need expensive or complicated toys. Toys that are safe and appealing to children this age include: push-pull toys (with short pull cords), safe ride-on toys that your child makes move with his feet, simple dolls or animals that can be dressed, especially with Velcro or snaps (watch for features or buttons that can be pulled loose), simple puzzle boards with several pieces, toddler building toys, large cardboard boxes with doors and windows cut out for climbing and peering through, stacking and sorting toys, large plastic or wooden boxes with shaped holes and corresponding blocks, large soft balls to kick and throw, musical toys, like a drum or shakers, hand-sized cars, trains or trucks, a child-sized broom and dustpan, peek-a-boo scarves, which can also be used for wrapping

kidsinvictoria.com

a doll, to dance with, or as a superhero cape, workbenches, blocks, toy telephones, sand and water toys, such as a bucket, shovel, rake or sieve. Art and language. Toddlers enjoy simple arts and crafts, like drawing with large crayons on blank paper, playing with clay, chalk and a chalkboard (or sidewalk), and painting with large paintbrushes. Continue to use books in your toddler’s playtime and daily routines: Have books available in different areas of your home and within easy reach of your toddler: on a low shelf or in a basket on the floor. Toddlers enjoy books with simple rhymes and predictable text, with just a few words on each page. Books about saying goodbye and bedtime help with these transition times. Sturdy board books that are easy to carry around are best for toddlers. As language skills develop, your toddler will participate more during storytime. When you read, point at pictures, ask “what’s that?” and give your child time to answer. Or pause and let your child complete the sentence. Music is an important and fun part of playtime. Encourage your children to clap, dance, and eventually sing along. Be sure to sing and dance along with them. Making friends: Playdates. At 12 to 18 months, children usually begin to take part in “parallel play,” playing alongside (but not directly with) other children. Around 18 months, your toddler will start to notice other children and to interact with them more. Inviting a friend to your home to play is a great way to encourage your toddler’s social and sharing skills. Some tips to make these first playdates positive experiences: Schedule the playdate for a time of day when your toddler is likely to be in a good mood, such as the morning or right after a nap. Keep playdates small and short, about an hour long. Invite just one friend at a time at first. Toddlers have a short attention span. Plan a few fun activities and crafts that you can do together in a short period of time. Toddlers haven’t yet learned to share. Put away your toddler’s favourite toys to reduce the chance of a conflict. If you have more than one of a favourite toy, then each child can have one. Make sure that an adult is supervising children at play. Don’t forget to serve a healthy snack! For more ideas and information, visit the Canadian Paediatric Society’s website Caring For Kids at caringforkids.cps.ca

IslandParent.ca

Proudly providing flexible High School & Career Training courses for over 3000 Adults & Youth since 1986

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Spaces Still Available for 2015-16

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Oak Bay Preschool *Our learning through play approach fosters children's sense of wonderment with the world around them. *We use a balance of indoor and outdoor classrooms to enrich your child's preschool experience.

Preschool 3 & 4 yr olds 3 yr olds, 3 days a week | $130/month Mon-Wed-Fri 9:15 AM - 11:30 AM 4 yr olds, 4 days a week | $155/month Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu 12:15 PM - 2:30 PM ALLERGY

1701 Elgin Road www.oakbaypreschool.com

friendly

CLASSROOM

August 2015 15

Why

do so many wild animals choose to live in places that, on first glance at least, seem contrary to their needs

? City Critters Wildlife in the Urban Jungle Facts, Findings & Fun excerpted from City Critters (Orca Book Publishers, 2012)

Do Raccoons Wash Their Food?

No, it only looks like they do. When raccoons bring a food item near water, they’ll use their amazingly dexterous and humanlike forepaws to dunk it below the surface. But scientists now think they do this not to make sure that what they’re about to eat is clean, but to excite the nerves in their paws and make them more sensitive. When their paws are sensitive, the raccoon can examine the food item more closely and figure out exactly what it is. Since raccoons don’t have the best eyesight, they use their hands to help them “see” what their eyes can’t.

As cities grow more sprawling, wilderness areas get smaller and more limited, so what’s a doe, buck or fawn to do except go for those petunias in your flower bed? After all, the deer don’t know they were cultivated especially to decorate that dead space between the front path and the window box. To deer they’re just food. We shouldn’t blame them, but we do…When we destroy the wilderness they rely on, we deny them the life nature intended them to live. And that condemns them to a life where they get into trouble. 16 Island Parent Magazine

kidsinvictoria.com

What Makes Skunk Spray Smell So Bad? Seven distinct chemical compounds combine to make what’s called skunk “musk.” Put them all together, and “WHOA!” The reason skunk musk is so offensive is that it smells of decay—of something rotting away—which is a smell that tells us to STAY AWAY. For example, if you leave a piece of meat on the counter so long that it spoils, you’ll know it’s rotten and not fit to eat because of how it looks and, above all, smells. Skunk odor has the same effect. In cities, domestic dogs are the most frequent victims of skunk spray. So what’s the best way to wash them? For years, tomato juice was thought to be the answer, but it only masks the stink temporarily. Now more and more people put their faith in such things as vanilla extract, vinegar, orange juice, baking soda, certain kinds of laundry soap and even mouthwash. (They put cheap mouthwash in a spray bottle and shoot.) Unfortunately, there Scientists is no magic antidote except estimate that… time. If you wait long enough, because of habitat the smell will just wear away. But few people—and loss, climate change and dogs—are that patient. the destruction of various

Amazing Animal Adaptation

Some scientists say crows are as smart as parrots and great apes. They certainly are excellent problem solvers. Like the apes and us, they’ll use tools to extract food from tight spots. They’ve also figured out what red and green traffic lights mean: a red traffic light means they can feel safe swooping down onto a road and eating whatever’s there, and a green light means they should fly back to their perch and wait. Like parrots, crows can imitate the sounds of other animals and learn to associate those sounds with actions, like gathering food and announcing danger. They’re also smart enough that they’ll hold a grudge. If you’ve ever made the grievous mistake of disturbing a crow or, worse, a crow’s chick, that crow won’t let you forget it soon. The next time you dare show your head, one of the crow pair (they mate for life) will probably dive-bomb you like a kamikaze pilot. And the bombing can go on for weeks.

Mos ci east ty squir t e r so n rn gray els are a s m quir orig ed b r kinds of ecosystems, a side inated o ecause els, t o n h f t quarter of the world’s now North he ea ey mammals are likely to wes they liv Americ stern t a e disappear before the end of in ci too. Squ all ove . But r t i i r and es. Al rels d the this century. They include o o s in th eeds, w ng with well animals as large as the Most ng to h e n i uts c w o h l il of b polar bear and as small sect ts be ird f d, citie they ea insec e main in es, s t e squi as the Christmas rrel eders. A are full f fiv etles, fli nd o e n s a o Island shrew. nd a is li s: be bees ke a bird fee for group ncluding ommon n de c an-e a ec ) s (i at b ll-you- r wasp , bugs (th g insects ni In ju r unch . ins eat ght, st o ants) or crawlin nd moths . f a to ect thei bats ne name tterflies y North r a s u n siz bou . Th wei can and b s within a , you can S a t g e t o 5 d the bu 00 wo ht in Thu can city sects a n i r i r g f m r e k d r s f Am t to fin the aid e’s n eve ostq s ou ach o c e e p g o o x r n u t y e f senti ies. fav ’re d bat reas y hou itorepre e categor on r. 4 ou o s, thes sp 0 pe r. S us su not w to b ec r c ad ie e l ch he e wi s ar nt o y, ab a bi n th e t f a ou g ex hr ll b t tin ea cti ten at According to a study done at the University on ed . of Wisconsin, North American cat owners estimate their cats catch and kill about one bird a week. There are more than 100 million domestic cats in North America, so you do the arithmetic. But the fact is, no one knows for sure. All we can be sure of is that domestic cats do catch and kill great numbers of songbirds, and they are partly responsible—along with habitat destruction, climate change, invasive species and city skyscrapers—for the steady decline in the number of urban songbirds in the United States and Canada.

How many birds do urban cats kill?

IslandParent.ca

August 2015 17

Sleep in a Tree

Considering that most of us spend roughly one third of our lives sleeping—about 20 to 25 years over a 75-year life span—it makes sense to search for a few out-of-the-ordinary slumber scenarios. The following three options offer some unusual Island sleeps.

bedrooms, one bathroom with shower, living room, and complete kitchen, plus all of the same extras as The Arbutus Mist. The Sea Shanty unit is 700 square feet. There’s a restaurant, market, and esspresso bar close by as well as a float home community and picnic area. New this year: kayak rentals along with excursion and fishing charters. Visit maplebaymarina. com/float-homes.

1. Sleep in a Tree If you ever dreamed of sleeping in a tree fort— or a UFO—when you were a kid but never did, now’s your chance. Free Spirit Spheres, alien-like pods suspended from a web of rope in the trees on five acres of private land not far from Qualicum Beach, offer a magical sleeping experience for those 16 years and older. Designed by Tom Chudleigh, the eco-friendly wooden spheres offer a night’s sleep as gentle and mesmerizing as a cradle in the treetops. Lying in bed at night and gazing out the window, you’ll feel as though you are adrift in a sea of trees and stars and sky. The smallest of the three spheres, Eve, is nestled 3.1 meters off the forest floor and sleeps two. Eryn is suspended 4.6 meters above ground and sleeps three. The newest, Melody, is 4.3 meters up and sleeps two. Bedding and towels are supplied, as is a complimentary snack upon arrival. Each sphere is wired for power and has built-in

3. Sleep in a Yurt Parksville’s Riverbend Resort Campground offers a modern interpretation of the traditional Mongolian yurt. A mix between a tent and a cabin, yurts have round rooms with vaulted ceilings and a central skylight so you can stargaze at night. Riverbend’s three yurts sleep up to four people with a queen-sized bed in the sleeping area and futon in the living area. Each yurt features a fully equipped kitchenette with a three-burner propane stove, cutlery, dishes, toaster, pots, pans and coffee maker; full bathroom and cable TV. The surrounding yard features a picnic table, outdoor fire pit, and a barbecue available upon request. No need to rough it here: all bed linens and towels are provided, light housekeeping is available along with wireless internet, morning coffee and a newspaper, and a lending library. Visit riverbendresort.bc.ca.•

Three unusual Vancouver Island sleeps

speakers for your music or video devices—you’ll experience true “surround sound.” For more information, visit freespiritspheres.com/index. htm. They utilize biomimicry and are designed to fit into a forest setting without altering it. 2. Sleep on a Float Home Why sleep in a hotel when you can sleep on a float home instead? For $200/night (four people; charge for extra people, up to six total) you can leave your tent at home and rent a Maple Bay float home. The “Arbutus Mist” consists of two private bedrooms, two bathrooms with shower, living room, and complete kitchen including a fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave, toaster oven and coffee maker. There’s a TV, washer and dryer, CD player, clock radio all in 1,200 square feet. For $120/night (for four people, maximum) the “Sea Shanty” consists of two loft-style

Sept 26 & 27, 2015 • Pearkes Rec Centre VancouverIslandBabyFair.com

BABY CASTING CALL! Know a cheerful, photogenic and playful baby?

From Jul 25 - Aug 10, CTV Vancouver Island and the Vancouver Island Baby Fair are looking to cast a happy 6 - 18 month old baby for the upcoming Vancouver Island Baby Fair commercial. If this sounds like a little one you know, head to VancouverIsland.ctvnews.ca for details.

18 Island Parent Magazine

kidsinvictoria.com

Free FAMily ConCert:

SATURDAY

SEPT 12

10am - 3pm Featuring a special concert at 1:30pm

WINNER of three West Coast Family Magazine Readers Choice GOLD Awards for Best Performer, Best Children’s Band and Best Music Classes in 2012, 2013 & 2014!

Plus!

Children’s DJs spin music classes nce on our Alix and you da a ur Pandor Jum o Goolden Hall n o L e a r rn pw re ou stage Music Plaza new f ith about o Explo ment riends u many m r i n a Instru Zoo b ouncy usi g program c Pettin c a stle s

Bring your whole family and discover all of the exciting music options the VCM has to offer!

900 Johnson Street • 907 Pandora Avenue

/thevcm

Try new instruments in a free mini-lesson

@thevcm

FUNDING PARTNERS We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia

250.386.5311• vcm.bc.ca/events/open-house-2015 IslandParent.ca

August 2015 19

Abra-Kid-Abra

Everything for Kids At Abra-Kid-Abra you’ll find “Everything for Kids” along with caring and helpful service from our knowledgeable staff. We sell a variety of new products including children’s apparel, dress-up, dance, swim and sunwear, hats, shoes, toys, baby layette and much, much more! Have you checked our consignment section? We have a fabulous selection of gently-used secondhand clothing, baby equipment and toys. Do you have visitors coming? Use our rental services for baby furniture, strollers, car seats, etc. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Kids Dig It All kids know how to enjoy the outdoors with delight and abandon. That’s why they make such natural gardeners. Nurture children to love the bounty of the earth and they will learn to appreciate the joys of growing.

quipment doesn’t need to be fancy. Adult-sized hand trowels are just fine and smaller versions of rakes and hoes can be made by cutting and sanding the handles. A small watering can is essential so little ones don’t get overwhelmed by carting more than they should carry. Fast-growing veggies are a treat for kids who don’t like to wait—try radishes, zucchini and “Thumbelina” (miniature) carrots. Gardening with kids doesn’t cost much and the rewards are great. Just remember to keep it simple, keep it fun and most of all keep it growing.

Now accepting Fall Consignment.

Sunflower Huts

Visit us for back to school shopping.

Prepare a bed of garden soil at least 1.5m (5') square. Plant a mix of tall and mid-height sunflower seeds around the perimeter, leaving an opening of about 60cm (2') on one side for the entrance. Once the sunflowers start to grow, plant clumps of creeping thyme or quick-growing clover on the “floor” or spread some straw mulch about to provide a cushiony effect. As the sunflowers reach for the sky, they create the sunny walls of a delightful “hut” the kids will simply love and spend time in.

2024 Oak Bay Ave, Victoria, BC 250-595-1613

Tutoring & School Services As an alternative to public schools, independent schools, and home schooling, our Community Classrooms offer a blended learning environment customized to meet the individual needs of our students with ASD, FASD, and other learning and behaviour challenges. Very small class sizes allows for one-to-one and small group teaching opportunities. Throughout the full school year our dedicated teachers focus on critical academic, social, and practical life skills. Our Tutoring Services offers home-based and clinic-based options where our staff creates a fun, fast-paced experience helping students with homework, test preparation, and alternative skills designed to help them succeed in life.

To learn more: visit pivotpoint.ca Call toll free 1-866-531-4544 or scan our QR code

20 Island Parent Magazine

Bean Teepee For this project, fast-growing scarlet runner beans are recommended. In the garden, push five to seven 2.4m (8') poles into the ground in a circular shape with a diameter of at least 1.5m (5') at the base. Pull the tops of all the poles toward the centre and bind them together with wire or string, forming a teepee structure. Plant the scarlet runner beans, two per pole at the base. As the beans grow, the teepee will take shape. Join your child for tea under the shade of the lush green tent and snack on some juicy beans together. kidsinvictoria.com

Inspired to Learn Guided by Character Empowered to Lead

Garden Charms Kids love mystery and magic. Garden charms are said to protect and nurture plants and attract fairies to the garden. Thread large beads and shells onto 15cm (6") of a 30cm (12") length of thin galvanized wire. Draw the ends together to form a circle. Attach crystals, lucky stones, feathers or other charms to the inside of the circle with wire. Tie to a garden trellis or fence or attach to a bamboo stake and place at kid height.

WELCOMING APPLICATIONS FOR 2015-2016 Co-ed Preschool-Grade 7 • Girls University-Prep High School Grades 8-12 Visual & Performing Arts • Athletics • Global Studies French & Japanese • Equestrian Program 660 Brownsey Avenue, Duncan, BC T 250 746-4185 | admissions@qms.bc.ca

Tattooed Pumpkins Growing pumpkins extends the gardening experience right up until late fall. They’re easy and fun, can be transplanted right through early summer and the fruit is perfect for pies, seeds and of course Halloween! When the pumpkin is about mid-size (still green), keep it on the vine and try carving your child’s name lightly in the skin. We use the end of a potato peeler to pull long thin strips off the fruit. The idea is to scar the skin without going too deep. As the pumpkin continues to grow, the name will heal and increase in size. Your child will be entrance and amazed, especially if the name is revealed as a surprise later in the season. Reprinted with permission from Everyday Eden: 100+ Fun, Green Garden Projects for the Whole Family to Enjoy by Christina Symons and John Gillespie (Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd., 2011). Photos by Christina Symons for Everyday Eden. IslandParent.ca

www.qms.bc.ca

For the Explorer in You! • Hike the Fossil Trail • Visit the Cave Theatre • Explore a Cave • Try Rock Rappelling Family Tours every hour, every day

250-248-7829 HORNELAKE.COM

Ranked #1 on TripAdvisor

August 2015

Get Ready!

Refresh core skills before your first math class Three one-hour lessons $65

September 1 - 3

Visit www.theMathTeacher.xyz for course times and descriptions

the

Math Teacher Angela Voll B. Sc. (Hons.) in Mathematics

#204 - 55 Station Street, Duncan

250.732.1597

angela.voll@gmail.com

www.theMathTeacher.xyz

Emmanuel Preschool

2121 Cedar Hill Cross Road (by entrance to UVic)

Openings forHill 2013–2014 2121 Cedar Cross RoadClasses! (by entrance to UVic) Children through ininclusive, our all inclusive, Children learnlearn through play in play our all non-denominational Christian preschool. non-denominational Christian preschool. Great facility; outdoor play area a gym rainy for day play! Great facility; outdoor playand area andfor a gym Two teachers with ECE certification plus assistant teachers to day play! Twochildren. teachers with ECE certification helprainy with special needs plus an assistant help with special needs A competent and caringteacher teachingtoteam! children. A competent and caring teaching team! Opportunities: Classes for 2015–2016: Mon / Wed / Fri morning class Mon/Wed/Fri morning class Tues / Thurs morning class Tues/Thurs morning class 5 mornings a week

5 mornings a week Phone 250-598-0573 Phone 250-598-0573 preschool@emmanuelvictoria.ca preschool@emmanuelvictoria.ca www.emmanuelpreschool.ca

www.emmanuelpreschool.ca

O’Brien School of Irish !ancing Register now for 2015-2016 classes *Traditional Irish dancing classes for the recreational, performance and competitive dancer *Victoria (Cadboro Bay,Esquimalt, Downtown) *Nanaimo *Duncan

www.ocobirishdance.com irishdance@shaw.ca 604-340-2370

22 Island Parent Magazine

To Market, to Market S

leepy summer mornings and outdoor markets go together like a yawn and a stretch. Great for families with children of all ages, outdoor markets let parents peruse the produce and handicrafts while kids play and ponder amidst the festivities. Here’s a list of some of the Island’s outdoor summer markets.

In Victoria

Bastion Square Festival of the Arts. A colourful and eclectic European-style artisans’ showcase and marketplace. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11am-4:30pm until the end of Sept. There’s also the Sunday Market from 11am-4pm. Both are free and wheelchair accessible. bastionsquare.ca. James Bay Community Market. Homemade. Handmade. Homegrown. Two blocks from the Inner Harbour at the corner of Menzies and Superior Streets, this market features arts and crafts, live music, baked goods, fresh flowers, locally grown vegetables, fruit and free-range eggs. Saturdays 9am-3pm. jamesbaymarket.com. Moss Street Market. Celebrating its 24th year, this market features Victoria’s largest selection of local and organic produce along with handmade crafts, cards, clothing, jewelry, toys, glass works, pottery, honey, and more. There’s also a kids’ activity tent and live music. Saturdays from 10am2pm. Corner of Moss and Fairfield Roads. mossstreetmarket.com. Oaklands Sunset Market. Drop by Wednesdays from 4:30-8:30pm and buy dinner at one of the food trucks or stock up on veggies, breads, granola, teas, canned and baked goods. The market includes a kids’ bouncy castle, face-painting and information on food security. At Oaklands Community Centre, 2827 Belmont Ave. oaklandscommunitycentre.com/market. Ship Point Night Market. Sample an eclectic mix of vendors and entertainment at Ship Point on Fridays and Saturdays from 6-10:30pm in Victoria’s Inner Harbour where close to 75 vendors will be selling their crafts on the pier, only a few steps from the streets of downtown. Enjoy original art, handcrafted jewelry, food, live music and more. victoriaharbourfestival.com. kidsinvictoria.com

In West Shore

Goldstream Station Market. On Saturdays from 10am-2pm, and on Wednesday from 5-8pm (until Sept 2) at Veterans’ Memorial Park, Langford—this community market is a destination for families wanting to shop for locally-produced products in a place where they can gather with friends, embrace a slower pace, picnic, and enjoy the small-town atmosphere of a farmers’ market in the park. goldstreamstationmarket.ca. Metchosin Farmer’s Market. At the Metchosin Municipal Grounds, 4450 Happy Valley Rd (behind the firehall). This Farmer’s Market runs on Sundays from 11am-2pm. Browse through the market, check out the Pioneer Museum, then head to a local beach or hiking trail with a picnic of your farm fresh goodies. Info 250-478-4503.

In Sooke

Sooke Country Market. This busy, familyoriented market features organic produce, seasonal fruits, jams and preserves, fresh home baking, herbs, plants and more. Entertainment and kids’ activities too. Saturdays from 10am-2pm at 2047 Otter Point Rd. sookecountrymarket.com. Sooke Night Market. This market, at the Sooke Region Museum and Visitor Centre, 2070 Phillips Road, features products that are made, baked, grown, raised, caught or wild harvested. There’s food, crafts and entertainment on the museum grounds on Thursdays 5-8pm. sookeregionmuseum.com.

In North Saanich

North Saanich Farm Market. Great music, organic coffee, treats from the St. John’s bake table, and more veggies, plants, bakery items and crafts than you can imagine. Saturdays 9:30am-12:30pm at located at Saint John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Road. northsaanichfarmmarket.ca.

In Sidney

Sidney Street Market. Beacon Avenue is closed to traffic for this summer’s eve market on Thursdays from 5-8:30pm. Stroll the street and see arts, crafts, farmfresh produce and the wares of over 150 vendors. Lively international entertainment. sidneystreetmarket.com.

In Duncan

Downtown Duncan Farmer’s Market. This farmer’s market offers fresh local produce, baked goods, preserves, honey, nursery stock and bedding plants, juried crafts, pet treats and more. Entertainment IslandParent.ca

and kids’ activities. Saturdays from 9am2pm in City Square and along Ingram Street. duncanfarmersmarket.ca.

In Errington

Errington Farmers Market. Taste a famous market sticky bun, pick up some local produce, take part in kids’ activities or just enjoy the shaded, woodsy atmosphere at this Saturday market running from 10am-1pm at Errington Community Park, 1390 Errington Road. erringtonfarmersmarket.ca.

In Port Alberni

Port Alberni Farmers Market. Plenty of goodies here, including produce, smoked sausages, baked goods, fresh honey, farmfresh eggs, emu products (sausages, oil, soap), crafts, plants and live entertainment. Saturday from 9am-1pm. Located at the First Baptist Church gym, 6211 Cherry Creek Rd. markets.bcfarmersmarket.org.

In Qualicum Beach

Qualicum Beach Farmers Market. Farm products including fresh vegetables and fruits, preserves, baking, herbs, dried and fresh flowers, seafood, wool, sheepskins and emu goods. Veteran’s Way at Memorial Avenue. Saturdays from 8:30am-noon. qbfarmersmarket.com.

In Courtenay & Comox

CHILDCARE IN A

In Campbell River

ECE Licensed, Full Day in home Childcare Program for children 30 months - 5 years

Comox Valley Farmer’s Market. Saturdays 9am-noon on the Exhibition Grounds north of Courtenay at 4839 Headquarters Rd. In July and August, the market also runs on Weds from 9am-noon in downtown Courtenay on England Ave between 5th and 6th streets from 9am-noon. comoxvalleyfarmersmarket.com Pier Street Market. Here you’ll find a selection of fresh farm products along with an local artisans’ works, entertainment and more. Sundays from 10am-2:30pm in front of the Maritime Heritage Centre. pierstreet. com/id1.html.

On Saltspring Island

Saltspring Island Market in the Park. This grow-it, make-it, bake-it market features products made by Saltspring Islanders. Featuring organic produce, baked goods, arts, crafts and pottery, non-profit tables, and children vendors (toe painting, crafts, baking, “gumboot planters”). Rain or shine. Saturdays 8am-4pm in Centennial Park, Ganges. Visit saltspringmarket.com.•

Natural Environment

An enriched, unique environment to inspire and nurture child directed learning and critical thinking skills, through in-depth and on-going study of nature and the power of play. • • • •

Over 28 years experience in Preschool and Childcare More than 8.5 acres with safe trails for exploring Large separate indoor 1300 sq ft playground area Promoting a strong, happy and healthy lifestyle

Forest House Childcare Academy 192 Goward Road (near Prospect Lake)

Email: foresthouse@telus.net Please call: 250-881-1975

www.foresthouseca.com August 2015 23

Schools & Educational Services Preschools

Arbutus Grove Children’s Centre has a long history of providing outstanding early learning programs to the Victoria community. Our centre is a bright and engaging purpose-built preschool with a large, natural playground surrounded by urban forest. We offer half and full day programs for 3- and 4-year-olds and a small after school program for kindergarten/grade one students attending Frank Hobbs. Our educators facilitate stimulating and engaging experiences that nurture each child’s sense of wonder, curiosity and innate desire to learn through play, exploration, discovery and creative expression. Located in the Cadboro Bay/UVIC area. arbutusgrove.ca or 250-477-3731. Cordova Bay Preschool is a bright and cheerful cooperative preschool that encourages and benefits from parent participation. Our brilliant educators provide a stimulating environment designed to offer a variety of learn through play opportunities, including circle time, art, library, dramatic play, creative outdoor play and more. One class for 4-year-olds Mon/Wed/Fri (9:15am-1:15pm, and two classes for 3-year-olds Tues/Thurs (9:00am-12:00pm or 12:30-3:30pm). Limited space still available in the 3s afternoon class and the 4s class. Limited spaces for the 2015/16 school year are still available, wait list for 2016/17 being taken. cordovabay preschool.org or 250-658-3441. Recognizing the value of outdoor play and childled experiences, The Cridge Centre for the Family is excited to continue our Nature Preschool Program in September 2015. This innovative program is based in a natural Garry Oak meadow located in an urban setting close to downtown Victoria. 24 Island Parent Magazine

We strive to give children new opportunities to explore, discover and learn in our outdoor setting. By encouraging curiosity and nurturing creativity who knows where your child’s imagination will lead them? Check us out at cridge.org/childcare/preschool/. Emmanuel Preschool is a welcoming and inclusive Christian preschool, where students with special needs have the support of an additional teacher. Our morning classes are offered either two or three days per week. Both programs are for 3- and 4-year-olds and include stories, games, singing, arts and crafts, science activities, free play (indoors and outdoors) and some field trips. Each class is licensed for a maximum of 20 children and has two licensed and experienced Early Childhood Educators. Our staff strive to teach and model Christian attitudes and values, and to maintain a warm, caring and safe environment. Forest House Childcare Academy (FHCA) provides a loosely-structured nature-based curriculum incorporating a diverse program and rich experiences to foster and facilitate the foundation of learning in every area of healthy growth and development. In addition, FHCA offers an enriched environment to inspire and nurture child-directed learning and critical thinking skills, through indepth and on-going study of nature and the power of play. The implantation of activities will vary with the seasons, climate and the fauna and flora of the 8.6 acre property. Teaching and guiding children respect and empathy of the environment by careful observation, experimental response and reflection. foresthouseca.com. 250-881-1975. Full o’ Beans Preschool, operated by Saanich Neighbourhood Place, offers flexible and accessible early learning programs for families and children aged 3 and 4. Children are guided and encouraged by qualified Early Childhood Educators as they learn, explore and grow through play. Our “Classic” program offers classes on either Mon/Wed/Fri or Tues/Thur, from 9am to 11:30am, while our kidsinvictoria.com

Island Kids Academy. An enriching experience for children, providing an invaluable support for working families. Children participate in a nurturing, safe, environment where they are free to choose activities that support their individual development and learning. Island Kids incorporates the Virtues Project, which focuses on universal virtues (respect, kindness, understanding, appreciation, enthusiasm), using teachable moments to learn how to practice these in everyday life. Preschool curriculum is offered within all-day care, ensuring that children are well prepared for life-long learning. Community programs such as swimming and music education are offered. Local, environmental and global awareness are a focus within our business practice and programming. Part-time and full-time spaces are available. 250-413-7429. Lambrick Park Preschool and Childcare (LPP&C) is a cooperative preschool led by parents and two qualified early childhood educators who create a “Learning through Play” environment in our preschool. We offer a high adult to child ratio and a healthy balance of indoor and outdoor play. Morning, afternoon and all-day programs are available for children aged 30 months to 5 years. Located in the Gordon Head area since 1969. lambrickparkpreschool.ca or 250-477-8131. Oak and Orca Pre-primary School is a licensed facility offering bioregional programming for 3 to 5 year olds. Founded on fifteen years of experience in quality instruction for children, the pre-primary offers an early learning curriculum based on child-directed learning, individual awareness and choice. Natural learning is supported through investigation, experience and play. Relationships take priority for teaching time, where a focus on needs helps create harmony and self awareness. Regular out trips connect youngsters with the natural world, while at the school they enjoy experiences in science, math, language and more. Located in the IslandParent.ca

Give your child a head start. Anxiety? ADD/ADHD? Trouble focusing? You should know: • Neurofeedback is rated the Level 1 Best Support intervention for ADD/ADHD by the American Academy of Pediatrics. • Neurofeedback can help strengthen and forge new neural pathways resulting in reduced anxiety and improved focus. Call today 250-590-5090 for a consult with a Valentus Psychologist.

www.ValentusClinics.com VANCOUVER I VICTORIA I CALGARY

What did Socrates, Einstein, Mozart and da Vinci have in common? Answer: They all had tutors.

“Flex” program offers more flexible classes from 9am to 1pm Monday through Friday. The “Flex” program also includes our “Forest Discovery Days” on Monday and Friday, offering an outdoor learning experience in the park and woods nearby. Call 250360-1148 for information and registration.

Smart

Tutor

Referrals

250-544-1588

SmartTutorReferrals.com

Professional, 1-on-1, in-home tutoring in Victoria since 2002.

Spaces Available Childcare Ages 1–5

Island Kids Academy Equimalt 250-381-2929 ext 21 or 25

Island Kids Academy View Royal 250-727-2929

www.islandkids.ca islandkidsesquimalt@shawbiz.ca

Where Children Are Honoured for Who They Are August 2015 25

Hillside area, the program is run by an ECE and certified teachers. Info: oakandorca.ca; 250-383-6609.

New Kids Dentist

Dr. Anita Gadzinska-Myers

is a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry and has a Fellowship in Special Needs Dentistry for children • Accepting new patients now (infants to teenagers) • Referral not needed • Member of Cleft Lip and Palate Team

Special Services:

short wait list • intravenous sedation • hospital dentistry • nitrous oxide

Victoria Pediatric Dental Centre 206–1830 Oak Bay Ave

www.victoriapediatricdentalcentre.ca

250-383-2133

It’s swimming combined with music, dance, gymnastics & drama AND it’s a TEAM sport!!

FALL REGISTRATION on NOW! Synchro Kids ages 4-6 Synchro School ages 7-11 Saanich Commonwealth Place Bonus if you register before Sep 1!

For info and to register email: jennifervicsynchro@gmail.com om 26 Island Parent Magazine

Strawberry Vale Preschool. Do you want an opportunity to be actively involved with your preschooler’s education? Would you like to participate in the classroom where you can watch your preschooler’s confidence grow? Are you looking for friendships with families that have similar educational values? Join our caring community of parents and passionate educators who encourage your child to explore their own interests and try new experiences. Strawberry Vale’s program fosters your child’s independence, creativity, and curiosity. Seasonal themes engage your child and encourage a passion for nature and an understanding of the world. Participating in a cooperative preschool provides a foundation for successful lifelong learning. strawberryvalepreschool.org. Vancouver Island Co-operative Preschool Association (VICPA). Co-operative preschools are special and unique. Early childhood educators and parents work together on education programs that emphasize “Learning Through Play”. Visit one of our 14 cooperative preschools located on Vancouver Island and the surrounding Islands to discover how these schools strengthen families and communities. Co-operative preschools provide educational and creative play activities in half-day programs to children aged 3-5 plus orientation and education programs to parents/caregivers. Classes are small, warm, and nurturing, providing children with considerable individual attention and time to “Learn Through Play”. Members of VICPA are listed at vicpa.org. Victoria Montessori. Twenty-first century children are growing up in a crazy-paced world, with the stresses of busy home life and over-stimulating media and toys. At Victoria Montessori, we create harmony and the right balance. We try to cultivate self-awareness, confidence, and calm amid the “moving sea of chaos.” At Victoria Montessori, we build a strong foundation and strong values. The directoresses model respect for the environment, respect for others, and respect for oneself. These values build confidence, self-esteem and selfexpression, vital for emotional and mental health. 250-380-0534. victoriamontessori@ shaw.ca.

kidsinvictoria.com

The Victoria Nature School is a non-profit organization started by families and educators who wanted a school that provided unstructured, child-directed play opportunities in a forest setting. The Victoria Nature School is run by experienced ECE and trained forest school practitioners. A typical day consists of songs, beach or forest exploration, story telling, unstructured play, quiet time, gratitudes and reflections. Children attending the VNS have the opportunity experience a deep sense of community and connection with the natural environment. victorianatureschool.com. West Shore Parks and Recreation’s licensed preschool offers a variety of programs including Kinderprep, Nature Preschool, and multi-age classes with both small and larger class sizes. With flexible registration options and a play-based curriculum, our program is designed to help little ones grow and learn in a fun and safe environment. Visit westshorerecreation.ca or call 250-4788384 for information. Follow us on Facebook; facebook.com/westshorerecreation.

Schools

ArtsCalibre Academy. Imagine a school… where music, dance, theatre and visual arts are infused into all aspects of an outstanding curriculum. The result is a learning process in which students experience, explore, exercise, and express themselves in order to truly understand and remember. Our structured but dynamic program consistently exceeds the B.C. Ministry of Education’s Curricula for Kindergarten to Grade 5. Dedicated, highly qualified educators, excellent facilities and central Oak Bay location, which is also home to our Junior Kindergarten. We also offer Preschool for 3 and 4 year olds within the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre’s beautiful new Fine Arts wing. ArtsCalibre. ca. 250-382-3533. Christ Church Cathedral School (CCCS) is Victoria’s Anglican JK, Elementary and Middle School, welcoming students from all backgrounds. CCCS offers before and after school care, a wide range of extra-curricular

IslandParent.ca

programs, small class sizes, high calibre learning in math, science and technology, a strong focus on fine arts and progressive athletics programs. Weekly chapel service and seasonal performances are held in beautiful Christ Church Cathedral just a few steps away. Through focused encouragement of personal responsibility, self-discipline, community service and engaging learning opportunities with dedicated teachers, CCCS helps children realize their true potential. cathedralschool.ca. 250-383-5125.

ment, and to establishing rapport with each and every child. Our child-centred program promotes a sense of well-being, confidence and independence. Individual and group activities foster growth in all areas of development. We are proud to have children in our school from a variety of economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds, as well as a whole host of abilities and special needs. Our rural location at 5575 West Saanich Rd is beautiful. For more information call 250592-4411 or visit islandmontessori.com.

The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF), also known as BC’s Francophone School District (SD No 93) was created in 1995 to serve Francophones across the province. Since its creation in 1995, the CSF offers educational programs and services geared towards the growth and cultural promotion of the province’s Francophone learners. An active partner in the development of British Columbia’s francophone community, the Conseil has presently in its system, and distributed across 78 communities in the province, over 5,300 students and 38 schools, which includes 21 homogeneous schools. For more information visit csf.bc.ca. 604-214-2600 or 1-888-715-2200, info@csf.bc.ca.

Lakeview Christian School (LCS) has successfully provided quality Christian education for over 25 years. Located across from beautiful Elk Lake, LCS gives students proximity to the wonders of the natural world. Our school is open to all families who desire a Christian education and safe environment for their children. LCS offers daycare, preschool, kindergarten and grades 1 to 9 in multi-aged classrooms. Our LCS Family is growing in: Faith, Service and Wisdom. At LCS we desire to help students on their learning journey—to discover who they are and how they can change the world. Come grow with us at LCS!

Discovery School. Is your child bright, yet struggling in school? Would your child work best in a classroom of 10 students with a 1:3 staff to student support ratio? Perhaps your child requires an individual program with adaptations/modifications. Are you looking for a quiet, nurturing school with a Christian atmosphere that encourages academic development, perseverance, responsibility, and organizational skills? Look no further! For thirty-nine years Discovery School has been providing these services for struggling students. Discovery follows B.C. curriculum, is Ministry inspected, and is providing this special education from the early grades to graduation. More information found at discoveryschool.ca or call 250-595-7765. Island Montessori House School. Dr. Maria Montessori developed the Montessori method of education with the understanding that each child has a natural desire and ability to learn. The staff of Island Montessori is committed to providing a rich, safe, developmentally appropriate and caring environ-

Lighthouse Christian Academy is an independent school from grades K-12. The teachers, students and parents work together to create a safe and inclusive environment for all. This allows the freedom to be comfortable with who we are, both in the classroom as well as on the playground. A safe environment means that students are able to enjoy the reason we are here…to learn. If you would like to see your child thrive in a school where teachers believe in striving to help students reach their full potential, then we would encourage you to visit lighthouse christianacademy.com to learn more. Get school credit for what you are interested in! At Hands-On HomeLearning High School, we value how each individual’s interests can be applied to the BC high school curriculum—for credit. This new home-learning option is an extension of Oak and Orca High School’s inquiry-based program, where students and teachers work to co-create a program unique to each indi-

August 2015 27

vidual. Bring your passions and together we will create a high school experience where you can explore what you love. Grade 10 starts September 2015. Pacific Christian School nurtures students in Christlike living, critical thinking and joyful service to be faithful citizens in God’s world. PCS is a pre-school through grade 12 Class 1 independent school serving the Greater Victoria region. With over 900 students, it is a dynamic learning community exploring the full provincial curriculum from a Christian worldview perspective. Students regularly excel in arts, athletics and academics. You are invited to come by our Agnes Street campus and see what it’s all about. PacificChristian.ca. 250-479-4532. At St. Margaret’s School, we seek to empower each girl to set her own course and shape her own dreams. Tucked away on 22-acres in the Blenkinsop Valley in Victoria, SMS is an all-girls school where your daughter can be herself, build confidence, and be a leader. SMS teachers and our unique environment

offer rich resources and challenges to support each girl’s development as a student, an individual and a citizen of the world. Our rigorous academic program emphasizes STEM learning and leadership at all levels from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, and is supported by experiential programs designed to engage students in learning beyond the classroom. Enjoy the benefits of a small school from high participation in athletics, to extensive extracurricular opportunities, to our tight-knit community where each girl is known and driven to achieve. stmarg.ca or 250-479-7171. Valentus Clinics uses advanced neurofeedback technology to help the brain bring itself into a more balanced state. Our brain programs have shown positive results for clients with: ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, focus and attention problems, depression, learning challenges, concussion and other brain injuries. Neurofeedback is non-invasive and drug-free. It uses EEG equipment, along with visual and/or auditory cues to balance brainwave activity. Our clients report considerable improvements in emotional, psychological and behavioural conditions. Call 250-590-5090 to book a

consultation with a Valentus psychologist. Because a balanced brain is the start of a better life. Victoria School for Ideal Education. If you’ve felt that something was missing from your child’s education, you were probably right. This one-of-a-kind little school offers holistic education from Kindergarten to Grade 8 in a nurturing, stress-free environment. The twice daily children’s meditation, coupled with the study of nature and the laws that keep us in tune with the natural world, have attracted families from all over the Victoria area. Within this framework we cover the BC curriculum and all our teachers are BC certified. The Oct. 2013 Ministry of Education inspection report states, “The depth of care for each student, the level of personal support provided, and the degree of empathy displayed, all contribute to a family-like atmosphere and encouraging school setting for students.” Phone 250-383-6654 to arrange a tour. Website: vsie.ca.

Start your journey here Come do high school at university! The High School at VIU is Nanaimo’s best kept secret! A BC certified independent high school uniquely situated on a university campus. The High School at VIU provides an opportunity to do your high school studies in a university setting and have access to all university resources and amenities. Experience small class sizes, individual attention, and opportunities for intercultural understanding. Accepting students for grades 10 to 12 from the local area. #startyourjourneyhere

250.740.6317 highschool@viu.ca viu.ca/highschool 28 Island Parent Magazine

kidsinvictoria.com

West-Mont Montessori School offers innovative, personalized Montessori instruction in a beautiful natural environment for students in Preschool to Grade 8. The Montessori program adapts to students from Preschool to Middle School, providing a balanced approach to incorporating Nature, French, Music, and Art into a highly enriched curriculum. For details about our programs visit west-mont.ca, or stop by our campus in Metchosin and feel what it is like to be part of a community devoted to the development of the whole child. Open House every Thursday 9-11am. West-Mont is located at 4075 Metchosin Road, Victoria, BC. 250-474-2626.

Distributed Learning CHEKABC is a Christian Distributed Learning School that is fully accredited to work with students in Grades K-12. We serve families who choose to teach their children at home and offer a variety of learning options for students. Our Victoria Region offers a

weekly Learning Centre to assist students in Grades 1-7. The Learning Centre is open 3 mornings a week from 9am-noon and provides community classes that are academic based with a focus on Math and Language Arts. Students also enjoy a community gym time at the end of every morning. For more information contact us at: chekabc.ca or 1-888-352-2435. Hands-On Home-Learning For a Sustainable World, offered by Oak and Orca School, provides K-9 distributed learning opportunities, and begins the first phase of offering choice-based high-school in Sept. 2015. This certified program weaves local and global perspectives into a supportive foundation to help a student discover her/ his own learning path while satisfying the BC curriculum. Through regular communication certified teachers support families in creating their own educational programming. Hands-on, youth-centered activities are available to supplement and enrich what you naturally offer and to cover the basics. Parents are provided with the guidance

they need, without pressure. The program includes an expense budget to help meet educational needs. Info: oakandorca.ca; 250-383-6619 or 1-888-383-6619. Navigate offers fully funded K-12 online learning programs for students on Vancouver Island and throughout BC. (Tuition fees apply for graduated adults.) Self-paced learning at home is a great option for students who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t prefer a brick and mortar school environment, have busy schedules, or want to continue attending their current high school with more options for course selection. Choose from 30 international language courses through Rosetta Stone Foundations Gold. All Navigate courses are instructed by certified BC teachers. For more information, please visit navigatenides.com. SelfDesign, a distributed learning school, offers programs and special education services with personalized education and support for every learner and family. From K-12, certified teachers are paired with each learner to guide the creation of personalized learning

Nature Preschool: Children learning in nature, growing in knowledge and having a whole lot of fun!

Call us today to discuss how Nature Preschool will benefit your child! Visit www.cridge.org/childcare/preschool or call 250 220 8573 for more information Serving Greater Victoria since 1873 ...because love is the bottom line. IslandParent.ca

August 2015â&#x20AC;&#x192; 29

plans and to tailor an approach unique to the aspirations, needs, and learning style of the child. SelfDesign provides online, and some in-person, student-centered programs and highly customizable courses with weekly guidance to nurture a lifelong love of learning and to honour the unique passion of every learner. selfdesign.org. WestShore Centre for Learning and Training is a School District #62 school of choice providing innovative educational opportunities for youth and adults in the Western Communities. We offer programing that strives to meet the diversity of needs required in our fast-paced and technology-driven workplace and world. WestShore Continuing Education provides training and certification for a variety of employment sectors as well as fast track programs designed to complete the Dogwood Adult Graduation program. WestShore’s Distributed Learning division (JDFDL) provides on-line and paper-based courses as self-paced options to students. WestShore’s Alternative Education School (Byte) provides dynamic cohort programs for youth focusing on strength-based and co-operative learning opportunities.

Mid-Island Schools/ Education Services

Join a Champion – Gorge Soccer Association Registration is currently open for the fall 2015/16 season Youth Soccer: 4 – 17 years old Senior Soccer: 17 – 70+ years old

Questions? info@gorgesoccer.ca Online Registration Available at:

www.gorgesoccer.ca 30 Island Parent Magazine

We are a community based soccer club providing all of its members with development, fun and a lifelong passion for the beautiful game. We pride ourselves on being the oldest full service soccer club in Victoria, offering winter league play, free academies, spring league, winter futsal, and more! We are innovative, player-centric, responsive to our members’ needs, community-minded, and accepting of all players. A player will never be turned away due to lack of fees (external and internal grants available).

In-person Registration: Saturdays 9am–11am, Hampton Park Clubhouse (258 Hampton Road)

At Evergreen Independent School in Cobble Hill, we value academic excellence and individual development in an educational community that nurtures the joy of learning. We offer small class sizes, vibrant multiage groupings, and individualized learning plans. Children develop in unique ways, at different rates, and in different directions, and that development is best accomplished in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. We strive to instruct children in ways that best fit their unique learning styles. Our graduates are self-motivated, curious people engaged in their community and in life-long learning. Evergreen welcomes students from Junior Kindergarten through grade 8.

Start your journey here. Come do high school at university! The High School at VIU is Nanaimo’s best kept secret! A BC certified kidsinvictoria.com

independent high school uniquely situated on a university campus. The High School at VIU provides an opportunity to do your high school studies in a university setting and have access to all university resources and amenities. Experience small class sizes, individual attention, and opportunities for intercultural understanding. Accepting students for grades 10 to 12 from the local area. #startyourjourneyhere. 250-740-6317. highschool@viu.ca. viu.ca/highschool. Kool & Child is your complete resource store for educational toys and games. We carry a wide assortment of educational games, homework helper workbooks, brain teasers, science kits, jewelry, and much more! Teachers love our Kool School House full of everything they need to outfit their classroom in style, including an amazing selection of stickers. For homeschooling families, we carry grade appropriate resources for the elementary level. Preview some of our products online at koolandchild.com or come in and explore our store for a much greater selection. We are always happy to answer questions, please call us at 1-888-390-1775. Navigate offers international award winning blended learning programs at our Comox Valley location that allow students K-12 to foster relationships with their teachers and the broader community while offering the flexibility of learning from home. In addition, Navigate serves more than 4,000 learners throughout BC in our K-9, high school, and adult learning programs. A Navigate education includes a customized student learning plan that meets all provincially mandated learning outcomes and is instructed by BC certified teachers. For more information about the Fine Arts, Robotics, or iClass options available at our school, please visit navigatenides.com.

creative problem solving, and active community involvement. To hear what parents and students are saying about our school, view our school video at queenofangels.ca. Please call to take a tour and see our school in action 250-746-5919

Learning

Through Play

At Queen Margaret’s School we offer a university-preparatory education to 325 students in our co-ed Early Childhood Education Program, co-ed Junior School (Kindergarten-Grade 8) and all girls Senior School (9-12, boarding and day). Our picturesque 27-acre campus in the Cowichan Valley is also home to Canada’s only fullyintegrated optional on-campus equestrian program. The equestrian centre provides training opportunities for recreational riders and elite equestrian athletes alike. The school’s rigorous academic program and extensive extra-curricular offerings provide opportunities for achievement and personal growth... empowering students to think critically, lead confidently and live honourably. Discover at QMS. Call 250-746-4185 or visit qms.bc.ca.

St. Joseph’s

Elementary School - CHEMAINUS

Nestled in a wooded landscape St. Joseph’s School in Chemainus offers faith-enriched education to children from preschool through Grade 7. Skilled educators provide a safe and caring environment, and nourish each student academically, physically, spiritually and artistically. St. Joseph’s offers music and band programming, specialist teachers for PE, and K-7 French instruction. On-site preschool and before and after school care is available. St. Joseph’s is an inclusive school, welcoming students of all backgrounds and abilities. Affordable tuition. Financial assistance is available. Please call 250-246-3191 for more information or to arrange for a tour.

Discover our parent-operated cooperative preschools where children (and their parents) learn through play. Victoria Cordova Bay Preschool

cordovabaypreschool.org

Countryside Preschool

countrysidepreschool.org goldstreampreschool.com

Goldstream Preschool Gonzales Preschool

gonzalescooppreschool.com lakehillpreschool.org

Lakehill Preschool Lambrick Park Preschool

lambrickparkpreschool.ca

Lansdowne Preschool

lansdownepreschool.com oakbaypreschool.com

Oak Bay Preschool

Call (250) 655-3333

Sidney Preschool Strawberry Vale Preschool

Queen of Angels Catholic School helps prepare our students as productive and contributing members of society. We do this by witnessing the following essential practices in a safe and loving environment: gospel truths, Catholic beliefs and traditions, lifelong learning, whole person growth, academic excellence,

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Sunrise Waldorf School. At SWS, we develop analytical, imaginative minds capable of prolific, life-changing ideas. Our students will shape the future, by redefining society’s concepts of intelligence, acumen and originality. For 90+ years Waldorf schools have created an educational experience that inspires students to evolve into confident, creative thinkers who are socially responsible and environmentally conscious. SWS is nestled on 7 idyllic acres in the Cowichan

strawberryvalepreschool.org

Outside Victoria Errington Preschool erringtonhall.bc.ca/preschol.htm Gabriola Island Preschool www.gabriolapreschool.org Call (250) 753-1939

Nanaimo Preschool Salt Spring Island Preschool

saltspringcooppreschool.com

www.vicpa.org August 2015 31

Valley. A beautiful setting where your children will be allowed to develop naturally, supported by the wisdom of experienced teachers who are truly interested. Visit us to learn why 94% of North American Waldorf graduates attend university and 50% attain a master’s or PhD. Parents from over 2500 schools and kindergartens in 70 countries have made Waldorf the world’s fastest growing educational movement. Parent and child programs, Pre-K to Grade 8. 250-743-7253. sunrisewaldorfschool.org.

Educational Services & Programs The Math Teacher, Angela Voll, offers an engaging game-based approach to learning. She provides personalized math education and homework support for students in elementary arithmetic up to college-level calculus. Customized programs can meet home-schooled student’s needs and interests. Enrichment programs include exploring classical geometry, Islamic design, computer programming, and 3D modelling. Contact Angela at 250-732-1597 or angela@theMathTeacher.xyz to discuss options for private lessons or visit www.theMathTeacher.xyz for information about upcoming programs. Monarch House always here and making it easier. Monarch House offers an interdisciplinary approach to treating individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, from infancy to adulthood. Providing individual and group treatment, transition planning for the different life phases, and recreational drop-in programs; our coordinated care and streamlined services ensure individuals reach their full potential. All our clinicians are under one roof which means no wait lists

32 Island Parent Magazine

and faster access to services and available funding. No waiting for diagnostic assessments—Monarch House provides timely access to professionals who are qualified to diagnose ASD and other developmental disabilities. Monarch House operates two locations on Vancouver Island, including Victoria and our new Langford location. You can contact us at monarchhousevictoria@cbi.ca/monarchhouselangford@cbi.ca or 250-220-8999. Pivot Point Learning Centres Inc. Pivot Point specializes in therapeutic interventions for children, teens and adults with behavioural and emotional challenges such as ADHD, Autism, Learning Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities and other struggles that limit success at home, school or community. We provide: · Early Intervention Autism Services · School Age and Social Skills Services · Teen and Transition Planning Services · Adult and Employment Services · Counselling and Mental Health Services · Tutoring and School Services · Providing services throughout BC · CARF accredited = quality assured · Tailored to each family’s needs · Fully integrated with schools · No waitlists, and so much more To learn more, visit pivotpoint.ca, call toll free 1-866-531-4544 or scan our QR code in our ad on page 20. READ Society. Learning, skills and confidence—that’s what parents and guardians tell us the READ Society means to them and their children. Starting with a nationally recognized Level B Academic Assessment, READ teachers design individual learning plans that build on strengths and close gaps. In small classes, using a wide range of learning tools, students are inspired to

explore new ideas and “how” to learn. As READ enters in to its 40th year of experience delivering remedial learning programs, chances are that you know someone who has benefited from attending READ. Find out more about after-school learning programs at readsociety.bc.ca and see the latest activity ideas on our Facebook page: facebook.com/pages/Victoria-READSociety. 250-388-7225. Smart Tutor Referrals. Why are parents, teachers and students in neighbourhoods all over Greater Victoria choosing Smart Tutor Referrals? It’s because we’re innovating an approach to learning that’s both traditional and new. We are able to have a much greater impact on students when we guide them to understand topics through examples and teaching styles geared specifically for them. We believe that students become motivated to learn when they understand the context and extensions of what they are learning. We teach less, guide more. How is that for flexibility? Smart Tutor Referrals has been supporting Victoria’s families since 2002. Please call 250-544-1588 or visit smarttutorreferrals.com to learn more. Sylvan students go forward, not back to school. Transitioning to a new grade is made easier by Sylvan’s individualized programs. As the leader in math, reading and writing instruction Sylvan can pinpoint and develop the skills your child needs for success. Staffed entirely by teachers, we know how to motivate and empower your child to confidently tackle the demands of the new academic year. We can help your child study more effectively and be better prepared when tests and quizzes come around. Sound structures need solid foundations. Let Sylvan help you build a successful school year for your child.

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Call 250-477-3212 (Victoria) or 250-5906211 (WestShore) or visit educate.com. Total Learning Services (TLS) is a unique tutoring service in Victoria. TLS is dedicated to improving quality of life through effective clinical reading programs for children, teens and adults (age of clients: 5-50). The reading process can be a frustrating struggle for my clients; most times it is affecting their daily lives. As a reading specialist, I use strategies that make the reading process fun and easy. Achievement testing is done to determine the areas of the reading process which are of the greatest concern. My programs have changed the lives of many. Pediatrician recommendation. For your free consultation, contact Brenda Osadchy, B.Ed. M.SpEd. 778-440-0997 or totallearningservices2014@gmail.com.

OTHER Keep kids learning this summer. The Royal BC Museum Learning Portal is a fresh and engaging online resource created to inspire learning and support exploration of our important collections. Curate your own learning through videos, sound, stories, guides and interactives. Follow your curiosity to learning.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca. Victoria Synchro Fall TRY SYNCHRO Registration. Synchro For FREE Contact us for next Kids ages 4-6 Wed Session ! 4-5pm, learn introducBeginner Synchro JUNE Saanichtory Synchro skills and Mini-Session s Commonwealth Place become ages 7-11 $120 more comfortEmail: Thur 4:30—6pm jennifervicsynchro@gmail.com able inTues the&&Girls water; Synchro School ages 7-11 Boys choice of Mon, Tues or Thurs evening classIt’s swimming combined music, dance, es; learn basicwith Synchro skills, earn Synchro gymnastics & drama! Canada Star Pins. All classes participate in club watershows! Saanich Commonwealth Place. Synchronized swimming is swimming combined with music, dance, gymnastics and drama and it’s a team sport! Fun, fitness, friends! Website: victoriasynchro.com. For more information and to register please email: jennifervicsynchro@gmail.com.•

Seek culture, creativity, community. Find it at the Farquhar Auditorium.

Join us for our 2015-16 Season

Peking Dreams

Featuring the National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China.

September 5 at 2:00pm

The Comic Strippers

The Kingston Trio

Male stripper parody & improv comedy show. No nudity, just extreme hilarity!

See the folk trio that launched the folk revival of the 1960s, live!

Oct. 4, 7:30pm

Nov. 14, 7:30pm

International Guitar Night

The Paperboys

Vancouver-based folk band with Celtic and world beat fusion .

Join the world’s foremost acoustic guitarists. A magical night of guitar mastery.

Feb. 13, 7:30pm

Jan. 17, 7:30pm

The Glenn Miller Orchestra

De Danann

Legendary Irish folk music featuring founding member Frankie Gavin!

The original world-famous swing/jazz big band.

Mar. 20, 7:30pm

tickets.uvic.ca

Mar. 23, 7:30pm

250-721-8480

Under an hour from Swartz Bay with direct daily ferries to Mayne Island

Island hopping packages now available 9 housekeeping cottages perfect for family getaways

250-539-2463 • 1-877-535-2424 bluevista@bluevistaresort.com • www.bluevistaresort.com IslandParent.ca

August 2015

Party Directory G Y M

FALCON

GYMNASTICS Birthday Parties

G Y M

N Celebrate your birthday with us!

Our great instructors will treat you to an action packed two hours of fun and fitness in our great facility!

A S

40 sary r Annive 2013 1973–

T I C S

• 2 large decorated birthday rooms • Free T-shirt for birthday child, invitations for up to 10 children • The ONLY Inflatable Climbing Mountain with trampoline in town • Party Time now offered for many different groups (schools, daycare centres)

Book Early: 250-479-6424

#208 – 721 Vanalman Ave

(Broadmead & Royal Oak Area)

www.falcongymnastics.com

~ Laser Tag ~ Human Hamster Balls ~ Booger Wars ~ Video Game Theatre ~ U:Launchers ~ Foam Party

S T I C S

Birthday Parties! :: Gym & Bouncy Castle, themed parties: creative kids, girl power and preschool parties from Princesses to Pirates! at Henderson Recreation Centre!

Call 250-370-7200

Pool, Skate, or Soccer parties at Oak Bay Recreation Centre!

Call 250-595-SWIM (7946)

www.recreation.oakbay.ca

We bring the Fun2U!

Birthdays, school funfairs, fundraising, festivals, teen groups, church groups, summer camps, sports teams, corporate groups

250-896-5544

Call Alicia 250-661-2219 Email games2uvictoria@gmail.com Global @ www.g2u.com Facebook @ Games2u Victoria

PAR-T-PETS are here! Adorable AND affordable. Exclusively made for Par-T-Perfect

Create and stuff a deluxe plush 8" pet to take home!

ONLY $7.95 each!

Perfect for: · Birthday parties—great add on activity · Corporate events and Holiday parties · Fundraisers · An amazing goody bag replacement · Ask about our Par-T-Pet packages and our Par-T-Box party option – shipped directly to your door!

Call Par-T-Perfect today 250-386-5867 or visit www.par-t-pets.com 34 Island Parent Magazine

You’ll Flip Over Our Birthday Parties * Greater Victoria’s newest, largest and cleanest facility with hassle free parking for you and your guests * * Large private party rooms * * Experienced Qualified Fun Coaches * * 3 Trampolines & 40ft Tumble Trac * * Awesome Foam Pit *

250-383-FLIP

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Party Directory Funtime Inflatables Vancouver Island’s #1 choice for party rentals

250-474-0597

ctoria Gymnastics

Fun Sketches Caricatures

Are you planning a birthday party? Are you looking for something exciting and new? If you are then Fun Sketches is right for you! Book Fun Sketches to make your next birthday party or summer event a time to remember with a unique keepsake to cherish for years to come.

www.funsketches.com 250-589-2607

Advertise Your Party Services in Island Parent Contact us today at 250-388-6905 or sales@islandparent.ca

Birthday Parties

We offer the largest selection of inflatables on Vancouver Island—trust your party or special event to the experts—the original bouncy castle company, serving Vancouver Island since 1990.

www.funtimeinflatables.ca

Come Fly With Us! paint your own ceramics studio

Party sizes up to 18 kids

New!

We supply table top cover, napkins, hats, streamers and balloons Optional character

Glass Fusion Birthday Parties!

Two certified instructors and a host Optional character

Create a glass sun catcher or dish!

Gymnastics games and music

Optional character

See website or phone (250)818-4543 for more details

Free t-shirt

Optional character

Hassle Free Parties

Optional character

for kids & families You provide the space and food… We’ll provide an hour of fun with puppet shows and play

250 472 3546 www.puppetbooth.homestead.com IslandParent.ca

Foam landing pit and 40' long trampoline

Optional character

Party participants can win a FREE month

Dirt Bike Birthday Parties We supply everything: Bike • Gear • Riding Lesson for ages 6yrs to adults over 30 bikes to choose from

Westshore Motocross Park No experience necessary 2207 Millstream Rd, Langford

Available Saturday & Sunday Afternoons Optional character

Corner of Store & Pembroke

www.victoriagymnastics.com

250-380-2442

250 590 8088 westshoremx.com 2207 Millstream Road Victoria, BC V9B 0J7 Tel: 250.590.8088 Cel: 250.893.9547

August 2015 35

August 2015

Generously Sponsored by and

Family Calendar For calendar updates throughout the month visit kidsinvictoria.com BC DAY Long weekend SAT 1 Bejewelled Dragons of the Pond at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist for an up-close and personal look at the amazing world of dragonflies as they zig and zag in search of their prey across the wetlands. Nets and field guides will be available. Meet at the Retriever Ponds kiosk off Beaver Lake Rd at 1pm. All ages. BC Transit #70 or #72. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks. Summer Star Parties at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. Tours of the historic Plaskett telescope, astronomy lectures and presentations, music in the dome, night sky viewing, “constellation walks”. Limited to 200 visitors for safety reasons. No parking or stopping along West Saanich Rd adjacent to the Observatory entrance. 7:30-11pm. For more info, contact president@victoria.rasc.ca. Galey Farms Corn at Galey Farms. Get lost, then find your fun in Canada’s leading 6 acre corn maze. Wind your way along the paths that lead to exciting exhibits and surprises. Climb up to the trellis to get your bearings, then down the other end to explore the fully animated Ghost Town and Haunted Mansion. 4150 Blenkinsop Rd. 250-477-5713.

a host of special guests put on a show like no other. Kids’ activities start at 1pm, music on the main stage begins at 4pm, and the Victoria Symphony takes the stage at 7:30pm. victoriasymphony.ca/splash.

TUES 4 Going Batty at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. A fun and interactive program with hands-on discovery, an outside ramble, a story and craft. 10-11:30am. Pre-registration required. Members: $12 per adult/child pair, $4/additional child; Non-members: $17/pair, $6 per additional child. To register, call 250479-0211. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. swanlake. bc.ca. Tap Tap Bang Bang at Nellie McClung Branch Library. Explore your world with stories, songs, and activities about building, and make your own paper creation. For ages 3-5. 10:30-11:30am. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875).

SUN 2

Beat the Heat at Francis/King Regional Park. Enjoy the shade of the Redleaf maples on the universally accessible Elsie King Loop trail. Join a CRD Regional parks naturalist and check out the cedar lowlands, the lush salal understory, and the cool arbutus enclaves. Strollers and wheelchairs welcome. Meet at the parking lot off Munn Rd at 1pm. All ages. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

Victoria Symphony Splash in the Inner Harbour. Music, festivities and fireworks. Be there when Tania Miller, the Victoria Symphony and

Pizza Storytime at Juan de Fuca Branch Library. Listen to mouth-watering and fun stories about pizza—then enjoy a slice of Panago Pizza! For

36 Island Parent Magazine

ages 5-8. 11:15am-noon. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Generous support provided by Panago Pizza for this program. Imagine Your Own Robot at Goudy Branch Library. Learn about the cool things robots can do, listen to stories about robots, and create your own robot collage! For ages 5-12. 1:30-2:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Animal Architecture at Oak Bay Branch Library. Did you know? Animals are nature’s architects. Investigate how animals build structures and learn why they do it with staff from Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. For ages 5-10. 2:30-3:30pm. Register at gvpl. ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Music in the Park at Rutledge Park. Music, face painting, and crafts for kids. Bring a picnic dinner, or purchase refreshments. 6-8pm. 250-475-5408.

WED 5 Paws and Tales at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. Read to a friendly dog, learn about dogs who assist people, and how to be a great dog owner with volunteers and their furry companions from the Pacific Animal Therapy Society Paws and Tales program. 10:30-11:30am. For ages 5-8. Register at gvpl. ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875). Animal Grossology at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. Are you oozing to learn about the disgusting science of grossology?

kidsinvictoria.com

Find out about slug slime, owl pellets and even the scoop on poop. Check out worms, slugs, spiders and scum as you learn about the secret world of the revolting. Activities and crafts that will gross you out. Admission by donation. Noon-3pm. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. 250-479-0211. swanlake.bc.ca. Origami Monsters Oak Bay Branch Library. Join us for monster stories and crafts. Create your own origami monster to take home using a few simple art supplies. For ages 6-9. 1:30-2:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Super Structures at Esquimalt Branch Library. Be wowed by facts about the world’s most amazing structures and create your own super structure out of everyday materials. Which structure will reign supreme? For ages 5-12. 1:30-2:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250940-GVPL (4875). Imagine Your Own Robot at Juan de Fuca Branch Library. See TUES 4 for details. For ages 5-12. 1:30-2:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Lego Balloon Car Racers at Sidney/North Saanich Branch Library. Let’s build some experimental balloon-powered Lego vehicles. Ages 5+ Everyone is welcome to watch and cheer at the final races. 1:30-2:45 with racing starting at 2:15pm. Spaces are limited; please call 250-656-0944 to register.

THUR 6 I Spy With My Little Eye at Juan de Fuca Branch Library. Enjoy puzzling stories and songs, play guessing games and create your own imaginative craft. For ages 3-5. 10:3011:30am. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940GVPL (4875) for more info. Rockin’ Robots at Nellie McClung Branch Library. Listen to stories and songs about robots and enjoy a fun paper craft. For ages 3-5. 10:30-11:30am. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Imaginary Cities at Saanich Centennial Branch Library. Use basic shapes, bright colours and a variety of materials to create your own

imaginary city or landscape with Art Gallery of Greater Victoria instructor Sandi Henrich. Supplies generously provided by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. For ages 6-9. 10:30-11:30am. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875). Snake Day at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. CRD Regional Parks has teamed up with Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary for this slithery event. Watch snake shoes, hold a snake, play a snake game and more. Drop by the tents at the main Beaver Beach any time between 11am and 2pm. All ages. 250-4783344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

FRI 7

info, contact Jack Meredith, 250-588-2525 or John Sanderson, 250-386-3364.

Water Works at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Centre. Explore a nature theme through activities, hikes, experiments and more. For children 7-10. 1-3pm. Pre-registration required. Call 250-479-0211 to register. Sanctuary members: $12; non-members: $18. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. swanlake.bc.ca.

Rascally Raccoons at Devonian Regional Park. A CRD Regional Parks naturalist will lead you on a raccoon trail for a day in the life of these little rascals. Meet at the info kiosk in the parking lot off Atkins Ave at 1pm. All ages. BC Transit #54 or #55. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

Lego at the Library at Esquimalt Branch Library. Listen to stories and have fun with the library’s Lego. Bring your own Lego for a takehome project. For ages 7-10. 1:30-2:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875).

Paddlesports for Families at Vic West Community Association. Have you ever been in a dragon boat, outrigger or sprint kayak, or wanted to try? Drop-in sessions for parents and youth aged 8-12 teach boat skills, and fun challenges for the whole family. All equipment provided. 1-4pm. $10/parent & child (additional family members $5/each). vipaddling.com.

Super Structures at Saanich Centennial Branch Library. See WED 5 for details. For ages 5-12. 1:30-2:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Creative Places at Oak Bay Branch Library. Use drawing and watercolour painting techniques to create your own imaginary city or landscape with Art Gallery of Greater Victoria instructor Sandi Henrich. Supplies generously provided by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. For ages 10-12. 2:30-3:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info.

SAT 8 Gorge Swim Fest at Banfield Park and Esquimalt Gorge Park. Fun and games for the young and young-at-heart to raise awareness about the warmth, cleanliness and accessibility of this inland waterway. Noon-4pm. For more

Build an Accordion Book at Central Branch Library. It zigs, it zags, it stands up on its own. Use a simple no-sew technique and build an accordion-style book with Heather Cosidetto. For ages 7-12. 2-3:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Lego Building Workshop at Saanich Centennial Branch Library. Learn Lego building techniques and design ideas in a fun interactive workshop using basic Lego bricks. For ages 10-12. 2-4pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Knit Wits for Teens at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. Learn the basics of knitting and create a simple neckwarmer. We supply

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August 2015 37

Attention Non-Profit Organizations Would you like your informational brochures or magazines professionally distributed to 16 high traffic areas in Greater Victoria?

the instructions, yarn and knitting needles. For ages 13-18. 3-4:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Summer Star Parties at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. See SAT 8 for details. Limited to 200 visitors for safety reasons. No parking or stopping along West Saanich Rd adjacent to the Observatory entrance. 7:3011pm. For more info, contact Sherry Buttnor president@victoria.rasc.ca.

SUN 9 Cadboro Bay Festival at Gyro Park. Handson activities, bouncy castles, pirate school, hand drumming workshops, displays, arts & crafts stations, food and fun for the entire family. Watch professional sand sculptors create a giant sand sculpture. Free. 11am-3pm. 250-475-5558.

MON 10 Paws and Tales at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. See WED 5 for details. 10:30-11:30am. For ages 5-8. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250940-GVPL (4875) for more info.

Victoria Community Information Services (VCIS), an Island Parent Group subsidiary, services these locations on a weekly basis to ensure your brochures and magazines are highly visible for pickup by walk-by traffic. Our wall-mounted distribution boards are outside partnering grocery stores and inside many recreation centres. Space is available for either brochures (approx. 4" x 9") or magazines (approx. 8.5" x 11"). For distribution rates or additional information, please contact: Mark Warner

publisher@islandparent.ca 250-388-6905

Story Buddies: Tween Volunteers at Juan de Fuca Branch Library. If you like working with children, enjoy stories, are a fluent English speaker, and want to help young children with early literacy skills, we need you! Story Buddies tween volunteers pair with young children aged 4-6 to make an original story book. The GVPL provides training and, upon completion, a letter outlining your volunteer hours. First-time volunteers, please complete the Tween Volunteer Referral Form and register for a Story Buddies Training Session. For ages 10-12. 2:15-3:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Story Buddies: Little Buddies at Juan de Fuca Branch Library. Make your own original book, even if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t read or write yet! Story Buddies pairs young children with volunteer tweens for creative writing and illustration fun. Your Big Buddy will write down your story, and then you will illustrate it together. For ages 4-6. Please notify the GVPL in advance if your child is unable to attend. 2:30-3:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875).

TUES 11 Storytime with the Snow Queen! at Juan de Fuca Branch Library. Meet the Snow Queen and Snow Princess in their royal gowns at the library. Watch the Snow Sisters from Enchanted Fables recreate their favourite Frozen fairytale, make your own royal crown to take home, and pose for a photo. For ages 5-8. 10:30-11:30am. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875). Super Spiders at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. See TUES 4 for details. 1011:30am. Pre-registration required. Members:

38â&#x20AC;&#x192; Island Parent Magazine

kidsinvictoria.com

$12 per adult/child pair, $4/additional child; Non-members: $17/pair, $6 per additional child. To register, call 250-479-0211. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. swanlake.bc.ca.

Workshops Crafty Parties Drop-In Sewing Local Design Fabrics & Notions

Pizza Storytime at Esquimalt Branch Library. See TUES 4 for details. For ages 5-8. 11:15amnoon. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940GVPL (4875) for more info. Generous support provided by Panago Pizza for this program. Connecting with Your Community Workshop at Victoria Disability Resource Centre. Come hear from guest speaker, Ocean, about her experience with MS and how disability became a new aspect of her life. Learn different ways to meet people and get connected with your community, including how to access community events and how to get involved in adaptive and inclusive sports and recreational activities. 1-3pm. 817A Fort St. Contact the VDRC at 250-595-0044 or at jessica@drcvictoria.com to RSVP. More info at drcvictoria.com. Music in the Park at Rutledge Park. See TUES 4 for details. 6-8pm. 250-477-3673.

WED 12 Busy Beavers at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Bring your young ones to the shores of Elk/Beaver Lake Retriever Ponds to see an active beaver lodge built by a family of beavers. Children will have a chance to learn more about this amazing mammal and its marvellous adaptations. Meet at the Retriever Ponds kiosk off Beaver Lake Rd at 10am. 10 and under. BC Transit #70 or #72. 250-4783344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

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Animal Architecture at Central Saanich Branch Library. See TUES 4 for details. For ages 5-10. 2:30-3:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250940-GVPL (4875) for more info.

Join Our Great Preschool Community!

www.strawberryvalepreschool.org

Offering Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Highland

2758 Peatt Road 778-265-5955 or 250-818-9225

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THUR 13 The Amazing Race at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Challenge yourself on this ‘skilltesting’ and fun jaunt through the forest. Drop by any time between 11am and 2pm and get the scoop from a CRD Regional Parks naturalist. Meet at the Beaver Lake Nature Centre off the main parking lot. All ages. BC Transit #70 or #72. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks. Science Venture: Mythbusters! at Juan de Fuca Branch Library. Use science to discover

IslandParent.ca

themakehousevic

Strawberry Vale Preschool

Three Little Gators Puppet Show at Sidney/ North Saanich Branch Library. Can three little gators outsmart Big-Bottomed Boar? Get ready for lots of giggles and rump wiggles in this puppet show based on Helen Katteman’s fractured fairytale. All ages welcome. 10:3011:15am. Please call 250-656-0944 to register. Lego at the Library at Central Branch Library. See FRI 7 for details. For ages 7-10. 1:302:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940GVPL (4875) for more info.

833 1/2 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8W 1H6

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August 2015 39

the truth behind wonders in our world from walking on eggs to walking on water. For ages 7-12. 1:30-3pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Musical Storytime for School-Aged Kids at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. Join Brenda from the Victoria Conservatory of Music to explore the fun of music-making and storytelling in an action-packed session. For ages 6-8; parents and caregivers welcome. 2:30-3:15pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250940-GVPL (4875).

FRI 14 Musical Storytime for Preschoolers at Saanich Centennial Branch Library. Join Brenda from the Victoria Conservatory of Music to explore the fun of music-making and storytelling in an action-packed session. For ages 3-5; parents and caregivers welcome. 10:30-11am. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) . Herptiles at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Centre. See FRI 7 for details. For children 7-10. 1-3pm. Pre-registration required. Call 250-479-0211 to register. Sanctuary members: $12; non-members: $18. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. swanlake.bc.ca. Voiceover and Book Narration at Central Branch Library. Join professional voiceover artist Matt Cowlrich for vocal fun. Read stories aloud to bring characters to life. Make a

recording and play it for the group (optional). For ages 10-12. 1:30-3:30pm. Register at gvpl. ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875). Electronic Clicking Bugs at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. Assemble your very own electronic clicking bug. Decorate it, then let the sumo match or fashion show begin. Inspired by Makerspace Victoria. For ages 10-12. 2:30-3:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Creatures of the Summer Night at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. Check out the nightlife of Swan Lake. Sharpen your senses to look for owls, bats and other nighttime creatures. Using a grab bag of tricks, discover how these animals are adapted to their nocturnal life. Suitable for families with children over 6 years. 8-9:30pm. $4/ members; $6/non-members. Pre-registration required. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. 250-479-0211. swanlake.bc.ca.

SAT 15 Sing-Along Music with Professor Trainboat at Juan de Fuca Branch Library. Sing, dance and laugh with Professor Trainboat’s energetic, interactive and educational music show. For young children and their families; children under 3 must be accompanied by an adult. 10:30-11:30am. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info.

Sandy Shore Explore at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist for an intertidal exploration and discover the strange and wonderful creatures that appear between the tides. Be prepared to get your feet wet (bring sandals or beach shoes). Meet on the main beach. Park in the main parking lot off Metchosin Rd and follow the 20-minute forest trail to the beach. Beach access closed from Witty Beach Rd. 10:30am-noon. All ages. BC Transit #54 or #55. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks. Build an Accordion Book at Saanich Centennial Branch Library. See SAT 8 for details. For ages 7-12. 2-3:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Children’s Book Launch at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Sheena Lott, local children’s book illustrator, presents illustrations and reading from Jessie’s Island by Sheryl McFarland. Free admission to Massey Gallery. 2-4pm. 1040 Moss St. 250-384-4171. aggv.ca. Knit Wits for Teens at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. See SAT 8 for details. For ages 13-18. 3-4:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940GVPL (4875).

SUN 16 What Have You Seine Today? at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. Join CRD Regional Parks naturalists to use a seine net and see

www.kaleidoscope.bc.ca • 250.383.8124

40 Island Parent Magazine

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what creatures live in the deeper reaches of the ocean. Be prepared to get your feet wet (bring sandals or beach shoes). Meet on the main beach. Park in the main parking lot off Metchosin Rd and follow the 20-minute forest trail to the beach. Beach access closed from Witty Beach Rd. 5+ years. BC Transit #54 or #55. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

mon 17 Lego Mindstorms Robotics at Esquimalt and Oak Bay Branch Libraries. Build a robot using Lego Technic and then program it to use its sensors and motors to navigate around the room with Victoria Robotics Club. For ages 10-12. Esquimalt: 10am-noon; Oak Bay: 2-4pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875). Assistive Technology Workshop at Silver Threads Les Passmore Centre. Come check out an Assistive Technology Trade Show, held by the Victoria Disability Resource Centre, that will feature multiple businesses and organizations from around Victoria and Vancouver who will share their products and resources. 11am-4pm. 286 Hampton Rd. 250-595-0044. Devonian Delight at Devonian Regional Park. You get it all on this guided walk—forest, stream, wetland and ocean. Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist to discover, or rediscover, this regional gem. Meet at the kiosk in the parking lot off William Head Rd at 1pm. 5+ years. BC Transit #54 or #55. 250-4783344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

TUES 18 Rockin’ Rodents at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. See TUES 4 for details. 1011:30am. Pre-registration required. Members: $12 per adult/child pair, $4/additional child; Non-members: $17/pair, $6 per additional child. To register, call 250-479-0211. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. swanlake.bc.ca. Ha-bat-itat at Francis/King Regional Park. Where do bats live? What do they eat? How can you attract these amazing animals to your neck of the woods? Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist to find out on this exploration of the weird and wonderful world of bats. Meet at the Francis/King Nature Centre off Munn Rd at 1pm. 5+ years. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks. Connecting with Your Community Workshop at Victoria Disability Resource Centre. See TUES 18 for details. 1-3pm. 817A Fort St. Contact the VDRC at 250-595-0044 or by email at jessica@drcvictoria.com to RSVP. More info at drcvictoria.com. Music in the Park at Rudd Parks. See TUES 4 for details. 6-8pm. 250-477-3673.

WED 19 Storytime with the Snow Queen! at Central Saanich Branch Library. See TUES 11 for de-

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tails. For ages 5-8. 10:30-11:30am. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875). Astounding Amphibians at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. Who breathes through their skin, swallows using their eyeballs, and hatches from gooey eggs? Discover the wonders of amphibians through games, displays and a puppet show. Admission by donation. 250-479-0211. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. swanlake.bc.ca.

THUR 20 Lego Mindstorms Robotics at Nellie McClung and Bruce Hutchison Branch Libraries. See MON 17 for details. For ages 10-12. Nellie McClung: 10am-noon; Bruce Hutchison: 2-4pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940GVPL (4875). Little Lego at the Library at Central Branch Library. Listen to stories and have fun with the library’s Lego. Bring your own Lego for a take-home project. Parents are encouraged to attend. For ages 4-6. 10:30-11:30am. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875). Blood and Guts at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. They’ve got pointy teeth and sharp claws, and they don’t eat tofu! Learn more about animals that make their living by eating meat. Cougars and owls and bears—oh my. See live raptor demonstrations. Drop in at the tents at the main Beaver Beach any time between 11am and 2pm. All ages. BC Transit #70 or #72. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks. Electronic Clicking Bugs at Oak Bay Branch Library. See FRI 14 for details. For ages 1012. 2:30-3:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info.

FRI 21 Once Upon a Time Puppet Show at Tillicum Centre. Celebrate the end of summer with a puppet show at Tillicum Centre! Join library puppeteers for fun-filled stories, songs and rhymes. Look for us adjacent to Cellicon and The Source. No registration required. For young children and their families. 11-11:30am.

Does your child have difficulty reading? • can’t read words just read earlier • letter reversal • symptoms of dyslexia • “sounds out” words but can not blend them correctly • confuses similar sounding words • avoids reading/poor speller I offer an effective program that works! Call for more information or to arrange your individualized one-on-one tutoring solution.

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VICTORIA MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL & CHILDCARE “Building a foundation for the rest of their lives”

The Best of Montessori and “Learning through Play” Combined

Earth Art at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Centre. See FRI 7 for details. For children 7-10. 1-3pm. Pre-registration required. Call 250-479-0211 to register. Sanctuary members: $12; non-members: $18. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. swanlake.bc.ca.

Extreme Whiz Bang Wrap Party at Sidney/ North Saanich Branch Library. Celebrate a summer full of reading. Join Glenn Kachmar for a spectacular science show. Expect chemical reactions, dangerous projectiles, unusual physics, a lot of laughs, and a few surprises. Summer Reading Club prize winners will be announced, and their will be cake for everyone. All ages welcome. 1:303pm. Please call 250-656-0944 to register.

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42 Island Parent Magazine

SAT 22 Paddlesports for Families at Vic West Community Association. See SAT 8 for details. Drop-in sessions for parents and youth aged 8-12. All equipment provided. 1-4pm. $10/ parent & child (additional family members $5/each). vipaddling.com. Summer Reading Club Book Parade at Central Branch Library. Bring your favourite book and carry it through an easy obstacle course in the Central Branch Courtyard. Each participant will enjoy a cupcake and fun activities. Dress up like your favourite book character to be entered into a draw for a bookstore gift certificate. For ages 12 and under. Provided in partnership with Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence and Heroes, Inc. 2-3:30pm. Register at gvpl. ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875). Knit Wits for Teens: Basic Hats at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. Take your knitting to the next level and knit a basic hat. We supply the instructions, yarn and knitting needles. For ages 13-18. 3-4:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875).

SUN 23 Family Paddling Race Day on the Gorge. Families will have an opportunity to race in several different events: parents against kids, families against families, and mixed teams with some of VI Paddling’s very own paddlers, who will have competed at the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival. No prior experience in dragon boating is required. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded. Visit the Victoria West Community Association’s website to find out how to register: victoriawest.ca/index .php/community-centre/programs/childand-youth/871-vi-paddling-family-race-day. 10am-3pm. Contact youthprograms@ vipaddling.com for more info. Fab Forts! at Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites. Victoria’s largest squirt gun battle is coming to the Fort. Come and try to Storm the Fort, then join a game of Capture the Flag or test your aim with target practice. Face painting and live music throughout the day. 11am-3:30pm. Regular admission rates. $3.90/adults; $1.90/children; $9.80/ family. 603 Fort Rodd Hill. 250-478-5849. Dragonflies at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Come eye-to-eye with a dragonfly. Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist and guest naturalists from the Royal BC Museum ‘field tripper series’ for a foray into the fields to hunt for dragonflies. Field guides and nets will be provided. There is no fee for this program, but you must pre-register as space is limited. Call 250-478-3344 by Aug 21 for registration and location details. 5+ years. crd.bc.ca/parks.

TUES 25 Amazing Raptors at Swan Lake Christmas Hill

Nature Sanctuary. See TUES 4 for details. 1011:30am. Pre-registration required. Members: $12 per adult/child pair, $4/additional child; Non-members: $17/pair, $6 per additional child. To register, call 250-479-0211. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. swanlake.bc.ca. Cougar Capers at Francis/King Regional Park. Investigate the life of a cougar on this informative walk and talk with a CRD Regional Parks naturalist. Meet at the Francis/King Nature Centre off Munn Rd at 1pm. All ages. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

WED 26 Island View Edibles at Island View Beach Regional Park. Enjoy the bounty of the gem of a park with CRD Regional Parks naturalists and First Nations guide. Sample herbal tea and native plant jellies and participate in a fun plant challenge. Guided plant walks offered hourly beginning at 11:15am. Meet at the blue tent in the grassy field before the campground off Homathko Rd. 11am-2pm drop in. All ages. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

THURS 27 ’Bear’ Necessities at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. We can co-exist with these magnificent forest dwellers. Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist to learn about the natural history of the black bear. Meet at the Witty’s Lagoon Nature Centre off Metchosin Rd at 1pm. All ages. BC Transit #54 or #55. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

FRI 28 Bountiful Berries at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist on a walk to explore for blackberries, Oregon grape berries, salal berries and more. There will also be an opportunity to taste jams made from some of these natural delights. We will look at and taste berries but will not be collecting them to take home. Meet at the Beaver Lake Nature Centre off the main parking lot at 1pm. 5+ years. BC Transit #70 or #72. 250478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks. Connecting with Your Community Workshop at Victoria Disability Resource Centre. See TUES 18 for details. 1-3pm. 817A Fort St. Contact the VDRC at 250-595-0044 or by email at jessica@drcvictoria.com to RSVP. More info at drcvictoria.com. Animal Architecture at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Centre. See FRI 7 for details. For children 7-10. 1-3pm. Pre-registration required. Call 250-479-0211 to register. Sanctuary members: $12; non-members: $18. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. swanlake.bc.ca.

SAT 29 Birds of Witty’s at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. For the novice and intermediate birder,

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join CRD Regional Parks guest naturalist Geoffrey Newell for a glimpse of some of the birds at Witty’s Lagoon in their fall migration. Bird watching is one of the fastest growing hobbies in North America. Bring binoculars if you have them. Meet at Witty’s Lagoon Nature Centre off Metchosin Rd at 9am. 9+ years. BC Transit #54 or #55. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks.

Maple Leaf School of Ballet

Vancouver Island’s Premiere Russian Ballet School

Beach Snoop at Low Tide at Coles Bay Regional Park. When the tide goes out, an exciting world comes into view. A CRD Regional Parks naturalist will help you discover the creatures that make Coles Bay their home. Be prepared to get your feet wet (bring sandals or beach shoes). Meet at info kiosk in parking lot off Inverness Rd, off Ardmore Dr at 10:30am. All ages. 250-478-3344. crd.bc.ca/parks. Knit Wits for Teens: Basic Hats at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. See SAT 22 for details. For ages 13-18. 3-4:30pm. Register at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875). Summer Star Parties at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. See SAT Aug 8 for details. Limited to 200 visitors for safety reasons. No parking or stopping along West Saanich Rd adjacent to the Observatory entrance. 7:3011pm. For more info, contact Sherry Buttnor president@victoria.rasc.ca.

Victoria & Vancouver Island 1-866-518-7287 Nanaimo 250-756-9794 Or online at: www.welcomewagon.ca

August 17th to August 28th

Other programs:

Adult Ballet Summer Classes Try it! Ballet (5 to 8 y/o)

Artistic Director David Beales Bolshoi Ballet Academy T.C.P, Society of Russian Ballet Aff., A.R.A.D

For more information and registration visit 310 Henry Street Victoria BC Canada www.mapleleafballet.ca V9A 3J2

SUN 30 Woman2Warrior 2015 at West Shore Parks and Recreation. Tackle more than a dozen obstacles designed to test strength, agility, balance and endurance, all while raising funds to send over 800 kids and young adults with disabilitites to one of three accessible Easter Seals camps in B.C. Afterwards, stop by the Finisher’s Area for some well deserved postevent fun, including food, beverages, music, massages and prizes. 9am-2pm. $35 registration fee. To register, visit woman2warrior.ca.

SENIOR LEVEL Ages 12+ Monday to Friday 9:00am-1:15pm JUNIOR LEVEL Ages 9 to 12 Monday to Friday 2:30pm-6:30pm

e m o S g rab

ONGOING BABIES, TODDLERS & PRESCHOOL

Summer Storytime at Sidney/North Saanich Branch Library. Bring your littlest ones to the library on Thursday mornings for songs, rhymes, stories and movement. Stay for a snack and some socializing afterwards. Ages 0-5. Thursdays until August 20, 10:15-11am. 250-656-0944.

CHILDREN Summer Reading Club 2015: Build It! at the Greater Victoria Public Library. Take part

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iced tea! frappes! smoothies! i

Drop-in Storytimes at the Greater Victoria Public Library. Caregivers are welcome and encouraged to participate. Storytimes are free and drop-in. Please come early to find a space. For a complete schedule of drop-in programs, visit gvpl.ca, or call the library for more info.

Serious Coﬀee locations can be found throughout Vancouver Island and in Powell River �o �nd one near �ou go to� seriouscoﬀee�co� August 2015 43

Learn to Swim...

Cowichan Aquatic Centre 2653 James Street 250.746.7665

Nanaimo's downtown destination for Children’s Toys and Books Specializing in books for babies, toddlers, easy to read and kids to 12 years! Playmobil, Brio & Thomas Trains, Folkmanis Puppets, Puzzles, Craft & Science Kits, Toys from Baby to Tween!

www.childrenstreehouse.ca 306–60 Commercial St, Nanaimo 250-714-0026 childtreehouse@hotmail.com FREE PARKING, under the convention centre. Spots #80–91 for our customers.

The 148th Annual Saanich Fair Take a Spin at the Fair Featuring Llamas & Alpacas September 5, 6 & 7 Admission $11 for Adults, $8 for Seniors/Youth FREE for Kids 6 & under Midway - Ride All Day for $40 Gates 8am - 9pm No Dogs, Drugs or Alcohol 1528 Stellys Cross Road, Saanichton, BC V8M 1S8 www.saanichfair.ca

Presented by NORTH & SOUTH SAANICH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY WESTERN CANADA’S OLDEST CONTINUOUS AGRICULTURAL FAIR

44 Island Parent Magazine

in GVPL’s Summer Reading Club. Whether you’re reading at home or on holidays, you can keep track of your reading and enjoy some incentives along the way. Staying in town? You’re invited to come for a selection of amazing library programs at branches throughout Greater Victoria. Make sure to register online for special programs and drop by your local library to pick up a self-paced reading record. For kids 12 and under. For info about the club, or to register for programs, check out gvpl.ca/src, or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Summer Reading Buddies at the Greater Victoria Public Library. Reading Buddies pairs children who need extra reading practice with teen volunteers for fun literacy-based activities. Little Buddies and Big Buddies meet for an hour daily for one week. Week-long sessions are available between July 13 and August 21 at different branch libraries throughout the summer. For children in Grades 2 to 4. Space is limited. Register online at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Summer Reading Club—Build It at Sidney/ North Saanich Branch Library. Keep reading all summer long with the Build it SRC. Kids can pick up their reading logs, record their summer reading, and earn a medal. Programs, contests, crafts and fun for children ages 0-12 years. Starts June 25th. For more info, call 250-656-0944, or email Sidney@virl.bc.ca. Summer Challenge at the Greater Victoria Public Library. Choose from 24 fabulous library-related activities that you can do whenever you like throughout the summer. Every challenge completed will earn you an entry into prize draws. Everyone welcome. Until August 27, during opening hours. Call the library, or visit gvpl.ca/summerchallenge for more info.

YOUTH Teen Volunteers Needed at the Greater Victoria Public Library. If you like working with children, enjoy reading, are a fluent English speaker and want to help emerging readers, the GVPL needs you! Volunteer for one or two hours per afternoon for one or more weeks this summer. Week-long sessions are available between July 13 and August 21 at different branch libraries throughout the summer. For ages 13-18. Register online at gvpl.ca or call 250-940-GVPL (4875) for more info. Teen Book Review Club at the Greater Victoria Public Library. All that and a bag of chips! Pick up your free book and a bag of chips at any GVPL branch. Review the book online, and return for free refills on the books all summer. Until August 27, during opening hours. For ages 13-18. Call the library, or visit gvpl.ca/ teenbook for more info. Teen Summer Challenge at Sidney/North Saanich Branch Library. Want to win an iPad Mini?

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Do you like photography? Playing games? Making your own? Express your creativity by taking on the Teen Summer Challenge. Besides the grand prize, there are $50 Chapters gift cards up for grabs. Complete tasks, earn points, do cool stuff, and increase your chances. Are you up for the challenge? Ages 13-18. 250-656-0944.

anniversary

1991 - 2015

vicshakespeare.com

July 8 August 8

FAMILIES Campfire Magic at McDonald Campground, Sidney. Join an interpreter and guest presenters for songs, stories, s’mores and more. Bring a flashlight, and a mug for hot chocolate. For families with children 12 and under. Please park at the adjacent Blue Heron Park and follow the signs to the campground. Meet at the group campfire ring. Free. Fridays 7-8pm in August. Call 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada. gc.ca/gulf for more info. Drop-in Saturdays at Sidney Spit, Sidney Island. Get away to a tropical island for the day. Something for everyone—beautiful sandy beaches, nature crafts, and nets and buckets to borrow for beach fun. For a self-guided adventure, pick up your Xplorers booklet or try geocaching. Come for the day, bring your camera and a picnic. Drop in any time, but allow one hour to complete the adventure. Free. Saturdays 11am-2pm in August. For more info, call 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada. gc.ca/gulfislands.

Kids 12 and under FREE

Music,Food Shakespeare

ROMEO & JULIET Mon, Wed, Fri

A MIDSUMMER

NIGHT’S

DREAM Tues, Thurs, Sat

Outdoor theatre on the lovely grounds of Camosun College Lansdowne. Gates open at 7:00pm. Showtime 7:30 pm

TICKETS: 250-590-6291 or TICKETROCKET.CO

Thanks to our funders/sponsors: CUPE 2081, Level Ground Trading, CRD Capital Regional District Arts Development, Canadian Actors’Equity Association, David Bukach Photography, Dine In Victoria, Vancity, The Province of British Columbia, Camosun College Student Society, Croy & Co. Stage Lighting Ltd., Camosun College Faculty Association

Brentwood Bay and Tod Inlet Boat Tours from Butchart Gardens. Enjoy a 45-minute natural adventure exploring the history and wildlife of Tod Inlet and the local waters of Brentwood Bay. Boats depart from the dock every half hour starting at 11am daily (11:30am on Fireworks Saturdays). Admission to Butchart Gardens required. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. butchartgardens.com. Young Parent Weekly Drop-In at the YM/ YWCA. The Y Young Moms Program hosts a free breakfast and drop-in for young parents in the community. Come enjoy a hot meal, socialize with other young parents, enjoy a kids’ craft, let your little one explore the fully equipped playroom, or have a look in the ‘free store’ for gently used children’s items and household supplies. 10am-noon. 250-382-1004. Recyclistas Bicycle Repair Classes at Recyclistas Bike Shop. Affordable classes twice weekly. Learn how to safely and effectively fix, maintain and rebuild bicycles. Thursdays 4-7pm, and Saturdays 1-4pm. $25/adults; $13/ youth 10-18. Pre-register by calling 250-4188867. recyclistas.ca. Victoria: A Jewish Legacy at Congregation Emanuel. Explore Canada’s oldest Synagogue in continuous use. Learn about this structure’s vibrant history. Thursdays 1pm in August. $10/ adults; children 12 and under free. 1461 Blanshard St. congregationemanuel.ca/tours.html.

IslandParent.ca

Currently Accepting Applications for Kindergarten - Grade 9 Please call to schedule a tour of our school

250-746-5919

To hear what students and parents are saying about Queen of Angels, view our school video at www.queenofangels.ca 2085 Maple Bay Rd, Duncan, BC, Canada V9L 5L9 email: qa@cisdv.bc.ca

August 2015 45

Around the Island

Visit IslandParent.ca for these and other events and resources for families from Cowichan Valley north to Campbell River and west to Tofino SAT 1 Therapeutic Gardening for Everyone at Cowichan Lake Community Garden. Explore some of the motivation behind the creation of Cowichan Lake Community Garden, as gardening has proven to have a huge array of health benefits. Find out how therapeutic gardening can specifically improve our physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual selves. 9-11am. 250-749-4296. Super Saturdays at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Drop-in art making program. All materials provided. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 1-3pm. Admission by donation. 250-287-2261. crartgallery.ca.

SAT 8 & SUN 9 Salt Spring Garlic and Music Festival at Paradise Farm. An international group of performers joins forces with top-notch local talent. Cooking demos, garlic tasting, and farm vendors. Sat: 10:30am-8pm; Sun: 10:30am-7pm.

Reliable

$50/weekend pass; $30/day pass. Proceeds go towards strengthening the vibrancy of the local music scene. 255 Musgrave, Salt Spring Island. saltspringgarlicfestival.com.

SUN 9 Learn to Fish at Brannen Lake Dock. Learn about fish identification, conservation, handling, tackle and rod rigging. All equipment provided, and program runs rain or shine. All children must be accompanied by an adult. For children 5 to 15 years old. 1-3pm. Free. 250-756-5200.

FRI 14 Hawaiian Holidaze at Westwood Lake Park, Nanaimo. Nanaimo’s very own tropical holiday themed party. 1-3pm.

SAT 15 Edible Garden Plant Identification at Cowichan Lake Community Garden. Discover

the amazing world of plants while learning how to identify species, all while touring the garden. 9-11am. 250-749-4296. Super Saturdays at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Drop-in art making program. All materials provided. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 1-3pm. Admission by donation. 250-287-2261. cratrgallery.ca.

SUN 16 Tofino Lantern Festival at Tofino Botanical Gardens. Children’s lantern parade, live music and DJs, artistic dance performances, laser light show, and fire spinning. 7-10:30pm. By donation. 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy.

WED 19 Sno Cone Swim at Ravensong Aquatic Centre. Join us as we turn up the tunes and turn on the sno cone machine for you to taste your favourite treat. Everyone welcome. 6:30-8pm. Phone RDN, Recreation and Parks 250-7525014 or visit rdn.bc.ca/recreation.

SAT 29 Super Saturdays at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Drop-in art making program. All materials provided. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 1-3pm. Admission by donation. 250-287-2261. cracrtgallery.ca.

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ONGOING PRESCHOOL Mornings with LaFF at the Aggie. Staff and participants create play-based learning stations to explore and enjoy. Bring food to share & make a healthy snack together while making new friends. Monday to Friday, 9:30am-noon. $2 suggested donation per family. familyandfriends.ca. Family Storytime at Cowichan Library, Duncan. Bring the whole family for stories, songs, rhymes and fun. For ages 0-5. Tuesdays 10:3011:30am. 2687 James St. krumohr@virl.bc.ca.

CHILDREN Summer Swims at Bowen Park Kin Outdoor Pool, Nanaimo. Come swim in the heated pool. 1-3pm every day until September 4. $3. 250-753-8176. KinPool.ca. Waterparks in Nanaimo. Open to the public 9am-8pm June to September. Departure Bay Centennial Park, Deverill Square Park, Harewood Centennial Park, Mansfield Park. All children should use parks under adult supervision. Hours subject to change. Free. Playground Programs in Nanaimo. Drop in for free family fun. Monday and Tuesday, July 6-August 25, 10am-3pm at Mansfield Park, Carmanah Park, and Fairview Community School. Thursday and Friday, July 9-August 28, 10am-3pm at Rockridge Park, Country Hills Park, and Mansfield Park. For children 5 to 12 years old. 250-756-5200.

YOUTH Youth Drop-in in Nanaimo. The ultimate place to be. This is a supervised space for youth 12 to 17 to hang out and chill. Regular gymnasium activities and more. Program is free, but please register using barcode 134870. 7-9pm until May 27. Monday: Nanaimo District Secondary School; Wednesday: John Barsby Community School.

FAMILY Geocaching on Sidney, Pender, Saturna, and Vancouver Island. Embark on a self-guided adventure to experience the park’s cultural and natural hotspots. Choose from a familyfriendly treasure hunt or a more strenuous route. Each visitor to complete a route receives a limited edition geocoin. Free. Until September 30th. For more info, call 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada.gc.ca/gulf. Family Fun Nights in the Park in Nanaimo. Enjoy games, music, crafts, and other activities with your family. Wednesdays 3-8pm at Mansfield Park, Rock Ridge Park, and Fairview Community School.

Beat the Heat Skate at Oceanside Arena, Parksville. Beat the heat this summer and go for a refreshing skate. Wednesdays until August 19. Everyone welcome. 6:45-8:15pm. 250-752-5014. rdn.bc.ca/recreation. Sunset Wildlife Watch at East Point, Saturna Island. Discover the wildlife of the Salish Sea and relax in the peaceful East Point sunset. Dress warmly and bring blankets, chairs and flashlights. Enjoy the talents of island musicians and storytellers. Meet out at the point (5 minute walk). Fridays 8-9pm in August. Free. For more info 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada.gc.ca/gulf.

Is Your Will Up To Date? Services provided for your family:

Orca News at East Point, Saturna Island. A short, engaging update on the endangered southern resident killer whales. East Point is a prime spot for land-based whale watching. Bring a blanket or a chair. Meet out at the point (5 minute walk). Saturdays 2-2:30pm in August. For more info, call 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada.gc.ca/gulfislands.

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Family Sundays at Winter Cove, Saturna Island. Choose from two self-guided GPS Adventures: Nature Photographers or, new this summer, Nature Camera Pros. We supply the GPS devices. You bring cameras and a picnic. Pick up your Explorers booklet. Do a nature craft. Something for everyone. Drop in any time between 11am and 1pm, but allow one hour to complete an adventure. Free. For more info, call 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada.gc.ca/gulf.

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Raptor Presentations at North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre A Wildlife Experience for the Whole Family! Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday throughout the month of July NIWRA will provide free bird demonstrations at 1:30pm. Come join in and learn more about the wildlife around you. For information, visit niwra.org. Our Sustainable Forests at BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan. Through this exhibit, the BC Forest Discovery Centre strives to help visitors become more knowledgeable about our province’s sustainable forest management and how their actions affect it. The BCFDC fosters greater awareness of the culture of sustainability that exists within our forests today. While enjoying this exhibit, the entire museum is open for your discovery. Ride the train and explore the 100 acres. For information, visit bcforestmuseum.com. Quality Foods Canadian Open Sandcastle Building Competition & Exhibition in Parksville. This world-class event for Master Sand Sculptors and is an official qualifying event for the World Championship of Sand Sculpting. Check out their masterpieces at Parksville Community Park from 9am-9pm until August 16.• .com

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August 2015 47

Lessons T

Janine Fernandes-Hayden

Old

here are certain lessons in life that only a grandparent can teach: dessert can be eaten right before dinner, candy makes for a great any-time-ofday snack, ice-cream legitimately falls into the milk products food group, beds were primarily made for jumping on, and the lesson that subjugates all others: “Don’t tell your parents!”

It appears that the strict rules held a few decades ago and seemingly etched into stone tablets, have weathered down and eroded over time. Consequently, my husband and I are left as the antithetical parents relentlessly chiseling away. Needless to say, our relationship with our parents as grandparents is a work in progress, but would I ever have it any other way? Never. Because while Granny, Granddad, Nana and Papa often steal the show with lavish and excessive presents, beneath all the trimmings and fine wrapping paper lies the precious and powerful gift of grandparenting.

The importance of intergenerational connections 48 Island Parent Magazine

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My children are blessed with one set of grandparents that lives “five minutes close” and another set a short plane ride away. While I was growing up, my grandparents on my mother’s side lived in India, 12,000 kilometres away. When I was 28 years old, I took the trip overseas on my own to visit my 86-year-old grandmother, by then a widow, who spoke minimal English. It was only the second time in my life that I had met her. I remember the day that we parted, after a month of time spent together, fighting the crowds, the heat, and the smells of the small rural Indian airport. We struggled to grab a hold of one another for a last goodbye—and it would be our last. As I hugged this tiny and frail woman, my tears turned into sobs. How could I feel so deeply for someone that I barely knew?

The challenge is that the structure of the family and “the village” has changed, making it harder for grandparents to play the same roles that they once did.

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Island Parent is looking for articles for upcoming issues. Some of our best content comes from people just like you—Vancouver Island parents who are passionate about their families and are dealing with the day to day issues of raising children in our community. Share your experiences, your thoughts on a particular issue, your ideas on places to see or projects to do—anything related to parenting. Check our Writer’s Guidelines at www.islandparent.ca for specific information on submissions. We’d love to hear from you. Please email submissions to editor@islandparent.ca.

Roald Dahl

By Dramatized by Richard R. George

Illustration by Quentin Blake

Given that the connection between my grandmother and I was never about treats and spoils, I am left convinced that there must have been more to it, something deeply embedded. This is something that Aboriginal cultures have always believed. Grandparents are important on so many levels. An organization called the Search Institute has done years of research into what they call “developmental assets.” Developmental assets are those factors that help children to thrive and become less likely to engage in high-risk behaviours. Forty assets have been identified and of these, meaningful, sustained and enduring relationships across generations has been found to be a significant protective factor for children. It is no wonder that we have a National Grandparents Day in Canada, moved by the House of Commons in 1995, stating: “That, in the opinion of this House, the government should consider designating the second Sunday in September of each year as Grandparents Day in order to acknowledge their importance to the structure of the family in the nurturing, upbringing and education of children.”

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The challenge is that the structure of the family and “the village” has changed, making it harder for grandparents to play the same roles that they once did. A hundred years ago, my maternal great grandmother lived with her daughter in a village called Cortalim in Goa, one of the smallest states of India. My great grandmother’s youngest sister lived 90 metres away with her bachelor son, her married daughter and her daughter’s children. My great grandmother’s eldest sister lived alone about 180 metres away. The widow of my great grandmother’s only brother lived at the other end of the village. To this day, their village is still primarily composed of family members and every elderly member of the village owns the prefix “grand” in some way. Today’s picture is very different for most families. Research by the Vanier Institute for the Family, “Contemporary Family Trends: Grandparenthood in Canada,” paints a thought-provoking picture of the changing trends. Families are more mobile and with greater geographical separation, so many grandparents see their grandchildren less frequently. Separation and divorce within families makes connections trickier and less accessible. Family size is shrinking. At the same time, people are living longer. Many seniors are childless with no grandparent role to play at all. There are more seniors in care outside of the home. Some remain reasonably healthy and are able to assist others for many years, while some become disabled and may live years dependent on the aid of others. We see both eldercare and care by elders without the same support of extended family. There is an overarching view that the nuclear family is a self-sustaining unit. In general, there is less interaction between generations and consequently the positive social and emotional impacts of grandparenting are becoming muffled. The physical distance between generations also has implications much broader than simply communication barriers; it is easier to become disconnected with even the process of aging. In a 1971 article on the past and present roles of the elderly, Margaret Mead wrote, “In peasant communities where things didn’t change and where people died in the beds they were born in, grandparents taught the young what the end of life was going to be. So you looked at your mother if you were a girl and young learned what it was like to be a bride, a young mother. Then you looked at your grandmother and you knew what it was like to be old. Children learned what

it was to age and die while they were very small. They were prepared for the end of life at the beginning.” Philosopher Jean Vanier would suggest that the value in understanding aging comes from “accepting the presence of another inside oneself” and, through an acknowledgement of sameness and common humanity, embracing our own frailty and vulnerability, thus “becoming human.” What a powerful spiritual lesson for children with future implications for a better understanding of eldercare. How then do we reconcile the mutual need for children and grandparents to engage within the reality of the 21st century?

If you can’t be with the ones you love... My experience with grandparents was certainly not the ideal. My maternal grandparents lived in a country too far away to visit or be visited. While we did live in the same city as my grandmother on my father’s side, her house was a room in a seniors’ home where she spent the last 30 years of her life suffering from mental illness. Her husband, my grandfather, died just before I was born. While I loved my grandparents and felt a deep connection to them, I did not have close social or emotional ties with them. What I did have however was a strong cultural community within which, born out of ancestral tradition, I referred to any elder within that context as “Grandma”/“Grandpa.” These were people my family visited regularly out of respect and caring. They knew me well and watched me grow. For me, the sum of experiences made for a well-rounded whole. I have been blessed with having biological grandparents as well as many intergenerational relationships. It is a formation for which I am thankful and one that I know has made a difference in my life. I have come to recognize that a grandparent need not be exclusively defined by blood; any connection across generations can hold power and value in addition to or in lieu of biological grandparenting. I believe that the model I experienced growing up is still possible, even outside of a village or well-connected cultural community. Just the other day, I met an older gentleman at my daughter’s track meet. He was picking up a 10-year-old friend to go fossil hunting on the beach; an activity that has become their special Tuesday afternoon tradition. A retired geneticist I know volunteers his time with a select group of school children, supporting them in becoming more connected in relationships and in learning. kidsinvictoria.com

Together they delight in handling snakes and dissecting fish and chickens! The same man provides enrichment and special guidance to a young girl who shares his interest in photography. These are just a few examples of how bridges can be built through formalized intergenerational programming as well as informal associations. It also works the other way. My children and I visit friends at a seniors’ home every week. We have been doing this for 10 years now, ever since my first-born was 6 months old. The first friendly visit I took my eldest to was almost traumatizing for her. Who were these strangers with toothless grins and transparent skin? Fortunately over time, all my children have come to appreciate that the range of “human” is widespread while at the same time not so disparate. My children still glance at me from across the room when they get asked the same question over and over within a five-minute timeframe, but they are patient with the friends with whom they have so much in common. They have learned that even older people enjoy a good children’s book read aloud and the thrill of a paper airplane contest; that we all have a need for touch; that at any age, you can still feel the spark of having a boyfriend/girlfriend; and that a stuffy toy never ceases to make a good companion. Visiting the seniors’ home has become something that we do now not merely out of a sense of service but also out of feelings of belonging, love and friendship. What is stopping us from thinking along these same lines no matter where we live or who we live with? What do you do if you don’t have grandparents? What do you if you don’t have grandchildren? Or what do you do when you can’t be with long-distance grandparents? There are still gifts of wisdom and wonder to be given and received. We simply need to step forward with openness and generosity and accept the challenge to be creative. We cannot return to a “normal” of the past. What we can do is reset the norm as well as our definitions. But first we need to start with an acknowledgement that there is an important if not essential place for grandparents—adopted or biological—in our children’s lives. Once we acknowledge this, we can better appreciate the grandparents that we have as well as begin to look for the “grand” in people wherever we live. Janine Fernandes-Hayden is an educator and Salt Spring Island mum of four children. She is also a trained Virtues Project Facilitator.

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in a battle between Thor and The Incredible Hulk and what it would look like if a person melted (note to readers: he doesn’t watch horror movies, I swear). The main thing is this, don’t fall into the trap of thinking one way of acting is better than the other. If one kid deals with the ups and downs of life in a more dramatic fashion than the other, so be it. I actually appreciate and, really, love

Embrace the Unexpected

he main shock of being a dad is that you never know what you’ll get. I still can’t figure out my kids all that well. They are two extremely different creatures, that much I can confirm. But the strange undeveloped lizard-brain logic of children never fails to crack me up, and the irrational behaviour still frustrates me to no end. When people say things like “They never told me kids don’t come with an instruction manual,” I cringe—even though there is a kernel of truth in their sentiment. We don’t know what to expect. And that phenomenon continues as they get older. Case in point: a recent trip to the walk-in clinic with our six-year-old daughter. During the insufferable wait to see a doctor, my daughter made such a scene that my wife had to take her outside. I watched through the window, surrounded by grumbling, grumpy people—albeit getting a small

modicum of joy out of our son’s clueless happy banter/singing of Frozen soundtrack songs to himself—as my wife attempted to deal with our daughter, who was screaming bloody murder, saying she would absolutely not go in to see the doctor. Her frenzy escalated and all logic disappeared, along with everyone’s 2:47 p.m. patience on a grey, rainy Saturday. I know how my daughter feels. I was in the doctor’s office and hospital a lot as a kid and it’s not really ever good, despite the lure of free stickers and the doc occasionally making a funny joke. But let’s talk about keeping those reactions proportionate to the situation, kiddo. The 40 minutes of screaming and crying for a four-minute doctor’s visit, during which the kid said not one word, is barely worth it. So it goes, as our son wanders through life with his main concerns being who would win

Infants Toddlers Pre-school Age “The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences.” ~ Loris Malaguzzi, on the Reggio Emilia classroom

www.lexieslittlebears.com 52 Island Parent Magazine

778-432-3600

Dadspeak GREG PRATT it. At least when I’m not pulling out my increasing number of grey hairs. So, all of you expecting parents, keep in mind that you never know what you’re going to get. And that’s something we should all keep in mind as the days tick on. For a few weeks now, our daughter has refused to leave our side, even saying no to the siren call of Grandma and Grandpa’s house, where all kids get all things, basically a mini Disneyland in suburbia. She needs us right now, and damned if I know why, and damned if we were expecting that from a kid who (finally) was off having play dates with friends without us just fine. A minor regression, a small phase, a new way of life: who knows which one, and who cares? She’s our girl, and in approximately 12 years she’ll be looking at rental ads with friends and she’ll likely never again be crying at the top of her lungs outside the doctor’s office. And you know what? I’ll probably think of that day in the walk-in clinic one random afternoon when I’m 60, lock the bathroom door, and break down in tears because I’ll want afternoons like that back so bad. Who knows what’s next? Maybe our daughter will end up completely anxietyfree and our son won’t be able to deal with a slight, imperceptible shift in the Earth’s rotational axis without clinging to us for the next three months. And who cares? They’re ours and I love ’em no matter what incomprehensible weirdness those illogical brains toss at us next. Greg Pratt is the father of two children and a local journalist and editor. His writing has appeared in, among other places, Today’s Parent, Wired, Revolver, and Douglas.

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ast month Angus was playing in a field with some preschool classmates. A pair of kids called his name and waited for Angus to run towards them. When he was almost close enough to touch they took off, farther up the field. Then they called his name again. Chasing is a favourite activity among the preschool set. Every morning before school last year a pack of kids ran after each other up and down the hallway. There didn’t seem to be a “catching” element to the game. Nor was it ever clear to me who the chasee was, only that it was never Angus. He is the slowest four-year-old in existence, probably because he has a hard time keeping balance, what with one arm always outstretched and flapping around like a wing. A game, I assured myself that day at the field, watching Angus run towards the kids over and over and over again, never quite reaching them. Except it didn’t feel like a game. It felt like a reason for me to intervene, to direct his attention elsewhere. Maybe to the little girls who were calmly constructing birds nests out of dirt. Or even to the waiting Raffi CD in our car. Then Angus tripped over his feet. One of the kids hovered over him to see if he was okay. The other started to laugh. I don’t like that kid, I told Mike that night after recounting the story. I thought you said he was cute. He is cute. And mean. My friend has an eight-year-old daughter. Eight-year-olds can be mean, she says, but not preschoolers; they’re just uncensored. It probably did look funny, Angus sprawled out on the grass. But I wasn’t convinced. The next week Angus was tentatively clambering down a tree stump, causing quite the traffic jam behind him. The same little boy shoved him to the ground, stepped over him, then turned and apologized. The apology might have been because he caught my eye. So this is two strikes and he’s out? Mike asked when I ranted about it that evening. I get mean kids. I had my fair share of mean streaks during childhood. In Grade 4 there was a particular girl my little group decided we were no longer friends with. I’m sure there was a reason, and equally sure it was petty and ridiculous. She told her mother. Her mother told our teacher. And when his firm reprimand didn’t achieve the desired results, we were called into the principal’s office. As well-intentioned as her mother

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was, her involvement was the wrong call. Probably we would have soon forgotten our differences, but getting us in trouble just added fuel to our cruelty.

Maternity & Beyond Laura TRUNKEY Now, as a mother myself, I completely understand that mom’s desire to meddle with her daughter’s social life. For the most part we can ensure our kids are well-fed and well-educated. We can even count on them absorbing many of our values. We can’t make them well-liked. Instead, we cross our fingers and hope they’ll be included. If they’re not, we hope they’ll tell us, but there will be very little we can do to change the situation except to promise that there are way fewer mean girls in adulthood—or at least a larger pool of normal folks to commiserate with. Angus is awkward, and I’m not just referring to his running style. He loves to take part in other kids’ games but doesn’t quite get how to communicate this. Sometimes he mimics. Other times he hovers. One day when I dropped him off for preschool I watched him stand and stare at three boys reading together on the couch. I resisted my urge to steer him elsewhere. I kissed him goodbye and slipped out the door. Then I peered through the window. Angus continued to stare at the boys until his teacher intervened, shifting them over so there was room for him to sit beside them. He sat and the other boys stood up and left. Mike had picked that day to come see Angus off. “That’s heart-breaking,” he said as we walked back to the car. And yes, I felt it in my chest also—an overwhelming desire to scoop up my child and protect him from the hurt I assumed he was feeling. Instead I shrugged: it doesn’t mean anything, I said. I’m sure when I pick him up he’ll be having a great time. And of course he was. He’s resilient, our little wing-flapper. So far we’ve felt the stings of his childhood much more than he has. May that be the case for as long as possible.

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Laura Trunkey is mother to the amazing Angus and the author of a forthcoming short fiction collection from House of Anansi. Email laurajtrunkey@gmail.com.

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August 2015 55

Family Services Directory our Parents Together program and parent workshops. For more information on all programs and services visit bgcvic.org or call 250-384-9133.

HappyBaby Sleep Solutions helps families create healthy sleep habits in babies and children so everyone is well rested and happy. Sukkie Sandhu, M.Ed., has worked with hundreds of families locally in Victoria and worldwide. Sukkie is a Registered Clinical Counsellor so the cost of a sleep consultation may be covered under your extended medical plan. For more information visit www. happybabysleepsolutions.com or call 250-857-1408 for a FREE evaluation. Let’s get started!

The Canucks Autism Network (CAN) provides yearround, high quality sports, recreational, social and arts programs for children, teens and young adults living with autism, while building awareness and providing training through community networks across British Columbia. CAN currently offers Soccer (ages 5-15), Swim (ages 4-15), Physical Literacy (ages 4-11), Family Events and Camps on Vancouver Island. To learn how you can join, please visit canucksautism.ca/join or email info@ canucksautism.ca.

HeadWay Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Centre supports families living with seizures by offering parent workshops three times a year, educational presentations in schools and community groups as well as providing tutoring sessions and one-to-one professional consultations to help your child live up to their highest potential. Keep up to date with the latest research about treatments, lifestyle, and safety issues for your child. We can be reached at headwayvictoria.com, or you can reach the Epilepsy Program Coordinator directly at 250-475-6677.

CHOICES Adoption & Counselling is a licensed, professional, non-profit agency that provides services to adoptive parents, birth-parents, and adoptees. CHOICES arranges adoptions domestically and internationally. We are committed to providing a comprehensive, clientcentered adoption service which best meets the needs of everyone in the adoption constellation. Please contact us at choices@choicesadoption.ca, or call 250-479-9811 for further information.

Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) is a service agency for immigrants and refugees. Programs offered include cross-cultural counseling, parenting programs (child care available), family violence programs, employment services, interpretation and translation, diversity workshops and training, ESL instruction, volunteering, youth programs and tutoring, as well as intercultural arts programming. 930 Balmoral Rd, 250-388-4728, info@ icavictoria.org, icavictoria.org.

Countryside Preschool is a cooperative preschool where our qualified ECE provides stimulating instruction to develop your child’s social and cognitive skills. Families build a network of support through our parent-participation days. Classes are in session Sept–June; Tues–Thurs; 9am–1pm. Flexible registration options available. Visit our FREE Stay ’N Play sessions for caregivers and tots, Mondays, 10am–noon. Visit countrysidepreschool.org or call 250-652-3424.

Learning Disabilities Association of BC, SVI Chapter, educates, supports and advocates for children and youth with learning disabilities and related conditions. Services include a public lending library, individual/ group support for parents and children, professional/ educational workshops for parents and professionals. Child and youth programs include: reading/ writing, academic skills, social/emotional skill development and Fast ForWord. 1562 Fort St, Victoria, BC V8S 5J2. Ph 250-370-9513. Fax. 250-370-9421. ldasvi.bc.ca. knowyourrights.ca.

This directory, sponsored by Thrifty Foods, features not for profit agencies and organizations serving children, youth and families.

1Up, Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre (www.1up.ca) provides support, education and resources for parents in the Greater Victoria area through free counselling, volunteer training for peer helper positions, a mentoring program for single moms and a support group for dads. The Centre also offers a variety of integrated life skills and parenting courses which are open to the whole community (fees are on a sliding scale). The Centre provides free toys and books, a clothing room and bread pantry for single parents. Donations of gently-used clothing, small household items, books and toys are welcome. Hours are Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 9-4, Wed: 12-7. 602 Gorge Rd. East; call 250-385-1114 or info@1-up.ca Beacon Community Services is a community-based non-profit agency providing social, employment, and health services to Saanich Peninsula, Greater Victoria, and Southern Gulf Islands residents. Beacon offers: child, youth, and family services; a drop-in family resource centre; counselling; employment services for adults, youth, and people with disabilities; home support; volunteer services and opportunities; community events; affordable assisted living for seniors; referrals, information, and resources; thrift shops. For Home Support information call 250658-6407; for all other inquiries call 250-656-0134, or visit beaconcs.ca. Beacon Community’s Employment Services. Beacon Community Services provides a full menu of employment services to the Saanich Peninsula, Southern Gulf Islands. We have been helping people find work since 1982! Our programs build on a client’s strengths and resolve barriers to securing and maintaining employment. Furthermore, we work in tandem with our employer network to support those residents looking for work. If you need help finding a job or need employees please pay us a visit! It’s FREE. 9860 Third St, Sidney, 250-656-0134, beaconcs.ca. Boys & Girls Club Services offer after-school and evening social, educational and recreational programming for children and youth at 5 locations (Colwood, Langford, VicWest, Central Saanich and Esquimalt) and summer camps both in Esquimalt and at our Outdoor Centre in Metchosin. We also offer support to parents through

Family Services of Greater Victoria (formerly BC Families in Transition) is a non profit agency that has been serving families since 1978. We provide a full range of services to the whole family in supporting their relationship and through separation and divorce. Counseling, mediation, legal information and a range of group programs are available for children, youth and adults on a sliding fee scale. Call us at 250-386-4331 or visit fsgv.org. We can help.

Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) provides programs and services to the military family community including: 24-Hour Information Line; Deployment Information and Workshops; Short Term Counselling, Crisis Support or Intervention; Welcome/Relocation Services; Childcare and Family Support Services; Assistance for Families with Special Needs and Responsibilities. Excit-

Maxine Fisher M.Ed., RCC, MTA

Counselling for Children, Families & Adults Over 20 Years Experience (Music Therapy Also Available)

Stress & Trauma (Acting Out) • Parenting • Family Transitions Physical & Learning Disabilities • Relationships • Individuals Skype & Phone Sessions Available M.Ed. | Registered Clinical Counsellor | Accredited Music Therapist

Call Today for a Complimentary 10 minute phone consultation Call 250-686-7582 maxinefisher@shaw.ca victoriafamilycounselling.com 56 Island Parent Magazine

kidsinvictoria.com

ing Volunteer opportunities available! Call the MFRC: 250-363-2640 (1-800-353-3329) for information or visit esquimaltmfrc.com. Power To Be provides inclusive nature-based activity programs for youth and families living with a barrier or disability who need support to access recreation and their community. We create year-round programs to fit participant needs through activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, canoeing and more. Visit powertobe.ca or call 250-385-2363 to get involved. Rested Development Sleep Consulting. I am educated in ALL sleep-training methods and together we use a method that best suits YOUR family and values. My services are unique in that I use an integrative approach to sleep using healthy sleep foundations including: emotional well-being, nutrition, breastfeeding, family dynamics, child temperaments, sleep environments, sleep/wake windows, sleep associations, and developmental milestones, in conjunction with sleep training. For more information please visit resteddevelopment.com or call 250-937-0996 for a free 15 minute consultation. Sooke Family Resource Society (SFRS) provides Family Resource Programs including: Prenatal Education and Outreach, Parent-Tot Drop-In Groups, Parent Discussion Groups, Family Support Groups and Outreach, a Toy and Book Lending Library, and Kingfisher Preschool. SookeWestshore Child Care Resource and Referral services, as well as all-ages counselling services are also provided by SFRS. Services are provided from the Child, Youth and Family Centres in both Sooke and the Westshore. Call 250-642-5152 for more information or visit our website at sfrs.ca. SFRS’s Welcome Home Program is looking for homes that can support adults diagnosed with a disability looking to gain further independence. The livingsituations are varied and unique and can include living within a family home or a suite in the family home. The needs of the individuals are varied, dependent on the disability, but can include relationship building, life skills, meal prep, etc. For more information, please call 778-433-2023 or go tosfrs.ca. Sooke-Westshore Early Years Centres provide information to families about children and family services, supports, child development and parenting. The Early Years Navigator will assist families with referral information for local early years programming, child care, public health, special needs intervention services, and social supports. The Sooke-Westshore Early Years Centres are hosted by Sooke Family Resource Society and located at the Child, Youth, and Family Centres in both Sooke and the Westshore and can be reached at 250-217-9243. Additional information can be accessed at sfrs.ca/earlyyears-centre. Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) supports immigrants and refugees living in Greater Victoria. Services are free and include one-onone counselling, parent education workshops, youth life skills classes, a preschool program, art therapy, language classes and academic support, employment help, computer classes and fun community events like free yoga, tai chi, dance and cooking classes. Visit us online at vircs. bc.ca or phone 250-361-9433.

IslandParent.ca

& The place online where parents and grandparents get information about their community for their family: Read current and past issues of Island Parent Magazine. Visit our Marketplace to find businesses, programs and services that cater to the little person in your life. Looking for that special something you had when you were a kid? Check out our classified ads. Want to see what’s up today or this weekend? View our calendar of events. Whether it’s dance lessons, parenting workshops, fun days and festivals, what’s happening at your local rec centre or community events—Kids In Victoria has it all! Maybe you are looking for something to engage your mind or perhaps need a little bit of advice. Well we have that too on our community forum. Receive Island Parent & Kids In Victoria e-newsletter for updates and exclusive contests. You can also enter our monthly and photo contests.

Come be part of our community at

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August 2015 57

Encouraging Your Child’s Creativity Healthy Families, Happy Families

Child, Youth & Family Public Health South Island Health Units Esquimalt Gulf Islands

250-519-5311 250-539-3099

(toll-free number for office in Saanichton)

Peninsula Saanich Saltspring Island Sooke Victoria West Shore

250-544-2400 250-519-5100 250-538-4880 250-642-5464 250-388-2200 250-519-3490

Central Island Health Units Duncan 250-709-3050 Ladysmith 250-755-3342 Lake Cowichan 250-749-6878 Nanaimo 250-755-3342 Nanaimo Princess Royal 250-755-3342 Parksville/Qualicum 250-947-8242 Port Alberni 250-731-1315 Tofino 250-725-4020

North Island Health Units Campbell River Courtenay Kyuquot Health Ctr ‘Namgis Health Ctr Port Hardy

250-850-2110 250-331-8520 250-332-5289 250-974-5522 250-902-6071

www.viha.ca/prevention_services/

58 Island Parent Magazine

oung children are naturally creative. Creativity promotes language, social and intellectual development and helps children to interpret and think about their world. However, as children get older, they may feel less confident about their creative abilities, causing them to miss out on personal growth opportunities. Triple P—the Positive Parenting Program has these tips for encouraging your child to be creative: Notice What Your Child Likes To Do: if your child shows an interest in art—whether it’s music, visual arts, dancing or acting—help them get involved. Have art and dress-up supplies available at home and look into signing up for lessons. Offer to help out by making costumes or providing equipment for theatre or visual arts. Let Your Child Try Different Things: what seems interesting initially might turn out to be too difficult or not in tune with your child’s personality. If your child changes their mind, unless the activity is causing upset, have them complete the term. This provides enough time for them to practice; and with practice comes confidence. If, after, they still want to try something else, then by all means, try another activity. Offer To Help: show support and interest by offering to help with creative activities. Encourage Your Child’s Interest: involve your family in fun activities that encourage an interest in the arts. Sing and dance to encourage your child’s sense of rhythm, melody, harmony and timing. Encourage dramatic play by providing dress-up clothes and props; support an interest in visual art by talking about the natural beauty you find every day. When possible, take your child to see live entertainment. Encourage Your Child’s Attempts: show an interest in what your child is doing. Listen to them play an instrument, praise your child’s efforts with artwork, and avoid negative comments such as “wings don’t belong on a kitten.” Creativity is enhanced by your child’s imagination. If they begin to show less interest, spend a little extra time with your

child while they are practicing, or frame a piece of art to encourage them. If they lose interest for a long period of time, it may be time to move on to another activity. Provide Space for Your Child’s Activities: provide practice space for instruments, schedule a regular practice time, and provide an audience if your child wants to perform for

Healthy Families, Happy Families Ch ild Y outh & Family Pub lic Health

CINDY KNOTT

others. If your child’s interest is in visual arts, make art materials accessible so your child can work on activities on his/her own. When your child is using art materials and having fun, be prepared for some mess. Children can get great pleasure from participating in performance arts such as music, dance and drama, and visual arts, such as drawing, painting, photography and sculpture. Provide lots of different opportunities for your child to express their inner-self. Encouraging creativity doesn’t have to be directly related to a specific art or craft. Lots of everyday activities can also encourage creativity. Singing, dancing or cooking can be fun. Solving a problem, sounding out a new word, storytelling or playing with blocks and other toys also encourages your child to be creative. Play encourages creativity whenever it is child-directed so providing a safe space and open-ended materials will enhance your child’s spontaneity and creativity. And remember, step back and let your child design their own play. For more Triple P tips for all ages and stages of development or to find Triple P services in your community, visit triplepvip.ca. Cindy Knott has worked for more than 20 years supporting children and families in Manitoba and now in British Columbia and is currently the Vancouver Island Triple P Coordinator.

kidsinvictoria.com

#Boymom

Seek culture, creativity, community. Find it at the Farquhar Auditorium.

P EKING DREAMS FEATURING THE NATIONAL ACROBATS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Sunday, Sept 5 at 2pm family & group packages available

tickets.uvic.ca 250-721-8480

St. Joseph’s

Elementary School - CHEMAINUS

Please join us for our

Open House on Thursday, September 3 10am - 1pm

Enroll Now for 2015–2016 Day Care, Preschool, K–7, Before & After School Care Ask about Tuition Assistance

9735 Elm Street, Chemainus 250 246 3191 sjc@cisdv.bc.ca www.stjosephselem.ca 60 Island Parent Magazine

y Dear Friend: I hear you’re expecting a boy! Great. Having a boy in your life is going to be so much fun. I do, though, feel the need to warn you about a few challenges involved. Okay, maybe several challenges. You know what? I’m just going to make a list. That way you will fully understand what you’re getting yourself into. I’ve also jotted down some tips on how to prepare yourself. Believe me: in about seven years, you’ll thank me for this. 1. Noise. First and foremost, a boy is noisy. He operates on a different decibel level from normal society. Walking becomes stomping; sitting becomes crashing; whispering becomes exuberant shouting. At all times, he is loud. Period. My advice? Invest in earplugs. Did you know they come in boxes of 500? 2. Dirt. Second to being noisy, a boy is dirty. He attracts it with some kind of inner magnetic force, trailing it wherever he goes. You will be awed, on a daily basis, at how your son manages to get his pockets, socks, ears, and underwear filled with dirt. To combat this issue, it’s best to replace all your flooring with concrete slab—or anything that can take daily pressure-washing. 3. Scrapes. While being noisy and getting dirty, a boy will accumulate multitudes of scrapes, not to mention bumps, bruises, scabs, and the occasional black eye. Don’t be alarmed; this is his most natural state, and rarely as bad as it looks. You can encase him in bubblewrap, but save that for only the most desperate situations. For all other times, just buy a lot of Band-Aids. 4. Holes. A boy will quickly shred the knees and bums of every pair of pants he wears—sliding down hills, scaling trees, and skidding across the kitchen floor playing air guitar. The solution for this is to simply buy all the pants you can find; a three-year-supply is not unreasonable. 5. Bottomless Appetite. A boy is always, always hungry. It is busy work, being noisy and dirty while wearing one’s pants out trying to get a black eye. I have found it best to a) leave your credit card on file at the grocery store, and b) stash protein bars everywhere you can think of—and I mean everywhere. Do not assume, under any circumstances, that a boy can go for longer than 20 minutes without eating a substantial meal. 6. Toilet Humour. A boy is endlessly entertained by toilet words. I’d like to say it’s

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a phase, but we all know grown men who share this sense of humour, so I suspect the condition is permanent. It is best managed with two key approaches, depending on the circumstance. When at home, pretend you

Is There an App for This? SARAH MILLIGAN don’t hear the potty talk. When in public, pretend you don’t know the kid blurting out the potty talk. Bonus: these strategies work for the grown men in your life, as well. 7. Naughty Words. By the time he enters kindergarten, a boy will proudly possess a collection of words you wish he didn’t. No one knows just how little boys absorb these words, but they do; and they trade them like a valuable currency. You cannot expect to subvert this process, which has been going on since the dawn of time. Rather, aim to establish an understanding as to where and when these words are absolutely not appropriate—think visits to Grandma, quiet moments in church, conversations with traffic police, and so forth. This is tricky business and will doubtless require bribery in the form of organic lollipops. 8. Slime. A boy delights in anything slimy: scaly creatures, tadpoles, mud pits, worms, fish heads, and so forth. Your best strategies for this are a) practice looking at slimy things while smiling—for example, closeup photos of frogs are helpful for this—and b) create a plan to safeguard your furniture; a “No Slime In The House” policy, when established early, can prove invaluable in future years. 9. Taste for Danger. Matches, pocket knives, monster trucks, rockets, race cars, dinosaurs… if it cuts things, lights things on fire, smashes things, or goes really fast, a boy will be hopelessly drawn to it. Again, there is nothing you can really do to sidestep this, so I recommend investing in several fire extinguishers, a solid crash helmet, and perhaps some safety goggles. 10. Unbridled Enthusiasm. Simply put, a boy is joy. His zest for adventure will delight you, in spite of the washing, mending, feeding, doctoring, and slime each day will bring. I promise you, he will be worth all of it. Now seriously, go order those earplugs. Sarah Milligan lives on Vancouver Island. She is grateful to her children for the joy they inspire, not to mention the endless writing fodder.

IslandParent.ca

The Victoria Nature School is a non-profit, community based organization committed to offering unique, forest-based programs. The licensed preschool programs are designed for 2 - 5 year old children. School-aged forest programs are also available.

A few spots still available M/W/F The Victoria Nature School(9am–3pm) philosophy is based on the forest school model where an for adventurous environment of child-led play and nature ages exploration creates girls a happy and 3–5. vibrant

Philosophy

learning community. To learn more

Victoria’s original forest preschool! Program Schedule

Victoria Nature School is a non-

visit: victorianatureschool.com

Program Schedule

Children spend every that morning forest or Full Days (9am–3pm) profit, licensed preschool offersat theM/W/F: beach at Mt. Douglas Park and afternoons in full and half day programs for 3–5 T/Th: Half Days (9am–11:30am) an indoor/outdoor classroom at Gordon Head (early and late drop off options) year olds. Mornings are in the Recspent Centre. A typical day consists of songs, beach forest at Mt. Douglas, rain or shine. or forest exploration, story-telling, Monday-Friday fullGordon and half day programs are Afternoons are spent Head unstructured play, quiet time, available. Rec Centre both in and outdoors. gratitudes and reflections.

Kraft Hockeyville Celebrations North Saanich is Kraft Hockeyville 2015

Celebrating Community Spirit 2015 Kraft Hockeyville NHL® Pre-Season Game September 21, 2015 San Jose vs Vancouver Canucks® Sharks® @ The Q Centre PANORAMARECREATION.CA

Panorama Parking Lot Party September 20, 2015

Join Slider at Panorama Rec Centre for a parking lot party with the Kraft Hockeyville trophy, inflatable, face painting, road hockey and more. More exciting details to come. fACEbOOk.COM/PANORAMARECREATION fACEbOOk.COM/khv2015

Why choose Cordova Bay Preschool? • A warm, inviting Co-op Preschool with an ECE, ECE assistant, and a parent helper in every class • 1 class for 4 year olds Mon/Wed/Fri (9:15–1:15) and 2 classes for 3 year olds Tues/Thurs (9:00–12:00 or 12:30–3:30) • Extended hours assist with transition to full day kindergarten • Free parent education speakers or workshops every month • Non-duty option • Limited space still available in the 3s afternoon class and the 4s class

5182 Cordova Bay Road

(behind St. David’s by the Sea Anglican Church)

250-658-3441 www.cordovabaypreschool.org A member of the Vancouver Island Cooperative Preschool Association (VICPA)

August 2015 61

Rodent-Loving Reads

don’t know why but when I am choosing books to read to the kids I am often drawn to books with a “human issue,” a book that reveals the world and its complex layers—whether the book is about emotions, relationships, history or other cultures. Currently we are mid-way through the wonderful Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. The main character is a quirky, offbeat genius who doesn’t quite fit into her mainstream world. She leads readers along her path of loss, grief and transformation. The book is wise, with humour and plenty of pause to think. It isn’t exactly a pageturning, light-hearted summer read and although one of my kids loves it, my other two have lost interest. Both would rather read laugh-aloud or adventure stories that are not grounded in reality. And although I typically don’t find myself searching for these books, I have recently found a few that surprised me, even astonished me, with their brilliance. And even more surprisingly, they all feature rodents…not my favourite animal but apparently more endearing than I thought. A squirrel that develops magical powers after being sucked into a vacuum cleaner doesn’t sound like a plot line I would be particularly interested in but Flora and Ulysses, by Kate DiCamillo, has become one of my all-time favourite books. Flora is sitting at her bedroom window looking out at her neighbour’s yard when she sees this spectacle occur. She hurries outside and finds the squirrel, whom she names Ulysses, alive. As a team, the duo navigates Flora’s difficult relationship with her mother and father who have recently separated, and finds companionship in the quirky, temporarily blind boy next door who is staying with his aunt. The premise is almost ridiculous. Flora is a self-described cynic. Ulysses types poetry. Unlike almost any other of DiCamillo’s books we have read, this screams silly…but I loved it. And so did all of my kids. It was fun. The language use and play is superb. And hidden in the story are so many layers of human complexity that are just waiting to be found. If a magical squirrel can be a riveting main character why not a talking rat? David Walliams’ Ratburger is not quite as deep as Flora and Ulysses but it is big on fun. If you have read any of Walliams’ books you know that it is packed with Dahl-like black

humour that will make you squirm. Zoe, the young protagonist, is down on her luck. Her mother passed away when she was small and her loving, ice-cream making father lost his job and got sucked into marrying a horrible, rotten woman intent on making Zoe miserable. Things are not looking at all

Book Nook PaisleY aiken good for Zoe and then she discovers that her pet hamster, her best and truest friend, has died. Desperately craving affection, she looks for a new animal to love and happily finds one in an incredibly smart, talented rat. But that greasy, grimy man who sells burgers from his truck may not be selling a typical burger at all. My kids loved this book. They found it hilarious and playful, but it may not be the best fit for kids who don’t like stories that make them cringe! While we are on the topic of talking rodents it is impossible to skip by Ralph. The Mouse and the Motorcycle, by Beverly Clearly, is one of the most beloved books of all time and has none of the darkness or sophistication found in the aforementioned books. It is a simple and great pick for younger readers. Ralph is a young mouse who lives in room 215 of a musty, dusty old hotel. He has many young siblings and cousins around him and he longs for more independence. And then a young boy, Keith, comes to stay at the hotel and discovers Ralph. The two become quick friends and Keith gives him his toy motorcycle, which magically works when Ralph makes the appropriate pfftt-pfftt-pfftt sound. Adventure, friendship, and forgiveness are the primary themes. Any of these rodent-loving stories will be great reads as the sun shines on you this month. And you never know, you may never look the at those menaces the same way again. Paisley Aiken reads extensively to her three energetic young boys. She is founder of The Story Studio Writing Society, a charity that grows kids’ relationship with literacy. kidsinvictoria.com

Eye-Opening technology. Jaw-Dropping Value. EYE-OPENING TECHNOLOGY.

The award-winning new 2015 Honda CR-V has it all. Incredible value for money, and redesigned with leading-edge technology, it’s an engineer’s vision and a buyer’s dream.

JAW-DROPPING VALUE.

THE NEW 2015 The award-winning new 2015 Honda CR-V has it all. Incredible value for money, and redesigned with leading-edge technology, it’s an engineer’s vision and a buyer’s dream. Standard features on E VERY new 2015 CRV include:

THE NEW 2015

•EcoAssist ™ system • Earth Dreams™ technology powertrain • Heated front seats •HandsFreeLink ™Bluetooth ® and Bluetooth® Streaming Audio • Heated side mirrors •Exteriortemperatureindicator • iMID display • Multi-angle rearview camera Standard features on E VERY with guidelines • One-touch turn signals

new 2015 CRV include:

•EcoAssist ™ system • Earth Dreams™ technology powertrain • Heated front seats •HandsFreeLink ™Bluetooth ® and Bluetooth® Streaming Audio • Heated side mirrors •Exteriortemperatureindicator • iMID display • Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines • One-touch turn signals Lease the #1

MODEL SHOWN: CR-V TOURING RM4H9FKNX. MSRP $37,485

CSUV in in BC, CR-V LX for Lease the #1 CSUV BC,the the2015 2015 CR-V LX for

0.99% Lease Finance 0.99% Lease or Finance 299 0.99

See dealer $299$mo., finance from 0.99% dealer forSee details oror CASH INCENTIVE%$1500

mo., finance from

for details

1500 % 0.99 $ 1500 Lease Finance

ItIthandles $rts car MODEL SHOWN: CR-V TOURING RM4H9FKNX. MSRP $37,485 handleslike likean an 8-passenger sports CASH 8-passenger INCENTIVE sports rts car Features available in on Lease the #1 CSUV BC, the 2015 CR-V LX for select models include: Features available on

5,,000 299

†

†The CR-V is the #1 selling retail SUV car in BC in 2014 based on Polk 2014 August YTD report. ‡In order to achieve $0 down pay ment, dealer will cover the cost of tire/battery tax, air conditioning tax (where applicable), environmental fees and levies on the 2015 CR-V LX only on behalf of the customer.*Limited time weekly lease offer based on a new 2015 CR-V LX 2WD model RM3H3FES. #2.99select % lease APR on a 60 month term with 260 weekly payments O.A.C. Weekly payment, including freight and PDI, is $69.86 based on applying $400.00 lease dollars (w hich is deducted from models include: • Power tailgate the negotiated selling price before taxes). Down payment of $0.00, Àrst weekly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $18,163.60. Taxes, license, insura nce and registration are extra. 120,000 kilometre allowance charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometers. **MSRP is $2 ,685 / $3 ,485 including freight and PDI of $1,695 based on a new 2015 CR-V LX 2WD model RM3H3FES / Touring model RM4H9F .1X #/* Prices and/or payments shown do not include a PPSA lien registration fee of $30.31 and lien registering agent ·s fee of $5.25, which are both • Power tailgate • Multi-angle rearview camera due at time of delivery and covered by the dealer on behalf of the customer on the 2015 CR-V LX. £For more information about th e 2015 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year® award, visit http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/suv/2015_honda_cr_v_is_the_motor_trend_suv_of_the_year/ ‡/#/*/** Offers valid from October 1st through 31st, 2014 at participating Honda retailers. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer trade rearview may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers s ubject to change or cancellation without notice. • Multi-angle camera • Fuel efﬁcient Variable Cylinder Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.

Cash purchase incentive on Cash purchase incentive EVERY 2015 PILOT modelon EVERY 2015 PILOT model MSRP $37,095** includes freight and PDI. Model shown: YF3H2FE MSRP $37,095** includes freight and PDI. Model shown: YF3H2FE

engine Management • Fuel efﬁcient Variable Cylinder mo., finance from Management engine ®

• 4,500 lb. (2,045 kg) towing capacity • 4,500second-row lb. (2,045 kg) towing capacity • Heated seats

• Heated second-row seats • Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ • Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™

CASH INCENTIVE

0.99%

See dealer

†The CR-V is the #1 selling retail SUV car in BC in 2014 based on Polk 2014 August YTD report. ‡In order to achieve $0 down pay ment, dealer will cover the cost of tire/battery tax, air conditioning tax (where applicable), environmental fees and levies on the 2015 CR-V LX only on behalf of the for customer.*Limited time weekly lease offer based on a new 2015 CR-V LX 2WD model RM3H3FES. #2.99 % lease APR on a 60 month term with 260 weekly payments O.A.C. Weekly payment, including freight and PDI, is $69.86 based on applying $400.00 lease dollars (w details hich is deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes). Down payment of $0.00, Àrst weekly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $18,163.60. Taxes, license, insura nce and registration are extra. 120,000 kilometre allowance charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometers. **MSRP is $2 ,685 / $3 ,485 including freight and PDI of $1,695 based on a new 2015 CR-V LX 2WD model RM3H3FES / Touring model RM4H9F .1X #/* Prices and/or payments shown do not include a PPSA lien registration fee of $30.31 and lien registering agent ·s fee of $5.25, which are both due at time of delivery and covered by the dealer on behalf of the customer on the 2015Incentive CR-V LX. £For more information th e 2015 Motor Sport/Utility Year® award, http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/suv/2015_honda_cr_v_is_the_motor _trend_suv_of_the_year/ ‡/#/*/** $1500 Cash or Finance as lowabout as 0.99% to 36Trend month financeoforthe1.99% to 60 visit months, 2.99% to 84 months. Offers valid from October 1st through 31st, 2014 at participating Honda retailers. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers s ubject to change or cancellation without notice. Leaseretailer is 60for months, 0 down, 1.99% on CRV LX 2WD. 2015 Pilot $5000 is Cash Incentive. Nonsubvented finance rates available! Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda full details.

IslandParent.ca

August 2015 63

Much Depends on Brunch

ramatic, perhaps, but “lupper” really never took off, did it? And a snack is a snack is a snack, one of those inbetween things that takes the edge off but doesn’t really satisfy. Brunch allows time to be the winner again in our hurly burly lives, brunch lets us have dessert for breakfast sometimes, brunch makes it mandatory to linger at the table after the last few crispy bits of bacon have been picked at, chatting about this and that. Brunch depends on no particular season, but in the summer we can eat outside and watch the hummingbirds dart from flower to flower while the power equipment shrills and whines from the neighbour’s yard. Brunch in the summer lets us be eight years old again, with endless sunshine stretching out in front and behind and bedtime still

Sour cream, to taste (approximately 1⁄2–3⁄4 cup) 8 eggs Salt and pepper, to taste 2 green onions, chopped, optional Preheat oven to 375˚F. Grease a 9"x11" baking pan. Spread tortillas to line pan. Empty beans from tin and stir vigorously, until beans reach a spreadable consistency. Spread beans gently over tortillas, holding

miles away. Casseroles can be prepared and popped into the fridge the night before, melons sliced and tossed with blueberries and mint, and muffins whipped up while the casserole is baking. Children can pick at the bits they like, and no one has to leave early for bedtime. If the siren call of housework is too overwhelming, pack the brunch up and head down to the nearest park or beach—life is too short not to just hang out sometimes!

Huevos Rancheros Casserole (Serves 8: adapt ingredients as necessary) 8–10 whole wheat tortillas 11⁄2 cup salsa 1 (453g) tin refried beans, spicy or regular 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese 1 avocado, mashed and seasoned lightly with garlic if desired

Just Eat It! Kathy Humphrey tortillas down, to keep them in the pan. Mold the beans so they have slight divots to receive the eggs. Sprinkle salsa over beans, reserving some for serving. Crack eggs into the divots in the beans. Sprinkle cheese over all. Place pan in the centre of the oven. Bake for 10 minutes or until whites are set and yolks have been cooked to desired consistency. Sprinkle with green onions. Serve with sour cream and avocado on the side.

Transforming disability into ability. At Discovery School, learning disabilities are transformed into valuable skills and abilities. Students work at their own pace in small classes, with focused, individualized instruction. • Experienced, highly-qualified teachers • Ongoing assessment, evaluation & feedback • Improves organizational & study skills • Boost confidence, independence & responsibility • Nurturing environment based on Christian values • For students aged 7 – 18 in grades 1 – 12 • Individual Education Plans • Low student/teacher ratio

Enrolment is limited. For more information or to arrange a tour, visit www.discoveryschool.ca, call Sherri Ko at 250-595-7765 or email principal@discoveryschool.ca 64 Island Parent Magazine

kidsinvictoria.com

Baked Oatmeal 3 cups rolled oats (can use mixed 7-grain cereal) 3⁄4 cup maple syrup 2 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 cup milk 2 eggs 1⁄2 cup melted butter 2 tsp vanilla 3⁄4 cup dried cranberries (or raisins, or dried blueberries) Preheat oven to 350˚F. In large bowl, stir together oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Stir in cranberries. In separate bowl, beat milk, eggs, maple syrup, butter and vanilla together. Grease 9"x11" baking pan and spread oatmeal mixture evenly into it. Bake until set and golden, about 40 minutes. Serve with milk, cream, yogurt, applesauce, or whatever pleases.

French Toast Casserole, Two Ways 1 loaf challah bread (can substitute pretzel buns, or brioche buns if desired) 6 eggs 1⁄4–1⁄2 cup light cream Either: 3⁄4 cup grated Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, 3 chopped green onions, 1⁄2 tsp chili powder, 1⁄2 tsp oregano, pinch cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste… OR 1⁄2 cup golden raisins, 1⁄2 cup chopped pecans, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1⁄2 tsp each nutmeg and allspice, 1⁄4 cup maple syrup Grease 9"x11" pan. Tear bread or buns into chunks. Set aside. Beat eggs well, gradually whisking in enough cream to cover the bread adequately. If preparing savoury version, whisk in chili powder, oregano, cayenne and salt and pepper. Sprinkle cheese over bread, pour egg mixture over, and then sprinkle green onions over top of all. Squidge together a bit with your hands, if it seems to need it. For sweet mixture, whisk spices and syrup into eggs, and toss raisins and nuts with bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. Remove from the fridge about 1⁄2 hour before baking. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Bake for 45 minutes, removing foil partway through to allow top to become golden. Serve with salsa or chili sauce, or crème fraiche or yogurt.

OPEN April-June Weekends & Statutory Holidays July & August Every Day September Weekends & Holidays

12 pm - 5 pm 11 am - 6 pm 12 pm - 5 pm

2207 Millstream Road, Victoria (250) 474-1961 allfun.bc.ca westernspeedway.net

The Victoria School for Ideal Education • Daily meditation • Nature based learning • Small class sizes • BC curriculum K – Gr. 8 2820 Belmont Avenue

250-383-6654 vsie.ca vsie@shaw.ca A few spaces still available for September

Kathy Humphrey lives in Victoria with her husband and two children. She tries to see cooking for a family not as a chore but as a creative outlet.

IslandParent.ca

August 2015 65

Preschool & Child Care Directory CENTRAL SAANICH Chrysalis Child Care................................ 250-652-0815 A nurturing and stimulating environment for a small group of 21⁄2–5 year old children. Qualified ECE promotes learning through play. chrysalischildcare.ca. Countryside Preschool........................... 250-652-3424 Learn through play at our co-op preschool for 2.5–5 yr olds! Big classroom, beautiful playground, nurturing ECE:countrysidepreschool.org.

Colwood/LANGFORD Goldstream Co-op Preschool................. 250-474-3011 Learning Through Play for 3 and 4yr olds! For registration information go to our website: goldstreampreschool.com. Jenn’s Little Bears................................... 250-478-8999 A safe nurturing environment for children from infancy to kindergarten. Our Infant and Toddler Program enriches each child’s development while our 3-5 Program prepares children for kindergarten. Two separate buildings allow each age group space to grow! Leap Forward Childcare......................... 250-818-9225 2758 Peatt RD. Licenced group childcare for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Offering fulltime and part-time care. Open 6:30am-5:30pm. For more information please contact Amber: info@leap forwardlangford.com, leapforwardlangford.com. Miles of Smiles Nature Junior Kindergarten.................... 778-265-4374 Come See Why Learning In Nature Rocks! Reggio Influenced Philosophy ages 3-5. Have Your Child Become a Nature Detective Today! Email mosnjk@hotmail.com. RIA Early Learning Centre...................... 250-590-0781 3307 Wishart Rd. The REGGIO WAY – A New Approach to Children’s Learning – Designed for Ages 3 to 5.

CORDOVA BAY Carrot Seed Preschool............................ 250-658-2331 Where children can discover, imagine, construct and learn through play. Wondrous natural playground. carrotseedpreschool.com.

ESQUIMALT Ciara Early Childhood Centre................. 250-386-7369 Education and Fun Hand in Hand! Exceptional care for ages 1-5yrs. Inclusive nature inspired kindergarten readiness program with Christian values. Facebook.com/ CiaraEarlyChildhoodCentre. Island Kids Academy Esquimalt............. 250-381-2929 High quality child care (ages 1-5). Preschool curriculum offered within a warm, caring all-day program. Character development using the Virtues Project. Access to community programs including swimming, skating, Victoria Conservatory of Music. Part-time spaces available. islandkids.ca. La Pre-Maternelle Appletree Preschool.. 250-479-0292 A French Immersion Program. 30 months to school age. Licensed Christian centre. prematernelleappletree.com.

Highlands Lexie’s Little Bears.................................. 778-432-3600 Only seconds past Luxurious Bear Mountain our HIGHLY

Child Care

Resource & Referral www.islandfamilyinfo.ca www.ccrr.bc.ca 66 Island Parent Magazine

reputable Nature Program will not disappoint! Our NATURAL outdoor environment provides an experience like no other…in our own rainforest. Located on 2 acres of treed forest land, your child will learn and grow in NATURE! Our Brand NEW Infant/Toddler centre is tranquil and serene. All the furniture, shelving and some toys have been hand crafted using the trees on our own property! Programs for 3 to 5’s and for Infant/Toddlers. Spaces avail. NOW! Visit our Facebook blog, and website at lexieslittlebears.com. Call for more info.

METCHOSIN A Growing Place...................................... 250-391-1133 Half day program (AM or PM) for 2.5-5 yrs. ECE educator, small class size. Our own petting farm. Summer program for July. Metchosin Co-op Preschool................... 250-478-9241 Come visit our stunning natural outdoor playspace, and see how our inclusive, play-based program allows parents to grow and learn alongside their children. Exceptional ECE staff provide a warm and enriching experience for 2.5–5 yr. olds. Come Grow With Us! EST. 1960. Reg. begins March 1 @ 9am. metchosinpreschool@gmail.com. West-Mont Montessori School............... 250-474-2626 Preschool Montessori instruction in a beautiful natural environment in Metchosin. Ages 30 months and up. Providing a balanced approach to incorporating Nature, French, Music and Art into a complete educational program. Be a part of a community devoted to the development of the whole child. Open House: Thursdays 9-11 am. west-mont.ca.

North SAANICH In The Garden Childcare Centre............. 250-654-0306 A GREAT PLACE TO GROW. Offering preschool, full day care, before and after school care for children aged 2.5 to 12 years old. Open all year.

OAK BAY Emmanuel Preschool.............................. 250-598-0573 Children learn through play in our non-denominational Christian preschool near UVic. Bright attractive setting. emmanuelpreschool.ca. Gonzales Co-op Preschool..................... 250-727-1003 Children use imaginations in a Learning through Play classroom and natural playground. Reggio-Emilia inspired, focus is on art, nature and music. Nurturing, highly qualified ECE and ECE assistant. Parent participation options. Allergy aware. gonzalescooppreschool.com. Recreation Oak Bay................................ 250-370-7200 Fully licensed, ECE Daycare, Preschool and Nature Preschool. Play based, child led learning. Afterschool care available. Sundance Playschool.............................. 250-590-9955 Group daycare for ages 3–5, centrally located off Fort. Offering an exciting ECE program in a lovely character house with a maximum of 16 children for a focus on individual attention. Great yard and gardens with lots of outdoor activities. Spaces coming available July 1st.

SAANICH Arbutus Grove Children’s Centre........... 250-477-3731 Formerly known as Goosey Gander Kindergarten. Half Day and Full Day Preschool Programs. Children’s learning is

supported and nurtured through inquiry, exploration, play and creative expression. arbutusgrove.ca. Bee Happy Montessori House................ 250-516-6191 Childcare and pre-school based on Montessori approach which meets each child’s need, according to individual development and learning styles. Camosun College Child Care Services......250-370-4880 Quality licensed facilities on both campuses providing children, newborn to 5 years, with rich early learning experiences in a learn through play environment. camosun. ca/childcare. Carrot Seed Preschool............................ 250-658-2331 Where children can discover, imagine, construct and learn through play. Wondrous natural playground. carrotseedpreschool.com. Cloverdale Child Care.................................250-995-1766 Full time daycare 3-5 year olds. Preschool–register now for September 2015. 3 year olds Tue/Thur 9:00-1:00. 4 year olds Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00-1:00. cloverdalechildcare@ shawbiz.ca. cloverdalechildcare.com. Forest House Childcare Academy............. 250-881-1975 ECE Licensed, Full Day in home Childcare Program for children 30 months – 5 years. An enriched, unique environment to inspire and nurture child directed learning and critical thinking skills, through in-depth and on-going study of nature and the power of play. foresthouseca.com. Full o’ Beans Preschool.............................. 250-360-1148 We offer ‘learn through play’ programming designed to foster your child’s natural curiosity and imagination. Flexible scheduling, 2.5 and 4 hour programs, qualified staff. Registration is ongoing! saanichneighbourhoodplace.com. Hoof Beats Preschool & Childcare............ 250-588-2583 Licensed HighScope program fostering learning through nature, farm life, and horses! 3-6 yrs. Year round. hoof-beats.ca. Island Montessori House........................ 250-592-4411 Inclusive, integrated and nurturing Preschool and Kindergarten programs. Located in a lovely rural setting with a focus on nature and outdoor environmental activities such as gardening and composting. islandmontessori.com. Lakehill Co-op Preschool....................... 250-477-4141 Where children’s development is nurtured through a child centered inclusive, play based program. Come visit our natural outdoor playground and meet our loving qualified ECE team. Multiple Levels of participation available, please enquire. lakehillpreschool.org. Lakeview Christian Preschool/Daycare.. 250-658-5082 30 mths to Kindergarten entry. Small group. Experienced teacher. Full time and part time spaces. Mornings only or full day. Monthly DROP IN STORY HOUR. For information please e-mail lakeviewschol@shaw.ca. Lambrick Park Preschool & Childcare.. 250-477-8131 Gordon Head’s only parent-participation preschool and childcare centre. Flexible options, play-based learning and outdoor play. Allergy friendly. Celebrating 40+ years. lambrickparkpreschool.ca. Little Readers Academy.......................... 250-477-5550 An enriched learn-to-read program for your 3-6 year-old! Reading, Writing and Math. Half-day, weekend and evening sessions available. oxfordlearning.com.

Looking for child care? Need help with subsidy forms? Taking care of children? Need child care training? Your community’s best source of child care information and resources. Victoria & Gulf Islands: 250-382-7000 or 1-800-750-1868 Sooke: 250-642-5152 Westshore: 250-391-4324 Cowichan Valley: 250-746-4135 local 231 PacificCare (Ladysmith north): 250-756-2022 or 1-888-480-2273 Funded by the Province of BC

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Preschool & Child Care Directory Montessori Educare................................ 250-881-8666 Beautiful learning environment in Broadmead and Saanichton. 30 months to 5 years. Open all year around. Summer program available. montessorieducare.com.

Storyoga Preschool................................. 778-679-4004 Embracing and empowering children exactly as they are. Storyoga Preschool is a nature and yoga based program located in Sidney, BC. storyoga.com.

Little Friends Childcare Center.............. 250-479-8423 Infant/Toddler........................................... 250-479-9796 For a creative learning environment. Licensed group facility. Infants/Toddlers/Preschool. littlefriendschildcare.ca.

Neighbourhood Junior Kindergarten..... 250-479-4410

VICTORIA

Oakcrest Preschool................................. 250-472-0668 A welcoming, nurturing environment with a large, bright facility. Learn through play with 2 caring ECEs. oakcrestpreschool.org.

ArtsCalibre Academy.............................. 250-382-3533 Comprehensive programs for Preschool through Grade 5, delivering academic excellence through music, dance, drama and visual arts. Outstanding educators, locations and facilities. ArtsCalibre.ca

Little Wonders Preschool (View Royal OSC)..................................... 250-744-2718 A creative and supportive program that will prepare your child for a lifetime of learning! Out of School Care is also available for school aged children. viewroyalosc.com.

Pacific Christian School – Pre-School... 250-479-4532 Your child will love the playful, safe environment and caring staff at PCS Pre-School. Come and explore Educational Excellence to the Glory of God. PacificChristian.ca Puddles & Paints (Nature Daycare)........ 250-658-6573 Introduce your children to the natural world around them! Surrounding them with nature and animals, we build on their curiosity while exploring the outdoors! On 10 acres of parkland the children lead the way towards environmental awareness! With a new ART STUDIO, and weekly lessons from the Vic. Academy of Music... your child’s day will be FULL of wonder and NATURE. Strongly influenced by Reggio. Visit our facebook page for pics of our studio, and handmade toys! Rainbows & Dreams Preschool.............. 250-479-1966 Small classes for 3-5 yr olds in a safe nurturing environment. Children learn through play and fun–developing a sense of confidence, independence and creativity. Highly qualified ECE teacher. Ready Set Grow Preschool..................... 250-472-1530 Inside Hillcrest Elm. in Gordon Head, we help children transition to Kindergarten. Licensed Preschool with highly qualified, warm ECE. heoscmanager@gmail.com. Rogers Child Care Centre....................... 250-744-2343 Trusted High Quality Non Profit Care since 1991. Year Round Early Learning and Out of School Care. For more info go to rogerschildcare.com. St. Joseph’s Catholic Preschool.. 250-479-1232 ext 120 • A Christian child centre for 3–5 year olds. • A warm nurturing and challenging program • Offered by St. Joseph’s Catholic School.

Babies to Big Kids Childcare......................250-590-2722 949 Fullerton Ave. Licenced group childcare for children ages 6 months to 11 years old. Offering full-time and part-time care. Open 6:30am-5:30pm. info@babies tobigkids.com, babiestobigkids.com. Castleview Child Care............................. 250-595-5355 Learning Through Play & Discovery. Licensed non-profit, qual. ECE staff. Since 1958. Preschool and full-time care. castleviewchildcarecentre.com. Centennial Day Care............................... 250-386-6832 Providing quality childcare for 35+ years. Nature inspired, play based program. Brand new “green” building, central location. centennialdaycare.ca. Christ Church Cathedral Childcare and Junior Kindergarten......................... 250-383-5132 ECE and specialist teachers provide an outstanding all day licensed program for 3-5 year olds. NEW location: 1670 Richardson opens March 2015. cathedralschool.ca. Downtown Y Child Care Centre............. 250-413-8869 Enriched program, for children ages 3-5 years, supporting healthy child development and future school success. victoriay.com. Lansdowne Co-op Preschool................. 250-370-5392 An extraordinary learning environment for families with young children. Parent participation. lansdownepreschool.com.

A Secret Garden Preschool.................... 250-380-8293 Program built on Christian values. Monthly themes, weekly topics and daily activities. asecretgardenpreschool@ shaw.ca. View Royal Childcare.............................. 250-479-8067 Preschool structured, high quality childcare. Victoria Conservatory of Music classes. Part time spaces available. 2.5-5year olds. viewroyalpreschool@live.com. View Royal Preschool.............................. 250-479-8067 Exciting inclusive program in a safe and exceptional care environment. 3-5 year olds. Outside play and themes enrich this program. viewroyalpreschool.com.

Mill Bay / Cobble Hill Cedar Montessori..................................... 250-710-9007 A beautiful rural setting where children are lovingly supported to learn at their own pace within a stimulating Montessori environment. Starchild Centre........................................ 250-929-3240 Infant/toddler 3 to 5 daycare combines the best of Montessori and Waldorf. Our 9 acre hobby farm enables each child to have a garden plot, participate in planting tree, feeding animals, and other outside adventures. starchildcentre.ca.

DUNCAN Queen Margaret’s School......................... 250-746-4185 Early Childhood Education Program. Co-ed nurturing curriculum to develop the whole child. Healthy snacks and lunch provided. qms.bc.ca.

St. Margaret’s School.............................. 250-479-7171 For girls from Junior Kindergarten (ages 3-4) to Grade 12. Unique STEM-focused curriculum with outdoor exploration, art and music. stmarg.ca.

Nightingale Preschool and Junior Kindergarten Ltd.................. 250-595-7544 We offer education through creativity and play, providing rich learning experiences through a well sourced and stimulating indoor and outdoor environment. Early years reading programme. nightingalepreschool.com. New Arts/ Drama programme – September 2015 – Kidsworks.ca.

Queen of Angels Early Learning Centre... 250-701-0433 We believe that the development of the whole child (physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually) encourages each individual to develop to their full potential. We offer an enriched full day program for 3–5 year olds based on Kindergarten readiness.

Strawberry Vale Preschool..................... 250-479-4213 Programs for kids 3-4 at “The Little Red Schoolhouse.” An opportunity to be actively involved with your preschooler’s education. strawberryvalepreschool.org.

Parkdale Early Childhood Centre........... 250-382-0512 ECEs offer the highest quality care and positive learning experiences in our daycare and preschool. Full time or part time. Call for a tour or visit us at parkdalechildcare.ca.

Sunrise Waldorf School Preschool........... 250-743-7253 A warm, nature-based Waldorf rhythm where wonder is nurtured. Led by Waldorf trained ECE teachers. sunrisewaldorfschool.org.

Wiseways Preschool & Daycare............. 250-477-1312 Quality, fully licensed, Christian preschool/daycare for 3–4 year olds. Experienced team of ECEs. Spacious facilities include large playground and indoor gym. Subsidized fees welcome. Call for a tour. wisewaysvictoria.com.

Rainbow Express Daycare...................... 250-382-2314 Enriched preschool style program in a daycare setting. Visit our website at rainbowexpressdaycare.com.

Chemainus

SIDNEY Acorntree Preschool............................... 250-686-1408 Balanced indoor/outdoor program, designed to stimulate natural curiosity and foster empathy and compassion towards others. We believe in the importance of both child and teacher directed activities. acorntreepreschool.ca. Adel’s Play N Discovery House.............. 250-655-4888 Licensed childcare, 3-5 years, Reggio Emilia inspired. Mon–Fri, 7:30am–5:30pm. 2146 Beacon Avenue W. adelplayndiscovery.ca, adelina.gotera@gmail.com. Positive Path Early Learning.................. 250-655-7244 Located near the library and Sidney School, our program has earned a stellar reputation for quality child care and is growing as fast as the children we care for. Space is available for your child to embark on a journey of active exploration and discovery, enjoying a natural outdoor playground and an expansive indoor learning space. Experienced educators foster a lifelong quest for knowledge and guide children with Christian values and virtues. positivepath@shaw.ca.

IslandParent.ca

Ross Bay Preschool................................ 250-383-7445 Positive/supportive program motivating children to learn, discover and grow through play. Daily outdoor time, special guests and community events! rossbaypreschool @shaw.ca. The Sir James Douglas Playschool....... 250-389-0500 Fun, creative and educational ECE program for 3-5 year olds to grow and develop life long skills. Come play and learn in our bright and modern centre in Fairfield. Victoria Montessori................................. 250-380-0534 Unique, innovative learning environment combining the best of Montessori and Learning Through Play. Open yr. round. 30mths–K. victoriamontessori.com.

VIEW ROYAL Island Kids Academy View Royal........... 250-727-2929 High quality child care (ages 1-5). Preschool curriculum offered within a warm, caring child care environment. Character development using the Virtues Project. Access to community programs including swimming, skating, Victoria Conservatory of Music. Part-time spaces available. islandkids.ca.

St. Joseph’s Preschool........................... 250-246-3191 An enriching preschool program allowing children to grow as individuals in a safe and nurturing Christian environment.

Qualicum Beach Children’s Discovery Centre................... 250-752-4343 Our program recognizes the uniqueness of each child and provides a nurturing, safe and creative learning environment. Licensed preschool, group care and out of school care. Early Childhood Educators. childrensdiscovery centre.ca. childrensdiscoverycentre@hotmail.com. Little Star Children’s Centre................... 250-752-4554 Mother, Daughter owned and operated. Earth friendly preschool education inspired by nature. Infused with fun and creative daily yoga practices! Licensed group care. Enthusiastic ECE instructors. littlestardaycare.ca

Port Alberni John Paul II Catholic School.................. 250-723-0637 “Where children grow and learn through play.” We provide a program that will inspire development physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, creatively and spiritually.

August 2015 67

Ad Directory Abra-Kid-Abra................. 20 All Fun............................ 65 Angela Voll Tutor.............. 22 Arabesque Dance............ 71 Arbutus Grove..................IFC Artistic Statement............ 42 ArtsCalibre Academy....... IBC Aspengrove School.......... 11 Belinda Fontes Photography................ 30 Blue Vista........................ 33 Campus Honda................ 63 Centrepointe Ballet........... 11 Check ABC...................... 42 Chemainus Community Schools....................... 24 Chemainus Theatre.......... 49 Christ Church Cathedral School......................... 54 Conseil Scolaire................. 4 Cordova Bay Preschool..... 61 Cridge Centre, The......29, 69 Dance Unlimited.............. 55 Discovery School............. 64 Dr. Joslin, Dr. Morin & Associates................IFC Emmanuel Preschool....... 22 Evergreen School............. 55 Forest House Childcare Academy..................... 23 Full ’o Beans................... 50 Gorge Soccer................... 30 High School at Vancouver Island University........... 28 Horne Lake Caves............ 21 Intrepid Theatre............... 47 Island Farms.................... 36 Island Kids Academy........ 25 Island Montessori............. 13 Kaleidoscope Theatre....... 40 Kool & Child.....................IFC Lakeview Christian School......................... 39 Lansdowne Preschool...... 49 Larsen Music..................... 6 Leap Forward Dance........ 39 Lexie’s Little Bears........... 52 Lifestyle Markets.............. 14 Lighthouse Christian........ 30 Lucky Village................... 54 Mad Science................... 23 Makehouse...................... 39 Maple Leaf Ballet............. 43 Maria Montessori............. 12 Maxine Fisher.................. 56 Miles of Smiles................ 51 Monarch House............... 51 Mothering Touch................ 5 North Cowichan Parks...... 44 North Island Distance Education...............54, 60 Notaries on Douglas......... 47 O’Brien Irish Dance.......... 22 Oak & Orca...........14, 32, 40 Oak Bay Preschool........... 15 OCEAN 98.5, The............. 59

Pacific Christian School... IBC Pacific Coast Swimming... 55 Panorama Recreation....... 61 Park Sands...................... 71 Patricia Lane..................... 2 Pivot Point....................... 20 Queen Margaret’s School......................... 21 Queen of Angels.............. 45 R.I.A. Early Learning........... 7 READ Society................... 72 Royal BC Museum........... 12 Saanich Dental.................. 6 Saanich Fair.................... 44 Saanich Recreation............ 1 Scouts Canada................ 10 SelfDesign....................... 71 Serious Coffee................. 43 Shakespeare Festival....... 45 Shawnigan Lake Montessori.................... 2 Smart Tutor Referrals....... 25 St. Joseph’s Chemainus... 60 St. Margret’s School......... 13 Stages.........................7, 50 Strawberry Vale Preschool.................... 39 Sunrise Waldorf.............. IBC Sylvan Learning............... 53 The Children’s Treehouse................... 44 The Raptors..................... 51 Thrifty Foods.................... 37 TJ’s The Kiddies Store...... 69 Tom Lee Music................ 65 Total Learning Services.... 41 UVic Farquhar.............33, 60 Valentus Clinics............... 25 Vancouver Island Baby Fair..................... 18 Vancouver Island Coop Preschool Assoc.......... 31 Victoria Conservatory of Music...................... 19 Victoria Kids’ Consignment............... 70 Victoria Montessori.......... 41 Victoria Nature School...... 61 Victoria Pediatric Dental... 26 Victoria School for Ideal Education............ 65 Victoria School of Irish Dance..................IFC Victoria Synchro............... 26 VIHA................................ 58 Vitamin Shop..................... 3 Welcome Wagon.............. 43 West View Plumbing & Ventilation................ 46 West-Mont School........... 26 Westcoast Ballet................ 9 Westshore Centre for Learning................. 15 Westshore Motor Cross Westshore Parks & Recreation................... BC

68 Island Parent Magazine

Postpartum Weight Loss

hile you are pregnant, your body is not just your own. Though you may read or hear about how your body will change, you may not be as prepared as you thought for the physical toll that pregnancy can take. During pregnancy, gaining weight steadily is healthy and normal for you and your baby. If you gained between 25 to 35 pounds, you will have, on average, 5 to 12 pounds of maternal fat stores. The larger the maternal fat stores at the end of the pregnancy, the longer it will take to lose those extra pounds. Be patient with yourself—it took nine months to get to full term, and it can take at least nine months to get back to your pre-pregnant weight. Bear in mind that you may not return to exactly how you were physically before the birth; after all, your body changed in order to create and nourish a miracle! Once you are ready to begin losing weight and you have been given the green light from your health care provider, start by paying attention to portion sizes and getting more active. Here are a few simple tips to get you started: • Regular walks with baby in the stroller can make a difference. It is important to exercise while trying to lose weight to ensure that you are losing fat instead of muscle. Early in recovery, start small with 10 minutes at a time and work your way to a minimum of 30 minutes. Exercise provides many health benefits over and above losing weight—it can help with depression, sleep issues and it can ease stress. • Pre-plan meals and snacks. It can be tough to find time to eat or plan healthy snacks when you have a new baby and schedule. Take time to prepare snacks ahead and divide food up into single portions that you can grab quickly instead of loading up on pastries and coffee from the local bakery. Snack and small meal ideas include: chopped veggies with hummus, a handful of almonds and an apple, whole wheat crackers with nut butter and a piece of fruit, half a sandwich and veggie sticks,

fruit and veggie smoothies. Many moms find that having five to six small meals a day rather than three large meals fits their appetite and schedule better. • Don’t skip meals in an attempt to lose weight, as this will decrease your energy and likely make you grab for quick fixes

New Parent Pages Diana Hurschler, BScN to stabilize your blood sugar. Keep in mind that eating breakfast can help keep you from feeling famished and tired later in the morning and will also curb those sugar cravings. • Drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration. Water also fills you up so that you don’t eat as much and some research has shown that it may help speed up your metabolism. • Sleep is an important factor in losing weight. It may be impossible to get a full eight hours of sleep with a newborn but being sleep deprived could make it harder for you to shed the baby weight. When you are tired, your body releases cortisol and other stress hormones that can speed up your heart rate, slow digestion and move blood flow to major muscle groups and away from the digestive system. This can promote weight gain! When you are exhausted, you are less likely to take good care of yourself and you may be choosing less healthy food and not getting enough exercise. Sleep when your baby sleeps and go to bed early until baby is sleeping longer periods at night. What about weight loss and breastfeeding? Maternal fat stores that you gained in pregnancy are a perfect energy source to ensure that your body can produce enough milk for your baby. Breastfeeding is the most efficient way to use up those maternal fat

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stores. The key to weight loss during the postnatal period is to do it slowly so you can maintain your milk supply and keep your energy up so you can care for your baby. Weight loss of about a pound and a half per week is considered safe and should not affect your milk supply. The first four to six weeks postpartum: after delivery, repair and recovery should be the priority. This is especially true if you experienced a caesarean delivery, an episiotomy, or tearing during delivery. It is important to eat protein rich foods so your body can heal and repair your body and ward off any potential infections. It is equally important to consume adequate calories so that your body can use the protein you eat to repair your body, instead of using the protein as an energy source. Give yourself until the six week postpartum checkup before you start actively trying to slim down. If you are breastfeeding, wait until your baby is at least two months old. Starting a diet too soon after delivery can delay your recovery, add to your stress and make you feel more tired just when you need as much energy as you can get as you adjust to life with a newborn. Cutting calories right after baby is born will actually have a negative effect on your metabolism. When you eat too little, especially during times that your body requires more energy, such as recovering from birth or breastfeeding, your body will perceive it is starving. Regardless of whether it is a perceived or real starvation, your body will respond by slowing your metabolism. This slower metabolism can sabotage your weight loss efforts in the weeks ahead. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much weight you lose naturally by eating a healthy and varied diet. A healthy diet along with regular exercise is the best way to shed the pounds. As tough as I know it is, try not to focus on numbers on the scale or how your jeans are fitting. You are busy doing the most important job in the world. Be gentle and patient with yourself as you maintain your healthy lifestyle and trust that your body will respond as it should in good time.

The Ride for Refuge is a family friendly ride/walk to fundraise for local charities. Start a team, choose your charity, and get your friends to donate—it is as easy as that! On Oct 3, 2015, come out and ride with us to support charities that care for the vulnerable, exploited and displaced. Last year Victoria raised over $100,000! What moves you?

Offering a wide selection of pressure/hardware mount gates and safety locking devices.

rideforrefuge.org or call

250 995 6419

Gliders & Furniture Evolving With Your Family Needs

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For All Your Your Baby Baby Needs… Needs… New, We Also Do&Rentals! For Used Rentals Serving the Infants • Toddlers • Youth • Parents & Grandparents of Victoria

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St.

3045–C Douglas St. (Rear) 386-2229 www.tjskids.com IslandParent.ca

Proudly hosted by The Cridge Centre for the Family

s Dougla

Diana Hurschler, RN BscN, childbirth educator, certified breastfeeding counselor, has been helping families in their childbearing years and beyond since 1998. Diana is the proud mama of four little ones. Email diana@hurschler.com.

What Moves You?

Larch St.

T.J.’S

(Under Sleep Country in the REAR)

August 2015 69

ed wrinkly skin covers a bald bony skull, flaring nostrils and a thin sharp hooked beak. Even though I am a lover of all things wild, I was rather startled during my first close encounter with the turkey vulture, Cathartes aura. Nevertheless, as with many things in life, first impressions don’t last. Turkey vultures are truly unique, even bizarre birds, and some things about them may make your stomach turn. They were given their name likely because of that featherless red head which gives them the appearance of a turkey. It may not look pretty but is perfect for plunging its head inside carcasses. The bald head helps keep dead meat, along with the bacteria it carries, from collecting in feathers while diving into its meal. Those large nostrils make them one of the only birds in North America

70 Island Parent Magazine

capable of smelling. They fly low to the ground and pick up the scent of ethyl mercaptan, a gas produced by decaying animals, using smell alone to locate a carcass in a dense forest. Once a smell is detected, vultures circle above the carcass telling other vultures that dinner has been found. And together the wake of vultures gorges on the dead. Don’t get too close because a turkey vulture’s main line of defence is vomiting

Photo: Kevin Cole

The Face Only a Mother Could Love

semi-digested food. The foul smelling substance deters most predators. They may also need to rid themselves of undigested food in order to take flight. Turkey vultures will eliminate from the other end too as they cool off by defecating on their own legs. Although some consider their habits rather gruesome, turkey vultures actually provide a valuable and essential clean up

role: removing dead animals from the ecosystem that could otherwise be carrying diseases. Their digestive system destroys

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pathogens, thus preventing the spread of disease. Vultures prefer to nest near water so they can meticulously wash themselves after feeding on a rotting carcass. You may even see them roosting in a spread wing stance drying off, warming up or using the sun’s heat to kill parasites. I’m not in love with turkey vultures, but in

Nature Notes KATIE TURNER awe of their beauty and grace as these avian gliders soar seemingly motionless through our skies. As to why these wonderful birds glide above us at this time of year, it can be answered in one word: migration. As the supply of food in their summer territory becomes scarce with winter approaching, the birds migrate south to milder climates and increased food supplies. This journey means many hours on the wing. In order to survive this long flight vultures and many other hawks use air columns called thermals. These bird elevators allow the soaring birds to rise to great heights (200 to 800 meters) and glide along migration flightways to the next thermal. Turkey vultures can thus travel great distances with minimal effort. At East Sooke Regional Park, large flocks of vultures and other birds make use of updrafts created by wind conditions along shorelines. Large numbers gather and glide just above the viewpoint at Beechey Head. By mid morning when the thermals are just right it is an incredible sight to watch as they begin to ‘kettle’ in the rising air currents, much like steam rising from a boiling kettle. On September 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., join CRD Regional Parks at the annual “Hawk Watch.” The celebration will include live raptor demonstrations and activities at East Sooke Regional Park. If you’re feeling energetic, hike up to the view point above Beechey Head and try to get closer to the truly magnificent turkey vultures. Katie Turner is a parks interpreter with the Capital Regional District. You can find more details about Hawk Watch and other nature outings and events hosted by CRD Regional Parks at crd.bc.ca/parks-events. IslandParent.ca

Registration for 2015/2016 Season Sunday, August 23 2–6 pm

For more information or to pre-register:

250·595·3107 www.dancearabesque.ca Valerie Grant, L.C.S.C.-C.I.C.B., L.I.S.T.D. (Cecchetti Faculty)

Registration and classes held at: St. Matthias Anglican Church Hall (Richmond Rd. & Richardson St.)

Experience a life-changing educational opportunity SelfDesign enables learners to complete K-12 by exploring their passions and taking the lead in their own learning and life. With personalized guidance from BC-certified educators, learning unfolds at home and within local and online communities.

www.selfdesign.org August 2015 71

Cut It Out!

Tips from Parent Educator Allison Rees of LIFE Seminars

Stuffing Feelings?

hen we say somebody is acting childishly, we usually mean they are allowing their feelings to guide their behavior. Acting out anger is very different from acknowledging angry feelings and expressing them respectfully. Considering anger often comes after fear, overwhelm or frustration, it makes sense to deal with the original feelings proactively rather than stuffing and raging. Feelings are there to tell you about your needs, but they’re useless if you don’t pay attention. Some people think they have to be deceptively “nice” all the time. This is just a form of denial and a lack of authenticity. Being nice will point you in the direction of the cookie jar (see cartoon.) It will have you slamming cupboard doors while saying nothing is wrong. Your attitude will be a gooey ball of resentment, disdain and contempt. So if you are being nice, you better Cut It Out! It’s terrible role modeling for your kids and you will never get that

great big thank you card from the universe for sacrificing your soul. How about paying attention to your feelings? Is it selfish to ask for some quiet time? Is it okay to get some help so you can rest or play? Do good parents always put their kids’ needs ahead of their own? What are we modeling? If we were to care for ourselves the way we care for others, what would that look like? Kindness is a different ball game. It comes with consideration of your needs first. Yup, yours first! Obviously we put our needs aside for kids but as they get older, we can get pieces

of our self-care back. And oh my, when you give yourself a little window of rest or play or time with friends or to do something you love…your kids and everyone around you will be rewarded. When you say “yes” from a position of kindness, it is whole-hearted because if you are really caring for yourself, you aren’t afraid to say “no” when you need to. This is not selfish! The martyr role just isn’t necessary anymore and guess what? Martyrs can end up manipulating because they can’t ask for things directly. Children who are accused of manipulating usually have to be nice and obedient. Why would they have to manipulate otherwise? So, nurture that precious, juicy life of yours. Put the cleaning rags down, ask the noisy kids to play outside (babies excluded) and practice a little self-care. You might just find that your anger takes a back seat if you take your needs for a little drive. LIFE Seminars has two books available, Sidestepping the Power Struggle and The Parent Child Connection. See lifeseminars. com.

Nationally Recognized Level B Assessments Language Arts Math Sciences Study Skills Family Literacy Individualized Learning Programs

Think Learning…Think READ

Since 1976 the READ Society has been supporting children and youth in the Greater Victoria community to reach their potential. We offer nationally recognized academic assessments to pinpoint your child’s academic needs. We then develop an individualized learning program for your child that is delivered in small or private after school classes by BC Certified Teachers.

Learning skills, confidence and potential READ also offers learning assistance to lower income families in our sponsored programs: Noisy Kids Reading Club • READ is on the Road • Tuition Assistance We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia and thank our generous community supporters

The Victoria READ Society would like to thank our sponsors:

Locations: Victoria, Westshore and Sidney To learn more about our programs and to register:

250-388-7225

info@readsociety.bc.ca

www.readsociety.bc.ca

Celebrating 39 Years of Remedial Learning!

72 Island Parent Magazine

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Waldorf education in a vibrant island community, abundant with the arts, surrounded by organic farms and endless outdoor adventures.

Preschool to Grade 5…and beyond.

Imagine a School…where music, dance, theatre and visual arts are infused into all aspects of an outstanding curriculum. v Junior K and Half/Full-day Kindergarten options also available v Comprehensive K–5 program consistently exceeds BC Curriculum v Excellent facilities, convenient Cedar Hill and Oak Bay locations v Highly qualified, dedicated staff and low student/teacher ratios

Visit our website, come to one of our Open Houses, or call us! www.ArtsCalibre.ca info@ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533

Mixed Age Kindergartens Grades 1-8|Preschool|Parent & Child Island Oak High School nearby

sunrisewaldorfschool.org Founded in 1980| Located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley| 45 minutes north of Victoria.

WEST SHORE PARKS & RECREATION In our play-based preschools children have fun, build relationships and explore the world in which they live. Activities include arts & crafts, storytelling, music, cooking, indoor and outdoor free play. We participate in a variety of off-site field trips, use of the library and kindergym, and special activities such as dance, sports, yoga and skating. Our Licensed programs are led by certified Early Childhood Educators who are also trained in (NCCP) 'Fundamental Movement Skills' and incorporate basic components of physical literacy into our preschool programs. Children must turn the minimum age for the program by December 31, 2015.

CONTACTS US Centennial Centre & Nature Preschool

Nature Preschool

Katherine Salmons 250-474-5825 Alexandra Matthew 250-474-8619 We accept families receiving a Child Care Subsidy. If your child requires extra support or qualifies for funding through Supported Child Development contact the program supervisor prior to registration. Space is limited to one support staff per class.

Each class is spent outdoors where children deepen their understanding of the natural world and their place within it. Drop off and pick up locations vary, and include the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre, Esquimalt Lagoon, Essencia, Goldstream Park, and Fort Rodd Hill.

Limited number of 3 Year olds spaces. JDF PICNIC SHELTER 9:00-11:30 AM

Monday & Wednesday Classes are FULL Tu Th F

Sep 15-Jun 21 $814/37 Sep 17-Jun 23 $814/37 Sep 18-Jun 24 $814/37

98761 98762 94517

Play & Learn Preschool 3 Years

This introduction to preschool is designed to ease children’s transition to preschool. Children build friendships and independence through play and hands-on learning. JDF PLAYROOM SPACES AVAILABLE WED & FRI 9:00 – 11:30 AM

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday classes are FULL W F

Sep 16-Jun 22 $792/36 Sep 18-Jun 24 $814/37

94528 94529

4 Years

For children entering kindergarten the following year. In addition to play-based learning, time is dedicated each day to kindergarten preparation such as numbers, literacy and structured activity. JDF KIDS COTTAGE NEW CLASSES ADDED! 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

JDF Kids Cottage Classes are FULL

3-5 Years

Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre

KinderPrep

CENTENNIAL CENTRE ARBUTUS ROOM 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM M Sep 14-Jun 20 $1053/33 98758 W Sep 16-Jun 22 $1152/36 98759 F Sep 18-Jun 24 $1184/37 98760

Discover Preschool 3-5 Years

Each day is spent creating, exploring, and having fun with cooperative play and learning. In a mixed age setting, children are able to act as mentors and take leadership roles according to their own abilities and interests.

JDF PLAYROOM 12:30-3:00 PM Tu Sep 15-Jun 21 $814/37 94520 W Sep 16-Jun 22 $792/36 94522 Th Sep 17-Jun 23 $814/37 94521 CENTENNIAL CENTRE ARBUTUS ROOM 9:00-11:30 AM Tu/Th Sep 15-Jun 23 $1628/74 FULL

Bright Beginnings 2-3 Years

For those who don't meet the age requirements of year long preschool. We introduce children to a world of exploring, sharing, and making friends. Includes music, play, art & crafts, stories and kindergym.

JDF KIDS COVE 9:00 – 11:00 AM 2015 Tu/Th Sep 15- Dec 17 2015 W/F Sep 16- Dec 18 2016 Tu/Th Jan 05-Apr 28 2016 Tu/Th May 03-Jun 16

$448/28 $432/27 $480/30 $224/14

FULL 98442 94586 94590