Auburn Opelika Parents Summer Camps Issue (March 2024)

Publisher’sNote

March is our most anticipated edition of the year... Summer Camps 2024! In this month’s magazine, you will find national, regional, and local camps that feature everything from fine arts and STEM to archery and soccer. Do you have a child interested in learning how to play the trumpet or guitar? Or is he showing interest in acting in plays on a theatre stage? How about wanting to discover the great outdoors and meet new friends at a sleepover camp? The summer months are a great time to let your children grow and explore in new ways and new environments. After stepping out of the classroom this spring, kids will want some much-needed rest and downtime but are always eager to keep the learning going. What better way to foster summer growth than to embark on new summer activities like day or overnight camps?

The first, and probably the most challenging part, is deciding if your camper should stay local and explore day camps in the Auburn and Opelika area or if they (and you) are ready to pack their bags and go overnight to a sleepaway camp. It’s a big decision and should be decided together as a family. In the feature article, 7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp, the author gives great tips to help families prepare for summer camps. When looking at an overnight camp and your camper’s readiness, ask questions like, “Is my child fairly independent and has personal initiative?” or “Has she experienced positive sleepovers with friends?” Also, another good question to ask is, “Are you ready to let them go?”

For me, it was always the latter question that was most imperative to answer when planning for my children’s summer adventures. Yes, I am a helicopter mom, and letting go is the hardest thing for me. However, sitting down and chatting with my kids about sleepaway camp helped us parents and our children decide which camp we were all ready for. Asking them what they perceive the camp experience to be like and coupling that with what the camp days and nights will ACTUALLY be like can help everyone realistically prepare for the experience. Leaving no surprise unspoken, like the possibility of being homesick, early morning wake-up calls, and getting themselves ready for their camp day, can be beneficial because it leads to discussing possible real issues at camp. These conversations ahead of time and early in the spring can help your family decide if the kids are ready to go to a camp away from home.

If you decide that local day camps are the better option this year, our area has many great camps from which to choose. Whether it is a ballet, ceramics, golf, or science lab camp, you will find a perfect fit right here in East Alabama. Auburn Day School will host weekday camps for kids ages 3 to 9, including Little Bakers, Minecraft, and Music Lab. Also, Variations Dance Studio will be hosting the Petite Academy Adventure Camps featuring creative movement, jazz, ballet, and hip hop. Whose little princess wouldn’t love wearing a pink tutu and dancing each day? New to the area is Jenny’s Little Ranch Hands, where your day camper can work on a farm. They will meet all the farm animals, learn how to care for them, and go on country walks.

Explore the options as a family, but decide as soon as possible to get in on all the early bird rates and specials. From one parent to another, here’s to a great summer filled with happy campers.

kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com

Publisher

Kendra Sumner

Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com

Editor

DeAnne Watson

Contributing Writers

Kristi Bush, LSW

Tanni Haas

Gabriele Jones

Sarah Lyons

Works of Wonder Therapy

Cover Photography

Matthan Brown

Matthan Brown Photography

www.matthanbrownphoto.com

President

Jason Watson

Director of Sales

Justin Sumner

(334) 209-0552

Ad Design

Tim Welch

Web Content Manager

Scott Davis

Sunday, March 24 • 3 p.m.

Woltosz Theatre

by Works of Wonder Therapy www.worksofwondertherapy.com

Resolving Sibling Conflict

“My children are constantly fighting, and I am losing my mind!” All parents with more than one child have expressed this frustration at least once. Just know sibling conflict is a normal and valuable part of family life. These fights can be beneficial because they can teach interpersonal skills that will last a lifetime. These skills include listening to others, cooperating in tense situations, appreciating a different person’s point of view, and managing emotions.

When your children are around four to five years old, you should begin teaching them how to mediate conflict. Successful mediation is a skill that must be taught and practiced. This means you will be helping them mediate hundreds of conflicts before they know how to do it independently.

What not to do...

sibling conflicts will only increase because you are not teaching the skills they need to manage the conflict on their own.

What to do...

1. Be quiet, observe your children fighting, and do not allow yourself to make assumptions. You might be surprised by what you learn.

Do not ignore the fighting or rush in and take control. When you do this, the

2. You must stay calm. Do not add to the chaos by being overly emotional.

3. If a child is physically or verbally aggressive, stop the behavior and remove the child from the situation. You do not want your children to believe aggression is an appropriate way to get what they want.

4. Give everyone some time to become calm. Make it clear that no one will talk about the problem until everyone is calm.

5. When everyone is ready to communi-

cate, make the rules for the conversation clear. For example, everyone must listen, everyone is responsible for helping solve the problem, etc.

6. Clarify what argument will be discussed. Force your children to work through the most recent conflict and prevent them from bringing in past experiences.

7. To build empathy and understanding, allow each child to share their perspective.

8. Encourage the children to explain possible solutions. Have them act out what they will do the next time this conflict arises.

Things to remember...

1. Treat all children fairly, but not the same. Every child has different strengths and weaknesses. Help them learn what to do in areas where they are weak and encourage them to continue developing in their areas of strength.

2. Use encouraging speech. Avoid saying things like, “You are older; you should know better.” Instead, point out what should have happened and have the child practice.

3. Be prepared. Your children will fight; have a plan for how you will respond when this happens.

Dr. Beth Long received her education in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Beth has worked in six unique clinical environments across the country and currently owns Works of Wonder Therapy in Montgomery. Beth utilizes the knowledge from a variety of different disciplines to give her patients the best care possible. To learn more visit www.worksofwondertherapy.com.

Bark in the Park

Auburn Parks and Recreation and the Lee County Humane Society will host Bark in the Park: An Event Celebrating Responsible Dog Ownership on Saturday, March 16, at Kiesel Park from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Join us at Kiesel Park, 520 Chadwick Lane, Auburn. This FREE community event is open to all dog owners and their favorite four-legged friends. Vendor applications available. Local businesses, veterinarians, non-profit organizations and rescues offering products and services for dog owners are encouraged to submit an application to Sarah Cook at scook@ auburnalabama.org.

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live at Gogue Performing Arts Center

65 million years in the making!

On April 7, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live guides your family on a breathtaking tour that begins in prehistoric Australia. You’ll observe, meet and interact with an eye-popping collection of amazing lifelike dinosaurs and other creatures in a theatrical performance that thrills and entertains kids while stimulating their imaginations in ways that forever connect them to their world. Brought to life by a team of skilled puppeteers, Dinosaur Zoo Live is so extraordinarily real you may want to run and hide—but don’t! 910 South College Street, Auburn. 3pm. www.goguecenter.auburn.edu

44th Annual Easter Egg Hunt: March 30

Thousands of eggs will be filled with candy and toys that will be hidden throughout Duck Samford Park Lower Baseball Fields, Auburn. Participants who find a grand prize egg will win a prize basket containing gift cards, toys, and Easter goodies. Attendees can also enjoy musical entertainment, free balloons, face painting and inflatables beginning at 9 a.m. Every participant must be preregistered and there will be no registration taken day of event! $5 per child for Auburn residents and $10 per child non-residents.

3rd Annual Breakfast with the Bunny

Hop on over to the buffet-style breakfast at Kiesel Park in Auburn, March 23, 8:00am. Tickets will be $10 per person to attend the buffetstyle breakfast from Another Broken Egg and participate in activities. Other activities will include a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny, balloon animals, face painting, a petting zoo and egg hunt! This can’t-miss event is sure to produce some cherished family memories and adorable photo opportunities. This event is for ages 3 and younger, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required. www.auburnalabama.org/easter-egg-hunt/

O Grows Farmers Market

O Grows Community Garden and Market will be open Saturdays this spring, 9:00am-12:00pm, 1103 Glenn Street, Opelika, behind Southside Center for the Arts. The O Grows Community Garden hosts a Saturday Farmers Market featuring local farmers, bakers, and makers. Visitors to the market can also tour the community garden and greenhouse, participate in kids’ outdoor science and art activities, attend storytime at 10 a.m., and help feed our resident goats! For more information, visit www.facebook.com/opelikagrows.

Underwater Egg Hunt

Make an Easter splash with us on March 29, 6-8pm! Hunt for eggs in the Opelika SportsPlex pool and receive prizes for your hunt. This event is for children ages 6-10. Eggs will be dropped in varying depths of water, allowing participation from swimmers of all ability levels. At the end of the event participants can exchange their eggs for candy and prizes. Families are free swim after the egg hunt. Opelika SportPlex Pool, 1001 Sportplex Parkway. $5 per person, must register by March 25. Visit https://www.opelika-al.gov/714/Underwater-Egg-Hunt.

Family Art Fun

Come enjoy the outdoors at the KPNC through art, March 30, 1:00-3:00pm! No matter the age you can have fun with art while learning to improve. During this class you will learn about many different watercolor techniques while creating your own masterpiece. We will start with simple techniques and work our way up. We will do an instructive lesson on how to paint a leaf, then you will get the chance to paint whatever inspires you. This will be a great opportunity to have some family fun while enjoying nature and art! Tickets are $5 ($4 for members) and available on our website or at the door. Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 North College Street, Auburn. preserve@auburn.edu; www.auburnalabama.org

The Little Mermaid: March 8-24

One of the most ravishing Broadway shows ever, this Tony Award-winning fantasy is more than just a visual feast. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, a teenage mermaid, Ariel, gets a glimpse of the human, Prince Eric, and falls in love. Defying her father, King Triton, she bargains with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder, Scuttle and Sebastian to restore order under the sea. Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. This fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea, “ “Kiss the Girl,” and “Part of Your World.”. Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus. www.springeroperahouse.org

Zoo Weekend at The Montgomery Zoo

Mark your calendars for the weekend of March 16-17 for the annual Zoo Weekend event. Great music, two stages of live entertainment, games and prizes for the kids, inflatables and slides, petting zoo, rides, animal presentations and encounters, tons of yummy concessions, and fun, fun, fun! Admissions: Adults $18, Children (3-12 years) $14, Toddlers (2 and younger) Free. Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery. 9am-4pm. www.montgomeryzoo.com/ plan-your-visit/zoo-special-event-calendar

LSA Welcome Special Guests to Campus

Our second and third grade students were treated with two special guests! Second & third grade boys heard from author and pastor, Dr. Jimmy Tidmore. Tidmore is known for his captivating book series centered around the theme of hunting. As an author, he brings a unique perspective to the world of literature, combining his passion for writing with his faith. Our boys were incredibly excited to hear about his stories and are eager to check out from the four sets of books he graciously donated to the LSA library. Second & third grade girls heard from Ms. Sophie Burzynski, Miss Alabama USA 2023, and a senior at Auburn University. Sophie read “A Parable about the King” by Beth Moore discussing how the beauty the Lord has given us comes from within. She also answered tons of questions about the pageant process and her past year!

Thank you to Dr. Tidmore & Miss Sophie for spending time with our students!

Promoting Career Tech in ACS

Mayor Ron Anders presented a proclamation at Auburn High School declaring February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) month for the City of Auburn! CTE provides students nationally with school-to-career connections and is the backbone of a strong, well-educated workforce, fostering productivity in business and industry while contributing to America’s leadership in the international marketplace. February is recognized as Alabama CTE Month throughout the state as Alabama’s local educators continue to work diligently to inspire young people to do their best in school to ensure a lifetime of success in the future. Auburn City Schools is proud to have 15 program pathways with more than 1,400 students enrolled in CTE courses across three campuses. During the proclamation, Mayor Anders was joined by several CTE students, CTE Director Dr. Silvia Scaife, PTLW Engineering teacher Sarah Sharman, and AHS Principal Dr. Shannon Pignato.

TCS Celebrate 100 Days

Students at Trinity Christian School are 100 days smarter. It was a wonderful day of celebrate the 100th Day of School! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” - Hebrews 13:8

Creekside Elementary Students Enjoyed Read Aloud Day

Creekside Elementary School kicked off World Read Aloud efforts with several special guest readers. From Auburn University Baseball Players to ACS Superintendent Dr. Herring, CES students experienced the value and connection of having someone read aloud to them. With World Read Aloud Day taking place on the first Wednesday in February, schools across the globe started celebrating reading aloud on February 1st. This global effort, created by the non-profit LitWorld and sponsored by Scholastic, is celebrated annually in over 173 countries and is all about bringing people together through the shared love of reading aloud. Thank you to all of our guest readers from the community for taking time out of their day to make a difference in our student’s lives!

Author, Jerry Craft, Visits with AJHS Students

New York Times Best-Selling Author Jerry Craft captivated the imaginations of ACS students in grades 7-9. As a young person who did not enjoy reading, Craft shared his journey from a doodler to author and illustrator, with his graphic novel “New Kid” being the first in history to win a John Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature. “New Kid” is now being adapted into a major motion picture with LeBron James’ production company, Springhill Entertainment, in partnership with Universal Pictures. In addition to his award-winning series that followed “New Kid” (“Class Act” and “School Trip”), Craft has also illustrated for Marvel Comics and now travels the world telling kids and their families about the importance of reading. Mr. Craft encouraged students to pursue their goals and passions, as his story of unforeseen success is an excellent example of what can happen when you chase your dreams. A special thank you to Auburn Junior High School’s Librarian and Media Specialist, Katie Rainer, for coordinating the visit!

Congratulations to the OCS 2023-24 Teachers of the Year

The Opelika City Schools Board of Education honored our teachers of the year at the January board meeting. Thank you to this amazing group of educators who go above and beyond for our students! Pictured (l-r): Marta Harrison-OMS, Laura Childs-Jeter Primary, Traci Meyers-West Forest Intermediate, Tamera Garner-Fox Run School, Haley Thomas-Morris Avenue Intermediate, Mandy Baker-OHS (OCS Secondary Teacher of the Year), Meagan Pritchard-Carver Primary, Branham SmithNorthside Intermediate (OCS Elementary Teacher of the Year), and Kasi Davis-Southview Primary.

LSA Dance Team Compete at Dance Challenge

The Lee-Scott Dance Team competed in the Magic City Dance Challenge this at Thompson High School. The team competed in the Gameday Dance Division and placed 8th overall. This was the team’s first time competing and they did an amazing job!

Congratulations to these girls, Coach Starr and Coach Maddie for all of their hard work paying off!

happens Amazing

Opelika Middle School Named 2024 School Principal of the Year

Congratulations to Opelika Middle School Principal, Mr. Keith York, on being named the 2024 Alabama Middle School Principal of the Year! An assembly was held to surprise Mr. York with the news. Many thanks to Vic Wilson and the members of Council for Leasers in Alabama Schools for presenting the award. Special thanks to Mayor Gary Fuller for helping us pull off the surprise. Congratulations Mr. York, we are proud of you and appreciate your leadership and dedication to our schools!

When people with extraordinary talent and passion are given the technology, the facilities, and the support, they achieve great things. The discoveries taking place today will help shape the future of treatments and lead to cures – benefitting not only our patients and families, but people across the country and around the world for years to come.

The Lee-Scott Academy

Drama Department proudly presents...

This "tale as old This "tale as old as time" is filled as time" is filled with spectacular with spectacular costumes and costumes and sets put on by sets put on by talented talented students from students from 4th - 12th Grade!

4th - 12th Grade! Disney's Beauty Disney's Beauty and the Beast and the Beast offers a great offers a great opportunity to opportunity to bring the entire bring the entire community community together for together for family theatre at family theatre at its best. its best.

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED NOW ON THE S2 APP ON iPHONE AND ANDROID!

Lee-Scott Academy does not

ACS 2024 FACES Recipients

The 2024 FACES reception occurred at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, where several ACS educators were celebrated for excellence! During the event, ACS Assistant Superintendent and FACES Director Wes Gordon awarded checks for $2,000 from FACES to teachers who wrote grants for creative ways they are enhancing the classroom experience for their students (see list of winners below). A special thank you to Rep. Joe Lovvorn for his support through a donation of $10,000 to fund future endeavors for the FACES organization. In addition to recognizing the top grant writers, the 2023-2024 Teachers of the Year (TOTY) were honored with the elementary and secondary representatives, Deana Hooks and Greg Sanders, being presented with the Carol Pittard Award and Dianne Wilson Award. This year, the FACES board also introduced a new award for the top-scoring grant, The Bill and Carol Ham Award, which went to Leann White and Christy Keith at Wrights Mill Road Elementary School. Their grant aims to create an engaging and interactive learning environment that helps students of all math skill levels review and solidly essential math concepts by using outdoor math lawn games FACES Grants of Excellence.

- Katie Callahan, WMR: Empowering Minds with STEAM

- Jenna Chapman, DMS: Equation Exploration: Empowering Math Learners with Algebra Manipulatives

- Ginger Key, WPES: You and Me: Under the Sea!

- LaToya Levett, ESS: Let’s Get the Ball Rolling with APE (Adapted Physical Education)!

- Patience Melius, WPES: Second Chance Recyclers

- Carley Muschara & Lauren Smith, AHS: Writer’s Block Workshop

- Tami Nelson, WMR: Building Strong Foundations: Nurturing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills in Elementary Students

- Lee Rogers, WPES: Conjuring Magical Stories

- Yolanda Smith, WMR: Enhancing Learning Through Hands-On Manipulatives for Special Education Students

- Leann White and Christy Keith, WMR: Take It Outside ACS is proud of all these educators for exemplifying excellence for students!

ACS Leaders Attend Conference

A group of ACS administrators attended the 2024 Assistant Principal Conference hosted by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS). These five school leaders were among 160 other administrators from around the state gathering to immerse themselves in training focused on school finance, observational feedback, and laws pertaining to public education. ACS is proud of Dr. Melissa Baker (AJHS), Dr. Jonathan Finch (DMS), Amber Goolsby (WMR), Susan Shonk (CWES), and Kristen Williams (AJHS) for their continued pursuit of

Please send school news and photos to: Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com.

Lee County DYW Places at State

Congratulations to AHS Senior Cate Herring. Representing Lee County as a participant in the Distinguished Young Women state program, Cate was recognized as a Top 8 Finalist with awards in the categories of selfexpression and talent.

Trinity Christian 4th Graders Learning Handwriting Skills

The fourth grade spent time in their handwriting curriculum writing in cursive. Cursive handwriting helps students retain more information, engages both sides of the brain, promotes creativity, improves fine motor skills and muscle control, more accurate spelling, AND was used in historical documents, like the Declaration of Independence, by our forefathers!

LSA Upper School Participate at AISA Science Expo

Upper School students were invited to participate in this year’s AISA Science Innovation Expo. Students were given the option of entering a project in one of four categories: Reverse Engineering, Science Fiction, Scientific Inquiry and Innovation and Invention. We are so proud of all of our students and their hard work on these projects. Pie and Chloe Clinard’s Science Fiction was selected to compete at the state level!

The winners from LSA:

Reverse Engineering

Hunter Crews

Connor Ezell

Smith Harkins

Reverse Engineering

Ethan Anglin

Science Fiction

Chloe & Pie Clinard

Science Fiction

Sofia Pugh

Scientific Inquiry

Maddie Starr

Scientific Inquiry

Audrey Edwards

Lizzy Gregory

Ella Shepard

Trinity Christian Art Students’ Work Featured

Our 4th graders submitted artwork featuring Alabama’s state bird, the Yellowhammer, or flower, the Camellia, to a statewide competition for a chance to have their work displayed in the Governor’s mansion. The students used chalk to color in their detailed pencil drawings.

The Auburn Choral Company performed at the Capital City Classic in Montgomery this

- Best Show Design

- Best Visuals

- Best Vocals

- 1st Place

Large Mixed Division

- Overall Grand Champions Congrats and Men at Work for their amazing competition shows, where Elan received Best Show Design, Best Vocals, and second place overall in the all-female category. Men at Work also placed second overall

Congrats to LSA Girls JV Basketball Teams

Congratulations to the Warriors’ JV basketball teams on fantastic years! Both teams fell in hard fought battles in the semifinals.

Sydney Dunlap & Clarke

Ivatt were named to the girls’ AllTournament team while Brooks Zachry & Braden

Martin were named to the boys’ All-Tournament team. Congratulations to the players & coaches on amazing years!

ACS Celebrates World Languages

The National World Language Honor Societies at Auburn High School recently held an induction ceremony for new members. With 113 student members inducted, the societies at AHS include German, French, and Spanish. The World Language Department is proud of the language acquisition and accomplishments of the students at AHS. Students become eligible for induction upon completion of three consecutive years of study. Students with a language GPA of 3.8 or higher are eligible for induction during their fourth year of study. Having studied all three languages at AHS, senior Davien Kenvongsa has been an ambassador based on his language electives and love for learning, becoming a member of all three honor societies. ACS is proud of these students’ accomplishments and the pursuit of learning another language! Thank you to all the World Language faculty at AHS: Spanish teachers include Señora Sara Holder, Señor Stephen Irwin, Señora Tokema Watts, Señora Sara Zuwiyya, Señor Robert Andrews, and Señora Cayla Baker Madame Sara Ahnell teaches French, and Herr Adam Martin teaches German.

OHS Track Wins at State Level

Opelika had a great showing at the AHSAA Indoor Track State Championship. Top performers were as follows:

Tierra Agee, State Champion in long jump and 4th place in the 60 meter dash

Davian Jones, State Champion in triple jump and State Runner-Up in long jump

Kyndall Brundidge, State Runner-Up in triple jump and 4th place in long jump

The Girls’ Team finished 6th in the state, and the Boys’ Team finished 10th. Almost all of our Opelika track athletes finished with personal bests. Congratulations to all of our track athletes on a fantastic indoor season! Go Dawgs!

TCS Varsity Celebrates Its Seniors

Trinity Christian School wins 49-38 on Senior Night! “I’m grateful for our seniors in what they’ve contributed to helping us in building this program. I’m humbled by the support of our entire school, administration, students, parents, friends, and alumni in yesterday’s environment. Everyone brought the best of them, and it shows what it can look like when folks buy into something that is bigger than them. We are Trinity.” - Coach Noah Gardner

ACS Student Wins 2024 Lee County Spelling Bee

Auburn City Schools won the 2024 Lee County Spelling Bee, with Ethan Zou and Liam Kim securing the top two spots in today’s competition! In the 20th round, representing J.F. Drake Middle School, Ethan Zou won first place with the word “anchorage” (an area suitable for a ship to anchor in). Liam Kim, representing Ogletree Elementary School, was the first alternate among spellers from 24 area schools, including the five 3-5 schools, DMS, ESS, and Auburn City Schools is proud of Ethan and Liam for their performances and we look forward to Ethan spelling at the state level this March!

OCS Thankful to School Board

It’s School Board Appreciation Month and we would like to send our gratitude to the members of the Opelika City Schools Board of Education for their leadership and dedication. Thank you!

LSA Students Selected for Alabama All-State Band

Congratulations to sophomore James Bagley and juniors Will Rhodes & Jazriene Revalde for being selected to the Alabama All-State Band. Additionally, juniors Gabriela Pugh and Campbell Thomas were selected to the All-District Band. We’re proud of these hard working and talented students!

Send school news to: Kendra@ auburnopelikaparents.com.

Auburn High Basketball Wins

Auburn High School secured two Area 4 Championships this week, with the varsity girls and boys both taking down the Central Red Devils! With a 74-68 victory, the ladies secured backto-back area titles, and the boys finished in exciting fashion with a comeback score of 72-69!

Mr. and Miss OHS 2024

Congratulations to Miss OHS-April Vega Sanchez and Mr. OHS-Sam Kemp! Congratulations also to Miss OHS First Runner-Up-Stella George, Miss OHS Second Runner-Up Kailey Bice, Miss Sophomore Class-Memshalyah Weaver, and Miss Freshman Class-Caroline Couey. Mr. and Miss OHS will receive scholarships and serve as Emissaries during their Senior year.

Congratulations to all!

TCS First Graders Make Snow

The firstgrade class learned how to read and follow a recipe to make snow. The students used the snow in creative, multisensory activities that stretched across the curriculum, allowing them to practice variety of standards and skills.

Dean Road Explores Career Tech

Dean Road Elementary School kindergarten students took a field trip to Auburn High School to learn more about Career Technical Education (CTE) offerings! With CTE teachers and high school students lending a hand, the DRES Rockets decorated cookies with fruit in the Food, Wellness, & Dietetics program with Ms. Mattie Dunn, played problem-solving games in the Education & Training program with Mrs. Julie Echols, and tried on personal protection equipment in the Building Construction program with Mrs. Jess Bowlin. This field trip allowed kindergartners to connect with another school while exploring courses they may want to pursue at the secondary level. It also gave AHS students the opportunity to lead and mentor some of our youngest students. With Career Technical Education Month taking place across the state this past February, more than 180,000 students in grades 9-12 are now enrolled in Alabama CTE programs, preparing for in-demand opportunities in America’s leading career areas.

LSA Students Coding in Tech Classes

Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 4th Grade students have all been coding in Technology class with Mrs. Jones. Pre-K students have enjoyed using “Code-a-Pillar” and coding cards to learn the basics of coding. Kindergarten students have been using Scratch Jr. software to learn about block coding and commands, and 4th grade students are using Ozobots. They have learned how to program their Ozobot using different markers and color codes! Seeing the evolution of students’ introduction to coding to create programs is absolutely amazing!

Trinity Christian Students Shoot for the Stars

As a part of their study of the planets and solar system, 6th grade students constructed a model ecosystem for a potential Mars community. The project aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the planet’s living conditions and requirements.

LSA Hosts County Spelling Bee

Lee-Scott Academy had the pleasure of hosting the Lee County Spelling Bee at Cornerstone Church. LSA 5th Grader Keegan Henry represented Lee-Scott and made it several rounds. Congratulations to all that competed and prepared so well!

Please send school news to: Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com by the 10th of each month!

Lee-Scott Academy’s Equestrian Club Enjoys Hands-On Learning

The LSA Equestrian Club had their first meeting of the year at Wild Oak Farm! The club was excited to have Ani Blair, a fourth year student at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and horse trainer, as its speaker. The group learned about common health issues for horses and preventative care. The group also was able to do some grooming and have a fun arts & crafts project!

Reading With Role Models at Cary Woods Elementary

Cary Woods Elementary School hosted several guest readers for their World Read Aloud celebration! Several Auburn University representatives, SRO Tyrone Guice and Mayor Ron Anders can now add “CWES Certified Reader” to their resumes, thanks to their impact on our students’ lives today. Reading aloud to children daily improves language skills, academic success, imagination, and creativity, while cultivating a lifelong love of reading. Auburn City Schools loves to see our community working together to enrich the educational experience for students!

ESS Student Wins Art Competition

Shiloh Lora, a seventh grader at East Samford School, has won the Middle School division of the Youth Art Month (YAM) Flag Design competition for the state of Alabama! This year, the Alabama Art Education Association’s (AAEA) theme is “Dream in Art,” and with her design, Shiloh will be recognized at the AAEA State conference this October in Auburn. Shiloh designed her flag under the tutelage of ESS Art Teacher Tricia Oliver.

LSA Students Compete at Weekend Blitz

Charley Donald was one of the students who completed the Weekend Blitz challenge through the American Heart Association and had her name drawn as the school winner!

Coach Harrison presented her with her prize. Way to go, Charley and all LSA students for working hard to complete the AHA challenges!

LSA Students Donate to Humane Society

The CARE Humane Society came by to pick up donations collected by the K.I.C.K.S. Leadership Club in the Lower School. Students organized the drive and encouraged their classmates to help them collect food and items for animals at the humane society!

LSA Band Participants in Workshops

The Warrior Band was well-represented this weekend at the Troy University High School Honor Bandsenior Madison Meals earned 6th chair out of 70 trombones who auditioned! Madison participated in multiple workshops and attend various concerts over the 3-day event, concluding the weekend with the Honor Band performing three incredible arrangements dedicated to soldiers and their experiences during wartime. Great job!

Morris Avenue Intermediate Celebrates 100 Days

Students at Morris Avenue Intermediate had such a fun 100th day of school!

101 Days Smarter at LSA

It was the 101st Day of School and we might have actually had 101 Dalmatians roaming the Lower School halls! 101 days of school is complete and LSA students are looking to finish strong in the spring semester.

State Art Winners From ACS

The Alabama State Department of Education announced the winners of the 2024 State Superintendent’s Visual Art Exhibit, with three ACS students placing, including Best of Show for the entire State of Alabama in grades K-6! At Pick Elementary, fifth-grader Eli Kiser won BEST OF SHOW for the elementary division with his artwork titled “Washing Waves,” which was created under the tutelage of Art Teacher Alicia Hames. At East Samford School, Shiloh Lora (Art Teacher Tricia Oliver) won second place in the 7-8 Division with her entry titled “Apples in the Afternoon,” and Cedar Linhoss (Art Teacher Sarah Goodling) won third place in the 3-4 Division with her entry titled “Picasso’s Crazy Chicken.” These students will be formally recognized at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery on March 13, 2024. The Elementary Exhibit was displayed in the Old Supreme Court Library of the State Capitol during February. The Secondary Exhibit will be during March. Congratulations to the winning students, their teachers, and their schools!

Please send school news to: Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com by the 10th of each month!

Drake Middle School Students

Immerse into the Art of Dance

Several sixth graders at J.F. Drake Middle School learned the art of dance alongside teaching artists from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre! As part of a week-long residency at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center (GPAC), Nasha Thomas, Jessica St. Vil and Damazi Williams worked with students to create an energetic performance that incorporated choreographed routines, poetry through interpretive dance, and a celebration of Black History, Alvin Ailey, and his masterpiece ballet titled “Revelations.” The week began with professional development from Thomas, St. Vil, and Williams for teachers at DMS, showing them ways to incorporate dance into their lesson plans. Several teachers also participated as dancers during the school-wide performance. This effort allowed students to work on public speaking skills, build confidence, and express themselves through the art of dance. Later in the month, all sixth graders will attend an Alvin Ailey performance at the GPAC! Auburn City Schools is proud of its partnership with the GPAC, which presents educational opportunities for students to experience the arts throughout the school year!

LSA Pre-K Learns Through Art

In art, Pre-K students have learned about the art of Piet Mondrian with Mrs. Beard. They are printing horizontal and vertical black lines on color rectangles and squares to make their art similar to Mondrian’s. Mondrian only used primary colors, but these students used lots of colors to make it their own work!

Grading Family Movies: Streaming, Online Rentals, and Theatrical Releases

Madame Web

Lisa Frankenstein

Bob

Marley: One Love

Argylle

Theaters Rating Overall Violence Sex Profanity Alcohol/Drugs

PG-13 C- C A C B

Following a near-death experience, Cassie starts having premonitions of future events. When she foresees a man trying to murder three teens on a train, Cassie grabs the girls and runs. Now she must master her new skill in order to save them. This could have been a moderately interesting film, but it is plagued by flat acting and one of the most boring villains ever featured in a superhero flick. Negative content is comparable to other Marvel movies with plenty of highly choreographed violence. Photo ©Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Theaters Rating Overall Violence Sex Profanity Alcohol/Drugs

PG-13 C- D D B- D

After the murder of her mother, Lisa leans into her goth phase, spending her time in the cemetery daydreaming about a handsome man’s gravestone. When a freak event reanimates him, Lisa is determined to give him a happy second life – at any cost. This retro-80s horror comedy retains a campy vibe despite some gruesome violence, including gory dismemberments. The casual murder, sexual innuendo, and teen alcohol consumption make this movie unsuitable for teens despite its PG-13 rating Photo ©Focus Features

Theaters Rating Overall Violence Sex Profanity Alcohol/Drugs

PG-13 B- B- A- C- D

Determined to provide a unifying event for his strife-torn country, musician Bob Marley decides to offer a free concert. But when he and his friends and family are shot at the Marley home, he flees Jamaica for Europe to find safety. Bookended by two blockbuster concerts, this film is geared to reggae fans who will enjoy the music. Other viewers will struggle with the strong Jamaican accents and parents will be unhappy with the non-stop marijuana use on screen, regardless of the religious rationale behind its consumption. Photo ©Paramount Pictures

Theaters Rating Overall Violence Sex Profanity Alcohol/Drugs

PG-13 D D B C- CElly Conway is the shy, reclusive author of a fictional spy series that is inadvertently revealing the details of a real-life covert organization. When a spy comes to her rescue and scores more try to kill her, she devotes her research skills to saving herself and the rest of the world. This should be a fun, zany film; instead it’s a jumbled, bloated mess with sloppy, amateurish CGI and an incoherent plot that’s burdened with ludicrous plot twists. More seriously, the film glamorizes and celebrates violence, treating killing as comic material. It isn’t funny. Photo ©Universal Pictures

TV-Y7 B B A B A

Orion has a long list of fears, but none are as bad as his terror of the dark. One night, the Dark, who is tired of being a figure of dread, pays Orion a visit. Over the course of their adventure, Orion learns to reframe his fears. This film provides great messages to anxious children and can give them insight into their worries. The movie is beautifully animated but it comes with a sprinkling of minor profanities and some incoherent plot elements in the second half of the film. Kids will enjoy it more than their fussier parents Photo ©Netflix

Detailed reviews available at www.parentpreviews.com

Orion

the Dark

A Lesson He’ll Remember For the Rest of His Life

Q . Our 21-year-old son is in college, and we’ve always warned him to stay away from credit cards. Despite our warnings, we recently learned he got a store-branded credit card. The good

There’s a reality here, though, I hope you won’t overlook. It’s his debt, not yours. He knew what he was doing when he signed up for that credit card. He knew what it meant, what was expected, and he’s the one who should make good on the repayment. There’s nothing unfair about

two the opportunity to provide him with a real world, teachable moment.

At this point, my advice is for both of you to give him a great big hug, and lovingly explain where he went wrong and why it was a bad idea. If you want, you can even go a step further, and help him find a part-time

Online Noise!

How Much Is Too Much and How to Quiet It

In today’s world, it seems like everyone knows everything about everybody. And that just feels like a lot of “stuff” for our brains to take in. What your neighbor had for dinner with their spouse during #datenight. How much your friend’s friend of a friend is enjoying their vacation. #blessed How angry the neighbor down the street is with her husband because he won’t help around the house. #whocares

The first time your cousin’s toddler went potty on the potty. #finally How much your favorite influencer’s daughter loves to dress up as Elsa and provide 50 pictures of her as proof. #letiggo No. Really. Please, let it go. Or make it stop.

For thousands of years, and up until around 20 years ago, our main form of communication was face-to-face interaction, meaning you were limited to the amount of information you received about other people and their lives. You were limited to local information, not what was happening globally. I would argue that while we seem to want to know everything, having constant access

While I am speaking a bit tongue in cheek here, and I think your kids are cute, at some point, it becomes too much. Notwithstanding all of the new issues we are now facing with privacy and AI, if we narrow it down to bare bones, we were never meant to have this much input every day. Our bodies and minds are not built for the constant onslaught of information we receive through our screens.

by widening our lenses hasn’t led to fulfillment or enlightenment; instead, it has contributed to feelings of angst and anxiety.

As humans, we have a limit. A spillover point, if you will. Where even good news feels like too much news and adds to our every feeling of being overwhelmed. As anthropologist Dr. Anna Machin states, “We are whipping ahead with all this innovation, doing these

amazing things, but the biological evolu tion hasn’t evolved and isn’t adapted to having social relationships online. So there is a massive mismatch.”

Our brains and bodies are incredibly smart. There are cool fail-safes built within our system that give off warning signs when it has had too much. Is it any wonder that collectively, as a society, we feel more overwhelmed and exhausted than ever? Online noise is... noisy. And our voyeuristic desire to constantly peek into the window of everyone else’s home works hand in hand with the available noise. The side effect is the noise drowns out all the cues our bodies are so desperately trying to give us. To rest. To take a break. To get sunshine and fresh air. To navigate only your life issues. Our bodies simply are not built to hold the weight of the world.

What can we do? Share less. Get online less. Get outside more. Have more face-to-face interactions. These seem like such simple and easy ideas. And they are. Honoring how we are made may be the key to quieting the noise.

Kristi Bush serves as a national education consultant and social media safety advocate. She is a licensed social worker with greater than 15 years of clinical practice and health care experience. She attended Troy and Auburn University where she studied social work and counseling. Kristi travels nationally and has spoken with thousands of children, parents, professionals and organizations about the benefits and threats associated with social media. You may reach Kristi through her website at www.knbcommunications.com.

Start the month off with tickets to Cashback: a Tribute to Johnny & June Carter Cash, 3/1 at OWA Theater—then start your engines for the Gulf Coast Mustang & Mega Car Show on 3/9. Get ready for Still Standing: a Tribute to Elton John, 3/22-23 only, and come back for classic Easter fun with our Bunnies & Baskets, 3/23-30. Doing good for the community is always a classic—don’t miss the Diabetes Walk (3/2) and Ronald McDonald House Rubber Ducky Regatta on 3/23! Get all the details at Visit OWA.com!

THRILL, THEN CHILL.

It’s time to decide whether or not to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? You can’t know simply by how old they are. “There are some six-and seven-year-olds who march eagerly off to camp without a problem,” says Bob Ditter, a camp consultant who’s worked with sleepaway camps for more than four decades, “while some eleven-year-olds cower with a fear of becoming homesick.”

Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

1) They express an interest in going to sleepaway camp. The first and most obvious indicator that your kids might be ready for this important milestone in their young lives is that they express an interest in it. “If they start to show interest in camp or ask for permission to go,” says Kaitlin Kirby of Tiny Beans, a well-known parenting site, “it’s a strong sign that they’re ready to pack their bags and head off for a week (or more!) of fun.”

2) They’ve had one or more successful sleepovers with peers. It’s a good sign if your kids express an interest in going to sleepaway camp, but how have their past experiences sleeping away from home been? Have they had sleepovers with classmates or friends that went off without a hitch? You may want to hold off on sleepaway camp if the opposite has been the case. Jess Michaels of the American Camp Association advises parents to use past sleepovers as a diagnostic tool: “Has your child been successful when away from home? If your child felt panic stricken and needed to come home in the middle of the night, sleepaway camp might have to wait.”

3) They understand what sleepaway camp entails. Sleepaway camp involves much more than being away from your parents for a couple of days, a week, or longer. It also requires kids to be flexible and navigate new and unexpected situations, be able and willing to follow instructions from caregivers other

a positive influence

“Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

1 Timothy 4:12

tcsopelika.org

A CLASSICAL AND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

than parents and teachers, and to exhibit independence and personal initiative.

Consider this before making any final decisions. “Before you can feel confident that your child is ready for camp,” Ms. Kirby says, “you’ll want to be sure they know exactly what they’re getting into.”

4) They’re flexible and can navigate new and unexpected situations. Erica Patino of Understood.org, a major parenting site, suggests that parents ask themselves how flexible their kids are: “Is switching gears hard for your child? If it’s time to put away an art project and move on to a new activity, will your child get upset or resist?” Most sleepaway camps have jam-packed schedules, so it’s important that your kids can switch from one activity to the next without feeling overwhelmed and stressed. More generally, Ms. Kirby says, your kids should be able to navigate new and unexpected situations: “Whether it’s participating in a new music

or art class, an activity like karate or archery, or simply strutting into new surroundings, your child can likely handle camp if s(he) is confident in these scenarios.”

5) They follow instructions from other caregivers than parents and teachers. Your kids should also be able and willing to follow instructions from authority figures other than you and their regular classroom teachers since camp life is full of rules and routines. Ms. Patino says that parents should ask themselves questions such as these: “Can your child remember all the steps for tasks like clearing a table in the dining hall? Will your child listen and follow through if the counselor gives instructions?” If the answer is yes, your kids could be ready for sleepaway camp.

6) They exhibit independence and personal initiative. Sleepaway camp also requires kids to exhibit independence and personal initiative. They should be able to solve all kinds of problems, large and small, on their own, know when it’s better to ask counselors for help, and be able to make new friends among kids they’ve never met before. On a very practical level, they should be able to take responsibility for their personal hygiene and handle a daily routine. As Allie Simon, a camp consultant who’s developed programs for several sleepaway camps, puts it, “Make sure your child knows how to brush teeth, take a shower and pick out outfits.”

7) You’re ready to let them go!

It’s a great sign if your kids are bursting at the seams to go to their first sleepaway camp, but are you truly ready for it? As Ms. Kirby says, “Your child may be jumping for joy at the thought of spending a week or more with friends old and new, but ultimately, you as the parent have to be ready to let them go.”

AOP

Thursday, March 28th at 7:30 p.m.

Opelika SportsPlex | 3rd-5th graders

FREE and open to public

Friday, March 29th at 6:00 p.m.

Opelika SportsPlex | Ages 6-10

FREE/members, $5/guests. Register by 3/25/24.

Saturday, March 30th at 10:00 a.m.

Courthouse Square | 2nd grade & under FREE and open to public

For more information visit opelikaparks.com

The Alexander family loves to be together, exploring their wonderful home of Auburn, including the local parks and recreation areas.

“One of our favorite things to do as a family is throw a football or frisbee around the front lawn on Auburn University’s campus,” shared Elizabeth Alexander.

“We love to play at the new Town Creek inclusivity park, which has been such a fun addition to the city of Auburn. Chewacla State Park is a great place to spend all day outside! We have even camped there and enjoyed the fishing, swimming, and hiking offered. The Kreher Preserve and Nature Center has many trails, a playground, and seasonal activities for families. Taking our dog, Chief, for walks around town is a highlight for us. We are so thankful for many places to enjoy here locally!”

Elizabeth and her husband Trip have three boys - Davis (15), Spence (11) and Blake (7). The boys keep the family moving with extra curricular activities like Cub Scouts, basketball, track and cross country. The family is also very active in the children’s and youth ministries at First Baptist Church of Opelika.

“Our boys are all at a fun age where they are getting into their own individual activities and we enjoy seeing each of their personalities shine,” Elizabeth shared.

convenience, they do find eating at home is what they do more often and with hopes of having occasional leftovers.

“I am sharing easy jambalaya and mini cheese muffins,” Elizabeth says regarding this months Dinner’s Ready recipe. “I started making this during our time at home during Covid, and it became a family favorite. This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled and leftovers heat up well!”

Easy Jambalaya

Ingredients:

With three growing boys, the Alexander family goes through a lot of food! While they love eating out because of its

• 1 lb of smoked sausage (we like Conecuh sausage)

• 1 frozen bag of vegetable blend (onion, pepper, celery)

• 8 oz tomato sauce

• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (more or less to taste)

• 3 cups of cooked rice

• Green onions

Directions:

1. Slice sausage into small pieces and cook until it has good color. Drain if needed.

2. Add vegetables and cook 10 minutes.

3. Add tomato sauce and Cajun seasoning and cook 10 minutes.

4. Add in cooked rice and cover for 15 minutes. Stir as needed.

5. Serve topped with sliced green onions and enjoy!

Mini Cheese Muffins

• 1 stick of butter; melted

• 1 cup sour cream

• 1 cup self rising flour

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven 375 degrees.

2. Grease a mini muffin tin.

3. Mix all ingredients until well combined.

4. Spoon one heaping tablespoon into each tin.

5. Bake for 15-18 minutes until lightly golden.

6. Let cool for five minutes and enjoy!

Gabriele has been married to her husband Daniel for 17 years. Together they have three incredible children – two boys, ages 16 and nine, and a sweet girl who will be two in August.

Gabriele is a full-time Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she isn’t spending time with family or building her business, she supports her husband who is the Lead Pastor and Planter of Forward Church in Gulf Shores.

1601 Academy Drive

Auburn, AL 36830

Phone: (334) 821-2430

ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Stan Cox Head of School

Dr. Mary Anna Martin-Smith Lower School Principal

Ms. Donna Lloyd Upper School Principal

Mrs. Lynn Waldrip Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Mrs. Leigh Smith Director of Admissions & Advancement lsmith@lee-scott.org

SCHOOL PROFILE 2023-24

In 1981, two independent schools, Lee Academy of Auburn and Scott Preparatory School of Opelika, merged to become Lee-Scott Academy. The strong traditions of academic excellence and emphasis on Christian values of both schools continue as the hallmark of LSA. Originally located on the campus of Lee Academy, steady growth in enrollment lead to the 1996 construction of our present campus in Auburn. Enrollment for the 2023-24 school year is approximately 788.

The 2023-24 Lee-Scott Academy faculty consists of 83 professional staff members; 65 percent of these members have advanced degrees, including 4 doctorates.

ACCREDITATION/MEMBERSHIP

Lee-Scott Academy holds dual accreditation from the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and Cognia. It holds membership In the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) and The College Board. Lee-Scott Academy has been selected as an Apple Distinguished School.

ADMISSION

Admission to Lee-Scott Academy is selective and competitive. The admission process consists of a review of academic records, including standardized test scores, and an interview process. Lee-Scott Academy enrolls students without regard to race, sex, religion or ethnicity.

ATHLETICS

ENROLLMENT Approximately 788 Students enrolled at Lee-Scott Academy for 2023-24 Call or email Director of Admissions Leigh Smith today at (334)

821-2430

Lee-Scott Academy Warriors’ athletic teams compete in 11 different sports in the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) and will soon be moving to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA). Each sport includes Junior Varsity and Varsity level programs. Lower school students can participate in Pee-Wee football, cheerleading, and basketball programs.

ARTS

Lee-Scott Academy is a college preparatory school offering a quality education in an environment where students are protected, nurtured, and challenged with biblical, Christcentered principles that promote the development of the total person. The pursuit of excellence in academics is the hallmark of the Academy, complemented by opportunities to participate in programs that encourage student success.

CLASS OF 2023

60

SENIOR GRADUATES IN THE CLASS OF 2023

$2.8

COMMUNITY

Many parents want their kids to experience summer camps but the idea of spending several nights away from home is a little scary for both the parent and child. A great alternative, especially for younger kids, is to send them to day camp.

Day camp, as the name implies, typically consists of a series of consecutive days where the child is away during the daytime hours. Children leave in the morning to have the camp experience and come home in the afternoon or evening to have dinner with their families and sleep in their own beds. Day camp gives kids many of the same learning experiences as a typical sleepover camp.

Builds independence

Camp is a great place for kids to explore their own independence and day camp is no different. Kids are dropped off at camp in the morning where they are challenged with new activities that they may not get the opportunity to try at home. They will make friends, eat lunch, and follow directions without the help of their parents. Kids start to feel more self confident and independent as the week goes on.

Learn new skills

Day camps typically offer opportunities to learn and grow in areas that children may not be exposed to at school. Kids can pick camps that tailor to their interest including a variety of sports, music, dance, theater, science, art, exploring nature, and more. If your child is drawn to a particular activity or subject, chances are there is a camp that would interest them. Kids who are not particularly drawn to academics will thrive in day camps because they are rewarded for their talents and interests.

Make new friends

While you may sign your child up for a camp with a friend, they will meet many new people their age. Children gain confidence as they learn to talk to and work with people that they have never played with previously. The opportunity to make friends with children that share similar interests and a fun new experience helps kids feel more comfortable when they are in new situations.

Take a break from the screen

When children spend time at day camp, they get a much needed break from screen time. As video games, apps, TV, and tablets take more and more of our free time, getting the kids outside to play or having fun while learning new skills is a priceless benefit to parents. Who knows? When the kids come home from camp, they may realize they don’t need as much screen time as they thought they did.

Lifelong skills

Day camp helps kids learn skills they can use for a lifetime including problem solving and leadership skills, improved confidence, and an openness to new things. Depending on the camp, they may learn other skills that will stick with them. My kids learned how to start a fire and cook their own meal at local scouting camps. My daughter gained the confidence to get on stage in front of a room full of parents and peers at theater camp. My kids improved their skills at sport camps and they faced their fears while trying the camp obstacle course. These experiences will stay with your child throughout their life as they are faced with challenges and successes in the future.

As you are deciding if day camp is right for your family, consider what type of camp your child would be most interested in. Choose something that you know they will be successful at and consider inviting a friend to sign up with your child. Let your child help you choose the right camp and then let them know you think they will do great.

Sarah Lyons

Auburn University

Kreher Preserve & Nature Center

ad on page 33

2222 North College Street , Auburn, Al 36830

Spring Break Camp at the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center is a great way for your children to spend their spring break outdoors, immersed in nature, exercise, and fresh air... and a bit of education, too! Campers will join our naturalists for three days of nature-based learning experiences and adventure in the forests of the Nature Center. This year, Summer Ecology Camps will explore Our Wonderful Woods. We will be adventuring into the forest and learning about all the amazing plants and animals that live there, and the systems that keep forests healthy! Each week is designed for a different age group, with the two Explorers weeks designed for mixed ages. Choose one or more weeks of camp for your child(ren) when you register. Summer Adventure Camp brings students on three day-trips to some of the incredible natural and historic wonders that Alabama has to offer. From the highest peak in the state to the depths of first recorded caverns in the United States, Alabama is waiting to be explored!

Dates: Spring Break: Auburn City Schools: March 4-6 and Opelika City Schools: March 18-20. Summer Adventure Camp July 15-17- (grades 6th-8th). Archeology, geology, history, wildlife, forestry, kayaking, caving, swimming and more!

Summer Camps: Camp Discovery, Grades 3rd4th: May 28-31. Young Naturalist, Grades 1st-2nd: June 3-7, Explorers I, Grades 1st-7th: June 10-14, Explorers, Grades 1st-7th: June 24-28, Junior Rangers, Grades 5th-7th: June 17-21.

Ages: 1st-7th grade 334-502-4553 preserve@auburn.edu www.auburn.edu/preserve

Auburn University Sport Camps

Auburn Campus , Auburn, Al 36849

Offering summer camp programs in most athletic sports including football, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, swim, golf and more. Dates: May-August

Ages: Youth Ages Elementary-High School www.auburntigers.com

Auburn University Summer Youth Programs

Auburn Campus , Auburn, Al 36849

Hosting many themed camps on campus including 21st Century and Construction to Vet Camp and Forestry. Something for every interest.

Dates: May-July Ages: Elementary through High School Grades

334-844-5100 auyouth@auburn.edu auburn.edu/outreach/opce/auburnyouthprograms/

Fine Arts Camps

Auburn Area

Community Theatre

ad on page 14

222 East Drake Avenue, Auburn, Al 36830

ACCT is filled with creativity and imagination as children of all ages, participate in visual arts camps. These camps create an opportunity for children to engage in educational activities while having a great time! “Play” in the Woods at Kreher Preserve and Nature Center. Musical Theatre Camp will be held at Telfair Peet Theatre on AU Campus. Summer Intensive and Summer “Play” and Tech Camp will be at Jan Dempsey Art Center.

Dates: June 3-7, June 24-28, July 15-19, July 22-26 Ages: Ages 3-18 334-246-1084 info@auburnact.org www.auburnact.org

Auburn Parks and Recreation

ad on page 5, 15

425 Perry Street, Auburn, Al 36830

age-appropriate lessons using age appropriate materials. An exhibition of the children’s artwork is held at the end of each session. Visual Arts Workshop: Campers will explore different mediums with learning about artists, history, moments and culture. This is an ART workshop with emphasis on aesthetics and the process of creating art. We will inspire your child to experiment and try new techniques. An exhibition of the children’s artwork is held at the end of each session.

Dates: Visual Arts: June 26-30 and July 17-21.

Art for Young Children: June 20-22 and July 11-13.

Ages: Ages 4-12 334-501-2930 www.auburnalabama.org/parks

Art for Young Children: Pre-school children will explore a variety of age appropriate art materials including but not limited to clay, paint and fabric. We are an ART workshop with emphasis on art appreciation and the process of creating art. Students create original art pieces incorporating the elements of art in a variety of

Alabama Dance Theatre

1018 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, Al 36104

Tutus & Tiaras is a fairytale ballet summer camp for pre-ballet students ages 3-8. Each day starts with a ballet class followed by a creative movement class. Summer Classes offer five week ses-

sion features morning to early afternoon classes for the dancer that is interested in continuing their training year round. Summer is the perfect time to hone technique and artistry. Summer Intensive: Take the opportunity to learn from a carefully selected Master Faculty brought in to teach classes such as Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, and Hip-Hop.

Dates: May 28-31, June 3-July 3, July 8-20

Ages: Age 3-professional level 334-625-2590 ADTDance1@gmail.com www.alabamadancetheatre.com

First Baptist Church Fine Arts Academy

301 South 8th Street, Opelika, Al 36801

Providing music lessons in Opelika/Auburn where Christ is honored and students are challenged and inspired to develop their God-given talents for the glory and service of God. Private and group lessons in piano, voice, guitar, brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion. Highly qualified teachers. Lessons available Monday-Friday, 9:00am-9:00pm (in 30 minute increments). Spring, Summer and Fall semester sessions.

Dates: Ongoing Spring and Summer

Ages: All ages 334-745-5715 www.fbcopelika.com/fine-arts-academy

Make Your Move Performing Arts

1220 Fox Run Ave, Ste 212, Opelika, Al 36801

Summer dance classes offered including ballet, jazz, lyrical, acro and more.

Dates: June-August Ages: Preschool-adult 334-705-0205 www.makeyourmovedance.com

Nix Ballet Studio

850 Stage Road, Auburn, Al 36830

6 week Summer Fun Dance Camps! Enroll Now! VIP (very important princess class) 3-4yr olds, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical / Contemporary, and Turns, Leaps, & Technique.

Dates: June-July Ages: 3 and up 334-877-7250 www.nixdancestudios.com

Rising Starz

2140 E University Dr Ste H, Auburn, Al 36830

Offering classes in all types of dance technique and fine arts including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, tumbling, baton, musical theatre, acro and more.

June-August Ages: Preschool-adult 334-209-1464 www.risingstarzstudios.com

Spicer’s Band Camps

2140 E. University Dr. Suite K, Auburn, Al 36830

Camps are designed to provide students of various ages the rock n’ roll summer of a lifetime. All levels of our Rocks Camps give students the ability to learn and test their music skills in a real band and give an exciting performance at the completion of the camp. Similar to our store slogan, these camps are “Not Your Average Music Camps.”

Dates: June-July Ages: Ages 3 and up 334-329-7529 www.spicersmusic.com

Summer Showoffs

Parkway Baptist Church, Auburn, Al 36830

A music day camp that uses music and performance to build confidence and character.

Dates: June 24-28 and July 8-12

Ages: 1st-12th grade

205 470-4945 www.summershowoffs.com

Tiger Twirlers

Max Fitness Center, 189 E. University Drive, Auburn, Al 36832

Offering baton twirling lessons taught by Mrs. Gail Hammet, former Auburn High School and Auburn University majorette. Call today to register for lessons.

Dates:Summer Lessons and ongoing lessons

Ages:All ages 601-630-6995

Variations Dance Studio

323 Airport Road, Suite F, Auburn, Al 36830

Summer Camps, Summer Intensive, Drop In Classes and more.

Dates: June-July Ages: 18 months and up 334-275-5013 www.variationsauburn.com

Local Day and Overnight Camps

Auburn Day School

ad on Inside Front Cover

1199 South Donahue Drive, Suite E, Auburn, Al 36832

STEM Summer Camps: Music Lab, Junior Vet Camp, Space Camp, Little Bakers, Spy Camp, Business Boss, Junior MD Camp, Candy Chemistry, Minecraft Camp, and Let’s Go Camping.

Various STEM options to choose. Register for one or more camps today!

Dates: May 29-August 2 Ages: Ages 3-9 years www.auburndayschool.com

Auburn First Baptist Church Child Development Center

ad on page 35

128 East Glenn Avenue, Auburn, Al 36830

The Child Development Center is a ministry of Auburn First Baptist Church in which we provide safe, loving, quality care for children in a Christian environment. We strive to provide the best in early education by providing hands-on learning so that each child may develop to his or her highest potential cognitively, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Dates: May-August; 7:00am to 5:30pm MondayFriday. Ages: Kindergarten-rising 6th grade 334-821-8125 afbcdc@gmail.com www.auburnfbc.org

Auburn Parks and Recreation Therapeutics Camp

ad on page 5, 15

425 Perry Street, Auburn, Al 36830

Teen/Adult Therapeutics Camp (ages 15 and up) and Youth/Teen Therapeutics Camp (8-14): Open to people with special needs, ages 15+ and 8-14 years. The Therapeutic Summer Camp’s curriculum program includes life skills training such as handling money, team work, social skills, creative opportunities, exercise, swimming, and other physical recreation activities (e.g., basketball, bowling, volleyball). The campers also participate in cultural experiences, such as visiting museums, outdoor adventures, and other exciting trips

Dates: June 3-July 25 Ages: Age 8 and up 334-332-1680 www.auburnalabama.org/parks/programs/therapeutics-camps/

Growing Room Child Development Center

ad on page 14

644 North Dean Road and 1755 Thomason Drive, Auburn/Opelika, Al 36830/36801

Our summer curriculum combines educational concepts such as literacy, math, science, Spanish,

sign language, and character education with fun summer activities. School age classes have weekly field trips and all classes enjoy weekly water play! We serve warm nutritious meals and offer the safest play possible on our state-of-the-art playgrounds. Give your child the best summer ever at the Growing Room! Both our Auburn and Opelika locations are open Monday-Friday, 6:30 am – 6:00 pm.

Dates: Year round; Monday-Friday, 7:00 am –6:00 pm Ages: birth through grade school 334-501-2044/334-748-9020. lsmith@grauburn.com www.growingroomusa.com

Jenny’s Little Ranch Hands

ad on page 9

6401 Stage Road, Loachapoka, Al 36835

Drop In, Flexible and Vacation Care. Get the kids off the phone and onto the farm! A childcare program for parents and caretakers that need affordable and flexible care options and can feel comfortable with the safe, secure, and fun environment for children to stay a few hours at a time. Children will have access to lots of fun activities, country walks in a flexible and relaxed atmosphere.

Dates:Year Round 559-334-5759 jennybritton77@gmail.com www.jennyslittleranchhands.com

KidStrong

ad on page 19

1520 East Glenn Ave, Auburn, Al 36830

When school is out, KidStrong Camp is in! Activities to enhance your child’s character, physical fitness, and brain development age specific milestones. your child have a blast while learning along with peers and getting tons of physical activity.

Ages: 3-9 Dates: Spring Break: Mar 4-8 and Mar 18-22; Weekly April 1-Aug 2 334-780-1118 auburn@kidstrong.com www.kidstrong.com/locations/auburn

Lee-Scott Academy

ad on page 11

1601 Academy Drive, Auburn, Al 36830

Imaginarium, Read and Roar with Dinosaurs, Babysitter’s Club, Twirling, Jump Start Reading, Art, Coding with Minecraft, Cheer, Sweet Summer Math

Camp, Making Table Manners Fun, LSA Bakes, Beat the Heat Math, Football, and Drama Days.

Dates: May 28-July 11 Ages: Rising K-6th grade 334-821-2430 www.lee-scott.org

Opelika Parks and Recreation

ad on page 29

1001 Andrews Road, Opelika, Al 36801

Plex Camp and Summer Day Camp: Daily activities include arts and crafts, dodgeball, kickball and swimming. Each session will also have a couple of scheduled field trips off campus. Parents will receive detailed itineraries at the beginning of camp. Sports Programs: Be on the lookout for updates on camps to be offered such as sports, arts, fitness, and much more!

Dates: June-July TBA Ages: Kindergarten-7th grade 334-705-5560 www.opelikasportsplex.com

Auburn Best Summer Camps

2515 East Glenn Avenue, 205, Auburn, Al 36830

Spring Break: 7:30am-6:00pm, open to ages 4-12, Lots of fun games, martial arts and much more! Summer Camp: 10 weeks of combination of martial arts, gymnastics, field trips, tumbling and much more! Ages 5-12 years.

Dates:Spring Break Camp. May-August -Summer Camps Ages:Ages 4-12 334-887-0818 www.auburnbestafterschool.com

Kumon Math and Reading Center

1550 Opelika Road, Suite 36 , Auburn, Al 36830

This summer, put your child on the path to a lifetime of learning. With the school year fresh in your child’s mind, summer is the perfect time to join Kumon.

Dates: year round Ages: students 334-501-8566 www.kumon.com/auburn-opelika-al

The Montgomery Zoo

2301 Coliseum Pkwy, Montgomery, Al 36110

Make summer vacation a wildlife adventure that you will never forget. Join kids of similar ages and interests for a fun-packed, educational experience themed around the animals of our planet. See daily live animal presentations; get up close and personal with some of the Educational animals at the Montgomery Zoo; enjoy scavenger hunts; craft time; classroom time; playtime, splash time,

and games at our playground; train, pedal boat, and sky lift rides; participate in animal encounters with the giraffes, river otters, parakeets and our collection of petting zoo animals; see behind the scene tours and visits with our zookeepers and other staff members.

Dates: June-July Ages: Ages 5-12

334-240-4900 www.montgomeryzoo.com

Regional Day and Overnight Camps

Riverview Camp for Girls

ad on page 7

757 County Road 614, Mentone, al 35984

We’ve planned carefully everything you’re looking for in a perfect camp setting. Located just off Desoto Parkway on top of Lookout Mountain in Mentone, Alabama and nestled in a bend of beautiful Little River. We are a Christian environment promoting Adventure, Inspiration, Character, and ConfidenceBuilding. You’ll be amazed at what you can do!

Dates: May-July Ages: Ages 6-16 800-882-0722 www.riverviewcamp.com

YMCA Camp Chandler

ad on page 37

1240 Jordan Dam Road, Wetumpka, Al 36092

One of the largest camps in the south with over 1,000 acres of lake front property. Conveniently located 25 miles from Montgomery, AL on beautiful Lake Jordan. Whether you are looking for individual, small group, or camp-wide fun, we definitely have something for you! Campers are grouped according to age and gender. They live in cabins with up to 13 other campers and at least 2 counselors. Friendships grow as they live, share meals, laugh, and play together during a full week of fun! Campers are given the opportunity to participate in more than 20 different activities like horseback riding, skiing, archery, sailing, the high ropes course, and more.

Dates: June-July Ages: Age 5-15 334-229-0035 www.campchandler.org

Activ8 Summer Camps

Columbus State University, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus, Ga 31907

You will find quality programs that promote leadership and youth development through enrichment activities, unique experiences, and opportunities to develop relationships with adults and peers.

Dates: Spring Break/May-August Ages: Ages 4-18 706-507-8070

Adventures in Math and Science:

Alabama School of Math and Science

1255 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Al 36604

ASMS Summer Programs are: Hands-on: Build, solve, explore, create, and more! Always Interactive! Never Boring. Experiential: Discover what it’s like to be an ASMS student! Collaborative: Make friends and engage with motivated peers! Studentdriven: Choose your courses and activities to explore what interests you the most! Developmental: Grow as a leader in STEM to be at the top of your field one day!

Dates: June-July Ages: Elementary-High School 251-441-2100 www.asms.net

Alabama Museum of Natural History

The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Al 35487 Work side-by-side with scientists in the field of archeology and paleontology. Enjoy the natural

wonders of Alabama while having fun and forging friendships.

Dates: June-August

205-348-7550 almnh@ua.edu www.almnh.ua.edu/

Alabama School of Fine Art

1800 Reverend Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, Al 35203

We have camps for creative writers, young app designers and computer scientists, budding visual artists and the next great musicians. ASFA also offers 3-week math intensives in pre-algebra or Algebra 1 for those looking to get ahead in math or brush up their skills before the next school year.

Dates: June-July Ages: 2nd-9th grade 205-252-9241 jlittle@asfa.k12.al.us www.asfa.k12.al.us

Alabama Wildlife FederationExpedition Lanark Day Camp 3050 Lanark Road, Millbrook, Al 36054

Expedition Lanark is a full day summer camp that provides hands-on, outdoor educational activities that teach natural resource stewardship, develop leadership skills, and build character.

Dates:May-August Ages:Ages 5-15 1.800.822.9453 awf@alabamawildlife.org www.alabamawildlife.org

Camp Alimisco

1771 Camp Alamisco Road, Dadeville, Al 36853

At Camp Alamisco, you see Jesus in nature, in the staff, and in all the activities we do. Come and be a part of a group who believes that Jesus is the One who has shown the “Crazy Love” for each of us and we can be with Him for all eternity. Purpose is to provide high quality Christian camping and retreat facilities. We are a year round camp and we are open to church and school groups as well as

corporate functions. We are located on 55 acres on beautiful Lake Martin near Dadeville Alabama.

Dates: June-July Ages: families and school age 256-825-9482 www.campalamisco.org/

Camp ASCCA

5278 Camp ASCCA Drive, Jackson’s Gap, Al 36861

A nationally recognized leader in therapeutic recreation for children and adults with both physical and mental disabilities. Providing weekend and week long sessions, Camp ASCCA is open year-round. Located in Alabama on Lake Martin, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of recreational and educational activities. Activities include horseback riding, fishing, tubing, swimming, environmental education, arts and crafts, canoeing, a “splash pad”, outdoor adventure elements like the zip-line, and much more.

Dates: May-August

256-825-9226 info@campascca.org www.campascca.org

Camp Cosby

2290 Paul Bear Bryant Road, Alpine, Al 35014

At Camp Cosby, boys and girls have the opportunity to build self esteem, grow, learn, and challenge themselves. Campers also learn to develop values such as caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Pool, lake adventures, horses, trials, team building, zip line, and much more!

Dates: June-July Ages: Ages 6-16 1-800-85COSBY cosby@ymcabham.org www.campcosby.org

Camp Juliette Low

321 Camp Juliette Low Rd, Cloudland, Ga 30731 a private, non-profit summer camp for girls ages 7 to 17, accredited by the American Camp Association. CJL provides campers with fun and exciting

ways to become more confident and competent, individually and in groups, through one-week and two-week outdoor residential programs.

Dates: June-July

706-862-2169 www.cjl.org

Camp Lookout Mountain for Boys

A traditional summer camp. Our program includes: water sports (swimming, diving, canoeing, and our famous zip line), horseback riding, rifle marksmanship, archery, tennis, arts and crafts, even flyfishing with much more...all under the supervision of excellent staff

Dates:June-July Ages:Age 7-15 504-861-1534 LookoutMountainCamp@gmail.com

www.lookoutmountaincamp.com

Camp Marannook

P.O. Box 581, LaFayette, Al 36862

From sunrise to after sunset, every camp day is packed with fun. Campers will swim, shoot archery, make crafts, eat s’mores around the campfire, and play games on the game field. They explore a huge maze, ride the cable car and crazy swing and are challenged by various rope and climbing activities. And there is a one-of-a-kind Bible Time with skits and drama.

Dates: June-July Ages: 1st-9th Grade

334-864-7504 www.marannook.org

Camp Skyline Ranch

4888 Alabama Hwy 117, Mentone, Al 35984

A summer camp for girls, Skyline offers one and two week sessions where campers make new friends, honor old traditions, and strengthen their faith. Camp Skyline accepts girls of good character.

Dates: June 1-July 25 Ages: Ages 6-16

1 (800) 448-9279 www.campskyline.com

Camp Victory

363 Victory Circle, Samson, al 36477

Activities include Bible Classes, Singing, Missionary Presentations, Volleyball, Riflery, Horseback Riding, Ping-Pong, Swimming Pool, Tetherball, Good Food, Archery, Mini Golf, Canoeing, Basketball, Foosball, Crafts, Carpet ball, Outdoor Education, Boating, Fishing, Tournaments, Low Ropes Challenge Course and Climbing Wall.

Dates: June 1-July 25 Ages: 3rd-12th grade 334-898-7948 www.campvictoryal.org

Camp Walkabout

171 Baylor School Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405

Camp Walkabout is the no-experience-necessary avenue to all things outdoors. Campers will climb the world renowned Tennessee wall sandstone one day, explore the amazing underground world of a cave the next and paddleboard the mighty Tennessee River Gorge another. Camp Walkabout optimizes every day to find new adventures, leadership opportunities and friendships that will last a lifetime. Camp Walkabout truly is the most fun a

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama

2501 Bell Road, Montgomery, Al 36117

Offering various camping programs from Pirates and Mermaids, Color Olympics, Super Sleuths, Sail Away and more. Please scan our QR Code on the ad for more information about registration.

Dates: June-July Ages: Girls K-12 www.girlsscoutssa.org

McWane Science Center

200 19th Street North , Birmingham, Al 35203

Hands-on educational programming with themes such as Mini-Meteorologists, Dino Discoveries, Super Hero Science, Science of Harry Potter, Rumble in the Jungle, Animation Station, Chemical Concoctions, Robotics and more! Camps are ½ day or full day.

Dates: Spring Break/June -August

Ages: Rising 1st-7th grade 205-714-8300 www.mcwane.org

camper can have in the summer!

Dates: June-July Ages: Ages 5 and up 423- 757-2616 badams@baylorschool.org www.baylorschool.org/summer

Camp Winnataska

260 Winnataska Drive, Pell City, al 35128

Offering a wide variety of quality programs for boys and girls. Each camp session will provide campers the opportunity to experience aspects of outdoor life such as swimming, canoeing, arts, crafts, nature study, sports, archery, ropes course, hiking and camping, and horseback riding full week sessions and mini-camp

Dates: June 1-July 25 Ages: Age 6-15 205-6406741 www.winnataska.org

Camp Woodmont

381 Moonlight Drive, Cloudland, Ga 30731

Your summer camp experience provides cabin living, moderate summer daytime temperatures, cool evenings around the campfire, creative counselors, new friends, talent/skit nights, and a close family-like atmosphere.

Dates: May-July Ages: Age 6-14 423-472-6070 www.campwoodmont.com

The Bedford School “Squirrel Hollow Camp”

5665 Milam Road, Fairburn, Ga 30123

Serves children with academic needs due to learning difficulties. Campers participate in an individualized academic program as well as recreational activities (swimming, team games, Challenge Course elements and a variety of other games and activities). Academic instruction in the areas of reading, reading comprehension, math, auditory discrimination and writing skills through a variety of structured, multi-sensory techniques and materials.

Dates: June-July Ages:Age 6-14 770-774-8001 www.thebedfordschool.org

Valley View Equestrian Camp for Girls

606 Valley View Ranch Rd, Cloudland, Ga 30731

Valley View Ranch has been to help each rancher have the full opportunity of horsemanship through instruction, time in the saddle on trails, and the care and responsibility of having her own horse, all atop beautiful Lookout Mountain.

Dates: June-July Ages: Age 8-17 706-862-2231 info@valleyviewranch.com www.valleyviewranch.com

Sports Camps

Auburn Academy of Martial Arts

323 Airport Road, Suite J, Auburn, Al 36830

Offering a complete system of martial arts

Dates: June-July Ages: Ages Preschool and up 334-502-7221 www.auburnacademy.com

Auburn Fencing

229 South 8th Street, Opelika, Al 36801

Camps are for beginner and intermediate level fencers.

Dates: June-July Ages: Ages 7 and up 334-203-1989 www.auburnfencing.com

Auburn Thunder

Auburn, Al 36830

Elite soccer club for boys and girls

Dates: June-July Ages: Ages 9-18 www.auburnthundersoccer.com

H & G Horse Quarters

943 Lee Road 57, Auburn, Al 36830

Come learn how to ride, make new friends and enjoy horses!

Dates: Spring Break, May-Aug

334-887-0026 www.hghorsequarters.com

Limit Breakers

3732 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika, Al 36801

Offering classes in gymnastics, tumbling, and cheer. Dates: June-July

Ages: Ages Preschool and up 334-737-6666 www.thelimitbreakers.net

Moore’s Mill Club Junior Summer Golf Camps

1958 Fairway Drive, Auburn, Al 36830

Come join us for lots of fun and great instruction at Moore’s Mill Club for one of our 3 day summer golf camps! We will cover all aspects of the game.

Dates: Junior Day Camps June 10-12, July 8-10, Aug 5-7 Ages: Boys & Girls: K-5th grade (play ers will be grouped by age and ability) 865-300-0452 www.andrewprattgolf.com/summerjunior-golf-camps

Premier Spirit Academy

923 Stage Road, Auburn, Al 36830

Indoor and outdoor activities, Tumbling, Ninja, Crafts and a whole lot of FUN

Dates: June 3-6, June 10-13, June 17-20, June 24-27, July 8-11, July 15-18 Ages:Ages 3-12 334-821-7300 www.premierspiritacademy.com

SportsPlex Tri for Kids and Small Fry Tri 1001 Andrews Road, Opelika, Al 36801 Run. Bike. Swim. Register early to reserve your spot in this year’s events. Participants will compete based on their age as of 12/31/24. 5-year-olds may participate in the Kids Tri or the Small Fry Tri. In order for a 5 year old to compete in the Kid’s Triathlon they will need to do a paper registration. Paper registration deadline is 7/19/24. All participants receive a shirt and a medal.

Dates:August 3. Ages:Age 6-15 Kids; 5 years Small Fry www.sportsplextriforkids.com/

World Champion Taekwondo

300 N Dean Rd, #6, Auburn, Al 36830

Combining traditional and modern teaching techniques and principles to fit all ages and all physical levels - we focus on character development in young children, teens, and adults.

Dates: Summer Ages: Preschool through adult 334-329-7117 www.martialartsauburn.com

FamilyCalendar

Friday, March 1

Bridge Crossing Jubilee

Selma The weekend is a commemoration of the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the Selma to Montgomery March.

www.selmajubilee.com

Emmet Cahill: Songs of Ireland

7:30 PM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus Cahill, Star of PBS Phenomenon Celtic Thunder, has been hailed as Ireland’s most exciting young tenor. News of his sold-out debut concert at Carnegie Hall has turned heads with audiences. www.rivercenter.org

Saturday, March 2

Bridge Crossing Jubilee

Selma The weekend is a commemoration of the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the Selma to Montgomery March.

www.selmajubilee.com

Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience

7:30 PM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience www.rivercenter.org

The Oak Ridge Boys Farewell Tour

7:30 PM Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery The Oak Ridge Boys Farewell Tour www.mpaconline.com/events

Sunday, March 3

Bridge Crossing Jubilee

Selma The weekend is a commemoration of the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the Selma to Montgomery March.

www.selmajubilee.com

Monday, March 4

Spring Break Camp (Auburn City School)

Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 N. College St A great way for your children to spend their spring break outdoors, immersed in an active nature-based experience to engage their whole bodies and minds. Campers will join our naturalists for three days of nature-based learning experiences and adventure in the forests of the Nature Center. https;//wp.auburn.edu/preserve/springbreakcamps/

The Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra

7:30 PM Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, 1700 Lafayette Pkwy, Opelika Founded in 1892, and long recognized as one of Bulgaria’s leading cultural institutions, the Sofia Philharmonic, the National Orchestra of Bulgaria, represents a wide range of the country’s classical and contemporary musical traditions. www.eastalabamaarts.org

Tuesday, March 5

Spring Break Camp (Auburn City School)

Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 N. College St

A great way for your children to spend their spring break outdoors, immersed in an active nature-based experience to engage their whole bodies and minds. Campers will join our naturalists for three days of

nature-based learning experiences and adventure in the forests of the Nature Center.

https;//wp.auburn.edu/preserve/springbreakcamps/

Wednesday, March 6

Spring Break Camp (Auburn City School)

Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 N. College St

A great way for your children to spend their spring break outdoors, immersed in an active nature-based experience to engage their whole bodies and minds. Campers will join our naturalists for three days of nature-based learning experiences and adventure in the forests of the Nature Center.

https;//wp.auburn.edu/preserve/springbreakcamps/

Saturday, March 9

Second Saturday at Pioneer Park

9:00 AM, 6500 Stage Road, Loachapoka, Al On the second Saturday of every month, a group of history re-enactors gather at the LCHS Museum in period attire to demonstrate their arts and crafts. Blacksmiths are working at the forge, spinners and weavers are in the textile room, the gardeners are in the gardens, crafts and seasonal activities are scheduled, and someone is always cooking up a meal in the fireplace or outdoors.

www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org/second-saturday

Leprechaun Hike (Tickets will be $7/participant ($5 for members) 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, 2222 North College Street, Auburn Join us for our second annual leprechaun hike as we search the trails for the sneaky leprechauns in the woods. Participants will engage in fun, hands-on crafts and activities as they uncover the path of our little green friends.

https:// kpnc.auburn.edu/events/

Outdoor Container Gardening Symposium

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM,, Botanic, 1702 Fredrick Rd Botanic’s final gardening symposium of the season. Join the in-depth class, led by horticulturist and coowner, King Braswell. www.facebook.com/shopbotanic

Kaleidoscope

7:30 PM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus Experience the passion of 250 music students in a full spectrum music performance. https://rivercenter.showare.com

Travis Tritt

7:30 PM Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery www.mpaconline.com/events

Sunday, March 10

Zach Williams: An Awakening Foundation Event

7:00 PM Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery “A Hundred Highways Tour” is supported by World Vision, Altrua HealthShare, K-LOVE Radio, and Air1 Radio. www.mpaconline.com/events

Tuesday, March 12

Family Discovery Hike: Seasons

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM, Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 North College Street, Auburn Join our guides for an educational adventure as you and your children take in the many sights and sounds of the Nature Center. Hikes are for families with children ages 5 to 12. http://kpnc.auburn.edu/programs/guidedtours/

Friday, March 15

Livestock Expo Rodeo

1295 Coliseum Blvd. Montgomery The rodeo coming to town means more than just buckin’ broncos, barrel

racing and burly bulls. It means family fun for all ages!

https://www.slerodeo.com/events

Saturday, March 16

Livestock Expo Rodeo

1295 Coliseum Blvd. Montgomery The rodeo coming to town means more than just buckin’ broncos, barrel racing and burly bulls. It means family fun for all ages!

Bark in the Park

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM,, Kiesel Park, 520 Chadwick

Lane, Auburn Auburn Parks and Recreation and the Lee County Humane Society will host Bark in the Park: An Event Celebrating Responsible Dog Ownership. This FREE community event is open to all dog owners and their favorite four-legged friends.

www.auburnalabama.org/parks/events-and-calendar-/

9:00 AM, Kiesel Park, 520 Chadwick Lane, Auburn

Join Active Auburn as we kick-off the 12th Annual Bark in the Park with a 3K for you and your furriest friends. Grab your running shoes and your running “pawtner” for a dog gone good time! The 4th Annual Tails and Trails 3K will be coinciding with Bark in the Park. Registration required. .

www.auburnalabama.org/parks/events-and-calendar-/ bark-in-the-park/

Zoo Weekend

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, The Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery Great music, two stages of live entertainment, games and prizes for the kids, inflatables and slides, petting zoo, rides, animal presentations and encounters, tons of yummy concessions, and fun, fun, fun!

www.montgomeryzoo.com/plan-your-visit/zoo-specialevent-calendar

March 10

Leprechaun Hike (Tickets will be $7/participant ($5 for members) 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, 2222 North College Street, Auburn Join us for our second annual leprechaun hike as we search the trails for the sneaky leprechauns in the woods. Participants will engage in fun, hands-on

FamilyCalendar

crafts and activities as they uncover the path of our little green friends.

https:// kpnc.auburn.edu/events/

Day In Clay ($10.00 )

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, 222 E. Drake Ave. Auburn This one-day open house will take place in the new ceramics studio in JDCAC. Visitors who want to have the experience of working in clay can pay $10 per person and select either an adult or kids project to create. ALL registrations for hands-on workshops must be done at the website.

auburnalabama.org/parks/register

Sunday, March 17

Livestock Expo Rodeo

1295 Coliseum Blvd. Montgomery The rodeo coming to town means more than just buckin’ broncos, barrel racing and burly bulls. It means family fun for all ages!

https://www.slerodeo.com/events

Zoo Weekend

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, The Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery Great music, two stages of live entertainment, games and prizes for the kids, inflatables and slides, petting zoo, rides, animal presentations and encounters, tons of yummy concessions, and fun, fun, fun!

www.montgomeryzoo.com/plan-your-visit/zoo-specialevent-calendar

Monday, March 18

Spring Break Camp (Opelika City School)

Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 N. College St A great way for your children to spend their spring break outdoors, immersed in an active nature-based experience to engage their whole bodies and minds. Campers will join our naturalists for three days of nature-based learning experiences and adventure in the forests of the Nature Center. https;//wp.auburn.edu/preserve/springbreakcamps/

Tuesday, March 19

Spring Break Camp (Opelika City School)

Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 N. College St A great way for your children to spend their spring break outdoors, immersed in an active nature-based experience to engage their whole bodies and minds. Campers will join our naturalists for three days of nature-based learning experiences and adventure in the forests of the Nature Center. https;//wp.auburn.edu/preserve/springbreakcamps/

Wednesday, March 20

Spring Break Camp (Opelika City School)

Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 N. College St A great way for your children to spend their spring break outdoors, immersed in an active nature-based experience to engage their whole bodies and minds. Campers will join our naturalists for three days of nature-based learning experiences and adventure in the forests of the Nature Center. https;//wp.auburn.edu/preserve/springbreakcamps/

Thursday, March 21

Third Thursday Poetry Series at Pebble Hill

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM,, 101 S. Debardeleben Street, Auburn The readings will be by Jim Peterson. https://cla.auburn.edu/cah/pebble-hill

Friday, March 22

360 Allstars: Urban Circus

10:30 AM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus BMX, basketball, breakdancing, aerobatics, drumming and more, the international smash hit returns! A phenomenal physical performance exploring all forms of rotation, 360 Allstars connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus.

www.rivercenter.org

Saturday, March 23

3rd Annual Breakfast with the Bunny

8:00 AM, Kiesel Park, 520 Chadwick Lane, Auburn Hop on over to the buffet-style breakfast is $10 per person and activities will include a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny, balloon animals, face painting, a petting zoo and egg hunt! This can’t-miss event is sure to produce some cherished family memories and adorable photo opportunities.

www.auburnalabama.org/parks

Water Cycle

Marin Dam, Lake Martin Join Auburn University’s Chapter of Engineers Without Borders for annual Water Cycle event. Cycling riders will be able to choose from three different distances: a 15 mile, 30 mile, or 60 mile route; there will also have an option to participate in a 60 mile race in which the winners will be taking home prizes!

www.instagram.com/auburn.ewb/

CSO: Handel’s London

7:30 PM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus CSO: Handel’s London www.rivercenter.com

Sunday, March 24 123 Andres 3:00 PM Gogue Performing Arts Center, 910 South College Street, Auburn Christina and Andrés are 123 Andrés, the Latin Grammy-winning, Grammy-nominated duo for kids and families known for their interactive, highenergy shows.

www.goguecenter.auburn.edu/123-andres/

Tuesday, March 26

Swan Lake

7:00 PM Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery www.mpaconline.org

Wednesday, March 27

World Ballet Series presents Swan Lake 7:00 PM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus www.rivercenter.org

Thursday, March 28

Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt (FREE and open to public) 7:30 PM, Opelika SportsPlex 3rd-5th graders.

Sundilla presents Ruth Wyand in Concert 7:30 PM, 450 East Thach Ave, Auburn www.sundillamusic.com

Friday, March 29

Underwater Egg Hunt ( Ages 6-10 years, $5 per person, must register by March 25.) 6:00 PM Opelika SportPlex Pool, 1001 Sportplex Parkway

On Your Feet: The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan

7:30 PM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus The inspiring, true story about heart and heritage.

www.rivercenter.org

Saturday, March 30

Family Art Fun (Tickets are $5 ($4 for members).) Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 North College Street, Auburn Come enjoy the outdoors through art! No matter the age you can have fun with art while learning to improve. During this class you will learn about many different watercolor techniques while creating your own masterpiece. This will be a great opportunity to have some family fun while enjoying nature and art!

44th Annual Easter Egg Hunt

9:00 AM, Duck Samford Park Lower Baseball Fields, Auburn There will be four hunting fields available for the following age groups: 0-3, 4-6, 7-8 & 9-10 years of age. Attendees can also enjoy musical entertainment, free balloons, face painting and inflatables beginning at 9 a.m. Every participant must be preregistered and there will be no registration taken day of event!

Easter on the Square (2nd grade and under FREE.)

10:00 AM Opelika Courthouse Square, Downtown Opelika

Tuesday, April 2

REO Speedwagon

7:30 PM Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery REO Speedwagon

www.mpaconline.com/events

Friday, April 5

Simone Dinnerstein with Baroklyn

7:00 PM Gogue Performing Arts Center, 910 South College Street, Auburn Baroque meets Brooklyn meets Bach in this final presentation of our 2023–24 Orchestra & Chamber Music Series.

www.goguecenter.auburn.edu

Sunday, April 7

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live

3:00 PM Gogue Performing Arts Center, 910 South College Street, Auburn 65 million years in the making! Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live guides your family on a breathtaking tour that begins in prehistoric Australia. You’ll observe, meet and interact with an eye-popping collection of amazing lifelike dinosaurs and other creatures in a theatrical performance that thrills and entertains kids while stimulating their imaginations in ways that forever connect them to their world.

www.goguecenter.auburn.edu

Tuesday, April 9

Family Discovery Hike: Buds and Leaves

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM, Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 North College Street, Auburn Join our guides for an educational adventure as you and your children take in the many sights and sounds of the Nature Center. Hikes are for families with children ages 5 to 12.

http://kpnc.auburn.edu/programs/guidedtours/

Saturday, April 13

Animal Enrichment Day

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery Tour the Zoo during our enrichment event and observe how animals respond to an assortment of new creative and behavior-stimulating enrichment items.

www.montgomeryzoo.com

FamilyCalendar

Tuesday, April 16

Paul Taylor Dance Company

7:00 PM Gogue Performing Arts Center, 910 South College Street, Auburn Dancemaker Paul Taylor first presented his choreography with five other dancers in Manhattan in 1954. That modest performance marked the beginning of a profound, uninterrupted creative output that shaped the future of American modern dance and continues to this day.

www.goguecenter.auburn.edu

Wednesday, April 17

Melissa Etheridge

7:30 PM Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery Melissa Etheridge www.mpaconline.com/events

Thursday, April 18

“White Lightning,” a play by Alabamian

Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder

Red Door Theatre, 101 N. Prairie Street, Union Springs White Lightning, follows the story of Avery McAllister, a young man from a moonshinin’ family who was born with a love for high-speed driving.

www.reddoortheatre.org

Friday, April 19

Spring 0ld 280 Boogie

1015 Mayberry Avenue, Waverly Come join in for a weekend of festivities with fantastic music, local food vendors, artisans, and great southern vibes!

www.standarddeluxe.com

“White Lightning,” a play by Alabamian

Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder

Red Door Theatre, 101 N. Prairie Street, Union Springs White Lightning, follows the story of Avery McAllister, a young man from a moonshinin’ family who was born with a love for high-speed driving. www.reddoortheatre.org

Saturday, April 20

Spring 0ld 280 Boogie

1015 Mayberry Avenue, Waverly Come join in for a weekend of festivities with fantastic music, local food vendors, artisans, and great southern vibes!

www.standarddeluxe.com

“White Lightning,” a play by Alabamian

Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder

Red Door Theatre, 101 N. Prairie Street, Union Springs White Lightning, follows the story of Avery McAllister, a young man from a moonshinin’ family who was born with a love for high-speed driving.

www.reddoortheatre.org

Sara Evans

7:00 PM Gogue Performing Arts Center, 910 South College Street, Auburn A top-five most-played female artist on country radio for the last two decades with five No. 1 singles including “No Place That Far,” “Born to Fly” and “A Little Bit Stronger,” Evans has been lauded by Rolling Stone for her “stunning, country voice” and has earned the prestigious Academy of Country Music Top Female vocalist accolade.

www.goguecenter.auburn.edu

Global Community Day Festival

10:30 AM - 6:00 PM, , 1001 SportsPlex Parkway, Opelika A day for uniting international and domestic communities to foster a shared exploration of global culture, history, and other related opportunit ies.

Sunday, April 21

“White Lightning,” a play by Alabamian Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder

Red Door Theatre, 101 N. Prairie Street, Union Springs White Lightning, follows the story of Avery McAllister, a young man from a moonshinin’ family who was born with a love for high-speed driving. www.reddoortheatre.org

Saturday, April 27

Family Fun Day

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM,, 2311 Gateway Drive, Opelika Sponsored by Lee County District Attorney’s Office, East Alabama Mental Health, United Way, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Join us for a day of fun activities, live music, food trucks, and information about community resources! We hope to use this event to educate, engage, and elevate local families about various resources available to them here in Lee County as well as highlight April as Child Abuse Prevention and Crime Victims Awareness month.

First and third Friday of every month

Food Truck Friday

5:00 PM, Downtown Opelika Spend your first and third Friday of every month, where you can enjoy dinner and drinks from downtown restaurants, bars & breweries, and up to five different food truck partners each week. Enjoy your brews, bites, and beautiful downtown Opelika.

THEATRE:

February 8-March 3, 2024

Blues in the Night

Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1 Festival Drive, Montgomery, Al The soul of the blues wails out full and strong in Blues in the Night, a scorching, Tony-nominated musical! The 26 hot and torchy numbers tell of the sweet, sexy, and sorrowful experiences three women have with the lying, cheating snake of a man who does them wrong. Glorious songs from Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Alberta Hunter, Jimmy Cox, Ida Cox, and more tell of the pain and misery of life and love — and the dogged determination to get through it all — that is the essence of the blues.

www.ast.net

February 23-March 3, 2024

Holes

Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus, Ga Stanley Yelnat’s family is cursed with bad luck. The boy is wrongfully sent to a juvenile detention center, Camp Green Lake and is forced to dig holes in the desert heat in order to “build character”. Stanley eventually realized that he and his fellow prisoners are digging these holes because the Warden is searching for something.

www.springeroperahouse.org

March 8-24, 2024

The Little Mermaid

Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus

One of the most ravishing Broadway shows ever, this Tony Award-winning fantasy is more than just a visual feast. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, a teenage mermaid, Ariel, gets a glimpse of the human, Prince Eric, and falls in love.

www.springeroperahouse.org/springerproductions/ the-little-mermaid

March 9-April 19, 2024

23rd Annual Juried Art Exhibition

Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, Auburn A competitive exhibition open to area artists. All art mediums except photography are eligible for submission. Artists currently residing or working in Lee County and the adjacent counties in eastern Alabama are invited to submit two recent works.

auburnalabama.org/arts

March 23-27, 2024

The Eggcellent Easter Scavenger Hunt

A clue will be posted on the Auburn Parks and Recreation Facebook and Instagram each morning of the scavenger hunt leading participants to an Easter egg in one of our parks or facilities. Participants must then use their phones to scan the QR code on the Easter egg which will lead them to the next clue.

www.auburnalabama.org/parks

ONGOING:

January 23-July 07, 2024

Black Codes Exhibit

Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, 901 S. College Street During the Civil Rights Era, increasing demand by Black Americans for social and political equality ignited long-simmering racial tensions, with particular ferocity in Alabama. Demonstrators of all ages put their bodies and livelihoods on the line to protest oppressive Jim Crow laws.

www.jcsm.auburn.edu/exhibitions

January 23-July 07, 2025

Walter Hood Exhibit

Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, 901 S. College Street

www.jcsm.auburn.edu/exhibitions

January 23-July 07, 2026

Lizabeth M. Webb- Radical Naturalism

Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, 902 S. College Street An artist and filmmaker originally from Charlottesville, Virginia. A bearing tree is a witness; an oak is an echo examines her relationship with former plantation land–remarkably located near The Jule–once settled by and subsequently inherited by her ancestors on either side of the “color line,” both Black and White.

www.jcsm.auburn.edu/exhibitions

January 23-July 07, 2027

Bethany Collins: Accord Exhibit

Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, 903 S. College Street Born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, artist Bethany Collins explores histories of the American South through objects that use language, song, and the printed word, as well as through materials such as paper and stone.

www.jcsm.auburn.edu/exhibitions

Sunday, April 7 • 3 p.m.

Woltosz Theatre

Stacy Young

AOP: You own Variations Dance Studio in Auburn. Becoming an entrepreneur can be a long road; can you tell us a bit about when you started and the moment you knew it was “going to work?”

SY: I was excited to merge my early childhood education degree with my previous professional dance training to create my dream dance studio. I started with one studio and had to learn the business ropes quicker than anticipated to handle the demand I experienced. I am thankful that I have reached a place to pause and reflect on my business achievements along the way!

AOP: Where do you imagine Variations Studio to be five years from now?

SY: I have a few different visions for Variations and have found staying flexible with programming goals helps to continue to support client needs. I have seen progress within our Petite Academy (2-6yrs.) and Upper Division (7+yrs), enabling me to implement various developments in both age divisions. We have developed our programming to benefit both our students and the community in the areas of curriculum, performance events, and outreach. I’m excited to continue to create alongside my stellar team and to continue to plan multiple ways we can serve our students as we evolve!

AOP: You have two kids, a running business, and, I am sure, a lot more on your plate. What are your top tips for productivity as a busy mom?

SY: I think it’s important for my kids to see directly that their parents work hard, and I try to involve them in “behind the scenes” tasks to help them understand the importance of work ethic and professionalism. I try to keep work separate from home as best as I can. If I have to merge the two, I usually talk to my kids about what I’m doing and let them be a part, especially if a learning moment is wrapped up in that time.

AOP: What recommendations do you have for other moms looking to start their own businesses?

SY: Make sure your business is something you are passionate about, and limit your distractions. Enjoying the work process between the “rewards” and having resilience are important qualities to embody. Many people will underestimate the time and effort it takes behind the scenes to make things come together - and that’s okay! Just continue to follow your heart and where you are called to serve.

AOP: What values do you prioritize in your parenting?

SY: Kindness and compassion come first to mind as essential qualities we try to instill in our children. I think it’s really important to have a broad perspective, and working on skills to develop both of these qualities helps our kids understand how to see the bigger picture. We often talk about ways we can weave our faith through all of life’s happenings and how both good and challenging moments are part of the journey we have been gifted.

AOP: What are some ways you practice self-care as a wife, mother, and business owner?

SY: It’s easy for moms to struggle with finding time for themselves. I know I’m wired to constantly be on the move in both family and work settings and have gotten better at pressing pause to take a moment for myself.

Simply embracing the busy life stage I’m currently experiencing quickly helps me combat feeling overwhelmed. It’s a tricky balancing act, but I know that I’m currently right in the middle of what I’ve always dreamed of, and I am grateful to be able to say that.

AOP: What is your greatest source of motivation as a mother?

SY: I was always unusually determined as a child. I would work overtime trying to reach my goals and did not have anyone prompting me to do that. My drive and work ethic propelled me towards opportunities I am grateful I did not fear.

My parents helped to encourage me to walk confidently towards those hurdles, and I will never take for granted how they believed in me during times I didn’t fully believe in myself. Those challenges became some of my favorite life experiences and even helped ignite my career.

As a mom, I hope to encourage my children to find the tools to turn challenges into enriching moments of their own beautiful stories, just as my parents did for me.

AOP: Giving back to the community is important to you. What does that look like, and why do you do it?

SY: There is nothing more rewarding than giving back to others. At Variations, we have implemented several different outreach efforts throughout the years. I’m always looking for creative ways to expand our outreach and show students the many ways to give back! I find it profoundly moving to watch a child have that lightbulb moment and realize they, too, can make a difference regardless of age. Those lightbulb moments are definitely the heartbeat of our program!

Rapid Fire Questions:

1. Early Bird or Night Owl? Night Owl

2. Movie Buff or Book Lover? Book Lover

3. Favorite Vacation Spot? Little Beach Towns

4. Facebook or Instagram? Instagram

Stacy Young is the owner of Variations Dance Studio in Auburn, AL. She has been married to her husband Bryan for almost 15 years, and together they have two wonderful children: Thomas (12) and Aly (9). The family enjoys spending time together with friends and traveling to new places. They also enjoy cooking together.

CLASS DETAILS:

Six virtual sessions from 6-8 pm CST

Choose either:

WEEKLY Mondays beginning April 8th OR

MONTHLY Thursdays beginning April 18th

Dinner provided for each session. Earn $30 per person for attending all 6 classes. Receive childcare support as needed.