HOPTOWN
F A M I L I E S
AU G U S T 2 0 2 0
AT HOME
with
the Bentzel family
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BACK-TOSCHOOL
Lunch ideas, mask tips and sports physicals
A JOURNEY THROUGH TENNESSEE PIONEER LIFE
Wander through the mid-19th Century on a self-guided tour of 16 restored log structures spread over 40 expansive acres. This rural Tennessee farm chronicles life before and after the Civil War. Bring along a picnic or explore a walking trail for a full day of family fun. BUY ONE REGULARLY PRICED ADMISSION
GET ONE FREE
(MUST SHOW AD, ONE PER COUPON)
HistoricCollinsville.com 20 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN CLARKSVILLE
Open Fridays - Sundays through October 4711 Weakley Road, Southside, TN 37171 | 931.245.4344 Follow Historic Collinsville on Facebook for the latest updates.
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CONTENTS ABOUT US Hoptown Families is a magazine dedicated to the families of the southern Pennyrile. Inside you will find a host of fun stories and activities for everyone in your family.
EDITOR Zirconia Alleyne zalleyne@kentuckynewera.com CONTRIBUTORS Zirconia Alleyne Tonya S. Grace
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Megan Kidd
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Jon Russelburg
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At Home At Home with the Bentzel family
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Back to School Remember to get student sport physicals completed
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Lunchtime Healthy lunches essential for dtudents at home and school
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Avery Seeger
Time to get outside Fun outdoor activities for fall in Kentucky Local fun Ways to have fun in the midst of the pandemic Road trips 10 attractions to visit before school restarts
Face it Nurse shares tips for helping kids keep up with masks
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Michele Vowell
DESIGN Maegan Saalwaechter
TO ADVERTISE 270-887-3270
CONTACT US 713 S. Main Street Hopkinsville, KY 42240
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At with Home the
Bentzels MIXING LOVE AND FAITH BUILDS FAMILY OF 8 WRITER: ZIRCONIA ALLEYNE
T
he Bentzels are a bustling bunch. There’s Chris — a Pennsylvania bred Army veteran who was just named superintendent of Christian County Public Schools. There’s his wife Kelly, a hometown belle who teaches at South Christian Elementary. There’s their oldest daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Charlie — both Christian County High School grads who got married three years ago after reconnecting. And then there’s the littles - Benjamin, 7, Caroline, 6, Jaycee, 3, and Everlee, 2. The Bentzels have a full house that’s filled with family, faith and love. Before being named superintendent, Chris was principal at several local schools — Lacy Elementary, Christian County Middle and Christian County High. Before that, he taught fifth grade at Belmont Elementary from 2005 to 2009 and served as a pilot in the U.S. Army for 10 years prior. Getting stationed at Fort Campbell is actually how Chris met Kelly and her 4-year-old daughter at the time, Sarah. “We met through friends and we started dating, and then 9/11 happened and I was going to get sent to Iraq,” he said. “We had intentions on getting married, but we decided to do it before I left.” Chris and Kelly tied the knot in November 2002, and Chris left for Iraq at the end of January 2003. “I was in Iraq for eight months, then I was in Central America for a year, and we decid3 H O P TOW N FA M I L I E S // AU G U S T 2 0 2 0
ed it was too much time away from home, so then I got out and we lived in Hopkinsville,” he said. “I became a teacher and she went back to school.” Bentzel said with Kelly’s parents in Hopkinsville and the desire for Sarah to grow up close to them, the couple decided to settle down here. “I like it here,” he said. “It’s very family oriented and our family is here.” Sarah, now 23, said growing up in Hopkinsville is also an upbringing she cherishes. “It’s a really close community, and I love that, “ Sarah said. “You get to go to school with the same people you go to church with. And like he said, our family is here, so it’s pretty rare that you can say you grew up with your family right down the road.” Charlie, a third-generation farmer, said he loves the agriculture roots. His family is big in the hay outfit as well as custom harvesting of wheat, beans and corn. As a young Hopkinsville couple, Sarah and Charlie love having friends over and going on Friday night dates to Davos. “A lot of people are coming back to this area,” Sarah said. “Friends that we knew in high school are moving back and we’re all at the same point in our lives.” Chris said as a former teacher, principal and now superintendent, hearing that his former students are returning home to live makes his desire for the city and schools to succeed even stronger. “We have a responsibility to produce good schools,” he said. “There are people coming back and there are people staying, and we want to give them the best schools as they start families. That’s what our charge is going to be for the next 10 years.” Additionally, their youngest four children will attend the public schools. Ben and Caroline are going into second and first grade respectively at South Christian this fall. “I’m excited about wrestling again,” said Ben, who started his own YouTube channel during the pandemic. “I’m excited about first grade and seeing my friends again,” said Caroline, a social butterfly and lip gloss enthusiast. Chris said Ben, Caroline and Jaycee came into their family through foster care. Shortly after a miscarriage in 2016, Chris and Kelly found out about foster parenting from CCPS Pupil Personnel Director 4 H O P TOW N FA M I L I E S // AU G U S T 2 0 2 0
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Melanie Barrett. “In a year, we went from zero (kids in the house) to four,” Chris laughed, noting that they got pregnant with Everlee while fostering the three siblings. “We had a baby, a 1-year-old, (Caroline) was 4 and (Ben) was 5 — we’re a blended family but we’re happy.” The Bentzels adopted the trio last June. “We went to the courthouse and got adopted,” Ben said proudly. Sarah said it’s great to have a big age gap between her and her siblings because her kids will get to grow up close to their aunts and uncle. Chris said outside of school, church and family, there’s not much free time, so it’s all incorporated together. “When I was at Christian County High School, the kids would always go to everything with us — basketball games, football games, the two girls one year went to prom with us — it’s just about integrating the two families,” he said. “So, the balance is we don’t do much outside of school, church and home.” At home, the crew enjoys sitting down for a takeout meal from Four Seasons or the new Butter and Grace. “She does the hard work, and there’s no clean up,” Kelly said. “We order from there and Four Seasons, and that takes us through the week.” Their favorites from Butter and Grace are the pizzas, the pork roast, the taco casserole and pastas. Four Seasons favorites are the chicken wraps and pasta salad. During the summer, the Bentzels love swimming, visiting family and going to the Y. The school year is filled with sports games and other school events. “Being a high school principal, I have a lot of babysitter access, so (Kelly and I) try to go out once a month,” he said, noting that they like eating at the Horseshoe. Kelly said adopting through foster care was a life-changing decision that she’s happy they chose. Although their home is closed to new fosters, Kelly still advocates for the program. “Try to go through foster care if that’s something you feel led to do,” she said. “There’s a lot of local support.” As far as adding more Bentzels to the bunch, Kelly said they’re good on that front. “We are done,” she said laughing. “We hope to be welcoming grandchildren soon.”
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WE WENT TO THE COURTHOUSE AND GOT ADOPTED. — BEN BENTZEL
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Our Mission: Creating an educational culture of continuous growth through shared partnerships and responsibilities.
200 Glass Avenue • (270) 887-7000 • www.christian.kyschools.us 7 H O P TOW N FA M I L I E S // AU G U S T 2 0 2 0
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Remember your sports phsyicals WRITER: MICHELE VOWELL
With high school sports seasons approaching, it’s the time of year for students to get sports physicals in order to participate. Christian County Health Department Spokesperson Amanda Sweeney said there are multiple options for students who need to get physicals. “We offer them here at the health department so they can come here,” Sweeney said. “But, primary care physicians, if they have one, will do them as well.” Upon arriving for the physical, student athletes will need to bring their shot records, an insurance card if they have insurance and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Before the appointment, they may have to wait out in the car after the registration process, or will be spaced out within the health department in order to combat the spread of COVID-19. A nurse will measure their height, weight, BMI and do a vision and hearing test. If the student is diabetic, they may also do a blood test. For more information, contact the Christian County Health Department at 270-887-4160 or reach out to your primary care physician.
reduce athletes’ injury risk • Make sure young athletes get their physicals. Recreational and scholastic sports leagues typically require athletes to get physicals before they’re allowed to compete. Kids who participate in more loosely organized leagues should get a physical before each season even if the league does not require them to do so. These examinations can uncover problems such as irregular heartbeat that may make kids vulnerable to injury or illness. • Open and maintain a dialogue with coaches before and throughout the season. Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit organizations that works to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries, recommends parents meet with coaches before the first practice of the season to inform them of a child’s medical history with asthma or other medical conditions that require special attention. • Warm up and stretch before games. Many coaches are fully aware of the importance of warming up and stretching before games. But parents can still keep an eye out to make sure kids do this prior to competition. • Encourage young athletes to hydrate and stay hydrated throughout competition. The NCAA notes that the consequences of dehydration are severe and can include increased core temperature and heart rate, decreased blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, general fatigue, headaches, and muscle cramps. Hydrating before competition and staying hydrated throughout a game can help athletes minimize their risk of injury and muscle cramps.
Meet the new Jennie Stuart Health urologist.
Robert Lewe, MD UROLOGY
WELCOME, DR. LEWE.
Jennie Stuart Health is proud to welcome Dr. Lewe to our team. Dr. Robert Lewe is a board-certified urologist with more than 20 years’ experience. He provides diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of urological conditions, including kidney stones, kidney cancer, prostate cancer and urinary disorders. For many procedures, he offers roboticassisted, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Lewe is accepting new patients.
Medical Group EXPERIENCE MAKES the DIFFERENCE.
To schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment, please contact the physician’s office at 270-886-5141. 219 W. 17th St. • Hopkinsville, KY • 270-886-5141 • JennieStuartHealth.org/Urology 9 H O P TOW N FA M I L I E S // AU G U S T 2 0 2 0
Dr. Lewe is a member of the medical staff.
Consider these components of a healthy lunch and pack them in plastic containers, resealable plastic bags or colorful plastic wrap: • Cold-cut roll ups lean, low-fat turkey, ham or roast beef with low-fat cheese on whole wheat tortillas • Cold pizza - shredded mozzarella cheese with pizza sauce on a flour tortilla, whole wheat pita, English muffin or mini pizza shell • Cracker sandwiches - whole-grain crackers filled with low-fat cream cheese or peanut butter and jelly • Peanut butter and celery sticks • Veggie sticks with low-fat dip or dressing • 100% fruit juice box or bottle of water • Optional dessert (choose one): flavored gelatin, low-fat pudding, oatmeal raisin cookie, graham crackers or fresh fruit. 1 0 H O P TOW N FA M I L I E S // AU G U S T 2 0 2 0
Healthy lunches essential for students at home and school WRITER: MICHELE VOWELL
Whether students study in their rooms at home or in homerooms at school, children of all ages need to eat a healthy lunch. Lindsay Ramage, registered dietitian with the Christian County Health Department, offered parents suggestions to prepare midday meals. “Make sure the lunch includes a protein source, carbohydrates, fat source (which is often in the protein) and a produce (fruit and/or vegetable),” she said. Ramage said there are healthy guidelines parents can follow to ensure these components are included at lunch. Healthy fats include full fat dairy, salmon, avocado, olives, oils, butter, nuts and nut butters, Ramage said. Easy ways to include produce are berries, apples, bananas, oranges, pears, plums, peaches, fruit cups, dried fruit, applesauce cups/pouches, fruit and veggie pouches. Popular vegetables for lunch boxes include mini bell peppers, mini cucumbers, celery sticks, sugar snap peas and carrots. “Sandwiches can be good choices for lunch,” Ramage said. “Try to choose whole wheat bread or some type of bread alternative such as whole wheat tortillas, and choose nitrate-free deli meat if possible.” Amanda Sweeney, health department marketing specialist, recommends including students in the lunch decision-making process.
“Whether it’s getting kids to try new foods or getting kids to eat healthier, allowing them to be part of the decision-making process is a big deal,” she said. “Whenever you’re preparing healthy lunches or getting ideas, brainstorm with them. (Adults) will have the ultimate say because you want to give them guidance. It’s good to get the kids’ input because if they feel a part of it, they’ll be more apt to eat the lunches.” Sweeney noted that desserts or snacks with a high content of sugar should be avoided. “Avoid sugar. Especially during the day at school (or at home) when they are trying to learn, sugar is just a brain fog. It doesn’t enhance learning very well,” she said. For students who will be educated at home, there are advantages at lunchtime. “The benefits of being at home you may have leftovers in the refrigerator and you could heat those up,” she said. “You can make sure the food stays cold like it needs to and you can heat it up like you need to.” Whether students are educated at home or at school, Sweeney said children should be taught about eating healthy. “It’s an important conversation to have with kids,” Sweeney said. “They need to understand (to) value what you put in your body. Make sure you’re putting the right types of fuel in there.”
Meet the new Jennie Stuart Health family medicine physician. James McNamara, DO, PhD FA MILY MEDICINE
WELCOME, DR. MCNAMARA.
Jennie Stuart Health is proud to welcome Dr. McNamara to our team. Dr. James McNamara specializes in diagnosing and treating common illnesses and minor injuries, as well as helping patients manage chronic conditions. As a family physician, he is your primary source for immunizations, physical exams and advice on improving your overall health and wellness. Dr. McNamara is accepting new patients.
Medical Group EXPERIENCE MAKES the DIFFERENCE.
To schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment, please contact the physician’s office at 270-887-6565. 223 Burley Ave. • Hopkinsville, KY • 270-887-6565 • JennieStuartHealth.org/FamilyHealth 1 1 H O P TOW N FA M I L I E S // AU G U S T 2 0 2 0
Dr. McNamara is a member of the medical staff.
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FACE IT
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NURSE SHARES TIPS FOR HELPING KIDS KEEP UP WITH MASKS WRITER: MEGAN KIDD
W hile back-to-school kits usually include pencils, paper and crayons, this year’s kit must also include a mask. Students will be required to wear a mask daily and it can only be removed during meals or recess. Christian County Public Schools head nurse Megan Kidd said a mask lanyard is a helpful way to help your student keep up with it when they are able to take it off at school. Here are a few Etsy shops to find masks with lanyards:
2.
1. TheRustyJalopy on Etsy.com Face mask with ear savers and mask strap $15 2. AriaMarliART on Etsy.com Face mask necklace $6.50+ 3. RIPBEAUTY on Etsy.com Mask chain $7.99
Safety tips • Lanyards should always be removed during naps, at bedtime and during rides in the car. • Never leave children unattended with the lanyard around their neck.
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Fun outdoor activities for fall WRITER: JON RUSSELBURG
As August comes to a close and September begins to brown the leaves, the great outdoors comes calling. Fall in Kentucky is the perfect time to get outside. Luckily, one of the greatest outdoor recreation areas in the county is just a short drive from Christian County. Land Between the Lakes, and aptly named space of land between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, is the perfect spot for Hoptown families to get their outdoor fix. LBL has over 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline and 200 miles of paved roads. Canoeing and kayaking are a great way to get on the water. Lakeside Rent-
als in Kuttawa will rent kayaks and drop them off for you to explore the beautiful Poplar Creek on Lake Barkley. If swimming is your favorite pastime, Hillman Ferry and Piney Campgrounds have designated swimming areas. But swim at your own risk, there are no lifeguards in the area. Be sure to wear water shoes and life jackets when swimming and kayaking. You never know what is hidden under water. Camping is really where the national recreation area shines. There are 17 official campgrounds spanning the 45-mile Trace Road that runs through LBL. For those campers who really like to “rough it,� there are 170,000 acres of
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in Kentucky forest and open lands. All you need are your camping supplies and a Basic/ Dispersed Camping Permit. Basic/Dispersed Camping Permits cost $10 for three days, or $50 for a full year if you want to take multiple trips. You can also take a fun day trip to the Elk and Bison Prairie at LBL. The prairie is open from dusk until dawn seven days a week. The 700-acre enclosure allows Elk and bison to roam free. For $5, you can pile your family in the car and drive the 3.5-mile paved loop road and see the ungulates roam around in their natural habitat. You can look, but don’t touch. These are wild animals.
If sight-seeing wild animals sounds fun, a simple drive down the trace could also lead to some unusual sightings. Fallow deer live in the wild at LBL. Fallow deer are smaller than native white-tailed deer, but their bodies are covered in white spots and the bucks’ antlers grow in a single, large spike. You can also search the stars at the Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory. The planetarium houses a Konica Minolta Mediaglobe II digital projection system that displays the stars on a 40-foot dome theater. Admission is $6 for anyone 13 years old and up, $3.50 for ages 5-12 and free for children under four years old. But maybe the best part of LBL is the silence. Since the entire national recreation area is undeveloped, there are no houses or cars to break up the sound of the great outdoors. For a relaxing afternoon, bring a book, a hammock and find two trees to lounge between. Get reconnected with nature.
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Fall family fun in the midst of the pandemic WRITER: AVERY SEEGER
Fall is just around the corner and it’s usually a season full of fall-oriented events and things to do as a family, but this year it’s going to look a lot different. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many of the events that are usually scheduled throughout the year have been canceled, postponed or in a state of limbo. Despite that, there are some fun and safe family events that will still be happening come the fall. Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation is continuing to host its monthly “Movies in the Park,” in a drive-in fashion, allowing for social distancing. The movies are always family friendly and free of charge. On Sept. 6, parks and rec will show “Trolls World Tour” at DeBow Recreational Complex at 8 p.m., while on Oct. 3, parks and rec will be showing the classic film, “The Indian in the Cupboard,” at the Trail of Tears Commemorative Park at 6:45 p.m. “It’s been very popular this summer, not a surprise as folks have been looking for things to do within the guidelines that have been mandated for us,” Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tab Brockman said of the movies. After that, if you and the family want to get out of the house and exercise together, you can participate in the Hopkinsville Parks and Rec will be once again hosting the Second Annual Hoptown Half Marathon and 5K at 7 a.m. on Sept. 19. Brockman shared that the beneficiary of the event will be the Hopkinsville Challenge House program. So, in other words, you can get out with your family, exercise and support a local cause. The half marathon and 5K will also be offering a 1-mile walk to honor former Hopkinsville Mayor Wally Bryan, who started the Challenge House program. The 1-mile walk will be dubbed “Wally’s Walkers.” In order to ensure the safety of those participating in either the marathon, 5K or the 1-mile walk, the race will be capped at 1,000 runners with regard to the coronavirus. “We have an extensive safety plan for that in place that the (Christian County) Health Department has approved,” Brockman said. “We have absolutely safe parameters with social distancing and all the necessary things to make sure it’s a safe race for everyone. Last year, it was the first year and
it was a big success. So, we’re excited about it this year.” Usually just before school starts, downtown Hoptown would be busy with the Summer Salute Festival, but as you can guess, it was put on hold due to the pandemic. However, Brockman said parks and rec has a tentative date to host a smaller-scale version of the festival within COVID guidelines. As of now, the festival is slated for Oct. 16 and 17, but that is subject to change or be outright cancelled for the year. If the event does happen, the festival has booked Jimmy Church to perform Friday night, Oct. 16. For Saturday night, American Floyd, a Pink Floyd tribute band, is tentatively scheduled to perform. Also rescheduled following it being postponed is the Fifth Annual Touch A Truck event. The Touch A Truck event is an opportunity for children to touch, climb-on and explore Hopkinsville Fire trucks, police cruisers and even a local Air Evac Helicopter. That event has been tentatively rescheduled for Oct. 10, but is still yet to be determined to be actually happening. To keep in the loop for those events, keep an eye on the Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation Facebook page as well as its website, www.hoptownrec.com/. Aside from local events happening around town and as those events are still up in the air, Brockman gave some suggestions for things to do outside of the home as a family. He suggested picking up non-contact sports, such as baseball, softball, tennis, pickleball, running, biking, disc golf, rollerblading or even skateboarding. Brockman shared that these sports don’t require a lot of person-to-person contact and are able to be done socially distanced while still being able to get the blood pumping and have competitive fun. Other than non-contact sports, Brockman also suggests taking advantage of local parks and the greenway rail trail to go on family walks, picnics or other similar outings. While opportunities may be thin this fall to get out of the house as a family, there are some new and creative things to do and should you choose to take part in them, make sure to stay safe and keep with the COVID-19 guidelines.
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Local Fun Pumpkin Picking at Christian Way Farm or Giles Pumpkin Patch. A great way to socially distance and still make family memories. Take a hike, go on a canoe ride or check out the beach at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park. This is a great spot to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of our incredible region. Travel through time with interactive educational experiences and unlimited fun at Pennyroyal Area Museum. Times can be reserved online to ensure a limited number of visitors and proper social distancing. Learn more about the significance of Hopkinsville along the Northern Route of the Trail of Tears and visit the statues honoring two Native American Chiefs laid to rest at the park. There are 272 geocaches around Hopkinsville. Not familiar with geocaching? It is the world’s largest ongoing scavenger hunt. Use your phone to track coordinates and find secret treasures hidden all around you. It is an exciting way to explore new areas of the county with a goal in sight. Take a hay ride through the old western town at Copper Canyon Ranch which includes live horses and a saloon. (During October) Explore one of Hopkinsville’s many parks traversing 112 acres throughout the county Take in a classic movie at the gorgeous historic Alhambra Theatre.
Meet the new Jennie Stuart Health OB/GYN physician. Jonathan Abbott, MD OB/GY OB /GY N
WELCOME, DR. ABBOTT.
Dr. Jonathan Abbott, a board-certified OB/GYN physician, provides comprehensive care for women of all ages, including wellness visits, diagnostic screenings, maternity care and surgery. As an active-duty Army physician, Dr. Abbott held various leadership positions at Army community hospitals in California and Kentucky. He is accepting new patients.
Medical Group EXPERIENCE MAKES the DIFFERENCE.
To schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment, please contact the physician’s office at 270-887-9058. 1717 High St., Ste. 4B • Hopkinsville, KY • 270-887-9058 • JennieStuartHealth.org/WomensHealth
Dr. Abbott is a member of the medical staff.
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Serving Hopkinsville, Western Kentucky & Clarksville, Tennesse with 13 Convenient Offices
www.plantersbankonline.com Member FDIC
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ROADTRIPS REVIVED 10 ATTRACTIONS TO VISIT BEFORE SCHOOL RESTARTS
WRITER: TONYA S. GRACE
As businesses begin reopening following the initial onset of COVID-19, vacation sites and attractions in the area also are opening to visitors, many with COVID-19 restrictions in place. Some attractions have limited hours, while many now require face masks and social distancing. But if you’re up for it, all the attractions offer an opportunity for a family get-away in the weeks before schools resume for another academic year. Try out these quick road trips before the school bell rings again this fall: **We also included how far the drive is from Hoptown so you know how long you have to keep the kids occupied in the car.**
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Dinosaur World (1 hour 30 minutes) This attraction’s dino walk and indoor museum is open to limited capacity. Face masks are encouraged. For details, visit dinosaurworld.com/kentucky.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee (4 hours 30 minutes) A variety of businesses and restaurants are open. Face masks must be worn by anyone 12 and older. Visit Gatlinburg.com for details.
Kentucky Railway Museum (2 hours 10 minutes) Located in New Haven in Nelson County, the museum is open only on Saturdays for excursions. Visitors are required to read the museum’s reopening plan before attending. For information, visit kyrail.org.
Creation Museum (4 hours)
Paducah (1 hour 15 minutes)
This Petersburg attraction, which showcases the world from a Biblical perspective, is now open daily, although some restrictions are in place. Face masks must be worn by people 6 years old and older and social distancing is required. For more information, visit creationmuseum.org.
The city offers attractions such as the National Quilt Museum (open with restrictions) and Paducah Railroad Museum (also open for business). Visit individual websites to learn about each facility’s guidelines and offerings.
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park in Dawson Springs (30-minute drive) State park lodges and campgrounds in Kentucky have reopened but may have changes like face masks, social distancing and additional cleaning measures in the wake of COVID-19. Pennyrile Forest has basketball and tennis courts and boasts such activities as boating, fishing and birding. Visit parks.ky.gov for details. 1 9 H O P TOW N FA M I L I E S // AU G U S T 2 0 2 0
Holiday World (2 hours) This amusement park in Santa Claus, Indiana, offers a splash park and amusement rides. Social distancing is encouraged, although face masks are optional. For more information, visit holidayworld.com.
Nashville, Tennessee (1 hour) Home to the Country Music Hall of Fame, this city not far from Hopkinsville has a variety of attractions including the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, the Adventure Science Museum and the Nashville Shores recreational area, all of these open to visitors as communities are re-opening in the midst of the coronavirus. Visit individual websites for details.
Land Between the Lakes (35 minutes) All facilities at Land Between the Lakes are open, and Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are open for fishing and boating and other recreational pursuits. For more information, visit explorekentuckylake.com.
Beech Bend Park in Bowling Green (1 hour 20 minutes) The park is open for business but accepts a limited number of guests each day. Visitors must go online to register. Social distancing and face masks are required, and new sanitizing procedures are in place. Visit beechbend.com for information. 2 0 H O P TOW N FA M I L I E S // AU G U S T 2 0 2 0
Prepare kids to go back to school WRITER: METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION
The end of summer can be a bittersweet time for students. While many students look forward to seeing their friends, few want to say goodbye to the relaxing days of summer. Parents know that getting their children back in the school day swing of things can be a challenge. The following are some ways to make that transition go smoothly.
Introduce more structure The chance to unwind in a structure-free setting can benefit students at the onset of summer vacation. Many parents grapple with the notion that their children’s lives are overscheduled, and the Cleveland Clinic notes that limiting organized activities clears up down time for kids to play and relax and spend time with their families. So it’s important that parents afford their children this down time during summer vacation, only gradually introducing more structure as the school year draws closer. In the weeks before the school year is slated to begin, start waking kids up a little earlier and reintroducing bedtimes for younger children who may have been staying up later over the last couple of months. This can be an effective way to begin slowly preparing youngsters for the structure of the school year.
Encourage reading during summer A report from the education publishing company Scholastic found that
47 percent of parents are unaware of the “summer slide,” which refers to the loss of academic skills that occurs when school is not in session. Scholastic notes that the slide is largely attributed to a lack of reading when school is not in session. By encouraging kids to read during their summer vacations, parents can make sure youngsters’ brains stay sharp and are ready to learn once the school year begins.
Focus on the positive Even kids who love school may be apprehensive about returning to the classroom. After all, summer vacation is fun. Parents can confront that apprehension by focusing on the positives of returning to school. Emphasize the chance to see friends every day or participate in a beloved extracurricular activity, like sports, band or a favorite academic club.
Let kids do back-to-school shopping The items that constitute back to school supplies may have changed since parents were in school. But many parents still take their children on backto-school clothes shopping excursions. Let kids choose some of their own clothes, as an opportunity to wear clothes they picked themselves might make them excited for the new school year.
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