OCTOBER 2018
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Why do kids love video games — and when do parents need to take control? PAGE 20 DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
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TEEN HOME BUILDERS PAGE 28
SMART TOY TIPS PAGE 16
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Vermont Ballet Theater and School CENTER FOR DANCE
ORTHODONTICS
D R S . P E T E R S O N , R YA N & E AT O N
HALLOWEEN CANDY BUY BACK!
VERMONT’S OWN NUTCRACKER AT THE FLYNN CENTER DEC. 22 & 23!!
Bring us your candy and we will give YOU $1 for each pound of candy and donate $1 for each pound to Vermont Food Bank.
CLASS REGISTRATION remains open!
Everyone who brings in candy will be entered in a raffle for a $50 Amazon gift card!
Ballet • Pointe • Modern • Jazz • Lyrical Contemporary Hip-Hop • Yoga • Pilates • Cardio and more.
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Ages 3-Adult, Beginner-Pre-Professional Register at vbts.org today!
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I can’t wait for winter! I’m so glad my parents shopped at ONCE UPON A CHILD and got all of my winter gear for WAY less than retail prices. Now I Summer just need someDance snow! Intermediate & Advanced Ballet Camps & Classes
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Classes for all ages, 3 years through adult
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"Simply the Best"
Main office: 802-878-2941 The Dance Shop at VBTS: 802-879-7001 www.vbts.org • info@vbts.org
Official school of Vermont Ballet Theater, Winner of Readers Choice Award Best Ballet School, Alexander Nagiba Director. 9/26/18 2:18 PM
We really want your gently used winter gear! Bring in last year’s outgrown items and sell them to us! You can even use that money towards this year’s winter gear!! We especially want parkas, snowpants, boots and more boots!!
“the Dance shop” at Vbts essex & shelburne 802-879-7001 info@vbts.org
BEST CHILDREN’S CLOTHING STORE 9/26/18 4:26 PM
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Saturday, October 27
th
Jim Gaffigan Quality Time Tour
Oakledge Park, Burlington
Burlington Does Broadway New Year’s Celebration ‘19
2:00 - 6:00 pm
UPCOMING
SHOWS
Spectrum Dance Theater A Rap on Race
Haunted walk with a “freaky fairytales” theme, hay rides, fortune telling, costume contest, crafts, musical entertainment, face painting, lawn games, dancing, food and more!
The Capitol Steps David Bowie’s Blackstar Ambient Orchestra feat. Maya Beiser, cello Rock of Ages Spamalot Ping Chong + Company Voices of Muslim Identity Red Kite Green Mountain Elf Something Rotten Cirque Mechanics
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UPCOMING CLASSES
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Wednesdays, Oct. 17-Nov. 28 (16+)
Youth Dances: Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Lyrical Thursdays, Oct. 25-Dec. 6 (gr. 4-8)
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Adult Saturday Sing Saturdays, Oct. 27-Dec. 8
Drop-in for Dance
(on space available basis) Movement for Parkinsons, Acro-Yoga, Jazz Dance, Hip-Hop, Burlesque, Ballet
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EDITOR’S NOTE
STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS COPUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Cathy Resmer
cathy@kidsvt.com COPUBLISHER
Colby Roberts
colby@kidsvt.com MANAGING EDITOR
Alison Novak
alison@kidsvt.com
Alison checks out Crystal Wagner’s innovative installation at Burlington City Arts
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Mary Ann Lickteig
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Brooke Bousquet brooke@kidsvt.com
MARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR
Corey Grenier
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Kaitlin Montgomery kaitlin@kidsvt.com
CALENDAR WRITER
Brett Stanciu
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John James CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Don Eggert DESIGNERS
Kirsten Cheney, Todd Scott, Rev. Diane Sullivan CIRCULATION MANAGER
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Astrid Hedbor Lague, Elisa Järnefelt, Ken Picard, Kristen Ravin, Autumn Spencer, Sara Tabin, Jess Wisloski PHOTOGRAPHERS
Andy Brumbaugh, James Buck ILLUSTRATOR
Misoo Filan
Published 11x per year. Circulation: 25,000 at 600+ locations throughout northern and central Vermont. © 2018 Da Capo Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
ALISON NOVAK, MANAGING EDITOR
CATHY RESMER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
I remember playing TWISTER in our den with my friends and cousins. Board games don’t get much simpler than this one. Back then, none of us kept score or felt bad if we “lost.” A few years ago we broke out this game for an adult party and it was as fun as ever! KEN PICARD, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I really liked playing THE TRAIL Thinking back OREGON TRAIL. to my middle-school mind, I’m assuming I liked it because it was historical, there was a story line, and it was basic. COREY GRENIER, MARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR
I played the board game CRACKERS IN MY BED. It does not involve any strategy whatsoever, but my brother and I were entranced by it. It was simply fun to play with fake food, and the boy in the bed on the cover of the box looked maniacal. KARA TORRES, PROOFREADER
CONTRIBUTOR’S NOTE JESS WISLOSKI (“Use Your Words,” page 47) is a website manager and recovering journalist who lives in Essex Junction with her intrepid 5-year-old, Calliope, and chronically petrified dog, Penny. She revels in hiking, snowboarding, yoga, old movies and ’70s rock — and in tormenting her daughter into hiking, riding, doing yoga, watching old movies and listening to ’70s rock.
KIDS VT
hen my son, Theo, was 6 years old, he started playing Minecraft. He quickly became hooked. The video game became a frequent topic of conversation with his friends, and he spent more time than I’d care to admit down in the basement — often in the company of my husband, who also caught the Minecraft bug — collecting wood, planting crops, building homes and fending off creepers. These days, he enjoys kicking back and watching YouTube videos featuring British commentator Joseph Garrett, better known as Stampy Cat, providing humorous, blow-by-blow narration of his Minecraft exploits. Theo is not alone in this pastime; Garrett’s videos have been viewed billions of times. Though I dabbled in Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt as a kid, I’m not a gamer at heart. In truth, Theo’s love of Minecraft and other video games has always confounded me. What is it about these games that draws in so many kids? In “Child’s Play” (page 20), I talk to a psychiatrist, a psychologist and gaming experts about what makes video games so compelling, and how parents can make sure the hobby doesn’t get out of hand. An added bonus: The experience gave me a greater understanding and appreciation of one of my 8-year-old son’s favorite activities. This is our Innovation Issue, and it’s packed with articles about inventive and imaginative pursuits. Check out “Home Schooled” on page 28, a piece about a unique program at the Center for Technology, Essex, where high school students learn construction skills while building homes — which are then put on the market. On page 16, Dr. Lewis First offers advice on what parents should know before giving “smart” tech toys and gadgets to their kids. On page 18, parents share some very innovative and original costume creations, just in time for Halloween. And in “One to Watch,” on page 15, read about 17-year-old Milo Cress of Shelburne, who is the sole student member of the state’s new Artificial Intelligence Task Force. Milo will discuss the challenges and opportunities AI presents during a panel discussion at the Vermont Tech Jam, on Friday, October 19, at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. Organized by Kids VT’s sister publication, Seven Days, the Tech Jam is a career and tech expo that might interest techie teens and their parents. Find the schedule at techjamvt.com. At Kids VT, we know that parents are the ultimate innovators — always looking for new ways to engage our kids, to deal with obstacles and outbursts, to juggle work and parenting and everything else life throws at us. So this one’s for you. Enjoy!
I spent hours upon hours playing M.U.L.E. on my Commodore 64 when I was a kid, sometimes with my sister, cousins or friends, sometimes by myself against the computer. It’s a strategy game in which players colonize a new planet and have to acquire land and manage resources. I can barely remember how to play, but the theme song is still stuck in my head!
OCTOBER 2018
Editorial content in Kids VT is for general informational purposes. Parents must use their own discretion for following the advice in any editorial piece. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute service/product endorsement. Kids VT is a proud member of the Parenting Media Association. Kids VT distribution is audited for accuracy. Da Capo Publishing shall not be held liable to any advertiser for any loss that results from the incorrect publication of its advertisement. If a mistake is ours, and the advertising purpose has been rendered valueless, Da Capo Publishing may cancel the charges for the advertisement, or a portion thereof as deemed reasonable by the publisher. Da Capo Publishing reserves the right to refuse any advertising, including inserts, at the discretion of the publishers.
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What was your favorite game to play when you were growing up?
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Kids have questions. We find answers.
A podcast for curious kids.
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OCTOBER 2018 Writing Contest & Winners ......24 Coloring Contest Winners .........24 Coloring Contest ..............................25 Puzzle Page..........................................26 Birthday Club .....................................26 Puzzle Answers ................................47
JUST FOR KIDS
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ese & wine Your chaend m ore! place
A Clockwork Pumpkin
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From the secret notebook of rodent scholar and inventor Elon Muskrat
Child’s Play So, as smart as I am, I can’t figure out why I can’t sell even one of these beauties. Can you help me?
Like those other devices, the pumpkin watch tells time, it’s a computer, it’s a game console, it plays music, and it takes photos. But it also does your homework, brushes your hair and makes your
I mean, what’s the problem, people?” Why can’t Elon Muskrat sell any pumpkin watches? BY MARC NADEL
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Just for Kids 23 Pumpkin Riddle 24 Writing Contest
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Halloweeeeeeening! At HALLOWEEN HOWL, kids and their caregivers, dressed up in awesome costumes, venture through a FreakyFairytales-themed haunted walk, hop on a hayride, dance to spooky tunes, get their fortunes told and have a blast with fun fall games. Saturday, October 27, 2-6 p.m., Oakledge Park, Burlington.
Home Schooled
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Like the University of Vermont Medical Center on Facebook and get weekly updates from Dr. First! See “First With Kids” videos at uvmhealth.org.
Calendar 31 Daily Listings 32 Classes 33 Live Performances 34 Halloween Happenings 36 Science & Nature 38 New Parents 40 Story Times 42 Playgroups 44 Ongoing exhibits On the Cover OCTOBER 2018
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VOL.25 NO.10
See Revolutionary War reenactors up close. See the gunboat Philadelphia II and hear its cannon fire! Lorem ipsum
Encampment begins Friday Oct. 12!
Why do kids love video games — and when do parents need to take control? PAGE 20 DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
ISSUE
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TEEN HOME BUILDERS PAGE 28
SMART TOY TIPS PAGE 16
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Shelburne-based artist Misoo Filan depicts the entrancing world of video games in this colored-pencil illustration.
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OCTOBER 2018
Columns 11 Kids Beat 12 Destination Recreation 13 By the Numbers 14 Mealtime 15 One to Watch 16 Checkup 17 Mom Takes Notes 18 The Art of 19 Bookworms 47 Use Your Words
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Trending #InstaKidsVT Parent Participation Pet Corner Good Citizen Challenge Kids Say What?
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SUN Mad River Valley Trick or Trot: Goblins, ghosts and OCT 28 princesses lace up for an 11:30 a.m. 3K or 5K run or walk, with festive Halloween music and decorations. A fall jamboree follows, featuring food, music, games and a costume parade. Warren School, Warren.
OCTOBER 2018
Short Stuff Autumn Answers 8
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SAT & SUN
National Chemistry Week Kick-Off Weekend: OCT 20 & 21 Curious families spark their imaginations with surprising experiments, hands-on activities and science shows. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington.
JAMES BUCK
Staff Question Contributor’s Note
6/26/18 1:33 PM
SAT & SUN
Terrific Tractors & Other Cool Machines: OCT 13 & 14 Future farmers climb aboard a collection of colossal machines that can get the job done. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Shelburne Farms, Shelburne.
Teens build houses in Essex tech program
Welcome Editor’s Note 5
1186 Williston Rd. So. Burlington, VT 05403 (Next to the Alpine Shop) 802.863.0143 Open 7 days 10am-7pm cheeseandwinetraders.com
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bed! And when you’re really hungry, just pull out one of the wedges and you have an instant slice of yummy pumpkin pie (optional whipped cream dispenser: $100 extra).
And then it dawned on me: We’re gonna need a bigger fruit!
OCTOBER 2018
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ooking at that other smart watch, I kept thinking that it wasn’t packed with nearly enough functions. How can I, Elon Muskrat, tiny genius, make it perfect?
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SO MI
Why do kids love video games — and when do parents need to take control?
Discounts on Natural, Gluten-Free and Kid-Friendly Foods and much more! ARGAIN PRICES ! ALL AT B
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Why is it important to encourage kids to innovate — and how do we do it?
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OCTOBER 2018
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nnovation is a popular buzzword, particularly as it applies to tech and business. While the internet offers literally hundreds of definitions of the word, according to MerriamWebster, it means “the introduction of something new” or “a new idea, device or method.” Every parent knows that kids start innovating at a young age. Children pile up stuffed animals to escape cribs. Babies finagle the seat buckle on the high chair, sliding stealthily down and out before we can even reload the spoon with mashed peas. When one adult says no, kids find a different adult to ask. Although it can be a little startling to watch on the baby monitor as your toddler parkours out of her crib and onto the floor (where she’s flung her mattress to ensure a soft landing because she is, of course, above average), it’s also crucially important that our kids do exactly this — observe a problem and apply a new idea, device or method to solve it. Why does innovation matter? Because human relationships,
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the world we live in and the problems we face require innovative solutions, along with a willingness to take risks — to try, fail and try again. Unfortunately, public education in America — particularly middle and high school — does not always encourage kids to innovate. Standardized tests focus not on creativity, but on memorizing, not on taking calculated risks and trying something new, but on being singularly right. Tony Wagner, a former expertin-residence at Harvard Innovation Labs, and author of the best-selling book, Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World, writes, “The average child asks 100 questions a day. But by the time a child is 10 or 12, he or she has figured out that it’s much more important to get right answers than to keep asking thoughtful questions.” So how can parents support and encourage innovation? An article published in Inc., “5 Ways You Can Encourage Your Kids to Become Innovators,” highlights the importance of play. Whether it’s playing
AUTUMN ANSWERS with toys or making up imaginary games, play encourages creative problem solving. The article also suggests that parents model inquiry. Don’t know the answer to a question? Show your children how you go about finding it. Also, keep books about innovation and magazines like Scientific American and Wired around the house; check them out at the library. The next time you find your child has pushed a stool up to the counter, placed a box on top of it and is climbing her way to the cookies she somehow knows you’re hiding from her on the top shelf, remind yourself that we want our kids to know how to innovate. And though the rules may be no cookies and no climbing on the counter while she’s little, these same problem-solving skills, encouraged and fortified as she learns and grows, will serve her well — in her education, her relationships, and her work — throughout her life. In this monthly column, comedian, writer and mom Autumn Spencer answers tricky parenting questions. Have a question for Autumn? Send it to ideas@kidsvt.com.
#INSTAKIDSVT Thanks for sharing your photos with us this month by using the hashtag #instakidsvt. We could relate to this photo of a full shopping cart after a grocery store outing. Share a picture of your kids having fun in the fall this month!
HERE’S HOW:
American Academy of Pediatrics renews call for ban on infant walkers, citing a recent study showing that they caused more than 230,000 injuries between 1990 and 2014. That’s one less piece of baby gear parents have to buy. Family and community of 2-year-old Brody Allen, who has a rare form of brain cancer, put up decorations and put on a parade in his Ohio hometown to give him an early Christmas. “We did it to make him happy,” his mom said. Teacher’s post about “lawnmower parents” — those who go to whatever lengths necessary to prevent their kids from facing adversity — goes viral. Move over helicopter, tiger and free-range moms and dads, there’s a new label in town. Data published in September by the Pew Research Center show that millennials are more likely to be stay-athome parents than Gen Xers. They’re also probably more likely to blog about it.
missyellowshoes Running a multitude of errands with my miniest. #instakidsvt
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PET CORNER PARENT PARTICIPATION This month, we asked our Facebook followers to share photos of their kids going back to school. Find a sampling of the submissions below!
Michelle Claflin shared this photo of her 7-yearold daughter, Addison, with Fergus, their 3-yearold Great Pyrenees. Fergus is a guard dog on the family’s farm in North Ferrisburgh, where he keeps sheep safe from predators, wrote Claflin. “Addison is by far his favorite little person.”
MIRA, AGE 4
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“Mama, I love you more than the whole university.”
OCTOBER 2018
KIDS SAY WHAT?
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Dozens of students from across Vermont have completed Kids VT first-ever Good VT’s Citizen Challenge, and more scorecards are arriving at our office daily. We’ve loved reading the poems about America, seeing posters encouraging adults to vote and watching the videos of participants reciting the preamble to the Constitution. Not finished yet? Better hurry! Entries must be postmarked or emailed by Tuesday, October 9. Look for a complete list of Good Citizens in the November issue. Find more information about the Challenge at goodcitizenvt.com.
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October 28 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
The Stern Center The Stern Stern helps Center kick-start helps helps kick-start the school kick-start the year. school the school year.year. TheThe Stern Center helpsCenter kick-start the school year. Because All Great Minds Don't Think Alike! Because All Because Great Because Minds All Great All Don't Great Minds Think Minds Don't Alike! Don't ThinkThink Alike! Alike!
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802-878-2332 www.sterncenter.org
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Timber Lane Pediatrics
$7 per person ages 3 and up. Members and children 2 and under are free. General admission applies for visitors arriving after 1 p.m.
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Thoughtfully curated organic clothing, gifts and essentials for the natural baby and tot.
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51 Timber Lane, South Burlington, VT 05403 To make an appointment, please call 802-864-0521
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COURTESY OF VERMONT WOMEN’S FUND
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The Vermont Women’s Fund supports programs that provide at-risk young women ages 12 to 25 with opportunities and experiences that expand their vision for the future. Reshma Saujani knows more than a little about this. Six years ago, Saujani started GIRLS WHO CODE, a national nonprofit aimed at closing the gender gap in technology by offering after-school coding clubs and summer immersion camps for thousands of third- through 12th-grade girls in all 50 states. She will speak about her experience at the October 30th Vermont Women’s Fund Annual Benefit Celebration. In 2010, Saujani ran for Congress in New York, becoming the first Indian American woman to do so. During her campaign, she was struck by the gender disparity in computer classes at local schools she visited, which spurred her to launch Girls Who Code. The organization aims to empower girls from different backgrounds to pursue careers in computer science and related fields. According to the organization’s website, Girls Who Code alumnae are choosing to major in computer science or related fields at a rate 15 times the national average. The Vermont Women’s Fund benefit will feature a cocktail reception, followed
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by a speech and Q & A with Saujani. “Girls Who Code is a terrific example of a program that found the key to engaging girls with 21st-century opportunities,” said Vermont Women’s Fund director Meg Smith. “And Ms. Saujani’s personal story adds another dimension to how we look at raising girls and the subliminal boundaries we put on them in the name of achievement.” The Vermont Women’s Fund Annual Benefit Celebration takes place on Tuesday, October 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the University of Vermont’s Davis Center. Cost is $50 for general admission and $10 for student admission. Visit vermontwomensfund.org to purchase tickets.
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Learn more about The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History’s Hamilton Education Program at gilderlehrman.org.
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Since it premiered in 2015, the Tonywinning Broadway musical Hamilton has drawn throngs of theatergoers to its sold-out performances. In November, Poultney High School students will get their shot to see the touring production of Hamilton at the Boston Opera House, thanks to a grant from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Poultney is the only Vermont school taking part in the HAMILTON EDUCATION PROGRAM, an initiative which began in New York City in 2015 and has expanded to reach 250,000 students in Title 1-eligible schools nationwide through 2020. This fall, students are learning to tell a story using primary source documents, with curriculum provided by Gilder Lehrman and the Rockefeller Foundation. Materials include videos featuring Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and author Ron Chernow, who wrote the biography of Alexander Hamilton that inspired Miranda to write the musical. Students are also tasked with creating a short performance piece — a skit, rap or poem — based on their learning. Poultney civics teacher Liz LeBrun said learning about Alexander Hamilton has been engaging for her students. “I think one of the things that’s really exciting about this is when they find out Hamilton’s personal history,” she explained. “He’s so relatable to people today … It’s an immigrant story, a success story, a rags-to-riches story.” On November 8, students will travel to Boston to take part in a Q & A with the Hamilton cast and watch other students’ performance pieces before seeing the sought-after show.
OCTOBER 2018
The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains’ Star Party takes place on Friday, October 26, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury. The event is open to the public, and admission is $5. Learn more at girlscoutsgwm.org.
Boston Bound
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at a previous On October 26, the Girl Star Party Scouts of the Green and White Mountains host a STAR PARTY at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, featuring a 50-minute planetarium presentation; hands-on activities, including paper rocket construction; and models showing the Earth and moon’s orbits and the layers of the atmosphere. The event is part of the Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts program, funded by NASA and led by the SETI Institute, a Californiabased nonprofit that aims to explore, understand and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe. Reaching for the Stars officially rolls out in 2019, but last year, the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains was one of 11 councils nationwide chosen to pilot the program, which entails testing and providing feedback on the curriculum. The space initiative is part of a larger expansion of the Girl Scouts’ STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — programming. This summer, the organization released 30 new badges geared to helping Girl Scouts explore computer science, mechanical engineering, robotics and other STEM topics. “We believe we have the premier program in leadership for girls,” said Ginger Kozlowski, communications and public relations manager for the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. Science fields are “where the better paying jobs are,” she added, and the expanded STEM programming will help girls “develop a strong sense of self, seek out challenges and learn from their setbacks.”
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ant to know more about the fanciest public restroom in New York City? An Egyptian temple featuring one of the first drawings of medical and surgical instruments? An angel sculpture in England made from more than 100,000 knives? Look no further than Atlas Obscura. Founded by author Joshua Foer and documentary filmmaker Dylan Thuras, the digital media company describes itself as a collaborative project that features “the most unusual, extraordinary, strange, secret, surprising, or otherwise amazing locales on the planet.” Visit its website, atlasobscura.com, and you’ll find posts on thousands of off-the-beaten-path places, plus weekend guides to different cities, stories about interesting food and more. Last month, Workman Publishing released The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid by Thuras and coauthor Rosemary Mosco. Geared toward kids ages 9 to 12, it gives readers a look at 100 cool destinations, from an abandoned water park in Vietnam to a cave full of giant crystals in Mexico. For the trivia-loving kid, there are also obscure facts about each of the 47 countries included. (Did you know Indonesia is home to both the world’s largest lizard and the world’s largest flower?) Thuras, who coauthored the 2016 New York Times bestseller for adults, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders, said his positive childhood travel experiences were one of his reasons for producing a kids’ version of the book. “I was 10, 11, 12 when my parents took me on early big road trips through the Midwest,” he explained. They stopped at places like the House on the Rock in Wisconsin, a 14-room structure featuring the world’s largest carousel constructed by an eccentric builder. “I found it very amazing and inspiring. It stuck with me,” said Thuras. He was at the age when kids start to look outward and become interested in what’s going on in the world, he added, an age particularly well-suited for a book like the Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid.
Thuras said he’s been to around 20 percent of the locations featured in the book, including his favorite one: The Keshwa Chaca Rope Bridge in Cusco, Peru, made entirely out of grass. The suspension bridge, which is rebuilt by locals every year, dates back to the Incan Empire. “The fact that this Dylan Thuras exists as it was then — this example of cultural continuity — makes it an amazing place,” Thuras explained. Also, “it probably fulfills some deeply held Indiana Jones [fantasy].” Thuras acknowledged there are lots of atlases for kids on the market. One of the ways his book sets itself apart, he said, is its “daisy chain” format that draws thematic connections between different countries. For example, readers will learn about the Perito Moreno Glacier, a massive ice field in Argentina, then turn the page and read about Eisriesenwelt, the world’s largest ice cave, in Austria. “Hopefully they plant a little bit of curiosity in a kid’s mind about what else is out there,” he said. In the box below, Thuras, who lives in New York’s Hudson Valley, recommends 10 weird and wonderful places for families to visit in and near Vermont; all have been featured on Atlas Obscura.
IN VERMONT: FREEDLYVILLE QUARRY, Dorset, vermontcavers.org Enjoy ice skating and hot chocolate in the winter at this cavernous, abandoned marble mine. MINIATURE CASTLES, South Hero Go on a scavenger hunt to find the tiny castles scattered across this town in the Champlain Islands. WILSON CASTLE, Proctor, wilsoncastle.com Share ghost stories as you explore the history of this beautiful, creepy structure built in the 19th century.
ESTEY ORGAN MUSEUM, Brattleboro, esteyorganmuseum.org Play everything you see at a museum dedicated to the town’s historic organ industry. ROCK OF AGES, Barre, rockofages.com Tour the world’s largest deephole dimension granite quarry, view the plant where gravestones are made, and roll a ball down the outdoor granite bowling alley. HASKELL FREE LIBRARY AND OPERA HOUSE, Derby Line, haskellopera.com Send your kid to another country and have them come back with a good book at this library that straddles the U.S.-Canada border.
NEARBY: ANDRES INSTITUTE OF ART AND SCULPTURE GARDEN, Brookline, N.H., andresinstitute.org Check out more than 60 sculptures from artists all over the world that decorate the hiking trails surrounding this locale. MADAME SHERRI’S CASTLE, Chesterfield, N.H., chesterfieldoutdoors.com/ madame-sherri-forest Explore the ruins of the elaborate house where an enigmatic costume designer threw glamorous parties for New York’s theatrical elite. AUSABLE CHASM, KEESEVILLE, N.Y., ausablechasm.com Visit this sandstone gorge in upstate New York, known as the “Little Grand Canyon of the East.” LAKE GEORGE MYSTERY SPOT, Lake George, N.Y. Defy the laws of acoustics by creating a mysterious echo at this small pavilion behind the Lake George Visitor’s Center.
BY THE NUMBERS I N F ORM ATI ON COM P I L E D B Y M AR Y AN N L IC K T EIG
Tech Habits
AVERAG E AGE KID S GOT THEIR F IRST CEL L PHONE 1
2012
12
Data show how kids and teens use cell phones, tablets and online apps THE Lorem ipsum
2018
2014-2015
73%
2016
10.3
24%
14
A ge Mic ro cofound soft er Bill Gate s Melinda and wife, ,a three chil llowed their d their firs ren to get t cell pho nes. 2
95%
TEENS WHO HAD ACCESS TO A SMARTPHONE4
45%
TEENS WHO SAID THEY WERE ONLINE “ALMOST CONSTANTLY”4
ONLINE PLATFORMS TEENS USED MOST4 NOTE: YouTube was not an option in the 2014-2015 survey.
ISSUE
2018
2014-2015
54
% of teens ages 13 to 17 say
they spend too much time on their cellphone.
72% 36
85%
71
%
52%
of teens say they often or sometimes check for messages or notifications as soon as they wake up.
% of parents of teens say they
72%
41%
69%
themselves spend too much time on their cellphone.
absence of their cellphone with loneliness, being upset or feeling anxious.
AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME KIDS AGES 8 & UNDER SPENT ON MOBILE DEVICES EACH DAY 5
2011 :05
2017 :48
% say it is a major problem.
3
2011: <1% 2013: 7% 2017: 42%5 SOURCE: INFLUENCE CENTRAL 2 THE MIRROR, 2017 3 PEW RESEARCH CENTER, 2018 4 PEW RESEARCH CENTER, 2014-2015, 2018 5 COMMON SENSE MEDIA, 2017
In “By the Numbers,” we present data about topics of interest to parents. Got a subject you’d like us to dig into? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.
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KIDS VT
60
of teens view spending too much time online as a problem facing people their age.
KIDS AGES 8 & UNDER WHO HAD THEIR OWN TABLET
2013 :15
OCTOBER 2018
17
% of teens associate the absence of their cellphone with feeling relieved or happy.
91%
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56
% of teens associate the
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PHOTOS: ANDY BRUMBAUGH
MEALTIME BY A S T RI D H E D BOR L A GUE
Maple-Apple Tarte Tatin A Vermont spin on a French classic
KIDS VT
OCTOBER 2018 KIDSVT.COM
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n July, I traveled to Toulouse in southwestern France with my mother and sister to celebrate a family wedding. My father’s cousin and his daughter live there now, and she was getting married. None of us speaks much French, but we do speak food. When people rave about French cuisine, they are not just talking. There wasn’t a culinary dud the whole week. Even the South Hero-sized town we stayed in, Aurignac, had a restaurant that we returned to more than once. We ate delicate fish served in red pepper beurre blanc with bits of zucchini, pork wrapped in puff pastry, mango mousse and more. And of course, there was cheese, bread and wine. Most restaurants had a threecourse menu for a very reasonable price that offered a few choices for appetizer, entree and dessert. I was shocked when, perusing the menu options at one restaurant, my mother told me she had never heard of tarte tatin. I urged her to order it, and she was very happy that she did. It’s a dish that translates incredibly well to our Vermont palate. For a culture known for fancy and complicated desserts, tarte tatin is surprisingly simple. Slices of apple swim in rich caramel inside a rustic crust of either shortcrust or puff pastry. The dish was created at Hotel Tatin in a town south of Paris in the 1880s. Once home, with apple season in full swing, I decided to give it a whirl. Because I wanted to be sure that the water content in the apples didn’t dilute the caramel, I used a tip I found online: I peeled and sliced them about eight hours before cooking, then left them out to “dry.” (You could also do this a day or two ahead of time, and refrigerate them.) The apples may brown a little, but it doesn’t really matter because they are going to be covered in caramel in the end. Rather than make the caramel with the apples already in the pan, I opted to simmer the apples in caramelized sugar, so that I could be sure that the sugar cooked properly
and didn’t burn. I also decided to use a shortcrust, instead of puff pastry, so that it wouldn’t get soggy if we didn’t eat it right away. And to add a little Vermont flair, I used some maple syrup in the caramel. Because this tarte is cooked upside down and flipped before Tarte tatin with maple serving, it is important to use a pan whipped that works both on the stovetop and cream in the oven. Having a surface that the caramel won’t stick to is also key. I love a well-seasoned cast-iron pan, DIRECTIONS but a nonstick skillet would also TO MAKE THE CRUST: work. Flipping is the most nerveCut the cold butter into pea-sized pieces. Put it in a food processor wracking part — but even if the tarte with the dry ingredients and lemon zest. Gently pulse until just comfalls apart a bit, it’s still going to be bined into a coarse crumb. Add the egg yolk and drizzle in ice water as wonderful. you pulse, just until the dough starts to stick together. Don’t overwork; You may not be able to travel to it only needs to form a ball when pressed in your hands. Place on wax France, but you can bring France to paper, and roll out into an approximately 1/4-inch-thick circle the your table. We’ve all been enjoying diameter of the top of your skillet. Refrigerate for at least the dinners inspired by our trip, an hour. and this was the icing on Apples arranged on top of a the cake — or, really, the layer of caramel TO MAKE THE FILLING: caramel on the apple. K Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet or wellseasoned cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Melt 1 tablespoon butter to coat the bottom. Sprinkle the sugar over the surface INGREDIENTS of the pan, and add the water, syrup and vanilla. Stir for about 3 minutes over low For the crust: heat, then add the lemon juice. Continue • 8 tablespoons to caramelize, stirring occasionally, for anchilled butter other 5 minutes. If the mixture begins to get • 1 cup flour too dark, turn off the heat so it doesn’t burn. Add the remaining butter, one pat at a time, and • 1/4 cup sugar swirl the pan to melt it into the caramel. • zest of 1 lemon • 1 egg yolk • 2-3 tablespoons ice water
For the filling: • 4 tablespoons butter, divided • 1/3 cup sugar • 1/2 cup water • 1/4 cup pure Vermont maple syrup • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 4 apples (I used Pink Lady), peeled and sliced into wedges at least 8 hours before cooking • pinch of salt
TO ASSEMBLE: 1. Remove the skillet from the heat. Lay the apples in the caramel, so that they are densely packed. This will become the top of the tarte, so arrange them in an attractive pattern, trying to minimize holes. Sprinkle with the pinch of salt. 2. Return the skillet to the stove and simmer on very low heat for about 20-25 minutes, lightly shaking occasionally to coat the apples with caramel. 3. Place the pastry round on top of the caramelized apples, allowing it to drop 1/4 to 1/2 inch over the sides of the skillet. Use a rubber spatula to lightly press down the sides. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned. 4. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes, then place a serving plate over the skillet and flip over (you may need an assistant for this part). If caramel is stuck in the pan, scrape it out and use it to fill in any holes. Serve with maple whipped cream, if desired.
THE
ONE TO WATCH B Y S A RA TA BI N
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ISSUE
A teen tackles tricky questions on a new tech task force hat should the government’s role be in regulating artificial intelligence technologies? Should self-driving cars prioritize protecting the lives of their passengers at the risk of pedestrians? What is artificial intelligence, really? These are tough questions, and 17-year-old Milo Cress is helping to find the answers. The Champlain Valley Union High School senior is a member of the state’s new Artificial Intelligence Task Force. Appointed by Gov. Phil Scott in July, Cress will spend the next six months working with technology experts and social justice advocates to define artificial intelligence and provide guidance on how the state should regulate the emerging technology. “If you asked 10 different artificial intelligence researchers or experts in the field [for a definition], they’ll give you 10 different answers,” said Milo. “When you are trying to regulate a field as broad and complex as this, it is important that everyone have a common definition of artificial intelligence.” AI, he said, encompasses concepts ranging from simple machines learning algorithms to the futuristic robots of Terminator. Rep. Brian Cina (P-Burlington) sponsored the bill that created the AI advisory group last year. Cress read about the proposal in the news, and emailed Cina to learn more. When
NAME: MILO CRESS lawmakers added a student position to the committee, Cina AGE: 17 wrote a letter to the governor TOWN: SHELBURNE recommending Milo. The task force met for the first But tech isn’t the only thing for time last month and is expected to deliver an initial report to the governor which Milo has made headlines. He spent part of the summer fielding by mid-February. interview requests from National Cress, who spent part of his summer Public Radio and the New York Times reading scientific and philosophical for his role in inspiring a worldwide papers about AI, said he wants to movement against plastic straws. help Vermont stay ahead of the curve When he was 9 years old, Milo when it comes to AI policies. He cited noticed that many restaurants autocellphones as an example of technology matically gave diners straws with their outpacing policy. drinks, which seemed like a waste to “A lot of laws for cellphone use — for him. He began asking local businesses to example, texting while driving — were stop. Some restaurants, like Tiny Thai in made after the fact, in response to a Winooski, agreed to ask customers first. bunch of tragedies where people died Now, the cities of Burlington, because of their phone use,” he said. AI regulations should be considered before Denver and Manly, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, have formally adopted Milo’s the technology becomes mainstream. “offer-first” policy as a recommended Cress doesn’t just read up on AI. He best practice for restaurants. His Be has already developed his own AI proStraw Free campaign gained traction gram to encrypt data, and is working on this year when Starbucks promised a new program to create hyper-realistic to end it’s use of plastic straws, and images using two AI systems. One will major cities, including Seattle and San create pictures that look as much like a Francisco, sought to ban them. Cress photograph as possible, while the other has never campaigned for an outright is designed to distinguish real images ban on straws, maintaining that it is from fake ones. more powerful when people make Milo is adept at explaining technoltheir own choices about whether to use ogy to reporters, and he’s had plenty of them. practice. At age 7, he spoke confidently He drew a national spotlight this to the Bennington Banner after his summer when it was discovered that solar-powered popcorn maker stole the a widely cited statistic for the number show at a Live Green fair.
SARA TABIN
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of straws Americans use daily — 500 million — originated with 9-year-old Milo. He had come up with the figure by calling straw manufacturers and asking them for market estimates. In his free time, Milo enjoys exploring local hiking and biking trails, playing ultimate Frisbee, and following the Red Sox. He also enjoys kicking back with a glass of cranberry-lime seltzer and watching the “The Big Bang Theory.” Fame has not gone to his head, according to Bay Foley-Cox, who befriended Milo at the start of their sophomore year and describes him as curious, low-key and universally liked. The two are on CVU’s Scholars’ Bowl team and spend time together coding and playing video games. “There’s always a new artificial intelligence thing or a cool application of a technology he’s excited about,” said Bay. “Just today, he was texting me about some future of a programming language he thought was interesting.” Milo is thinking about his own future, too. He recently started to prepare his college applications. Not surprisingly, he plans to study science and artificial intelligence. A version of this story appeared in the August 1 issue of Seven Days.
Milo will take part in a Vermont Tech Jam panel discussion about AI on Friday, October 19, from 2:30-3:15 p.m. at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. KIDSVT.COM OCTOBER 2018
$15 FOR TWO HOURS, $20 FOR THREE HOURS LIVE DJ FRIDAYS 10 PM - MIDNIGHT
KIDS VT
GET AIR TRAMPOLINE PARK 25 OMEGA DR WILLISTON, VT 05495 (802) 497-5031 GETAIRVERMONT.COM
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8/23/18 12:52 PM
CHECKUP W I T H D R. L E WI S F I RS T • I N T E R VIEW C O M P IL ED AN D C O N DEN S ED B Y K EN PIC AR D
What Do Parents Need to Know About “Smart” Tech Toys?
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obots, play telephones and speaking toys have long been part of the children’s toy landscape. However, never before have electronic toys been as sophisticated as they are today. Many so-called “smart toys” now include built-in computers, digital cameras, microphones, Wi-Fi capability and even artificial intelligence that remembers, learns and alters its behavior based on interactions with a child. The tech toy industry is growing fast. According to Juniper Research, annual smart-toy sales worldwide will jump from $2.8 billion in 2015 to $11.3 billion by 2020. Dr. Lewis First, chief of pediatrics at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, offers parents some guidelines for how to be smart about kids’ smart toys.
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KIDS VT: Why should parents educate themselves about smart toys? LEWIS FIRST: Because kids are now surrounded by this technology. Most kids between the ages of 2 and 5 know how to operate video games. Kids as young as 1, and certainly by age 2, can swipe on a smartphone, long before they can ride a bike or tie their shoes. But tech toys should be a tool, not a driver, for play. They should be used to assist parents, families and teachers and not become substitutes for interacting with family and friends, or playing outdoors. KVT: Are there benefits for kids using smart toys? LF: Yes. If a child has a learning disorder or is concerned about being behind, relative to peers, in a language, math or reading skill, a tech toy can be helpful in gaining competency in that skill — assuming it’s used in conjunction with a teacher or parent — so the child doesn’t face embarrassment in the classroom. Tech toys can be beneficial in getting kids engaged
in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — at a time when we’re trying to teach all children that STEM is fun. They also can be used to reinforce a child’s realworld experiences, such as if a child goes to a farm or zoo and then comes home and wants to learn more about the animals they’ve seen.
disadvantage developmentally. These toys can potentially slow kids’ verbal development by creating a one-sided conversation in which the child just watches, and the machine does all the talking. Another problem is that some of these toys don’t provide the nuances of natural human speech. Children can play on them for hours and never interact with another
Tech toys can potentially slow kids’ verbal development by creating a one-sided conversation in which the child just watches, and the machine does all the talking. DR. LEWIS FIRST KVT: What are the downsides to smart toys? LF: Toy manufacturers make bold claims about their effects on social and cognitive development, but the research is still incredibly scanty. There was an interesting study from 2016 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics from Northern Arizona University, which divided kids and parents into three groups. The first group got electronic toys, the second got blocks, and the third got books. Researchers put microphones on the children and parents to measure how much speech they engaged in while using these objects. When kids used the electronic toys, there was virtual silence because the toy did most of the talking. Conversation was better in the group that played with the blocks, and it was best with the group using books. KVT: What are the risks of kids spending too much time with tech toys? LF: If a parent turns an older infant or toddler over to a tech device that basically doesn’t create the verbal interaction, warmth and caring that goes on with peers or parents, then these children will be at a
human except when a parent says it’s time to stop and come to dinner. This amount of prolonged time spent with a tech toy can also potentially lead to early screen addiction. KVT: What about issues of security and privacy? LF: Many tech toys use artificial intelligence to learn who your child is and his or her level of development, then grow with them in an interactive way, often using the child’s own voice to activate the toy. The problem is, to learn about your child, it starts by asking questions such as, “Where are you? Who are your siblings? What is the environment you’re in?” Many of these toys do not have sophisticated security safeguards and are potentially vulnerable to hackers. Some kids’ toys, such as smart teddy bears and smart watches, even track the users’ location, which can be very dangerous.
KVT: Any advice for families who are considering ISSUE buying one? LF: First, if you’re ordering or using a toy that goes online, parents should use a different mailing address, such as a PO Box, for that device separate from where the child lives, to reduce the likelihood of your child getting into an online database. Educate children, especially older ones, about the dangers of giving out personal information about themselves and their family. Finally, before giving a smart toy to your child, check its settings. See if you can disable certain features such as the microphone and camera. KVT: What type of smart toys do you recommend? LF: The best ones encourage your child to speak and interact rather than the device doing all the talking. A fitness tracker for children that encourages physical exercise and getting outside to play is another good idea. It’s really important for these toys to engage the family in real-world activities, such as having a dialogue or completing a story, and not just allowing the child to sit there passively. There are websites for parents and Consumer Reports articles that review and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of tech toys. Bottom line, these toys are here to stay, and parents need to educate themselves about which ones will benefit their child’s development and well-being, rather than delay their development or put them in danger should the toy pose a security risk to the child or his or her family.
MOM TAKES NOTES B Y E L I S A J Ä RN E F E LT
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t wasn’t until I was 16 that one of my friends got a Nokia 3110 phone. It was essentially useless for months, as no one else in our friend group had a cellphone and service was very expensive. Eventually, more and more friends got cellphones and we were able to send 160-character messages back and forth. Around the same time, I started using the internet. It felt clunky and awkward, and my computer made a weird noise when connecting online. By comparison, my 1–year-old daughter, Saga, was born into a much more technologically advanced landscape, where using information technology and connecting with people online is an unquestionable state of reality. Sometimes I wonder if this will create a divide between the two of us. Will we be able to relate to each other as she gets older and more immersed in the digital world? When I feel worried, I think about my late granny, who was born in 1917, 10 years before television was invented. I always knew she came from a different time, but that never mattered to our relationship. There was always something we could do together: go for a long walk, play in the park or read a book. Sometimes, she would simply look into my eyes and listen to what I had to say. That’s the kind of communication that never gets old and survives any technological change. K KIDSVT.COM OCTOBER 2018 KIDS VT
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THE
THE ART OF BY KRI S T E N RAV I N
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Do-It-Yourself Costumes
ISSUE
Families share their favorite homemade Halloween getups
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hat better time for mummies, daddies, boils and ghouls to let their imaginations run wild than in the weeks leading up to Halloween? For our October 2014 issue, we asked readers to share their favorite homemade costumes from years past. It was so fun, we decided to do it again. Via email, parents discussed their creative process and motivation, then broke down the cost, materials and time commitment required for each costume. Be they sewing-machine whizzes or DIY neophytes, lovers of the hair-raising holiday are sure to find spooktacular inspiration in the handcrafted disguises described below.
SEW SCARY Cheshire Cat
COSTUMED KIDDO: Jacob Devecchio, 4 PARENT: Ceili Quigley, Waterbury INSPIRATION: “For the last few years we’ve
let our daughter [Jacob’s sister] choose her costume, and I build our costumes around her idea,” wrote Quigley. MATERIALS: Felt, faux fur and fabric spray paint CREATIVE PROCESS: Conscious of cold weather, Quigley built this outfit around a snowsuit, sewing fur around the suit and spray-painting stripes. After the paint dried, she stitched on a felt face and ears. Her words of warning: “The fake fur was all over after I cut out the pieces.” CONSTRUCTION TIME: Two nights COST: Around $45
GREEN MOUNTAIN PRIDE
Vermont License Plate
COSTUMED KIDDO: Benjamin
SCREAM TIME iPad
MOVIE NIGHT
Boo from Monsters, Inc. COSTUMED KIDDO: Isabelle McClain,
now 7
KIDS VT
OCTOBER 2018
KIDSVT.COM
PARENT: Gina McClain, South Hero INSPIRATION: “Isabelle looked so
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much like Boo that I just had to do a family costume of her favorite movie,” McClain wrote. MATERIALS: Glittery purple fabric, a purple zipper and thread, Styrofoam balls, cotton stuffing, pipe cleaners, markers, shoelaces, felt, a glue gun, a mop head and a baseball cap CREATIVE PROCESS: With no sewing machine, McClain relied on hand stitching, dividing the fabric body of the suit into three stuffed sections and installing a zipper in the back to make it easy-on, easy-off. A baseball cap surrounded by stuffing gave the hood its shape, and shoelaces tied under Isabelle’s chin secured the hood to her head. CONSTRUCTION TIME: Four weekends COST: Around $30
COSTUMED KIDDO: Sydney Feltz,
12
PARENT: Cheryl and Joe Feltz, Colchester INSPIRATION: “Sydney really loves technology,” wrote her parents. “She was in a fifth grade tech class at Malletts Bay School, and wanted to incorporate all that into her Halloween costume.” MATERIALS: Lots of duct tape, paper copies of Apple application icons, thick poster board and glue CREATIVE PROCESS: Sydney was 10 when she made this costume and took charge of the construction. Using her actual iPad as a template, she attached printed images of apps to a posterboard “screen.” Duct tape joined the two boards that sandwiched Sydney’s body. CONSTRUCTION TIME: A few
hours COST: $10-$15
Carney, 6 PARENT: Elizabeth Carney, Shelburne INSPIRATION: “Ben came up with the idea,” Carney wrote. “He is really fascinated by the colors of the Vermont license plate. We moved here from Maryland, where the license plates are decidedly more boring.” MATERIALS: Cardboard from an old moving box, poster paint, finepointed paintbrushes, twine, green pants and a matching hoodie CREATIVE PROCESS: This costume took precision. Carney measured an actual license plate and scaled up the measurements before cutting out a cardboard replica. She created templates of the letters to achieve accurate spacing between characters. Thinking ahead, she painted the cardboard green on both sides so she’d have a backup in case of a mistake. CONSTRUCTION TIME:
Two days COST: Around $45
FROM THE DEPTHS Scuba Diver
COSTUMED KIDDO: Jameson
Reynolds, 4
PARENT: Kara Gomez,
Cambridge
INSPIRATION: “[Jameson] told us in the summer, when he had received a snorkel set, that he wanted to go scuba diving,” wrote Gomez. “The obsession with scuba diving had begun, and it was a must for Halloween.” MATERIALS: A base layer of black clothing, a ski mask, two soda bottles, glow-in-the-dark duct tape, silver spray paint, air tubing, zip ties, a snorkel set, a backpack, flippers, letter stickers and a pail CREATIVE PROCESS: Gomez was the mastermind behind the materials, and Jameson’s dad, Steven Reynolds, put in most of the labor to fashion the aquatic attire. After spray painting and decorating two soda bottles, he connected the bottles with air tubing. One tube also attached to the snorkel’s mouthpiece. Zip ties secured the bottles to a backpack. For footwear, Dad cut the bottoms out of flippers and taped them to the top of Jameson’s sneakers. CONSTRUCTION TIME: Two hours COST: Around $22, plus some household items
Burlington City Arts offers a DIY Halloween Costumes class for kids ages 6 to 12 on Friday, Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the BCA Studios in Burlington. Registration is required. For more information, contact Burlington City Arts at 865-7166 or visit burlingtoncityarts.org.
BOOKWORMS BY BRE TT S TA N CI U
The Vermont Cub Project
Somewhat Scary O
KVT: Without spoiling the fast-paced plot, could you comment about the deeper themes in this book? KA: I really think you need a personal journey in a book. I wanted Ollie to be a recognizable person beyond the one bad thing that happened to her, so that’s not her entire personality. The book is also about her sadness, her mourning and how she gets through. Middle school is a time when kids are put into little tiny boxes: the popular girl, the jock, into science or Dungeons & Dragons. I wanted to subvert the boxes a little. So Coco [Ollie’s classmate] is a pretty girl, but she’s not a popular girl.
Vermont Teddy Bears are more than fur & stuffing. Everyday we see Bears come to life in the arms of children, and we knew we needed to share this love with our fellow Vermonters. This is why we created The Vermont Cub Project. Through this project, every Vermonter four years of age can come to our Bear Shop in Shelburne and pick up a FREE best friend (up to $39.99). Come be a part of this great new program today! Visit VermontTeddyBear.com/cub-project to register!
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KVT: The luminescent cover illustration was created by well-known London artist Matt Saunders, who also does artwork for J. K. Rowling’s Pottermore website. KA: He’s one of the greatest. My editor thought Matt had a good vibe for the book, and he just jumped on it with this incredible drawing. He’s going to do the next book. I’m excited! KVT: What’s your advice to aspiring authors? KA: Finish what you start. Go beyond the first rush of excitement. You’ll learn more from finishing it up. Even on the days when you don’t like the book, keep putting words down. K
OCTOBER 2018
The Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury hosts an open house for Katherine Arden on Friday, Oct. 26, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with an author meet-and-greet, book signing, party favors, treats and activities. Learn more about the author at katherinearden.com.
KIDS VT
Kids VT: Can you give our readers a teaser about Small Spaces? Katherine Arden: I love Vermont in the fall, with all the harvest festivals and pumpkins — that clichéd Vermont ... So I wrote in a corn maze and a haunted house. You know how many houses put scarecrows around them? Right at dusk, they’re really creepy. So I
wondered, What if a scarecrow moved? I’m a huge Goosebumps [series] fan, and I love atmosphere. The book isn’t gory, but more like, What’s under the bed?
KIDSVT.COM
n a Megabus trip to Boston last year, author Katherine Arden paid extra for a prime upper deck seat, anticipating an awesome view. But when dense fog surrounded the bus, the writer turned her disappointment into creativity. During the ride, she scribbled notes that became “the bones” of a spooky middle grade novel, Small Spaces, released this September. The book features spunky 11-year-old Ollie Adler, who lives with her dad in a house called the Egg — a name inspired by the house’s Easter-like colors. In the opening scenes, Ollie — who recently lost her mother — confronts an agitated woman near a swimming hole and steals a book the woman attempts to throw into the water. Small Spaces takes a twisted turn when Ollie, on a school field trip to a haunted farm, discovers real-life gravestones inscribed with the names of the book’s characters. With the help of two new friends, she sets out to solve this spine-tingling mystery. Arden describes herself as a writer in “career phase two.” Her well-received 2017 debut, The Bear and the Nightingale, a crossover adult/young adult literary fantasy novel based in Russia, was followed by a sequel, The Girl in the Tower. The trilogy’s final installment, The Winter of the Witch, hits bookstores in January. Arden’s second middle grade novel is due out next fall. She spoke with Kids VT from her East Middlebury home.
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THE
Child’s Play
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Why do kids love video games — and when do parents need to take control?
ISSUE
BY ALISON NOVAK
OCTOBER 2018 KIDS VT
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landing spot “was actually just a warehouse until a giant meteor hit it.” He’s been playing Fortnite since January, long enough to see the world evolve over time. Upon touchdown, he begins to open chests nearby in order to collect weapons and healing items, like bandages, that will help him in the battle. “I’m looting up,” he explains. Then he’s off, barreling through the virtual world while narrating his actions. “Right now, I’m in some unnamed house,” he says. When he encounters other players involved in a gun battle, he becomes more animated. “There’s fighting,” he says, as he maneuvers his avatar to engage. “Oh, my God, he has the high ground on me,” he observes nervously. “That’s a huge advantage, but I’m just going to shoot his base down,” he continues as he fires his gun. Then he sees his opponent’s weapon. “He has a grenade launcher,” he says, followed by, “Oh shoot, he got me.” There’s no blood or gore when Gabe’s avatar dies. The character simply disappears. And just like that, after only a few minutes, his game is over. Gabe is briefly disappointed, but, like many of his peers, he’s eager to play again. A 2018 study from the Pew Research Center finds that 97 percent of boys and 83 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 play video games. And a
ILLUSTRATIONS: MISOO FILAN
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leven-year-old Gabe Little is an articulate, polite sixth grader with a purple streak running through his dark brown hair. He’s a Boy Scout, a football player for the CSSU Buccaneers and a saxophonist in the Shelburne Community School band. Gabe is also an avid and enthusiastic video game player. His game of choice these days? Fortnite. If you have a school-age child, chances are you’ve heard of it. The multiplayer Battle Royale version of the free, online video game has attracted more than 125 million players since its September 2017 release. In Fortnite, players are dropped from a flying bus into a brightly colored, cartoonish fantasy world populated by other players. The object of the game is to hunt and kill them all. The last one standing is the winner. It’s less disturbing than it sounds. On a recent school night, after tae kwon do practice, Gabe gave this reporter a Fortnite tutorial using the Xbox console hooked up to his living room TV. For this demonstration, he played in “solo mode,” working alone to defeat other randomly chosen opponents; he also likes to play in duo or squad mode, teaming up with friends who log in using their own devices. Gabe’s avatar floated down to a location called Dusty Divot, aided by a special glider he purchased in the game’s shop. Though players don’t pay to download Fortnite, they can purchase items like the glider, or “skins,” which change the appearance of their avatars. Gabe has several of those. His favorite is the Dark Voyager — a black space suit with glowing orange embellishments. As his avatar, wearing the Dark Voyager skin, descends on Dusty Divot, Gabe comments that his
2018 report from the Entertainment Software Association shows that 64 percent of U.S. households own a video gaming device. This pastime can mystify parents who might not have grown up gaming, and worry those who see their kids spending hours sitting in front of a screen. What is it, exactly, that makes video games so compelling? And what can parents do to make sure gaming doesn’t get out of control?
Reaping Rewards
Marguerite Dibble, founder of Burlington-based game design company GameTheory and a 2012 graduate of the game art and animation program at Champlain College, is a local gaming expert. When Dibble was growing up in rural Landgrove, her mother wouldn’t let her have a Nintendo 64 gaming system. Dibble says her mom was worried that she
would spend all her time playing games. “Video games felt like this alien, strange thing that she wasn’t familiar with,” the game designer explains. And many games are, indeed, designed to suck players in for as much time as possible, she adds. It’s understandable that this can feel “scary” and “nefarious” to parents. But Dibble sees things differently. She’s spent a lot of time thinking about gaming’s appeal. In a 2014 TEDx Talk, available on YouTube, Dibble speaks about the “ingredients” that make video games fun for people of all ages. If we understand the ways in which games motivate people psychologically, she asserts, we can
The positive of online video games is the togetherness of it all. They are interacting and strategizing … working together as a team.
games is the togetherness of it all … They are interacting and strategizing, sometimes for themselves and sometimes working together as a team. I see them share tools and weapons and even give helpful tips to other players from time to time. Oftentimes, during a boy sleepover at my house, all seven or eight boys will be quietly playing on their own device, but turns out they’re all playing together.”
Your Move, Mom and Dad
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CHILD’S PLAY, P.22 »
OCTOBER 2018
Not all the news about video gaming is positive. In June, the World Health Organization made headlines when it identified gaming disorder as a mental health condition (see “System Overload” sidebar, page 22). And a recent police sting in New Jersey resulted in the arrest of 24 men for allegedly trying to arrange meetings with kids, in some cases through online games like Fortnite. Dr. David Rettew, director of the pediatric psychiatry clinic at the University of Vermont Medical Center, says he sees many kids who “spend a huge amount of time on video games.” He’s careful, though, not to write off the activity. “Older generations are always saying that the younger generation is going to hell in a handbasket,” he says. It’s been true since parents griped that their kids were listening to Elvis Presley. He offers another analogy: “I play golf. People say, ‘You spend half a day hitting a non-moving ball into a cup.’ I think you can argue that a lot of what people do for fun doesn’t have tremendous inherent value.” Still, medical and gaming experts agree: It’s important to understand what your kids are doing when they go down to the basement to play
Fortnite, or whatever their favorite game may be. Says Dibble: By simply asking your kids, “Can I play with you a minute? I want to see how this works. This seems cool and interesting,” parents will get a window into what the game is actually like and whether there is something to be concerned about — whether it’s violence or characters being represented in a stereotypical or sexist way. When parents understand what their kids are playing, “if you get into the position of needing to limit it, you’re in a much better space because you sort of get it,” says Rettew. Another way to get a sense of different video games is by watching others play them. Jamie Danaher, who owns the Vermont Gaming Academy in the University Mall in South Burlington, advises parents to check out YouTube or video game streaming site Twitch to watch the game their child wants to play for 15 or 20 minutes to “get a realistic impression of what that game is going to look like … You’re going to make up your mind pretty soon whether or not it’s something you want your child to play,” he says. The Entertainment Software Rating Board, which rates games much like movies, is another resource, says Wiley of Champlain College. Ratings include E for Everyone, E 10+ for ages 10 and up, T for teens ages 13 and up, M for mature players ages 17 and up, and A for adults. Parents can visit esrb.org and search for a game to get its rating, as well as a brief summary explaining it. Fortnite, for instance, is rated T because of the violence: “Battles are highlighted by frequent gunfire, explosions and cries of pain,” reads the review.
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apply these tools to other arenas, like Research. Gabe estimates he’s spent government and education. roughly $160 of his own cash — some For example, Dibble’s team has of which he earns mowing his dad’s created a game that explains the lawn — on different skins. “If you have complex political concept of gerrya cool skin in a popular game, it makes mandering. (Full disclosure: Playing you feel good,” he says. it is worth 10 points in Kids VT’s Gabe’s mom, Samantha Little, Good Citizen Challenge. And Kids admits it can be frustrating that her VT partnered with Dibble in 2013 to son spends his money in the virtual create Runoff, an educational game world. But, she continues, Gabe “is about stormwater pollution.) adamant that it is worth it … and I According to Dibble, one ingredileave the choice up to him.” Even if he ent in successful games is reward, ends up regretting it, she says, it’s a meaning an action leads to a reaction. good lesson in money management. “As humans beings, we love this,” she Video games can also provide says in her talk. “We want to know kids with the opportunity to show that what we do produces results.” agency at a time in their lives when It’s the principle behind even the many decisions are dictated for simplest of baby toys, like a rattle. them, says Ben Wiley, an instructor And it’s why it’s so satisfying for Gabe of game production management at to open a chest in Fortnite and find a Champlain College who has worked rocket launcher or rifle. in marketing for the gaming industry. Other ingredients that make video “It is something in your life that you games engaging, choose to do, even she says, include if everything in surprise, challenge, your life feels out of mastery, status, control,” he notes. cooperation, Other rewarding competition, collecaspects of video tion, construction games, he says, and, crucially, include having an identity. “Identity achievable goal to is all about defining work toward; a set ourselves through of rules, which lead specification,” to coming up with Dibble explains. creative solutions; “When you create and feedback that SAMANTHA LITTLE an avatar in a game, lets you know when that’s what it’s all you’re successful. about.” In most games, the player is building Fortnite capitalizes on this social connections as well, says Wiley, aspect. Its game store sells skins and noting that he’s met people through “emotes,” which enable avatars to per- video games who have become realform silly poses and dance moves — as life friends. well as items like gliders, backpacks For Gabe, the ability to play with and pickaxes, which allow players his friends is one of his favorite to customize their appearance. The aspects of Fortnite. Sometimes he items in the store change nightly at 8 uses a texting group chat to arrange to p.m., which adds to the allure. meet peers in the virtual world after In addition to building a player’s school or dinner. identity, these items make loads of Samantha, who also has a 9-yearmoney for Fortnite’s creator, Epic old son, Gavin, points to the social Games — more than $1 billion to date, benefits of gaming, as well. “Honestly, according to research firm SuperData I do think the positive of online video
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CHILD’S PLAY
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Another consideration, especially when it comes to multiplayer games, is whether kids are being exposed to toxic language or views — or even online predators. Like most online multiplayer games, Fortnite enables players to talk to each other. Danaher says he’s heard of cases of adults asking for kids’ email addresses, then soliciting photographs, personal information and even parents’ credit card numbers . Samantha Little says she’s talked to Gabe about not disclosing any personal information to fellow gamers, and she periodically swipes his headset — which he uses to communicate with other Fortnite players — to ensure that there’s no vulgar language
or taunting. “It’s a sneak attack, and it really keeps the boys in line, knowing that they need to be appropriate and only play with others who are behaving similarly,” she explains. For TV, movies, social media and video game usage for school-age children and adolescents, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents “place consistent limits on hours per day of media use as well as types of media used.” Dr. Rettew recommends enforcing these limits starting when kids are young. “If you ignore it and now you have a 16-year-old spending every waking hour” playing video games, he says, “it’s kind of hard to institute some kind of martial law.”
One way to manage screen time is through devices such as Circle, which enable parents to set a time limit on different apps, block websites and disconnect the internet. Dr. David Greenfield, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and the founder and chief clinical officer of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction in West Hartford, Conn., endorses this approach. Parents shouldn’t leave it to their kids to monitor their own screen time use, because “everyone who looks at screens disassociates or time distorts,” he says. This means they might believe they’ve been playing
Minecraft for 30 minutes when it’s actually been two hours. When it comes to video games, Dr. Greenfield stresses that — just like watching TV or eating chocolate cream pie — it’s all about moderation. “If you can play a video game and it can enhance the quality of your life simply because you’re enjoying it, I think that’s wonderful,” he says. Dibble agrees. She recalls that when she was 13, she was an avid gamer, but she also loved reading books and going outside and walking her dogs. “I think it’s just important to help encourage kids to find that balance,” she says, “and see that there is a lot of value in all these different parts of life.”
SYSTEM OVERLOAD: VIDEO GAME ADDICTION
KIDS VT
OCTOBER 2018
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The World Health Organization identified gaming disorder as a mental health condition in its most recent International Classification of Diseases. To be diagnosed with it, a person has to show a pattern of behavior for at least 12 months in which gaming is out of control; the pattern of behavior must show an “increased priority given to gaming” so that gaming “takes precedence over other interests and daily activities;” and there must be a “continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.” The classification was met with some pushback. A group of several dozen psychologists published a rebuttal in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions stating that, though
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there could be benefits to formalizing gaming disorder, the new classification “lacks the necessary scientific support and sufficient clinical utility” to justify the diagnosis. In the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013, internet
so they are more likely to develop what he calls gaming disorder is classified as a condition for “reward deficiency syndrome.” Essentially, video further research. games are so stimulating that everyday activities Dr. David Greenfield, founder and chief clinical like schoolwork feel boring in comparison. officer of the Center for Internet and TechnolDr. David Rettew, a child psychiatrist at UVM ogy Addiction in West Hartford, Conn., has been Medical Center, underscores this point. “There’s studying and treating patients for technology adsome evidence that video games kind of reset your diction for more than 20 years. He acknowledges brain arousal level,” he says, “so if you’re spendthat there isn’t yet consensus on the criteria that ing six hours a day in simulated combat and there constitute gaming disorder, but based on his cliniare all these sights and all these sounds … that’s cal work, he says, “I have no doubt that there is a the level of stimulation it takes to get you to pay phenomenon with regard to the internet and how attention.” it is used and abused, and that it’s addictive … BotAnother common worry about video games, tom line, if you’re a doctor and you have a patient says Rettew, is whether playing them will make who walks into your office, you’re going to treat kids more aggressive. There is some evidence them, not turn them away until there’s an agreedthat video games can desensitize kids to violence upon diagnosis.” or create a lack of empathy, he Since he began treating says, but the link between eninternet addiction — which includes addiction to video games Video games are so gaging in simulated combat and real-life violence is weak. — in the 1990s, Greenfield says stimulating that Both experts agree that the there’s been at least a 1,000 percent increase in the number everyday activities like vast majority of young people play video games without of cases he’s seen. schoolwork feel boring can becoming addicted to them. The majority of patients he “People need to be aware that treats for video game addiction in comparison. there’s a variability in response, are in their mid- to late teens just like with alcohol or canor early twenties. He attributes nabis,” says Rettew. “There are people who can use this to several factors. Up until around age 25, he these things and not get into trouble, and there are explains, people have less development of their people who get into trouble.” brain’s orbitofrontal cortex, which is associated Kids who struggle socially, who have aggreswith executive skills and higher-order judgment, sive feelings and who have attention problems are and they have a more sensitive limbic system, or likely more prone to becoming addicted to gaming, mammalian brain, which is associated with emosays Rettew. Data also show it’s more of a “male tion and addiction. This makes adolescents more problem,” which Rettew attributes to both genetic prone to “develop disorders that are pleasureand cultural factors. oriented.” Greenfield says he can’t remember the last Additionally, when people become gamers as time he treated a female patient for video game adults, they’re more likely to have already developed life skills that have enabled them to do things addiction and that around 90 percent of patients he’s treated for the condition also have ADHD, or like hold down a job or get through college. In contrast, teens haven’t learned these skills yet, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. —AN
JUST FOR KIDS
Writing Contest & Winners ......24 Coloring Contest Winners .........24 Coloring Contest ..............................25 Puzzle Page..........................................26 Birthday Club .....................................26 Puzzle Answers ................................47
A Clockwork Pumpkin From the secret notebook of rodent scholar and inventor Elon Muskrat
bed! And when you’re really hungry, just pull out one of the wedges and you have an instant slice of yummy pumpkin pie (optional whipped cream dispenser: $100 extra).
And then it dawned on me: We’re gonna need a bigger fruit!
So, as smart as I am, I can’t figure out why I can’t sell even one of these beauties. Can you help me?
Like those other devices, the pumpkin watch tells time, it’s a computer, it’s a game console, it plays music, and it takes photos. But it also does your homework, brushes your hair and makes your
I mean, what’s the problem, people?” Why can’t Elon Muskrat sell any pumpkin watches?
ANSWER P. 47 BY MARC NADEL
KIDS VT
ooking at that other smart watch, I kept thinking that it wasn’t packed with nearly enough functions. How can I, Elon Muskrat, tiny genius, make it perfect?
OCTOBER 2018
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COLORING CONTEST WINNERS
JUST FOR KIDS
Writing Contest
SPONSORED BY
At the end of October, families celebrate Halloween with costumes and trick-or-treating. Tell us about your best Halloween ever. What did you wear? What kind of treats did you get? What did you do to celebrate? Feel free to write in poem or paragraph form.
A marvelous mixture of pooches perked up our mailbox this month. Nine-year-old Lyndsey designed a supercool disco dog wearing dark sunglasses, with a spinning sparkly ball overhead. Leanora, 5, colored the cutest brown pup, surrounded by little bubbles filled with expressions of love. Franklin, 7, titled his artwork — a black-spotted canine sporting a long beard — “Old Man Dog.” Have a festive foliage season, kids, and mail us your most magnificent artwork this month.
The winners of annual family memberships to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium are…
HONORABLE MENTIONS “DOG”
Connor Yefchak, 4, Montpelier “CAMOUFLAGE PUPPY POWER”
Tessa Lynch, 7, Essex Junction
“Dogawesome” Sophie Scott, 5 SHELBURNE
5& under
“STRIPED DOG”
Shiloh Skalka, 8, Burlington “WINTER SUNSET”
Lark Woodward, 9, South Burlington “PUPPY DOG”
Michael Bell Jr., 11, St. Johnsbury “A DOG IN A HAWAIIAN SHIRT”
Maxwell Hornus, 6, Williston “STELLA THE DOG” We’ll pick two winners and publish their names and entries in the next issue. Winners receive a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop. Deadline to enter is October 15. Send your entries to: Kids VT, attn: Writing Contest, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.
Name ________________________________ Age __________________________________ Town ________________________________ Email ________________________________ Phone ________________________________
Aspen Long, 5, Cabot “GINGER DOG”
Arlo Kiviranna, 4, Waitsfield “RAPUNZEL DEXTER DOG”
Liliveve Cueto, 5, St. Albans “JEFFREY”
KIDS VT
OCTOBER 2018
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Kinsley Maxfield, 10, Highgate
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Cristo Buckley, 12 MANCHESTER
Going back to school, d be a fool, So I won’t grow old an ds, en fri my all I got to see favorite, But I couldn’t choose my m, the of ny ma I have so I love my new teachers, l leaders. They are the best schoo
SALISBURY
6 to 8
“HIPPIE DOG”
WRITING WINNERS In our September issue, we asked kids to tell us about what they’re excited for as they begin a new school year. Below, find the winning entries. Amelia and Cristo each receive a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop in Burlington.
“Hero Dog” Carter Hart, 8
Amelia Friot, 9, Worcester “LEOPARD DOG”
Jack Sharkey, 6, Colchester
Amelia VanDries
BURLINGTON
Home Outdooors Music Epic Sun Curious Happy Out in the sun bOoks Love HOMESCHOOLING
che, 12
TOP TITLES “A WALK IN THE CLOUDS”
Tori Barria, 4, Colchester “GALACTA DOGGY”
Laurel Slagle, 11, Barre Town “DOG-ICORN”
Mia Johnson, 8, Huntington
“Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog” Maggie Kords, 12 MONTPELIER
9 to 12
Coloring Contest! Three winners will each receive an annual family membership to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. Send Kids VT your work of art by October 15. Be sure to include the info at right with your submission. Winners will be chosen in the following categories: (1) ages 5 and younger, (2) ages 6 to 8 and (3) ages 9 to 12. Winners will be named in the November issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@ kidsvt.com or mail a copy to Kids VT, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.
Title _______________________________________ Sponsored by
Artist _____________________________________ Age ______________ Town _________________ Email _____________________________________ Phone _____________________________________
KIDSVT.COM OCTOBER 2018 KIDS VT
25
Birthday Club
JUST FOR KIDS
Jumble
BY DAVID L. HOYT & JEFF KNUREK
The letters of these crazy words are all mixed up. To play the game, put them back into the right order so that they make real words you can find in your dictionary. Write the letters of each real word under each crazy word, but only one letter to a square.
n and FELIX lives in Burlingto He . 26 er tob turns 2 on Oc ers, loves race cars, bulldoz and cal ssi cla to ing nc da and ’s He . ’90s hip-hop music for going to be a dinosaur ar. ye s thi Halloween ent of Felix wins an assortm s. ok bo ’s en ldr chi
IAN lives in
You are now ready to solve this month’s Jumble for Kids. Study the picture for a hint. Then play around with the letters in the circles. You’ll find you can put them in order so that they make your funny answer.
Print your answer here:
Puzzles4Kids
BY HELENA HOVANEC
CrissCross — RHYMES WITH “ME” Each word will fit into one spot in the
3 LETTERS GEE KEY SKI
6 LETTERS EIGHTY WORTHY YIPPEE
OCTOBER 2018
4 LETTERS FLEE KIWI LILY PLEA PONY RUBY ZANY
7 LETTERS CLOSELY REFEREE RETIREE
KIDS VT
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grid. Use the starting letters as a guide, and fit each word into its spot. All words will be used, so cross off each one after you put it into the grid.
5 LETTERS AGREE FERRY SCARY YUMMY
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8 LETTERS CAREFREE CHICKPEA
ANSWERS P. 47
Wallingford and turns 4 on October 2. He enjoys playing with trucks, cars and trains, and digging in the dirt. He loves spending time with his new puppy, Shadow, and hopes to be a big truck driver when he grows up.
ARIANA recently moved from Williston to Massachusetts and turns 6 on October 2. She loves to draw and make people laugh. She also enjoys tae kwon do, swimming and ballet.
Congratulations to these October Birthday Club winners!
Join the Club!
To enter, submit information using the online form at kidsvt.com/ birthday-club. Just give us your contact info, your children’s names and birth dates, and a photo, and they’re automatically enrolled.
Ian, Ariana and Graham each win a children’s book.
Follow us on Instagram at
@kids_vt
GRAHAM lives
in Montpelier and turn 6 on October 17. He is happiest when he’s outside catching butterflies and moths, knee-deep in mud, or building contraptions in the yard out of stuff salvaged from free piles. He loves his cat, Max; riding his bike; and listening to books.
Share your photos with us using #instakidsvt 8V-Kvt-Instagram-1018.indd 1
9/28/18 10:37 AM
KIDS VT
Auditions held Saturday, November 10, noon-3 p.m. on the Higher Ground stage. Live show takes place in December. To participate you must try out in front of a panel of judges. Visit kidsvt.com/talentshow to register your act.
SPONSORED BY:
OCTOBER 2018
CASTING CALL!
VERMONTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RISING STARS
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2 018 T A L E N T S H O W F O R
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THE Lorem ipsum
Home Schooled
ISSUE
Teens build houses in Essex tech program
Essex High School senior Mustaf Mohamed uses a surform rasp to make drywall flush with a door frame
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hen they graduate from high school, students enrolled in the residential building class at the Center for Technology, Essex, will have something other than a diploma to show for their work: a 2,900 square-foot, four bedroom, two-and-a-half bath colonial. They’re installing Sheetrock in it now. The house, at 28 Taft Street in Essex Junction, is expected to be ready for sale in early June. Students in the Essex program — with help from professional, licensed contractors — build one house every two years. The Taft Street home is the 25th Essex tech students have constructed to sell. They have built all of the homes on Taft and nine on neighboring Drury Drive. “So, we’ve actually built a neighborhood of houses right next to our tech center,” said principal/director Bob Travers. “They’re monuments to all of the students we’ve had in the past,” said Travers, who likes to point out that his school, via the home sales, actually contributes to its own tax base. The Essex tech center is one of five in Vermont that builds houses on site, according to Jay Ramsey, the state director for career technical education. Three other tech centers build modular houses in their shops, and three have built tiny houses. Home-building classes, like career and technical education in general,
provide a context for academics and a means to try out careers without accumulating student loan debt, Ramsey said. “Many individuals have used college as the exploration opportunity,” he said. “And it’s kind of expensive to do that.” Vermont has 17 career and technical centers, and is one of only a handful of states to have regional tech centers, rather than tech education at individual high schools. Essex’s tech center, for example, serves eight high schools in Chittenden County, as well as Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax in Franklin County. Collectively, the centers offer a wide range of classes, including forestry and natural resources, criminal justice, auto body repair, aviation and aerospace technology, dental assisting, and cosmetology. If the center in your region doesn’t offer the class you want, you can take it at another center. Last year, 30 percent of Vermont 11th and 12th graders took at least one class at a tech center. Some classes award both high school and college credits and hours toward professional licenses. Students in Essex’s Building Technology: Residential class earn six high school credits, CPR and First Aid certifications, as well as an Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-hour card, awarded upon completion of OSHA’s
10-hour safety course. The class is open to juniors and seniors; 21 are enrolled this year. Two aren’t working on the house; they have full-time co-op jobs, one with Omega Electric Construction and the other with Bread Loaf Corporation. For the other 19, class starts in a low slung, metalsided building at the end of a gravel drive. On a recent Friday, dates for upcoming events, including school picture make-up day, OSHA training and the tech center’s open house, were projected on a screen under the
motto, “Safety First, Quality Second, Quantity Last.” After announcements, instructors Chris Welch and Matt Bruneau got to the business of the day. A load of half-inch Sheetrock had arrived the day before, and students would start installing it on the second-floor walls. Bruneau, whiteboard marker in hand, asked the class to name the tasks involved in installing drywall. “Fastening,” someone said. Bruneau wrote it on the board. “That’s a job; what’s another one?” “Measuring,” came an answer.
Essex tech instructor Chris Welch (left) reviews the morning’s progress with students at the home they are building in Essex Junction
PHOTOS: JAMES BUCK
BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG
“We’re a little ahead of the game right now,” Welch said. This year’s students will build a deck and two sheds so they can get framing experience. On that September Friday, they gathered tools from the trailer, tightened construction belts and put on safety glasses. Crews in each room measured and marked the location of windows, light switches and outlets on the drywall. In no time, the bzzt of impact drivers firing screws into studs filled the house. In the second bedroom, three students held an 11-foot, 10-and-a-half-inch length of Sheetrock flush to the ceiling while Essex High School senior Matt Russell climbed the ladder with an impact driver. Bzzt! A screw flew into the top right corner. “Whoa, Matt! There’s something sticking out in the wall there,” Essex senior Keshon Peters said. A small object had cut through the Sheetrock. “No putty will fix that,” said Phillip Danis, 17, who is homeschooled in Essex. “I would suggest, take it down.” Matt put the impact driver in reverse, and the rest of the crew, which also included Winooski High School junior Sharmake Ali, lowered the panel to the floor.
Essex High School senior Keshon Peters (left) and instructor Chris Welch discuss the measurements needed to cut ceiling drywall to fit around a corner
Maynard all want to be electricians. Colchester High School senior Dylan Roberge has already accumulated 450 hours toward the 8,000 needed to test for a journeyworker electrician’s license. Josh Walp of Mount Mansfield Union High School said he’s considering becoming an electrician or a plumber. There’s room for another 13 houses on this parcel, which is owned by CTE Corporation, the nonprofit that
It’s not a house that’s slapped together by kids . . . They are well-built homes. REAL ESTATE AGENT RICH GARDNER
KIDS VT
finances the home-building program. The last house to be completed, in 2016, was designed to be a net zero house, able to operate off the grid. Solar panels on the roof can generate enough energy to meet the home’s power demands, walls are nearly one foot thick and special insulation and windows were installed. The three-bedroom ranch with a walkout basement sold for $431,700, not a first-time homeowner price, said Rich Gardner, the real estate agent who handled the sale. “It’s not a house that’s slapped together by kids. It’s a house that’s professionally built with kids that are part of the process . . . They are well-built homes,” he said. Students probably spend more time talking about details than commercial builders, said Gardner, owner
OCTOBER 2018
A nail protruded from the top of the wall. The team pounded it down, flush with the frame, then raised the Sheetrock again. Students take this class for a variety of reasons. Phillip wants to travel and work in interesting locations. “It’s great paying work if you know what you’re doing, and you can get a job almost anywhere,” he said. Keshon wants to enlist in the Marine Corps. He took the class to learn life skills and to get out from behind a desk. “It’s nice learning this way,” he said. Sharmake and Essex High’s Noelle Rosberg want to build their own homes. South Burlington High School senior Brandon Posey, Burlington High School senior Elliot Maher and Milton High School senior Ethan
of the Gardner Group and co-owner of Re/Max North Professionals. “You couldn’t have a construction company and sell one house every two years.” Ron and Judith Frey bought the Taft Street ranch students completed five years ago. “I think it was sort of a plus that we were helping the school and the kids out,” Ron said. The home is well insulated and has an energy-efficient design, Judy said. It was inspected and came with a one-year guarantee. If anything went wrong, students would fix it. The couple had some minor plumbing problems. “But that wasn’t done by a student; that was done by a contractor,” Ron pointed out, and the plumber made repairs. “The things that the students did, we didn’t have any problem with.” When the couple wanted a shed and a ramp to make their home wheelchair-accessible, they hired Essex tech students to build both. At the start of past school years, when building instructors wanted to show their students what their work would produce, they took them to the Freys’ home for a tour, and Judith baked them cookies. “I think building a house as part of a high school program is unique,” said career technical education director Ramsey. It’s “certainly a point of pride for students to be able to sit in a car with their parents and drive through this neighborhood and say, ‘Look, I’m building that.’” K 29
KIDSVT.COM
“Measuring, cutting; what else?” Bruneau asked. Welch offered a hint. He and Bruneau stood together at the front of the room, effortlessly dovetailing their instruction. Welch has worked in information technology and built houses with Habitat for Humanity, as well as his own home. Bruneau is a former housing contractor who has built three houses by himself. Think about the upper piece of Sheetrock going on a wall, Welch told the kids. What does it require? And Bruneau got the answer he was looking for: “Holding it.” The students — 17 boys and two girls — listened attentively. They wore work clothes, some in sneakers and T-shirts; others in steel-toe or composite-toe boots and carpenter pants. Baseball-style caps and camo dotted the room. They would divide into groups at the house. Bruneau listed the tools each group would need and the tools they would share. Welch told them to install Sheetrock on exterior walls first because once interior walls are up, it’s harder to move Sheetrock around. Bruneau drew diagrams to illustrate how to stagger the panels and where to put the screws, and he suggested a technique for cutting out windows. Then he collected everyone’s cellphone — fewer distractions promote safety on a job site — and the class left the building, walked on a grassy path, past community gardens and the forestry and horticulture program’s apple orchard, to the construction trailer parked in the driveway at 28 Taft Street. Last year’s class worked with students in the Natural Resources: Mechanical and Small Engines program to prepare the site. A contractor dug the basement, then students helped a concrete contractor frame up the foundation and footings. Other work — plumbing, electrical and roofing — was also done by licensed contractors (the roofer is an Essex tech alum), with students assisting whenever possible. Students framed the house, built floors and walls, and installed windows, doors and insulation. They even got the vinyl siding installed, a task that had been scheduled for this school year.
“We’re a little ahead of the game right now,” Welch said. This year’s students will build a deck and two sheds so they can get framing experience. On that September Friday, they gathered tools from the trailer, tightened construction belts and put on safety glasses. Crews in each room measured and marked the location of windows, light switches and outlets on the drywall. In no time, the bzzt of impact drivers firing screws into studs filled the house. In the second bedroom, three students held an 11-foot, 10-and-a-half-inch length of Sheetrock flush to the ceiling while Essex High School senior Matt Russell climbed the ladder with an impact driver. Bzzt! A screw flew into the top right corner. “Whoa, Matt! There’s something sticking out in the wall there,” Essex senior Keshon Peters said. A small object had cut through the Sheetrock. “No putty will fix that,” said Phillip Danis, 17, who is homeschooled in Essex. “I would suggest, take it down.” Matt put the impact driver in reverse, and the rest of the crew, which also included Winooski High School junior Sharmake Ali, lowered the panel to the floor.
Essex High School senior Keshon Peters (left) and instructor Chris Welch discuss the measurements needed to cut ceiling drywall to fit around a corner
Maynard all want to be electricians. Colchester High School senior Dylan Roberge has already accumulated 450 hours toward the 8,000 needed to test for a journeyworker electrician’s license. Josh Walp of Mount Mansfield Union High School said he’s considering becoming an electrician or a plumber. There’s room for another 13 houses on this parcel, which is owned by CTE Corporation, the nonprofit that
It’s not a house that’s slapped together by kids . . . They are well-built homes. REAL ESTATE AGENT RICH GARDNER
KIDS VT
finances the home-building program. The last house to be completed, in 2016, was designed to be a net zero house, able to operate off the grid. Solar panels on the roof can generate enough energy to meet the home’s power demands, walls are nearly one foot thick and special insulation and windows were installed. The three-bedroom ranch with a walkout basement sold for $431,700, not a first-time homeowner price, said Rich Gardner, the real estate agent who handled the sale. “It’s not a house that’s slapped together by kids. It’s a house that’s professionally built with kids that are part of the process . . . They are well-built homes,” he said. Students probably spend more time talking about details than commercial builders, said Gardner, owner
OCTOBER 2018
A nail protruded from the top of the wall. The team pounded it down, flush with the frame, then raised the Sheetrock again. Students take this class for a variety of reasons. Phillip wants to travel and work in interesting locations. “It’s great paying work if you know what you’re doing, and you can get a job almost anywhere,” he said. Keshon wants to enlist in the Marine Corps. He took the class to learn life skills and to get out from behind a desk. “It’s nice learning this way,” he said. Sharmake and Essex High’s Noelle Rosberg want to build their own homes. South Burlington High School senior Brandon Posey, Burlington High School senior Elliot Maher and Milton High School senior Ethan
of the Gardner Group and co-owner of Re/Max North Professionals. “You couldn’t have a construction company and sell one house every two years.” Ron and Judith Frey bought the Taft Street ranch students completed five years ago. “I think it was sort of a plus that we were helping the school and the kids out,” Ron said. The home is well insulated and has an energy-efficient design, Judy said. It was inspected and came with a one-year guarantee. If anything went wrong, students would fix it. The couple had some minor plumbing problems. “But that wasn’t done by a student; that was done by a contractor,” Ron pointed out, and the plumber made repairs. “The things that the students did, we didn’t have any problem with.” When the couple wanted a shed and a ramp to make their home wheelchair-accessible, they hired Essex tech students to build both. At the start of past school years, when building instructors wanted to show their students what their work would produce, they took them to the Freys’ home for a tour, and Judith baked them cookies. “I think building a house as part of a high school program is unique,” said career technical education director Ramsey. It’s “certainly a point of pride for students to be able to sit in a car with their parents and drive through this neighborhood and say, ‘Look, I’m building that.’” K 29
KIDSVT.COM
“Measuring, cutting; what else?” Bruneau asked. Welch offered a hint. He and Bruneau stood together at the front of the room, effortlessly dovetailing their instruction. Welch has worked in information technology and built houses with Habitat for Humanity, as well as his own home. Bruneau is a former housing contractor who has built three houses by himself. Think about the upper piece of Sheetrock going on a wall, Welch told the kids. What does it require? And Bruneau got the answer he was looking for: “Holding it.” The students — 17 boys and two girls — listened attentively. They wore work clothes, some in sneakers and T-shirts; others in steel-toe or composite-toe boots and carpenter pants. Baseball-style caps and camo dotted the room. They would divide into groups at the house. Bruneau listed the tools each group would need and the tools they would share. Welch told them to install Sheetrock on exterior walls first because once interior walls are up, it’s harder to move Sheetrock around. Bruneau drew diagrams to illustrate how to stagger the panels and where to put the screws, and he suggested a technique for cutting out windows. Then he collected everyone’s cellphone — fewer distractions promote safety on a job site — and the class left the building, walked on a grassy path, past community gardens and the forestry and horticulture program’s apple orchard, to the construction trailer parked in the driveway at 28 Taft Street. Last year’s class worked with students in the Natural Resources: Mechanical and Small Engines program to prepare the site. A contractor dug the basement, then students helped a concrete contractor frame up the foundation and footings. Other work — plumbing, electrical and roofing — was also done by licensed contractors (the roofer is an Essex tech alum), with students assisting whenever possible. Students framed the house, built floors and walls, and installed windows, doors and insulation. They even got the vinyl siding installed, a task that had been scheduled for this school year.
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JOIN US FOR UPCOMING EVENTS:
Fall Open House: Sunday, November 4th @ 3pm Project-Based Learning Presentation: Friday, November 9th @ 9am (RSVPs requested)
Visit our website vtdayschool.org for more information. Email: info@vtdayschool.org. Phone: 802-495-5150
KIDS VT
OCTOBER 2018
KIDSVT.COM
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OCTOBER
Halloweeeeeeening! At HALLOWEEN HOWL, kids and their caregivers, dressed up in awesome costumes, venture through a FreakyFairytales-themed haunted walk, hop on a hayride, dance to spooky tunes, get their fortunes told and have a blast with fun fall games. Saturday, October 27, 2-6 p.m., Oakledge Park, Burlington.
BURLINGTON PARKS, RECREATION & WATERFRONT
CALENDAR
SPONSORED BY:
SAT & SUN
Terrific Tractors & Other Cool Machines: Future farmers climb aboard a collection of colossal machines that can get the job done. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Shelburne Farms, Shelburne. OCT 13 & 14
KIDSVT.COM
SAT & SUN
SUN
SAT
XXX X
Like the University of Vermont Medical Center on Facebook and get weekly updates from Dr. First! See “First With Kids” videos at uvmhealth.org.
KIDS VT
Mad River Valley Trick or Trot: Goblins, ghosts and princesses lace up for an 11:30 a.m. 3K or 5K run or walk, with festive Halloween music and decorations. A fall jamboree follows, featuring food, music, games and a costume parade. Warren School, Warren. OCT 28
OCTOBER 2018
National Chemistry Week Kick-Off Weekend: Curious families spark their imaginations with surprising experiments, hands-on activities and science shows. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington. OCT 20 & 21
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2 Tuesday ADDISON Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet and Groton host consecutive town parties, jammed with art exhibits, crafts, hayrides and hearty fall fare. Check nekchamber.com for specific info. Various locations, Northeast Kingdom. Info, 748-3678. CALEDONIA Hardwick Lego Club: Fledgling architects construct collaboratively with colorful blocks. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 3-5 p.m. Info, 472-5948. FREE
CHITTENDEN ‘Awaken: The Spirit of Autism’: Made by a local 11th-grader, this documentary engages the audience with interviews of students on the spectrum, allowing viewers to see beyond a label. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Creative Tuesdays: Young artists involve their imaginations with interesting materials. Kids under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:15-4:45 p.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE Dorothy’s List Book Club: Middle readers make merry conversation around a DCF pick. Call the library for the title. Ages 8-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE
Classes
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FRIDAY FAMILY CLAY: Spend a Friday night with your family at the BCA Clay Studio. A ticket provides a wheel demonstration at the beginning of class, wheel access (for ages 6+), hand building for any age, unlimited clay, and time to create. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Adults may assist their child(ren) free of charge. Additional tickets are required for adults who’d like to join the fun and either hand build or use a wheel of their own. If you’d like your work to be fired and glazed by the studio, there is a $5 fee per piece. Finished pottery will be available for pickup three weeks after visit. All ages. Ticket purchases for this class are non-refundable. FRIDAYS, SEP. 21 TO NOV. 16, 5-7 P.M. $10 per participant, $9 BCA members. BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org. EVOKIDS AND EVOBABIES YOGA CLASSES:
Now in Burlington AND Essex Junction! Register now for our fall sessions of baby and kids yoga, ages 6 weeks to teen. Weekday and weekend classes available in both locations: Evolution Family Yoga Center, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington, and 37 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction. Info, evolutionprenatalandfamily.com.
Williston Lego Day: Kids create colorful creations with the library’s brick collection. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Info, 878-4918. FREE Winooski Lego Club: Budding builders bust out plastic-block creations with the weekly Lego challenge. Free meals available for ages 18 and under. Winooski Memorial Library, 3-6 p.m. Info, 655-6424. FREE
RUTLAND Chess Club: Strategists of all skill levels partner up for playing. Ages 6 and up. Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 3-4 p.m. Info, 422-9765. FREE
PRENATAL & POSTNATAL YOGA AND STRENGTH TRAINING CLASSES: Evolution
List your class or camp here for only $20 per month! Submit the listing by October 15 at kidsvt.com or to classes@kidsvt.com. AFTER SCHOOL DANCE CAMP: Movement artist and educator Madeline Warriner directs Pentangle’s after-school dance camp. In this two-week camp, dancers will be fully immersed in a fun and challenging creative dance experience. Campers will take daily classes in Contemporary Modern Technique and Choreography, as well as other styles like Jazz and Hip-hop. Ages 9-14. $100/camper. MONDAY, NOV. 5, TO FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 3:30-5:30 P.M. Final performance NOV. 16, 5:30 P.M., Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, 31 The Green, Woodstock. Info, 457-3981, pentanglearts. org/afterschool-dance.
Spanish Musical Kids: Niños celebrate Latin American culture through tunes and games en español. Ages 1-5 with a caregiver. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE
DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES: Students
will create one-of-a-kind Halloween costumes that will blow away those store-bought costumes and impress their friends. Cut, sew, and craft your way to the best Halloween ever! Basic materials are provided; please bring two ideas of what you want to dress up as, and any material or old clothes to help create your costume. Students must also bring a bag lunch and snacks. Parents are invited to a costume parade at 3 p.m. Registration required. Ages 6-12. FRIDAY, OCT. 19, 8 A.M.-3 P.M. $75, $67.50 BCA Members. BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org. HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY: Tell your story with photographs in this eightweek session for high school students! Students will explore their ideas, go on group photo shoots, process and print digital photos and zines in our digital lab, experiment with film photography in our darkroom and participate in supportive discussions and critiques. All supplies and cameras provided. Ages 14-18. Scholarships are available. No experience required. FRIDAYS, OCT. 12 TO DEC. 7 (no class Nov. 23), 5-7:30 P.M. Instructors: Liza Semler & Renee Greenlee. $240/$216 BCA Members. BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org. FAMILY ART SATURDAY: Get creative and
make art together! Families are invited to drop in to the BCA Center every third Saturday of the month to create their own artworks inspired by our current exhibitions. Each Family Art Saturday offers a different art-making project that will ignite the imaginations of your family members!
SATURDAYS, OCT. 20, NOV. 17, AND DEC. 15, 11 A.M.-1 P.M. Free and open to the public.
BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org.
Prenatal Yoga Center now has two locations, Burlington and Essex Junction! Have a more comfortable pregnancy and prepare for birth with stretching, strengthening and relaxation — and then bring body back to balance and strength in our postnatal classes. Join our community at any point in your pregnancy, and 6 weeks or later in your postpartum time (until baby is crawling). No yoga experience necessary. $17/class, $140/10-class pass ($20 off if purchased on your first class), or $90/monthly unlimited. Evolution Prenatal Yoga Center, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington, and 37 Lincoln St., Essex Junction. Info, evolutionprenatalandfamily.com
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU: The future of our nation lies in the courage, confidence and determination of its people. Our Kids BJJ Program promotes self-esteem, selfconfidence, character development and a physical outlet with discipline, cooperation with other children, respect for peers and adults, perseverance and a healthy lifestyle. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will help your kids to learn realistic bully-proofing and self-defense skills that they can use for the rest of their lives! Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu builds endurance, patience and self-respect. Give your kids the ability to get stronger, gain confidence and build resilience! Our sole purpose is to help empower people by giving them practices they can carry with them throughout life. Remember you are raising children, not flowers. First class is free! Please stop by our school at 55 Leroy Road, Williston; call 598-2839; visit vermontbjj.com or email julio@bjjusa.com to register your son or daughter! SUNDAY FAMILY PAINT: Spend an afternoon with our teaching artists in BCA’s painting and drawing studio. Using our paints, brushes, easels and more, your family will create beautiful works of art. All supplies are provided; no experience needed. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Adults may assist their child(ren) free of charge. Additional tickets are required for adults who’d like to join the fun and paint on their own. All Ages. SUNDAYS, OCT. 14, NOV. 11, AND DEC. 2, 2-4 P.M. $10 per participant, $9 BCA Members. BCA Studios, 405 Pine St., Burlington. Info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org.
WINDSOR Norwich Lego Tuesdays: Imaginative architects bust out blocks and get busy. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Norwich Public Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 649-1184. FREE Yoga for Girls: Girls ages 12 and up work on body awareness, posture alignment and core strength in a supportive and all-abilities setting. Bethel Moves, 3:30-4:45 p.m., $15. Info, 234-8902.
3 Wednesday ADDISON Middlebury Farmers Market: Crafts, cheeses, breads, veggies, eggs and more vie for spots in shoppers’ totes. Middlebury VFW, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: See October 2.
CHITTENDEN Burlington Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, discuss empathy and learn how to empower their families. A light dinner and childcare are included. Weeklythrough January 16. The Janet S. Munt Family Room, Burlington, 6-8 p.m., preregister. Info, 498-0607. FREE Family Game Day: Grownups and youngsters rally for a weekly round of tabletop fun. Free meals available for ages 18 and under. Winooski Memorial Library, 3-6 p.m. Info, 655-6424. FREE Five Corners Farmers Market: Downtown shoppers fill their baskets with locally grown fresh foods, agricultural products and handmade crafts. Five Corners, Essex Junction, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: Book buffs bring a selection from home or borrow from the library to amuse an attentive canine. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m., preregister. Info, 878-6956. FREE Yoga for Kids: Young yogis engage their energy and explore breathing exercises and relaxation poses with professional instructor Melissa from Evolution Yoga. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE
FRANKLIN Fit Moms: Expectant mamas work out together, preparing for labor with cardio, strength, stretching and breathing. Northwestern Medical Center, St. Albans, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Info, 288-1141. FREE St. Albans Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills and gain practical tools to empower their families. Weeklythrough January 16. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., preregister; light dinner and childcare provided. Info, 498-0607. FREE
RUTLAND Rutland Farmers Market: Local vendors peddle farm-fresh produce and fruits, handcrafted breads, artisan cheese and more at this outdoor emporium. Downtown Rutland, 3-6 p.m. Info, 342-4727. ORANGE Randolph Lego Wednesdays: Aspiring architects construct creatively while chatting. Kimball Public Library, Randolph, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 728-5073. FREE
SUBMIT YOUR NOVEMBER EVENTS FOR PRINT BY OCTOBER 15 KIDSVT.COM OR CALENDAR@KIDSVT.COM WASHINGTON Maker Program: Crafty kiddos dig into different projects using the library’s materials and mentoring. Ages 8-11. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m., preregister. Info, 244-7036. FREE WINDSOR Woodstock Market on the Green: Fresh vegetables, farm eggs, local meats and cheeses, cut flowers, and seasonal fruits and berries represent the best of the growing season, with the accompaniment of live music. Woodstock Village Green, 3-6 p.m. Info, 457-3555.
4 Thursday ADDISON Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: See October 2.
See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org. CHITTENDEN Colchester Lego Club: Mini-makers participate in surprise challenges with interlocking toys. Ages 6-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE Milton Giant Veggie Growing Contest: Enormous garden goods compete for the heaviest title. Milton Farmers Market, 3:30-7 p.m. Info, 893-4922.
Art, Theatre, Music + Movement Classes for
Preschoolers, Homeschoolers, Afterschool, Teens, & Adults!
www.artistreevt.org 2095 Pomfret Rd., South Pomfret, VT (802) 457-3500 | info@artistreevt.org Untitled-45 1
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Live Performances
WINOOSKI WEDNESDAYS: City folks
sprawl out in the evening with live music, downtown specials and free meals for kids under 18. Rain location is Monkey House. Rotary Park, Winooski, FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 6-8 P.M.; food and drink available to purchase. Info, 777-1621.
‘WHO WANTS TO BE A VAUDEVILLIANAIRE?’: Performers of all
abilities and interests take to the stage for an evening of comedy, magic, music and mayhem, competing to perform in the 10th-anniversary Vermont Vaudeville shows the following weekend. Hardwick Town House, SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 7:30 P.M., suggested donation $10. Info, Jason Bishop 472-1387.
JASON BISHOP: MAGIC AND ILLUSION:
‘THE SNOW QUEEN’: Young thespians
OCT. 12, 7 P.M., AND SATURDAY, OCT. 13, 2 & 7 P.M., $6-8. Info, 558-4177. SOUNDS OF THE SEASON: VERMONT YOUTH ORCHESTRA RUG CONCERT:
preregister. Info, 472-1387.
IAIN MACHARG ON THE SCOTTISH BAGPIPES: Founder of the Celtic rock
bands Whiskey Before Breakfast and Prydein and the Catamount Pipe Band, this acclaimed local musician makes a merry evening for the audience. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 7 P.M., $8-10; free for children; proceeds benefit youth services. Info, 426-3581.
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Ensuring Equity in Our Schools Workshops by National Experts • Capitol Plaza, Montpelier NOVEMBER 1 & 2 • $75
APRIL 12, 2019 • $35
Equity Literacy Approach: Becoming a Threat to Inequity in Classrooms and Schools*
Whose Country Is This? Race, Racism, and Refugee Status in America
With Paul Gorski, writer, professor, and founder of EdChange, a team of passionate, experienced educators dedicated to educational equity and justice
With Taharee Jackson, assistant professor, author, and facilitator of inclusive schooling practices and policies
MARCH 19, 2019 • $35 Confronting Gender-Based Inequity in Classrooms and Schools With Ellen Tuzzulo and S. Leigh Thompson, working together to facilitate exploration and dialogue about equity, diversity, and inclusion
MAY 15, 2019 • $35 Reaching & Teaching Students in Poverty - Strategies for Erasing the Opportunity Gap With Paul Gorski * Attendance at Nov. 1 & 2 are prerequisites for the other workshops
Please visit vthec.org to register! The VT-HEC Mission Investment Fund is sponsoring this 5-day series
KIDS VT
Young classical music lovers meet instruments, composers and singers in an intimate and child-friendly setting. Ages 5 and under with caregivers. First Congregational Church, St. Albans, SUNDAY, OCT. 14, NOON-1 P.M., preregister. Info, 524-4555. FREE
25, 7:30 P.M., FRIDAY, OCT. 26, 7:30 P.M. AND SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 2 & 7:30 P.M., $8-15,
www.SpookyvilleVermont.org
OCTOBER 2018
mesmerize the audience with Hans Christian Andersen’s spellbinding adventure story of a wicked queen, talking ravens, a prince and princess, a wild robber-girl, and a brave reindeer. Rutland Intermediate School, FRIDAY,
VERMONT VAUDEVILLE: Celebrating their 10th anniversary, old-school entertainment combines with cutting-edge music, acrobatic stunts and comedy for a one-of-a-kind theater experience. Food truck Miso Hungry serves up hot and savory fare. Hardwick Town House, THURSDAY, OCT.
Bring the kids to a magical walk though a Halloween village for advance tickets and info, or to volunteer!
KIDSVT.COM
This world-traveling magician makes the audience marvel with sleightof-hand tricks, grand illusions and close-up magic projected onto a huge movie screen. Ages 6 and up. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe, SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 7 P.M., $35-50. Info, 760-4634.
‘ANIMAL FARM’: Based on George Orwell’s 1945 novel, this performance captivates the audience with the story of the animals on Mr. Jones’ farm who plot to overtake the humans in charge and create a utopia. Grades 5-12. Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 10 A.M., $8. Info, 728-9878.
October 20, 21, 27
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CALENDAR
OCTOBER
Halloween Happenings
5K GLOW RUN: The spooky season kicks
off with runners dressed in illuminated costumes, followed by prizes, music and merriment. Kids’ free glow run starts at 5 p.m. at Taylor Park. Taylor Park, St. Albans, SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 5:30-8 P.M., $25-35; preregister. Info, 524-1500.
NIGHTMARE VERMONT: This interactive,
theatrical haunted house scars the socks off visitors. Ages 13 and up. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, THURSDAY, OCT. 18, 7-9
P.M., FRIDAY, OCT. 19, 7-10 P.M., SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 6-10:30 P.M., THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 7-9:30 P.M., FRIDAY, OCT. 26, 7-10:30 P.M. AND SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 6-10:30 P.M., $12-15; a portion of
5/10K TRICK OR TROT: Costumed runners
lace up for a trail run, featuring guest speaker and runner Newton Baker, accomplished athlete and child advocate, followed by maple creemees, kettle corn, and prizes for race categories and costumes. Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Montpelier, SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 9 A.M.-1 P.M., $20-60, preregister; proceeds benefit YWCA Vermont Camp Hochelaga. Info, 862-7520. MONSTER MILE FAMILY FUN WALK/RUN:
Halloween enthusiasts complete a 1.1 mile village course, with a costume contest and a petting zoo. Food donations encouraged. Bombardier Park, Milton, SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 2-4 P.M., $5-10, $15 per couple, family of four $25 with $5 each additional member; proceeds support the Milton Community Food Shelf. Info, 524-9771. SPOOKYVILLE VERMONT: Hundreds of jack-
o-lanterns evoke the season’s essence on this family-friendly walk with storytelling, dance, theater and special effects to evoke the magic of the season. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, SATURDAY, OCT. 20,
SUNDAY, OCT. 21, AND SATURDAY, OCT. 27, NOON-4 P.M., $10; Camp Exclamation Point
receives some proceeds. Info, 355-3107.
KIDS VT
OCTOBER 2018 KIDSVT.COM
HIGHGATE HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION:
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Bounce Around VT hosts a family-friendly, not-too-spooky holiday shindig for ghouls, goblins and princesses, with outdoor inflatables, train rides by the Big Blue Trunk, Halloween bingo, pumpkin painting and more. Ages 2-12. Highgate Commons, St Albans, SUNDAY, OCT. 21, 10 A.M.-2 P.M., $12; includes entry into Bounce Around Fun Center. Info, 527-5725. HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION: Creative costumes add flair to this safe night of treats, games, crafts and an appearance by Officer McGruff. Preschoolers to grade 4 and their families. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 24, 5-6:30 P.M. Info, 878-1375. FREE MILTON TRUNK OR TREAT: Costumed kiddos
carve up their own pumpkins with provided tools and stencils, get cozy by a crackling bonfire, and gather sugary and not-sosweet treats. Bombardier Park, Milton, FRIDAY, OCT. 26, 6-8 P.M. Info, 893-4922. FREE
200th anniversary of this science fiction classic, the museum gets creative with creepy science and shocking experiments exploring the “spark of life.” ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington,
SATURDAY, OCT. 27 AND SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 10 A.M.-3 P.M., regular museum admission
$11.50-14.50; free for members and children under 3. Info, 864-1848. HALLOWEEN AT THE GRANGE: Costumed
families bring their pumpkins for an afternoon of creative carving with a demonstration by artist Adrian Tans, warm cider, doughnuts and colorful candies, followed by 4 p.m. spooky flicks on the big screen. The Grange Theatre, South Pomfret, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 2-9 P.M., no fee for carving; $5 per movie ticket. Info, 457-3500. FREE
BURLINGTON PARKS, RECREATION & WATERFRONT
proceeds donated to charitable causes. Info, 878-5545.
FRANKENSTEIN FEST: In celebration of the
HALLOWEEN EXPRESS PARTY & TRAIN RIDES: Dressed-up Halloween lovers enjoy
a preboarding party on the Burlington waterfront with costumed characters, music and more, followed by a round-trip train ride from Burlington to Shelburne. The family-friendly experience features an interactive story time, cookies and juice, colorable trick or treat bag, fun activities, and a departing goodie. Ages 10 and under. Main Street Landing, Burlington, SATURDAY, OCT. 27 AND SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 9 A.M.-4 P.M., $29 per person, preregister; donations accepted on-site for Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. Info, 872-9000.
HALLOWEEN HOWL: Families dressed up
in awesome costumes venture through a Freaky-Fairytales-themed haunted walk, hop on a hayride, dance to spookytunes, get their fortunes told and have a blast with fun fall games. Oakledge Park, Burlington, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 2-6 P.M.; food available for purchase. Info, 881-7767. HALLOWEEN HUSTLE 5K: Runners decked out in holiday attire hoof it to the finish line in short road races. Prizes awarded by age group and for best costume. Maple Street Park, Essex Junction, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 9 A.M., $15-20 5K registration, $5 for kids race, or free with a registered runner in the 5K. Info, 878-1375. HOOTS AND HOWLS: This educational nature-
based shindig features science experiments, up close encounters with snakes, owls, skulls and bones, magical storytelling, games, crafts, and ooey-gooey seasonal fun. The evening ends with lit jack-o-lanterns, stories, song and dance and a final wrap-up of tricky treats. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center, Quechee, SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 10 A.M.-8 P.M., regular museum admission, $13.50-15.50; free for members and kids under 4. Info, 359-5000. A FAMILY HALLOWEEN: All Hallow’s Eve
inspires pumpkin carving, doughnuts-ona-string, wagon rides, animal programs and “not-too-scary” stories. Costume parades at noon and 2 p.m. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 10 A.M.-5 P.M., regular museum admission, $4-16; free for children under 3 or in costume when accompanied by an adult. Info, 457-2355.
HALLOWEEN BIKE RIDE: Cyclists in costume wheel their way through town, beginning at 2 p.m. and ending in a super-secret location. Burlington City Hall Park, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 1:30-4 P.M. Info, 864-0123. FREE MAD RIVER VALLEY TRICK OR TROT: Runners and walkers in costume lace up for an 11:30 a.m. not-very-spooky 3K or 5K jaunt through the village, with festive Halloween music, fun and decorations. A fall shindig follows, featuring food, music, games and a costume parade. Warren School, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, $10-20; proceeds benefit the Warren PTO. Info, 496-2487. MIDDLEBURY SPOOKTACULAR: Little ghosts, ghouls and goblins spread over the town green for games, prizes, music and face painting, with the finale a children’s trick-or-treat parade down Main Street. Middlebury Green, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 1-3 P.M.,
UVM HALLOWEEN BARN: Horses don costumes, too, for this non-spooky trick-ortreating session, with an obstacle course and crafts. Parking available at Gutterson Fieldhouse with shuttles to the barn. Miller Research Facility (Dairy Farm and Horse Barn), South Burlington, MONDAY, OCT. 29, 5:30-7 P.M., suggested donation $3. Info, 656-2108. THE GREAT PUMPKIN CELEBRATION:
Bright-eyed pedestrians admire glowing hand-carved squash of all sizes and shapes, while soaking up stories and s’mores around a crackling fire. Maple Street Park, Essex Junction, TUESDAY, OCT. 30, 6-8 P.M. Info, 878-1375. FREE
FREE
HALLOWEEN TRICKS & TREATS: Kids in all kinds of costumes make merry at the museum. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 4-8 P.M. Info, 748-2372. FREE
SPOOKY SILENTS: The audience boos and
HEALTHY HALLOWEEN SNACKS FOR KIDS:
hisses at three ghostly silent films from the early 1900s, paired with historical orchestral scores performed by the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra. All ages. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 5 P.M., $25-50; one free child’s ticket with each adult ticket purchased until Oct. 7. Info, 760-4634.
Youngsters and caregivers drop in and delight in making seasonal snacks, including pretzel and cheese broomsticks, clementine ‘pumpkins’ and fruit monster faces. Coffee and music add to the merriment. City Market, Onion River Co-op (Downtown Burlington), WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 861-9700. FREE
SWIM WITH THE PUMPKINS: Little ones go
HIGHGATE TRICK-OR-TREAT: All ghosts,
pumpkin picking in the pool, followed by light refreshments and a special squash to take home. Greater Burlington YMCA, SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 6-7:30 P.M., $10; free for members; preregister. Info, 652-8143.
goblins, witches and princesses are invited to stop in at the fire department on their way around town for Halloween treats. Highgate Fire Station, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 5-8 P.M. Info, 868-2493. STOWE HALLOWEEN PARTY: Dressed up
kiddos enjoy spooky games, DJ music, a costume contest and a photo booth before heading out for candy. Stowe Elementary School, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 4:30-6 P.M., food and gaming fees apply. Info, 253-6148.
SUBMIT YOUR NOVEMBER EVENTS FOR PRINT BY OCTOBER 15 KIDSVT.COM OR CALENDAR@KIDSVT.COM
Visit our website for our
2018-2019 Class Schedule
4 Thursday (cont.) Monthly Home School Program: Home learners soak up nature-related studies in an outdoor classroom. Parent participation optional. Ages 6-8. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $20-25; preregister. Info, 434-3068. Read With Archie the Therapy Dog: An attentive canine listens to little people read. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m., preregister. Info, 878-6956. FREE Ukulele Kids: Musical ones join Joe to sing and play. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE
Williston Preschool Music: Lively tunes with local musicians strike the right note among the wee crowd. Ages 5 and under with a caregiver. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m., limited to one session per week per family. Info, 878-4918. FREE
FRANKLIN Fairfax Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, discuss empathy and learn how to empower their families. A light dinner and childcare are included. Weeklythrough January 17. BFA Fairfax, 5:45-7:45 p.m., preregister. Info, 229-5724. FREE Franklin Lego Thursdays: Kiddie constructionists combine their imagination with the library’s supplies. Haston Library, Franklin, 1-6 p.m. Info, 285-6505.FREE
LAMOILLE Pre-K Art Play: Toddlers drop in and create personal projects with diverse art supplies. Ages 1-4; caregiver required. No class on school breaks. Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, 10-11 a.m., $5. Info, 253-8358.
5 Friday
See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org. Magic the Gathering: Planeswalkers seek knowledge and glory in this trading-card game. Grade 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE
One-on-One Tutoring: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences students coach elementary-age kids in reading, math and science. Grades 1-6. Some assistance available for other grades in certain subjects with inquiry. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 3:30-6 p.m., preregister. Info, 264-5660. FREE
Richmond Farmers Market: Vendors peddle handheld pies, dinner delectables, homemade pickles, just-picked produce and much more at this lively showcase of locavorism. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-7 p.m. Info, 391-0806. Smuggs’ Ski & Snowboard Swap: Skiers and riders of all ages get great deals on winter gear. Consignment drop-off Friday, October 5. Tarrant Recreation Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester, 6-8 p.m. Info, 644-1177. FREE STEAM Fridays: Eager youngsters engage with inventive science, technology, engineering, art and math projects. Check online for specific program details. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE
Financial aid available!
LAMOILLE Stowe Foliage Arts Festival: Multicolored leaves set a stunning scene for juried artwork, live music, great food and craft demonstrations. Topnotch Resort, Stowe, $10-12; free for children. Info, 316-5019.
CHITTENDEN Family Gym: Indoor playground equipment provides tiny tumblers a chance to run free. Ages 7 and under with caregivers. Greater Burlington YMCA, 10:15-11:45 a.m., $5-8 per family; free for members; preregister. Info, 862-9622.
RUTLAND Rutland Library Book Sale: Bibliophiles thumb through thousands of hardcovers, paperbacks, puzzles and more. Rutland Free Library, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 773-1860. ORLEANS Craftsbury Lego Club: Petite ones build with plastic blocks and chat companionably. Ages 4-12. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 3-4:30 p.m. Info, 586-9683.
Call or email about our Intro classes starting in September Tuesdays and Thursdays All levels and ages! Located at Severance Corners in Colchester Beth Anne McFadden T.C.R.G. Erin Clark T.C.R.G. (802) 999-5041 info@mcfaddenirishdance.com www.mcfaddenirishdance.com
136 Locust Street Burlington, VT 862-6696 www.cksvt.org admissions@cksvt.org facebook.com/cksvt
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PARENTS: Let Your Kids Get Creative After School MAKE THINGS • ACT WEAR FUNKY COSTUMES PAINT | DRAW WORK ON A TEAM
DANCE | PERFORM WEAR MAKEUP HAVE FUN WITH FRIENDS
Are you looking for an exciting, educational program for your children?
THE PROGRAM IS KID-DRIVEN & TEAM POWERED!
A program that will challenge them to reach higher levels of creativity and that teaches students there is more than one way to solve a problem? Would you like to work with kids as their Team Manager?
Contact Pat Dilego at 578-0998 or vtdicreativity@gmail.com DI in Vermont www.vtdi.org DI Globally www.destinationimagination.org
KIDS VT
WINDSOR Bethel First Friday Flicks: Families flock together for free films. Seating available or bring blankets and beanbags. Bethel Town Hall, 6:30-8:30 p.m., donations accepted; popcorn and drinks available for purchase. Info, 234-6305. FREE
Celebrating 10 years of teaching Irish Dance in Vermont!
OCTOBER 2018
CALEDONIA Hardwick Farmers Market: Local produce, plants, artisan cheese, syrup and more fill shoppers’ market baskets. Diverse dinner fare available. Atkins Field, Hardwick, 3-6 p.m. Info, 832-603-9334.
Certified through CLRG Dublin Ireland
KIDSVT.COM
ADDISON Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: See October 2.
Lil’ Vermonters Consignment Sale: Shoppers delight in gently used baby, child and maternity items, from newborn to youth 14, including toys, furniture, books, baby carriers and much more. See lilvermonters. com for consignor info. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, 5-9 p.m., $5 admission for non-consignors on Friday with advance ticket purchase; free on Saturday. Info, 860-810-9872.
Valuable! Affordable! Inclusive! Innovative! Come see the benefits yourself!
Preschool Yoga with Danielle: Small ones stretch and relax. Ages 2-5. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE
FRANKLIN Story Time Yoga with Ms. Liza: Small ones soak up a storytime with stories, songs, stretches and bubbles. Swanton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 868-7656. FREE
Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: Toe-tapping tunes captivate kiddies. Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 a.m. Info, 660-9346.
CKS serves learners from pre-school (3 years old) through 8th grade
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CALENDAR
OCTOBER
Science & Nature
RAPTORS IN RESIDENCE: The mysteries
surrounding birds of prey are revealed as visitors come face-to-face with live feathered creatures. Shelburne Farms,
SATURDAYS, TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 1-1:30 P.M., regular museum admission,
$5-8; free for children under 3. Info, 985-8686.
SCIENCE & STORIES AT ECHO: Preschoolers
rally ‘round for nature-inspired tales and activities. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, TUESDAYS, 10:30 A.M., regular museum admission, $11.50-14.50; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848. SEASON OF CHANGE: Little ones explore
the hard work of how wild critters prepare for chilly weather by finding and hiding food and fashioning a home. Ages 3-5 with caregiver. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, THURSDAY, OCT. 4, 9-10:30 A.M., $6-8 per child, preregister. Info, 434-3068. MONTSHIRE MAKERS: Middle school
inventors use their imagination and the museum’s materials to create cool projects, with different monthly themes. Grades 6-9. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, FRIDAY, OCT. 5, 6:30-8 P.M., $8-15, preregistration encouraged. Info, 649-2200. DEAD CREEK WILDLIFE DAY: Natural
wonders wow youngsters during this day dedicated to wild things, hosted by pros from Vermont Fish & Wildlife, Otter Creek Audubon Society, and local sportsmen’s clubs. Pack up the family and the binoculars for a full or drop-in day of birdwatching, canoeing and numerous nature-based activities. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Addison, SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 9:30 A.M.-4 P.M. Info, 318-1347. FREE
OCTOBER 2018 KIDSVT.COM
FAMILY FUN DAY ON THE FARM: This
family-owned dairy farm opens its doors for folks to meet the animals, pet the goats and chickens, and partake in hands-on, child-friendly, educational farm activities. Boston Post Dairy, Enosburg Falls, SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 10 A.M.-2 P.M. Info, 933-2749. FREE
Bird monitoring at Audubon Vermont
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AT CEDAR CIRCLE FARM:
Families see orange at this quintessential fall farm affair, featuring pumpkin picking, cider pressing, live music and food galore. Kid-centered activities include traditional folktale storytellers Tim Jennings and Leanne Ponder, Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s birds of prey, horsedrawn wagon rides, a hay bale climb, and more. Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, East Thetford, SUNDAY, OCT. 7, 10 A.M.-3 P.M., suggested donation $10-15 per car; food and drink available to purchase. Info, 785-4737. NESTLINGS FIND NATURE: Preschoolers
discover how feathered friends grow, using imaginative play, books, crafts, nature walks and activities. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH, 10:30-11:30 A.M., regular museum admission, $3.50-7; free for children under 3. Info, 434-2167. SAW-WHET OWL BANDING: Families have
TERRIFIC TRACTORS & OTHER COOL MACHINES: Future farmers climb aboard a
collection of colossal machines that can get the job done. Shelburne Farms, SATURDAY, OCT. 13, AND SUNDAY, OCT. 14, 10 A.M.-5 P.M., regular museum admission, $5-8; free for children under 3. Info, 985-8686. ARMS FOREST TREE WALK: Master naturalists share their savvy with curious community members. Arms Park Trails, Burlington, SUNDAY, OCT. 14, 2-4 P.M. Info, 864-0123. FREE FOREST FANTASY WITH WONDERFEET:
Whimsy lovers of all ages dressed in forest-themed costumes create tiny dwellings and fairy arts and crafts in a magical woods, while music and dance make more merriment. Camp Betsey Cox, Pittsford, SUNDAY, OCT. 14, NOON-3:30 P.M., $7, $30 for a family of 5. Info, 282-2678. BOOKS & BEYOND: SCIENCE FOR PRESCHOOLERS: Children’s literature
a hoot as they view these seldom-seen, pint-size migrants and learn about recent research. Dress warmly. Weatherdependent. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10, THURSDAY,
and hands-on activities combine for fun science learning and exploration. Ages 3-5 with a parent or caregiver. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, MONDAY, OCT. 15, 10:15 & 11:30 A.M., regular museum admission, $13-16; free for children under 2. Info, 649-2200.
accepted; RSVP required. Info, 229-6206.
VERMONT TECH JAM: Tech-savvy teens
OCT. 11, FRIDAY, OCT. 12, TUESDAY, OCT. 16, AND SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 7-9 P.M., donations
FALL CAMPFIRE WITH ABENAKI CHIEF DON STEVENS: The Chief of the Nulhegan Band
of the Coosuk-Abenaki Nation shares traditional stories, artifacts, drumming and songs with families around a crackling blaze. Ages 6 and up. Shelburne Farms, FRIDAY, OCT. 12, 6:30-8 P.M., $5-6; preregister. Info, 985-8686. AUTUMN WAGON RIDE WEEKEND: Foliage
enthusiasts of all ages enjoy a narrated horse-drawn tour through a colorful landscape, check out the restored and furnished farmhouse and engage in farmbased activities, including cider pressing. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock,
SATURDAY, OCT. 13, AND SUNDAY, OCT. 14, 10 A.M.-5 P.M., regular museum admission,
$4-16; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.
LEAF PEEPERS BIRD-MONITORING WALK:
Avian enthusiasts with some binocular and birdsong experience check out fall colors while assisting with community science data collection. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, SATURDAY, OCT. 13, 8-10 A.M., donations appreciated. Info, 434-3068. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL BANDING: YOUTH OVERNIGHT: Avian
enthusiasts stay up late with North Branch Nature Center biologists to capture, tag, and release these pint-sized predators. Pizza provided. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, SATURDAY, OCT. 13, 6 P.M., preregister; space is limited. Info, 229-6206. FREE
and their parents make connections at this career and tech expo, with dozens of Vermont’s most innovative companies and organizations, panel discussions, and workshops. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, FRIDAY, OCT. 19, 10 A.M.-6 P.M. Info, 864-5684. FREE
NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK KICK-OFF WEEKEND: Curious families spark their
imagination with surprising experiments, hands-on activities and science shows. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, SATURDAY, OCT. 20, AND SUNDAY, OCT. 21, 10 A.M.-3 P.M., regular museum admission, $11.50-14.50; free for members and children under 3. Info, 864-1848. A WALK IN THE WOODS: WILDLIFE TRACKING:
Expert tracker and longtime UVM instructor, Mike Kessler, leads curious nature lovers on an educational exploration. Ages 6 and up. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, THIRD SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 1-3 P.M., regular museum admission, $3.50-7; free for members and children under 3. Info, 434-2167.
HOMESCHOOLERS DAY: CHEMISTRY AND MATTER: Out-of-classroom learners zoom
in to learn about physical and chemical change and the states of matter. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, TUESDAY, OCT. 23, 10 A.M.-3 P.M., regular museum admission, $13-16; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. MAZE BY MOONLIGHT: Get lost! Using a
flashlight as a guide, visitors search for hidden stations in the Fort’s corn maze after dark. Last ticket sold at 9 p.m. Fort Ticonderoga, FRIDAY, OCT. 26, AND SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 7-10 P.M., $10. Info, 518-585-2821.
5 Friday (cont.) Foodways Fridays: Guests tour the heirloom garden, then watch as veggies make their way into historic recipes prepared in the 1890 farmhouse kitchen, with different menus every Friday. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., regular museum admission, $4-16; free for children under 3. Info, 457-2355.
6 Saturday ADDISON Middlebury Farmers Market: See October 3. Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: See October 2.
CALEDONIA Caledonia Farmers Market: Freshly baked goods, veggies, beef and maple syrup figure prominently in displays of “shop local” options. St. Johnsbury Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 592-3088. Dog Mountain Fall Dog Party: Canine fans celebrate the season with leaf-romping and four-legged fun, with live music by Don & Jenn. Dog Mountain, St Johnsbury, noon-4 p.m. Info, 800-449-2580. FREE Make a Granite Workers Printers Hat: Kids — and adults, too — fabricate an old-fashioned hat while learning about local history and the Vermont Reads book Bread and Roses, Too. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 11 a.m. Info, 472-5948. FREE
CHITTENDEN Birth + Love + Family Festival: Vermont families are celebrated with a full day of kid and adult activities, including a performance by singer/songwriter Myra Flynn, a magic show, mindful parenting with Maris Rose, numerous panel discussions and workshops led by local birth and family experts, yoga, live music, a bounce house, art, and more. Doors reopen at 7 p.m. for Stories On the Road to Becoming a Parent. See website for detailed schedule. Railyard Apothecary, Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., $27; free for children under 18. Bollywood Dance Fun and Fit Kids: Youngsters immerse themselves in an intro workshop of dance and music which combines Bombay and Hollywood. Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m., $25. Info, 825-7597. Burlington Farmers Market: Growers and artisans offer fresh and ready-to-eat foods, crafts and more in a bustling marketplace. Burlington City Hall Park, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 310-5172. James Wakefield Rescue Row: Youth race in a series of heats along the Burlington Waterfront, in commemoration of the heroic 1876 rescue of the General Butler by James Wakefield and his son. Races begin at 10 a.m. Perkins Pier, Burlington, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $25 per participant; free to spectate. Info, 475-2022 ext. 113. Kids Building Workshop: Handy helpers learn do-it-yourself skills and tool safety as they construct seasonal projects. Ages 5-12. Home Depot, Williston, 9 a.m.-noon, preregister at workshops.homedepot.com. Info, 872-0039.
KIDS VT
FREE
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Lil’ Vermonters Consignment Sale: See October 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
SUBMIT YOUR NOVEMBER EVENTS FOR PRINT BY OCTOBER 15 KIDSVT.COM OR CALENDAR@KIDSVT.COM
PTA ield itsf Wa
Play, Laugh, Learn: Little ones explore the library in engaging and interactive activities with Early Learning Specialist Tina Boljevac from Allow Play and Yoga. Ages 5 and under. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:3011:30 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE Read to Cleo The Therapy Dog: Canine and reading enthusiasts visit with a personable pooch. Ages 2-12. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE Shelburne Farmers Market: Musical entertainment adds merriment to this exchange of local fruits, veggies, herbs, crafts, maple syrup and more. Shelburne Village Green, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 482-4279. Smuggs’ Ski & Snowboard Swap: See October 5, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Story Time with Robert Broder: This local author shares his new picture book — a musical story about the sweet satisfaction of wandering — with young listeners. Flying Pig Bookstore, Shelburne, 11 a.m. Info, 985-3999. FREE Storytime at the BCA Center: The Fletcher Free Library hosts a storytime and art activity in Crystal Wagner’s colorful and three-dimensional exhibit. Burlington City Arts, 3-4 p.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE
GRAND ISLE Champlain Islands Farmers Market: Growers, specialty food businesses and artisans sell their high-quality wares. St. Joseph Church, Grand Isle, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. LAMOILLE Spanish Musical Kids: Buenos Aires native Constancia Gomez shares stories, singing, dancing and Latin culture with small ones and caregivers. Ages 5 and under. Varnum Memorial Library, Jeffersonville, 10-11 a.m. Info, 644-2117. FREE Stowe Foliage Arts Festival: See October 5.
RUTLAND Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Rutland Library Book Sale: See October 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
WASHINGTON Capital City Farmers Market: Veggies, honey, maple syrup and more change hands at a celebration of farm-grown food and handmade crafts. Downtown Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 223-2958.
SPONSORED BY:
WINDHAM Newfane Heritage Festival: Rain or shine, an arts and crafts fair spreads through the village, with live music, an outdoor food tent, children’s activities and much more. Newfane Village, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 365-4079. FREE
Nov. 10th, 9 am – 5 pm Nov. 11th, 10 am – 2 pm Waitsfield Elementary School
WINDSOR Family Clay: Children and their parents make memories firing and glazing special pieces. ArtisTree/Purple Crayon, South Pomfret, 10 a.m.-noon, $20 per parentchild pair, $5 each additional child. Info, 457-3500. Harvest Weekend: Visitors help prepare the farm for winter with root veggie harvesting, and celebrate the season’s bounty with a husking bee, 19th-century games and a barn dance from 1-4 p.m. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., regular museum admission, $4-16; free for children under 3; seasonal food and drink available for purchase. Info, 457-2355.
Find new and used winter gear for skiers and riders of all ages. Consignment drop-off: Nov. 9, 4–7pm Waitsfield Elementary School (WES) Pre-register at WES: FIND US Nov. 5–9, 7:45am-3pm 802-496-3643 www.waitsfieldschool.org
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NEW YORK Heritage Harvest & Horse Festival: Equestrian demos of sport and work horses, a fall market in the colorful King’s Garden, family activities including sack races and a visit to the corn maze make for autumn fun. Fort Ticonderoga, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., regular museum admission, $10-22; free for children under 5. Info, 518-585-2821. Plattsburgh Farmers Market: From honey to freshly baked breads, homegrown produce and handmade crafts, folks enjoy live music and family-friendly events. Downtown Plattsburgh, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 518-493-4644.
7 Sunday CHITTENDEN Champlain Valley Buddy Walk: Community members walk to raise awareness and funds for programs benefitting people with Down syndrome and their families. Walk begins at 1 p.m. Battery Park, Burlington, noon-3 p.m., $8 per person, maximum $30 per family; no registration necessary for children under age 10. Info, info@cvsdg.org
OCTOBER 2018
Vermont Reindeer Fall Festival: Little ones meet the real-deal Rudolph and other farm animals. Pony rides, a nature trail and craft fair add to the amusement. Vermont Reindeer Farm, West Charleston, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., $6; lunch available for sale. Info, 754-9583.
Rocktober Fest: The local history of stonecutting is honored through live music, demonstrations, exhibits, hands-on sculpting in multiple materials and participating in traditional games played by the granite cutters and their families, including horseshoes, croquet, bocce and bolo palma. Vermont Granite Museum, Barre, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $3-5, $10 per family. Info, 476-4605.
KIDSVT.COM
ORLEANS Jed’s Maple Products Open House: Folks celebrate the fall flavors of maple, apple and pumpkins with tours of the sugarhouse and maple museum, info about Audubon’s Bird Friendly Maple Program and hot wood-fired pizza. Jed’s Maple Products, Derby, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., maple products and food available for purchase. Info, 766-2700.
See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.
KIDS VT
Essex Open Gym: Energy-filled kids flip, jump and tumble in a state-of-the-art facility. Ages 6 and under, 1 p.m.; ages 7-12, 2:30 p.m.; ages 13 and up, 4 p.m. Regal Gymnastics Academy, Essex, 1-5:30 p.m., $10 per child. Info, 655-3300.
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CALENDAR
OCTOBER 7 Sunday (cont.)
New Parents
Family Concert: Local musicians make a melodious afternoon for library listeners. Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 2 p.m. Info, 899-4962. FREE Family Gym: See October 5.
BOSOM BUDDIES TOO: Nursing mamas of
Smuggs’ Ski & Snowboard Swap: See October 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
toddlers and mobile wee ones socialize and swap supportive stories and advice with peers and professionals. Babies welcome. Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin,
FRANKLIN Highgate Volunteer Fire Department Open House: In celebration of fire prevention week, the station swings open its doors for visitors to check out fire truck tours, safe planning and equipment displays, games for kiddos and community spirit. Highgate Fire Station, 1-4 p.m. FREE
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 5:30-7 P.M.
Info, 371-4415. FREE
EVOLUTION POSTNATAL YOGA: New mamas
tote their pre-crawling kids to an all-levels flowing yoga class focused on bringing the body back to strength and alignment in a relaxed and nurturing environment. Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, SUNDAYS, 12:15-1:30 P.M.,
LAMOILLE Stowe Farmers Market: Live music and agricultural and craft vendors make for a bustling atmosphere. Stowe Farmers Market, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 279-3444.
TUESDAYS, 11 A.M.-12:15 P.M., THURSDAYS, 10:45-11:55 A.M. AND FRIDAYS, 8:15-9:15 A.M. AND NOON-1 P.M., $15 or $130 for a 10-class
pass. Info, 899-0339.
Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, SUNDAYS, 10-11:30 A.M., MONDAYS, 5:45-7 P.M., TUESDAYS, 4:15-5:30 P.M., WEDNESDAYS, 5:45-7 P.M., THURSDAYS, 12:30-1:30 P.M., FRIDAYS, 8:15-9:15 A.M. AND SATURDAYS, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M., $15 or
$130 for 10-class pass. Info, 899-0339.
MOM AND BABY YOGA: Brand-new mamas
and their littles relax, stretch and bond. Followed by a free mothers’ gathering at 11:30 a.m. Embodied, Montpelier, TUESDAYS, 10:30-11:30 A.M., $11. Info, 223-5302.
PRENATAL YOGA: Moms-to-be stretch and bend. Embodied, Montpelier, TUESDAYS, 6-7:15 P.M., $16 per drop-in class. Info,
778-0300.
BURLINGTON EARLY MONTHS INFANT MASSAGE: This mother-infant group
includes baby massage and postpartum new mama support. The Janet S. Munt Family Room, Burlington, WEDNESDAYS, 11 A.M.-NOON. Info, 862-2121. FREE
KIDS VT
OCTOBER 2018 KIDSVT.COM
ESSEX LA LECHE LEAGUE: Moms bring their bitty ones to a discussion of parenting and breastfeeding. Siblings welcome. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, FIRST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 6:30-8 P.M. Info, 899-5490. FREE
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HYDE PARK BABY CHAT: Parents with babies
mingle, learn more about developmental needs and expectations, and have the opportunity to ask questions of a maternal health specialist. Lanpher Memorial Library, Hyde Park, FIRST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10-11:30 A.M. Info, 888-5229.
BURLINGTON LA LECHE LEAGUE: New
moms bring their babies and questions to a breastfeeding support group. Older children welcome. Lending library available. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10:15 A.M. Info, 985-8228. FREE LA LECHE LEAGUE OF THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM: Expectant, novice and
experienced moms join nursing experts for advice and support. Enter through the children’s section of the library. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum,
SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10:30 A.M. Info, 720-272-8841. FREE
Stowe Foliage Arts Festival: See October 5, BABYWEARERS OF CENTRAL VERMONT:
Brand-new mamas and papas check out infant carriers, get advice and spend some socializing time with other new parents. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, SECOND
THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. AND FOURTH MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 5:45-7:45 P.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE
LA LECHE LEAGUE OF CENTRAL VERMONT:
Breastfeeding mamas swap stories and support each other, with a professional available for consultation. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE NURSING BEYOND A YEAR: In a supportive
BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP: Nursing
setting, mothers discuss the joys and challenges of breastfeeding children approaching one-year-old and beyond. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE
FREE
Expectant mamas and their partners learn the basics of breastfeeding, how to get off to the best start with their baby and where to find assistance when needed. Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 4:30-6 P.M., preregister. Info, 371-4415. FREE
mamas (and soon-to-be mothers!) make the most of La Leche League support while socializing with other moms and wee ones. Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, SECOND FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10:30 A.M.-NOON. Info, 281-731-7313. MAMA’S CIRCLE BARRE: This supportive
gathering brings moms of new babies and toddlers together to foster friendship through unique-but-shared experiences. Imagine Yoga, Barre, SECOND FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE MORRISVILLE BABY CHAT: Parents with
babies socialize, learn more about developmental needs and expectations, and have the opportunity to ask questions of a maternal health specialist. Lamoille Family Center, Morrisville, SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10-11:30 A.M. Info, 888-5229. BREASTFEEDING CAFÉ: Mamas nurse their
babies, chat and ask for answers from a certified lactation consultant. Pregnant women, supportive dads and older siblings welcome. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury,
THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 11 A.M.-1 P.M. Info, 236-4136. FREE
BREASTFEEDING FAMILIES GROUP: Nursing
moms (and supportive dads, too!) gather for snacks and advice. Church of the Nazarene, Johnson, THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 11 A.M.-1 P.M. Info, 888-5229. FREE
ELIMINATION COMMUNICATION: Novice
parents pursue advice about this practice where a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues and intuition to address a baby’s need to eliminate waste without using a diaper. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 1-2 P.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE
HOW TO BREASTFEED PRENATAL CLASS:
JOHNSON BABY CHAT: Parents with babies mingle, learn more about developmental needs and expectations, and have the opportunity to ask questions of a maternal health specialist. Church of the Nazarene, Johnson, FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10-11:30 A.M. Info, 888-5229. FREE REFLEXOLOGY FOR PREGNANCY:
Professional Melanie Giangreco shares the benefits of her practice during pregnancy, labor and postpartum with expectant mamas. For adults. Online, Burlington, TUESDAY, OCT. 23, 8 P.M., $20; free for Birth Love Family members; preregister. Info, 373-8060. MOMMY GROUP: Breastfeeding peer counselor Angela Scavo hosts mamas and answers questions in a relaxed setting. Junebug Mother and Child, Middlebury, FOURTH WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-10:30 A.M. Info, 349-9084. FREE
ORLEANS Jed’s Maple Products Open House: See October 6. Vermont Reindeer Fall Festival: See October 6.
WASHINGTON Mad Dash & Kids Fun Run: Outdoor enthusiasts lace up for a 5K, 10K or a shorter course for young athletes, winding along a dirt road with a scenic foliage backdrop. Live music, a silent auction and a raffle furthers fall festivities. Mad River Path, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-noon, $15-35 for 5K and 10K races, includes lunch; free for kids fun run; funds benefit the Mad River Path. Info, 371-9608. Montpelier Fall Festival 5K and Kids Cup: Young athletes ages 3-10 take a one-mile loop at noon, followed by a 5K. Games, food for sale, family activities and a kickball tournament organized by the middle school students furnish more festivities. Montpelier High School, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., no fee for fun run but $25 fundraising requested; $10-25; proceeds benefit Montpelier and Roxbury schools’ students and teachers; preregister. Info, 404-308-0510.
WINDHAM Newfane Heritage Festival: See October 6. WINDSOR Harvest Weekend: See October 6.
8 Monday CHITTENDEN Colchester Preschool Music: Bitty ones dance and sing to a brisk beat. Ages 3-5. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE Crafts for Kids: Clever kiddos pursue artsy projects. Ages 5 and up. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE
ORLEANS Jed’s Maple Products Open House: See October 6.
SUBMIT YOUR NOVEMBER EVENTS FOR PRINT BY OCTOBER 15 KIDSVT.COM OR CALENDAR@KIDSVT.COM
9 Tuesday CALEDONIA Hardwick Lego Club: See October 2. CHITTENDEN Creative Tuesdays: See October 2. Library Elementary Event Planners: Junior helpers prepare snacks and plan projects for younger students. Grades 6-8. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Read to Willy Wonka the Therapy Dog: A certified reading pooch listens patiently to emerging readers. Ages 3-8. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4:15 p.m., preregister. Info, 264-5660. FREE Spanish Musical Kids: See October 2. Winooski Lego Club: See October 2.
WINDSOR Norwich Lego Tuesdays: See October 2. Yoga for Girls: See October 2.
10 Wednesday ADDISON Middlebury Farmers Market: See October 3. CHITTENDEN Dorothy’s List Group for Homeschooled Students: Books nominated for this esteemed award generate group discussion. Grades 4-8. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Family Game Day: See October 3. Green Mountain Book Award Book Discussion for Homeschooled Students: High-school homeschoolers spark lively conversation around award-winning books. Grades 9-12. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Live-Action Role Play: LARPers create characters and plots in an amazing and imaginary adventure. For middle and high school students. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-5 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See October 3.
Yoga for Kids: See October 3. Young Writers & Storytellers: Small ones spin their own yarns. Ages 5-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4-5 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE
CHITTENDEN Colchester Lego Club: See October 4. Milton PJ Story Time: Small tots in jammies snuggle in for stories, songs and crafts. Ages 2-7. Milton Public Library, 6:30 p.m. Info, 893-4644. FREE Monthly Home School Program: Home learners soak up nature-related studies in an outdoor classroom. Parent participation optional. Ages 9-12. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $20-25 per child; preregister. Info, 434-3068. Read With Archie the Therapy Dog: See October 4.
A child-centered alternative education, dedicated to the philosophy and teachings of Maria Montessori.
Now enrolling ages 3-12. *A prequalified, 5 STAR program accepting Act 166/ Universal PreK funding.
FRANKLIN Franklin Lego Thursdays: See October 4. St. Albans Library Legos: Eager architects engage in construction projects with their peers. St. Albans Free Library, 3-5 p.m. Info, 524-1507.
12 Friday CALEDONIA Hardwick Farmers Market: See October 5.
Barre, VT
All inquiries: info@mscvt.org or (802)-479-0912 k8v-MSCVT0917.indd 1
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es Witch WIZARDS, WISHES 8/15/17 k8v-Cochrans1018.indd 3:18 PM 1
October 27th
Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See October 5. Kids’ Night Out: While parents take wellearned time off, kids delight in dinner and fun. Ages 3-12. Greater Burlington YMCA, 6-8:30 p.m., $10-19; preregister. Info, 862-9622.
Richmond Farmers Market: See October 5.
Season Pass Rate $295 Family of any size
9/20/18 4:50 PM
VERMONT TEDDY BEAR FACTORY SHELBURNE, VERMONT
Family Gym: See October 5.
ORANGE Randolph Lego Wednesdays: See October 3.
Sunday Nov 4 10am-2pm
&
Dungeons & Dragons: Players embark on invented adventures, equipped with their problem-solving skills. Grades 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE
Music with Raph: Melody lovers of all ages play and sing. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE
Saturday Nov. 3 8am-4pm
,
CHITTENDEN Champlain College Game Career Exploration Event: High school students and adults interested in exploring a career in the game industry check out this college’s Game Studio, talk to faculty and get questions answered. Ages 14 and up. Champlain College, Burlington, 3:30-6 p.m., preregister. Info, 625-0201. FREE
RUTLAND Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3.
Camel’s Hump School Richmond, VT
CONSIGNMENT FRIDAY NIGHT NOV. 2
Ukulele Kids: See October 4. Williston Preschool Music: See October 4.
SKI & RIDE SALE
a.m.-2 p.m.
5K WALK • COSTUME CONTESTS • FACE PAINTING • KIDS’ ACTIVITIES • VERMONT TEDDY BEAR FACTORY TOURS WELL-BEHAVED, LEASHED DOGS ARE WELCOME!(COSTUMES OPTIONAL) REGISTER: WITCHESANDWIZARDSVT.COM / FOR MORE INFORMATION: 802.864.9393
STEAM Fridays: See October 5.
WASHINGTON Maker Program: See October 3. WINDSOR Woodstock Market on the Green: See October 3.
KIDS VT
A Benefit for
Sponsored by
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FRANKLIN Fit Moms: See October 3.
11 Thursday
www.mscvt.org
KIDSVT.COM
Red Clover Group for Homeschooled Students: Budding book lovers bury themselves in bibliophile activities. Grades K-4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE
See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.
9/19/18 1:31 PM
CALENDAR
OCTOBER
Story Times Early literacy skills get special attention during these read-aloud sessions. Some locations provide additional activities such as music, crafts or foreign-language instruction. Most story times follow the school calendar. Contact the organizers for site-specific details. MONDAY
BARRE CHILDREN’S STORY HOUR: Aldrich Public Library,
10:30 a.m. Info, 476-7550.
COLCHESTER PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Burnham
Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660.
ESSEX DROP-IN STORY TIME:
Essex Free Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Info, 879-0313.
HUNTINGTON STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Huntington
Public Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 434-4583. HYDE PARK STORY TIME:
Lanpher Memorial Library, 6 p.m. Info, 888-4628.
NORTHFIELD CHILDREN’S STORY TIME: Brown Public
Library, 10-11 a.m. Info, 485-4621.
RICHMOND BABY LAP TIME:
Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 434-3036.
ST. ALBANS MOVEMENT & MUSIC STORY HOUR: St. Albans
Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 524-1507. STOWE STORY TIMES FOR 2-3-YEAR-OLDS: Stowe Free
Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 253-6145. WOODSTOCK BABY STORY TIME:
Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 457-2295.
TUESDAY
ALBURGH STORY HOUR:
Alburgh Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 582-9942.
KIDSVT.COM
COLCHESTER TODDLER STORY TIME: Burnham Memorial
Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660.
CRAFTSBURY STORY TIME:
Craftsbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 586-9683. EAST BARRE STORY TIME: East
OCTOBER 2018
Barre Branch Library, 10 a.m. Info, 476-5118.
ESSEX JUNCTION PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Brownell Library,
Wednesdays, 10-10:45 a.m. Info, 878-6956.
ESSEX JUNCTION TODDLER STORY TIME: Brownell Library,
9:10-9:30 a.m. Info, 878-6956.
KIDS VT
FAIRFAX PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Fairfax Community
Library, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Info, 849-2420.
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HINESBURG YOUNGSTERS STORY TIME: Carpenter-Carse
Library, 9:30-10 a.m. Info, 482-2878.
LYNDONVILLE STORY TIME:
Cobleigh Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 626-5475.
MILTON INFANT STORY TIME:
Milton Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Info, 893-4644.
MONTPELIER STORY TIME:
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 223-3338. MORRISVILLE PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Morristown
Centennial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 888-3853.
WILLISTON STORY TIME:
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 878-4918.
WOODSTOCK PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Norman Williams
Public Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 457-2295.
WEDNESDAY
BARNES & NOBLE STORYTIIME:
Barnes & Noble, 11 a.m. Info, 864-8001.
ESSEX JUNCTION PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See Tuesday. HYDE PARK STORY TIME: See
Monday, 10 a.m.
JERICHO STORY HOUR: Jericho
Town Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 899-4686. LYNDONVILLE STORY TIME: See
Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
MARSHFIELD STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Jaquith Public
Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 426-3581. MILTON TODDLER RHYTHM & MOVEMENT STORY TIME:
Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 893-4644.
NORWICH WORD PLAY STORY TIME: Norwich Public Library,
10:30-11 a.m. Info, 649-1184.
QUECHEE STORY TIME:
Quechee Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 295-1232.
SWANTON STORYTIME:
MILTON PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Milton Public Library, 10
WARREN PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: Warren Public
MONTPELIER STORY TIME: See
Swanton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 868-2493.
Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 496-3913.
THURSDAY
BRISTOL STORY TIME:
Lawrence Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 453-2366. HINESBURG YOUNGSTERS STORY TIME: See Tuesday. NORTHFIELD CHILDREN’S STORY TIME: See Monday. RUTLAND STORY TIME: Rutland Free Library, 10-10:45 a.m. Info, 773-1860. ST. ALBANS MOVEMENT & MUSIC STORY HOUR: See
Monday.
ST. ALBANS STORY HOUR: St.
Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 524-1507. VERGENNES STORY TIME: Bixby
Memorial Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 877-2211.
WATERBURY PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Waterbury Public
Library, Oct. 11, 10:15 a.m. Info, 244-7036.
WESTFORD STORY TIME:
Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Info, 748-8291.
STOWE BABY & TODDLER STORY TIME: Stowe Free
Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 253-6145.
WINOOSKI STORY TIME:
Winooski Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 655-6424.
SATURDAY
COLCHESTER SATURDAY DROP-IN STORY TIME:
Burnham Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Info, 264-5660.
ENOSBURG STORY HOUR:
Enosburgh Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Info, 933-2328. ESSEX WEEKEND STORYTIME:
Essex Free Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Info, 879-0313.
MILTON DROP-IN SATURDAY STORYTIME: Milton Public
Bookstore, 10:30 a.m. Info, 476-3114.
BRANDON STORY TIME:
Brandon Free Public Library, 3 p.m. Info, 247-8230. COLCHESTER BABY STORY TIME: Burnham Memorial
Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660.
CRAFTSBURY STORY TIME: See
Tuesday.
ENOSBURG MOMMY & ME STORY HOUR: Enosburgh
Public Library, 9-10 a.m. Info, 933-2328. ESSEX MUSICAL STORY TIME:
Essex Free Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Info, 879-0313.
RICHMOND MOVERS AND SHAKERS STORYTIME:
10-10:30 a.m. Info, 872-7111.
10:30-11 a.m. Info, 728-5073.
ST. JOHNSBURY ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: St. Johnsbury
FRIDAY
KILLINGTON STORYTIME:
STORY TIME AT PHOENIX BOOKS IN ESSEX: Phoenix Books,
RANDOLPH TODDLER STORY TIME: Kimball Public Library,
Library, 10 a.m. Info, 893-4644.
GEORGIA PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Georgia Public Library,
Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 434-3036.
Tuesday.
Westford Public Library, 11 a.m. Info, 878-5639.
RANDOLPH PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Kimball Public Library,
11 a.m. Info, 728-5073.
a.m. Info, 893-4644.
10 a.m. Info, 524-4643.
Sherburne Memorial Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 422-9765. LINCOLN STORY TIME: Lincoln Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 453-2665.
NEXT CHAPTER BOOKSTORE STORY TIME: Next Chapter
STORY TIME AT PHOENIX BOOKS IN BURLINGTON: Phoenix
Books, 11-11:30 a.m. Info, 448-3350.
STORY TIME AT PHOENIX BOOKS IN ESSEX: See Wednesday,
11-11:30 a.m.
SUBMIT YOUR NOVEMBER EVENTS FOR PRINT BY OCTOBER 15 KIDSVT.COM OR CALENDAR@KIDSVT.COM
12 Friday (cont.) Teddy Bear Sleepover: Kids drop off their favorite stuffed friends before 5 p.m. Friday, then return at 10 a.m. the following morning for brunch and a slideshow about their animals’ nighttime adventures. Ages 2-7 with caregiver. Milton Public Library. Info, 893-4644.
ORLEANS Craftsbury Lego Club: See October 5. WINDSOR Foodways Fridays: See October 5.
13 Saturday ADDISON Middlebury Farmers Market: See October 3. Rabble in Arms Weekend: History comes alive in this weekend devoted to demonstrations of camp life, trades and crafts, open-air cooking and an opportunity to step aboard the Gunboat Philadelphia II. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $8-14; free for children under 6. Info, 475-2022.
BENNINGTON Story Time with Tomie dePaola: This legendary author-illustrator presents his contemplative new picture book, Quiet, which reminds young listeners that mindfulness is a very special thing. Ages 2-12. Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Info, 362-2200. FREE CALEDONIA Caledonia Farmers Market: See October 6. CHITTENDEN Burlington Farmers Market: See October 6. Champlain College Fall Open House: Prospective students check out the college’s unique Upside-Down Curriculum and Career Collaborative. Ages 14 and up. Champlain College, Burlington, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., preregister. Info, 625-0201. FREE
Play, Laugh, Learn: See October 6. Shelburne Farmers Market: See October 6.
Teddy Bear Sleepover: See October 12, 10 a.m.
GRAND ISLE Champlain Islands Farmers Market: See October 6. LAMOILLE Spanish Musical Kids: See October 6.
Capital City Farmers Market: See October 6. Kids Trade & Play: Families exchange clean and gently used clothing and toys, sizes newborn to 12. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9:30-11 a.m., $3 per family. Info, 831-337-8632.
WINDSOR Peak to Peak: Fall foliage fans explore Woodstock’s trails with guided hikes to scenic viewpoints on Mount Peg or Mount Tom, with snacks and activities for all ages along the way — or grab a Walk Woodstock map and head out on your own. MarshBillings Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Info, 457-3368. FREE
NEW YORK Plattsburgh Farmers Market: See October 6.
14 Sunday ADDISON Rabble in Arms Weekend: See October 13. CHITTENDEN East Charlotte Tractor Parade: Antique and modern farm vehicles rumble down Spear Street amidst a town party with food, live music, pony rides and children’s games. Spear Street, Charlotte, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, 425-4444. FREE Essex Open Gym: See October 7. Family Gym: See October 5. Harvest Run for Sustainability: Fleet feet romp through farm fields and along dirt roads in a fun run and 5K race followed by family activities, healthy snacks and live music. Proceeds benefit the Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes. Burlington Intervale Center, 1-4 p.m., $5-12, $25 per family, preregister, day-of-race registration slightly higher. Info, 861-9700.
LAMOILLE Stowe Farmers Market: See October 7.
15 Monday CHITTENDEN Colchester Preschool Music: See October 8. Lego Fun: Budding builders bring out the blocks. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-7 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5, 5-7:30 p.m. Williston Preschool Music: See October 4, 11 a.m.
Jason Bishop: Magic & Illusion
Saturday, October 6 at 7pm
RUTLAND Babies & Toddlers Rock: Mini-musicians ages 2 and under sing songs and engage in early literacy activities. Rutland Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 773-1860. FREE
Spooky Silents
A Silent Film Halloween Sunday, October 28 at 5pm
Shimmer: A Cirque Reverie
16 Tuesday
Friday, November 23 at 3pm & 7pm
CALEDONIA Hardwick Lego Club: See October 2. CHITTENDEN Cartooning Club: Kids meet with other kids who are crazy about drawing comics. Grades 3 and up. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Info, 878-4918. FREE
Reduced Shakespeare Company’s
The Ultimate Christmas Show
Saturday, December 15, 7pm National Ballet Theatre of Odessa
Swan Lake
Saturday, January 26 at 7pm
Creative Tuesdays: See October 2. Spanish Musical Kids: See October 2. Teen Advisory Board: Teens take time together and plan projects for the upcoming year. Grades 9 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-3:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Winooski Lego Club: See October 2.
FRANKLIN Homeschoolers’ Project: Breakout Some Math!: Homeschoolers check out the library’s new educational kits to create an interactive game using a story, time limit and puzzle activities with a math theme. Ages 6 and up. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m., preregister. Info, 524-1507. FREE
Step Afrika
Wednesday, February 6 at 7pm
American Girl Live
Wednesday, February 20 at 7pm Thursday, February 21 at 7pm
Le Cirque Esprit: Spirit of the Machine
Thursday, March 28 at 7pm
Under the Street Lamp Saturday, April 13 at 7pm
ORLEANS ‘In Focus: Dislecksia’: Wonder Arts sponsors a showing of Harvey Hubbell V’s upbeat documentary about his experience growing up dyslexic, and his exploration about this “learning difference.” Ages 10 and up. Sterling College, Craftsbury Common, 6:30-8:30 p.m., suggested donation $5. Info, 533-9370. WINDSOR Norwich Lego Tuesdays: See October 2. Yoga for Girls: See October 2.
17 Wednesday CHITTENDEN Family Game Day: See October 3. Mater Christi School Fall Open House: Parents and prospective students interested in this private Catholic school take an informative tour of the elementary and middle school buildings. Mater Christi School, Burlington, 8:30-11 a.m., walk-ins welcome, but preregistration appreciated. Info, 658-3992. FREE Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See October 3. 17 WEDNESDAY, P.42
SprucePeakArts.org 802-760-4634 122 Hourglass Drive, Stowe, VT
« « SAVE 25% «««� On the purchase of 4+ tickets with our Family 4-Pack!
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KIDS VT
RUTLAND Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
WASHINGTON Cabot Apple Pie Festival: In its 19th year, townsfolk sample fruit pastries and lunch fare, check out the pie contest and browse crafts during this sweet event. Cabot School, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 563-3396. FREE
LAMOILLE Navigating Special Education and the Individualized Education Plan: A trained professional instructs parents about special education evaluations, what it takes to qualify for an IEP, how to develop a strong plan, parents’ rights and tips for school meetings. Lamoille Family Center, Morrisville, 6-8 p.m., preregister; childcare provided by request; light dinner served. Info, 888-5229. ext. 149.
OCTOBER 2018
Tag Sale Bliss: Rooms of gently used furniture, rugs, books, boutiques, linens and kitchenware donated by over 200 families delight savvy shoppers. Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne, 9 a.m.-noon. Info, 985-2827. FREE
See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.
KIDSVT.COM
Friends of the South Burlington Library Used Book Sale: Ravenous readers scope out stacks of gently used titles, audiobooks and DVDs. Wheeler Homestead and Garden Park, South Burlington, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 846-4140.
FRANKLIN Stay and Play: Little ones rally for romping in the youth room. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Info, 524-1507. FREE
MAKING FAMILY MAGIC HAPPEN!
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CALENDAR
OCTOBER
17 Wednesday (cont.) Visiting Morning: Pre-K through 8th Grade: Parents of preschool through 8th grade students curious about the Waldorf philosophy tour classes, meet teachers and ask questions. Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne, 8:30-10 a.m., preregister. Info, 985-2827, ext. 212. FREE Yoga for Kids: See October 3. Zine Club: Imaginative youngsters experiment with different writing styles and art techniques to create personal publications. Grade 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE
FRANKLIN Fit Moms: See October 3. RUTLAND Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3. ORANGE Randolph Lego Wednesdays: See October 3. WASHINGTON Maker Program: See October 3, 3-5 p.m.
18 Thursday
Williston Preschool Music: See October 4.
CHITTENDEN Burlington Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up: Families discuss the realities of climate change, what that means on a local level and how to transition to a safer and healthier world. Vegetarian meal and childcare for ages 3 and under provided. Unitarian Universalist Society, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m., RSVP requested. Info, 862-5630. FREE Colchester Lego Club: See October 4. Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Discussion: Little literati chat about DCF pick Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Grades 4-8. Milton Public Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE Halloween Luminaria Workshop: Creative types craft a themed lantern. Ages 10-13. Milton Public Library, 2 p.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE Hinesburg Lego Club: Imaginative kids get creative with colorful blocks. Ages 5-10. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 3-4 p.m., preregister. Info, 482-2878. FREE Read With Archie the Therapy Dog: See October 4. Ukulele Kids: See October 4. Visiting Morning: High School: Students and parents interested in finding out more about the Waldorf philosophy tour classes, meet teachers and ask questions. Lake Champlain Waldorf High School, Shelburne, 8:30-10 a.m., preregister. Info, 985-2827, ext. 212. FREE
Playgroups Kids enjoy fun and games during these informal gettogethers, and caregivers connect with other local parents and peers. The groups are usually free and often include snacks, arts and crafts, or music. Most playgroups follow the school calendar. Contact the organizer for site-specific details. MONDAY
AUDUBON NATURE PLAYGROUP:
OCTOBER 2018 KIDSVT.COM
Audubon Vermont, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 434-3068. BURLINGTON CRAWLERS, WADDLERS AND TODDLERS:
Janet S. Munt Parent-Child Center, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Info, 862-2121. CHARLOTTE PLAYGROUP:
Charlotte Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 425-2771. JERICHO PLAYGROUP: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 899-3932. OPEN GYM: Central VT Gymnastics Academy, Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon, $10. Info, 882-8324.
KIDS VT
ROBIN’S NEST NATURE PLAYGROUP: North Branch
42
Nature Center, 10 a.m.-noon, donations welcome. Info, 229-6206.
TWINFIELD PLAYGROUP:
Twinfield Union School, 8:15-9:45 a.m. Info, 262-3292.
TUESDAY
BRADFORD PLAYGROUP: Grace
United Methodist Church, 9-11 a.m. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24.
BROOKFIELD PLAYGROUP: First
FRANKLIN Franklin Lego Thursdays: See October 4. WASHINGTON AB2: Books Come to Life: This Active BodyActive Brain class, led by literacy professional Rachel O’Donald, combines reading, music and movement. Babies through preschoolers. Waterbury Public Library, 10:15 a.m. Info, 244-7036. FREE
19 Friday CHITTENDEN Baby Time: Families with wee ones socialize, read board books, learn some sign language and play. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9:30-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Edible Haunted Houses: Clever crafters create spooky dwellings of munchable materials. Ages 7-10. Milton Public Library, 2 p.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE Family Gym: See October 5. Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See October 5. One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5. Preschool Yoga with Danielle: Simple movement, stories and songs satisfy children ages 5 and under and their caregivers. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Info, 878-4918. FREE
WINOOSKI PLAYTIME: O’Brien
Community Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 655-1422.
WEDNESDAY
BARRE PLAYGROUP: Aldrich Public Library, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 115. MAMA’S CIRCLE: Good
Beginnings, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 595-7953.
NORTHFIELD PLAYGROUP:
& Family Yoga Center, 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Info, 899-0339. WATERBURY PLAYGROUP:
Thatcher Brook Primary School, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 244-5605.
WILLISTON PLAYTIME: Dorothy
Alling Memorial Library, 11 a.m.-noon. Info, 878-4918.
FRIDAY
ArtisTree/Purple Crayon, 9:3011:30 a.m., donations accepted. Info, 457-3500. RICHMOND PLAYGROUP:
Richmond Free Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 434-3036.
BURLINGTON FATHERS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER: Janet S.
EVOLUTION NEW FAMILY PLAYGROUP: Evolution Prenatal
WAITSFIELD PLAYGROUP: Big Picture Theater, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 115.
PURPLE CRAYON PLAY GROUP:
ST. JOHNSBURY TODDLER TIME:
Charlotte Public Library, 9-9:45 a.m. Info, 425-3864.
UNDERHILL PLAYGROUP:
Underhill Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 899-4676.
WINOOSKI PLAYTIME: See
Congregational Church of Brookfield, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 685-2264.
CHARLOTTE BABYTIME:
John’s Church, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 685-2264.
United Church of Northfield, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 115.
SOUTH ROYALTON PLAYGROUP:
Munt Parent-Child Center, 4-7 p.m. Info, 862-2121.
RANDOLPH PLAYGROUP: St.
United Church on the Green, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 685-2264.
St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Info, 748-1391.
THURSDAY
DADS AND KIDS PLAYGROUP:
Family Center of Washington County, 5:30-7 p.m. Info, 262-3292.
MONTPELIER PLAYGROUP: St.
Augustine Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292.
OHAVI ZEDEK SYNAGOGUE PLAYGROUP: Ohavi Zedek
Synagogue, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Info, 864-0218.
Tuesday.
ALBURGH PLAYGROUP: Alburgh
Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Info, 582-9942.
OPEN GYM: See Monday. RUTLAND PLAYGROUP: Rutland
Free Library, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 773-1860.
SATURDAY
MONTPELIER SATURDAY PLAYGROUP: Family Center of
Washington County, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 190.
Spooky Movie: Young film-lovers have fun with free popcorn and a PG-rated flick featuring three 17th-century witches who are resurrected in modern-day Salem by an unsuspecting boy. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Info, 828-6956. FREE STEAM Fridays: See October 5 Vermont Tech Jam: Tech-savvy teens and their parents talk with local colleges and companies at this career expo organized by Seven Days. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Info, 864-5684. FREE
FRANKLIN Story Time Yoga with Ms. Liza: See October 5. ORLEANS Craftsbury Lego Club: See October 5. WASHINGTON Montpelier Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up: Families discuss the realities of climate change, what that means on a local, state and national level, and how to create a more just and naturefriendly world. Dinner and nature-themed kids’ programming included. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 5:30-7:30 p.m., RSVP requested. Info, 229-0041. FREE WINDSOR Foodways Fridays: See October 5.
20 Saturday ADDISON Fledgling Bird Watching: Bixby Library’s young birders wing it on a field trip to check out area avian life. Pack a snack, water and boots. Ages 6-10. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Addison, 10:30 a.m.-noon, preregister. Info, 877-2211. FREE Middlebury Farmers Market: See October 3.
CALEDONIA Caledonia Farmers Market: See October 6. CHITTENDEN Burlington Farmers Market: See October 6. Family Art Saturday: Families drop in and ignite their imaginations with a current exhibit, then get hands-on with an artistic endeavor. Burlington City Arts, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 865-7166. FREE Free SAT Practice Test: Students engage in a practice test proctored by the library, with scores provided later by the Princeton Review. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., preregister. Info, 878-6956. FREE Play, Laugh, Learn: See October 6. Read to Cleo The Therapy Dog: See October 6. Spanish Musical Playgroup: Rhymes, books and songs en español entertain niños. Ages 5 and under. Non-Spanish speakers welcome. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Info, 878-4918. FREE
FRANKLIN Baby Storytime: New babies are welcomed to the library with nursery rhymes, songs and simple stories. Ages 2 and under with caregivers. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 524-1507. FREE Super Hero & Princess Family Fun Run and Fall Fest: After a costumed 9 a.m. fun run, families have a fling at the festival with tractors, animals to meet and greet, fall-themed crafts and games. Swanton Recreation, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 868-2493.
SUBMIT YOUR NOVEMBER EVENTS FOR PRINT BY OCTOBER 15 KIDSVT.COM OR CALENDAR@KIDSVT.COM GRAND ISLE Champlain Islands Farmers Market: See October 6. LAMOILLE Spanish Musical Kids: See October 6. RUTLAND Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. WASHINGTON Capital City Farmers Market: See October 6. Montpelier Ski and Skate Sale: The Montpelier Recreation Department sponsors a winter-prep sale offering lightly used skiing and boarding equipment. Drop off gear Friday, October 19, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and shop on Saturday. Montpelier High School, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 225-8694.
21 Sunday CHITTENDEN Essex Open Gym: See October 7. Family Gym: See October 5. United Synaogue Youth Escape Room: Kids have a ball munching bagels and solving a puzzle adventure. Grades 5-8. Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Burlington, 11:45 a.m. Info, 864-0218. FREE
22 Monday CHITTENDEN Colchester Preschool Music: See October 8. Crafts for Kids: See October 8. One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5, 5-7:30 p.m. Stories with Kate or Megan: Little listeners learn and laugh. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE Williston Preschool Music: See October 4, 11 a.m.
RUTLAND Babies & Toddlers Rock: See October 15.
23 Tuesday CHITTENDEN Board Games: Families take over the library’s tabletops for an afternoon of fun. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-4 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Drop-In Craft: Halloween Lanterns: Imaginative kiddos of all ages make a magical creation. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Info, 878-4918. FREE
Read to Willy Wonka the Therapy Dog: See October 9. Spanish Musical Kids: See October 2.
WINDSOR Norwich Lego Tuesdays: See October 2. Yoga for Girls: See October 2.
••
financial aid available
Live-Action Role Play: See October 10. Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See October 3. Yoga for Kids: See October 3.
Williston 802-863-4839 bellwetherschool.org k8h-Bellwether0418.indd 1
Wee-Mail!
Young Writers & Storytellers: See October 10.
FRANKLIN Fit Moms: See October 3.
Find information about local events and parenting resources every Thursday in the Kids VT Wee-Mail. Visit kidsvt.com/wee-mail to subscribe today.
RUTLAND Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3. ORANGE Randolph Lego Wednesdays: See October 3. ORLEANS Hands-on Intro to Screenprinting: Artists of all abilities explore the basics of making a stencil and painting on paper and cloth patches. Ages 12 and up. Craftsbury Town Hall, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $15-20, preregister. Info, 533-9370. WASHINGTON Halloween Movies: Spooky flicks amuse the audience. Check jaquithpubliclibrary.org for titles. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 7 p.m. Info, 426-3581. FREE
3/21/18 11:18 AM
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Maker Program: See October 3, 3-5 p.m.
25 Thursday CHITTENDEN Babytime: Infants through pre-walkers have a ball with books, rhymes, songs and socializing. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:15 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE
Fall Open House
Colchester Lego Club: See October 4. Hinesburg Lego Club: See October 18. Read With Archie the Therapy Dog: See October 4. Spooky Stories: Young listeners snuggle together and savor stories of the season shared by Linda Costello. Grades 1 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:15 p.m. Info, 828-6956. FREE Ukulele Kids: See October 4. Williston Preschool Music: See October 4.
FRANKLIN Franklin Lego Thursdays: See October 4. St. Albans Library Legos: See October 11. Trick-or-Treat in the Library: Dressed-up kids drop in for Halloween festivities. St. Albans Free Library, 5-6:30 p.m. Info, 524-1507. FREE
Wednesday, October 17 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.
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KIDS VT
Winooski Lego Club: See October 2.
holistic approach
CHITTENDEN Family Game Day: See October 3.
Tourin g and Enroll ing fo r the 20 18-19 schoo l year
OCTOBER 2018
Creative Tuesdays: See October 2.
preschool •-•6th grade
24 Wednesday
KIDSVT.COM
CALEDONIA Hardwick Lego Club: See October 2.
See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.
43
Planning a kids event? List your event for free in the Kids VT monthy calendar. Submit your info by the 15th of the month online at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com
CALENDAR
OCTOBER
26 Friday ADDISON Author Katherine Arden: Book Party: This local author shares her brand-new middle school novel, Small Spaces, with tricks, treats and a creepy, spooky story. Vermont Bookshop, Middlebury, 5-7 p.m. Info, 388-2061. FREE CHITTENDEN Dungeons & Dragons: See October 12. Family Gym: See October 5. Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See October 5. Music with Raph: See October 12.
calendar
BE THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME...
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Open House Party at Oak Meadow!
KIDSVT.COM OCTOBER 2018 KIDS VT
Ongoing Exhibits
FORT TICONDEROGA Info, 518-585-2821 HEROIC CORN MAZE: Get lost! Families navigate their way through a giant puzzle in the shape of this historic fort while searching for history clues among the stalks. Regular museum admission, $10-24; free for children under 5. Fall weekends through October 21.
• Network with other independent learners
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WINDSOR Foodways Fridays: See October 5.
In a celebration of lifelong play, visitors of all ages unleash their imaginations building life-sized worlds with giant blue blocks, swimming and soaring beside virtual wildlife, and inventing contraptions in the museum’s maker space. Regular museum admission, $11.50-14.50; free for children under 3. Through January 6.
• Browse our curriculum and meet our teachers
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ORLEANS Craftsbury Lego Club: See October 5.
INNOVATION PLAYGROUND V2.0 EXHIBIT:
School not working out? Try Oak Meadow, an accredited educational option for K-12 homeschooling and distance learning. Join us on Oct. 13 to:
oakmeadow.com
STEAM Fridays: See October 5.
ECHO LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN Info, 864-1848
Sat Oct 13, 11 am to 1 pm 132 Main St/Brooks House Brattleboro, VT
• Have fun making cra�ts and enjoy local Vermont treats
One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5.
Become a Guardian ad Litem, a trained, court-appointed community volunteer who looks out for the best interests of a child.
VOLUNTEER TODAY! Call 1-800-622-6359 or visit vermontjudiciary.org/GAL 9/27/18 k6v-StateofVTJudiciary0818.indd 3:34 PM 1
7/10/18 11:26 AM
THE GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE Info, 748-1399 GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: A 24-acre maze of maize lures labyrinth lovers. If possible, arrive before 1 p.m. to solve the puzzle without clues. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; open until 4:30 p.m. on weekends. Through October 14. HELEN DAY ART CENTER Info, 253-8358 ‘EXPOSED’: National and local outdoor sculpture of all sizes and shapes spreads through the town of Stowe. Through October 20. FREE
27 Saturday ADDISON CALEDONIA Caledonia Farmers Market: See October 6. CHITTENDEN Burlington Farmers Market: See October 6. Champlain College Fall Open House: See October 13. Come Play: Launching Oakledge for All: Celebrate the first installment of the region’s first universally accessible playground. Enjoy live music with Mr. Chris, play on new swings and a glider, and fuel up with tasty treats. Oakledge Park, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Info, oakledgeforall.org. FREE Family Fun Afternoon: Cookies, crafts, costumes, cocoa and a cartoon are the theme for this all-ages community afternoon celebrating Dia de los Muertos. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, noon-2:30 p.m. Info, 482-2878. FREE
MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE Info, 649-2200 MAKING MUSIC: Families explore the inner workings of all things musical — from cellos to electronic synthesizers — play and make instruments, and engage with multimedia exhibits which share stories of musicians, scientists and craftspeople, highlighting traditional and new practices, techniques and materials. Regular museum admission, $13-16; free for children under 2. Through May 15. PECK FARM ORCHARD Info, 249-1223 PECK FARM ORCHARD CORN MAZE:
Festive fall families have fun on the farm with a leafy puzzle, PYO apples and pumpkins, and free weekend hayrides. $5. Through October 30.
SHELBURNE MUSEUM Info, 985-3346, ext. 3395 PLAYING COWBOY: The formative ways turn-of-the-century performing and visual arts mythologized cowboys and villainized Indians is investigated through popular forms of mass media and entertainment, including dime novels, live stage performances, traveling exhibitions, illustrations, paintings and sculpture. Regular museum admission, $8-25; free for members and children under 5. Through October 21. SPOTLIGHT GALLERY Info, 828-3291 MACAULAY IN MONTPELIER: SELECTED DRAWINGS AND SKETCHES: Author/
illustrator of the famous The Way Things Work exhibits art from eight of his books, offering a glimpse of his “draw ’til you drop” creative process through preliminary sketches and finished art, from 1982 to 2010. Through November 2. FREE
SUBMIT YOUR NOVEMBER EVENTS FOR PRINT BY OCTOBER 15 KIDSVT.COM OR CALENDAR@KIDSVT.COM Halloween Story Time: Costumed kiddos soak up spooky stories, get creative with crafts and partake in a parade through the library. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 878-6955. FREE Morning Magic: Prospective families at this nature-based early education program gather for homemade bread, circle time and lantern making. Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne, 10-11:30 a.m., RSVP. Info, 985-2827, ext. 212. FREE Movie at the Library: The big screen shows a family-friendly feature. Milton Public Library, 1 p.m. Info, 893-4644. FREE Play, Laugh, Learn: See October 6.
Halloween Kid’s Craft: Creative kiddos drop in and construct seasonal crafts. St. Albans Free Library, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 524-1507. FREE
LAMOILLE Spanish Musical Kids: See October 6. RUTLAND Rutland Farmers Market: See October 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. WASHINGTON Capital City Farmers Market: See October 6. EarthWalk Fall Community Day: Pumpkin carving, fire by friction, wild food and tea tasting, earth-oven pizza and seasonal stories celebrate community and nature. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All ages. EarthWalk Vermont, Plainfield, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., suggested donation $5 per person, $15 per family. Info, 454-8500.
28 Sunday CHITTENDEN Essex Open Gym: See October 7. Family Gym: See October 5.
Creative Tuesdays: See October 2. Halloween Party: Ghoulish games, crafts and treats rock this costumed holiday. For families with children ages 10 and under. Milton Public Library, 3:30-5 p.m., preregister. Info, 893-4644. FREE
WINDSOR Norwich Lego Tuesdays: See October 2. Yoga for Girls: See October 2.
31 Wednesday HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Find more spooky activities on P.34! CHITTENDEN Family Game Day: See October 3. Halloween Face Painting: Teen volunteers match younger ones’ faces to their costumes in preparation for trick-or-treating. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-5 p.m. Info, 878-6955. FREE Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See October 3.
Visit GreenMountainTrainingCenter.com for more information
WASHINGTON Halloween Movies: See October 24. Maker Program: See October 3.
FREESTYLE, PARKOUR AND NINJA WARRIOR TRAINING! Visit us at the Kids VT Camp Fair in February!
KIDS VT
Say you saw it in
OCTOBER 2018
CALEDONIA Hardwick Lego Club: See October 2.
GYMNASTICS, FREESTYLE, PARKOUR, AND NINJA WARRIOR
Yoga for Kids: See October 3.
ORANGE Randolph Lego Wednesdays: See October 3.
30 Tuesday
9/26/18 10:42 AM
Winooski Lego Club: See October 2.
One-on-One Tutoring: See October 5, 5-7:30 p.m.
RUTLAND Babies & Toddlers Rock: See October 15.
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Spanish Musical Kids: See October 2.
FRANKLIN Fit Moms: See October 3.
Williston Preschool Music: See October 4, 11 a.m.
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Karaoke Party: Musical kids make merry with the library’s new machine. Grades 4 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-4 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE
CHITTENDEN Colchester Preschool Music: See October 8.
Stories with Kate or Megan: See October 22.
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29 Monday
CHITTENDEN Burlington Circle of Parents for Adoptive & Guardianship Families: Moms and dads come together to socialize about their parenting experiences and strengthen skills. Childcare and dinner included without fee. Howard Center, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m., preregister. Info, 864-7467. FREE
P: URBAN ARROW
FRANKLIN Fairfield Trunk or Treat: Family-friendly festivities for kiddos in costume include games, snacks and trick or treating. Bent Northrop Memorial Library, Fairfield, 3-5 p.m. Info, 827-3945. FREE
See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.
260 Avenue D, Suite 30 • Williston (off Industrial Ave.) • 802-652-2454 k6h-GMTC0218.indd 1
260 Avenue D, Suite 30 • Williston (off Industrial Ave.) • 802-652-2454
1/24/18 10:38 AM
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P R E S E N T S
1 DAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 10 A.M.-6 P.M. • FREE ONLY! CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPO, ESSEX JUNCTION
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CALENDAR
PUZZLE PAGE ANSWERS
SEE “JUST FOR KIDS” SECTION FOR PUZZLES
OCTOBER 2018 KIDS VT
I spent June preparing. I set up rides to school with my daughter’s classmates. I scheduled my mom and my brother’s family to help with childcare. I made pancakes and chili in bulk and froze them. I asked coworkers to donate prepared meals. When my flight to New York departed in July, Poppy was attending a morning yoga camp. That week, a neighbor dad picked her up every afternoon, fed her and watched our girls until a family member came to get her. Those neighbors gave her the closest thing to a vacation she’d get all summer. My operation, meanwhile, went smoothly, but the five-day hospital stay afterward was miserable. I had to ring a nurse for everything: if I dropped my book, if I had to take my meds or if I wanted my food tray taken away. Parents are equipped to fix things, not to ask for help and accompaniment to go potty. I worried about how it would feel to be incapacitated in front of my daughter and how I would manage everyday tasks and duties. But on day three of my hospital stay, I received
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After our time apart, she wanted nothing more than to be close to me.
a glimmering message of hope from my bucolic Essex Junction neighborhood, 300 miles away. I had just finished throwing up and was waiting for an IV drip, when I checked my email. My neighborhood friend had shared 200 photos with me. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I flicked through photo after photo. There she was, my cornsilk-blond, giggling daughter, eyes bright, running around in a swimsuit, hammering nails into a bug house, swapping sneakers with her newest best friend. A video showed her and two friends, all in leotards, doing an interpretive dance. She was not only fine, she was great. I was going to be fine. Maybe even great. At two weeks post-op, Poppy moved back home. I’d been managing at home for six days at that point, with some assistance from friends, and felt ready. She quickly adapted to curling up in the nook my knees made on the sunporch couch, where I lay most days, hooked up to an ice and compression machine. We colored together. We watched movies and TV shows. After our time apart, she wanted nothing more than to be close to me. I discovered that by having to do exactly nothing, I was doing exactly what she needed: being present. Sharing close spaces with her. Being constantly available to her. Friends and relatives continued to help with meals, cleanup, bedtime and driving. One night, a friend let Poppy make macaroni and cheese. I’d never let her near a boiling pot of water but he — a professional manny in a previous life — just gave her a few safety tips and let her have at it. At last count, 27 people have helped me, in little and big ways, since I came home from New York. They have made it clear to me that I am not alone raising my child. The surgery eased the pain in my hip, but it also gave me something of greater value. It nourished the bonds that were already surrounding me. All I had to do was ask for help. K
OFF. FINE. FALL. GIRL.
them into the hip joint, and it could delay the need for hip replacement for up to 10 years. The doctor suggested I try this experimental, yet safer, technique. The post-op protocol seemed like a deal breaker, though. With a fake hip I’d be walking in days; with this procedure, I’d be on crutches for a month. I would not be allowed to drive for six weeks. My surgeon suggested that someone else care for my daughter for a month. He clearly doesn’t know any single parents, I thought. But that chiropractor’s question kept plaguing me. In what myriad of ways was my daughter already suffering alongside me? So I decided to go for it.
KIDSVT.COM
his summer, I stumbled upon a surprising discovery: My major hip operation — and the arduous recovery that followed — had a positive impact on my 5-year-old daughter, Poppy. I’d struggled with leg pain all my life, but a year after Poppy’s birth, when I was 34, the sharp pain in my hip became excruciating. I visited a world-renowned hip specialist in New York City, who finally diagnosed me correctly: I was born with hip dysplasia, a genetic condition in which the hip socket doesn’t fully cover the ball portion of the thigh bone. My pain and physical indicators had been misdiagnosed and misunderstood for years. The specialist told me I needed a hip replacement. My reaction was one that I imagine most people with a 1-year-old would have had: Heck, no. But last spring, when the course of hip injections I’d been following for years stopped giving me relief, a heart-to-heart with a chiropractor persuaded me to reconsider. “How much more of your child’s life are you willing to miss out on because of your pain?” he asked me. This question forced me to confront the brutal truth of how much my pain had changed me as a mother. How I’d stopped carrying my daughter on my hip at 14 months, when she began walking. How bath time had to be kept short, because it hurt to sit on a low stool next to the tub. How my outsized reactions to her sneaky efforts to dodge bedtime and get into my room were not about her behavior, but rather a response to the roaring pain I was feeling. She deserved more. Still, I resisted. Poppy was too young for me to be so limited in my functions during the recovery process, I thought. Plus, I’m a single parent, responsible for the bulk of her care. But that conversation did prompt me to schedule a consultation with another surgeon, in New York City. I learned that, in the four years since I’d initially sought help, a new procedure had been developed. It entailed drawing high-potency stem cells from abdomen fat and injecting
RIDDLE ANSWER:
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Becoming a professional soccer player was his — GOAL IN LIFE.
How a major surgery taught me what my daughter needed
Planning a kids’ event?
A CLOCKWORK PUMPKIN
Parent as Patient
ANSWER: In order to jam all that other stuff inside, the pumpkin watch weighs as much as a real pumpkin. Frankly, the whole idea is cuckoo!
USE YOUR WORDS BY J E S S WI S L OS KI
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