Kids VT, September 2013 by Kids VT

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SEPT 2013 V OL.20 NO.8

Why age 7 is the right time to see an orthodontist. While your child’s teeth might appear to be straight, there may actually be a problem that needs to be evaluated by an orthodontist. If you recognize any of the following issues with your child, please schedule a check-up with your local orthodontist. It may be one of the most important actions you can take to ensure your child’s healthy and happy smile. • • • • • • • • •

Early or late loss of baby teeth Difficulty in chewing or biting Mouth breathing Jaws that shift or make sounds Speech difficulties Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth Facial imbalance Grinding or clenching of the teeth Thumb or finger sucking

Orthodontists are specialists in straightening teeth and aligning your bite. They have two to three years of education beyond dental school. So they’re experts at helping you and your child get a great smile—that feels great, too.

ORTHODONTICS

DRS. PETERSON, RYAN & EATON

Braces for Children & Adults — www.champlainortho.net

ST. ALBANS OFFICE

94 South Main Street • 527-7100 k4t-ChamplainOrtho0913.indd 1

WILLISTON OFFICE

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277 Blair Park Road • 878-5323

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JOIN THE VERMONT YOUTH ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION

DAY CAMP

for its 50th anniversary season. Program

Braces for Children and for Adults openings students who have at least

Burlington Willistonone year St. Albans of experience on an instrument. 862-6721 878-5323 527-7100 Vocalists entering 3rd grade and above are www.champlainortho.net

welcome. Enrollment is still open. Students perform at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and the Elley-Long Music Center at St. Michael’s College.

Kids VT

september 2013

kidsvt.com

CALLING ALL

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DISCOVER

VOL.20 N O. 8

Your Own Inspired Path to Learning

SEPTEMBER 2013 DEPARTMENTS From the Kids VT Staff ............................................5 Readers Respond .......................................................6 Coloring Contest Winners .................................7 Birthday Club..................................................................52 Use Your Words: Essay ..........................................55

WE BELIEVE all children

School Choices ........................................... 18

EAT. LEARN. PLAY

Why we love our “failing” school

The Kids Beat ..................................................................8 Ask Dr. First: Childhood Obesity ....................10 Fit Families: Tennis ...................................................11 The Librarian Likes ....................................................11 Out to Eat: Bluebird Barbecue ........................13 Go Ask Dad: Favorite Kids Books...................14 The Art of Circus .........................................................17

CALENDAR Daily Listings ..................................................................27 Classes ..................................................................................28 Story Times ......................................................................32 Playgroups ........................................................................39 Ongoing Exhibits ........................................................40

The Lunch Box Diaries ................. 22

HANDS-ON Book-Review Winners ...........................................47 Project: Framed Chalkboard ..............................49 Book Review Contest ..............................................50 Habitat: Super-Cool Preschool .......................51 Puzzle Page ......................................................................52 Coloring Contest .........................................................53

Back-to-school tips from a Vermont food blogger

High school students will find opportunities for

ON THE COVER

Q dual enrollment Q advanced study Q life experience credit Q travel and summer programs

Artist Jeff Drew designed our back-to-school cover. It’s a modern interpretation of Norman Rockwell’s “Schoolboy Gazing Out Window,” a painting which appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post in 1922.

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS Colby Roberts Cathy Resmer Don Eggert Carolyn Fox Corey Grenier Kaitlin Montgomery

colby@kidsvt.com cathy@kidsvt.com don@kidsvt.com carolyn@kidsvt.com corey@kidsvt.com kaitlin@kidsvt.com

ext. 77 ext. 74 ext. 71 ext. 73 ext. 76 ext. 72

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.

• •

Photographers: Matthew Thorsen, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

oakmeadow.com 802-251-7250

Illustrators: Mark Armstrong, Jeff Drew, Rev. Diane Sullivan

Published 11x per year. Circulation: 25,000 at 400+ locations throughout northern and central Vermont.

Contributing Writers: Megan James, Alice Levitt, Suzanne Loring, Cypress Marrs, Christy Mihaly, Cindy Morgan, Ken Picard, Sarah Tuff

KIDS VT

Editorial 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.

SEPTEMBER 2013

P.O. Box 1184 Burlington, VT 05402 802-985-5482 kidsvt.com

Copy Editor Paula Routly Proofreaders Meredith Coeyman Hayley Lamberson Production Manager John James Lead Designer Brooke Bousquet Designers Aaron Shrewsbury Rev. Diane Sullivan Circulation Managers Steve Hadeka Matt Weiner Digital Media Manager Tyler Machado Office Manager Cheryl Brownell

Visit Oak Meadow’s website or call to speak with an Educational Counselor to learn more about how students in grades K-12 can explore their interests, develop their talents, and discover their own inspired path to learning.

KIDSVT.COM

Copublisher Copublisher/Executive Editor Creative Director Managing Editor Marketing & Events Manager Account Executive

deserve an education that nurtures confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning. Our carefully crafted homeschooling curriculum is infused with imagination and heart. Use it independently or through our fully accredited distance learning school that offers expert teacher support and official school records.

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Shelburne Farms

A n 3 5 th nua l

HARVEST FESTIVAL

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V ERMONT F ARMS , F ORESTS , & F U UTURE

Saturday  SEPTEMBER

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Forest, Farm & Traditional Arts Exhibits & Demonstrations  Children’s Activities  Children’s Farmyard  Locally Produced Food  Wagon Rides by Green Mountain Draft Horse Association & Green Mountain Miniature Horse & Donkey Association  Haybale Maze and more ...  Burlington Morris Ale  Jim Burns and Forrest Newton  Celtic Company  Tony Demarco and Siobhan Butler  Gary Dulabaum  Fiddleheads  Jon Gailmor  The Irregulars  Tim Jennings and Leanne Ponder  Jeunes musiciens du monde  Ed Larkin Old Time Dancers  Pete Sutherland and Rose Diamond  Bob and Andrea Teer Very Merry Theatre (featuring Anything Goes) ADMISSION: Adults $8  Children $5  Children under 3 & Members Free INFORMATION: 985-8686 or www.shelburnefarms.org DIRECTIONS: FOLLOW SIGNS FROM RTE. 7 1611 Harbor Road  Shelburne, VT RAIN OR SHINE  Please no pets  ATM ON PREMISIS

SpecialSpecial thanksthanks to our to lead oursponsor lead sponsor DEALER.COM  AND ✷ TO: AND TO: We’re Much More Than Tents!

to Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary SpecialSpecial thanksthanks also toalso Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary

Kids VT

september 2013

kidsvt.com

PERFORMANCES BY:

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B-Tru Dance

Lots to Learn

CLASSES START SEPT. 9TH MONDAY 3:15-4pm Hip Hop ages 4-7 4-5pm Lyrical ages 7-9 5-6pm Girls Hip Hop ages 7-9

courtesy of cathy resmer

As kids All Across the stAte return to their classrooms, it’s an appropriate time to think about education — hence this back-to-school issue of Kids VT. But a good education is about more than academics. One of my favorite things about going back to school as a kid was seeing my friends again. My grade school and school friends reunion with kids in michigan high school classmates have Levitt interviews the author of the blog been some of the most important people Lunches Fit for a Kid (page 22) to find in my life. In many ways, they’ve shaped out how she creates meals that are nutrithe adult I’ve become. tious, easy to make and fun to eat. I’m still in touch with many of them, Physical fitness is also key. After readthough we live hundreds of miles apart. ing Sarah Tuff’s “Fit Families” (“Family This summer, my family and I traveled Court,” page 11), I’m thinking about to Detroit to spend time with my oldest signing my kids up for tennis. Circus friend, Celeste, who I met in preschool. camp is also an option: See Megan James’ Celeste and I don’t talk as much as “Art Of” (page 17). we used to, but over the past 35 years, Of course, homeschooling parents we’ve shared so much — hopes, fears, births, deaths, marriages — that it doesn’t face the daunting prospect of having to tackle all those challenges and manage matter. When we do connect, we pick up their kids’ education. Writer Christy where we left off. Mihaly explains how — and why — she That said, our lives are very different homeschooled her daughter for a year now. I doubt we’d even know each other in this month’s “Use Your Words” essay if we hadn’t shared the same classroom (page 55). years ago. Though education is important, so is I want my own kids to have friendkicking back and having a good time; lots ships like that, even if it means ocof events and activities in these pages casionally driving them to playdates will help you and your family do just in other towns. I find myself doing that that. You’ll find the Kids VT staff at the more and more as some of their friends Kids Hop, part of Burlington’s South End leave Winooski for towns with “better” Art Hop, on Saturday, September 7. And schools. I wrote about the exodus this we’ll be at the Shelburne Farms Harvest month in “School Choices” (page 18). It’s Festival on September 21. Stop by and a bummer to see those families go, but I say hi! hope we can stay in touch. Or drop us a line and let us know Good nutrition is another prerequisite how you’re surviving the back-to-school for educational success; kids can’t season. We love hearing from you. learn unless they’re eating right. This issue of Kids VT offers some help in Cathy ResmeR, that department. Food writer Alice exeCutive editoR

Suzanne Loring (“Go Ask Dad”) is the program director of the Children’s Literacy Foundation. She lives in Bolton Valley with her husband, Gribbin, and two young boys, Tucker and Max.

2013-2014 Enroll now to save your spot!

*Optional performance Nov. 23 at Vermont Dance Festival.

Professional Hip Hop & Modern Dancer / B-girl: Daniella Vardakas Duszko

Hip Hop Yoga Dance Teacher Training starts Oct. 18th

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1899 MOUNTAIN ROAD, STOWE 802.253.4411 PIECASSO.COM

KIDS MENU KIDS CAESAR SALAD

CHICKEN TENDERS

HUMMUS & VEGGIES

Chopped romaine, Caesar dressing, parmesan cheese. $4 add all-natural grilled chicken $3

Free-range chicken tenders. Served with hand-cut fries or side salad or steamed broccoli. $6

House made lemon-garlic hummus served with veggies for dipping. $5

KIDS MIXED GREEN SALAD

HAMBURGER OR CHEESEBURGER

Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, choice of Ranch or Balsamic. $4 add all-natural grilled chicken $3

Local all-natural beef. Served with hand-cut fries or side salad or steamed broccoli. $6.50

Fresh baked dough wrapped with mozzarella, herbs & choice of pepperoni or broccoli. $5

EDDIE SPAGHETTI

FRUIT & CHEDDAR CHEESE CUBES

Made with marinara or butter. $5 add 2 meatballs for $1.50

PERSONAL PIE FOR KIDS Comes with cheese & choice of 1 topping. $6 add additional toppings for $.75

Chef’s selection of fresh fruit & cheddar cheese cubes. $6

PIECASSO’S LASAGNA Made with beef & pork, marinara sauce, fresh basil, layered with ricotta & mozzarella cheese. $7

PIZZA ROLL

GRILLED CHEESE Texas toast with cheddar & american cheese, served with hand-cut fries or side salad or steamed broccoli. $5 add tomato for $.75 add bacon or ham for $1.75

kids Vt

Christy Mihaly (“Use Your Words”) is a lawyer who recently took up nonlegal writing. After living in Spain with her family for a year, she’s glad to be back home in Montpelier, where she enjoys walking her dog in Hubbard Park and learning to play the cello.

Fall | Winter

THURSDAY 3:15-4pm Creative Ballet ages 4-6 4-5pm Boys Breakin ages 7-15 8:30-9:30pm Teen/Adult Hip Hop Belly Dance Hall*

september 2013

Alice Levitt (“The Lunch Box Diaries”) is a Seven Days food writer. Her favorite school meal growing up in Connecticut was a mystery-meat dish called “Chicken Roundup.” She lives in South Burlington.

WEDNESDAY 3:45-4:45 Tween/Teen Lyrical ages 10-15* 4:45-5:45 Teen/Adult Hip Hop ages 10-15*

kidsVt.com

Some of this month’s Kids VT contributors:

TUESDAY 3:15-4pm Tween/Teen Yoga ages 8-15 5-6pm Teen/Adult Hip Hop*

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7/24/13 2:15 PM

see and say

First-Day Flashbacks

Readers Respond Day-cation Inspiration

Our back-to-school theme inspired Kids VT staff and contributors to share photos and memories of their first day of school. See more at kidsvt.com.

Natural Attraction

“I was terrified of school buses! Luckily, I lived down the street from my elementary school and was able to walk there. I got over my fear by the time I had to take the bus in middle school.” Managing editor Carolyn Fox, 1991 So glad I saw this article [“Vermont Day-cations: Culture & Nature,” August 2013] ... I brought my little one to Rock of Ages. It was a great time. Tip for parents: Make sure to use the restroom before getting on the bus. I didn’t even think about it and had to wander away from the group for my little man to use a tree, so we missed part of the information being given. Bekah Gwozdz Cambridge

“I’m wondering why my sister got a real lunch box while I got a measly paper bag? You can tell from the way I’m holding it how much I love lunch. Still do.”

This is awesome [“Families Out and About: Communing With Nature,” Kids VT blog, August 2013]. My 3-year-old loves the Williston playground, but we have never been on the [Allen Brook] Nature Trail. Time to check it out! Lisa Sholk Waterbury

Copy editor Paula Routly, 1965

“Having just moved from England to Ohio with my family, I was very excited for my first day of kindergarten at an American school! Unfortunately, my British accent was not a hit among my classmates and was gone by Christmas.”

Got a comment? Email us at feedback@kidsvt.com.

Contests & Events Win a 2014 Vermont State Parks pass

Contributor Sarah Tuff, 1977

Kids VT

september 2013

kidsvt.com

South End Art Hop’s Kids Hop Kids VT will have a table at the South End Art Hop’s Kids Hop on Saturday, September 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in a tent behind Burlington’s Maltex Building on Pine Street. Stop by for arts-and-crafts fun, giveaways and children’s entertainment.

Shelburne Farms Harvest Festival Come get your face painted with Kids VT! This annual celebration, also featuring children’s activities, horse-drawn hayrides and farmfresh food, takes place on Saturday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Shelburne Farms.

Best of the Kids VT Blog Families Out & About: Slip Slidin’ the Day Away By A l is on N ovak

An indoor water park isn’t the most logical destination on a gorgeous summer day. But on a recent Sunday, spurred by my 6-year-old’s incessant begging, my family made the hour-and-a-half trek north to the Pump House Indoor Waterpark at Jay Peak Resort. We’d been to the Pump House several times before, but only as an antidote to cabin fever in the dead of winter. Without a blanket of thick snow, the resort was easier to navigate. And the mild weather meant no jarring transition from winter boots and coats to bathing suits. It also meant fewer crowds, as we happily discovered upon entering the building around 11 a.m...

Finish reading this travelogue at kidsvt.com.

courtesy alison novak

Leave a comment on any story, blog post or listing on our website and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a 2014 Vermont State Parks pass. Never left a comment on our site? Go to kidsvt.com and click “register” in the top right-hand corner to create a user profile. The deadline to enter is September 20.

“I loved school but dreaded having my mom braid my hair every morning. This photo shows the aftermath of trying to give myself a haircut; it was the only time I had bangs in my life.” Account executive Kaitlin Montgomery, 1987

“My two best friends and I walked to Poultney Elementary School past the office of our local newspaper, the Area News. The editor took this photo and we were in the next issue. The news clipping may still be on the fridge of at least one of our mothers.” Lead designer Brooke Bousquet, 1982

COLORING CONTEST

These winners get $25 gift cards to Creative Habitat in Burlington and free framing of their artwork for its Kids Gallery.

Nine-year-old Jade Mitchell of Williamstown wrote “We love fish” on her Coloring Contest entry. Our feeling exactly; we loved seeing all of your aquatic artistry. We netted 100 submissions this month and can’t wait to “sea” what you send us next!

HONORABLE MENTIONS A+ ARTWORK “Back to School” Liza Cahill, 12, Williston

4 and under

“Rainbow Water” Evie Pirie, 4 TOPSHAM

BEAUTIFUL BLUNDER “Boo-Boo Fish” Ember Miel Byers, 3, Montpelier COOL COLORATION “Pink-Eye, Purple-Lips Fish” Phoebe Ziegerhofer, 4, Jeffersonville

“I really enjoyed my elementary school experience — the walk to the bus, recess on the playground, even classes. My teachers all seemed to use storytelling, humor and kindness to deliver their message.” Copublisher Colby Roberts, 1980

EXCELLENT ESCAPE ARTIST “He’ll Never Find Me! This Is Not My Hat!” Sarah Block, 8, Rutland FABULOUS FISH OUT OF WATER “Rainbow Sky-Fish” Hazel Dority, 8, Fairfield FLASHY FLOUNDER “Jazzy Joe” Natasha Lambert, 12, Swanton GLISTENING GUPPY “Shimmer Fish” Emma Lowry, 9, Burlington GREAT GOATEE “Patriotic Fish With Beard” Jack Austin, 8, Essex

Other recent web exclusives:

5 to 8

“Colorful Starry Fish” Nithya Bellomkonda, 7 MONTPELIER

INSPIRED INVESTIGATOR “Fishy the Detective” Raghav Dhandi, 8, Montpelier RAINBOW ROYALTY “King of the Fish” Maggie Leuschner, 7, Hinesburg

KIDSVT.COM

SILLIEST SWIMMER “Clown Fish” Eva Goodwin, 9, Middlesex SMARTEST SCHOOL “Fishy Stream” Addie Yandell, 4, Essex

TOP TITLES “MCGILLS” Noah Cueto, 12, St. Albans “SWIM, FISH, SWIM!” Nora Austin, 6, Essex

Find this month’s coloring contest on page 53. The deadline for submissions is September 15.

“The Polka Dot Princess” Gracie Gardner, 9 BURLINGTON

9 to 12

KIDS VT

Family-Friendly Winners of the Seven Daysies Awards: Last month, Seven Days — the Vermont independent newsweekly that owns Kids VT — announced the winners of its 2013 Guide to Readers’ Picks. We rounded up the family-friendly victors.

SEPTEMBER 2013

Home Cookin’: Carrot Cake With CreamCheese Icing: Want your kids to eat more vegetables? Managing editor Carolyn Fox shared her recipe for a cake that’s loaded with carrots but still tastes sweet.

THE Providing Providing aa mixed-aged, developmental developmental program for program for children - 12 children 33-12 years of age. age. years of

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EDUCATION

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BEAT

No parents want to see a “D” on their child’s report card. But that’s the grade Vermont scored in the NATIONAL REPORT CARD ON STATE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL LITERACY IN HIGH SCHOOLS, released this summer by Champlain College’s Center for Financial Literacy. In fact, “Just 40 percent of states were given grades that you would want your children to bring home from school: grades A or B,” states the report. “In too many of our states, our youth receive little, if any, personal finance training in middle school, high school and college.” That could change, though, as Vermont and other states align with the Common Core State Standards, which require students to think about real-world math. The report asks: “What’s more real than creating a budget, getting a credit card, applying for a loan and saving for retirement?”

1/9/13 3:38 PM

1/15/13 9:35 AMNATIONAL REPORT CARD ON STATE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL LITERACY

IN HIGH SCHOOLS: Read the full report at champlain.edu/centers-of-excellence/ center-for-financial-literacy/report-making-the-grade.

2013-2014 Class Schedule

ARTS

Getting Creative The annual Colors of the Kingdom Festival sweeps through St. Johnsbury on September 21 with a parade, craft fair and street entertainment. But there’s even more to celebrate this year: the grand opening of OUTBACK ARTSPACE. Owned and operated by Catamount Arts, the building is the catalyst for “an ambitious new arts education program focused on children in grades K through 8,” writes arts education coordinator Anne Campbell. After school, on weekends and during school vacations the space will offer classes in visual art, crafts, music, dance, theater, media and creative writing. Want in on the arts action? Conga drumming, storytelling and family weaving workshops are on the fall schedule.

Vermont’s only certified

Irish Dance School! KIDSVT.COM

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KIDS VT

Did you enjoy watching Riverdance? Why not learn some of the steps!

SEPTEMBER 2013

All Ages…All Levels

Classes offered in Williston & Middlebury

Beth Anne McFadden T.C.R.G. (802) 999-5041 www.mcfaddenirishdance.com

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OUTBACK ARTSPACE: Grand opening on Saturday, September 21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at 107 Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury. Visit catamountarts.org for more information.

8/22/13 2:53 PM

Tracey Campbell Pearson

BURLINGTON BOOK FESTIVAL FAMILIES AT PHOENIX SERIES: Saturday, September 21, noon-5 p.m., at Phoenix Books Burlington. Visit burlingtonbookfestival.com for more information.

EAT. LEARN. PLAY.

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Buying lunch at school doesn’t have to mean eating pizza or chicken • Full-time, part-time, temp, nuggets. That’s the theme of NEW event, and sitter services SCHOOL CUISINE: NUTRITIOUS AND SEASONAL RECIPES FOR SCHOOL COOKS BY SCHOOL COOKS, a new cookbook from Vermont FEED, the Vermont Agency of Education and the School Nutrition Association of VerAsk us about our mont. It features 80 recipes for dishes after-school including braised greens and beans, nannies and kale chips, quinoa salad, and cold blueberry soup. Vermont school cooks developed all the offerings, which have been tested by local students — www.babiestoboomersvt.com as well as the New England Culinary 802-540-0433 Institute. With a strong emphasis on local ingredients, the dishes also meet new U.S. Department of Agriculture dietary guidelines. In fact, every New1 Exhibit! 8/15/13 USDA Child Nutrition Program in thek8v-BabiestoBoomers0913.indd country will receive a copy, as will all Vermont schools.

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NEW SCHOOL CUISINE: NUTRITIOUS AND SEASONAL RECIPES FOR SCHOOL COOKS BY SCHOOL COOKS: The book will be available for free online in early October. Visit vtfeed.org for more information.

WORDS

Book Bonanza

Voices of whales ﬁll the Boatshop as Museum staﬀ and volunteers build a whaleboat for Mystic Seaport’s whaleship Charles W. Morgan. Come watch - and meet the whales!

Archaeology Month

Help for the Hungry

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KIDS VT

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN MOBILEPACK: Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19, at Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School in Essex and Mount Abraham Union High School in Bristol. Visit withlovefromvermont.com for more information.

Saturday Special Programs Check our online calendar of events See a Shipwreck without getting wet! Meet an Archaeologist in the Conservation Lab

SEPTEMBER 2013

Last fall, more than 700 Vermonters packed up nine-and-a-half tons of food for hungry children in Ghana. When the volunteers completed their two-hour shifts, they asked, “Is that it? Can we do more?” recalls Fred Kenney, president of local nonprofit With Love From Vermont. So the donation goals have doubled for this year’s FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN MOBILEPACK, held in Essex and Bristol in October. Raising awareness about local and global hunger, the event aims to send 272,000 meals around the world and 1500 pounds of nonperishable food to the Vermont FoodBank. Want to get your family involved? Register online to volunteer. “A family can work together side by side packing the food,” says Kenney. “It’s a great event.”

KIDSVT.COM

Vermont has more writers per capita than any other state — and dozens of them come together with lit-lovin’ audiences at the ninth annual BURLINGTON BOOK FESTIVAL. This year, Phoenix Books Burlington hosts a full afternoon exclusively geared toward the state’s littlest literati. Stories of trick-or-treating monkeys, an elephant learning the alphabet and the inventor of hip-hop highlight the FAMILIES AT PHOENIX SERIES. The varied lineup features readings by esteemed authors Marilyn Webb Neagley, Brian D. Cohen, Eileen Christelow, Laban Carrick Hill and Tracey Campbell Pearson. “It’s set up in a very accessible, friendly fashion so you can wander in and out,” notes festival founder and director Rick Kisonak. Write on.

COMMUNITY

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LAST MonTH BRougHT SoMe RARe gooD neWS about childhood obesity. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that obesity rates among low-income preschoolers dropped in 19 states for the first time ever. Vermont was not among them, in part because the state’s percentage of overweight kids is already relatively low: 12.9 percent. Still, childhood obesity remains a serious problem with potentially long-term consequences. This month, Dr. Lewis First, head of pediatrics at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care, has the skinny on healthy dietary and exercise habits that can last a lifetime.

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KIDS VT: How serious is childhood obesity? LEWIS FIRST: What we’re seeing now is a national epidemic, where one in three kids between the ages of 2 and 19 in the United States is considered obese. If you’re obese as a teenager, you’re about 16 times more likely to remain obese into adulthood.

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KVT: How do we define obesity? LF: It’s measured by what we call the body mass index, which is based on your child’s height and weight. Your child’s health care provider should 11:38 AMcalculate this. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that a child’s BMI be measured at every wellness visit after age 2 to detect any signs of a child becoming overweight.

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KVT: Why is measuring the BMI so important? LF: We now know that everything from high blood pressure to high cholesterol to what’s now called Type 2 diabetes — it was once called adult-onset diabetes — is occurring in school-age and adolescent children. That didn’t happen years ago. In addition, overweight children can develop problems in their joints and bones, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. Down the road, children who are overweight or obese are at heightened risk for heart failure, stroke and serious cardiovascular disease. Psychologically, these kids are more prone to being bullied, which can lead to low self-esteem, depression and increased risk of substance abuse. KVT: How much of our weight is genetic? LF: While genetics do play a part, genetic and hormonal disorders that can result in children being overweight represent only 2 percent of the total number of kids considered obese.

8/21/13 12:25 PM

KVT: So what are the true culprits of weight gain? LF: It’s diet, sedentary behavior and the choices people make about how active they are. KVT: What can parents do to keep their kids’ BMI in a healthy range? LF: When a family member is obese, their weight loss is more successful when the family works on the problem together. At the national level, Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign pro-

Children should have zero sugary drinks, including sodas, juices and sweetened sports drinks. motes healthier schools, more affordable and healthier meals, more physical activity, and families making better choices. Let’s Move recommends a “five, two, one, zero” prescription. KVT: What does that mean? LF: First, a child needs to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Second, limit a child’s recreational screen time — including TVs, computers and handheld electronics — to two hours or less per day. Third, a child should engage in at least one hour of physical activity daily. Even babies and toddlers should be active at least 15 minutes of every hour they’re awake. Finally, children should have zero sugary drinks, including sodas, juices and sweetened sports drinks.

Got questions for Dr. First? Send them to ideas@kidsvt.com.

KVT: What bad practices should we drop? LF: Oversize portions, especially at fastfood restaurants, are one problem — and the fact that more than 80 percent of parents take their kids to a fast-food restaurant at least once a week. The portion size of meat or protein should be about the size of your palm, and the amount of condiments should be no bigger than the size of the top of your thumb. Also, the idea that a child must clean his or her plate before leaving the table contributes to overeating. KVT: Does breast-feeding babies affect their weight later in life? LF: Yes. Breast-feeding has been associated with preventing excess weight gain. It’s felt that breast-fed babies are better able to control their intake and follow their own internal hunger cues versus those who are given a fixed quantity of milk or formula in a bottle. It’s believed that breast-fed babies develop a better sense of when they’re full. KVT: What food myths should we dispel? LF: Be very careful of fad diets, especially for children and adolescents. These can result in all sorts of metabolic changes and can be very hazardous to a young person’s health. There is no magical diet that’s going to “fix” your child. There’s also a myth that, if you’re bigger, you need to eat more to stay healthy. Not true.

Finally, no matter what size your children are, love them for who they are inside and do all you can to build their self-esteem. Blaming anyone for being overweight is the wrong approach. This is something we all have to work on together. K

To calculate your child’s body mass index, visit letsmove.gov/obesity.

EAT. LEARN. PLAY. ✱ FIT FAMILIES

B Y SARA H T UFF

Family Court

MATHHEW THORSEN

Kids learn the QuickStart program at Burlington’s Roosevelt Park

THE TIMING OF WIMBLEDON and the U.S. Open suggests tennis is a summer sport, but empty courts and cooling temperatures make fall an ideal time for Vermont families to pick up their rackets.

GET ON THE COURT:

The Edge follows the QuickStart program in its fall-semester tennis program for juniors. Visit edgevt.com or call 658-0002 for details.

Why you’ll like it: Glory Be captures the simple pleasures of summer through a child’s eyes, while reminding us that there comes a time in everyone’s life when things get a bit more complicated. Glory is an empowering character who will make young readers feel like they can do anything. This wonderful work of historical fiction has been nominated for a Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award and is a musthave for schools and libraries.

“The Librarian Likes” features a different librarian and book each month. Got an idea for a future “LL”? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

KIDS VT

“Fit Families” is a monthly feature that offers easy and affordable ways to stay active. Got an idea for a future “FF”? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

Grattan’s summary: It’s the summer of 1964 in Hanging Moss, Miss. For Gloriana June Hemphill, better known as Glory, summer is all about backyard baseball games with her best friend, Frankie; reading Nancy Drew books; playing junk poker with her older sister, Jesslyn; and spending time at the Hanging Moss Community Pool, where she plans to hold her 12th birthday party on the Fourth of July. This year, though, everyone else has other LIBRARIAN: concerns. Lindsay Grattan, When Fletcher Memorial Glory learns Library that the segregated BOOK: Glory pool is at the Be by Augusta center of a Scattergood fierce debate, her summer AGE RANGE: becomes a 8 and up mission to open the minds and hearts of the people in her racially divided town.

SEPTEMBER 2013

Kids on the Ball has clinics during school hours at all Burlington elementary schools, and after school at the Edge on Eastwood Drive in South Burlington. For more information, visit kingstreetcenter.org or call 862-6736.

✱ THE LIBRARIAN LIKES

KIDSVT.COM

My own children, ages 5 and 6, are just starting to make contact with the ball. But they’re no Venus and Serena Williams. Can such little kids actually learn to play tennis? Well, yes — thanks in part to QuickStart Tennis. The program, launched in 2008 by the United States Tennis Association, aims to make the sport accessible to a much wider cross-section of the population. Forget white tennis togs and stuffy clubs. Specifically designed to get more kids ages 10 and under into the game, QuickStart begins by making sure tennis equipment is sized down for younger players. Think shorter and lighter

rackets, easier for small hands to grip; foam or low-compression balls for a less intimidating bounce; and a smaller court. Shorter matches allow for simpler scoring. Also called 10 and Under Tennis, QuickStart has “revolutionized” the game for younger kids, says longtime Burlington instructor Jake Agna. He puts the program into practice at the King Street Youth Center’s Kids on the Ball program, which he founded 12 years ago. Agna’s junior programs at the Edge in South Burlington accept players as young as 4 and put the focus on the kids, not the rulebook. “I try not to get them thinking too much,” he says. Instead, he aims to teach young kids the “basic square” of aligning the feet so that they run parallel to the sidelines, which sets them up for success in later years. “You’ll see it when they’re 12 or 13 that they started off really smoothly,” says Agna. Little tennis tykes can also benefit from a simple counting game called Numbers, in which they try to hit the ball over the net 10 or 20 times in a row. “It’s amazing how they can get better because they see what causes the ball to go over the net versus into the net,” says Agna. “It’s a self-discovery about the arc swing.” When kids see what works, they can be rewarded; Agna gives out Life Savers candies as players improve. Once kids are 6 or 7, says Agna, they should be ready to play a game. My kids aren’t there yet. But in the backyard, we’ve begun playing Numbers for M&Ms. I may need to switch to a healthier reward, though — on our most recent attempt, my daughter easily racked up six before nailing me in the crotch with one particularly hard-hit ball. I’m happy to see her beginning to grasp the game while having more fun than I did as a kid during stricter lessons with adult-oriented equipment. If I have to collect a few bruises in the process, I’m OK with that.

kidsvt.com september 2013 Kids VT

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8/23/13 9:50 AM

EAT. LEARN. PLAY. ✱ OUT TO EAT BY C IN DY M O RGAN

Bluebird Barbecue 317 Riverside Ave., Burlington, 448-3070

Esme Olsen eats catfish sticks for dinner at Bluebird Barbecue

Bluebird’s are the best kid portions anywhere. sauces: Kansas City-style tomato-based “red,” Carolina-style apple vinegar, Memphis-style maple and from-scratch ketchup. We couldn’t resist starting off with some southern-comfort appetizers. My son got the smoked wings with Scotch bonnet sauce. My daughter ordered a basket of hushpuppies, and my husband and I tried the cornbread. The wings were a four-napkin, two-wet-wipe affair that my son deemed “different ... but really good.” Not so the hushpuppies. My daughter and I found them dry and tasteless — “like hard balls of fried corn bread,” in her words. My husband appreciated the savory cornbread loaves with their serious pork

And then there was the kids menu, which included mac and cheese, a pulled-pork slider, a smoked-chicken quesadilla and catfish sticks. Each entrée was listed for $5 to $7 and came with a choice of one side. After we made our final choices, the meals arrived on cute metal baking trays covered with parchment paper. Still sporting some Scotch bonnet sauce, my son tucked into his half rack of ribs with great gusto. He immediately declared them, and the restaurant, fantastic. “We can come back here, right?” he asked. His side of mac and cheese was creamy enough to have been Velveeta-based, but I later found out it was made with Cabot’s American cheese. My daughter’s pulled-pork slider from the kids menu was generously sized and came with a large serving of fries — plenty of food for a hungry 11-year-old. The shredded pork was smoky and tender. It was the perfect canvas for her to sample each of the barbecue sauces. Bluebird’s are the best kid portions anywhere. My blackened catfish was cooked just right and intensely spiced — and delicious for it. The accompanying chewy and bland red rice was a miss, though. My husband enjoyed his lean and flavorful pork sausage, as well as his pit beans with cooked pork, which he found both smoky and salty. The kids gobbled up the traditional slice of white sandwich bread that came with it. After our smoked-meat gluttony, no one could fathom dessert — something that rarely happens when we dine out. Next time we come for Kids Eat Free Tuesday, we’ll skip the hushpuppies and cornbread and save room for a Rookie’s Root Beer float or slice of pecan pie. MATTHEW THORSEN

MY KIDS ARE 11, and when we go out to eat these days, they usually skip the chicken fingers and French fries on the kids menu and go straight for the adult fare. Their increasingly refined palates please me — until we get the bill. Which is why we went to Burlington’s Bluebird Barbecue on a recent Tuesday night: Kids under 12 eat free from the kids menu with the purchase of an adult entrée. And there wasn’t a chicken finger in sight. At 5:45 p.m., we were able to snag a table on the screened-in patio with a view through the woods to the Winooski River. The vibe at Bluebird is upscale barbecue joint: The vinyl tablecloths are more Martha Stewart than roadside dive. The cheap condiment squeeze bottles are filled with gourmet, housemade

undertones, but I prefer mine sweeter and cakier. These were fine, but definitely needed honey — lots of honey, in my opinion. Choosing main courses involved a great deal of deliberation. Did we want fried chicken and waffles? Pulled pork from the restaurant’s wood smokehouse? Baby back ribs? TOTAL BILL FOR FOUR: $94.41 KID-FRIENDLY AMENITIES: four high chairs; two booster seats; coloring supplies

FLYNNSPACE 13/14

“Out to Eat” is a monthly family-friendly restaurant review. Where should we eat next? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

KIDSVT.COM SEPTEMBER 2013 KIDS VT

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Q GO ask dad

Early Childhood Programs designed specifically for the developmental needs of children.

Monday - Friday 7:00 am to 5:30 pm for children ages 6 weeks - Pre-K

Full-time and part-time openings Richmond 434-3891

What’s your favorite story to read aloud to your kids? Liam Griffin

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bolton Valley

Berlin 229-2869

burlington

Owner/fOunder, event cOnsuLtinG

prOGram cOOrdinatOr,

cOmpany superGOOdthinGmaker

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Son Milo, 3

PlaycareED Apr10.indd 1

My favorite books to read to Milo are Down by Jim Long’s Stage and One Wonderful Fine Day for a Sculpin Named Sam, both by Al Pittman. Al wrote these stories because there were no children’s books about Newfoundland, where I grew up. Al was a good friend of my dad and godfather, and it was a good friend of my mother who illustrated Sam. My folks gave me both of the copies I now own. Reading them to Milo creates a great connection to my home country and reminds me of when my dad read these same stories to me. With my family living far away, this is a great way to show Milo where his family is from. We’re always trying to educate him about that, and these books are a fun way to do it.

12/13/10 6:05 PM

mike chiareLLa essex directOr Of OperatiOns, richmOnd rescue

Son Matthew, 3; daughter Caroline, 1

kidsvt.cOm septeMber 2013 kids vt

Having a daughter, I really like books with strong, smart female characters. I think the stories that stick out the most are The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch and Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan. In Willow, the main character is a girl who breaks the mold and is a great model for standing up for what you believe. I also love any of the Magic Tree House books. Not only are they interesting for me to read because of the historical content, but there’s a strong female character, Annie, who is bold, outgoing and insightful. Throughout each of the books in the series, she works closely with her brother to show the importance of teamwork, which is great. My daughter loves these books because they’re fun.

I try to choose books that allow me to put on a show, like The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon scieszka.

mark GuiLmette Monkton after-saLes services, mammut spOrts GrOup

Daughters Piper, 8, and Hazel, 6

I don’t have a favorite book. Most recently, Matthew has We have books everywhere. I been on a Richard Scarry kick, so we’ve been build a bookshelf and it gets filled; I could reading a lot of Cars and Trucks and Things build another bookshelf and it would be filled. That Go. Scarry’s illustrations are so detailed My family goes to two different libraries and mark GuiLmette and it’s especially fun to look at his construcchecks out the maximum number of books. Our tion sites and machinery. It’s really interesting goal is to saturate the house with books and let to see how Matthew is able to relate the the girls read as much as they can. pictures to the real world. So, since we have such a variety of books coming in and We’ve been working on finding the character Goldbug going out of the house, I very seldom read a book aloud on each page, but it can be challenging. Matthew has more than once. I know it doesn’t usually happen that way, started spotting him in a lot of the other Scarry books, as but for us it does. well, so that’s fun. When I do read aloud — usually to my younger Caroline tends to have a shorter attention span with daughter, as my older daughter likes to read to us or by books, being only 1. Any of the lift-the-flap or peek-a-boo herself — I try to choose books that allow me to put on a books seem to grab her attention and hold it. They’re show, like The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon interactive and give her something to do, even if she doesn’t Scieszka. K grasp all the concepts just yet. — IntervIews compIled and condensed by suzanne lorIng

Say you saw it in

k6v-OnionRiverKids0913.indd 1

Daughter Mica, 5; son Joseph, 2

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8/21/13 12:47 PM

“Go Ask Dad” is a monthly feature in which we ask fathers to answer a question. Got a question or a pop you’d like to hear from? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com. 5/25/12 9:40 AM

facebook.com/VHEIP

A bright future for them. Tax advantages for you.

Open a VHEIP 529 college savings account today.

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Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, or just someone interested in saving for a child’s future, a Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan (VHEIP) account is an easy, low-cost way to get started. It’s the only 529 college savings plan that qualifies for a Vermont income tax credit. You can open an account online or over the phone, for as little as $25. Visit vheip.org or call 1-800-637-5860 to learn more.

September 2013 Kids VT

The Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan (VHEIP) is administered by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC), and managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, ConsiderPlan the investment risks, and expenses investing in the VHEIP 529 college savings plan. The Vermont Higher Education Inc. Investment (VHEIP) is objectives, administered bycharges the Vermont Student before Assistance Corporation (VSAC), and managed by Please visit www.vheip.org for aConsider Plan Disclosure Bookletobjectives, with this and more information. Read itbefore carefully. Investments in the 529 PlanCollege are neither insured TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. the investment risks, charges and expenses investing in the VHEIP Savings Plan.nor guaranteed and there is the of investment Thewith tax information contained hereinRead is notit intended be used, and cannot byinsured any taxpayer Please visit www.vheip.org for risk a Plan Disclosure loss. Booklet this and more information. carefully. to Investments in the Plan be areused, neither nor for the purpose of avoiding taxofpenalties. Taxpayers should seek advice from an herein independent tax advisor on and theircannot own particular The guaranteed and there is the risk investment loss. The tax information contained is not intended to based be used, be used,circumstances. by any taxpayer Facebook page istax managed by Taxpayers VSAC. forVHEIP the purpose of avoiding penalties. should seek advice from an independent tax advisor based on their own particular circumstances. The C9602 VHEIP Facebook page is managed by VSAC. C9602

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SEPTEMBER 2013

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eAt. LeArN. PLAy.

Q the art oF

Circus

By megAN jA mes

“It’s a lot about practicing,” he told me. “You can learn the technique of riding very easily, but it’s just constantly practicing, riding and riding, and getting a feel for what it is.” When it comes to circus arts, honing technical skills such as acrobatics, aerials, juggling and clowning is key. So is learning to engage an audience and improvise. In a performance class, for example, campers might imitate different animals or dance as if the floor were on fire.

courtesy of circus smirkus

The world is wackier at Circus Smirkus — and that’s the point.

learning how to juggle at Circus Smirkus

Where was my brother before he was in your belly? Why don’t you go ask dad? Q go ask dad (page 14) is a monthly feature that asks fathers to answer a question. Want to suggest a topic? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com

Working together as a team is paramount, offered assistant camp director Mary Blouin Auffert. “[Circus is] a wonderful marriage of art and athletic stuff, so you have to depend on one another a lot in order to make stuff happen,” she said. Campers may be focused on stilt walking and backflips, but there’s more8v-Kvt_GAD_brother.indd to Smirkus than circus. “Kids can come here and feel safe to be themselves,” said Rose, “to try out a different version of themselves, try new things without feeling like they’re going to be judged.” K

8/23/13 10:15 AM

Vermont Skating Academy

Clowning around circus smirkus offers one-day to two-week school residencies and after-school programs throughout the year. Visit smirkus.org for more information. Want to create your own clown act at home? circus smirkus offers tips on its website for making a clown costume: “Put a pillow in your pants to make a big tummy or bottom. sew big buttons or colorful patches onto old clothes.” combine any of the following and voilà! • Oversize or extra-short pants • Suspenders • Bow tie See page 33 for information on free kids circus classes at New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro.

Skating Director, Jillian Frascoia

Our programs are open to children of all ages. Registration Schedule: Wed. Sept. 18 6:15-7:15 p.m. 8 Week Session

Children’s Lessons

Wed., Thur. & Fri. Adult Lessons, Sun. 5:45 - 6:45 pm Ice skate rentals available

essexrink.com

kidS Vt

• Fuzzy slippers or an adult’s shoes

A Basic Skills Skating Badge Program at the Essex Skating Facility

sePtemBer 2013

The world is wackier at Circus Smirkus — and that’s the point. The day I visited, camp director Megan Rose was wearing bear ears. It was Wild Wednesday, which is the day after Tutu Tuesday, so counselors and campers sported animal-themed clothes and accessories. “It’s perfectly normal to wear weird things on your head,” Rose said. Also normal here: Unicyclists spinning, rolling and occasionally tumbling on a patch of pavement near the parking lot. Inside one of the four brightly colored circus tents, kids dangled and twirled from long swaths of fabric. Another tent was filled with equipment — stilts, mini trampolines, a Chinese pole — and kids learning to do an acrobatic trick called a two-high. “It’s standing on each other,” explained Rose. This was the advanced session, for which campers age 12 to 18 have to audition. But acrobatic skills aren’t all that matters when it comes to camp admission. Said Rose, “It’s based on attitude and answering questions like ‘What does respect mean?’ ‘Are you willing to work hard?’” Zach Ellis is. The 13-year-old camper from New York has been perfecting his unicycling skills over the last two years.

Yes, honey?

kidSVt.CoM

Sixteen-year-old Mariah Fraker waved her hands wildly as she described the moment seven years ago when she realized she wanted to be a circus performer. She was a fourth grader, hanging upside down from monkey bars with a friend. “We were like, ‘I wonder what trapeze is like,’” recalled the Washington, D.C., resident in hot pink sneakers and bright yellow shorts over spandex pants printed with neon images of Las Vegas. “‘I wonder if there’s such a thing as circus camp.’” Turns out, there is: It’s Vermont’s Circus Smirkus, and Fraker has attended every summer since. “This is my favorite place in the world,” she said as she took a break from clowning and juggling at the final camp session of the summer at Burke Mountain Academy. “It goes circus camp and then Las Vegas, and that says a lot.” Circus Smirkus began in a 200-yearold farmhouse in Greensboro. Since 1990, it has offered one- and two-week summer camps, as well as a two-day starter camp, for kids ages 5 to 18. The group’s main event is the two-monthlong Big Top Tour, for which kids audition each summer; this year’s tour wrapped up in mid-August.

Mom!

878-1394

“The Art of” spotlights creative skills that enrich kids’ lives. Got a class or teacher to recommend? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com. k8v-VTSkating0913.indd 1

8/20/13 11:30 AM

SCHOOL

CHOICES Why we love our “failing” school BY CATHY RESMER

KIDS VT

SEPTEMBER 2013

KIDSVT.COM

inooski has a great reputation when it comes to live music and trendy restaurants. People often refer to it as “Burlington’s Brooklyn.” But you don’t hear much praise for Winooski’s public schools. The general consensus is that they’re “bad.” My partner, Ann-Elise, and I have lived in the Onion City since 2003. Our son, Graham, is 7; our daughter, Ivy, just turned 5. We hear negative comments about the schools all the time — at cocktail parties, backyard barbecues, family gatherings. At city hall years ago, a municipal employee even tried to convince AnnElise to send Graham to the Catholic school up the street. He would be “safe” there, she said, implying that he was at risk in Winooski’s public schools. This, understandably, freaked us out. Where you send your kids to school is one of the most important decisions you make as a parent, and we didn’t want to screw this one up. That anxiety is partly to blame for all the young families leaving our city for South Burlington, Essex and Williston — we’ve known at least three families with little kids who

have mentioned this explicitly as a reason for moving elsewhere. “We have a PR problem,” concedes school board member Tori Cleiland, whose daughter, Anna, is a fourth grader; her younger daughter, Eliza, starts kindergarten this fall. When you tell people that you have kids in Winooski schools, Cleiland says, “They kind of look at you like you’re a

statewide average in reading and math. The high school scores were even lower. On paper, it would seem that Winooski schools are some of the worst in Vermont. But Ann-Elise and I don’t buy it. After researching the school and getting to know other parents, we decided to send Graham to Winooski’s

On paper, it would seem that Winooski schools are some of the worst in Vermont. bad parent: ‘Why in the world would you send your kid to that school?’” At the root of this bad rep are Winooski’s student scores on the New England Common Assessment Program, the primary standardized measurement of school performance. Winooski students from third through eighth grade who took the NECAP earlier this year scored a depressing 14 to 19 percentage points below the

JFK Elementary School. Now both of our kids are enrolled there. Graham is in second grade; Ivy is in kindergarten. After two years in the system, we think Winooski’s elementary school is actually pretty great; the test scores simply don’t tell the whole story. Graham loves school. He’s had fantastic teachers. He’s testing at above grade level. So far, Ann-Elise and I would give JFK an “A.”

We’re not alone — there are other active, engaged parents like us who are excited about JFK. Cleiland has been in Winooski as long as we have. When Anna was about to enter kindergarten, in 2009, Cleiland and her husband had the option of enrolling her at Williston Central School, where Cleiland worked as a special educator. The differences between Williston and Winooski are stark: for starters, Census data in recent years shows that the median household income in Williston is about $97,000; in Winooski, it’s roughly $45,000. Cleiland found the atmosphere of the two schools to be “completely different ... It was like walking into a cathedral versus walking into a 1950s grocery store.” Winooski had an unappealing air of “old industrialness,” she says. But Cleiland stuck it out, in part because Winooski offers something Williston doesn’t: diversity. Just 61 percent of JFK students are white; it’s truly a multi-ethnic, multi-racial environment. Seventy-eight percent of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, which means it’s socio-economically diverse, as well. About 27 percent of the students at JFK are in the English Language

mark armstrong

kidsvt.com

the school at first. “I was worried,” she recalls, before she enrolled her daughter in kindergarten at JFK. “I was scared.” But she says she’s appreciated the way the teachers and administrators have accommodated Linden, who is testing above grade level. “What’s school choices, p. 20 »

mixed student body is a plus. “From a personal standpoint, from my own history,” she says, the school’s diversity is “amazing.” It’s important to Arica Bronz, too. Her daughter, Linden, is in fifth grade; her son, Jonah, is starting kindergarden. Most of Linden’s friends are of other races and from other cultures. Bronz was somewhat wary of

Kids VT

the questions. Not surprisingly, that results in lower test scores. The same goes for children struggling with poverty. Schools all over the state are failing to meet the needs of kids in those two areas, and Winooski has more of those students than most Vermont districts. For Cleiland, who grew up in Georgia in the 1970s, the school’s

September 2013

Learner program. They’re immigrants and refugees from countries all over the world, which creates an atmosphere of cross-cultural exchange. Such opportunities aren’t measured by the NECAP — at least not in a positive way. Students who may not speak English yet have to take the same tests as their native-born classmates, even if they can’t understand

School Choices

CONTINUED FROM P. 19

welder, have lived in Winooski for years, but haven’t gotten to know many people until now. She says she was “totally thrilled” with the “nonthreatening” atmosphere of the school community. “I just love the fact that I can go in there and get to know everybody,” she says. One of the ways Simone has gotten involved is through the newly formed Parents and Community Together with Schools, or PACTS — AnnElise is also part of the group. Members helped organize a new welcome-toschool barbecue for incoming kindergarteners in June 2012. Last April, some of them, including Simone, helped organize a Spring Into the Arts event, which brought student artists out into the community. There definitely seems to be an active group of involved parents at the elementary school level. Another positive development: Last

ILLUSTRATIONS: MARK ARMSTRONG

been great for us is how they’ve met her,” she says. Bronz points out that the staff has been very flexible whenever her daughter has expressed interest in programs outside the normal curriculum. Last year, they let the fourth grader practice violin twice a week with the high school orchestra. This year, Linden will spend one day a week at an alternative, outdooreducation program called Crow’s Path; we’re sending Graham there, too. Kate Simone has had a similar experience with her son, Leo, a first grader. We met them because Leo was in Graham’s reading group last year. He’s a year younger than Graham, but his kindergarten teacher moved him up into a more advanced group of older kids. “I think Leo had a great time,” says Simone. A senior editor/production specialist for Burlington’s Tetra Tech ARD, Simone says she’s also enjoyed being involved at the school. She and her husband, Justin, a

KIDS VT

SEPTEMBER 2013

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What About Winooski Middle-High School? I spoke with many parents for this story, all of whom were uniformly happy with JFK Elementary School. But almost all of them expressed concern about Winooski’s combination middle-high school. Winooski Middle-High School’s 2012 NECAP scores were even lower than JFK’s. For example, 95 percent of 11th graders failed to meet proficiency in science; 91 percent failed to meet proficiency in math. And because of its small size, the school has far fewer options for electives, language classes and advanced-placement courses than most Burlington-area middle and high schools. Everyone agrees that it’s possible to get a great education there — last year’s salutatorian, Canary Ly, is proof of that. Her family came to the U.S. from Vietnam when she was 3; she’s headed to Middlebury College this fall. But the school is clearly struggling to meet the needs of all of its students. “We’ve got a long way to go,” says principal Leon Wheeler. “There’s no doubt about that.” There does seem to be a new sense of optimism, though, fueled in part by new leadership. With the exception of JFK, run by veteran teacher and administrator Mary O’Rourke, the district has been plagued in the past few years by inconsistent administration. Wheeler is in his second year at the high school; he has a new assistant principal this year. Over the past 10 years, Winooski has had four different superintendents. Sean McMannon,

number five, arrived over the summer. One parent described him as “an Energizer bunny.” McMannon, 44, got his first teaching gig in the Peace Corps in Botswana. He and his wife later taught at a school in an Eskimo village in Alaska. He did a stint as a special educator at a school in urban Boston before landing at CVU in Hinesburg, where he was principal for eight years.

We’ve got a long way to go. There’s no doubt about that. LEON WHEELER, PRINCIPAL He’s already been building relationships in the community — something other administrators haven’t always done. At a recent community dinner at Winooski’s O’Brien Community Center, he diligently filled a poster-size pad of paper with comments from parents. In a subsequent interview, McMannon explained his five-point plan, which includes increasing collaboration and communication between the elementary and middle-high school — something that seems to be on everyone’s radar. He’s eager to get started. “I just can’t wait for the students to get here,” he enthuses. Winooski’s part-time curriculum coordinator, Jan Willey, echoes his optimism. The 66-yearold administrator was brought in last year as a temporary replacement for someone who went

on maternity leave. The staff asked her to stick around for another year — and she is. Willey doesn’t need the job. She spent 10 years in special ed and another 25 as an assistant superintendent in Addison County, and had more or less retired. She says she’s staying in Winooski because she sees progress. She cites the new leadership team and new collaborations such as the Burlington-Winooski Partnership for Change, a multi-year, multi-million-dollar grant-funded effort to reenvision the two communities’ schools. “If I wasn’t optimistic,” she says, “there’s no way I would be coming back this year.” Linda Gregoire, whose daughter is entering seventh grade this year, is somewhat encouraged by their outlook. I ran into Gregoire and her daughter at the city library just before school started. Her daughter said she might want to go to a bigger high school — while she and her mom loved JFK, neither has been thrilled with the transition to middle school. Regarding the school’s plans for improvement, Gregoire echoed something I heard from other middle-high school parents: Talking the talk is different from walking the walk. When I tell Wheeler about reactions like Gregoire’s, he says he understands that skepticism. But he feels confident that the pieces are in place to ignite students’ passion for learning and help them achieve proficiency. “It is going to happen in Winooski,” he says. “There’s absolutely no question in my mind.”

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“Honoring the Spirit of Each Child”

SEPTEMBER 2013

first, but a few months into the year, we actually started using it at home. JFK principal Mary O’Rourke credits these initiatives — and the work of two new school-wide reading and math coaches — for JFK’s rise in last year’s NECAP scores. “Our math scores went up 7 percent last fall,” she notes proudly. “Reading scores went up 4 percent.” Although she recognizes the need for accountability, O’Rourke questions an assessment that takes a single snapshot of student learning and uses it to rate achievement. She and other administrators and school board members favor assessing student growth over time and measuring how far they’ve come. They point out that, if you dig into the numbers, you can make the case that they’re doing a good job with the population they serve. Houda Musanovic isn’t that concerned about the numbers. “It doesn’t matter, the NECAPs,” she says. “It matters what my son is getting, what my son is learning.” Musanovic, who works as a dental assistant, came to the U.S. from Morocco in 2001. Her fourth-grade son was born here but is in the ELL program at Winooski; both she and her husband speak English with Arabic accents, which can skew their son’s pronunciation. Musanovic was one of four interpreters at a recent school board-sponsored community dinner, which drew about 80 parents and school officials. When I asked her afterward if she’d heard about the negative perception of the schools, she said yes — her friends are “shocked” when they find out her son goes to Winooski. They ask her why. “For them, it’s more important, the numbers.” But so far, she says, “I am happy with it.”

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year, JFK adopted a new set of expectations for student behavior known as STARS, which stands for Striving, Thoughtful, Accepting, Responsible and Safe. It’s a discipline program that encourages teachers and students to define productive and unproductive behavior in the moment and keep track of it over time. The teachers and kids set goals and earn rewards for meeting them. It sounds cheesy, but it seems to be working. My son talked about it all year, and still wears his STARS T-shirt; a fifth grader I met one Saturday morning at the city library told me, unprompted, that the STARS program had gotten him “to do stuff ” at school that he hadn’t cared about before. JFK administrators have also proven responsive to parent input. When the school was struggling with student behavior problems two years ago, Cleiland suggested a “social thinking” learning curriculum she liked. The school embraced it and rolled it out last year. It teaches kids — and adults — to articulate their thoughts and reactions in a new way. Unproductive habits become villains called “The Unthinkables,” including Rock Brain, Mean Jean and Grump-Grumpaninny. Here’s how a typical worksheet describes Rock Brain: “When Rock Brain gets into a person’s head, he will get the person to do only what he wants to do and will not let him negotiate with other people.” The kids “fight” him by learning social strategies that help them self-regulate. An example: “Take a deep breath and remember that being part of a group means that you cannot always do it your way or make the decisions you want.” I was skeptical about all this at

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KIDS VT

SEPTEMBER 2013

KIDSVT.COM PHOTOS: MATTHEW THORSEN

The Lunch Box Diaries

Back-to-school tips from a Vermont food blogger

him correctly with insulin each day, she needs to know how many carbohydrates B Y A L I C E LEVI T T he’s ingested. So his mother calculates and posts the carb content of every lunch he eats as a photo caption on her blog; the nurse checks it arents of schoolkids face a perennial to figure out how much insulin to inject. challenge: packing school lunches that are Hedbor-Lague doesn’t keep tabs on page views healthy enough to sustain kids until dinner of her blog, so it’s hard to gauge her audience, but but interesting enough that they’ll actually eat more than 3200 Facebook followers attest to her them. blog’s popularity. Last year, Cooking With Need some lunch-box inspiration? You’ll find Trader Joe’s Cookbook: Easy Lunch it at Lunches Fit for a Kid, a food blog written Boxes featured some of her recipes. by Colchester mom Astrid Hedbor-Lague, who Her efforts have also caught describes her mission as “packing fun and healthy the attention of her children’s lunches for my kids (and for myself!) and sharing classmates — especially when some of my favorite recipes along the way.” Evalina brings a sandwich on During the school year, Hedbor-Lague posts near-daily accounts of what’s inside the lunch bags her mom’s homemade rainbowswirl bread. of her two kids, Evalina, 10, and Philip, 7. One day “You don’t know it might be ham-and-bread how many times skewers served with mixed I’ve had to tell them, berries and cheese; another ‘It’s rainbow bread day, bagel sandwiches with and it’s supposed goldfish crackers and cucumCommon in Japanese to be that way,’” ber slices. cuisine, these artistic meals recounts the fifth Whatever it is, the food package everyday foods into grader. is always artfully displayed. eye-pleasing arrangements. With two jobs Drawing inspiration from In kids’ bentos, rice balls and two kids, it’s Japanese-style bento boxes, are often styled to look like surprising that Hedbor-Lague uses cookie animals or anime characHedbor-Lague has cutters and melon ballers to ters. Fruits and vegetables time to make daily serve sandwiches and fruit may be cut into stars, hearts lunches at all, in fun shapes. She throws in or other fun shapes. let alone blog pretty toothpicks as well as about them. trivia, jokes or inspirational We recently messages. visited her It’s obvious Hedbor-Lague kitchen to loves food. She’s worked find out how part-time at Burlington’s Kiss she does it. the Cook for 19 years, since she was just 17. The job has inspired her to make meals as fun to look at as they are to eat. Her interest in blogging, however, stems from her full-time career as a molecular biologist at Haematologic Technologies in Essex. “I don’t keep a lab notebook for my kitchen, but sometimes I wish I did,” she says, noting she’s “always experimenting and looking for new ways to improve.” She started her blog in 2009, a year after Evalina began kindergarten, to keep a record of her homemade lunches. Hedbor-Lague and her husband are focused on their health and always take wholesome, hand-packed lunches to work for themselves. It was a no-brainer to do the same for their daughter. Blogging became a necessity when Philip began school. The now-second grader has Type THE LUNCH BOX DIARIES, P. 24 1 diabetes. In order for his school nurse to dose

What is a bento box?

KIDSVT.COM SEPTEMBER 2013 KIDS VT

Astrid Hedbor-Lague packs school lunches for her kids

The Lunch Box Diaries CONTINUED FROM P. 23

What’s in an average lunch? Because every family member has different tastes and nutritional needs, each lunch is slightly different. Wraps are often the central element. Here’s what Hedbor-Lague packed for an August hike at Silver Lake State Park in Barnard. This is slightly more food than the kids would eat during the school day: “[Philip] had a wrap with hummus, lettuce, turkey and Muenster, along with strawberries, yellow watermelon, a granola bar, cheddar pretzels and cheddar goldfish puffs. [Evalina] had a wrap with hummus, lettuce, turkey and cheddar, along with strawberries, blueberries, a granola bar, cheddar pretzels, and cheddar goldfish puffs. I had a wrap with hummus, lettuce, turkey and Muenster, along with cherries, strawberries, a granola bar, cheddar pretzels and cheddar goldfish puffs.”

KIDSVT.COM SEPTEMBER 2013 KIDS VT

— think zucchini stuffed with black rice or roasted-vegetable-and-cheddar phyllo pie.

How does she deal with picky eaters? When it comes to eating with an eye toward nutrition and flavor, HedborLague never stops testing boundaries. “I’m kind of unrelenting when it comes to trying things,” she says, while pushing Evalina to taste a cantaloupe ball. When the young girl balks, she gets some tough love: “One bite of something will not kill you, so you’re not spitting it out. You’re not allergic to it.” Why go bento? It’s convenient, says Hedbor-Lague, like a compartmentalized TV dinner. It’s easy to make a fun meal with small portions of varied foods. How does she keep meals healthy? Hedbor-Lague makes practically everything herself, from bread to granola bars. In the summer, many of her blog posts are about dinners prepared with the vegetables in her CSA share

snacks:

- melon balls - sliced fruit - berries - pistachios - baby carrots - goldfish crackers - granola bars - yogurt-covered pre tzels - cucumber slices - rolled-up lunch mea t - raisins

How does she get kids involved in their meals? Hedbor-Lague often allows her kids to order their meals à la carte. She’ll make a list of available ingredients in categories including grains, fruits, vegetables and protein. “It’s fun for them to say, ‘Oh, I want to have a hard-boiled egg and hummus, then carrots,’” she explains.

Photo and text excerpted from Lunches Fit for a Kid

How long does it take to make the lunches? “Generally, I spend no more than 10 minutes packing both lunches,” Hedbor-Lague writes in the FAQ section on her blog. She knows where every item is stored, which helps speed up the process. Once the food is packed, it takes another 10 minutes to post photos and captions to her blog.

Common side dishes and

What food do her kids love that surprised her? Goat meat. When Hedbor-Lague and several grown-up friends had a sushimaking party with unconventional ingredients, both her offspring went gaga for goat-filled rolls. “You never know if your kid is gonna like goat meat,” she says. “You’ve gotta try.”

How does she keep mealtime fun? Hedbor-Lague makes special meals, such as “Wacky, Worldly Waffle Wednesdays.” Each week, one of the kids gets to choose a country he or she would like to learn more about. Their mom will concoct a themed recipe for the occasion. When Philip chose Sri Lanka, Hedbor-Lague used rice flour and coconut milk in the waffles. Exploring the aromatic cuisine, she made two different toppings: a beet curry and an eggplant dish called brinjal. The final touch was a coconut chutney — sans the usual chiles to make it more palatable for tender taste buds. What do her kids think of her meals? As Evalina listens to her mother discuss the work that goes into her daily cuisine, she rolls her eyes. “You’re completely obsessed with making lunches,” she says to her mom as she leaves the room to watch TV with her brother. “I’m completely obsessed with making lunches, that’s fair,” answers Hedbor-Lague. “But I bet you’re not sad about it, kiddo.”

Follow the Lague family’s lunch-box adventures at lunchfitforakid.blogspot.com.

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CALENDAR

Hop to It

SEPTEMBER 2013 KIDS VT

SOUTH END ART HOP: Friday, September 6, 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, September 7, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; and Sunday, September 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in Burlington’s South End. Saturday’s Kids Hop, for families with children ages 3-12, takes place in the SEABA tent behind the Maltex Building from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 859-9222. seaba.com/art-hop

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Does your child want to be an artist when he or she grows up? Why wait that long? At the SOUTH END ART HOP’S KIDS HOP, little ones benefit from arts-and-crafts sessions led by dozens of Davis Studio staff instructors. With live music and food vendors, the tented event — part of a three-day showcase of Vermont’s art scene — is a “spectacle of imagination and creativity,” says Adam Brooks, executive director of the South End Arts and Business Association. When you’re done, grab a Kids Hop passport and continue on to other family-friendly venues, including Lake Champlain Chocolates, Davis Studio, Aikido of Champlain Valley, Creative Habitat, Burton Snowboards and Evolution Yoga.

COURTESY OF SEABA

SPOTLIGHTS AND LISTINGS BY CAROLYN FOX

SEPT calendar

Classes List your class or camp here for only $15 per month! Submit the listing by the 15th at kidsvt.com or to classes@kidsvt.com.

Paper Arts: With paper, the creative possibilities are endless! Through inventive paper-engineering techniques, students will create a project book and a final piece focusing on a subject of their choice. Discover cool relationships to math and science, and learn the process of brainstorming, organizing and implementing artistic ideas. Instructor: Judy Sgantas. Ages: 7-11. Session 1: Wednesdays, Sep. 25-Oct. 30 (no class Oct.16). Session 2: Wednesdays, Nov. 6-Dec. 11 (no class Nov. 27), 3-5 p.m. $110 for one session; $200 for two sessions. Location: Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: education@ helenday.com, 253-8358, helenday.com.

Kids VT

September 2013 kidsvt.com

Draw! Paint! Sculpt!: Come draw, paint, sculpt and engage in a variety of creative activities. Different themes and media will be explored each week. Themes will include abstract, realistic and imaginary imagery. Different styles of art and artists will be introduced. Instructor: Liz Kauffman. Ages: 4-6. Session 1: Thursdays, Sep. 26-Oct. 31 (no class Oct. 17). Session 2: Thursdays, Nov. 7-Dec. 12 (no class Nov. 28), 3-5 p.m. $110 for one session; $200 for two sessions. Location: Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: education@ helenday.com, 253-8358, helenday.com. EvoKids at Evolution Yoga: Join us this fall for kids yoga! Whether you are looking for a way to bond with your child, tap into your toddler’s imagination, or give your child tools to focus and find confidence, our children’s yoga series for ages 1-5 offers a consistent way to bring yoga into your family’s life. Mondays: 1:30-2:30 p.m., Dr. Seuss Story Time Yoga (ages 3-5). Wednesdays: 9:45-10:30 a.m., Tots on the Move (ages 1.5-2.5); 10:45-11:30 a.m., Kids Creative Yoga (ages 2.5-5). Fridays: 9:45-10:30 a.m., Tots on the Move. Saturdays: 9:15-10 a.m., New Explorers Yoga (walkers-18 mo.); 10:15-11 a.m., Tots on the Move. Sessions begin Sep. 16, $143/11 weeks. Location: Evolution Yoga, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington. Info: evolutionvt.com, 864-9642. EvoKids Drop-In Classes at Evolution Yoga: Come once or come every week — finally, drop-in yoga classes for your

school-age child! No more conflicts with other activities; you can make room for yoga in your child’s life when there’s time. Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m., After School Special (grades K and up). Saturdays, 11:15-12:15 p.m., EvoKids (ages 4-9). Sundays, 2:30-3:30 p.m., YoGirls (ages 7-11); YoBoys (ages 6-10). Classes begin Sep. 9. $14/class. Location: Evolution Yoga, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington. Info: evolutionvt.com, 864-9642. EvoBabies at Evolution Yoga : Our classes for birth to age 1 provide you with the opportunity to mindfully connect with your little one through movement, massage, song and relaxation. Mondays, 9:4510:30 a.m., Infant Yoga and Massage (2-6 mo.); 10:45-11:30 a.m., Baby Yoga (6 mo.crawlers). Sessions begin Sep. 16. $104/8 weeks. Location: Evolution Yoga, 20 Kilburn St., Burlington. Info: evolutionvt.com, 864-9642. Tiny Tots: Fun and fitness for the 1-2.5-year-old set (and their ride, too!). Toddlers are ready to play and move, and they’ll do plenty of both at Tiny Tots. Dance, jump, tumble, play games! Get those bodies moving and make some nice social connections with others along the way. 7 Thursday sessions beginning Sep. 12, 1111:40 a.m. $48/members, $62/community; 8 Thursday sessions beginning Oct. 31, 1111:40 a.m. $55/members, $70/community. Location: Winooski YMCA, 32 Mallets Bay Ave. Info: gbymca.org, 655-YMCA. Busy Bodies: Stretch and strengthen little bodies ages 2.5-4. Toddlers are made to move, and, at this age, they are also eager to explore. Release that excess energy and channel it into new grooves including improvisational dance, gymnastics, yoga and even ballet. Adults join the class, too – or not. Your choice. 7 Thursday sessions beginning Sep. 12, 10-10:45 a.m. $48/members, $62/community; 8 Thursday sessions beginning Oct. 31, 10-10:45 a.m. $55/members, $70/community. Location: Winooski YMCA, 32 Mallets Bay Ave. Info: gbymca. org, 655-YMCA. Aikido of Champlain Valley: Martial Arts and Conflict Resolution for Children: The Japanese martial art of Aikido integrates self-defense with a philosophy of non-violence and compassion. Children’s classes include physical conditioning, bully awareness and prevention, and methods to cultivate inner calm. Visitors are always welcome, and children can try a class. Kindergarten (5-6 year olds): Thursday, 4 p.m. beginning Sep. 5. 7-12 year olds: Tuesday, 4 p.m.; Wednesday, 4 p.m. & Saturday, 9 a.m. Free trial class: Classes begin on Sep. 4 & Sep. 7. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: bpincus@burlingtonaikido.org, 951-8900, burlingtonaikido.org. K

COURTESY OF ROBERT EDDY

Create With Clay: The tactile, threedimensional wonders of clay will inspire and challenge the most adventurous artists! Students will work with air-dry, polymer, paper-based and firing clays to create sculptural works of art while learning about form, perspective, process and problem solving through a variety of handson techniques. Instructor: Stephanie Drews-Sheldon. Ages: 7-11. Mondays, Sep. 23-Oct. 28 (no class Oct. 14), 3-5 p.m. $110. Location: Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Info: education@helenday.com, 253-8358, helenday.com.

Musical Mâché-Up You’ll find lots of live music at Randolph’s NEw World Festival — and lessons in history and culture, too. More than 75 performers celebrate New England’s musical heritage, deeply rooted in Celtic and French American traditions brought here by immigrants. Indoor stages and outdoor tents showcase everything from contra dancing and French quadrilles to energetic Irish tunes and playful puppetry. Throw children’s crafts and international foods into the mix, and it’s joie de vivre in action. New World Festival: Sunday, September 1, noon-11 p.m., at Chandler Center for the Arts and downtown locations in Randolph. $5-39. Info, 728-6464. newworldfestival.com

1 SUNDAY

Health & Fitness

Baby & maternity

Jay Peak Trail Running Family Festival: Quick-footed participants big and small hoof it along 5K, 25K and 50K routes — and a kids fun run. Ages 4 and up. Jay Peak Resort, 8:30 a.m. $15-80 per race; additional tickets required for a post-race barbecue.

Burlington Prenatal yoga: Mothers-to-be build strength, stamina, comfort and a stronger connection to their baby in this all-levels class. Free class coupons are available through midwives and OB/GYNs. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 10:05 a.m. $14. Info, 864-9642.

See Dr. First videos “First with Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Postnatal yoga: Moms bring their pre-crawling kids to an all-levels flowing yoga class addressing sore shoulders and back pain through gentle core work. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 12:15 p.m. $14. Info, 864-9642. shelburne Prenatal yoga: Yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques nurture bodies and create a loving connection between moms-to-be and their babies. Women at all stages of pregnancy are welcome. Yoga Roots, Shelburne, 4:30-6 p.m. $15 drop-in. Info, 985-0090.

community

Vermont Lake monsters Game: The Green Mountain State’s minor-league baseball team steps up to the plate at a home game. Centennial Field, Burlington, 5:05 p.m. $5-10. Info, 655-4200.

Fairs & Festivals

Guilford Fair: Following a tradition started in 1942, Vermonters gather for horse shows, sheep-shearing demos, an ice-cream-eating contest and thrilling rides. Weatherhead Hollow Road, Guilford, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Various prices. Info, vtnhfairs.com. mad River Valley craft Fair: Artisans from the Northeast and beyond present their handcrafted wares under a sprawling outdoor tent. Face painting, a giant slide and dress-up activities entertain the kids. Kenyon’s Field, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $4; free for kids under 13. Info, 496-3409. New World Festival: More than 70 musicians celebrate Vermont’s Celtic and French Canadian heritage through traditional tunes and dance. See calendar spotlight on page 28. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, noon-11 p.m. $5-39. Info, 728-6464. Northfield Labor day celebration: Bathtub races, face painting, carnival rides, a pie-eating contest and a kids fun run converge at a three-day party with a street parade. Various locations, Northfield, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Various prices. Info, 485-9206. southern Vermont Garlic & Herb Festival: Vampires are sure to shun this annual extravaganza featuring crafts, food, children’s games, live music and entertainment. Camelot Village, Bennington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $1-5. Info, 447-3311. Vermont Festival of the arts: A whoppin’ fiveweek festival boasts art exhibits, performances and workshops celebrating painting, poetry, crafts, culinary arts and everything in between. Visit vermontartfest.com for details. Various locations, Mad River Valley, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Various prices. Info, 496-6682. Vermont state Fair: Crowds converge on the midway for circus acts, racing pigs, demolition derbies and live music at this annual ag-centric affair. Vermont State Fairgrounds, Rutland, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. $1-15 per day; $25-35 for season pass. Info, 775-5200.

chocolate-dipping demonstration: Fans of cocoacovered confectioneries experience the tempering and dipping process. All ages. Laughing Moon Chocolates, Stowe, ongoing, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 253-9591.

we looked at care through the eyes of a child.

North Branch Bluegrass Festival: This outdoor music bash by the Ottaquechee River features New England bands, music workshops, nightly jam sessions and camping. Bridgewater Center Rd., 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $5-20 per day; $20-50 weekend pass; free for kids under 5. Info, 672-3042.

Nature & science

color mixing: Preschoolers and their families blend primary colors into brand-new hues. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. a corn maze adventure: Get lost! Families navigate their way through a life-size puzzle in the shape of the historic fort. All ages. Fort Ticonderoga, Sep. 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $8-17.50; free for kids under 5. Info, 518-585-2821. Exploring magnets: Budding scientists experiment with invisible pull. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. Farm activities: Animal lovers explore the Children’s Farmyard and walking trails at this working farm and National Historic Landmark. A “Raptors in Residence” program is held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. Shelburne Farms, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission, $5-8; free for kids under 2; additional cost for property tours. Info, 985-8686. Great Vermont corn maze: A 10-acre maze of maize lures labyrinth lovers outstanding in their field. The Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville, 10 a.m. $10-15; free for kids under 5. Info, 748-1399. Labor & Leisure day: Families pitch in on the farm, helping to build a split-rail fence and do laundry on a washboard. Come quittin’ time, they hop a wagon ride and sample some fresh-churned ice cream. All ages. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $3-12; free for kids under 3. Info, 457-2355. Planetarium Presentation: An astronomy expert offers a guided tour of the cosmos. Ages 5 and up. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, 1:30-2:30 p.m. $5. Info, 748-2372. Rockin’ the Little River: Explorers meet at the Waterbury Dam viewpoint and monument to learn how the Civilian Conservation Corps saved the Winooski Valley from flooded ruin. Little River State Park, Waterbury, 11 a.m. $2-3; free for kids under 4; call to confirm. Info, 244-7103. sundays for Fledglings: Aspiring junior birders learn all about feathers and flying through observation, research and goofing around. Ages 5-10. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 2-3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $3-6; preregister. Info, 434-2167. ViNs daily Programs: Wilderness lovers gather for songbird feeding time, raptor programs and activities in the “nature nook.” All ages. Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center, Quechee, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Regular admission, $11-13; free for members and kids under 4. Info, 359-5000. War of the Weeds!: Garden helpers learn about plant identification while removing invasive honeysuckle shrubs. Meet at A-Side Camper’s Beach parking lot, Little River State Park, Waterbury, 10 a.m. $2-3; free for kids under 4; call to confirm. Info, 244-7103.

Our new, state-of-theart Children’s Inpatient Program combines best practices in clinical space design with a strong sense of wonder for the young people in our care. Highlights include: • Comforting, child-friendly design and decor • Private bedrooms for up to 12 children • Sensory room with soothing bubble tubes and other sensory integration tools • Multi-use community rooms • Low stimulation suite and quiet room • Dedicated family visiting space Here, we help children find the strength to overcome their challenges, in a warm, welcoming place of safety and hope. Learn how we’re leading the way at brattlebororetreat.org

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Kids VT

Power of Produce (PoP) club: south Burlington: South Burlington Farmers Market patrons sign up for a Passport to Health, receiving a $3 token to spend on fruits, veggies or plant starts. Weekly activities focus on food, farming and nutrition. Ages 5-12. South Burlington High School, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Donations accepted; $25 season membership. Info, sbfm.manager@gmail.com.

music on the Porch: Hard Scrabble, Dave Keller, the Growlers and Seth Yacavone are among the artists featured in this weekly lineup of tunes. Rusty Parker Memorial Park, Waterbury, 1-3 p.m. Donations accepted for Food 4 Farmers. Info, 882-2700.

September 2013

Power of Produce (PoP) club: Winooski: Kids register for a Passport to Health at the Winooski Farmers Market, which earns them a tote, button and tokens for fruits, veggies or plant starts. Additional children’s activities focus on food, farming and nutrition. Ages 5-12. Winooski Falls Way, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 413-446-4684.

music

KidsVT.com

Food

To help him see hope,

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2 MONDAY

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

Baby & maternity

old North End Farmers market: Fresh fruit and veggies, breads and baked goods, prepared foods, pickles, and more draw a crowd. All ages. Dewey Park, Burlington, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 376-1977.

montpelier Prenatal Yoga: Pregnant mamas focus on movements that will help prepare their bodies for labor and birth. Yoga Mountain Center, Montpelier, 5:30-7 p.m. $15 drop-in. Info, 778-0300. Yoga After Baby: New moms work on their core, pelvic floor and arm strength, bringing their infants along if they choose. Shambhala Center, Montpelier, 11 a.m.-noon. $10. Info, 778-0300.

community

Vermont Lake monsters Game: See September 1, 6:05 p.m.

Fairs & Festivals

3/21/12 11:41 AM 6/27/1311:41 3:00AM PM 3/21/12

Vermont state Fair: See September 1.

Food

Yoga class: Playful breathing, stretching and relaxation techniques build mindfulness and body awareness. Ages 6-12. 2 Wolves Holistic Center, Vergennes, 4-5 p.m. $14 drop-in. Info, 870-0361.

Nature & science

movies

Youth media Lab: Aspiring Spielbergs film, edit and produce videos while exploring other areas of digital media. Grades 4-6. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4097.

music

children’s sing-Along With Lesley Grant: Parents sip coffee while wee ones break into song with a local musician and educator. Preschool-age kids and younger. The Bees Knees, Morrisville, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 888-7889.

Nature & science

Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

Farm Activities: See September 1.

ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

Hoopster Gliders: Creativity soars as kids craft a flying contraption. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. sound science: Good listeners explore how audio travels through different materials. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. Three-mile corn maze: Outdoor adventurers get lost — or not — in the stalks, tracking their progress at numbered stations along the way. Sam Mazza’s Farm Market, Colchester, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Call for price. Info, 655-3440. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

3 TUESDAY

Arts & crafts

creative Tuesdays: Artists engage their imaginations with recycled crafts. All ages, but kids under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:15-5 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

September 2013 KidsVT.com

cleo the Therapy dog: Canine companions visit with a friendly pooch from the Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Ages 3 and up. Milton Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

A corn maze Adventure: See September 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See September 1, 4 p.m. Postnatal Yoga: See September 1, 10:30 a.m.

community

Vermont Lake monsters Game: See September 1, 7:05 p.m.

Fairs & Festivals

Kids VT

martial Arts class: Playful but focused activities build agility, strength, balance and peaceful cooperation. Ages 7-12. 2 Wolves Holistic Center, Vergennes, 4-5 p.m. $14 drop-in. Info, 870-0361.

Library & Books

YmcA Free Programs Week: From Hula-Hooping to swimming, kids sample classes that build skills and self-confidence. Offered at the Pomerleau Family YMCA, Burlington, and Winooski YMCA, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 862-9622.

Vermont state Fair: See September 1, noon-10 p.m.

Health & Fitness

Northfield Labor day celebration: See September 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Health & Fitness

8/22/13 2:18 PM

chess club: Checkmate! Kids of all ability levels scheme winning strategies. All ages. Fairfax Community Library, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 849-2420.

YmcA Free Programs Week: See September 2. Sep. 8, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

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Games

Guilford Fair: See September 1, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Vermont Festival of the Arts: See September 1, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. K6H-jamie2coats0412.indd k6h-JamieTwoCoats0713.indd K6H-jamie2coats0412.indd 1 1 1

Food

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

4 WEDNESDAY

Baby & maternity

Breast-Feeding mom support: New mothers get to know each other during this informative and informal session. Children welcome. Grace Church, Rutland, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 747-8665.

community

Vermont Lake monsters Game: See September 1, 7:05 p.m.

Education

Back-to-Homeschool social: Stay-at-home learners enjoy games, puzzles and a craft as their parents swap educational ideas and materials. St. Albans Free Library, first Wednesday of every month, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507. social Thinking: Kids with nonverbal learning disabilities, Asperger’s syndrome and high-functioning autism develop their social skills. Call for times. Ages 6-17. Preregister. Maple Leaf Clinic, Wallingford, Info, 446-3577.

Fairs & Festivals

Vermont state Fair: See September 1, noon-10 p.m.

Food

caledonia Farmers market: Freshly baked goods, veggies, beef and maple syrup figure prominently in displays of “shop local” options. All ages. Route 2, Danville, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 592-3088. chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. colchester Farmers market: Rain or shine, local farmers, artisans, food vendors and musicians gather on the green. All ages. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 879-7576.

cookie decorating: Budding bakers doll up treats with sprinkles, frosting, sugar and nuts. Barrio Bakery, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-8278. maple candy making: Confectioners crystallize syrup into sugar — and sweet-toothed visitors sample it fresh from the mold. New England Maple Museum, Pittsford, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 483-9414.

All ages. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Regular museum admission, $3-12; free for kids under 3. Info, 457-2355.

See Dr. First videos “First with Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

middlebury Farmers market: Crafts, cheeses, breads, veggies and more vie for spots in shoppers’ totes. All ages. Marble Works District, Middlebury, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 537-4754. Woodstock Farmers market: Fresh vegetables, farm eggs, local meats and cheeses, cut flowers, and seasonal fruits and berries represent the best of the growing season. Woodstock Village Green, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3555.

Games

5 THURSDAY

Baby & maternity

Breast-Feeding support Group: Lactating moms bring their babies and bond over stories and advice. Family Birthing Center, Northwest Medical Center, St. Albans, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 524-7970. Burlington Prenatal yoga: See September 1, 5:45 p.m. La Leche League of Essex: Moms bring their little ones to a discussion of parenting and breast-feeding. Pregnant and planning moms are also welcome. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, first Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 383-8544.

Fairs & Festivals

Lego club: Amateur architects piece together creative scale models of cityscapes. Lawrence Memorial Library, Bristol, 3:15-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 453-2366.

Food

Health & Fitness

Jericho Farmers market: More than 20 vendors offer heirloom tomatoes, fresh greens, fragrant herbs, wildflowers and more at this family-friendly market with live, local music. Mills Riverside Park, Jericho, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 343-9778.

EvoKids afterschool yoga: Parents can attend a bydonation community yoga class one room over from this workout for kids. Grades K and up. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. $14; $20 per two children. Info, 864-9642. ymca Free Programs Week: See September 2, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Library & Books

Vermont state Fair: See September 1, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1. Wagon Ride Wednesdays: Giddyup, let’s go! Horses carry wagons through the operating dairy farm.

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ymca Free Programs Week: See September 2, Sep. 8, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Kitten story Hour: Furry felines from the Franklin County Humane Society make for a purr-fect readaloud time. Haston Library, Franklin, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

music for Preschoolers: Lively tunes with Peter Alsen or Derek Burkins strike the right note among the wee crowd. For ages 5 and under with a caregiver. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Free; limited to one session per week per family. Info, 878-4918. music With mr. chris: Singer, storyteller and puppeteer Chris Dorman leads kids in song and dance. All ages. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

Nature & science

Farm activities: See September 1. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

6 FRIDAY

Baby & maternity

Postnatal core yoga: Get your abs on! New moms learn to reengage core muscles lost during pregnancy in this flowing yoga class for all levels. Pre-crawling babies are welcome. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 1:30 p.m. $14. Info, 864-9642.

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community

Glass-Blowing demos & Food Trucks: Families view art in action as eight mobile vendors serve good grub nearby. All ages. AO Glass Works, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 488-4455.

Kids VT

6 FRiday, p.32

submit your october event for print by september 15 at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com

55 Main Street, Ste. 3 • Essex Jct., VT • 802-879-1802 • www.champlainobgyn.com

September 2013

Farm activities: See September 1.

Promote the bonding experience between mother, father, and baby: $165. Available between 26 & 32 weeks of pregnancy. Gift Certiﬁcates available.

KidsVT.com

autumn activity Time on the Farm for Preschoolers: Stories, hands-on activities and snacks teach little ones about life on the farm. Ages 3 and up. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 9-10:30 a.m. $3-5 includes museum admission; preregister. Info, 457-2355.

3D/4D Ultrasounds

martial arts class: See September 3.

music

Nature & science

Now Offering:

Health & Fitness

Richford PJ story Time: Kids gather with friends for bedtime prep through stories, songs and crafts. Ages 6 and under. Arvin A. Library, Richford, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Preschool music With mr. chris: Kids tap their toes in time to a fun, tune-filled gathering. Ages 3-5. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

Your nose. His lips....

milton Farmers market: Farmers, foodies and crafters come together to celebrate the bounty of the growing season. All ages. Milton High School, 4-7 p.m. Free. Info, 893-1009.

Library & Books

moving & Grooving With christine: Tots let loose to the rhythms of rock-and-roll and world music. Recommended for ages 2-5, but all are welcome. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Experienced, comprehensive & compassionate care that puts you first.

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

dorothy canfield Fisher Book discussion: Bibliophiles voice likes and dislikes about awardnominated books, such as Veera Hiranandani’s The Whole Story of Half a Girl. Ages 8-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

music

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Maria G. Carracino, MD • Paula M. Miner, MD • Kara A. Flaherty, MD • John J. Gallagher, MD • Sally A. Stockwell, MD • Callan V. Janowiec, APRN, NP

Lego afternoons: Youngsters create freely from big buckets of building blocks. Parents encouraged to send a snack; popcorn provided. Ages 6 and up. Lincoln Library, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 453-2665.

afternoon Hoops: Basketball-loving high school students spend the afternoon dribbling, shooting and scoring. St. Albans City Hall, 2:30-3:45 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 524-1500, ext. 266.

Champlain

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SEPT CALENDAR 6 FRIDAY (CONTINUED)

Dance

First Friday Family Dance: A wholesome evening of live music and dancing ends with a song circle. All ages. Worcester Town Hall, 6:30-9:30 p.m. $5-12. Info, 229-0173.

Education

Early Bird Math: Young children and their caregivers put two and two together using interactive books, songs and games to explore early math concepts. Richmond Free Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036. Homeschool Day: Students learn about the life of an 18th-century soldier on a day exclusively reserved for homeschool groups. All ages. Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $8-17.50; free for kids under 5. Info, 518-585-2821.

Fairs & Festivals

South End Art Hop: Queen City artists come out of the woodwork for this exciting and varied exhibition of visual art. Saturday’s Kids Hop takes place behind the Maltex Building from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit seaba. com for more information. See calendar spotilght on page 27. Various South End locations, Burlington, 5-11 p.m. Free. Info, 859-9222.

Library & Books

festive air to a local feast of grilled fare. All ages. Bread & Butter Farm, Shelburne, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free admission; cost of food and drink. Info, 985-9200. Chocolate-Dipping Demonstration: See September 1.

See Dr. First videos “First with Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Five Corners Farmers Market: From natural meats to breads and wines, farmers share the bounty of the growing season at an outdoor exchange, complete with live entertainment and kids activities. Lincoln Place, Essex Junction, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 5cornersfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

Kids in the Kitchen: Lasagna Roll-Ups: Budding bakers think outside the pan as they create an Italian dish with a delicious twist. All ages. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 per child; free for accompanying adult; preregister. Info, 863-2569. Richmond Farmers Market: Vendors peddle maple iced tea, honey ice cream, vegan chocolates, just-picked produce and much more at this lively showcase of locavorism. All ages. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, rfmmanager@ gmail.com.

Health & Fitness

Vermont State Fair: See September 1.

Afternoon Hoops: See September 4.

Food

YMCA Free Programs Week: See September 2, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Burger Night: Live music and kids activities lend a

Story Times MONDAY Burlington Stories With Megan: Fletcher Free Library, starts Sep. 23, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216. Essex Drop-In Story Time: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313. Milton Infant Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644. Richmond Pajama Time: Richmond Free Library, 6:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 434-3036. St. Albans Story Hour: St. Albans Free Library, Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507. Stowe Story Time for 2- to 3-Year-Olds: Stowe Free Library, 10:15-11 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145. Waitsfield Story Time: Joslin Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 496-4205.

SEPTEMBER 2013 KIDSVT.COM

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: Toe-tapping good tunes captivate kiddies. Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 660-9346. Music With Derek: The wee crowd convenes to shake out their sillies in tune-filled activities. All ages. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810. Spanish Musical Kids: Amigos learn Latin American songs and games with native Argentinian Constancia Gómez. Ages 1-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Nature & Science

Farm Activities: See September 1. Foodways Fridays: Children tour the heirloom garden, watching how the veggies make their way into historic recipes prepared in the 1890 farmhouse kitchen. All ages. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $3-12; free for kids under 3. Info, 457-2355. Great Vermont Corn Maze: See September 1.

Milton Preschool Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Waterbury Preschool Story Time: Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Richmond Story Time: Richmond Free Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

Williamstown Story Time: Ainsworth Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 433-5887.

South Burlington Tiny Tot Story Time: South Burlington Community Library, 9:15 & 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7539.

THURSDAY

Williston Story Time With Corey: Buttered Noodles, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810. Winooski Preschool Story Time: Winooski Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 655-6424. Woodstock Preschool Story Time: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2295. WEDNESDAY

7 SATURDAY

Arts & Crafts

Art Workshops With the Art House: Kids create marbled paper, mosaics, puppets, potato prints and more at the farmers market. Ages 3-15. Craftsbury Common, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $8. Info, 586-2545. Clay for Families: Special ceramics made in the studio are left for firing and glazing, then picked up later. All ages. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-noon. $20 per parent/child pair; $5 per additional person; preregister. Info, 457-3500. Kids Craft: Alien in a Saucer: Youngsters fashion an extraterrestrial in a spacecraft from plastic plates, cups and pom poms. Ages 5 and up. Creative Habitat, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $5. Info, 862-0646. Traditional Craft Saturdays: Local artisans demonstrate rug braiding, natural wool dying, tinsmithing and more. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10

Rutland Story Time: Rutland Free Library, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

Grand Isle Preschool Story Time: Grand Isle Free Library, 10 a.m. Free; newcomers should preregister. Info, 372-4797.

Vergennes Story Time: Bixby Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 877-2211.

Alburgh Story Hour: Alburgh Community Education Center, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 796-6077.

Hardwick Preschool Story Time: Jeudevine Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 472-5948.

Barre Children’s Story Hour: Aldrich Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-7550.

Montgomery Story Hour: Montgomery Town Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, montgomery.librarian@gmail.com. Quechee Story Time: Quechee Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 295-1232.

East Barre Kids Story Hour: East Barre Branch Library, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-5118.

Randolph Morning Story Time: Kimball Public Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 728-5073.

Georgia Pajama Story Time: Georgia Public Library, third Tuesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-4643.

Richford Story Hour: Arvin A. Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 848-3313.

Hinesburg Toddler Story Time: Carpenter-Carse Library, first Tuesday of every month, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 482-2878.

First Friday Gallery Walk: Circus Performance: Advanced- and professional-level students from the New England Center for Circus Arts dazzle audiences on a freestanding aerial rig. After, folks can view colorful circus-inspired paintings inside the museum. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, 6-6:20 p.m. Free. Info, 254-9780.

Franklin Story Hour: Haston Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

TUESDAY

Hinesburg Preschool Story Time: CarpenterCarse Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 482-2878.

Theater

Fairfax PJ Story Time: Fairfax Community Library, first Thursday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

St. Albans Story Hour: See Monday, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Grand Isle PJ Story Time: Grand Isle Free Library, first Tuesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

VINS Daily Programs: See September 1.

Essex Preschool Story Time: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Essex Toddler Story Time: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Colchester Toddler Story Time: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-0313.

Three-Mile Corn Maze: See September 2.

Early-literacy skills get special attention during these read-aloud sessions. Some locations provide additional activities such as music, crafts or foreign-language instruction. Contact the story-time organizer or visit kidsvt.com for details. Schedules generally follow the school calendar; call ahead to confirm.

Shelburne Story Time With Mary Catherine Jones: Pierson Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 985-5124.

Woodstock Baby Story Time: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 457-2295.

KIDS VT

Music

East Barre Realms of Reading Crafts: East Barre Branch Library, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 476-5118.

Waterbury Baby & Toddler Story Time: Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Book Sale: Bibliophiles thumb through hundreds of hard covers, paperbacks, CDs and DVDS. Proceeds support library collections and activities. Rutland Free Library, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 773-1860.

South Burlington Baby Book Time: South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7539.

Westford Story Time: Westford Public Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-5639. FRIDAY Brandon Preschool Story Time: Brandon Free Public Library, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 247-8230. Essex Musical Thirds Story Time: Essex Free Library, third Friday of every month, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313. Enosburg Story Hour: Enosburg Public Library, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426. Essex Drop-in Story Time: Brownell Library, Sep. 6, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956. Georgia Preschool Story Time: Georgia Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 524-4643.

South Burlington Story Time: Barnes & Noble, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

Huntington Story Time: Huntington Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 434-4583.

Swanton Story Hour: Swanton Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 868-7656.

Lincoln Toddler/Preschool Story Time: Lincoln Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2665.

Warren Preschool Story & Enrichment Hour: Warren Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 595-2582.

Milton Toddler Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Moretown Story Time: Moretown Memorial Library, 11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 496-9728. South Burlington Pajamarama: Barnes & Noble, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 864-8001. South Burlington Story Time Adventures: South Burlington Community Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7539. St. Johnsbury Story Time: St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 748-8291. Stowe Baby & Toddler Story Time: Stowe Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145. SATURDAY Barre Story Time: Next Chapter Bookstore, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-3114. Burlington Saturday Story Time: Phoenix Books, Sep. 7, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 448-3350. Colchester Saturday Drop-In Story Time: Burnham Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-0313. South Burlington Story Time: See Wednesday. St. Johnsbury Story Time: See Friday; first Saturday of every month, 10:30 a.m.

a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $3-12; free for kids under 3. Info, 457-2355. Youth & Family saturday drop-in: Artsy types create everything from wooden paddle boats to gourd people to tin nightlights in this ever-changing weekly series. Call for specific class activities. Shelburne Craft School, 10-11:30 a.m. $12 each; $10 with a friend or participating parent. Info, 985-3648.

Baby & maternity

Baby-item sale: Hosted by the local La Leche League and Babywearers, this annual event in its third decade offers affordable, quality goods. Item donations accepted on September 6, 8 a.m.-noon. All ages. Bethany Church, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 244-1254. Breast-Feeding support Group: The Vermont Department of Health organizes this informative social group for moms, babies and families. Bent Northrop Memorial Library, Fairfield, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 524-7970.

community

Girl scout day: The Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York host a day of activities geared toward their peers. All ages. Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $8-17.50; free for kids under 5. Info, 518-585-2821.

Education

Kids Workshops: Children learn do-it-yourself skills and tool safety as they build a different project each session. Ages 5-12. Home Depot, Williston, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 872-0039.

Fairs & Festivals

Bakers’ Harvest Festival: Foodies and families twist their own soft pretzels, dip apples in caramel, sample fresh-from-the-oven treats and watch a live amateur baking competition. King Arthur Flour, Norwich, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 649-3361. south End Art Hop: See September 6, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Vermont state Fair: See September 1, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Food

Burlington Farmers market: Farmers, artisans and producers offer fresh and prepared foods, crafts, and more in a bustling marketplace. All ages. Burlington City Hall Park, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 310-5172. caledonia Farmers market: Freshly baked goods, veggies, beef and maple syrup figure prominently in displays of “shop local” options. All ages. 50 Railroad Street, St. Johnsbury, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 592-3088. capital city Farmers market: Veggies, honey, maple syrup and more change hands at a celebration of locally grown food. All ages. Corner of State and Elm streets. Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-2958. chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. middlebury Farmers market: See September 4. shelburne Farmers market: Musical entertainment adds cheer to this exchange of fruits, veggies, herbs, honey, maple syrup and more. All ages. Shelburne Village Green, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 985-2472.

YmcA Free Programs Week: See September 2, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Library & Books

Book sale: See September 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

movies

Wildlife movie marathon Weekend: Families take a walk on the wild side as they screen animal flicks. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Come dressed as your favorite wild animal for $2 off regular museum admission, $9.50-12.50; free for kids under 3. Info, 864-1848.

music

introductory Taiko Workshop: Music makers feel the beat at this beginners’ session in ancient Japanese drumming. Ages 6-12. Burlington Taiko, 10 a.m. & 6 p.m. Free. Info, 658-0658.

Nature & science

A corn maze Adventure: See September 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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creeping colors: Marker dyes break down into a rainbow of hues as small scientists watch capillary action. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. Planetarium Presentation: See September 1. sound science: See September 2. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

Theater

Free circus classes: Ever wanted to run away with the circus? Try out the trapeze, low wire, aerial silks and more with experienced staff members. Parents must be present to sign a waiver. New England Center for Circus Arts, Brattleboro, ages 1.5-7 attend with their parents from 2-3 p.m.; ages 8 and up attend from 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 254-9780. saturday drama club: Thespians help Very Merry Theatre produce a show in just three hours. Ages 5-12. Very Merry Theatre, Burlington, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $15 (or pay what you can). Info, 863-6607.

8 SUNDAY

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See September 1. shelburne Prenatal Yoga: See September 1.

community Family day: shelburne museum Goes to the dogs!: Families dress in their best neon and leg warmers for an ’80s-themed day showcasing the high-flying talents of DockDogs. Proceeds benefit local dogrescue groups and humane societies. Shelburne Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5-10; free for members, dogs and children under 5. Info, 985-3346.

Fairs & Festivals

south End Art Hop: See September 6. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Vermont state Fair: See September 1.

Food

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. Power of Produce (PoP) club: Winooski: See September 1. Power of Produce (PoP) club: south Burlington: See September 1.

Health & Fitness

Women’s Basketball skills clinic: Coaches and players from the St. Michael’s College women’s

meet Pete the cat: Eric Litwin’s moving and

• Private party space staffed by a Vermont Teddy Bear Ambassador. • Newly refurbished 900 sq.ft. private party space

Kids VT

Yoga Tots: Toddlers and parents stretch it out in exercises meant to build self-esteem and positive attitudes toward physical activity. Ages 3-6. Highgate Town Office Building, first Saturday of every month, 9 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 868-3970.

All parties include: • A private tour • A Make a Friend for Life® Bear for each child

September 2013

Kids Hop at Evolution Yoga: As part of the South End Art Hop, the yoga studio hosts fun and creative kids classes, face painting, Hula-Hooping and more. Ages 5-12. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 12:30-4 p.m. Free. Info, 864-9642.

spanish stories & music: Kids learn to rhyme, read and sing en español with Constancia Gomez. Ages 6 and under with a caregiver. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

KidsVT.com

Health & Fitness

grooving feline protagonist entertains little ones at an hourly story time, complete with face painting and fun activities. Ages 8 and under. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

Celebrate your Birthday at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory!

8 sUNdAY, p.34

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Sept calendar

70 live species, daily animal demonstrations, 100+ interactive experiences, changing exhibits plus Action Lab and ECHO Films in the NEW Revision Lakeside Pavilion.

8 sUNdAY (continued)

EXHIBIT OPENS September 14

basketball program provide personal on-court instruction and performance assessment. Grades 6-12. St. Michael’s College, Colchester, 9:30 a.m.noon, $25 per session; $75 for four sessions. Info, 654-2503. YmcA Free Programs Week: See September 2.

YoBoys Yoga class: Yoga poses, relaxation techniques and themed discussions help young boys learn to increase their attention spans, self-regulate their emotions and manage stress. Ages 6-10. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 2:30-3:30 p.m. $14. Info, 864-9642.

CMY

On the foot of College St., Burlington Waterfront

ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center @ECHOvt

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

ECHOVERMONT.ORG

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YoGirls Yoga class: Preteen girls acquire self-confidence, emotional stability and a positive body image through yoga poses, mindfulness activities, games and crafts. Ages 7-11. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 2:30-3:30 p.m. $14. Info, 864-9642.

Library & Books

Book sale: See September 6, 4-8 p.m.

movies

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Wildlife movie marathon Weekend: See September 7.

Nature & science

A corn maze Adventure: See September 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Farm Activities: See September 1. Fingerprints: Kids get up close and personal with their prints, exploring what makes them unique. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

ToddlerPreschool Openings

Fossils: Evidence of the Past: Youth sleuths clue into the origins of preserved remains. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. Planetarium Presentation: See September 1. sundays for Fledglings: See September 1.

Fitness and fun in a developmentally appropriate structured environment that promotes wellness and healthy living.

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

9 MONDAY

Library & Books

Kids VT

September 2013 KidsVT.com

dot Week: Peter Reynolds’ picture book The Dot inspires special programs involving felt and food. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095.

Young Adult Advisory Board: Sixth through 12th graders help make the library a destination for their peers. Ages 12-18. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

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Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See September 1, 4 p.m. Postnatal Yoga: See September 1, 10:30 a.m.

Food

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. old North End Farmers market: See September 3.

Games

chess club: See September 3.

Health & Fitness

martial Arts class: See September 3.

Library & Books

dot Week: See September 9, 10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. Little Night-owl story Time: Listeners swoop in for some bedtime tales, songs and crafts. Ages 5 and under. Essex Free Library, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

movies

Youth media Lab: See September 3.

music

children’s sing-Along With Lesley Grant: See September 3.

Nature & science

Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. story Time in Nestlings Nook: Preschoolers settle in for avian education. Activities include crafts, music and nature walks, if the weather permits. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 10:30 a.m. Regular museum admission, $3-6. Info, 434-2167.

Growing Kids south Burlington: Parent-Education series: Early-childhood-education expert Scott Noyes shares ideas to help parents ease transitions and improve routines. For parents/guardians of young children. F. H. Tuttle Middle School, South Burlington, 6:45-8:45 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3367.

Yoga class: See September 2.

Williston | 864-5351 micheller2@edgevt.com

creative Tuesdays: See September 3.

Food

EvoKids Afterschool Yoga: See September 4.

So. Burlington | 658-0080 heatherh@edgevt.com

Arts & crafts

Parenting

Write Now!: Best-selling authors-to-be get inspired to start penning that book or poem. Ages 12-18. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

Essex | 879-7734 ext. 1113 alexandrad@edgevt.com

10 TUESDAY

Yoga After Baby: See September 2.

Health & Fitness

KIDS & FITNESS PRESCHOOL

ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

www.edgevt.com

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

Baby & maternity

montpelier Prenatal Yoga: See September 2.

Activities include: swimming, tennis, climbing wall, creative movement, foreign language, music and much more!

Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

music

music for Preschoolers: See September 5, 10:45 a.m.

Nature & science

Farm Activities: See September 1.

ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

11 WEDNESDAY

Baby & maternity

Burlington La Leche League: Babies and older kids are welcome as moms bring their questions to a breast-feeding support group. Lending library available. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 985-8228.

Education

History for Homeschoolers: Reading, writing and hands-on activities hosted by the Vermont Historical Society offer a new perspective on the past. Ages 6-12. Vermont History Museum, Montpelier, 1-3 p.m. $4-5; free for parents and nonparticipating children; preregister. Info, 828-1314. social Thinking: See September 4. Technology safety With Technicool: Prevent Child Abuse Vermont hosts this workshop covering safer passwords, sharing information, gaming, social networking and cyberbullying. For kids in grades 4-8 with their parents/guardians and educators. South Hero Community Library, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 372-6209.

Food

music

caledonia Farmers market: See September 4. chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. colchester Farmers market: See September 4. cookie decorating: See September 4.

music for Preschoolers: See September 5.

See Dr. First videos “First with Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

maple candy making: See September 4. middlebury Farmers market: See September 4. Woodstock Farmers market: See September 4.

Games

Georgia Family Game Night: Players sit down for friendly competitions of Candy Land, checkers and Monopoly. Visitors are welcome to bring their own games, too. Georgia Public Library, Fairfax, second Wednesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-4643. Lego Afternoons: See September 4. Lego club: See September 4.

Health & Fitness

Afternoon Hoops: See September 4. EvoKids Afterschool yoga: See September 4.

Library & Books

dot Week: See September 9. Sep. 14, 10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.

music

moving & Grooving With christine: See September 4. Preschool music With mr. chris: See September 4.

Nature & science Autumn Activity Time on the Farm for Preschoolers: See September 4. Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1. Wagon Ride Wednesdays: See September 4.

12 THURSDAY

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal yoga: See September 1, 5:45 p.m.

Education

History for Homeschoolers: See September 11.

Fairs & Festivals

The Tunbridge World’s Fair: This old-fashioned agricultural extravaganza features dairy shows, antique tractor pulls, free shows and a midway. Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Barre, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. $8-13; $35 season pass; free for children under 12. Info, 889-5555.

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. Jericho Farmers market: See September 5.

Games

Library Legos: Building-block lovers get busy with the library’s giant collection. All ages. St. Albans Free Library, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

martial Arts class: See September 3.

Library & Books

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

13 FRIDAY

Baby & maternity

Postnatal core yoga: See September 6.

community

Glass-Blowing demos & Food Trucks: See September 6.

Education

Early Bird math: See September 6. Homeschool Project day: Siblings and parents act as the audience as out-of-classroom learners present current and past projects. Milton Public Library, 2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Fairs & Festivals

The Tunbridge World’s Fair: See September 12, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

Food

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

The Y is the one place in the area where you can spend the whole entire day. There are tons of things to do to keep everyone in the family happy. We love, love, love the Y!

Lizzy S. with Matt age 6 ¾ Y Family Member Shelburne

ONLY AT THE Y

What will you ﬁnd at the Y? Join us! Take a tour, call us at 862-9622, or visit us online. gbymca.org

Five corners Farmers market: See September 6. Richmond Farmers market: See September 6.

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Health & Fitness

Afternoon Hoops: See September 4.

Library & Books

dot Week: See September 9. Sep. 14, 10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. songs & stories With matthew: Musician Matthew Witten helps kids start the day with tunes and tales of adventure. All ages. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

music

Kids music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See September 6. music With derek: See September 6. music With Robert: Families sing along with a local legend. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Nature & science

Farm Activities: See September 1. Foodways Fridays: See September 6. Friday Nights for Teen Tinkerers: Would-be Ben Franklins create, design or build something cool, from “Frankenstuffies” to stop-motion animation. Grades 6-9. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 6:30-8 p.m. $14-16; preregistration encouraged. Info, 649-2200. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

14 SATURDAY

Arts & crafts

Kids craft: Alien Reusable Tote Bag: Little ones create a carryall that’s out of this world. Ages 5 and up. Creative Habitat, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $5. Info, 862-0646.

dot Week: See September 9, 10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.

Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

Kids VT

Health & Fitness

Farm Activities: See September 1.

September 2013

milton Farmers market: See September 5.

Nature & science

KidsVT.com

Food

music With mr. chris: See September 5.

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Sept calendar 14 sATuRdAY, continued

Traditional craft saturdays: See September 7. Youth & Family saturday drop-in: See September 7.

Education Training for FiRsT Lego League coaches: Programming Workshop: Skye Sweeney schools adults in basic navigation and object manipulation that will help teams of kids carry out their visions. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 649-2200.

Fairs & Festivals

Fall Festival: Quintessential autumnal fun includes cider doughnuts, apple picking, hayrides, face painting and a petting farm. Adams Apple Orchard & Farm Market, Williston, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 879-5226. Glory days Festival: An annual family-oriented fest celebrates the town’s choo-choo history with minitrain rides, carnival games, children’s entertainment and a pancake breakfast. Downtown, White River Junction, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $3 admission; $10 train excursions. Info, 295-5036. The Tunbridge World’s Fair: See September 12, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Food

Burlington Farmers market: See September 7. caledonia Farmers market: See September 7. capital city Farmers market: See September 7. chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. middlebury Farmers market: See September 4. Pancake Breakfast: Rise and shine! Folks pile their plates with flapjacks, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries and toast. And maple syrup, of course. All

ages. Lakeview Grange Hall, West Barnet, 8-10 a.m. $3-7. Info, 748-8180.

Farm Activities: See September 1.

shelburne Farmers market: See September 7.

Hoopster Gliders: See September 2.

Vermont mac & cheese challenge: Twenty-five regional chefs duke it out for best dish, using Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company’s artisanal cheeses. Live music, a petting zoo and beer pairings for adults round out the day. All ages. Artisans Park, Windsor, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10-15; free for kids under 7. Info, 457-9992.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids saturday Yoga: Youngsters master basic yoga poses through games, songs and dance. Mindfulness activities help them improve their focus and concentration. Ages 4-9. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $14. Info, 864-9642.

acclaimed circus school before watching a few sample performances. All ages. New England Center for Circus Arts, Brattleboro, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 254-9780.

Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. microscopic investigations: Hand lenses and microscopes help kids discover there’s more to the world than meets the eye. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. movin’ & Groovin’ Weekend: In conjunction with the “Cool Moves” exhibit, youngsters explore motion while making a keepsake button, tackling trivia questions and getting their faces painted. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular museum admission, $9.50-12.50; free for kids under 3. Info, 864-1848. Planetarium Presentation: See September 1.

Fairs & Festivals community Barn dance & Harvest Festival: Neighbors dance to live music until the cows come home, enjoying hayrides, refreshments, games and a silent auction. Beard’s Barn, Waterbury Center, 3-6 p.m. $20 per family includes raffle entry. Info, 244-5605. Fall Festival: See September 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. small Farms Food Fest: Local eats, tractor hayrides, a hay-bale maze, face painting and more fill this farmer-appreciation festival. See calendar spotlight on page 42. Shelburne Orchards, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $5; free for folks under 6.5 or over 65; nonperishable food donations accepted for the local food shelf. Info, 985-2753.

Library & Books

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

Family Poetry Night: Folks recite favorite stanzas and original works at this gathering with Vermont poet David Budbill. Franklin Town Hall, 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 285-6505.

Theater

meet curious George: The popular children’s book character joins fans at activity stations and book readings by the man with the yellow hat. University Mall, South Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. $3 suggested donation to VNA Family Room. Info, 863-1066, ext. 11.

15 SUNDAY

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

Baby & maternity

Power of Produce (PoP) club: Winooski: See September 1.

dot Week: See September 9.

movies

movie matinee: Dim the lights and pass the popcorn! Kids screen a beautifully animated adventure film. St. Albans Free Library, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Nature & science

A corn maze Adventure: See September 1, 10 a.m.5 p.m.

ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

The Tunbridge World’s Fair: See September 12, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

saturday drama club: See September 7.

Food

Birth Preparation Workshop: Expectant mothers practice visualizations, learn important coping techniques for labor and create beautiful birth visuals at an empowering workshop with Francesca Arnoldy of VT Birth Haven. Yoga Roots, Shelburne, 2-4 p.m. $25; preregister. Info, 985-0090. Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See September 1.

Power of Produce (PoP) club: south Burlington: See September 1.

Health & Fitness

Women’s Basketball skills clinic: See September 8. YoBoys Yoga class: See September 8.

shelburne Prenatal Yoga: See September 1.

YoGirls Yoga class: See September 8.

community

Nature & science

dessert social: Folks bring a potluck treat and mingle with students, staff and directors of the

A corn maze Adventure: See September 1, 10 a.m.5 p.m.

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Baby & maternity

Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. mirror, mirror: Little ones use looking glasses to investigate reflection and symmetry. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

See Dr. First videos “First with Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Parachutes: Curious kids make their own ’chutes to test air resistance. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Postnatal Yoga: See September 1, 10:30 a.m.

Food chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

old North End Farmers market: See September 3.

sundays for Fledglings: See September 1.

Games

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

16 MONDAY

Arts & crafts

clay for Kids: Participants improve their sculpting, brushwork and glazing skills through guided projects and free time. Ages 6-12. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 3-5 p.m. $20; preregister. Info, 457-3500. clay for Tots: Little potters practice and play with a malleable artistic medium. Ages 2-5. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $15 drop-in. Info, 457-3500.

Baby & maternity

montpelier Prenatal Yoga: See September 2. Yoga After Baby: See September 2.

Food

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

Games

Lego club: Builders fashion architecturally sound constructions. Ages 7-12. Milton Public Library, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids Afterschool Yoga: See September 4.

chess club: See September 3.

Health & Fitness

martial Arts class: See September 3. moovin’ & Groovin’: Energetic youngsters develop self-confidence, coordination, and language and social-interaction skills through jumping, dancing and tumbling. Ages 18 months-4 years. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 10-10:45 a.m. $12 drop-in; preregister. Info, 457-3500. Yoga for Tots: Mini yogis jump like frogs and stretch like dogs in this relaxed class filled with games, stories and songs. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 11-11:45 a.m. $12 drop-in. Info, 457-3500.

Library & Books

cleo the Therapy dog: See September 3. Preschool story Time & craft: Good listeners settle in for tales and simple hands-on activities. Ages 3-5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

movies

Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

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Farm Activities: See September 1.

ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

18 WEDNESDAY

Arts & crafts

Arts for Tots: Music, movement, free play and art projects inspire creativity in young minds. 18 months-4 years. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 10:15-11:15 a.m. $10 drop-in; preregister. Info, 457-3500.

for 2013for Summer & 2014 2013-SeasonS 2014 SeasonS Jazz - Tap - Ballet Lyrical - Hip Hop - modern Dance & gymnastics Musical theater Ballroom Piano - Guitar - Voice

dance

5, 6, 7, 8 ... Jazz & musical-Theater dance: Broadway hits and music videos inspire dance-floor action. Ages 12 and up. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 4:15-5:30 p.m. $15 drop-in. Info, 457-3500. creative movement: Tiny dancers learn new steps in a social environment. Ages 2-5. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 11:15 a.m.-noon, $12 drop-in. Info, 457-3500.

Arts & crafts

Education

social Thinking: See September 4.

210 Pioneer Drive

658-5700

Severance Corners

871-5846

to register, call 871-5846 or Visit us online at...

www.MovementCenterVT.com

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Williston • COlchester

Kids VT

17 TUESDAY

dance combinations: Movers and shakers learn the basics of ballet, jazz and contemporary in fun and interactive sessions. Ages 4-6. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 3-4 p.m. $12 drop-in. Info, 457-3500.

creative Tuesdays: See September 3.

216 Orchard Road, Shelburne (802) 985-2753 www.shelburneorchards.com

September 2013

Farm Activities: See September 1.

Sunday, Sept. 29 from 11-3

KidsVT.com

Books & Beyond: science for Preschoolers: Children’s literature and hands-on activities combine for fun science learning and exploration. Ages 3-5 and their parent or caregiver. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10:15-11 & 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

12th Annual Pie Fest & Cider House Run

Nature & science

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

Nature & science

∑

children’s sing-Along With Lesley Grant: See September 3.

movies

music for Preschoolers: See September 5, 10:45 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 15 from 11-5

music

Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

music

12th Annual Small Farms Food Fest

Youth media Lab: See September 3.

Yoga class: See September 2.

Young Adult Film crew: Wannabe actors, directors and audiovisual buffs put together a program for Lake Champlain Access Television. Ages 12-18. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

Enjoy the apple harvest! Pick apples, have a picnic, or shop at the Cider House Farm Market Seasonal Hours (Aug.–Oct.) Monday–Saturday 9–6 Sunday 9–5

Kids in the Kitchen: Easy as Apple Pie: Petite pastry chefs transform a favorite fall fruit into a sweet treat. Ages 6 and up. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 per child; free for accompanying adult; preregister. Info, 863-2569.

Planetarium Presentation: See September 1.

ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

grows locally so that you can buy locally!

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See September 1, 4 p.m.

movin’ & Groovin’ Weekend: See September 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

Shelburne Orchards

Ready, Set, Run!

Shelburne Farms

Fun Run

Sunday, September 22, 11am Children ages 4-12 .5, 1 and 1.5-mile courses Pre-registration encouraged

Learn more and register now at

www.RunVermont.org Mark your calendar! Catamount Family Center Trail Fun Run Saturday, October 26, 10am

Sept Calendar Food

18 WEdNEsdAY (Continued)

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

Food

caledonia Farmers market: See September 4. chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. cookie decorating: See September 4.

See dr. First videos “First with Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

maple candy making: See September 4. middlebury Farmers market: See September 4. Woodstock Farmers market: See September 4.

Games

Lego Afternoons: See September 4. Lego club: See September 4.

Health & Fitness

Afternoon Hoops: See September 4. EvoKids Afterschool Yoga: See September 4.

Library & Books

Pajama story Time: Small ones curl up for bedtime tales, cookies and milk. Ages 18 months-5 years. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

music

moving & Grooving With christine: See September 4.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Preschool music With mr. chris: See September 4.

Nature & science Autumn Activity Time on the Farm for Preschoolers: See September 4. Farm Activities: See September 1. K4t-RunVT0913.indd 1

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UVM PARENT & PEERS PR S OJECT

Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

September 2013 KidsVT.com Kids VT

Hooping for Kids: Boys and girls twirl hoops to music, improving their motor skills, agility and cardio health. Ages 6-12. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 3:15-4 p.m. $12 drop-in. Info, 457-3500. martial Arts class: See September 3.

Library & Books

Franklin-Grand isle Bookmobile: A roving library hits the brakes for a children’s story hour. Haston Library, Franklin, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505. PJ story Hour: Miss Sarah fosters a love of reading in young listeners, who also partake in songs, crafts and snacks. Ages 6 and under. St. Albans Free Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

movies

middle school Books-to-Film discussion: Bookworms read Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember, then watch the movie adaptation at the library over snacks. Milton Public Library, 3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

music

music for Preschoolers: See September 5.

Homeschoolers day: Botany & microscopes: Out-of-classroom learners zoom in on the world of plants. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Nature & science

Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

Wagon Ride Wednesdays: See September 4.

20 FRIDAY

Parenting

Arts & crafts

19 THURSDAY

Health & Fitness

spider safari: Amazing arachnids inspire kids to look closely at live specimens and practice weaving a web. Ages 3-5 with an adult companion. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 10-11 a.m. $8-10 per adult/child pair; $4 per additional child; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

Vermont Kin as Parents conference: Keynote speaker Deidra Razzaque speaks on enriching the journey of “Parenting Revisited” at this gathering for grandparents and other relatives caring for children, and those who support them. Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center, South Burlington, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $60-75; free for caregivers. Info, 871-5104.

Families receive $40 and kids receive a prize! For more info ’ contact us at 802-‐656-‐4409 or famlab@uvm.edu.

milton Farmers market: See September 5.

music With mr. chris: See September 5.

ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

Families will come to the Family Development Lab for a 2.5-‐hour visit that includes games, discussions of kids’ recent experiences with peers and questionnaires. ’

Kids in the Kitchen: Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies: Dessert lovers bake fall-flavored treats that are healthier than the average cookie. All ages. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 per child; free for accompanying adult; preregister. Info, 863-2569.

magnificent monarchs: Preschoolers investigate the mysteries of these busy butterflies at an educational story hour. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 11:30 a.m. Regular museum admission, $9.50-12.50; free for kids under 3. Info, 877-324-6386.

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

Kids ages 8-‐10 and parents are invited to participate in the Parents and Peers Project at the University of Vermont.

Jericho Farmers market: See September 5.

Arts & crafts

Pollywog Preschool Art drop-in: Multimedia projects involving play dough, paint and paper introduce young kids to artistic expression. Ages 6 months-5 years, accompanied by an adult. BCA Center, Burlington, 9:30-11:30 a.m. $6. Info, 865-7166. scaly creatures: Kids learn about dinosaurs, dragons, snakes and turtles through stories, songs and crafts. Ages 3-5. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 10:15-11:15 a.m. $10 drop-in. Info, 457-3500.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See September 1, 5:45 p.m.

Art studio: Under the guidance of a nurturing instructor, kiddos express themselves through painting, drawing, sculpture and printmaking. Ages 2-5. ArtisTree Community Art Center, Woodstock, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $5. Info, 457-3500. Family Wheel drop-in: Parents and kids make bowls, cups and sculptures from clay. All ages. BCA Center, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $6 includes one fired and glazed piece per participant; additional pieces are $5 each. Info, 865-7166.

Baby & maternity

Postnatal core Yoga: See September 6.

community

Glass-Blowing demos & Food Trucks: See September 6.

Education

Early Bird math: See September 6.

Food

Apple-dipping Festival: Confectioners dip local apples in homemade caramel, offering free samples 20 FRidAY, p.40

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All Aboard!

COURTESY OF ARTSPOWER

Long before Disney’s Cars and Planes, there was Watty Piper’s children’s book about a toy-filled train and the little engine that pulls it over the mountain. ArtsPower National Touring Theatre reinvents that story for the stage in THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD EARNS HER WHISTLE, which kicks off the 2013-14 Arts in Education season at Woodstock’s Pentangle Arts. In this song-filled production, Little Blue Engine dreams of one day becoming a main-line engine with the Piney Vale Railroad. Young audience members will recognize lines from Piper’s illustrated story as they learn an important lesson: “If you think you can, you’re halfway there.” ‘THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD EARNS HER WHISTLE’: Tuesday, September 24, 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., at Town Hall Theatre in Woodstock. Grades K-3. $5. Info, 457-3981. pentanglearts.org

Playgroups

Kids enjoy fun and games during these informal get-togethers, and caregivers connect with other local parents and peers. The groups are usually free and often include snacks, arts and crafts, or music. Contact the playgroup organizer or visit kidsvt.com for site-specific details. Schedules generally follow the school calendar; call ahead to confirm.

MONDAY Barre Open Gym: Sunrise Gymnastics, 10 a.m.noon. $10 child. Info, 223-0517. Burlington Crawlers, Waddlers & Toddlers: St. Joseph School, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 999-5100. Cambridge Playgroup: Cambridge Elementary School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 888-5229. Colchester Playgroup: Malletts Bay School, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 264-5900. Jericho Playgroup: Jericho Community Center, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415. Morrisville Hometown Playgroup: Morristown Graded Building, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-5229. Williston Playgroup: Alice in Noodleland: Buttered Noodles, 10-11 a.m. Free. No session September 2. Info, 764-1810. Winooski Fathers & Children Together: Winooski Family Center, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 655-1422. Bristol Playgroup: Bristol Baptist Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 388-3171. Burlington Family Play: VNA Family Room, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Colchester Playgroup: See Monday, 9-11 a.m. Hardwick Playgroup: Hardwick Elementary School, 8:15-10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 652-5138. Johnson Baby Chat: Church of the Nazarene, fourth Tuesday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470.

Barre Open Gym: See Monday, 10 a.m.-noon. Essex Building Bright Futures Baby Playgroup: Move You Fitness Studio, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555.

Johnson Hometown Playgroup: United Church of Johnson, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-5229.

Essex Junction RU12? LGBTQA Family Playgroup: Leaps and Bounds Child Development Center, starts Sep. 11, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 860-7812.

Montgomery Infant/Toddler Playgroup: Montgomery Town Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Richmond Playgroup: Richmond Free Library, 8:45-10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415. Shelburne Playgroup: Trinity Episcopal Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 764-5820. South Royalton Playgroup: United Church on the Green, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264.

Milton Playgroup: See Tuesday, 9:30-11 a.m.

Morrisville Baby Chat: First Congregational Church of Morrisville, first Thursday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470. Winooski Playgroup: O’Brien Community Center, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 655-1422. FRIDAY

St. Albans Playgroup: NCSS Family Center, St. Albans, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Bradford Story Hour: Bradford Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 222-4536.

Vergennes Playgroup: Congregational Church of Vergennes, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 388-3171.

Essex Center Toy Library Playgroup: Memorial Hall, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555.

Williston Baby Time Playgroup: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Free. Info, 876-7555.

Ferrisburgh Open Gym: Ferrisburgh Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 388-3171.

Williston Evening Baby Playgroup: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, first Wednesday of every month, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 876-7555. THURSDAY Alburgh Playgroup: NCSS Family Center, Alburgh, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426. Brandon Stories & Crafts: Brandon Free Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 247-8230. Burlington EvoMamas Playgroup: Evolution Yoga, second Thursday of every month, 10:20 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 864-9642.

Huntington Playgroup: Huntington Public Library, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Info, 899-4415. Randolph Toddler Time: Kimball Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 728-5073. St. Albans MOPS: Church of the Rock, third Friday of every month, 8:45-11 a.m. First meeting is free; $4 dues per each meeting that follows. Info, 393-4411. Stowe Playgroup: Stowe Community Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 888-5229. Underhill Playgroup: Underhill Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415.

Williston Playgroup: Allen Brook School, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7555. SATURDAY South Burlington RU12? LGBTQA Family Playgroup: Leaps and Bounds Child Development Center, South Burlington, Sep. 25, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812. South Burlington Tots & Tykes Open Gym: Chamberlin Elementary School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4108. Morrisville Weekend Baby Chat: Lamoille Family Center, second Saturday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470.

Milton Playgroup: New Life Fellowship Church, Thursdays, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 893-1457.

Essex Building Bright Futures Playgroup: Essex Junction Recreation and Parks Department, 9:3011 a.m. Free; bring indoor shoes. Info, 876-7555.

KIDS VT Kids

Middlebury Playgroup: Middlebury Baptist Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 388-3171.

WEDNESDAY

September SEPTEMBER 2013

Burlington Fathers & Children Together: VNA Family Room, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Burlington Family Play: See Tuesday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

KIDSVT.COM kidsvt.com

TUESDAY

Montpelier Tulsi Morning Playgroup: Tulsi Tea Room, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 223-0043.

Sept calendar 20 FRidAY (continued)

Look who’s turning 30!

to sweet-toothed visitors. Laughing Moon Chocolates, Stowe, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 253-9591. chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. Five corners Farmers market: See September 6. Richmond Farmers market: See September 6.

Health & Fitness

Jiggity Jog: A tuneful meetup with Miss Susan entails singing, dancing and instrument playing. Ages 2-6. South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7539.

music With derek: See September 6. music With Robert: See September 13.

Nature & science

Farm Activities: See September 1.

September 2013 KidsVT.com Kids VT

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

Arts & crafts

Art Workshops With the Art House: See September 7. Kids craft: Alien mask: Young artists create an intergalactic costume piece. Ages 5 and up. Creative Habitat, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $5. Info, 862-0646. Traditional craft saturdays: See September 7. Youth & Family saturday drop-in: See September 7.

community



Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

21 SATURDAY

Communication Services Professional Learning

Grand opening of outback Artspace: Movies, music, poetry readings, art and dance classes celebrate Catamount Arts’ new arts-education building. All ages. Outback Artspace, St. Johnsbury, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600, ext. 108. Welcome Baby celebration: Speakers, book donations, giveaways and refreshments honor Milton’s newest — and smallest — residents. For ages 1 and under with their families. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 893-4644.

Education

www.sterncenter.org

Stern Center for Language & Learning Williston, VT | West Lebanon, NH

802-878-2332

k4v-SternCenter0913.indd 1

Foodways Fridays: See September 6.

ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.



Apple-dipping Festival: See September 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Burlington Farmers market: See September 7.

Library & Books

Kids music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See September 6.

Customized Instruction

Burlington Book Festival: Families at Phoenix: Children’s authors Marilyn Webb Neagley, Brian D. Cohen, Eileen Christelow, Laban Carrick Hill and Tracey Campbell Pearson read aloud from their books. Phoenix Books, Burlington, noon-5 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3350.

capital city Farmers market: See September 7.

music



Food

caledonia Farmers market: See September 7.

smArt series: Snacks and an art activity follow a screening of Up in the new Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education. Shelburne Museum, 5-8 p.m. Regular museum admission, $5-22; free for children under 5. Info, 985-3346.

Learning Evaluations

Library & Books

Afternoon Hoops: See September 4.

movies

1983 - 2013

Harvest Festival: Celebrate autumnal abundance in style with hayrides, children’s activities, fall foods and musicians on multiple stages. Shelburne Farms, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Regular admission, $5-8; free for members, Shelburne residents and children under 3. Info, 985-8686.

Practice sAT Exam: Students take the aptitude test, then come back the next week to receive their scores and go over potential problem areas and strategies with a Princeton Review instructor. Ages 15-18. Our Lady of Grace Parish, Colchester, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-0313.

Fairs & Festivals

cambridge Harvest Festival: Folks breathe in the crisp fall air during a day of hayrides, grape stomping and food sampling. Proceeds benefit Camp Ta-KumTa. Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits, Cambridge, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 644-8151. colors of the Kingdom Autumn Festival: Dazzling foliage inspires this townwide celebration, featuring a pancake breakfast, train rides, arts and crafts fair, bake sale, and Main Street parade. Downtown St. Johnsbury, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Various prices. Info, 748-3678.

8/23/13 9:27 AM

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. middlebury Farmers market: See September 4. shelburne Farmers market: See September 7.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids saturday Yoga: See September 14.

Ongoing Exhibits BiLLiNGs FARm & mUsEUm, WoodsTocK

Info, 457-2355 Annual Quilt Exhibition: Windsor County quilters display their masterful textiles at an eye-catching exhibition. Quilting activities and demonstrations appeal to all ages and skill levels. Through September 22. BiRds oF VERmoNT mUsEUm, HUNTiNGToN

Info, 434-2167 ‘The Breeding Bird Atlas: science and Art’: More than 300 citizen scientists, artists and photographers contributed to this exhibit about avian life in Vermont. Through October 31. EcHo LAKE AQUARiUm ANd sciENcE cENTER, BURLiNGToN

Info, 864-1848 ‘Bigger Than T-Rex’: Petite paleontologists study prehistoric skeletons of Giganotosaurus, Mapusaurus and other humongous dinos. A hands-on dig pit, excavation videos and animatronic raptors make it even more exciting. All ages. Through September 2.

Burlington Book Festival: The Queen City puts on its reading glasses for three days of readings and social events focused on the written word. Downtown Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 658-3328.

curious day With curious George: Inquisitive youngsters monkey around with the popular children’s book character through stories, activities and treats. Barnes & Noble, South Burlington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

music Hopstop Family series: steve Blunt & marty Kelley: The New Hampshire entertainers deliver sweet and silly songs and stories. Ages 3 and up with accompanying adult. Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, N.H., 11 a.m. Free; space is limited. Info, 603-646-2010.

Nature & science

A corn maze Adventure: See September 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Farm Activities: See September 1. Full moon Hike & marshmallow Roast: Lunar light adds intrigue to a moderate 1.5-mile walk along wooded trails. Classic campfire treats await your return. Hard’ack, St. Albans, 8-9 p.m. $4-6. Info, 5241500, ext. 266. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. Planetarium Presentation: See September 1. skulls: Science lovers explore skeletal remains of local wildlife. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. straw Rockets: Imaginative inventors use air power to make space contraptions fly. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

Theater

saturday drama club: See September 7.

22 SUNDAY

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See September 1.

‘cool moves’: Get a move on! This traveling exhibit explores the phenomenon of motion through such interactive features as a ripple tank, three-wheeled racers and giant dancing wall. Runs September 14 through January 6.

Newborn 101: Moms- and dads-to-be learn baby basics — from breast-feeding to prolonged crying — as well as how to enjoy the first three months of parenthood. Franklin County Home Health Agency, St. Albans, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $30; preregister. Info, 527-7531.

FAiRBANKs mUsEUm & PLANETARiUm, sT. JoHNsBURY

shelburne Prenatal Yoga: See September 1.

Info, 748-2372 ‘Wildflower Table’: This living exhibit reflects the abundance and diversity of flowers, grasses, berries, ferns and evergreens found in the Northeast Kingdom. Kids are introduced to more than 400 species displayed throughout the year, in both fruit and flowering stages. moNTsHiRE mUsEUm oF sciENcE, NoRWicH

Info, 649-2200

Food

Apple-dipping Festival: See September 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. Power of Produce (PoP) club: Winooski: See September 1. Power of Produce (PoP) club: south Burlington: See September 1.

Health & Fitness

‘Playing With Time’: Turn back the clock – or speed it up – at this exhibit that allows visitors to time travel through the natural world. Through September 8.

shelburne Farms Fun Run: Racers hoof it along half-, one- and 1.5-mile courses. Ages 4-12. Shelburne Farms, 11 a.m. $3-5 per child; $6-10 maximum per family; preregister. Info, 863-8412.

‘From the mountains to the sea: Plants, Trees and shrubs on New England’: A juried exhibition of paintings celebrates the beauty and diversity of our region’s native plants. All ages.

YoBoys Yoga class: See September 8.

Women’s Basketball skills clinic: See September 8. YoGirls Yoga class: See September 8.

Library & Books

Food

Burlington Book Festival: See September 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

nature & science

a corn maze adventure: See September 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Farm activities: See September 1.

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

See Dr. First videos “First with Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

old north end Farmers market: See September 3.

Games

chess club: See September 3.

Health & Fitness

Planetarium Presentation: See September 1.

martial arts class: See September 3.

Rocks & Volcanoes: Fledgling geologists learn about magma, hot ashes and gases. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

movies

sundays for Fledglings: See September 1. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Turtle discovery: Young naturalists learn about this slow and steady species and help feed those that reside in the museum. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. Vins daily Programs: See September 1.

23 MONDAY

Baby & maternity

montpelier Prenatal yoga: See September 2. yoga after Baby: See September 2.

Food

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

Health & Fitness

evoKids afterschool yoga: See September 4. yoga class: See September 2.

Library & Books

Burlington Book Festival: See September 21, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Pajama story Time With abby Klein: Flannel-clad kiddos bring their favorite stuffed animals for tales, crafts and a bedtime snack. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

music

music for Preschoolers: See September 5, 10:45 a.m.

nature & science

youth media Lab: See September 3.

music

children’s sing-along With Lesley Grant: See September 3.

Farm activities: See September 1. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. it’s a Wonderful Leaf!: Science educator Kristen Littlefield shares seasonal stories and helps listeners make a collage from fall foliage. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. Vins daily Programs: See September 1.

Parenting Parent discussion Group: The importance of nonfiction for Kids: Youth-services librarian Tricia Allen emphasizes the role of factual literature in today’s new Common Core State Standards. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095.

Theater ‘The Little engine That could earns Her Whistle’: ArtsPower presents a musical rendition of Watty Piper’s children’s story about hard work, determination and friendship. See calendar spotlight on page 39. Grades K-3. Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, 9:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. $5. Info, 457-3981.

25 WEDNESDAY

Baby & maternity

nursing Beyond a year: Moms gather to discuss the joys and challenges of an older nursling. Discussion topics include nighttime parenting, weaning and setting limits. Bring a snack to share. Aikido of Champlain Valley, Burlington, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-3000.

dance

Farm activities: See September 1.

social Thinking: See September 4.

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

24 TUESDAY

arts & crafts

Teen art studio: Creative juices flow as local artists encourage adolescents to dream up ideas and carry them out in an anything-goes atmosphere. Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, fourth Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 253-8358.

Burlington Prenatal yoga: See September 1, 4 p.m. Postnatal yoga: See September 1, 10:30 a.m.

We are a 5 STAR child-centered, developmentally appropriate program in Hinesburg, VT, where children play to learn and learn to grow! Email info@annettespreschool.com for visits and registration

Kidgsa Yo

802.482.2525

www.annettespreschool.com 7/26/13 11:09 AM

at Evolution

5, 6, 7, 8 ... Jazz & musical-Theater dance: See September 18.

education Food

caledonia Farmers market: See September 4. chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. cookie decorating: See September 4. Kids in the Kitchen: Hot Tamales!: Fledgling foodies make and sample traditional Mexican party treats. All ages. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 per child; free for accompanying adult; preregister. Info, 863-2569.

Classes! ll a F r o f w o n Register

maple candy making: See September 4. middlebury Farmers market: See September 4. Woodstock Farmers market: See September 4.

Games

Visit our website for information on baby classes & new drop in classes for school-aged kids

Lego club: See September 4. 25 Wednesday, p.43 k4t-EvolutionYoga0913.indd 1

8/21/13 12:23 PM

20 kilburn st, burlington, vt 802.864.9642 evolutionvt.com

Lego afternoons: See September 4.

Kids VT

Baby & maternity

for Preschool Programs

September 2013

creative Tuesdays: See September 3.

OPEN REGISTRATION

Member CCSU/ANESU Early Learning Preschool Partnership

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8/21/13 11:56 AM

KidsVT.com

Vins daily Programs: See September 1.

FULL & PART TIME OPENINGS 3-5 yr olds

nature & science

autumn equinox Walk: Binocular buddies stroll the trails with a Winooski Valley Park District educator, learning how wildlife is preparing for autumn’s cooler weather. All ages. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-5744. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

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Sept calendar

HATHAWAY FARM & CORN MAZE

You’re Lost… You’re Laughin’… You’re LOVIN’ it!

PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKINS COMING SOON!

Autumn Afternoon

12 Acre Gettysburg Maze, Punches to find, Bridges, Clues Mini Maze, Play Area & Livestock Barn Wagon Rides & Snack Shack on Weekends All Natural Beef • Maple Syrup

Fall swoops into the Green mountain State swiftly, and the best place to greet the season is at the small farms food fesT. Families can pluck fruit from the trees at a pick-your-own apple orchard before touring the grounds on a hayride, roaming the hay-bale maze or meeting trusty farm steeds at a tractor “petting zoo.” local bands create a live soundtrack for face painting, rope making and craft activities, and small-scale farmers serve specialty foods and apple-cider doughnuts for a sweet finish.

Admission $10 Adults • $8 Kids! Open 10-5 – Closed Tuesdays Moonlight Madness every Saturday 5-9 pm 741 Prospect Hill Rd, Rutland hathawayfarm.com • 802.775.2624

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Saturdays, 9-10 a.m. Gutterson Field House

New and Advanced Levels Welcome! Ages 3 through Adult No skate rental at arena attn: Jennifer Lupia - LTS program 802-309-0419 • CVSC_US@yahoo.com www.champlainvalleyskatingclub.org

8/22/13 2:55 PM

Sept 14-Oct 12 Oct 19-Dec 21 Jan 4-Feb 1 Feb 15-March 22 March 29-May 10

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8/22/13 2:59 PM

Look what’s NEW for the youngsters! Preschool Story Hour (ages 2-5) One Sunday morning a month at 10AM starting October 27 Tot Shabbat Service (up to age 5) One Saturday each month at 9:30AM starting September 21

Religious School Tuition for grades K-Chai School FREE with membership. Dues FREE membership if you are under 30! Contact Stacie at 862-5125 or at info@templesinaivt.org for details! Temple Sinai 500 Swift Street, So. Burlington

COURTESY OF MEGAN HUMPHREY

Kids VT

September 2013 KidsVT.com

Youth Shabbat Service (age 6-12) One Friday evening each month at 5:30PM

small farms food fesT: Sunday, September 15, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at Shelburne Orchards. $5; free for folks under 6 or over 65; nonperishable food donations accepted for the local food shelf. Info, 985-2753. shelburneorchards.com

Three-mile corn maze: See September 2.

25 WEdNEsdAY (Continued)

Health & Fitness

Afternoon Hoops: See September 4. EvoKids Afterschool Yoga: See September 4.

music

SUPERIOR CLASSICAL BALLET TRAINING VAGANOVA & BALANCHINE METHOD

ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

See dr. First videos “First with Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

moving & Grooving With christine: See September 4. Preschool music With mr. chris: See September 4.

Nature & science

Apple Time: At this story hour, preschoolers explore a seasonal fruit through tales, crafts and a taste test. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 11:30 a.m. Regular museum admission, $9.50-12.50; free for kids under 3. Info, 877-324-6386. Autumn Activity Time on the Farm for Preschoolers: See September 4. Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1. Wagon Ride Wednesdays: See September 4.

Theater

‘The Pirates of Penzance’: Stowe Theatre Guild presents its rendition of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operetta love story about a young man, a band of tenderhearted pirates and a leap-year birthday. See calendar spotlight on page 44. Town Hall Theatre, Akeley Memorial Building, Stowe, 8 p.m. $10-20. Info, 253-3961.

26 THURSDAY

Arts & crafts

Pollywog Preschool Art drop-in: See September 19.

Theater

‘The Pirates of Penzance’: See September 25.

27 FRIDAY

Arts & crafts

Art studio: See September 20. Family Wheel drop-in: See September 20.

Baby & maternity

Postnatal core Yoga: See September 6.

community

Glass-Blowing demos & Food Trucks: See September 6.

Education

Early Bird math: See September 6.

Food

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1.

Afternoon Hoops: See September 4. Toddler Yoga & stories: Children stretch and strike simple poses at tale time with Karen Allen. Ages 1-5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Library & Books

k4t-vtbs0913.indd 1

songs & stories With matthew: See September 13.

music With derek: See September 6.

chocolate-dipping demonstration: See September 1. Jericho Farmers market: See September 5. milton Farmers market: See September 5. Top chef shenanigans: Food-lovin’ teens concoct a dish from limited ingredients. Grades 7-12. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4097.

Games

Library Legos: See September 12, 3-5 p.m.

martial Arts class: See September 3.

Library & Books

music

music for Preschoolers: See September 5.

Nature & science

Farm Activities: See September 1.

Farm Activities: See September 1. Foodways Fridays: See September 6. Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1. Three-mile corn maze: See September 2. ViNs daily Programs: See September 1.

Theater

‘The Pirates of Penzance’: See September 25.

28 SATURDAY

Arts & crafts

Kids craft: space Frame: Inspired by the Milky Way, participants decorate photo frames using foam spaceships, acrylic paint and glitter. Ages 5 and up. Creative Habitat, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $5. Info, 862-0646. Traditional craft saturdays: See September 7. Youth & Family saturday drop-in: See September 7.

SEPTEMBER 7 Kids Hop @10-2

SEABA Tent, 431 Pine Street behind the Maltex Building

Beading Pool Kids’ Hop Activity @10-3

Davis Studio #1 4 Howard Street

Kids Day & Summer Fun Photo Contest @10-4 Creative Habitat

Burton’s Riglet Park @11-3

A Kids Art Hop snowboarding experience for kids at the Burton Flagship Store

Aikido Demonstrations @1

community

Face Painting: Kids get fancy with facial embellishments by Snowqueen, near the food court. University Mall, South Burlington, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Info, 864-0683.

257 Pine Street

PRESENTED BY: PRESENTED BY:

Education

Practice sAT Exam: See September 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Great Vermont corn maze: See September 1.

Nature & science

Kids VT

music With mr. chris: See September 5.

music With Robert: See September 13.

Bring your kids to:

September 2013

Teen.comm Fall meeting: Teenagers bring their ideas and their calendars as they plan for upcoming Halloween and holiday gatherings. Ages 12-18. St. Albans Free Library, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Kids music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See September 6.

8/8/13 1:07 PM

KidsVT.com

Health & Fitness

Simply the Best • Main Ofﬁce 802-878-2941 The Dance Shop at VBTS: 802-879-7001 vbts.org • info@vbts.org

Health & Fitness

Education

Food

TWO LOCATIONS!

Essex Campus: 21 Carmichael Street, Suite 203 Shelburne Campus: 4066 Shelburne Road

Richmond Farmers market: See September 6.

music

Homeschoolers Project day: Stay-at-home learners share their science experiments, artwork, book reviews and nature projects. Haston Library, Franklin, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

s begin Classe er 9! b m te p e S

Five corners Farmers market: See September 6.

Baby & maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See September 1, 5:45 p.m.

Register • Tots Ages 2 1/2 to 3 years NOW On li • Children’s Intro to Dance, Ages 4-5 www.vbts ne .org • Children’s Intro to Ballet, Ages 6-7 or by ca llin • Classical Ballet & Pointe, Ages 8 & up 878-294 g 1 Beginner to Professional • Teen and Adult Ballet, Beginner to Advanced • Hip Hop, Jazz & Tap, Ages 5 & up • Modern • Pilates & Yoga • Body Transformer classes • Performance Opportunity: “Vermont’s Own Nutcracker” at the Flynn Center for the Arts & “Spring Performance” at Memorial Auditorium

28 sATuRdAY, p.45 k4t-SEABA0913.indd 1

8/23/13 11:23 AM

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Katie DeCarolis, PT 8 White Street, South Burlington 863-3323 Pre-Natal Postpartum Pelvic Pain Incontinence Call for an appointment today! Flexible hours; insurance accepted Ask about our ‘After Baby’ workshop.

SEPTEMBER 2013 KIDSVT.COM

KIDS VT

Try kidsvt.com for fun at your fingertips.

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Ahoy! Just after International Talk Like a Pirate Day — September 21 this year — Stowe Theatre Guild stages THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, packed with swashbuckling songs and adventures for audiences of all ages. While opera is seldom suitable for young children, this charmingly ridiculous operetta about young love in the Victorian era is a rare exception. Silly wordplay, thrilling sword fights, elaborate pirate costumes and catchy tunes will appeal to little theatergoers and their parents. ‘THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE’: Wednesdays through Saturdays, September 25 through October 12, 8 p.m., at Town Hall Theatre, Akeley Memorial Building, in Stowe. $10-20. Info, 253-3961. stowetheatre.com 6/22/12 10:04 AM

COURTESY OF LESLIE ANDERSON

It’s a Buried handful! Treasure

k6v-pelvichealth0913.indd 1

SEPT CALENDAR Power of Produce (POP) Club: South Burlington: See September 1.

28 SATURDAY (CONTINUED)

Fairs & Festivals

Bristol Harvest Festival: Family fun commences with bandstand music, kids activities, crafts and the BestEver Apple Pie Contest. All ages. Bristol Town Green, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 453-5885.

TURNER TOYS & HOBBIES

See Dr. First videos “First with Kids” at fletcherallen.org/ firstwithkids

Champlain Mini Maker Faire: Tech enthusiasts celebrate the DIY mindset at this quirky science fair featuring robotics, student experiments, performing arts and more. Shelburne Farms, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fall Foliage Festival: In honor of the colorful leaves, folks gather for live music, horse-drawn wagon rides, a farm-animal petting zoo and cowplop bingo. Village Green, East Burke, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 467-1266. Pittsford Harvest Fair: Carvers compete in the pumpkin-decorating contest, while entertainment, concession stands, animals and more amuse the masses. All ages. Pittsford Village Green, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 483-9972.

Food

Burlington Farmers Market: See September 7. Caledonia Farmers Market: See September 7. Capital City Farmers Market: See September 7. Chocolate-Dipping Demonstration: See September 1. Middlebury Farmers Market: See September 4. Shelburne Farmers Market: See September 7.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids Saturday Yoga: See September 14.

Nature & Science

Color Mixing: See September 1, 11 a.m. A Corn Maze Adventure: See September 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont Corn Maze: See September 1. Leafcutter Ants: Nature fans investigate the secret lives of “insect fungus farmers.” All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. Regular museum admission, $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. Planetarium Presentation: See September 1. Three-Mile Corn Maze: See September 2. VINS Daily Programs: See September 1.

Theater

‘The Pirates of Penzance’: See September 25. Saturday Drama Club: See September 7.

29 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

Burlington Prenatal Yoga: See September 1. Shelburne Prenatal Yoga: See September 1.

Fairs & Festivals

Music

For more information, visit mansfieldcooperative.org or contact Julia Lesauskis at learntoliberate@gmail.com

Vermont Youth Orchestra Fall Concert: Student instrumentalists present soaring masterworks by Antonio Vivaldi, Carl Otto Nicolai and Antonín Dvořák to kick off the VYO’s 50th anniversary season. Ages 7 and up. Flynn MainStage, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. $12-17. Info, 655-5030.

Creeping Colors: See September 7. Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont Corn Maze: See September 1. Planetarium Presentation: See September 1. Sound Science: See September 2. Sundays for Fledglings: See September 1. Three-Mile Corn Maze: See September 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. VINS Daily Programs: See September 1.

Visit our warehouse store! 57 River Rd. (Rte. 117), Pinewood Plaza Essex Junction • 871–5513

TURNERTOYS.COM

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A Corn Maze Adventure: See September 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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30 MONDAY

Baby & Maternity

vermontnannyconnection.com • 872.1VNC(1862)

Montpelier Prenatal Yoga: See September 2. Yoga After Baby: See September 2.

Fairs & Festivals

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8/21/13 11:25 AM

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival: Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet and Groton host consecutive town parties, filled with art exhibits, crafts, hayrides and a lumberjack breakfast. Various locations, Northeast Kingdom, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Various prices. Info, 748-3678.

Food

Chocolate-Dipping Demonstration: See September 1.

Health & Fitness

EvoKids Afterschool Yoga: See September 4. Yoga Class: See September 2.

Library & Books

Author Talk With S.S. Taylor: The Vermont writer gives the inside scoop on The Expeditioners and the Treasure of Drowned Man’s Canyon, a Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award-nominated steampunk adventure. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4095. Intergenerational Dessert Book Discussion: Lit lovers gather for a good read-and-rant session about Billy Collins’ Poetry 180, complete with something sweet. Ages 12-adult. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

Music

Music for Preschoolers: See September 5, 10:45 a.m. Shake Your Sillies Out: Tots swing and sway to music with children’s entertainer Derek Burkins. Center Court, University Mall, South Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-1066, ext. 11.

Food

Nature & Science

Farm Activities: See September 1. Great Vermont Corn Maze: See September 1. Three-Mile Corn Maze: See September 2.

Meet the coolest cat ever — Pete! Pete never lets anything get to him, he just keeps on moving and grooving. Come see why this fun cat is sure to entertain your little ones!

LES INCLUDE... EVENTS AT BUTTERED NOOD t. · Children can meet Pete the Ca the hour. · Pete story time every hour on . · Pete activities and face painting ! · Buttered Noodles for everyone

A Children’s Department Store Children’s Wear • Footwear • Toys Books • Baby/Nursery • Maternity

64 Harvest Ln, Williston, VT ~ 802.764.1810 1/2 mile from Tafts Corners Across from the New England Federal Credit Union Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30-7 Sat 9:30-6, Sun 11-5 • www.butterednoodles.com • 764-1810 k4t-butterednoodles0913.indd 1

8/21/13 11:34 AM

VINS Daily Programs: See September 1.

Saturday, September 7th • 10am-4pm

KIDS VT

Power of Produce (POP) Club: Winooski: See September 1.

INFORMATION MEETING October 3rd, 4:30pm Deborah Rawson Library, Jericho

YoGirls Yoga Class: See September 8.

Nature & Science

• Homeschoolers • Special Needs 10% OFF • Classrooms & Schools In-Stock Items! • Birthdays

Join us for an

YoBoys Yoga Class: See September 8.

Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival: Homemade trebuchets catapult orange orbs into the sky at a daylong throwing contest. Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $5. Info, 603-630-4800.

Chocolate-Dipping Demonstration: See September 1.

Freedom to Learn

Women’s Basketball Skills Clinic: See September 8.

SEPTEMBER 2013

Cider House Run & Pie Fest: Apple lovers run through the orchard, heading straight for a homemade-pie competition. Shelburne Orchards, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $8-35 includes pick-your-own-apples bag; preregister to run. Info, 316-7142.

Health & Fitness

KIDSVT.COM

Champlain Mini Maker Faire: See September 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Classic and Educational Toys for:

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8/16/13 10:43 8/21/13 12:04 AM PM

Play

Runoff is a classic arcade game with a message about keeping our water clean.

• Play online at playrunoff.com • Download it for free on the iTunes store • Play it at ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center – before it runs off! It will be at ECHO through Labor Day.

Kids VT

september 2013

kidsvt.com

The action is simple — rain falls in the city. You catch it in your rain barrel to keep the rain from becoming stormwater runoff.

the flo 1. Place: w d go with n a d e x la are re & ble skiing st afforda t! n o rm 2. The mo e orthern V riding in N

THIS GAME WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Runoff arcade game at ECHO provided and outfitted by the talented folks at:

22nd Annual Professional Development Conference

Dr. Terry Levy & Michael Orlans

✱ CONTEST

BOOK-REVIEW WINNERS CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE ENTHUSIASTIC YOUNG CRITICS who shared their reading recommendations with us this month. Each wins a $25 gift certificate from Crow Bookshop in Burlington. We loved reading about all the entrants’ literary adventures and have included some of our favorite excerpts below.

Treating Trauma and Attachment Issues in Children and Families FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 @ 8:45 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. Kurn Hattin Homes for Children, Westminster, Vermont

8/21/13 12:10 PM

Need aComenew back to school look? visit us at our new location! $

Sawyer Kless, 3 ESSEX JUNCTION

recommends: Inside-Outside Dinosaurs by Roxie Munro “It shows dinosaurs and skulls and skeletons. My favorite part was the Stegosaurus!”

Julia Correll, 10

The

2 off Kids Haircut Bring in this ad for discount. ExpirEs 10/1/13

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haircare for Kids

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We are groWing! Don’t miss your chance to enroll for Fall 2013

Mater Christi School is a private Catholic school that prepares pre-school through grade 8 students of all faiths to succeed. Small class sizes, a focus on early reading, and a state-of-the-art science laboratory are just a few of the differences that help our students reach their full potential. Call 802.658.3992 to schedule a personal tour.

COLCHESTER

recommends: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket “My favorite part of the story was when the Quagmire triplets are rescued by Hector. I like that part because Count Olaf can’t get them.”

Gracie Adamczak, 11 ST. ALBANS

recommends: The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen “When Jessica meets Rosa, they don’t really see eye to eye. After the race, Jess and Rosa become really good friends. I liked the part where Jessica helps Rosa in the race.”

EARN CE CREDITS!

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Healthier for you and your family.

8/21/13 11:53 AM

Ava Stotz, 11 KIDSVT.COM

UNDERHILL

recommends: How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Certified Organic, Locally Grown. k6h-VTOraganicFarmers0912.indd 1

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Learn more about the benefits of local and organic at www.nofavt.org/why-organic or (802) 434-3821

KIDS VT

Find this month’s Book Review Contest on page 50.

The deadline is September 20. Happy reading!

SEPTEMBER 2013

“My favorite part was when Hiccup and all the other Viking boys went into the cave full of sleeping dragons to pick one out and take it home. I felt like I could hear and smell it myself.”

at...

Come see

Shelburne Farms Harvest Festival

4pm

0 1 , 1 2 r e b m e t Saturday, Sep

and

Kids Hop at the South End Art Hop

kidsvt.com

Saturday, September 7, 10-3pm Get your face painted by

september 2013

hyper ! "#$

Kids VT

art.com

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8/23/13 10:03 AM

HANDS-ON

CAROLYN FOX

Framed Chalkboard

✱ PROJECT

Materials • newspaper • large frame • paintbrush • acrylic paint (optional) • thick piece of corrugated cardboard, sized to ﬁt the frame • chalkboard paint, available at craft and home-improvement stores

INSTRUCTIONS

Cover your workspace with sheets of newspaper. If desired, paint or decorate the frame with acrylic paint. Paint one side of the cardboard with chalkboard paint. When everything is completely dry, secure the painted cardboard into the frame. It’s ready for chalk! To wipe the chalkboard clean, run a damp paper towel over it and let the board dry before using again.

Share your fun craft ideas and completed projects with us! Send them to ideas@kidsvt.com.

KIDS VT

— CAROLYN FOX

SEPTEMBER 2013

1. 2. 3. 4.

• chalk

KIDSVT.COM

SMARTBOARDS ARE STANDARD IN CLASSROOMS these days, but good old-fashioned chalkboards are still handy at home. Kids can use these easily erasable surfaces to practice their ABCs and improve their artistic skills. Start the school year with a clean slate by repurposing a thrift-store photo frame for this simple, speedy craft. It’ll be ready to use as soon as the paint is dry.

✱ CONTEST

Book Review Sponsored by

LEARN TO FLY GreenMountainFreestyle.com

GMFC provides a safe learning environment for skiers and snowboarders to learn and train tricks, aerial awareness and technique before taking it to the snow!

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Lake Champlain Waldorf School

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KIDSVT.COM SEPTEMBER 2013 KIDS VT

_______________________________________________________________

Author: Describe your favorite part of the story. What did you like about it? Feel free to use additional pages!

_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ We’ll pick the four most creative entries and excerpt them in the next issue. Winners receive a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop. Deadline to enter is September 20.

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Send your entries to: Kids VT, attn: Book Review, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

.cte Morgan sDooHorse g DMuseum, ekaB ,top eefoffBostwick oc Rd, Shelburne Former !tsite iaw uoLake y eChamplain lihw Waldorf High School) (The future of the www.lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org • (802) 985-2827 .enal eltrut no thgir ,thgil dr robrah ta tsew :egalliV enrublehs gro.loohcsfrodlawnialpmahcekal.www 7282-589

We could all u se a little r etail bliss. . .

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Book:

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3:30 & 4:30 ages up to 7th grade 5:30 for 8th graders and above

loohcS

Calling all bookworms! Send us a thoughtful paragraph about a recent read for the chance to win some literary loot.

8/21/13 3:59 PM

New Books, Used Books, Remainders at GREAT PRICES!

Name ________________________________ Age __________________________________ Town ________________________________ Email ________________________________ Phone ________________________________

14 Church Street Burlington crowbooks.com 862-0848

HABITAT

Preschoolers sit down for arts and crafts at Heartworks School

Super-Cool Preschool BY C AR OLY N F OX

“WHEN YOU ENTER THIS CLASSROOM, you are scientists. You are explorers. You are artists. You are mathematicians. You are authors.” So reads a sign on a door inside Heartworks School in Shelburne. Within the building are six pre-K classrooms — colorful, comfortable spaces designed to support young students’ adventures in education. Giant murals of Vermont farms and mountains cover the classroom walls; paper cutouts transform the main hallway into a leafy forest scene with deer and squirrels. Christmas lights illuminate a lending library, and classroom floor pillows invite children to cuddle up for circle time and story hour. “We think it’s important to have beautiful spaces for children,” says Diane Rooney, cofounder of the Heartworks and Renaissance Schools. She notes that kid-friendly décor goes a long way in helping little learners feel at home in their first academic environment. “We do try to have it feel homey,” says Rooney. “It’s kind of like this is their living room, and they’ve arrived as special guests for the day.”

•

A large foam obstacle course and picnic tables inhabit a common room used for recess, music class and after-school programs.

•

Wooden blocks, dollhouses and toy kitchens are surrounded by lots of open carpet space for free play.

•

All classrooms have cubbies and coat hooks neatly labeled with each child’s name.

•

A fenced-in, outdoor playground features a sandbox, swing set, jungle gym and mini rockclimbing wall.

PHOTOS: MATTHEW THORSEN

KIDSVT.COM SEPTEMBER 2013 KIDS VT

“Habitat” is a feature celebrating places where Vermont families live and play. Got a sweet space you’d like us to see? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

HANDS-ON ANSWERS P. 55

Birthday Club

PUZZLE PAGE

Winners get gift certificates to:

Congratulations

to these September Birthday Club winners! GRAND-PRIZE WINNER ETHAN lives in South Burlington and turns 10 in September. This sports enthusiast enjoys playing and watching soccer, baseball, basketball and football.

Ethan wins eight open-gym passes.

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.

Gavin, Hannah and Sofia win one hour-and-a-half opengym pass.

GAVIN lives in Georgia and turns 4 in September. He spends time reading, playing with his cars and learning to ski.

Puzzles4Kids

10% OFF BY HELENA HOVANEC

KIDS VT

SEPTEMBER 2013

KIDSVT.COM

Riddle Search — Quiet

HANNAH lives in Bristol and turns 8 in September. She likes horseback riding, theater and dance, as well as playing with her twin sister, Isabelle, and younger brother, Sam.

Look up, down and diagonally, both forward and backward, to find every word on the list. Circle each one as you find it. When all the words are circled, take the UNUSED letters and write them on the blanks below. Go from left to right and top to bottom to find the answer to this riddle: Why is bowling the quietest sport?

CALM FAINT GENTLE HUSHED MUM MUTE NOISELESS QUIET SILENT

SOFT SOUNDLESS STILL SUBDUED UNSAID UNSPOKEN VOICELESS WEAK

Worked up an appetite?

Riddle Answer:

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ .

SOFIA lives in Berlin and turns 9 in September. She loves drawing and being an artist. She also has a knack for styling and French-braiding hair.

REGAL BISTRO

EXP. 9/30/2013. LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER PER DAY.

Dine In Take Out Pizza by the slice

Call Ahead Daily Specials Catering

2 Corporate Drive • Essex

802.655.3300

COLORING CONTEST!

Title _______________________________________

Three winners will receive $25 gift cards to Creative Habitat, and free framing of their artwork for its Kids Gallery, located at the store on 555 Shelburne Road in Burlington. After a monthlong display of the winning artwork, Creative Habitat will give each artist the framed print to display at home.

Artist _____________________________________

Send Kids VT your work of art by September 15. Be sure to include the info at right with your submission. Winners will be chosen in the following categories: (1) ages 4 and younger, (2) ages 5-8 and (3) ages 9-12. Winners will be named in the October issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com or mail a copy to Kids VT, PO Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

Address ___________________________________

Age _______________________________________ Email _____________________________________ Phone _____________________________________

KIDSVT.COM SEPTEMBER 2013 KIDS VT

HAPPINESS IS... your kid skiing all season for just 159*

Saturday, Sept. 28th & Sunday, Sept. 29th Shelburne Farms 10am-5pm & 11am-4pm

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Make, craFt, deSign, develop with 50+ MakerS.

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*When purchased with parent’s Adult All Access Season Pass. Multiple youth passes may be purchased for $159, provided all youth are dependents of the adult.

Monday-Friday 7:00a-6:00p Sat 8:00a-4:00p

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Kids VT

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Adult: $569 Youth (7-17): $159* Senior (65-74): $299

T S Y OY

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USE YOUR WORDS

Life Lessons

Homeschooling was a learning experience for my daughter —and me BY CHR I ST Y MI H ALY

I had a demanding career I loved, and it wasn’t teaching.

Every weekend Starting Sept 28th 10am–4pm (weather permitting)

HARVEST FESTIVAL

Sat. & Sun. Oct. 5th & 6th • 11am–4 pm

Fun for the Whole Family

GIANT PUMPKIN WEIGH-IN Sat. Oct 12th starting at noon

PETTING ZOO

Our animals are here year round! Visit our website for hours and details on all our family-friendly activities!

655-3440 277 Lavigne Rd., Colchester sammazzafarms.com

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PUZZLE PAGE ANSWERS (see p. 52) JUmbLES dry. rink. wait. comb. RIDDLE ANSWER: where can you always find money when you look for it “IN thE DIctIoNARy”

RIDDLE SEARch ANSWER: you can hear a pin drop.

KIDS VT

“Use Your Words” is a monthly essay in which writers reflect on parenting and childhood. Got a story to share? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

HAYRIDES TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH

SEPTEMBER 2013

us, Vermont allows homeschoolers to take classes outside the home. Abby was accepted into Spanish IV at our high school. And at Pacem Learning Community, a nearby homeschool center, she signed up for twice-weekly physics classes. (I couldn’t teach that!) The rest, I felt I could teach — or, at least, supervise. And I’d still be able to work part time from home. Of course, nothing went quite as anticipated; we learned as we went. Things improved when I realized that rather than pretending to know everything, I should just join Abby in learning. The online math course we’d chosen was often confusing, so we started watching the videos and reading the materials together. Then I could answer Abby’s questions and check her work. It was often frustrating, but we both mastered the algebra. And Abby resolved some issues herself. When she felt I wasn’t clear enough about our plans, she created a whiteboard calendar. On Sunday nights, we’d map out the upcoming week’s schedule. As for that spelling book — boy, was it boring! Eventually we stopped worrying about Friday spelling tests and just learned to spell the words we needed for other lessons. Similarly, we abandoned regular 10:30 a.m. history sessions in favor of history field trips around New England. When you’re homeschooling, your schedule is flexible. That flexibility also allowed Abby to volunteer as a mentor for first graders in the mornings. In the spring she served as a legislative page at the Statehouse. The two of us joined a string ensemble — she playing violin, me playing cello. We still had time for writing, reading, hiking, skiing and just talking. And, unlike most of her schooled friends, Abby usually got enough sleep. Homeschooling did involve trade-offs. I missed going to work. My husband, who worked long hours away from home, sometimes felt excluded from our domestic homeschooling scene. And though Abby still saw her friends, coordinating get-togethers with “schoolers” took extra effort. But homeschooling was empowering and fun. We were the ones in charge of Abby’s education, and we were following her dream curriculum. Family dinner conversations became livelier as our lessons overflowed into the dinner hour. This fall, as we’d planned, my student is heading off to high school. She’s looking forward to being back in a classroom. I know I’ll miss all that one-on-one time we had. But as we head deeper into Abby’s teenage years, I’m especially grateful for one lesson homeschooling taught us: Working together, we’re a pretty good team.

MAZZA’S 3 MILE CORN MAZE

Open Daily, Aug. 30th thru Oct. 31st

KIDSVT.COM

“AVARICIOUS.” My daughter, Abby, and I contemplated the first word in her bright yellow spelling book. It was her first day of eighth grade last fall. Abby’s former classmates were taking their seats in new classrooms, but she and I were sitting at our kitchen counter, breakfast plates cleared, a pile of books in their place. We had decided to try homeschooling. At that moment, I was pretty sure it was all a big mistake. What was I supposed to do with “avaricious,” or the rest of the words on this list? How could I make memorizing spelling words interesting? For an entire year? Yikes. I looked at my new “teacher’s planner,” listened to the clock tick and felt like an utter fraud. I put the speller to the side, and pulled the history book from the pile. Homeschooling was something I’d sworn I would never do. I had a demanding career I loved, and it wasn’t teaching. I liked knowing my kids were being taught by professionals. Abby’s older siblings had completed their educations in school. Then an unexpected opportunity shook us out of our routine. When Abby was in seventh grade, my husband had the chance to teach and study for a year in Seville, Spain. We moved there and registered Abby at a local school. She opted to be “immersed” — she wanted to meet Spanish kids and learn their language. In that year, my daughter’s immersion became my immersion. At first, she understood nothing in school. Her teachers spoke little English. So on evenings and weekends, she and I slowly deciphered lessons on everything from ancient history to multivariable equations, relying on my college Spanish and a Spanish-English dictionary. Together, we tackled it all. By January, Abby was hitting her stride. By April, she was doing well in school, arranging a pool party with friends, and speaking better Spanish than I ever could. Although we were happy to return to Montpelier that summer, Abby was reluctant to go back to middle school. She worried it would be “boring” after her year abroad. Her dad and I were inclined to agree. Abby wanted to maintain her Spanish fluency, and study advanced math. We thought she should catch up on the American history she’d missed in Spain. Plus, I’d really enjoyed working side by side with my daughter, and watching her learn, during that intense year. I wasn’t quite ready to let go of that closeness. So, despite the skepticism of certain family members who seemed to believe we were joining a weird cult, Abby and I decided to homeschool for a year. I knew I wasn’t ready to be her only teacher. Luckily for

HEY KIDS!

COME ON OUT & HAVE SOME FUN!

Great Vermont Apples Essay & Drawing Challenge For kids in grades K through 5

Pick for Your Neighbor

Apples to iPods

Visit a participating local orchard to pick and purchase apples for donation to the Vermont Foodbank. PFYN will provide fresh, nourishing apples to more than 270 hunger relief organizations across Vermont. PFYN also increases business for local orchards, which are important parts of our communities.

Vermont’s apple growers are again working with the Vermont Department of Tourism, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Small Dog Electronics and Vermont Hard Cider Company to provide an additional reason to visit Vermont orchards this fall. Find the wooden “voucher” apple in participating orchards and redeem it for an Apple iPad or other Apple electronic accessories.

Hey Kids! The Great Vermont Apples Essay & Drawing Challenge is open to students in Kindergarten through Grade 5-in Vermont or any other state. The rules are simple: Category 1: Students in Kindergarten & First Grade are invited to submit original drawings of themselves, their classmates, friends or families enjoying a day in the orchard picking or eating apples. Drawings may be in any medium (pencil, crayon, ink, watercolors, etc.) on white paper, no larger than 9 by 12 inches. Category 2: Students in Grades 2 & 3 are invited to submit original essays on one of the following topics: 1) visiting an apple orchard or 2) enjoying fresh apples. Category 3: Students in Grades 4 & 5 are invited to submit original essays on the importance of including apples and other fresh produce in their daily diets. Categories 2 & 3: Handwritten essays should be submitted on 8 ½ X 11 inch ruled paper and be no longer than two pages. Typed essays should be submitted on nonruled 8 ½ X 11 inch paper using a 12 pt. font.)

Prizes: Gift certificates for each grade level will be awarded as follows: 1st place- $100; 2nd place- $50 ; 3rd place- $25. Gift certificates may be redeemed at any Vermont independent bookseller (see our website for links). Names of all entries will be entered into a drawing for apples for their respective classes (a total of 20 bushels of apples will be awarded to 20 entries). Entries & Deadlines: Each entry must include the student’s name, grade level and teacher’s contact information (e-mail or telephone number). Entries must be mailed to Great Vermont Apples, 1765 Center Rd., Montpelier, VT 056028544 and received by November 18, 2013. The Great Vermont Apple Essay & Drawing Challenge is sponsored by Vermont’s apple growers. Top entries will be posted on our website. For more information on where to pick apples and for ideas on essays and drawings, students are encouraged to visit www.vermontapples.org.

Join us for our 2013 Great Vermont Apple Harvest Kick-off on September 8 from 1-5 p.m. at Chapin Orchard in Essex. Live music, apples, cider, and family activities! More at www.vermontapples.org

To locate an apple orchard near you or to learn more about Vermont apples, visit

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