Kids VT - October 2011 - Techie Treats

ALL NEW!

FREE ✱ TEACHING TECH: ARE WE THERE YET? ✱ "CYBERTRAPS" AND HOW TO AVOID THEM ✱ A DAD EXPLAINS WHY HE'S TEACHING HIS SON TO HUNT ✱ HOW TO MAKE SWEDISH APPLE PIE

Techie Treats

OCT 2011 V OL.1 8 NO.9

JOIN US FOR A

PUMPKIN PAINTING

PARTY!

Paint a pumpkin and take it with you.

Join us at the following Vermont locations on Saturday, October 22 • 10am- 1pm 427 Main Street, Enosburg Falls 100 Center Road, Essex Center 175 Route 7 South, Milton 20 Morrisville Plaza, Morrisville 8 North Main Street, St. Albans 5070 Main Street (Route 100), Waitsfield 2300 St. George Road, Williston

Join us at the following New York locations on Saturday, October 29 • 10am- 1pm 2990 Main Street, Peru 714 State Route 3, Plattsburgh

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october 2011

kidsvt.com

Visit your nearest TD Bank for a full list of participating locations.

LONGEST HOURS • LEGENDARY SERVICE • HASSLE-FREE BANKING TD Bank, N.A.

VOL.18 N O.9

OCT 2011 DEPARTMENTS

A Vermont Nanny & Elder Care Agency

TECHNOLOGY

From the Kids VT Staff ............................................5 See and Say ......................................................................6 Celebrations.....................................................................41 Birthday Club..................................................................43 Use Your Words: Essay ..........................................47

On Top of Online

...................................................................

16

Computer expert and author Frederick Lane discusses what every parent should know about digital technology.

EAT. LEARN. PLAY

It All Adds Up

..................

20

Have a new addition to the family?

Vermont educators scramble to improve teaching techniques in science and math.

Ask us about our doula services and receive a 10% discount!

ON THE COVER

CALENDAR

ALL NEW!

FREE

www.babiestoboomersvt.com 802-540-0433

OCT 2011 V OL.18 NO.9

✱ TEACHING TECH: ARE WE THERE YET?

Daily Listings ..................................................................28 Ongoing Exhibits .......................................................29 Ongoing Playgroups .................................................30 Ongoing Story Times...............................................32

✱ "CYBERTRAPS" AND HOW TO AVOID THEM ✱ A DAD EXPLAINS WHY HE'S TEACHING HIS SON TO HUNT ✱ HOW TO MAKE SWEDISH APPLE PIE

Techie Treats

HANDS-ON

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Did you notice

the trick-or-treaters on this month’s cover are wearing math-and sciencerelated costumes?

The boy with the mustache is dressed as Albert Einstein.

Crafting With Kids: Halloween Magnets ....40 The Party Planner: Pumpkin Party .............42 Puzzle Page ......................................................................44 Coloring Contest .........................................................45

Illustration by Pat Lewis

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS Colby Roberts Cathy Resmer Don Eggert Kate Laddison Maryellen Apelquist Katrina Roberts Kristi Batchelder Judy Beaulac

colby@kidsvt.com cathy@kidsvt.com don@kidsvt.com kate@kidsvt.com Maryellen@kidsvt.com katrina@kidsvt.com kristi@kidsvt.com judy@kidsvt.com

ext. 77 ext. 74 ext. 71 ext. 73 ext. 78 ext. 75 ext. 72 ext. 76

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.

• •

© 2011 Da Capo Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

Circulation Manager Deputy Web Editor Office Manager

Submit your info by the 15th of the month online at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com

Contributing Writers: Stina Booth, Erik Esckilsen, Cheryl Herrick, Megan James, Ken Picard, Patrick Ripley, Katrina Roberts Photographers: Stina Booth, Andy Duback, Matthew Thorsen

calendar

Illustrators: Pat Lewis, Andy Singer

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Published 11x per year.

Circulation: 25,000 at 400+ locations throughout northern and central Vermont.

Production Manager Designers

List your event for free in the Kids VT monthy calendar.

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.

Proofreaders

Pamela Polston Paula Routly Beth Glaspie Kate O’Neill Krystal Woodward Celia Hazard Rev. Diane Sullivan Andrew Sawtell Steve Hadeka Tyler Machado Cheryl Brownell

Planning a kids event?

OCTOBER 2011

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

Copy Editors/Godparents

9/19/11 10:28 AM

KIDSVT.COM

Publisher Executive Editor Creative Director Managing Editor Calendar Writer Account Executive Account Executive Marketing & Events Director

• Professional screening and strict recruitment process • Full-time, part-time, temp, event, and sitter services

EDUCATION

The Kids Beat ..................................................................8 Ask Dr. First: Gross Bodily Functions ......10 Fit Families: Geocaching.......................................11 The Librarian Likes ....................................................11 Home Cookin’: Swedish Apple Pie................12 Out to Eat: Ray’s Seafood Market .................13 Go Ask Dad: Monitoring Technology .........14 The Art of... Stop-Motion Animation.........15 In Season: Apple Picking .....................................27

• Safe, loving, and professional in-home caregivers

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INFO@ 160 Bank Street Burlington, VT

802.859.0888

ORTHODONTICS

D R S . P E T E R S O N , R YA N & E AT O N

HALLOWEEN CANDY BUY BACK!

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FARMHOUSE

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KIDS

Bring us your candy and we will give YOU $1 for each pound of candy and donate $1 for each pound to Vermont Flood Relief

's KIDS,

Buy back dates are November 1st-4th in our Williston and St. Albans offices.

Visit our website for office hours.

FARMHOUSE

Braces & Invisalign for Children & Adults

Wholesome, local, farm fresh food that you can feel good about.

1/2 sized burgers, grilled cheese sandwich, mac-n-cheese and such.

Burlington 862-6721

Williston 878-5323

St. Albans 527-7100

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9/16/11 11:58 AM

“Thanks Alpine Shop, for the Ski and Board Leasing Program!”

“With the

kidsvt.com

Alpine Shop name standing behind it, you’re certain to get quality equipment and the right fit. At a ski swap, you just never know...”

october 2011

— Clark Family Richmond R

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HEY KIDS!

COME ON OUT & HAVE SOME FUN!

Pesty Questions

Sam’s3.1 3 Mile Maze Sam’s MileCorn Corn Maze Labor Day Weekend Thru October Daily 10 am - 6 pm • Fri. & Sat.‘til 7 pm Sunday ‘til 5 pm

Wa i

SURVIVE A KID’S “WHY” PHASE and you’ll realize children’s curiosity knows no bounds.

Hay Rides to the Pumpkin Patch Kids are born scientists, inventors and explorWeekends starting 24th24th Every Weekend fromSeptember September ers. They question everything and experiment through October 16th.

10running am - 4 pm (Weather Permitting) everywhere. Granted, it often gets them into 10am- 4pm (weather permitting) trouble, but painful experiences sure are memorable.

Vermont Harvest Festival My son, Oliver, learned a lesson that stung. On a recent Sat.&&Sun. Sun.• •Oct. Oct.1�1st & 2nd • 11 am pm Sat. �& 2rd • 11 am - 4- 4pm playground excursion, a friend dumped a double handful of fuzzy white caterpilGiant Pumpkin Weigh-In lars into his cupped hands. Cool. A few moments passed, and Oliver discovered Sat. ••Oct. Oct.�t8th pm- -33pm pm Sat. �h • 1• 1pm these particular caterpillars — hickory tussock moths — have microscopically SPONSORED BY: Come out to Sam Mazza’s Farm & Enjoy barbed setae, which can cause inflammation. Translation: ow. these Great Events.

Harvest Festival held Rain We spent a painful afternoon studying the properties of antihistamine, discussor Shine under the Pavilion with Great Food, ing itchy hands and hives, googling caterpillars, talking about “barbs,” and examinlots of Kid’s Games, Face Painting & our ing the mechanics of tweezers. Lesson of the day: Nature can be dangerous.

Petting Zoo! WVMT’s Charlie Papillo plays The next week, we found some harmless woolly bears. Oliver instructed me host at our Family-Oriented Festivals.

Check out our Web Site for a full schedule to put them in a clear bucket, which allowed us to watch Squirty and Bob from a of activities... and Bring your Friends! safe distance. Fascination eventually overcame fear, and he returned to his bugloving self. When we found a pregnant praying mantis, Oliver let the long-limbed Waitsfield Elementary School green bug strut her way up his arm.

Find new and used winter gear for Giving kids the freedom and opportunity to explore — and not freaking skiers and riders of all ages. out when they use it — leads them to love math and science, topics discussed Consignment drop-off Nov. 11th, 4-7pm. in Cathy Resmer’s feature “It All Adds Up” (page 20). Science, technology, FARM MARKET • BAKERY • GREENHOUSES Waitsfield Elementary School engineering and math education is a hot topic in schools, but parents can do Route 100, Waitsfield, VT 277 Lavigne Road • Colchester their part to encourage their little investigators. See Resmer’s “10 Ways to Raise 802.496-3643 | info@wesskiskate.com Scientists, Mathematicians, Engineers and IT Professionals” sidebar on page 22. wesskitskate.com Some areas of inquiry require more parental supervision than others. Author www.sammazzafarms.com Pre-register at WES starting Nov. 1ST. Fred Lane assigns some technology homework — to moms and dads — in his new book about the ways kids can get tangled up in the World Wide Web. k8v-WaitsfieldKski1011.indd 1 9/23/11k8v-SamMazza1011.indd 9:29 AM 1 9/19/11 1:50 PM On a lighter note, this month’s calendar is full of fun for young biologists, problem solvers and engineers, including “Science & Stories” at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, a day of brainteasing with Destination ImagiNation, and critter engineering at the Audubon Center in Huntington.

PTA ield tsf

Nov. 12-13 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

655-3440

DO YOUR KIDS LOVE PUDDLES?

KATE LADDISON, MANAGING EDITOR kate@kidsvt.com

We’ve got a large selection of rain boots, rain jackets and umbrellas.

HURRY, JUST IN!

I-play Rainpants

Growing up, which Halloween costume was your favorite?

ERIK ESCKILSEN, WRITER

MARYELLEN APELQUIST, CALENDAR WRITER

These waterproof, lightweight pants help keep little ones dry without weighing them down!

Wear on top of pants for secure, durable protection from the rain.

Elastic waistband for easy on and off.

STINA BOOTH, WRITER

I was a Goth girl, complete with rubber snakes in my hair. Many people think I could pull off a good Sarah Palin ... so maybe that’s in the works!

KATRINA ROBERTS, WRITER

A Child ore t S r t e n n ’ e s D m s e t p r a Chil d r • Toy en’s Wea

r • Footwear • Baby/Nursery • Books

CATHY RESMER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Hands down: Boba Fett.

It’s all about the mask.

KATE LADDISON, ASSOCIATE EDITOR

64 Harvest Ln, Williston, Vt – (802) 764-1810 1/2 mile from Tafts Corners • Across from the New England Federal Credit Union

Hours: Mon - Sat 9:30 - 6 Sun 11-5 • www.butterednoodles.com

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When I was 10 or so, I had to switch costumes at the last minute, and my mom heroically made me into a Hershey’s Kiss. I’m not sure how successful

it was as a costume — one neighbor asked me if I was supposed to be “leftovers” — but I loved that my mom pulled it together.

KIDS VT

I donned a rubber devil mask and stood on my front porch while trickor-treaters arrived.

ALL COLUMBIA RAIN JACKETS & RAIN PANTS

OCTOBER 2011

Baby Miss Piggy. I wore an adult diaper and a pink tutu and, of course, a pig snout.

30% OFF

They thought I was a dummy until I moved and spooked them. It was especially funny since we always had kids who were way too old to be trickor-treating.

KIDSVT.COM

For years I harbored mild dread about my Halloween costumes, as my mom’s handiwork invariably involved me donning my older sisters’ hand-me-down tights.

I finally got over that worry when she had me walking tall as the Jolly Green Giant.

ONLY $14.99

Available in Black, Navy & Pink Sizes: Infant -Toddler

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9/23/11 9:19 AM

THE

BELLWETHER SCHOOL

see and say

Learn more about our school and our holistic approach at our

Feedback

Fall Parent Preschool Kindergarten Elementary After School

Give Up the “Gifted”

Open House

Wed, Nov 16 6 pm Call to RSVP

To see us in action, watch the VIDEO on our website or come in for a TOUR!

1186 S. Brownell Rd. Williston (802)863-4839 BellwetherSchool.org

9/22/11 k8v-petfoodwarehouse1011.indd 10:02 AM 1

9/20/11

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OctOber 2011

KidsVT.com

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Spaces available in our Preschool Program for 2011-12

As a former “highly gifted” child and the father of an early reader just starting kindergarten, I was pleased to read that Vermont does not mandate specialized programs for the gifted [“Little Genius,” September 2011]. Indeed, it sounds like we are doing things right.

What we call programs for Gifted Children are really mostly just programs for Pushy Parents. My own experiences in elementary school consisted of being taken off to “smart-kid playrooms” where little learning and much goofing off occurred, while behind-the-scenes parents politicked viciously to get their kids in. I certainly enjoyed my license to lord my status over “ungifted” peers, but probably would have gained more from real subject studies in my own classroom with my excellent teachers than I did from the whims of “enrichment.”

Even a quick glance at the oh-socarefully-formulated laundry list of characteristics in the article’s sidebar makes one laugh out loud. Standardized testing of 5-year-olds — or 10-year1:33 PM olds — is supposed to identify some meaningful subset of all that? “I am sorry, Ms. Smith, but while in her testing little Sally revealed a strong liking for structure and order, her capacity to be puzzled did not score high enough to get her into the program.” All kids have some of these traits, and good teachers learn how

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9/15/11 12:58 PM

to make use of them in the classroom to bring other kids along.

The greatest gifted program in the world, as your last sidebar suggests, is staffed by involved, creative parents.

Don’t spend money on tutors; take your kid to a museum!

Nathaniel G. Lew Burlington

G&T Story Well Done

Thank you and kudos to Aimee Picchi on her article [“Little Genius,” September 2011] on gifted children in Vermont! It was well done and balanced.

Of course, I appreciate very much her mention of the New England gifted conference coming to Vermont this fall.

Carol Story South Burlington Story is an organizer of the two-day New England Conference on Gifted and Talented Education, which takes place October 13 through 15 at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center.

SEE AND SAY

Q:

Do you make your own Halloween costumes?

Vermont families are pretty crafty. According to our informal poll, 44 percent of Kids VT readers make their own Halloween costumes; 36 percent say they “sometimes do.”

The winners of our three $25 gift certificates to Texas Roadhouse are …

COLORING CONTEST

It’s the little things that count, right?

In this month’s coloring contest we noted hand-drawn Red Sox hats, freckles, earrings, eye shadow, suns, clouds and birds. Each detail added intriguing dimension to the entries.

Kids read — and see and create — between the lines. Thanks for your artwork, and congratulations to all of this month’s winners.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

44%

36%

20% no

sometimes

yes

FANTASTIC FRECKLES Sarah Eustis, 12, Essex Junction

Cadence Tenney, 4 1/2

4 and under

WILLIAMSTOWN

“Going to School”

GROOVIEST GREEN GUYS Luisa Novelli, 5, Burlington SENSATIONAL SEQUINS Isabelle Varricchione, 6, Williston BEST USE OF CHALK Lily Smith, 6 Shelburne STRIKING STROKES Shea Silvers, 6, Middlesex TERRIFIC TEXTURE David Slayton, 6, Fairfax

Disappointed With “Shots for Tots”

WILLISTON

AMAZING METALLICS Madilyn Bilodeau, 8, Colchester

“Walk and Talk”

TOP TITLES “Me & Dad Camping” Kataleena Parker, 4, Burlington “Two New School Friends” Madison Fitzgerald, 9, Fairfax “Going to the Beach!”

Zoe Glass, 7, Burlington “Neon” Emma Smith, 11, Burlington See a slide show of all of the submissions at kidsvt.com.

Find this month’s contest on page 45. The deadline is October 15.

Speak Up! Kids VT wants to publish your rants and raves.

Eden Henderson, 10

9 to 12

BROOKFIELD

“Cool at School”

Your comments should • be no more than 250 words long, • respond to Kids VT content, and • include your full name, town and a daytime phone number.

Email us at feedback@kidsvt.com or send a letter to Kids VT, PO Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402. We also reprint comments we receive via Facebook and Twitter, with permission from the authors. Kids VT reserves the right to edit for accuracy and length.

KIDS VT

Michael Royer Burlington

Grace Koutras, 8

OCTOBER 2011

7

Gabriel Archdeacon Montpelier

Re [“Shots for Tots,” September 2011]: At what point did the discredited article in the Lancet cause the possible link between autism and MMR vaccine to become “the now-discredited link between the MMR vaccine and autism”?

How does one discredited article prove there’s no link? Remember that one article in the 1950s that said there was a link between cancer and cigarette smoking but which was then discredited when the article’s author turned out to have changed his numbers? Whew.

Glad that link between smoking and cancer was discredited! My comments are a response to the article and not an opinion on the overuse of and undertesting of vaccines in general. It’s a controversial and troubling topic that I’ve dealt with as a parent. I can’t prove a connection between vaccines and autism, but it’s depressing that so many articles and commentators use only that Lancet article as their proof that there is no connection. Thanks for putting out an excellent paper!

BEST BEARD Lincoln Schweers, 5, St. Albans

KIDSVT.COM

I am a naturopathic physician in Montpelier. I am the primary care physician for hundreds of children in central Vermont, and I administer vaccines daily to many of my patients. I was disappointed with the article in the recent issue of your magazine [“Shots for Tots,” September 2011]. It really only explored one side of this issue and rejected a family’s right to choose which vaccines to administer to their children and when.

There are many vaccines that provide many children with much-needed protection from potentially deadly and debilitating infections. However, not every child has the same risk factors, and it is very reasonable to make educated and individualized decisions. While herd immunity is important with some of the infections, it is not important with others.

I won’t go into all of the details but I was very disappointed in this piece of “journalism.” I have long thought that if I were ever to advertise in a periodical in Vermont, it would be Kids VT. Now I am not so sure.

Discredited Article, Not Link

5 to 8

Billings Farm & Museum Gateway to Vermont’s Rural Heritage

THE

BEAT

B Y M ARY E L L E N AP E L QUI S T & K AT E L AD D I S ON

27th Annual

Harvest Weekend Oct. 8 & 9, 2011 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Husking Bee: noon Barn Dance: 1:00-4:00 Cider Pressing Preserving Apples Making Butter & Ice Cream Apples-on-a-String 19th Century Games Building a Split Rail Fence Threshing Grain

TOYS

Science Made Fun

Operating Dairy Farm Farm Life Exhibits 1890 Farm House

Rte. 12 • Woodstock, VT

Inquiring young minds need toys that educate, spark creativity and, of course, make playtime fun. Vergennes-based WowToyz delivers on all fronts, say the folks at Creative Child magazine, who recently bestowed top toy honors on the company. From WowToyz’ classic JR. SCIENCE EXPLORER TELESCOPE to its Museum Quality Great Dinos, the company’s designs aim to foster “inquisitiveness and creativity and … self-confidence through play,” says Rebecca Chauvin, director of operations at WowToyz. Another 2011 product of the year, the Jr. Science Explorer Soda Powered Clock Kit, is sure to be a kid-pleaser: What better way to learn about electrolytes than building a Pepsi-fueled timepiece? — M.A.

802-457-2355 • www.billingsfarm.org

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WOWTOYZ: Find WowToyz at specialty retailers and online. Jr. Science Explorer Telescope set, $16.95 at mightytoy.com. Info, wowtoyz.com.

9/13/11 2:21 PM

SPORTS Vermont’s Oldest & Most Experienced Childcare Placement Agency

Contact us to hear about our fall specials!

KIDSVT.COM

Our childcare providers have undergone an intensive screening process.

802-872-1VNC (1862)

www.vermontnannyconnection.com

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The next best thing to fresh powder? Breaking in a new snowboard park designed especially for kids. BURTON RIGLET PARK is named for the retractable cord that can be fitted to Burton boards to allow instructors to guide and assist up-and-coming Jake Burtons. The approximately 60-by-80-foot outdoor play space features box-style rails, pyramids and a mini half-pipe. From the park’s 15-by-20-foot tree house, kids can slide down ramps, practice catching a lift chair or take a break from the grueling course work at Smugglers’ Notch Resort’s Snow Sports University. “I’m ecstatic about this project,” says snowboard supervisor Mike Chait. “I can’t wait.”

Smuggs is working with Burton on the park’s design. A pilot project last winter gave the designers all the info they needed. “Kids loved it,” says Chait. — K.L. BURTON RIGLET PARK AT SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH: Located at the Sir Henry’s Learning Area with conveyor lift access.

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KIDS VT

OCTOBER 2011

Services Include:

• Full & Part Time Nannies • Babysitters & Event Sitters • Temporary Nannies Available • Gift Certificates Available

Powder Park

9/16/11 12:05 PM

EAT. LEARN. PLAY. COMMUNITY

Once Upon a Hurricane. . .

Expect the recovery from Tropical Storm Irene to take many shapes and forms. In its hard-hit hometown of Waterbury, the CHILDREN’S LITERACY FOUNDATION is working with the Thatcher Brook Primary School to host a storytelling session with Vermont author Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, who will present her book Nora’s Ark about Vermont’s 1927 flood. CLiF hopes the event, in turn, will launch a project giving flood-affected kids an opportunity to write about their Irene experiences. “Even with all the press coverage of the Vermont floods, not a lot of kids have had a chance to tell their personal stories,” says CLiF executive director Duncan McDougall. “We want the children of Waterbury to have a chance to write about their recent experiences and share them with other kids — and adults — across the state.” — K.L.

SKI & RIDE SALE Camel’s Hump School Richmond, VT

SATURDAY, NOV. 5 8am-4pm

SUNDAY, NOV. 6 10am-2pm

www.cochranskiclub.org

CHILDREN’S LITERACY FOUNDATION: For information about CLiF’s efforts, visit clifonline.org, email Matt Bushlow at matt@clifonline.org or call 244-0944. k12v-cochrans1011.indd 1

9/16/11 11:35 AM

BOOKS

Little Witches A tiny witch cleverly solves two thorny parenting puzzles in a new book by Thea Lewis: What happens to unmatched socks in the laundry? How do you motivate kids to clean their rooms? Although she is still a witch-intraining, Zula reveals to the main character Lucy that she’s been “spiriting” away socks for practice. A coven of small spell-casters is responsible for tidying the room. This is a relief for Lucy, who received a mom-issued ultimatum: Clean up, or no trick-or-treating. THERE’S A WITCH IN MY SOCK DRAWER is the first children’s book for Lewis, who created the Queen City Ghostwalk and authored Haunted Burlington: Spirits of Vermont’s Queen City. Lewis teams up with Burlington artist Ian Webb in the fresh-off-the press, Halloween-themed book aimed at middle schoolers. Want to hear more? Lewis reads aloud in the University Mall atrium from 3 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 30. — K.L. THERE’S A WITCH IN MY SOCK DRAWER: By Thea Lewis, Peapod Press, $10.95. Available in several local bookstores, including Phoenix Books and Café in Essex and UVM’s Catamount Store on Church Street. Info, thealewis.com.

HISTORY

KIDS VT

9

HISTORY HUNT: Contest packets are available for download at preservationburlington.org; hard copies may be picked up at the Burlington Planning Department at Burlington City Hall or at Wanamaker Restoration.

OCTOBER 2011

The past comes alive this month as Burlingtonians of all ages hit the streets for the city’s firstever HISTORY HUNT HUNT. Sponsored by Preservation Burlington, the scavenger hunt contest presents competitors with photos of architectural elements from buildings throughout the city, and tasks them with correctly matching the images with an address or common name. “We want people, kids and their parents, to get out there and appreciate the architecture around our city,” says Rebecca Reese, a Preservation Burlington board member and UVM grad student. “We’re educating them, but in a fun way.” Families can complete the hunt at their leisure anytime between October 1 and November 10, but if a crisp, informative walk on a fall day isn’t enough of an incentive, here’s more motivation: One lucky winner gets a new iPad. — M.A.

KIDSVT.COM

COURTESYF OF DIANE SULLIVANE

Get a Clue!

A Healthy Body Begins with a Healthy Spine!

CK BA

A NDY D U

Healthy People Begin with Healthy Bodies

A Healthy Planet Begins with Healthy Communities

Healthy Communities Begin with Healthy People

What should parents know about gross bodily functions?

Got questions for Dr. First?

Send them to ideas@kidsvt.com.

It all begins with you

✱ ASK DR. FIRST

BOOGERS, BELCHES AND FARTS — they’re natural fodder for childhood giggles, but can also provide useful insights into kids’ diet and health.

Lewis First, chief of pediatrics at Vermont’s Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen, offers a doctor’s take on the topic of the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center’s exhibit “Grossology: The Impolite Science of the Human Body.” definitely worth calling to your doctor’s attention. Red may represent fresh blood, and black, old blood.

KIDS VT: Why should kids learn about disgusting bodily functions?

LEWIS FIRST: Not only does this represent a moment of inappropriate humor, it’s also a great way to educate children and families about how their 11:28 AM bodies function in a way that captures their interest.

RUSHFORD FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC 100 Dorset Street, Suite 21 • 860-3336 www.rushfordchiropractic.com

k12v-rusford1011.indd 1

9/22/11

CHILDREN’S CLASS (6-12)

Build confidence, have fun!

Learn the Martial Art of Harmony!

CLASS STARTS OCT 29TH Saturday mornings 9:30-10:30am.

Monthly fee of $50 includes uniform.

More information at 862-9785

or children.vermontaikido@yahoo.com.

Check out our adult classes too!

274 North Winooski Avenue Burlington k12v-vtaikido1011.indd 1

9/21/11

KVT: Why is nose picking bad?

LF: Because it introduces germs onto their fingers and can cause irritation and bleeding if the debris is scraped 11:10 AMaway from the surface inside the nose.

How many kids really go wash their hands after nose-picking? I wish they would, but they don’t. They’d do a lot better learning to put a tissue up there or learning to blow their nose.

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KIDS VT

OCTOBER 2011

KIDSVT.COM

Say you saw it in…

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KVT: OK. Let’s talk mucous, or snot.

LF: Every day, the body makes about a quart of this sticky, slimy liquid, coming from the nose and sinuses. This sticky substance helps trap dirt, dust, pollen and germs to prevent them from traveling farther into our breathing passages, inflaming them and making it more difficult to breathe. When dirt and dust stick to the mucous, it dries up in clumps forming what we technically call “nasal debris,” or what everybody else refers to as the dreaded “booger.” The good news is, when boogers form, that means your nose is working well. But because it’s uncomfortable, kids need to learn how to get rid of that debris from their nose.

KVT: Why do noses run?

LF: When you get a germ in there, a message goes to the brain to increase the production of mucous to block any further chance of those germs getting into your system. Sometimes, your nose runs when it’s cold outside to keep the lining of the nose moist, so it doesn’t crack and bleed. So, while mucous may be gross, it’s a great filtering system.

KVT: Gas can smell bad and hurt. But is it unhealthy?

LF: No! Gas is another great function. When we digest foods, we’re not just swallowing

5/25/11 2:07 PM

The good news is, when boogers form, that means your nose is working well. solids and liquids, but also air, which contains gases such as oxygen and nitrogen and can build up in your digestive system and form gas bubbles. We get rid of that through burping or through an equally memorable bodily function. As the healthy bacteria in your intestines help break down your food, they release gases that can contain sulfur, ammonia and methane, which gives the not-sopleasant odor to the passing of gas. When infants feed, they swallow lots of air and this can be uncomfortable for them.

That’s why we burp babies and when we don’t they’re likely to pass more gas to release the pressure.

KVT: What foods make kids gassy?

LF: Onions, fried foods, certain vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli. Also, dairy products if children are lactose intolerant. Then there’s baked beans.

Here’s the secret to baked beans: If you soak them in water for a couple hours before you cook them up, the gas escapes from the bean and kids can get all the protein without the gaseous aftershock.

KVT: What’s the poop on bowel movements?

LF: Poops come in all shapes, sizes and colors, which often reflects what the child has eaten. Certainly, unless the child has been drinking a lot of juice or punch with red color, or black licorice, red or black colors in the stool are

KVT: What about using products to stop diarrhea?

LF: Parents should not give their kids medicine to stop either vomiting or diarrhea, because the sooner the body rids itself of whatever is bothering it, the better the child is going to feel.

KVT: What about vomiting?

LF: Like all of these functions, it’s a way for the body to get rid of things it doesn’t like. It could be an irritant such as spoiled food that can cause food poisoning. The brain receives a signal from the stomach that there’s something that doesn’t belong, so a message goes back to the stomach to get rid of its contents as quickly as possible.

KVT: When is vomiting problematic?

LF: We worry if it contains blood or causes belly pain. If the vomiting lasts more than 24 hours and the child can’t stay hydrated, that’s a concern. The best thing you can do for a child who’s vomited is rest the child’s stomach for a couple of hours — that is, nothing to eat or drink — and then give him or her small amounts of clear liquids or rehydration solutions.

KVT: Should parents ever induce vomiting in kids?

LF: No, because there’s a risk of things coming up from the stomach, and, instead of going out the mouth, they can go down the windpipe. That’s called aspiration, and it’s very dangerous. We don’t use ipecac anymore because the amount of the toxin that comes out is a very low percentage compared to what stays down there. Plus, you add the risk of aspiration. If you are concerned call the regional Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

—

— KEN PICARD

Ken Picard is a staff writer at Seven Days. He lives with his wife and daughter in Colchester.

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I was genuinely excited when I finally found the cache. Heading back to the car, I felt both accomplished and sweaty.

Librarian: Sarah Allerton, children’s librarian, St. Albans Free Library Book: Kitten’s First Full Moon,

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Allerton’s summary: Kitten

sees her first full moon and thinks that it’s a saucer of milk in the sky. She tries and tries to get to it, falling down, climbing trees and getting all wet in a pond in the process. When she finally makes it back home, a bowl of milk is waiting for her.

Why it’s a great read: This book won

the 2005 Caldecott Medal for its outstanding illustrations. The blackand-white drawings are beautiful and perfectly complement the text, conveying the kitten’s excitement, confusion, fear and joy. The story captures the feelings of wonder that small children experience as they explore their sometimes-puzzling worlds. Deceptively simple, funny and poetic, the tale of the white kitten in the dark night will captivate children.

Why Allerton recommends the author: Kevin Henkes has written

Kids VT

11

“The Librarian Likes” features a different librarian and book each month.

Got an idea for a future LL? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

October 2011

and illustrated more than 40 books for children, from picture books to young-adult novels (including the Newbery Honor book Olive’s Ocean). He understands the important feelings of small children and inspires kids to use their budding imaginations.K

kidsvt.com

“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. Stina Booth is a writer and photographer living in Fairfield with her husband and daughter.

stina booth

Kids have no problem finding Info: geocaching.com excitement in everyday events, but an activity that also sparks an adult’s sense of What you’ll need: adventure is worth its weight in gold. Try GPS device or geocaching — a high-tech treasure hunt GPS-enabled phone, that combines nature and technology in a access to a computer walking workout. A geocache is essentially a container that has been hidden for the Interesting fact: sole purpose of being discovered; inside are There are geocaches a trinket and logbook. on every continent, The only equipment you’ll need for this including Antarctica. game — other than able bodies — is a GPS device or GPS-enabled smartphone and a computer.

Get started by visiting the website geocaching.com to find coordinates of a cache in your area. Plug the coordinates of the cache into your GPS device, which lets you know as you’re getting “warmer.”

Ultimately, though, you have to hunt around for the container. Once you find it, you may take the treasure from the cache, but only if you leave an item of equal or greater value in its place. Sign the logbook, recording your success, then re-hide the cache.

I live in the woods, but have a computer.

After registering my free profile on geocaching.com, I was thrilled to find I could go geocaching within a mile of my house. Online, caches are rated according to difficulty level, terrain and distance.

I was looking for a quick post-lunchpre-nap jaunt that would not be too much for my seven-month-old daughter, Celia, so I picked a short cache called “Two Dogs Barking.” My total hike after a quick drive: one mile round trip. Perfect. Had I been more ambitious I could have skipped the drive and added a couple of miles, but the air was ripe with ragweed pollen. A shorter walk would do.

I downloaded a $10 iPhone app to help on my hunt. The app isn’t required, but Stina Booth makes it easier to establish your position relative to the cache. It took us along an old rail bed. With baby strapped on and Back home, I posted about the experience on the game’s dogs in tow, I enjoyed the scenery and, website, where treasure hunters discuss their finds. A amazingly, actually forgot I was getting exercise. My workout followed by a little creative writing? Win-win. heart pounded in anticipation: What would I find? I was genuinely excited when I finally found the cache, but can’t Warning: Curiosity may quickly lead to find-and-seek obsession. But that’s a good thing when you’re looking for describe what it was, as per game etiquette, so as not to spoil anyone else’s fun. Lets just say this: Heading back to creative ways to keep a family active — and parents, alert. K the car, I felt both accomplished and sweaty.

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Planning Q home cooKin’ a kids No-Fuss Crust: event? b y Mary e lle n ap e lqu ist

Swedish Apple Pie

List your event for free in the Kids VT monthy calendar.

Submit your info by the 15th of the month online at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com “Packed with familyfriendly experiments and plenty of stuff to touch...”

Kids loVe apples in all of their tart and sweet, crisp and juicy glory.

Vermont’s apple season delivers these fresh-fruit jewels to children’s fingertips.

If they don’t like picking their own, look for the red, green and gold orbs piled high in bushel baskets at roadside stands throughout the state.

Serve them sliced and smeared with peanut butter or pressed into sauce or cider. Better yet, here’s a simple cinnamon-kissed apple dessert that you can make for the kids, with the kids. Swedish Apple Pie gives them everything they want from a traditional apple pie — a buttery crust, a lightly spiced and juicy apple filling, a vehicle for vanilla ice cream — serVes 6 without giving you piecrust anxiety. The top crust is made with more of a batter than a dough, and there’s no bottom crust to fuss with. sWedish apple pie

Montshire Museum of Science

Exit 13, I-91,. Norwich, VT • 802-649-2200

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Filling: 5-6 medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon Crust: 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted, (plus extra for greasing the pan) 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg, lightly beaten

0:60 WhaT Kids can help WiTh: • Peeling apples (older kids) • Buttering dish • Spreading apple slices in dish • Sprinkling cinnamonsugar over apple slices • Mixing batter for crust • Spreading batter over apple filling

12

Kids VT

october 2011

KidsVT.com

1. Grease an 8-9-inch-square baking dish with butter 2. preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

3. spread apple slices evenly over the bottom of the butter-greased baking dish.

4. in a small bowl, mix the sugar with the cinnamon; sprinkle the mixture over the apple slices.

5. in a medium-sized bowl, mix the crust ingredients until the batter is just combined.

6. spread the batter over the apple filling with the back of a spoon (also a great job for little hands).

7. bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, about 45 minutes. K

eAt. leArN. PlAy. Q oUT To EAT b y che ry l h e rrIc k

MAtthew thOrSeN

Ray’s Seafood Market 7 Pinecrest Drive, essex Junction, 879-3611

Father John and daughter Victoria Hiebert

YoU probAblY AlrEAdY Know you can buy fish at Ray’s Seafood Market — they’ve been shelling out seafood in Chittenden County since 1949. But did you know the family-owned and -operated business is also a bustling sit-down restaurant? My sons and I popped in recently for a quick dinner and enjoyed the scene every bit as much as the food.

We walked past a line of creemee-seeking folks on the way into Ray’s aqua-colored interior, where fishing nets, lighthouse figurines and nautical pictures complete the angler theme. On our way to a booth, we noticed the specials list. The bright-pink

My son’s fish and chips included small pieces of a white fish — not the sort of reconstituted stuff some places serve. salmon steaks, clams, fish fillets and lobsters on display assured us that whatever we ordered would be fresh.

My plan was to get a mix of fried and broiled seafood so we could sample both preparations, figuring my older guy would likely go with a

FAmilY-FriEndlY AmEniTiEs: high chairs, booster seats. bring your own crayons, books and toys, though the wait isn’t long. oUr bill For ThrEE: $28, including tip.

“landlubbing” choice. The main menu featured dozens of options, from appetizers such as shrimp cocktail and cheddar-cheese shrimp “jammers,” to baskets of fried seafood and, baked, stuffed haddock dinner. Healthy, kid-friendly sides, including corn, baked potatoes, applesauce and rice — in addition to French fries — were available for $4.25.

When it was our turn to order at the counter, I started to rattle off grown-up selections for the boys, but the cashier steered me to the children’s menu, pointing out that it was a much better value.

As I predicted, my older, 8-year-old son followed his tastes by ordering a cheeseburger with applesauce and corn. The children’s menu offered the choice of any two sides to accompany fish, burger or hotdog entrées.

His younger brother, who is 6, got fish and chips with corn and applesauce, for $5.95. I ordered the Cajun catfish basket, which I envisioned as blackened grilled or broiled fillets.

The restaurant was busy while we were there, but we waited only about 10 minutes for our food.

Ray’s doesn’t have toys, books or crayons available,

but that was Ok with us. When the 6-year-old got wiggly, he started counting the lighthouses in the paintings and figurines, then how many were on islands and how many were on shore.

By the time he began tallying how many lighthouses were illuminated, they called our number and we picked up our food at the counter.

Instead of the piece of grilled fish I had anticipated, my dinner was fried — big, spicy, battered catfish wedges that were crispy, light and not at all greasy.

The modest $8.95 “mate’s” portion from the adult’s menu was plenty for me, but hearty eaters would probably want to go for the captain-sized choices.

The coleslaw was good and fresh, if a bit sweet for my taste.

My son’s fish and chips included small pieces of a white fish — not the sort of reconstituted stuff some places serve.

Although we looked longingly at the strawberry shortcakes other diners brought back to their tables, we were too impatient to stay for dessert. Maybe next time we’ll count a few more lighthouses and fit in the last course. K

“Out to Eat” is a monthly family-friendly restaurant review. Where should we eat next? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com. Cheryl Herrick is a writer and blogger who lives in Burlington.

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How involved are you in monitoring your kids’ use of technology?

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Children: sons Yin Bo, 6, and Yin Yi, 4

WaiTsfield

Children: daughter, Anneka, 12; son, Very much involved. There are good Theron, 9 information sources out there for children, (parties limited to 8 children) and they should be able to get to them. For example, my While we have never owned or watched television, our sons’ favorite show is “Wild Kratts.”

On the half-hour TV children have daily access to their own inexpensive sterling • gold • pewter • delicas segment, my sons learn about one animal in detail. When laptop computers, as well their parents’ iPod, iTouch, charms • books • stringing materials they go to the PBS Kids website to iPad and smartphones. We follow a tools • pearls • findings • gem stones look for “Wild Kratts,” they learn simple “30-20-10” rule: Mornings are more on different animals. While devoted to 30 minutes of quiet reading they are playing games on the site, and 10 minutes of music practice — piano they learn more about animals, the and drums. Late afternoons ... we allow environment, math and many other 20 minutes of “screen time,” which fun activities. However, allowing usually takes the form of iPad or iTouch children to go online by themselves gaming or email chat with friends. What’s is a very dangerous thing. You do not most exciting in this world of media want your children to be exposed to convergence, though, is family fun around 21 Taft Corners Shopping Center information that is inappropriate for cross-platform media consumption and Williston • 288-9666 • www.beadcrazyvt.com them.

Therefore, I store only links to production. Listening to Percy Jackson Birthday Parties • Repairs websites that are good for my chilor Harry Potter on iPod audiobook while Instruction is Always Available geoff geValT Class schedule online. dren in my bookmarks, and my sons traveling, or throwing my son a Flip know that they are only to visit sites camera and watching him shoot and edit a stored there. mountain-biking video with his friends, I realize that the k8v-beadscrazy1011.indd 1 9/14/11 1:53 PM possibilities for promoting health, wealth and wisdom by combining the best of our 21st-century media technologies with good old-fashioned intellectual and physical John alexander, acTor, BurlingTon activity are very real.

Children: sons Max, 21, and Sam, 19

my feeling now is that our goal as parents should be to teach our kids how to use the Internet well.

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Kids VT

october 2011

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When they were little kids, there was no Facebook, but there was plenty of online gaming. So I used to keep the parental controls set on high, especially on the multiplayer games, so there wouldn’t be, for instance, any blood or cursing. My main objective was to protect them from weird stalkers who pose as other kids, that kind of thing. I also just didn’t want them to spend a lot of time playing games. There were time limits. Of course, as they got older and more resistant, it became harder to limit them. The problem is, there’s a level of addiction with video games because of their interactive nature that is unrivaled by anything in TV, movies and books. Justice Scalia is obviously ignorant of those facts to have written what he did in the recent Supreme Court decision [that struck down a California law banning the sale of violent video games to children]. I was outraged by it. There are horrible games where it’s part of the game to torture people. That’s sort of the worst-case scenario that I was trying to protect my kids from. I’m not sure I succeeded, but I tried pretty hard.

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“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. Erik Esckilsen is a freelance writer and Champlain College instructor. He lives in Burlington with his wife and twin daughters, and their dog.

geoff geValT, direcTor , young WriTers proJecT, hinesBurg

Children: daughters Anna, 24, and Lily, 18; son, Jake, 21 We experienced the explosion of the Internet, instant messaging, social networking and the remarkable usefulness of the ’net as a learning tool. Like so many of our counterparts, we didn’t have any guideposts. Our concern was not safety as much as trying to make sure that the Internet didn’t become a distraction. And our involvement curve was also pretty similar to other parents: On the case with the oldest; much more relaxed with the youngest. I think the worry over safety is misspent. Yes, there are situations on Facebook and the like that cause hurt. And usually, as a dad, I was not aware of the details — just aware of the sudden funk that my child was in. As I look at my earlier days when I actually blocked Facebook from our computer, well, I cringe. Because my feeling now is that our goal as parents should be to teach our kids how to use the Internet well. The best way to learn, of course, is by doing. And by being open. So, as my kids tell me often, the best policy is probably to “chill.” K — IntervIews compIled by erIk esckIlsen

eAt. LeArN. PLAY. Q The arT oF…

Stop-Motion Animation

Corn Maze WhaT You’ll Need comPuTer: Most kids have access to a computer, either at home, school or a local library.

Webcam: Available online for as little as $20.

MAttHew tHorseN

ediTiNG soFTWare: Heilig uses a Mac program called istopMotion ($49) in conjunction with garageband, which comes with most Macs, to mix music. For a Pc, he suggests stop Motion Pro and Audacity.

Nicholas Heilig

creates the illusion that the inanimate objects are moving.

Classes begin with a storyboard.

Heilig teams students up in small groups, each of which comes up with a story.

There’s only time to turn one of the narratives into film per group, so “they learn how to compromise,” says Heilig.

“Getting started, making the characters, is the easiest part,” he says.

“The kids have so much creativity.”

In addition to filmmaking basics, kids learn basic laws of physics, too.

Just 5 minutes from Middlebury & 40 minutes from Burlington

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The class: stop-Motion Animation, ages 9-14, Davis studio, burlington. six-week class: Fridays, october 7 through November 11, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. $200.

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certain objects. “Let’s say you have a character bouncing a basketball,” says Heilig. “Every time the ball hits the ground, it’s going to squash a little bit.”

The greater goal, of course, is defying gravity — or at least making itk8v-weybridgegardens0911.indd look as if you are. Turning the camera on themselves, for example, kids can make it look as if they’re flying.

“You have a person moving across the screen, and every time you take a shot you have them jump in the air,” explains Heilig.

Kids learn the art of visual storytelling, which includes logical sequencing. You wouldn’t want to bump the camera, for example, unless an earthquake is the intended effect.

With all of the possibilities, Heilig’s biggest challenge is convincing the kids to slow the action down. Each second of an animated film is made up of 30 still frames. “They need to think about moving as slowly as they can with their characters,” he says.

Still, it’s not as tedious as handdrawn animation — and thanks to the computer, you can play back what you’ve done at any point. Heilig says it’s great for kids because “they can really focus on creating an idea, a storyline. They can really express themselves ... And they can start to see a product right away.” K

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From there, the team divides up the labor: One person handles the clay or toys, another takes charge of the camera and computer, and a third directs.

There’s a lot to learn when making a movie. In addition to filmmaking basics — including staging entrances and exits, cutting scenes, and creating an overall feeling with music — kids learn basic laws of physics, too.

They’re disguised in fun-sounding terms, such as “squishing and squashing,” which refers, in clay animation, to the effect gravity has on

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WhaT could be cooler than bringing your LEGO men to life?

Molding out of clay a two-headed beast who tears down a building, perhaps? Or commanding a banana to peel itself?

With stop-motion animation, all of this is possible.

So what exactly is stop-motion animation? Kids might know it from the 2009 film the Fantastic Mr. Fox or the Wallace and Gromit movies. “In general,” explains Nicholas Heilig, a 28-year-old Burlington artist who’s teaching a stop-motion animation class at the Davis Studio this fall, “it’s just manipulating a physical object to make it look like it’s moving.” In his classes, kids use toys, clay and even their own bodies as subjects.

It used to be that you needed expensive equipment or complicated VHS camera setups to make a stopmotion animation. These days, all you need is a computer, a camera and editing software. “Computers have really allowed kids to do crazy, amazing stuff that they couldn’t do before,” says Heilig.

Stop-motion movies are made by shooting individual pictures with a camera or webcam, of subjects that have been moved slightly between each shot. Threading the stills together using editing software

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TECHNOLOGY

On Top

of Online Computer expert and author Frederick Lane discusses what every parent should know about digital technology

16

KIDS VT

OCTOBER 2011

KIDSVT.COM

BY KE N P I C AR D

AMERICAN YOUTH HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE CONNECTED. The average American child now owns his or her first cellphone by age 10. Nearly half of all American teens are on Facebook, and more than eight in 10 own at least one gaming console. Shockingly, nearly one in four children under the age of five uses the Internet regularly.

The digital universe has enormous potential to expand our children’s world, but it’s also a minefield of legal, ethical and moral pitfalls and dangers: plagiarism, high-tech cheating, sexting, hacking, slander and illegal downloads, as well as the more risky cyberbullying, sextortion and child pornography.

Frightened and overwhelmed? Don’t be. That’s the message from author, attorney and computer forensics expert Frederick Lane. A former Burlington School Board chair and the father of two teenage boys, Lane has written a new book called Cybertraps for the Young.

The title references an 1883 book called

Traps for the Young, written by Anthony Comstock, author of the antiobscenity Comstock Act and a tireless, lifelong critic of what he saw as threats to the innocence of youth.

In Cybertraps, Lane offers parents an A-to-Z guide to educating their kids, and themselves, on becoming safe, responsible and ethical cyber-citizens.

In the introduction, Lane points out the disconnect between the calcified laws designed to protect children and the digital landscape where these electronic “traps” now hide.

Lane spoke to Kids VT from New York City.

KIDS VT: What is a cybertrap, anyway?

FREDERICK LANE: A cybertrap is a legal problem that a child can get into as the result of use of an online technology, something of “hidden” nature. Each of these is a violation of policy or law. We’ve got kids who aren’t sophisticated enough, and who are using technology without an

appreciation of what the consequences could be.

KVT: At what age should cyber-education begin?

FL: There’s not a “should” answer. One of the things I stress in Cybertraps for the Young is “Know thy child.” Understand their maturity and comfort level with limitations and boundaries. Computer manufacturers have recognized that if you make the interface easier, then more people will use these devices. The unintended consequence of that is it’s easier for kids to use them, too. So now kids get onboard much earlier than anyone ever anticipated. And these devices are tailormade for kids: They’ve got flashing lights; they’ve got bells and whistles; they’ve got buttons to push.

KVT: How do parents decide when it’s appropriate to buy their children digital devices?

FL: The test I recommend is, at what

point are parents themselves comfortable with having frank discussions with their children about consequences? For instance, if you don’t want to sit down with your 9-year-old daughter and talk about sexting, what the consequences could be of sending nude photos of herself to her friends, then it probably doesn’t make sense to give her a camera phone that can do all of those things.

KVT: Your book seems like a call to action — to educate kids about respecting the power of digital communications.

FL: It’s also a call to let people know that the general rules of civilized behavior apply to cellphones and the Internet as well as the real world. Parents need to think in a much more holistic way about ethics. There’s a real obligation on the part of parents to say, “All of these things that we teach you about being polite, courteous, respectful and honest apply in this virtual world.” Treat people the

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sy

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Of fr

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k6h-Lyric1011.indd 1

way you want to be treated. So don’t bully people. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a chat room or a classroom.

KVT: Where should parents begin?

FL: Number one, have the ethical communications early and often.

Number two, the more conversations you can have with your kids about how they’re using technology, the easier it is to stay up on what they’re doing. Ask them, “Have you downloaded any new apps lately?” or “What are you doing on the computer?” I realize kids will resist this, but you need to be persistent.

Number three, use a little old-fashioned networking. If your kid is in a group of friends, talk to other parents about how

privacy is a right for adults. It’s a privilege for kids. It’s a safety issue, like using a knife in the kitchen or driving a car. It’s also recognition that parents are incredibly busy. Most parents these days are working two, three, even four jobs to make ends meet. They need help and they can’t hire someone to sit on their kids’ computer and watch them all day. So for relatively little money this software can provide some peace of mind.

KVT: should parents’ approach change over time?

FL: When kids are really little, in the 6- to 9-year-old range, it makes sense to use blocking software, which keeps them

There’s a real obligation on the part of parents to say, “All of these things that we teach you about being polite, courteous, respectful and honest apply in this virtual world.”

FredericK Lane

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Kids VT

On tOp Of Online p. 19 »

FALL ENROLLMENT

OctOber 2011

KVT: one chapter in your book is titled “do install surveillance software and conduct inspections of mobile devices.”

How do parents balance their kids’ privacy with protecting their safety and well-being?

FL: Believe me, that’s a concern for me, too. I wrote a whole book on privacy. But

off the worst sites. As they get older, I recommend switching to a monitoring approach. You don’t want to stifle their exploration, but you want to know where they’re going. What I said to my boys was “Look, I’m going to give you this freedom to bop around the Internet, but I will know everywhere you go. And every so often, we’re going to sit down and have a conversation about the sites you visit.”

As you can imagine, there were a few forays into playboy.com.

NOW FILLING:

KidsVT.com

they handle technology and find out what their kids are doing. Because if their kids are doing something, chances are your kids are, too — or they want to be.

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TECHNOLOGY

Cybertraps for the Young,

On Top of Online CONTINUED FROM P. 17

KVT: Should parents limit where digital devices are used?

FL: Particularly before kids reach middle school age, the computer, Xbox or PlayStation should all be in communal spaces that parents walk through frequently. If your child is using a cellphone, there should be an agreed-upon time when it goes into a communal basket in the parents’ bedroom. One of the issues physicians are starting to see is kids with disrupted sleep patterns because they’re texting until 2 or 3 a.m.

Keeping Watch

NTI Upstream, 324 pages, $29.98.

by Kate Laddison

Parenting requires vigilance: You strive to keep your kids out of the street, buckled up securely, dressed for the weather and away from strangers. The dangers presented by technology today may be more difficult to assess.

Monitoring software may be the way to go, especially if you’re not up to speed on the Internet, your child is more web savvy than you — or both.

These websites either review various products you can buy to protect your kids or provide more general information about keeping kids safe online.

Software review websites: CNET: download.cnet.com/windows/monitoring-software

Websites offering online safety info: ChatDanger: chatdanger.com ConnectSafely: connectsafely.org GetNetWise: getnetwise.org Microsoft Safety & Security Center: microsoft.com/security Wired Safety: wiredsafety.org SafeKids.com: safekids.com SafeTeens.com: safeteens.com Web Wise Kids: webwisekids.com Got a comment? Contact Kate@kidsvt.com or Cathy@kidsvt.com.

Ken Picard is a staff writer at Seven Days.

He lives with his wife and daughter in Colchester.

19

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: missingkids.com

TopTenReviews: toptenreviews.com

KIDS VT

KVT: How do you think that recent Milton sexting case was handled? The teens were sent to the juvenile reparative board rather than facing criminal charges.

FL: I think that’s a really important thing to have done. If there had been malicious intent, coercion or extortion, certainly there should have been prosecution.

Monitoring Software Reviews: monitoringsoftwarereviews.org

OCTOBER 2011

Keylogger.org: keylogger.org

KVT: Should parents push schools to incorporate cyber safety into their curricula?

FL: Yes! I don’t think there’s any question about that. Our kids are growing up in a super-connected world, and they need to be completely versed in the rules that will govern that world. There’s a continuum of ideas to address across the age ranges. In the younger grades, it’s a good time to talk about personal boundaries and privacy online. You discuss what you don’t share: If you wouldn’t be comfortable putting something up on the bulletin board for everyone to see, then you shouldn’t share it online. In middle school, when talking about academic honesty, you discuss relevant electronic issues like plagiarism.

As kids get older, segue to talking about students as digital citizens and what corporations and government do with your personal information.

KIDSVT.COM

KVT: Who’s teaching kids cybereducation in Vermont?

FL: It’s a hodgepodge right now. Parents are just getting up to speed and a lot of parents haven’t thought too deeply on this stuff. I know that schools wrestle with this from a bunch of different perspectives. The academic honesty piece is big, as is cyberbullying. And they’re just now awakening to the whole sexting thing.

But we really don’t have a comprehensive approach.

But, the law change in Vermont that allows that discretion is good. The case underscores the need for education. It’s good to use discretion and not prosecute, especially if there is follow-through from the parents.

It All

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OCTOBER 2011 KIDSVT.COM

ADDS UP Vermont educators scramble to improve teaching techniques in science and math B Y C AT H Y R E S M E R

EDUCATION

COURTESYF OF MONTSHIRE MUSEUM

M

Drilling down into Vermont’s test scores reveals that results vary widely from district to district. That’s true of science scores, too — the percentage of students excelling in that subject on statewide assessments is appallingly low.

Plenty of parents today marvel at their kids’ ability to navigate the Internet. Everybody brags about how their toddlers have figured out how to use a smartphone. But can those kids explain how the phone works? Will they be able to design and build one?

Vermont educators are tackling this challenge in myriad ways. Here’s a closer look at two efforts that seem to be gaining traction.

Math Boot Camp

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IT ALL ADDS UP P. 23 »

KIDS VT

Before students can delve into science, they need to understand math. University of Vermont mathematics professor Kenneth Gross describes his discipline as the “gatekeeper” to the sciences.

The slight but sprightly professor is a kind of math evangelist who’s developed an innovative approach

to improving students’ math skills: In 1999, he and a group of other mathematicians founded the Vermont Mathematics Initiative, a partnership between UVM and the Vermont State Department of Education that focuses on training K-12 teachers.

“I can’t reach 10,000 Vermont kids [directly],” Gross explains. “But through the people I teach, I can reach 10,000 Vermont kids.”

VMI has two components: a threeyear master’s degree program that turns out “mathematics teacher leaders” and a district implementation program, added in 2006. That program uses the teacher-leaders to bring their knowledge back to their schools by having them coteach classes with VMI faculty, who are instructors from Johnson State, Middlebury College, Green Mountain College and other schools.

VMI participants attend daylong math classes for two weeks in the summer and one weekend a month during the school year. At a recent

OCTOBER 2011

to sociology. And it’s not just about performing experiments in a laboratory and solving equations. These subjects teach kids to think critically, analyze data and improvise solutions to problems.

According to standardized test scores, U.S. students are currently trailing their international peers in STEM. That’s bad news when so many companies can hire or do business with workers anywhere in the world. A report released in August by a Harvard University professor — “Globally Challenged: Are U.S. Students Ready to Compete?” — found that students in 31 countries beat U.S. students in math proficiency.

Just 32 percent of U.S. students were proficient.

The top scorers? Shanghai students, 75 percent of whom made the grade.

Vermont students were the thirdhighest scorers in the country, yet just 41 percent of them are proficient in math. That puts them behind kids from 14 countries, including Japan, Finland, Germany and Canada.

KIDSVT.COM

ost young kids aren’t yet aware of this, but the job market that awaits them is not so great. Nationally, the unemployment rate is hovering just below double digits, with chronic unemployment as high as it’s been since the Great Depression.

The numbers aren’t as bad here in Vermont, but the picture still isn’t rosy, especially in some sectors — just ask a dairy farmer or a factory worker. Many of the jobs and business opportunities that are available require more computer, math and science skills than the ones that existed a generation ago. Employers at Vermont’s most successful companies lament they can’t find qualified in-state workers.

To thrive in this increasingly technology-oriented society, students in grades K through 12 need a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering and math education. STEM education is relevant to nearly every field, from computer programming to graphic design, from biotechnology

10Ways to Raise

Scientists, Mathematicians, Engineers and IT Professionals Teachers aren’t the only ones who can spark

kids’ interest in math and science.

There’s a lot you can do at home to help. We compiled this list of tips after talking with: Jennifer Gray, a fifth-grade math teacher in Roxbury; John Canning, president of the Vermont Software Developers’ Alliance and CEO of Winooski-based Physician’s Computer Company; Beth Krusi, marketing director of the Montshire Museum of Science; and Gail Hall, Vermont’s science assessment coordinator.

2

Don’t let your kids hear you say, “I’m not good at math” or “I hate math.”

Teachers taking part in the Vermont Mathematics Initiative say this is a pet peeve. Gray hears this refrain from parents at parent-teacher conferences.

“I say, ‘I would really appreciate you not saying that in front of your child.

You’re teaching your child not to like math.’”

Get outside, says Canning, “Go for a walk,” he advises. “You just have to keep your eyes open, and ask, ‘Why is this here?’ ‘Why is that over there?’”

Get kids in the habit of noticing things about the world around them and thinking about the way things work.

KIDS VT

OCTOBER 2011 KIDSVT.COM

3

22

1

Don’t feel like you have to have all the answers. Kids of all ages ask questions that parents aren’t prepared to answer. Instead of shutting them down or making something up, try investigating the solution, says Krusi, “Say, ‘I don’t know the answer, but let’s figure this out together,’” she advises.

5

6 Visit museums and nature centers. Vermont has several science and natural history museums, including ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, the Montshire Museum, Billings Farm and VINS Nature Center. Interactive exhibits and animal encounters can spark kids’ curiosity and sense of wonder about the natural world.

Buy a science kit or something kids can learn to use on their own. When Canning was 11, his dad bought him a HewlettPackard programmable calculator. “He gave me the manual and said, ‘Here, see what you can do with this.’” A couple weeks later, Canning says, he was writing programs for his dad’s coworkers, engineers at IBM. For a 9- or 10-year-old, Canning recommends the Lego Mindstorm NXT robotics kit.

4

7

Invite kids to tinker. Hall recommends providing some common household items — duct tape, a wooden spoon, clothespins, etc. — and asking kids to build something to do a certain job. Or encourage them to investigate how things work.

“If your child takes apart your alarm clock and tries to put it back together, hooray!” she says.

9

Foster creativity.

“We don’t want cookie cutter,” says Hall. “We don’t want cookbook.” Students from China may score higher in math, she says, but they’re not as creative as American kids. It’s why so many Asian students come to the U.S. for post -secondary education. Students who can tackle a problem creatively can see solutions that more rigid thinkers miss.

8

Introduc kids to m e usic.

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10

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EDUCATION

It All Adds Up

Fall into

Your

CONTINUED FROM P. 21

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OCTOBER 2011 KIDS VT

tossed in the air from the top of a tall building. From the time that it is thrown until the time it hits the sidewalk near the entrance of the building, its height above the sidewalk is given by h = h(t) = 150 + 50t - 16t2, where ‘t’ is measured in seconds and height is measured in feet.” They have to figure out the height of the building, the maximum height of the snowball and the time it takes for it to hit the ground.

There are various ways to arrive at the solution, as the teachers demonstrate when they present their answers to the class. Jennifer Gray, a fifth-grade teacher from Roxbury, is the first to explain hers — FYI, the building is 150 feet tall. After she sketches out her correct solution, she asks, “Questions?

Comments?

Concerns? If it were my classroom,” she adds, “‘I’d say, ‘Any beef ?’”

After a short discussion of her method, she admits, “I don’t know what kind of formula this is. What kind of formula is it?”

Several voices in the room pipe up: “Quadratic function,” they answer.

Gray won’t be teaching anything quadratic to her fifth graders, but, as she explains, “It makes a world of difference to know where they’re going in the future.”

Gross makes that point with an analogy: If you were hiring a reading or writing teacher, would you want someone who had only read or someone familiar with Shakespeare, the Bible and the great poets and novelists? If you don’t know where students’ skills are going to

KIDSVT.COM

23

Saturday session on UVM’s Trinity College campus, several participants compared it to being in the National Guard.

The 25 alert and enthusiastic teachers in the Functions and Algebra II class ranged from mid-career professionals to twentysomethings a couple years out of school. They came from all over the state, representing grades K through 12.

Despite the presence of high school teachers, VMI is really aimed at building skills in educators who work with grades K through 8. As Gross explains, students don’t fail calculus in high school or college; they fail in elementary school. “Calculus is where the rubber hits the road for the arithmetic you learn in first, second, third grade,” he says.

“The primary teacher is the most important mathematics teacher. All of mathematics depends on the mathematics you learn in the primary grades.”

The problem, he explains, is that many elementary and middle school math teachers don’t spend much time studying math. Teacher training programs, he says, “emphasize more the methodology of teaching rather than the content.” Aspiring teachers may only take one or two math classes; there are no math prerequisites for VMI. “No amount of pedagogy, no matter how strong, in the absence of content knowledge, is going to make a great teacher,” Gross politely insists. “We go into fundamental mathematics more deeply than most teachers have ever been exposed to it.”

Indeed, some of the adult students struggle with the “snowball problem” that Gross presents: “A snowball is

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October 2011 kidsvt.com

courtesyf of Montshire museum

It All Adds Up

take them, “you don’t know enough,” he says.

So far VMI’s master’s program has churned out more than 300 graduates, who represent over 90 percent of the districts in Vermont. Formal evaluation of the program started in 2004, and studies have shown that VMI grads do make a difference.

Gross points to a six-year study that showed gains in student achievement, particularly in narrowing the gap between students who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches, and those who aren’t.

VMI has gotten national press, and has spawned teacher training programs based on its model in Illinois, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, Wyoming, Tennessee, Arkansas and Ohio. In 2006, the Intel Foundation commissioned Gross to develop a national program for teacher training based on VMI. More relevant to Vermonters is the fact that teachers here are

We go into fundamental mathematics more deeply than most teachers have ever been exposed to.

Kenneth gross finding it useful. Antony Dennis, a seventh-and eighth-grade math teacher at Edmunds Middle School in Burlington, started VMI this summer.

“I’m already using things I’ve learned in the classroom,” he says.

Building ’Bots

Chris Kline of Essex has two sons, ages 12 and 13, who love to play video games. But Kline has discovered something that can compete for their attention: building robots.

This summer, his sons were two of 14 students who attended the first robotics camp for soon-to-be seventh, eighth and ninth graders at

Essex High School. They spent a week constructing and programming robots using Lego Mindstorm NXT kits.

Kline says it really engaged his older son, Robert. Since the camp, Robert has subscribed to Make magazine and is reading articles in Popular Science. “He’s finding videos of kits on YouTube and saying, ‘Hey, Dad, this is cool. Can we get this?’”

The camp is part of the growing robotics program at Essex High School. Veteran science teacher Joe Chase oversees the initiative, which also includes a robotics class and a competitive robotics club.

In addition to teaching science,

Chase has a new title: learning community leader for STEM education; Essex High School is developing a STEM Academy that will recognize and promote student achievement.

It’s a natural fit for Essex, which is home to an IBM plant. “Employees are parents,” notes Chase.

Chase traces the robotics program’s origins to a group of students who were “really interested in innovation and invention.” Nine years ago, they found a grant through MIT and asked for his help in applying for it. They built a robotic tennis-ball retriever with the $7500 grant they received; that launched the program, which has now grown to include 25 LEGO Mindstorm NXT kits.

The club formed to compete in the FIRST robotics competition, an annual event started by entrepreneur and technology champion Dean Kamen. Each year, FIRST issues a challenge, and students use their kits to build robots that will complete it.

They enhance their entries with aluminum gears and other components they make themselves.

Chase says this year’s challenge involves making a machine that will navigate a course and complete tasks such as picking up racquetballs filled with magnets. He hopes to bring his kids to two meets, both out of state; last year, they only made it to one, and placed second in northern New England. It sounds a bit like “Glee,” with schematics instead of showtunes.

There are a lot of reasons why robotics is so exciting, Chase explains.

For one thing, it gets kids working in a three-dimensional space instead of a two-dimensional, virtual one. Chase says that helps them understand the concept of design, and the reality that “designs rarely work the first time around.” In other words, you have to learn from each iteration to achieve the goal. “For our young people,” he says, “whether it’s in engineering or designing social programs, that spirit of design innovation has to be central in our education plans.”

Robotics also appeals to a broad range of kids. “Some students are really good at the building part,” he explains. “Some students are really good at the programming part. Some students are into the design.

“We’re not talking about the most gifted and high-SAT students,” he adds. “We’re talking about all

EDUCATION

Chittenden County, and one from Franklin County. “Our message to them,” he says, “was ‘Go back and talk to your teacher, talk to your parents.

Let’s find a way for you guys to get involved in this also.’”

Chase points out that young people “aren’t hearing great news about their future.” Learning how to build machines to solve problems offers them an opportunity to be creative, to exert some control over their destinies.

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

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them to the Vermont Tech Jam on Friday and Saturday, October 28 and 29, in the Borders building at 29 Church Street in Burlington. This career fair and tech expo is designed for job seekers, but it also gives motivated students an opportunity to learn about careers in STEM-related fields. Teens can build a Lego robot, attend technology-focused presentations, and participate in demos and activities that will inspire and engage them. Find out more at techjamvt.com.

Call 1-800-468-5865 or book online at 1800gotjunk.com.

DANCE

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Shelburne Campus 4066 Shelburne Road at Shelburne Commons

9/20/11 12:29 PM

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KIDS VT

ILLUSTRATION BY PAT LEWIS

• Winner of Reader’s Choice Award “Best Ballet School” Alexander Nagiba, Director

“The Dance Shop” at VBTS 802-879-7001 www.vbts.org info@vbts.org

OCTOBER 2011

• Official School of Vermont Ballet Theater

KIDSVT.COM

• Tots Ages 2 1/2 to 3 years • Children’s Intro to Dance, Ages 4-5 • Children’s Intro to Ballet, Ages 6-7 • Classical Ballet & Pointe, Ages 8 & up Beginner to Professional • Teen and Adult Ballet, Beginner to Advanced • Hip Hop, Jazz & Tap Ages 5 & up • Modern • Pilates & Yoga • Body Transformer classes • Summer Classes & Camps • Performance Opportunity: “Vermont’s Own Nutcracker” at the Flynn Center for the Arts & “Spring Performance” at Memorial Auditorium.

PHOTOS BY KIRSTEN NAGIBA

students. This gives them the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and build those skills outside a mainstream classroom.”

Not only that, but the group nature of the activity means that students who might not have known each other before have to collaborate creatively.

Students in the robotics class aren’t pitted against each other. And though the robotics meets are competitions, he says, they’re also purposefully infused with collaborative elements that require opposing teams to work together.

Gail Hall, the science assessment coordinator for the Vermont Department of Education, agrees that robotics programs like the one in Essex are a bright spot in Vermont’s educational system. She’s hopeful that new statewide science standards, on the horizon in the next few years, will bring more engineering thinking into the classroom. In September, the department announced that Vermont will be one of 20 states that will help develop the national Next Generation Science Standards.

There is a huge need, says Hall, “for flexibility, for thinking outside the box, for students to think broadly and deeply.”

Chase, too, would like to see more robotics programs in Vermont; there are similar programs already at Brattleboro High School and St. Johnsbury Academy.

The camp for middle schoolers that he and his students ran this summer drew kids from all over

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Flu protection is recommended in sizes 6 months through 18 years.

The flu can be a serious disease for children of all ages, causing them to miss school, activities, or even be hospitalized. CDC and doctors recommend flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.

For more information, visit HealthVermont. gov or dial 2-1-1

Creativity Day!

Calling all creative kids!

PARENTS: Want Your Kids To Be More Creative?

26

Kids VT

october 2011

kidsvt.com

Act • Dance • Wear Funky Costumes • Paint • Draw Wear Make-up • Work on a Team • Have Fun with Friends ou like Would y s with kid to work Team as their r?

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• Are you looking for an exciting educational program for your children?

• Are you looking for a program that will challenge your children to reach higher levels of creativity?

• Are you looking for a program that teaches children more ways to problem solve?

Then DestinationImagiNation is for you!

Saturday, October 15 10:00am-2:30pm Burlington High School Join us for a free wacky day of events for kids and their parents! Come think on your feet and practice your creative problem solving skills!

Build! Create! Laugh! Improvise!

This is a free event.

Participants should bring a bag lunch.

Kids should bring an adult to work with and supervise them.

Contact Pat Dilego for more info about DestinationImagiNation.

864-8436 • pdilego@bsdvt.org • www.vtdi.org • www.idodi.org k2h-vtcreativeimagination1011.indd 1

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IN SeASON

pick a peck

ForGeT AbouT picKled peppers. A “peck” is a unit of measure, equivalent to two gallons, commonly used to quantify apples. Four pecks make a bushel. Those white paper bags — with the handles — sold at farm stands hold a half peck. However many you want, find them at any of these pick-your-own orchards. Be sure to call ahead for hours and to determine the availability of apple varieties.

Addison counTy Atwood Orchards 555 Barnum Hill Road, Shoreham 897-5592

FrAnKlin counTy Vaillancourt Orchard 651 Kendall Road, Enosburg Falls 933-5120

Boyer’s Orchard 1823 Monkton Road, Monkton 453-2248

West Swanton Orchards 752 North River Street, Route 78 West, Swanton 868-9100

Champlain Orchards 2955 Route 74 West, Shoreham 897-2777 Douglas Orchards 1050 Route 74 West, Shoreham 897-5043 Happy Valley Orchard 217 Quarry Road, Middlebury 388-2411 Woodman Hill Orchard 175 Plank Road, Vergennes 989-2310

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

GrAnd isle counTy Allenholm Farm 111 South Street, South Hero.

372-5566 Hackett’s Orchard 86 South Street, South Hero 372-5555

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Haunted Happenings at Shelboorne Museum

Hall’s Orchard 4461 Main Street, Isle La Motte 928-3226

1 0 a m t o 1 pm Su n da y, Oct ob er 3 0 WHIZ... BANG!... Ka-POW!!

Superheroes and their alter-egos descend on Shelburne Museum

orAnGe counTy Liberty Orchard 2408 West Street, Brookfield 276-3161

Trick-or-treating on the museum grounds, games and activities galore!

WAshinGTon counTy Burtt’s Apple Orchard 283 Cabot Plains Road, Cabot 917-2614 K

Shelburne Orchards 216 Orchard Road, Shelburne 985-2753

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Chapin Orchard 150 Chapin Road, Essex 879-6210

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chiTTenden counTy Adams Apple Orchard & Farm Market 968 Old Stage Road, Williston 879-5226

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Admission is $5. Members free. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Shelburne Food Shelf.

Kids VT

HAUN T E D HA PPEN IN GS IS A F A MILY DAY GE N E RO USLY SPO N SO RED BY :

27

Got ideas for other “In Season” topics or listings?

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Sponsored by:

OCT

CALENDAR Submit your November events by October 15 at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com.

CALENDAR BY MARYELLEN APELQUIST

Like Fletcher Allen Health Care on Facebook and get weekly updates from Dr. First!

COURTESY OF LIILLA LUMBRA

28

KIDS VT

OCTOBER 2011

KIDSVT.COM

Where the Wild Things Are Addison’s Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area is like a highway rest stop for migratory birds. In spring and fall, you can catch snow geese, red-tailed hawks and northern harriers on the fly. With air traffic in mind, the pros from Vermont Fish & Wildlife, Otter Creek Audubon Society and local sportsmen’s clubs gather for DEAD CREEK WILDLIFE DAY. Pack up the family and the binoculars for this full day of bird watching and banding, canoe rides, guided nature walks, birdhouse building, dog-handling demos, and hunting and wildlife seminars. “It’s a unique opportunity for kids to see different kinds of wildlife, to see critters up close,” says Lilla Lumbra, outreach coordinator for Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “We cover everything from watching butterflies to hunting techniques. There’s a lot of hands-on stuff for the kids.”

DEAD CREEK WILDLIFE DAY: Saturday, October 1, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area, Addison. Free.

Info, 241-3700, vtfishandwildlife.com.

Oct 1 SATURDAY

Arts

Foliage Open Studio Weekend: Introduce your little ones to printmakers, glassblowers, jewelers and potters who practice their craft in more than 140 studios and galleries throughout the state. This celebration of the visual arts is sponsored by the Vermont Crafts Council; find the council’s tour maps in galleries and studios, or online at vermontcrafts.com/OSW/mapsdirections.html. Various locations, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Free. Info, 434-6434.

Saturday Drama Club: Help Very Merry Theatre put on a show in just three hours. All ages.

Preregister. Limited to 18 kids. Very Merry Theatre, Burlington, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $15 child (or whatever you can afford). Info, info@verymerrytheatre.org.

Community

Candy Drop: Hundreds of little ghosts and goblins visit Main Street in downtown Stowe every Halloween. Help local residents stock their trick-or-treat supplies by stopping by the rec center with a bag or two of candy, or donate at the following locations: Shaw’s Supermarket, Mac’s Market, Stowe Elementary School and Akeley Memorial Building. David Gale Recreation Center, Stowe, through Oct. 24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, 253-6138.

Touch a Truck/Pet a Pony: Get up close and personal with police, fire and construction vehicles, meet some ponies, have your face painted, and more during this hands-on event. Ages 1-10.

Preregister. Bishop John A. Marshall School, Morrisville, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $5 person, $15 family. Info, 888-4758.

Fairs & Festivals

Kids Do Oktoberfest, Too: Aside from the grown-up shenanigans of traditional Oktoberfests, this one features plenty for the younger crowd: crafts and games, bounce house, snow cone and popcorn machines, and a campfire.

Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, 2-6 p.m. (kidfriendly festivities), adult entertainment goes to 11. All ages. $25 adult, $10 teen (ages 13-20), free for children ages 12 and under; food and beverage tickets sold separately. Info, 253-8511.

Mazza’s Harvest Festival: Traditional fall goodies accompany a petting zoo, corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, pie-eating

Pumpkin & Apple Celebration: See Spotlight, page 39.

Vermont Organic Festival: It’s all good at this all-natural celebration featuring a potato-sack fashion show, carrot-peeling contest, hay rides and live music. Valley Dream Farm, Cambridge, noon-4 p.m. All ages. $5 parking.

Health & Fitness

Aikido Martial Arts: Your child is welcome to try a free aikido class. Aikido is a noncompetitive Japanese martial art that emphasizes harmonious responses to conflict to grow a more peaceable world. Ages 5-6, 9 a.m.; ages 7-12, 9:45 a.m. Preregistration encouraged but not required. Aikido of Champlain Valley, Burlington. Free. Info, 951-8900.

Little Tykes Soccer: This parent/child program is designed to introduce the game of soccer through fun games and activities. Instructors are South Burlington Recreation Department staff. Ages 4-5. Dorset Park, South Burlington, 8:30-9:30 a.m. $30 South Burlington resident, $36 nonresident. Info, 846-4108.

Prenatal Yoga: Moms take in a session of prenatal yoga in Conference Room 3 (basement level). Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, 9-10:30 a.m. $10 mom-to-be. Info, alepage_1974@yahoo.com.

Ready, Set, Run!: RunVermont kicks off its youth program — focused on fitness, nutrition and citizenship — with a fun run. Once registered in the program, kids track their miles on paper or online, and receive a newsletter featuring healthy recipes and activities to keep them motivated, Shelburne Farms (site of first fun run; see website for complete schedule and times). Ages 4-12. Preregister. $30 child. Info, 863-8412, runvermont.org.

Library & Books

Creepy Comics: Learn how to draw ghosts and ghouls during this workshop with Center for Cartoon Studies grad Denis St. John — and create your own comic book to take home. Ages 6 and up. Preregister. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-4655.

Nature & Science

Dead Creek Wildlife Day: See spotlight, page 36.

M

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e

Grossology: The Impolite Science of the Human Body Back by popular demand, Grossology is a fun, colorful and informative exhibit grounded in the theory that the No. 1 way to get kids interested in science is to present it in terms they find most appealing such as snot, vomit, gas and scabs. Why do colds spread? Why do certain foods make us have gas? What is the purpose of mucous? Discover the answers to these and other perplexing questions with the help of Nigel Nose and Burp Man. FAIRBANKS MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM Info, 748-2372 Wildflower Table: A living exhibit, the Wildflower Table reflects the abundance and diversity of flowers, grasses, berries, ferns and evergreens found in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. It has been part of the museum since 1903, when it began as a simple arrangement of vases set out by museum staff. Today, introduce your little ones to more than 400 species displayed throughout the year, in both fruit and flowering stages.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE AND SCIENCE CENTER Info, 748-1399 Great Vermont Corn Maze: Revel in “cornfusion” as you get lost in this maze, located on a third-generation dairy farm. Open weather permitting; call first if weather is questionable. All ages.

INDEPENDENCE PETTING FARM Info, 948-2429 Animal Menagerie: Rain or shine, come see, pet and feed a variety of animals at this educational, hands-on farm. Open daily, year round. All ages.

Earth From Space: See our planet as you’ve never seen it before — from space. Developed by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, this exhibition features detailed satellite images of Earth, from the swirling arms of a massive hurricane to the triangular shadows cast by the Great Pyramids.

NEW ENGLAND MAPLE MUSEUM Info, 483-9414 Maple-Candy Making: See how maple syrup is converted into maple sugar and sample the tasty crystals fresh from the mold.

SAM MAZZA’S FARM MARKET Info, 655-3440 Sam Mazza’s Corn Maze: Get lost — or not — in this three-mile-long corn maze. Find all 12 maze stations and enter to win a grand prize drawing. All ages.

SHELBURNE MUSEUM New exhibits at the museum run through October. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Info, 985-3346 A Passion for Quilts: Quilts collected and made by one of the pioneering art-quilt makers. Featuring contemporary quilts by Joan Lintault along with 26 newly acquired quilts.

Behind the Lens: Under the Big Top: Taken in the late 1960s, Elliot Fenander’s photographs document the circus during a period of decline in a culturally turbulent era— captivating for both older kids and adults. Don’t miss this exhibit: The last day is October 30.

Lock, Stock and Barrel: The Terry Tyler Collection of Vermont Firearms is a rare collection of 106 firearms made from 1790 through 1900, recently acquired by Shelburne Museum.

Paperwork in 3D: Ingenious work by 23 contemporary artists who transform flat sheets of paper into amazing three-dimensional art.

Walking Tour: Full Steam Ahead: Discover the restored 1906 steamboat Ticonderoga as it existed in 1923.

VERMONT INSTITUTE OF NATURAL SCIENCE (VINS) NATURE CENTER Info, 359-5000 Through the Eyes of Raptors: Explore the natural world through the eyes of raptors and be amazed by these efficient predators.

Bird programs cover the mechanics of flight, seasonal migration and conservation issues.

29

Raptors Up Close: Explore the fascinating lives of birds. Learn how hundreds of birds are rehabilitated each year and the fundamentals of how raptors are trained.

The exhibit includes touchable artifacts and hands-on materials. K

Kids VT

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

fT om

October 2011

Aikido and Conflict Resolution The Samurai Youth Program offers classes in the martial art of aikido and peaceful conflict resolution training for youth ages 5 to 12, teens and adults. Call us at 951-8900 for more information about our rates and scholarships, or visit us at burlingtonaikido.org . Located at 257 Pine St., Burlington.

yo

kidsvt.com

Simplicity Parenting Group Parents will learn practical ways to simplify their home environment, daily rhythms, schedules and other aspects of family life. Two groups starting in October, see website for details: timetoparentvermont.com. $175 for eight sessions. Discounts available for couples.

Central VT location TBD.

t es

Info, 864-1848

Info, 649-2200 1 saturday, p. 31

co ur

ECHO LAKE AQUARIUM AND SCIENCE CENTER

MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

NEW SECTION!

Classes

Ongoing Exhibits

il

24-Hour Comic Challenge: Join artists from all over Vermont as they rush to complete an original 24-page comic book in 24 hours. Bring your own supplies. Ages 16 and up. Preregister. Montpelier City Hall, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 355-7461.

contests and a spooky greenhouse. Sam Mazza’s Family Farm, Colchester, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Most events are free. Info, 655-3440.

calendar

Ongoing Playgroups SATURDAY Franklin Playgroup: Playgroup begins with a story followed by a snack and projects. Ages birth-6. Franklin Central School, second Saturday of every month, 10-11 a.m. Info, 285-6678.

Milton Saturdays in the Park: Bring the kids to check out Milton’s new playground.

Playgroup canceled in event of rain. All ages.

Middle Road Recreation Park, Milton, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4922.

Morrisville Weekend Baby Chat: Playgroup for the youngest members of the community and their caregivers. Socialize while learning about development expectations. Local specialist in child health available. Lamoille Family Center, Morrisville, second Saturday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470.

North Hero Tumble Time: Children and adult caregivers enjoy stations and free play around the gym with a snack provided. North Hero Elementary School, Saturdays, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

South Burlington Tots and Tykes Open Gym: Open, unstructured play time in the gym. Ages 1-5 and their caregivers. Chamberlin School, South Burlington, 9:30-11 a.m.

Free. Info, 846-4108.

Williston Music With Raphael: Come sing, dance and clap your hands to folk music with Raphael and his guitar. Up to age 5 with a caregiver. Limit: one session per week per family. Library closed October 3 and 10. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

MONDAY Burlington Early-Months Playgroup: A mother-infant group for moms and their first babies during the first few months after birth.

Baby massage, lullabies and information sharing. VNA Family Room, St. Joseph School, Burlington, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Stowe Creative Learning: After school fun for kids in grades K-6 features hands-on activities to keep them playing and learning long after the school day is over. (Meet at Stowe Elementary School cafeteria and walk to adjacent rec center.) David Gale Recreation Center, Stowe, 2:45-5:30 p.m. $130 child to participate weekly on a single day” every Monday, for example; $600 child to participate weekly on all five days. Info, 253-6138.

Winooski Fathers and Children Together: Evening fun and dinner for dads and kids up to first grade. Winooski Family Center, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 655-1422.

TUESDAY Alburgh Music and Movement: Get moving and grooving with this playgroup session in the gym. Alburgh Community Education Center, every other Tuesday, 12:15-1 p.m. Free.

Info, 527-5426.

Burlington Family Play: Big Room: Activities for parents and children ages birth-5.

Work on your GED or high school diploma, take ESL classes or parenting workshops.

Baby Room: Learn about your child’s development, baby signs and baby massage. Sessions run simultaneously. St. Joseph School, Burlington, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Burlington Fathers and Children Together: Evening fun for dads and kids up to first grade.

VNA Family Room, St. Joseph School, Burlington, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Fletcher Playgroup: Kids come to play and interact with games, toys, arts and crafts, snacks, and other resources in the school gym.

Fletcher Elementary School, Cambridge, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 849-9368, 782-3370.

Hardwick Playgroup: Children get out and play while community parents meet each other. Hardwick Elementary School, 8:1510:15 a.m. Free. Info, 652-5138.

Norwich After School Superheroes: See Monday.

South Hero Playgroup: Free play, crafting and snacks entertain children and their grown-up companions. South Hero Congregational Church, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Essex Welcome Baby Playgroup: Connect with other parents and babies. Essex Junction Teen Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

Info, 846-7621.

Hinesburg Playgroup for Dads: Evening fun for dads and kids up to first grade.

Enjoy food, activities and discussion with other adults.

Annette’s Preschool, Hinesburg, 5-7:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 860-4420.

Isle La Motte Playgroup: Playful activities, social time and games on the playground (in the school gym if it rains). Isle La Motte School, 10-11:30 a.m. Free.

Info, 527-5426.

Milton Baby Playgroup: Join new moms and dads to socialize and watch the little ones play. Ages newborn-12 months and their siblings. New Life Fellowship Church, Milton, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4922.

Norwich After School Superheroes: See Monday.

Stowe Creative Learning: See Monday.

30

Stowe Creative Learning: See Monday.

Williston Music With Raphael: See Saturday.

Winooski Playgroup: Stories, songs and playtime. Ages birth-5 with caregiver. O’Brien Community Center, Winooski, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Free. Info, 655-1422.

FRIDAY

St. Albans Playgroup: Children and their caregivers socialize and play. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, St. Albans, 9:30-11 a.m. Free.

Info, 527-5426.

Williston Baby-Time Playgroup: Baby play for infants and toddlers is sponsored by Building Bright Futures. (No playgroup the first Wednesday of the month.) Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon.

Free. Info, 658-3659.

Stowe Creative Learning: See Monday.

THURSDAY

Tulsi Morning Playgroup: Featuring botanically inspired storytelling with astrologer MaryAnna Abuzahra, this playgroup inspires little ones with art projects and games in the tearoom’s kid-friendly environment. Ages infant-8. Tulsi Tea Room, Montpelier, 10 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 498-8534.

Burlington Family Play: See Tuesday.

Montgomery Tumble Time: Allow little ones to expend some of their abundant energy. Lots of toys and space to run in the gym, play mat for babies. Montgomery Elementary School, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

WEDNESDAY Burlington Family Play at Ethan Allen: Indoor and outdoor activities for parents and children ages birth-5. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Enosburg Playgroup: Come to enjoy circle time, free play and a craft. Please bring a snack for your child. American Legion Enosburg Falls, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 933-6435.

Burlington Family Play at Ethan Allen: See Wednesday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Montgomery Infant Playgroup: Play time for little ones while parents meet and talk.

Ages birth-2 and caregivers. Montgomery Town Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Morrisville Baby Chat: Playgroup for the youngest members of the community and their caregivers. Socialize while learning about development expectations. Local specialist in child health available. First Congregational Church of Morrisville, first Thursday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free.

Info, 888-3470.

Norwich After School Superheroes: See Monday.

KIDS VT

OCTOBER 2011

KIDSVT.COM

Norwich After School Superheroes: Afterschool program for children in grades 1-6 features homework help, outdoor play areas (including zip line and bouncy castle), art, science and cooking projects. Preregister (30 openings for fall). Upper Valley Events Center, Norwich, 3-6 p.m. Packages range from one day for $35 to one month (20 days) for $600 to 90 days (half of the school year) for $2500. Info, 649-2772.

Williston Music With Raphael: See Saturday, 10:45 a.m.

Submit your November events by October 15 at kidsvt.com or to calendar@kidsvt.com.

Burlington Crawlers, Waddlers and Toddlers: Learn about development stages, share with other parents, play, move and have fun.

VNA Family Room, St. Joseph School, Burlington, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 999-5100.

Norwich After School Superheroes: See Monday.

Shelburne Playgroup: Bring a toy to share and a snack, and play with other kids and parents. In addition to open play time, enjoy singing, stories and special guests. Trinity Episcopal Church, Shelburne, 9:30-11 a.m.

Free. Info, 985-2382.

St. Albans MOPS: Childcare provided during this gathering for mothers with children ages birth-6. Church of the Rock, St. Albans, third and first Friday of every month, 8:45-11 a.m.

Free. Info, 891-1230.

Stowe Creative Learning: See Monday.

Oct

Wood-carving demo: See which birds are in progress or guess which ones will be added next to the collection during a wood-carving demonstration in the workshop. All ages. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 1 p.m. Free with admission. Info, 434-2167.

2 SUNDAY

Arts

Library & Books

also avai lable online at kidstown .com

happy gathering. gatherings.

Family cabaret: Jackson Gillman performs his one-man comedy revue, taking a fun look at We’re daily rituals — wake-up to bedtime — from all a clothing store. A toy store. A furniture store.

The place to gather nearly everything you child needs. perspectives and ages. Bring the whole family.

All ages. South Burlington Community Library, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

GIFT CARDS

also avail able online at kidstown .com

off any We’re a clothing $5 store. purchase of A toy store. sundays for Fledglings: Kids are invited to $20 or more!

A furniture store. hike, create, explore, carve, act, write and inves*Limit one per customer per visit. tigate the lives of birds, their habitats and their No cash value. valid withstore. other place to store. gather nearly We’re The a clothing ANottoy A furniture store. sales/discounts/offers. neighbors. Intended for kids in grades 1-4, but Not valid needs. on purchase of gift cards. everything your child TOYS • FURNITURE SHOES • CLOTHING The• place to gather nearly everything you child needs.

Coupon must be presented all are welcome. Preregister. Birds of Vermont

Nature & Science

FEEDING & SAFETY • ONLINE REGISTRY Museum, Huntington, 2 p.m. Free with admission. Info, 434-2167.

FREE GIFT WRAPPING & PARKING

3 MONDAY

Community

Community

Health & Fitness

Fairs & Festivals

Health & Fitness

at time of purchase.

Some restrictions apply.

Expires 11/15/10.

!

$5 off any 10 Farrell Street, So. Burlington • 865-6870 $5 • purchase Open Mon.-Sat.of 10-6, Sun. 11-5 off any purchase $20 orofmore!

candy drop: See October 1.

Walk for Farm animals!: Get moooooving for farm animals! In honor of World Farm Animals Day, take part in a three-mile walk that aims to memorialize the land animals who suffer and die every year in the world’s farms and slaughterhouses. Sponsored by Green Mountain Animal Defenders. All ages. Preregister. Downtown Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Free.

Info, 861-3030.

Vermont Pumpkin chuckin’ Festival: This pumpkin-throwing contest is back for its second year. Enjoy fall foods, a corn maze, volleyball and croquet in addition to watching the competition. If you’d like to chuck, check out the registration info online; there’s even a junior division. Boyden Family Farm, Cambridge, 11 a.m. until dark. All ages. $5 adult, $3 child (age 12 and under), $5 chucking fee. Info, 644-6363.

happy gatherings. happy

mazza’s Harvest Festival: See October 1.

24-Hour comic challenge: See October 1.

candy drop: See October 1.

Fall.

Fall. a time It’s aIt’s time for for

!

oh, deer!: Learn more about deer, Vermont’s four-legged foragers, during this two-hour program featuring deer games, a hike to search for signs of deer and a deer-ear-making activity. Ages 3 and up with adult companion.

Preregister. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, 10 a.m.-noon $10 member adult/child pair, $4 additional child; $12 nonmember adult/child pair, $5 additional child. Info, 434-3068.

GIFT CARDS

!

1 saTurday (cOntinued)

Fall. It’s a time for calendar

*Limitor onemore! per customer per visit. $20 No cash value. Not valid with

aikido martial arts: See October 1.

TOYS • FURNITURE TOYS • FURNITURE• •SHOES SHOES•• CLOTHING CLOTHING FEEDING & SAFETY FEEDING & SAFETY• •ONLINE ONLINE REGISTRY REGISTRY

4 TUESDAY

Community

FREE GIFT WRAPPING FREE GIFT WRAPPING&&PARKING PARKING

candy drop: See October 1.

aikido martial arts: See October 1.

Public skating: Take a spin on an Olympic rink. Times and dates subject to change, especially during school vacations. Leddy Park/ Paquette Arena, Burlington, 8:30-11:15 a.m. $4 adult, $3 student. Skate rentals available for $3 pair. Info, 862-8869.

*Limit one per customer per visit. other No cash value.

Notsales/didcounts/offers. valid with other sales/discounts/offers.

Not vailid on purchases of gift cards.

Not valid on purchase of gift cards.

Coupon must be presented Coupon must be presented atpurchase. time of purchase. at time of Some restrictions apply.

Some restrictions apply.

Expires 11/15/10.

!

10 Farrell Street, South BurlingtonSo. • 865-6870 Open Mon - Sat•10-6, Sun 11-5 10 Farrell Street, Burlington 865-6870 • Op K4t-kidstown1011.indd 1

9/21/11 1:15 PM

4 Tuesday p. 33

Kids VT

31

PumPKin & aPPle celebraTion: Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock. $12 adult, $11 senior, $6 ages 5-15, $3 ages 3-4, ages 2 and under admitted free. Info, 457-2355, billingsfarm.org.

OctOber 2011

Where can you find apples suspended from oak trees, daring kids to take a bite without using their hands? pumpkins used as bowling balls? these shenanigans highlight the old-time games that draw families year after year to the PumPKin & aPPle celebraTion at billings farm & museum. “pumpkin bowling is extremely popular,” says susan plump, the farm’s public relations coordinator. “the boys especially love it.” apple- and pumpkin-inspired snacks abound, and visitors of all ages can press cider, dry fruit, make apple butter and churn ice cream. don’t forget to save room, though. you’ll need it to judge the apple pie contest.

KidsVT.com

cOurtesy Of billings farm & museum

Tasting History

Ongoing Story Times starting Oct. 4. 9:30-10 a.m.

Free. Info, 482-2878.

SATURDAY Colchester Saturday Stories: Children of all ages enjoy great picture books. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 10-10:30 a.m. Free.

Info, 878-0313.

Saturday Stories: A weekly selection of music and books for kids. All ages welcome, but intended for ages 18 months-6. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 10-10:30 a.m. Free.

Info, 878-0313.

Shelburne Teddy Bear Story Time: A bear-y good time with books and stories. Ages 3-5.

Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Shelburne, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 985-1643.

South Burlington Saturday Story Time: Staff read newly released books that will resonate with children up to grade 2. Barnes & Noble, South Burlington, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

South Burlington Story Time: Share a story with Miss Meg, then explore and create with a variety of materials. South Burlington Community Library, second Saturday of every month, 10:15 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Story Hour for Young Sailors: Listen to a maritime-related story in the “roost.” Sing a song and make a craft that goes with the story theme. Parents are welcome to join the fun or roam the museum grounds. (No registration is required, but call ahead so the museum knows how many children to expect.) Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10-11:30 a.m.

Free. Info, 475-2022.

MONDAY Bristol Toddler Story Time: Introduce your little one to the library and children’s books with activities and music. Lawrence Memorial Library, Bristol, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2366.

Burlington Stories With Megan: Enjoy a funfilled preschool story time with rhymes, songs and books. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Burnham Preschool Story Time: Stories, crafts and other activities for preschoolers ages 3-6. Preregister. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

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KIDS VT

OCTOBER 2011

KIDSVT.COM

Essex Fall Story Time: Little ones relax with a mid-morning story. All ages; check online schedule for sessions for different ages. Preregister. Essex Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Marshfield Story Time: Read-aloud tales with a cross-cultural theme catch the ear of youngsters. Ages birth-6. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

Milton Infant Story Time: Little ones enjoy lap time, songs and stories. Ages birth-18 months. Milton Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free.

Info, 893-4644.

Richmond Pajama Time: Stories with Douglas while decked out in your bedtime best. Ages 2-6. Richmond Free Library, 6:30-7 p.m. Free.

Info, 434-3036.

St. Albans Story Time: Book hounds hear stories, sing songs and play. Ages birth-6 and caregivers. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Stories With Megan: Fun-filled story time featuring multicultural songs and rhymes. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Stowe Monday Morning Story Time: Little lit lovers share stories and songs in the community room. Stowe Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m.

Free. Info, 253-6145.

Waterbury Toddlers-n-Twos: Active stories designed for kids ages 18-36 months and their caregivers. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m.

Free. Info, 244-7036.

Williston Story Time at Buttered Noodles: Early readers get together for group book time; snack and juice provided. Ages 1-7. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

TUESDAY Alburgh Story Hour: Little ones enjoy stories, songs, crafts and snacks. Ages 2-5. Alburgh Community Education Center, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 796-6077.

Barre Children’s Story Hour: Tots tune in for audible prose. Ages 2-5. Aldrich Public Library, Barre, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-7550.

Barre Kids Story Hour: Literature hounds show up for tall tales. Kids under 3 meet at 10 a.m., ages 3-5 at 10:30 a.m. East Barre Branch Library, Free. Info, 476-5118.

Brownell Story Time: Stories, songs, rhymes and more for little ones. Ages 3-5. Preregister.

Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

Brownell Toddler Story Time: Simple stories, songs and finger plays for the toddler crew.

Ages 18 months-3 years with adult. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9:10-9:30 a.m. Free.

Info, 878-6956.

Burnham Toddler Story Time: Stories for tots. Ages 18 months-3 years. Preregister.

Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

East Middlebury Preschool Story Hour: Kids get silly with stories and songs. Follows school calendar. Ages birth-5 with caregiver. Sara Partridge Community Library, East Middlebury, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 388-7588.

Fairfax Preschool Story Hour: Children and their caregivers enjoy stories, music, crafts and more with a focus on Vermont authors. Fairfax Community Library, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 242-9000.

Grand Isle PJ Story Time: Curl up in your PJs with a good book. Ages birth-6. Grand Isle Free Library, first Tuesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Highgate Toddler and Preschool Story Time: Listen to stories and songs, shake out your sillies, and make a craft. Follows school calendar.

Ages birth-preschool. Highgate Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 868-3970.

Hinesburg Preschool Story Hour: Drop by for stories, songs and games. Ages 3-5 with caregiver. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 482-2878.

Hinesburg Toddler Story Time: Songs, stories and finger plays. Ages birth-3. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, every other Tuesday,

Lyndonville Baby/Toddler Story Time: Connect with library friends and enjoy stories, songs, storyboards and finger plays. Ages birth-3 and caregivers.

Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 10 a.m.

Free. Info, 626-5475.

Montpelier Story Time: Join us for great books, singing, crafts and fun. Follows school calendar. Preschool age. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-4665.

Reading With Frosty & Friends: Bring a book and read to a pooch. All dogs are registered with Therapy Dogs of Vermont. All ages. Preregister for 10-minute sessions. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Free. Info, 878-4918.

Richmond Story Time: Tall tales and simple stories. Ages 2-6. Richmond Free Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

Shelburne Story Time With Webby: Lively readings of children’s books related to museum collections with new stories offered each week.

Intended for preschoolers, but all are welcome.

Shelburne Museum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free with admission. Info, 985-3346.

South Burlington Tiny Tot Time: Join Miss Meg for songs and stories during this literacybased program. The morning begins with a short book and group activity followed by time to play with friends and explore a variety of developmentally appropriate materials. Program intended for children under age 3. South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m.

Free. Info, 652-7080.

Stories With a Twist: Kids and their caregivers join a preschool educator as she brings science and nature to life with stories, songs and crafts using a unique style of teaching to engage ECHO’s youngest visitors. The program focuses on a different science topic each week — from the life cycle of a butterfly to bubble science. Ages 2-6. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, Tuesdays, 11 a.m.

Museum admission. Info, 324-6386.

Williston Fall Story Hour: Stories and a craft entertain young readers. Ages 3-5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m.

Free. Info, 878-4918.

Williston Story Time at Buttered Noodles: See Monday.

WEDNESDAY Brownell Story Time: Stories, songs, rhymes and more for little ones. Ages 3-5. Preregister.

Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-695.

Highgate Toddler and Preschool Story Time: See Monday, 11:15 a.m.

Lyndonville Preschool Story Time: Enjoy stories, the letter of the day, a focus on one of the six early literacy skills each week, songs, crafts and friends. Ages 3-5 and families. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 10:30 a.m.

Free. Info, 626-5475.

Middlebury Stories With Shoopie and Lily: Read to a therapy dog. Preregister. Ilsley

Public Library, Middlebury, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 388-4097.

Montpelier Story Time: Join us for great books, singing, crafts and fun. Follows school calendar. Preschool age. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-4665.

Richford Story Hour: Join your friends and make new ones during this story hour for preschoolers. Preregister. Arvin A. Library, Richford, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 848-3313.

Shelburne Teddy Bear Story Time: See Saturday.

South Burlington Story Time: Staff read newly released board books and old favorites.

Ages 1-3. Barnes & Noble, South Burlington, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

Swanton Story Hour: Come listen to stories and songs and do an easy craft. Swanton Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 868-7656.

Waterbury Baby Lap Time: Story time designed for babies birth to 18 months with songs, simple rhymes and stories. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Williston Story Time at Buttered Noodles: See Monday.

Williamstown Story Time: Fables, crafts and special guests provide endless amusement for lit-lovin’ kiddos. Snacks are a definite. Ainsworth Public Library, Williamstown, 10 a.m.

Last session Oct. 12. Free. Info, 433-5887.

THURSDAY Barre Kids Story Hour: Snacks and activities follow an hour of tales. LACE, Barre, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 476-4276.

Bristol Preschool Story Time: Explore early literacy skills with reading, music, movement and projects. Lawrence Memorial Library, Bristol, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2366.

Burnham Preschool Story Time: See Monday.

Fairfax PJ Story Time: Enjoy a bedtime story at the library with other little lit lovers. Ages birth-6. Fairfax Community Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Franklin Story Time: Preschool story time filled with fun crafts, silly songs and stories.

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

Middlebury Preschool Story Hour: Stories, songs, rhymes and a craft. Follows school calendar. Ages 3 and up. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 388-4097.

Oct

calendar

4 Tuesday (cOntinued)

shelburne story Time With mary catherine Jones: The musician and storyteller brings stories, songs and rhymes to the library. All ages welcome. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 985-5124. south Burlington Baby story Time: Infants are introduced to the wonders of language with nursery rhymes, songs, finger plays and board books. For children who are not yet walking. Preregister. South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080. st. albans story Time: Book hounds hear stories, sing songs and play. Ages birth-6 and caregivers. St. Albans Free Library, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Vergennes story Time: Themed stories with American Sign Language and an activity.

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

Williston story Time at Buttered Noodles: See Monday.

Westford early-Literacy story Time: Stories and activities utilize early-literacy concepts for ages birth-preschool. Drop-ins and new families welcome. Westford Public Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-5639.

Friday Lincoln children’s story Time: Songs, crafts and other activities for children ages birth-5.

Lincoln Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2665. milton Toddler story Time: Toddlers tackle tall tales and enjoy songs and crafts. Ages 18 months-3 years. Milton Public Library, 10 a.m.

Free. Info, 893-4644. montpelier story Time: Join us for great books, singing, crafts and fun. Follows school calendar. Preschool age. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-4665.

Pint-sized science & stories: This program focuses on a different science topic each week, such as why leaves change color in the fall and the power and science of wind. Ages 3-7 with adult caregiver. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 11 a.m. Museum admission. Info, 324-6386. south Burlington Preschool story Hour: Join Miss Meg and Mr. Monkey for an adventure in a book. Read stories, sing songs, play games and create with a variety of art materials. Recommended for children ages 29 months and up. Preregister. South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

creative Tuesdays: Use your imagination to get crafty with recycled materials. All ages (under 10 accompanied by an adult).

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m.

Free. Info, 865-7216.

5 WEDNESDAY

Arts

music in the meeting House: Raphael plays different instruments and sneaks in some basic music theory — all while emphasizing having fun, taking turns and using motor skills. This program is sponsored by Friends of Burnham Memorial Library. Ages 3-5.

Colchester Village Meeting House, 12:30-1 p.m. Free. Info, 879-7576.

Community

candy drop: See October 1.

Education

afternoons With Farmer Fred: Spend an afternoon with Plymouth’s own Fred DePaul. Farmer Fred, known for his engaging humor, will demonstrate historic farming activities such as sheep shearing and logging.

Farmer Fred also loves to give wagon rides in good weather. Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, 1-5 p.m. Free with admission.

Info, 672-3773. cookie decorating: Kids doll up freshly baked sugar cookies with sprinkles, frosting, sugar and nuts, Panadero Bakery, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-8278.

Kids cook up stories: Kids gather to read a story and bring it to life through cooking.

For prekindergarten-age children. LACE, Barre, 10 a.m. $3 suggested donation. Info, 476-4276.

Kids in the Kitchen: science: The kitchen can be a science lab. Did you know that there are a number of cool (and safe) science experiments that use food as the focus? Using common kitchen ingredients, mix and measure your way to some mindblowing scientific results. All ages with adult companion. Healthy Living Natural Foods Market, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 child. Info, 863-2569, ext. 1.

Health & Fitness

aikido martial arts: See October 1.

Kids open Gymnastics: Let kids tumble, jump and be active while adults connect with other families. Sessions are sometimes outdoors and include an opening activity, snack and unstructured time on equipment. River Arts, Morrisville, 10-11:30 a.m. $5 child, $8 two children, $10 three or more children.

Info, 888-1261.

Public skating: See October 4.

Kids VT

Williston story Time at Buttered Noodles: See Monday. K

craftacular Tuesdays: Creative kids get caught up in low-tech projects. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

Info, 223-4665.

OctOber 2011

Waterbury Preschool story Time: A time for great stories, puppets and fun songs. Ages 3-6.

Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Library & Books

KidsVT.com

south Burlington story Time adventures: Join Miss Meg and Mr. Monkey for an adventure in a book. Listen to stories, sing songs, play games and create with a variety of materials. Intended for ages 30 months and up; children who are able to sit, listen and safely create with small materials. South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

stroller strolling: Rendezvous with the stroller crowd in town and take a walk down the recreation path. Fairfax Community Park & Recreation Path, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-1941.

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5 wednesday (Continued)

Skating Club Registration: Don’t miss signup night for the Barre Figure Skating Club’s 2011-2012 season. Ages 4-18. Barre Auditorium, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Club registration fees vary. Info, kerry@vdmlaw.com.

Library & Books

Lego Afternoons: Kids create freely from big buckets of Legos. Parents encouraged to send a snack; popcorn provided by library. Ages 6 and up. Lincoln Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 453-2665.

Nature & Science

Young Scientist: This weekly preschool/kindergarten program with hands-on experiments and fun projects encourages exploration of the physical and natural sciences. A different topic is presented each week. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, two sessions 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. $365 member child for 10 weeks; $395 nonmember child for 10 weeks. Info, 649-2200.

6 THURSDAY

Arts

Pollywog Drop-in Art: Tots get their art fix with a variety of craft materials, from homemade play dough to colorful ribbons. Burlington City Arts, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Ages 6 months-5, accompanied by adult. $6 child/parent pair, $5 BCA member child/parent pair. Info, 860-7166.

Community

Family Clay Drop-In: Craft all kinds of cool clay items with the kids during this hands-on class. Session includes both work on the wheel and by hand. Burlington City Arts, 5:30-7:30 p.m. All ages. $6 nonmember, $5 member; $30 punch-card for six drop-in classes, $25 member punch-card; prices include one fired/glazed piece, $5 additional piece. Info, 865-7166.

Community

Baked Beads for a Cause: Don’t miss this annual Columbus Day weekend sale featuring jewelry, scarves, coin purses and the like at more than 75 percent off retail. A portion of sale proceeds benefits Hurricane Irene flood relief as well as participating Vermont schools.

Look for the sale tent next to Big Picture Theater & Cafe on Route 100 in Waitsfield. Info, clearance@bakedbeads.com. Baked Beads, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free to browse. Info, 496-2440.

Education

Aikido Martial Arts: See October 1.

Public Skating: See October 4.

Library & Books

kidsvt.com

Arts

Llama Llama Read-o-Rama: Get together for a pajama storytime — and break a world record.

Children and adults around the world will be reading Llama Llama Red Pajama this night and Phoenix is excited to take part. Learn more about the national event at readfortherecord. com. Suggested for ages 3-7, but all welcome.

Free. Phoenix Books, Essex Junction, 7-7:40 p.m. Info, 872-7111.

Health & Fitness

October 2011

7 FRIDAY

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Future Einsteins: Kids become computer detectives on a learning adventure. Meet in the school cafeteria. Ages 5-7. Milton Elementary School, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $85 student. Info, 893-4922.

Kids VT

The Air Up There: Join other homeschooled kids in this three-part series focusing on air: contraction/expansion, effects of temperature (you’ll help build a hot air balloon), effects on motion (think kites) and more. Ages 6-8 in the 10:30 a.m. session; ages 9-12 in the 1 p.m. session. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10:30 a.m.-noon. & 1-2:30 p.m. $60 member, $66 nonmember. Info, 649-2200.

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Education

34

Nature & Science

Homeschoolers’ Book Group: Book discussions for homeschooled kids cover a variety of stories. Choose from two groups: ages 8-10 or 11 and up. Preregister. Limited openings in the younger group. St. Albans Free Library, 1 p.m.

Free. Info, 524-1507.

Teen Food for Thought: Teens in grades 7-12 share pizza during this advisory-group discussion; library projects round out the hour. New members welcome. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Young Writers Group: Homeschoolers: Improve your writing skills. Explore writing topics as a group, then work on individual projects while learning about revising, editing and proofreading. All ages. Preregister. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 355-1841.

Foodways Fridays: Follow a recipe for fun with this program teaching children and adults how heirloom vegetables are used in historic recipes prepared in the Billings farmhouse kitchen.

Each week a different recipe brings to life the history of old-variety veggies. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $12 adult, $6 child 5-15, $3 child 2 and younger. Info, 457-2355.

Health & Fitness

Aikido Martial Arts: See October 1.

Kids Open Gymnastics: See October 5.

Public Skating: See October 4.

Library & Books

Movie Matinee: No school today? Catch a movie while snacking on popcorn and drinks.

Call the library for details. St. Albans Free Library, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Underground Railroad in VT: This program for homeschoolers introduces kids to Simon, Jesse, Jeremiah and others — fugitives from slavery who found refuge at the Rokeby house in Ferrisburgh. Students investigate letters from the museum collection to discover Vermont’s Underground Railroad. Presented by Barbara Kling of the Rokeby Museum. Ages 9 and up.

Preregister. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Twisted Tales ’Tis the month to get spooked, and The Haunted Forest delivers; after decades of successfully scaring kids, it’s an annual Vermont tradition. Ghostly guides lead you along jack-o’-lantern-lined paths set against the magic of a nighttime forest filled with creepy characters. This year, a twisted take on children’s stories darkens the deal. “Guests will encounter familiar yet strange and spooky characters from classic fairy tales that are trapped in the forest,” says Michelle Gates, the forest’s managing director.

“With these fairy tales, there are no more happy endings.” The Haunted Forest is geared toward ages 8 and up, she says, but organizers suggest parents use their discretion. For younger tykes, matinee performances during the last Saturday of the month offer a less terrifying option. “It’s interactive,” Gates says. “Kids are involved as part of the show.”

The Haunted Forest: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 20 through 22 and October 27 through 29. Children’s matinee on Saturday, October 29, 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Williston. $12.50 evening ticket, $8.50 matinee ticket. Info and evening showtimes, 238-0923, thehauntedforest.org.

Ethan & Ira Challenge: Step into the shoes of our 18th-century counterparts during this historical scavenger hunt. Learn about outdoor survival, gardening, military life, recreation and more. All participants walk away with a prize.

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5 adult, $3 child. Info, 865-4556.

Fairs & Festivals

Fall Foliage Festival: Vermont’s oldest continuing arts tradition, Art in the Park, celebrates autumn with this festival featuring free children’s activities, live music, daily door prizes, grand-prize drawings, food concessions, demos, and arts and crafts. Main Street Park, Rutland, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. All ages. Free.

Harvest Weekend: Celebrate the Vermont harvest with a husking bee and barn dance, and help with cider pressing, harvesting root vegetables, putting food by and more. Spiced cider and homemade doughnuts free for the noshing. All ages. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Museum admission.

Info, 457-2355.

inaugural 5K & Fun Run. The goal is to raise $15,000 in donations. Fun Run at 9 a.m., 5K at 10 a.m., walk at 10:05 a.m., awards at 11 a.m.

Ages 3-7 run one lap around the field (0.6 mile); ages 8-12 run two laps (1.2 miles). Fun activities before and after the run. All ages. Preregister online at JustMoveIt.Kintera.org. UVM Gutterson Field House, Burlington, 9 a.m.-noon. $20 preregistered runner, $25 day-of runner, free registration for runners who raise $100 or more, free registration for walkers and kids under 10.

Info, 800-639-2113.

Little Tykes Soccer: See October 1.

Prenatal Yoga: See October 1.

Library & Books

Books, Books & More Books: Thousands of books for children (and adults) are available at reasonable prices during the Friends of the Pierson Library Book Sale. Donations of nonperishable items may be made to the food shelf during the sale. Shelburne Town Center Gym, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free to browse. Info, 985-5124.

Nature & Science

Saturday Drama Club: See October 1.

Little Italy Fest: This mini-Italian festival features something for the whole family: art activities for the kiddos, live music, pasta-making demos and loads of food — homemade pastries, fresh-baked pizza, Italian hot chocolate and more. All ages. Main Street Landing, Burlington, 1:30-5 p.m. Info, causher@gmail.com.

Community

Health & Fitness

Baked Beads for a Cause: See October 7.

8 SATURDAY

Arts

Baked Beads for a Cause: See October 7.

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Aikido Martial Arts: See October 1.

Just Move It for Arthritis: Get moving at this

Wood-Carving Demo: See October 1.

9 SUNDAY

Community

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Oct champlain Valley Buddy Walk: Walk with your kids to raise awareness and funds for programs that benefit people with Down syndrome and their families. Walk covers downtown business district and continues up Church Street before returning to Battery Park, where festivities include live music and games. Each walker receives a T-shirt and light refreshments. All ages. Preregister. Battery Park, Burlington, 1 p.m. $10 person (not to exceed $40 family).

Info, 355-4206.

Fairs & Festivals

century Apple & Harvest Festival: This tribute to autumn features cider pressing and sampling, lunch, and live entertainment. All ages. Justin Morrill Homestead, Strafford Village, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10 adult, $3 child under 14.

Info, 765-4484.

Fall Foliage Festival: See October 8.

Giant Pumpkin Reggta & Festival: See spotlight, page 44.

Harvest Weekend: See October 8.

Pumpkin Festival: Celebrate the harvest with everything pumpkin. Fun includes horse-drawn wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, pumpkin picking, live music, kids’ activities, cider pressing, educational displays, food (including wood-fired pizza) and more. Rain or shine. All ages. Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, East Thetford, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5 car (come by foot, bike or train for free.). Info, 785-4737.

Health & Fitness

Basketball clinics: The St. Michael’s College women’s basketball program instructs girls in grades 6-12 during this series of skills clinics.

Clinics cover offense, defense and rebounding, position play, and special situations. Preregister. Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 9 a.m.-noon. $25 session ($75 discount if you register for all four sessions). Info, 654-2503.

Library & Books

Books, Books & more Books: See October 8, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Nature & Science

sundays for Fledglings: See October 2.

10 MONDAY

Community

candy drop: See October 1.

Education

mater christi open House: Families of boys and girls in preschool through eighth grade are invited to visit classrooms and chat with teachers and staff. Mater Christi School, Burlington, 8:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 658-3992.

Community

candy drop: See October 1.

Public skating: See October 4. stroller strolling: See October 4.

Library & Books

Arts

THE SCHOOLHOUSE

music in the meeting House: See October 5.

Community

candy drop: See October 1.

Education

Abenaki History & oral Tradition: Learn about Abenaki history through their stories, which have been passed down orally from generation to generation, during this History for Homeschoolers program. Intended for ages 6-12. Preregister. Vermont Historical Society Museum, Montpelier, 1-3 p.m. $5 child, $4 member child, $4 child for families with three or more children. Info, 479-8519.

Afternoons With Farmer Fred: See October 5.

Burlington La Leche League: Open to all women. Bring your questions, babies and older kids. La Leche League lending library available.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 9:30 a.m.

Free. Info, 985-8228. cookie decorating: See October 5.

Kids cook Up stories: See October 5.

Kids in the Kitchen: Ricotta: Say cheese! In this hands-on class, Nina Lesser-Goldsmith shows kids how to make fresh ricotta — and how to top yummy mini-pizzas with it. Kids pack up the rest of their handcrafted cheese to take home. Healthy Living Natural Foods Market, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 child.

Info, 863-2569, ext. 1.

Health & Fitness

Kids open Gymnastics: See October 5.

Public skating: See October 4.

Library & Books

Lego Afternoons: See October 5. movin’ & Groovin’ With christine: Move to the rhythms of rock and world music. Intended for ages 2-5, but all are welcome. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Nature & Science

Preschool discovery Program: Nature investigators explore the outdoor world. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 10-11:30 a.m. $5 child.

Info, 229-6206. science & stories: Harvest Time: After summer is spent, but before jack-o-lanterns are lit, it is harvest time. Come and explore the bounty of the fall harvest. Ages 3-5. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 11 a.m.

Museum admission. Info, 877-324-6386.

Young scientist: See October 5.

13 THURSDAY

Arts

EXPLORE! Schoolhouse students explore a school-wide cultural and science theme each year.

Teaching 21st Century Skills … now and for the future.

A Schoolhouse education encourages creativity, leadership, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving and core skills through real-world applications of knowledge.

Explore what THE SCHOOLHOUSE can offer your child!

OPEN HOUSE: Tuesday, October 18, 5:30-7 pm OBSERVATION MORNINGS: Wednesday, October 26, 9-11 am Thursday, November 10, 9-11 am Meet parents and teachers and observe classes in action.

Pollywog drop-in Art: See October 6.

Our content-rich, daily afterschool program is open to all!

Call to find out more. Excellence in Education since 1971

Community

candy drop: See October 1.

Education

Future Einsteins: See October 6.

creative Tuesdays: See October 4.

13 THURsdAY, p. 36

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35

music With Robert: All ages are welcome to sing along with Robert. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Kids VT

craftacular Tuesdays: See October 4.

To reserve a space or for more information, contact Liz Shayne at 355-7023 or eshayne@theschoolhousevt.org.

OctOber 2011

Health & Fitness

12 WEDNESDAY

KidsVT.com

11 TUESDAY

calendar

13 thursday (Continued)

New England Conference on Gifted and Talented Education: Attend a three-day event devoted to gifted education with keynote speakers and breakout sessions on topics such as fostering creativity through technology, report cards for school districts, and transforming turmoil for gifted and talented youth. Kids’ Conference on Saturday includes a performance by Jon Gailmor, a raptor encounter with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and writing exercises.

Preregister by October 8. $200 day, $375 both days. Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center, Burlington, hours vary by day. Info, necgt.org.

Health & Fitness

Public Skating: See October 4.

Library & Books

Lego Club: Lego enthusiasts are invited to stop by for some creative building time with other kids. St. Albans Free Library, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Science Magic: Amaze friends and family with science tricks using simple household materials. Intended for third-graders and up.

Preregister. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Nature & Science

Preschool Discovery Program: See October 12.

The Air Up There: See October 6.

Critter Construction: Have you ever wondered how a beaver builds a lodge, how a bird builds a nest or how a squirrel builds a drey? Join Audubon Vermont staff during this exploration of different styles of critter construction and help create a cozy hideaway. Ages 3-5 with adult companion. Preregister. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, 10-11 a.m. $8 member adult/child pair, $4 additional child; $10 nonmember adult/child pair, $4 additional child. Info, 434-3068.

14 FRIDAY

Arts

Family Clay Drop-In: See October 7.

Community

Candy Drop: See October 1.

36

Kids VT

October 2011

kidsvt.com

Youth Booth at Market: The Richmond Farmers Market Youth Booth showcases the entrepreneurial flair of local kids. Check out their baked goods, produce and crafts. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free to browse.

Info, 434-5273.

Education

Abenaki History & Oral Tradition: See October 12.

Foodways Fridays: See October 7.

New England Conference on Gifted and Talented Education: See October 13.

Health & Fitness

Kids Open Gymnastics: See October 5.

Public Skating: See October 4.

Library & Books

Teen Movie Night: The Addams Family is screened in the library for the teen set. Library provides drinks and popcorn; teens are asked to bring a snack to share. Kids in grades 7 and up.

Lincoln Library, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 453-2665.

15 SATURDAY

Arts

Saturday Drama Club: See October 1.

Talent Showcase & Dinner: Catered by Bove’s and set in Black Box Theater, this evening of talent, good food, a silent auction, and bake and art sales benefits Vermont Kin as Parents, which works to strengthen families raising the children of relatives. Call to purchase tickets, or email brendah.kin@comcast.net or kinlmg@ comcast.net. Main Street Landing, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. $25 ticket. Info, 338-4716, 338-4725.

Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, which offers a free week of summer camp to children who have cancer.

Ages 13 and up. Burlington City Hall, 9-11 a.m. $25 person. Info, 734-0821.

Health & Fitness

Library & Books

Library & Books

Pawn’s Paradise Drop-In: For rookies and pros alike, this chess club led by Robert Nichols welcomes drop-ins. All ages. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-4655.

Nature & Science

Wood-Carving Demo: See October 1.

16 SUNDAY

Community

Bridge Barbecue: This fundraising barbecue marks the two-year anniversary of the Lake Champlain Bridge closure and benefits the Lake Champlain Bridge Community’s reopening celebration, slated for May 2012. Enjoy live music with the family while feasting on chicken, pulled pork, mac & cheese, coleslaw and rolls.

Crown Point State Historic Site, 12-4 p.m. $15 person. Info, 388-7951, ext. 2.

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Wagon-Ride Weekend: See October 15.

Nature & Science

Public Skating: See October 4.

Stroller Strolling: See October 4.

Craftacular Tuesdays: See October 4.

Creative Tuesdays: See October 4.

Music With Robert: See October 11.

Nature & Science

Science & Stories: Pumpkins: Did you plant a pumpkin in your garden last spring? What happened after you planted the seed? Explore the life cycle of a pumpkin and “make” one to take home. Ages 3-5. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 11 a.m. Museum admission. Info, 877-324-6386.

19 WEDNESDAY

Arts

Music in the Meeting House: See October 5.

Community

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Education

Cookie Decorating: See October 5.

Sundays for Fledglings: See October 2.

Kids Cook Up Stories: See October 5.

Community

17 MONDAY

Health & Fitness

Wagon-Ride Weekend: Relax with the family during narrated wagon rides around Billings’ fields during the height of fall foliage, and don’t miss the farm’s other programs and activities.

Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Museum admission. Info, 457-2355.

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Education

Creativity Day: Destination ImagiNation sponsors this wacky day of activities to get families thinking on their feet and practicing their problem-solving skills. Come tease your brain, play with your food, build, create, laugh and improvise. Bring lunch. All ages; kids should be accompanied by adults. Burlington High School, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 864-8436.

Health & Fitness

Little Tykes Soccer: See October 1.

Prenatal Yoga: See October 1.

Zumba-thon for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta: This fundraising event gets teens and adults moving to Zumba’s Latin-inspired dance moves to support

Community 18 TUESDAY

Community

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Education

Kids in the Kitchen: Popcorn Balls: Here’s a treat everyone loves. Salty and sweet, popcorn balls are fun to make and great to share. In this hands-on kids’ class, help pop the corn, make ooey-gooey caramel and then mix it all together into big, fluffy popcorn balls. All ages accompanied by adult. Healthy Living Natural Foods Market, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 child. Info, 863-2569, ext. 1.

Schoolhouse Open House: Tour the Schoolhouse, meet teachers and parents, and learn about the school’s programs for kids in kindergarten-sixth grade. Preregister. The Schoolhouse, South Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m.

Free. Info, 658-4164.

Kids Open Gymnastics: See October 5.

Public Skating: See October 4.

Library & Books

Lego Afternoons: See October 5.

Movin’ & Groovin’ With Christine: See October 12.

Nature & Science

Young Scientist: See October 5.

20 THURSDAY

Arts

Make Some Bling: All skill levels are welcome during this two-day workshop that teaches the tools and techniques necessary to craft unique jewelry. Each student completes at least two jewelry projects. Sponsored by South Burlington Recreation Department. Sixth-ninth graders. F. H. Tuttle Middle School, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $50 South Burlington resident, $60 nonresident. Info, 846-4108.

Speedy Squash It’s no wonder thousands turn out annually for Burlington’s Giant Pumpkin Regatta & Festival.

Not only does this event benefit a kid-centric cause — Linking Learning to Life’s youth leadership program, PILOT — seeing grown-ups racing around the lake in giant, hollowed-out pumpkins is too good to pass up. The regatta isn’t the only gig at the waterfront come festival day. “We have a whole tent dedicated to kids activities: Halloween-inspired crafts, cookie and cupcake decorating,” says Lindsey Lathrop, LLL’s marketing and development coordinator. Other attractions include a fall-inspired pet costume contest, pie-eating contests, and food and craft vendors.

Giant Pumpkin Regatta & Festival: Sunday, October 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Races begin at noon. Coast Guard Boat Launch, Burlington Waterfront. Free. Info, 951-8845, lllvt.org.

Oct Pollywog drop-in Art: See October 6.

Community

candy drop: See October 1.

Haunted Forest: See spotlight, page 42.

Education

Wood-Working Workshop: Come make some sawdust and learn a new craft during this hands-on workshop led by Sawmill Studio L3C. No power tools are used, and no experience is necessary. Intended for kids in first-sixth graders. Milton Elementary School, 9-10:30 a.m. $35 student, $5 nonresident of Milton fee. Info, 893-4922.

Health & Fitness

Public skating: See October 4.

Library & Books

Fun With mr. K: Nature and art fun with Mr. K from Exordium. Space is limited. All ages. Preregister. Highgate Public Library, 2-3 p.m. Free.

Info, 868-3970.

Get crafty With Beads: Colorful supplies onhand for kids to make their own Perler bead creation. Ages 6 and up. St. Albans Free Library, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Westford Early-Literacy story Time: See October 6.

Young Writers Group: See October 6.

Nature & Science

The Air Up There: See October 6.

21 FRIDAY

Arts

Family clay drop-in: See October 7.

Game Plan: This drop-in art program for kids and parents explores color symbolism, form and design motifs. Discover how these elements are used by people around the world to express ideas. Fleming Museum, Burlington, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Museum admission. Info, 656-0750.

calendar

Community

candy drop: See October 1.

Haunted Forest: See spotlight, page 42.

Haunted Gingerbread House: Make your own gingerbread house decked out for Halloween.

Scary trees, broken windows, skeletons, black cats, ghosts and edible spiderwebs help freakify your creations. All ages. Milton Town Office Community Room, 10 a.m.-noon. $30 house (includes all supplies). Info, 893-4922.

Pumpkin-Painting Party: Stop by one of the following TD Bank locations and paint a pumpkin to take home: 427 Main Street, Enosburg Falls; 100 Center Road, Essex Center; 175 Route 7, South Milton; 20 Morrisville Plaza, Morrisville; 8 North Main Street, St. Albans; 5070 Main Street, Waitsfield; 2300 St. George Road, Williston. TD Bank, Williston, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 888-751-9000.

Education

Think-safe self-defense: This program teaches kids about stranger danger in a way that is clear, specific and easy to understand — without frightening them. Two sessions: ages 4-6, 9 -10 a.m.; ages 7-13, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Martial Way Self Defense Center, Milton. Info, 893-4922.

Fairs & Festivals

Health & Fitness

Community

Library & Books

Health & Fitness

Nature & Science

Kids open Gymnastics: See October 5.

Wood-carving demo: See October 1.

Public skating: See October 4.

Wounds, Guts & other Gross stuff: Make fake blood, eyeballs and wounds; have your face painted; go retro in a friendly game of Operation. After you’re totally grossed out, climb aboard the FACT ambulance (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Museum admission.

Info, 324-6386.

Jiggity Jog: Jig with Ms. Susan during this program that’s all about movement. Ages 2-5.

South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

22 SATURDAY

23 SUNDAY

Community

Friday, OCTober 21 / 10AM - 3PM Through a series of playful art activities, kids explore systems in art —color symbolism, form, and design motifs— and how they are used by people around the world to express ideas.

For more info, call 656-0750.

candy drop: See October 1.

Pumpkin Patch: See October 22.

saturday drama club: See October 1.

61 C olChester A venue , B urlington /

37

23 sUndAY, p. 38

www . flemingmuseum . org

Kids VT

Arts

OctOber 2011

sign a story: Calling all babies and toddlers: Join Amy as she reads stories while signing key words. Ages birth-4. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

WIC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

KidsVT.com

Wood-Working Workshop: See October 20.

Library & Books

Call 1-800-649-4357 or visit our web site at healthvermont.gov/wic

A Drop-in Art Program for Kids & Parents

John dewey day: Make paper masks to wear as you parade down Church Street to celebrate the birthday of philosopher and educator John Dewey. Parade begins at noon. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

Info, 865-7216.

Education

Find out how WIC can help your family grow.

church street marketplace Halloween Parade & Festival: Celebrate the year’s spookiest holiday with a children’s-costume parade and festival, including trick-or-treating at participating stores. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-noon (trick-or-treating; parade immediately follows). All ages. Free.

Info, 863-1648. churchstreetmarketplace.com.

Prenatal Yoga: See October 1.

Haunted Forest: See spotlight, page 42.

WIC offers healthy food, nutrition resources, and referrals to health and community services to families in Vermont.

Pumpkin Patch: Turn your search for the perfect pumpkin into a fun family outing with free horse-drawn wagon rides to a pumpkin patch, educational displays and a self-guided farm tour. Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, East Thetford, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4737.

make some Bling: See October 20.

candy drop: See October 1.

there’s a dream in all of us ... feed it.

Oct

calendar

23 sunday (Continued)

Library & Books

A Highgate Halloween: Call the library for details on this annual Halloween tradition.

Highgate Public Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 868-3970.

Nature & Science

Sundays for Fledglings: See October 2.

24 MONDAY

Community

Candy Drop: See October 1.

Health & Fitness

Skating Opens!: Sharpen your skates and dig out your hockey gear. Jackson Arena is scheduled to open October 24 with public skating and stick time. Call and watch for the skate schedule in the Parks & Recreation e-newsletter. Jackson Arena, Stowe, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Info, 253-6138.

25 TUESDAY

Health & Fitness

Public Skating: See October 4.

Skating Opens!: See October 24.

Stroller Strolling: See October 4.

Library & Books

Craftacular Tuesdays: See October 4.

Creative Tuesdays: See October 4.

Music With Robert: See October 11.

Nature & Science

Science & Stories: Skeletons: You have more than 200 bones in your body. They hold you up and, along with your muscles, keep you moving.

Take a closer look at the bony structure of our skeleton. Ages 3-5. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 11 a.m. Museum admission. Info, 877-324-6386.

Haunted Forest: See spotlight, page 42.

Education

Future Einsteins: See October 6.

Health & Fitness

Public Skating: See October 4.

Skating Opens!: See October 24.

Library & Books

Halloween Dance Party: Hey, kids! Stop by the library in your costume and check out the fun Halloween digs. Help celebrate this creepy occasion with dancing, crafts, snacks and even trick-or-treating in the library. All ages. St. Albans Free Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Lego Club: See October 13.

Westford Early-Literacy Story Time: See October 6.

Nature & Science

Preschool Discovery Program: See October 12.

28 FRIDAY

Arts

Family Clay Drop-In: See October 7.

Community

Haunted Forest: See spotlight, page 42.

Health & Fitness

Cookie Decorating: See October 5.

Kids Cook Up Stories: See October 5. kidsvt.com

Community

Arts

Education

October 2011

Pollywog Drop-in Art: See October 6.

26 WEDNESDAY

Music in the Meeting House: See October 5.

Kids VT

Arts

Pumpkins in the Park: Kick off Halloween weekend with an evening of pumpkin carving.

You bring a pumpkin and your imagination; the South Burlington Recreation Department provides carvers, stencils, markers and decorations. All ages. Dorset Park, South Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4108.

Art Safari: Dive into stories and art activities related to the museum’s diverse collections: Discover many different types of large and small containers, and use patterns to decorate your own trick-or-treat bag for Halloween. Ages 3-5 with adult. Preregister; space is limited to 10 children. Shelburne Museum, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $5 child. Info, 985-3346.

38

27 THURSDAY

Health & Fitness

Kids Open Gymnastics: See October 5.

Public Skating: See October 4.

Skating Opens!: See October 24.

Library & Books

Lego Afternoons: See October 5.

Movin’ & Groovin’ With Christine: See October 12.

Nature & Science

Preschool Discovery Program: See October 12.

Young Scientist: See October 5.

Kids Open Gymnastics: See October 5.

Public Skating: See October 4.

Skating Opens!: See October 24.

Library & Books

Halloween Celebration: Not-so-scary fun includes storytelling, games and a candy hunt. All ages; children ages 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Lincoln Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 453-2665.

Nature & Science

Vermont Tech Jam: This job fair and tech expo features more than 60 innovative Vermont companies, many of them looking for employees and interns. Middle and high school students interested in science and technology can get information on local colleges and exciting careers. Ages 12 and up. Borders Books & Music, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3489.

Ready, Set, Build!

Future architects and engineers unite for three days of buildingblock worship during Brattleboro Museum & Art Center’s Fourth Annual Lego Contest. Kids of all ages — including adults — can take part in this friendly competition that offers prizes for artistry, originality and architectural design. Not the hands-on type?

Feel free to admire the work.

Contest entries are showcased throughout the weekend, and an awards ceremony highlights the best of the best. Each competitor receives a certificate of completion, a nifty Lego-themed button and four free passes to the museum. Build memories with your kids — tots or teens — during this tribute to a classic American toy.

Fourth Annual Lego Contest: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 28 through 30, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Awards ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 28. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Admission to BMAC during Lego weekend: $6 adult, $4 senior, $3 student, free for museum members and children ages 5 and under. Preregister for contest entry, $3 fee. Info, including guidelines, entry forms and drop-off times, 257-0124, brattleboromuseum.org.

Community

Haunted Forest: See spotlight, page 42.

Halloween Funeral: Come see how Victorians honored their family members during this tour and reproduction of a 19th-century funeral honoring a Civil War veteran. Noyes House Museum, Morrisville, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, 888-7617.

Pumpkin-Painting Party: If you’re on the other side of the lake today, join the pumpkin parties at the following TD Bank locations and paint a pumpkin to take home: 2990 Main Street, Peru, NY; 714 State Route 3, Plattsburgh, NY. 10 a.m.1 p.m. Free. Info, 518-643-2387.

29 SATURDAY

Pumpkin Patch: See October 22.

Arts

Fairs & Festivals

Saturday Drama Club: See October 1.

Halloween Celebration: Come dressed in your favorite costume for an afternoon of Halloween

fun and games: pumpkin walk, carnival games, crafts, bingo, prizes and treats. Sponsored by South Burlington Recreation Department. All ages are welcome, but games and activities are geared toward kids in preschool through fifth grade. F. H. Tuttle Middle School, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4108.

Health & Fitness

Prenatal Yoga: See October 1.

Skating Opens!: See October 24.

Library & Books

Fall Carnival: Play games, have your fortune read and get your face painted at the library.

Come in costume and receive five tickets for the games; bring a food donation for five more. All ages. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-4655.

Nature & Science

Vermont 3.0 Tech Jam: See October 28.

Wood-Carving Demo: See October 1.

30 SUNDAY

Community

Family Halloween: This not-so-scary celebration features doughnuts on a string, pumpkin carving, Halloween tales, wagon rides, and costume parades at noon and 2 p.m. All ages.

Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Museum admission (children in costume admitted free when accompanied by adult).

Info, 457-2355.

Haunted Happenings: Don your favorite costume for three hours of Halloween fun, including trick-or-treating, games and other activities on museum grounds. Shelburne Museum, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $5 person (plus a nonperishable food item for the Shelburne Food Shelf ), free for museum members. Info, 985-3346.

Pumpkin Patch: See October 22.

Trick-or-Treat Party: Kiddos from the local community and beyond enjoy a safe, indoor environment for Halloween fun: Spooky Story Time with Thea Lewis begins at 3 p.m.; Haunted Bingo, 3:30 p.m.; Music with Gigi and Joni, 4 p.m.; trick-or-treating, 5 p.m. Food court remains open until 7 p.m. All ages. University Mall, South Burlington, 3-7 p.m. Free. Info, 8631066, ext. 11.

Health & Fitness

Skating Opens!: See October 24.

Library & Books

Treats for the Taking: Do some trick or treating at the library. All ages. Highgate Public Library, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 868-3970.

Nature & Science

Sundays for Fledglings: See October 2.

31 MONDAY

Health & Fitness

Skating Opens!: See October 24.

Nature & Science

Tricks and Treats: How does your Halloween costume compare with the bears and bats and big cats in the museum? Share your tricks with the beasts, and staff will provide the treats. Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2372. K

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

October 28 & 29 THE BORDERS BUILDING 29 CHURCH ST., BURLINGTON

You could win an

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just for attending!

SPONSORED BY

• Meet up with Vermont’s most dynamic and innovative companies • Apply for a job or an internship • Learn about tech-related educational opportunities • Network with other like-minded professionals • Bring your middle and highschool students on Friday to see IBM fellow John Cohn at 11 a.m. and a “Women in Science and Technology” panel at 12:30 p.m.

KIDSVT.COM KIDS VT

Visit vermont3.com and or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

OCTOBER 2011

WITH SUPPORT FROM

39

HANDS-ON

materials • magnet sheet with adhesive backing ( we got ours at Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft store in South Burlington ) • scissors • newspapers or magazines

Q CRAFTING WITH KIDS

40

Kids VT

October 2011

kidsvt.com

Refrigerator Magnets All Hallows’ Eve is on the horizon, and little ones are already counting down the days ’til costumes, candy corn and trick or treating. Catch the festive spirit by helping your kids create Halloween-themed refrigerator magnets. Make them spooky or just plain silly; these magnets are simple to pull together and instantly add a little flair to the kitchen.

Older children can take them to school to decorate the inside of their lockers. Adapt this craft to fit any season or holiday.

— carolyn fox

Carolyn Fox is the calendar editor at Seven Days.

instructions 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Challenge your kids to a scavenger hunt through some seasonal newspapers or magazines. Have them scour the pages and cut out any iconic Halloween images, such as pumpkins and black cats, or anything else that qualifies as scary and graphically pleasing.

Peel off the protective backing from the sheet of magnets and place the trimmed images smoothly on the sticky surface.

Use scissors to cut closely around the images.

Display the magnets on the fridge or hang them in a school locker.

Get creative: Older kids can cut large-font letters and words out of the newspaper to make their own set of magnetic poetry. K

Share your fun craft ideas with us!

Send them to ideas@kidsvt.com.

ceLebrAtIoNS!

celebrating a birthday, anniversary, first tooth? congratulate your family publicly in Kids VT for only $25/tile.

Submit your info at kidsvt.com or celebrate@kidsvt.com by october 15.

Happy Birthday, Happy daddy!

Birthday You are the best Daddy in the ollie-wog! entire universe. We love you and we love eating cake with you!

- Lily, Nola and rose

Hope it’s a berry good one!

Love, Mom & Dad

congrats colleen & dave Welcome Layla rae blatchly, born September 14, 2011 at 9:39 a.m.

Finally!

Welcome to the world, Henry “cyan” David! congratulations brooke, rob and Noah on the new addition to your family.

our new co-pilot!

You’re a rescue, you’re smart, and you have big paws to fill. Now we just have to think of a name.

Love, Momma, Poppa, Guin, Lathrop & the cats (who will learn to love you)

KidsVT.com october 2011 Kids VT

41

HANDS-ON ✱ THE PARTY PLANNER BY KAT RIN A ROBE RTS

Harvest the Fun

Whether you’ve got an October birthday to celebrate or want to host a fun, Halloween-y activity, pumpkins provide a perfect party theme. Young kids can paint them; older kids will enjoy designing and carving them into characters.

The seeds — roasted and salted — double as a healthy snack and an agricultural lesson. Party favors don’t get much less expensive than 49 cents per pound. A freshly baked spice cake rounds out this “gourd-met” gathering.

Pumpkin Spice Cake 1 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup shortening 2 eggs 1 cup canned pumpkin

Ages 3-7 For younger partygoers, pumpkin painting is a fun and safe alternative to carving.

If weather permits, take the pumpkins outside and cover a table with newspaper. Get washable paints, paintbrushes and paper towels ready and let the kids have at it.

Continue the theme by face painting your guests. I recommend Snazaroo brand paints — they go on smoothly and come off easily.

2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon whole cloves 1/4 teaspoon baking soda ¼ cup milk Optional additions 1 cup walnuts 1/2 cup dates or raisins Cream together the first four ingredients.

Combine the dry ingredients and add the dry to the creamed mixture in portions, alternating with the milk, until well combined. Add 1 cup walnuts and dates or raisins if desired. Bake in greased loaf pan for 1 hour at 325 degrees.

42

KIDS VT

OCTOBER 2011

KIDSVT.COM

Ages 8-13 For this crowd, carving is key. While younger kids should not handle sharp implements, you can pick up inexpensive kits at any local craft or grocery store for older kids. Set out the utensils on a newspaper-covered table and place trash cans nearby for easy cleanup.

Parents may want to cut out the top of the pumpkin. Slicing inward, at a 40-degree angle, helps keep the jack-o-lantern’s “lid” secure. Kids can scrape out the pulp and seeds, setting the latter aside in a bowl to be washed, tossed with melted butter and salt, and roasted. Forty-five minutes in a 300-degree oven turns pumpkin seeds into a crunchy treat.

Sketch a design on the pumpkin with permanent marker or use toothpicks and a paper template to poke holes through the outline. You can easily find great carving designs online. Once the jack-o-lanterns are complete, insert and light the candles for a group photo. With the kids, of course.

Got an idea for the Party Planner?

Send it to ideas@kidsvt.com.

Birthday club

Sponsored by Zachary’s Family Fun center in South burlington

Congratulations to these October Birthday Club winners:

every month, birthday kids win prizes, and their picture appears in Kids VT to make their birthdays extra special!

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Bill lives in Lincoln and turns 8 in october. His favorite school subjects are art, reading and writing.

Bill wins a birthday party for eight at Zachary’s Family Fun Center!

siddhant lives in South burlington and turns 3 in october. He loves to talk, make new friends, bother his big sister and try out different kinds of foods.

caledonia lives in South burlington and turns 2 in october. calle, for short, was named for her greatgrandmother’s country of origin (Scotland), and recently discovered her love of bagpipes at the Quechee Scottish Festival and celtic Fair.

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43

Say you saw it in

9/20/11 5:10 PM

Kids VT

Just give us your contact info, your children’s names and birthdates, and a photo, and they’re automatically enrolled in our Kids VT birthday club.

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

October 2011

to enter your kids, submit information using the online form at kidsvt. com/birthday-club.

Celebrate your Birthday at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory!

KidsVT.com

Join the club!

$3 OFF

®

1/26/11 3:09 PM

HANDS-ON

BY JAN BUCKNER WALKER

answers p. 46

PUZZLE PAGE

Kids Across/Parents Down

Enjoy fun time with mom, dad or your favorite grown-up.

The across clues are for kids and the down clues are for adults.

Hard Times 21. At dinnertime, it’s the place for plates

KIDS ACROSS 1. The hard material Indians use to carve totem poles

22. This reptile, who has a hard 9A, carries his house upon his back

2. The squares on a bathroom or kitchen floor

Puzzles4Kids

4. You can find a row of library books on one

BY HELENA HOVANEC

44

Kids VT

October 2011

kidsvt.com

Riddle Search — Complain

Search 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. Read from left to right, top to bottom, to answer this riddle: Why did the window cry?

Bawl Belly Ache Blubber Break Down Cry Fuss Grieve Gripe Groan Grouse

Grumble Moan Mutter Scream shed tears snivel sob wail weep yell

6. The cold, hard surface a hockey player skates on 7. It’s what a geologist studies (or a type of music you might hear at a concert) 8. Initials of the president whose monument is the tallest in our nation’s capital

_____ _____ _____ _____

_____ _____ _____ _____

3. Hard driver: Folk hero John Henry was known as the “_____ Driving Man” 4. It’s just the thing to turn limbs into logs

9. The hard covering that protects a clam

11. A reason to smile: They are calcium’s beneficiaries

10. What you might be after a long, hard day of school and play

12. Haunting truth: They’re all a skeleton has

12. It’s a seat for people in the park

13. Palm’s fruit that, when shredded, takes the cake

16. The part of a tree a woodpecker pecks

_____ _____

1. Sphere of destruction: ________ ball 2. Mammoth’s mammoth facial features

5. You’ll find that this place almost always has hard water

14. What a pro athlete might eat to get his protein: A hard-boiled ____

Riddle Answer:

PARENTS DOWN

18. Knock knock: What do guests hit with their knuckles when they want to come in?

15. Solid choice for a memorial material that stands the test of time 17. Block of concrete (or, roughly, a rack of ribs) 20. Lustrous golden gemstone: tiger ___

19. Bicycle riders who use their heads use these © 2011 Jan Buckner Walker. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

COLORING CONTEST! Send us your work of art by October 15.

You could win a $25 gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse!

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

Title _______________________________________ KIDS EAT FREE every Monday night with adult purchase.

Artist _____________________________________ Age _______________________________________ Town _____________________________________ Email _____________________________________ Phone _____________________________________

KIDSVT.COM OCTOBER 2011 KIDS VT

45

Kids VT sponsored a special night at Centennial Field with the Lake Monsters Friday, September 2. The First 500 fans got free Frisbees and everyone had a great time!

PHOTOS BY MAT THE W THORSEN

Introducing our redesigned website at:

We’ve launched a new — and much-improved — Kids VT website. Click on over and you’ll find:

Become a member and you can comment on, share, rate and review all of this stuff. Check it out and sign up – we’d love to hear from you!

PUZZLE PAGE ANSWERS (SEE P. 44)

OCTOBER 2011

KIDSVT.COM

• A user-friendly calendar of events • A comprehensive list of local family resources • An article archive starting with February 2011

46

KIDS VT

JUMBLES PET, MIND, GONE, HIGH RIDDLE ANSWER: This occurs every day — NIGHT 4t-newwebsite.indd 1

9/23/11 2:08 PM

RIDDLE ANSWER: It had a pane.

use yOur wOrds

HATHAWAY FARM

& CORN MAZE You’re Lost…

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Into the Woods

Why I’m teaching my son to hunt b y Pat r i ck r i P l e y

I must have been 8 or 9 years old when my father bought me my first Daisy BB gun.

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Patrick Ripley lives in Jeffersonville with his wife and son. He points out that Youth Deer Weekend is November 4 and 5. “Use Your Words” is a monthly essay in which writers reflect on parenting and childhood.

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OctOber 2011

My reality — and I suspect that of most hunters — is somewhere in between. I must have been 8 or 9 years old when my father bought me my first Daisy BB gun.

Just holding it made me feel trusted, and more grownup. Initially, I’d come home from school and spend the evening after dinner in our cellar. Lying prone, plugging a cardboard box with mini musket balls, I talked to myself and imagined a real hunt. I learned how to exhale and hold my breath out, to steady a shot. I learned to respect the business end of a gun. I learned how to be alone.

BB guns in hand, a friend and I would spend entire days in the woods on his family’s dairy farm.

As we struck out in the morning, often in full camouflage and black face paint, the creeks and ponds opened up a new world to me. It was always there, crouching and silent. But I needed to listen for it to come alive.

I witnessed the grace of bounding deer, the backward dart of crawfish, the song of migrating birds. I was in awe that anyone could understand these creatures well enough to capture them. I sat around the dinner table, hearing tales of their demise, delighting in the spoils. I listened — and learned.

Now grown, I have my own stories of successes and failures in the woods, rivers and streams of Vermont.

These tales are new to my son’s ears, and I see my childhood imagination fresh in his eyes, as if I’m hearing those old stories for the first time over a plate of venison. As we grow older together and spend more time in the woods attempting to unlock their mysteries, we will share far more failures than successes. These times will make great table talk. That is my hope, anyway.

There is a proverb, attributed to many different sources, that says: “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” I’m giving my son this education in the hope that it will sustain him the way it’s sustained me.

And if he wants to bring his smartphone along to snap a photo of his first kill, I can live with that. K

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He’s seen THe eyes sTaring down from under a crown of antlers. He’s tasted meals made of fresh catches and kills — even reeled in a dozen or so trout of his own. It won’t be long now; my little boy is growing into an outdoorsman. A proud witness, I feel privileged to be a part of it.

Being outdoors with my 5-year-old son is the closest to heaven I may ever get. Teaching him how to tie a clinch knot, how to listen for the sound of incoming waterfowl, how to tell the difference between moose and deer tracks left in the mud — there are countless lessons I can share with him in Vermont’s woods and marshes.

But those skills aren’t all I want him to find there. I hope he’ll experience camaraderie, grow to appreciate beauty and survival, and develop an honest understanding and respect for life.

It may not be easy to hold his attention; interest in hunting and fishing appears to be waning, nationally and here in Vermont.

Tantalized by gadgetry, today’s kids are trading in their Red Ryders for iPods and mobile devices. I didn’t have my own phone until my first year in college, and it was attached to my dorm-room wall — egad!

And technology is not the only thing standing between kids and the woods. For many adults, hunting has turned into a repugnant display of pseudo-manliness that means guns, killing, aggression, and a lack of compassion and respect for wildlife. The extreme antihunting crowd pictures Ted Nugent in a loincloth tramping through the woods, with a bazooka fixed on anything that moves and “Cat Scratch Fever” playing in the background.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Constitution thumpers equate hunting with an American pride that sets us apart from the weak. To them, its opponents are tree-hugging longhairs. They’re quick to cite Nugent’s credo, “Kill it and grill it” — but also a litany of ways sportsmen and-women fund wildlife conservation efforts nationwide.

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