Lincoln Kids Magazine (formerly Newspaper) Summer Issue 2020

The FREE Guide To Family Life In Lincoln

Special Edition Summer 2020 | June & July | FREE! Family Life • Summer Camps • Virtual Activities • Support Local Businesses | Year 27, Issue 106

Cial Amalia Holtgrewe, 10 Paint Pens on Gift Box Created at home

Special thanks to our cover sponsor

Community Action Head Start See them on pages 6-7

www.LincolnKidsinc.com

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

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We’re all in this together.

Supporting local businesses & families for over 27 years

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ell I think we can all agree that these past few months have been ROUGH. I dedicated a lot of energy into looking for silver linings to keep myself from spiraling into despair, and thankfully I found several. After surving the emotional meat grinder that was spring, I am excited to look ahead and am hopeful for us all.

I won’t sugarcoat it, though. As a working mom and small business owner, I about reached my breaking point several times. All the juggling, anxiety, new rules, lack of direction, lack of help, financial stress, added hours, and piles of pressure—my shoulders simply aren’t big enough to carry it all. I considered shutting down LK permanently more than once, a thought which flooded me with sadness and relief simultaneously.

I had that very conversation with countless friends who also run small businesses. We all, at one point, had thought about it, and that scared me. Words like “crumple,” “broken,” and “escape” were being tossed around casually. Then the next week, waves of hope would rush in with words like “pivot” and “rebuild.” It’s been a proper roller coaster.

This is why I ask you to read this issue with heart. By reading LK, you are supporting over 100 local businesses just by taking the time to learn their names. Get to know them—what do they offer under normal circumstances? What are they offering now? If a business isn’t relevant to you, would your friend benefit from knowing about it? Please talk about these businesses and share them with your friends who have kids.

With so much having gone virtual, showing your support online is easy and doesn’t have to cost you anything­. At any point in time, the information in this edition may change...or it may not.

We don’t know. But by following

Karla, Kenny, and Bennett, Sep 2019 Photo Credit: Genesis Photography www.genesisphotog.com

business’ social media pages, you’re not only giving them a visibility boost, but you’ll also stay in the loop on who’s doing what—and how—this summer.

These virtual tokens of support are steps to survival right now.

Being seen by more and more people helps make up for less and less traffic through the door.

This city has come together in new, creative, and uplifting ways. Art abounds, families are reconnecting, and local movements are changing lives. People are discovering new and progressive ways of doing business and giving back. It definitely has been a rocky road, but I am here for the beauty of it, and I am compelled to help. Every single ad in this issue was given away completely free of charge in an effort to help businesses regain some strength and visibility. I can’t sustain my business like this for more than one issue, but for this quarter, I am glad to scrape by to help all of these businesses in return.

So thank you for reading this edition, I hope you enjoy it.

Please support these businesses and like their socials. Each ad has clickable links that take you directly to that business’ website and social pages. Follow along on their summer plans and make some of your own. I hope you have a fabulous and fun summer!

Click here to follow LK!

Contents

Meet The Cover Artist Amalia, 11

Articles & Columns A Note From The Publisher..........................................................4 Meet The Cover Artist...................................................................5 Cover Sponsor: Community Action Head Start.................6 Nebraska Dyslexia Association.................................................9 Lincoln City Libraries..................................................................10 Books to Grow With.....................................................................1 2 Dad Jokes.......................................................................................13 HopeSpoke...................................................................................14 LUX Center for the Arts..............................................................15 Nebraska Academy of Vocal Arts...........................................16 Lincoln Parks & Recreation Activity Page..............................18 Pioneers Park Nature Center....................................................19 Nebraska Game & Parks Commission.................................20 Birdnerd Blurb // Spring Creek Prairie....................................21 Fallbrook Farmers Market.........................................................23 Nebraska Family Dentistry........................................................24 Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln...........................................26 Morrill Hall.....................................................................................28 International Vacation // Virtual Tours.....................................31 Gretchen Garrison // Nebraska Passport..............................32 City of Lincoln Solid Waste Management..............................34 Capital Humane Society............................................................35 City of Lincoln Watershed Management...............................36 Bright Lights on the Flipside....................................................42

Summer Camp Guide...................................40-47 Directories

Amalia Holtgrewe, AKA Molly, is 11 years old and just finished her 1st year at LPS as a 5th grader at Arnold. She grew up in Waco, Nebraska.

She spends most of her time drawing in her sketchbooks.

She really enjoys creating characters and designing all of the details including fun outfits. She even considered designing and selling portraits of people as a way to raise money. She loves all animals and plans to become a wildlife conservationist and travel the world.

She wants to keep art as a hobby forever. She also plays the violin and enjoys being outdoors and being with her family. Amalia is a very bright and creative girl who loves to have her own flair and style. She prefers to be the glittering flamingo in a flock of pigeons.

Little One’s Activities..................................................................48 Children’s Lessons & Activities...............................................49 Birthday Fun & Party Places....................................................50 Child Care & Education Centers..............................................51 Support • Resources..................................................................52

Calendar Of Events.........................................53-55 Youth Art Gallery..........................................56-57 Lincoln Kids! Activity Page.................................58 ublisher – Karla Goerl P Marketing, Sales, Ad Design, & Layout – Karla Goerl Copy Editing & Proofing - Karla Goerl, Tevin Hansen Website – Locable Publishers Network Printer – Page 1 Printers Distribution – Bennett Martin Design Elements & Photography Credits – Local Youth, Ron Wheeler, Pixabay, GraphicStock, Unsplash, Brusheezy, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, Creative Market, One Pixel, Vecteezy, Dafont, Adobe Typekit, Genesis Photography & local photographers as credited, and LK original & proprietary designs.

Lincoln Kids Magazine is operated by Bennett & Karla, Inc. We are a quarterly family publication published in February, May, August & November. Copyright ©2020 Bennett & Karla, Inc. All rights reserved. We are not responsible for errors and omissions. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission prohibited. We reserve the right to edit all submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication. Physical submissions will not be returned unless prior arrangements are made. Advertising & information is accepted at the discretion of the publisher. The views, opinions, & suggestions expressed in contributed content are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Lincoln Kids Magazine. View current & past issues at LincolnKidsInc.com.

Up Next!

WANT TO SEE YOUR KID’S ART IN LINCOLN KIDS? Send it to us for consideration!

karla@lincolnkidsinc.com See the Youth Art Gallery on pages 56–57!

Specially-trained children’s stylists All the latest styles for your family Fun play area & video games Adult haircuts & facial waxing, too!

FALL 2020

AUGUST • SEPTEMBER • OCTOBER Reservation Deadline: JULY 10

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Advertising • Articles • Artwork • Event Listings Inquiries & Submissions:

karla@lincolnkidsinc.com www.lincolnkidsinc.com

(402) 484-7866 | 237 S. 70th Street, Ste 106 www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

5

HOME LEARNING A Q&A with Community Action Head Start Education and Disabilities Services Coordinator, Erin Mauro

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or two months now, learning, like so much else in life, has been happening in the home. Keeping kids happy, healthy, focused, and engaged can be a challenging adventure, even on the best of days! For children under age five, this can be especially true. Erin Mauro, Education and Disabilities Services Coordinator with Community Action Head Start (and parent herself), is here to share some tips for at-home education:

Q: How important is it that families continue providing educational opportunities to their young children during this time?

A: V ery! But education comes in several forms, not just from textbooks and screens. As a parent or caregiver, it’s important to remember that you’re your child’s first and most important teacher. By being around you, your child is learning something every day; this was true before this period of necessary physical distancing, and it will be true long after. With that said, young children thrive on consistency and predictability. Daily interactions and routines are where a lot of learning happens! Having a routine doesn’t mean everything needs to happen at the same time every day. What is important is that things happen in a similar way each day. Within routines, it’s important to build time for children to play! Play is a young child’s “school work.” This doesn’t mean you need new toys or materials—just give them time and space to explore and create. Lastly, try to build in some reading time with your child. Even fifteen minutes a day is great, and it goes by rather quickly.

Q: What are some educational activities parents and caregivers can create for their children using only common household items?

A: L et’s get creative! Some ideas: 1) Use household chores to foster independence. Have your child help you sort and fold laundry, wash dishes, and prepare meals.

You can take it a step further by adding in other educational opportunities with these tasks. Support language development by describing colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. Count objects as you put them away. Cooking together offers plenty of opportunities to experience different textures and smells and introduce simple math concepts, new vocabulary, and reading.

2) E ncourage creativity and imagination. Who doesn’t love a good fort? Or a rocket ship? Or a boat? With a blanket, cardboard box, or laundry basket, the possibilities are endless.

6 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

LK Cover Sponsor

3) Get crafty. Clean recyclable materials like paper towel tubes, egg cartons, milk and water jugs, and other containers can provide endless building and craft ideas. Use age-appropriate crafting supplies and help your child if your projects require scissors, glue, tape, paint, markers, etc. Be sure the materials are clean, and remove any choking hazards.

4) Use nature to teach sorting, counting, and art. Collect natural materials from your backyard or walk around the neighborhood and ask your child to sort them by size, shape, color, etc. You can also save some to use for a craft project.

5) Practice observing and questioning, whether you’re outside, indoors, or reading a book. How many birds’ nests or squirrels can you see? What sort of animal do you suppose left this paw print? Play I-Spy in the living room. Point out objects and ask questions about the pictures in books you’re reading together. The possibilities to teach and learn are endless.

Unsplash // The Honest Company

Q: What advice do you have for parents and caregivers who may be feeling overwhelmed right now?

A: T ake a deep breath and remember that this is new for all of us. No one is a perfect parent, and most of us didn’t sign up to be teachers! It’s important not to create unrealistic expectations of ourselves (I’m totally guilty of this!). Know that some days will go better than others, and it’s important to treasure the good moments. Also, do something that brings you joy every day. And ask for help when you need it.

Let’s be real—we all need a little help sometimes.

Erin and the Community Action Head Start team have compiled a list of recommended free educational resources available at www.communityactionatwork.org.

Community Action Head Start is a comprehensive early childhood education program serving children age birth to five and their families. The program is free to eligible families. Visit Community Action’s website for more information.

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

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Early education & literacy

Please share LK with friends to support these local organizations.

We believe all children should have access to high-quality early childhood care and education, which leads to a more available workforce today and smarter workforce tomorrow.

What we do:

• • • •

Supporting Early Childhood Providers Accessing affordable, quality care for families Creating Community and Business Connections

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Building Capacity, Quality, Sustainability

WRITING

Consider giving to tuition assistance:

• •

Give to Lincoln day is now through Thursday, May 28th (Lincoln Community Foundation provides match funding at www.givetolincoln.com) Lincoln Littles donations are accepted year-round through www.lincolnlittles.org

READING LANGUAGE SPELLING MATH

Dept. of Ed. Special Education Service Provider Now offering summer camps!

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Creative Curriculum® | Teacher-directed and child-initiated learning Handwriting without Tears™ | Automatic & comfortable skills for Kindergarten readiness

8 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

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When Does Reading Begin?

teaches an early learner about communication and introduces concepts such as numbers, letters, colors, and shapes in a fun way.

It builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills, giving young learners information about the world around them. Parents, open the window to the world of literacy—read aloud to your child!

For more information on the development of reading skills, contact the Nebraska Dyslexia Association: www.nebraskadyslexia.org.

Nebraska Dyslexia Association (NDA)

Photo Courtesy of Nebraska Dyslexia Association

I

Editor’s Note: The benefits of reading aloud daily to children are eye-opening. Read the stats and find helpful tips, handouts, suggested books and more at www.ReadAloud.org and www.ReadAloudLincoln. org. I absolutely LOVE these organizations. Learning about the impact of reading aloud daily really helps me stay dedicated to doing it. I highly encourage you to check out these resources! —Karla

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Should I contact NDA?

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Resources, support, and advocacy for parents and children.

Nebraska Dyslexia Association

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n the classroom? Perhaps in the toddler phase, when children are learning to walk, talk, and eat with a spoon or fork? NO! Reading begins in the womb. Studies show that sensory and brain mechanisms for hearing are developed by around 30 weeks of pregnancy, and unborn babies are listening to their mothers throughout the third trimester.

They are absorbing language and recognizing their mother’s voice. Studies also state that the unborn baby tunes in to the sounds of speech, recognizing tone, prosody, and expressions in reading when mom reads aloud during pregnancy. From birth, children gather skills they’ll use in reading. The best way to instill a love for and interest in reading is to read to your child. Parents’ voices stimulate interest in sounds and help baby develop listening skills.

Begin a reading routine early to help your baby build vocabulary, generate imagination, and build communication skills.

Babies pick up on the rhythm of language. When reading aloud, try changing the pitch of your voice and using different voices for characters.

Choose books with pictures and bright colors. Start with cloth or vinyl books, board books, or those with heavy-duty pages.

Books with images hidden under flaps and sensory surprises like textures, noises, and fold-out sections are intriguing. Bond with your child over books. Foster patience and focus by limiting audiobooks, computers, television, and radio.

Babies need to feel an emotional connection with the words being read and the bonding with the attentive parent interaction.

Immerse them in the sounds and rhythms of speech to help their language development. Toddlers enjoy singsong rhythm and nursery rhymes. They often enjoy having the same book read over and over and over. Stop and ask them questions about the storyline and encourage observation by pointing out things in the pictures.

Preschool-aged children will begin showing their interest and new-found knowledge of letters, numbers, and words on packages and signs.

Play games involving letter and number recognition. Develop phonological awareness skills by practicing rhyming and identifying words that begin or end with the same sounds. You can also practice separating words with onset and rime, e.g., the onset for cat is /c/ and the rime is /-at/. Work on word building by segmenting words by their sounds and syllables, and blending sounds to make words or the segmented sounds within them.

Studies show that children who are routinely read to from a young age develop improved language skills and increased interest in reading, which helps prepare them for school. Reading aloud

Does your child struggle with...

Reading, writing, or spelling

Staying focused

Memorization & recall

Differentiating left & right

Expressing thoughts

NDA

Nebraska Dyslexia Association NDA is a community for helping families affected by dyslexia.

Screening & diagnosis Tutors and professional help Advocating for rights, IEP & 504 plans Tips & training for parents & educators Support for other learning disabilities

Sequencing (months, days, etc.)

Time management & organization

Short term memory

Similar words & sounds

Academic drive or confidence

There are dozens of additional indicators of dyslexia, and your child may only exhibit a handful of them.

For a complete list, please visit

NebraskaDyslexia.org www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

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Adventure Awaits...

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irst, the GOOD news! The Lincoln City Libraries Summer Reading Challenge is NOT canceled. It just may not look exactly the way it has the past few years. For the safety of our customers and our staff, we will not host any in-person events or Library Learning Times in June and July.

Now, for the REALLY GOOD news! Anyone can participate in our Summer Reading Challenge entirely online by logging reading minutes and activities for yourself and all of your family members. You can do this using your home computer or through the convenient Beanstack Tracker app on your phone or mobile device.

The Summer Reading Challenge begins June 1st. Register by logging into your Beanstack account. If you need to create an account, it’s fast and easy to do by following the steps on the Beanstack landing page on the

10 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

library website, https://lincolnlibraries.beanstack.org/reader365.

Even if our buildings are still closed, our staff will be inside working and will be happy to set up an account by phone, retrieve your user name, or reset a password if you encounter any problems.

As in past years, readers of all ages that complete the challenge will earn coupons from our generous sponsors for things like free food, fun activities, discounts on books, and other treats.

This summer you can also earn tickets for logging your reading and activities. You can put all of your tickets in one prize package or spread them out over several prizes.

Here are the gift certificate prize sets available: • $50 Champions / $50 Valentino’s / $20 Francie & Finch • $50 Adventure Golf / $50 Ivanna Cone / $20 Francie & Finch

• $50 Escape Room / $50 Southpointe / $20 Francie & Finch • $50 The Bay / $50 iTunes / $20 Francie & Finch • $50 Campbell’s Nursery / $50 Joann Fabric & Craft / $20 Francie & Finch • $50 Bike Rack / $50 The Mill / $20 Francie & Finch We know many parents and kids love our paper booklets and stickers, and those will be available the first week of June. Just remember, even if you are using our paper booklets, you still need to be registered in Beanstack.

This summer we are encouraging youth and their families to read books from the 2020 edition of our Top 100 Novels for Youth list. This list is a diverse collection of classics, modern favorites, and award winners. This

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2020 Summer Reading Challenge with Lincoln City Libraries

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list can be accessed on the FAQ page for the Summer Reading Challenge on our website.

We’ll continue to provide virtual Toddler Time and Preschool Storytime live every day starting at 9:30 am on Facebook. We are also offering a book bundle service. Our staff can create bags of five to ten books on any subject or pull a few books by your favorite author. Email library@lincolnlibraries.org or call in your request, give us some time to gather your items, and we’ll give you a call when your bundle is ready for pick-up!

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— Lincoln City Libraries —

Books To Grow A selection of children’s With books to read together.

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reetings! My name is Vicki and I am the librarian at Walt Branch Library. All of us librarians miss seeing everyone in the libraries, but we’re happy to gather a selection of books for you to pick up to read at home through our “Bound To Please” program. Just give us a call, send an email, or place a hold on the library’s website.

Below are a few picture books to help children make sense and find comfort during these strange pandemic times. My nine-year-old son enjoyed reading all of these with me. I hope you'll enjoy them too.

Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure

by Camille Andros (2019) When her grandfather becomes ill, Charlotte the rabbit uses the scientific method to find a cure for the fast-spreading infection. This exciting tale parallels today’s events and weaves in words like clinical trial, hypothesis, and even quarantine.

Charlotte helps explain how health professionals keep us safe, how to find a source of contagion, and in Charlotte’s case, how to find a cure for the Funky Forest Fungi.

Once I Was Very Scared

by Chandra Ghosh Ippen (2016) A simple book that packs a big punch. The animals in the forest are all dealing with hard feelings like being scared, angry, frustrated, or embarrassed. They learn that their bodies respond differently; maybe it’s an upset tummy, talking loudly, overeating, or being “a stinker.”

Each animal learns a positive way to help comfort their hard feelings and that talking about feelings is a very good thing.

The Invisible String

by Patrice Karst (2000) A timeless picture book that softens the pain of separation. When we are apart from loved ones— teachers, grandparents, pets, friends, or even parents—the invisible string keeps us connected, no matter where we are. This simple depiction can be a practical exercise for our young friends who feel sadness and confusion from the sudden separation created from a quarantine.

Quiet

by Tomie dePaola (2018) A book of few words that illustrates a big concept. One of the final books by the beloved children’s book author and illustrator of Strega Nona books, Quiet leaves a lot of space for reflection as you study the pictures and contemplate the words. As we stay in our homes and lighten our schedules, dePaola reminds us that “To be quiet and still is a special thing.”

12 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

LOL Kid: Hey dad, can you tell me what a solar eclipse is?

Dad: No, sun.

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Mom: How do I look?

In honor of Father's Day on June 21, we've rounded up a collection of the Internet's best dad jokes for you to keep in your...dada base.

*Whenever my dad drives past a cow pasture* "LOOK! That cow is outstanding in his field!"

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Dad: Do I have a dad bod?

Mom: I'd say it's more of a father figure.

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Dad: With your eyes!

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Kid: I'm hungry.

Kid: Hey dad, I was thinking—

My furniture and I are really close. Me and my recliner go way back.

Why can't you hear a pterodactyl go to the bathroom?

Kid: Dad, can you put on my shoes?

I went to Home Depot and walked past the stud-finders... the noise was unbearable.

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Dad: I don't think they'll fit me.

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What do we want?!

Low-flying airplane noises!

Dad: Hi hungry, I'm dad.

Dad: I thought I smelled something burning.

What do you call a deer with no eyes?

What's the opposite of maximum?

Kid: I'll call ya later.

No idear!

Minidad.

Dad: Please, call me dad.

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When do we want them?!

Nnneeeooowwwwww

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Because the P is silent.

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Where does a dad store all his dad jokes?

In a dada base.

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Hey parents! Talking with your children helps to develop their communication & trust. Let your kid start the conversation with our printable parent interviews.

Click here to download!

Do you know a child who is having a birthday but might not have the means to celebrate?

At Cake My Day, we want all kids to be celebrated on their birthday. Simply nominate a child who needs a birthday to remember, and we’ll get the cake and present sent over in birthday fashion.

Do something sweet at CakeMyDay.org. www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

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BETTER TOGETHER Encouragement, support, & ideas from HopeSpoke to help families stay positive in new routines.

T

he last few months have proven to be challenging for families everywhere due to COVID-19. Do you find yourself struggling to keep your children entertained, calm, and productive in healthy ways? Parents and caregivers across the world are struggling with not letting feelings of stress and anxiety dictate how they interact and react to their children. You have probably heard your children say, “I’m bored!” “I want to see my friends!” and “Why can’t we go anywhere?” more times than you can count. Your children could also be experiencing anxiety, anger, outbursts, depression, frustration, and aggression. These are not uncommon reactions when children have significant disruptions in their daily routines.

Spending quality time connecting and playing with your children every day can be beneficial for you and your children. During this time, try to focus your time together on laughing, smiling, and having fun. Here are some suggested tips and activities that any parent or caregiver can practice to encourage positivity and togetherness in times like these.

• Get creative with art projects, made-up games, and even get the kids involved helping you with household chores. This is also a great time to teach your children a new skill they may be eager to learn, like baking, cooking, gardening, or other household projects. Many of these activities produce an end result, offering ongoing opportunities to connect over the project. These are memories that you and your children will have for years to come and could even spark a new family tradition.

• Look through old photos together. Talk about your heritage and where your family comes from. You could even create a time capsule to bury and uncover years later to remember things you did together as a family.

• Many activities and vacations are being canceled or postponed, so why not take a virtual vacation? Attractions across the globe have created virtual tours and slideshows. You could also plan a dream vacation that you and your family would like to take in the future. Use your imagination and come up with ways to take a backyard vacation!

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Parenting in a pandemic adds new challenges to everyday life. Having consistency and developing routines can help create a new sense of normalcy. Discuss upcoming changes with your children to help minimize anxiety. Your kids may be struggling to follow directions, obey rules, and listen to you in general. Power struggles may be on the rise, and you might find yourself raising your voice more or even yelling at your children. Unfortunately, these actions often lead to more power struggles, as children typically respond negatively to yelling.

To help eliminate power struggles, try offering your children choices such as “either/or” and “when/then.” If you feel your voice rising, take a moment to breathe and remember that your children are dealing with new changes and emotions, too.

14 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Remember to also take care of yourself as a parent. Take a break.

Breathe deeply. Find things to laugh at. Do something you enjoy.

Don’t forget that we all should have empathy for one another right now, as not everyone is experiencing these circumstances in the same way. Be patient with yourself and others as you navigate through the summer.

FINDING COMFORT IN CREATIVITY LUX Community Art Alley // Photo Courtesy of LUX Center for the Arts

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he past few months have been challenging us all in ways we never expected. Many children are unable to express their feelings of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty in words, but art is a language that we all speak.

There are dozens of ways to get creative with the supplies you have in the home. Self-directed projects with crayons, markers, sidewalk chalk, and Play-Doh, are a great place to start. For those itching to get out of the house and get creative, the LUX Center for the Arts Community Art Alley has been transformed into a paintable coloring book. We invite the community to come add color to our artists' designs or contribute your own. Disposable paint supplies are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.

The easiest access to the alley is found in the LUX parking lot behind 2601 N. 48th St. Check out www.LUXcenter.org/ArtAlley for full details.

Another community art gem I recently discovered on a bike ride is at Randolph Elementary. They have a coloring book style mural along a long retaining wall north of the school. Grab your sidewalk chalk and head on over—there are dozens of cute critters just waiting for some color! This mural is easily viewed from anywhere in front of the school.

While we're on the topic of murals, now is a great time to appreciate public art! The Sheldon Museum of Art has a fantastic sculpture garden. Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln both display a variety of sculptures throughout their campuses. Public Art Lincoln has a free mobile audio tour guide and map. Download Otocast through the App Store on your mobile device, then open the app and select Public Art Lincoln. Their app covers 50 works of art in Lincoln, but there are many more you can find throughout the city. LUX Center for the Arts alone has six artist-made murals you can see in addition to the Community Art Alley.

Another unfortunate side effect of the pandemic has been the cancellation of many summer camps and community family events.

We knew we needed to create an alternative option when we made the difficult decision to cancel LUX summer art camps, so we have created a robust schedule of private lessons for kids and adults. This gives everyone summer-long opportunities to grow their artistic skills in a fun, safe environment. Fabric masks will be required, so lessons are recommended for students ages 6+ who can wear a mask for one hour. Siblings and parents are welcome to take lessons together. The art media choices are endless—painting, drawing, pottery, sculpture, S.T.E.A.M., printmaking, fused glass, and art sampler lessons are the most popular options. Full details and registration are available at www.LUXcenter.org/Lessons.

Please follow LUX Center for the Arts on Instagram (@lux_center) and Facebook. We will be releasing details about our August drive-through "Art Safari" as well as videos of projects you can do at home and interviews with our artists.

Stay safe, Lincoln! We are eager to see you all again soon. www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

15

Let Freedom Sing Nebraska Academy of Vocal Arts aims to provide free choir lessons this fall

T

he Nebraska Academy of Vocal Arts is excited and hopeful to offer our fall semester registration free of charge for young singers this year.

This has been a tough time for us as a non-profit, but we also realize that many families are struggling with finances during the pandemic as well. We hope as families begin to sort through their child’s activities as our city reopens, that NAOVA can be an option that provides a safe and fun atmosphere for the singer and is financially affordable for the parents.

The Nebraska Academy of Vocal Arts is an affordable children’s choir for children in grades 2-8 in the Lincoln area. All skill levels are welcome, and no one is turned away. Annual seasons begin in the fall and run September through May. Our goal is to make vocal music education accessible to all children regardless of background or skill, giving every child the opportunity to learn and grow their artistry, gain self-confidence, and make friends while having fun.

The Academy basically relies on one fundraiser each year—Give To Lincoln—a donation-matching campaign which happens throughout May with the big Giving Day on May 28th. We hope that those who can give will consider a gift to the Nebraska Academy of Vocal Arts each year. Donations to NAOVA are welcome year-round and can be made directly through our website, www.naova.org. Funds are first directed towards music and uniforms, then business expenses, insurance, and webpage fees. This year, our directors and accompanists will work voluntarily and receive their salaries only at the end of the year if there are enough funds. We do this because we know and understand the power of music and the benefits it provides to young people. We are watching closely to see when the choir will begin based on the reopening of our city, and adjustments will be made to assure everyone’s safety. Online registration will begin July 1, 2020. Visit www.naova.org to learn more and register.

NEBRASKA ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS

FREE Fall 2020 Registration!

Registration starts July 1, 2020.

Boys & Girls Grades 2–8 All abilities & levels— no one is turned away Have fun. Make Friends.

Learn to sing!

402-202-0565 www.NAOVA.org

Beginner Chinese for kids (as a second language)

Fall classes begin September 8th • Classes at UNL & UNO • Ages 6 and up • Weekend classes • Adult Chinese classes, too!

Visit our website for info & sign up to receive updates!

– Auditions for –

2020-21 Choirs for grades 3-12

Virtual Auditions confuciusinstitute.unl.edu

Appointment required

(402) 472-5370

Register for a time at:

confuciusinstitute@unl.edu W205 Nebraska Hall | Lincoln, NE 68588-0542 facebook.com/ConfuciusUNL

16 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

@ConfuciusUNL

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18 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

THE SIMPLICITY OF SIT-SPOTS Unsplash // Andrew Neel

Pioneer’s Park Naturalist Jamie Kelley has a healthy suggestion for us all: to go outside and sit.

M

any of our summer routines may look a bit different this year. Even though there may be things we can’t do, we can still enjoy the outdoors and spend time in nature.

Spending time in nature can also be a way for us to relax and have fun. A sitspot is a simple nature activity that can appeal to young and old. A sit-spot is exactly like it sounds: a spot to sit in nature. You can also stand or lie down if you choose—there are no rules. Just keep it simple: choose a place to take a moment and enjoy the world around you.

First, find your spot. This place can be a short walk from your home, a place in your yard, or even a spot inside looking out a window. You can do this in solitude or share the space with your family. For shared sit-spots, depending on your family members’ ages, you can all sit together or find individual spots that are fairly close together. The location can be wherever it works best for you. It doesn’t need to be somewhere new, exciting, or different, just a spot where you are comfortable, preferably with nature around you or in view.

Sit. Look. Listen. When you are at your spot, settle in, and take a few deep breaths. Is the sun shining on your face, the wind blowing your hair? Can you see the moon or clouds in the sky? Is the ground damp and cool or dry and warm? Are there insects, birds, or flowers? Ask yourself, what is happening at your sit-spot today?

Go to your sit-spot often. Go at different times of day and night, when it’s sunny or rainy, hot or chilly. Go for a few minutes or a few hours, whatever you choose. As you get to know your spot, you may want to bring along a snack or simple activity, like reading a book. You may decide to color, draw, or write if you feel creative. Some may bring along a magnifying glass or binoculars to get a better look at things. Others might keep a journal to record observations, thoughts, or doodles. Or you may choose to sit and just be.

What you do at your spot is up to you. Keep it simple. Have fun and enjoy the outdoors.

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

19

OBSERVING NATURE

Citizen science provides a social outlet

Lindsay Rogers, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

I

am a social person. I love Friday nights when we almost always have someone over for dinner and great conversation. I adore planning parties and mingling amongst guests.

I thrive on walking through the neighborhood and conversing with all my neighbors. I look forward to chatting with all my coworkers about their weekend adventures on Monday morning.

Needless to say, social distancing has been hard for me. I miss talking. I miss my community. I miss my connectedness.

U ns p l a s

h // 42 Nor th

In an effort to keep my family busy and to find outlets for our pentup energy, I turned to citizen science. Citizen science is a term used for programs that use people—like you or your family—to help collect data for scientists to use. Participating in a citizen science project provides a reason to get outside and put your observation skills to work. The added bonus? Scientists use the data you collect for all kinds of reasons, including tracking animal migrations, learning about the impacts of changing climates, and determining population shifts or ranges of species. No training is needed. Most citizen science programs are simple, fun, and educational. Best of all, citizen science programs provide a way to connect with people while still maintaining social distancing.

Let me give you an example. An American Robin, in her slightly poor judgment, chose to build her nest on the light next to our mudroom door. It is, I will admit, a dry and sheltered spot that has a nice warm light to help with cool evenings. Because I have a special place in my heart for other mothers, the mudroom door became off-limits for the few weeks the nest was occupied. Knowing this would be an inconvenience but also a learning opportunity, I introduced my family to Nest Watch. This national program (www. nestwatch.org) asks participants to find a nest (check!), take a peek and check on it every few days (check!), and record your observations on the website (check, check!). It is really simple and easy. The data collected is used by scientists to track how many birds are nesting, where nests are located, how many eggs are laid, and how many chicks hatch. All this data helps researchers determine bird populations, shifts in where specific bird species are found, and if we are seeing a decline in nest success.

Even my introverted husband enjoyed seeing what was going on with the nest. My son often put down his tablet while announcing, “I’m just going to go check on the nest again” for the third time that day. My whole family instantly connected with the bird and with nature as a whole. Additionally, we are, in some small way, connecting with people from around the country (and here in Lincoln).

We use the map feature to find other nests being observed near our house and where our extended family lives across the country.

We are connecting with people from a distance. We are connecting with nature up close. And we are connecting with each other and making amazing memories in the middle of an unknown situation.

There are lots of different kinds of citizen science projects—birds, bumblebees, butterflies, salamanders, and even skunks! If you are interested in learning more about citizen science and how to participate, please visit the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s citizen science webpage: www.outdoornebraska.org/citizenscience.

20 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Birdnerd Blurb

Jason St. Sauver | Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center

Follow the buzz!

• Activities • Local events • Giveaways • Funny stuff & more!

LincolnKidsInc.com

W

hile the past few months have been rather concerning for humans around the globe, something that has brought millions of people little bursts of joy during times of illness and uncertainty is the life of BIRDS! Across the country, people have taken to bird watching; witnessing them in their migration past cities, small towns, farms, and homes. The summer months offer another excellent time to watch birds.

June & July bring nests, eggs, and chicks to the world. If you watch closely, perhaps you will be lucky enough to spy an American Robin or Northern Cardinal feeding caterpillars to their fledglings for breakfast. When safely strolling your neighborhood, relaxing in your yard, or experiencing nature, try counting how many nests you can find. As a family, make your own bird bingo game to see how many bird-related things you can find, like nests, stray feathers, a flying bird, a feeding bird, a bird with white feathers, etc.

To make a bigger impact, consider becoming a community scientist and logging your nest sightings into Nestwatch. However you spend your time in nature, please remember our feathered friends are here surviving the summer as best as they can. Please respect animal wildlife and their habitats. Watching them and learning more about them is a great way to keep in touch with the natural world around you during tough times.

Happy Birding!

Spring Creek Prairie Update | Currently there are no on-site public programs planned during the summer months at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, but don’t forget that our trails are open sunrise to sunset every day, even though our building is closed.

Follow Spring Creek Prairie on Facebook for news on birds, nature, and to stay up-to-date on virtual events and announcements.

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

21

Health, wellness, nutrition

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22 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

2917 Pine Lake Rd, Ste. F | Lincoln

Pixabay // Ruthie Prasil

7YOURREASONS FAMILY NEEDS

FARMERS MARKETS

THIS YEAR

Fallbrook Farmers Market

What a year. With many summer camps, events, and other programs canceling, you may be trying to figure out what

activities are still available this summer to do with your family. Might we suggest: your local farmers market? Below are seven reasons why your family needs the markets—this year, in particular.

1. It’s something you can do together, outside, in the presence of (but socially distant from) other people. You’ve all seen the same four walls for too many weeks. It’s time to get out and get some fresh air.

2. It’s more than fresh air—it’s time to remember fresh, local vegetables.

Healthy eating habits that may have slipped in the past few months can be jolted back in to your diet with amazing locally-grown produce. Take a moment to talk to the farmers who grew the food, and they’ll happily offer cooking suggestions and preparation tips.

3. You may have lost track of the month and day, but our farmers haven’t.

Connecting with farmers and local produce reminds us all that there are seasons and rhythms in nature. Even though our world has felt unnatural since the end of February, our farmers have been hard at work preparing the soil, planting seeds, nurturing their produce, and harvesting their products to bring you the best in selection and flavor.

4. Buying from local producers is one more way to help your community. Many of the farmers at markets also sell to local restaurants and are hoping for strong sales at farmers markets. Keeping local entrepreneurs in business never tasted so good.

5. Three of Lincoln’s farmers markets—Fallbrook, F Street, and the SunPLEASE CALL TO SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD’S WELL CHECK-UP Call 402-465-5600 today and follow CCH on Facebook for updates & info.

day Market—offer Double Up bucks for families with SNAP benefits, which helps your dollars stretch further. The Fallbrook Farmers Market also offers a $3 “power of produce” voucher to every elementary student.

6. Markets make great destinations for walks and bike rides. All the city’s farmers markets are on or near major trails. Healthy foods and some great exercise—double the good stuff!

7. It’s been a challenging spring for you and your kids, and markets can provide a sense of normalcy. Finding activities that help reconnect to our old norms will be important. Your favorite vendors, the unparalleled flavor of farm-raised produce, and the familiar locations can help us feel connected to one another and our community.

Please attend Lincoln’s farmers markets this summer. When you come, please know that all markets are operating under special guidelines from the health department. You will be required to maintain social distance and use the bags provided by vendors (no reusable bags at this time).

Individual markets may have additional guidelines. Because of these circumstances, as of late May, the markets are not planning their normal lineups of special activities, music, and hot food vendors, but the market itself is still an excellent family experience. Please check websites and follow your local markets on social media to stay up-to-date on announcements and changes to policies throughout the season. Remember to review the current guidelines before you head out.

A couple of special notes about the Fallbrook Farmers Market for 2020: • We’re offering curbside pickup for those who want great local products with the convenience of ordering ahead.

• The market will move to the west side of the Fallbrook greenspace due to the construction of a new retail center on the south side. The market area will be roped off, and the majority of the greenspace will be open and available for families to enjoy.

(402) 465-5600 • CompleteChildrensHealth.com

3262 Salt Creek Cir. • 8201 Northwoods Dr. • 4020 Hohensee Dr. • 1336 West A St.

The Fallbrook Farmers Market runs June 11–July 30, with three fall markets on August 13, September 10, and October 8. Markets are on Thursdays from 4-7pm. We can’t wait to see you! Thank you for supporting local. www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

23

Unsplash // Pawel Cz erwinski

BRUSHING Parents often have plenty of questions about their kid’s dental health, and Dr. Kelly O’Hara of Nebraska Family Dentistry is here to answer a few.

Q: When should I bring my kid in for their first dental check?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child goes to the dentist by age one or within six months after the first tooth erupts.

Young children do not need to use a mouth rinse if they brush and floss daily. If a child is prone to getting cavities, around age eight is a good time to introduce mouthwash to their brushing and flossing routine.

Q: How do you brush your child’s teeth to avoid a fight?

Q: Are teeth considered bones?

Try to stick to a consistent schedule and develop a nightly routine. The trick is to avoid waiting until late at night when both parent and kid are tired. Developing a routine and doing it early in the evening can help avoid a young child fighting to brush.

Teeth and bones are very similar in their structure, but the main difference is that teeth do not regenerate themselves as bones do. When there is trauma to a tooth via a cavity or dental work, the teeth will not regenerate. That’s why it is crucial to encourage and maintain strong teeth with a healthy diet and good dental hygiene.

Q: What causes bad breath in kids?

Q: Which supplements are important for dental health?

Bad breath can have a variety of causes, from tonsillitis to untreated tooth decay. The most common reasons are dry mouth and erupting teeth. Giving kids a good probiotic, staying hydrated, and making sure they brush & floss daily will usually fix the problem with bad breath.

Q: How much toothpaste should my kids use?

24 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Q: When should my child start using mouth rinse?

For infants, we suggest that you begin gently brushing 2x daily as soon as the first tooth breaks the surface. Some parents start before teeth appear in order to establish the new routine early.

For children ages 0-2, use an extra-soft bristle and a drop of training toothpaste or gel that’s about the size of a grain of rice. Fluoride toothpaste is suggested for children ages 3+, and a pea size amount—or just enough to “color” the bristles of the toothbrush—should do.

Vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium and phosphate in the teeth and bones. It is said if a child is deficient in vitamin D, they may be more prone to developing cavities.

Simply being in the sun is not enough to make vitamin D to keep teeth strong. We recommend eating foods rich in vitamin D and calcium and taking a daily multivitamin as a supplement. Probiotics also help aid in cavity prevention.

Q: How does calcium help keep teeth strong?

Calcium plays a role in making the jawbones healthy and strong to hold the teeth in place.

However, calcium needs phosphorus to maximize its bone-strengthening benefits. Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese are some of the best sources of calcium, but there are other foods as well. Green, leafy vegetables contain calcium as well as foods such as cereal that are fortified with calcium.

TEETH Once teeth develop cavities, the damage is irreversible. The best way to

take care of children’s teeth is to make sure kids do these things: • Brush twice daily • Floss daily • Avoid hard, sticky candy • Take Vitamin D • Avoid sugary drinks like soda and sports drinks • Get enough calcium in their diets Helping kids to develop good habits will lead to a lifetime of healthy teeth.

This article was written by Dr. Kelly O’Hara, family & children’s dentist. She practices at the central location of Nebraska Family Dentistry. You can schedule with her 24/7 online by visiting www.nebraskafamilydentistry.com.

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25

HERE TO HELP

by Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln (PHL)

From meals to childcare to sites filled with home-bound resources, Lincoln nonprofits come together to serve the community.

I

t’s been, and still is, a challenging time for families. More than ever, parents have had to worry about keeping their loved ones safe and healthy. Parents may have lost their jobs or had hours cut back.

Many fortunate ones that are still employed had to work at home while trying to homeschool their kids. Others have had to report to work but may have lost childcare and are patching together resources. It’s a lot to handle, and it comes with plenty of stress.

In response to the many needs of kids and parents, Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln (PHL) and several other nonprofits have been and will continue working to help ease some of these burdens on families. Lin-

26 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

coln Public Schools, the Food Bank, Community Action Partnership, Food Net, Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach, and others are helping families with lost income to put food on their tables.

CEDARS offered childcare for first responders and essential workers.

The Center for People in Need and the YMCAs of Lincoln sponsored a diaper drive. Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln has been sharing science and evidence-based information about COVID-19 in a series of English & Spanish videos on our Facebook page and website.

These are just a few examples of how the nonprofit community has reached out to help. Find Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln’s videos here: www.healthylincoln.org/welcome.html.

At times like these, protecting your immune system is more important than ever. A big part of building a good immune system includes staying physically active and eating healthy, both of which also contribute to better emotional health. Another way PHL is helping is by creating a handy web page of at-home resources, including our recommendations for physical fitness, and links to nutrition, gardening, and mindfulness activities for use at home, inside and outdoors. Families can enjoy these activities together, or kids can do them on their own. There are dozens of links that can help educate, inspire, engage, and entertain everyone.

The best part? This extensive list is a useful and valuable go-to tool for families, no matter the circumstances. Whether your family is shelter-

ing at home or just trying to find fun things to do on a rainy afternoon, you’ll find yourself visiting this page again and again. Find our at-home resources page here: www.healthylincoln.org/what-we-do/ healthyschools/school-wellness-resources/at-home-resources.html.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you will see on our page:

GARDENING PBS Think Garden An engaging series of 18 interactive videos that help teach elementary students about the art and science of growing food.

National Garden Bureau How to build a victory garden—raised bed, container, or pollinator.

Kids Gardening Fun activities that provide opportunities for families or informal groups to learn together while encouraging a love for nature and the environment.

NUTRITION The Charlie Cart Project Tasty kid-approved recipes and lesson plans to mix education into your daily routine.

Super Healthy Kids A recipe dashboard full of fun, healthy recipes (some are modified for food allergies or sensitivities).

Choose My Plate Healthy eating education, recipes, coloring sheets, games, videos, and more.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Go Noodle Fun and wacky movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.

What Moms Love 101 sidewalk chalk ideas full of learning activities, games, and interactive chalk art.

Spring Audubon Society Learn yoga poses named after prairie animals and interesting animal facts.

MINDFULNESS Edutopia A curated list of articles and videos for parents about fostering skills like kindness, empathy, resilience, perseverance, and focus in children.

Positive Psychology 25 fun mindfulness activities for children and teens to spark the joy of “being.”

Fablefly Series of videos with mindfulness activities, including what “being present” means.

From all of us at Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, take care, be active, and stay safe.

Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln (PHL) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health, wellness, and fitness of our community. We collaborate with other organizations on joint projects to improve health by increasing physical fitness, promoting healthy weights and good nutrition, supporting breastfeeding, improving vaccination and cancer screening rates, improving patient outcomes through better chronic disease management, patient outreach, and preventative care. www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

27

SCIENCE &HISTORY N A T U R A L

University of Nebraska State Museum—Morrill Hall

University of Nebraska State Museum offers free virtual learning activities

T

he University of Nebraska State Museum currently offers a wide variety of free educational programming in science and natural history. The Museum began offering these learning opportunities after closing all physical locations to the public due to coronavirus. Now an entire library of hands-on activities, virtual field trips, digital learning sessions, and virtual planetarium shows is available online. The general public can access everything at no charge on the Museum’s website: museum.unl.edu.

The home activities library includes options for people of all ages.

All hands-on activities are designed for kids and families. They require either no supplies or minimal supplies commonly found in the home to complete. Mueller Planetarium’s program Astronomy at Home features videos covering topics like phases of the moon, current constellations visible in the night sky, planets, satellites and more. For older natural history fans, the Museum has learning session videos featuring UNSM collection researchers discussing topics like fossils and world cultures. Kids and parents will also find coloring pages featuring prehistoric animals that once lived in Nebraska.

28 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

“Kids and adults can engage in science, technology, engineering, and math in many different settings and ways,” said Emily Osberg-Brown, UNSM education supervisor. “During this unprecedented time, our Museum is in a unique position to be able to provide supports to parents to continue STEM learning in their own home through easy projects, virtual field trips, and videos with our scientists. STEM is all around us. It’s our job to help make it more accessible.”

The free educational activities are a collaborative effort among the University of Nebraska State Museum’s four locations: Morrill Hall, Research Collections, Ashfall Fossil Beds, and Trailside Museum of Natural History. Individuals or families with questions about these activities may contact UNSM at elephant@unl.edu.

Families should also keep an eye out for several of Morrill Hall’s programs that went virtual during the Museum’s closure, like Science Café, Investigate Saturday Science Lab, and Sunday with a Scientist.

Established in 1871, the University of Nebraska State Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is the state’s premier museum of natural history. The Museum promotes discovery of the natural world and world cultures. The University of Nebraska State Museum accomplishes this mission through research, museum collections, learnercentered educational programs, and public exhibitions.

Share the fun! Tell your friends about these opportunities.

Free online events & resources

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10:00 am

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Join us daily on Facebook Live @ReadAloudLincoln *You do not need a Facebook account to watch*

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A free digital learning hub for students, families, and our communities.

Activities • Videos • Lesson plans • Links

Explore a variety of home-bound activities and virtual learning opportunities all summer long.

New content is uploaded daily.

Sign up for our newsletter & we’ll send the fun to you!

WWW.CIVICNEBRASKA.ORG www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

29

Self-Led Learning in a Virtual World Helping your children avoid the summer slide.

Karla Goerl, Data Source: Oxford Learning, 2019

F

or many parents this year, our lives morphed into a balancing act of being a teacher, remote worker, and homemaker. It was often far from easy, and now the school’s out, we’ll be catching our breath for a while—but that doesn’t mean your child’s learning should stop. Summer is an ideal time to let your child grow as a self-led learner. Independent learning will help avoid learning losses by keeping your child’s brain active. They’ll discover interests, learn time management, ask questions, gain responsibility, critical thinking and problem solving skills, and a healthy sense of pride—all while doing things they enjoy.

Summer learning loss, also called the summer slide, is the loss of academic knowledge and skills over summer break. It is a measurable setback, and on average, 1-2 months of education is lost each year—and it accumulates. By the end of sixth grade, the average student who experiences this loss over and over again is two years behind their peers, with literacy and math skills often taking the biggest hit. This can all be avoided with just 2-3 hours of learning each week during long breaks.

Many parents enroll their kids in summer camps to keep them active & busy. Of course, the pandemic puts a twist on things. Even if your kids go to a summer camp, we are still looking at an increase in time spent at home, so we’ve rounded up a list of some of our favorite virtual streams and learning databases, online tours, and some fun escapes, too, and linked them all below. This is not just a long list of links like those you’ve seen on blogs and around the web. We’ve personally scouted, explored, used, and vetted these sites for user-friendiness and content.

Locally Curated • Read Aloud Lincoln & Lincoln City Libraries: Daily virtual storytimes for toddlers & preschoolers at 9:30 & 10am via Facebook (replays are not available, so catch ’em live!).

• Morrill Hall: Science & natural history activities, tours, and planetarium shows.

From Around the Web • Cosmic Kids: A quality YouTube channel with engaging Yoga and mindfulness excercises for children.

• The Kennedy Center: Explore the arts and find replays of popular streaming activities, like Doodles with Mo Willems’.

• Lincoln Children’s Museum: Boredom Busters video & activity archives.

• National Park Obsessed: Kids complete park-related assignments and send them in to earn real Jr. Ranger badges!

• Civic Nebraska: Civic U is an online learning hub of activities, videos, and lesson plans.

• National Geographic Kids: Play-based learning with videos, quizzes, games, and more.

• Nebraska 4-H: Virtual events and an ever-growing, wellorganized library of online & offline activities.

• Highlights Kids: A fun collection of activities, recipes, puzzles, jokes, & games.

• Nebraska Capitol & Governor’s Residence: Very well made self-guided tours.

• PBS Kids: Toddlers & preschoolers learn through games, activities, and shows, most which support learning to read.

• PBS LearningMedia: Videos, STEAM projects and classes for grades PreK & up.

• Wonderopolis: This site is awesome and covers every curiosity you could imagine.

They also offer Camp Wonderopolis, free online summer learning programs.

• Exploratorium: A huge database of at-home learning videos, projects, and events. You’ll need to navigate through various pages of the website to see all the features.

• Khan Academy: More structured, classroom-style education for ages two to adult, easily searchable by age & topic.

• The Wizarding World: The official HP site is a fun break from traditional learning.

Virtual Exploring • Google Arts & Culture: This is my favorite section of Google—and it’s HUGE. I love the virtual tours of museums and vacation destinations. Use the search function to look for any place you want to learn about.

• The Hidden Worlds of National Parks: Super impressive and powered by Google.

These are so cool. Explore Kenai Fjords, Hawai’i Volcanoes, Calsbad Caverns and more.

• Sơn Đoòng: Explore the world’s largest cave in super HD! Turn on your sound for an immersive experience. I found this absolutely fascinating.

• Explore Livecams: I’ve checked out several live cams online and found most to be lacking, but not these, which I check often.

My favorite are the “Africams.”

But wait, there’s more! This is just a snippet of the full list. Click here to see them all listed on lincolnkidsinc.com. There is some REALLY cool stuff available and I just didn’t have the space to include them all here. My favorites are the virtual tours & exploring sites!

FACE PAINTING

ace paint, embellishments, & glitt on with f i t a n i er tat ag m Tammy Rosecrans i k toos r !

Award-winning face paint artist • Body & belly art available, too!

Spa Perfect for birthdays, showers, company events, festivals & more!

402-730-7197 • ButterflyKissesFacePainting@gmail.com www.ButterflyKissesFacePainting.com • Follow us on Facebook & Instagram!

You need a vacation to look forward to...

make it a Disney one!

Get FREE vacation planning help from a College of Disney Knowledge graduate.

Call or email Heather to begin planning your dream trip today!

(402) 277-0702 heather.loughman@capturethemagicvacations.com Walt Disney World | Disneyland | Disney Cruise Line | Aulani: A Disney Resort & Spa, Hawaii | Adventures by Disney

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

31

2020

NEBRASKA PASSPORT

Nebraska enthusiast & local author Gretchen Garrison lists area Passport stops + related at-home activities Photos courtesy of Gretchen Garrison

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ach year for my summer column, I like to highlight nearby Nebraska Passport stops and other places in and around Lincoln. Because of the pandemic, this year’s Passport program might look a bit different from previous years. It is starting a month later and lasting a month longer, at least that is the plan so far. Some of the Passport stops may alter their hours or may not be open at all. With all these changes, I am switching up how I write about this as well. Each featured location includes some creative activity ideas in case you are choosing to continue to shelter at home. I hope you enjoy this list. As always, the Nebraska Passport program is free to do and encourages Nebraska tourism. Collecting passport stamps is free and does not require any purchases. To order your free passport or learn more, visit www.nebraskapassport.com.

Jilly’s Socks and Such (3900 Old Cheney) If you are into fun socks, this is the store for you. I love wearing my bright blue basketball socks to my son’s games. Lori, the owner, has created a welcoming atmosphere. What I also love is the fact that she supports other area creatives and offers many local products. For home shopping, check out their online store at www.jillyssocks.com. (image, left) Home Activity: Create a fun footwear day with your friends and start a silly sock texting thread.

(Editor’s note: Years ago I tie-dyed a pair of socks, and it’s still one of my favorite pairs to wear. —Karla)

International Quilt Museum (33rd & Holdrege) This museum is actually kid-friendly (although I do recommend strollers if you have little ones that cannot help but touch everything!). This is the perfect place to learn about patterns and colors.

Did you know that a quilt at the Museum can only be displayed for a limited time every decade? It’s a good thing they have a large collection! (image, above right) Home Activity: Use scraps of construction paper to design a paper quilt. The Museum offers printable quilt coloring sheets and other lesson ideas on their website, www.internationalquiltmuseum.org.

Gallery Nine (124 S. 9th) is a collective space filled with art-

work from almost two dozen local artists. They feature monthly shows that highlight a variety of techniques. Currently they are open with limited hours, but you can check out their virtual galleries online at any time, www.gallerynine.com.

Home Activity: Create your own art collection and set up an exhibit. You can also send your art to LK for publishing consideration!

Branched Oak Lake near Raymond is also on the 2020 Nebraska Passport. This Nebraska state park is open to the public with some restrictions. We encourage you to get out and safely explore!

Gretchen Garrison has two books debuting this year.

A History Lover’s Guide to Lincoln will be available this summer. And the first two places on this list are both a part of her upcoming third book, 100 Things to Do in Lincoln Before You Die, available this fall.

32 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Please let our advertisers know you saw them in Lincoln Kids!

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

33

MANAGING WASTE City of Lincoln Solid Waste Management

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Unsplash // Alex Woods // Gary Chan

ach person in the United States produces nearly four pounds of waste, otherwise known as garbage or trash, per day! If you live in Lincoln or Lancaster County, your waste goes to the Bluff Road Solid Waste Management Facility. A big part of the operations at the facility is a landfill. The landfill only accepts waste produced in Lancaster County. In order to reduce how fast the landfill gets filled up, it’s important to follow the guidelines of the Waste Management Hierarchy, pictured below.

Reduce is the first option in the Waste Management Hierarchy. By reducing the purchase and consumption of non-essential products, consumers extend the life of the natural resources used to make those products. It also helps prevent litter of single-use or multi-use items, reduces carbon emissions related to the creation and transportation of the materials we purchase, and decreases materials sent to the landfill, allowing it to last longer.

Reuse is the second item in the Waste Management Hierarchy. When purchasing an item, consider the life expectancy of that product and where it will end up once discarded. There are many ways to reuse. Before buying something brand new, try renting or buying used items at thrift or resale shops. Reusing extends the life expectancy of a product and saves carbon emissions as well as natural resources from the creation and delivery of the product as it’s made.

Recycling is the third step in the Waste Management Hierarchy. Although we hear about recycling the most, it is actually the third thing we should practice after reduce and reuse. Recycling needs to be completed correctly. Many times, people “wish-cycle” by putting non-recyclable items in their recycling bin, which causes recycling contamination. Contamination is also caused by placing dirty or non-recyclable items in the bin (e.g., peanut butter jars, catchup containers, plastic bags/film, electronics). Contamination is the primary reason recyclables end up in the landfill and is the biggest threat to a successful recycling program. To know whether an item is recyclable or not, look for the three chasing arrows and the number in the middle of them, call your recycling collector, or consult the Waste Diversion hotline at 402-441-8215.

The last two items on the Waste Management Hierarchy include recovering any energy from remaining waste and ensuring that non-recyclable and residual items are disposed of into the appropriate location: the landfill.

A landfill, like the one at the Bluff Road Solid Waste Management Facility, is regulated

by Federal and State guidelines. These regulations help to ensure that the waste in the landfill doesn’t hurt our groundwater or create pollution in our air. The landfill at Bluff Road is not intended to break down the waste that is buried but is there to hold the waste in a safe location forever. A safe, regulated space must exist for our waste to ensure it does not hurt the environment and human health.

Help do your part to reduce how fast the landfill at the Bluff Road Solid Waste Management Facility gets filled by following the Waste Management Hierarchy—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. If you have additional questions, please reach out to our office through one of the following ways: Website: Recycle.lincoln.ne.gov • Email: Recycle@lincoln.ne.gov Phone: 402-441-8215 • Facebook: @LincolnRecycles In the next issue of Lincoln Kids, we’ll feature a how-to guide of best practices to maximize your recycling efficiency 34 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

PART OF THE FAMILY

Charleen Engberg with Capital Humane Society talks about adoptions, support, and spending time with your pets during the pandemic.

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uring these uncertain times, we are so grateful that the community has continued to adopt animals and support our work at Capital Humane Society. Due to the pandemic, Capital Humane Society established some procedures recommended by local and national health authorities to help keep our staff and visitors safe.

The most notable is that visits to the Pieloch Pet Adoption Center by families looking to adopt are now by appointment only. Give us a call at (402) 441-4488 extension 1, if you’d like to schedule an appointment, and please follow us online for updates and announcements.

Despite this change, many dogs, cats, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, turtles, and other animals have recently found new forever homes. In fact, during the first third of the year, 913 animals have already been adopted!

Another adjustment we made was moving our annual Tails ´N Trails event to a virtual format. Participants shared videos and photos of their pets in Husker wear, taking naps, walking, playing, and being joyful! We are thankful for everyone who registered and helped raise funds for our vital programs. As a nonprofit organization, we rely heavily on a caring community to assist us with our work. The money raised from events like this allows us to provide critical services to the

pets that come through our door each year. Thank you for your ongoing support!

With more time spent at home, we hope you are enjoying it with your pets. Animals are such important members of the family, and there are many fun ways to enrich your pet’s life through educational activities you can do as a family at home.

Have children read to their pet. This is a great way for kids to continue practicing literacy skills while bonding with their pet.

Make animal enrichment toys as a family. These can be fun, hands-on, and creative craft projects. You can keep the toys for your pets or donate them to the Humane Society.

Get cookin’! Whip up healthy treats to share with your furry best friends. Cooking is a valuable skill that exercises math, science, and reading. It also helps develop fine motor skills, teaches nutrition, and opens up conversations for food and kitchen safety.

Pets are adorable, but they are not toys. It is important to teach children how to handle animals in ways that are safe. Training your pet is another beneficial way to spend time together. You can find great safety and training tips on our animal behavior handouts.

Take the time to learn how to read your animal’s body language; it will help you to know when they don’t want to be handled or are feeling stressed. Remember to leave pets alone if they are eating, sleeping, or enjoying a treat. Just like people, they wish to be respected members of the family and don’t want to be teased or hurt.

Find useful resources about choosing a veterinarian, proper pet care, pet emergencies and more at https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners.

Your friends at Capital Humane Society appreciate all the kindness you show your pet and our organization. We continue to work hard to serve our community and make this a better world for the animals we love.

Capital Humane Society (402) 441-4488 | www.capitalhumanesociety.org

Camp-in-a-box kits available!

Order your dinosaur-themed box filled with everything you need for one week of activities.

Now accepting applications for Fall Grades K-6 for 2020-2021

www.bluestemmontessori.com

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

35

Flood Safety Floods can occur anywhere—even in Lincoln. In fact, Lincoln has had many floods throughout its history. Some floods grow slowly, over many hours or days, while other floods, called flash floods, grow quickly.

Flash floods can happen in just a few minutes, even when it isn’t raining.

No matter where you live, it is important to know what to do if a flood occurs, but it is especially crucial if you live in a flood-prone area (low spots, near water, a dam, or levee). Do you know what to do if your house floods?

During the Flood: • Do not use electrical appliances if they are wet. Have a parent or other adult turn off the electricity in your home. If the fuse box cannot be reached without walking through water, call an electrician for assistance.

• If told to evacuate, do not hesitate. Leave your home immediately and move to higher ground.

• Turn around, don’t drown! If floodwater is blocking your path, do not attempt to cross! It only takes six inches of moving water to knock you off your feet. And it only takes 12 to 18 inches of moving water to carry away a vehicle.

After the Flood: • Do not return home until you are told it is safe to do so. Use caution when returning; there may be obstacles or structural damage.

by the City of Lincoln Watershed Management • Do not play in floodwaters. It may contain chemicals or bacteria, which can make you sick. There could also be potentially dangerous objects floating about or on the ground beneath the water, like broken glass, metal shards, and other injury-causing materials.

• Do not play with toys until they are cleaned and disinfected. If they cannot be cleaned, they must be thrown away. Outdoor playground equipment also needs to be cleaned.

• Ask an adult if water from the sink is safe to use or drink. Do not eat food that was left behind during the flood. Wash your hands and practice good hygiene. Use protective gear, such as dust masks, gloves, and protective boots, when cleaning the aftermath of a flood.

• Have a parent call the insurance company. Take photos of the damage to your home caused by the flood before the cleanup begins. Document everything that needs to be thrown away. PLEASE NOTE: Small children should not participate in the cleanup effort.

Does Your Family Have Flood Insurance?

Homeowners and renter’s insurance policies do not cover damage caused by floods. Anyone living in a flood-prone area is encouraged to buy flood insurance. The City of Lincoln works with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), which allows residents to receive a 25% discount on their flood insurance. For more information, visit lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: flood) or contact your insurance agent.

Learning how to swim is an important, potentially life-saving skill.

Please consider enrolling your children in lessons with Swimtastic, LifeSTROKES, the YMCA, or Float 4 Life

WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE HERE!

For Summer Swim Updates:

please follow us on Facebook & visit our website

1601 Normandy Ct. (14th & Old Cheney) 402-421-SWIM (7946) | swim@lifestrokes.com

www.LIFESTROKES.com

36 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

37

Please share LK to help these businesses reach more people.

Youth sports & fitness

LINCOLN YOUTH LACROSSE

AN UPDATE FROM LINCOLN JR. RAMPAGE Due to the health crisis, we have stopped all Spring and Summer programs & clinics. Please check our website and follow us on Facebook for updates about when we’ll be back. To receive email updates, please send us an email at the address below.

Thank you for all your support—we miss you all!

WWW.LINCOLNLAX.NET • LINCOLNJRRAMPAGE@GMAIL.COM

Lincoln Karate Clinic New Online Program

Ages 5-14 • All skill levels welcome!

Just $29 for a 2-week trial Through Martial Arts, students gain: Self Esteem • Focus • Self Control Physical Skills • Goal Setting All while having fun!

237 So. 70th Street 402-483-KICK www.lincolnkarate.org 38 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

#supportlocal

Youth sports & fitness

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

39

A note about summer camps We normally have over 50 camps listed in our camp guide, and as you know, this summer’s selection has been reduced due to the pandemic—but there are still options.

The following eight pages are all camp-focused, and there are a few other camps mentioned in ads on previous pages in this issue. To help you see all your options in an easily-updated format, we’ve posted a larger, all-inclusive camp guide on our website. This is a rapidly-changing situation, and we’ll update the website camp guide frequently. We all wish this situation was more defined. Please know that things may still change, and your understanding and flexibility is deeply appreciated. For those CLICK HERE camps that have made the tough call to for this year’s cancel their summer programs, we hope Ultimate Guide to you’ll keep them in mind for next year. #LNKSTRONG

40 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Lincoln Summer Camps!

Wee Wisdom Christian Preschool and Academy

A Ministry of Citylight Church

Summer Camps!

In-person camps for ages 3-6 9-11:30 am • $75/week

June 15-19 Let’s All Go Camping June 22-26 Jungle Jam Themed art, stories, & educational fun. Engaging indoor & outdoor activities.

Space limited, register today!

Now enrolling preschool for Fall 2020!

5201 Old Cheney Rd 402-420-7111 weewisdompreschool.org

Want to know more? Click the ads to visit our advertisers’ websites

Summer Camps

ALOHA!

Buzz on in for

SUMMER

C AM P S

We’re back & we’ve missed you!

Drop & go childcare • Ages 1.5-11

KidsPark Camps are a breeze!

No reservations. Open days, evenings, & weekends.

Drop in & pay as you go.

We offer super fun birthday parties & flexible preschool, too!

Camp activities included in affordable hourly rates.

Fun weekly themes.

As always, no reservations!

Follow us on Facebook to stay in the loop on deals and to keep updated on KidsPark during the pandemic.

WELCOME BACK $AVINGS! 1/2 off registration + first hour FREE up to 3 kids!

Use code LNKKIDS at www.KidsPark.com/Lincoln. Expires July 31, 2020.

Private pay only.

No longer accepting Title XX.

14th & Old Cheney • (402) 413-8849 • Kidspark.com

ng i l l o enr w l o o n o h c

c s e 21 r 0 p 2 P 0 202

A FUn Academic setting with athletic focus

Kids rts o p s r e m m u s S p m ca Exhilarating Sports Camps All Summer Long!

Soccer Basketball

Baseball Football

Volleyball Mixed Sports

Children unleash their adventurous personalities through preschool education, social interactions, FUNdamental athleticism, and teamwork!

Field trips for swimming, bowling, foot golf, & more!

September–May | Ages 3–5 | 8:30 am–12:00 pm 2, 3, & 5-day options | Register today for fall!

May 26–Aug 7 | Grades 1–5 | 9:00 am–4:30 pm Before & after care available | Sibling discounts

“First we learn to move, then we move to learn!”

Part or full time | Register online today!

YES! We are enrolling for our super-fun, in-person Youth Sports Summer Camps—Register online today!

Please check our website & Facebook to stay in-the-loop | faalincoln.com | 8400 Cody Dr | 402-975-8237 www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

41

Summer Camps

Please follow LK and our advertisers on social media to stay in-the-loop on announcements

See You On The Flipside Bright Lights is coming to YOU this summer!

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right Lights values safety as much as summer learning.

They are choosing to continue to do their part to slow and prevent the spread of the coronavirus and therefore will not be having live, in-person camps this summer.

Instead, they are going to be flipping things around and bringing select Bright Lights camps straight to students this summer, virtually. And camps on this “flipside” are FREE, courtesy of Bright Lights and their generous donors!

Stay tuned to their social media pages and www.BrightLights. org for more information about these virtual camps. They will look forward to catching you on the flipside!

Want to help out Bright Lights? Thank you! Like most non-profits, they appreciate your support during this time.

There are two important ways you can help them out right now: DONATE | If you or someone you know would like to offer monetary support for the new virtual camps or make a general donation during this time, please donate at www.BrightLights.org.

SHARE | Please tell your family and friends about the new camp format and encourage them to attend. While Bright Lights is sad not to be holding camps in their regular fashion, they are excited to be able to try something new during this time. And these new virtual camps will allow students who have never been to a Bright Lights camp to try it out—for FREE!—and then look forward to joining a camp in person next summer.

See you on the flipside!

PRAIRIE HILL Learning Center www.prairiehill.com

(402) 438-6668

Summer Camps

UPDATE: Our nature-centered day camps for ages 3-15 are canceled for 2020. Please keep us in mind for next summer!

Montessori on the farm • Enrollment opening soon for the 2020-21 school year.

42 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Want to support over 100 local businesses at once? Share this issue online!

HELLO

Summer Music Camps at Blue Raven Music Studios

SUMMER

! n Fu

Space limited • $25 saves your SPOT! 6-9th grade • June 29-31 • Mon-Wed • 10am-2pm 4-8th grade • JuLY 13-15 • Mon-WeD • 10am-2pm 4-8th grade • July 21-23, 25 • Mon-Wed • 9am-12pm

3835 S 48th st • 402-486-0599 • blueravenmusic.com

R PROG E M R UM COST $125 per week

AGES

AM

S

Summer Camps

Grades K-5 (completed K)

HOURS 7:30AM–5 :30PM Update: Bring a sa ck lunch (AM & PM snacks provided)

Dates May 26 – Aug 7 Weekly sign-ups | No minimum

Locations City Impact 1035 N. 33rd

First Evangelical Free Church

Two locations | Space limited

Update: There will be no field trips in 2020

Rotating Weekly Themes Art – Wellness – STEM

3280 S. 84th

Space Limited! Register online today.

familyservicelincoln.org/youth-development-program/ Click “New Parent Registration” or “Parent Portal” Financial Assistance is available for those that apply & qualify.

Please email thayes@familyservicelincoln.org for more information.

Helping Families Thrive

402.441.7949 familyservicelincoln.org www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

43

S pa r e n i h m i t r e S e ! k le & m m u S s ’ t i SUMMER SESSIONS June 22-26 • July 13–17 July 27–31

NEW Summer Dates!

CUTIE CAMP July 20–23

Register at intermixdance.com

Thank you for reading Lincoln Kids Magazine

Summer Camps

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

45

VIRTUAL

Summer

THEATRE CAMPS

ONLINE CLASSES & WORKSHOPS FOR AGES 6+

Scholarships available! To inquire: info@TAFK.org.

All programs will be done via ZOOM and include exclusive material kits.

This will be a very fun, productive, and creative summer! Thank you for your support!

HALF DAY • 1-WEEK CLASSES

FULL DAY • 1-WEEK CAMPS

CIRCUS ACTS

TOTAL THEATRE EXPERIENCE

Ages 6–10 | Music & Movement June 15–19 | 9:30–11:00 | $100

WORD WIZARDS

Ages 10+ | Acting & Script Writing June 15–19 | 12:30–3:30 | $150

ELMO & FRIENDS

Ages 6-10 June 22–26 | 9:30–11:00 | $100

BROADWAY OUT WEST

Ages 7-15 June 22–26 | 12:30–3:30 | $150 Oklahoma, Annie Get Your Gun, Bonnie & Clyde & more!

BUDDY THE WISH FISH

Ages 6-10 June 29–July 3 | 9:30–11:00 | $100

ROCKIN' AROUND BROADWAY

Ages 7-15 June 29–July 3 | 12:30–3:30 | $150 Hairspray, Bye Bye Birdie, Jersey Boys & more!

Ages 7–15 | Sing! Act! Dance!

June 1–5 | 9:30–3:30 | $200 Frozen, Bye Bye Birdie, Charlotte's Web & more!

CONTEMPORARY BROADWAY Ages 7-15 | Voice Intensive June 8–12 | 9:30–3:30 | $200

VOICE • 1-WEEK CLASS VOICE CLASS I

Ages 7–15 | Vocal Instruction June 15–19 | 11:15–12:00 | $50

VOICE CLASS II

Ages 7–15 | Vocal Instruction June 22–26 | 11:15–12:00 | $50

VOICE CLASS III

Ages 7–15 | Vocal Instruction June 29–July 3 | 11:15–12:00 | $50

DISNEY'S FROZEN JR. FULL DAY • 2-WEEK THEATRICAL PRODUCTION Ages 7-15 | Musical Theatre Production M–F July 13–24 | 9:30–3:30 | $400

TAFK.ORG � INFO@TAFK.ORG

Click the ads for more information and follow these businesses online for updates

g m o o A v w a y n w

Summer Camps

with TDC's online

Summer Dance Camps for ages 2-6

We'll drop off an

exclusive camp kit at your door!

S. S. TRUE DANCE

June 1–5 Mermaids & Pirates

June 15–19 Princess Camp

July 20–24 Tutti Fruiti Luau

Register at TrueDanceLincoln.com

www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

47

A note about the directories As you know, businesses are having to make frequent changes to their operations because of the health crisis. Sometimes it's restrictions and sometimes it's a change that takes us a step closer to normal. Please note that the listings in the LK directories are written for normal circumstances. Some of the businesses are accepting new students for regular programming, some are on hold, and others are offering online courses and specials until things go back to normal. If you are interested in what a business normally offers, please call them or click on the listing to visit their site for the most up-to-date information.

Thank you for supporting local.

Little One’s Activities Fun group activities geared towards infants & toddlers NAME

PROGRAM

CONTACT In East Lincoln Christian Church (70th & Edenton Rd,) • 402-770-1486 KindermusikOfLincoln.com

Kindermusik of Lincoln with Shawna Gordon

Days, evenings, & weekend classes for ages birth to 7! It’s more than just music— it’s development for the whole child, from physical to emotional to musical and more!

Just $70/month for unlimited age-appropriate classes (some exceptions may apply).

Library Learning Times Lincoln City Libraries

Free drop-in storytimes with interactive play! Grouped by age from birth to preschool & almost every day!

View the full schedule online. Family & teen events, too! Follow @Lincoln.Libraries on FB for events & info!

NO GROUPS in August, December, or during inclement weather.

For schedule: LincolnLibraries.org Kids & Teens > Kids > Library Learning Times

LifeSTROKES

Infant & toddler swimming lessons! Grab a friend & jump in with your little one, 6–24 months, in a parent/tot class and be a part of the beginning of their swim journey. Independent classes start as early as age 2. Join anytime! 30-min classes held once weekly, Mon–Thu. Call, click, or stop by to register!

1601 Normandy Ct 402-421-SWIM (7946) www.Lifestrokes.com

Baby & toddler exercises, songs, dances, infant & child-safe rides, unique swings, and many other parent + me adventures in age-appropriate classes starting at 6 months.

We also have independent classes for kids ages 3¼ through 10 years!

My Gym Pioneers Park Nature Center

Bring the family to explore the outdoors! Dig in the sandbox in the Natural Play Area, smell flowers in the Children’s Garden, and visit our live animal exhibits.

The Nature Center is open Mon-Sat, 8:30am-5pm, and Sun noon-5pm. Admission is FREE!

2755 Jamie Lane, Suite 4 (27th & Yankee Hill) • 402-802-9982 MyGym.com/Lincoln 3201 S. Coddington (West end of Park) 402-441-7895 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter

Pop-In Storytime Morrill Hall

Pop-in to the museum for storytime with Lincoln City Libraries on the 1st Thursday of each month at 4pm.

Through stories, songs, and movement we’ll learn more about the natural world.

Regular museum admission. Museum members attend for free.

Morrill Hall on the UNL Campus 402-472-2637 museum.unl.edu/storytime

Super Sprouts Lincoln Children’s Museum

Super Sprouts is a time for toddlers, preschoolers & their caring adults to practice their fine & gross motor skills, hear and interact with silly stories & songs, make new friends, and most importantly, PLAY! Every Tuesday at 10 a.m., program changes weekly. Regular museum admission, members attend for free.

1420 P Street 402-477-4000 LincolnChildrensMuseum.org

Swimtastic Swim School

Get your little ones safe and comfortable around the water right away! Join us for a free Infant/Toddler clinic or sign up for our once a week lessons. Start them out right in small groups with individual attention!

With a warm and safe environment, we will be sure your kids love the water!

7911 Pioneers Blvd 402-489-7946 Swimtastic.com

The YMCA offers parent-with-child water discovery classes, as well as swim lessons that are designed to teach children, ages one to three years old, potentially life-saving techniques to keep them safe in and around water.

YMCA of Lincoln

Follow Lincoln Kids Newspaper on Facebook & Instagram 48 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Cooper, Copple Family, Fallbrook, & Northeast YMCAs ymcalincoln.org/aquatics

Children’s Lessons & Activities NAME

PROGRAMS

DESCRIPTION

Dance

Aimee’s Premier Dance in Hickman offers a variety of dance styles for ages 3+, including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Pointe, and Boys' Classes. All classes use age-appropriate music, choreography, and costuming.

Guitar, Strings, Voice & more!

Guitar, Drums, Bass, Piano, Dobro, Lap Steel, Mandolin, Banjo, Violin, Viola, Ukulele, Group Bands, & Voice instruction for all ages. Fun, positive learning environment.

Reduced rate guitar & ukulele classes for kids ages 5-9.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics classes for boys & girls ages 2 through 16. We promote an “I can do” attitude, building not only overall physical skills, but also “life skills”.

5030 N. 57th 402-464-9692 CapitalCityGymnastics.net

Chinese Language

Learn how to listen, speak, and read Chinese!

Engaging classes for ages 6 to adult held on UNL Campus.

Evening & weekend options available. Register online!

W205 Nebraska Hall (UNL) 402-472-5370 ConfuciusInstitute.unl.edu

Children’s Float Lessons

The Float 4 Life Center combines physical & educational components of water safety through 1-on-1 float lessons, water safety milestones, and Josh the Otter water safety education. The center also serves as the National Training Facility for instructors who want to learn water safety & floating techniques.

8445 Executive Woods Drive 402-613-5555 www.float4life.org

Swimming Lessons

Equipping all generations with lifesaving skills. Enroll anytime!

Professional instruction & fun for ages 6 months to adult. 30-minute morning & evening classes once weekly, Mon through Thu. Register online, call, or stop by!

1601 Normandy Ct 402-421-SWIM (7946) www.Lifestrokes.com

Vocal Ensemble

Lincoln Boys Choir provides vocal education, fellowship & life skills through performance for boys ages 8-18 years in three choirs: Cantare, Chorale, or Concert Choir. Artists in residence at Saint Paul UMC. Membership requires audition, tuition & uniform.

402-499-4446 LincolnBoysChoir.org

Fun Learning Activities

FREE with admission or membership! • 10:30am Wednesdays: Oh Snap! Science, a 10-20 minute science demonstration to amaze, engage & encourage kids to ask “Why?” Every Thursday: Open late ’til 8 with fun, rotating activities scheduled at 6pm!

1420 P Street, Lincoln, NE 402-477-4000 LincolnChildrensMuseum.org

Lincoln Fencing Club

Fencing

Play with swords? Yes, please! Learn to fence foil, épée, and saber— the three Olympic fencing weapons—in a supportive, welcoming environment.

Classes for ages 4 to adult. Scholarships and family discounts available.

2645 O Street, Suite 2 402-420-7688 www.lincolnfencing.com

Lincoln Irish Dancers

Irish Step Class Ages 7 & Up

Learn Irish Dancing! Step (solo) classes for ages 7+ and Social Dance (group) classes for ages 12+. Five-week sessions begin September 14, 2020.

Affordable and fun—learn a dance that lasts a lifetime!

1135 Eastridge Dr. LincolnIrishDancers.org lincolnirishdancers@gmail.com

Lincoln Music Teachers Association

Music Lessons

Find a Music Teacher!

Access www.LMTA.info for a Teacher Directory.

Low-cost lessons available. See www.LMTA.info [Music Outreach]

Art Classes

Weekly art classes, one-time family workshops, spring/summer camps, and private lessons for all ages. All classes are taught by professional artists. Popular topics include clay, pottery wheel, painting, drawing, metals, glass, and more! Small class sizes for personalized learning.

Dance

Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip-Hop and 2-Gether.

Classes for two-year olds through high school. Welcoming & inviting space with ample viewing room so families can watch their dancers shine!

We also offer customized dance-themed birthday parties.

Gymnastics & Sports Skills

Your child will have fun while building confidence & self-esteem in our beginning gymnastics & sports skills classes. Games, relays, dances & rides.

Age-appropriate classes. MyGym.com/Lincoln

2755 Jamie Ln, Ste 4 (27th & Yankee Hill) • 402-802-9982 MyGym.com/Lincoln

Group Vocal Lessons, Music Education, Performance & more!

Fun weekly choir rehearsals to help polish the voice for future auditions, ensembles, theater & more. We perform at various places around the city to show off our skills.

Open to singers in 2nd–8th grade. No audition necessary, just the love of singing & dedication to music education! Low registration cost (assistance can be requested).

2000 D St. (First Plymouth Church) 402-202-0565 www.naova.com

Aimee’s Premier Dance Blue Raven Music Studios Capital City Gymnastics Confucius Institute Float for Life LifeSTROKES Lincoln Boys Choir Lincoln Children’s Museum

LUX Center for the Arts Motions Dance Academy My Gym Nebraska Academy of Vocal Arts Nebraska Ninja & Triniti Gymnastics

Ninja Warrior & Gymnastics

CONTACT 6760 Woodland Blvd. (Hickman) 402-440-8770 www.apremierdance.com 3835 S. 48th St. (by Union College) 402-486-0599 BlueRavenMusic.com

www.LMTA.info 2601 N. 48th St. 402-466-8692 www.LUXcenter.org 8335 Cody Dr., Ste. A 402-420-0579 www.motionsdance.net

Our new facility will offer Lincoln an astonishing Gymnastics & Ninja experience.

8335 Cody Dr. • 402-525-8396 Gymnastics for ages 18 months & up - Ninja classes for kids & adults - Gymnastics lessons trigym@trinitigymnastics.com for preschool boys & girls - Gymnastics recreational or team classes for girls. trinitigymnastics.com • nebraskaninja.com Knowledgeable and kind instructors - New clean facilities - Spacious viewing

Swimtastic Swim School

Swimming Lessons

Experience the Swimtastic Difference! Swimtastic Swim School offers small class sizes with individualized attention, warm 90° water, professional and passionate instructors, family-first convenience, exceptional curriculum, and unparalleled customer service!

7911 Pioneers Blvd 402-489-7946 Swimtastic.com

YMCA of Lincoln

Swim, Dance, Gymnastics, Youth Gym & More!

With a focus on developing the potential of kids, the YMCA offers youth programs in a small group setting. Instructors work side-by-side with each child to teach safety and to develop their skills while keeping them moving, healthy, and active.

Cooper, Copple Family, Fallbrook, & Northeast YMCAs ymcalincoln.org/youthprograms

Find activities for babies and toddlers on the next page! www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

49

Birthday Fun & Party Places Prices & Specials subject to change without notice.

FUN FEATURES!

NAME Butterfly Kisses Face Painting Cheer Xpress

CONTACT 402-730-7197 info@butterflykissesfacepainting.com www.ButterflyKissesFacePainting.com

Add fun sparkles & color to your party with professional face painting & glitter tattoos!

Unicorn, dinosaur, fairy princess, tiger & more! So many options & so much fun!

Have your next birthday party at Cheer Xpress. Open Gym parties including trampoline, tumble track, spring floors and lots of fun equipment. Come to play, jump, and tumble. Cheer theme parties available too!

Let us do the entertaining, setup, and cleanup, so you can enjoy the party!

1130 Aries Drive (14th & Pine Lake) 402-489-5111 CheerXpress.com

Looking for a unique entertainment option for your next party?

Consider an author event! Programming is customized to fit your needs and can include books, music, crafts & games. Party favor options also available!

editors@handersenpublishing.com 402-904-9618 www.handersenpublishing.com

Handersen Publishing KidsPark LifeSTROKES

Private birthday parties available! Invitations, balloon favors, a gift for the birthday child, face painting, art, and games are all included. We do the cleanup when the party is over!

Sundays 10:30am-12:30pm or 6:30pm-8:30pm. Book your date online at kidspark.com/lincoln today!

5633 S. 16th St. 402-413-8849 KidsPark.com/lincoln

Party at the Pool! Host your child’s birthday party at LifeSTROKES for a splashing good time! $250 includes 2 hours of private facility use for up to 25 children & their chaperones—pool toys, food & refreshments, decorations, and safety vests welcome! Offered Friday evenings & Saturday afternoons.

1601 Normandy Ct 402-421-SWIM (7946) www.Lifestrokes.com

Lincoln Children’s Museum

Lincoln Children’s Museum sets the perfect stage for a fun and memorable birthday party for your child.

The Museum offers a party room for birthday festivities, hours of play in its interactive exhibits & your choice of eight fun themes. Parties start at $89. Visit LincolnChildrensMuseum.org to pick the perfect party for you.

Lincoln Children’s Zoo

Critter visits, train rides, & all day fun await your birthday at Lincoln Children’s Zoo! Choose from our Safari Room, Secret Jungle Room or the iconic Crooked House. Basic package is just $225, upgrade to the Ultimate for only $50 more! Visit LincolnZoo.org to pick your party, select your date and reserve your room and time.

1222 S. 27th St 402-475-6741 LincolnZoo.org

Lincoln Laser Tag

Fun for all ages! Four amazing party packages to choose from to meet your needs & budget. You’ll get 2+ sessions of laser tag with options like pizza, Dippin’ Dots, & a private glow room. The birthday guest of honor & guests are sure to have a blast, making laser tag an excellent choice. Pay for only the guests that show up, saving you $$!

6600 N 27th Street 402-476-4824 lincolnlasertag.com

Your outdoor playland...indoors! Fun for all ages! Private party rooms, playsets, foam pit, inflatable jumpers, fun maze, laser maze, video games, jumping pillow, Ballocity, and snack area with yummy food & drinks! We do company parties, too! Book your next Fun-tastic party online at lostinfun.com!

Lost In Fun! LUX Center for the Arts

Real art taught by real artists! Guests can each build and paint their own clay mugs, bowls, or plates.

Other popular projects include canvas painting, fused glass suncatchers, and custom projects.

Parties for 8 participants start at just $150! Pottery wheel parties are available for kids ages 10+.

Madsen’s Bowling

Host a Bowling Party! Kids love our bumper bowling. Includes a “personalized” bowling pin gift for the birthday child! Special ramps for the young bowlers. Ask about Jr. Pool Leagues!

Makit Takit Lincoln’s Craft Studio

1420 P Street 402-477-4000 LincolnChildrensMuseum.org

8431 Cody Dr. (15th & Yankee Hill) 402-261-0440 LostInFun.com 2601 N. 48th St. 402-466-8692 www.LUXcenter.org/PARTY 47th & Dudley 402-467-3249 2 blks south of 48th & Holdrege

SPLATTER! SLIME! PAINT! Fun craft parties for kids & adults in groups up to 25.

Hands-on fun—several arts & crafts to choose from, including our NEW! Cosmic Splatter party!

BYO food & drink, we’ll handle the rest! Starting at $225. We also offer take home Takit Party Boxes for $100!

4720 Prescott Avenue 402-483-4232 • MakitTakit.com Christy@MakitTakit.com

Morrill Hall

Be a paleontologist, discover some of the most bizarre creatures to inhabit Earth, or go on a treasure hunt exploring the museum’s rocks & minerals! Guided museum activities including a hands-on fossil dig in the Marx Discovery Center & gifts for every child! Six party themes to choose from. Private party room!

Morrill Hall on the UNL Campus 402-472-2637 museum.unl.edu/birthdays

My Gym

Your Child is the Star! Supervised age-appropriate games, fun activities, rides, songs, puppets and more!

Your birthday party can enjoy exclusive use of our facility! MyGym.com/Lincoln

2755 Jamie Lane, Suite 4 (27th & Yankee Hill) • 402-802-9982 www.MyGym.com/Lincoln

Nebraska Ninja & Triniti Gymnastics

Ninja warrior or gymnastics birthday parties with specialized obstacles and games.

Parties are 90 minutes – spacious party room – experienced and helpful instructors.

Please call or email us for available times & prices.

Pioneers Park Nature Center

8335 Cody Dr. • 402-525-8396 trigym@trinitigymnastics.com trinitigymnastics.com • nebraskaninja.com

Owls, snakes, bugs, and the great outdoors are eager to make your child’s birthday a special one! Starting at $125, parties include a guided hike or activity, party favors, & special gift for the birthday child.

West end of Pioneers Park 402-441-7895 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter

Happy BIRDday on the Prairie Parties! Looking for a family-fun nature way to celebrate your youngster’s birthday? Look no further than a BIRDday Party on the Prairie with Audubon.

Programs can be held for 8-20 and include a space rental fee and outdoor nature activities.

Spring Creek Prairie

11700 SW 100th St. (Denton) 402-797-2301 • scp@audubon.org springcreekprairie.audubon.org

Swimtastic Swim School

Swimtastic Swim School takes the stress out of party planning & replaces it with 2 hours of fun for the whole family!

Become a mermaid or a pirate for a day with our themed parties or enjoy a get-together in the warm water pool! Parties include private use of the indoor pool, tie-dye t-shirt for the birthday child, invitations, paper products, balloons, family swim passes for each attendee, setup and teardown! Call or click to register!

7911 Pioneers Blvd 402-489-7946 Swimtastic.com

Think, Make, Create!

Mobile Learning Labs

At your child's next birthday, what if they got to choose activities that allowed their friends to QUESTION like a Scientist, DESIGN like a technologist, BUILD like an engineer, CREATE like an artist, DEDUCE like a mathematician, and PLAY LIKE A KID? Rent a Think,Make,Create Mobile Learning Lab and let us bring a trailer full of STEAM activities to engage your K-8th grade group. $250 includes delivery and pick-up. Canopy and folding tables included!

Chris 402-904-5191 bitly.com/tmc-labs

YMCA: Cooper, Fallbrook, & Copple Family

Have your next birthday party at the Y! The YMCA offers a variety of birthday party options to fit any child. Join us to swim or have one of our themed birthday parties.

Parties start at $75. Call for more information, or visit YMCALincoln.org

Cooper: 6767 S. 14th St. 402-323-6400 Fallbrook: 700 Penrose Dr. 402-323-6444 Copple Family: 8700 Yankee Woods Dr. 402-327-0037

For advertising information, please email karla@lincolnkidsinc.com 50 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Child Care & Education Centers NAME

PROGRAMS

DESCRIPTION

AREA

CONTACT

Academic Advantage Child Development Center

6w-12y Preschool

New southeast location opening this spring! Educational childcare facilities offering care for ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Also accepting students for summer programs!

Transportation to these schools: Kahoa, Pyrtle, Meadowlane, Calvert, Humann, Zeman, Maxey, Hill, Cavett, Wysong, and Adams. Visit www.AACDC.com for more info.

East, South

8215 Northwoods, #100, 402-465-4769 6021 S. 56th Street, 402-420-5440 7301 S. 15th Street, 402-421-7301

Calvert Recreation Center Preschool

Preschool

Our preschool program consists of fun early childhood activities to help support the learning and development of children ages 3-5.

2-, 3-, and 5-day/week sessions available.

South

Calvert Rec Center, 4500 Stockwell 402-441-8480 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/calvert

Dimensions Education at 7700 A St.

6w-6y Preschool

Quality early education program for children 6 weeks–preschool.

Summer programs for children ages 6 weeks–1st grade.

Visit DimensionsEd.org for information & online forms. Call for availability.

East Central

7700 A Street 402-476-8304 www.DimensionsEd.org

Dimensions Education at First Lutheran

6w-6y Preschool

Quality early education program for children 6 weeks–preschool. Visit DimensionsEd.org for information & online forms. Call for availability.

East Central

1551 S. 70th St 402-476-8304 www.DimensionsEd.org

Dimensions Education at First-Plymouth

6w-6y Preschool

Quality early education program for children 6 weeks–preschool.

Summer programs for children ages 6 weeks–1st grade.

Visit DimensionsEd.org for information & online forms. Call for availability.

Central

In First-Plymouth Church, 20th & D 402-476-8304 www.DimensionsEd.org

Dual Language Preschool

Preschool

Our thematic content supports language development in English & Spanish and allows preschoolers of all language backgrounds to have fun while playing & learning kindergarten readiness skills. Openings currently available! M/W/F, 9-11:30am.

South

Irving Rec Center, 2010 Van Dorn, 402-441-7954 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/irving

Fingerprints Child Development Center

6w-10y Preschool

Featuring an educational curriculum for all ages in a loving Christian environment! Open 6:30am-6:00pm. 6 weeks–10 years.

Enrolling now for part-time PreK morning program. M–F from 9am–11:30am.

Northeast

7800 Holdrege 402-467-4503 CapitolCity.org

Highlands Academy

6w-12y Preschool

Child Development & Family Resource Center.

Ages 6 weeks–12 years. Full time care. Preschool curriculum.

Northwest

5901 NW 1st Street 402-476-2223 highlandsacademy.com

Kelly’s Kids (Highlands)

6w-5y Preschool

Open Monday-Friday, 7am-6pm. Care for ages 6 weeks–5 years.

Developmentally appropriate curriculum in each classroom.

Healthy homemade meals & individual classrooms. Title XX & private pay.

Northwest, Highlands

4901 NW 1st St 402-477-4901 www.kellyskidsldc.com

Kelly’s Kids Northeast

6w-12y Preschool

Now enrolling for all ages, part-time & full-time. Open Monday-Friday, 630am-6pm.

Care for ages 6 weeks–12 years. Developmentally appropriate curriculum in each classroom. Transportation to/from Norwood Park Elementary. Title XX & private pay.

Northeast, Havelock

4005 N. 70th St 402-436-4005 www.kellyskidsldc.com

KidsPark

1½-11y Preschool

Days, evening, & weekend care always available. Care for modern families when you need it, without the hassle. No reservation required and pay by the hour! Flexible preschool programs, schools out camps, after school programs and more! Learn more at kidspark.com/lincoln. Happy kids, happy parents!

South

5633 S. 16th St. Ste. 100 402-413-8849 KidsPark.com

PM & Weekends

6001 Normal Blvd.

402-486-4847 KrayonCampus.com

Krayon Campus

6w-12y Preschool

Child development center that cares for your child’s individual needs.

Ages 6 weeks–12 years. Curriculum-based. Nutritious hot meals.

Transportation to LPS area schools. Open Mon–Fri, 6am-6pm.

Central

Pioneers Park Nature Center Preschool

Preschool

Animals + Plants + Hikes = Learning through discovery & creating a lifelong connection to nature! Preschool and Pre-K classes. lincoln.ne.gov/city/parks/naturecenter/preschool.htm

West

West end of Pioneers Park 402-441-7895 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter

Prairie Hill Learning Center Montessori School

18m+ Preschool Private K-8

Ages 18 mo-8th grade. Open 7am-6pm.

Montessori Education in a farm setting with a family atmosphere.

Certified Montessori Teachers.

Far South

7 miles South of Lincoln on Hwy 77 402-438-6668 PrairieHill.com

SCC Child Development Center

6w-6y Preschool

NAEYC accredited Early Childhood Education program for children ages 6 weeks–6 years. Mini camps (non school days) and Summer Camp program for children ages Kindergarten–age 11. Visit our website or call for information.

Northeast

8800 O St 402-437-2450 www.southeast.edu/lincolnchildcare

The Children’s Place Child Care Center

18m-12y Preschool

An educational program enrolled in Step Up to Quality for ages 18m-12y.

Experienced teachers. Curriculum-based with weekly themes & activities.

Available transportation to neighborhood schools. Title XX welcome.

Child care & adult food program. Mon–Fri, 6:30am-6pm.

Central

3900 Vine St 402-466-6341 www.ChildrensPlaceChildCare.com

The Child’s View Montessori

18m-6y Preschool

Open 7:30am to 5:30pm. Ages 18 months to 6 years. Part-time or full-time.

Certified Montessori Teachers.

South

3341 Pioneers Blvd.

402-484-8277 www.thechildsviewmontessori.com

Trinity Lutheran School

18m+ Preschool Private K-5

A fulfilling Christ-based education center. Our Early Childhood Education Program accepts children ages 18 months through Pre-K with extended hours from 7am-5:45pm. Also offering K-5 classes. Call to learn more or visit our website.

Northeast

True Knowledge Preschool

Preschool

A fun & exciting academic approach that will prepare your child for kindergarten & beyond. Small classroom sizes. Engaging teacher.

Welcoming environment! 2, 3, & 5-day options. Contact us to learn more!

South

5445 Red Rock Lane 402-570-1252 www.trueknowledgelincoln

World of Knowledge CDC & Preschool

6w-12y Preschool

Ages 6 weeks–12 years. Preschool curriculum beginning at age one. Before and after school care. A Step Up to Quality program. Open 6:30am–6:00pm.

Sign language, soccer, dance, & taekwondo lessons available.

Southeast

8310 Wendell Way 402-483-4769 WorldOfKnowledgeNE.com

Preschool Before/After

Licensed preschool for ages 3-5 that includes swim lessons & gym classes as part of its developmental curriculum. Before & after school programs for elementary & middle school students at several Community Learning Center sites in schools across Lincoln.

All Areas

Available at 4 YMCA locations plus partner CLC schools throughout Lincoln ymcalincoln.org

YMCA Lincoln

1200 North 56th Street 402-466-1800 www.trinityoflincoln.org

Please tell these businesses you saw them in Lincoln Kids! www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

51

SUPPORT • SPECIAL INTEREST • MOM GROUPS • RESOURCES Info & dates subject to change—especially due to the health crisis. Please call or email ahead.

Adaptive Programs Parks & Recreation Special Needs Various programs & special events for children and adults with special needs. Abilityappropriate play groups, social clubs, sports, arts, & more for ages 6mo to adult. parks.lincoln.ne.gov

FoodNet • Food Assistance & Donations 100% volunteer-run program to feed the hungry & reduce food waste. No proof of income required. Mostly perishable foods. Two or more distribution sites daily. See schedule online.

Please consider donating & volunteering!

FoodNetLincoln.org

Alcoholics Anonymous/AA Narcotics Anonymous/NA For a list of meetings & support: www.lincaa.org

Good Neighbor Community Center Basic & Emergent Services Assistance for low-income, non-duplicated individuals: food, clothing, education, & more.

402-477-4173 • GNCCLincoln.org

Answers4Families • Special Needs State & National resources, email dialogue groups, support & service providers, and helpful information.

800-746-8420 • Answers4Families.org Autism Family Network Connect among others with similar life challenges & joys.

402-421-0874 • AutismFamilyNetwork.org American Cancer Society Local: 402-423-4888 • Cancer.org (Nebraska) CapitalMOM by Bryan Health Online Parenting Community Online community for Nebraska parents & grandparents to connect, learn & grow with one another.

CapitalMomNebraska.com

Heartland Home Schoolers • Resources Support for home school parents & student activities: skating parties, spelling bees, science fair & more.

Homeschool-life.com/ne/heartland lincolnhsr@gmail.com La Leche League of Lincoln • Breastfeeding Mother-to-Mother support & education.

Connect with other mothers to find confidence in your mothering journey while discussing breastfeeding, nutrition, & weening. www.LLLofne.org Lincoln Area Families with Multiples Monthly newsletter, new parent meal train, and social opportunities for families with multiples.

LincolnMultiples.org

Down Syndrome Advocates in Action NE IEP Support, mentoring, & events for families with members with Down Syndrome.

402-413-0199 • www.dsaane.org

MilkWorks • Breastfeeding Lactation consultations, nursing/pumping supplies, newborn gifts, support, & more!

Support groups for mothers of infants & toddlers help mothers adjust to parenthood.

(402) 423-6402 • Milkworks.org

Agates Around the World

Lincoln Gem & Mineral Club’s 62nd Annual Show!

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! UPDATE To help keep our community safe, we have canceled our annual event for 2020.

We can’t wait to see you next year!

The annual Gem & Mineral Show is full of hands-on activities, booths, exhibits, & education for all ages.

Our affordable admission benefits the Food Bank.

Join us next year on April 3 & 4, 2021 Thank you for your ongoing support.

We wish you all a safe, healthy, & happy summer!

lincolngemmineralclub.org 52 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Lincoln MOMs (Mothers on a Mission) Catholic Social & Support Group Catholic mothers searching for fellowship, hope, & joy. Every 1st Saturday, 8:30 am, at the Newman Center, 320 N. 16th St. Free-will donations help pay for speakers, snacks & child watch. facebook.com/lincolnmothersonamission lincolnmomsgroup@gmail.com MOMS Club of Lincoln (Mothers Offering Moms Support) • SAHM Support Several events each month, from play groups to mom’s night out! Activities are often free or low-cost. Annual dues just $25. Chapter of the international MOMS Club®.

MomsClubLincoln.weebly.com Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Preschool Parenting Support Several local groups meet on various weekday mornings and evenings. Child care provided. www.MOPS.org NebraskaMOPS@gmail.com Mourning Hope Grief Support FREE 10-week family support group Thursdays, 6:30-8pm. Grief support groups, events, education, and resources for youths, teens, and families living with grief.

402-488-8989 • mourninghope.org Nebraska Foster & Adoptive Parent Assoc.

We empower, support, & advocate for Nebraska families by promoting safety, permanency, & well-being of children. Info, resources, & support for Nebraska’s foster & adoptive families or caregivers & relatives).

(402) 476-2273 • www.NFAPA.org

No Footprint Too Small A 501c3 nonprofit in Lincoln, serving Nebraska.

We provide comprehensive perinatal support to mothers, fathers, & families affected by pregnancy or infant loss. Find us on FB and at: 402-480-6782 www.nofootprinttoosmall.com info@nofootprinttoosmall.com Parenting Across Color Lines (PACL) Racial Identity Support Free monthly support group for parenting transracially, interracial relationships w/ bi-racial children, & adults who grew up transracially. Help children develop healthy racial identities. Every 4th Monday.

402-476-2273 • laurie@nfapa.org Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL) PAL provides hope and support through addiction education for parents dealing with an addicted loved one. Join us on Tuesdays.

402-560-3486 • palgroup.org (find meeting) Parents of Gender Fluid Kids Monthly coffee & conversation for parents & primary caregivers of gender fluid, gender creative, & transgender children, youth, & young adults. Second Saturdays. parentsofgfkids@gmail.com.

Safe Talk Support Group Communication Challenges Support Sponsored by Communication Works for parents, caregivers, & professionals with children who have communication challenges.

Join our Facebook group to get meeting info. facebook.com/groups/safetalk toni@comworkslincoln.com

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Health & Safety • Summer Camps • Virtual Activities • Support Local Businesses | Year 27, Issue 106

Artist’s Name, Age Cover Art Title Medium Studio Credit / Made at home

10:00am • Trendy Bookstore

Drop-in Kids Painting Class 3:00pm • Super Fun Art Studio

JUNE 8 - N at'l Best Friends Day JUNE 14 - F lag Day JUNE 16 - I nt'l Day of the African Child

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JUNE 17 - N at'l Eat Your Veggies Day JUNE 18 - N at'l Go Fishing Day JUNE 19 - J uneteenth JUNE 20 - F irst Day of Summer!

JUNE 21 - F ather's Day JUNE 21 - N at'l Smoothie Day JULY 1 - I nt'l Joke Day JULY 4 - Independence

Day JULY 6 - N at'l Fried Chicken Day—yummy!

JULY 10 - N at'l Pina Colada Day. Make it kid-friendly with Pineapple Coconut Slushies. Click here for a recipe!

JULY 12 - N at'l Jello Day • I love jigglers!

JULY 18 - W orld Listening Day. A great day to unplug and build communication with your children, or get out and enjoy a sitspot in Nature.

JULY 19 - N at'l Ice Cream Day JULY 20 - N at'l Moon Day (51st anniversary) JULY 23 - N at'l Hot Dog Day JULY 26 - N at'l Parent's Day JULY 30 - I nt'l Day of Friendship JULY 31 - H arry Potter's Birthday

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THINGS

TO DO

I know everyone is tired of hearing the same disclaimer over & over again about uncertainty, flexibility, and these unprecidented times, but I do still need to say it again regarding the calendar section.

Events may cancel, reschedule, reschedule again, have new COVID-19 guidelines, and other changes. But hey! There are still things going on. Before attending any in-person events, please be sure to check the host's website for policies & updates.

All events published here and at www.LincolnKidsInc.com will click to the event's website and/or Facebook event, making it easy for you to stay in-the-loop.

Visit www.LincolnKidsinc.com for more events, guides to local attractions, & more!

Again, due the rapidly evolving nature of the health crisis, frequent changes and rescheduling is the norm now. Check websites before heading out for date/time & current policies. It's also a good idea to ask about refund policies for ticketed events.

In-Person

DAILY ACTIVITIES • FREE Nebraska Passport going on now through Oct 31! Collect stamps & win prizes. Read about local stops on page 32 and visit their website to plan your Nebraska tour.

• FREE Hit the trails at Spring Creek Prairie, any of the area State Parks (w/vehicle permit), or at dozens of city parks. Here is a list of city parks with hiking/biking trails: https://lincoln. ne.gov/maps/parks/trails.htm • FREE Explore the UNL Gardens on East Campus • FREE The public is welcome to paint the outdoor Art Alley at LUX Center for the Arts • Ticketed Kazoo's Play Dates at Lincoln Children's Museum. Four-hour semiprivate drop-off play time for ages 3-12, meal included. 8:30am or 2pm, M-F. • Ticketed Lee G Simmons Wildlife Safari Park drive-thru, 9am-5pm, Ashland.

• Ticketed Wilderness Walks at Lincoln Children's Zoo, 9am-7pm. Ticketed reservations for regular admission allows for socially distant, one-way journeys throught the Zoo. FARMERS MARKETS & STANDS • Tuesdays: F St. Farmers Market, 4:30-7pm starting June 9 • Thursdays: Fallbrook Farmers Market, 4-7pm, Jun 11–Jul 30, + Aug 13, Sep 10, & Oct 8.

• Saturdays: Haymarket Farmers Market, 8–noon through Oct 10.

• Sundays: College View Farmers Market, 10am–2pm through Oct 25 (10–11am reserved for seniors & immuno-compromised).

• Daily: Kelly's Produce, 2904 N. 48th St, 9am-8pm beginning June 9th.

Produce with a Purpose, 70th/Van Dorn, 50th/Old Cheney (opening unannounced)

Click here to find events & updates in our ONLINE CALENDAR

THANK YOU for reading LK! Please let local businesses know you found them here—it supports our publication & mission!

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Lincoln Kids!

We usually publish a stuffed three-page calendar with hundreds of in-person events each issue, but the pandemic made it impossible to do that this summer. Not sharing that with you breaks our hearts, but also makes for a great time to announce our new online calendar! Visit lincolnkidsinc.com to find in-person & virtual things to do with kids. New info added daily!

DATES TO NOTE (click on events for more info) • Saturdays FREE admission and exploring at Prairie Pines, 9am-5pm. 3100 N. 112th St. • Sundays Femme Skate Night at The Bay, every 2nd & last Sat monthly @ 5pm.

• Various Dates: Art Bus LNK FREE mobile pop-up studio. Learn more in ad below!

• Various Dates: Kurbside Kona with Kona Ice of Lincoln. See info in ad below!

• Unannounced Reschedule: Free Fishing & Park Entry Day at all Nebraska State Parks.

Original date (May 16) postponed. Click to follow for updates and more info.

• June 1 Lincoln Children's Zoo & Omaha Zoo both reopen • June 5 Drive in Movie: The Greatest Showman, Campus Life, 9pm, 6401 Pine Lake. $25/ vehicle sugg. donation.

• June 11 1st day of Fallbrook Farmers Market, 4-7pm • June 15 Several city pools open (w/guidelines): Arnold, Ballard, Belmont, Irvingdate, & Woods. Click for details.

MORE > > > >

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Mobile Pop-up Art Studio for Kids!

Coming to YOU this summer!

Kids need art, but not all families can afford it.

Art Bus LNK fills that gap. Registration is FREE. Visit our website & follow us online for location schedules.

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WWW.ARTBUSLNK.ORG

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— LK Calendar —

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Post your events for free at www.LincolnKidsInc.com

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Calendar

IN-PERSON DATES TO NOTE CONT'D • June 18 Kona Ice at Lincoln Orthodontics, 2-4pm • June 26 Tour of UNL Bee Lab, 5:30pm • June 27 Cars & Coffee, Museum of American Speed, 8am Car show at South Sam's Club, 12-4pm • July 17 Future Husker University at UNL for kids ages 7-13. See ad to the right.

Cornhusker State Games opening ceremony at Seacrest Field, 4:30pm • July 18 Journey to the Stars Holistic Health Expo at the Ice Box Arena, 10am-5pm

There are tons of new family events popping up all the time.

Follow us on Facebook so we can share them with you!

New events are being planned daily as the city opens up. Follow @LincolnKidsMagazine to stay in the loop.

Virtual & At-Home

Some of the ongoing virtual events may not continue throughout the summer as businesses begin to reopen, but the majority are archiving replays online for continued entertainment & at-home activities.

Lincoln Kids Magazine We also feature giveaways, local specials, parenting humor, and more!

REPEAT/ARCHIVED EVENTS & ACTIVITIES • Virtual Storytime w/ Read Aloud Lincoln & Lincoln City Libraries, Mon-Sat at 9:30 & 10am via Facebook live.

Replays are not available, so catch it live! https://www.facebook.com/ReadAloudLincoln/.

• Living Room Learning & Family Night w/ Nebraska 4-H. Weekly dates & times for various age ranges! Replays avail. on YouTube. This page is also home to a well-organized hub of online & offline activities. Check it out!

• Boredom Busters w/ Lincoln Children's Museum, weekdays at 10:30am via Facebook Live. Archive of videos + activities available at www.lincolnchildrensmuseum.org.

• Keeper Corner w/ Lincoln Children's Zoo via Facebook Live, weekdays at 3pm (M-F). Continued/ongoing unannounced. Replays and printable activities at www.lincolnzoo.org.

• Drag Queen Story Hour via Facebook Live, first Sunday monthly at 3pm until in-person dates can resume. These inclusive story hours are so much fun for all ages.

• 10/11 NOW Weather Workshop Tue & Thu at 1pm via Facebook Live. Ongoing schedule has not been announced, but replays are available on their Facebook channel by clicking here. These have been a lot of fun for us!

• Mad Science at the Museum w/ Nebraska History Museum, Wednesdays June 3-24 via Zoom. FREE! (Donations welcome). Click to learn more and register!

• Live Learning Lessons + Online Activities w/ Morrill Hall. Live lessons via Facebook Fridays at 11am. Then, discover at-home planetarium shows, science & natural history projects, & lesson replays at museum.unl.edu.

• Lied Live Online Free family-friendly concerts all summer long, every Friday at 7:30pm via FB or liedcenter.org.

VIRTUAL DATES TO NOTE (click on events for more info) • FREE (ongoing) Build Off contest hosted by Museum of American Speed. All ages. Build & submit your LEGO vehicle by July 31. Winner receives $100 cash & their vehicle on display at the museum!

• May 31 CoMAYnity Celebration w/ The String Beans & Lincoln Children's Museum on Facebook, 6pm. Music, activities, an exclusive virtual tour, and giveaways!

• June 1-July 31 Summer Reading Challenge with Lincoln City Libraries. Log your minutes and win prizes! Read more in their article on page 10. Click here to visit their website for info.

• July 18 Virtual Swim/Sprinkler Party by Down Syndrome Association for Families, 5:30pm. Free registration, goodie bags, and giveaways. Sprinkers and water toys available upon request.

• July 30-Aug 2 Lancaster County Super Fair. Cheer on the 4-H/FFA exhibitors & do a virtual scavenger hunt!

When you visit our advertisers, please tell them you saw them in Lincoln Kids!

Coming to a neighborhood near you —all summer long!

New schedule posted each week.

KONA ICE OF LINCOLN

Click here to see where we’ll be next!

(402) 326-2479

We look forward to serving you.

Thank you for your support!

Drive-thru • Kurbside Birthdays • Special Events Locally owned & operated

G R A C E is the place!

Come worship with us!

Connect to our online

Sunday Morning Service | 9:00 am broadcast Use the link on our website: egrace.org Grace Lutheran Church • 2225 Washington St. 402-474-1505 • egrace.org • Facebook.com/glclincoln www.LincolnKidsInc.com |

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LK Youth Art Gallery

We love artwork! Please send your kid's artwork & caption to karla@lincolnkidsinc.com

Atley Gabelhouse, 6, "Paddle On, Paddlefish!"

Colored Pencil and Permanent Marker Joey Korgie, 7, "Rainbow Mobile" Created at Paint Yourself Silly

Harper Davison, 10, "Water Horse" Pencil & Colored Pencil

Graydon Ousey, 7, "Blue Bug in a Spring Storm" Mixed Media Elinore Hansen, 9, "Drifting" Watercolor

Benjamin McCrady, 7, "Pigeon" Pencil, Pen, Marker, Created during Doodle with Mo Willems

56 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Anneliese Hollon, 7, "Summer Filled with Rainbows" Crayons

Ayushi, 6, "Mama Bird Feeding Her Baby Birds with Worms" Markers

Adrianah Campbell, 12, "A Starry Night" Posca Pens

We welcome all creativity, from paintings & doodles to sculptures, photography, poetry & more!

Temperance Jackson, "Panda" Acrylic Paint

Amos Glenn, 10 "2070 Teleport" Sharpies, Colored Pencils, and Oil Pastels

Tyson Gabelhouse, 9, "Silent. Silent. Chomp" Channel Catfish Drawing in Colored Pencil

LK Youth Art Gallery

Alexia Andrew, 13, "Elemental Guardians" Digital

Aylene Randolph, 8, "Mermaids" Watercolor Laura Tuns, 10, "The 3 O'Clock Castle" (medium not disclosed)

Takodah Jackson, 10, "Bunny" Acrylic Paint

Mrudulaa Vallieppan, 6th Grade, "Sweet Treats" Acrylic

Rylee Hayes "Ankylosaurus' Adventure" Markers & Metallic Crayon

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LK Activity Page

FIREWORKS IN A JAR Civic Nebraska Think Make Create Mobile Learning Labs

Supplies: A tall, clear jar or water glass Warm water

Liquid food coloring (not gel) Cooking oil (any type)

A small bowl A fork or stir stick

1. Fill your jar 3/4 full with warm water 2. Measure 4 tablespoons of cooking oil into the small bowl. Then add 4 drops of food coloring—use four different colors if you can.

3. Use your fork to gently mix the oil into the food coloring. The object is to form small beads of individual colors, NOT to mix all the colors together.

4. Gently pour the oil mixture into the jar of water by tilting the jar slowly, pouring the dye and oil mixture on top of the water. Do NOT stir at this point!

5. Watch what happens—the food coloring will slowly sink out of the oil and into the water.

As this happens, the colors will expand, mix, and mingle with the other colors, creating a dazzling display in the water.

The Science Behind It: Food coloring dissolves in water, but not oil. Because the oil is less dense than the water, it will remain floating at the top.

The food coloring droplets, which are heavier than the oil, will separate out and begin to sink down. Once the dye drops are surrounded by water, they will begin dissolving and dispersing into the water, making what looks like tiny, colorful bursts, or “fireworks.” Can you guess what colors will be formed by the combinations you used in this experiment?

58 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Summer 2020

Photo courtesy of Civic Nebraska

Directions:

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