Triangle Family – January/February 2024 by Midtown, 5 West, Triangle Family

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

HORSES HEALING HEARTS STAYING FIT IN COLLEGE GOING —VIRTUAL—TO SCHOOL CAMP + EDUCATION GUIDE W A K E | D U R H A M | O R A N G E | C H AT H A M | + B E YO N D

EDITOR’S LETTER What are your parenting goals? Beyond raising children who have good manners, are kind to others, work hard and take responsibility for their actions, many parents have more defined ambitions. Maybe you’d like your child to become a good steward of the earth, get involved in charitable work or experience challenging extracurricular activities. You might encourage trying new foods or picking up a new hobby by modeling these activities for your son or daughter. The hope is, your protégé will grow up so used to these behaviors and habits, you’ll be able to prop your feet up and watch a beautiful story PHOTO OF BETH SHUGG BY BRUCE DeBOER unfold as he or she sets off into adulthood. One parenting goal that often slips through the cracks, however, is convincing kids to prioritize good health once they leave the nest. For those who go off to college, the allure of staying out late, attending parties and trying new “things” (you know what I mean) becomes more important than maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Young adults no longer have Mom or Dad around to remind them to take a daily multivitamin. Drinking a high-calorie artisan coffee on the way to class often replaces a healthy breakfast. Exercise routines fall down on the priority list as attending social events moves up. “Cardio and Classes” on page 10 offers advice for how college coeds can form new routines away from home and establish a healthy lifestyle they can carry into their adult years. You’ll also discover what some colleges and universities are doing to incorporate fitness into their students’ curriculums and campus environments. Our health theme continues on page 14 with “Horses Healing Hearts.” Equine-assisted therapy employs therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, occupational therapy and other treatments to help people of all ages gain insight on the challenges they face. These experience-based treatments also boost participants’ confidence to move toward a resolution. It might be the perfect solution for a child or adult in your life who needs a different kind of therapeutic support. The pandemic forced virtual education on many students, and while it didn’t work for everyone, some students thrived in what they found to be a more relaxed and less distracting environment. In addition to North Carolina Virtual Public School’s online classes, private virtual education opportunities are also becoming more available. Read “Going—Virtual—to School” on page 18 to learn more. And speaking of education, our Camp and Education Guide on page 22 presents additional resources for kids across the Triangle and beyond. Since many camps start filling up in February, now is the perfect time to register your child for summer programs. Explore winter destinations across the state that will keep your family active on page 36, and if you’re expecting your first child, consider taking a “babymoon.” We provide some ideas for how to make that happen on page 38. Read tips on helping youth athletes prevent overuse injuries on page 39, and discover five things teachers wish parents knew on page 40. Lastly, I’d like to thank all of you for supporting Triangle Family during its first year of publication—and for helping me fulfill a personal parenting goal of mine: to offer Triangle parents valuable information and resources as they journey through these important years. After this issue, I’ll be stepping away from my role as editor to spend more time with my own children, but know this magazine will continue to provide important guidance as you watch your children blossom into adults. Blessings to all of you as the new year begins, and thank you for being a part of Triangle Family’s success.

Beth Shugg, Executive Editor 2 | trianglefamilymag.com

Discover Goldfish swim school Goldfish Swim School is the premier learn-to-swim facility for kids ages 4 months to 12 years. We use our holistic philosophy, The Science of SwimPlay®, to build life skills both in and out of the water using play-based learning in a fun and safe environment.

• Flexible Class Times • 30-Minute Weekly Lessons • Family Swims, Parties & Tons of Fun • Lessons for Kids 4 Months to 12 Years Old

CARY | 919.635.8950 CHAPEL HILL | 919.525.2883 WAKE FOREST | 919.435.3753 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 3

P UBL ISH E RS Ronny Stephens Kent Braswell

E XEC UTIV E E D ITO R Beth Shugg

A RT A N D W E B D IREC TO R Sean Byrne

G RA P H IC D E SIG NERS Charlotte Mauler Hayes Dathan Kazsuk

SEC TIO N E D ITORS Janice Lewine Calendar, Education and Technology Melissa Wistehuff Travel and Entertainment Kurt Dusterberg Health, Wellness and Youth Sports

CO PY E D ITOR Cindy Huntley

CO N TRIBUTOR Tim Tinnesz

SO C IA L M E D IA AN D CO M M UN ITY E N GAGEMEN T M A N AG E R Melissa Wistehuff

SA L E S D IREC TO R Sherry Braswell

ACCO UN T E XEC U T I VES Stefanie McClary Paige Gunter

D ISTRIBUTION Joe Lizana Berry Media Group DistribuTech.net

Triangle Family magazine is published six times annually. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Triangle Family magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material becomes the property of the magazine and is subject to editing. Triangle Family magazine will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

SUBSC RIP TIO N S

6 print issues per year

Available online at trianglefamilymag.com 4818-204 Six Forks Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 Phone: 919.782.4710 Fax: 919.782.4763

4 | trianglefamilymag.com

CO N T EN TS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

FEATURES 10

CARDIO AND CLASSES Colleges encourage students to stay in shape

HORSES HEALING HEARTS Equine-assisted therapy benefits all participants

GOING—VIRTUAL— TO SCHOOL

North Carolina online programs gain popularity

PAG E 2 2

Camp & Educat ion Guide

DEPARTMENTS 36

DISCOVERIES

EXPLORATIONS

YOUTH SPORTS

ASK THE EXPERT

How to stay active during winter

Babymoon destinations in North Carolina

Tips for preventing athletic injuries

Five things teachers wish parents knew

SPECIAL SECTIONS 22 43

ON THE COVER. A Corral Riding Academy teen volunteer shares a tender moment with a horse.

CAMP AND EDUCATION GUIDE MEET THE DOCTOR

Photo by Matt Ramey Photography

IN EVERY ISSUE 6

NEWS + NOTES Social Kids Active Kids Smart Kids Healthy Kids

44 OUT + ABOUT Things to Do Little Foodies Good Sport The Tfam Club

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 5

NEWS + NOTES | SOCIAL KIDS

BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

Ian (11) of Raleigh flies high with iFly in Concord. PHOTO BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

Grant (13) of Apex plays football for West Lake Middle School.

Mia (15) of Fuquay-Varina rides her horse, Blitz, at Peak Horse Farm in Dunn.

PHOTO BY LAURIE CORNELIUS

PHOTO BY TAMARA BATES

Jayson (11) of Raleigh and Hayes (9) of Holly Springs celebrate after hitting a pair of strikes at Buffaloe Lanes in Cary. PHOTO BY ALEX BUFFALOE

Would you like your child featured in SOCIAL KIDS? Email your favorite photos and a short description to editors@trianglefamilymag.com 6 | trianglefamilymag.com

Luca (16) of Raleigh hikes through the Arizona desert while visiting family for Thanksgiving. PHOTO BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

NEWS + NOTES | ACTIVE KIDS

FRIDAY NIGHT FUN

Urban Air Adventure Park in Raleigh offers a variety of activities designed for Triangle kids, including Glow Night each Friday from 6–9 p.m. When the lights go out, the lasers go on for three hours of entertainment. The Raleigh and Morrisville locations offer Flip Zone Bumper Cars, Slam Dunk Zones, climbing walls and more. For more information on Open Play, Parents Night Out and other scheduled events, visit urbanair.com. PHOTO COURTESY OF URBAN AIR ADVENTURE PARK

TAKE THE PLUNGE

If your family loves the pool, don’t forget about indoor options during the winter. In Raleigh, Pullen Aquatic Center (410 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh), Optimist Pool (5902 Whittier Drive) and Millbrook Exchange Pool (1905 Spring Forest Road) offer swim clinics, water exercise classes, swim lessons and more. Public open swim hours and lap swim hours are available as well. Guests can purchase daily admission or punch passes. In Durham, Edison Johnson Aquatics Center (500 W. Murray Avenue) and Campus Hills Pool (2000 S. Alston Avenue) offer lap swim hours and recreational swim hours. PHOTO BY MONKEY BUSINESS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

CONSIDER COACHING

Raleigh Parks and Recreation is looking for coaches for its youth sports leagues, including basketball, lacrosse, baseball, football, tennis, swimming and other sports. The programs teach the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. Those interested can contact the athletics department at 919.996.6836. Durham, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Morrisville and other communities around the Triangle are always looking for coaches to work with youth sports teams. If you are available to coach a spring sports team, contact your local parks and rec program. PHOTO BY DRAZEN - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

GOLF COMPETITION

The Tarheel Junior Golf Tour visits some of the finest courses in the state in 2024 with several events in and around the Triangle. The weekend events are 36-hole tournaments that prepare young golfers for competitive play from middle school through college. Longleaf Golf & Family Club hosts the TJGT Longleaf Junior Open in Southern Pines (March 2–3). The tour comes to Raleigh for the Wolfpack Junior Open at Lonnie Poole Golf Course (April 20–21). Then it’s the STITCH Junior Open at 12 Oaks in Holly Springs (June 10–11). Players must be 19 years old or younger and not have entered college as a full-time student. For more information, visit tarheelgolf.org. PHOTO BY KIMBERLY REINICK - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

OLYMPIC DREAMS

Young Triangle baseball players should keep an eye on the 2028 Olympics, because the road to the Games will run through Cary. Baseball and softball will be part of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee announced in October. That’s good news for USA Baseball, which is headquartered in Cary. The USA Baseball National Training Complex at Thomas Brooks Park has hosted previous Olympic training events at Coleman Field, one of five fields at the complex. USA Baseball has enjoyed tremendous success at the Olympic Games, accumulating six total medals in seven appearances. This marks the first time since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games that baseball and softball will be included. PHOTO BY MONKEY BUSINESS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 7

N E WS + N OT E S | S M A RT K I D S

BY JANICE LEWINE

RALEIGH TEEN EARNS GLORIA BARRON PRIZE FOR YOUNG HEROES

Yash Shah, a junior at Panther Creek High School in Cary, was one of 23 students worldwide to earn a perfect score on the AP Chemistry exam, according to Wake County Public School System. The odds of achieving the score are 0.02%. Over the summer, Yash earned a spot in the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad program’s select 2023 Chemistry Olympiad Study Camp by finishing in the National Chemistry Olympiad exams’ top 20. This year, Yash is taking organic chemistry at North Carolina State University to broaden his knowledge and hopefully finish in the top four of the exams with the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the 2024 International Chemistry Olympiad. PHOTO COURTESY OF WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

DURHAM COUNTY EDUCATOR RECEIVES MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARD

Durham Public Schools’ Asia Cunningham, principal of Pearsontown Elementary School, earned the national Milken Educator Award in November and a $25,000 prize. A seven-year veteran administrator, Cunningham is the first Milken Educator Award winner from Durham Public Schools. The Milken Family Foundation bestows the award annually to recognize exceptional early-to-mid-career education professionals. As part of the award, Cunningham will attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles in June 2024, where winners will network with their new colleagues, as well as veteran Milken Educator winners and other education leaders, about how to increase their impact on K–12 education. PHOTO BY AARON JAYE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PEARSONTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S FACEBOOK PAGE

NC PRE-K CLASSROOMS GET $8M FUNDING BOOST

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper recently announced $8 million in federal funding to provide a one-time special allocation to all NC Pre-K classrooms to help address classroom needs for the 2023–24 school year. The NC Pre-K Program operates in every county statewide to provide high-quality early childhood education for eligible children. The funds amount to approximately $3,860 per classroom and can be used for upgrading classroom materials, toys, supplies, playground equipment, supplemental curriculum materials, ongoing facility maintenance needs, mental health support for children and staff, professional development for staff, and other needs. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will distribute the funding for the 2,098 NC Pre-K funded classrooms statewide that are serving students this year. PHOTO BY SAMARTTIW - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

NC HOUSE BILL 8 HELPS STUDENTS GAIN COMPUTER SCIENCE SKILLS

Initiatives championed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt will require all North Carolina students to gain skills in computer science before graduation. Both the House and Senate passed House Bill 8, titled Computer Science Graduation Requirement, with overwhelming bipartisan support, which North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law in October. The law allows schools to add computer science as part of the NC Standard Course of Study as early as the 2024–25 school year, and it will be required for all students entering high school as of the 2026–27 school year. Computer and mathematical occupations are projected to grow the fastest among all jobs in the state, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and its long-term employment projections. As part of the computer science pathway of study, students can experience computing systems and applications, data analytics, information processing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and more. PHOTO COMEBACK IMAGES - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

8 | trianglefamilymag.com

BY BETH SHUGG

N E W S + N O T E S | H E A LT H Y K I D S

CDC REVEALS MORE KINDERGARTNERS HAVE BEEN EXEMPTED FROM VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

According to a November 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, the proportion of U.S. kindergartners exempted from school vaccination requirements is at an all-time high of 3%. The study suggests that more parents are questioning routine childhood vaccinations they used to automatically accept, which may connect to the pandemic reaction around COVID-19 vaccines. The rate for 2022–23 and 2021–22 was 93% of kindergartners, but it had been 95% in the years prior to the pandemic. The conclusion is that the vast majority of parents are still vaccinating their kids, but that rate has gone down since the pandemic—and it still hasn’t rebounded. PHOTO BY NEW AFRICA - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

NEW RESOURCE OPENS FOR YOUTH WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

In November, a new 54-bed youth psychiatric hospital opened in Butner to provide resources for North Carolina children and teens experiencing mental health challenges. The facility, called UNC Hospitals Youth Behavioral Health, will offer specialized units for patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, as well as a unit dedicated to serving children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs. The hospital leadership says they intend to take a whole-family approach to treatment and will offer family therapy services. PHOTO BY SEVENTYFOUR - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

CDC SURVEY SUGGESTS A DECREASE IN VAPING AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

According to an October 2023 CDC survey of more than 22,000 students who filled out an online questionnaire last spring, high schoolers’ use of electronic cigarettes is down from 14% last year to 10% this year. The use of cigarettes and cigars also fell among high schoolers, according to the CDC, and middle school students’ use of e-cigarettes has held steady at about 5%. About a quarter of the students who were surveyed said they use e-cigarettes daily. PHOTO BY VISUALARTSTUDIO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

WAKEMED CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL EARNS A BIG WIN

WakeMed Children’s Hospital in Raleigh recently made The Leapfrog Group’s list of Top Children’s Hospitals in partnership with Money.com. Eligible hospitals were required to complete the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey and needed to have earned an A or B on the most recently reported Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. Data used came from the 2022 Hospital Survey. The five criteria measured included patient experience, medication administration, intensive care unit physician staffing, hand hygiene and “never events,” or occurrences in the medical field that “should never happen.” PHOTO BY HALFPOINT - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

TURNING 18 MAY MARK THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ADULT THINKING

Reaching the age of 18 is often considered the mark of adulthood, and a new study published in October 2023 by Nature.com suggests that adolescents start thinking like an adult right around age 18. Authors of the study, which analyzed nearly two dozen laboratory measures of executive functions in more than 10,000 people ages 8–35, used four unique datasets and collected 23 distinct measures of executive function. Researchers observed a burst of executive function development between ages 10–15, followed by changes through mid-adolescence (ages 15–18) and adult-level performance by ages 18–20. PHOTO BY AFRICA STUDIO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 9

CARDIO AND CLASSES

College students earn a range of benefits from school exercise programs BY KURT DUSTERBERG

hen Katie Shugg went off to college at Virginia Tech in August 2020, she packed away plenty of fond memories from her teen years, playing on high-level club volleyball teams and earning all-conference honors at Apex High School. But without the routine of games and practices, she noticed some changes. “When I started college, I didn’t realize I would need to continue to work out in order to stay fit,” she says. “I started to notice my body changing, and I was going to parties and studying a lot more, so I was moving a lot less. I also wasn't walking to class much, because most of my classes were online [due to COVID].” The computational modeling and data analytics major quickly decided to get back to her active ways. “Our campus has a really nice gym, and I started using various machines like treadmills, the stairmaster, ellipticals and yoga mats,” she says. “Now, I go to the gym almost every weekday.” Many college students face the same issue, forming new routines in new environments. But there is more at stake than just gaining the “freshman 15.” Maintaining a level of fitness into the adult years helps sustain the active habits of childhood and manage the stress associated with the academic challenges of college and the onset of adult responsibilities. A 2023 study from Oregon State University found that 32% of U.S. colleges and universities require some form of physical education course to graduate, down from 39% as observed in a similar study from 2010. The recent study found that 56.2% of institutions did not require physical education, while 12.1% had a partial requirement.

10 | trianglefamilymag.com

North Carolina State University takes the role of physical health seriously, requiring graduates to earn two credits in the Department of Health and Exercise Studies. A wide variety of offerings such as fitness walking, kickboxing and swim conditioning give students the chance to find an activity that works for them. “You’re talking about both kids who have been competitive in high school and students who only took that one required class in PE back in ninth grade,” says Peter Koutroumpis, an instructor in the department. “So you’ve got the competitive athletes who know they want to stay active. You’re also talking about those who weren’t active in high school at all, or who might have gotten injured when they were younger and stopped competitive sports.”

WORKING FITNESS IN On a warm fall afternoon, Koutroumpis has his fitness walking class ready to move out. The students are dressed in shorts and T-shirts, and most of them seem purposeful as they head outside for a 2-mile walk that will be followed by 30 pushups, 30 crunches and 30 squats. Shay Parton, a junior from Rutherford County, has used the fitness walking classes to rekindle the athleticism she relied on as a varsity athlete in high school. “I have loved this class so far,” she says. “The amount of time we’re walking has been almost an opening back to my soccer days, because we’re working on cardio and muscle endurance.” Some students enroll in the 100-level courses just to check a box to meet the credit requirements. That’s what

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 11

Luke Jackson thought when he signed up for fitness walking, but the junior transfer from Johnston Community College quickly had a change of heart. “I did cross country in high school and I’ve been doing it sort of on-and-off on my own, but it’s hard to keep it up,” Jackson says. “So if I’m going to show up here, I should take it seriously. It’s another way of exercising to get your cardio in. That’s why I like this; it’s sort of lower stress.” The benefits of physical activity on campus go beyond maintaining a level of fitness, a lesson that is reinforced in the classroom. Students learn that the stress response affects them psychologically, physiologically and hormonally. “Academic rigor at the collegiate level is high,” Koutroumpis says. “A lot of the students don’t have the ability to manage those aspects of their life if they’re not being paid attention to. And all the research backs it up—it’s not just talk. A little bit of movement and activity makes a difference … The benefits are a stronger, more efficient heart rate, cardio-respiratory endurance and muscle endurance. They’re all things that are needed to manage and combat stress levels and combat cardiovascular disease and illnesses.” Parton acknowledges that the exercise class helps her deal with the demands of her academic life. “It has made things a lot more manageable,” she says. “Something that seems so simple, like doing the 30–30–30s after a mile or 2 miles of very fast walking, can still be so difficult. It’s nice to know that I can apply that into my everyday life. If I’m studying and know I need to get my heart beating faster, I can apply those things.” Beyond the preliminary classes are a wide variety of sports and exercise options, such as rock climbing, tennis, racquetball and weight training. Students are expected to build on the basic competencies of a sport, even if they have some experience in the activity from their childhood. “Just because they played soccer doesn’t mean they can take 10 penalty kicks and hit the goal on all of them,” Koutroumpis says. PAGE 10 and THIS PAGE: After her Apex High School volleyball days ended and Katie Shugg headed off to Virginia Tech, she realized she needed to come up with a new way to stay fit. So, she started going to the campus gym daily. PHOTOS BY BETH SHUGG

12 | trianglefamilymag.com

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD The benefits of the program go beyond the physical and psychological. Pairing up random undergrads in a different setting can forge new relationships. “You could have someone who was a varsity baseball player in high school and someone else who was part of the band,” he says. “They’re starting from zero with each other. Physical activity brings everybody to the base core of who

they are, no matter what they look like doing the activity. Everybody is doing it together. That’s a big part of it.” And a little bit of self-confidence is an added bonus. “They’re pushing themselves to a level they probably wouldn’t otherwise,” Koutroumpis says. “From there, it gets them to be more introspective with themselves: I can do this. I got through it and it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

SP R I NG R EC P ROG R A M S BOYS & GIRLS K-8TH GRADE PLAYERS IN WAKE & CHATHAM COUNTIES. CHATHAM

GIRLS

APEX

BOYS ( 1 ST-8 TH G R ADE )

G IRLS (1ST- 8TH GRADE)

BOYS (1ST- 8TH GRADE)

T Y LC L EAG U E & YOU TH TE AM S A L L SK I L L S W E LCOM E P R ACT I CES 2X/W E E K SAT U R DAY G AM ES

ALL GIRLS TEAMS IN N CGLL LEAGUE A LL SK ILLS W ELCO ME

TY LC LEAGUE & YO UTH TEAMS ALL SK ILLS W ELCO ME PRACTICES 2X /W EEK SATURDAY GAMES

S EASON RU NS LAT E FE B RUARY- APR I L

PRACTICES 2X /W EEK SATURDAY GAMES

SEASO N RUN S LATE F EB RUARY - APRIL

P LAY ERS AL I G NE D TO H I G H SC HOOL TE AM S

SEASO N RUN S LATE F EB RUARY - APRIL

PLAY ERS ALIGN ED TO H IGH SCH OO L TEAMS

R EGI ST R AT I ON AVAI LABL E

R EGISTRATIO N AVAILAB LE

REGISTRATIO N AVAILAB LE

91 9 . 457 . 8760

R EDDE V ILLAX .CO M / R ECR E ATIO N

BU ILD SKILLS, P LAY GA MES & ME E T NE W F R IE NDS

Finding quality home services has never been easier.

Connect with our other local home service providers by phone, online at Neighborly.com, or via the Neighborly app. Glass Doctor Raleigh We Fix Your Panes!

mrhandyman.com Mr. Handyman of Western Wake County 919-424-3780 | western.wake@mrhandyman.com Mr. Handyman of Northeast Raleigh to Clayton Area 919-355-6020 | Raleigh@mrhandyman.com

Neighborly Done Right Promise TM It’s not done, until it’s done right TM

Neighborly’s family of home service brands share a commitment to providing you with outstanding service and operate on a simple but powerful principle — if a job’s not done right, we’ll make it right.

It’s not done, until it’s done right.

We specialize in all things glass Serving the Triangle area since 1992 919-831-2302

customerservice@glassdoctorrdu.com www.glassdoctor.com/raleigh

All services are performed by independently owned and operated franchises. © 2023 Neighborly Company and afﬁliates. All rights reserved. Neighborly and the Neighborly logos are registered trademarks of Neighborly Assetco LLC.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 13

HORSES HEALING HEARTS Equine-assisted therapy benefits all participants BY JANICE LEWINE

orses possess traits that are unrivaled in the animal kingdom. As prey animals highly attuned to their surroundings, equines depend on their survival by being aware of everything in their environment and communicating with each other. When humans enter their space, they become aware of the feelings people carry and can read even the most subtle body cues. These abilities have enabled equines to be ideal candidates for individuals dealing with mental, emotional and physical challenges. Equine-assisted therapy is an experience-based treatment option offering a variety of modalities, including therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, occupational therapy and mental health treatment. Professionals guide clients of all ages through activities with horses to enhance the quality and productivity of their lives. Each program offers different goals for the people involved.

Finding a Path at Unbridled Way Forward Amanda Graham, founder of Unbridled Way Forward in Rougemont and a licensed clinical mental health counselor, says clients seek out her services to deal with something in their lives—a relationship issue, anxiety, depression or grief—but don’t know how to move forward. “Working outside with horses who are at liberty to respond as they wish provides so many opportunities for people to learn about themselves—and their challenges and strengths. Talking in an office about problems has its benefits, but bringing a person out into a new environment—with horses and facilitators—to work on those issues brings things to life in a way that talking just doesn’t,” Graham explains. Clients at Unbridled Way Forward engage with horses on the ground, with no riding involved. Working with a mental health facilitator and an equine specialist who provides physical safety for both the horse and client, individuals begin their session with a mindfulness exercise to come into the present moment, then head to the pasture. Sessions can involve silence as clients engage with horses up close or from afar, as well as discussions with the facilitator about their thoughts and experiences.

14 | trianglefamilymag.com

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 | 15

“Horses help us bring ourselves out of our thinking brain and into our bodies,” she says. “To stand in their presence, or by touching or brushing the horses, people begin to feel that relationship build. Their defenses go down, and their bodies and minds relax.” This mental repose leads individuals to gain more insight on their struggle, and provides them the confidence and compassion to move toward a resolution. Unbridled Way Forward serves older teenagers and adults, and offers monthly guided Herd Meditations that allow participants to interact with the horses, or simply explore the space. Facilitators close the session with a brief discussion of experiences for those who want to share.

Building a Brighter Future at Corral Riding Academy Corral Riding Academy offers farms in Raleigh and Cary to serve girls ages 11–18 years old who are in high-risk situations with low protective factors and resources. Most have faced trauma and have multiple odds stacked against them, yet they hold a capacity for change through a holistic program of equine therapy and education. Corral, founded in 2008, collaborates with referral partners to identify participants and then pairs them with one of 15 rescue horses in its 12-week Join the Herd program. Through its team of licensed professionals, girls spend the majority of the time on the ground developing a meaningful relationship with a horse, a process which is almost identical to how they would foster a healthy relationship with a person. “For kids with trauma, they have learned a lot of maladaptive relationship skills to stay safe in their environments,” explains executive director and co-founder Joy Currey, who has witnessed 514 girls discover a brighter future through the program’s community-funded services. “If a horse is passive or resistant, the therapist steps in and helps the girls identify the behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that might be inhibiting their ability to create strong relationships. Horses reteach those skills. The work itself is also healing to the horses, who come from difficult situations as well,” she says. After completing the Join the Herd program, girls can apply for The Riding Academy, a long-term intervention that combines individualized equine-assisted psychotherapy with academic tutoring, vocational training, mentorship and family counseling. Lasting anywhere from one to six years and occupying 17 hours a week, The Riding Academy is where Corral sees real-life change in its participants. “Kids who enter The Riding Academy usually aren’t doing well in school, but after they have been in the program for three years they typically have over a 3.0 GPA,” Currey says. “Over 75% of our high school seniors go on to college, and of our alumni that we’ve surveyed, more than 90% have participated in college. We’re really proud of the academic achievements of our youth.”

Gaining Strength at Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship Located in south Raleigh, Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship provides equine-assisted activities to young people with mental, physical or emotional challenges. Students learn basic riding skills to enhance gross and fine motor skills, balance, social skills and more, while navigating obstacles, playing games and riding on sensory trails. Most of Five Hearts’ clients, who range in age

16 | trianglefamilymag.com

from 6–17, are on the autism spectrum. Others have ADHD, Down syndrome or global developmental delay. “We tailor our lessons based on their need. For kids who come to us needing communication activities, we work on giving the horse verbal and nonverbal commands so they can communicate with the horses in their own special way,” explains founder and executive director Dana Cooke. “For those who have ADHD, we help them work on focusing skills and following multistep directions. Others come to work on their muscle strength, coordination and balance. A few just need that confidence builder and take command of their actions as they relate to the horses.” Five Hearts’ Makin’ Strides program is periodically offered for children on its waitlist. Participants can sign up for a one-hour session to enjoy the horses in a group setting, where each has the opportunity to ride and groom a horse, learn about horse behaviors and experience the natural farm environment. Cooke says her enjoyment stems from watching how young people become soothed around a horse. “Horses have such a big heart,” she says. “They can really tap into our emotions and have that calming presence kids need.”

Equine-Assisted Therapy Programs in the Triangle A Horse Connection ahorseconnection.com

Horses for Hope TRC horsesforhope.org

ClearWind Farm clearwindfarm.com

NC Therapeutic Riding Center nctrcriders.org

Corral Riding Academy corralriding.org

Reins from Above reinsfromabove.com

Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship fiveheartsth.org

Shepherd Youth Ranch shepherdyouthranch.org

Helping Horse helpinghorse.org Hope Reins hopereins.org

Unbridled Way Forward unbridledwayforward.com Wind Horse Center thewindhorsecenter.org

Horse & Buddy horseandbuddy.org

PAGE 14, TOP: Grace helps individuals move forward in their lives. Photo courtesy of Jacob Diehl PAGE 14, BOTTOM: Lessons at Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship are tailored to each individual. Photo courtesy of Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship PAGE 15: Horses can read the most subtle body cues. Photo courtesy of Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship PAGE 17, TOP: Girls in high-risk situations develop a meaningful relationship with a horse at Corral Riding Academy. Photo by Matt Ramey Photography PAGE 17, BOTTOM: Participants gain confidence at Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship. Photo courtesy of Five Hearts Therapeutic Horsemanship

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 | 17

Photo by insta_photos - stock.adobe.com

GOING—VIRTUAL— TO SCHOOL North Carolina online academic programs gain popularity BY JANICE LEWINE

hen Alex Kocsis was in third grade, the onset of the COVID pandemic forced him and countless students across the country into a remote learning environment to stem the infection rate. Teachers quickly pivoted to creating effective experiences for their students, who adjusted to a new way of learning. While the transition to online classroom instruction didn’t serve every student well, Kocsis thrived. “By learning at home in a relaxed environment, I was able to focus on my academics better. I really liked how easy it was to find friends with similar interests online,” he says. Virtual learning, which saw dramatic upticks in 2020 when the pandemic took

18 | trianglefamilymag.com

hold, has existed for over two decades and has become the fastest-growing market in the education industry with a 900% growth rate globally since the year 2000. Further research by Global Industry Analysts indicates that the U.S. market was worth $100 billion in 2022, making it the largest in the world. This model of education offers students multiple benefits, such as convenience, flexibility, more time to pursue outside interests, reduced commute time, and personalized learning through individualized teaching models. North Carolina offers several virtual institutions—including private, public and charter—for students who prefer remote learning. Here, we take a look at two that

are experiencing significant growth while remaining dedicated to student success. PRIVATE VIRTUAL OPTIONS Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy is an online private school that opened in March 2023, serving North Carolina students in grades K–11 (grade 12 will be added for the 2024–25 school year). The college and career preparatory academy aims to set students up for success through tailored offerings like small group instruction, personalized support, flexible schedules to meet each family’s needs, and opportunities to socialize with other students. The curriculum was designed by Stride, a learning company in operation for 25 years.

“We really cater to individualized learning. Our teachers have low studentto-teacher ratios. They offer small groups and 1-to-1 sessions, and really focus on what students need throughout the day,” says Vicky Creasy, Ed.D., principal of Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy and an educator for over 20 years—half of those with Stride K12–powered schools. “We also know that socialization is important, so we have 12 very active clubs, a K12 Zone (similar to a Minecraft world) to meet others during their lunch hour and after school, and in-person events.” Live class sessions with certified instructors, who receive enhanced training to teach online, take place through a virtual classroom platform Tuesdays through Thursdays, morning until mid-afternoon, when students take part in clubs or meet individually with their teachers. Courses are asynchronous; students attend live sessions but complete the coursework on their own time. Mondays are reserved for assemblies and for catching up on work, while Fridays offer social hour and games in the morning, with clubs in the afternoon. Upon enrolling at Coast to Mountains Prep, students in need of a laptop computer receive one. All students are sent the required materials for classroom activities, such as science experiments. “They do the experiments together, breaking out in small groups,” Creasy explains. “They’re also sent workbooks and textbooks, and they’re writing papers using paper and pen,” which alleviates concern about students getting too much screen time. For a course like P.E., students record themselves doing various sports or physical activities, such as a volleyball serve or jumping jacks, and upload the video for their teacher to grade. Parents are apprised of their child’s educational progress through a parent portal, and teachers are available each day to offer students additional support. A big advantage of distance education is that students can participate in sessions wherever they are—at home, across the country or even abroad. “Anywhere you can have your computer and Wi-Fi, you’re still able to learn,” Creasy says. As with many virtual learning classes, those at Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy are recorded, so students who are absent can watch a session later and complete the coursework. The flexibility appeals to Kocsis and his family, who traveled to Canada for three weeks last fall. “They have all the reading

and book materials in the K12 app, so I was able to keep up with my studies,” he says. The seventh grader adds that before enrolling at Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy, “I didn’t like science or math very much, but the teachers at this school really made me change my mind because of how the classes are taught and how the instructions and assignments are structured. I like the smaller class sizes, and I’m able to pay attention better because I’m not in the back of a classroom. Even students who are very shy can easily express ideas, communicate with their teachers and be an important part of the classroom setting.” Kocsis advises that for students to succeed in an online learning environment, they should enjoy spending time on a computer, possess good time management skills and not mind being physically apart from their classmates. And they should really want to study virtually. Tuition at Coast to Mountains Preparatory Academy ranges from $6,000–$6,500 a year; however, the majority of students receive NC Opportunity Scholarships, which help families pay tuition and fees. Learn more at cmprep.k12.com.

PUBLIC VIRTUAL OPTIONS North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is North Carolina’s state supplemental program and a leader in online education, providing inclusive learning opportunities for middle and high school students (grades 6–12) across the state. NCVPS, which opened in 2007, enjoys a strong commitment to ensuring quality distance education for all students, regardless of location or economic circumstance. Courses are free to those who enroll through their local North Carolina school and are available to home-school and private school students for a small fee. NCVPS reports grades back to schools so they can put the grades on report cards and transcripts, and so that their school awards credit. Enrollment with NCVPS is a school/district decision. Students can remain in their local school and still take the necessary courses to complete their middle or high school studies. NCVPS offers quality courses in many subject areas, including mathematics, science, English language arts, social studies, arts and more than 135 additional courses as a supplement to the local middle

North Carolina Virtual Public School earned the QM Making a Difference for Students Award in 2022. Photo courtesy of NCVPS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 19

and high school course catalog. It consists of six programs: Standard, Occupational Course of Study, Co-teaching, English Language Learners, and Middle School. The curriculum includes 16 advanced placement options, 18 world languages (including Mandarin, Russian, Arabic and German), and 13 career and technical education pathways. NCVPS offers every course to graduate with both of the NC diploma tracks, as well as many courses that local schools do not have the capacity to offer in their catalogs. “The success of our program is a result of remaining student-centered and cultivating an environment focused on continuous improvement and responding to stakeholder needs. We have triumphed in fostering personalized learning, empowering students and ensuring academic success beyond traditional boundaries,” says NCVPS Executive Director Mia Murphy, Ed.D. NCVPS enrolls for the full school year, the fall or spring semester block, and the summer block. It also accepts transfer students throughout each semester. With about 32,000 students and an average

20 | trianglefamilymag.com

class size of 25, NCVPS boasts enrollments from all 115 school districts, 117 charter schools and 240 home and private schools. Nonpublic (home and private) schools account for 1.5% of its enrollment totals. All NCVPS instructors are certified to teach in North Carolina and are required to have met the standard established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction before they can apply to teach with NCVPS. Prospective teachers must successfully complete an 18-week program consisting of nine weeks of online training followed by a nine-week practicum (a student teaching experience). Educators provide strategies for active student engagement through a variety of technology tools, and are required to make personal contact with students and parents regularly to maximize the student-teacher relationship. “Our highly skilled and dedicated educators are the main ingredient to ensuring students succeed and flourish,” Murphy says. To help students stay on track to successfully complete a course, which is primarily designed to be completed asynchronously (outside of a set class time),

teachers assign due dates and provide pacing suggestions. For the high school health and physical education course that meets the state’s graduation requirement, students are expected to have access to P.E. equipment and must submit videos to their teacher demonstrating their completion of the activity requirements. As one of the largest state-led virtual schools in the U.S., NCVPS prioritizes quality education. The school proudly holds the record for the highest number of Quality Matters–certified courses among K–12 institutions, a rigorous review process designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses; and NCVPS earned the esteemed QM Making a Difference for Students Award in 2022. Learn more at ncvps.org. We live in a time where in-person instruction doesn’t always provide the best fit for students; however, private and public virtual education options can help fill the gap and keep students engaged. It also prepares students for online classes at colleges, universities and trade schools, where they are sure to encounter them.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 21

DAY CAMP S The Triangle offers numerous day camp resources. Browse our extensive list here, and find more information at trianglefamilymag.com. MULTIPLE LOCATIONS Art Buzz Kids/Wine & Design wineanddesign.com

PHOTO BY MARINE GASTINEAU/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Bright Horizons

CAMP & EDUCATION GUIDE 2024 EDITION

COMPILED BY JANICE LEWINE

ntroducing Triangle Family’s first annual Camp and Education Guide. Use this guide to explore summer camps, day camps, private schools and public school systems available to local families. In addition to providing the name and website for each listing (categorized by county), we’ve highlighted and included additional information about the camp and education resources that offered advertising support for this guide. Let’s get started!

22 | trianglefamilymag.com

Various Triangle locations brighthorizons.com

Camp Invention

Various Triangle locations invent.org

Triangle Rock Club Climbing Camp

Various Triangle locations trianglerockclub.com

Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines

Various North Carolina locations nccoastalpines.org

The Goddard Schools Various Triangle locations goddardschools.com

ID Tech Camps and ID Tech Teen Academies Various Triangle locations idtech.com

IMACS

Various Triangle locations imacs.org

iWalk the Eno

Orange and Durham counties enoriver.org/features/iwalk-the-eno

Kids R Kids

Various Triangle locations kidsrkids.com

Mad Science Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill

School of Rock schoolofrock.com

Schoolhouse of Wonder schoolhouseofwonder.org

Snapology

snapology.com

Techsplorers Engineers of Tomorrow techsplorers.com

YMCA of the Triangle ymcatriangle.org

DURHAM Camelot Academy Summer Camps

809 Proctor Street, Durham camelotacademy.org

Camp Riverlea

8302 S. Lowell Road, Bahama campriverlea.com

Camp Shelanu

1937 W. Cornwallis Road, Durham jewishforgood.org/camp-shelanu

Camp Woodcroft

1203 W. Woodcroft Parkway, Durham woodcroftclub.org

Carolina Friends School Summer Programs

4809 Friends School Road, Durham cfsnc.org

Duke Lemur Center

3705 Erwin Road, Durham lemur.duke.edu

triangle.madscience.org Full-day and half-day camp experiences offering hands-on science discovery, take-and-make creations and FUN! Rockets, chemistry and more. Topics vary by location and date.

Duke School

Master Chang’s Martial Arts

Durham Academy Summer

masterchangtkd.com

Notasium

notasium.com

Piedmont Wildlife Center piedmontwildlifecenter.org

Primrose Schools: Summer Adventure Club primroseschools.com

3716 Erwin Road, Durham dukeschool.org

Duke Youth Programs learnmore.duke.edu/ precollege/all-programs

3501 Ridge Road, Durham da.org Camps hosted at Durham Academy’s 84-acre campus and state-of-the-art facilities appeal to the interests of 4-year-olds to high school seniors. DA Summer camps June 10–August 2 grow minds and foster character, equipping campers with the tools to lead moral, happy and productive lives.

Piedmont Wildlife Center at Leigh Farm Park

Learning Outside

364 Leigh Farm Road, Durham piedmontwildlifecenter.org

2912B Jones Ferry Road, Chapel Hill learningoutside.org

Durham Parks and Recreation

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Morehead Planetarium Summer Science Camps

120 Morris Street, Durham durhamarts.org

400 Cleveland Street, Durham dprplaymore.org

Girls Rock NC

401 E. Geer Street, Durham girlsrocknc.org

Grey Stone Kids’ Camp

2601 Hillsborough Road, Durham greystonechurch.com

Hill Learning Center

3200 Pickett Road, Durham hillcenter.org Serves students in grades K–12 with learning differences through school, summer and tutoring programs. Programs focus on helping students develop the academic, organizational, selfadvocacy and social-emotional skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Immaculata Catholic School

721 Burch Avenue, Durham immaculataschool.org

Jireh Farm Summer Camp

1310 N. Mineral Springs Road, Durham kidslovefarming.com

Kramden Institute: Hands-On Learning Camps

5010 NC Hwy 55, Durham kramden.org

Montessori Community School 4512 Pope Road, Durham mcsdurham.org

Movie Makers

420 Anderson Street, Durham gardens.duke.edu

Triangle Day School 4911 Neal Road, Durham triangledayschool.org

ORANGE ArtsCamp at TheArtsCenter 400 Roberson Street, Carrboro artscenterlive.org

Ballet School of Chapel Hill

1603 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill balletschoolofchapelhill.com

Blue Skies of Mapleview

3609 Pasture Road, Hillsborough blueskiesmapleview.us

Carrboro Recreation and Parks 100 N. Greensboro Street, Carrboro carrbororec.org

Chapel Hill Gymnastics 7405 Rex Road, Suite 207, Chapel Hill chapelhillgymnastics.com

Chapel Hill Tennis Club

403 Westbrook Drive, Carrboro chapelhilltennisclub.com

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools 750 S. Merritt Mill Road, Chapel Hill chccs.org

Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center

5502 Turkey Farm Road, Durham movie-makers.net

4300 Camp Chestnut Ridge Road, Efland campchestnutridge.org

Museum of Life + Science

Cooperative Extension 4-H Summer Camp

433 W. Murray Avenue, Durham lifeandscience.org

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Summer Accelerator 1219 Broad Street, Durham ncssm.edu

North Carolina Volleyball Academy 4234 Surles Court, Suite 300, Durham ncacademyvb.org

Our PlayHouse Preschool 2400 University Drive, Durham ourplayhousepreschool.com

250 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill moreheadplanetarium.org

New Hope Camp & Conference Center

4805 N.C. Highway 86, Chapel Hill newhopeccc.org

North Carolina Botanical Garden Camp Flytrap 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill ncbg.unc.edu

North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center 4705 Nicks Road, Mebane nctrcriders.org

Orange County Arts Commission and Eno Arts Mill & Gallery

437 Dimmocks Mill Road, Suite 17, Hillsborough artsorange.org Ages 6 and older enjoy the benefits of self-expression through a variety of artistic mediums.

Progression Climbing

1713 Legion Road, Chapel Hill progressionclimb.com

United Tae Kwon Do Academy of Chapel Hill

102 Brewer Lane, Carrboro 69 Knox Way, #100, Chapel Hill unitedtaekwondoacademy.com

WAKE Academy for the Performing Arts

844 Perry Road, Apex apanc.com/camps

Aloha Mind Math

1020 U.S. Highway 70 W., Suite 130, Hillsborough orange.ces.ncsu.edu/ orange-county-4-h

370 Raleigh Street, Holly Springs 10269 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 100, Morrisville alohamindmath.com

Emerson Waldorf School

AoPS Academy

6211 New Jericho Road, Chapel Hill emersonwaldorf.org

Arts Inspired Dance Academy

118 E. Jones Street, Fuquay-Varina artsinspireddance.com

Arts Together

114 St. Mary’s Street, Raleigh artstogether.org

Artspace Summer Arts Program

201 E. Davie Street, Raleigh artspacenc.org

Bach to Rock

958 U.S. Highway 64, Apex bachtorock.com/apex

Balance Martial Arts 3007 Village Park Place, Morrisville balancemartialarts.com

Beth Meyer Preschool Summer Camp 504 Newton Road, Raleigh bethmeyerpreschool.org

Beyond School Age Care 101 Osterville Drive, Holly Springs beyondschoolagecare.net

Big NC Tennis

Locations in Apex, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs bignctennis.com

Broadreach

302 Jefferson Street, Suite 110, Raleigh gobroadreach.com

Blue Jay Point County Park

3200 Pleasant Union Church Road, Raleigh wake.gov

Burning Coal Theatre Company Summer Theatre Conservatory 224 Polk Street, Raleigh burningcoal.org

Camp Agape

1369 Tyler Dewar Lane, Fuquay-Varina agapekurebeach.org/camp-agape

Camp Bluebird

1001 Horse Creek Road, Raleigh 3bluebirdsfarm.org

6406 McCrimmon Parkway, Morrisville morrisville.aopsacademy.org

Camp Corral

205 W. Main Street, Suite 104, Carrboro glazedexpectations.com

Apex Fencing Academy

Camp JCC

Immersion Island Language Immersion Camps

The Art of STEM

Camp Moo Gung Hwa

Glazed Expectations

4805 NC Hwy 86, Chapel Hill immersionisland.org

504 E. Williams Street, Apex apexfencing.net 2180 N. Salem Street, Suite 102–105, Apex theartofstem.org

801 N. West Street, Raleigh campcorral.org 12804 Norwood Road, Raleigh raleighcaryjcc.org/campjcc

8905 Ray Road, Raleigh koreanculturecamp.net JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 23

2024 CAMP & EDUCATION GUIDE | DAY CAMPS IN DURHAM, ORANGE & WAKE COUNTIES

Durham Arts Council Summer Arts Camps

2024 CAMP & EDUCATION GUIDE | DAY CAMPS IN WAKE COUNTY

Camp Musart

616 W. Chatham Street, Apex campmusart.com

Carolina Sailing Foundation Junior Summer Sailing Camps Crosswinds Boating Center 565 Farrington Road, Apex

info@carolinasailingfoundation.org

Cary Ballet Conservatory

920 High House Road, Cary Themed camps exploring dance and crafts starting at age 3. Kids through teens can strengthen their training in the Young Dancer Intensive or full Summer Intensive.

Cary Dance Productions 683-A Cary Towne Boulevard, Cary carydance.com

CC & Co. Dance Complex

8863 Six Forks Road, Raleigh 6520-120 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh cccodance.com

Champion Education

106 Pheasant Wood Court, Morrisville champion-education.com

Changing Tomorrow Farm 6312 Cass Holt Road, Holly Springs changingtomorrowfarm.com

Chesterbrook Academy Elementary and Middle School – Cary

130 Towne Village Drive, Cary cary.chesterbrookacademy.com Offers quality private school education with a rigorous, standards-based curriculum to develop 21st century skills such as creativity, collaboration and communication. Provides a wide variety of summer camps.

Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School – Raleigh

10200 Strickland Road, Raleigh northraleigh.chester brookacademy.com Offers quality private school education with a rigorous, standards-based curriculum to develop 21st century skills such as creativity, collaboration and communication. Provides a wide variety of summer camps.

Cirque de Vol Circus Arts Studios

300 W. Hargett Street, Raleigh cirquedevol.com

24 | trianglefamilymag.com

City Ballet

7440 Six Forks Road, Raleigh city-ballet.com

Coach Kiefer’s North Carolina Soccer Camps ncstatesoccercamps.com

Code Ninjas

2406-103 Crabtree Boulevard, Raleigh 1004 N. Main Street, Holly Springs codeninjas.com

Connick-Reid Academy 6520 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh connickreidacademy.com

Creating My Art

240 Newton Road, Suite 105, Raleigh creatingmyart.com

Dead Broke Horse Farm 6921 Wildlife Trail, Raleigh deadbrokefarm.com

Discovery Tech

11000 Lake Grove Boulevard, Morrisville discoverycdtech.com

EasiHorse Farm

2309 Easy Horse Trail, Wake Forest easihorse.com

Edge Soccer Programs

201 Kitty Hawk Drive, Suite 107, Morrisville edgesoccerprograms.com

Enso Movement

3200-115 Wellington Court, Raleigh ensomovement.com

Engineering for Kids of Triangle

110 Lattner Court, Suite 104, Morrisville engineeringforkids.com

Everbrook Academy

1005 Vision Drive, Apex 1001 Olive Chapel Road, Apex everbrookacademy.com

Falls River Music Camp

10930 Raven Ridge Road, Suite 103, Raleigh fallsrivermusic.com

Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios

Various Wake County locations flourpowerstudios.com

Fun Zone Raleigh

2832 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh funzoneraleigh.com

Fuquay-Varina Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources 820 S. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina fuquay-varina.org

GRACE Christian School Summer Camps 801 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh gracechristian.net

Granite Falls Swim and Athletic Club

800 Granite Falls Boulevard, Rolesville granitefallsclub.com

Guidepost Montessori

316 Colonades Way, Cary 12600 Spruce Tree Way, Raleigh guidepostmontessori.com

Gymcarolina Gymnastics Camps

9321 Leesville Road, Raleigh gymcarolina.com

Holly Springs Parks & Recreation

104 W. Ballentine Street, Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.gov

Horses for Hope

2909 Banks Road, Raleigh horsesforhope.org

iLead Kids Camp

1030 N. Rogers Lane, Suite 135, Raleigh ileadkidscamp.com

Infinity Ballet Conservatory 3462 Apex Peakway, Apex infinityballet.com

Inis Cairde School of Irish Dance

6166A Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh iniscairde.com

Knightdale Gymnastics 540 Hinton Pond Road, Knightdale knightdalegymnastics.com

L’ecole Raleigh

5510 Munford Road, Raleigh lecole-fisr.org

Lee Brothers Martial Arts 8604 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh leebrothers.com

Life Time Kids Academy Various locations in Wake County my.lifetime.life

Little Gym of North Raleigh/Wake Forest

8320 Litchford Road #166, Raleigh thelittlegym.com

Lune Spark Center for Creativity

3651 Green Level W. Road, Suite 102, Apex lunespark.com

Marbles Kids Museum

201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh marbleskidsmuseum.org

Meredith College Young Writers’ Camp and High School Writing Camp

3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh meredith.edu

Morrisville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

100 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville morrisvillenc.gov

NC Elite Volleyball ncelitevb.org

NC State Design Camp

Ivybrook Academy

College of Design 50 Pullen Road, Raleigh design.ncsu.edu/designcamp

Kékay Method

NC State College of Engineering Summer Programs

8715 Holly Springs Road, Apex 201 Wellesley Trade Lane, Cary ivybrookacademy.com 305-A Ashville Avenue, Cary 6520 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh kekaymethod.com

111 Lampe Building, Raleigh engr.ncsu.edu

KidStrong Camp

NetSports

Kidzart North Raleigh

New Life Camp

1309 NW Maynard Road, Cary kidstrong.com/camp/cary kidzart.com/franchise/ north-raleigh

Kilpatrick Irish Dance School

134 S. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina kilpatrickirishdance.com

3717 Davis Drive, Morrisville netsportsnc.com 9927 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh newlifecamp.com

North Carolina 4-H Camps

nc4h.ces.ncsu.edu/camps-centers

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 25

26 | trianglefamilymag.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 27

2024 CAMP & EDUCATION GUIDE | DAY CAMPS IN WAKE COUNTY

North Carolina Esports Academy

316 Colonades Way, Suite 108C, Cary ncesportsacademy.com

North Carolina FC Youth 3150 Spring Forest Road, Suite 116, Raleigh ncfcyouth.com

North Carolina Museum of Art

2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh ncartmuseum.org

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences 11 W. Jones Street, Raleigh naturalsciences.org

North Carolina Theatre Broadway Summer Bootcamps

3043 Barrow Drive, Raleigh nctheatre.com

North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre

7713-51 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh nract.org

North Ridge Basketball Academy

7601 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh nrbasketballacademy.com

Open Arts

1222 Copeland Oaks Drive, Morrisville openartsnc.com

The Organized Mind

1867 Lake Pine Drive, Cary tomtrackout.com

Paint Your Pot

2755 N.C. Highway 55, Cary paintyourpot.com

Peak Gymnastics Academy 6003 Old Jenks Road, Apex peakgymnasticsacademy.com

The Performance Academy 1010 Classic Road #1018, Apex tpanc.com

Performance Sports Center 6109 N.C. Highway 55 #101, Fuquay-Varina performancesportscenternc.com

Polar Ice House Camp Chillin’

1410 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh 2601 Raleigh Boulevard, Raleigh 1839 S. Main Street, Suite 200, Wake Forest polaricecary.com

28 | trianglefamilymag.com

Prepaze Academy

Science Fun for Everyone!

Pro 3:5 Sports Academy

ShineBRIGHT Camp at Starpath Dance Academy

3031 Village Market Place, Morrisville prepazeacademy.com 3201 Northside Drive, Suite 119, Raleigh pro35sports.com

Raleigh Area Children’s Theatre

1859 Evans Road, Cary sciencefun.org

3675 Green Level W. Road, Suite 106, Apex shinebrightcamp.com

SMILE Camp

raleighartstudio.com

6301 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh smilecamp.org South Wake Sport Academy 6109 N.C. Highway 55 S., Fuquay-Varina southwakesportsacademy.com

Raleigh Little Theatre

Spanish for Fun!

7319 Six Forks Road, Raleigh raleighact.com

Raleigh Art Studio 301 Pogue Street, Raleigh raleighlittletheatre.org/education

Raleigh Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Various locations in Raleigh raleighnc.gov

Raleigh Youth Choir

121 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh raleighyouthchoir.org

JC Raulston Arboretum Summer Garden Camps 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh jcra.ncsu.edu

Ravenscroft

7409 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh ravenscroft.org Through a groundbreaking PreK–12 curriculum, Ravenscroft nurtures individual potential and prepares students to thrive in a complex and interdependent world as citizen leaders.

Resurrection Lutheran School Summer Camp

100 Lochmere Drive W., Cary rlscary.org

Right on Track

2137 Ten Ten Road, Apex rightontrackkids.com

Rock ‘n Roll High School 830 Perry Road, Apex rnrhs.com

Rock Solid Warrior

2131 E. Williams Street, Apex 6109 N.C. Highway 55, Suite 125, Fuquay-Varina rocksolidwarrior.com

Romp n’ Roll

6210 Plantation Center Drive, Raleigh rompnroll.com/raleigh

Saint Raphael The Archangel

5801 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh saintraphael.org/ vacation-bible-camp

Various Wake County locations spanishforfun.com

St. David’s School

3400 White Oak Road, Raleigh stdavidsraleigh.org At St. David’s, students discover they’re capable of more than they ever thought possible. Learn how St. David's provides an uncommon combination of exceptional academics and faith formation for Pre–K to 12 students.

Town of Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources 53 Hunter Street, Apex apexnc.org/542/ summer-track-out-camps

Town of Cary Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

316 N. Academy Street, Cary carync.gov

Town of Holly Springs Parks & Recreation 104 W. Ballentine Street, Holly Springs hollyspringsnc.gov

Triangle Academy of Dance 2918 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary triangle-academy-dance.com

Triangle Badminton & Table Tennis

2900 Perimeter Park Drive #200, Morrisville trianglebtt.com

Triangle Rowing Club

6404 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh trianglerowing.org

St. Francis of Assisi Preschool

Triangle Volleyball Club

St. Timothy’s School

Trinity Academy

11401 Leesville Road, Raleigh preschoolatstfrancis.com 4523 Six Forks Road, Raleigh sttimothys.org

Sonshine Gymnastics 151 Thomas Mill Road, Holly Springs sonshinegymnastics.com

SportHQ

121 Competition Center Drive, Morrisville trianglevolleyball.org

10224 Baileywick Road, Raleigh trinityacademy.com Classical, Christian community of faith and learning where students in grades Transitional K–12 are equipped to live with wisdom, excellence and purpose in the modern world.

107 Edinburgh S. Drive, Suite 100A, Cary sporthq.org

TRIumph Gymnastics

Stage Door Dance Productions

Tumble Gym

2720 Godley Lane, Suite 101, Raleigh 4035 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 113, Raleigh stagedoordance.com

Starbright Youth Theatre

Various locations in Wake County starbrightyt.com

Summer @ Saint Mary’s School

2723 N.C. Highway 55, Cary triumphnc.com Various Wake County locations thetumblegym.com

Tutu School Cary

205 E. Chatham Street, Cary tutuschool.com

Valhallan Esports Training 10500 Ligon Mill Road, Unit 101, Wake Forest arenas.valhallan.com/ wake-forest-nc-us

900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh sms.edu/our-programs/ summer-saint-marys

Wake Harvest

Team Attraction Gymnastics

Warrior Tech OCR

1040 Vision Drive, Suite 2, Apex teamattractiongymnastics.com

3331 Blue Ridge Road, West Building, Raleigh wakeharvest.com 220 Dominion Drive, Suite G, Morrisville 6451 Triangle Plantation Drive, Suite 107, Raleigh warriortechnc.com

Various Wake County locations wake.gov

wbsurfcamp.com

TR AC K- O UT PROGRAMS

We Rock The Spectrum

Since Triangle school systems operate a number of year-round schools, many companies and organizations offer track-out programs students can attend during breaks. Browse our extensive list here, and find more information at trianglefamilymag.com.

Whiz Kidz Central

MULTIPLE COUNTIES

Wild @ Art Kids

Climbing Camp at Triangle Rock Club

2104 Village Market Place, Morrisville werockthespectrumcary.com

231 Bickett Boulevard, Raleigh wildatartkids.com

trianglerockclub.com/youth/ summer-camps

Wolfpack Golf School

IMACS

3000 Ballybunion Way, Raleigh wolfpackgolfschools.com

Wynns Family Psychology 130 Preston Executive Drive, Suite 202, Cary wynnsfamilypsychology.com

XL Sports World Apex

1016 Investment Boulevard, Apex xlapex.com

YMCA Camp Kanata

13524 Camp Kanata Road, Wake Forest campkanata.org

Zebra Robotics

1408 Boulderstone Way, Cary 624 Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs 1141 Falls River Avenue, Suite 104, Raleigh zebrarobotics.com

CHATHAM COUNTY Sun Star Family Farm

2092 Marthas Chapel Road, Apex sunstarfarmforkids.com

Tinkering School NC

2092 Marthas Chapel Road, Apex sunstarfarmforkids.com

GRANVILLE COUNTY Camp Oak Hill

1528 Oak Hill Road, Oxford campoakhill.org

NEW HANOVER COUNTY UNCW Marine Quest

Center for Marine Science 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington uncw.edu Offers enriching academic opportunities for ages 4–17 to explore, discover and value marine habitats through hands-on STEM activities and experiences.

WB Surf Camp

222 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach

imacs.org

Notasium

notasium.com

Schoolhouse of Wonder schoolhouseofwonder.org

YMCA of the Triangle ymcatriangle.org

DURHAM Piedmont Wildlife Center at Leigh Farm Park 364 Leigh Farm Road, Durham piedmontwildlifecenter.org

ORANGE Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center

4300 Camp Chestnut Ridge Road, Efland campchestnutridge.org

New Hope Camp & Conference Center

4805 N.C. 86, Chapel Hill newhopeccc.org

Progression Climbing

1713 Legion Road, Chapel Hill progressionclimb.com

WAKE Academy for the Performing Arts

844 Perry Road, Apex apanc.com/camps

Active Tracks Camp

1004 N. Main Street, Holly Springs activetrackscamp.com

201 Kitty Hawk Drive #107, Morrisville edgesoccerprograms.com

958 U.S. 64, Apex bachtorock.com/apex

Beyond School Age Care

Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios

101 Osterville Drive, Holly Springs beyondschoolagecare.net

Big NC Tennis

Serves Apex, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs bignctennis.com

Camp Bluebird

1128 Parkside Main Street, Cary 244 Grand Hill Place, Holly Springs 10511 Shadowlawn Drive, Suite 117, Raleigh 201 Park at North Hills Street, Raleigh flourpowerstudios.com

1001 Horse Creek Road, Raleigh 3bluebirdsfarm.org/ camp-bluebird

Fun Zone Raleigh

Camp Chameleon

Granite Falls Swim and Athletic Club

200 High Meadow Drive, Cary campchameleon100.org

2832 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh funzoneraleigh.com

Camp Musart

800 Granite Falls Boulevard, Rolesville granitefallsclub.com/ youth-programs

Cary Gymnastics

Gymcarolina Gymnastics Camps

616 W. Chatham Street, Apex campmusart.com 313 Ledgestone Way, Cary caryncgymnastics.com

Champion Education

106 Pheasant Wood Court, Morrisville champion-education.com

Changing Tomorrow Farm 6312 Cass Holt Road, Holly Springs changingtomorrowfarm.com

Cirque de Vol Circus Arts Studios

300 W. Hargett Street, Raleigh cirquedevol.com/raleigh-cirquesummer-camps

Code Ninjas

9321 Leesville Road, Raleigh gymcarolina.com

KidStrong Cary

1309 NW Maynard Road, Cary kidstrong.com/camp/cary

Kidzart North Raleigh kidzart.com/franchise/ north-raleigh

Knightdale Gymnastics

540 Hinton Pond Road, Knightdale knightdalegymnastics.com

Life Time Kids Academy

Various Wake County locations my.lifetime.life

1004 N. Main Street, Holly Springs 2406-103 Crabtree Boulevard, Raleigh codeninjas.com

Lune Spark Center for Creativity

Discovery Tech

NetSports

The Art Lab

The Art of STEM

Dynamix Performing Arts Academy

2180 N. Salem Street, Suite 102–105, Apex theartofstem.org

Edge Soccer Programs

3200-115 Wellington Court, Raleigh ensomovement.com

11000 Lake Grove Boulevard, Morrisville discoverycdtech.com

1002 N. Main Street, Holly Springs theartlabforkids.com

2309 Easy Horse Trail, Wake Forest easihorse.com

Enso Movement Bach to Rock

2024 CAMP & EDUCATION GUIDE | DAY CAMPS IN DURHAM, ORANGE & WAKE COUNTIES

2205 Candun Drive, Apex whizkidzcentral.com

EasiHorse Farm

340 Raleigh Street, Holly Springs dynamixpaa.com

3651 Green Level W. Road, Suite 102, Apex lunespark.com 3717 Davis Drive, Morrisville netsportsnc.com

North Carolina Esports Academy

316 Colonades Way, Suite 108C, Cary ncesportsacademy.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 29

2024 CAMP & EDUCATION GUIDE | DAY CAMPS IN WAKE, CHATHAM, GRANVILLE & NEW HANOVER COUNTIES | TRACK-OUT PROGRAMS

Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space

30 | trianglefamilymag.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 31

2024 CAMP & EDUCATION GUIDE | TRACK-OUT PROGRAMS IN WAKE & OTHER COUNTIES | PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS

The Organized Mind

1867 Lake Pine Drive, Cary tomtrackout.com

Paint Paper Paste

9113 Leesville Road, Suite 103, Raleigh paintpaperpaste.com

Polar Ice House Camp Chillin’

1410 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh 1839 S. Main Street, Suite 200, Wake Forest polaricecary.com

Pro 3:5 Sports Academy

3201 Northside Drive, Suite 119, Raleigh pro35sports.com

Raleigh Area Children’s Theatre

7319 Six Forks Road, Raleigh raleighact.com

ShineBRIGHT Camp at Starpath Dance Academy 3675 Green Level W. Road, Suite 106, Apex shinebrightcamp.com

SMILE Camp

Town of Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources 53 Hunter Street, Apex apexnc.org

Town of Cary Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

316 N. Academy Street, Cary carync.gov

Warrior Tech OCR

220 Dominion Drive, Suite G, Morrisville 6451 Triangle Plantation Drive, Suite 107, Raleigh warriortechnc.com

We Rock The Spectrum

2104 Village Market Place, Morrisville werockthespectrumcary.com

XL Soccer World

5600 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh xlraleigh.com

OTHER COUNTIES Sun Star Family Farm

6301 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh smilecamp.org

2092 Marthas Chapel Road, Apex sunstarfarmforkids.com

Sonshine Gymnastics

Tinkering School NC

151 Thomas Mill Road, Holly Springs sonshinegymnastics.com

SportHQ

107 Edinburgh South Drive, Suite 100A, Cary sporthq.org

Spanish for Fun!

Various Wake County locations spanishforfun.com

Starbright Youth Theatre

2092 Marthas Chapel Road, Apex sunstarfarmforkids.com

WB Surf Camp

222 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach wbsurfcamp.com

PUB LIC SCH OOL SYST EM S There are six public school systems that operate more than 400 public schools throughout the Triangle. Families have access to magnet, alternative and charter schools; as well as year-round elementary and middle schools, in addition to traditional options. The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem provide application-based options for students as well. PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS Wake County Public School System 5625 Dillard Drive, Cary wcpss.net

DURHAM COUNTY MAGNET SCHOOLS dpsnc.net/magnet

BOARDING SCHOOLS

Durham Public Schools 511 Cleveland Street, Durham dpsnc.net

boardingschools.us/state/ north-carolina

CHARTER SCHOOLS

Johnston County Schools

To see a full list of North Carolina charter schools, visit dpi.nc.gov/students-families/ alternative-choices/charter-schools

Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools

CASA ESPERANZA MONTESSORI

2320 U.S. 70 Business Highway East, Smithfield johnston.k12.nc.us

750 S. Merritt Mill Road, Chapel Hill chccs.k12.nc.us

Chatham County Schools

468 Renaissance Drive, Pittsboro chatham.k12.nc.us

Orange County Schools

200 E. King Street, Hillsborough orangecountyfirst.com

WAKE COUNTY MAGNET SCHOOLS wcpss.net/magnet

10510 Star Road, Wake Forest Tuition-free charter school for students in grades K–8 that offers programs in English or Spanish. The Montessori philosophy is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play.

BOARDING SCHOOLS

To see a full list of North Carolina boarding schools, visit boardingschoolreview.com/ north-carolina

2121 TW Alexander Drive, #123, Morrisville starbrightyt.com

Summer @ Saint Mary’s School

900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh sms.edu/our-programs/ summer-saint-marys

Tamara Clary Studio

240 Newton Road, Suite 105, Raleigh tc-artworks.net

Team Attraction Gymnastics 1040 Vision Drive, Suite 2, Apex teamattractiongymnastics.com

PHOTO BY WAVEBREAKMEDIAMICRO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

32 | trianglefamilymag.com

The Triangle is home to a vast network of award-winning private schools. Browse our extensive list here, and find more information at trianglefamilymag.com. DURHAM COUNTY Bethesda Christian Academy

1914 S. Miami Boulevard, Durham bcacrusaders.org

The Lerner Jewish Community Day School 1935 W. Cornwallis Road, Durham lernerschool.org

Camelot Academy

Montessori Community School

809 Proctor Street, Durham camelotacademy.org

4512 Pope Road, Durham mcsdurham.org

Cresset Christian Academy

Montessori Farm School

3707 Garrett Road, Durham cressetchristian.org

2400 Broad Street # 2, Durham montessorifarmschool.com

Duke School

Montessori School of Durham

3716 Erwin Road, Durham dukeschool.org

Durham Academy

3501 Ridge Road, Durham da.org

Durham Nativity School

1004 N. Mangum Street, Durham durhamnativity.org

Fellowship Baptist Academy

450 Muldee Street, Durham fbcofdurham.org/ fellowship-baptist-academy

2800 Pickett Road, Durham msdurham.org

Mount Zion Christian Academy

3519 Fayetteville Street, Durham mzcadurham.org

Southpoint Academy

7415 Fayetteville Road, Durham southpointacademy.org

The Studio School of Durham

1201 Woodcroft Parkway, Durham studioschooldurham.org

Five Oaks Adventist Christian School

Triangle Day School

4124 Farrington Road, Durham fiveoaksschool.org

4911 Neal Road, Durham triangledayschool.org

Gorman Christian Academy

Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill

3311 E. Geer Street, Durham gormanchristian.org

Hill Learning Center

4011 Pickett Road, Durham trinityschoolnc.org

ORANGE COUNTY Carolina Friends School 4809 Friends School Road, Durham cfsnc.org

Emerson Waldorf School 6211 New Jericho Road, Chapel Hill emersonwaldorf.org

Immaculata Catholic School

Hillsborough Christian Academy

721 Burch Avenue, Durham immaculataschool.org

121 Orange High School Road, Hillsborough hillsboroughchristian.org

International Montessori School

Hope Creek Academy

3001 Academy Road, Building #300, Durham imsnc.org

4723 Erwin Road, Durham hopecreekacademy.org

PHOTO BY VOLODYMYR - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Montessori Day School

1702 Legion Road, Chapel Hill mdsch.org

Pinewoods Montessori School

109 Millstone Drive, Hillsborough pinewoodsmontessori.com St. Thomas More Catholic School 920 Carmichael Street, Chapel Hill stmcsnc.org

WAKE COUNTY

Chesterbrook Academy Elementary and Middle School – Cary

130 Towne Village Drive, Cary cary.chesterbrookacademy.com Offers quality private school education with a rigorous, standards-based curriculum to develop 21st-century skills such as creativity, collaboration and communication. Provides a wide variety of summer camps.

Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School – Raleigh

3020 Ligon Street, Raleigh alimanschool.org

10200 Strickland Road, Raleigh northraleigh.chesterbrook academy.com Offers quality private school education with a rigorous, standards-based curriculum todevelop 21st-century skills such as creativity, collaboration and communication. Provides a wide variety of summer camps.

Atlas International School

Choice Academy

Bonner Academy

The Fletcher Academy

Cardinal Gibbons High School

Follow the Child Montessori School

Cary Academy

The Franciscan School

Accelerator School

accelerator.school Adventist Christian Academy of Raleigh 4805 Dillard Drive, Raleigh acaraleigh.com

Al-Iman School

4112 Garland Drive, Raleigh atlasinternationalschool.com 6216 Hunter Street, Raleigh bonneracademy.com

1401 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh cghsnc.org 1500 N. Harrison Avenue, Cary caryacademy.org

Cary Christian School 1330 Old Apex Road, Cary carychristianschool.org

Cathedral School

204 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh cathedral-school.net

1317-B Buck Jones Road, Raleigh choice-academy.org 400 Cedarview Court, Raleigh thefletcheracademy.com

3601 Harden Road, Raleigh followthechild.org 10000 Saint Francis Drive, Raleigh franciscanschool.org

Friendship Christian School

5510 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh friendshipchristian.net

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 33

2024 CAMP & EDUCATION GUIDE | PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN DURHAM, ORANGE & WAKE COUNTIES

PR IVAT E S C HO O L S

2024 CAMP & EDUCATION GUIDE | PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN WAKE, CHATHAM & JOHNSTON COUNTIES

Ravenscroft

Resurrection Lutheran School

100 Lochmere Drive West, Cary rlscary.org

Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic School 520 W. Holding Avenue, Wake Forest school.scswf.org

Saint Mary’s School

900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh sms.edu

Saint Raphael Catholic School

5815 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh saintraphaelschool.org PHOTO BY NINA/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Fusion Academy

2418 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 200, Raleigh fusionacademy.com

Gethsemane Christian SDA Junior Academy 2523 Sanderford Road, Raleigh gethsemanesdaschool.org

GRACE Christian School 801 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh gracechristian.net

Iron Academy

3510 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh ironacademy.org

L’ecole French International School of Raleigh

5510 Munford Road, Raleigh lecole-fisr.org

Learn with the Best School

Neuse Christian Academy 7600 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh neusechristianacademy.com

New School Montessori Center

5617 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs montessoricenter.org

North Raleigh Christian Academy

7300 Perry Creek Road, Raleigh nrcaknights.com

Oak City Academy

1100 Benson Road, Garner oakcityacademy.org

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School

2710 Overbrook Drive, Raleigh olls.org

559 Jones Franklin Road, #164-A, Raleigh learnwiththebestschool.com

Peace Montessori School

Lucy Daniels School

Raleigh Christian Academy

9003 Weston Parkway, Cary lucydanielscenter.org

The Montessori School of Raleigh

7005 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh (elementary school) 408 Andrews Chapel Road, Durham (middle and upper school) msr.org 34 | trianglefamilymag.com

2190 N. Salem Street, Apex peacemontessorischool.com 2110 Trawick Road, Raleigh raleighchristian.com

Raleigh Day School

1725 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh raleighdayschool.org

The Raleigh School

1141 Raleigh School Drive, Raleigh raleighschool.org

St. David’s School

3400 White Oak Road, Raleigh stdavidsraleigh.org At St. David’s, students discover they’re capable of more than they ever thought possible. Learn how we provide an uncommon xombination of exceptional cademics and faith formation for Pre-K to 12 students.

St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School

625 Magdala Place, Apex stmm.net

St. Mary’s Christian Academy

3407 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh stmaryyouth.org

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School 810 High House Road, Cary stmcary.org

St. Thomas More Academy

3109 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh stmacademy.org

St. Timothy’s School

Thales Academy

Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Raleigh, Rolesville and Wake Forest thalesacademy.org

The Trilogy School

3810 Merton Drive, Raleigh trilogyschool.com

Trinity Academy

True Light Shines Academy 2405 Wait Avenue, Wake Forest truelightshines.com

Wake Christian Academy

5500 Wake Academy Drive, Raleigh wakechristianacademy.com

Wake Monarch Academy 824 N. Bloodworth Street, Raleigh wakemonarchacademy.org

Woodmeadows Montessori School

3500 Woodmeadow Parkway, Raleigh woodmeadowsmontessori.com

Word of God Christian Academy

3000 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh wordofgodchristianacademy.org

CHATHAM COUNTY Haw River Christian Academy

2428 Silk Hope Gum Springs Road, Pittsboro hawriverchristian.org

Holy Youth Christian Academy

287 Old Lystra Road, Chapel Hill holyyouthchristianacademy.org

Jordan Lake School of the Arts

4523 Six Forks Road, Raleigh sttimothys.org

1434 Farrington Road, Suite 100, Apex jordanlakesa.com

Step Ahead Gifted Academy

Thales Academy – Pittsboro

154 Morrisville Square Way, Morrisville stepaheadacademy.org

Tammy Lynn Center School 739 Chappell Drive, Raleigh tammylynncenter.org

200 Vine Parkway, Pittsboro thalesacademy.org

JOHNSTON COUNTY Thales Academy

Clayton 65 SE Flowers Parkway, Clayton thalesacademy.org

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 35

D E PA RT M E N T D I S COV E R I E S Buffaloe Lanes Raleigh, Garner and Cary buffaloelanes.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF RUSH HOUR KARTING

If you like to strike out, then bowling is right up your alley! Locals have been knocking down pins at Buffaloe Lanes since 1978. And with an arcade room and snack shack, it’s an ideal way to spend a winter day.

Drive Shack 6901 Play Golf Way, Raleigh driveshack.com

Fit Families

How to stay active in North Carolina during winter BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

ccording to Forbes.com, the most common New Year’s resolution is to get in shape. Finding the motivation to stay active when it’s cold outside—and when darkness sets in so early in the day—can be a challenge. But as natives will tell you, if you don’t like the weather in North Carolina, wait a minute or two. From the mountains to the coast, a state as glorious and diverse as ours— with such frequent contrasts in weather—offers winter activities for everyone in the family, with plenty of chances to stay active and in shape. Here are destinations offering indoor and outdoor activities to get your kids off the sofa and into adventure.

Winter Fun in the Triangle American Tobacco Trail Wake, Chatham and Durham Counties triangletrails.org

Big Air Trampoline Park 6421 Hilburn Drive, Raleigh bigairusa.com

This 22.6-mile-long trail runs alongside an abandoned railroad bed originally constructed in the early 1900s. The trail is 10 feet wide, allowing plenty of space for cyclists, runners and walkers. The majority of the trek runs through the city of Durham, but portions wind through Cary and Apex as well.

Are your kids bouncing off the walls this winter? Head to Big Air for high-flying fun for the whole family! With trampolines, rock walls, bull-riding, adventure courses and basketball, Big Air is the perfect place to go with kids of all ages.

36 | trianglefamilymag.com

Swing on over to Drive Shack, where golf aficionados and novices alike can enjoy private bays, TVs and food. Drive Shack blends an upscale sports bar atmosphere with a family-friendly putt-putt competition.

Ice Skating Lace up for the perfect winter pastime. Skate the Square at Fenton in Cary through February 5 to experience authentic Hallmark movie vibes, complete with twinkling lights and holiday cheer. The Rink at Red Hat Amphitheater offers a winter wonderland in the heart of downtown Raleigh through January 15. Drink hot cocoa under the stars surrounded by stunning skyline views. The Triangle also offers several indoor ice skating facilities. Polar Ice has locations in Raleigh, Cary, Garner and Wake Forest. Orange County SportsPlex offers ice skating in Hillsborough.

Marbles Kids Museum 201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh marbleskidsmuseum.org Turn on your imagination through discovery and play. Climb aboard a three-story pirate ship, race a boat down a 65-foot-long water table, become a vet for the day or don your banker’s cap in “Moneypalooza.”

Rock Solid Warrior Fuquay-Varina and Apex rocksolidwarrior.com Channel your inner American Ninja traversing obstacle courses, swinging from rafters and climbing rock walls.

Rush Hour Karting Garner and Morrisville rushhourkarting.com Start your engines at one of the Triangle’s only indoor gokarting facilities. Try the Garner location for traditional racing with gas engines, or head to the Morrisville location to experience high-speed electric carts and a golf simulator room. Both locations feature axe-throwing and full-service restaurants.

Tar River Life 3240 Sledge Road, Bunn tarriverlife.com Rent a kayak and explore Robertson Millpond Preserve. This 85-acre kayaking gem in eastern Wake County attracts nature lovers with a unique destination set amongst the only bald cypress habitat in the Raleigh area.

Winter Activities Beyond the Triangle MOUNTAINS

PIEDMONT

Appalachian Ski Mountain 940 Ski Mountain Road Blowing Rock appskimtn.com

U.S. National Whitewater Center 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway Charlotte whitewater.org

Beech Mountain Resort in Beech Mountain 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway beechmountainresort.com

North Carolina Zoo 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro nczoo.org

Cataloochee Ski Area 1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley cataloochee.com Hatley Point 578 Valley View Circle, Mars Hill hatleypointe.com Ski Sapphire Valley 127 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire skisapphirevalley.com Sugar Mountain Resort 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive Sugar Mountain skisugar.com Hawksnest Snow Tubing 2058 Skyland Drive, Seven Devils hawksnesttubing.com Elk Knob State Park (Snowshoeing and Cross-country Skiing) 5564 Meat Camp Road, Todd ncparks.gov/state-parks/elk-knob-state-park Chetola Fly Fishing 185 Chetola Lake Drive Blowing Rock chetola.com/recreation/fly-fishing

Great Wolf Lodge 10175 Weddington Road, Concord greatwolf.com Uwharrie National Forest 789 Biscoe Road, Troy fs.usda.gov Busco Beach and ATV Park 1243 Bryan Boulevard, Goldsboro buscobeach.com

COAST North Carolina Lighthouses nps.gov Fort Fisher 1610 Fort Fisher Boulevard South Kure Beach historicsites.nc.gov Fort Macon State Park 2303 E. Fort Macon Road Atlantic Beach ncparks.gov Nags Head Golf Links 5615 S. Seachase Drive, Nags Head invitedclubs.com Jockey’s Ridge State Park (Sandboarding) 300 W. Carolista Drive, Nags Head kittyhawk.com/rental/sandboardrentals-jockeys-ridge

Triangle Rock Club Raleigh, Durham and Morrisville trianglerockclub.com Rock climbing can be a great bonding experience for families, as each climber has to learn problem-solving skills and overcome fears. Triangle Rock Club offers terrains for every skill level at its three Triangle locations.

Xtreme Park Adventures 7460 Highway 98, Wake Forest Road, Durham xtremeparkadventures.com Bring your child’s love of Fortnite to life. From airsoft to paintball and laser tag, Xtreme Park Adventures offers something for every level of battle. If you’d rather holster your weapons, try the ATV adventures, zip lines and ropes courses. PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIANGLE ROCK CLUB JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 | 37

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN

D E PA R T M E N T E X P L O R AT I O N S

BABYMOON DESTINATIONS Take a relaxing getaway before baby makes three BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

h, baby! You’ve expertly assembled the crib, carefully folded the onesies and sufficiently stocked up on diapers. Now, as parenthood draws near, you realize there’s one last chance to spend quiet, quality time with your significant other before your bundle of joy arrives. Babymoons are rising in popularity because they give expectant couples a chance to unwind before their official parenting duties begin. According to babycenter.com, the most comfortable time for expectant mothers to travel while pregnant is during the second trimester. Also, doctors don’t recommend traveling toward the end of a pregnancy—and traveling far from home after 36 weeks of pregnancy is also not typically recommended—so timing is everything when it comes to planning this important escape. Be sure to check with your health care provider before you confirm your babymoon plans, and choose a location with a nearby hospital—just in case. Pack your flip-flops and pregnancy pillow! Here are some top destinations for a babymoon within driving distance of the Triangle.

COASTAL RESPITES

The North Carolina coast is sprinkled with countless picturesque and historic towns, all beckoning for oceanside babymoon selfies. Resorts, waterfront motels and bed and breakfasts offer the ideal getaway for whatever accommodations an expectant couple prefers. Indulge in a doctor-approved amount of fresh seafood and enjoy rejuvenating walks on the beach. Tour a battleship, historic forts or museums at your own pace. The world is your oyster—even if you’re not allowed to eat one! (And remember: The next time you pack for a beach vacation, you’ll be loading up a wagon-full of toys and gear.) Beaufort Hotel, Beaufort beauforthotelnc.com Elmwood 1820 Bed & Breakfast Inn, Washington elmwood1820.com The Inn at Bald Head Island, Bald Head Island theinnatbaldheadisland.com

PEACEFUL PIEDMONT GETAWAYS

Sanderling Resort, Duck sanderling-resort.com Shell Island Resort, Wrightsville Beach shellisland.com

Even though North Carolina is known for its mountains and coastline, the heart of our state—the Piedmont—checks off all the “must-have” boxes for babymoon destinations. It’s not far from home, so if you need to get back to your own bed in a hurry, you can. The Piedmont is also home to several world-renowned hospitals, so if push comes to shove, you’ll find plenty of great options to safely welcome your new addition. Take in a show at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, schedule a maternity massage at The Spa at Pinehurst, or decorate your nursery with items from Fearrington Village in Pittsboro. Enjoy your Piedmont pre-baby pause. 38 | trianglefamilymag.com

MOUNTAIN ESCAPES

The North Carolina mountains offer the perfect backdrop for a tranquil hiatus with picturesque views, various levels of adventure, and small towns with big character. Each of these High Country resorts offer a variety of nearby hikes, or simply stroll the local downtowns—while shopping and sipping a decaf brew. Schedule some pampering at the spa and indulge in fine dining or room service—all in the comfort of a super-plush Pima robe. While you’re in the area, take in a local tour at Biltmore Estate in Asheville or Linville Caverns in Marion. It’s your mountain babymoon escape, and you choose your level of comfort and adventure. Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock chetola.com The Greystone Inn, Lake Toxaway greystoneinn.com Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Highlands oldedwardshospitality.com

The Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville omnihotels.com Tapoco, Robbinsville tapoco.com

DESTINATION: STAYCATION

There’s no need to venture far from home, when home is as fantastic as the Triangle! A perfect babymoon need not require travel, as long as you’re able to make a mental escape. The Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill area offers endless opportunities to enhance your pregnancy glow while taking a pre-baby breather. Discover activities that suit any interest (or trimester), such as tours (Sarah P. Duke Gardens) or museums (North Carolina Museum of Art). Your Triangle staycation will be one for the baby books. 21c Museum Hotel, Durham 21cmuseumhotels.com The Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill hyatt.com Heights House Hotel,Raleigh heightshousenc.com

The Mayton, Cary themayton.com The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary theumstead.com

The Fearrington House Inn, Pittsboro fearrington.com Grandover Resort & Spa, Greensboro grandoverresort.com Graylyn Estate, Winston-Salem graylyn.com

The Magnolia Inn, Pinehurst pinehurst.com The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte ritzcarlton.com

D E PA RT M E N T YO U T H S P O R T S “As soon as you change your posture, or you are limping or running differently, you’re doing more damage at that point,” LoPiccolo says. “Some injuries I do think you can work through. If they’re minor, they actually feel a little better once you get it loosened up, once you get running around. If you start that exercise and it gets worse, that’s a red flag.” Even if it’s time to visit a doctor or consider physical therapy, don’t assume your child’s season is in jeopardy. “We like to keep them playing,” Khan says. “A lot of times we need to keep them conditioned in some way. That will help them get better faster. I might even stick them back into practice the following day—we’re very much pro-activity. We want them to be able to participate, and we will treat them during that process.” So what can be done to prevent the injuries? Young athletes need to warm up and stretch before and after practice sessions. The doctors also recommend eating a proper diet and getting eight hours of sleep per night. Without enough rest, the body does not have enough time to recover. And one more reminder for parents. If your budding sports star is hampered BY KURT DUSTERBERG | PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORTH STATE SPORT & SPINE by overuse injuries, the end result could three-hour-long practices. That is hard on lead to a decision no one wants. “That any families have become familiar with the all-in lifestyle a growing body—the ligaments and joints. 8-year-old who is getting those repetitive of competitive youth sports. The They’re not keeping up with the demand injuries, they’re not going to be doing calendar is filled with games, practices, that’s being put on them day in and day that sport in two years,” says LoPiccolo. lessons and other activities for kids who out, and it doesn’t give them enough time “They’re the ones that are going to have to are working their way through the ranks of to recover in between those hard sessions.” stop pretty quickly.” club and travel sports. A variety of injuries can strike athletes But the harder the kids play, the more in any sport, but some are indicative of likely it is that injuries will push them to overuse in particular sports. the sidelines. In recent years, the trend • Swimming. The staff sees rotator cuff toward overuse injuries has grown— impingements and shoulder pain from regardless of the sport. At North State the constant rotation of the shoulder. Sport & Spine in Holly Springs, the • Baseball, softball and throwing doctors see a pattern developing. athletes. Too much overhand throwing “We’re doing something all year round, causes elbow pain. maybe to a greater extent than we need to • Soccer. Players are prone to hamstring be, and we’re not really diversifying our strains, and hip flexor and muscular leg athleticism,” says Dr. Evan Kahn, a sports injuries. Among 12- and 13-year-olds, medicine chiropractor. “I think that plays patellar tendonitis and growth plate a big role in whether or not they’re going injuries are common. to have pain or an injury.” • Runners. Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome Dr. Amanda LoPiccolo is a chiropractic is a result of too much running, causing physician at the clinic. She has also seen a pain at the outside of the knee. rise in overuse injuries, and the location Sometimes it’s difficult to know whether of the pain tells a story. “I’m always the bumps, bruises and strains are just surprised at how much low back pain I part of the game or indications of an see in youth athletes,” she says. “That’s injury that needs attention. But parents not supposed to happen when you’re 13. can get a good idea by watching their We see a lot of girls who do cheer, and children’s body language. they’re being thrown in the air and doing

KEEPING KIDS ON THE FIELD Practicing too long and too much puts young athletes in harm’s way

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 39

PHOTO BY JOSHUA RESNICK - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

PHOTO BY WAVEBREAK3 - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

D E PA RT M E N T A S K T H E E X P E RT

WHAT DO TEACHERS WISH PARENTS KNEW? Five things they may not tell you, but really want you to know BY TIM TINNESZ

hen raising and teaching children, the stakes are high. There are often moments when a teacher wishes a parent held a different perspective, but concerns about conflict or appearing judgmental might prevent honest feedback. I’ve asked my colleagues for their candid, unfiltered advice to parents. Here are five favorites for you to consider— two “big picture” tips and three “daily details.” BIG PICTURE TIP NO. 1:

We want students to be joyful as much as possible, but being unhappy is OK— and sometimes necessary. In childhood’s difficult moments—such as dealing with academic struggles, the loss of a friendship or getting cut from a sports team—it sometimes becomes a top goal for parents to do whatever it takes to make their child happy ASAP, rather than take on the harder and more important job of helping their child with self-reflection and growth. A child’s natural first instinct is often to blame others—the “bad” teacher, “mean” student or “uncaring” coach—for his 40 | trianglefamilymag.com

or her unhappiness. But parents must lovingly help their child navigate those moments, identify any areas for personal responsibility and move beyond blame. On a related front, sometimes unpleasant natural consequences are the best way to learn for the long term— even though it’s painful in the short term. For example, rather than a parent delivering forgotten homework to school (or emailing the teacher to ask for an extension), it’s best to let the student earn the lower grade, make plans with the teacher for how to bring it back up, and let the student work toward a solution that builds responsibility, independence and confidence.

BIG PICTURE TIP NO. 2:

Helping children learn to think beyond themselves starts at home—and can’t start too soon! It’s developmentally appropriate for children to be self-focused. Teachers can, and do, try to help students develop a growing awareness of others, but the truth is, parents matter much more in this situation than teachers do. Visit any classroom and you can tell which students have parents at home promoting the essential idea of “thinking beyond myself,” no matter what a teacher does. The good news is the “little things” can add up to a lot. Have your child hold the door for others, help with laundry, do yardwork, assist with dinner and more. Even the youngest child can help carry in groceries, set or clear the table, or write/ illustrate thank you notes in response to a gift or act of kindness. These steps can be taught at home and make all the difference in how a child behaves as a member of his or her school community.

DAILY DETAIL NO. 1:

PHOTO BY BILLIONPHOTOS.COM - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Don’t ask “How was school today?” Instead, consider “What did you learn today?” One of the best ways to learn material is to have an opportunity to teach it. Having your child tell you about what he or she has learned is a win-win. You’re likely to get a more meaningful response than “fine,” and you’ll help your child become a better learner, too.

DAILY DETAIL NO. 2:

Don’t compliment your child on being smart. Instead, compliment your child on how hard he or she works. Children whose self-esteem is tied directly to appearing smart or talented often fear taking on challenges they might fail. Those who see themselves as hard workers, however, often take on challenges others might view as

impossible. It’s much better to reward a B+ that results from hard work and growth than an A+ that didn’t require effort or risk. This goes doubly for letting your child turn in a somewhat sloppy project that is 100% their work, versus a perfect one that results from parental assistance.

DAILY DETAIL NO. 3:

Please fight the good fight over devices and screen time. Screens and personal devices are addictive, and children’s brains are especially susceptible to the stimulation and “dopamine fix” screen time provides. The best problem solvers and most creative thinkers are often the students who are most comfortable alone with their thoughts, and who don’t need the constant stimulation of a screen or device. Taking time to stare out of a car window (instead of at a screen) can pay dividends later in life.

FINAL THOUGHT:

You’re never too old to learn from a teacher.

PHOTO BY HIGHWAYSTARZ - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Parenting is hard—parents rarely get many opportunities to redo decisions. Teachers, who often spend as many waking hours with students as their parents do—and do so with many other children, year in and year out— can be wonderful sources of wisdom and willing, committed partners who will work with parents to prepare their children for a bright and successful future.

Father of three Tim Tinnesz is head of school at St. Timothy’s School in Raleigh, which serves 575 students in an Episcopal Pre-K–8th grade program. Tinnesz also serves on the board of Triangle Day School in Durham, and is the current board chair of Note in the Pocket, a nonprofit serving children and families in North Carolina. Tinnesz also spent many years as a middle and high school teacher and principal.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 41

S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T M A K I N G WAV E S

Goldfish Swim School Prioritizes Confidence, Safety and Community Involvement Here in the Triangle, Manuel and Danelle Alex have taken the plunge to make a splash in the community through their ownership of Goldfish Swim Schools in Cary, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest and, coming soon, Morrisville. Combining a passion for water safety, a commitment to building confidence and a genuine love for their community, they’ve created a haven for young swimmers to learn, grow and thrive.

Confidence Building At Goldfish Swim School, the emphasis goes beyond just teaching kids how to swim— instilling confidence is equally crucial. Through innovative teaching methods and a positive, encouraging environment, children not only master essential swimming skills, but also develop a strong sense of self-assurance. Each lesson is tailored to the individual, ensuring that every child progresses at his or her own pace, building a foundation of skills that goes far beyond the water’s edge. The supportive and encouraging atmosphere cultivates a belief in one’s abilities, fostering a sense of self-efficacy that empowers children to face challenges outside of the pool as well. 42 | trianglefamilymag.com

Water Safety Commitment Safety is at the forefront of every lesson at Goldfish Swim School. From basic water awareness to emergency response training, every child is taught the essentials of staying safe in and around water. Outside of their facilities, Goldfish Swim School provides free water safety presentations to groups of children in schools, daycares, libraries and more. Community Involvement For this couple, the swim school is not just a business; it’s a community hub. The Goldfish Swim School team actively participates in Triangle events and sponsorships, hosts fundraisers and collaborates with local nonprofits to provide lessons free of charge to children in need. Danelle and Manuel believe that a rising tide floats all boats; a strong commitment to help the community contributes to the overall well-being of everyone. Making Waves for a Brighter Future Through their unwavering dedication, this local couple has transformed Goldfish Swim School’s pools into more than just a place to

learn to swim; they are also a place where confidence is built, safety is prioritized and a sense of community flourishes. Manuel and Danelle hope to continue making waves in the Triangle region for years to come— not only shaping skilled swimmers, but also nurturing confident, safety-conscious individuals who are ready to dive into life’s challenges headfirst.

Goldfish Swim School Locations in Cary, Chapel Hill and Wake Forest Coming soon to Morrisville goldfishswimschool.com The information on this page is provided to the public by the advertiser mentioned above.

DOCTORS The Triangle offers some of the highest quality health care in the country. Meet this local provider and learn more about their services.

PHOTO BY SYDA PRODUCTIONS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

ONE80 COUNSELING Founder and CEO Sarah R. Coates, LCMHC, established One80 Counseling in 2007 with a vision to “turn lives around.” The mission: Help anyone of any walk of life find a therapist to meet their mental health needs. The company achieves this mission through its diverse providers. With over 115 licensed clinical social workers, clinical counselors, marriage and family therapists, substance abuse providers and psychologists, One80 Counseling can provide individual, couples and family therapy to all ages of children, adolescents and adults. Why the name One80 Counseling? “If someone does a 360 they land right back where they started!” Sarah says. “I’ve never been a math genius but I do know that if we want to change in life, we have to make a 180!” After successfully serving the Triangle and its surrounding towns for 16 years, One80 Counseling has expanded again and is now “turning lives around from the Triangle to the coast” with a new office now open in Wilmington. One80 Counseling offers seven locations, as well as in-person and telehealth appointments, and accepts most major insurances. Locations in Cary/Apex, Cary/Morrisville, Garner, Clayton, Raleigh, Holly Springs and Wilmington one-eightycounseling.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 43

MEET THE DOCTORS | ONE80 COUNSELING

MEET THE

O U T + A B O U T | T H I N GS TO D O

JANUARY + FEBRUARY 2024

BY JANICE LEWINE

J A N UA RY “HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE IN CONCERT”

PHOTO BY CANDY1812 - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

NATURE STORIES

Thursdays in January and February; 10:30–11:30 a.m. Prairie Ridge Ecostation 1671 Gold Star Drive, Raleigh naturalsciences.org Read a story in the Nature PlaySpace amphitheatre and explore the story’s themes on a walk around Prairie Ridge. Dress appropriately for the weather. Admission is free.

January 26, 7:30 p.m.; January 27, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Durham Performing Arts Center 123 Vivian Street, Durham dpacnc.com Watch the wand choose the wizard, a troll run amok, and see magic mirrors in high definition while a live orchestra performs John Williams’ iconic score. Join Harry, Ron, Hermione and all your favorite characters as they return to the screen and enchant audiences all over again.

GALAXYCON ANIMATE! RALEIGH

January 5–7 Raleigh Convention Center 500 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh galaxycon.com/pages/animate-raleigh Come together with like-minded fans of every genre, hobby and fandom. GalaxyCon features celebrity photo-ops, video game tournaments, cosplay contests, dance parties and more. UNDER THE SILVER MOON LANTERN PARADE: STARS OVER CARY

January 13, 6–7:30 p.m. 327 S. Academy Street, Cary carync.gov See hundreds of lanterns made from sustainable materials on parade in Downtown Cary Park. The lanterns are created in the Town of Cary’s community workshops, led by internationally renowned visual teaching artist Gowri Savoor.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF HISTORY

AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CELEBRATION

January 27, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. North Carolina Museum of History 5 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh ncmuseumofhistory.org Celebrate African Americans who have made significant contributions to the state’s history and culture. Enjoy performances, demonstrations, activities and more in this kickoff to Black History Month in North Carolina. SOUTHERN FARM SHOW

January 31–February 2 North Carolina State Fairgrounds 4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh southernshows.com/sfs The largest annual agricultural exposition across the Carolinas and Virginia showcases over 400 exhibitors, tractor and truck driving competitions, a lumberjack show, live bluegrass music and the Southern National Draft Horse Pull.

PHOTO BY BRIAN MAGEE PHOTOGRAPHY

44 | trianglefamilymag.com

JANUARY + FEBRUARY 2024

O U T + A B O U T | T H I N GS TO D O

F E B RUA RY TRIANGLE WIND ENSEMBLE: “MUSIC IN MOTION”

February 11, 3 p.m. Cary Arts Center 101 Dry Avenue, Cary trianglewind.org Enjoy musical selections full of dancing rhythms, sparkling melodies, rich harmonies and dynamic effects. Purchase tickets online. INTEGRITY STRINGS: “BACH TO BEYONCÉ!” PHOTO BY JEN - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

GROUNDHOG DAY CELEBRATION

February 2, 10 a.m.–12:15 p.m. White Deer Park 2400 Aversboro Road, Garner garnernc.gov Learn Snerd the Groundhog’s official prediction for an early spring or six more weeks of winter at noon. See live animals, visit educational booths, meet Smokey Bear, enjoy storytime and more.

February 17, 11 a.m. Carolina Theatre of Durham 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham carolinatheatre.org Enjoy a classical crossover experience that breaks down the barriers between classical and pop. String musicians flow from Bach to Beyoncé, creating an interactive experience for the entire family.

“NATE THE GREAT”

February 2–11 Raleigh Little Theatre 301 Pogue Street, Raleigh raleighlittletheatre.org Nate the Great, the world’s greatest boy detective, gets a call from his friend Annie, alerting him that a painting of her dog Fang is missing. For the first time in his career, Nate is stumped. This heartwarming play celebrates art, friendship and creative thinking. FAMILY DAY: BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Feb. 11, 1–3 p.m. Nasher Museum of Art 2001 Campus Drive, Durham nasher.duke.edu Discover unique works by artists of African descent in the museum’s galleries and enjoy free art activities in celebration of Black History Month.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINA THEATRE OF DURHAM

“PETER PAN”

February 27–March 3 Durham Performing Arts Center 123 Vivian Street, Durham dpacnc.org With a sprinkle of pixie dust and a few happy thoughts, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell take the Darling children on a magical journey to Neverland. Their adventure features the iconic songs “I’m Flying,” “I’ve Gotta Crow” and “I Won’t Grow Up.” Be sure to check the websites for these events before you head out to ensure they are still taking place.

PHOTO BY HANOI PHOTOGRAPHY - STOCK.ADOBE.COM JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 | 45

OUT + ABOUT | LITTLE FOODIES

COME HUNGRY New treats to taste, opportunities to learn and recipes to try

TA S T E Players Retreat, a Raleigh institution since 1951, is offering free kids meals every Sunday for ages 12 and younger (one per full-priced adult meal— dine-in only). Children can choose from grilled cheese, spaghetti, a hamburger, a cheeseburger, a hot dog or chicken fingers. All entrees come with fries. BurgerFi, which has locations in Midtown Raleigh, North Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville and Apex, is offering free kids meals every Monday for ages 12 and younger with the purchase of an adult combo meal. The BurgerFi kids menu includes a single hamburger or cheeseburger, a hot dog, grilled cheese or chicken tenders. Entrees come with a natural snack or junior fry, a natural juice or Coca-Cola Freestyle beverage, and an activity sheet with crayons.

BY BETH SHUGG

T RY The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education’s Nutrition & Physical Activity Classroom Calendar lists healthy recipes to try each month. Here’s the January recipe—a perfect one to make with the kids. Mini MyPlate Pizzas These mini pizzas are a delicious and filling snack that includes all five food groups of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate (the official symbol of the five food groups).

INGREDIENTS

PHOTO BY MSPHOTOGRAPHIC - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

• Mini whole-grain bagels or English muffins • Tomato sauce • Part-skim mozzarella cheese • Grilled chicken • Other toppings (sliced tomatoes, spinach, pineapple or broccoli, for example)

DIRECTIONS Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Cut the mini bagels in half. Place a tablespoon of tomato sauce on top of each bagel slice and sprinkle cheese on top. Add some chicken pieces and a few slices of fresh fruits or veggies. (Note: Green veggies go best under the cheese.) Place the mini pizzas in a toaster oven until the cheese melts and the bagels are toasted. Enjoy!

LEARN

PHOTO BY PRODUCER - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

PHOTO BY PETRRGOSKOV - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Gather up the family and head over to Sur la Table at 4421 Six Forks Road in Raleigh’s North Hills shopping center to try these cooking classes together.

Family Fun: Italian Eatery Sunday, January 14 at 1 p.m. $69 For ages 7 and older; a paying adult must accompany ages 17 and younger. Family Fun: Chinese Favorites Sunday, January 28 at 1 p.m. $69 For ages 7 and older; a paying adult must accompany ages 17 and younger.

Every Thursday night, kids eat free at Backfins Crabhouse in Wake Forest and Rolesville (one free meal per paying adult). An age limit is not specified, but the meal must come from the kids menu, which offers shrimp, fried oysters, fish, a hot dog, chicken tenders and grilled cheese. 46 | trianglefamilymag.com

PHOTO BY ARINAHABICH - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

O U T + A B O U T | G O O D S P O RT

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

With injuries behind her, Garner Magnet’s Jacobs is ready for her senior season Olivia Jacobs must wonder what she did to deserve such a star-crossed basketball career. The Garner Magnet High School senior has some injury tales to tell, beginning with warmups at an AAU game before her freshman year. “I was going up for a layup, and my knee twisted in and I heard a pop,” says the point guard. “I knew it was really bad.” She had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and a lateral meniscus injury. “The rehab was really hard, mentally and physically,” Jacobs said. “I was on crutches and I really missed basketball. I was so devastated I wouldn’t be able to play. It took me a whole year to recover, but I had goals and I wanted to get back out there and play.” But when Jacobs returned to the court during her sophomore season, she endured a separated shoulder. Determined to stay on the court, she played through the injury, knowing that the joint can dislocate over and over. “Dislocating your shoulder is really painful because somebody has to pop it back in, or you hope it pops in on its own,” she says. “I ended up dislocating it three times before I went to have surgery on it.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE JACOBS FAMILY

Facing another long rehab, Jacobs was reminded to weigh her decision carefully. It occurred to her that she could walk away from competitive basketball. “My surgeon explained that I didn’t need to get surgery,” she says. “I could live a perfectly normal life like everybody else, but I wouldn’t be able to play basketball at a high level. I took that into account. It really did take time, thinking, what am I going to do? But I wanted to play at a very competitive level.” After a strong junior season during which she recorded 9.4 points and 2.7 assists per game, Jacobs is back on the court, hoping nothing else breaks, separates or pops out. She wants to make the most of her senior season—one she will play with a bit of hard-earned perspective. “I always thought I was going to take a straight path playing travel ball with one of the top AAU teams,” says Jacobs, who was selected academic all-conference as a junior. “After the injuries, it’s making me rethink how I organize everything in my life and how it would go.” Jacobs doesn’t know what her basketball future holds, but she hopes to consider walk-on opportunities in college. “One thing I’ve learned is you can’t take moments for granted,” she says. “You don’t know when unexpected things will come, but those things have made me a stronger person.”

Do you know a Good Sport who deserves recognition in our next issue? Email editor@trianglefamilymag.com to share your news. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 | 47

O U T + A B O U T | T H E T FA M C L U B

cu·ri·os·i·ty /kyür·ee·aa·suh·tee/ē A desire to know; interest leading to inquiry. Keagan (12) of Raleigh explores Duke Forest’s intriguing trails in Durham.

BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF

Want to be in the Tfam Club? Go to trianglefamilymag.com to submit a photo and description that includes your child’s first name, age, town or city, and location where the photo was taken. By submitting your photo, you’ll also receive special Tfam Club deals and discounts.

48 | trianglefamilymag.com