March 2013

March 2013

camPs of aLL KInDs sports

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animals

military kids

art

yoga

Writing

{Page 30}

{Page 34}

{Page 36}

{Page 59}

{Page 66}

Letters from home {Page 8} Packing for the great outdoors {Page 16} First time campers {Page 18}

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seVen PaGes of camP ResouRces {Page 71}

2 March 2013

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2/12/13 2013 4:32 PM3 March

conTenTs

Minnesota Parent March

Features

Departments 6 EDiTor’S noTE Our annual event

by Kathleen Stoehr 8 chaTTEr A little bit of news and information for your quiet time reading

By Kathleen Stoehr 10 BaBY on BoarD Postpartum fitness

By Shannon Keough 12 aSK ThE PEDiaTrician Answering your questions about concussion and camp

By Dr. Peter Dehnel 14 in ThE KiTchEn Food and food products we love

By Kathleen Stoehr 16 TWEEn ScEnE Prepping the first-time camper

By Joy Riggs 18 hoT STuFF Camp kid

By Kathleen Stoehr 20 GroWS on TrEES Getting your financial house in order

By Kara McGuire 22 BooK ShELF Nature and our planet

By Kathleen Stoehr 24 rELaTionShiPS On romance (belated)

By Sean Toren 82 rEaL LiFE Real dad Matt Wagner talks biking

By Myrna CG Mibus

Calendar

26

a Win-Win SiTuaTion

When your child doesn’t know what sport to focus on, this is a camp to help them explore

By Valerie Turgeon

30

unLEaShED! Kids and animals find connection in this hands on camp

By Amanda Snyder

34

hiDDEn hEroES Helping military kids understand what a parent does while deployed

By Laura Groeneweg

36 ThE TaLEnT inSiDE Artistic self-consciousness is quashed at The Art Academy

By Katharina Gadow

41 ParEnT PicKS 42 March aT a GLancE 44 ouT & aBouT

Resources 71 caMP LiSTinGS

4 March 2013

ThE caMP iSSuE 56

BacK To WorK aFTEr BaBY Many women find returning to work stressful

59

suPeR sTReTchInG Kid yoga is playful mix of running, jumping, stretching, and playing, all with an element of mindfulness

By Julie Kendrick

By Jen Wittes

64

chooSinG ThE riGhT caMP Interests, personality and benefits are important to consider

By American Camp Association

66

WriTE on No bored and waiting for the bell in this writing camp! Excitement and interest rule the day

By Leah Smith

March 2013 5

From the editor

Our annual event ARTrageous Adventures MNP 1011 12.indd 1

Mississippi Market MNP 0313 12.indd 1

9/15/11 9:40 AM

We need 2/1/13 4:34 PM a remodeler who’ll finish what they start.

That’s why we depend on NARI. Visit narimn.org or call 612-332-6274 to find a NARI-certified professional for your next remodeling project or to become a NARI member.

The NARI logo is a registered trademark of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. ©2007 NARI of Minnesota.

NARI MNP 0313 NR3 12.indd 1

2/14/13 2:12 PM

Breastfeeding?

Now or in the future?

Newly-observed toxins that can cause

autism or childhood cancer

See www.breastfeedingprosandcons.info 6 March 2013 Pollution Action MNP 0313 12.indd 1

1/15/13 5:35 PM

L

ast year, my husband and I paged through the comprehensive camp listings in Minnesota Parent and he swooned over all of the possibilities. “They never had camps like this when I was a kid,” he scoffed. But what did he know about summer camp choices back then? He was a kid! It’s not like he was perusing listings and making suggestions to his parents about a camp he was interested in.

In fact, most of the time, you can say “horse, art, science, music” in quick succession and your kid will say, “I want to go where [fill name of your child’s best friend here] is going.”

I know I am generalizing and there are kids who have their own unique interests, despite what their friends like, and also know exactly what they want to do or focus on during the summer break. But for those kids who do not know, and for us parents who need some ideas, this issue profiles a number of camps around Minnesota that have a wide range of appeal. Plus, we have another wide-ranging list of camps beginning on page 71 for you to ponder, consider, or place on your kid’s pillow on the off-chance they will circle a few to give you some guidance.

But if you have the opportunity this year, I am advocating strongly for the group approach to the Minnesota Parent Camp Fair, held on February 23 at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. If you are on good terms with the parents of your son or daughter’s best friends, seriously—go together and choose a camp that your kid (and their kid) will equally enjoy. Plus, after you’ve stuffed your goodie bag full of brochures, trinkets, and other great information, you can stroll around the zoo and check out all of the cool animals and exhibits. Make a day of it. You won’t regret it!

If you do head to the Camp Fair, I’ll see you there. It should be a busy day with plenty to see, experience, and learn about—but please take a moment to stop by the Minnesota Parent booth and say hello. We will have some great prize drawings you can enter and probably some tempting little pieces of candy we shouldn’t eat—but will—if you don’t come talk to us. Hope to see you there!

Kathleen Stoehr Editor

March 8 thru March 24 Vol. 28, Issue 3

“When you go owling you don’t need words or warm or anything but hope.” Take a journey into a mystical, magical, winter wonderland where a father and child take a walk in the woods hoping to spot an owl and are surprised by what they find. This world premiere musical is a ballet-inspired story full of movement and dance.

co-Publishers Janis Hall jhall@mnpubs.com Terry Gahan tgahan@mnpubs.com General manager Chris Damlo 612-436-4376 • cdamlo@mnpubs.com editor Kathleen Stoehr kstoehr@mnpubs.com contributing Writers/Photographers Romy Ackerberg Dr. Peter Dehnel Katharina Gadow Laura Groeneweg Julie Kendrick Shannon Keough Kelly Jo McDonnell Kara McGuire Myrna CG Mibus Joy Riggs Leah Smith Amanda Snyder Sean Toren Tanya Villano Jen Wittes

for all ages

Special Sensory-Friendly Performance Stages Theatre Company invites families and individuals touched by autism to attend a sensory-friendly performance of Owl Moon. The house lights will be on, sound levels lowered, and audience members will be allowed to move around the theater during the performance.

Contact our Box Office with questions or to reserve tickets at (952) 979-1111, option four. Mention code SENSORY and receive a FREE child’s ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket for this performance.

Saturday, March 9 at 10 a.m.

Production manager Dana Croatt dcroatt@mnpubs.com

www.stagestheatre.org Box office: (952) 979-1111

senior Graphic Designer Valerie Moe Graphic Designer Amanda Wadeson sales manager Melissa Ungerman Levy 612-436-4382 • mungermanlevy@mnpubs.com sales administrator Kate Manson 612-436-5085 • kmanson@mnpubs.com circulation Marlo Johnson 612-436-4388 • distribution@mnpubs.com classified advertising 612-825-9205 • sales@mnpubs.com Printing Brown Printing

52,500 copies of Minnesota Parent printed monthly, available at news stands statewide.

Get Minnesota Parent mailed to your home for just $12 a year. Call 612-825-9205 for more information.

Minnesota Parent (ISSN 0740 3437) is published monthly by Minnesota Premier Publications.

POSTMASTER send address changes to: MINNESOTA PARENT, 1115 Hennepin Avenue S. Minneapolis, MN 55403.

Minnesota Parent is copyright 2013 by Minnesota Premier Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Address all material to address above.

Stages Theatre MNP 0313 S3.indd 1

2/8/13 4:39 PM

Are you currently pregnant or had a baby during the previous month and interested in participating in a telephone-based health and wellness program?

The University of Minnesota is seeking women who are currently pregnant or less than 6 weeks postpartum to participate in a research study examining the effect of exercise and wellness on mood following childbirth • Participants receive a motivational exercise program or a health and wellness program, which begins after the birth of your baby (participants can sign up for the program during pregnancy) • Program delivered to you via the mail and phone • Must be 18 years of age or older; must not currently exercise regularly • Must not take antidepressants • Must have a history of depression • You will receive $100 for your time

Call 612-625-9753 or email mompro@umn.edu to see if you qualify for this research study U of M - Kinesiology Dept MNP 1212 S3.indd 1

11/15/12 2013 2:37 PM7 March

In brief Bully in a Box is an iBook series devel-

oped by a Minneapolis company, designed specifically for children ages six to nine and the adults in their lives. Each iBook uses a collaborative approach where a basic story about the lead character is told, but the ending and solution is completely up to the reader.

The hope is this “solve it yourself” approach will empower children, parents, and educators with knowledge to handle bullying. To see a preview, visit vimeo.com/54556398.; On January 25, Minnesota online high School (MNOHS) announced it received national accreditation by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. “Today’s announcement validates our efforts and it is something in which we all take great pride,” said Stephanie Snidarich, MNOHS Board President and faculty member. “We have worked hard to build a program that is academically rich and also offers students more flexibility than a bricks and mortar school.”; Kohl’s cares Scholarship Program is accepting nominations for kids between the ages of

six and 18, who have made a difference in their communities through volunteer work. Top winners receive $10,000 for higher education. Nominations are accepted through March 15 and additional information can be found at tinyurl.com/dj5vgu.; it Takes a village care Minnesota (itavcare.com) has launched. It is a social networking website dedicated to helping people find the care they need for their loved ones: be it children, seniors, or pets. Says owner Amanda Simons, “I have worked in the childcare industry for almost 20 years and I know that good help is expensive but yet every parent wants the best available, so here is a way that you can get the help that you desire at the price you can afford.”; Tedra Bonner and Shelli Kargela, the owners/instructors of My Gym children’s Fitness center, recently expanded their programs and their square footage by moving their gym into a larger space in the SportWorks building in Eden Prairie. They had been at their previous location on Prairie Center Drive for 13 years. For more information, call 952-906-0028 or go to mygym.com/edenprairie/classes.

MinnESoTa ParEnT LiKES

sprout Watch & clock set If your little one is having a hard time figuring out how to tell time, consider Sprouty the Owl’s visual recognition and stimulation set to help make processes and exercises gratifying.

Advance through the book and gain confidence in telling time. Watch dial mimics the teaching clock for easy recognition and transition to the wristwatch. The set is made with biodegradable corn resin, organic cotton, bamboo, and mercury-free battery, while the clock is recycled fiber cardboard and the book is printed on recycled material.

Available at the museum shop at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, online at sproutwatches.com; about $40

Hugs from Home While much about the camp experience has evolved and adapted to meet the needs of today’s families, at its core the essentials of the camp experience are the same. Many of the traditions of camp, like letters from home, remain a critical part of the camp experience.

Letter writing is quickly becoming a lost art. In a world of constant and immediate electronic connection, the letter has become a unique reminder of time spent at camp. In addition to preserving memories, children use

8 March 2013

language arts and handwriting skills when sending a letter—skills that may not be otherwise used during the summer break.

Camp not only provides an opportunity for healthy separation, it also provides an opportunity for families to let campers know just how much they are loved. And, words of confidence and encouragement from home reinforce the independence and self-reliance being developed at camp. The American Camp Association provides the following tips to help families communicate with campers, and be a part of the

life-changing experience of camp from afar: • Give your child pre-addressed, stamped envelopes or postcards so that he or she can write home often.

• Send a note or postcard in advance to the camp so there will be a personalized message when your child arrives. This lets young campers know that the family is thinking about them, assures campers that parents know they are having a good time, and expresses enthusiasm for the camp’s activities.

• Care packages are always appreciated, but be sure to check on what the camp’s policies are regarding what items may or may not be included.

• Avoid mentioning how much parents,

Get your cookies while you can!

Girls across Minnesota and western Wisconsin will be selling cookies through March 17. You can also find an online cookie booth locator at girlscoutsrv.org.

In 2012, more than 32,000 girls participated in this program, selling approximately 159 packages on average.

Each package costs $4 and of that purchase price, 70 percent stays with the Girl Scout, her troop, and the council to fund leadership development programming that builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

siblings, and even pets miss them.

While families may think it sends a “we love you so much” message, it may actually cause unnecessary homesickness and worry.

• Discuss communication options with camp directors. Many camps offer families the opportunity to check in using technology to post photos and video of daily activities to camp websites. In some instances, parents may be able to send an email to the camper that is printed out and delivered with the regular mail. It’s important for families to always check with the camp director prior to get the scoop on policies.

March 2013 9

Shannon

Keough

Postpartum fitness

“S

o, I assume you’ve gotten right back into your old Pilates routine, huh?”

I was about six weeks postpartum, and meeting a friend for lunch. I stared at her with disbelief.

Pilates routine? Was she kidding?

She was, in fact. Herself the mother of three grown children, my friend was intimately familiar with the challenges of pursuing physical fitness after the arrival 10 March 2013

of a new baby. Her attempt at humor was lost on me, however—six weeks of chronic sleep deprivation had rendered me a humorless, irritable version of the person I once was. Pilates? I was lucky to get in a walk from the bedroom to the kitchen.

Before my daughter Lydia was born, I was optimistic about my potential to “bounce back” after pregnancy. I certainly wasn’t expecting to drop all the baby weight right away, but I figured that basic

physical activity would be no problem.

While I was pregnant, I ate well, took Pilates and yoga classes a couple times a week, and went on lengthy bike rides, all well into my third trimester.

All of this ended after I gave birth.

After my unplanned c-section, I was shocked to discover how much effort it took—and how much it hurt—to simply turn over in bed. Although women who have c-sections are counseled not to begin serious physical activity for at least eight weeks, I’d imagined performing some rudimentary Pilates moves while the baby slept.

Au contraire! Even if I’d felt up to a few shoulder rolls, my baby would certainly have had none of it. Lydia was extremely colicky, screaming miserably around the clock. If I wasn’t feeding her, I was attempting to soothe her while bouncing her on an exercise ball or walking her around the block in a sling. Come to think of it, I guess I was getting some exercise—but I managed to negate most of it through my near-constant stress eating of “lactation cookies.”

Sadly, I put my plans for physical activity on the shelf. “Maybe next year…”

I told myself, brewing some Mother’s Milk tea and eating a plateful of macaroni and cheese.

Eventually, however, Lydia calmed down a bit, and I started to ease back into the world of exercise.

Warm ups I began with some mom-and-baby yoga.

Lydia held up well during the first part of the class, which was focused on yoga and massage techniques for the baby. But once we transitioned to the second half of class—the mom-focused part—Lydia flipped out. I retreated to the corner, feeding her for the remainder of class.

“This is totally normal,” the instructor assured me, but I still felt a little cheated out of my part of the repertoire.

I decided that maybe exercising with my baby just wasn’t in the cards. I signed up

at my local YMCA, which is beloved by several friends for the free childcare that comes with the membership.

I dropped Lydia off at the kids’ center my first day, triumphantly marching up to the equipment room, all alone. I hopped on a treadmill, enjoying my freedom. “I am an independent woman of the world!”

I thought to myself, as I started trudging along in place. About five minutes passed, at which point a Y employee approached me, squinting at my license. “Are you Shannon?” he asked. “You need to come for your daughter.”

I made my way down to the basement to find Lydia wailing in apparent agony.

Tears were streaming down her tiny face.

I felt awful—how selfish of me to leave her with strangers while I worked out!

As the weeks wore on, the lack of exercise was making me irritable. “We need to figure something out,” my husband said.

So we did. I realized that scheduling a weekly fitness class—and giving my husband some unfettered time alone with his daughter—garnered me some much-desired time by myself, greatly improving my mood. Once I established that habit, it was suddenly easier to do other things along the same lines, like taking a second class or doing some stretching while Lydia was hanging out in her bouncy seat. At first I felt like I had to be there for her all the time—that if I left her to exercise I was being vain and selfish. But that mentality, I discovered, made me neurotic, out of shape, and a little resentful.

So, new mothers, please listen: join the Y, and keep taking your baby to the childcare center—experienced mothers assure me the babies get used to it. Pop your little one in a stroller and go for a long walk. Put down the baby flash cards and pick up the free weights. After all, a relaxed and happy mother is good for the baby, right?

Shannon Keough lives in south Minneapolis with her husband, Nick, and daughter, Lydia. She can be reached at mnga@‌mnpubs.com.

Learning begins at

birth.

ECFE works to strengthen families and encourages parents to provide the best possible environment for the healthy development of their children.

Parent-Child Classes • Birth – 5 Years Old • www.ECFE.info

Early Childhood Family Education This ad was made possible by the generosity of the Minnesota College Savings Plan.

For more information, please visit www.MN529today.com ECFE MNP NR3 2-3page.indd 1

12/17/122013 1:04 PM March 11

Peter

Dehnel, MD

I have heard a lot about concussions

lately. I want my child to participate in sports but now I am very concerned about permanent brain injury. What do I really need to know about concussions?

The term “concussion” can be very concerning for parents, but thankfully very few of them lead to any longer-term problems. On the other hand, it is important to take them seriously. Here are a few general suggestions to consider if your child has sustained a concussion.

Concussion simply implies an injury to brain that is significant enough to cause symptoms after the injury. This can result from a direct hit to the head—from a

12 March 2013

sporting activity, a fall off a scooter or bike, or even just tripping and hitting the ground. It can also result from an indirect jarring of your child’s brain from an injury elsewhere on his or her body. A child or teen does not need to lose consciousness—dizziness, headache, confusion, blurred or double vision, and loss of memory all signal that a fair amount of force has been delivered to the brain. There does not need to be any physical changes to the brain to be diagnosed with a concussion. It is a “functional” injury related to the neurons (brain cells), which are temporarily not working normally.

One of the biggest advances in the treatment of concussion in the last decade is the determination that

the brain must have sufficient time to heal following an injury. This is very different than the previous concept that a quick return to “the game” is perfectly fine. The current recommended steps for “concussion rehabilitation” after a sports-related injury follow these sequential steps: 1. No activity – complete physical and cognitive rest 2. Light aerobic activity – walking, swimming, stationary bicycle, etc.

3. Sports-specific exercise with no head impact 4. Non-contact training drills 5. Full-contact practice 6. Return to play Moving from one step to another requires that there are no concussionrelated symptoms experienced at that earlier stage of healing before moving upward.

As always, if you believe your child has sustained a concussion, please consult your medical professional.

With summer coming, I would like my kids to have some sort of camp experience. What should I think about when it comes to camps, and how can I help my child have the best experience possible?

Camps can be a great opportunity for children and teens to experience an entirely different physical environment than what they are used to, from a very primitive setting in the Boundary Waters, to canoeing on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, to traveling outstate for backpacking in the mountains. At the other end of the spectrum are music, art, debate, theater, and language camps. In addition to the traditional “sport camps,” there are sport-specific camps that can significantly enhance your child’s skills and abilities.

One way to begin considering the best camp for your child is to include him or her in the decision-making process. What type of camp would they like to attend?

Then consider if you want a day-based camp—which will generally be more local—or will this be an overnight or

extended experience? Camps for teenagers can commonly go for two- to four-week sessions. If this is your child’s first extended time away from home, preparing them in advance by talking through the experience and building up the opportunity will generally be helpful to ease their transition away from home.

Many camps require a number of forms to be completed, including necessary medical information. Your child’s immunizations should be up to date, both for their sake and the sake of the other campers.

Making sure the staff is fully aware of any health issues and/or needed medications that your child has is essential. Campers will need to have an adequate supply of routine and urgent medications (like an albuterol inhaler for wheezing)—which can sometimes be overlooked by parents.

Knowing what health care resources will be available onsite in case of an urgent need is very important and reassuring to parents as well.

There are a large number of resources and websites that can help you get started in this process with practically an endless number of choices for families. Many colleges and universities will have academically-oriented programs available for younger students. Churches and faithbased organizations typically have many options, including “family camps.” A few websites include: mysummercamps.com; campresource.com; and campchannel. com.

If you get this issue in time to attend, Minnesota Parent holds an annual camp fair at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

This year it is on February 23 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Go to mnparent. com for more information.

Diabetes Care

For everything you LOVE.

This column is intended to provide general information and guidance only and not specific medical advice. If you have specific questions about your child, please consult your health care professional. Dr. Peter Dehnel is a board certified pediatrician and medical director with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Have a question for Dr. Dehnel? Email mnga@‌mnpubs.com.

March 2013 13

St. Patty’s Day Green Food If there’s a day your kids will eat or drink green food, it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Sneak in the veggies with these two tasty treats. recipes

The Leaping Leprechaun ½ cup strawberries 1 banana ½ cup spinach leaves 1 cup water Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until really smooth, not grainy or chunky or with bits of leaves floating about. It can be thick, as you can always thin with water, but it needs to be smooth. This should take only a couple of minutes. Blend until the greens are so pulverized that they are no longer visible other than infusing your smoothie with a beautiful green color. Serves 1.

Crazy Kale Chips 2 large bunches of curly leaf kale, rinsed and with stems removed ½ teaspoon sea salt 3 T olive oil 1 T apple cider vinegar 2 T Miso paste 1. Mix the oil, apple cider vinegar, Miso paste, and salt in a large bowl.

2. Tear or roughly chop the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces. Keep in mind they will shrink a bit once they are baked or dehydrated.

14 March 2013

3. Gradually add the kale pieces into the bowl with the mixture. Mix everything well, making sure to evenly coat the kale leaves.

4. Either bake at 350 degrees about 10 to 15 minutes until edges are brown but not burnt, or dehydrate at 125 degrees for 6 to 10 hours. Add more salt to taste (optional).

5. Eat right away, or store in an airtight container to keep them crisp.

— Kathleen Stoehr

Minnesota Parent Tested

Excalibur Food Dehydrator Compact enough to sit on the kitchen counter, cool to the touch and with thermostat adjustability, this dehydrator does a great job of drying slowly enough to preserve active enzymes in fruits and vegetables, but with so little work on your end once the product is placed on the trays, you can pretty much set it and forget it until it’s done. Pull a tray out during the cycle barehanded to check its progress—it really isn’t hot to the touch.

We started with citrus, dehydrating thin slices dusted with a light dusting of superfine sugar to use as garnish on festive holiday cocktails and are looking forward to “sundried” tomatoes come harvest time. Try the kale chip recipe (left), too. It’s delicious!

Starting at about $400 at excaliburdehydrator.com.

—Kathleen Stoehr

March 2013 15

Joy

Riggs

t h e c a mp i ss u e

Prepping the first-time camper

T

here are times when parents make decisions based on their own well-being. There are times when parents consider what’s best for their child. And then there are those happy times when the two intertwine, and it’s a win-win for both parents and kids. That’s the situation I’ve found myself in now that I have persuaded my 16 March 2013

youngest child, Elias, to sign up for a week of summer camp.

I’m a little surprised it didn’t happen sooner. My two older children both have had positive experiences at different overnight camps. My 16-year-old daughter, Louisa, went to camp for the first time several years ago with her Girl Scout troop, and last summer, she spent a

month at a Concordia Language Villages camp. My 14-year-old son, Sebastian, has been to Boy Scout camp multiple times and is interested in becoming a camp counselor. But 12-year-old Elias—who is more cautious about trying new activities—has never asked to attend an overnight camp by himself, even though he has enjoyed attending various day camps, as well as the three-day Cub Scout camp he and I once experienced together.

So I decided it was time for me to bring up the subject—and to enlist the persuasive abilities of his older sister.

I admit I have selfish reasons for wanting him to go to camp for a week.

With all three kids gone at the same time, I could tackle some long-delayed projects without interruptions. I could make a dent in my stack of unread books. I could walk around the house without picking up stray wrappers and dirty socks. Ah, the possibilities! But mostly I want him to go because I know that his brain and body will stretch and grow in a stimulating environment that’s different from home and from school. (Also, if he’s home all week without siblings, he’s more likely to turn to screens for entertainment. At camp, the only screens he’ll see are the ones keeping the mosquitos at bay.)

Connie Rodosovich, general manager of camping services of the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, says camp can be transformational for youth, whether they attend for three days or three weeks.

“Kids who attend camp do better in school, their social skills improve, and their self-esteem increases,” she says.

“We really believe in the powerful, positive impact of a camp experience.”

Rodosovich says parents of first-time overnight campers should consider what they most want their child to gain, and let that guide them in selecting a camp. Is it important for your child to learn to ride a horse? If so, you might choose a camp known for its quality equestrian program.

Do you want your child to have a wellrounded experience? Examine the range of activities that are offered, and the staff-to-camper ratio. Are you and your

Resources American Camp Association When is Your Camper Really Ready tinyurl.com/bfn9urw YMCA Twin Cities Camper Readiness tinyurl.com/ax3kxpp

All Inclusive Fun Summer Camps. New Adventures Each Week.

Rock Climbing, Swimming, Games, Outdoor Sports, Art, Cooking & more. 3 Field Trips a week.

Ages: Kindergarten-6th Grade Flexible schedules: Choose days & weeks!

St. Anthony: 612-455-8955 • Blaine: 763-784-1451 info@jjsjam.com • www.jjsjam.com

child comfortable being separated by a six-hour drive, or would a camp closer to home reduce anxiety?

Jack & Jill MNP 0512 12.indd Fortunately, Minnesota is blessed with an abundance of camp options; the YMCA alone offers a variety of overnight camps for kids ages seven to 17, plus wilderness camps for youth ages 12 to 18, day camps for kids ages four to 14, and family camps for all ages.

Rodosovich says one of the best ways to prepare potential campers is to have them visit the camp website and check out the photo galleries, to get a sense for what a typical day might include.

Attending a camp open house or information night can be a good opportunity to meet camp staff and ask questions.

Also, most camps, like all those operated by the YMCA, are open to tours. Seeing where they’ll be eating and sleeping can often put kids more at ease.

If a child still feels hesitant, the option of attending overnight camp with a friend or another family member can help boost confidence. That’s the strategy I employed in proposing camp to my son Elias. I suggested he attend the language camp where his older sister will be returning this summer because I knew that the security of knowing someone at camp would make the idea more appealing.

The fact that Louisa could enthusiastically describe details about the food, testify to the friendliness of the counselors, and teach him some of the songs has me convinced that although he won’t unpack his suitcase for four more months, Elias already is on his way to becoming a happy camper.

1

4/16/12 10:43 Steppingstone AM Theatre MNP 0313 12.indd 1

2/8/13 4:20 PM

March 2013 17

Spray it

Camp Kid

Don’t want DEET? The All Terrain Kids’ Herbal Armor insect repellent is great for those who want effectiveness but eschew harmful chemicals. Instead, you ‘ll get five natural essential oils recognized by the EPA as repellents, to protect against mosquitos, gnats, flies, ants, and other pesky insects. Easy to use pump spray makes self-application simple. allterrainco.com; about $6

Cover it t h e c a mp i ss u e

Packing for the great outdoors? Here are some items to consider.

By Kathleen Stoehr

So your child is on a hike, and he’s wearing cotton socks?

Parental fail. Be a good dad and pack a few pair of cushioned and moisture-wicking Wigwam socks crafted of olefin and nylon with a touch of spandex for stretch. The synthetic blend dries quickly (thus avenging the dreaded trench foot) and won’t slink down into a shoe or rub the heel the way cotton might. rei.com; about $11 with discount for multiples

Shield it

Tote it Computer camp? Well then, protect that laptop en route with a shoulder bag from REI with sleek neoprene sleeve. Exterior zipper provides quick access to the compartment, plus additional pockets will hold water bottle and other essentials. rei.com; about $58 to $85

Lightweight, shatterproof, and with polycarbonate lenses that are strong as well as heat-resistant, these Hang Time sunglasses are sized to fit smaller faces, and best of all, will protect young eyes against glare off the water, or other harmful rays. Plus, knowing how easily kids tend to lose things, the low price won’t make your wallet deflate.

Available at local REI stores; about $13

Show it Put a bracelet on it and ensure your child’s allergy is touted at camp for those in food service to see. AllerMates products are hypo-allergenic, nickel and latex free and have passed rigorous safety standards and testing. Vibrant color and visuals for 14 different allergies include peanut, insect sting, pollen, fish, egg, and more. allermates.com, some Walgreen’s and CVS; about $7

18 March 2013

Light it The Black Diamond Wiz Headlamp lets youngsters enjoy hands-free lighting, just like adults. Elastic band has pull-away fittings, so if a child catches it on a limb or door handle, it comes apart under the pressure. Includes two LEDs plus a dimming feature. Automatically turns off after four hours to save battery life (we know your kid is going to forget to turn it off). blackdiamondequipment.com; about $19

Drink it Keep your child hydrated, no matter what camp they’re participating in.

Simple one-piece bite valve is designed to be easy for young children to use and helps to eliminate drips and spills.

BPA-free and dishwasher safe.

Just bite and the beverage flows through the value. Fourteen fluid ounces of fun in a kidhappy container!

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2/4/13 10:22 AM

camelbak.com; about $13

March 2013 19

Kara

McGuire

Getting your financial house in order

T

ax time forces you to think about your finances. How much you earned, how much you donated, how much you owe, or how much Uncle Sam owes you.

Before I put my forms away, I always take a moment to think about the year ahead and how my tax situation may or may not change. The exercise is eye opening, and always inspires me to get my financial house in order. A spring cleaning, if you will. What else is on my list of chores?

Clean my cabinets: Our house is small

and so is our filing cabinet. That means we have little room for unnecessary paperwork. Generally, the IRS advises you to keep your tax returns forever.

Important forms—think W-2s, 1099s, and receipts—should be kept for at least three years.

20 March 2013

For all other paperwork I ask myself three questions: When’s the last time I touched it? When will I ever need it?

Could I get a copy in a pinch? These days, with online accounts and cloud storage, very few papers meet my “keep” test.

Air my financial dirty laundry: Every

spring I check one of my free credit reports, found at annualcreditreport. com. It’s important to look for mistakes and to make a plan for any accounts that are past due and need some cleanup.

Dust off my savings plan: Spring is a

good time to brush off the account statements and check on investment performance. If my goals change, I make tweaks to ensure I’m still on track to meet them. I rebalance my winners and losers. And since I qualify for a Roth IRA retirement plan, I always make sure to contribute the $5,000 maximum for 2012. The deadline for 2012 contributions is April 15th.

Trade clutter for cash: Nothing like a

few months of being cooped up in my house to want to purge, purge, purge.

Whether it’s making a quick buck on Craigslist, trading items on the neighborhood Facebook barter page, or donated items to charity, little makes me happier

than finding a home for our unwanted items and seeing the floor in my kids’ rooms again.

Create a financial honey-do list: Actually,

make that list together with your partner.

Like a list of dream home improvements, it’s good to have a list of financial dreams.

Ours are to move into a bigger house, take a warm vacation every year, and have six full months of emergency savings.

Keep up with the cobwebs, not the Joneses: After the Great Recession, our obsession with keeping up with our neighbors financially has somewhat subsided. Still, I have to admit a pang of jealousy when a Facebook friend announces they bought a big new house, or someone else posts photos of a trip to Hawaii. This is when it helps to have a financial dreams list and a plan.

Make that smartphone shine: From budget tracking to mobile coupons to an app that helps me maximize my credit card rewards, my smartphone is loaded with tools that make me a smarter money manager. Take time to browse for some new money-related apps and delete those you never use. A couple of my current free-app favorites? Wallaby is an app that tells me which credit card to use to get the biggest benefit from my reward programs.

And TD Ameritrade’s Snapstock lets me learn the latest stock news and quotes about the publically traded companies that make most products in the grocery store, just by snapping a picture of a product’s UPC code.

Count that spare change: Americans have

$10 billion in spare change kicking around kitchen counters and hiding in couch cushions. What’s your share of that number? With kids, my coin clutter is mysteriously smaller than it used to be.

But life is far richer.

You can get there. We can help.

Visit www.MN529today.com or call 1-877-338-4646

Kara McGuire is a personal finance writer and St. Paul mother of three.

Send questions or column ideas to Kara@‌KaraMcGuire.com.

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2/11/132013 9:26 AM March 21

Nature & our planet As the vernal equinox approaches, we welcome the changing of the season and our ability to experience wildlife and our world from a more unfettered viewpoint.

By Kathleen Stoehr

Awesome Snake Science Complete with 40 activities including science experiments, art projects, and games, Awesome Snake Science satisfies kids’ curiosities about snakes while helping them gain appreciation. From cobras and copperheads to pythons and boas, readers will learn how to make foldable fangs to see how snakes’ teeth and jaws work together, mimic rattlesnake sounds with a rubber band, paper clip, and an envelope, and more. For ages 9 to 12

By Cindy Blobaum Chicago Review Press; $14.95

Bindi Behind the Scenes: An Island Escape When Bindi Irwin goes to Borneo to film a feature-length documentary on orangutan rehabilitation, she meets the domesticated ape, Merah—the film’s star and the most adorable creature she’s ever seen. But when a tropical storm hits the island, Merah escapes. Will he be able to survive in the wild? Escape poachers? For ages 11 to 14

By Marisa Nathar and Bindi Irwin Trafalgar Square Publishing; $11.99

Lucky Ducklings

Lucky’s Little Feather

Mama Duck and her five ducklings are out for a walk one fine day—out of the pond, across the park they waddle, the ducklings happily following Mama. But when all of the ducklings fall into a storm drain (making quite the ruckus!), can three firemen and a tow truck driver rescue them? For ages 5 to 7

Lucky the mouse has a new friend—a little feather that brings him good luck. From avoiding a hungry fox to escaping the claws of a hawk, Lucky’s new charm helps him steer clear of one dangerous situation after another. Demonstrating that happiness can be found in the smallest of things, this story illustrates the importance of staying positive in all situations. For ages 3 to 5

By Eva Moore; pictures by Nancy Carpenter Scholastic, Inc.; $16.99

Written and illustrated by Peggy van Gurp Clavis Publishing; $15.95

22 March 2013

Cheer Up, Mouse!

Mouse feels lower than low and his woodland animal friends try to cheer him up the best ways they know how. But sometimes, all a friend needs is a hug to brighten a day. For ages 4 to 8

By Jed Henry Houghton Miin Harcourt; $12.99

When Anju Loved Being an Elephant A powerful story of a fictional elephant, Anju, but will teach much about the plight of elephants in captivity. Beautifully illustrated, it treats the depiction of circus animals as gently as it can so as to not upset its target age group, while still raising awareness. The back of the book also offers elephant facts and websites for more information on how to help. For ages 6 to 10

By Wendy Henrichs; Illustrated by John Butler Sleeping Bear Press; $16.95

March 2013 23

Sean

Toren

. e c n a m o R on ) D e T a (beL PHoto By DAnA CroAtt

W

hat—it’s March already?

Valentine’s Day missed again? It was blown last year, too. No drawn bath with scented candles. No babysitter and dinner out. No flowers or a Whitman’s Sampler or even a Hershey’s kiss.

Is there a spouse in hot water? Pouting?

Threats of moving my ass(ets) offshore?

No, I’ve been through this before. I stayed calm and told my partner ‘Edna’ how disappointed I was that she’d forgotten me again.

Wait…you thought I was talking about my own epic fail? Not on your life. I’m the envy of straight men and other non24 March 2013

romantics everywhere. I have so many ‘get out of jail free’ cards in my wallet I finally just had it tattooed across my forehead. I can’t get in trouble for forgetting birthdays or anniversaries or greeting card holidays, because my wife forgets them first.

This is a mixed blessing for someone who survived what we gravely refer to in my family as The Great Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1979.

It started with my father completely forgetting Valentine’s Day. After biting her tongue most of the afternoon, my mother finally let loose—admitting that she wished Pop had gotten her something, anything, that showed he’d remembered.

Even something as simple as (hint, hint) my mother’s favorite guilty pleasure at the time, “peanuts and M&Ms mixed in a bowl.” This mixture allows for capricious, whimsical combinations of salt and chocolate, depending upon mood.

My father slinked out of the house to get the simple gift and cool things down, but instead made things worse by getting a big, yellow bag of peanut M&Ms (you know, a peanut INSIDE an M&M), allowing for no capricious combinations.

Things got colorful the moment he poured the M&Ms into the bowl—in the form of fiery, polychromatic sparks shooting out of my Irish-New Jerseymother’s ears.

I scooted off to my room, so I don’t know if a second M&M trip was made or how they managed to resolve it. What I do know is that this was formative in my understanding of romance.

Love philosophy To explain I’ll have to address the philosophical question that heavyweights Kant and Nietzsche and Carrie from Sex in the City all wrestled with, with varying degrees of success, which is: How do we show “I-heart-you” romance? How do we prove to a partner that “you are my one-and-only”? That “I’m the only one for you”? That’s what all this romance stuff is about, right?

The two-part answer we all landed on (OK, except for syphilitic Nietzsche) is: Effort—and Interest.

It sounds simple, and it is. First: the Interest part. My father made a subtle but telling mistake that proved he had not only NOT been paying attention to my mother’s specific, hot-headed request for the one simple thing that would make her happy—but also that he had not been paying attention to the last couple years, where any party we had involved the serving of peanuts and M&Ms mixed together in a bowl.

What she wanted was what we all want, really (no, besides salt and chocolate)—for our partner to show

enough interest to ‘get us’ and then to ‘show us’ that they get us.

Society understands this. Over time, we’ve built in almost fail-safe mechanisms for making sure the more mnemonically challenged (or shy or emotionally uptight) get a little help.

I mean, what is Valentine’s Day except a way of putting a reminder on a calendar that we can’t just love our peeps, but that we need to tell our peeps that we love them, too?

Which leads me to the Effort half of the equation.

In the past, our romantic ancestors had to breaststroke across Nordic seas, stumble over prairie fires, and even stave off growling wolves (mine did, anyway) to deliver their version of edible underwear to their beloved. It was ‘easy’ for them to prove their love.

Not so now, with edible underwear deliverable with a smart phone app. And not so for my father back in ’79, either.

The truth is, though, if he’d simply driven to five stores and struck out at each one, but then presented Mom with a handmade card that said, “Lifetime supply of peanuts and M&Ms—for my little peanut!” he’d have been golden.

You can be, too. Here comes the nugget you’ve been waiting for: you have to understand your partner’s deepest, M&M-and-peanuts self—and then you have to show them that you get them— and rub it in with some elbow grease.

Just exhibit a little effort like driving across town for (hint, hint) those pork dumplings I like so much (I know you’re reading this, Edna).

And if Jiaozi Express was closed and you had to go somewhere else, I wouldn’t fault you for it. Heck, a simple card would do it. Even a Post-it note. Or a little “I love you,” stuck inside a fortune cookie, or scrawled on the back of a gas station receipt. Whatever. I’m easy. A little interest. A little effort. It’s all I ask.

Sean Toren loves living the full catastrophe in Minneapolis with his wife and son. He can be contacted at mnga‌@‌mnpubs.com with thoughts or suggestions.

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a WIn-WIn ThE caMP iSSuE

AKA Sports Camp has a new sport set featured each week it was unusually cold and gloomy for an august day at the victory hills golf course in Blaine, but the campers in the Active Kids Association (AKA) Sports Camp shone bright with loads of energy and positive, encouraging words for one another as they all hoped for a hole-in-one.

High fives were given when a girl in a pink shirt with a coordinating pink golf bag shouts, “I got a bogey!” Near the beginning of the golf course, the younger kids, about five- to seven-years-old were playing a round of golf baseball. “Keep up the good work!” says one of the instructors near the end of the game. A boy in center field followed and tells his teammates and friends, “Yeah! Keep it up!”

AKA Sports Camp doesn’t just teach golf, however. Football, ice skating, lacrosse, archery, and soccer are just a sample of the sports played throughout the 12-week summer day camp.

always on-the-go Each week has a different theme and a different sport or set of sports attached to it. For example, during the week that campers are on the ice in the Schwan Super Rink they learn the basics of skating, and then they have a chance to play hockey and broomball. Every week there is also a field trip included in the cost of camp. During basketball week the kids attended a Minnesota Lynx game at Target Center, and during outdoor recreation week, they enjoyed a hiking/canoeing trip in the Taylor’s Falls area.

Playing different sports and going on different field trips each week keeps kids from getting bored and offers a chance to learn something new. Campers learn even more through the Wise Kids program created by the Säjai Foundation. Each Wednesday, a new Wise Kids informational activity booklet is given to the campers.

“There’s a new health topic each week; from learning about the body, the heart, and general health. This is great for the kids to influence them to make healthy decisions,” says lead coach Dave Frasier.

The campers are kept so busy and have so much fun that they don’t even realize they are learning along the way. After a morning of golfing on the 18-hole golf course or playing golf baseball, the kids were split into age groups to have a break time—one group took a lunch period, and the other group had free time. It wasn’t the kind of free time you might 26 March 2013

situation Story By Valerie Turgeon Photos by Romy Ackerberg

Derek S. practices his swing at the Victory Hills Golf Course in Blaine, Minn. at the AKA Sports Camp.

March 2013 27

Jenna P. prepares to swing at the Victory Hills Golf Course in Blaine, Minn. at the AKA Sports Camp.

expect to see, though. Some kids stretched out on blankets. Others sat alone to read.

Some of the young boys who tried wrestling on the golf course earlier were now sitting in a circle, playing cards. Kids to tend to calm down and relax after a full day of activity.

“That’s something that parents love,” says Chris Schulz, director and founder of AKA Sports. “I’ve had parents tell me that their kids go home at night and fall right to sleep. We have one of the most active programs out there.”

The facilities help, too. The National Sports Center in Blaine is home to the largest soccer complex in the world, the massive eight-rink Schwan Super Rink,

Isaac J. and lead coach Dave Frasier.

Victory Hills Golf Course, stadium, and sports hall.

more information 85 campers for whole summer and five to 10 campers come for the different weeks.

Ages six to 12 Option of signing up for just one week, rather than the entire 12-week program.

For more information, visit akasport.org or call 651-447-2454.

28 March 2013

It’s not just about sports Most sports camps are for athletes; they are for the kids who are dedicated to only one sport and want to become the very best at it by advancing their skills. At AKA Sports Camp, while kids are given lessons for the sport that they are concentrating on for that particular week, Schulz says

that the focus of the camp is about fun.

“We are not a competitive, advancing camp, and there is no focus on being the best. We need to re-teach people that kids just need to play,” says Schulz.

And these kids certainly do play! Plus, with play comes social interaction and lessons in communication, teamwork, and social skills. “There are kids that come to camp who are really shy, but soon they make friends and know everyone’s name,” says Frasier.

@

Brady Z. and Connor B. pass time in the outfield during a game of golf baseball by having a wrestling match.

Schulz also added that the kids are kept so busy, they don’t even have time to worry about making friends because one of the best ways to do so is by team building through sports.

When asked what his favorite part about camp was, Bryce, seven years old, says, “I just like having fun playing with all my friends.” Another little boy snuck up behind him saying, “Like me! I’m his friend!” And then they ran off to finish eating lunch together.

Some of the campers aren’t even sports enthusiasts when they first come to camp, but they soon find how fun sports can be.

“It gets them out of their comfort zone,” says Frasier. “Because we play the sports on such a basic level, anyone can do them.”

Brooke, 11-years-old, says there are some sports she had to play that she originally didn’t like, but then she adds, “you get used to it and then it actually gets more fun!”

Back on the golf course, the younger kids were wrapping up their game of golf baseball. There was a runner on third base, hoping to make it to home plate to score one more point. The batter hit the ball. The runner accelerated and gained enough speed to slide on the grass and touch home plate, but he was too late and was called out. As he walked away, he didn’t concentrate on getting out, rather he exclaimed, “Did you see how awesome that slide was? So cool, man!”

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2/13/13 2:10 PM March 2013 29

ThE caMP iSSuE

Andrew Carlson pets a black pitbull at the Animal Humane Society’s adoption center.

Animals and humans connect at the Animal Humane Society Story and photos by Amanda Snyder

shadow, a spotty black and white cat, captured the heart of 14-year-old Andrew Carlson as he spent the afternoon forming a relationship with the tabby.

“There are some cats I’ve wanted to keep at the camp,” says Carlson with a smile. “Shadow is one of them.”

It was the first day of 2012’s Unleashed summer camp when Carlson was paired with Shadow for a writing activity. He went on to write and handcraft a journal from Shadow’s perspective, including where the cat came from, how he got there, and how he desperately wanted to find a home.

The journal wasn’t made for Carlson to 30 March 2013

keep; it was a keepsake for the family that would adopt Shadow in the future.

Jack Perkins, the humane education manager and coordinator for the camp, says he recognizes the immediate connection that so many campers experience with the animals on the first day. “Every time they go to the adoption floor, they’ll check to see if their animal is still there,” he says. “And if their animal isn’t adopted by the end of the week, they’ll be extremely sad.”

More activities in which the campers participate in include animal interaction, listening to guest speakers, and embarking on behind-the-scenes field trips. The camp is a weeklong summer day camp held by the Animal Humane Society for children grades four to 10.

This will be Perkin’s second summer as

the Humane education manager after moving from Oklahoma. Full of Southern hospitality, Perkins genuinely hopes the children will have a good experience, and he aims toward a week overflowing with activities, excursions, and games. “When it’s all over, I want them to have trouble telling you what all they did because [their week] was so packed,” Perkins says with a slight drawl.

abundant activities There are plenty of activities and trips during the week, but the trips are different than typical zoo outings.

Having attended the camp for nearly three years, Carlson says one of his favorite trips was going to the Underwater World (now Sea Life Minnesota

March 2013 31

13-SP12 MN Parent

Andrew Carlson meets a one-eyed dog named Lipton at the Animal Humane Society. Lipton is a favorite at the Humane Society as his high-pitched bark brings many smiles to those who meet him.

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32 March 2013

2/12/13

Aquarium) at the Mall of America. A typical field trip there involves a selfguided tour of the aquarium; however, Unleashed campers get a behind-thescenes tour. This made it a field trip Carlson wouldn’t forget.

“We got to visit above the water, and 2:38 PM nobody else could go there,” Carlson says.

“And it is also where they prepare the food, take the water quality measurements, and feed the animals.”

This is only one of the special field trips the campers attend, but there is something for everyone to enjoy, as the camp is split up into four different age groups.

The youngest campers, third and fourth graders, focus on the caretaking of animals. The fifth and sixth grade camps concentrate more on how the Animal Humane Society operates and manages adoption. Issues surrounding animal cruelty are the main focus in the seventh and eighth grade camps, while the medical aspect of animals and animalrelated careers is covered with the ninth and 10th grade camp.

While each age group has an emphasis, animal time is the highlight of every camp, according to Perkins. “Overwhelmingly we hear from the campers ‘we want more time with the animals.’ This camp really values the human-animal bond, [and we hope] children spending time with the animals

can teach them to understand and relate to what the animal feels.”

Unique projects To benefit the animals at the Humane Society, service projects are also implemented throughout the week. Campers participate in making pet beds, building feeders for wildlife, creating bandanas to spruce up the shelter dogs, and designing posters to educate the public about animal-related issues.

One of the most exciting projects completed is the enrichment box that the seventh and eighth graders make for The Wildcat Sanctuary, Perkins says. Campers make extravagant and decorative papiermâché or cardboard boxes that are made to look like robots, aliens, or anything from their imaginations. Then they’re given to the animals to tear up as the kids watch, he says.

With all the special trips, speakers, and activities, Luann Carlson, Andrew’s mother, says she feels this camp has been a really special experience for him and can be for other children too.

“This camp is really nice for those kids that really love animals and they’re able to get hands-on experience with them,” she says. “It gives them a deeper love of animals—and the instructors are so great.

about unleashed Unleashed summer camps run from June 11 through August 17 at five different metro locations.

For more information, go to animalhumanesociety.org/services/ youth/unleashed or call 763-522-4325.

The kids get a lot out of it.”

Carlson and Perkins said they both recognize the wonderful reputation that the camps have gained with parents and the community. “[When I ask parents] how they heard about the camp, the most common response was from someone else who’d been at the camp and had a great experience,” Perkins said. “We have great word of mouth.”

This summer camp continues to be popular; in fact, this year the Animal Humane Society has decided to bring back spring break camps. The spring break camp hasn’t been available since 2010 and it’s returning with a distinctive twist, Perkins said. Along with animal activates and games, the Animal Humane Society will be pairing up with the Stages Theatre Company to give kids the opportunity to create an animalthemed play that they will perform at the end of the week. ”I’m really excited about it because it’s unique,” Perkins says. “I want it to be something different, a different experience [than the summer camp].”

Every summer, the Unleashed camps fill up fast and this year will be no different, Perkins says. They have added more sessions this year at their five different locations around the metro, and signing up early is recommended to ensure a spot.

Carlson said he hopes to attend again this year and his mother seems keen on sending him after giving the camp tremendous praise.

“I love it because he loves it,” she says.

Carlson’s four-legged friend Shadow went on to find a happy home and Carlson left the camp with something more, a week of unforgettable memories.

Amanda Snyder is a student studying journalism and photography at the University of Minnesota.

Art Camp

™

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2/11/13 12:33 PM

SAINT PAUL URBAN TENNIS SERVES UP FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Join us at one of 28 neighborhood court sites this summer!

June 17 – August 2

Monday – Thursday Youth Lessons: By using smaller courts, slower bouncing balls and lighter racquets, we make it easier for your child to hit, play and score right from the start. We get kids playing and then teach Day and Evening Classes Available them how to improve through learning proper technique and basic strategies. Monday through Thursday for one hour.

Jr. Team Tennis: A program for intermediate and advanced level players aga 12 – 18 designed to improve a player’s skill through drills and competition. Kids are placed on co-ed teams with others of similar ability. Base price includes three practices and match per week with season ending Area Tournament.

Scholarships Available!

25% Multi-Child Discount

651-222-2879 | www.sput.us Life skills and nutritional education integrated into lessons!

Reading program for 5 – 8 year olds!

Free Family Fun Night & Program Kick Off June 14, 4:00 – 7:00 pm Meet the Coaches Games & Contests On-site Registration*

Adult Lesssons & League Play: From beginning lessons to competitive match, play we have a class for you. Beginning Lessons, Cardio Tennis, Sets in the City and Flex League.

Register online at www.sput.us by June 1 to save $5 Registration forms also available at most Saint Paul Recreation Centers. *Class size is limited - register early to reserve your spot.

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2/14/13 1:56 PM March 2013 33

Running with rucksacks? Troops offer kids an opportunity to try out movement while wearing the gear. submitted photo

t h e c a mp i ss u e

Minnesota military kids bond through activities

By Laura Groeneweg

Minnesota National Guard recently deployed and brought home 3,000 service members over the past year. While soldiers are well prepared and supported during deployment, the National Guard also prioritizes supporting families and children of service members before, during, and after deployment.

In Minnesota, there are over 20,000 military-connected youth who have been affected by the deployment of a loved one.

One essential component to supporting children is ensuring that even in times of crisis, they have the opportunity for personal growth, companionship, and fun. National Guard youth camps provide an outlet for military connected youth to process the impact of deployments.

34 March 2013

What does camp have to do with the experience of military kids?

At its core, these camps are fun.

However, camp also offers a terrific opportunity for youth to process the deployment cycle at their own pace and also connects military kids with an extensive peer network. While resilient, youth often experience anxiety, stress, confusion, and relationship strain during the deployment cycle. Military kids often report that their peers simply don’t

understand the unique experience of being separated from a loved one engaged in military service. Military youth camps provide an opportunity to connect with other military kids, learn new activities, and come to understand what their parents go through while serving in the United States military.

The twist? The camping opportunities that are offered to military-connected youth through Operation Purple Camp are typical summer camps with a twist,

Resources A variety of camps to serve military families in three different phases of military life: deployment, reintegration, and coming together after an injury. Go to operationpurple. org for more information.

Information on Minnesota National Guard Youth and Teen Camp can be found at mngyc.org. For other opportunities, visit beyondtheyellowribbon.org.

While resilient, youth often experience anxiety, stress, confusion, and relationship strain during the deployment cycle.

Military kids often report that their peers simply don’t understand the unique experience of being separated from a loved one engaged in military service.

This is one summer adventure you’ll never forget!

Summer Programs now enrolling. student.services@vobs.org (828) 239-2376 www.vobs.org

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including a Military Day. A Unit is tasked to provide a Military Day at camp.

Soldiers set up stations for the kids and teach cadence calls, how to march in formation, do physical training, try on the gear, climb inside an armored tank, and even try a MRE (meals ready to eat). The youth get to have a firsthand experience of what their parent goes through, but on a much smaller scale. Often a child will ask if the soldier conducting the camp knows their deployed parent. During the Military Day the campers get to identify with the soldiers who provided a shared experience in a safe environment.

The National Guard Youth Camp has offered camp for over 20 years at Camp Ripley. The camp board is comprised of volunteers who plan, organize, and implement the experience. There are two weeks of youth and teen camp. The youth camp is for ages 10 to 12 and the teen camp is for ages 13 to 15. Many of the campers return as counselors in training once they have aged out of camp. At Camp Ripley, youth get to participate in canoeing, overnight camping, archery, hiking, geo-caching, obstacle course training, repelling, rock climbing, and other activities. The National Guard Youth and Teen Camp offer unique experiences for youth who have a parent in the military. When their parent has to go to annual training for two weeks at Camp Ripley, their child has a visual of where their parent is going and what they might be doing while at training.

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1/24/13 2:12 PM

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The Center for Reproductive Medicine is seeking women between 21 and 33 years of age to donate eggs for couples who cannot otherwise achieve pregnancy.

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ALL ETHNICITIES NEEDED Accredited by: Diplomats of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, American College of OB/GYNs and Association for Reproductive Medicine.

Center for Reproductive Medicine MNP 0313 H4.indd 1

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March 2013 35

ThE caMP iSSuE

Presents

Native Voices of the Americas: from the

ARCTIC to the ANDES

Learn about two diverse cultures through music, art, dance and drama taught by professional artists.

July 8-19 All-day or Half-day for ages 4-12.

1300 Summit Ave., St. Paul | 651-698-2787 | artstart.org Internship opportunities also available.

Art Start MNP 0313 12.indd 1

2/13/13 3:07 PM

GYMNASTICS since 1977

!

Summer Session

Summer Camps

Apple Valley Eden Prairie

www.tagsgym.com 36 March 2013

The talent inside A classic approach fosters artistic growth

By Katharina Gadow

“I

think it is hard to take a first art class because you think other people will expect you to be really gifted and talented right from the beginning,” says Jan Selby, mother of three.

This common thought is exactly what founder, director, and instructor James Robinson of The Art Academy in St. Paul has been trying to help people avoid.

“One of the things that we do at The Art Academy is balance creativity with projects that stress skill development. Ideally, you want the two to advance together,” he says.

Robinson states that current studies on artistic development show that kids around age 12 become much more aware of their surroundings. Unfortunately, they can also be self-consciousness about their art skills.

“For example, kids could be in a classroom where they have an assignment to sketch a portrait of Abraham Lincoln,” says Robinson. “They’ll see a student at an adjoining desk that is drawing well. Then they’ll look at their own picture and think, ‘mine isn’t good by comparison, I’m not good at art’ so they’ll just quit believing in themselves artistically.”

At The Art Academy, however, Robinson can officially say that he and his staff have been stopping artistic self-consciousness for two decades.

The master-apprentice approach Growing up in Chicago, Jim Robinson discovered at a young age that he wanted to be an artist. He spent a lot of time at different schools taking weekend classes and ended up studying at a traditional drawing school in Minnesota called Atelier Lack.

Throughout his time at the school, Robinson discovered that teaching artistic skills had more or less fallen to the wayside to make way for creativity. He began to wonder what sort of abilities an average kid could possess if given the right instruction and tools.

“I started thinking, if kids can do math well, and can learn how to read and write well, they most probably have the skills inside them to draw and paint well.”

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GYMNASTICS * TUMBLING * TRAMPOLINE

Gleason’s Gymnastics School Strengthening children in mind and body through successful gymnastics experiences

www.gleasons.com Maple Grove 763.493.2526 9778 85th Ave. N Gleason's Gymnastics MNP 0313 H4.indd 1

Eagan 651.454.6203 2015 Silver Bell Rd. 2/8/13 4:23 PM

Ruby Thompson, age 16, watercolor.

March 2013 37

Students shine in a Saturday morning class for ages five to eight.

Photo by Katharina Gadow

The trick was to develop the right tools and instruction to help them realize those abilities. Only when he had immersed himself in art history books did he come up with a solution: the teaching practices of the Italian Renaissance.

During this cultural movement, children as young as 11 were slotted into career choices. They would go into a master’s studio with the expectation that within four to seven years they would be trained well enough to support their families. This is known as the master-apprentice approach, which Robinson adapted and made his own.

“The emphasis of the instruction was to teach kids how to draw and paint proficiently. It was believed that if you taught young artists those skills their creativity would blossom.”

Not long after, Robinson forged ahead with the idea for a school that would welcome children of all ages and skill levels, with the Renaissance and master apprentice principles guiding the way.

“We really believe in our students.

Because of the skills we see inside them, all self-consciousness about inadequate artistic abilities disappears. Our students feel confident in what they do,” he says.

“I love Jim’s philosophy,” Jan Selby says. All three of her children, and Selby herself, have taken classes at the Academy. “It is less important if you have been born with a gift and it is more important that you are willing to work hard and practice and learn… anyone can really become an artist.”.

Inspiration everywhere This in no way means that Robinson 38 March 2013

sacrifices creativity for artistic training. The Academy encourages students to try their hands at painting or drawing by using an already existing piece of art for inspiration, whether that inspiration comes from horses, Monet, or even Selby’s son’s choice—“Calvin and Hobbes” comics. It doesn’t matter; Robinson welcomes it all.

“The kids have tons of freedom in what they do,” he says. “Our idea is that aesthetic taste improves with time naturally if kids are in an artistic environment.”

Selby agrees: “They get individual support when they need it and there is an experienced instructor keeping an eye on what they are doing, but they are working in their own way and at their own pace.”

In the ages five to eight level 1 camp session, the freedom of the students is paired with an end goal: to create a book.

Five illustrations and one self-portrait build upon each other to become more pictorially complex as the students progress through the camp.

“Every page has a lesson associated with it,” Robinson says. “The first project would be a simple drawing of a scene with a prominent center of interest—or focal point—for a viewer to look at. But down the road, the fifth illustration would have a lot going on. There would be a horizon line, overlapping shapes, an understanding of near and far, and a sense of color progression in the picture.”

After three hours a day and five days a week, students have created a lovely keepsake that is tailored to their unique tastes and personality.

Robinson himself worked in children’s book illustration for almost 12 years, but that is not the only thing he brings to the

(Left) Claire O’Brien, age 15, watercolor (Below) State Fair winner Matt Walsh, age 15, oil

Joyce Preschool MNP 0313 H6.indd 1

2/6/13 2:36 PM

Camp Invention MNP 0313 H4.indd 1

2/13/13 1:45 PM

(Left) Jacob Smith, age 7, acrylic

We proudly serve lunches from the Wedge Co-op Deli, featuring vegetarian, vegan, gluten- and dairy-free options, and many organic ingredients.

(Above) Danielle Peick, age 18, watercolor (Left) State Fair Grand Prize winner, Maggie Mountain, age 18, oil

Healthy living. Healthy learning. Happy children.

Pre-K through Grade 8 2344 Nicollet Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404 City of Lakes Waldorf MNP 0313 H4.indd 1

To schedule a visit, contact: enrollment@clws.org phone 612-767-1502 www.clws.org 2/5/13 3:34 PM March 2013 39

Resources To learn more visit theartacademy.net or call 651-699-1573.

Academy. Robinson has helped to form meaningful relationships and a community through The Art Academy, something that is recognized by all.

“What keeps us going as teachers are the bonds that we form with these kids. They end up being so dear to us. There is a real depth to these relationships that doesn’t end when our students go off to college. So often they come back and visit with us,” Robinson says. “We have kids who are still coming back who have graduated from college years and years ago. We have developed really wonderful bonds to our community.”

Selby’s family is no exception. Even now as a freshman at the University of Cincinnati studying industrial design, her daughter Jenna continues to return to the school, but not as a student, as an instructor.

“We’ve had such a wonderful experience there,” Selby says. “I really felt like Jim and the staff got to know my children as unique personalities and really respected their individuality.”

“Not many teachers have this opportunity, to really see kids grow up the way we get to do,” Robinson says.

In the first summer of 1993, the Academy had around 30 students. As of summer 2012 that number grew to about 600. Given that 2013 marks the 20-year anniversary, you could say Robinson has accomplished what he set out to do.

“My original question,” says Robinson, “which was how talented are average kids when it comes to drawing and painting was answered fairly quickly. It became very evident that all kids have a natural ability to draw exceptionally well. Twenty years later our school is still based on that one premise: That everyone who comes to us is bursting with potential. We are the guides who nurture these kids in thoughtful ways to bring that talent out.”

Katharina Gadow is a former Minnesota Parent intern, now a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is currently working on her M.S. in Publishing at NYU.

40 March 2013

Out About Free First Saturday: Kids Film Festival ÎÎThis celebration of films features animation, live-action, and 3-D shorts from all corners of the world. Stories about chocolate fingers, moons made of milk, and mysterious arctic caverns will dazzle and get everyone laughing.

Gallery admission on this Saturday is also free.

When: Saturday, March 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (family activities until 3:00) Where: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: walkerart.org or 612-375-7600

Maple Syrup Madness ÎÎCelebrate the arrival of spring with the sweet sap of sugar maples. Can you tell the difference between real and artificial maple syrup? Take a maple taste test challenge. Learn how to recognize a maple tree from a twig, even before the tree leafs out. Make a maple keepsake to take home. Grab a map and follow the path from sap to syrup on self-guided hike.

When: Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4:00 p.m.

Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen Cost: FREE with Arboretum gate admission ($12 adults; FREE for ages 12 & younger); FREE for members Info: arboretum.umn.edu or 952-442-1400

March 2013 41

It’s Kid’s Day at the Home & Garden Show in Minneapolis! See Choo Choo Bob & Radio Disney

10 spring forward!

———————— Daylight savings!

———————— ———————— ———————— ————————

3

ncaa Men’s Division i tournament begins March 19

opens @ CTC

5 ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ————————

11 12 ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— Jackie & Me

4 ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ————————

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Twins play 29 spring training games

march madness

14 ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ————————

Baby Fair @ Galleria Edina, 12 to 4

9

15 16 Family Square ———————— Dance @ Hamline ———————— Church in St. Paul ———————— free family flick: shrek @ moa ———————— ————————

@ Stages Theatre

8 7 ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— owl Moon opens

high School hockey tournament begins March 6

Sat

1 2 ———————— Maple Syrup ———————— Madness Every ———————— weekend @ Landscape ———————— MN Arboretum 12 to 4 ———————— ————————

Fri

out about

Sun Mon tues Wed thurs

March PuLL ouT anD saVe!

st. Patrick’s Day

Presents resents the 7th AnnuAl nnuAl

tive bo oths!

Interac

Camp Fair 2013 MNP 0213 4.71x3.59.indd 1

SponSored By: 1/24/13 1:57 PM

For more information: www.mnparent.com/calendar/camp-fair or 612-825-9205

Door Prizes • face Painting ainting • gooDie Bags • art Project

At Como PArk Zoo & ConservAtory

28 ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ————————

TPT MNP 0313 4.71x3.59.indd 1

27 ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ————————

Ad Fr MI ee SS Io n

Toddler Tuesdays @ MOA: Easter Bunny’s Spring Fling!

26

29 30 ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ———————— ————————

2/8/13 2:53 PM

Roe Family Singers @ Saturday Live!

22 23 ———————— Live raptors @ ———————— saturday Live!

11:15 a.m.

———————— Southwest ———————— Journal’s Spring Home ———————— Improvement Fair ————————

———————— ———————— ————————

19 20 21 ———————— First day of Spring Last day to ———————— buy Girl scout cookies!

———————— ———————— ———————— Koo Koo Kanga Roo @ the MIA’s Third ———————— Thursday event

mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon borglum born, 1871

25

18

Sat, Feb 23, 2013 10am-2pm

2 01 3

31 easter sunday ———————— ————————

Music Under Glass: Chastity Brown Trio @ Como Zoo

24

17

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Out About Bye Bye Birdie ÎÎPublicity agent and songwriter Albert Peterson is in a pickle when his client, Elvis-like rock & roll star Conrad Birdie, is drafted into the Army. Albert’s sweetheart Rosie Alvarez comes up with a last-ditch national publicity scheme to save Albert and persuade him to give up the music business: Birdie will sing Albert’s new song live on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” where the heartthrob will also grant one last kiss to a teenage fan before going overseas.

The Biggest Little House in the Forest

ongoing The Biggest Little House in the Forest ÎÎWhen Bernice the Butterfly finds an abandoned house in the woods she makes it her home. Soon she is joined by Millie the Mouse, Fred the Frog, and other friends.

Everyone is welcome, and there’s always enough room for a new friend in this heartwarming tale, told by one amazing actor with delightful puppets. Toddlers+ When: Through March 17 Where: Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis Cost: Prices vary depending upon seat and date selected Info: childrenstheatre.org or 612-874-0500

Owl Moon ÎÎA world premiere! Take a journey into a mystical, magical, winter wonderland where a father and child take a walk in the woods hoping to spot an owl and are surprised by what they find. This world premiere musical is a ballet-inspired story full of movement and dance. For all ages When: 8th to the 24th Where: Stages Theatre, Hopkins Cost: Prices vary depending upon seat and date selected Info: stagestheatre.org or 952-979-1111

44 March 2013

Bye Bye Birdie ÎÎCome see 50s rock-and-roller Conrad Birdie get ready to give one last kiss to typical American teenager Kim MacAfee on the Ed Sullivan show, just before he’s inducted into the Army. Witness the upheaval this creates in Kim’s quiet town of Sweet Apple, Ohio, the conflicts between the parents and the younger generation, and how Conrad’s agent Albert —and his secretary Rosie—handle it all.

When: 1st through 3rd; 7th through 9th Where: Park Center Senior High, Brooklyn Park Cost: $8 adults; $6 students/seniors Info: tinyurl.com/aaxwzne or 763-569-7600

Tiny Treasures: Fairies & Gnomes ÎÎEscape to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum this winter to experience the magical world of fairies and gnomes. Let your imagination take flight as you wander through the display of miniature fairy gardens created by Tonkadale Greenhouse.

When: Through March 31 Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen Cost: FREE with Arboretum gate admission ($12 adults; FREE for ages 12 & younger); FREE for members Info: arboretum.umn.edu or 952-443-1400

When: Through March 30 Where: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen Cost: $46 to $81, student discounts offered Info: chanhassentheatres.com or 952-934-1525

Then Now Wow ÎÎDedicated entirely to Minnesota history, Then Now Wow is the largest exhibit ever created by the Minnesota History Center.

Designed primarily for children, visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring Minnesota’s distinctive places from the prairies and forests to the cities, along the way they’ll meet the people who have made their homes here.

When: Ongoing Where: Minnesota History Center, St. Paul Cost: $6–$11; FREE ages five and under Info: mnhs.org or 651-259-3000

Maple Syrup Madness ÎÎCelebrate the arrival of spring with the sweet sap of sugar maples. Can you tell the difference between real and artificial maple syrup? Take a maple taste test challenge. Learn how to recognize a maple tree from a twig, even before the tree leafs out. Make a maple keepsake to take home.

Grab a map and follow the path from sap to syrup on self-guided hike.

When: Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4:00 p.m.

Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen Cost: FREE with Arboretum gate admission ($12 adults; FREE for ages 12 & younger); FREE for members Info: arboretum.umn.edu or 952-442-1400

Out About When he’s given an assignment to write a school report about a famous African American, Joe travels back in time to meet one of the greatest baseball players ever— Jackie Robinson—and learns what it was like for the man who endured more than his share of prejudice to break baseball’s color barrier. For grade 3 and up

Minnesota & the Civil War

When: March 12 to April 14 Where: Children’s Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: Prices vary depending upon seat and date selected Info: childrenstheatre.org or 612-874-0400

• Teeth Whitening

ÎÎHundreds of exhibits featuring products for boating, hunting, fishing, and camping, plus outfitters and resorts. Appearances from the stars of Hillbilly Handfishin’, daily fishing and hunting seminars, lumberjack competitions, and much more.

When: Through September 22 Where: MN Children’s Museum, St. Paul Cost: $9.50 ages 1 to 101 Info: mcm.org or 651-225-6000

Jackie and Me ÎÎJoe Stoshack may not be the best baseball player on his Little League team but he does have one unparalleled advantage: with the help of the old baseball cards in his prized collection, Joe has the remarkable ability to time travel!

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• Comprehensive Dentistry

ÎÎThe Civil War holds a pivotal place in the history of the United States. Citizens of the new state of Minnesota were a major part of the national story, from being the first state to offer troops through their dramatic role at Gettysburg to Appomattox and beyond.

ÎÎThe exhibit features beloved characters Dora and Diego from Nickelodeon’s hit series Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!, now in their own exhibit for your preschooler to explore as they learn and play along. The exhibit gives children and their families the opportunity to go into the worlds of Dora and Diego to engage in problem-solving and active play.

952.884.5361

• Cosmetic Smile Design

Northwest Sportshow

Dora and Diego—Let’s Explore!

DR. WALTER J. PALMER

info@riverbluffdental.com

Minnesota & the Civil War

When: 2nd through Sept. 8; closed Mondays except for holidays Where: MN History Center, St. Paul Cost: $5 and under FREE; 6 to 17, $6; seniors and college students, $9; adults, $11 Info: minnesotahistorycenter.org or 651-259-3000

RIVER BLUFF DENTAL

• Porcelain Veneers Crowns & Bridges • Galileos 3D Digital Imaging

When: March 21 to 24 Where: Minneapolis Convention Center Cost: Adults $11; 15 and under FREE Info: northwestsportshow.com

Preschool Playdate ÎÎEach Tuesday, the Science Museum offers preschool appropriate activities that will keep little hands busy and little minds buzzing. A Preschool Playdates ticket includes admission to the exhibit galleries, take-home science experiment, preschool perfect Science Live performances and science demonstrations, and various discounts.

Complimentary Consultations RBD Saving Packages Available Most Insurance Accepted

When: 10:00 a.m. to noon Where: Science Museum, St. Paul Cost: Under five, FREE; $13 for adults Info: smm.org/playdates or 651-221-9444

Wee Wednesdays ÎÎPlenty to see and do for toddlers and their families. Free, educational programming geared toward children five and under; also features hands-on activities and more.

When: Every Wednesday beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Where: Midtown Global Market, Mpls Cost: FREE Info: midtownglobalmarket.org or 612-872-4041

March 2013 45 River Bluff Dental MNP 0412 V3.indd 1

3/21/12 11:53 AM

Out About

Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy

Como Zoo MNP 0213 V6.indd 1

Family Night at the Global Market

1/11/13 3:30 PM

ÎÎLive music, a children’s play area, and free balloons for the first 50 children.

Businesses will validate your parking (for up to three hours) with purchase if you park in the 10th Avenue parking ramp.

When: Every Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Where: Midtown Global Market, Mpls Cost: FREE Info: midtownglobalmarket.org or 612-872-4041

1 Friday Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy ÎÎThis action-packed ice spectacular showcases characters from Cars and Toy Story 3 along with Tinker Bell and The Little Mermaid. From wheels to waves, playtime to pixie dust, your family’s favorite Disney moments come to life with skating, special effects, and beloved characters.

When: 7:00 p.m.

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis Cost: $15 and up Info: ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000

46 March 2013 Radio Disney MNP 0112 V6.indd 1

12/12/11 11:13 AM

2 Saturday Free First Saturday: Kids Film Festival ÎÎThese films feature animation, liveaction, and 3D shorts from all corners of the world. Stories about chocolate fingers, moons made of milk, and mysterious arctic caverns will get everyone laughing.

When: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (family activities until 3:00) Where: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: walkerart.org or 612-375-7600

Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy ÎÎSee description, Friday, March 1.

When: 11:00 a.m., 3:00, and 7:00 p.m.

Free Family Flicks: The Wizard of Oz ÎÎEnjoy a free movie. First-come, firstserved to theater capacity.

When: 10:00 a.m.

Where: Theatres at Mall of America, Bloomington

Out About Cost: FREE Info: theatresmoa.com

Saturday Live!

Ollie’s Garden Day ÎÎJoin Ollie the dog as he learns some new tricks and tries to protect the carrot patch from a pesky rabbit. Presented by Woodland Puppets.

When: 11:15 a.m. to noon Where: St. Paul Public Library, Central Library Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/bulsmwh or 651-266-7034

TPT - Writer's Contest MNP 0213 H6.indd 1

1/24/13 1:02 PM

3 Sunday Home & Garden Show ÎÎSunday is Kid’s Day at the show. In additional to all of the great exhibits, presentations, and vendors for parents, there will be entertainment and activities for the whole family, including an appearance by Choo Choo Bob and all day fun with Radio Disney.

When: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where: Minneapolis Convention Center Cost: 5 and under FREE; 6 to 12, $4; adults, $13 Info: homeandgardenshow.com

Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy ÎÎSee description, Friday, March 1.

When: 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.

5 Tuesday Toddler Tuesdays: Mixed Nuts ÎÎKid’s comedy duo, Mixed Nuts, will tickle your child’s funny bone with hijinks.

When: Shows at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Where: Mall of America, Rotunda Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/3vbfhly

March 2013 47

Out About 8 Friday Toddler Storytime ÎÎFor children ages two and three.

Interact with your toddler to nurture a love of books. Learn letters, sounds, and new words. Be active with music and movement.

When: 10:30 a.m.

Where: Ridgedale Library, Minnetonka Cost: FREE Info: hclib.org or 612-543-8800

products for mom, dad, big brother or sister and of course, baby, a fashion show, children’s activities, and more!

When: Noon to 4:00 p.m.

Where: Galleria, Edina Cost: FREE Info: galleriaedina.com or 952-925-4321

10 Sunday Family Day at the MIA: Cityscape

ÎÎFor families and their children ages four to six. Help your preschooler get ready to read. Enjoy stories together and build language skills.

ÎÎCelebrate cities big and small at this free family event. Draw a bustling city scene inspired by the Minneapolis skyline.

Fashion a fabulous skyscraper hat. And, check out the MIA’s exhibition, The World at Work.

When: 10:00 a.m.

Where: Sumner Library, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: hclib.org or 612-543-6875

When: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Minneapolis Institute of Arts Cost: FREE Info: artsmia.org or 612-870-3000

Preschool Storytime

9 Saturday

11 Monday

Free Family Flicks: Shark Tale

Nano Nano — The Science of Small

ÎÎEnjoy a free movie. First-come, firstserved to theater capacity.

ÎÎGreat for students developing their understanding of the scientific process, this program introduces the audience to the world at the nanoscale, home to some of the most cutting edge science of today.

When: 10:00 a.m.

Where: Theatres at Mall of America, Bloomington Cost: FREE Info: theatresmoa.com

Saturday Live! Magical Mia ÎÎDon’t blink your eyes or you’ll miss one of Mia’s stunning tricks! Mia will mystify and entertain with illusions involving flowers, umbrellas, scarves, butterflies, and more.

When: 11:15 a.m. to noon Where: St. Paul Public Library, Central Library Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/bulsmwh or 651-266-7034

Baby Fair ÎÎExplore the options for you, your pregnancy, and your family. Discover exhibits and events that promote healthy birth and parenting, child safety, baby photography,

48 March 2013

When: 2:00 p.m.

Where: Wescott Library, Eagan Cost: FREE Info: 651-454-4318

12 Tuesday Arty Pants: Your Tuesday Playdate ÎÎFeatures activities for adults and youngsters ages three to five. Art projects, films, gallery activities, and story time.

When: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Cost: FREE with gallery admission; Walker members and kids ages 12 and under are always free.

Info: walkerart.org or 612-375-7600

Toddler Tuesdays: Lucky Leprechaun ÎÎJoin Tessa of Dancercise Kids for a St. Patrick’s Day dance and sing-a-long.

Tessa’s unique high-energy performance will have your kids up and moving and, for this event, kids will join Tessa in looking for Lucky Leprechaun.

When: 10:00 a.m. to noon Where: Mall of America, Rotunda Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/3vbfhly

15 Friday Toddler Storytime ÎÎFor children ages two and three.

Interact with your toddler to nurture a love of books. Learn letters, sounds, and new words. Be active with music and movement.

When: 10:30 a.m.

Where: Ridgedale Library, Minnetonka Cost: FREE Info: hclib.org or 612-543-8800

Preschool Storytime ÎÎFor families and their children ages four to six. Help your preschooler get ready to read. Enjoy stories together and build language skills.

When: 10:00 a.m.

Where: Sumner Library, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: hclib.org or 612-543-6875

16 Saturday Childish Films @ the Library ÎÎColorful and zany award-winning animated shorts heavily influenced by minimalism and mid-century modern style and sensibilities. Make book art before the show with artists from Minnesota Center for Book Arts.

When: 10:00 a.m. doors, 10:30 performances Where: Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Central Cost: FREE Info: supporthclib.org or 612-543-8107

You can get there. We can help.

Visit www.MN529today.com or call 1-877-338-4646 March 2013 49

Out About Family Square Dance ÎÎFamily Square Dance with band and caller; all ages welcomed, no experience necessary. A pay-what-you-will dinner is offered from 6 to 6:30 at the same location.

When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Hamline Church, United Methodist, 1514 Englewood Drive, St. Paul Cost: $5 individual; $15 family Info: hamlinechurch.org or 651-771-8421

Free Family Flicks: Shrek ÎÎEnjoy a free movie. First-come, first-served to theater capacity.

When: 10:00 a.m.

Where: Theatres at Mall of America, Bloomington Cost: FREE Info: theatresmoa.com

Saturday Live! Saint Patrick’s Day Craft ÎÎDrop in for a make and take Saint Patrick’s Day craft with our Youth Services staff and then enjoy the parade in downtown Saint Paul.

When: 11:15 a.m. to noon

Where: St. Paul Public Library, Central Library Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/bulsmwh or 651-266-7034

17 Sunday Free 3rd Sundays at the Minnesota Children’s Museum ÎÎVisitors can roam the museum free of charge every third Sunday of each month.

When: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Minnesota Children’s Museum Cost: FREE Info: mcm.org or 651-225-6000

Music Under Glass: The Center for Irish Music ÎÎKnown for “singing and dancing just for the sheer joy of it,” Irish traditional music is brought to life by this community of artists dedicated to handing down traditional music and song to the next generation of musicians.

When: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory,

St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/acqqzzt or 651-487-8200

19 Tuesday

Toddler Tuesdays: Lil’ Luau ÎÎEscape the cold, grab your grass skirts and leis, and hula the morning away. Learn to hula dance, make a colorful craft, and get ready for tropical time.

When: 10:00 a.m. to noon Where: Mall of America, Rotunda Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/3vbfhly

21 Thursday Third Thursdays at the MIA: More Real? ÎÎMark your calendar for More Real? Art in the Age of Truthiness, with music from Koo Koo Kanga Roo, tabloid-inspired photo ops, and question reality with curious happenings throughout the galleries.

When: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Where: Minneapolis Institute of Arts Cost: FREE; refreshments for sale Info: artsmia.org or 888-642-2787

Free Family Flicks: Shrek

50 March 2013

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Out About 22 Friday

23 Saturday

Toddler Storytime

Free Family Flicks: Legend of the Guardians

ÎÎFor children ages two and three. Interact with your toddler to nurture a love of books. Learn letters, sounds, and new words. Be active with music and movement.

When: 10:30 a.m.

Where: Ridgedale Library, Minnetonka Cost: FREE Info: hclib.org or 612-543-8800

Preschool Storytime ÎÎFor families and their children ages 4 to 6. Help your preschooler get ready to read. Enjoy stories together and build language skills.

When: 10:00 a.m.

Where: Sumner Library, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: hclib.org or 612-543-6875

ÎÎEnjoy a free movie. First-come, firstserved to theater capacity.

When: 10:00 a.m.

Where: Theatres at Mall of America, Bloomington Cost: FREE Info: theatresmoa.com

Saturday Live! Three Rivers Park District ÎÎMeet live raptors at the Central Library!

Learn the survival strategies of different birds of prey, and find out why some live in captivity in this naturalist-led program.

When: 11:15 a.m. to noon Where: St. Paul Public Library, Central Library Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/bulsmwh or 651-266-7034

Southwest Home Improvement Fair ÎÎMeet local vendors for your next home project. Goodie bags, door prizes, too.

When: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where: Burroughs Community School, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: southwestjournal.com or 612-825-9205

24 Sunday Music Under Glass: Chastity Brown Trio ÎÎThrow all the genres and hyphenates together you want to describe her— gospel, roots & soul, jazz, blues & country—they are all right, and also not enough. She has had half her own lifetime and million lifetimes gone before her to concoct her powerful sound.

When: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/acqqzzt or 651-487-8200

26 Tuesday Third Thursdays at the MIA: More Real?

Arty Pants: Your Tuesday Playdate ÎÎFeatures activities for adults and youngsters ages three to five. Art projects, films, gallery activities, and story time.

When: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Cost: FREE with gallery admission; Walker members and kids ages 12 and under are always free.

Info: walkerart.org or 612-375-7600

Toddler Tuesdays: Easter Bunny’s Spring Fling ÎÎThe Easter Bunny is coming for an exciting morning of hugs, hops, and sweets. Hop along the treat trail in Nickelodeon Universe.

When: 10:00 a.m. to noon Where: Mall of America, Rotunda Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/3vbfhly

52 March 2013

29 fRIDay Toddler storytime Î For children ages two and three.

Interact with your toddler to nurture a love of books. Learn letters, sounds, and new words. Be active with music and movement.

When: 10:30 a.m.

Where: Ridgedale Library, Minnetonka cost: FREE info: hclib.org or 612-543-8800

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Roe family singers Î Get the whole family dancing with this award-winning local band. The Roe Family Singers play good-time, old-time hillbilly music with the rhythms of the banjo, guitar, autoharp, washboard and more.

When: 11:15 a.m. to noon Where: St. Paul Public Library, Central Library cost: FREE info: tinyurl.com/bulsmwh or 651-266-7034

March 2013 53

Back to work after baby Six steps to a smoother transition

A

lthough renewed autonomy and adult interaction found at work can be a welcome relief from the complexities of postpartum life, most women find picking up the briefcase or returning to the keyboard after maternity leave is at least somewhat stressful. Naturally, it’s tough to leave your baby. Of course you will feel (often) exhausted and overwhelmed.

The experience doesn’t have to be miserable, however. With a little preparation, a lot of honesty, good help, and a healthy dose of confidence, the return to work after baby can go quite smoothly.

56 March 2013

By Jen Wittes

Set yourself up for success.

The postpartum period can be intense, to say the least, and maternity leave goes by fast. Oh—and that’s right—you have a new baby to care for.

It would be unwise, if not impossible, to try checking off the entire back-towork to do list in the weeks following baby’s birth. It makes sense to get as organized as possible while you still have the time during pregnancy.

Freeze meals and fine-tune your support system. Research childcare, buy your breast pump, and make all necessary arrangements with your employer

weeks before the estimated due date.

Plan for as much leave as possible, including the addition of sick days and vacation time. While prenatal planning will give you a head start, there will still be last minute preparations, unforeseen obstacles, and decisions that can only be made after meeting your baby.

Find the best childcare situation.

Carrie Jarvis, an administrator at a Twin Cities urban high school says, “For me, this made all the difference. I wasn’t too worried about my twins because I really

like and trust our nanny. I advise new parents to start looking for childcare early so you don’t feel rushed into making an extremely important decision. And, do what feels best for you!”

Whether you go with a nanny, private home daycare, or a childcare center (and all certainly have their perks) it is imperative that you feel completely comfortable with your choice. This is a deeply personal decision. Use your shiny new maternal instincts and let your gut be your guide. Search tirelessly. The right fit is out there.

Understand that your thoughts may shift post-pregnancy. The qualities you valued before childbirth might be completely different from what seems important after. Have a back up plan or two in case your initial choice doesn’t work out.

Be honest.

Be frank and clear in your communications with everyone. Air out issues with your partner. Talk to your childcare provider about any feelings of frustration or resentment. Discuss expectations, your exact job description, and any new personal challenges with your employer.

Be honest with yourself! This is hard, and you will feel conflicted. There will be days when you will question your decision to return to work. There may even be moments when you will question your decision to become a parent.

Thoughts happen spontaneously. Allow yourself to have them.

Amy Marga, associate professor of theology at Luther Seminary says, “Let yourself feel all the complex emotions.

It feels good, it feels bad, you cry, you miss your baby, you are happy to be showered and dressed nicely. It’s so complicated. Let yourself feel.”

As for that first month back to work, Marga advises to, “let yourself perform at a C+ level, don’t try to perform at an A level!” Be honest, not just about your thoughts and feelings, but about your personal limitations as well.

Advocate.

Insist on a clean and comfortable lactation environment for you and the other nursing women you work with.

Encourage male co-workers to take up the cause. Educate non-parents.

Do not let an unsupportive work environment interrupt the bond of breastfeeding. A mother’s milk will not let down if she is not relaxed.

Of course, speaking up is easier said than done as the working world still treats mothers unfairly. Many see pumping breaks and sick children as burdens that are bigger than the benefit of an employee’s output. For this reason, many women bury their maternal side at the workplace—to the detriment of their emotional health and their baby’s— because they are afraid of losing a job.

The truth is, for every minor inconvenience that accompanies motherhood, there is an amazing attribute. Multitasking anyone? Compassion? Moms are amazing, but do themselves a disservice when they pretend to be something they’re not.

It’s time we started breaking down walls rather than attempting to shatter the glass ceiling. Women need to be seen as women. Advocacy need not be loud and irreverent. Simply ask for what you need, and for what you deserve.

Prioritize your own health.

A working mom rarely gets 10 minutes to herself. The continuous transition from office life to family life can be consuming. Sadly, the new norm is a 50 to 60 hour workweek, with the expectation that take-home work be completed over the weekend. Now more than ever, a woman is expected to be available to both her family and her employer 24/7.

In order to keep up, a career mom must make health the number one priority, before—difficult as it may seem—work and family.

I recently spoke with Jewelia Wagner, an OB/GYN at Clinic Sofia in Edina.

When we met, Dr. Wagner was just finishing her second full day back on the job, a mere seven weeks after giving birth. Not surprisingly, she told me that

the sleep deprivation she experienced throughout her medical residency was nothing compared to that of the first few weeks of motherhood.

Wagner also says she has been extremely conscientious about personal preventative health measures—hydration, hand washing, and the flu shot are some of the precautions she mentions.

Like many mothers, those who work outside the home in particular, Dr. Wagner can’t afford to get sick. She needs to be there for both her patients and her baby.

Mothers also need to remember to create time and space for emotional health: for love, laughter, friendship, and meditation. You are traveling down a dark path when you start tapping into your emergency reserves. Fill yourself up with what makes you feel good, so that you may give to your best self to your baby.

Let it go.

The guilt, the self-scrutiny, the frustration: let it all go.

St. Paul birth doula and apprenticing midwife Kate Andrew advises new families to “make the best decisions for your circumstances, and know that those conflicting feelings you’re having are indicative of good parenting and a big, love-filled heart.”

Ilene Moore of Minneapolis, a healthcare consultant, pediatrician, and first time mother of twins adds, “Whether you have to work or choose to work, you might as well choose to enjoy having a bit of time where you aren’t responsible for your little ones.”

Sometimes, happiness is a choice.

Give yourself permission to enjoy your life. Be proud of your accomplishments, both inside and outside of the home.

Ignore—completely—the back-to-work versus stay-at-home debate. You, and you alone, know what is best for your role in your family.

Jen Wittes is a certified postpartum doula at Welcome Baby Care in Edina.

March 2013 57

The First Five Are Forever

Build Confidence.

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Super stretching

Yoga for children offers tremendous benefits Story by Julie Kendrick Photos by Tanya Villano

March 2013 59

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Jessica Rosenberg leads a class of parents and their children.

There’s adult yoga and there’s kid yoga, and they are very, very different sorts of animals—as far apart, say, as downward dog and a crazy, multi-colored cartoon canine.

Adult yoga usually involves dim lighting, soft music, and lots of time to de-stress from the pressures of, well, everything that comes along with being a parent. Kid yoga is playful mix of running, jumping, stretching, and playing, all with an element of mindfulness. The body awareness, breath consciousness, and inner calming are there, all right—but they’re as undetectable to the average kid’s eye as those “sneaky” brownies that have puréed spinach baked right in.

This summer, venerable mommy-andbaby-yoga empire Blooma will be offering kids’ yoga camps, taught by Jessica Rosenberg, a longtime Twin Cities’ yoga instructor and developer of the The Adventures of Super Stretch kids’ yoga program, products, and yoga apps on iTunes. Camps 60 March 2013

will be held at Blooma’s Minneapolis location, 5315 Lyndale Avenue.

Can your kid make it to shavasna?

If your first thought is that there is no way your little darling would be able to sit through a session of yoga, consider the experience of Anne Gustin, Edina resident and mother of two children. Her six-yearold and two-and-a-half year-old often beg to fire up the Adventures of Super Stretch app on the iPad during their daily quiet time.

And, says Gustin, her six-year-old loves going to kids’ yoga classes, especially those

Resources For camp schedules and registration, visit blooma.com or call 612-2238064. To download the app, visit adventuresofsuperstretch.com or the Super Stretch Yoga app in the iTunes store.

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“Jes takes a playful approach to yoga.

They move around a lot. To teach squats, for example, they all pretend to be frogs and hop in a circle around imaginary lily pads. It’s very interactive, and she uses pictures, toys, and animals to illustrate things to the kids. But she also teaches them about the benefits and reasons for each pose. And incredibly, she gets them to lie relatively still in shavasana at the end,” Gustin says.

While yoga for kids is still relatively rare as a regular athletic activity, she says, “I wish it were more prevalent and more of a priority for parents, since sports tend to take precedence. I know that in our household, when our daughter got to a certain age, there were lots of chances for skating and soccer and gymnastics, but we’re still trying to keep yoga in her life, since it’s a lifetime practice, with so many benefits,” she adds.

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Kids embrace the Super Stretch philosophy outside the new location of Blooma in Minneapolis.

“Kids learn how to blossom through the yoga sequences,” teacher Rosenberg observes. An industrial designer, she is a 500-hour Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher, and she believes that many of the things learned in yoga camp are translatable to kids’ lives off the mat. “They find how they can use their breath for emotional control and self-regulation and they learn how to share with partner poses. The balancing poses help them remember that, even when things are stressful, you need to keep breathing or your mind will become erratic,” she adds.

The mind-body connection Kids’ yoga camp gives children the opportunity to take ownership of their reactions, she says. “For example, we might do a flower exercise, where they imagine using their sitting bones to root, and use their breath to blossom. We’ll talk as a group about what kind of flower they choose to be. Or we’ll do an activity where 62 March 2013

they make up their own yoga pose, name it and then teach it to the group.”

Rosenberg observes that there are significant health benefits to a regular yoga practice, no matter how small the yogi or yogini. “In addition to increased mental and physical flexibility, yoga has been shown to have a beneficial impact on children’s health concerns like obesity, juvenile diabetes and attention disorders.

There is a great connection between the mind and body, and I find that the immediate encouragement of simple physical successes can be extremely rewarding to children, and often provides an ideal balance to their normal daily activities.”

emphasis on fun The camps will be held for three age groups that Rosenberg has designated: Eagle group is for ages 5 to 8; Tree group is for ages 9 to 11 and Butterfly group is for ages 11 to 15. Camps include daily

yoGa anyTIme, anyWheRe: aDVenTuRes of suPeR sTReTch aPP Rosenberg’s app allows kids and families to do yoga at home or on the road, and delivers each pose with a compelling story that keeps kids engaged and moving. Sarah Deziel, a Minneapolis mother of two daughters, says that her four- and two-year-old have done yoga with Jes, and love the daily reinforcement that the app provides. “They use the Super Stretch app every day, and they now take deep breaths when feeling stressed or overwhelmed. My older one will move into up dog when she has a tummy ache, the way Super Stretch has told her to do,” she says.

For Deziel, yoga has become a family habit. “We practice yoga together a lot, and I love that it is something that they can feel a part of and can understand what I’m up to when I go to take a class. I’m also a yoga instructor, teaching mainly out in my driveway in the summers, to friends and neighbors,” she says, adding, “Now my daughters think that they can teach to their friends and will set up a mock class. I’m grateful that yoga can be so accessible and fun for our family.”

The super-hero character, Super Stretch, asks kids to “Make NAMASTE part of their day.”

Nothing is impossible Always be honest Make the world a better place Act with kindness Share with others Tell the truth Enjoy and have fun

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yoga sessions, art projects and healthy snacks. Each class typically features stories, games, partner dynamics, animal sounds and, Rosenberg promises, lots of laughter. For all of the groups, there will be an emphasis on creating self-confidence, body appreciation and centered, focused minds. Classes for older kids will include elements such as journaling, time for self-reflection and group discussions.

“Yoga camp is a chance for children to learn how to show up and tap into their own inner strength and power. When they learn to be truly in their bodies, it helps them create their own true selves, whatever age they are,” she says. “Plus, we have a whole lot of fun!”

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March 2013 63

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Growing With Music MNP 0313 12.indd 1 2/8/13 11:01 AM In addition, many camps have websites that include photos, maps, or virtual tours of the facility, sample daily schedules and menus, and information about the directors and key staff. As children become better acquainted with the camp experience and more involved in the Anytime, Summertime decision-making process, they will have Camps at The Little Gym less anxiety about going away to camp.

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• Do I want a traditional camp that gives my child a wide variety of experiences or do I want to select a specialty camp that focuses on a particular activity or set of skills?

• What size enrollment will make my child feel comfortable?

• how rustic do I want the camp to be?

• how structured do I want the program to be? Does my child like to have plenty of choice in the activity schedule?

• is my child ready to sleep away from home for an extended stay? (This will help you to select either a resident or day camp setting.)

• What session length will appeal to my child and to our family plans for the summer? (One week? Eight weeks?)

• how can I stay in touch with my child during camp? Does the camp allow mail, phone calls, or email? Does the camp have parent visitation days?

• how will the camp meet my child’s special dietary or physical needs?

• What is my budget for camp tuition?

Remember, many camps offer financial aid.

Questions to consider in selecting a day camp Day camps offer experiences that are unique from resident camps. Because of this, there are specific points to consider.

• Does the American Camp Association accredit the camp? ACA has specific standards applicable only for day camps.

• What training does the staff receive on safety, supervision, counseling, problem solving, and other issues unique to working with young children?

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• If transportation is offered, where is the closest pick-up location?

• Does the camp have an express bus which transports children quickly?

• If before- and after-camp extended care is offered, who is with the children and what activities take place?

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• Is lunch served or do campers bring their own sack lunch? Are snacks andHoofbeat Ridge Camps MNP 0313 12.indd 2 drinks provided?

The virtual school • If the camp offers swimming, are there swimming lessons or is it simply recreational swimming?

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• Are campers in a group with a counselor all day? Or, are campers free to go from one activity to another with appropriate supervision? In this case, whom would you talk to if you had a question or concern about your child?

• Is an open house offered before camp starts where you can meet your child’s counselor and van/bus driver?

• Are parents allowed to drop by for visits or is there a special parent visitation day?

Once you have answered these questions, go to find.acacamps.org to find a camp just right for your child. Parents may call ACA National Headquarters 800-428-CAMP for further information about specific camps or for the ACA section in their region.

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] March 2013 65

the HAMLINE

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2/7/12 3:15 PM

Young Writers

WORKSHOP

JUNE 17-21

Hamline University, Saint Paul

summer

his creative writing day-camp for area high school and college bound students (ages 15-18) on beautiful Hamline University campus provides students an opportunity to receive in-depth instruction/time with a published

and afternoon “mini courses” in writing, book arts or literary magazine

2013

T

Write on! t h e c a mp i ss u e

“Literary Twin Cities”, a panel discussion with published authors and a concluding reading/celebration are all a part of this creative writing experience.

WRITE, LEARN, SHARE and PARTICIPATE in a COMMUNITY of WRITERS! Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2013.

For more information visit www.hamline.edu/youngwriters

By Leah Smith

Taking writing classes in the summer might be the last thing that any kid would want to do. But the creative writing courses in the Young Writer’s Program at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis are no ordinary classes—they involve everything from rewriting a fairytale to studying popular literature to finding new ways to write a great romance.

“The Loft is kind of like taking an English class, but you talk about fun books—and everyone’s excited about them, not just bored and waiting for the bell to ring,” says Carrie Mesrobian, a teaching artist at the Loft.

This summer the Young Writer’s Program

66 March 2013 Hamline University MNP 0313 V6.indd 1

2/7/13 10:58 AM

will include over 90 classes for children age six to 17, all taught by teaching artists from different backgrounds who dedicate their time to encouraging the next generation of writers.

“The Loft is focused mainly on creating an enriching environment for aspiring writers to expand their creativity,” says Jennifer Dodgson, manager of the program.

“There is no grading involved because the teachers are not concerned with proper grammar or spelling.”

The teaching artists feel very strongly about allowing children to expand their imaginations without worrying about academics. “With most of the creative activities being cut at schools, I think that these classes are very important to the

Kids take a break, decorating the sidewalk outside the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.

Submitted photo

Creativity and potential explored in a variety of summer classes community,” says teacher Peter Blau.

The Loft, a nonprofit that operates through funds and grants from businesses and foundations, also provides scholarship money for students who may not be able to afford a class. “I never want to turn away a kid because they don’t have the money for it,” says Dodgson.

Class list So what kinds of classes might one expect to see?

“We offer a whole smorgasbord of opportunities with poetry, journaling, short stories, and any writing that requires creativity,” says Blau.

One class to be offered this

March 2013 67

SUMMER FUN! Northern Minnesota Summer Camp Sessions of 1, 2, 3, or 4 Weeks are Available.

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2/14/13 1:18 PM Summer Engineering Camps

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(Itasca Community College – Grand Rapids, MN)

Explore engineering careers • Engage in hands-on team design projects • Build analytical and problem solving skills Enjoy recreational and traditional camp activities

summer is Linda Back McKay’s “Fractured Fairytales.” For the first time, the Session 1 Senior High Engineering Camp Loft will be working with the non-profit In July 8-13 (Sr High grades 10-12 entering 10th grade in fall) the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Session 2 Junior High Engineering Camp July 17-20 (Jr High grades 7-9 entering 7th grade in fall) Theater, which uses everyday items such as water and flour to make puppets.

Call Kim Damiani at 218-322-2370 kimberly.damiani@itascacc.edu McKay explains that her students will engineering.itascacc.edu rewrite or create a fairytale, then fashion their own puppet performance and perform it for their parents.

For the older groups, children and teens can choose from a wide variety of interests.

Itasca Community College MNP 0313 12.indd 1 1/8/13 11:08 AM Carrie Mesrobian will be teaching classes on elements in popular literature such as Harry Potter, Twilight, and the Hunger Games as well as on creating fictional worlds and learning what makes a good romance. “We talk about the elements of fiction in popular literature and how they are manipulated to create fictional worlds that are so compelling and enjoyable [that people will want] to escape into them over and over again.”

Outdoor Explorers: Grades 3, 4, & 5 Several more “serious” classes will be Forkhorn I: Grades 5, 6, & 7 offered as well. Dawn Frederick, a literary Trailblazers: Grades 5, 6, & 7 agent and teaching artist, teaches classes for Pathfinders: Grades 7, 8, & 9 young writers who are interested in getting their work published.

“Today’s teens are tapped into social media and have grown up in a time when Summer High Ropes Challenge Saturdays & Tuesdays throughout summer! children’s books have increased in reader-

Summer Camps

Family Adventures: — AND —

Becoming an Outdoor Family Weekend June 8-9

1-888-800-9558 www.eagle-bluff.org Located 5 miles NW of Lanesboro, MN 68 March 2013 Eagle Bluff MNP 0313 V6.indd 2

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ResouRces Camps run from June 17 to August 16 at The Loft Literary Center on Washington Ave. in Minneapolis. For more information, call 612-215-2579 or visit loft.org.

ship,” Frederick says. “They are much more active when it comes to writing and even more likely to try new mediums. What a great opportunity to help them learn the intricacies now, as they are the next individuals to work and contribute to the publishing industry.”

Other students might be interested in getting published in magazines and newspapers. Holly Day offers several beginner journalism classes as well as classes on travel writing and creative fantastical writing. Day never knows what her group of students will be interested in, whether it is entertainment journalism or sports writing.

“I really try to tailor my classes to each new group,” Day says. “I go in with a syllabus and a basic template for the class, and then I ask the kids on the first day specifically what they want to learn during their time with me.

“I love the optimism and fearlessness of kids who are contemplating becoming professional writers,” Day continues. “I love seeing kids who are perhaps not recognized for their talents in school, particularly high school, blossom into confident young people at the Loft.”

Kate St. Vincent Vogl offers a class on how to write a good college essay for those students who are already thinking about the next step in their education. “At the end of the class,” Vogl says, “we share the essays and decide who will get in and who won’t so that we can develop those essays before they count for real.”

Social gathering

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www.nor thernclaycenter.org

“One of the most important aspects of the classes is the social aspect, in my opinion,” says Blau. “It can be intimidating at first but by the end of the class most of them are good friends and love sharing their work with each other.

The kids are always respectful when giving feedback to a fellow writer.”

“I love it when they start talking to each other, because that’s one of the best features of the Loft Young Writers program, really—kids meeting other kids that like the same stuff, whether that’s poetry or the same fandom,” says Mesrobian. “Writing’s a pretty solitary act, so it’s important to have friends who share that same interest.”

The teachers at the Loft are very dedicated to the classes and the kids they instruct. Many of them have returning students or hear from students who are out in the world using their skills. As writers themselves, these teachers understand the need for encouragement and appreciation.

“I’ve always thought that if I’d had a mentor when I was a young writer, someone who could show me how to edit, and get published, and hone my craft, things might have been a little less rocky when I’d started out,” Day says.

And that’s just what the teachers at the Loft do: allow kids to show their true potential and work on expanding their horizons both in their minds and in their work. The teachers see it happen in their students.

“I love seeing how, through a writing exercise or an in-class experience, a story can open up for a student,” Vogl says. “I love the way kids leave the class energized with new ideas and ways to continue to develop their stories.”

“They really want to be there!” says Mesrobian. “Everyone is into the topic and you don’t have to feel shy or silly because you love writing or books. That’s one thing I love to hear from kids and I hear it over and over.”

“Kids are just waiting to go because their imagination is exploding,” Blau adds. “They just need the right environment and the time to be given to them.”

Leah Smith is a senior journalism student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus.

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Camp resources t h e c a mp i ss u e

Academic Bell Museum Science Discovery Day Camps From mammals to invertebrates, outer space and the environment, the Bell Museum's weeklong Science Discovery Day Camps engage children in science through authentic objects and unforgettable learning experiences.

Camps run from June 10-August 30 for grades K-6.

Minneapolis 612-624-9050 bellmuseum.org

Camp Invention Camp Invention inspires creativity and inventive thinking during its weeklong summer exploration into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics!

Led by local educators, elementary school children are immersed into fun-filled, exciting, hands-on activities. Throughout the week, children work together to solve real-world challenges that prepare them for the 21st century. Whether they are creating a Duck Chucking Device or learning about games played around the globe, participants learn new approaches to everyday problems! Discounts are available – register today! campinvention.org

iD Tech Camps & iD Teen Academies Build iPhone/Android apps, video games, programs in C++/Java, movies, and more at weeklong, day, and overnight programs.

Small classes for ages 7-17. Also twoweek, teen-only Academies: iD Gaming Academy, iD Programming Academy, and iD Visual Arts Academy.

Macalester, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, & 60+ universities in 26 states 1-888-709-TECH (8324) internaldrive.com

Junior Achievement Summer Camp Campers will learn how to run a successful business through a variety of fun, interactive activities. Held at JA’s unique kid-sized city, this camp is the ultimate real-world simulation. The June session focuses on STEM careers; the

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Go to mnparent.com/camp for expanded camp coverage

July session will appeal to the budding entrepreneur.

Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest 1800 White Bear Ave N Maplewood 651-255-0037 jaum.org

Learning Designs Learning Services Our summer programs are for students in grades K-12 and include both rigorous academics and artistic pursuits across differing mediums. Weeklong camps begin June 17th and end August 16th. Let’s have some fun, and learn while we’re at it! See our website for details.

Linden Hills Southwest Minneapolis 612-616-2418 designedtolearn.com

MCTC Career Exploration Camps Join us this summer at MCTC for affordable, hands-on camps for young people ages 13-18 in architectural technology, fashion design, biotechnology, entrepreneurship, electrical construction, digital filmmaking, graphic design, HVAC, solar energy, web design, and more.

Scholarships are available.

1501 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis 612-659-6500 minneapolis.edu/camps

Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth MITY offers hands-on enrichment classes for intellectually curious 7th–12th graders, and 4th-6th graders in two separate summer programs. Classes cover a range of topics taught by teachers who enjoy both their area of interest and engaging adolescents.

Macalester College 1600 Grand Ave St. Paul 651-696-6590 mity.org

Providence Academy Summer Programs Building on academic excellence and strong Christian values, Providence Academy’s summer programs offers a

variety of academic, enriching, and fun experiences! We offer activities from drama and driver’s education to computer building and basketball as well as a fullday camp.

15100 Schmidt Lake Rd Plymouth 763-258-2500 providenceacademy.org/summer

School Chess Association Summer Day Chess Camp Professional Educators-All levels of Chess Instruction. Includes: Swimming, Tubing, Soccer, Fishing, Roller Skating, Tennis, Bowling, Sign Language, Role Playing Games, Drama, and Ice Skating. Lunch and Snacks provided. M-Th, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; June 24-27; July 8-11; 15-18; 22-25; July 29-Aug. 1; Aug. 5-8; 12-15. Two Overnights. Download your registration form online.

St Louis Park Recreation Center 763-593-1168 schoolchess.org

Science & Engineering Camps at The Works Camps for girls and boys in grades K-7 who love to explore, design, and build!

Kids learn how things work through fun, hands-on science and engineering projects. Discover messy chemistry, Lego Robotics, electricity, architecture, and more! Camps run June 10–August 29.

9740 Grand Ave S Bloomington 952-888-4262 theworks.org

Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center Have a passion for the outdoors? Combine adventure with serious science at Wolf Ridge’s Ecology Credit Camp. Earn credit (college or high school) while immersed in freshwater ecology and environmental ethics field studies. Your learning adventures include wilderness trips, research projects, and field trips with resource professionals.

6282 Cranberry Rd Finland 218-353-7414 wolf-ridge.org

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Arts Adventures in Cardboard Summer Arts & Creative Play, Outdoors Summer arts workshops during the day, play-focused, and all outdoors! Construct a 50’ cardboard castle, build a suit of armor, make a lifesize paper rowboat, design a faerie house, get lost in a colossal maze.

Unique, inspired and theatrical!

Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis Bryant Lake Regional Park, Eden Prairie Saint Catherine University, St. Paul 612-532-6764 julianmcfaul.com

Art Academy, The City Pages Winner: Best of the Twin Cities! Year-round traditional drawing and painting classes and camps for students ages 5-18. Exceptional student/teacher ratio. Homeschool Program. A Renaissance Program for adults also offered. See samples of student artwork; visit our website. Call for a brochure.

651 Snelling Ave S St. Paul 651-699-1573 theartacademy.net

Art Camps at Studio Seven One week painting and drawing camps for students ages 7–18. Compositional elements will be explored through landscape and figure studies. Students will paint and draw both in the studio and outside. Trips to galleries and museums included. Camps are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. $475 per week, all materials are included. kahlow-curtis@hotmail.com 708 N 1st St Minneapolis 612-376-0381 studio7mn.com

International Music Camp A summer fine arts camp specializing in outstanding programming in over 40 disciplines since 1956: music, visual art, theatre, dance, creative writing, photography, speech, and more.

Welcoming middle school, high school, adult students, and educators.

International Peace Garden on the North Dakota/Manitoba border 701-838-8472 (Sept. - May) 701-263-4211 (June - July) internationalmusiccamp.com

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MCAD Summer Youth Programs The Minneapolis College of Art and Design offers art and design classes and weeklong summer camps for kids and teens ages 5-18. Innovative, professional art educators encourage a fun and experimental studio environment.

2501 Stevens Ave Minneapolis 612-874-3765 mcad.edu/continue

Minnetonka Center for the Arts Summer Arts Camp Art fundamentals taught in fun, ageappropriate activities in ceramics, drawing, painting, fiber, and sculpture (per age group). Ages 7-17 enjoy full days.

Half days for ages 5-6. Day care available next door at Creative Kids Academy.

Registration opens February 15.

2240 N Shore Dr Wayzata 952-473-7361, x16 minnetonkaarts.org

Native Voices of the Americas from the Arctic to the Andes Learn about the many unique art forms of these two diverse cultures through music, art, dance, and drama taught by professional artists. Explore these regions in an all-day or half-day interdisciplinary arts camp for ages 4-12. July 8-19.

1300 Summit Ave St. Paul 651-698-2787 artstart.org

Phipps Summer Art Camp, The Partial-day and full-day classes in drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, animation, fiber arts, jewelry-making, and printmaking, as well as creative dramatics, musical theater, and percussion, for preschool through teens, taught by experienced artists, June 17-August 23.

Phipps Center for the Arts, The 109 Locust St Hudson, WI 715-386-2305 thephipps.org

that a camp cares enough to undergo a thorough review of its operation. Camps and ACA partner to promote growth and fun in a safe environment. To learn more visit campparents.org - the Camp Resource for Families or contact the ACA Northland office.

800-428-2267 campparents.org acacamps.org/northland

Dance/Music Performance Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs Summer Day Camp Calling all kids who love to SING! Join us for a week (July 22 – 26) filled with singing, music games, and arts activities. Singers will explore their vocal potential and increase their confidence in singing. Age range: Grades 2-5. Cost: $89. 9:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.angelicayouthchoirs@gmail.com Bloomington Center for the Arts 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd Bloomington 952-563-8572 angelicacantanti.org

Center for Irish Music, The All ages and abilities will explore and grow musically within the context of the Irish tradition. CIM offers creative and active introductory and intermediate camps on whistle, song, fiddle, harp, and drumming as well as mythology, travel-themed, and performance camps.

836 Prior Ave N St. Paul 651-815-0083 centerforirishmusic.org

Chan DT Musical Theatre Camp

Camp Resources

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres offers summertime theatre camps for kids and teens (ages 5-18). It’s a fantastic week of 1/2 day long sessions focusing on musical theatre fundamentals taught by Chanhassen professionals throughout the summer. Register now!

PO Box 100 Chanhassen 952-934-1525 chanhassendt.com

American Camp Association - Northland

Circus Juventas

Look for the label of quality that a camp is ACA Accredited. Accreditation means

Travel the globe without ever leaving our Big Top! Our full-day, weeklong camps

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explore a vast array of circus arts from Morocco to Mongolia, China to Russia.

Reserve your spot now for the most talked about unique camps anywhere!

1270 Montreal Ave St. Paul 651-699-8229 circusjuventas.org

Lucy’s Outdoor Dance Camp Explore the areas around Lake Harriet through fun activities with an awesome team of counselors. At camp, we dance (hip hop, modern, jazz), do art, theater, nature hikes, ecology, swimming, games, and put on a show at the Lake Harriet bandshell!

Ages 5-8 and 9-12; half or full-day options.

Lake Harriet Minneapolis 612-720-1517 lucysdancecamp.com

Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts Become a triple threat at Lundstrum Center’s musical theatre Camps! All camp intensives taught by Broadway veterans and include level appropriate training in dance, voice, and drama, which students apply to full musical productions. June 10-21: The Magic Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, ages 4-12; June 24-July 28: Hello Dolly, ages 13+ 1617 N 2nd St Minneapolis 612-521-2600 lundstrumcenter.org

Rock & Pop Band Camp Young musicians learn to play in a contemporary rock/pop band. Supportive professional musicians lead groups ages 10-18. All instruments, abilities. Two co-ed camps: June 17-21; June 24-28. Girls' camp July 15-19. Affordable, some scholarships.

Private instruction available, too.

West Bank School of Music 1813 S 6th St Minneapolis 612-333-6651 wbsm.org

Shell Lake Arts Center With programs in jazz, rock band, show choir, art, theatre, dance, and more, the Shell Lake Arts Center is like nowhere else! Just two hours northeast of the Twin Cities in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin. Come join us for the experience of a lifetime!

802 1st St, Shell Lake, WI 715-468-2414 shelllakeartscenter.org

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Sing Minnesota

Youth Performance Co.

August 5-9, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sing Minnesota is a weeklong day camp for girls and boys, ages 8-12 sponsored by the Minnesota Boychoir. While focusing on choral singing, campers also participate in other creative arts – drama and movement, visual arts, and outdoor fun and games! $300, scholarships available.

Concordia University Buetow Music Center 300 Hamline Ave N St. Paul 651-292-3219 boychoir.org

YPC offers summer classes giving a full range of theater skills taught by resident professionals. For both musical theater geeks and those seeking confidence. All camp sessions are weeklong over the entire summer; some half-day offerings and others full day. Choices for K-12 from fairy tales to Broadway hits.

3338 University Ave SE Minneapolis 612-623-9180 youthperformanceco.org/classes

StageCoach Theatre Arts StageCoach Summer Camps give equal emphasis to the three main Performing Arts elements of Dance, Acting, and Singing. Age appropriate camps for ages 6-16 provide real musical theatre experiences for your child, culminating in a fully staged musical.

Edina & Minnetonka: 952-300-5893 St. Louis Park: 952-367-6032 St. Paul: 651-775-2849 stagecoachschools.com

SteppingStone Theatre School for Young Actors This spring and summer youth ages 3.5-17 will spark their creativity at SteppingStone Theatre. Young actors tap into their potential in unique ways--building confidence and acting skills while having tons of fun!

Scholarships/early-bird pricing available.

55 Victoria St N St. Paul 651-225-9265 steppingstonetheatre.org

Triple Threat Training Ordway’s Professional Musical Theater Intensive This one-week intensive in musical theater connects young people with experienced instructors to hone their vocal, acting, and dance technique, as well as enhance their audition skills! Audition required for admission. Auditions February-March, 2013. Camp July 22-26, 2013 for ages 13-18.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts 345 Washington St St. Paul Roy Wilkins Studios: 175 Kellogg Blvd W St. Paul 651-282-3115 ordway.org/education/triplethreat

Day Animal Humane Society’s Unleashed Camp An animal-themed summer day camp at Animal Humane Society for students entering grades 3-10. Camp includes animal-related educational activities, animal interactions, special guests, field trips, and more.

Buffalo, Coon Rapids, Golden Valley, St. Paul, Woodbury 763-489-2220 animalhumanesociety.org/camps

Benilde-St. Margaret’s School Summer Camps 2013 From Athletics to Music to Christian Service, BSM has a program for you.

Camp dates are between June 11 and July 25, prices $80 to $585, depending on program. Visit our website and registration now. Questions? Contact: Jerry Pettinger, jpettinger@BSMschool.org.

2501 Hwy 100 S St. Louis Park 952-927-4176 bsmschool.org/summercamps

“Captain Kid” Sailing Day Camp We help kids 10-18 discover a sense of confidence, adventure, and leadership abilities while learning to sail on Lake Pepin aboard the 31-foot yacht Messenger.

We are in our 16th year of operation and are U.S. Coast Guard certified. While kids learn the ropes, parents can relax in our waterfront shop or visit Lake Pepin’s charming villages and attractions.

Sail Pepin 400 First St/PO Box 266 Pepin, WI 715-442-2250 sailpepin.com

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Gibbs Museum of Pioneer & Dakota Life Pioneer Days: School, Work, & Play Children travel back in time to experience school, work, and play in this three-day pioneer camp. Tuesdays-Thursdays in July; 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. $99. Just one of our six great camps; fun for kids ages 3-10; familyfriendly pricing.

2097 W Larpenteur Ave Falcon Heights 651-646-8629 rchs.com

JJ’s Jam Summer Camp Try something new! Weeklong, themed day camps to meet your child’s interest. Weekly activities include field trips, art, sports, picnics, swimming, and more. All inclusive pricing includes meals, snacks, activity and field trip fees, t-shirt, water bottle, and backpack.

St Anthony/Roseville & Blaine 612-455-8955 jjsjam.com

Kids R.O.C.K. Summer Program Kids R.O.C.K. is the place to be for a summer to remember! Each week follows a fantastic theme along with swimming, ice skating, group games, and field trips! Pay only the weeks you come!

Veterans Memorial Community Center 8055 Barbara Ave Inver Grove Heights 651-450-2585 funatthegrove.com

Minnesota Historical Society Sites & Museums Day Camps From Huck Finn to Finishing School for Young Ladies, the Minnesota Historical Society's camps have something for everyone. Your campers will have a great time and learn about our state's history, too.

Alexander Ramsey House, Historic Forestville, Historic Fort Snelling, Mill City Museum, Minnesota History Center, & Minnesota State Capitol mnhs.org/summercamps

Playworks Summer Camp 2013 …Come Explore With Us! June 10-August 30. Entering grades 1-6. Children explore their world through field trips to zoos, museums, beaches, parks, more. Plus arts & crafts, science, play time with friends. Enroll

by March 29th and $65 registration fee is waived. FT or PT. Daily. Meals included.

2200 Trail of Dreams

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Prior Lake 952-496-6811 playworksfun.com

Roseville Parks & Recreation Have an awesome summer by attending these camps in Roseville. Includes day camps; music/drama camps; sport camps such as basketball, football, cheerleading, golf, tennis, track and field, volleyball, lacrosse; and nature camps. Online registration available.

2660 Civic Center Dr Roseville 651-792-7110 cityofroseville.com/parks

Tamarack Nature Center Summer Camp Adventures A summer full of outdoor fun and adventure awaits! We offer a wide variety of four-day, nature-themed day camps for ages 3-13. Half-day and full-day camps run weekly June 17–Aug. 8. EcoArt Friday sessions are also available.

5287 Otter Lake Rd White Bear Township 651-407-5350 parks.co.ramsey.mn.us/tamarack

field trips, cultural events, swimming lessons, and classes in sports or dance offer everyone the chance try new things while developing friendships and fitness.

YWCA Downtown: 1130 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis YWCA Midtown: 2121 E Lake St, Minneapolis YWCA Abbott Children’s Center: 800 E 28th St, #15103, Minneapolis 612-215-4155 ywcampls.org

Zoo Camp Join our summer Zoo Camps where specially trained naturalists guide your child in discovering the natural world. We have hands-on camps for toddlers through 12th grade. Our weeklong (or single day) camps explore oceans, rainforests, farm animals, and even Zoo careers.

Minnesota Zoo 13000 Zoo Blvd Apple Valley 952-431-9320 mnzoo.org

Horseback Riding

Trailblazers Summer Camps

Golden Ridge Stables

Calling all EXPLORERS grades pre-K–6. Our summer camp is just for you! Each week we explore a new theme, go on a field trip, and learn about cool stuff! Space is limited.

Contact us to reserve your space today!

Footprints Academy & Peace of Mind 9025 Tamarack Rd Woodbury 651-731-2608 footprintsacademy.com peaceofminddaycare.com

Calling all Horse Lovers! We offer quality lessons for youth and ladies on well mannered school horses. At our awesome day camp, each child participates in fun activities with individual attention and structured riding lessons. We ride all year in our safe, clean indoor facility.

8315 W 190th St W Lakeville 952-469-4640 goldenridgestables.com

Waldorf Early Childhood Summer Camp Ages 3.5-5.5, must be toilet trained. Five day camp: June 10-14, and/or June 17-21, and/or June 24-28. Mornings 8:30 a.m.12:00 p.m. or All Day 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

A "Taste of Waldorf"- singing, laughing, outdoor play, crafts, baking, story time, summer fun!

2344 Nicollet Ave S Minneapolis 612-767-1502 clws.org

YWCA Camp in the City A full day, full-time summer option exploring what the city has to offer. Weekly

Hoofbeat Ridge Camps Family owned, for your horse lover, girls ages 7-16, English and Western lessons daily, certified riding instructors, modern bunk houses, campers grouped by age and length of stay.

25 miles W of Madison, WI 608-767-2593 hoofbeat.org

Lost Creek Ranch Lost Creek Ranch Camp Confidence is the best overnight camp for horse crazy kids!

Campers get their "own" horse. Ride a minimum of 4 hours every day! Individual attention. Make new friends and begin a

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Other Minnesota Children’s Museum At Minnesota Children’s Museum, hands-on play builds lifelong learning. Each of our seven galleries is uniquely designed with a child’s busy brain in mind. Every visit is packed with experiences guaranteed to nurture problem solving, fuel fun, and cater to the curious at heart.

10 W Seventh St Downtown St. Paul 651-225-6000 mcm.org

Venture Photography At Venture we capture your precious moments in time and beautifully present them in our stunning hand-crafted product. Our innovative photography, exceptional quality, and first class customer service continues to redefine family photography, creating lasting memories for generations to come.

6551 York Ave Edina 952-345-3392 venturephotography.com/minneapolis

Visitation School

lifelong passion for horses.

N6842 570th St Beldenville, WI 715-273-6070 lostcreekranch.info

Sunnyside Stables Horsemanship Summer Camp Sunnyside’s camp is a place to discover horses and new friends. Each day includes riding—rain or shine, as we have an indoor and outdoor arena as well as scenic trails.

You will discover the basics of grooming, saddling, body language, posture, contact, and balance to develop independent riding skills.

15400 Emery Ave E Rosemount 651-226-2027 sunnysidestables.org

Toad Mountain Ranch Toad Mountain Ranch hosts day and overnight camps for kids and trail rides

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for families. Featured on MTV, this unique 700 acre ranch has cabins for rent on Big Toad Lake and upscale facilities. Located near Park Rapids.

42273 State Hwy 34 Osage 701-261-1305 toadmountain.com

Language Joyce Spanish Immersion Summer Camp Joyce offers weeklong Spanish Immersion camps at its new Park Avenue location-a fun, multicultural experience for ages 3-8! Field trips, a weekly fiesta, and more!

Sessions in June and August; visit our website for details.

3400 Park Ave S Minneapolis 612-823-2447 joycepreschool.org

Visitation’s Summer Solution offers a variety of fun summer options, including athletic activities, visual and performing arts, science experiments, and academic enrichment opportunities for children in grades pre-K-12. Visit visitation.net/ summer for more information.

651-683-1700 visitation.net/summer

Overnight Camp Birchwood At Camp Birchwood the experience is about life-long skills, friendships, and memories that develop at camp. We provide campers with opportunities for making their own choices, encourage them to challenge themselves and to discover who they are through a long list of available activities.

Northern Minnesota 800-451-5270 218-388-4402 Girls Camp: campbirchwood.com Boys Camp: birchwoodforboys.com

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Camp Lincoln / Camp Lake Hubert Since 1909. One, two, three, and four week traditional sessions. Plus tennis, golf, and family camps. Ages 6-16. 30 land and water activities with a focus on developing life skills and lasting friendships. References, brochure, and a fun DVD available.

Box 1308 Lake Hubert 800-242-1909 lincoln-lakehubert.com

Camp WeHaKee Have fun, build friendships, be yourself!

More than 40 activities that each girl chooses. Campers from around the world.

Exceptional staff! At the heart of WeHaKee is relationship. Just three hours from Minneapolis in Northern Wisconsin!

N8104 Barker Lake Rd Winter, WI 800-582-2267 wehakeecampforgirls.com

Girl Scouts of Minnesota & Wisconsin Lakes & Pines Resident & Troop camp opportunities that give girls an experience in independence, character & exploration within the safe environment provided by Girl Scouts of Minnesota & Wisconsin Lakes & Pines.

Camp is open to all girls ages 6-17.

Camp Roundelay, Minong, WI Camp Sanderson, Spicer Shingobee Timbers, Hackensack Northern Lakes Canoe Base, Ely 800-955-6032 gslakesandpines.org

Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center Adventure outside and grow inside at Wolf Ridge. Explore pristine lakes and streams, forests and wetlands during educationally accredited overnight camps, day camps, and wilderness trips. Exciting new activities, rock climbing, high ropes, and camp-outs offered each year.

6282 Cranberry Rd Finland 218-353-7414 wolf-ridge.org

Specialty Associated Speech & Language Specialists Develop your child's confidence while working on articulation, stuttering,

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comprehension, sound awareness, and social skills. We utilize your child's strengths and interests to help improve their speech and language skills.

Our nurturing environment provides individualized services for ages 2-adult.

3490 Lexington Ave N, Ste 305 Shoreview 651-639-0942 561 W 7th St St. Paul 651-225-4558 3001 Harbor Lane N, Ste 120 Plymouth 763-551-3652 2385 Ariel St N, Ste B Maplewood 651-773-3208 associatedspeech.com

Brain Balance Achievement Centers Brain Balance has been successful in helping thousands of kids reach their physical, social/behavioral, and academic potential. The program integrates cognitive, sensory-motor, and nutritional training into a unique, drug-free, wholechild approach that goes beyond the symptoms to address root causes.

Woodbury 651-731-6163 Excelsior / Lake Minnetonka 952-474-4535 brainbalancecenters.com

Camp Odayin For children with heart disease ages 6-17. Camp Odayin provides day and residential camping experiences where campers discover outdoor, athletic, and creative activities in a safe and medically supervised environment. Residential Camp: July 16-20 (ages 13-15), July 23-27 (ages 16-17), August 6-10 (ages 11-13), August 13-17 (ages 8-11). Day Camp: July 30-August 3 (ages 6-7).

Crosslake & St. Paul 651-351-9185 campodayin.org

Camps of Courage & Friendship Five camps located near Annandale, Eden Prairie, McGregor, Maple Lake, and Lake George offering resident and day camp sessions for people ages 5 to adult with disabilities and special needs. ADHD sessions available. Scholarships offered.

ACA accredited.

10509 108th St NW Annandale 800-450-8376 952-852-0101 campscouragefriendship.org

Computer Explorers Technology Summer Camps Nationally recognized technology camps for ages 3–14. Where learning is fun, innovative, challenging, and hands-on. With over 300 camps in Minnesota, we offer exciting classes in Robotics, Video Game Design, Movie Production, Animation, Solar, Aerospace, Rollercoaster Engineering, and more!

Throughout Minnesota 651-730-9910 computerexplorersmn.com

Korean Culture Camp Korean Culture Camp is open to adoptees, their children, siblings, and anyone interested in Korean culture.

Grades Pre-K–6, traditional music, dance, tae kwon do, language, history, and Korean food in a day camp format.

Minnehaha Academy 3100 W River Pkwy Minneapolis 651-769-4600 kccmn.org

Mad Science of Minnesota Hands-on interactive programs allow your child to explore their interest in science. A large variety of camps are available for ages 4-13 throughout the Twin Cities area. Themes include Rockets, Robots, Secret Agent, Forensic Science, Kids in the Lab, Jr. Scientist, Crazy Chemworks, CHESS, and more.

519 Payne Ave, St. Paul 651-793-5721 mn.madscience.org

Swift Nature Camp Let your child’s natural curiosity for nature be discovered. Located just two hours from Minneapolis, we are a traditional co-ed camp, with focus on nature and environment. A First Time Campers Program is available for campers who have not attended camp before.

W7471 Ernie Swift Rd Minong, WI 630-654-8036 swiftnaturecamp.com

Voyageur Outward Bound School Voyageur Outward Bound School inspires students to go beyond their comfort zone while giving them tools to surpass their perceived limitations. We offer wilderness courses that help students achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Ely & St. Paul 651-292-1062 outwardbound.org

Advertiser listings

Go to mnparent.com/camp for expanded camp coverage

Woodcraft Summer Camp Make things that fling! A weeklong summer camp for kids ages 9-13. Build toys or catapults while learning basic woodworking skills, shop safety, and even a little science thrown in to boot! Runs weekly July 8th through August 2nd.

9516 Lyndale Ave S Bloomington 952-884-3634 woodcraftsummercamp.com

Sports and Fitness Academy of Holy Angels Summer Experience Summer Experience offers over 40 oneweek camp offerings in June ranging from sports to art. Camps last 2-4 hours per day so that participants may do two camps in a week. Costs range from $40-$90 for a weeklong camp.

6600 Nicollet Ave S Richfield 612-798-2621 academyofholyangels.org

AKA All Sports Camps

Kenwood Gymnastics Center Summer Day Camps Add fun and fitness to your summer plans!

Camps include gymnastics instruction, a daily large-group activity, open gym time, and we will host a show at the end of the week to show off skills to friends and family.

3440 Belt Line Blvd St. Louis Park 952-922-2774 kenwoodgym.com

Lil Sluggers Twin Cities Lil Sluggers is a child development program that introduces children ages 2-6 to the game of baseball by developing skills such as throwing, catching, hitting, and base running. Lil Sluggers teaches the game of baseball in a fun and positive environment. Outdoor locations to be announced.

43 Hoops: 1002 2nd St NE Hopkins Strike 3 Pitching: 200 W 88th St #9 Bloomington 612-360-5818 lilsluggerstwincities.com

AKASPORT offers year round multi-sports programming with its afterschool classes and the highly coveted AKA All Sports Camps which include a multitude of sports (Archery, Lacrosse, Basketball…endless), fieldtrips (Valley Fair, Twins Games), and nutrition and fitness education.

National Sports Center in Blaine, WSPRAC in West St. Paul, 10 Sports Centre in Long Lake (Minnetonka) 651-447-2454 akasport.org

Little Gym of Edina, The Anytime Summertime Camp

Gleason’s Gymnastic School

Six, weeklong camps this summer for kids ages 9-13. Kids will experience the yearround athletic lifestyle of a cross-country skier through outdoor activities including roller-skiing, mountain biking, running, adventure racing, canoeing, Ultimate Frisbee, and other games.

Wirth Beach, Theodore Wirth Park Minneapolis 612-604-5333 loppet.org

What better way to spend Summer than learning something new at Gleason’s Gymnastic School? Our fun facility & our professional instructors combine to make Gleason’s classes a tremendous learning experience for children of all ages and experience levels.

2015 Silver Bell Rd Eagan 9775 85th Ave N, Ste 500 Maple Grove 651-454-6203 gleasons.com

Advertiser listings

For kids ages 3-12. The most flexible camp in town lets you pick one day or as many as you want! Each week has a fun new theme with games, art, physical activity, and a whole lot of fun.

8223 Hwy 7 St. Louis Park 952-924-0083 thelittlegym.com/edinamn

Loppet Adventure Camp

Revolutionary Sports Combines learning sports, child development, and having fun for a complete positive, sports experience.

Sports include: archery, baseball, basketball, dodgeball, flag football, floor

hockey, lacrosse, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & fitness, volleyball, and more.

Half-day, full-day, early drop-off, late pickup. Camps during spring break, no-school days, weekends, evenings, and summer.

Metrowide Locations 612-234-7782 revolutionarysports.org

Richfield Gymnastics Club Summer Day Camps Richfield Gymnastics Club offers summer day camps, Monday through Thursday mornings, throughout August. Fun, fitness-building, themed activities and gymnastics instruction. Camps are open to girls and boys, ages 5+ of all ability levels.

Packages start at $70 per week.

Richfield High School Gymnasium Entrance 7001 Harriet Ave S Richfield 612-798-6386 richfieldgymnasticsclub.org

TAGS Gymnastics Camps Fun, Fitness, Friends! Gymnastics camps for boys and girls ages 3–17 in June, July, and August. Kids will learn fun, new skills while developing strength, flexibility, and coordination in a safe, positive atmosphere!

TAGS Apple Valley: 5880 149th St W Apple Valley 952-431-6445 TAGS Eden Prairie: 10300 W 70th St Eden Prairie 952-920-5342 tagsgym.com

Vertical Endeavors Indoor Rock Climbing Summer Camps Vertical Endeavors’ summer camp program provides a fun-filled experience for campers ages 6-17! Your child will have the opportunity to learn proper climbing techniques and they’ll leave camp with a sense of self-reliance and accomplishment.

VE St. Paul: 855 Phalen Blvd 651-776-1430 VE Minneapolis: 2540 Nicollet Ave S 612-436-1470 VE Duluth: 329 S Lake Ave 218-279-9980 verticalendeavors.com

March 2013 79

Maple Tree Cottage

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Real Life “We get on our bikes, we bike to the grocery store and back, and everyone feels better. It’s just a great way of integrating exercise for everybody.”

That must be quite the task to get everyone ready to go.

The family works together quickly and efficiently to get on their bikes and are ready in about the same time that it would take to get everyone loaded into our Suburban. Kate and Frank push their bikes out of the garage and check their gear. Almost before Megan has her bike ready to go Mary climbs in her trailer and waits to be buckled up. And as soon as I get my bike out, Henry has his helmet on and climbs onto his “trail-a-bike,” hooked behind mine.

What kind of precautions do you take when on the road with family?

real Dad

Matt Wagner The Wagner family didn’t set out to make a statement about saving gas or the importance of exercise when they started doing their errands by bike. But when Matt, his wife, Megan, and children Kate (11), Frank (8), Henry (4) and Mary (2), pedal around Northfield hauling as many as 14 bags of groceries, it’s impossible not to notice. It all began when the family priest (an avid cycler himself), challenged Matt to drive part of the way to his downtown Minneapolis job— and commute the rest of Q&A the way via bike. After that, So you got the whole family involved? impressed with the savings on Matt, and then the rest of his [Igaswas] and downtown parking, and by how much better the exercise made me feel. family, got hooked on twoJust about anywhere in Northfield we wheeled transportation. need to go is less than three miles from —Myrna CG Mibus

82 March 2013

our home. I thought, “We could just bike this!”

[We take] great precautions to be safe, work together as a family unit, and follow the rules of the road. We wear helmets and each bike is outfitted with front and rear lights and “slow moving vehicle” signs for visibility. En route we use basic voice commands to keep the group together, signal our turns, and follow traffic rules just like any other vehicle on the road.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to safety is drivers who, in an effort to be nice, will signal for us to go when it’s not our turn or will stop in the middle of an intersection when they shouldn’t. They mean to be helpful but the best thing is for drivers to treat bicycles like any other vehicle.

What do you think your children gain from this?

Bicycling challenges can also be viewed as opportunities to talk to the kids about decision making, about choosing options that are safest. Because whether on a bike now, in a car later, or in some other aspect of life, those sorts of decisions will come up in everybody’s lives. The big picture is I hope that the kids are making a lifestyle choice that they will take with them.

Finally, there are the benefits of family time, exercise, and stress relief. We get on our bikes, we bike to the grocery store and back, and everyone feels better. It’s just a great way of integrating exercise for everybody.