nwkidsmagazine.com | APRIL 2012
Camp Resource Guide | Kid-Friendly Astoria Fairy Houses | Earth Day fun | Egg Hunts | E.A.T.
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NW Kids Magazine | 3
Publisher / Advertising Director Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com Editorial Beth Friesenhahn beth@nwkidsmagazine.com Kelley Schaefer-Levi kelley@nwkidsmagazine.com Account Manager Laurel Ackerman laurel@nwkidsmagazine.com Client Services Coordinator / Client Ad Design Karel Chan karel@nwkidsmagazine.com Advertising Inquiries: 503-282-2711, ext. 1 sales@nwkidsmagazine.com Design Robyn Barbon robyn@nwkidsmagazine.com Accounting & Business Services Heather Rex heather@nwkidsmagazine.com Staff Photographer Emma Easley Darden emma@nwkidsmagazine.com ON THE COVER AND above: Photos courtesy of Sara Vandepas Photography. Sara is adept at quickly becoming BFFs with your little ones, giving her unique access to those personal, natural moments that make great portraits. From toddlers vogueing for the camera to newborns being cuddled by mom and dad, and families gathered together, the opportunities abound. Sessions are $250 and wouldn’t you know that the mother of the sweetie pictured above hired Sara Vandepas Photography after seeing an ad in NW Kids. To see more of Sara’s work visit, saravandepasphotography.com Corrections: In the April issue decor spread, we printed Molly Anderson’s website url incorrectly. It is mollyomatic.com. Also, Shelly of Figgy’s Patterns last name should have been spelled Figueroa. 4 | NW Kids Magazine
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NW Kids is published monthly by Miche Media, LLC. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy; sometimes we make errors. Please let us know when we do and accept our apologies. Printed locally; Please recycle.
contents
INSIDE:
health
8 Eating Spring’s Superfoods
camps
10 Resource Guide: Art & Performance Camps
day trip
14 A World Awaits in Astoria
goods contest outings project profile
8
18 Found Around Town: Earthly Goods 20 Best Books About Nature 22 Color Me Cover Contest Details 24 Calendar Of Events 27 Egg Hunts & Earth Day Celebrations 30 Awakening The Imagination: Building Fairy Houses With Your Child 34 E.A.T.: Where Food, Art and Theater Meet nwkidsmagazine.com
online this month
Kid-friendly Vegetable Gardening NW Kids Color Me Cover Contest E.A.T.: Where Food, Art and Theater Meet
14
30
listings A Mother’s Love..............................................3 Adventure WILD............................................21 Amanda Arp..................................................35 Art Cubby......................................................21 Astoria Sunday Market.................................17 AWOL Dance Collective.................................23 Backyard Adventures....................................31 Barbara Erskine Social Learning Groups.......33 Barre3..............................................................2 Baxter Sports................................................23 Bella Stella....................................................35 Bennett Suzuki................................................7 Big Lake Youth Camp....................................13 Billings Dance Center......................................9 Camp Quest...................................................25 Canoe Island French Camp...........................21 Catlin Gabel...................................................19 Chinook Book..................................................3 Clever Cycle.....................................................2 Do Jump!.........................................................9 ecoBabygear.................................................35 EcoMaids.........................................................7 Escuela Viva...................................................19 Farber Swim School......................................23 French American International School.........19 Fun Party Co..................................................27 German American School.............................19 Girl Scouts of OSW........................................29 Himmelbjerget Danish Camp.......................21 Just Between Friends....................................27 Justus Orthodontics......................................35 Little Fruit Farm Montessori..........................33 Mad Science..................................................29 Meadowood Springs....................................23 Meringue Boutique.......................................33 MetroArts Kids Camp....................................13 My Masterpiece Art Studio...........................13 NW Childrens Theater...................................13 NW Film Center...............................................9 Opal Creek.....................................................29 Oregon Children’s Theatre...............................9 Oregon Episcopal School..............................23 Park Family Dentistry....................................35 Pfeifer MusicWerks.......................................21 Philip Foster Farm.........................................25 Play Boutique................................................25 Portland Children’s Museum..........................3 Portland Early Learning................................25 Portland Language Arts...............................17 Portland Trampoline.....................................31 Purple Cow Toys............................................17 Royal Ridges..................................................21 Schoolita Alegria...........................................25 Spanky’s Legendary Consignment...............17 Spielwerk Toys.................................................7 Superkids Resale...........................................17 Verdura Culinary Gardens...............................7 World of Smiles.............................................35 Yu Miao Chinese Immersion Preschool........29 Zenana Spa...................................................33 Zenger Farm..................................................21 6 | NW Kids Magazine
editor’s
corner
Hello, spring. We’ve missed you. Every year we anticipate the return of spring for likely the same reasons any Portlander might. April marks the return of longer days and being able to deem rain gear and puddle boots necessities worn only a few days a week as opposed to daily. And the return of flowers, digging in the dirt, and farmer’s markets are all welcome changes and signs that summer is right around the corner. For kids, spring means more time outside; bike rides, hours of play in the sunshine and unlimited opportunities for discovery that are somewhat tempered by the quiet of rain in the winter months. It’s an exciting time and there is tons of fun to be had and earthly pursuits to enjoy. In this issue we’re featuring another detailed camp resource guide on art and performance camps. And be sure to check out the outings this month with a great piece on fun things to do in Astoria with the kids and some listings in the calendar for Earth day activities and egg hunts. We’re also excited to announce a fantastic contest this month, one we’ve been working on for a while. The Color Me Cover Contest celebrates young artists and community, and the winner’s illustration will be featured on the June cover of NW Kids. How great is that? For more details, see page 22, and go to nwkidsmagazine.com. And see our facebook and twitter pages for updates about the contest throughout April and May. Another great event coming up in April is the 1st Annual NW Kids Camp Expo at Washington Square on April 14th. We are partnering with 14 camps from the Portland area, so families can come out and get all the information they need to make the best decision about camps for their kids. See the back cover and nwkidsmagazine.com for more details. As with every issue, we hope you will find a few new resources and some ideas on how to get out and enjoy the beautiful city we live in with your kids. Have fun and stay in touch. — Kelley and Beth
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health
Photos courtesy of Emma Easley Darden of RLP Studios
Eating Spring’s Superfoods by Brenna Burke
As I sit here looking out the window at the snow on the ground, it serves me well to remember that spring really is on its way. We will still have our share of gloomy days, but with the spring rains we may feel that hint of warmth, with bright spots of color as everything begins to grow and bloom. One of the best parts of spring is the shift from winter’s harvest to spring’s emergence of locally grown produce available at markets, farms, and planted in our own gardens. Eating locally grown produce has so many advantages to our environment, community, and health, they often taste better, too. The family farms in the Northwest work hard to deliver the highest quality, in-season, and nutrient rich superfoods to our tables. Superfoods are simply delicious and nutritious whole foods that benefit our bodies now and into the future. How wonderful to be able to support our local farms and our families’ health in one fell swoop. Asparagus is a nutritional powerhouse. It has the highest amount of glutathione of all foods and is significantly rich in vitamins A, C, and selenium, all of which help prevent cancer. Collard Greens are calcium superstars, a good source of vitamins K, A, C, and E, betacarotene, zinc and manganese, and have four
anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting substances. These mild greens also can lower cholesterol. Garlic is probably one of the best additions to any diet you could make. Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral (wow!), garlic has some serious cancer and heart disease fighting power. An amino acid called allicin is responsible for much of garlic’s benefits, but phosphorus, potassium, zinc, selenium, polyphenols, zinc, selenium, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C are all health boosters. Mushrooms are the newest darlings of the superfoods. They are low in calories, yet pack in vitamins B6, B12, C and D, as well as niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and a lot of antioxidants. New research is showing that these little fungi can fight flu and reduce risk of cancer and heart disease. Rhubarb is well-known for its use in pies, but this bright vegetable is an excellent source of calcium, vitamin C, fiber and potassium. Just be sure to eat only the stems as the leaves are toxic. Spinach is chock-full of the essential B vitamin folate, chlorophyll, phytonutrients, and enzymes. Spinach also reduces the risk of colon cancer, birth defects, heart disease, dementia, and even macular degeneration with only one to two servings a week.
Brenna Burke is a mama of three trying to live a green life, pursue greater health and wellbeing for her family and the planet, and teach her children well, all while always seeking the best tips, insight, and fun for those wanting to go a little greener. Brenna blogs at almostallthetruth.com 8 | NW Kids Magazine
camps
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camps
resource guide:
art & performance camps Art and craft: Ano’s Art Summer camps for creative minds, ages 3 – 18 yrs. anosart.com ART CUBBY Art focused drop-in fun for ages 3 - 12. kidsartcubby.edu CATLIN GABel Arts and more for preschool - grade 12 catlin.edu Creative Children’s Center Art and science day camp and summer school for ages 2-12. creativechildrenscenter.com Fine Art Starts Have fun exploring different art mediums, for campers ages 4 – 6, 7 -10, and 11 + up. fineartstarts.com Grace Art Camp Become immersed in stories, culture & art of East Africa. For children ages 4 – 12. grace-institute.org Impact NW Puppet Camp Learn the art of puppet building. For kiddos ages 5 – 7 and 8 – 12. impactnw.org Junk to Funk Trashion Collective Create your own “trashion” using cool upcycled materials. For ages 10-18. junktofunk.org
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MAC – Multnomah Arts Center Art, theater and dance camps for ages 4 - 12. multnomahartscenter.org Micha-el Waldorf Summer Camp Four nature inspired sessions for ages 3 - 10. micha-elschool.org MIMOSA STUDIOS Pottery fun and so much more for ages 8 and up. mimosa-studios.com Modern Domestic Hip sewing classes and camps for beginners on up. For ages 8 - 15. moderndomestic.com My Masterpiece Art Studio Professionally instructed art camp for children ages 4.5 – 12 yrs. mymasterpieceartstudio.com Oregon College of Art and Craft Summer camp for young artists in grades 1st – 8th. ocac.edu Pacific Northwest College of Art Explore, travel through time and make art. For ages 4 – 14 yrs. pnca.edu PORTLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Art and building camps for children ages 4 - 10. portlandcm.org Rowanberry School Art Camp Child-centered art camp for ages 3-7 yrs. rowanberryschool.com SCRAP – Camp SCRAP Get creative, craft and learn how to reuse. For campers ages 6-12 yrs. scrapaction.org Susan’s House Of Art Fine arts camp for children ages 6 – 12. susuanshouseofart.com
camps Tinker Camp Learn how to build things this summer. For children ages 8 – 12. tinkercamp.org WEVILLAGE URBAN PLAYCARE Summer art camps for ages 4 - 12. wevillage.com
Cooking: The Kids Cooking Corner Engage in cooking, gardening, sewing, crafts and more. For ages 4 – 17. kidscookingcorner.com Merry Kitchen Cook up some delicious American recipes, for campers ages 6 -10 and 10 – 14. themerrykitchen.com
MUSIC AND THEATER: AWOL: DANCE COLLECTIVE Aerial foundations classes for ages 2 and up. awoldance.org BILLINGS DANCE Dance and performing arts summer camps. billingsdance.com Broadway Rose Theater Camp Exciting drama camp for kids ages 8 -11 yrs. broadwayrose.com Christian Youth Theater Singing, dancing, acting and games for ages 6 – 14. cytvanport.org
Lake Oswego Music Academy For ages 6 – 17 yrs. lomusicacademy.com Lakewood Theatre Company Young performer classes for ages K – 17 yrs. lakewood-center.org MADE for Kids Summer theater arts camp at Concordia University for grades 2 – 8. cu-portland.edu METROARTS KIDS CAMP Art, music, theater and dance for ages 7 - 12. metroartsinc.org MOTION MAGIC Movement camps for kiddos in grades K - 5. motionmagic.net Northwest Children’s Theater and School Award winning theater camp for ages 4.5 – 18 yrs. nwcts.org Oregon Children’s Theater Acting Academy for ages 5 -18 yrs. octc.org Park Place String Studio Music Camps for strings ages 3 yrs. and up. lomusicacademy.com Pfeifer MusicWerks Studio Music camps and private lessons for children ages 4 – 14. musicwerksstudio.com
Columbia Gorge School of Theatre Day and overnight acting camp for ages 8 – 18 yrs. cgst.com
Hoffman Academy of Music Piano Summer Camps for ages 5 – 7, 7 – 11 and 12 + hoffmanacademy.com
DO JUMP Physical theater and performance for ages 3.5 - 17. dojump.org
Portland Actors Conservatory Spend summer on stage, for campers ages 8 – 18. actorsconservatory.com
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camps
resource guide:
art & performance camps Riverside Performing Arts Act, sing, dance and make music. Summer camps for ages 2 – 12. riversidepa.com Rock-n-Roll Camp for Girls Form a band, write a song. Rock camp for girls ages 8 – 17. girlsrockcamp.org Rose city Music Academy Music fun for ages 3+. rosecitymusicacademy.com School of Rock Rock-n-Roll Boot Camp for kids ages 9 – 18. schoolofrock.com Sound Roots School of Modern Music Summer Rocks! Band Camp for ages 6 – 14. soundrootsmusic.com Stagecoach Theatre Arts School Musical Theatre Summer Camp for ages 6 – 18. stagecoachschools.com Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre Puppet making and performance fun for ages 7 – 12. tojt.org WILLOWBROOK ARTS CAMP Explore drama, art, music and more in the great outdoors. For ages 3 - 18. willowbrookartscamp.org
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YAST - YOUNG ACTORS SUMMER THEATRE Creative theatre and performance for kids entering grades 2 - 5 and 5 - 12. stagesyouth.org Youth Theater Northwest Creative drama and acting classes, for campers ages 3 – 18 yrs. youththeatre.org
SCIENCE and FILM: Camp Invention by Invent Now For kids entering grade one through sixth. campinvention.org Champions Science Adventures Fun science themed summer camps for children ages 5 – 12. inflatiblekingdom.com EINSTEIN WISE Summer camps for K - 7. einsteinwise.com Mad Science Half and full day Science camps for kids ages 4 – 13. madscience.org OMSI Day and overnight summer camps for kids in grades 2 – 12. omsi.edu NW Film Center’s School of Film Digital film, mockumentaries & animation fun for grades 2 – 12. nwfilm.org Saturday Academy For children entering grade 2 through 12. saturdayacademy.org Tucker-Maxon School Day Camp Seven weeks of scientific, hands-on fun. For ages 3 – 9. tmos.org
camps
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day trip
A World Awaits in
Astoria
The North Oregon coast has been a longtime favorite for family day trippers. With its gorgeous sandy beaches, tumbling waves, hikes, and unlimited opportunities for adventure; there are tons of things to do with the kiddos. Astoria, located 91 miles from Portland on the south banks of the Columbia River and the north banks of Young’s Bay, can practically be called a beach town, but actually sits comfortably at the confluence of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. And with more family friendly businesses and restaurants opening every day, it is quickly becoming a family favorite day trip destination because it has a little something for everyone. We just keep going back for more. You could go for a simple day trip or stay for a few days to get the full picture of what Astoria has to offer. And don’t forget to watch The Goonies before for you go for reference. —BF
Eat: Blue Scorcher Café
Gluten free and veggie travelers rejoice. We can’t stop daydreaming about their amazing butternut squash and kale burrito. It sounds weird, but it’s so good! Chock-full of homemade breads and baked goods, a kids’ menu, and a nice play area with a kitchen and toys. bluescorcher.com
Bow Picker Fish & Chips
It might be one of the cutest food carts ever, a dry docked boat serving mouth-watering, beer battered albacore TUNA (not cod) and steak fries. Delicious and fun. Well worth the wait in line when the sun comes out. bowpicker.com 14 | NW Kids Magazine
Astoria Coffeehouse & Bistro
Love the color and décor in this vintage meets modern, cool-kid hangout. Equipped with kids’ coloring menus, Stumptown coffee, yummy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Garage door out front opens on sunny days, pin cushion black seats in the booths and a big silver plated wall with a giant mirror. astoriacoffeehouse.com
day trip Fort George Brewery & Public House
Housed in the Fort George building, this spot has fantastic beer and the best brewery food we’ve had in Oregon. Friendly staff, quite nice to the kiddos and super accommodating with free music on Sunday nights. Kids can stay until 9:00. fortgeorgebrewery.com
Danish Maid Bakery
Opens at 4 am for early birds. With original 50s décor still in tact, this old diner is sweet. And looks like the perfect spot for Grandpas to hang out and share stories while drinking coffee and eating donuts. Great for a quick fill up on fuel and Scandinavian treats before the ride home. danishmaidbakery.com
Shop:
Finn Ware
A great stop for all products Scandinavia including striped boat neck shirts, Marimekko, Scan Design, Taika, and more for the kitchen. And you can stock up on sauna supplies. finnware.com
The Curious Caterpillar
For little creatures. Filled with fashionable ecofriendly kids clothing, books, gifts, and toys. thecuriouscaterpillar.com
Lunar Boy Gallery
A little gem downtown (right next to Cargo and across the street from Astoria Coffeehouse & Bistro). It’s part gallery, part shop with really cool exhibits by local artists. We can’t wait to go back in June to view The Goonies inspired artwork. lunarboygallery.com
Astoria Sunday Market
In its tenth year. The Astoria Sunday Market provides a great opportunity to support up to 200 local growers and artisans, eat yummy food and hear some local music while you shop. Located on 12th street downtown. Starts May 13th, Mother’s Day-October 14th. astoriasundaymarket.com
Purple Cow Toys
Hip kids’ toy store in business for 15 years. Filled to the ceilings with kites, handmade hula hoops, and classic favorite brands like Ravensburger and Playmobil. Great play area with loads of toys for the kids to keep busy while Mom and Dad shop. purplecowtoysastoria.com
Cargo
The little sister satellite store of the Portland original in the Pearl district. We could spend hours exploring every tchotchke and imported goods that will ignite the imagination. The kiddos love it, too. cargoimportspdx.com
Play: Tapiola Park
A must see playground with miniature sites and attractions of Astoria; small replicas of Flavel House, Astoria Column, Fort Clatsop, and a skatepark to boot. 900 West Marine Drive
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day trip Ride “old 300” Riverfront Trolley
Hop aboard the 40 passenger antique trolley and check out Astoria’s waterfront scenery. The kids love to watch the ships. Operates MarchDecember. Cost $1 per ride or $2 for a day pass. homepage.mac.com/cearl/trolley
See: The Astoria Column
Columbia River Maritime Museum
Lower Columbia Bowl
If you’re for more than a day and run into rain, checking out a local bowling alley is great for a round of family fun. lcbowl.com
Columbia River Maritime Museum
Explore the rich maritime heritage of the entire Columbia River region. Also, includes a tour onboard the lightship Columbia. crmm.org
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Located 600 feet above sea level on Coxcomb Hill, The Astoria Column is a sight to behold with artwork depicting the history of Astoria. The views of the mountains and ocean are worth the trip, and the kids think it’s pretty amazing, too. astoriacolumn.org
Astoria-Megler Bridge
The Astoria-Megler Bridge enormous could quite possibly be one of the most memorable landmarks in Astoria. It connects Oregon and Washington spanning 4.1 miles across the Columbia river and is the longest “continuous truss” in the nation.
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Soarin’ Sea Plane
by Sprig at Child’s Play, $27
Bambu Kid Utensils at Eco Baby Gear, $13
Little Lark Onesie at littlelark.com, $32
Found Around Town
Tabletop Forest Terrarium
Critter Cabin
by Zelda English and Rodrigo Neto on Etsy.com, $120
at Kids At Heart, $15
8” X 10” Sun Art Paper Kit
Grimm’s Large Solid Wood Rainbow Stacker
at OMSI, $15
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at SpielWerk Toys, $89
Folkmanis Hand Puppets at Portland Children’s Museum, $14 and up
Gardman Roosting Pocket
at Backyard Bird Shop, $9
camps
NW Kids Magazine | 19
books
best
Books About Nature Reviews by Elizabeth Pusack of Green Bean Books And Then It Is Spring by Julie Fogliano, Illustrated by Erin E. Stead (HC $16.99) Caldecott AwardWinning illustrator of the sensational A Sick Day for Amos McGee has gifted us with another spot-on story about cultivating reciprocal relationships in the natural world. A young boy and his basset hound fret and fuss over tiny sleeping seeds as they await the arrival of Spring. Fogliano’s text is funny and fresh. “Why won’t the seeds get a move on?” wonders the blue-hoodie-sporting, bespectacled little gardener. “Maybe it was the bears and all that stomping, because bears can’t read signs that say things like “please do not stomp here, there are seeds and they are trying.” Will the diligent duo wake up one morning to a shining sun and a sprout filled homestead? Let’s hope! Outside Your Window by Nicola Davies, Illustrated by Mark Hearld (HC $19.99) Fungi and spiderlings. Tidepooling and pond dipping. Milking. Making hay. Baby birds. Outside Your Window is a ceaselessly charming first book of nature. Nicola Davies’ haiku-ish expertise on a host of creatures and natural phenomena is bewitchingly accompanied by Hearld’s dynamic multi-media landscapes replete with wellie-wearing farmers, plump purple eggplants, papercut gull feathers, and woodblock-printed winter trees.
A Leaf Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas (HC $17.95) “Soft cradle. Water ladle. Sun taker. Food maker. Tree topper. Rain stopper. Skin welter. Bat shelter.” What a wonderful rhyming rhapsody on leaves in their many varied glories. The book concludes with an in-depth look at each of a leaf ’s roles. “Soft cradle: Certain kinds of caterpillars spin cocoons around themselves and turn into moths. Some caterpillars spin their cocoon right on leaves. The leaf acts as a cradle, keeping the cocoon safe until the moth comes out.” A brilliant book to bring along on your long leaf-hunting excursion! Why not take a leaf-laden picnic and start your very own leaf list! World Without Fish by Mark Kurlansky (HC $16.95) New York Times best-selling author of the grown-up book COD has created a fascinating, comic-filled fish-primer for budding ecologists. He illuminates human impact on our oceans’ ecosystems, and teaches readers how to help prevent the planet from morphing into a hot pink swamp filled with mammoth jellyfish and prehistoric hair-ball like bacterial growths! Chock-full of Darwin and lucid thinking on the delicacy of our dear earth.
1600 NE Alberta Street 503-954-2354 greenbeanbookspdx.com 20 | NW Kids Magazine
camps
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camps
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calendar
Performances Opening Apr 5 OVO by Cirque du Soleil
A close-up look at and celebration of the colorful and intriguing world of insects, with all of the wonder of these unique athletes and acrobats. Don’t miss it! $33-$143.50, family packs available. Performance days and times vary. cirquedusoleil.com
Apr 28-29
Oregon Children’s Theatre – The Storm in the Barn Based on the award-winning graphic novel, the story of an 11-year-old boy in 1930’s Kansas and his family’s journey through hardship. Part tall tale, part historical fiction, with original music by Portland band Black Prairie. Recommended for ages 10 and up. $15-28, Sat 2pm & 5pm, Sun 2pm. octc.org
EVENTS
Apr 9
Mons in Apr
Come watch talented 8th-12th grade youth from the Arts and Communications Magnet Academy dance their hearts out – ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and more. In the Rotunda of Antoinette Hatfield Hall, free, 12pm. dancewestcompany.com
Come listen to stories of ancient Native American myth and magic! 3:30-4:30pm. historicoverlookhouse.org
PCPA Noontime Showcase – Dance West
Apr 13-15, 21-22
Tears of Joy Theatre - Stellaluna Adapted from the popular book by Jannell Cannon. Featuring music by Portland’s gamelan orchestra - Venerable Showers of Beauty. $17-20, Fri 7:30pm, Sat 11am, Sun 2pm & 4pm. tojt.org
Apr 26
Camp Fire Columbia – 2nd Annual Celebrity & Youth Talent Show Evening of celebrity fun, includes dinner, drinks, and live music. Get tickets before they’re gone! $75-95, 5:30-8:30pm. campfirecolumbia.org
Historic Overlook House – Free Story Hour
Apr 1-30
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm 27th Annual Tulip Fest Rows and rows of beautiful tulips, rides and games for kids, delicious food! $5-20, 9am-6pm. woodenshoe.com
Apr 4
Little Chick’s Art Play – Spring Craft Day at Spanky’s Come make some springtime and Easter themed art at Spanky’s Legendary Consignment! Free! 11am-4pm. littlechicksartplay.com
Apr 5
Belmont Library – Wearable Art Buttons Make colorful buttons out of magazine pages. Ages 5 and up. 3:30-4:30pm. multcolib.org
Please confirm calendar events and performances as scheduling changes may occur. 24 | NW Kids Magazine
camps
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calendar
Apr 6
Multnomah Indoor Cinema – The Muppets Free family-friendly move, bottomless popcorn, live music, and more. 6:30-9:30pm. multnomahartscenter.org
Apr 7
Safe Routes to School Spring Kick-Off A day dedicated to walking and biking safety, with workshops, bike rides, raffles, activities, games and more. Free, 10am-2pm. facebook.com/saferoutesportland
Apr 8
Portland Children’s Museum – Spring Celebration Spring is here! Hop over to PCM to ring in the season. Make felt rings and pins, play May flowers, and dance to the music of Greasy Kid Stuff. $8-9, additional craft fees may apply. 9:30am-3:30pm. portlandcm.org
Apr 10
Oregon Zoo - $4 Second Tuesday Visit the animals for only $4 each! Kids 0-3 free, 9am-6pm. oregonzoo.org
Apr 10
Zenana Spa – Train Like a Mother Sarah Bowen Shea reads from her book, Train Like a Mother, and shares fitness tips to lead a healthier, more vibrant life. 6:30-9pm. zenana-spa.com
Apr 11
Columbia Slough Watershed Tour: Frogs Learn about a frog’s life cycle and use a net to hunt for them in the water. Ages 4 and up, pre-registration requested. $5/family suggested donation, 5-6pm. columbiaslough.org 26 | NW Kids Magazine
Apr 12
Salon Mojo – Chop A Thon for Locks of Love Is your hair 10” or longer? Would you like to donate it to make hairpieces for kids in need? Come get it chopped and styled into a simple bob for free. 5-8pm. everythingbabyllc.com/locksoflove.html
Apr 12-15
Superkids Resale First 500 shoppers on Thurs receive goody bags, fun activities on Sat, including face painting bouncy house, and a reptile show. Thurs-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-5pm. superkidsresale.com
Apr 14
Mount Talbert Nature Park – Family Nature Explorers Check out beautiful wildflowers, glimpse chirping birds, and track forest animals in a guided outing. Ages and up, $11 per family. Advance registration required. 10am-1pm. oregonmetro.gov
Apr 14
Washington Square – NW Kids 2012 Summer Camp Expo Come meet and learn about 14 different camps all over town – and say hi to us too! Free, 10am5pm. nwkidsmagazine.com
Apr 14
Kennedy School – Mo Phillips “Monster Suit” CD Release Show Rock out with Mo as he celebrates the release of his third album, “Monster Suit.” Come dressed as your favorite monster! $10/family, 5pm (doors open at 4pm). mophillips.com
calendar
Apr 21-29
Free Admission to Fort Vancouver
Apr 14-29
58th Annual Hood River Valley Blossom Festival Celebrate the arrival of spring! Yummy food, pancake breakfasts, a pansy party, a grange blossom dinner, and beautiful views of the fruit trees. 10am-4pm. hoodriver.org
Apr 15
Pendulum Aerial Arts – Community Day and Student Showcase Spend a day circus-style! Interactive photo booth, juggling and hooping lessons and demos, raffles, and more. $10, 12:30-3pm. pendulumaerialarts.org
Apr 17
Central Library – On with the Show: An Evening of Musical Theater
Tour this historic site for free in honor of National Park Week. Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm. fortvan.org
Apr 22
Tryon Creek – A Celebration of Crows There’s more to crows than you think! Learn all about these intelligent birds and listen to stories from the winners of the Tall Tale Contest “How Crow Got To Be So Clever.” Free, 2-4pm. tryonfriends.org
Apr 27-29
Just Between Friends Consignment Sale Head to the Expo Center to shop this super sale. Fri 12 - 7pm, Sat 9 - 4pm and Sun 9 - 2pm. jbfsale.com
A great way to introduce the kids to classic musicals! Free, 6:30-7:30pm. multcolib.org
Apr 18
Pioneer Courthouse Square – Rip City Uprise Join your fellow Blazers fans as the team prepares for Game 2 of the playoffs and get a collectible Rip City poster! Free, 12-1pm. pioneercourthousesquare.org
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calendar
Egg Hunts Apr 6
St. Johns Community Center – Flashlight Egg-stravaganza Grab your flashlights and headlamps for a different kind of egg hunt – in the dark! Baskets provided, food, crafts, and prizes. $3, 8-9:30pm. portlandonline.com/parks
Apr 7
Mt. Scott Community Center – The Eggstraordinary Egg Hunt Mt. Scott’s first annual egg hunt! 3 egg hunts for different age groups, a pancake brunch hosted by the Mt Scott/Arletta Neighborhood Association, and music from Radio Disney and the Shine Children’s Chorus. 9-11am. portlandonline.com/parks
Apr 7
Blue Lake Bunny Bonanza Egg Hunt A fun-filled candy egg hunt – rain or shine. Ages 4 years and younger start at 10:30am, ages 5-10 at 10:45am. Free face painting and coloring activities too! $5-7, 10am-12pm. oregonmetro.gov
Apr 7
Camp Namanu – Spring Fling! Egg Hunt and Open House A fun-filled afternoon! Namanu’s first annual Egg Hunt starts at 1pm. Then take a tour of Namanu, complete with a campfire, treats, boat rides, arts and crafts, and more. Free, 12:30-3pm. campfirecolumbia.org
Apr 7
Oregon Zoo – Rabbit Romp Candy “egg” hunts every 20 minutes for children 10 and under, and a very special egg hunt for 28 | NW Kids Magazine
tots 0-2. Bring your own basket and hunt away! $7.50-10.50, 9am-3pm. oregonzoo.org
Apr 7
Alpenrose Dairy – The Hunt is On! The 50th Annual Alpenrose Dairy Easter Egg Hunt! Tons of prizes for egg hunters age 3-8, with a 6 foot bunny and a grand prize for the winner in each age bracket. So exciting! Age 3-5 10:30am, Age 6-8 12pm. alpenrose.com
Earth Day Celebrations Apr 21
StreamTeam Earth Day Celebration! Join the StreamTeam and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Rec for a fun-filled day! See and learn about wildlife, take a salmon tour, plant a tree, and more. Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic in the great outdoors. Free, 8:45am-2pm. streamteam.net
Apr 22
Portland Children’s Museum – Earth Day Celebration The interactive museum’s annual Earth Day Celebration and grand opening of the Zany Maze! Make your own paper, take in a special story time, enjoy awesome tunes from Recycleman and the Dumpster Divers. $8-9, 10am-3:30pm. portlandcm.org
Apr 22
The Circle of Life – Earth Day Renewal A jam-packed event on PCC’s Cascade Campus, including live music and entertainment, yummy bites, interactive workshops, and Circus Cascadia for the little ones. Free, 11am-6pm. earthday.cityrepair.org
camps
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project
A fairy house found at Mt. Tabor Park during Portland Parks and Recreation’s Nuts About Nature homeschool program.
Awakening Your Imagination: Building Fairy Houses with Your Child by kate boehnlein It’s a bright, spring day, a Northwest drizzle is falling softly while the sun peeks its head out from behind a nearby maple. The light is magical and you almost see little winged creatures flying from bush to bush, dodging sparkling raindrops. What could they be? Bees? Butterflies? Dragonflies? Or maybe… fairies?
perhaps no larger than your thumb. As an Environmental Educator with Portland Parks and Recreation, I have honed my skills in fairy house building with help from campers at Summer Nature Day Camp. And I have found that the younger you are, the easier it is to see the world from a fairy’s eye view, so let your child take the lead!
On these spring and early summer days, when the world is starting to wake up and buzz with life, consider embarking on an activity with your child that is a surefire creative outlet for the whole household, building fairy houses. Think you’re not cut out for a career in architecture? Well, making fairy houses is as much imagination as it is construction, nurturing the practice of seeing the world from the perspective of a tiny creature,
The process begins with an exploratory walk to find a suitable location. Maybe you’ll discover a quiet hollow at the base of a tree, or a gnarled root that is exposed. You may even like the look of a low bush or the backside of a rock. Next, forage for materials; ferns as roofing, dried leaves for flooring, a variety of twigs for fairy furniture, moss for a mattress, flower petals as plates, acorn tops as bowls or cups, and velvety lichen for couch cushions.
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project With the right mix of imagination, ingenuity, and secrecy, your fairy abode may be deemed habitable. And who knows, you may be rewarded with fairy gold upon your next visit. For further inspiration in fairy lore and culture, check out:
An open air fairy house made by students in Portland Parks and Recreation’s Nuts About Nature, Nature’s Playground program.
Other good materials include detached bark, pebbles, nuts, feathers, and cones. Just remember to respect already growing plants, especially in the spring when shoots are so new and when ground nesting birds are collecting materials to build their nests. But take advantage of your current location to find the best treasures, be it forest, meadow, beach, or backyard. There are many magical spots just waiting to be explored by you and your child. By employing your imagination, you will find that many locations, from your backyard to a quiet sidewalk to your local natural area, are all ideal locations for fairies to find shelter.
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• Fairy Houses, a series by Tracy L. Kane • The two “Fairy House Box Books” by Portland author Adrienne Keith, illustrated by Wendy Wallin Malinow
Katie Boehnlein, or “Teacher Aster,” is an environmental educator with the City Nature division of Portland Parks and Recreation (portlandonline.com/parks/ee) where she has the honor of exploring the natural areas of the Rose City with young students. She grew up making fairy houses with her mother along the urban staircases of the West Hills of Portland, and always hoped that she would catch a glimpse of a special winged creature that had come to dwell in her creation. You can follow Katie’s urban adventures in her blog, “Following Bliss,” which can be found at kboehnlein.wordpress.com.
A fairy house built by campers at Portland Parks and Recreation’s Summer Nature Day Camp in the “Fairy Forest” of the Hoyt Arboretum.
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profile
e.a.t.
Where Food, Art and theater Meet by Jana Wingate
E.A.T.’s owner Mark Carnahan and his kids Vivian, 5 and Leo, 2.
You know when you have one of those ah ha moments, when you’re watching or experiencing something that puts a huge smile on your face? Well I had one of those moments while at E.A.T., a kid-friendly restaurant and performance space in northeast Portland. Sitting in one of the pews in The Old Chapel listening to Mr. Ben perform, I felt so rewarded watching what played out before me, kids dancing and playing, parents hanging out on the floor, everyone having fun in a great atmosphere. It just made me so proud to be bringing up my daughter in a city that can stimulate so much diversity and difference. And that is exactly the goal of E.A.T.! E.A.T. or Eat Art Theater is part of a thriving community of artists, called Milepost 5, which is located within the Motavilla neighborhood. Owner, Mark Carnahan and new Creative Director Claire Willett have created an environment that cultivates and fosters creative pursuits and artistic engagement, and in the case of E.A.T have created a great space for families to do the same. “I think this is such an exciting community and it’s an unusual thing to have these artists and residents and this restaurant and performance space and these galleries all under the same umbrella, it’s a very inspiring place to be,” Willett said. Although the vision wasn’t as clear two years ago when Carnahan found his diamond in the rough, “it had old linoleum tiles, very cafeteria style looking, but I could see the potential.” Potential is exactly what he found, turning a bland space into something special. The restau34 | NW Kids Magazine
rant has a great open feel, very clean and extremely kid friendly. Staying true to the artist community, there is local art hung from artists within Milepost 5 and the nearby neighborhoods. Of course the food, which is very delicious, is sticking to basics, but certainly not boring! “We focus first and foremost on fresh house made food and to keep the menu simple and fresh for the kids,” states Carnahan. The restaurant does boast a full bar and is definitely taken advantage of by parents every Saturday when E.A.T. hosts a family happy hour, with food and drink specials and where two different kids acts perform to keep the kiddos entertained. “It’s been a smash hit ever since it started, it’s our busiest time of the week, definitely something we really enjoy doing,” Carnahan said. But Carnahan isn’t only striving to make a successful restaurant; he has a vision for E.A.T. that’s so much more. “We’re really trying to become a community oriented space, not just a restaurant, something that the community and the area can really rely on. It is important to me because I live in this neighborhood, it forced me to have a quality family place that we can enjoy, but not just for the family but that the community can enjoy.” For more information and the calendar please visit, eatarttheater.com. To read the complete E.A.T. profile and view more photos, go to nwkidsmagazine.com. Jana is the Mother of 4 year old Rowyn, and lives with her Husband and Daughter in North Portland. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a BA Degree in Journalism.
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