magazine
L I V E • PLAY • DO
Language Immersion Schools Last Minute Camp Guide LGBTQ2SIA+ Resource Guide
JUNE 2021 - DIGITAL EDITION nwkidsmagazine.com
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Editor’s Note June is here! As we close out the strangest school year ever and head into summer, there is much to look forward to. We’re excited for outdoor fun and adventure! Are you still in search of the perfect summer camp? Check out our Last Minute Camp Guide for 13 great camps that still have openings. Also in this issue, a Q&A with French American International School about the benefits of language immersion education, a guide to local immersion schools and an LGBTQ2SIA+ family resource guide. Get out there and enjoy your summer, friends! Cheers,
Mary
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Contents JUNE 2021 8 Last Minute Summer Camp Guide
16 2021 Language Immersion School Guide
11 Bits & Bytes
18 LGBTQ2SIA+ Family Resource Guide
14 The Benefits of a Language Immersion Education
Cover photography by
EDENACRES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
20 Road Trip Essentials
Contents photography by
PARAS SURI PHOTOGRAPHY
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magazine Connect With Us: • Phone: 503.282.2711 • email: contact@nwkidsmagazine.com • Facebook: facebook.com/nwkids • Instagram: @nwkidsmagazine • Twitter: @nwkids • Pinterest: pinterest.com/nwkids 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.
Publisher Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com Editor/Account Manager Mary Brady mary@nwkidsmagazine.com Graphic Designer Robyn Taylor robyn@folkloremedia.com Advertising Inquiries: 503-282-2711, ext. 1 sales@nwkidsmagazine.com
Listings All Families Surrogacy.................... 22 Bennett Suzuki.............................. 12 EdenAcres........................................ 7 FAIS. ................................................ 2 German American Society.............. 22 German International School......... 13 Happy Hollow Children’s Center..... 22 Herrold Stables.............................. 12 Little Fruit Farm............................. 12
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NWK Virtual Camp Expo.. ................. 3 OES.. ................................................ 7 OMEGA Gymnastics....................... 12 Play Fit Fun. . .................................. 22 Royal Ridges. . ................................ 12 Schoolita Alegria........................... 13 Scuola Italiana di Portland.. ........... 13 Splat Action. . ................................. 21 Xstream Learning Center.. .............. 13
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Great Summer Camps That You Can Still Sneak Your Kids Into!
Are you still looking for the perfect summer camp but are worried that you’ve waited too long to register? We’ve found some amazing local options that still have spots available!
Aim High Academy of Martial Arts Stable groups of 10 explore new camp themes each week. Camps include daily martial arts lessons, games and take-home and in-camp crafts and projects! Ages 6-11. aimhighma.org/camps
Camp Lutherwood Oregon Discover the best parts of summer with overnight and family camps that include stargazing, cooking over a campfire, crafting with friends and splashing through the creek! Campers can also get adventurous on the rock climbing wall, in the archery range, or alongside cabinmates on the low ropes challenge course. Enjoy pool time and try the diving board or play Gaga ball or basketball. Nature hikes, sleep outs and outdoor games are also part of the fun! Grades 3-12 and families. lutherwoodoregon.org
EdenAcres’ Summer Outdoors! Welcome to Summer Outdoors Day Camps with EdenAcres! They are excited that you will be joining them for some summer fun. At EdenAcres Environmental Education summer camps your child will have priceless adventures and develop leadership and team building skills, while growing a sense of awe and appreciation for the natural world during their week at camp. As they run, laugh, play and smile, campers will develop an appreciation for each other and the world around them. Ages 3-16. edenacres.org 8 | NW Kids Magazine
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum These weeklong programs are filled with exciting, educational experiences designed for each specific age group. The aerospace camps will ignite a passion for exploration, innovation, and STEM in future aviators and space explorers. Young adventurers (grades 3-5) can jump into the pilot’s seat and take off to Aviation Camp, filled with flight simulators and building their own airplane. Future astronauts (grades 6-9) will launch into a new world in Space Camp through scientific missions like making their own rocket and creating a Mars Rover out of Legos. Grades 3-9. evergreenmuseum.org/camps
Girls Count This summer, Girls Count will empower girls to explore new ideas, be active participants in their own education and think creatively alongside their peers. Each week, they’ll cover a range of real-life activities like how to cook on a budget or how to become an active participant in your community. Ages 11-14. girlscountpdx.org/camps
MJCC Summer Day Camp Have an AWESOME summer at MJCC Day Camp! Health + safety is their top priority. Through socialization, arts and crafts, sports, games, and imaginative play, they encourage growth, inspire confidence, and provide the framework for lasting memories and friendships. Enjoy quality, ageappropriate programs that are super fun including sports, cooking, Jewish culture, drama, nature, and more! New camps added for 3-4 year olds! Ages 3-15. oregonjcc.org/daycamp
Northwest Children’s Theater & School Get ready for a super summer with NWCT Online & In-Person Summer Camps! NWCT Online Camps for ages 4-14 begin June 14. Bring the magic of theater home through song and dance, or embark on a secret spy adventure! In-Person Camps for ages 6 - 14 begin July 5. From astronaut themes to airbending avatars, there’s something for everyone! Limited spots for in-person camps are available. Sign up today to save your spot. Ages 4-14. nwcts.org/summer-2021 NW Kids Magazine | 9
OMEGA Gymnastics OMEGA’s Summer Break Camps keep your kids active with supervised play, gymnastics instruction, and craft. Choose half-day or full-day weekly options. Camp shirt ($15) and annual family membership ($40) required for all attendees. See website for more details. Grades K-6. omega-gymnastics.com/camps
Portland Education Collab Limited spots are still available for Portland Education Collab’s summer programs! They are offering Day Camps for existing learning pods, single spots for individual students looking to join a pod, and Weekend Family Adventure camping expeditions! Ages 4+. pdxeducationcollab.com/2021-summerprograms
Schoolita Alegria Mucho diversión en español with Summer Fun Camp/campamento del verano, water play days, theme days, gymnastics/ movement day, mucha arte/art projects, gardening and cooking! Each week they’ll talk about two Spanish speaking countries and their culture, food, flag, songs, etc… Mondays-Thursdays, 9-3pm, July 5thAugust 5th. Ages 3-8. schoolita-Alegria.com
Splat Action Paintball & Birthday Parties To ensure that the sport of paintball remains fun, exciting affordable, and safe, through education and awareness! Their 5 day summer camp will focus on teaching each player the fundamentals to becoming an exceptional paintballer! Ages 9-14. splataction.com
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The Circuit Gym Camp Rockstar is The Circuit Gym’s award-winning bouldering camp! Sign your kids up to climb in a fun, social environment led by their instructors, where they will problem solve and build confidence on and off the wall. Ages 5-12. thecircuitgym.com/southwest/youth
Tucker Arts Camp Tucker Arts Camp travels the world! Over the course of 8 weeks, children will explore the art of storytelling through music, movement, visual arts and more from diverse countries around the world at their beautiful SE Portland campus. Their campus offers a large organic garden, tree house, chickens, goats, and plenty of space for children to be inspired by the natural world and enjoy fun in the summer sun. Grades K-5. tuckermaxon.org/tuckerartscamp
BITS & BYTES Portland Education Collab
NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Portland Education Collab was formed by a group of parents and educators who wanted to create more stability for their students. Parents can create their own learning pod of up to 6 students, which is then paired with a teacher who has been background checked and has extensive professional teaching experience. Their instructors will help guide your student through their current online learning curriculum. They will also be able to expand on it and provide many more activities customized to the pod’s and students’ needs. Instructors come from a variety of professional backgrounds, with Outdoor Education as a primary focus. Supplemental activities can include learning native plants, carving, bird language, and more outdoor skills. pdxeducationcollab.com
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The Benefits of a Language Immersion Education While Portland Metro is filled with a wide variety of fantastic education options, we are particularly lucky to have a number of bilingual and language immersion schools to choose from. We chatted with Aurore Molerus, the Lower School Division Head at French American International School, about some of the considerations in choosing a language immersion education for your child.
How early can a child begin immersion education? As early as possible! Young children learn differently from adults, which makes them prodigious language learners*. From infancy to about 12 years old, there is a cognitive window for children where the brain has a functional plasticity**. After that, language is stored into this hard to reach compartment. At FAIS, students can begin in our Maternelle* program as early as 2 ½ years old in Toute Petite Section (early preschool specifically for 2 ½ year-olds). All of our teachers are native speakers from French-speaking countries and are experts in immersion learning, passionate about supporting little ones as they embark on this journey.
What are the lifelong benefits of a bilingual education? In an immersion program, students don’t just learn another language, they learn IN another language. Studies show this enhances focus, critical thinking, problem solving, open-mindedness, interpersonal skills, and so much more. It also enhances empathy. Learning in another language means connecting to the rest of the world in all its diversity. It becomes a part of our thinking process because we practice looking at things from different perspectives. 14 | NW Kids Magazine
At FAIS, we also nurture those key skills through an IB framework (International Baccalaureate), an inquiry based program that cultivates global citizens “through academic rigor and emphasis on students’ personal development.” All this constitutes a solid foundation for being a balanced learner throughout your whole life.
Can math and science be taught adequately in a second language? Without a doubt! Again, immersion means learning IN another language. It is not a language program. Expectations for all subjects are set by the school’s curriculum and program. FAIS, for example, is part of a network of over 500 accredited schools around the world that follow the French national curriculum. Goals are set by the Education Nationale*. So students are expected to learn math and science at the same level as all those schools. While all this learning is happening, students are developing the key skills mentioned earlier, like critical thinking and problem solving. And that is not the extent of it. In the end, learning math and science in another language is actually enhanced because it is taught in a second language.
How can parents and caregivers support a bilingual education if they do not speak a second language? The key to supporting your child is to stay connected to their learning journey and that can happen in so many ways that do not require speaking a second language. Parents need to show their children that they’re excited and proud of this learning journey. It can also be beneficial to explain why you chose an immersion program. At FAIS, at the end of fifth grade, students travel to France for an exchange program. Some families meet up with their children at the end of this exchange to then travel across Europe as a family to experience other cultures. Another way parents can support their child’s bilingual education is to reflect with them on their school life, their projects, and their day. These reflections can happen in any language. These are just a few suggestions and there are so many more!
Do you see your bilingual alumni succeed in more diverse careers than their single language peers? While it’s difficult to say whether it is the case or not, numerous studies are conclusive: learning one or several languages promotes cognitive, social, and professional development. We live at a time when information is shared worldwide in seconds in all languages and where speaking another language means more opportunities in professional work. Therefore immersing in other languages, with its lifelong benefits, becomes strategic in our society and can only influence our students’ choices and paths into their adult life. I can’t wait to hear from my students in 10, 15, 20 years from now and hear all about their adventures!
*Thompson-Schill, University of Pennsylvania **Functional Plasticity is the ability to change behaviour based on experience. In education, that experience is typically derived from structured learning environments. ***Maternelle is an accredited curriculum by the French government for ages 2 ½-6 **** Ministère de l’Education Nationale et de la jeunesse is the French Ministry in charge of education, from primary to higher education, Universities and public research.
Founded in 1979, FAIS offers French immersion for preschool-5th grade. Their middle school offers four immersion tracks (French, German, Mandarin and Spanish) and an English-focused track with beginning language. To learn more, visit faispdx.org/immersion NW Kids Magazine | 15
GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
2021 Immersion School Guide
Aprende con Amigos
Ages 3-6 5206 N Interstate Ave, 2036 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, Portland aprendeconamigos.com
Atlas Immersion Academy
Ages 3 months-12 years Multiple Locations atlasimmersionacademy.com
Belmont Academy
Infant-B/A Program 3841 S.E. Belmont St, Portland belmontacademy.org
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French American International School
FAIS uses language as a lens to help students understand other cultures and think with a global perspective. Discover why families choose FAIS: Portland’s longest-established immersion school. TPS-8 / ages 2.5-14 8500 NW Johnson Street, Portland 503-292-7776 faispdx.org
German International School
As an IB World school, they educate their students to be internationally-minded by exploring other cultures, traditions and immersing children in German or Mandarin language-learning. Age 2-5th grade 3900 SW Murray Blvd, Beaverton 503-626-9089 gspdx.org
Hope Chinese Charter School
Scoula Italiana di Portland
3500 SW 104th Ave, Beaverton 971-226-7500 hopeccs.org
International Leadership Academy 14788 Boones Ferry Road, Lake Oswego 503-662-8452 ilapdx.org
Schoolita Alegría
Schoolita Alegria immerses kids in lots of Spanish. Through rhymes, songs, movement, theatre, cooking and art, kids love using Spanish. Ages 3-5 4605 NE Campaign St, Portland 503-706-1077 schoolita-Alegría.com
Scuola Italiana offers a part-time Italian language and cultural immersion preschool in NW Portland, mirroring the scuola dell’infanzia (preschool) in Italy. Ages 3-5 1542 NW 14th Ave, Portland 971-270-0470 scuola.us
The International School 025 SW Sherman St, Portland 503-226-2496 intlschool.org
Xstream Learning Center
Their mission is to provide a culturally rich experience by introducing the Chinese language and traditions to children in the community. Ages 2.5-5 2029 & 2033 NW Miller Rd, Portland 503-841-3445 xstreamlc.com
SCOULA ITALIANA DI PORTLAND
FRENCH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
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LGBTQ2SIA+ Resource Guide by ERIN BEERY
June is Pride Month and Portland is full of resources for LGBTQ2SIA+ families. Check out our list below.
All Families Surrogacy
Surrogacy services, founded by a member of the LGBT community. allfamiliessurrogacy.com
Brave Space
Creating community and facilitating access to expert providers and advocacy for transgender and non-binary children, youth, adults, and their families. bravespacellc.com
Bridging Voices
A youth chorus for gay, straight and questioning youth, ages 13-21. bridgingvoices.org 18 | NW Kids Magazine
GLSEN Oregon
Advocacy, tools, connection, and support for LGBTQ issues in K-12 education. glsen.org/chapters/oregon
Oregon Queer Youth Summit
Annual conference held by and for queer and trans youth and their allies. oqys.org
PFLAG Portland
Uniting the LGBTQ community with families, friends, and allies. pflagpdx.org
The Q Center
The largest LGBTQ community center in the Pacific Northwest. pdxqcenter.org
SMYRC (Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center)
A safe space for youth ages 13-23. Art, music, virtual support groups and individual check ins, clothing closet, food pantry. smyrc.org
Transgender Services Clinic at Legacy Health
Affirming health care for transgender and gender-diverse youth. legacyhealth.org/children/healthservices/transgender
TransActive Gender Project at Lewis & Clark
Services and expertise to empower transgender and gender expansive children, youth, and families. graduate.lclark.edu/programs/ continuing_education/transactive
Transgender Health Program OHSU Affirming health care for transgender and gendernonconforming communities. ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/ transgender-health
Erin Beery is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in serving adolescents, adults, and the queer community. Her therapy practice is based in NE Portland. You may also find her in local agencies and schools carrying out her consultation and advocacy work. erinbeery.wixsite.com/erinbeerylcsw
Interested in queering up your family’s experience? Here are some easy tips! Head downtown to the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade from June 12th-20th. Check out Pride Northwest’s new website for more information. portlandpride.org Join Pride Northwest and the directors of QDoc Film Festival for PRIDE PICS: An Outdoor Film Experience on The Lot at Zidell Yards, on June 16th-17th. aftontickets.com/pridepics Attend the Hillsboro Pride 5K on June 19th at Orenco Woods Nature Park! Pre-registration is required. $5/person (ages 17 and under are free) hillsboro-oregon. gov/Home/Components/ Calendar/Event/92419 Browse Powell’s City of Books for an LGBTQ-themed scavenger hunt. Some family-friendly favorites: What Makes a Baby, And Tango Makes Three, Large Fears, and Not Quite Narwhal. Once Oaks Park resumes normal operations, get your skate on with Gay Skate at Oaks Park. oakspark.com/roller-skating-rink
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It’s Road Trip Season! June is upon us and we are planning ahead for weekend trips to the coast. Here are a few essentials for heading over the river and through the woods, plus a perfect stay-at-home ninja gym!
Pufferfish Sand Castle Tools These sand building kits, available in 3 sizes, come with all of the tools needed to build an enormous castle without running back and forth to refill a tiny bucket every few minutes! The Deluxe kit weighs in at just 4.5 pounds and includes two soft-sided Better Buckets, the Really Big Shovel (adjustable and easily broken down to pack), 5 handheld Super Scoops and a lightweight carrying case that holds it all. Even better? Created by dads, Pufferfish products also feature recycled plastic whenever possible and they donate 1% of sales to ocean cleanup efforts. Win-win! $99.99-$139.99. pufferfish.fun
Potette Collapsible Potty When you hit weekend traffic on the way to the coast, there can be a very long time between bathroom breaks. For younger kiddos who aren’t yet able to “hold it” or for older ones who have not yet mastered the outside potty break, Potette potties offer a travel-friendly alternative. There are also disposable liners and natural wet wipes available. $17.99-$34.99. kalencombaby.com
Plus-Plus Travel Case We love Plus-Plus and the open-ended building possibilities that they create! They’ve come out with a travel case that is perfect for a car trip and for easily packable STEM-based play during vacations. The case includes a baseplate and 100 PlusPlus pieces, but can easily hold many more pieces for creative play that keeps hands and minds busy for hours. $19.99. plusplususa.com and amazon.com 20 | NW Kids Magazine
Staying home this summer? Make your back yard into a ninja training course!
Slackers Ninjaline The 56’ Slackers Ninjaline Intro Kit, for ages 5+, includes everything you need to get started. With 3 Ninja Fists; 2 steel Monkey Bars; 2 steel gym rings; 6 grip clips and 2 traverse rings, this kit can be installed between two healthy trees or two posts. Once you get started, you’ll want to keep adding on and there are plenty of options for that. From treehouses and swings to swing houses, make your back yard into the ninja gym you’ve always knows it could be! $139.99. b4adventure.com
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