RAK magazine June/July 2018

raisingarizonakids.com JUNE/JULY 2018

Summer Survival Guide 25

Tips for having fun and staying cool in the desert heat, including indoor playcenters, splash pads and staycation ideas

BLUÂ Crew ambassador Gabriella (9) of Gilbert with Khloe the Dolphin at Dolphinaris Arizona.

raisingarizonakids.com JUNE/JULY 2018

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June/July 2018

CONTENTS

19 13

FEATURES 13

The Body Safety Box

Former teacher Missy Gryder’s toolkit aims to prevent childhood sexual abuse.

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Summer Survival Guide

Here are 25 ways for families to keep cool and enjoy the season, from aquariums and indoor playgrounds to free entertainment, staycation ideas and travel tips.

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Frozen Treats

Three recipes for homemade popsicles from AZ Pops.

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DEPARTMENTS 4

dialogue Showing up

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azgrown

• Noteworthy kids books by Brian Selznick • Is Cryptosporidium lurking in the water?

• Children’s Museum of Phoenix celebrates a decade of hands-on play

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family time!

• Top summer events • Around Arizona • Onstage • July 4th events

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about the cover sponsor: DOLPHINARIS ARIZONA June/July 2018 | Vol 29 | No 4 Publisher Karen Davis Barr Associate Publisher Brandy Collet Editor Kara G. Morrison Calendar Editor Liz Petroff Copy Editor Debra Citron Contributors Debra Citron, MaryAnne Duggan, Karen Fernau, Liz Petroff Art Director Michèlle-Renée Adams Photographer Allen Patrou Operations Manager Tina Gerami-Bynum Sales & Circulation Brandy Collet Sales Representatives Shannon Cornall, Kate Greene

Contact Us: editorial@RAKmagazine.com familytime@RAKmagazine.com advertising@RAKmagazine.com subscriptions@RAKmagazine.com 5229 N. Seventh Ave. #102 Phoenix, AZ 85013-1974 P: 480–991–KIDS (5437) • F: 480–991–5460 raisingarizonakids.com

in partnership with

Follow us! @RAKmagazine RAKmagazine RAKmagazine RAKmagazine RAKmagazine

R aising A rizona K ids magazine (ISSN 1051-4295) was created to connect Valley families to local resources and share real-life stories about the challenges and joys of raising children. Copy­right © 2018 by R aising A rizona K ids, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Subscription price is $12 for one year or $18 for two years. Back issues are $6 per copy.

The Post Office will not automatically forward in the event of a move. Make address changes on our website or mail changes to our office. Original, locally generated articles, illustrations and photographs are welcome. Guide­lines are avail­able at raisingarizonakids.com.

DOLPHINARIS ARIZONA RECRUITS LOCAL KIDS FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION

OUR SUMMER COVER took us to Dolphinaris Arizona in the OdySea in the Desert complex near Scottsdale. Here, visitors can interact with human-raised dolphins and learn about ocean conservation. Dolphinaris also hosts summer camps and field trips.

For the first time this year, about 80 Arizona kids in grades 4-12 are joining the Dolphinaris BLU Crew — young people dedicated to helping protect the oceans. Our cover model, 9-year-old Gabriella of Gilbert, is a BLU Crew ambassador. The program is an extension of the Dolphinaris Foundation and its BLU program, a conservation study that monitors ecosystems and how environmental changes affect dolphins and other oceanic wildlife.

The program emerged following Dolphinaris’s summer camp and from young guests who visit year round. Staff and trainers saw how much kids care about marine life. BLU Crew members become ambassadors for one year, taking messages about marine life preservation, plastic pollution, water management and energy savings into their communities.

These ambassadors meet with Dolphinaris’ staff and trainers, spend time with the dolphins and work on group and individual conservation projects. Dolphinaris, which opened in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in October 2016, teaches how our actions in Arizona impact marine life everywhere.

For example, we can reduce the use of plastics by using reusable containers, recycling and avoiding plastic straws. To learn more, visit dolphinarisAZ.com/education PROGRAM PHOTOS BY MAGIC MEMORIES • COVER PHOTOS BY ALLEN PATROU

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX

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Showing up

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I’VE ALWAYS SAID you can’t hate government and love democracy — our messy, frustrating, surprising and sometimes awe-inspiring democracy. This issue went to press after tens of thousands of Arizona teachers staged a historic walkout, demanding better pay and support for public schools. Those who work in public education are among the biggest share of government workers. Frankly, I didn’t know how the walkout was going to turn out, and, like many parents, at a week in, I was nervous about a stalemate and ongoing childcare. But an impressively diverse group of teachers came together to do what they do best: They taught.

Our kids can’t help but better understand democracy and the importance of showing up.

Summer is a great time to help your kids look up who your local, state and national representatives are, and start a dialogue before fall’s upcoming elections. It’s also a great time to visit national parks and explore historic state and national treasures.

Our June/July issue offers dozens of other ways to help families get through these unbelievably hot months. The annual Summer Survival Guide includes everything from inviting indoor playgrounds, night hikes and splash pads to staycation spots and travel tips.

Food writer Karen Fernau offers recipes for

homemade popsicles from the local owners of AZ Pops and Calendar Editor Liz Petroff shares tips for visiting Disneyland during peak summer months.

June marks the 10th birthday for the Children’s Museum of Phoenix — a staple of summer (and year-round) entertainment and hands-on play for young kids. We talked to CEO Kate Wells about the museum’s future in the majestic Monroe School building. If you haven’t visited in awhile, do so, especially for its June 14 Big Birthday Bash.

On the safety side, Liz also shares a personal experience with recreational water illness, and Mary Anne Duggan interviews former teacher and education expert Missy Gryder, whose Body Safety Box offers lessons aimed at helping prevent childhood sexual abuse.

We hope you have a safe and splendid summer with family vacations, great memories and carefree days before fall shows up.

Kara G. Morrison, Editor kara@RAKmagazine.com

raisingarizonakids.com JUNE/JULY 2018

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books

THE MONKEY’S UNCLE

Noteworthy kids books

by Brian Selznick

By Debra Citron

OH, THAT BRIAN SELZNICK! He’s gone and done it again. He has made a spectacle — not of himself, but an honest-to-goodness spectacle, nonetheless. And it’s his fourth, at least.

Maybe it’s in the genes. His grandfather was a first cousin of the King of Spectacles, David O. Selznick, the producer of “Gone With the Wind” and “Rebecca,” among other blockbuster movies. Regardless of the source, Brian Selznick has an amazing talent for creating super-sized, cinematically framed and plotted blockbuster kids’ books.

His Caldecott Award-winning “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” broke all the rules.

No one knew for sure whether it was a middlegrade novel, a graphic novel or an illustrated book — they just knew it was amazing. Later, he perfected this genre-bending approach in two other outstanding books.

His newest envelope-pushing effort takes everything you thought you knew about picture books and throws it out the window.

“Baby Monkey: Private Eye” is another unique creation — and it’s a riot. Written by David Serlin and illustrated with 120 detailed pencil sketches by Selznick, it is a 192-page, 5-by-8-inch picture book/graphic novel/ easy reader/early chapter book that adults

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can enjoy as much as the 3- to 8-year-olds it was designed for. If you are thinking that one book can’t possibly be all those things at once and succeed at any of them, prepare to be pleasantly surprised.

Preschoolers, especially, will love Baby Monkey’s hilarious antics. Slightly older kids will enjoy being able to read the five short chapters. Both groups will like the repetitions, simple plots and the idea of having an “adult” sized book like one of Mom’s and Dad’s to lug around. And speaking of grown-ups, they will find plenty to keep their attention while they are reading aloud to their own little monkeys. The illustrations contain Easter eggs, visual jokes and literary allusions aplenty and a “Key to Baby Monkey’s Office” that explains each reference. Also included are a mind-blowing “Index” and a wonderfully nonsensical “Bibliography.”

The book itself is a showcase of detective cases brilliantly solved by … Baby Monkey!

He is the tiny, adorable Sam Spade of the simian world. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating him because of his youth and small stature, though. He’s methodical, clever and relentless, and he always gets his … well,

you’ll see. Only one thing gets in the way of his successful pursuit of the bad guys. Just one eensy-teensy thing. Not much of anything, really. Just his pants. That’s right. Our genius of detection devotes an abnormally large amount of his time performing professionalstyle wrestling routines with his pants. You have to see it. Getting dressed has never been so much fun, nor half so silly.

Debra Citron of Phoenix is a writer and lifelong supporter of children’s literature and literacy.

More titles by

BRIAN SELZNICK In addition to his own writing (with partner David Serlin), and his artistic collaborations with writers including Pam Conrad, Andrew Clements and Pam Munoz Ryan, Selznick is recognized for illustrating the 2002 Caldecott Honor book, “The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins,” written by Barbara Kerley. It’s the true story of the eponymous artist, sculptor and showman who first brought life-sized dinosaur models to England and the United States.

He also writes and illustrates his own books for middle-grade readers. Each title deftly blends fact and fiction, past and present and words and pictures in fascinating ways, and each one has the feel of a kid-centric silent film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Among them: • “The Houdini Box.” Victor, age 10, is a hapless self-not-verywell-taught magician who tries to imitate his hero, Harry Houdini.

When he gets to meet him, the only advice he receives is contained in an old box. Ah, but what that box contains!

• “The Boy of a Thousand Faces.” Alonzo, also 10, also has a hero: the horror film actor and master of disguise, Lon Chaney. He is obsessed with monster movies and making his own disguises.

When a real Beast arrives in town, his previously unappreciated expertise is suddenly in demand.

• “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.” It’s 1937. Hugo, an orphan, lives mostly unseen and by his wits in the Paris train station. When his clockmaker father’s precious notebook of mechanical wonders is taken by the station’s brooding toy merchant to punish him for stealing, he is forced to ally with Isabelle, the man’s goddaughter, to get it back. Also a 2011 movie.

• “Wonderstruck.” Ben and Rose are separated by 50 years and almost 1,500 miles. Their stories are told — Rose’s in pictures, Ben’s in prose — in alternating chapters. After his mother’s death, Minnesotan Ben runs away to New York City in search of the father he never knew. Rose, obsessed with a glamorous actress, ends up there too. What they each find in the halls of The American Museum of Natural History will determine their futures. Also a 2017 movie.

• “The Marvels.” The first half of this nearly 700-page book is an enthralling history of a London theatrical family, the Marvels, from 1766 to 1900, told entirely in pictures. The second half, in text, and set in 1990, is the tale of 13-year-old Joseph, a runaway who shelters in his mysterious uncle’s museum-like mansion and tries to unravel the house’s complicated story, one fraught with heartbreak, love, deception and the lies people tell themselves to survive.

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az grown health

IS CRYPTO LURKING? We survived, but won’t go back in the water soon

By Liz Petroff IT SOUNDS LIKE a B-movie horror show, but this was a reality for my family two years ago.

We spent most of June 2016 in the water — swim team, annual passes to a local water park and pool dates at friends’ houses. It was a splash! Until July.

That’s when we took off on our first family road trip to southern Colorado, with planned stops in Telluride, Ouray and Durango. We were looking forward to 10 days of cooler weather, mountain air and exploring a different state.

Our first night in Colorado, Jack complained of a stomachache. We treated him with the perfect balance of compassion and dismissal. You know what I’m talking about — supplying a bucket (just in case) with a “Let’s go ride the gondola up the mountain!” attitude. With no fever, and only getting “sick” once, we thought he was on the mend. Then we saw him doubled over in the toy store, completely uninterested in vacation souvenirs and complaining he was in great pain.

Appendicitis runs in my husband’s family, so to be safe, we immediately walked to the emergency room at the Telluride Regional Medical Center. After a quick medical exam and an all-clear, we were on our way with a children’s Zofran prescription (for nausea) just in case.

By day seven, Jack upgraded his appetite to solid foods. When he finally asked for a hamburger instead of broth and dry toast, we

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declared it a vacation miracle. Jack was back to his normal self, and we were all feeling great — until we pulled into the driveway at home.

That’s when I noticed my stomach was upset.

On and off for the next five weeks, life was not the same. At first, I thought I was fighting a virus. Finally, on day 21, while scrolling Facebook, I clicked on a news article about an outbreak of Cryptosporidium at a local water park. All the facts added up. Jack and I had been there and shared some of these same symptoms: nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea.

Never have I been so relieved and grossed out at the same time. Crypto is caused by microscopic parasites. I can’t even write that without feeling sick again. It’s caused when the parasite enters your body, travels to your small intestine and burrows into the walls. The only way to shed it is, well, unpleasant.

Crypto is spread when a person swallows something that has come in contact with the feces of a person infected with Crypto. It can happen after changing a diaper or swallowing recreational water from a swimming pool, splash pad, lake or pond. Certain strains of Cryptosporidium are chlorine-resistant, so water parks and pools are searching for more safeguards. Some facilities are using ultraviolet light filters that are said to help deactivate it.

There is nothing a relatively healthy person can do to treat the parasite. It basically has

An illustration of the microscopic parasite known as Cryptosporidium, inside and outside of its protective outer shell.

Photo courtesy of the CDC.

Tips to avoid spreading CRYPTOSPORIDIUM and RECREATIONAL WATER ILLNESSES: • Protect others by never swimming when you are ill with diarrhea.

• If Crypto is diagnosed, do not swim for at least two weeks after diarrhea stops.

• Do not swallow pool water.

• Take young children on bathroom breaks hourly and check diapers every 30-60 minutes.

• Wash hands frequently with clean, running water and soap; scrub for at least 20 seconds.

- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cdc.gov to run its course. Luckily, my husband and daughter were never affected. Jack and I were likely more susceptible to the infection because our immune systems are compromised. (We both have asthma.)

We’re still treading water when it comes to water parks and public pools. We understand a lot of new safety measures are being taken, but it’s taking time for us to slowly dip our toes back in the water.

Calendar Editor Liz Petroff of Phoenix is the mother of Jack (10) and Lucy (8). Reach her at liz@RAKmagazine.com.

Bath time.

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The Fidelity Arizona College Savings Plan is offered by the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education and managed by Fidelity Investments. If you or the designated beneficiary is not an Arizona resident, you may want to consider, before investing, whether your state or the beneficiary’s home state offers its residents a plan with alternate state tax advantages or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors.

Units of the portfolios are municipal securities and may be subject to market volatility and fluctuation.

The Fidelity Arizona College Savings Plan is not insured by the state of Arizona or Fidelity Investments, and neither the principal deposited nor the investment return is guaranteed by the state of Arizona or Fidelity Investments.

1 You will earn 2 Points per dollar in eligible net purchases (net purchases are purchases minus credits and returns) that you charge. Account must be open and in good standing to earn and redeem rewards and benefits. Upon approval, refer to your Program Rules for additional information. You may not redeem Reward Points, and you will immediately lose all of your Reward Points, if your Account is closed to future transactions (including, but not limited to, due to Program misuse, failure to pay, bankruptcy, or death). Reward Points will not expire as long as your Account remains open. Certain transactions are not eligible for Reward Points, including Advances (as defined in the Agreement, including wire transfers, travelers checks, money orders, foreign cash transactions, betting transactions, lottery tickets, and ATM disbursements), Annual Fee, convenience checks, balance transfers, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, overdraft advances, interest charges, fees, credit insurance charges, transactions to fund certain prepaid card products, U.S. Mint purchases, or transactions to purchase cash convertible items. The 2% cash back rewards value applies only to Points redeemed for a deposit into an eligible Fidelity account. The redemption value is different if you choose to redeem your Points for other rewards such as travel options, merchandise, gift cards, and/or statement credit. Other restrictions apply. Full details appear in the Program Rules new card customers receive with their card. Establishment or ownership of a Fidelity account or other relationship with Fidelity Investments is not required to obtain a card or to be eligible to use Points to obtain any rewards offered under the program other than Fidelity Rewards.

The creditor and issuer of the Fidelity Investments 529 College Rewards® Visa Signature® Card is Elan Financial Services, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. The Fidelity Investments and pyramid design logo is a registered service mark of FMR LLC. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917. © 2018 FMR LLC. All rights reserved. 790731.3.0 raisingarizonakids.com JUNE/JULY 2018

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az grown museums

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX

10

YEARS OF HANDS-ON PLAY

Children’s Museum of Phoenix celebrates its first decade

By Kara G. Morrison

IT’S BEEN A DECADE since the Children’s Museum of Phoenix opened its doors in the former Monroe School in downtown Phoenix, offering hands-on play, art and exploration to ages 10 and younger.

The museum welcomes about 350,000 visitors annually, employs 50 full-time staff and nearly as many seasonally, and has been called one of America’s 10 best children’s museums by Reader’s Digest. Here, kids can build forts, shop in a “supermarket,” run through a “forest” of pool noodles, paint a giant robot and spend summers and breaks in a popular camp program. Recently, the museum expanded its art studio and created a KIDchen and working outdoor garden. There is still room to grow in the majestic 1913 school building that boasts alumni including abstract painter Jackson Pollock.

In June and July, the museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. A Big Birthday Bash marking the 10th year will be held June 14. We asked founding member and CEO Kate Wells to share more about future plans, exhibits and fun.

What are some of the “don’t miss” attractions for families? The Climber.

You really can’t miss it since it’s the first thing you see when you enter. It’s our iconic three-story structure that mimics a crazy kind of treehouse that kids have a blast in.

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Also, our Art Studio, which is just a beautiful space and bustles with creativity, color and imagination. And definitely, families should not miss our brand new KIDchen, where we provide cooking programs for little ones and their grown-ups.

their families. And to continue creating programs that focus on early childhood education and school readiness through the hard work of our own education team as well as collaborations with community partners.

What’s the new area behind the noodle forest? This should open by summer. It will

Making sure that all children in our community have the opportunity to come and play regardless of their ability to pay. We do this by giving out over 50,000 free or reduced admission passes annually. We really do want every child to be exposed to the rich learning environment that we provide. Thankfully, we have many generous supporters who donate to our Every Child Program.

be a performance space complete with stage, costumes and puppets, where kids will be able to star in their own shows. It will be full of imagination, creativity and fun, and will encourage kids to play together in telling stories.

What exhibits are you hoping to add?

We have about 20,000 square feet [for future growth]. We have an exhibits committee that’s always coming up with exciting ideas. One idea is a bigger Maker Space where kids will be able to create things out of found objects and materials. We have a smaller-scale version of this currently in our Art Studio, and it’s a huge hit.

What’s your future vision for the museum? To continue to provide an epic experience for our visitors. To grow our annual visitation to over half a million. To create an endowment to help us grow even more. To fill those empty spaces with new and exciting experiences for children and

What’s been the biggest challenge?

What’s the best part of your job? Hands down —the visitors. Especially the children.

I get to come into work every single day and see children engaging with the world around them in the most imaginative, creative and joyful ways. And hearing children’s laughter through our office doors always puts a smile on my face, regardless of the type of day I may be having. It reminds me why we do what we do every day.

Kara G. Morrison is the editor of R aising A rizona K ids and the mother of Sofia (5). Reach her at kara@ rakmagazine.com.

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THE BODY SAFETY BOX Former elementary teacher’s toolkit aims to help prevent abuse

By Mary Anne Duggan • Photos provided by The Body Safety Box

T

he Kahlil Gibran poem “On Children” hangs in my office: You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. It inspired me as a younger mom to give my children appropriate freedom.

They come through you but not from you; And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

But poetry meets harsh reality when balancing your child’s autonomy with personal safety. We can’t be with our children every moment of the day, but statistics make many of us want to snap back that bow and keep our little arrows close.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated one in 10 children will experience contact sexual abuse before their 18th birthday.

When the definition of sexual abuse is expanded to include non-contact sexual abuse, the U.S. Department of Justice cites figures of one in four girls and one in six boys who are sexually abused. More than 90 percent of survivors of child sexual abuse know their abuser.

Missy Gryder of Phoenix knows these numbers well, and for more than 10 years has devoted her energies to teaching children about personal safety.

“I believe our generation of moms grew up thinking it was just ‘stranger danger,’” says Gryder, a former elementary teacher with a

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doctorate in education. “But, the majority of the time it’s with somebody who knows the kid and has access to the kid.”

Gryder is also concerned about the growing incidences of older-childto-younger-child abuse. So what can be done, besides packing up our arrows in our quiver and holding them close?

“An informed child is a better-protected child,” says Gryder, who created The Body Safety Box in 2000. “So, if we can inform our children in a really age-appropriate, kid-friendly way, the better equipped and the safer our children will be.”

Gryder’s Body Safety Box program includes a series of lessons that are designed to be active and engaging. There are two versions of the program — one for ages 5 to 8 and one for ages 9 to 12. Gryder has personally presented the program to more than 1,500 students in schools, but the program can be facilitated by anyone.

“We have school counselors, teachers, and even school resource officers who teach the lessons,” says Gryder. In addition, parents can purchase The Body Safety Box online ($39.99 at bodysafetybox.com) for use with their own children. “It can be used anywhere by anyone because all that is needed to facilitate the program is included in the box.”

Here are some of THE BODY SAFETY BOX elements that help children learn about personal safety: Social and emotional learning At the core of personal safety is believing you are worthy enough to warrant being safe and well. Accordingly, the first two lessons in The Body Safety Box are social and emotional lessons. When Gryder works in classrooms, she doesn’t want to dive into sensitive topics when the children are just getting to know her. “So, the initial lessons are all about kids learning they are special and helping them to develop their sense of worth and value,” she explains.

Another aspect of the beginning lessons is developing an emotional vocabulary. “We help kids learn some feelings words, and they learn that everybody feels all kinds of feelings and all of these feelings are normal,” says Gryder.

School-age children tend to be rule-driven when making decisions.

It makes sense, then, that Gryder’s program includes a set of body safety rules. “In the third lesson, children learn their first body safety rule, which involves physical abuse prevention: No one can hurt my body,” says Gryder. “We introduce sexual abuse prevention in Lesson 4 with the safety rule: No one can touch my private parts.”

Gryder stresses the importance of using age appropriate, kid-friendly language.

“Of course every Arizona kid knows about their swimsuit,” says Gryder, “so we use language that no one can touch the parts of your body that are covered by your swimsuit.”

For this lesson, the children make artwork that corresponds to their gender. “It was really important for me to create something that I would feel comfortable teaching a young child that wasn’t using the word ‘sex,’” Gryder adds. “I wouldn’t want a kindergartner to hear that word for the first time in a negative context.”

Refusal and telling skills In later Body Safety Box lessons, children learn all-important “refusal” and “telling” skills. “At this point, kids learn that they can say ‘stop’ in a big voice, they can get away, and they can keep telling adults,” says Gryder.

Gryder says fewer than 10 percent of kids who experience sexual abuse tell. Oftentimes when a child does tell, that one adult doesn’t do anything. “So if a kid goes to ask for help and the help isn’t given, you can imagine that completely shuts the kid down, often until adulthood.”

When Gryder is in classrooms, she is quite frank about the fact that sometimes adults don’t know how to help. She teaches children to keep telling other adults until help is provided. She goes as far as teaching children to tell adults who are mandatory reporters, without using that term.

“We list them out: parents and adults who care for them, [including] teachers, school nurses, principals, doctors and police officers,” she explains. Gryder encourages children to memorize all the adults on this list that they can go to for help.

AMY FRAUGHTON PHOTOGRAPHY

Body safety rules

“It’s not your fault” Anyone who has seen the ending of the movie “Good Will Hunting” knows the power of the words “it’s not your fault” for survivors of abuse.

In The Body Safety Box’s final lesson, these words are driven home.

“Somehow they think it’s their fault,” says Gryder. The shame gets wrongly transferred from the abuser to the child. Sometimes the perpetrator threatens the child or the child’s family if the child tells.

“I share with the children that sometimes the person who is breaking a body safety rule will tell you that you can’t tell. But, really, you can tell; they’re not telling you the truth.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents talk with children about abuse prevention as early as age 3. “The median age of childhood sexual abuse is age 9,” Gryder says. “So if we are waiting until our children are tweens to have the talk, that’s absolutely too late.”

And, Gryder feels strongly that the talk is for all parents to have.

“If you ask around, you will find that sexual abuse has happened to people in your close circle. It’s not just a poverty problem; it’s an everywhere problem. It’s not just for the at-risk child; it is for every child.”

Mary Anne Duggan, PhD, is a psychology lecturer at Arizona State University and parent of two adult children.

Reach her at mary.duggan@asu.edu

raisingarizonakids.com JUNE/JULY 2018

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2018

Summer

SURVIVAL GUIDE

By RAK Staff

OdySea Aquarium Photo by Dave Seibert.

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A

rizona summers aren’t exactly carefree.

We have to barricade ourselves from triple digits for weeks. That doesn’t mean our kids are any less active. They still need to play, while we need keep them safe.

Here are 25 ways to get out of the heat and enjoy the season!

Summer Survival Tip #1: Aquariums. When the Arizona heat gets overwhelming, get to the water — no long road trip required! From OdySea Aquarium east of Scottsdale to Tempe’s Sea Life Arizona Aquarium with perfect eye-level tanks for young kids, there are plenty of ways to stay cool and explore “under the sea” in metro Phoenix.

Look for special Shark Week events at these venues starting Sunday, July 22 or earlier.

OdySea Aquarium. The largest aquarium in the Southwest, OdySea offers a mini version of the Great Barrier Reef, a Penguin Point attraction, The Otter Banks where otters frolic and play, plus the only restrooms we know of where you can make eye contact with sharks. “Mermaids” also make appearances here, and this summer OdySea will celebrate the arrival of baby sea lion pups! California sea lions Ella, Penny and Skye are expected to give birth in late June or early July. $37.95; $27.95 for ages for ages 2-12. The aquarium is part of the OdySea in the Desert entertainment district that includes Butterfly Wonderland, Dolphinaris, OdySea Mirror Maze and more, so discounted combo tickets are available. 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. 480-291-8000 or odyseaaquarium.com

Sea Life Aquarium. This aquarium inside Arizona Mills mall was built for kids, with viewing bubbles at children’s eye level. The Colorado River Adventure display helps kids learn about water conservation and Arizona’s water supply. Other features include a 360-degree ocean tunnel, a touch tide pool with sea urchins and sea stars, plus behindthe-scenes tours, talks and feeding times. $10.95-$19.95 with online discounts. Sea Life and Legoland Discovery Center (located next door) are both owned by Merlin Entertainments, so discounted combo tickets and passes are available. 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Suite 145, Tempe. 877-526-3960 or visitsealife.com/arizona

Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park. This west-side zoo’s aquarium boasts hundreds of fish and amphibians, but three gregarious sea lions are the main attraction. Guests can feed and interact with them and watch daily sea-lion shows in Shipwreck Cove. Kids also can feed penguins and explore marine life from around the globe, including piranha and a rare albino alligator. The aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Admission to both the zoo and aquarium is $39.99; $19.99 for ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger. 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park.

623-935-9543 or wildlifeworld.com

Summer Survival Tip #2: Baseball. Take the kids out to the ballgame in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ air-conditioned, domed stadium. Chase Field offers kid-friendly amenities including the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Sandlot, where kids can bat Wiffle balls on a small diamond, play on a playground, or (for older kids and adults) swing away in a batting cage. Near the Sandlot is the D-backs Kid’s Club headquarters; kids ages 3 to 15 who sign up (membership is free) can get freebies for each game attended plus a free ticket to Sunday home games. See fireworks after every Friday home game, and kids can run the bases on Sundays. There’s also a new museum here filled with D-backs memorabilia. Did you know families can bring their own snacks and food to keep games more affordable? Times and ticket prices vary. Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. 602-462-6500 or dbacks.com

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Summer Survival Tip #3: Bowling. Kids Bowl Free is a national program designed by bowling centers to give children a safe, fun summer. Each child who registers gets two free games of bowling daily. Let It Roll Bowl in Phoenix participates, as does Glenfair Lanes in Glendale. The offer (kidsbowlfree.com) is available daily to ages 15 and younger; others can participate at discounted rates, making it a great family outing. Bowlers still rent shoes for about $3.50. Other bowling lanes offer family summer discounts, including AMF’s Summer Game Pass, which is as little as $45.95 for ages 16 and up; $29.95 for ages 15 and younger (prices vary by location). The pass (bowlsummergames.com) gets you three free games of bowling — including shoes — every day, all summer long.

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Summer Survival Tip #4: Camps! There’s no reason for kids to be bored this summer when they can learn circus tricks, design their own video games, start a rock band, ride horses or create with Legos and 3-D printers. There are summer camps throughout metro Phoenix (and beyond) for every interest you can imagine. If you and the kids are going stir-crazy, look through our ultimate summer camps directory together: raisingarizonakids.com/summer-camps/

theater! The Harkins Theatres Summer Movie Fun program offers 10 animated kids movies for $7 (or $2 per person per movie) playing throughout summer at select Valley locations (harkinstheatres.com). Studio Movie Grill, 15515 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale, offers a Children’s Summer Series for as little as $1 per ticket; kids can sit in a regular movie seat with a tray or eat at a lunch counter while watching films (studiomoviegrill.com). Pollack Tempe Cinemas, 1825 E. Elliot Road in Tempe, offers $3.50 movies anytime, including recent blockbusters and animated films (pollacktempecinemas.com). And Fat Cats, 4321 E. Baseline Road in Gilbert, offers $5 current feature films all day every Tuesday (fatcatsfun.com).

Summer Survival Tip #6: Create. Last summer, kids were obsessed with making slime. We can’t predict what the next favorite Pinterest project will be, but we know that makerspaces are “in” with kids of all ages. The arts and crafts room at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix (childrensmuseumofphoenix.org) boasts a space where young kids can turn recycled materials into treasures. Create Makerspace at Arizona Science Center offers high-tech workshops where kids can spend hours exploring 3-D printing, laser cutting and more (azscience.org). For a fun intro to crafting, check out the Arizona Craft Rave from 6-11 p.m. Fridays June 29 and July 20 at Changing Hands bookstore in Phoenix (changinghands.com). Paint pottery at As You Wish locations around the Valley, which hosts special kids classes all summer (asyouwishpottery.com) or try your hand at making pop-up books or cards (https://www.raisingarizonakids. com/2018/04/make-movable-books-cards/).

Girl Scouts

MICHELLE-RENEE ADAMS

Survival Tip #5: Cheap movies. Where is it always reliably cool here in the summer? The movie

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Summer Survival Tip #7: Dinosaurs. “Dinosaurs in the Desert” has left the Phoenix Zoo, but ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER

there are still plenty of prehistoric creatures roaming the Valley this summer. Here are three places to indulge your child’s love of T-Rex:

Pangaea, Land of the Dinosaurs. This attraction opened in December in the OdySea in the Desert complex on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian reservation near Scottsdale. It features more than 50 life-size animatronic dinosaurs in colorful, interactive, educational exhibits designed to transport visitors back to the age of the dinosaurs. Activities include fossil excavations, dinosaur go-karts, a planned dinosaur obstacle course, dino rides and more. Admission is $14.95, plus additional charges for some activities. 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Suite C-100, Scottsdale.

480-362-3466 or landofthedinos.com

of the wall of this Mesa museum. The 38-foot dinosaur lived 110 million years ago and is thought to have been the apex predator on the landscape. The museum also offers a $15 Prehistoric Preschool program from 8-10 a.m. every Tuesday in June for ages 4-5. Ages 6-12 can stay overnight at the museum June 22 during “Roar and Snore,” which includes exploring a Paleontology lab, fossil preparation and a flashlight tour ($45). All summer, families can explore Dinosaur Hall, pan for gold in the courtyard and much more. Admission is $12; $7 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger; discounts for students and seniors. 53 N. Macdonald, Mesa. arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org

Dino Explorer at Legoland Discovery Center. This playground inside Tempe’s Arizona Mills mall offers two small amusement-park rides and lots of creative play with Lego bricks, including a Dino Explorer area.

The center also features a large play structure, 4-D Lego movies, a testing and racing area for Lego cars, a Lego Friends building area with pink and purple bricks, and a Duplo playground for babies and toddlers. Miniland, with Lego replicas of Arizona’s major landmarks and attractions, is also worth exploring. Prices and times vary. 5000 Arizona Mills Circle in Tempe. 877-526-3960 or arizona.legolanddiscoverycenter.com

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LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER

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Summer Survival Tip #8: Disneyland. (See page 26)

Flashlight tours at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Survival Tip #9: Flashlight tours and full-moon hikes. Desert natives know to avoid desert hikes during triple-digit heat, but dusk in the desert is beautiful. Many of Maricopa County’s parks (maricopacountyparks.net) offer full-moon night hikes that allow families to get outside and enjoy the scenery at tolerable temperatures. And the Desert Botanical Garden (dbg.org) attracts crowds during the hottest months with its familyfriendly flashlight tours from 7-9:30 p.m. every Saturday, May 26-Sept. 1. Bring your own flashlight to light up the trails.

Kids will see desert critters up close, make crafts and learn fun facts from garden volunteers. It’s a festive atmosphere, often with treats and live entertainment. $24.95; $12.95 ages 3-17; free for ages 2 and younger. 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 480-941-1225 or dbg.org

Summer Survival Tip #10: Free entertainment. There’s a surprising array of free entertainment here in the summer, from free outdoor movies to free concerts around the Valley.

Free concerts. Many of the Valley’s outdoor malls and parks offer free summer concerts. McCormick-Stillman

Free movies. At 6:30 p.m. on second Fridays, families can bring blankets or chairs to watch a feature film on the outdoor screen at CityScape in downtown Phoenix during City Lights Movie Nights in Patriots Park (cityscapephoenix. com). Goodyear Ballpark (goodyearbp.com) and Desert Ridge Marketplace (shopdesertridge.com) also offer free outdoor summer films. If you’re headed up north, Flagstaff hosts Movies on the Square on Saturday nights (flagdba.com).

Summer Survival Tip #11: Grand Canyon

Tour a national treasure Jason Chin

is so right; that canyon in the north is “much more than just a big hole in the ground.” But we Arizonans know that already. We know that it’s big-G grand. And that it’s ours.

But how many of us really know it?

Author-illustrator Chin fills in some of the blanks when he takes us on a colorful tour in “Grand Canyon,” one of 2018’s Caldecott Honor books. It manages to be both relaxed and informative, expansive and intimate. It covers the area’s geologic history and zoology in a straightforward, nonjargon-y way that is an excellent introduction to the canyon for kids ages 7 to 12. Younger children will enjoy just looking at his marvelous watercolor pictures and identifying the plants and animals within.

Adults will appreciate the refresher course.

A mountain lion leads readers on a meandering moonlight stroll from the North Rim to an oasis in the Inner Gorge where, in the morning, we meet up with dad-and-daughter hikers examining the elusive cat’s prints before beginning the long trek out of the canyon. As they travel, the girl discovers birds and animals, as well as fossils (displayed as cut-outs) that transform her views of each habitat they traverse into a vision of its original prehistoric environment. The story ends in a splendid double gatefold of the hikers on top of the South Rim surveying the panoramic majesty of the entire canyon.

“Grand Canyon” includes border sketches (a la Jan Brett) of canyon fauna, unobtrusive side and bottom panels of geological concepts; maps, and lots of endnotes giving the interested reader extras about canyon ecology, geology, anthropology, the illustration process, subject references and additional reading.

Any family planning a trip or wanting to learn about the Grand Canyon will love this fantastic voyage through time and Arizona geography.

— Debra Citron

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LAURA SEGALL

Railroad Park (therailroadpark.com) hosts free concerts from 7:30-9 p.m. every Sunday through July 1 at 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. You can also hear live music at Desert Ridge Marketplace (21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix; shopdesertridge.com); Westgate Entertainment District (6751 N. Sunset Blvd, Glendale; westgateaz.com) and Tempe Marketplace (2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway; tempemarketplace.com) on various nights. Another favorite is Glendale’s long-running Summer Band Concert that hosts community musicians performing marches, polkas, movie medleys and other classic favorites at 8 p.m. Thursdays June 7-July 26 at Murphy Park Amphitheatre, 59th Avenue and Glenn Drive (glendaleaz.com).

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Survival Tip #12: Indoor playgrounds. We couldn’t get through the summer without them: air-conditioned trampoline parks and indoor play centers. That’s why more keep opening! Urban Air Adventure Park opened in Ahwatukee in January with trampolines, a slam-dunk zone, tumble track, obstacle course, climbing walls, ropes course, dodgeball and more, and a Goodyear location is coming soon (urbanairtrampolinepark.com). Sky Zone trampoline park is opening a second location at Tatum Boulevard and Greenway Road in Scottsdale (skyzone.com). Uptown Jungle Fun Park (formerly Urban Jungle Fun Park) is adding a second location at 7608 W. Cactus Road in Peoria (uptownjungle. com). Other favorite local indoor play centers include Makutus Island, 6919 W. Ray Road in Chandler (makutusisland.com), PlayGrounds Fun Zone & Cafe, 8190 W. Union Hills Drive in Glendale (playgroundsfunzone.com) and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, with its three-story climber (childrensmuseumofphoenix.org).

Bike wash at the Children’s museum of Phoenix.

Survival Tip #14: Local museums. Summer is the start of new exhibits at several family-friendly museums around the Valley. On June 15, the i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa (ideamuseum.org) debuts “Artful Play! Games & Toys” with paintings, sculptures, photographs and hands-on activities that let kids design toys and games and learn about play in other cultures. On June 30, the Arizona Science Center (azscience.org) debuts “Mirror Maze: Numbers in Nature” where guests learn about mathematical patterns that surround us. Wander through the elaborate mirror maze and discover a secret room with bonus puzzles, imagery and artifacts. Draw patterns on a digital screen to reveal real-world objects with the same pattern, compose music using symmetry and compare similar patterns in architecture over the decades. And don’t forget Discount Tire Free Family Weekends at the Phoenix Art Museum (phxart.org). The museum offers free general admission to families on the second weekend of each month and activities include scavenger hunts, live performances, storytime, free tours and a chance to make art with a featured local Valley artist. Admission to Phoenix Art Museum is also free on First Fridays and 3-9 p.m. Wednesdays, although donations are always appreciated.

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Survival Tip #15: Los Angeles. It’s easy to dismiss L.A. — with nightmarish traffic and overpriced hotels — as a family-friendly vacation spot. Yet, it’s an easy drive for Phoenix families with plenty worth exploring. In addition to popular attractions like Universal Studios or Dodgers Stadium, here are six gems:

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. This immense former private estate 12 miles from downtown L.A. offers an astonishing backdrop for a family photo, and cultural fun for all ages. Don’t miss: the Japanese Garden, the Gutenberg Bible and lunch in the Chinese Garden teahouse. $13-$29.

1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California. 626-405-2100 or huntington.org

Strawberry Delivery by John Padlo at the i.d.e.a. Museum.

I.D.E.A. MUSEUM

a gem of a beach town north of San Diego. Opened in 1999, Legoland continues to add new attractions and amenities, such as Castle Hotel, the second Lego-themed hotel on the property that opened this spring with 250 princess, wizard and knight-and-dragon-themed rooms. It boasts indoor play structures, a giant screen for nighttime movies, and a stage for live plays and shows. A Lego City Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride, featuring real marine life, opens this summer.

Legoland features playgrounds, roller coasters, a waterpark and a Sea Life Aquarium on site, plus lots of hands-on building opportunities with Legos — including Lego-stocked areas where kids play happily while parents wait in ride queues. $95 per day; $89 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger; $159 annual pass. One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad. 760-918-5346 or legoland.com/california

CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF PHOENIX

Survival Tip #13: Legoland. This amusement park for ages 2-12 is located in Carlsbad, California,

Zeiss Mark IX Universarium Planetarium Projector at Griffith Observatory.

Griffith Observatory. Located at the top of Griffith Park, this is the best place in L.A. to see the (celestial) stars. Admission is free to the observatory and exhibits; planetarium shows are $3-$7 for ages 5 and up. Just walking here at dusk is a treat, or grab cafeteria fare at the Café at the End of the Universe. 2800 E. Observatory Road, Los Angeles.

213-473-0800 or griffithobservatory.org

L ACMA. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is right next to La Brea Tar Pits and a mile from The Grove

Hollywood Bowl. This outdoor amphitheater in the Hollywood Hills is a legendary venue for live concerts and events, from jazz, rock and pop stars to fireworks shows with the L.A. Phil to the music of John Williams — sometimes while a movie is screened. Catch a morning orchestra rehearsal or explore the (free) Hollywood Bowl Museum when it’s easier to park. 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles. 323-850-2000 or hollywoodbowl.com

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ANTHONY COOK

outdoor shopping mall — both worthy stops. There’s a free youth membership program here (Arts for NexGen LACMA) for ages 17 and younger who can bring an adult guest for free admission (regularly $25). All ages can paint in the Boone Children’s Gallery, or simply wander the buildings and grounds of the largest art museum in the western United States and take a photo at the “Urban Light” lamp posts near the main entrance. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 323 857-6010 or lacma.org

Program g in d a e R r e m m u S July! & e n u J ’ n i Rock

/rak

read20az.com

Maricopa County READS raisingarizonakids.com JUNE/JULY 2018

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Magic Castle Hotel. Word has gotten out about this Hollywood hotel — one of few in L.A. where kids are welcome, and there are no sky-high parking and resort fees. Rooms are not fancy, nor cheap, but they are spacious. The “magic” includes customer service that’s truly rare, plus free breakfast, snacks and soft-serve ice cream and entertainment.

At a red phone near the 24-hour heated pool, anyone can request “emergency popsicles.” 7025 Franklin Ave., Hollywood.

323-851-0800 or magiccastlehotel.com

California Science Center. General admission is free to this museum in Exposition Park, next to the Natural

Summer Survival Tip #16: Passes. Memberships can help save money this summer if you’re planning to visit certain indoor venues repeatedly to stay out of the heat. You get a discounted Pogo Pass (pogopass.com) for as little as $40 per person that gives its holder free admission to a number of family attractions in Phoenix and Tucson, including two Arizona Diamondbacks games, one visit to Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa, two visits to the Phoenix Zoo and i.d.e.a. Museum, plus laser tag, trampoline parks, bowling and more. These also make good gifts! If you’re thinking of heading West to a theme park, you might consider the Official Southern California CityPass. The pass is $367 ($337 for ages 3-9) and includes a three-day Park Hopper ticket to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks, one-day admission to SeaWorld San Diego and one day at Legoland California Resort in Carlsbad (between San Diego and Anaheim). The pass saves about $150 per person if used at all the destinations. citypass.com

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Phoenix Mercury’s DeWanna Bonner.

PHOENIX MERCURY BARRY GOSSAGE

History Museum Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California. Highlights include seeing the Space Shuttle Endeavour and other prominent aircraft and spacecraft, an aquarium/ecosystems display and the new blockbuster “King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh” exhibit ($19.50-$29.95) making its world premiere here before its European tour. You can also see movies in the seven-story IMAX theater, including “Pandas,” “Mysteries of Egypt,” “Hubble” and “Journey to Space.”

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. 323-724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org

Summer Survival Tip #17: Phoenix Mercury Games. The championship WNBA Phoenix Mercury team plays all summer in the air-conditioned Talking Stick Resort Arena. In addition to pro-level women’s basketball, the games are full of family fun with team mascot Scorch, the co-ed Hip Hop Squad, the COURTyard where fans can play games, plus post-game free throws and more. 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $9 and up. phoenixmercury.com

Summer Survival Tip #18: Pizza and Fun. Jake’s Unlimited — the renovated former Amazing Jake’s — is offering a weekday Summer Play Pass for $200 ($250 includes weekends) that gives guests three hours of unlimited food, rides and non-redemption video games from May 13-Aug. 18. Entertainment here includes rides, a dual-level laser tag arena and bowling alleys. The Jake’s Unlimited buffet offers pizza, pastas, desserts, a salad bar and a baked-potato bar. 1830 E. Baseline Road, Mesa. 480-386-1960 or jakesunlimited.com. Peter Piper Pizza, with 10 locations in metro Phoenix, is hosting Summer Kids Days from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday June 5-July 24. The event is $5.49 per child and includes two slices of pizza, a drink, five tokens and a themed craft or activity (peterpiperpizza. com). Summer is a great time to visit Organ Stop Pizza, where the real draw is the world’s largest Wurlitzer pipe organ and musical entertainment while you dine. Summer hours are 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Fridays, 4-10 p.m.

Saturdays and 4-9 p.m. Sundays. 1149 E. Southern Ave., Mesa. 480-813-5700 or organstoppizza.com.

Summer Survival Tip #19: Popsicles.

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(See page 28)

Saturdays at Pueblo Grande Museum offers reading and hands-on activities from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays June 9-30 hosted by local authors including Phoebe Fox and Dianne White. Recommended for kids in preschool through fourth grade, the event is $5 for kids and includes a light snack and museum admission; it’s free for adults. It’s also part of the Maricopa County Reads program, where children can get badges and points for participating in different programs at library branches around the Valley (maricopacountyreads.org). Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington St. 602-495-0901 or pueblogrande.com

Summer Survival Tip #21: Science. Older kids may find it fascinating to see the eye-opening “Bodies Revealed” exhibit by Atlanta-based Premier Exhibitions that recently opened at the OdySea in the Desert Complex. It lets visitors view beneath the surface of the human body, showing more than 200 whole and partial human specimens preserved by polymer preservation. Internal organs and systems including the skeletal, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, endocrine and circulatory systems, in addition to muscles and the nervous system, are on display.

See it through March 2019 at 9500 E. Via De Ventura, Scottsdale. odyseainthedesert.com

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Lungs at Bodies Revealed.

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Summer Survival Tip #20: Reading. Arizona Authors Summertime Storytelling & Craft

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Summer Survival Tip #22: Snowbowl. Temperatures atop the San Francisco Peaks are certain to be more pleasant than the Valley’s triple digits. New summer activities at Arizona Snowbowl include a 150-foot-long summer tubing slope, a bungee trampoline and a family-friendly ropes course. Kids can also hunt for treasure or test their balance, footwork and skills on the Barrel Roll. A Saturday Sunset Dinner Special from 5-7:30 p.m. July 7-Aug. 4 is $79 for a family of four and includes the scenic chairlift ride, lawn games and summer activities (bungee trampoline, summer tubing, ropes course, treasure panning) and live music, plus dinner and drinks. Snowbowl is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily May 26-Sept. 3 with extended hours from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturdays July 7-Aug. 4. snowbowl.ski

Marketplace (tempemarketplace.com) hosts Summer Splash where kids can meet a favorite princess or superhero — such as Batman, Cinderella, Moana and Elsa. Families can take a free downloadable photo with the character and enjoy free entertainment while kids cool down on the splash pad. And Desert Ridge Marketplace in north Phoenix hosts Cool Summer Nights events at its splash pad on Thursdays June 14 and July 19 (shopdesertridge.com). Splash pads abound at outdoor shopping centers and local parks Valleywide. Our favorites include Pioneer Community Park splash pad in Peoria and the fountain/splash pad at Scottsdale Quarter. One of the area’s largest splash pad playgrounds is being constructed north of the soccer fields in Tempe’s Kiwanis Park and is expected to open this summer. Find a splash pad near you at raisingarizonakids.com/splash-pads/

Summer Survival Tip #24: Stargazing. The Arizona Science Center’s Dorrance Planetarium (azscience.org) is the perfect cool venue to learn about the galaxy all summer. See shows such as “Ice Worlds,” “Supervolcanoes” and “Arizona Skies” for $5-$9. “Grand Tour of the Empire” is an immersive new planetarium experience that explores the parallels of exoplanets scientists are discovering to those found in the galaxy of Star Wars.

Stargazing for Everyone’s Tony and Carole LaConte host public stargazing programs at area parks. Inquire at 623-9791393 or stargazingforeveryone.com. If you get inspired, you can also travel to Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff (lowell. edu) or Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson (noao.edu/kpno) to gaze the galaxy at cooler altitudes. Arizona State University’s Marston Exploration Theater offers cutting-edge 3-D astronomy shows every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Tempe campus. Tickets are $5.50-$7.50. (sese.asu.edu)

TEMPE MARKETPLACE

Summer Survival Tip #23: Splash pads. Every Thursday in June and July, Tempe

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Night view of Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO).

resorts here offer smoking summer deals. When plane tickets for summer travel aren’t in the budget, leaving the piles of laundry at home and spending a couple of nights lounging by a local resort pool is a great mental getaway for the whole family. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (scottsdaleprincess.com) with white-sand beach, six pools and ample entertainment is a popular staycation spot with rates starting at $179 (including a $50 resort credit). Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch (hyattregencyscottsdale.com) offers 10 pools, 20 fountains, 45 waterfalls, a sand beach and a three-story waterslide with rates starting at $169 (with a $50 resort credit). And the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North (fourseasons.com/scottsdale/) with beautiful vistas, a complimentary kids program, poolside treats and summer activities, is offering rates starting at $189.

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P. MARENFELD & NOAO/AURA/NSF

Summer Survival Tip #25: Staycations. One advantage to surviving 115-degree is that

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5

Tips for navigating Disneyland

during peak seasons

Disneyland really is

DISNEYLAND PARK

the happiest place on Earth. But it takes a lot of work to achieve that happiness — especially when visiting during peak seasons like summer and holidays. This summer, Anaheim boasts new Pixar-themed fireworks, parades and entertainment at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Pack an extra dose of patience (along with sunscreen, snacks and refillable water bottles) and beat the (sometimes overwhelming) crowds with these tips:

1. Get expert help.

So much budgeting, research and planning goes into a Disneyland vacation, and a travel expert who knows the park can make the whole experience better — especially if you’re planning a last-minute trip. Several companies specialize in Disney vacations. We reached out to Tempe’s Pixie Planner (thepixieplanner.com), who found discounts on hotel accommodations and park tickets that we would not have gotten on our own.

2.Take advantage of hotel amenities.

Most Disneyland Resorts and neighboring hotels offer perks that save time and money, including free breakfast, shuttles and happy hour for tired parents! Fueling up on a healthy breakfast can save time and money inside the park, and shuttles make for a quick walk to the main entrance. Plus, it can be fun visiting with other families (and sharing tips) on the way.

3. Take advantage of Magic Mornings.

Some multiple-day ticket packages or packages with Disneyland Resorts or partner hotels offer a Magic Mornings option, letting guests enter Disneyland and California Adventure parks a full hour before the general public. This generally guarantees one or two rides with minimal wait times, so you can knock out some park favorites — Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure and Radiator Springs Racers — before 9 a.m.

4. Get MaxPass.

We will never visit a Disneyland Park without a MaxPass. The added cost ($10 per person) was worth the expense — especially on a crowded day. MaxPass lets guests book Disney FastPass ride reservations on the Disneyland mobile app and allows unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads. Each member of your group connects their park admission ticket to MaxPass. Be sure to bring a charger for cell phones, because the app can drain batteries.

5.Tom Sawyer’s Island.

The Island — located in the smack dab middle of the park, near Frontier Land and Adventure Land — is only accessible via a small platform raft. On a particularly crowded day, this is the best spot in the park. Kiddos are free to run around and explore paths that lead to caves and tunnels. Mature trees make for abundant shade, and there are extra bathrooms. We felt rested and prepared for the long lines after a visit here.

— Liz Petroff

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Pam Raphael, with her children, Ayden (18), Ezra (12) and Shayna (16).

Frozen Treats!

Three recipes for perfect homemade popsicles

By Karen Fernau | Photos by Allen Patrou

Pam Raphael of AZ Pops

knew that moving from Atlanta to Phoenix was the right move for her family business.

“We have a very, very long popsicle season in the desert,” says Raphael, owner of the Phoenix popsicle emporium with nearly 50 rotating flavors made with all-natural ingredients. Or as Raphael, a former preschool director, likes to say: “Popsicles made with real food.”

Raphael was living in Atlanta with her husband, Butch, and their three children when she began making popsicles. Her original creations were born out of necessity, not a business plan. They were healthy treats to quell but not quash her kids’ hunger before dinner.

“I’d get home from work with the kids and they would be starving,” she says.

“Popsicles seemed to take the edge off until dinner was ready.”

Soon her husband, a classically trained chef and now executive chef at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, joined Raphael in making her frozen pops. He’s responsible for the traditional fruit flavors along with the unexpected: rosemary butter pecan, summer melon tarragon, coconut saffron, Vietnamese coffee, hibiscus ginger, grapefruit rose and cardamom chocolate.

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It was when the couple decided to move to Phoenix to be closer to family that their business morphed from idea to reality. In 2011, the couple rented a commercial kitchen and began selling their popsicles at local farmers markets.

Today, they make and sell popsicles out of their store in central Phoenix, at Old Town Farmers Market in Scottsdale and Uptown, Roadrunner and Ahwatukee farmers markets in Phoenix.

All three of their children — Ayden, 18; Shayna, 16; and Ezra, 12 — help in the store and at the markets. They also double as a focus group, giving a thumbs up or down to new concoctions.

“We give allowances up to (age) 12, then they have to work for their money,” Raphael says.

Although best known as a kid treat, popsicles appeal to adults as well, reminding them of what being a kid was all about: having fun.

Lynn Moreno, a Scottsdale hospital administrator, is a regular AZ Pops customer, bringing her two nieces weekly to Old Town for a popsicle. She’s a sucker for the avocado pops, considering them guilt-free treats.

“I love that they are made with healthy ingredients, and really hit the spot on a hot

day,” she says.

Like at AZ Pops, one of the benefits of making popsicles at home is being able to customize the flavors to fit the preferences of family members. From scratch, popsicles can be vegan, dairy-free or protein rich.

And kids as young as 5 can help make their own. Making popsicles can break up the monotony of long, hot summer days.

Summer birthday party? Popsicle-making can be a party activity or treat.

Raphael recommends following her rule of thumb: use the best ingredients available, preferably those grown locally and in season. She also encourages home cooks to experiment with flavors not typically considered kid friendly.

“We let kids in the store taste before they buy, and many surprise their parents by liking flavors they might not eat on a plate,” she says.

Karen Fernau is a longtime journalist and former food writer at The Arizona Republic.

3

Summer recipes from AZ Pops

5050 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-279-0026 or azpops.com

SUGARLESS MANGO ORANGE • 1 cup mango, washed and cut • 2 cups orange juice • 1/2 cup apple juice • 1 very ripe banana, broken into pieces Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Carefully pour into mold. Insert sticks at least halfway into the popsicle. Place in freezer. Makes about 8 popsicles.

PEACH & STRAWBERRY SPLITS • 2 ripe peaches, peeled, pits removed and cut into pieces (can substitute kiwi or mango) • 1/2 cup water • 1 pint strawberries, washed well • 1/4 cup sugar or honey, divided • 2 teaspoons lemon juice, divided

BERRY LEMONADE • 1 cup mixed or single berries, washed well • 1 cup sugar

• 3 cups water, divided • 1/2 cup lemon juice or less, adjusted for taste

Combine sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan on medium heat. Stir until all sugar melts. Set aside sugar-water mixture to cool. Blend 2/3 cup berries in a blender with 2 cups water and 1 cup melted sugar. Cut remaining 1/3 cup berries into small pieces and place equal amounts into each popsicle mold. Pour blended mixture into molds and insert sticks at least halfway into the popsicle. Place in freezer. Makes about 8 popsicles.

Blend peaches, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and about 1/8 cup sugar or honey, adjusting for taste. Add 1/4 cup water slowly until smoothly blended. If necessary, add a bit more water. Pour into a bowl and set aside. Next, blend strawberries, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and remaining sugar or honey to taste. Slowly add 1/4 cup water (or a bit more if needed) to turn mixture into a smooth blend. Place in refrigerator.

Pour peach mixture halfway into all molds. Place in freezer.

When completely frozen, add strawberry mixture to fill the mold.

Insert sticks at least halfway into the popsicle and place in freezer.

Makes about 8 popsicles.

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family time!

TOP SUMMER EVENTS

JUNE 2: World Atlatl Day. Join Pueblo Grande and the local primitive-skills group SALT in celebrating the atlatl — an ancient weapon that predates the bow and arrow. Learn about it through demonstrations and competitions and give it a try! 9 a.m to noon. Free. Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-495-0901 or pueblogrande.com

JUNE 2-3: Folk Arts Fair. Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott will transport visitors to a simpler time when its shadecovered campus becomes a 19th century Arizona village featuring themed districts and emphasizing education, demonstrations and hands-on experiences. Children can try traditional crafts and cooking, including popcorn and Dutch-oven baked biscuits with freshly churned butter. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $8-$10; free for ages 17 and younger. Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley Street, Prescott. 928-445-3122 or sharlot.org

The lazy days of summer are finally here, and these events will have your family diving into fun! Ditch the school backpacks for swim bags and festive pool parties, relaxing outdoor concerts, and spectacular July 4th celebrations. Don’t forget to pack the sunscreen!

NOTE: Because last-minute schedule changes can occur, please confirm dates and times on event websites.

Itty Bitty Beach Parties (June 8-29).

MAY 26-SEPT. 1: Desert Botanical Garden Flashlight Tours. Bring your own flashlight to light up the trails to see night-blooming plants and elusive animals. The tours are popular with all ages. See desert critters up close, make crafts and more. 7-9:30 p.m. Saturdays May 26-Sept. 1. $24.95; $12.95 for ages 3-17; free for ages 2 and younger. 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 480-941-1225 or dbg.org

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JUNE 8-29: Itty Bitty Beach Parties. Grab your beach ball and sunscreen and join Cigna Healthcare of Arizona and the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department for these poolside parties. Ages 6 and younger (with an adult) can dive into safety lessons, games, dance contests, swimsuit contests, refreshments and more.

9:30-11:30 a.m. Free. June 8: Paradise Valley Pool, 17648 N. 40th St.; June 15: Deer Valley Pool, 19400 N. 19th Ave.; June 22: Pecos Pool, 17010 S. 48th St.; June 29: University Pool, 1102 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix.

602-534-1842 or phoenix.gov/parks/pools

CITY OF PHOENIX PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT- HELGE PEDERSEN

By Liz Petroff

JUNE 9-10: Experience the Mediterranean. Live la dolce vita weekend at the Musical Instrument Museum with the sounds of the Mediterranean Sea! Enjoy music and dance performances, hands-on activities and short tours of the MIM’s Mediterranean Gallery.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $20; $15 ages 13-19; $10 ages 4-12; free for ages 3 and younger. 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000 or mim.org

Add an eye exam on the back to school checklist.

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JUNE 9: Mighty Mud Mania. This popular annual event offers free, muddy obstacle courses for all ages. Non-muddy events are also available. The Original Mud Obstacle Course for ages 7-12 includes a foot race, mud pits, a slide and ropes. There’s also Muddy Tot for ages 1-3 and a Mini Mud Course for ages 4-6. Ages 13 and older can attempt 3 otherwise the Extreme Course. Ages 18 and older pay $10 for the Extreme Course; the event is free with inflatable water slides, food vendors, open-play mud pits and wash stations. 7 a.m. to noon. Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. scottsdaleaz.gov/mighty-mud-mania Prowl and Play: Superheroes Unite! Unleash your superpowers for this epic night at the Phoenix Zoo celebrating kids and animals and World Oceans Day with ocean conservation games and crafts. Plus lakeside lawn water games and dozens of creature features. 5:30-8:30 p.m. $8-$10; free for ages 2 and younger. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway. 602-286-3800 or phoenixzoo.org

4

Schedule your appointment at: 1-800-EYE-CARE or nationwidevision.com

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Offers cannot be combined with any other coupon, special offer, package pricing, prior orders or insurance plan, unless otherwise noted. All offers and prices are subject to change without notice. *All exams performed by Independent Doctors of Optometry. (1) Purchase one complete pair of glasses at full price, the second complete pair of glasses must be of equal or lesser value. (2) While supplies last. Valid for under 18 years old only. Eye Exam not included. Complete pair purchase required (frame and lenses). Includes single vision polycarbonate lenses, eyewear protection plan and select frame styles at $79.99 and under. Offer valid July 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018.

BACK to SCHOOL

raisingarizonakids.com JUNE/JULY 2018

BACK SCHO 32

TOP SUMMER EVENTS continued

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX

JUNE 16: Scottsdale Fahrenheit Festival. As Arizona heats up, the hottest festival on Earth arrives.

“The Scottsdale Fahrenheit Festival: Arms, Legs and Kegs,” includes Scottsdale Beat the Heat: the Hottest Race on Earth starting at 2:47 p.m. (when the thermometer struck 122 degrees in Phoenix in 1990). Saner events are indoors, with the “world’s largest” inflatable slide, a visit from the World’s Greatest Arm Wrestler, the Arizona Ales & Cocktails Festival, a jalapeño eating contest, and a fast-pitch baseball contest. $10 admission; online discounts; free for ages 12 and younger. The first 500 children get a free box of Hot Tamales candy. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road. scottsdalefahrenheitfestival.com

JUNE 14:

JUNE 15: Artful Play! Games & Toys. The i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa’s newest exhibit features paintings, sculptures, photographs and hands-on activities that let kids design toys and games and learn about play in other cultures. $9; free for infants younger than 1. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday. 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa. 480-644-2468 or ideamuseum.org

JUNE 15-JULY 1: Annie. Valley Youth Theatre presents everyone’s favorite orphan at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. The beloved story set in 1930s New York City features hit songs including “Tomorrow.” 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m.

Sunday. One performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28. $20.50-$39.50. 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. 602-253-8188 or vyt.com/shows/annie

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JUNE/JULY 2018 raisingarizonakids.com

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

I.D.E.A. MUSEUM

Children’s Museum of Phoenix Big Birthday Bash. The museum celebrates a decade of hands-on play and learning for ages 10 and younger. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $12; free parking. 215 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-253-0501 or childrensmuseumofphoenix.org

JUNE 17: Father’s Day. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix and the i.d.e.a Museum in Mesa honor dads with free admission on Father’s Day. Or, take Dad out to the ballgame as the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the New York Mets. The first 15,000 dads get a free Father’s Day Hawaiian Shirt, courtesy of Tyson Foods. $22-$235. 1:10 p.m. Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. dbacks.com

JUNE 30-SEPT. 4: Mirror Maze: Numbers in Nature. The Arizona Science Center’s new exhibit explores mathematical patterns that surround us. Wander through an elaborate mirror maze and discover a secret room with bonus puzzles, imagery and artifacts. Hands-on activities include drawing patterns and finding them in nature and architecture and composing music using symmetry. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. $26.95; $21.95 ages 3-17; $6.96 museum members; free for ages 2 and younger. 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602716-2000 or azscience.org

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Call 623-537-6000 for an appointment.

MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY DENTAL INSTITUTE

Your Family’s Home for Healthcare

5855 West Utopia Road Glendale, Arizona 85308 www.mwuclinics.com/azdentalpediatrics

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raisingarizonakids.com JUNE/JULY 2018

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Toddler • Primary • Elementary • Adolescent

NOW EN Toddle ROLLING r&P for 20 rimary 18 Schoo -19 l Year

TOP SUMMER EVENTS continued JULY 4: 15 ways to celebrate Independence Day. See page 40

JULY 7: Christmas in July. Glendale’s annual celebration jingles into town with free holiday crafts, sweet treats and air-conditioned coaches for shoppers, plus photos with Santa, fresh from his tropical vacation. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Glendale. visitglendale.com

• Nurturing Environment • Beautiful Five Acre Campus • Over 20 Years of Authentic Montessori

• Primary Bilingual Program PHOENIX ZOO

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(480) 460-7312 www.keystonemontessori.com 1025 E. Liberty Ln., Phoenix, AZ 85048 (Across the street from the YMCA)

JULY 14: Winter in July. You won’t even remember it’s 100-plus degrees outside when The Phoenix Zoo transforms into a winter wonderland. Chill out and play in more than 50 tons of snow, splash around at the wet and wild play areas, and watch animals cool off and enjoy icy treats from 7-11 a.m. $24.95; $14.95 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 years and younger. 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 602-286-3800 or phoenixzoo.org

JULY 14-15: Experience Arizona Music. Celebrate Arizona’s many different cultures — all with their own distinct musical styles and influences at the Musical Instrument Museum. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $20; $15 ages 13-19; $10 ages 4-12; free for ages 3 and younger. 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000 or mim.org

JULY 21: Family Day: Day of the Cowboy. Enjoy free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum and cowboy-themed activities from 10 a.m. until noon. 21 N. Frontier St., Wickenburg. 928-684-2272 or westernmuseum.org

JULY 24: American Idol Live! Finalists from this star-making TV show are stopping by Mesa as part of a three-month summer tour. The show features “American Idol” finalists Cade Foehner, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Catie Turner, Gabby Barrett, Jurnee, Maddie Poppe and Michael J. Woodard and Season 8 winner Kris Allen. $30-$55. 7:30 p.m. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 480-644-6500. mesaartscenter.com or americanidollive.com Find more extensive day-by-day event listings or submit a calendar item for publication at raisingarizonakids.com/calendar/

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JUNE/JULY 2018 raisingarizonakids.com

You Want to Communicate

[More Effectively.]

Exceptional Care For Children and Adults The Midwestern University Speech-Language Institute is your source for comprehensive, affordable services for speech, language, and swallowing disorders.

Call 623-537-6000 to make your appointment.

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raisingarizonakids.com JUNE/JULY 2018

36

family time! around arizona STATEWIDE National Trails Day (June 2). The American Hiking Society celebrates the 50th anniversary of the National Trail System. Participants are asked to pledge to pack out trash, join a trail work project or clean up a park. The goal is to improve 2,802 miles of trails — the distance across the United States. The day also features hikes, biking and horseback rides, paddling trips, bird watching, geocaching, gear demonstrations and stewardship projects in Arizona and across the country. Times, locations and entry fees vary. nationaltrailsday.org

FLAGSTAFF Arboretum Summer Concert Series (June-September). Enjoy a musical performance under the cool pines with the San Francisco Peaks as a backdrop. Bring blankets and chairs to enjoy a wide variety of world-music performances. Beer, wine and cocktails available for purchase, along with fare from local food trucks. 5:30 p.m. $18; free for ages 12 and younger. The Arboretum at Flagstaff, 4001 S. Woody Mountain Road.

928-774-1442 or thearb.org Arizona Highland Celtic Festival (July 21-22). The Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society hosts this annual event with bagpipes, reenactments, workshops and kids activities. Bring your appetite to enjoy traditional food. $5-$30. Foxglenn Park, 4200 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff. nachs.info Flag Wool & Fiber Festival (June 2-3).

The Pioneer Museum hosts this annual event where families can meet the fiber animals of northern Arizona and learn about heritage crafts such as blacksmithing and candle making. Events also include sheep, alpaca, and goat shearing; kids activities, fiber arts competition, fleece judging, demonstrations, vendors, food and more. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free. The Pioneer Museum, 2340 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff. flagwool.com Flagstaff Folk Festival (June 30-July 1). This festival showcases the best in folk and acoustic music in Arizona and beyond. More than 100 acts will perform on five stages, plus workshops, jam sessions and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. $5

37

per person or $15 per family. Coconino Center for the Arts & Pioneer Museum, 2300 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff. 928607-8480 or flagfolkfest.org Flagstaff Hullabaloo (June 2-3). This two-day community festival celebrates all things Flagstaff. Enjoy a bike parade, costume contests, circus performers, giant puppets, kids areas, local vendors, microbrews and live music on two performance stages. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. $8; $5 in advance; free for ages 5 and younger and for the first 250 people who bring two cans of food for the Flagstaff Family Food Center. Wheeler Park, 212 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff. 877-435-9849 or flaghulla.com Movies on the Square (Saturdays through Sept. 1). Live entertainment, food vendors and an outdoor screening of family-friendly films. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Movie begins at dusk. Free.

Heritage Square, downtown Flagstaff. flagdba.com/movies-on-the-square Riordan Second Sunday Special Walking Tour: Historic Milton Walking Tour (July 8). This 90-minute guided walk (recommend for ages 12 and older) begins at Riordan Mansion and explores the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company property and the town site of Milton. $15.

Reservations required. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, 409 W. Riordan Road, Flagstaff. 928-779-4395 or azstateparks. com/riordan-mansion STEAM Second Saturdays (June 9).

The Museum of Northern Arizona hosts hands-on activities and creative crafts following different themes each month: archaeology, geology, mammals, plants, reptiles and more. 2-4 p.m. $12; $8 for ages 10-17, free for ages 9 and younger.

Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff. 928-7745213 or musnaz.org

PAYSON Payson Book Festival (July 21).

This fourth family-friendly book festival includes Arizona authors who will sign books and visit with readers. Children will enjoy a storytime session with

JUNE/JULY 2018 raisingarizonakids.com

the Cat in the Hat and Story Monster.

9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free. Mazatzal Hotel and Casino, Toot National Forest, Highway 87. 928-478-6793 or paysonbookfestival.org Payson Kidz Monster Mudda (June 2). Ages 6-11 can participate in the Kidz Monster Mudda, a kid-friendly course at the Arizona Mountain High Games’ annual Mogollon Monster Mudda 5K Mud Run. This course includes 20 obstacles developed using mountain trails with natural and man-made obstacles. Kids can climb walls, run through mud pits, try mud slides and monkey bars and more. 12:30 p.m. $15.

Payson Event Center, 1400 S. Beeline Highway, Payson. paysonrimcountry.com Payson Summer Concerts (June 2-July 28). Bring the family and a picnic (or buy food from local vendors) and enjoy live music under the stars. Dogs must be on leash. No smoking or alcohol.

7 p.m. Saturdays through July. Free.

Green Valley Park, 1000 W. Country Club Drive, Payson. paysonrimcountry.com

PINE/STRAWBERRY Pine-Strawberry Festival (June 16-17).

Cool mountain air, strawberry treats, live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors and food vendors. And did we mention flats of fresh strawberries? 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Free. Pine/Strawberry Community Center Ramada, 3886 N. Highway 87, Pine. strawberryfestivalaz.com

PRESCOTT World’s Oldest Rodeo (June 28-July 4). Prescott Frontier Days presents this 131st annual event. See judged events (bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding)

and timed events (steer wrestling, tie-down, team roping, barrel racing), plus the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo Parade, the Kiwanis Kiddie Parade, an arts and crafts show and rodeo dances throughout the week. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

1:30 p.m Wednesday, July 4. $12-$25.

Note: Check security rules; most bags prohibited. Rodeo Grounds, 840 Rodeo Drive, Prescott. 928-445-3103 or worldsoldestrodeo.com Zoo by Moonlight (June 28 and July 27). Visit the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary every full moon to see its nocturnal residents out and about.

Docents will help locate animals and answer questions. Bring a flashlight!

8-9:30 p.m. $6. 1403 Heritage Park Road, Prescott. 928-778-4242 or heritageparkzoo.org

TUCSON Summer Safari Friday Nights (May 18-Aug. 3). Families can fill their summer nights with adventure at Reid Park Zoo. Enjoy animal encounters, zookeeper talks, games, crafts and face painting. 6-8 p.m.

Fridays. $6.50-$10.50, free for ages 1 and younger. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court Drive, Tucson. 520-881-4753 or reidparkzoo.org Cool Summer Nights (May 26-Sept.

1). The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum is more of an outdoor-zoomeets-botanical-garden. It stays open from 5-10 p.m. on summer Saturdays and offers different themes each week. $16.95 for Arizona/Sonora residents; $8.95 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger. 2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson.

520-883-2702 or desertmuseum.org

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family time! onstage

Vertical

ARIZONA BROADWAY THEATER

“Alice in Wonderland” (June 15, 16 and 23) at Arizona Broadway Theatre.

MUSIC Glendale Summer Band Series (June 7-July 26). This eight-week concert series is for music lovers of all ages. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. 8 p.m. Thursdays.

Free. Murphy Park Amphitheater, 58th and Glendale avenues. 623-930-2299 or glendaleaz.com/events McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Summer Concerts (April 29-July 1). Rock and roll at the Railroad Park on Sunday nights. Bring blankets and chairs and hear favorite local bands. Food is available for purchase. 7:30-9 p.m.

Free; $2 train and carousel rides. July 1 concert is followed by a fireworks show.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. 480312-2312 or therailroadpark.com

PUPPET SHOWS Jack and the Beanstalk (June 27-July 15). See a funny version of the classic tale about a brave boy, a giant and an overgrown beanstalk. 10 a.m. WednesdayFriday, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m.

Sunday. $8-$12. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham, Phoenix. 602262-2050 or azpuppets.org Jack Rabbit and the Desert Tortoise (July 18-29). See the Tortoise and the Hare with a Great Arizona Puppet Theater

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twist and lots of audience interaction. 10 a.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $8-$12. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham, Phoenix. 602-262-2050 or azpuppets.org The Monkey and the Pirate (May 30-June 24). What do you get when you follow a monkey, a pirate and a valuable banana on a treasure hunt? A rambunctious adventure! 10 a.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $8-$12. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham St., Phoenix. 602-262-2050 or azpuppets.org

THEATER A Year with Frog and Toad Kids (June 1-17). Fountain Hills Youth Theater presents the story of a cheerful Frog and a grumpy Toad and their friendship throughout the seasons. Based on Arnold Lobel’s books, this show includes an upbeat score and follows friends celebrating the differences that make them special. 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. $15-$18. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480-837-9661 or fhtaz.org Alice in Wonderland (June 15, 16 and 23). This is a funny, fast-paced version of Alice’s adventures with the whacky characters in Wonderland. 10 a.m. $18 and

JUNE/JULY 2018 raisingarizonakids.com

up. Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400 or azbroadway.org

2 p.m. Sunday. Spotlight Youth Theatre, 10620 N. 43rd Ave., Glendale. 623-5218093 or spotlightyouththeatre.org

Annie (June 15-July 1). Valley Youth Theatre presents everyone’s favorite orphan at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

The beloved story of positivity set in 1930s New York City features hit songs including “Tomorrow.” 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.

Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. One performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28. $20.50$39.50. 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. 602253-8188 or vyt.com/shows/annie

Mary Poppins (June 1-30 and July 6-22). Arizona Broadway Theatre presents this Broadway musical in both Peoria and Phoenix. Nanny Mary Poppins leads the Banks household on zany adventures. June 1-30: Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. July 6-22: Herberger Theatre, 222 E. Monroe, Phoenix.

Times and prices vary. 623-776-8400. azbroadway.org or herbergertheater.org

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Big Fish (May 17-June 30). In this Broadway musical, traveling salesman Edward Bloom thrills everyone with his incredible stories. About to have a child of his own, Bloom’s aggravated son is determined to find the truth. 7 p.m.

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $20-$32. Hale Center Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. 480497-1181 or haletheatrearizona.com

Bring It On The Musical (June 29-July 29). Campbell is cheer-royalty, but an unexpected redistricting forces her to spend her senior year at neighboring hardknock Jackson High. Can she befriend the dance crew to form a powerhouse squad? 7:30 p.m Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. $15. Desert Stages Theatre, 4720 N. Scottsdale Road, inside Scottsdale Fashion Square. 480-4831664 or desertstages.org

Peter Pan (June 14-24). East Valley Children’s Theatre takes us to Neverland with Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook.

Princess Tiger Lily and the Lost Boys and Girls. It’s a production for all ages with a rousing original musical score. $11-$15.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 480644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com School of Rock: The Musical (June 19-24). Based on the hit film, this hilarious new musical follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe-rock-star-turned-substituteteacher who transforms a class of straight-A students into grade-A rockers. It features 14 songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, all the original songs from the movie and musical theater’s first-ever live kids rock band! $20 and up. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe.

480-965-3434 or asugammage.com

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Disney’s Aladdin Jr. (May 18-June 17). Desert Stages Theatre presents the tale of street-smart Aladdin, who, in vying for the attention of beautiful Princess Jasmine, uses a genie’s magic to become a prince. 7:30 p.m FridaySaturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $15. Desert Stages Theatre, 4720 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-4831664 or desertstages.org Jesus Christ Superstar (May 25-June 10). Spotlight Youth Theatre presents the first musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This rock opera follows the last week of Jesus Christ’s life, seen through the eyes of Judas, and is based loosely on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark Luke and John. 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday,

Sister Act (July 6- Aug. 18). A disco diva is placed in protective custody in a convent after witnessing a murder. It’s hard not to blow her cover as a nun who pours her talents into directing the gospel choir. 7 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $20-$32. Hale Center Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert.

480-497-1181 or haletheatrearizona.com The Little Mermaid (July 13-22).

King Triton’s youngest daughter is in love with a human prince. After a bargain with the evil sea witch, Ariel must turn to her colorful friends to restore order under the sea. 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, 8355 W. Peoria Ave. 623-815-7930 or theaterworks.org

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Join us for our upcoming event!

RESOURCE FAIR Saturday, auguSt 25, 2018 • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ability 360 SportS & FitneSS Center 5031 E. Washington St., phoenix Join R aising aRizona Kids for a day of discovery, learning and support for families with special needs! Sign up for our eNewsletter at raisingarizonakids.com for updates on this FREE annual event.

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family time! July 4th events

Independence Day Celebration (July 3). Traditional fireworks, water slides, rides, inflatables, music, dancing and food. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.

6-10 p.m., fireworks finale at 9:30 p.m.

Free admission and parking; $12-$15 ride/bounce wristbands. Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem. onlineatanthem.com

APACHE JUNCTION Fourth of July Celebration (July 4).

This Hometown Fireworks Celebration includes: free watermelon, game booths, bike and wagon decorating contests, water games and live entertainment. A patriotic volleyball tournament and swimming activities start earlier in the day at the Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center.

Free. 6 p.m., fireworks at 8:30 p.m. Apache Junction High School, 2525 S. Ironwood Drive. 480-983-2181 or ajcity.net

BUCKEYE Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration (July 4). Buckeye welcomes families for games and activities, food and treats and a fireworks. Free admission.

6-9:30 p.m. Youngker High School, 3000 S. Apache Road, Buckeye. buckeyeaz.gov

CHANDLER July 4th Fireworks Spectacular (July 4). The City of Chandler’s high-energy “party in the park” includes live music, food vendors and kids activities. 6-9:30 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. Free admission; $5 parking (cash only). Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler.

480-782-2735 or chandleraz.gov

FLAGSTAFF 4th of July Parade (July 4). More than 20,000 spectators are expected at this annual parade with 100 floats, horses, dancers and bands marching through downtown Flagstaff. 9-11 a.m. Free. 928774-4505 or flagstaffchamber.com

GILBERT Fourth of July Celebration (July 4).

Family, friends and neighbors are welcome to join Gilbert’s annual 4th of July party.

Bring blankets, chairs and lawn games. Food

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trucks onsite 6-9 p.m.; fireworks at 8:30 p.m.

Free admission and parking. Higley High School, 4068 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert. 480503-6200 or gilbertaz.gov/july4th

PAYSON Hometown 4th of July Celebration (July 4). Bring chairs, a picnic basket and a blanket, or get food from local vendors. Fireworks, games, bouncy houses, prizes, music and more. 8 a.m. ceremony, 1-3 p.m. family games and activities, 4-9 p.m. live music, 9 p.m. fireworks. Free. Green Valley Park, 1000 W. Country Club Drive, Payson. 928472-5110 or paysonrimcountry.com ROBERT SILBERBLATT

ANTHEM

PHOENIX 4th of Zooly (July 4). Spend the 4th of July at the Phoenix Zoo with an allAmerican catered barbecue feast lakeside at 7 p.m. The night includes special animal encounters, carousel rides, live music and bounce houses. Gather at the back of the zoo at 9 p.m. for a special view of the Tempe Town Lake Fireworks Spectacular show. Reservations required. $45; $35 for ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger.

The Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway.

602-286-3800 or phoenixzoo.org 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular (July 4). Stay at Chase Field after the Arizona Diamondbacks host the St. Louis Cardinals for a post-game fireworks show, presented

by Gila River Hotels & Casino. 7:10 p.m. $19-$210. Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. 602-514-8400 or dbacks.com Fabulous Phoenix 4th (July 4). See one of the largest fireworks displays in the Southwest. The free and nonalcoholic family event attracts more than 100,000 people. Entertainment includes international recording artists, vendors offering festival-style food and beverages, plus arts and crafts, interactive exhibits and a classic car display. Youth activities, rides and inflatables, and a water spray zone are part of Kids World. 6-10 p.m., fireworks at approximately 9:30 p.m. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-534-3378 or phoenix.gov/ parks/special-events/fabphx4

JUNE/JULY 2018 raisingarizonakids.com

QUEEN CREEK Your Hometown 4th of July (July 4) at Schnepf Farms features food trucks, fun and fireworks, plus a DJ, prizes and a Fun Zone with slip-and-slides, a rock wall and a Spiderman jump. 4-10 p.m. $17$20 per carload, VIP tickets $25-$40.

Schnepf Farms, 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek. 480-987-3100 or schnepffarms.com

SCOTTSDALE Scottsdale 4th of July Celebration (July 4). This annual event returns to the airconditioned Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center at WestWorld with Stunt Masters BMX Shows, a bull riding rodeo, pony rides and a petting zoo. There’s a patriotic playground with interactive games and obstacle courses, plus food, family entertainment and fireworks. 4-9:30 p.m., gates open at 3 p.m. $6-$12; free for ages 5 and younger; $15$25 for VIP tickets. WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. 866-9776849 or scottsdale4th.com

TEMPE July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival (July 4). The Tempe Town Lake Festival includes a family fun fest, inflatable village, rock-climbing walls, live entertainment, Luke Air Force Base

flyover, food court, beer garden and fireworks. 5-11 p.m. $10; free for ages 12 and younger; discount tickets available at Fry’s stores. Note: Check security rules; most bags prohibited. Tempe Beach Park, Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue.

480-350-5189 or tempe4th.com

TUCSON Let Freedom Sing Concert (July 4).

This musical celebration of our nation’s birthday is performed by the Arts Express Choir and Orchestra. The Tucson DavisMonthan Air Force Base Honor Guard posts colors during a salute to the Armed Forces. Includes patriotic standards and allAmerican hits. 3 p.m. $5-$25. University of Arizona Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., Tucson. arts-express.org

YUMA 4th of July All-American BBQ & Fireworks Spectacular (July 4). Join the City of Yuma for a celebration with food and drinks (sold separately), giant water features, water balloon challenges, eating contests and a 20-minute fireworks show.

Bring your own chairs, blankets, towels and pop-ups. No outside food, drinks or coolers. 4-10 p.m. $1; free for ages 3 and younger. Desert Sun Stadium, 1280 Desert Sun Drive, Yuma. yumaaz.gov

SUMMER FUN GUIDE COOL SUMMER NIGHTS CHILL OUT THIS SUMMER AND ENJOY INTERACTIVE WATER ACTIVITIES, REFRESHING TREATS, GAMES, PRIZES AND MORE ALL AT THE SPLASH PAD!

THURSDAY, JUNE 14 THURSDAY, JULY 19

MOVIES IN THE COURTYARD "SET SAIL FOR DESERT RIDGE MARKETPLACE" FOR THE SUMMER MOVIE SERIES FEATURING PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. PLUS, ENJOY PRE-SHOW ACTIVITIES BEGINNING AT 6PM WITH THE FEATURE FILM TO FOLLOW.

TUESDAY, JUNE 5 - CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL TUESDAY, JUNE 19 - DEAD MAN'S CHEST TUESDAY, JULY 10 - AT WORLD’S END TUESDAY, JULY 24 - ON STRANGER TIDES

SUNDAE FUNDAY SUNDAE FUNDAY IS BACK! COOL OFF WITH SWEET TREATS, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, LAWN GAMES AND MORE!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 S H O P D E S E RT R I D G E .CO M / E V E N TS