Active Family Magazine | February 2020

FEBRUARY Y 2020

NAVIGATE YOUR TEEN’S

EMERGING INDEPENDENCE

WHEN TEENS

SAY, “NO!” Finding Meaning Behind Behavior

TEEN ISSUE

Volume 7 / Issue 72

[ WOMEN & RELATIONSHIPS ] Resolutions Slipping? 5 Quick Ways to Stay the Course.

6 Fall In Love With Fitness

When Teens Say, “NO!” – Finding Meaning Behind Behavior

Making STEM a Part of Everyday Life

18

26

Is Parenting Lifting You Up or Wearing You Down?

[ TRAVEL ]

16

20

[ PARENTING ]

Navigate Your Teen’s Emerging Independence

Help! I Can’t Get My Teen Out of Bed in the Morning Without Shouting and Drama!

24

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8 [ SEASONAL ] SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

28

14

16

HOTEL SPOTLIGHT: Turtle Bay Resort

26

8

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Local Life & Style for the East Bay Area

Publisher/Editor

Marketing Interns

Contributing Authors

Tracie Brown Vollgraf

Talia Dobrec

Advertising Sales Director

Fashion Editor

Whitney Ignacio Whitney@activefamilymag.com

Rachel Fawkes www.fawkeshunter.com

Travel Editor

Design/Production

Elizabeth Kang ekang@activefamilymag.com

Teresa Agnew Craft

Christine Carter, Ph.D. Elizabeth Kang Susan Stiffelman Andrew Hammel Laurie Hollman, Ph.D. Roma Khetarpal Dr. Laura Markham Laurie Hollman, Ph.D. Stratford Schools

Active Family is published by TAG Marketing Group Mailing Address | P.O. Box 5158, Pleasanton, CA 94566

Advertising Inquiries | 925.789.0709 Email Address | info@activefamilymag.com

Editor’s Note Parenting is hard. Parenting a teen is an entirely different level of difficulty, especially in today’s climate. That’s why we decided it was time to essentially dedicate an issue to Teens. You’ll find helpful articles and advice on pages 14, 20 and 28. Hopefully our expert’s guidance will assist you in navigating this challenging time, allowing you to understand your child better.

With summer just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about planning a family vacation! We’ve found the perfect spot in the north shore of Oahu. Turn to page 8 to learn about Turtle Bay Resort and our suggestions on how to make this trip the best yet!

Happy February!

Tracie Brown Vollgraf Editor info@activefamilymag.com

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[ WOMEN & RELATIONSHIPS ]

Christine Carter, Ph.D.*, is a sociologist and happiness expert at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. She is the author of “RAISING HAPPINESS: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents.” She teaches online happiness classes that help parents bring more joy into their own lives and the lives of their children, and she writes an award-winning blog for *Greater Good* (www.greatergoodparents.org).

Resolutions Slipping?

5 Quick Ways to Stay the Course

by Christine Carter, Ph.D. "We all understand that when we first attempt to drive a car or ride a bike, we’ll make mistakes. Behavior change is no different; it’s a process of slipping, learning from the mistake, and trying again.”

— John C. Norcross, Changeology Unless you are some sort of superhero, you will not be able to establish a new habit perfectly the first time. Research indicates that 88 percent of people have failed to keep a new resolution. In my experience as a human being and a coach, 100 percent of people trying to change themselves lapse back to their old selves at least some of the time. So what to do if you’re struggling?

1. Don’t get too emotional about your slip or succumb to self-criticism.

Instead, forgive yourself. Remind yourself that lapses are part of the process, and that feeling guilty or bad about your behavior will not increase your future success.

2. Figure out what the problem is. This may be blazingly obvious, but in order to do better tomorrow, you’ll need to know what is causing your trip-ups.

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[ WOMEN & RELATIONSHIPS ] What temptation can you remove? Were you stressed or tired or hungry–and if so, how can you prevent that the next time? Figure it out, and make a specific plan for what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation again.

What will you do differently? What have you learned from your slip?

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4. Rededicate yourself to your resolution (now, in this instant, not tomorrow). Why do you want to make the changes that you do? How will you benefit? Do a little deep breathing and calm contemplation of your goals.

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5. Above all, comfort yourself. To boost follow-through on our good intentions, we need to feel safe and secure. When we are stressed, our brain tries to rescue us by activating our dopamine systems. A dopamine rush makes temptations more tempting. Think of this as your brain pushing you toward a comfort item . . . like the snooze button instead of the morning jog, onion

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[[ TRAVEL TRAVEL ]]

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[ TRAVEL ]

HOTEL SPOTLIGHT: Turtle Bay Resort

North Shore’s Iconic Resort Caters to “Ohana”

by Elizabeth Kang

Oahu’s majestic North Shore is the quintessential “Old Hawaii” experience — dotted with bronzed, barefoot surfers, breathtaking white-sand beaches, and ramble-shackle roadside fruit stands.

A far cry from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, the North Shore is the ideal family vacation spot, where a slower, leisurely pace of life happily co-exists with exciting outdoor excursions like surfing, hiking and snorkeling.

Deciding where to stay is really a no-brainer, because the iconic Turtle Bay Resort still stands as the only beachfront resort in the majestic North Shore. It’s a wonderful resort in a stunning location— one that would stand up to any of the luxurious resorts that are so ubiquitous on the more frequented areas of the island.

Read on to discover more about Turtle Bay Resort and start planning the ultimate North Shore family vacation.

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 9

[ TRAVEL ]

Location, Location, Location One of the standout features of Turtle Bay Resort is its amazing location, situated right on a peninsula that juts out on the ocean. Built with three wings of rooms that all face the water, this well-established resort ensures that every guest-room enjoys at least a partial view of the ocean, with many of the rooms boasting breathtaking, full ocean views.

The resort, which was originally opened in 1972, is a 50-minute drive from Honolulu, and rests on a whopping 858 gorgeous oceanfront acres. Having recently undergone extensive room refreshes, the guest rooms and separate, standalone beach cottages are updated, modern, spacious and comfortable.

Guests at Turtle Bay Resort enjoy easy access to the popular snorkeling beach, Turtle Bay Beach, as well as miles of oceanfront walking paths along Turtle Bay, where hikers can stumble on beautiful, nearly deserted beaches, and even some famous landmarks, (the TV show Lost was filmed in the area, and scenes from the movies “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” were filmed at the resort’s nearby grounds, beach cottages and lobby.)

Onsite Fun for Everyone With numerous pools, two championship golf X

courses, a luxurious spa, horse stables, bike rentals, hiking trails, and a world-class beach just steps away, there’s plenty in the way of fun at Turtle Bay Resort.

At the Children’s Pool, little ones and teens alike will be thrilled with the twisting waterslide, and babies and tots will want to splash all day in the shallow kiddie pool. At

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[ TRAVEL ]

the large main pool that overlooks the ocean, families can splash all day and into the night.

Just steps away from the lobby, guests can enjoy Turtle Bay Beach, a wonderful spot to hang all day, where guests can rent beach chairs and shaded beach loungers. All resort guests enjoy complimentary use of boogie boards and snorkeling equipment. It’s not unusual to spot giant Sea Tortoises and brilliantly colored schools of fish while snorkeling in the calm, shallow waters of the protected beach.

Other popular activities include horse rides along the beach, bike rides on the well-worn beachside and forested trails, and pampering spa treatments at the relaxing, soothing spa. Golfers will appreciate the two championship golf courses (Palmer and Fazio) with breathtaking views of the ocean.

Tasty Eats, Snacks, & Treats Although there are a multitude of delicious food trucks, cafes, and restaurants in the area, guests of Turtle Bay Resort won’t have to wander far for delicious eats.

At Pa’akai, diners enjoy fresh “ocean-to-table” dining along with stunning ocean views.

Using mostly locally sourced and organically grown ingredients, this award-winning restaurant is open daily for breakfast and dinner.

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 11

[ TRAVEL ] Renowned Hawaiian chef Roy Yamaguchi opened a casual beachside restaurant just steps away from the resort. Roy’s Beach House offers delicious beachfront food and drinks, and it’s a great all-ages option for both everyday meals and special occasions.

No need to get up from your pool chair for sustenance, because “The Point,” has guests covered. At this casual pool bar, guests enjoy poolside service and live evening music. The Point makes an unbelievably good cheeseburger, and the kids’ menu will please even the pickiest of eaters.

Lei Lei’s is a casual spot to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, and is located on the golf course, overlooking tropical plants and green fairways. For delicious coffee, smoothies, and grab’n’o fare, head to the Lobby Lounge, where guests can pick up a quick pastry, salad, breakfast burrito, or sandwich.

Another option for quick eats and snacks that families will appreciate is the onsite general store. Located near the pool, this little shop is the perfect spot to grab a bag of chips, a bottled water or beer, a freshly made sandwich, or everyday essentials such as diapers and sunscreen.

Exploring Around Town Renting a car, even if just for a day, is a must on the North Shore, where delicious, roadside food trucks, must-see beaches, and charming, historic towns are only a few-minutes drive. Be sure to stop and see breathtaking Waimea Bay for some beach combing, and park along the Banzai Pipeline to witness some epic surfing, especially in the winter when the waves are massive.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is a must-visit, where families can easily spend half a day exploring, shopping, and learning about ancient Polynesian culture. Down the Eastern coast a bit, the charming town of Haleiwa is a wonderful half-day visit, where visitors will find cute little boutique shops and delicious eateries.

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[ TRAVEL ]

Just a few minutes down the road from Turtle Bay Resort lie a few shrimp farms, and nearby, visitors should stop at Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck for some of the most delicious garlic shrimp they’ll ever taste. The longstanding Ted’s Bakery is another popular North Shore stop, selling slices of Macadamia Nut Cream Pie that won’t soon be forgotten.

Toa Family Luau Although Turtle Bay Resort doesn’t host their own luau, guests can get their fix nearby at the family friendly, family-run Toa Luau, hosted in the stunning Waimea Valley. This wonderful luau is intimate and hands-on, allowing a maximum of up to 200 people. As an added bonus, guests who purchase tickets to the luau enjoy free admittance to the historic Waimea Valley, where they can explore acres of botanical gardens, hike to a breathtaking waterfall, and see an ancient Polynesian sacrificial burial ground.

Upon entrance to the luau, guests gather among beautiful native trees and foliage to enjoy hands-on, interactive experiences such as learning to make a “haku,” a Hawaiian woven headdress, observing traditional Polynesian cooking methods, and taking part in a formal, traditional feasting ceremony.

Once the activities are over, guests are seated to enjoy a multitude of awe-inspiring traditional Polynesian dancing, featuring not only Hawaiian dances, but traditional dances from all Polynesian cultures, from Tonga and New Zealand to Tahiti and Somoa. Guests feast, banquet style, on traditional luau foods, including succulent Kalua pork, creamy macaroni salad, and a hot chocolate drink made from native cocoa beans. The affable host, “Cousin Billy,” makes guests feel like family, and the exciting fire dancing at the end of the evening will leave guests breathless.

(Although the Tao Family Luau is only about a 20-minute drive from Turtle Bay Resort, the Luau does offer shuttle service to and from the resort. )

TURTLE BAY RESORT 57-091 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI 96731 (808) 293-6000 www.turtlebayresort.com FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 13

[ PARENTING ]

Susan Stiffelman, Huffington Post Parent’s weekly advice columnist (“Parent Coach”), is an engaging speaker whose presentations leave audiences upbeat, entertained and fortified with practical strategies that will make an immediate and significant difference in their day to day lives. Susan is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child therapist, a credentialed teacher, and a highly regarded parenting coach. Instead of offering standard, scripted advice to parents about how to control their children, Susan focuses on helping them be what she calls the Captain of the ship their children need and naturally want to cooperate with, confide in, and respect. Those who attend Susan’s presentations routinely email her office with thanks, and a request to come back again!

Help! I Can’t Get My Teen Out of Bed in the Morning Without Shouting and Drama!

by Susan Stiffelman I have to scream every morning to get my 16-year old son up for school. He stays up too late and is always tired. Any suggestions?

This question has two parts. The first is about the age-old problem of getting kids up in the morning and out the door in time for school. Regardless of their age, most children don’t bounce out of bed to catch the bus because they’d rather stay home!

Despite our well-intentioned lectures about the importance of education, or our desire to motivate our youngsters to be enthusiastic students, kids are biased toward having fun as much as possible, and, for many of them, it’s just more fun to stay home.

That’s not to say that once they’re at school, our children don’t have a good time playing with friends and learning new things. It just means that to a sleepy child,

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[ PARENTING ] the pull is strong to stay in that cozy, comfy bed as long

all week, or an extra hour added to his Saturday night

as possible!

curfew.

Rather than resorting to threats, bribes and general

But the most important element of your question is the

hysteria to light a fire under that slow-moving youngster

fact that your son, like most of his peers, is tired all the

of yours, focus on waking him and his groggy brain

time. Teenagers should get vastly more sleep than they

up without relying on drama and shouting to get his

typically get. They need between 8 ½ and 9 ¼ hours, but

adrenalin pumping. Bring him a protein smoothie or an

most of them average just 6 ½ hours.

apple slice to kick-start his system when you wake him up. Turn on energetic music to help your son shift out of his foggy state. Some kids like it when you inject a bit of fun into the morning routine, having them eat breakfast with their left hand (if they’re right handed), or holding a contest to see who can make it to the car first — with shoes, backpack, lunch and homework in tow.

But your teen may not respond favorably to games, especially if he’s tired, which adolescents usually are. The lure of social media and the magnetic pull of the online world — not to mention late night cell phone chats and texts — keep our kids up much later than is healthy, given the early hour they have to awaken for school.

And, because of hormone activity and biorhythms, most adolescents don’t feel sleepy until 11 p.m., or even midnight, which spells disaster when school starts between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. In 1996, Edina High School in Minneapolis changed its start time from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and noticed a significant difference in students’ performance. But inadequate sleep impacts more than just grades; it can contribute to mood swings, car accidents, illness and behavior problems.

What can you do? Instead of trying to force your son to unplug earlier, set a quiet tone in the evening for the whole family, turning off computers and opening books,

Help your son find a meaningful incentive. Does he care about his grades? He will, if he’s motivated to get into a particular college. Help him see the link between missing part of class and getting a lower grade. Try visiting a nearby college campus to make college–and the

pulling out colored pencils or playing music. Create unwinding rituals that gently help his body shift out of the stimulated state it’s in when the TV or computer is on. If need be, establish a time when the Internet router and cell phones are turned off.

freedom and possibilities it will bring into his life– more tangible.

Even if you do manage to get your son to go to sleep earlier, however, don’t expect him to cheerfully leap out

Or perhaps the two of you can invent a motivator —

of bed when you tell him it’s time to rise and shine, and

something he can remind himself of in the morning when

don’t take his grouchiness personally. He is, after all, a

he’s tempted to hit the snooze button. Often, something

teenager, and no matter how much sleep he gets, he’ll

relatively insignificant can work — the promise of his

almost always want to stay in that cozy bed to catch a

favorite dinner on Friday night if he gets to school on time

few more zzzs.

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 15

[ WOMEN & RELATIONSHIPS ]

Fall In Love With Fitness

by Andrew Hammel Since I own a gym, you might think I workout every single day without hesitation.

You might think that all I think about is working out and that I absolutely love fitness.

Andrew is the owner and CEO of Prodigy Fitness. He has a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology as well as holding his NSCA, CSCS. He has a passion for training because he understands its importance when it comes to reaching one's goals. More importantly, he has a passion for transforming lives, whether a youth athlete or a busy mom or dad. He wants to help others become the best version of themselves.

Well, that would be like saying I enjoy folding laundry and hanging out at the DMV. I tell people all the time, you can fall in love with chocolate, a human, or even your favorite vacation spot—but falling in love with fitness isn’t so simple.

Falling in love with fitness is hard. However, falling in love with the person you will become because of fitness is easy! It is easy to fall in love with how fitness makes you feel, and the positive effects it can have on your life.

At first, exercise was simply a tool to help me while I played football. But now, it’s a way for me to have more energy to win at everything else. As a busy dad, husband and business owner I need as much energy as possible to get through

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[ WOMEN & RELATIONSHIPS ] my day.

need it most.

Here are a few strategies I used to fall in love with fitness:

FALL IN LOVE WITH TAKING SMALL STEPS This goes along with the earlier point of falling in love with

FALL IN LOVE WITH AN IDENTITY

progress and not perfection.

The way we see ourselves plays a huge role in our overall

If you want to create the identity as someone who runs,

behaviors.

then running a marathon might make its way on your goal list. But 26.2 miles can be extremely daunting, and

There is a big difference between seeing yourself as a

cause you to quit before you even start.

person who has to run versus seeing yourself as a runner.

You need to break up your goal into more manageable When you see yourself as someone who regularly goes to the gym, regularly fills their plate with lean protein and veggies, and regularly chooses water over soda, it's a lot easier to fall in love with continually making those choices.

FALL IN LOVE WITH PROGRESS AND NOT PERFECTION Your fitness journey doesn’t have to be perfect, and honestly it won’t be. There will be days in which you don’t feel like working out and that’s ok. There will be days in which your schedule becomes busy and you have to forgo your workout for a business meeting and that’s ok. The goal should be not to let it compound negatively.

Fall in love with the idea of progressing 1% every single day. Fall in love with playing the long game. Fall in love with progress and not perfection.

chunks. Start with a mile instead. If that is too daunting, start with a 10 minute walk-run where you walk for 1 minute and then run for 1 minute.

Too often we get overwhelmed by what lies ahead and we give up before we even start. Fall in love with breaking things up into manageable pieces which will ultimately help relieve your fear and anxiety.

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR FAVORITES Part of falling in love with anything is to experience some level of enjoyment— you need to at least like whatever you’re doing.

Some people can’t stomach exercising in a gym for example, so their best bet might be running or cycling outside. Other folks love yoga.

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR NETWORK

While it’s important to incorporate strength training and

People typically have a 75% greater chance of meeting

cardio in a fitness routine, it’s also key to do what you

their fitness and health goals when held accountable for

love. Why torture yourself with an activity you hate? Let’s

them—and one of the best ways to stay accountable?

be honest, it’s not realistic.

Create a fitness community to help stay on track.

When it comes to becoming your best you in 2020, you Find friends, maybe your significant other, find a gym

must fall in love with health and fitness. While it might not

community, find others who will help keep it fun for you.

be easy, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Fall in love

But most importantly, fall in love with creating a network

with the person you want to become and the rest will

or people who will help you stay accountable when you

take care of itself.

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 17

[ PARENTING ]

Laurie Hollman, Ph.D. is a psychoanalyst with specialized clinical training in infant-parent, child, adolescent, and adult psychotherapy. She has been on the faculties of New York University and the Society for Psychoanalytic Study and Research, among others. She has written extensively on parenting for various publications, including the Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, The International Journal of Infant Observation, The Inner World of the Mother, Newsday’s Parents & Children Magazine, Long Island Parent. She also wrote her popular column, PARENTAL INTELLIGENCE, at Moms Magazine and has been a parenting expert for numerous publications such as Good Housekeeping. and Bustle Lifestyle. She currently writes for Active Family Magazine (San Francisco) and blogs for Huffington Post. Her new book is Unlocking Parental Intelligence: Finding Meaning in Your Child’s Behavior. To learn more go to Dr. Hollman’s website at www.lauriehollmanphd.com.

When Teens Say, “NO!” – Finding Meaning Behind Behavior

by Laurie Hollman, Ph.D. Does your teen often say,”NO”? Don’t react. Listen. You may learn a lot!!

Do you have an oppositional teen and you’re at your wits end? Think of their naysaying as a communication and your mindset shifts rapidly. Your teen wants to tell you something, but they don’t know how, so they just say “NO” to everything and seem defiant. But behind the anger, is a message for the parent to decipher to bring the teen back into the fold and closer to you. Here’s how.

Tips for Parents Whose Teens Say, “NO” 1. Keep an open mind about the meanings behind defiant behavior and you’ll find you’re settling down to get to know your child better.

2. Think of the opposition as a message or communication that needs to be articulated and understood. Your teen is trying to tell you something, but she

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[ PARENTING ] takes the negative tack; she’s not bad, she’s distressed

but also strengthens the parent-teen bond.

and wants to tell you about it.

Think of when you feel angry. It’s actually painful and you 3. Retain a non-blaming, non-judgmental attitude to learn what’s on your adolescent’s mind.

wish someone would listen and settle you down. You can do this for your son or daughter. Initial defiance can be a pathway toward deeper understanding and problem

4. Reach out to your teen even if she seems reluctant to talk. Showing you want to talk and will listen

resolution—ultimately what busy, caring parents and their kids yearn for.

attentively without interrupting demonstrates your love and you may be surprised that your adolescent

Demonstrating Independence

calms down and discloses her thoughts and feelings.

She may not respond instantly but come back to you later.

Often when kids say, “No,” and oppose your requests, it may be a means of demonstrating they can think for themselves and have their own independent ideas that

5. The key to finding out what underlies angry feelings is asking open ended questions and offering subtle insights. Even if your thoughts are dismissed at first, it doesn’t mean they weren’t heard. Have patience even when you think you’ve tried everything.

they want you to appreciate even if you don’t agree with them. Saying, “No” symbolizes a wish for more autonomy from grownups and shouldn’t always be viewed as an undesirable response. In fact, it is often a marker of growth in that the child seeks more independent thinking

This may seem like a long process, but it’s worth it. If you are open to your teenagers’ thoughts, feelings, and

and self-assertion. This is a positive mark of development even though it comes across negatively at first.

beliefs, you will quickly understand her intentions rather than jumping to resentful conclusions and imposing hasty consequences that only increase her anger which you

Once you understand your teen’s intentions, then you can offer constructive avenues to manage and handle

don’t yet comprehend. Understanding before acting

anger in a proactive way. Then you can feel more

actually saves busy parents lots of time.

confident that your child can control his or her anger on their own. Solid positive self-esteem depends on the

In the short and long run, finding out the meaning behind

teen’s ability to become aware of their inner beliefs,

defiant behavior leads you in the direction of defining

control their anger, and find new ways to express it.

and then solving problems that lie behind the expressions of anger. This not only resolves the pain of feeling angry,

What an accomplishment for both parent and teen!!

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 19

[ PARENTING ]

Roma Khetarpal is the author of The “Perfect” Parent: 5 Tools for Using Your Inner Perfection to Connect with Your Kids and the founder/ CEO of Tools of Growth (www. toolsofgrowth.com), through which she helps parents raise kids to “Be Happy, Think Positive, and Do Good.” She is also a contributor to Huffingtonpost.com and Masalamommas.com.

She is also an Executive Board Member of the Philanthropic Society Los Angeles, which raises funds for Children’s Institute, Inc., and is Member of the Board of Directors for the Santa Clarita Valley Education Foundation, an organization providing support, programs and leadership for K-12 public school education. Khetarpal also serves on the Board of Directors at AM-Touch Dental where she previously served for 20 years as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and where she currently teaches employee relations classes.

She is also working on a line of children’s products that will promote self-understanding and emotional intelligence. (Article first published on Huffington Post)

Is Parenting Lifting You Up or Wearing You Down?

by Roma Khetarpal I can’t help but notice how the words “parenting stress” and “parenting anxiety” seem to be flying around everywhere. Lately, I’ve seen more articles, social media posts, and videos on this topic than ever before, and it truly saddens me. My biggest concern, though, is how this is impacting your kids. So let’s explore this together and see how we can improve things.

Why did you choose to become parents?

Believe it or not, most parents don’t know! Most couples say that they thought it’s what they’re supposed to do after they get married. We all tend to have a way of following human nature— as it has been for eons— so we fit in. Whether you thought about it beforehand or not, now that your kids are here, don’t you think it’s time to establish at least what you want out of parenting? After

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[ PARENTING ] all, when we buy a car, we know we want it to get from

with hollow friendships, social pressures, drugs, alcohol,

work to home. When we buy a home, it’s because we

sex, toxic relationships… need I go on?

want more space or want to invest. When we take piano lessons, perhaps it was always a dream to learn how to

While you digest this, explore the question below as a

play the piano.

sure-shot resolution.

So, again, ask yourself why you chose to become a

Do you and your family have down time?

parent or now that you’re a parent, what you want for yourself out of this parenting ride. And, no, you cannot

If you do, congratulations! It is not easy to make down

say you want your kids to be happy and positive and

time today. Parents often ask, “What is down time?” or

do good. That’s what you want for your children, not for

“Where’s the time for down time?” If you have to ask

yourself. You need to set the intention for yourself.

me that question, that right there is a huge red flag. But here’s an easy answer: Steal it from your device time. On

SPOILER ALERT…

the average, parents spend around seven hours a day

In my workshops, the most common answer I get—

on their devices, excluding “work” hours!

phrased in many different ways—is that first and foremost,

Now, I’m not asking you to spend every breathing

what parents want is to have a good relationship with

moment of the day with your kids. All I’m saying is “Take

their kids. Okay, if I don’t get this answer from parents, I

5” minutes each day with your kids to do no-thing. Once

plant this intention in them. Because when all is said and

you discipline yourself to do this for three weeks, you

done, that’s what we want from parenting, right? What

will start to see priceless personal benefits and create

would be the point of spending 18-plus years parenting

invaluable family conversations and memories.

children under our roof and then a lifetime—if we’re lucky enough—caring for them remotely, if we don’t

Why is this important? Because if you don’t know how to

have a good relationship with them?

take down time, neither will your kids. We have brought these children into this world, and we owe them at least

Now ask yourself, are you honestly living this parenting

this much: Knowing what it feels like to just be—to not

intention?

have an agenda or something to do but simply to spend time in each other’s presence. It’s this free time spent

If the answer is yes, you can move on to the next

together that then fuels the relationship when we are

question below.

caught up with doing things with our kids. In other words, when it comes to building connections, it’s the being

And If you’re not living your parenting intention, this

that fuels the doing.

disconnect, the lack of a good relationship with your kids, is probably at the root of your parenting anxiety

If our kids don’t know how to spend time with us doing

and stress. You need to work on it, home in on it, and

nothing, they will not know how to spend time with

make it your life mission. The reason is simple: If you do

themselves doing nothing. And when kids do not know

not feel connected to your kids and do not have a good

how to relax and escape from the busyness of life, they

relationship with them, you will be stressed and anxious

will feel stressed and anxious. Down time is absolutely

over the smallest events in their lives, or even with their

mandatory!

mere presence. Furthermore, once your kids have flown the nest (which they will be eager to do if they feel

Now, let’s say you’re connected to your kids, have a

stressed around you), there will be an added layer of

great relationship with them, and spend quality time just

guilt weighing you down. What this will do to your kids is a

being with them, if you’re still feeling weighed down with

whole other blog post! Let me just say that if your kids feel

parenting, here’s your final question to address…

disconnected from you, they will never be connected to themselves. They will forever be looking to fill this void

What’s your personal outlook on life?

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 21

[ PARENTING ] Do your thoughts and emotions generally lean toward

come from the challenges our children present in our

worry and fear? Are you concerned that one day there

lives. They help us understand our own needs and

will be a natural disaster and our planet will be wiped

weaknesses so that we can grow from them and be

out? Do you cringe at the idea of your children making

better parents and people.

wrong life decisions? Do you feel the need to constantly keep tabs on your kids or have a tendency to helicopter them? If you find yourself on this hamster wheel, you’re projecting a distrust in life itself.

We all know that what grows in our life is based on the kind of seeds we sow. If you’re planting fear and distrust in the environment that you are raising your kids in, they will never tap into the abundance of life. Trust life fully.

Parenting pushes us into growth—whether we are ready or not. And humans thrive when we are continually growing. If we are thriving, we are not just happy but joyful. If we are joyful, our faces and eyes project that energy to all those that we cross paths with. Most importantly, we bring that uplifting energy into our homes, where it will shape our children’s personalities.

The fact that 7 billion of us on this planet have enough air to breathe and water to drink should point us to the

So come at parenting with devotion, dedication, awe,

plenitude around us. We just have to tap into that feeling

and wonder because parenting, like life, is in constant

in our day-to-day life with our children.

flux—ever changing, ever growing. It is designed to lift you up no matter what is weighing you down. Through

Parenting is a delicate, transformational responsibility,

the parenting ride you can discover yourself and your

designed to lift you up during the fun times and the

highest potential. That’s the best gift you can give your

challenging times as well. Think about the gifts that

children. – Originally appeared in www.toolsofgrowth.com

22 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | FEBRUARY 2020

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[ PARENTING ]

Navigate Your Teen’s Emerging Independence

by Dr. Laura Markham

"Our 13 year old wants to spend all her time with her friends. What happened to our family?"

Dr. Laura Markham is the author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and has worked as a parenting coach with countless parents across the English-speaking world, both in person and via phone.

You can find Dr. Laura online at AhaParenting.com, the website of Aha! Moments for parents of kids from birth through the teen years, where she offers a free daily inspiration email to parents.

It's appropriate for teens to want to spend more time with their peers than their parents as they get older. Our job is raising our children to become independent people, and that means they need to increasingly test their wings in the wider world, without us there. Luckily, if we've accepted our child's dependency needs AND affirmed her development into her own separate person, she'll stay fiercely connected to her family, even as her focus shifts to peers, high school and the passions that make her soul sing.

It’s critical, during the teen years, for parents to remain their children’s emotional and moral compass. Kids will begin to experiment with intimate

24 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | FEBRUARY 2020

[ PARENTING ] relationships outside the family, but to do that

Without understanding your teen's inner life, it's hard to

successfully, they need to be able to rely on those

understand his choices. I'm not saying that even with

intimate relationships at home remaining solid.

more connection you'll like his choices, or that you'd make the same ones. That's one of the benefits of being

So it's important for parents to realize that while the teen

an adult -- hopefully you have better judgment than

years mean that parents have to invest extra effort to

your teen! His frontal cortex is still developing into his

stay connected, it's crucial to put in that effort. And while

twenties, so he's still building his impulse control and

it's normal for a 17 year old to focus mostly outside the

the ability to foresee the consequences of his actions.

family, a 13 year old who focuses mostly outwards may

Good judgment, after all, develops from experience

well be looking for something he wasn’t getting at home.

combined with reflection. Life will provide your teen with experience. Your job is to make sure he has the

We need to invite our children to rely on us emotionally

opportunity to reflect on his experience. But you can't

until they’re emotionally ready to depend on themselves.

do that by rubbing his nose in his bad decisions. You

Too often, in our culture, we let teenagers transfer their

have to ask good questions and let him come to his own

dependency outside the family, with disastrous results.

conclusions.

Teens often give up a great deal of themselves in pursuit of the closeness they crave, only to crash against the

So start slow, with your focus on connection. Find ways to

hard reality that other teens aren’t developmentally able

be with your teen daily, and longer times on weekends.

to function as a substitute family.

Listen more than you talk. As Stephen Covey says, "Seek first to understand." Over time, your connection with your

It is NOT a sign of healthy emotional development for

teen will deepen, even while she's spending lots of time

a teen to push parents away, or for parents to let him.

with her friends and activities.

That’s a sign of a damaged relationship.

In fact, don't be surprised if she plops down on your Attempting to parent when your relationship with your

bed some night just when you're about to turn out the

child is damaged is like pushing a boulder uphill. It’s

light to sleep, and wants to talk about what's going on

never too late in your relationship with your child to do

in her life. I know, you need your sleep -- but what a

repair work, to move closer. But it’s a whole lot harder to

vote of confidence from a teen! Every teen needs at

build the strong connection you want if the foundation

least one relationship like that as she journeys toward

isn’t there.

independence.

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 25

[ PARENTING ]

Making STEM a Part of Everyday Life

by Stratford Schools Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics: studying the STEM disciplines in schools can help kids build confidence, hone critical thinking and problem solving, and develop soft skills that will be essential to them in their adult lives. However, STEM learning doesn’t have to be limited to the classroom. Applying STEM principles to everyday life can help your child understand them in a real-world context. It’s a great way to become more comfortable and confident in learning STEM! Shopping and budgeting There are a lot of essential life skills that children aren’t taught in school: how to do your taxes, basic car maintenance, and understanding finances. The responsibility of teaching life skills falls to parents, understandably. That’s why it’s a good idea to introduce your child to certain skills early. STEM can help teach important life skills, especially budgeting and handling money.

You can integrate mathematical skills into everyday life in a useful way. If 26 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | FEBRUARY 2020

[ PARENTING ] you have younger children, look at your shopping list

of a certain ingredient, is there something else you can

together. Count the total number of items on the list.

substitute for it? If something you bake or cook doesn’t

Have them guess how much each one will cost. With

taste the way you wanted it to, how can you make it

older kids, you can talk about adding tax to the total and

better next time? Not only do kids learn math, science,

how that’s calculated. Ask them how much money you’ll

and problem-solving in the kitchen, but they also learn

need to have to pay for everything. How much change

time management, patience, and an appreciation for

will be leftover if you pay with cash?

food.

Budgeting can introduce the concept of money

Encouraging curiosity

management to your kids, too. If they receive an

Encouraging and nurturing your child’s curiosity is an

allowance and they’re hoping to save their money for

easy way to make STEM an everyday part of their life.

a toy, game or book, help them figure out how much they’ll need to save in a specific time period. If they do extra chores to receive extra allowance, how much sooner can they buy what they want? They’ll start to understand the concepts of saving, spending, and financial planning.

Baking and cooking Applying STEM concepts in the kitchen is one of the easiest and most helpful ways to integrate them into daily life. Baking and cooking teach kids about adding and subtracting by measuring ingredients. They also get to learn about how food changes form through cold, heat or by mixing together ingredients with certain properties.

The skills they learn in the kitchen will be useful when they’re older...and it’s fun!

Remember not to try too hard and force learning if they’re not interested in a specific activity. For example, maybe your child doesn’t seem to like learning about money through grocery shopping, but they are always eager to help when you’re working on the car or fi xing something around the house. They may enjoy handson projects more than crunching numbers. And that’s great! Putting up a shelf or showing them how to check the oil in your car can teach them about technology or engineering.

When your child shows interest in a certain subject, think of ways to nurture that interest using STEM. If they like video games, introduce them to games with puzzles or building elements, like Minecraft. Are they interested in coding? Look into free, fun online courses with Khan

With younger children, start with basic kitchen skills.

Academy or Code.org. Have you got an avid reader?

Show them how to look at the entire recipe fi rst so they

Take them to the library frequently. Ask them what they

can make sure they have everything they need. Have

like to read or have them describe the plot of their latest

them guess what the meal will taste like because of the

book to you.

ingredients. Spicy, sweet, rich, sour, salty or bitter? Is it a hot or cold dish? About how much time will it take to

A comprehensive STEM curriculum like Stratford’s can

cook or bake?

set your child up for success. However, having fun with STEM every day outside of school can help kids integrate

Older kids can help you prepare or measure out

those skills into their daily lives. Using STEM principles in

ingredients, mix them together or keep an eye on

real-world scenarios will get kids comfortable with the

something that’s cooking on the stove or baking (with

concepts, encouraging mastery and proficiency by

your supervision, of course.) If you don’t have enough

looking at problems in a different way.

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 27

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29

[ SUMMER CAMP ]

Summer Alameda County ALAMEDA Alameda School of Music 1307 High St. 510.769.0195 www.alamusic.org

Camp Bladium 800 West Tower Ave 510.814.4999 www.bladiumalameda.com/ youth-kids/kids-camps

BERKELEY Music Discovery Workshop 2005 Berryman St. 510.528.1725 www.sfems.org

St. John’s Camp Elmwood 2727 College Ave. 510.845.6830 www.stjohnsberkeley.org/ campelmwood

Sticky Art Lab 1682 University Ave. 510.981.1148 www.stickyartlab.com

City of Dublin 100 Civic Plaza 925.556.4500 www.ci.dublin.ca.us

Young Writers Camp UC Berkeley Campus 510.642.0971

Valley Christian School 7500 Inspiration Dr. 925.560.6270

www.bawpwritingcamp.org

www.ValleyChristianSchools.org

Green Stuff Summer Camp UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens 510.643.4832

Edge Gymnastics Training Center 6780 Sierra Court St. K 925.479.9904

www.botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu

www.edge-gymnastics.com

Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley 510.642.5134

Kidz Kraftz Quail Creek Cir. 925.271.0015

www.lawrencehallofscience.org

www.kidzkraftz.com/camps

BERKELEY/ECHO LAKE

Tri-Valley YMCA 6693 Sierra Ln 925.263.4444

Berkeley Echo Lake Camp Lot #7 Echo Lakes Rd 530.659.7539 www.cityofberkeley.info/camps

CASTRO VALLEY Skye Valley Training Camp 10250 Crow Canyon Rd 925.858.8825 www.psi.lunariffic.com/~skyev0/

Sarah’s Science 21525 Knoll Way 510.581.3739 www.sarahscience.com

Camp Kee Tov 1301 Oxford St. 510.842.2372 www.campkeetov.org

Bee Best Learning 20394 San Miguel Ave. 510.728.2110 www.beebestlearning.com

Habitot 2065 Kittredge St. 510.647.1111 ext. 14 www.habitot.org/museum/ activities_camps.html

Monkey Business Camp 2880A Sacramento St. 510.540.6025

www.trivalley.ymcaeastbay.org

Extended Day Child Care 8435 Davona Dr. 925.829.4043 & 7997 Vomac Rd. 925.551.8170 7243 Tamarack Dr. 925.833.0127 & 5301 Hibernia Dr. 925.803.4154 & 3300 Antone Way 925.826.5538 www.extendeddaychildcare.com

Quarry Lane School 6363 Tassajara Rd. 925.829.8000

DUBLIN

www.quarrylane.org

East Bay SPCA Animal Camp 4651 Gleason Dr. 925.479.9670

FREMONT

www.eastbayspca.org/camp

www.monkeybusinesscamp.com

30 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | FEBRUARY 2020

Learning Bee Summer Camp 39977 Mission Blvd.

510.226.8408 www.learningbeeusa.com

Ohlone for Kids 43600 Mission Blvd.

510.659.6000 www.ohlone.edu/org/ ohloneforkids

HAYWARD Hayward Area Recreation Park District (H.A.R.D.) Day Camps 510.881.6700 www.haywardrec.org

LIVERMORE Horizons East Equestrian Center 5111 Doolan Rd. 925.960.9696 www.showstables.com

Roy’s Magic Camp 2466 8th St. 925.455.0600 www.magiccamp.org

Camp Arroyo Taylor Family Foundation 5535 Arroyo Rd. 925.371.8401 www.ebparks.org/activities/ daycamps/parks_camp_arroyo

Saddle to Ride Topline Training, Inc. 4180 Greenville Rd. 925.858.3933 www.saddle2ride.com

Xtreme Force Dance Company 847 Rincon Ave. 925.455.6054 www.xtremeforcedanceco.com

Double Diamond Sports Academy 2272 Research Dr. 925.830.9765 www. doublediamondsportsacademy. com

[ SUMMER CAMP ]

Camps Valley Montessori 1273 N. Livermore Ave. 925.455.8021

MOCHA Summer Camp 1625 Clay St. 510.465.8770

Contra Costa County

www.valleymontessorischool.com

www.mocha.org

OAKLAND

PLEASANTON

Lakeshore Children’s Center 3534 Lakeshore Ave. 510.893.4048

Gingerbread Preschool 4333 Black Ave. 925.931.3430

City of Antioch Parks and Recreation 213 “F” St 925.776.7070

www.lakeshorechildrenscenter.org

www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/ recreation/gb/gbhome.html

Urban Adventure Camp 5701 Cabot Dr. 510.339.0676 www.urbanadventurecamps.com

Extended Day Child Care 5199 Black Ave. 925.846.5519 www.extendeddaychildcare.com

East Bay SPCA Animal Camp 8323 Baldwin St. 510.569.0702 www.eastbayspca.org/camp

Quarry Lane School - East 3750 Boulder St. 925.846.9400 www.quarrylane.org

California Shakespeare Theater Summer Conservatory 4660 Harbord Dr. 510.809.3293 www.calshakes.org/v4/educ/ summer_conservatories.html

Oakland Summer ZooCamp 9777 Golf Links Rd. 510.632.9525 www.oaklandzoo.org

Lake Merritt Boating Center Youth Boating Camps 568 Bellevue Ave. 510.238.2196 www.sailoakland.com

Raskob Learning Institute 3520 Mountain Blvd.

510.436.1275 www.raskobinstitute.org

Kids N’ Dance 3840 Macarthur Blvd.

510.531.4400 www.kidsndance.com

Quarry Lane School - West 4444B Black Ave. 925.462.6300 www.quarrylane.org

ANTIOCH

www.ci.antioch.ca.us/Recreation

Four Stars Gymnastics Academy 1799 Vineyard Dr. 925.778.8650 www.fourstarsgym.com

CONCORD City of Concord Parks and Recreation 925.671.3404 www.cityofconcord.org/recreation/ summercamps

Camp Concord in South Lake Tahoe 1000 Mt. Tallac Trailhead Rd South Lake Tahoe 530.541.1203

Yang Fan Academy 4160 Hacienda Dr. St. 100 925.699.4664

www.ci.concord.ca.us/recreation/ camp

www.yfacademy.org

Backyard Explorers Corner of Babel Ln & Cowell Rd. 925.671.3118

City of Pleasanton Summer Programs 200 Old Bernal Ave. 925.931.3436

DANVILLE City of Danville Camps 420 Front St. 925.314.3400 www.danville.ca.gov/Recreation/ Camps

Vision Tech Camps 117 Town & Country Dr. St. B 925.699.9602 www.visiontechcamps.com

Athenian Summer Programs at Athenian School 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd 925.837.5375 www.athenian.org

Color Bundles 301 Hartz Ave. #104 925.727.3137 www.colorbundles.com

Camp Brainy Bunch 741 Brookside Dr. 510.548.4800 www.campbrainybunch.com

Quest Therapeutic Camps Charlotte Wood Middle School 600 El Captain Dr. 925.743.2900 www.questcamps.com

www.cityofconcord.org/recreation/ summercamps/backyardexp.htm

www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us

Expressions Dance & Art 3015 Hopyard Rd. Ste. I 925.200.9908 www.expressions-dance-arts.com/

Young Ivy Academy 5460 Sunol Blvd (#3) 925.548.0188 www.youngivyacademy.com

Inspire Music Academy 2340 Santa Rita Rd. Ste. 7 925.461.3266 www.inspiremusicacademy.com

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 31

[ SUMMER CAMP ]

Summer LAFAYETTE California Shakespeare Theater Summer Conservatory 1000 Upper Happy Valley Rd 510.809.3293 www.calshakes.org/v4/educ/ summer_conservatories.html

Kids N’ Dance 3369 Mt. Diablo 925.284.7388 www.kidsndance.com

Sienna Ranch 3232 Deer Hill Rd. 925.283.6311 www.siennaranch.net

Sherman Swim School 1075 Carol Ln. 925.283.2100 www.shermanswim.com

www.frenchforfun.com

Lafayette Tennis Club 3125 Camino Diablo 925.937.2582 www.lafayettetennis.com

Husky House for Kids 3855 Happy Valley Rd. 925.283.7100 www.huskyhouseforkids.org/ summer-camp-programs

Lafayette Community Center Camps 500 Saint Mary’s Rd. 925.284.2232 www.lafayetterec.org

Roughing It Day Camp 1010 Oak Hill Rd. 925.283.3795 www.roughingit.com

BandWorks Summer Camp 28 Orinda Way 925.254.2445 www.bandworks.com/summer_ orinda.php

Orinda Academy 19 Altarinda Rd. 925.478.4504

Lindsay Wildlife Museum Summer Science Camp 1931 First Ave. 925.935.1978 www.wildlife-museum.org

Camp ARF for Kids 2890 Mitchell Dr. 925.256.1273 www.youth.arf.net

Merriewood Children’s Center 561 Merriewood Dr. 925.284.2121

www.orindaacademy.org

Camp Doodle 66 St. Stephens Dr.

City of Walnut Creek Summer Camps 1666 North Main St. 925.943.5899

www.merriewood.org

www.campdoodles.com

www.walnut-creek.org

MARTINEZ

PLEASANT HILL

John Muir Mountain Day Camp John Muir National Historic Site 925.680.8807

City of Pleasant Hill Camps 147 Gregory Ln 925.682.0896

Castle Rock Arabians 1350 Castle Rock Rd. 925.933.3701

www.johnmuirassociation.org/ muircamp/index.php

French For Fun 3381 Mt. Diablo Blvd 925.283.9822

ORINDA

Rancho Saguaro 1050 Pereira Rd. 925.788.5200 www.ranchosaguaro.com

MORAGA Gaels Summer Camp 1928 St Mary’s Rd. 925.631.4FUN www.smcgaels.com

Camp Saklan 1678 School St. 925.376.7900 www.saklan.org/about-us/campsaklan

OAKLEY City of Oakley Parks and Recreation 3231 Main St. 925.625.7044 www.ci.oakley.ca.us

Diamond Hills Sports Club 1510 Neroly Rd. 925.420.4575 www.sparetimeclubs.com

32 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | FEBRUARY 2020

www.castlerockarabians.com

www.pleasanthillrec.com

PITTSBURG City of Pittsburg Parks and Recreation 300 Presido Ln. 925.252.4842 www.ci.pittsburg.ca.us

SAN RAMON City of San Ramon Camps 2226 Camino Ramon 925.973.2500 www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us

School of Rock San Ramon 460 Montgomery Street 925.415.3340 510.207.9281 bit.ly/SORsanramoncamps

Adventure Day Camp Dorris-Eaton School One Annabel Lane 925.937.6500 www.adventuredaycamp.com

WALNUT CREEK Adventure Day Camp Seven Hills School 975 North San Carlos Dr. 925.937.6500 www.adventuredaycamp.com

Multiple Locations The Growing Room Academy Various locations around the Bay Offers: 3,4 and 5 Day Camps 925.837.4392 www.thegrowingroom.org

Camp Rocks: Girl Scouts of Northern California Offered at 5 locations: San Rafael (Camp Bothin), Santa Cruz (Skylark Ranch), San Jose (Camp Metro Day Camp), North Lake Tahoe (Deer Lake), and the Sierra Nevada Mountains (Sugar Pine) 800.447.4475 ext. 2091 www.camprocks.org

Mad Science Camp Offered at several local Recreation sites and Community Centers 925.687.1900 www.mtdiablo.madscience.org

[ SUMMER CAMP ]

Camps Steve and Kate’s Camp Danville, Dublin, Fremont, Oakland, Walnut Creek and Berkeley 415.389.5437 www.steveandkatescamp.com

Camp Galileo Alameda, Alamo, Berkeley, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Fremont, Oakland, Lafayette and Orinda 510.595.7293

Lango Language Summer Camps Serving Alamo, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Briones, Canyon, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pacheco, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and surrounding regions 888.445.2646 www.langokids.com/parent/kidslanguage-summer-camps

Out of Area Golden Arrow Camps 644 Pollasky Avenue, Ste. 100 Clovis, 93612 800.554.CAMP www.goldarrowcamp.com

Coppercreek Camp 1887 Williams Valley Rd. Greenville, 95947 800.350.0006 www.coppercreek.com

www.galileo-learning.com

KinderCare Walnut Creek, Concord, Danville, Martinez and Clayton 888.523.6765 www.kindercare.com/ summercamp

Viva el Espanol!

Lafayette, Piedmont, Pleasanton & San Anselmo 925.962.9177 www.vivaelespanol.org/ summerprograms.php

Club Sport Fremont, San Ramon, Pleasanton and Walnut Creek 925.938.8700 www.clubsports.com

Camp Edmo Alameda, Fremont, and Oakland 415.282.6673 www.campedmo.org

Kids’ Carpentry Berkeley, Lafayette, Alameda, Oakland, Alamo & Walnut Creek 510.524.9232

Stratford School Summer Sports Camp & Enrichment Danville, Fremont, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill and Pleasanton 925.737.0001

www.kidscarpentry.com

www.stratfordschools.com

www.techknowhowkids.com

Sky hawk’s Sports Camp Various locations around the Bay Area 800.804.3509

iD Tech Camp Moraga, Concord, Livermore, Berkeley and other Bay Area locations www.idtech.com

www.skyhawks.com

TechKnowHow Kids Dublin, Berkeley, Fremont, Livermore, Oakland & Pleasanton 650.638.0500

Camp Unalayee 3921 East Bayshore Rd. Palo Alto 650.969.6313 www.unalayee-summer-camp.com

CYO Summer Camp 2136 Bohemian Hwy Occidental, 95465 707.874.0200 www.camp.cccyo.org

Mountain Camp Woodside 302 Portola Rd. Portola Valley 650.576.2267 www.mountaincampwoodside.com

SF Zoo Camp Sloat Blvd. & the Great Highway San Francisco 415.753.7080 www.sfzoo.org Almaden Equestrian Center 20100 Almaden Rd. San Jose 408.927.0232 www.almadenequestriancenter.net

Silver Creek Sportsplex 800 Embedded Way San Jose 408.224.8774 www.gotoplex.com

College For Kids 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd.

San Mateo 650.574.6149 www.collegeforkids-smccd.com

School of Rock Summer Camp 711 South B St. San Mateo, San Jose & Palo Alto 650.347.3474 www.schoolofrock.com

Camp Tawonga 131 Steuart Ste. 460 San Francisco 415.543.2267 www.tawonga.org

Kennolyn Camps 8205 Glen Haven Rd. Soquel 831.479.6714 www.kennolyncamps.com

888.709.8324

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 33

OUR CAMP CONFORMS TO KIDS. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

“GO WITH THE FLOW” IS OUR MIDDLE NAME. JUST KIDDING, IT’S “AND.”

Instead of a rigid structure, we give our campers choice. Instead of teaching kids the typical way, we give them tools and gentle guidance to help them become autodidacts, people who teach themselves.

Kids choose from: stop motion animation, coding, sports in a custom stadium, bread-making, waterslides and much more.

Our policy is as flexible as you need it to be. You can buy a whole summer membership or you can purchase as many day passes as you want. Use the passes whenever. Didn’t use them? No sweat. We’ll give you a full refund for unused passes. And best of all, you don’t even have to tell us when you’re coming. Ta-da. Camp just got easier.

CODING STUDIO

PRE-K THROUGH 7TH

34 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | FEBRUARY 2020

40+ LOCATIONS

STEVEANDKATE.COM

®

Preschool

Education is a Lifelong Commitment

®

Discover Quarry Lane

NOW ENROLLING Join our Open House every Wednesday! www.QuarryLane.org/Preschool

Toddler, Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten Academic-Based Curriculum Passionate, Experienced Educators

PLEASANTON WEST CAMPUS Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten 4444B Black Ave., Pleasanton, CA

925.462.6300

Full and Half Day Schedules Computer, Spanish, Music, P.E., and Library Two Preschool Campuses in Pleasanton

PLEASANTON EAST CAMPUS Toddler through Pre-Kindergarten 3750 Boulder St., Pleasanton, CA

925.846.9400

FEBRUARY 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 35 CA Licenses: 013411303, 013411304, 013411305, 013417681