Active Kids - August 2012

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The LOCAL Go-To Guide for Busy Families • August 2012

TOP15 Things to do before the End of Summer pg. 25

What You Can Do To Help Prepare Your Preschooler for Kindergarten pg. 38

Benefits

of Music pg. 30

Enter to Win

amazing products from Glory Haus! pg. 28

children’s services

Because you feel ill when your kids are sick.

We know the feeling: stomach in knots, pulse racing. And you’re not the one who’s sick. At John Muir Health, we know that parents care about their kids’ health far more than their own. So we listen. We explain.

And we work together to keep our littlest patients well. To find a pediatrician near you, visit johnmuirhealth.com/findadoctor.

The LOCAL Go -To Guide for Busy Families Here we are in full-blown summer mode, but very soon we will all be switching gears for back-to-school. Making every last summer minute count is our number one priority. Our Top 15 Things to do Before the End of SummerĘź is a must read. Also check out our “6 Tips for Getting the Kids Ready for Schoolâ€?.

We are ecstatic to announce the addition of our new contributing writers. Robin OĘźBryant is the Author of “Ketchup is a Vegetable and other Lies Moms Tell Themselvesâ€?. She is a syndicated humor columnist, mother to three young daughters and is absolutely hilarious. I couldnĘźt put her book down and boy could I relate to every story she told!

Victoria Kindle Hodson, co- author of “Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids� will provide us with invaluable parenting advice and tools to apply to our everyday lives. We are so excited to have Victoria contribute to our magazine.

Last, but certainly not least, Julie King, Parent Educator for the past 17 years who leads workshops entitled “How to Talk so Kids Will Listen� (based on the best-selling book), will be addressing our readers parenting-related questions. You can email Julie and if lucky, she will provide you with a phone consultation to help assist with your child-rearing issues!

We are dedicated to providing you with more parenting information than ever before. Please remember to email us and tell us what you would like to see. We love hearing from you!

Wishing everyone a great end of summer and back-to-school month!

Publisher | Editor Tracie Vollgraf Marketing Manager Emily Stockman Advertising Sales Manager Karen Ruskowski kruskowski@activekidsbayarea.com Graphic Designer Teresa Craft Marketing Interns Felicia Stiles Crystal Wigton Nina Newhouse Contributing Authors Sarah Tolson Tracie Vollgraf Tom Limbert Victoria Hodson Robin OʟBryant Tamriko Siprashvili Julie King Kendall King & Alison Mackey

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FIND US ON

August

p. 6 Meet Robinʼs Chicks p. 14 Camping Guide p. 18 Why, How, and When

Should My Child Learn a Second Language

p. 22 Gaining Control Over

Your Familyʼs Finances

p. 25

Top 15 Things You Should Do Before The End of Summer

p. 27 p. 30 p. 34 p. 37

Introducing Julie King

p. 38

Benefits of Music Beach Guide 6 Tips To Ensure That You and Your Child Are Ready For Back To School!

What You Can Do To Help Prepare Your Preschooler For Kindergarten

p. 46 Camp Concord

p. 8 Calendar p. 28 Products We Love p. 43 Kids Meal Deals

Meet Robin's Chicks

by Robin OʼBryant I used to be the girl on the homecoming float. I wasnʼt riding at the very top with a crown on my head, and I was wearing a borrowed dress, but I was there, sequins sparkling in the sun as I waved to all my friends and family as the parade wove through the small downtown of Jasper, Alabama.

I didnʼt drive a new car to school, but my Dadʼs old maroon Oldsmobile, “The Hot Tamale,” which was a hit with all of my friends because it could comfortably seat eight teenagers on its two bench seats. Even though the rearview mirror fell off in my hand every time I tried to adjust it.

In college I was the married student who didnʼt have time for fun and socializing because I had to get to work to pay my bills and to pay for school.

For the last seven years, Iʼve been “Mom,” but not just any mom. I am “That Mom,” the one you cringe to be behind in line at Wal-Mart.

Iʼm the mom who has a toddler teetering precariously in my shopping cart while my five-year-old yells, “You never let me have anything!” when I refuse to let her buy a king-size Snickers bar at seven oʼclock in the morning and my three-year-old is attempting to shoplift a pack of gum while simultaneously emptying my diaper bag of tampons on the floor.

Iʼm the mom, who after this circus side show, realizes she has no idea where her debit card is and she is out of checks.

I am now the mother who prays some sort of vermin doesnʼt crawl out of my backseat when the teacher opens the back door to get my kindergartener out of the car at school.

For the last seven years Iʼve been the mom raising three daughters, Aubrey, Emma and Sadie as a stay-at-home-mom and following my husband from construction site to construction site, all over the Southeastern United States.

My Saturdays havenʼt been spent touring the old plantation homes of Savannah, Georgia. and Charleston, South Carolina but in the bed trying desperately to catch up on sleep while my husband was home from work.

I didnʼt spend my weeks frolicking on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, unless I was carrying a baby, chasing a toddler into the surf and channeling Baywatch: The Postpartum Years. My nights have been spent wandering zombie-like from my bedroom to whichever child happened to wake up crying in the night, nursing babies, rocking babies, and writing a book when everyone else in my house finally slept.

6 ACTIVE KIDS

www.activekidsbayarea.com

I always thought I would be a “Boy Momma,” I had visions of myself carting three or four little boys around to soccer, football and karate practice. Boys seemed so much easier to me as a young babysitter, working for gas money.

Boys would play outside with my supervision, requiring very little interaction or entertainment.

The girls I babysat were much different. They wanted to play Barbieʼs, dress-up and have full blown Extreme Make-Overs. I would do all the work while the little angels were entertained and pampered. I thought I would be a “Boy Momma” but I was wrong.

I have three daughters: ages seven, five and three-years-old. While they do enjoy a good mani/pedi, they spit, fight, wrestle and use the bathroom outside like a bunch of boys (you go ahead and think about that one for a little while.) Iʼm not sure what Iʼve done to deserve a seven-year-old who has cleaned her ears out with tampons while I was trying to check out at the grocery store. Or a five-year-old who has McGyver's motor skills and is so efficient with a screw driver you need to do a quick inspection before sitting on anything in my house, lest you end up on your back on the floor.

But they are mine. Motherhood is a series of bloopers and blunders. Many women try to maintain a cool facade and make this job appear much easier than it actually is.

Not me.

I am not That Mother.

Robin O'Bryant is a syndicated humor columnist and stay-at-home-mom to three daughters born within four years. She finally figured out where babies come from and got herself under control. Her first book, "Ketchup is a Vegetable and Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves,” is rated #1 by reader reviews on Amazon in two genres: Humor Essays and Parenting & Families.

Visit her at www.robinschicks.com. Robin's Chicks to learn helpful tips such as: how to breastfeed behind your back*, how to talk to your daughters about man parts, and how to write a proper gold fish obituary. *Only applies to lactating women with a DD cup or larger.

AUGUST calendar Alameda County August 1 1st Wednesday Street Party Main Street, Downtown Pleasanton 6pm-9pm

Pooch Parade

Lions Wayside Park Corner of 1st and Neal Pleasanton 5:30pm-8pm

2 for 1 Studio Fee

Café Art Livermore and Dublin Locations (925) 373-0222

August 2 First Family Night at Livermore Certified Farmersʼ Market Carnegie Park Fourth St. between J St & K St Livermore 5pm-8pm

First Thursdays at Dublin Farmersʼ Market Emerald Glen Park Dublin 4pm-8pm

August 2-3 Olympic Summer Days Pleasanton Library Pleasanton (925) 931-3400 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm

Bankhead Theater Livermore 8pm

Starry Nights in Brentwood Summer Concert The All-American Boys Chorus City Park Brentwood 7pm

Home Depot Stores Various locations 9am – 12pm (800)466-3337

August 4 & 5 Taste of Downtown 1st St Livermore 12pm-5pm

Oklahoma

Bankhead Theater Livermore (925) 373-6800 8pm 8 ACTIVE KIDS

Super Franks Pleasanton (additional camps listed on website) 9:00am – 12:00pm $150 per week

August 3 Oklahoma

August 4 Free Kids Workshops

August 6-10 Summer Olympics Summer Camp

August 8 Oakland Zoo Conservation Zoomobile Livermore Library Livermore (925) 373-5504 10:30am-11:30am

2 for 1 Studio Fee

Café Art Livermore and Dublin Locations (925) 373-0222

August 10 Concert in the Park Ruckatan Latin Tribe Lions Wayside Park Corner of 1st and Neal Pleasanton 7pm-8:30pm

Family Movie Night MoneyBall PG-13 Emerald Glen Park Dublin 7pm

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Starry Nights in Brentwood Summer Concert Brentwood Concert Band City Park Brentwood 7pm

August 15 2 for 1 Studio Fee

Café Art Livermore and Dublin Locations (925) 373-0222

August 16 Thirsty Thursday at Livermore Certified Farmersʼ Market Carnegie Park Fourth St. between J St & K St Livermore 5pm-8pm

August 17 Concert in the Park Tommy & The Four Speeds Lions Wayside Park Corner of 1st and Neal Pleasanton 7pm-8:30pm

August 20 Dodgeball Day Rockinʼ Jump

5875 Arnold Road Dublin Ages 8-12 6pm-8pm

August 22 2 for 1 Studio Fee

Café Art Livermore and Dublin Locations (925) 373-0222

August 24-26 Goodguys 26th West Coast Nationals

Pleasanton Fair Grounds 4501 Pleasanton Ave Pleasanton 8am-5pm August 2012

August 24 Concert in the Park Magic Moments

Sing! Move! Fun!

August 25-26 The Mikado

August 2-12 Disneyʼs Beauty and the Beast

Lions Wayside Park Corner of 1st and Neal Pleasanton 7pm-8:30pm

Bankhead Theater Livermore (925) 373-6800 8pm

Brentwood Art, Wine & Jazz Festival 2565 Sand Creek Rd Brentwood (925) 634-6444 Sat: 11am-9pm Sun: 11am-5pm

August 29 2 for 1 Studio Fee

Café Art Livermore and Dublin Locations (925) 373-0222

Contra Costa County August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Baby Boot Camp Giggle Walnut Creek Registration Required (925) 746-0300 9:30am

Giggle Storytime Giggle Walnut Creek (925) 746-0300 11am

Giggle Walnut Creek Registration Required (925) 746-0300 $10 5pm

Lesher Theater Walnut Creek Dates and Times vary (925) 943-7469

August 3 Preschool Performance Village Theater 233 Front St. Danville (925) 314-3470 10am-11am

Moonlight Movies on The Town Green “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” The Town Green Danville 6:30pm

Rock the Plaza Super Diamond Blackhawk Plaza Danville 7pm-8:30pm

August 4 Isty Bitsy Yoga Bloom Retreat 1444 S. Main St Walnut Creek (925) 939-6262 11am-11:45am

Free Kids Workshops Home Depot Stores Various locations 9am – 12pm (800) 466-3337

ACTIVE KIDS 9

August 5 Concert by the Lake The Fundamentals Pleasant Hill City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 6pm

August 6 Plaza Concert

Downtown Pleasant Hill 6:30pm-8:30pm

August 7 Family Art Night – Pizza, Painting and Sculptures

Color Bundles Alamo (925) 727-3137 – Reservation Required $15/Kids $25/Adults 6pm-8pm

August 9 Danville Thursday Night Street Festival Downtown Danville (925) 339-8330 5:30pm-8:30pm

August 10 Rock the Plaza The Floorshakers Plaza Park Lafayette 6pm-8pm

Couples Yoga and Wine Date Night Bloom Retreat 1444 S. Main St Walnut Creek (925) 939-6262 7pm-9pm

10 ACTIVE KIDS

Family Fun Night

Monte Vista Community Pool 3131 Stone Valley Road Danville 6:30pm-8:30pm

Rock the Plaza The Cheeseballs

Bloom Retreat 1444 S. Main St Walnut Creek (925) 939-6262 11am-11:45am

August 11 Isty Bitsy Yoga Bloom Retreat 1444 S. Main St Walnut Creek (925) 939-6262 11am-11:45am

August 19 Concert by the Lake Cover2Cover

Journey into Self – A Womanʼs Mini Yoga Retreat

Fun on the Farm Ice Cream Social

Forest Home Farms Historic Park & Glass House Museum (925) 973-3284 10am-2pm

August 11-12 Family Camp Out Mt. Diablo State Park (925) 314-3400 12pm-1pm

August 17 Rock the Plaza Mixed Nuts

Blackhawk Plaza Danville 7pm-8:30pm

August 18 Isty Bitsy Yoga

Blackhawk Plaza Danville 7pm-8:30pm

Bloom Retreat 1444 S. Main St Walnut Creek (925) 939-6262 1pm-3:30pm

Rock the Plaza Unauthorized Rolling Stones

Pleasant Hill City Hall 100 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill 6pm

Family Yoga

Bloom Retreat 1444 S. Main St Walnut Creek (925) 939-6262 11am-11:45am

August 23 Guiding Children with Confidence Bloom Retreat 1444 S. Main St Walnut Creek (925) 939-6262 11am-11:45am

Art & Wine Stroll Downtown Danville (925) 339-8330 $25 per person 6pm-9pm

Plaza Park Lafayette 6pm-8pm

www.activekidsbayarea.com

August 24 Rock the Plaza Night Fever Plaza Park Lafayette 6pm-8pm

Rock the Plaza Evolution Blackhawk Plaza Danville 7pm-8:30pm

August 25 Juice Box Heros Rheem Theater Moraga (925) 388-0751 10am

August 2012

Isty Bitsy Yoga Bloom Retreat 1444 S. Main St Walnut Creek (925) 939-6262 11am-11:45am

Music in the Park

Oak Hill Park 3005 Stone Valley Road Danville 6pm-8pm

August 30 California Symphony Pops in the Plaza Concert Todos Santos Plaza Concord (925) 671-3464 6:30pm

Out of Area August 8-12 Ringling Brother Barnum & Bailey Dragons Oracle Arena, Oakland Multiple show times

August 15-19 Ringling Brother Barnum & Bailey Dragons HP Pavilion, San Jose Multiple show time

August 11 & 25 Summer Sleep Over!

Fairyland Oakland 5:45pm Pre-Registration required (510) 238-6876

ACTIVE KIDS 11

Alameda County

Redwood Regional Park

7867 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94618 Hours: 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM Cost: $5/ vehicle; $4/trailered; campsites vary Phone: 888.327.2757 Website: www.ebparks.org A hidden redwood forest whose peaceful groves give little evidence of its bustling past lies on Redwood Road just a few miles over the ridge from downtown Oakland.

Anthony Chabot Family Campground

9999 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94546 Hours:8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Cost: $2/dogs; Campsites vary Phone: 888.327.2757, option 3, ext. 4502 Website: www.ebparks.org Overlooking Lake Chabot is Chabot Family Campground, year-round getaway only minutes from the city (camping fee).

The camp has 75 trailer, tent, or walk-in campsites, hot showers, Naturalist-led campfire programs, an amphitheater, and hiking/fishing access to Lake Chabot.

Del Valle Regional Park

7000 Del Valle Rd, Livermore, CA 94550 Hours: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM Cost: $6/ vehicle; $4/trailered; $2/dogs; Campsites vary Phone: 888.327.2757, option 3, ext. 4524 Website: www.ebparks.org Deep in a valley framed by oak-covered hills, with sailboats and sailboards skimming over its waters, Del Valle is like a lakeside resort only 10 miles south of Livermore.

Butte County

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area

400 Glen Drive, Oroville, CA 95966 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $45.00/night Phone: 530.538.2200 Website: www.parks.ca.gov Near the City of Oroville this man-made lake was formed by the tallest earth-filled dam (770 feet above the stream bed of the Feather River) in the country. The lake offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, sail and power boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming, boat-in camping, floating campsites and horse camping. Lake Oroville Visitor Center has a museum, exhibits, videos and a store. The view from the 47-foot tower, with two high-powered telescopes, is a spectacular panoramic view of the lake, Sierra Nevadaʼs, valley, foothills, and the Sutter Buttes mountain range (smallest in the world).

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Calaveras County

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

1170 E Hwy 4, Arnold, CA 95223 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $20.00-$35.00/night Phone: 209.795.2335 Website: www.parks.ca.gov Calaveras became a State Park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias. This grove includes the "Discovery Tree", also known as the "Big Stump", the first Sierra redwood noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852.

This area has been a major tourist attraction ever since, and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California.

Colusa County

Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area

Levee Street & 10th Street, Colusa, CA Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $15.00-$25.00/night Phone: 530.458.4927 Website: www.parks.ca.gov This area offers visitors campsites, picnic sites, and a launch ramp for small boats. Riverbank cottonwoods and willows shelter one of the finest fishing stretches in California, with king salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout and striped bass some of the catches. The river is on a major migratory route for birds of the Pacific flyway and provides home to an amazing number of species. The River Patwin Indian tribe once lived nearby the area and in 1872 John Muir camped near what is now the park.

Contra Costa County

Morgan Territory Regional Preserve

9401 Morgan Territory Rd, Antioch, CA 94509 Hours: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Cost: Campsites vary Phone: 510.544.3060 Website: www.ebparks.org Sandstone hills within the park's 4,708 acres are adorned in spring with more than 90 species of wildflowers, including the Diablo sunflower which grows only in the foothills of Mount Diablo.

Mount Diablo State Park

North Gate Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Hours: 8:00 AM to Sunset Cost: $30.00-$165.00/night; $6 parking fee.

Phone: 925. 837.2525 Website: www.parks.ca.gov

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Mount Diablo offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

With this beautiful ʻecological treasureʼ of the San Francisco Bay Area, your family is sure to have wonderful time.

Del Norte County

Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park

1111 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $35.00/night Phone: 707.465.2146 Website: www.parks.ca.gov The park, established in 1927, has approximately 50% old growth coast redwood and eight miles of wild coastline.

The topography is fairly steep with elevations from sea level to 1277ʼ. The predominant mountain range is oriented in a north-south direction with steep cliffs adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, making the bulk of the rocky sea coast generally inaccessible except by Damnation Trail and Footsteps Rock Trail.

El Dorado County

Ed Zʼberg Sugar Pine Point State Park

Sugar Pine Point State Park, El Dorado, CA Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $35.00/night Phone: 530.525.3345 Website: www.parks.ca.gov The beautiful grounds of the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion are available for special events such as weddings, school or family reunions, and corporate dinners. The grounds have spectacular views of Lake Tahoe with the 12,000 square foot mansion serving as an elegant backdrop.

Lake County

Clear Lake State Park

5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, California 95451 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $30.00-$75.00/night Phone: 707.279.2267 Website: www.parks.ca.gov Clear Lake State Park is on the shores of Californiaʼs largest freshwater lake. The area is popular for all kinds of water recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and water-skiing. Anglers can catch largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and channel catfish. The park is the nesting place for waterfowl. Hikers enjoy the Indian Nature Trail, a self-guided trail that shows how the Pomo people, who lived in the area for centuries, utilized the areaʼs resources. The trail passes through the site of what was once a Pomo village.

Marin County

Samuel P. Taylor State Park

8889 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Lagunitas, CA 94938 Hours: 8:00 AM to Sunset Cost: $8/parking; $35.00/night Phone: 415.488.9897 Website: www.parks.ca.gov The park offers a network of hiking trails and fire roads, making it easy to hike to the top of Mount Barnabe. Or, for a less strenuous visit, many visitors consider Azalea Picnic Area the best place in the park for a picnic or a place to relax. A paved bike trail runs about three miles through the park, beginning near the entrance of the park. The trail is nearly level and follows the old Northern Pacific Coast Railroad right-of-way.

Mount Tamalpais State Park – Steep Ravine Cabins & Campsites

801 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941 Hours: 7:00 AM to Sunset Cost: Ranging from $75.00/night to $115.00/night Phone: 415.388.2070 Website: www.parks.ca.gov Just north of San Francisco's Golden Gate is Mount Tamalpais. It has redwood groves and oak woodlands with a spectacular view from the 2,571-foot peak. On a clear day, visitors can see the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea, the Marin County hills, San Francisco and the bay, hills and cities of the East Bay, and Mount Diablo. On rare occasions, the Sierra Nevada's snow-covered mountains can be seen 150 miles away.

Lawsonʼs Landing

137 Marine View Drive, Dillon Beach, CA 94929 Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Wed 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Friday 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM; Sat 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM; Sun 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Cost: $30.00/night Phone: 707.878.2443 Website: www.lawsonslanding.com Lawsonʼs Landing is a fishing and boating resort and campground, situated at the mouth of Tomales Bay, California— known for generations of families as a place to escape the heat and to rest along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. You can find Lawson's Landing located about 50 miles North of San Francisco and 20 miles West of Petaluma at Dillon Beach. The Landing was first established in 1929, and the campground has been running— family-owned and operated— since 1957.

Continued

August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 13

Olema Ranch

Point Reyes Station, CA 94596 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $40.00-$63.00/night Phone: 415.663.8106 Website: www.olemarvresort.com Olema RV Resort and Campground nestled in the stunningly beautiful wilderness surrounded by Point Reyes National Seashore just north of San Francisco, is the ideal place for a respite from the chaos of daily living, or for outdoor adventures along that world-renowned stretch of coastline.

Just one hour from San Francisco or the Napa Valley and minutes from one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline anywhere, Olema RV Resort and Campground provides access to sixty-five thousand acres of unspoiled wilderness, from grassy meadows to coastal forests, rife with wildlife and heart-stopping vistas.

Windsong Cottage

25 McDonald Lane, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $175/night on weekdays; $195/night on weekends Phone: 415.663.9695 Website: www.windsongcottage.com The wood burning fire place, the huge, fluffy king size bed, and of course, the hot tub set in the private yard are all wonderful reasons to visit Windsong Cottages. Yurts often have a skylight where the beams meet so in the morning, it was a gentle waking up. Though the space is really one big circular room, the bedroom is structured so that there is privacy and the bathroom is also walled off. It is an ingenious design. The space feels so open and the view is great. Perfect for a romantic get-away!

Mariposa County

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park Northside Drive, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: Ranges between $5-20 depending upon the campsite.

Phone: 877.444.6777 Website: www.nps.gov Yosemite National Park, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

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Monterey County

Limekiln State Park

63025 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 Hours: 8:00 AM to Sunset Cost: $35.00/night Phone: 831.667.2403 Website: www.parks.ca.gov The park features breathtaking views of the Big Sur Coast, the beauty of the redwoods, the rugged coast and the cultural history of limekilns and has 24 campsites.

Placer County

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

7806 Folsom—Auburn Road, Folsom, CA 95630 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $35.00/night Phone: 916.988.0205 Website: www.parks.ca.gov Located at the base of the Sierra foothills, the lake and recreation area offers opportunities for hiking, biking, running, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, water-skiing and boating. Fishing offers trout, catfish, big and small mouth bass or perch. Visitors can also see the Folsom Powerhouse (once called "the greatest operative electrical plant on the American continent"), which from 1885 to 1952 produced 11,000 volts of electricity for Sacramento residents. For cyclists, there is a 32-mile long bicycle path that connects Folsom Lake with many Sacramento County parks before reaching Old Sacramento. The park also includes Lake Natoma, downstream from Folsom Lake, which is popular for crew races, sailing, kayaking and other aquatic sports.

San Francicso County

Angel Island State Park

Angel Island State Park, San Francisco, CA 94920 Hours: 8:00 AM to Sunset Cost: $30.00/night Phone: 800.444.7275 Website: www.parks.ca.gov In the middle of San Francisco Bay sits Angel Island State Park, offering spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin Headlands and Mount Tamalpais.

San Joaquin County

Caswell Memorial State Park

Caswell Memorial State Park, San Joaquin, CA Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost:$30.00/night Phone: 209.599.3810 Website: www.parks.ca.gov The park is located along the Stanislaus River near the

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town of Ripon, California. Caswell is home to several endangered animal species, including the riparian brush rabbit which is not known to occur anywhere else

San Mateo County Half Moon Bay State Park

95 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $35.00-$50.00/night Phone: 650.726.8819 Website: www.parks.ca.gov Miles of broad, sandy beaches stretch out to welcome visitors to Half Moon Bay. This picturesque setting is ideal for sunbathing, fishing and picnicking. A campground provides accommodations for those who wish to visit longer.

Santa Cruz County

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

21600 Big Basin Highway, Boulder Creek, CA 95006 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $435/night; $10/vehicle/night; $8/reservation fee Phone: 800.444.7275 or 800.874.8368 (for “Tent Cabin” sites) Website: www.bigbasin.org Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California's oldest State Park, established in 1902. Home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco, the park consists of over 18,000 acres of old growth and recovering redwood forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitats. Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 2,000 feet. The park features family and group camping, tent cabins, backpacking camps, hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. The park is open year round and reservations are encouraged during the summer.

New Brighton State Beach

1500 Park Avenue, Capitola, CA Hours: 8:00 AM to Sunset Cost: $35.00/night Phone: 831.464.6330 Website: www.parks.ca.gov The beach features picnic areas, swimming, fishing and a nearby forest of Monterey pine and Coastal Live Oak. The camping area is on a bluff overlooking northern Monterey Bay.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

2591 Graham Hill Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95060 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $35.00/night Phone: 831.438.2396 Website: www.parks.ca.gov This park features 15 miles of hiking and riding trails through

a variety of forested areas including redwoods, mixed evergreens, riparian, ponderosa pine, as well as rare ancient marine deposits called Santa Cruz sand hills.

Henry Cowell Redwoods is home to a centuries old Redwood Grove that features a self-guided nature path. It also boasts other old-growth woods such as Douglas fir, mandrone, oak and a stunning stand of Ponderosa pines.

Seascape Beach Resort

One Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 Hours: 24 hours a day Cost: $495.00-$620.00 depending upon room, how long you stay, and season Phone: 831.688.6800 Website: www.seascaperesort.com For a spectacular Santa Cruz vacation, a visit to Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos, California, is like having your own beach home with all the amenities of a four-diamond resort. Seascape Beach Resort offers 285 spacious suites and beach villas with fully equipped kitchens or kitchenettes, fireplaces, and private balconies facing the majestic Monterey Bay.

Castle Rock State Park

1500 Skyline Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95032 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $15.00/night Phone: 408.867.2952 Website: www.parks.ca.gov Along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Castle Rock State Park embraces coast redwood, Douglas-fir, and madrone forest, most of which has been left in its wild, natural state. Steep canyons are sprinkled with unusual rock formations that are popular with rock climbers. The forest here is lush and mossy, crisscrossed by 32 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. These trails are part of an even more extensive trail system that links the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo valleys with Castle Rock State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and the Pacific Coast.

Shasta County

Sugarloaf Resort Cottages

19667 Lakeshore Drive, Lakehead, CA 96051 Hours: 24 hours a day Cost: $1151.00-1587.00/night Phone: 530.238.2448 Website: www.shastacabins.com Sugarloaf Cottages is the perfect location for a romantic weekend getaway, a fishing vacation or a family gathering. Located on the Sacramento arm of Shasta Lake, the resort is only 25 miles from Redding, California and is a sanctuary from the pressures of everyday life.

Continued

August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 15

Castle Crags State Park

20022 Castle Creek Rd, Castella, CA 96017 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $15.00-$30.00/night Phone: 530.235.2684 Website: www.parks.ca.gov The park offers swimming and fishing in the Sacramento River, hiking in the back country, and a view of Mount Shasta.

There are 76 developed campsites and six environmental campsites. The park features 28 miles of hiking trails, including a 2.7 mile access trail to Castle Crags Wilderness, part of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The Pacific Crest Trail also passes through the park. The park is named for 6,000-feet tall glacier-polished crags.

Sonoma County Casini Ranch

22855 Moscow Road, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 Hours: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Daily Cost: $41.00-$48.00/night Phone: 800.451.8400 Website: www.casiniranch.com Casini Ranch campground is nestled among beautiful hills resting on a gentle meander along the Russian River just minutes from the Pacific Ocean in Sonoma County, California.

One mile of river runs along this 110 acre part of the ranch offering campers a memorable camping experience.

KOA Petaluma

20 Rainsville Road, Petaluma, CA 94952 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $49.50-$60.00/night Phone: 707.763.1492 Website: www.koa.com This beautiful family camping resort is rated one of the top RV campgrounds in California and the premier campground & RV Park resort in the San Francisco Bay area. With 312 spacious sites on 70 Acres, this KOA offers the best in family, group and big-rig RV camping in a rural atmosphere. Explore San Francisco, then relax in the country, just 34 freeway miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Bodega Dunes Campground

3095 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $35.00/night Phone: 707.875.3483 Website: www.parks.ca.gov There are 98 campsites with hot showers, flush toilets, and a trailer sanitation dump station. Maximum trailer length is 31', no hook-ups are available. Campfire and Junior Ranger

16 ACTIVE KIDS

programs are held in the summer months. The day use area includes a disabled accessible boardwalk out to a classic sandy beach. No dogs and no fires are allowed on the beach as a measure to protect the snowy plovers

Reef Campground

19005 Coast Highway One, Jenner, CA 95450 Hours: Open Sunrise to Sunset Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays Cost: $25.00/night (includes one vehicle); $8.00/extra vehicle Phone: 707.847.3286 Website: www.parks.ca.gov Fort Ross was a thriving Russian-American Company settlement from 1812 to 1841. This commercial company chartered by Russia's tsarist government controlled all Russian exploration, trade and settlement in the North Pacific, and established permanent settlements in Alaska and California. Fort Ross was the southernmost settlement in the Russian colonization of the North American continent, and was established as an agricultural base to supply Alaska. It was the site of California's first windmills and shipbuilding, and Russian scientists were among the first to record Californiaʼs cultural and natural history.

Doran Regional Park

201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, CA 94923 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $30.00-60.00/night Phone: 707.875.3540 Website: www.sonoma-county.org Doran Park has a 2-mile stretch of sandy beach and is a popular place for visitors to picnic, build sand castles, fly kites, surf, fish and stroll. A rock jetty at the harbor mouth provides access for fishing, crabbing and exploring sea life. The boat launch can accommodate up to 20-foot boats. A parking lot is located adjacent to the launch and can handle 30 vehicles with trailers.

Westside Regional Park

2400 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay, CA 94923 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: $30.00-$60.00/night Phone: 707.875.3540 Website: www.sonoma-county.org The park is ideal for fishing, with its boat ramp and fish-cleaning station. A large vehicle and boat parking lot is located adjacent to the launch. Picnic tables and restrooms are on-site. The park is near stores and tackle shops. Marine fuel may be purchased at Spud Point Marina. Visit the marina or go for a short drive to Bodega Head.

www.activekidsbayarea.com

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ACTIVE KIDS 17

Why, How, and When Should My Child Learn a Second Language?

by Kendall King & Allison Mackey Much attention has been focused on the importance of early foreign language learning. Some research reports that younger children learn languages better than older children and adults. Newsweek devoted a special edition to the critical first three years of a child's life and indicated that there is a "window of opportunity" for second language learning starting at one year of age. A Time magazine article suggested that foreign languages should be taught to children as early as possible.

But with so many demands already placed on children, parents ask, Is it important that my child learn a second language at a young age? If so, why?

What can I do to help my child learn a language? What program options are available?

What are the benefits of knowing a second language?

Knowing a second language provides a lifelong ability to communicate with people from other countries and backgrounds. But studies indicate that the benefits of early foreign language programs go beyond language acquisition.

These benefits include the development of students' creativity, memory, and listening skills, improved overall school performance and superior problem-solving skills.

Students of foreign languages score statistically higher on standardized tests conducted in English. In its 1992 report, College Bound Seniors: The 1992 Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, the College Entrance Examination Board reported that students who averaged 4 or more years of foreign language study scored higher on the verbal section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) than those who had studied 4 or more years in any other subject area. In addition, the average mathematics score for individuals who had taken 4 or more years of foreign language study was identical to the average score of those who had studied 4 years of mathematics. These findings are consistent with College Board profiles for previous years.

Knowledge of a second language also seems to coincide with high academic achievement. One study shows that students who were in “rigorous” programs in high school, which included 3 years of foreign language study, were likely to earn better grades in college and less likely to drop out.

Knowing a second language opens up additional career opportunities. In a survey of 581 alumni of The American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, AZ, most respondents said they had gained a competitive advantage from their knowledge of foreign languages and other cultures. They said that not only was language study often a critical factor in hiring decisions and in enhancing their career paths, it also provided personal fulfillment, mental discipline, and cultural enlightenment.

18 ACTIVE KIDS

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The benefits to society are many. Americans fluent in other languages improve global communication, enhance our economic competitiveness abroad, and maintain our political and security interests. In recent years, the U.S. government has expressed a need for fluent speakers of languages other than English, particularly in less commonly taught languages such as Arabic and Chinese.

Is younger really better?

Learning a language at any age is beneficial. Studies have shown – and experience has supported – that the human brain is more open to linguistic development during the years between birth and pre-adolescence and that children who learn a language before the onset of adolescence are more likely to develop native-like pronunciation. A number of experts attribute this proficiency to physiological changes that occur in the maturing brain as a child enters puberty. Yet, for most students, foreign language is introduced and formally studied when they are twelve years of age or older. The reality is that children who have an early start to a long sequence of language instruction that continues through high school and college, are able to achieve levels of fluency that are not been possible with the late start of most language programs.

Will a second language interfere with my child’s English ability?

On the contrary, learning another language can enhance knowledge of English structure and vocabulary. Common vocabulary also helps children learn the meaning of new words in English. Experimental studies have shown that no long-term delay in native English language development occurs in children participating in second language classes, even in full immersion programs.

In fact, children enrolled in foreign language programs score statistically higher on standardized tests conducted in English. One study showed that by the fifth year of an immersion program, students outperformed all comparison groups and remained high academic achievers throughout their schooling.

What can I do to help?

Most importantly, encourage your child's interest in the language and in other cultures. Show him or her that you value the ability to speak a second language.

Attend cultural events that feature music, dance, or food from the country or countries where the language is spoken. If possible, provide some books, videos, or other materials in the second language. If you are familiar with the language yourself, read to your child. Summer programs offering international exchange are suitable for older children and offer valuable opportunities to speak a second language and explore a different culture firsthand. Children normally live with a host family, which provides them with a safe and sheltered environment where they can practice their language skills.

What options are available in our area?

The types of language programs available can be placed on a continuum. At one end of the continuum are immersion programs, which offer the greatest amount of time in language study and produce students with the highest levels of proficiency.

At the other end are programs that explore language and do not have language proficiency as a goal.

Where can I learn more?

The Bilingual Edge: Why, When, and How to Teach Your Child a Second Language by Kendall King, Alison Mackey Viva el Español www.vivaelespanol.org info@vivaelespanol.org 925-962-9177 Article adapted and published with permission from the Center for Applied Linguistics.

For references and further reading please visit www.cal.org.

August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 19

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ACTIVE KIDS 21

6/10/12 3:23 PM

Gaining Control Over Your Family’s Finances

by Sarah Tolson

What is the sign of a good decision?®

Itʼs gaining control over family finances.

A recent study commissioned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and conducted by Forbes Consulting Group in 2009 titled, State of the American Family: Families, Financial Attitudes & Planning, explored how parents feel about finances, their families, and ways that they are adapting to meet new challenges.

Wishing for control, but running off course

Most American families want to control their finances. They want to know as much as possible about financial products and services before committing to them, and want to have control over all aspects of their finances.

They often think about looking into various financial products and services that could help them achieve such major life goals as buying a house, saving for college, and preparing for retirement. However, many family decision makers feel they fall short – they wish they were more in control of their finances.

Despite their intentions, many Americans often feel uncomfortable with how they are doing. Some feel as if they are living month to month as they try to pay off old students loans and save money to buy their own home and, while they acknowledge the need to save towards their retirement, their immediate needs take priority. Others worry about meeting their long-term financial goals, citing a lack of planning. Most feel overwhelmed and concerned about whether they can manage growing expenses, especially while incomes are stagnant. Finally, there are those who face the uncertainties of how theyʼll help care for aging parents or recoup the value of retirement savings diminished by the recession.

No matter the stage of life or economic situation, American families struggle with similar concerns in this slow economic growth period: how to prepare and save to maximize financial resources, for now and into the future.

Setting a course

Although the economic downturn since 2008 has taken its toll in a variety of ways – in income, investment value, and home prices – a commitment to sound financial preparation can help minimize and offset exposure to such losses.

22 ACTIVE KIDS

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Whether caught between providing financial support for children and saving funds for retirement or frustrated by declining availability and access to pension plans or 401(k) employer matches, families at all stages face the challenge of balancing the immediate needs of their complex lives and financial demands with their long-range plans for the future.

Combine these demands with the vast amount of financial data available at the touch of a button, and the result can overwhelm Americans who strive to feel confident that their financial decisions are the best ones for their families.

Guidance from qualified financial professionals can help overcome hesitancy and bring balance to the most challenging of financial circumstances. Working with a financial professional who understands your unique, specific financial needs, can help you to establish key financial goals, make financial decisions a priority, and manage debt.

Gaining control Itʼs never too late to gain control and begin preparing for the future. To learn more or access helpful materials, speak with a local financial professional and visit Sarah Tolson, Certified Financial Planner™ and Founder of Girls Just Gotta Have Funds, is passionate about helping women and families create customized wealth-building plans tailored to their goals and life circumstances. As a second generation financial planner, Sarahʼs vision is to inspire women to make their dreams a reality!

Sarah is offering the readers of Active Kids Directory a complimentary one-hour financial consultation and would like to extend an invitation to her monthly Wine, Women & Wealth workshop. Please call her at (925) 736-3024 or email her at stolson@financialguide.com for more information. © 2010 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Springfield, MA

Bloomingcamp

Family Optometry

Located in historic downtown Livermore, Bloomingcamp Optometry offers comprehensive vision care with a personal touch.

Welcoming Dr. Katie Boe to the practice. www.bloomingcampOptometr y.com (925) 454 -1598 Mention Active Kids and receive $25.00 off any professional fees.

August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 23

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Top 15 things you

MUST do before the End of Summer:

Attend a Chabot Space “After Dark” adventure – Chabot Space center is full of educational and entertaining events. Why not let your kids stay up past their bed time to learn something new and have fun! Visit their website for more information: www.chabotspace.org/index.htm Go Camping – Choose your favorite spot for the kids to hike, ride their bikes, swim, get dirty, and eat sʼmores. Nothing prepares them for going back to school like a nice weekend camping with their family.

Visit the Jelly Belly Factory – Make a day trip out to an area you would never expect to venture too. The Jelly Belly Factory is full of yummy treats for your kiddies! Did you know it takes 7 to 21 days to make a single Jelly Belly jelly bean? Visit their website for more information: www.jellybelly.com Go to Africa – Okay, so we know that Africa is a little unrealistic when you have young children, so instead, how about a safari adventure in Santa Rosa? Safari West is home to over eighty species of animals, including zebras, cheetahs, and giraffes! Visit their website for more information: www.safariwest.com S.F Fire Engine Tour – You may have visited San Francisco as a family before; however, have you been over the Golden Gate Bridge on the Big Red Shiny Mack Fire Engine? You start in Fishermanʼs Wharf, then venture over to Presidio, Crissy Field, Sausalito, Fort Baker, and then back over the bridge to Union Street. Finally, your journey ends at the Cannery. Visit their website for more information: www.fireenginetours.com Explore Pixieland Amusement Park – This amusement park is geared

towards family fun. Come here to enjoy Tea Cup rides, the Dragon Rollercoaster, or the Pixieland Express Train. They also have a “Kids Café” so your little ones can fill up after a long, hard day of riding rides. Visit their website for more information: www.pixieland.com

Create a Family Movie Night – Choose a night of the week where one

member of the family selects a movie to watch and rotate every week so everyone gets a chance to pick their favorite movie. You can also have rotating snack pickers. When one child gets to pick the movie, the other child picks what snack to eat.

Roaring Camp Railroads – Choose between the Santa Cruz Beach Train or the Redwood Forest Steam Train, either way your family is sure to have a fun journey. Visit their website for more information: www.roaringcamp.com

Explore Shorebird Park Nature Center & Adventure Park – Alright, I know we are all guilty of sitting on the bench at the park as you watch your children playing on the playground, thinking “I wish I could play like a kid again”. Well, thereʼs good news! You can! This park is a playground in Berkeley is not only for children but also adults. Visit their website for more www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=8666 Visit the Lindsay Wildlife Museum – School may be out but there are plenty of resources in the East Bay to continue educating your kids. The Lindsay Wildlife Museum hosts various classes during the summer that are geared towards several age groups to help your kids learn on summer vacation. Visit their website for more information: wildlife-museum.org Brentwood Family Aquatic Complex – This is a perfect place for families to cool off from the summer heat. If you donʼt feel like traveling down to the beach or going to Raging Waters, Brentwood Family Aquatic Complex is the best alternative for you and your family. Visit their website for more information:apps.ci.brentwood.ca.us/emotion/Facilities/FacilitiesDetail.asp ?FacilityId=67

Create a BIG scavenger hunt – A fun way to prepare your children for back to school is creating a big scavenger hunt in the backyard for them to find their back to school items. First, they are going to find their brand new “cool” backpacks. Second, they are going to find their new pack of crayons, etc. You can hide their school supplies all around the yard and by the time they are done, their backpacks will be packed and ready to go for the first day of school!

Childrenʼs Fairyland – This is a great place to go to enjoy the story time sets, kid rides, animals, and acres of luscious gardens. Your family is sure to have a blast! Visit their website for more information: www.fairyland.org Create your own Family Garden – Have everyone in your family choose

their favorite vegetable. Then find spots in the backyard to plant them and give your children the responsibility of caring for them and watching them grow. When you are finally able to eat them for dinner, your kids will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Host a Family Picnic – As summer is winding down and you want to spend precious moments with your family, before the hectic school year begins, go on a nice family picnic. Whether itʼs in your backyard, Heather Farms Park in Walnut Creek, or your local park down the street, nothing says family time like a nice picnic where you eat sandwiches, play in the sun, and relax in the shade.

Introducing Julie King

If youʼre like me, you knew being a parent would have its challenges as well as its joys, but youʼre still sometimes surprised by what can push you over the edge. We parents -no matter the ages of our children – can find ourselves stymied, frustrated, or pulling our hair out over the little moments when:

• our toddler refuses to put on his socks.

• our kindergartener lets loose with “potty language” – in public!

• our grade schooler calls us “stupid.”

• our preteen refuses to help clean up from dinner, and tells us to “do it yourself!”

If youʼre like a lot of parents, youʼve heard some great advice about the importance of setting firm limits, modeling respect, being consistent, or providing unconditional love at all times… and yet, in the heat of the moment, itʼs not clear how this advice translates into action. What about those socks???

For the past 17 years, I have been providing parents with concrete skills to survive those little moments, maintain good-will in the family, and raise children to become adults who are caring, connected, creative and cooperative (to name just a few). My focus is on the specific – the actual struggles of the moment that you often canʼt find in advice columns on parenting – with a look at the actual words that can help – as well as the language that can undermine or worsen the situation.

The good folks at Active Kids want to bring this service to you! Once a month, one lucky parent will consult with me about a challenging situation. Your job will be to take notes on what happened, who said what, what led up to the situation, what you tried and what reaction you got. Iʼll offer you some new strategies you can try in similar circumstances. Try them out, and report back!

Iʼll write up your story (with names changed), and share it with the readers of Active Kids.

Interested? Drop me an email at julie@julieking.org with your name,

phone number and best time to reach you, along with the age of your child and a brief description of the challenge you want to address. Iʼll let you know if you are this month's lucky winner!

Julie King, Parent Educator and “How To Talk” trainer, has been educating and supporting parents and professionals since 1995. Her most popular workshop, How To Talk So Kids Will Listen, is based on the bestselling books by Faber and Mazlish. She offers dynamic lecture/presentations for schools and other parent organizations, and has led workshops for numerous schools, non-profits, and self-organized parent groups.

She also maintains a private practice providing telephone consultations to individual parents and couples. She is the mother of three. Visit www.julieking.org, or contact her directly: julie@julieking.org or 415-939-3553.

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We have coffee mugs, tote bags, a beautiful canvas and more!

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August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 29

Benefits of Music

by Tamriko Siprashvili

It is hard for me to see music education going by the wayside. Once an important part of a child's education, music is now considered a frill to be sandwiched in between soccer and gymnastics. There seems to be a steady decline in children's exposure to music lessons, yet music education in children has such unlimited and surprising benefits.

Music is one of the few activities that require both sides of the brain. It requires logic, it makes sense, it is analytical and is closely related to math. It is also spiritual and emotional. It allows the expression of feelings and passion. It inspires creativity and provides kids with an avenue for expression.

As one of my students commented, "Music is a like my best friend". It is a place to go when you are happy or sad, when you need company or want to be alone. "It can satisfy the need to unwind from the worries of life, but unlike the other things people often use for this purpose such as TV or web browsing, it makes people more alive and connected with one another." says Michael Jolkovski, a psychologist who specializes in musicians.

It is constant learning and teaches discipline. Exposing children to a musical instrument provides an opportunity to learn something new every day. There is an endless supply of genres and styles of music to explore. The avenue to learning this music is through practicing regularly. The devotion to weekly lessons and the discipline to practice every day teaches and hones qualities that children are not required to use in our fast paced, instant gratification, modern world. Music gives them the opportunity to master something that looks impossible. One of my teachers relates a current incident in which her three ensemble students groaned at the new assignment of a difficult piece.

"You wouldn't believe the pleasure, pride and joy on their faces once they had mastered and perfected the piece."

Music builds confidence and fosters team building When playing in an ensemble class, students are working as a team. They learn to relate to each other, to listen to each other, they learn leadership skills and gain confidence.

A shy child suddenly finds a place to lead her peers through a difficult piece, a child will assist a classmate through a music theory assignment, or a group of children will find a way to blend their talents and create a beautiful product.

It improves memory and increases brainpower. Participation in music can help memory by stimulating different patterns of brain development. This improves the capability of not only memorizing a new musical piece, but also memorizing algebra and dates important in American history class. The College-Bound

30 ACTIVE KIDS

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Seniors National Report concluded that "Students taking courses in music performance and music appreciation scored higher in the SAT than students with no arts participation." and Shaw, Rauscher, Levine, Wright, Dennies and Newcomb studied long term enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning and concluded that "Research made between music and intelligence concluded that music training is far greater than computer instruction in improving children's abstract reasoning skills."

But, most importantly, it is a life skill. There will come a time when you won't be able to run up and down the length of a soccer field or basketball court, but you will always be able to sit down at the piano, pick up your violin or guitar or sing a beautiful song.

As a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory of Music, Tamriko Siprashvili has outstanding credentials with nearly 30 years teaching experience including advanced conservatory education in music pedagogy. In 1985 she took first place in the prestigious Robert Schumann International Piano Competition and has performed extensively throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union as an internationally acclaimed pianist.

Siprashvili and the Inspire Academy of Music and Arts faculty have a passionate desire to share their talent in the community. Classes include Piano, Violin, Viola, Guitar, Voice, AP Music Theory, "Little Mozart" piano program, Tots & Tykes, Audition instruction and the Royal Conservatory Performance Program . Private and Ensemble classes are both available. All music styles including classical, popular and jazz are incorporated into lessons or can be emphasized. To learn more about Inspire Academy of Music and Arts, 3240 Santa Rita Rd, Suite 7, Pleasanton, visit their website at inspiremusicacademy.com, or call 925-461-3266. All of the teachers are happy to meet with you to give you a tour of the academy and answer any questions about the curriculum.

August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 31

• “Coolest” Dentist in East Bay! • Unique Kid Friendly Environment

• Dedicated to providing quality dental

care for your child

• In-network provider for all dental

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(925) 706-8688

Dr. Tim Huang Board Certified Pediatric Dentist 4045 Lone Tree Way, Suite A, Antioch www.kidsdentalworld.com

FERTILITY SPECIAL I S T

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32 ACTIVE KIDS

www.activekidsbayarea.com

Celebrating 75 Years In The Spirit of Giving

2012 Events Sun - 9/9

10k/5k Run/Walk For Education

Sat - 9/15

Twilight Parade

1201 Main St. - Downtown Walnut Creek Help Raise Money For Our Local Schools !

To Register: www.walnutfestivalrun.com

Main Street - Downtown Walnut Creek Free Event Parade starts at 6pm Parade Route is Mt. Diablo to Civic Award Ceremony directly following at Civic Park.

Art & Crafts Thurs - 9/20 Thru Sun 9/23

75th Annual Walnut Festival Heather Farm Park, Walnut Creek Carnival, Fishing 3 Stages of Live Entertainment, Arts & Crafts, Vendors, Kids Zone, Food & Drinks,

For info: www.thewalnutfestival.org

August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 33

BEACH GUIDE A lameda Cou nty Robert Crown Memorial State Beach Eighth Street & Otis Drive, Alameda, CA 94501 Hours: Sunrise-Sunset Cost: $5/vehicle, $4/trailer; $2/dog Phone: 510.521.6887 Website: www.ebparks.org/parks/crown_beach

Del Valle East & West Beach

7000 Del Valle Road, Livermore, CA 94550 Hours: Vary by Month. Check website for specific information.

Cost: $6/vehicle, $4/trailered vehicle, $3/vehicle at Arroyo staging; $2/dog.

Phone: 888.327.2757 opt. 3, ext. 4524 Website: www.ebparks.org/Page115.aspx

Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area 2100 Isherwood Way, Fremont, CA 94536 Hours: 11:00am to 6:00pm Cost: $5/vehicle; $2/dog Phone: 888.327.2757 opt. 3, ext 4552 Website: www.ebparks.org/parks/quarry_lakes

Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area - Beach

2500 Stanley Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94566 Hours: May - Labor Day: 6am - 9pm September: 6am - 8pm Cost: $6/vehicle; $5/trailered vehicle; $2/dog Phone: 925.846.3000 Website: www.ebparks.org/parks/shadow_cliffs

Contra Costa Cou nty Contra Loma Regional Park - Lake

1200 Frederickson Lane, Antioch, CA 94509 Hours: Open daily Sunrise to Sunset from June 2- Aug 26 Cost: $5/vehicle; $2/dog Phone: 888.327.2757, ext. 4518 Website: www.ebparks.org/parks/contra_loma#hours

Lake Temescal

6500 Broadway Terrace, Oakland, CA 94618 Hours: 8:00am to 10:00pm Cost: $5/vehicle; $2/dog Phone: 510.652.1155 Website: www.ebparks.org/parks/temescal

Lake Anza

2501 Grizzly Peak Blvd, Berkeley, CA 94708 Hours: 11:00am to 6:00pm Cost: 1 yr. & under – free; 1-15 yrs. - $2.50; 16-61 years - $3.50;62 & older - $2.50 Phone: 510.843.2137 Website: www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden

Don Castro Regional Recreation Area - Lake

22400 Woodroe Ave, Hayward, CA 94541 Hours for swimming: 11:00am to 6:00pm Cost: $5/vehicle; $2/dog Phone: 510.544.3073 Website: www.ebparks.org/parks/don_castro

34 ACTIVE KIDS

Marin Cou nty

Muir Beach

Highway 1, Mill Valley, CA 94965 Hours: 8am to dusk Cost: Admission for adults $2 Phone: 415.388.2595 Website: www.pointreyes.org/muir_beach_marin_county

Stinson Beach

1 Calle Del Sierra, Stinson Beach, CA 949701 Hours: 9:00am to Depends (closing different depending on the season) Cost: Free Phone: 415.868.0734 Website: www.nps.gov/goga/stbe.htm

www.activekidsbayarea.com

BEACH GUIDE Point Reyes National Seashore - Ocean

Fort Ord Dunes State Park – Beach

1208 Pierce Point Road, Inverness, CA 94937 Hours: 8:00am to Sunset Cost: $8/parking; $3/dogs Phone: 415.669.1140 Website: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=470

Beach Range Road Marina, CA 93933 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: Free Phone: 831.649.2836 Website: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=580

Monterey State Beach Del Monte Ave at Park Ave, Monterey, CA 93940 Hours: Call the park Cost: Free Phone: 831.649.2836 Website: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=576

Drakes Beach

Salinas River State Beach

1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: Free Phone: 415.464.5100 Website: www.parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/pointreyes-national-seashore

Heartʼs Desire Beach

1 Drake Beach Rd, Inverness, CA 94937 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: Free Phone: 415.669.1140 Website: www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/beaches

Monterey Cou nty Andrew Molera – Beach

Big Sur Station #1 Big Sur, CA 93920 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: Free Phone: 831.667.2315 Website: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=582

Asilomar State Beach

Moss Landing, CA 95039 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: Free Phone: 831.649.2836 Website: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=573

San Francic so Cou nty Baker Beach

1504 Perishing Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: None Phone: 415.561.4323 Website: www.parksconservancy.org/visit/parksites/stinson-beach

China Beach

1950 Sunset Dr Pacific Grove, CA 93950 Hours: None Cost: Free Phone: 831.646.6440 Website: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=566

490 Sea Cliff Ave (at El Camino Del Mar) San Francisco, CA 94121 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: Free Phone: 415.561.4323 Website: www.parksconservancy.org/visit/parksites/china-beach

Carmel River State Beach

Crissy Field – Ocean

Carmelo Street, Carmel, CA 93921 Hours: Call the park Cost: Free Phone: 831.649.2836 Website: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=567

1199 E Beach Presidio, San Francisco, CA 94129 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset Cost: Free Phone: 415.561.7690 Website: www.parksconservancy.org/visit/parksites/crissy-field Continued

August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 35

BEACH GUIDE San Mateo Cou nty

Santa Cru z Cou nty

Natural Bridges State Beach

Half Moon Bay

95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 Hours: None Cost: Free Phone: .650.726.8819 Website: www.parks.ca.gov

2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 94060 Hours: 8:00am to Sunset Cost: Free Phone: 831.425.4609 Website: www.parks.ca.gov

Seacliff State Beach State Park Dr. Aptos, CA 95001 Hours: 8:00am to Sunset Cost: Free Phone: 831.685.6442 Website: www.parks.ca.gov

Seascape Beach Resort

1 Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 Hours: Varies Cost: Varies Phone: 831.688.6800 Website: www.seascaperesort.com

William Schlicher, DMD, MS Dr. Will is dedicated to providing your family with exceptional treatment in a modern, professional & comfortable office.

• Specialized orthodontics for children & adults • Complimentary initial consultation • In- office digital xray imaging reducing radiation by 50% • Esthetic options include Invisalign, ceramic “clear” braces, & braces behind the teeth • Trained at Harvard & UC San Francisco

www.PleasantonOrtho.com

(925) 846-3248

1472 Cedarwood Ln., Pleasanton

Spanish Immersion Classes & Camps Engaging curriculum uses music, art & games Experienced, dynamic teachers Ages toddlers to teens Small class sizes Mention ACTIVE KIDS and receive a FREE First time trial class!

www.vivaelespanol.org • 925-962-9177 Alameda • Lafayette • Pleasanton • San Francisco 36 ACTIVE KIDS

www.activekidsbayarea.com

6 Tips To Ensure That You and Your Child Are Ready For Back To School!

by Tracie Vollgraf

1. Re-Establish School Routines

Use the last few weeks of summer to get back into a daily routine. Of course the kids have been sleeping in and staying up late. Time to get them back on track! Have your child start getting up earlier and doing all of the things they would normally do on a school day. Plan activities first thing in the morning. If it is something fun, itʼs added incentive and easier to get them out of bed early.

2. Speaking of Internal Clocks

Time to change their bed time! Most likely due to summer and the fact that it stays light so late, your kids have been up way past their normal bed times. Beginning approximately two weeks before school starts, move their bedtime up about 15-20 minutes every three days. From the very first day you start adjusting their bedtime, start waking them at the time theyʼll need to get up for school so they will tire earlier at night.

3. Get caught up on immunizations

Make sure to call your pediatrician and schedule your childʼs yearly check-up and immunizations that are required from your school! Be sure to get the list of vaccinations your child will need.

4. Attend Orientations and Teacher Meet and Greet

Meeting your childʼs teacher is a great opportunity to chat with them prior to the chaotic first day of school. Let them know of any special circumstances they should be aware of beforehand. Be sure to attend any information meetings to keep abreast of the school year ahead.

5. Homework

Whether it is a desk in the study or at the kitchen table, be sure to designate a specific homework area. Also be sure that the area is stocked with everything your child will need; pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, calculators, etc. This will leave less room for excuses. Establish a homework routine, same time and place each day. Be sure there is an adult available to help in case they have questions and to check for accuracy when they are done.

6. Be Prepared

Designate a spot where your child can put their backpack and lunchbox each day so they know to grab it before they go out the door. Let your child know what to do with their dirty lunchbox when they walk in from school each day.

Talk to your child about what they can expect from a typical day at school. If you know of any friends that will be in their class, let them know. The more familiar they are with what lies ahead, the less anxious they will be for their first day! Talk to your kids, answer any questions they might have. Tell them about all the great things they like about school. Tell them about all of their friends they will see and all the new friends they will make. Talk it up! Your child will then be excited about the first day!

August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 37

What You Can Do to Help Prepare Your Preschooler for Kindergarten

by Tom Limbert Most parents immediately think of numbers, letters and colors when they think of early childhood education and kindergarten preparedness. But any preschool or kindergarten teacher will tell you, thereʼs much more to it. There are social and emotional elements that are much-less quantifiable than the cognitive aspects of development, but just as integral to a childʼs performance in school. The good news is there are many ways you can help prepare your child for kindergarten in your home on a daily basis.

Just be a bit more alert to learning opportunities. Keep in mind that in order for the machine that we prefer to call our schooling system to operate effectively, children will mostly have to be able to focus, follow directions and respect others.

That’s where you come in:

• Help young children learn to listen to others and value other peopleʼs perspectives, ideas, and wishes. Simply narrating or pointing your childʼs attention toward another childʼs ideas or actions can help him learn to decenter and broaden his awareness. Help them learn to practice taking turns talking at home.

• Help children build emotional resiliency by showing them how everyday problems and frustrations can be solved through language and persistence.

Break problems down into steps for young children so they learn to do it themselves. Tell them plainly you know they can do it.

• Similarly, help children learn to respect another childʼs perspective and find solutions during social conflicts. Help them learn to express themselves in clear but appropriate manners. Many children at this age need particular help learning to listen to other children. Draw their attention to other childrenʼs facial expressions, body movement, and language.

• Help children learn to politely ask adults for help when necessary. Thatʼs a solution!

• Children will have to exhibit patience when they are sharing a classroom and a teacher with their peers. Be aware of the many natural moments throughout the day that you can help children practice patience. Acknowledge when they have done so and note that they eventually got what it was they wanted.

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• As young children grow, ask and encourage them to be more independent.

Putting on clothes and taking care on a household chore are just two daily activities that parents can ask young children to help with. Children actually enjoy helping out and will gain self-esteem when they are able to do things by themselves. The key is your encouraging and supportive tone. You can get them started learning to follow directions by asking them to do two-step tasks: “Can you help me first fold the napkins and then place a fork on each?” Tasks like putting on shoes and peeling an orange build the same fine motor control that will help them hold a pencil.

• Speaking of pencils, the more a preschool age child is working with crayons, markers and paper the better. Reward them with new kinds every so often. Better yet, reward them with your attention and interest in their work.

You will find it rewarding as well.

• Be aware of over-stimulation. Help young children learn to focus and entertain themselves by designating specific times for quieter, thoughtful play. When children are constantly fixated on television, video games, or frenzied activity, they donʼt learn to concentrate or think for themselves.

Open-ended materials like Legos and play-do encourage children to be expressive and creative.

• Formally tell your children that you want them to listen to their teachers and help make their school better for everyone. Every time your child is talking to you, imagine she is talking to another adult or her teacher. If she is not speaking in a respectful tone or manner, ask her to try again. Model respectful tones and language in her presence with others.

• If playing with children doesnʼt come naturally to you, then read to them.

When youʼre out of creative ideas, read again. Get more books from the library in subjects your child is interested in. Listen for cues that your child is ready to learn about letters and numbers. Then point out words, signs and numbers wherever you go. Keep it light and playful. Try to refrain from quizzing him and just notice things together. When they are ready to write, help them write the names of their friends or family members. You can also build literacy skills simply by reviewing the course of their day chronologically at night and asking them to tell you the story of their time spent without you.

If you demonstrate to them that you respect their interests and abilities, they will be more eager to share them with you. Of course they are all different and all develop different skills at different rates and times.

Tom Limbert has Masterʼs degrees in both English Literature and Education. He taught in University-based laboratory preschools in the San Francisco Bay Area for fifteen years.

Ten of those years were spent at Stanford Universityʼs, Bing Nursery School. Tom is a co-founder and co-owner of Studio Grow, a childrenʼs playspace with two locations in the East Bay Area. Tom is currently working with Chronicle Books on an inspirational parenting book for fathers titled “Coach ʼEm Up”. The book, to be released in the Spring of 2012, will collect together 100 of the best quotes from greatest coaches of all time including John Wooden, Vince Lombardi, Tommy Lasorda, Phil Jackson, and many more.

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40 ACTIVE KIDS

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S The Best Preparation for a Lifetime of Learning S

Infinite Poßßibilitieß . . .

Join us for an Open House and discover why. e day ! h t n o Save & r u ur To of yo

Apply

Join us for a tour and learn more about our exceptional academics and enriched, creative learning program.

Danville Sycamore Valley 2615 Camino Tassajara Road

Next to East Bay Fellowship Church

(925) 648-0500

Applications are still being accepted for the 2012 - 2013 school year, so it’s not too late to take a tour and learn first-hand all about the Stratford difference.

Danville Blackhawk

3201 Camino Tassajara Road Corner of Old Blackhawk Road

Schedule a tour online at

www.StratfordSchools.com or call

(925) 648-4900

Pleasanton Newpus!4576 Willow Road m a C (925) 737-0001

(408) 973-7365

to speak with our Admissions Services team.

Learn more, visit www.StratfordSchools.com Preschool State License Number: 073402482, 073406680, 013420939.

Preschool

S

Elementary

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Middle School

Kids Meal Deals!

Find kidʼs meal deals & kids eat free restaurants in your area.

Alameda County Alameda:

Bower's Pizza: 1330 Park St., 510.523.7500

Tuesday: Order one large specialty pizza, get one small pizza free.

Dublin:

Armadillo Willy's: 4480 Tassajara Rd,

925.833.0400, Sunday: 1/2 price kids meals all day.

Baja Fresh: 4550 Tassajara Rd #1, 925.556.9199 Sundays: Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée and drink.

Livermore:

Strings Italian Café: 2205 Las Positas Rd 925.373.1044, Sunday & Monday: Kids eat free with adult meal purchase after 4:00 PM. Denny's: 2259 Las Positas Rd, 925.454.0750, Tuesdays & Saturdays: Kids eat free 4:00 PM -10:00 PM (2 kids/adult).

Alberto's Cantina: 435 Main St., 925.462.2316 Monday & Tuesday: Kids eat free with adult meal purchase (all day).

El Torito: 1961 Diamond Blvd, 925.798.7660 Saturday: Kids eat free until 3:00 PM. Johnny Rockets: 301 Sunvalley Mall, 925.798.8335, Wednesday & Thursday: Kids eat free, 5:00 PM to close.

Danville:

El Nido Mexican Restaurant:

107 Town & Country Dr, 925.820.5330, Monday: Kids eat free with adult meal purchase (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM).

Pasta Gondola: 664 San Ramon Valley Blvd, 925.820.1144, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: Kids eat free with the purchase of adult entrée, 5:00 PM-9:00PM. Basil Leaf Café: 501 Hartz Ave, 925.831.2828 Sunday: Kids eat free.

Denny's: 807 Camino Ramon, 925.820.8240, Tuesday & Saturday: Kids eat free 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM, (2kids/adult).

Mountain Mikes Pizza: 3614 Diablo Blvd, 925.283.6363, Wednesday: Free kids all you can eat buffet (12 & under) with the purchase of an adult buffet.

Offer valid from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

Pleasanton:

Martinez:

925.426.6800, Sunday & Monday: Kids eat free with adult meal purchase, all day.

Denny's: 6455 Owens Dr., 925.463.0720, Tuesday & Saturday: Kids eat free 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM, (2 kids/adult).

Fontina Ristorante: 349 Main St., Suite 150 925.462.9299, Monday & Tuesday - Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée (for kids 12 & under) after 4:00 PM.

Sunday Kids eat free 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM; limited to one child per adult.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit: 6654 Koll Center Parkway

Contra Costa County

Concord:

Fudruckers: 1975 Diamond Blvd, 925.825.1443 Sunday - Saturday: Kids eat for$0.99 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Denny's: 1313 Willow Pass Rd, 925.798.4040 Tuesday & Saturday: Kids eat free 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM (2 kids/adult).

IHOP: 4619 Clayton Rd, 925.687.1124, Sunday Saturday: Kids eat for free 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM; limited to one child per adult.

Coco's Bakery Restaurant: 4391 Treat Blvd 925.676.2262, Tuesday & Wednesday: Kids 10 and under eat free after 4:00 PM.

42 ACTIVE KIDS

IHOP: 1190 Arnold Dr, 925.228.3322, Saturday-

Pleasant Hill:

Pasta Pomodoro: 45 Crecent Dr, 925.363.9541,

Tuesday: 1 free kids meal per adult entrée purchase.

All day.

Smokin Okie's BBQ Joint: 1941 Oak Park Blvd, 925.942.0149, Wednesday: 1 free kids meal per adult meal purchases (all day for kids 12 and under).

Denny's: 612 Contra Costa Blvd, 925.687.8276, Tuesday & Saturday: Kids eat free 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM, (2 kids/adult).

Sweet Tomatoes: 40-A Crescent Dr, 925.676.8493, Sunday - Saturday: Kids 2 & under eat free all day.

San Ramon:

Chevy's Fresh Mex: 8080 San Ramon Valley

Blvd, 925.327.1910, Tuesday: Kids eat free all day.

Limit one child per adult. Ages 12 & under.

Applebee's:17900 San Ramon Valley Blvd, 925.327.1400 Wednesday: Kids eat for $1.99 with the purchase of an adult entrée from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM; limited to one child per adult.

www.activekidsbayarea.com

Kids Meal Deals!

cont.

Find kidʼs meal deals & kids eat free restaurants in your area.

Pasta Pomodoro:146 Sunset Dr. , 925.867.1407, Tuesday: 1 free kids meal per adult meal purchase, all day.

Walnut Creek:

Fudruckers: 1940 North Main St., 925.943.1450, Sunday - Saturday: Kids eat for $0.99 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

IHOP: 2910 North Main St.,925.938.3111, Sunday - Saturday: Kids eat for free 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM; limited to one child per adult.

East County Antioch:

Brentwood:

Shirasoni Japanese Restaurant: 6367 Lone Tree Way, 925.240.7808, Tuesday Specials: 1 free kids meal per adult meal purchased 4:30-Close.

Strings Italian Café: 2500 San Creek Rd, 925.513.6513, Sunday & Monday: Kids eat free with adult meal purchase after 4:00 PM.

Oakley:

Black Bear Diner: 3201 Main St.,

925.625.3555, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: Kids eat free with the purchase of adult entrée, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

Denny's: 2006 Somersville Rd, 925.754.1360

Tuesday & Saturday: Kids eat free 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM, (2 kids/adult).

Denny's: 4823 Lone Tree Way, 925.757.5105 Tuesdays & Saturdays: Kids eat free 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM (2 kids/adult).

August 2012

*Special offers may expire or change at restaurant discretion. Call to confirm current specials.

ACTIVE KIDS 43

Bright Horizons at Dublin Art Creations Festival Join Us Saturday, August 18, 2012 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join us for a fun-filled event for the whole family!

Bright Horizons at Dublin 7035 Dublin Blvd Dublin, CA 94538 925.479.9573 www.brighthorizons.com/dublin

Save the Date for an Afternoon of Art Festivities • Performance by Cotton Candy Express • Bracelet and Clay Sculpture Making • Face and Canvas Painting

Daily offers for moms, by moms up to

80% off

plumdistrict.com 44 ACTIVE KIDS

www.activekidsbayarea.com

Bulldog Soccer 4 Day Camp

with Coach Quang Superior Technical training, Player Development & Fun, Positive Environment • Age appropriate camps (Lunch included) • July - August 2012 • Ages 5 - 12

Mention Active Kids & receive an exclusive $50 special discount!

Register today! www.bulldogsoccer.com • 925.212.2682

Fit N Fast Kids

Promoting a Healthy & Active Lifestyle for Future Athletes

• Become quicker, faster, more agile, improve balance & coordination, hand/eye coordination & more!

• Exposure to all types of sports; baseball, basketball, football, soccer & volleyball • Build confidence & a love for sports!

• Ages 18 Mos. - 6 years Fit N Fast Kids trains at Velocity Sports in Dublin

Mention Active Kids for the FIRST CLASS FREE ! (exp. 12/21/12) Register at www.bulldogsoccer.com or 925.212.2682

Camp Concord Family Vacation Building Lifelong Memories

by Tracie Vollgraf

Most of us are aware of the fact that Lake Tahoe offers a plethora of family entertainment. However, we discovered a hidden gem by the name of Camp Concord. Acquired by the City of Concord in 1967, Camp Concord sits on 29 acres in South Lake Tahoe just a hop, skip and a jump from Camp Richardson.

Surrounded by beautiful forest, and across the street from picturesque Baldwin Beach, Camp Concord encompasses 18 family cabins, a dining hall (where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily) and an activity schedule that offers hours upon hours of family fun and adventure. Providing families with affordable family vacations for over 45 years, Camp Concord is truly a treasure that you donʼt often find.

My family of six recently visited Camp Concord with a large group of camp veterans who were on their fourth consecutive year. On any given week you will run into families who have been coming to Family Camp for years. When I asked Stacy Pollicino, a mother of six year old twins, Tori and Tessa, what her favorite thing about Camp Concord was she stated that “it is family time and the fact that my children have the ability to run free and be kids”. She also said “the minute the kids leave Camp Concord they immediately start asking how many days until they can go back”. Thus the countdown begins.

Steve Voorhies, the Parks Program Manager for the City of Concord shares an interesting history with Camp Concord. He has been frequenting Camp Concord for more than 30 years, beginning at age 12. His first visit to Camp Concord was the result of a scholarship offered to underprivileged kids to attend the now defunct Youth Program. He mentioned that the camp literally changed his outlook on life. During a time when a teenage boy could have gotten into trouble and strayed in the wrong direction, Camp Concord offered him stability, solace and a place to belong. He made lifelong friends, communed with nature and experienced things that he would not have otherwise had the opportunity to do, all while building everlasting memories.

Steve came back each summer. At 15 he volunteered to in the work in the kitchen; at 18 he worked as camp counselor and after graduating college, worked as the Assistant Director and thereafter Camp Director. Here he had the good fortune to meet his wife, Claire, who was then working as a counselor on a cultural exchange visa from Australia. He majored in Recreation, choosing that field because of all of his positive experiences at Camp Concord. Now visiting Family Camp yearly with his wife and three small children, Camp Concord is a “home away from home” and a tradition he will pass down to his own kids.

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Steve stated that “Camp Concord is my favorite place”. To say Camp Concord changed his life and altered his path would be an understatement. Steveʼs story is one of many and it is amazing to hear how countless people share a long-standing relationship with this very special place.

To state that my four children six and under had a good time at Camp Concord would be putting it mildly. In a time when children are connected to every digital device known to man, they were able to unplug and enjoy nature, experience the simplicity of play, imagination, creativity and good ʻol basic fun! We were able to engage and bond as a family, to partake in the many planned activities that Camp Concord has to offer and supply them with everlasting childhood memories. Camp Concord isnʼt just a family vacation, but an amazing family experience that builds lifelong traditions.

Camp Concord Day One

Arrived in camp; checked into our cabin; unloaded and headed over to the dining hall for dinner; turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls and salad...yum! (The very best part was Mom didnʼt have to cook…or clean!)

Headed over to the Green Room where we played a few board games with the kids, then set out for a walk in the forest before dark. Headed to the campfire and enjoyed some conversation and stories before bed time.

Day Two

Awakened to fresh air and birds chirping, ventured to breakfast then kids went to first of two ʻKids Hoursʼ. We then had the choice to partake in a hike to Fallen Leaf Lake for some mid-day canoeing or venture off on our own. Opted for a few hours at Baldwin Beach. Kids then enjoyed their second ʻKids Hourʼ in the afternoon with their counselors, while Moms and Dads enjoyed social hour. After dinner we headed to the campfire again where the children provided us with songs, skits and entertainment they had rehearsed early in the day with their counselors.

Day Three

Wake up and head to breakfast at Pope Beach! A large spread of eggs, bacon, potatoes, fruit, coffee, mimosas (parents only!) and more welcomed us as we arrived at the beach. Enjoyed the activities, games and amazing 82° beach weather. Rented a kayak, paddle board and paddle boat right on the beach from Kayak Tahoe: www.kayaktahoe.com. Sack lunches were delivered to all families at noon! Back to camp for dinner and optional volleyball and campfire.

Day Four

Choice of rafting or Meeks Bay, we headed to the beach! Catered BBQ lunch by the staff on the beach (what a view). Counselors took the kids crawdad fishing which was deemed their “favorite” activity of the weekend. Time to pack up and head home! Thank you Camp Concord! Until next year.

Camp Concord

www.ci.concord.ca.us/recreation/camp/ (925)671-3449

August 2012

ACTIVE KIDS 47

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