California Kids! - May 2017 by Valley Community Newspapers

May 2017

www.valcomnews.com |

Foster Care & Adoption Service

 BOOK REPORT, 8 |  WHO WROTE THAT, 10 |  TRAVEL, 11 |  CRAFTS, 13

Become A Foster Parent Today. Foster Family Appreciation Picnic! Join us Saturday May 6th – 10:00am - 2:00pm Land Park near Riverside Blvd.

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Food • Bounce House • Video Game Trick • Face Painting… & More!

A “chill” East Sac teen space Teens can be teens at The Silver Orange By Laura I. Winn Photos by Stephen Crowley stephen@valcomnews.com

The new teen center in East Sacramento, The Silver Orange, is a place where teens can be teens and parents don’t have to worry about what that means. Open for ages 11 to 17, The Silver Orange (922 57th St.) is a “chill space” for teens to hang out, play video games, shoot pool, sing Karaoke, jam with the band, create some art or play any number of board games. As an affiliate of AxIS (Applied Integrated Services), certified behavior analysts Will Morris, Emily Weller and Christina Huggett own and run The Silver Orange with a mostly hands-off approach. Tuesday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., they open their doors to the teens, but it’s up to the teens to take responsibility for themselves once inside. Morris’ own teens were the inspiration for the center. At ages 13 and 15, they love to play in their band, Wise Anna, and shoot pool, but finding

teen-friendly music venues, as well as billiards tables outside of bars was a challenge. The Silver Orange was the solution. “We saw a niche in the market that wasn’t being filled,” explained Weller, 26, a former special education teacher. In addition to serving as an alternative to an after school program, the center has a special focus on the arts. Every fourth Friday is open to the public for Open Mic, and every public Second Saturday concert showcases a local artist’s work for sale. On Saturday, April 8, The Silver Orange will host the UnderRage Music Fest after party. Performance nights gives teens and pre-teens like 11-year-old Mak a chance to step on stage in a welcoming environment. Watching other youth go first during March’s Open Mic night gave a nervous Mak the confidence to take the first step in fulfilling her dream to be the next Taylor Swift by singing Pink’s “Who Knew.” New to the center, Mak was footing the bill for herself and her two older brothers to hang out on a Tuesday,

the center’s slowest day. Some days see as few as five kids while busier days range from 15 to 30 teens spread across the center’s art, computer and game rooms. The brothers enjoyed kicking back on the rec room’s couch to play video games. The room also features air hockey, ping pong, Foosball, and of course, pool. For the guys, the “cheap snacks” which

range from $0.25 to $2, was one of the best perks. “We know some teens are paying their own way, so we keep the prices low,” explained Morris, 41. Teens can come on a $7 day pass or receive a deep discount by buying a month, three-month or year pass, See Silver Orange, page 3

www.valcomnews.com Publisher: David Herburger Editor: Monica Stark Contributing Writers: Susan Roberts, Bitsy Kemper, Carmel Mooney Art Director: John Ochoa Graphic Designer: Annin Greenhalgh Advertising: Melissa Andrews, Linda Pohl - 916-429-9901 Cover art by Annin Greenhalgh California Kids! is published monthly and distributed to more than 1,000 locations in the Sacramento Valley, including all of Sacramento County, and portions of Yolo (Davis and Woodland), Placer (Rocklin and Roseville), El Dorado (Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Placerville) counties. Subscriptions are available for $30/year. Mail prepaid check or money order to California Kids!, 2709 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818. Make sure to specify the person and address to which you wish issues to be mailed. Deadlines for advertising and calendar listings are the 25th of the month prior to publication. Calendar listings should be mailed to 2709 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818, faxed to (916) 429-9906, or e-mailed to editor@valcomnews.com. Copyright 2017 by Valley Community Newspapers Inc. 2709 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95818. Phone: (916) 429-9901. Fax: (916) 429-9906. E-mail:calkids@valcomnews.com. ©2017 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

K O H L’ S B U C K L E U P T O G R O W U P

Safety is Best! Wear your vest, every time you swim. A properly ﬁtting life jacket will help your kids ﬂoat safety through the summer. For more information, call 916-734-9798.

b u c k l e u p . u c d a v i s . e d u • w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / b u c k l e u p 2 g r o w u p CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MAY 2017

Silver Orange: Continued from page 2

which all lower the daily rate to under $4. Currently, the most popular option is the $28 5-day pass, which allows teens to drop in on the days of their choosing, such as the day of their favorite class or activity. On Tuesdays, teens can learn to make fanzines, on Wednesdays there’s guitar and Rubik’s Cube lessons and Fridays see the biggest draw for Dungeons and Dragons. For some teens, the weekly groups are a chance to increase their skill in a favorite hobby, and for others, like 15-year-old Josephine, the activities spark new interests. When Josephine first came to The Silver Orange during the center’s soft open in January, she recalled she had little prior experience with a Rubik’s Cube. Now, she’s a “Rubik’s graduate” and is trying her hand at guitar. “I like The Silver Orange because it’s a great place to meet friends. I come on my own accord. As an independent study student, coming here has helped me be more social,” she said. Josephine’s grandmother, Petra Wynbrandt, said she appreciates the center because it’s a safe, affordable place that gets Josephine out of the house, expands her interests, has helped her be more social and “lets me have date night!” The center is especially popular with homeschooled and independent study students. On the first and third Fridays of the month, The Silver Orange opens early for home-schoolers to use the center, including special hours for children under 11 to attend with supervising adults.

FOLSOM MONTESSORI

“We’re providing a social and creative outlet for these home-school kids,” explained Weller. More than just a hang-out spot, Weller and Morris see The Silver Orange as a place where teens develop skills and talents for the future. “Maybe one day we’ll have a set of teens graduate from the center who come back and run things,” said Morris. “That would be awesome!”

Preschool & Kindergarten

Open House: Sunday, May 21, 10 am – Noon

Enrolling for Fall!

PEEK INSIDE OUR CLASSROOMS at

www.folsommontessori.com

MAY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Folsom's ﬁrst Montessori school serving families since 1980 502 Riley St. 351-0345 3

Sacramento Zoo News Matchmaking Zoo Style

ith the planning by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Sumatran Orangutan Species Survival Plan, Makan may have found his future mate in Indah. Indah will be arriving in late spring and, after successfully completing quarantine in the Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital, she will be moved to our Orangutan facility. There, keepers will be observing how well all three orangutans (Makan, Indah, and Cheli) are doing in close proximity to one another and how best to make the physical introduction. The hope is that Makan and Indah, in their own time, will take an extra special liking to each other. Sumatran Orangutans are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and are native to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. These arboreal apes require tall and mature forests and therefore are especially vulnerable to loss of habitat from ever expanding palm oil plantations and deforestation. In addition, poaching for the illegal bushmeat trade and taking for the illegal pet trade make their existence even more difficult. Current estimates indicate that there are only around 14, 000 Sumatran Orangutans left in the wild. In addition to the wild populations, two entirely new Sumatran Orangutan populations are gradually being established via the reintroduction of confiscated illegal pets; one in and around the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park (Jambi and Riau provinces) and one in and around the Jantho Pine Forest Nature Reserve, in the far north of Aceh. To date, more than 260 individuals have been reintroduced. The goal of these efforts is to eventually establish

new, genetically-viable, fully-reproducing and selfsustaining wild populations as a safety net against catastrophe elsewhere in the species’ range. The Sacramento Zoo participates in the AZA Sumatran Orangutan Species Survival Plan. An SSP is the responsible for the planned management of a specific species in human care. SSP’s cooperatively manage specific populations across multiple zoos and aquariums with the goal of sustaining a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied species well into the future. An important facet of the program is the breeding of animals in a responsible and planned manner. Even if an animal is not reproducing, they are still helping the SSP Program in an important way.

First spring birth at the zoo The Sacramento Zoo’s pair of Critically Endangered Mongoose Lemurs, Catherina and Elmo,

welcomed the birth of their fifth offspring the morning of April 13. Older sisters, Abby and Camilla, born in 2015 and 2016, share the exhibit, learning important parenting skills from their mother. Mongoose Lemurs carry their infants across their abdomen like a fanny pack until the infant is a little older and more mobile. Infants are born with the coloration of the female to aid in camouflage as it is being carried. The sex of the baby will not be known for a few months; its throat will stay white if it’s a female but will change to rust-brown if male. This species of lemur is monogamous and the typical group includes an adult pair and their offspring, usually one per year. Adults weigh just over 3 lbs. Like other lemur species Mongoose Lemurs are found on the island of Madagascar. They are also found on the Comoro Islands just north of Madagascar after being introduced there by humans over 200 years ago. Mongoose Lemurs are Critically Endangered due to extreme forest fragmentation combined with forest destruction by slash-andburn agriculture for cattle and charcoal production. On the Comoro Islands they are often hunted as agricultural pests. The Sacramento Zoo is located at Land Park Drive and 16th Avenue. Admittance into the zoo is between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Zoo grounds are open until 5 p.m.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MAY 2017

Fairytale Town announces day camps

airytale Town offers 16 weeklong summer camps for children with morning sessions from 9 a.m. to noon for children ages 4 – 6 and ages 7 – 9. Each camp is designed for a specific age group and features a unique theme, including visual art, animals, gardening, puppetry, literature, theater arts and more. There are no exceptions regarding age groups. An Afternoon Adventures session from noon to 4 p.m. can be added to a morning session to create a full-day camp experience. Afternoon Adventures are offered for ages 4 – 9 and feature a supervised lunch and recess time followed by more curriculum-based, open-ended activities, dramatic play, story time and more. An Early Drop-Off option has been added this year for parents or guardians needing to drop off their child before the 9 a.m. camp start time. A new one-day camp for children with special needs has also been added this year. Please note: Children must be preregistered for FunCamps in order to attend; registrations are not available the first day of camp. All Fairytale Town FunCamp registrations are taken online only.

Register for FunCamps FunCamp Fees Morning Session Only: $145 per child per week-long session Morning Session & Afternoon Adventures: $340 per child per weeklong session Early Drop-Off: $45 per child per week-long session Member discounts are available. See a chart of member prices for 2017 FunCamps. 2017 FunCamp Schedule Morning Sessions for Ages 4 – 6 Little Ranchers: June 19-23 9 a.m. to noon Get a taste of ranch life and help with the daily regimens that keep our friendly flock of farm animals fit and healthy. Campers will have plenty of hands-on contact with our fuzzy, furry barnyard buddies, learn historical information and participate in related hands-on activities. Please note: Campers will have direct contact with Fairytale Town animals and animal feed. Some children may be allergic to the natural oils found in animal fur/hair and feed. Instructed by: Lydia Outland

Storybook Stage: June 26-30 9 a.m. to noon Every story needs someone to tell it! Campers will help bring beloved nursery rhymes and fairytales to life and create new stories of their own, complete with props and sets. Our storytellers will experience the magic of theater, develop performance skills, and practice stage basics through hands-on games, activities, and crafts. Instructed by: Kaitlin Lee Camp Kaleidoscope: July 10-14 9 a.m. to noon This camp introduces art and basic color concepts to beginning artists. Campers participate in a wonderful week of art projects featuring drawing, cutting, pasting and painting in a relaxed and colorful environment. Topics explored include primary and secondary colors, drawing, color mixing and patterns. Instructed by: Topaz Bess Gardens Galore: July 17-21 9 a.m. to noon Fairytale Town offers plenty of green thumb fun in this gardening camp. This FunCamp covers the essentials of home gardening with an accent on environmentally “green”

practices. Campers will also receive an up-close perspective on Fairytale Town’s own unique gardens and plants. Instructed by: Evanne Harrison Music Makers: July 24-28 9 a.m. to noon Kazoos, maracas and cereal box guitars! Campers will explore music and get to meet some professional musicians for a summer sing-along to remember. Basic music principles and a bit of music history will be covered along with music related arts & crafts. At the end of the week parents and loved ones are invited to a concert put on by the campers. No previous musical experience required. Instructed by: Katlin Lee Storybook Science: July 31- August 4 9 a.m. to noon Discover the science behind our favorite stories! Gravity had a lot to do with Humpty Dumpty’s great fall. Was Merlin the Magician really magical? Or maybe he was a scientist? One of the 3 Little Pigs knew that a brick house would withstand all that huffing and puffing. CampSee Camps, page 14

ANIMALS, MUSIC, GARDENING, DRAMA, ARTS & MORE!

It’s raining eggs… and rain! By Monica Stark

editor@valcomnews.com

Despite the rain, a few hundred kids watched in awe as 4,000 eggs fell from a helicopter overhead River’s Edge Church. Flying in from Executive Airport, Jeff Hendry from Capital Helicopters returned this year and boy, did he do a great job, even in the rain. As Pastor Mike Higley said, “Our greatest joy of doing this is to provide for our community something that is just a bit different and unusual. Egg Hunts are common , but to see them dropped from a helicopter is exciting for the kids. To feel the blowing wind and hear the helicopter is just plain fun! It really is all about gathering people in order to make new friends and see neighbors. I love watching kids smile and laugh, especially with their parents and friends. Because of the rain, we probably only had a few hundred show up, but again, fun in the rain was different. ” In addition to the 4,000 eggs that fell from the sky, 2,000 already were waiting for children on the ground. Higley hopes for clear weather next year. The plan is to continue this event and make it better as the years pass. “We suspect we will outgrow the area we have someday.” Higley gives thanks to Nugget Market and Bel Air for helping with gift cards for the event and for Bel Air’s donuts, which were given out. Besides the jaw-dropping egg drop,the event featured a large inflatable slide and bounce house, a toddler area, prizes in random eggs and a grand prize drawing.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MAY 2017

Free events at Effie Yeaw Nature Center

oin Effie Yeaw staff every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. for a hike or a talk led by a naturalist. These public programs, appropriate for all ages and interest-levels, are provided free of charge. Consistent with our goals of educating and inspiring the community, the programs cover a widerange of science and nature-related topics from birdwatching to solar-cooking. Guest speakers featured throughout the year bring expertise and passion to their programs, attracting many return visitors. Space is limited - sign-ups are taken the day of the event. Arrive 30 minutes prior to start time. Weekend programs are free to visitors, but donations helps keep doors open and programs running.

Tracks and Scat May 6 at 10:30 a.m.- There are many animal-made clues in the woods that reveal what has used the trail before you. Become a nature detective and search for some tracks, scat and other signs of animals in the Nature Preserve. Wet and Wild Pond Animals May 7 at 1:30 p.m. - Splashing, skimming, swishing, and swimming- what are all those creatures in the water? Discover these water loving animals as you use catch and release activities to explore the Nature Center pond! Under the Oaks May 13 at 10:3 a.m.- Mighty oak trees provide food and shelter for many animals and insects. Learn how to identify the three species of oak trees found in the Nature Preserve, and who may be living in them.

Gifts from Mother Earth May 14 at 1:30 p.m.- On this Mother’s Day, create a one-of-a-kind craft from Mother Earth as you learn the skill of polishing abalone to make a necklace. Bring mom along or take your craft home for a beautiful handmade gift. Birding for Families May 20 at 10:30 a.m. - Bring the family out for a birding and nature walk led by a naturalist and special guest guides from the Sacramento Audubon Society. Birdwatchers of all levels welcomed. Make sure to bring your binoculars, or we can loan you a pair. Snakes Alive! May 21 at 1:30 p.m. - Come explore the variety of snakes that live in the Sacramento area. Is everything you know about snakes really true? Join us

as we seek the truths behind many of the myths of these ancient reptiles. Raptors of the River May 27 at 10:30 a.m. - Take a walk on the wild side in search of some of the raptors that call the river’s edge home. Learn about these amazing birds of prey and what species can be found in this area. Critter Corner May 28 at 1:30 p.m. - Have you ever wondered where the Nature Center’s animals come from and why they are here? Come nose to nose with a few of our resident animals, hear their stories and learn all about what makes them unique! Effie Yeaw is located at 2850 San Lorenzo Way. For more information, call 489-4918 or visit sacnature.net.

It’s more fun on the ferry...

Service from Vallejo SF Ferry Building

Pier 41

AT&T Park

Farmers’ Market Exploratorium

PIER 39 Shops & Dining Fisherman’s Wharf

Giants Game Service

Follow. Connect. Share.

For Ferry Route, Schedule, Ticket and Terminal Information www.SanFranciscoBayFerry.com (707) 643-3779 MAY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

THE BOOK REPORT

History Comes Alive! By Susan L. Roberts

nspire your child with every day heroes, who went against the odds to achieve their dreams. This collection includes many unknown heroes, recently brought to light, that will fascinate both child and parents.

I am Jim Henson, by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos (Dial Books for Young Readers, ages 4-8) When author Brad Meltzer writes of his own childhood hero, readers can feel the energy sizzle through the pages. Raised in a family of jokesters, art creators, and storytelling, Jim became fascinated with the entertainment world. As a teen, he decided he wanted to work in television and visited all his local TV stations to get hired and was eventually hired as a puppeteer. Although he’d never used a puppet before, Jim was hooked and created more puppets, including a frog he named Kermit. Then one day two TV producers offered him an opportunity to create puppet characters for a new show. On November 10, 1969, Sesame Street aired and was a smash hit. Wonderfully inspiring book, especially for creative children. Both children and adults will enjoy the book. She Stood for Freedom, The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Hero. Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, by Loki Mulholland and Angela Fairwell, illustrated by Charlotta Janssen (Shadow Mountain Publishing, Ages 7-9)

In 1952, Joan saw a dilapidated one-room school for blacks, when her school was a brand-new brick one, and decided, “…she was going to do something about it when she had the chance.” Joan participated in the civil rights movement, and went to a black college. In her life she had been shot at, chased after, and targeted by white people to be killed. She calls herself an ordinary person. She encouraged people, “Find a problem, get some friends together, and go fix it. … you don’t have to change the world… just change your world.” This is an inspiring story of a young woman who put herself in danger to stand up for civil rights. Steamboat School, by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Ron Husband (Disney Hyperion, Ages 5-8) From the opening lines, the readers are invited into a story of depth. “I always thought being brave was for grown-up heroes doing big, daring deeds. But Mama says that sometimes courage is just an ordinary boy like me doing a small thing, as small as picking up a pencil.” Based on the true story, James once schooled in a church basement. When a new Missouri law banned black people from learning reading and writing, John got his education on a steamboat ride which became the Freedom School. Not of Missouri, but of the Mississippi River, the school belonged to the whole country. An in-depth look of what it felt like for an African American boy in 1847.

Mountain Chef, How One Man Lost his Groceries, Changed his Plans, and Helped Cook up the National Park Service, by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Rich Lo (Charlesbridge, Ages 5-9) Mountain Chef tells of Tie Sing’s challenges to prepare gourmet meals for visionaries taken to Yosemite to form a national park service. In 1915 all food and people were carried in on mules and horseback in undeveloped and rough terrain. For the chef, it was one of those trips where everything that could go wrong did. Mountain Chef tells how Tie creatively solved each challenge and kept the bellies of the visionaries happy. A mountain peak was eventually named after him. Illustrator Rich Lo’s pencil drawings and watercolors splash Yosemite to life and invite readers to savor each page. The artwork itself is well-worth discovering. Reviewers Choice The Stone Thrower, by Jael Ealey Richardson, illustrated by Matt James (Groundwood Books, Ages 5-8) An inspiring, true story of Chuck Ealey who excelled at football when African Americans weren’t allowed to play. A young boy entertained himself by throwing rocks at the N on the N & W train cars that passed near his home. He taught himself to hit the moving target every time. In high school his coach asked him to be quarterback for his team. He took a lot of grief for that, for many didn’t believe African Americans were smart enough to do that. As quarterback,

he won every high school game. By 1971 he had won more games than any other quarterback in college football history. Not allowed to play on American professional teams, he achieved his dream when he left and played in Canada.

Susan L. Roberts (www.Books4theCuriousChild.com) lives in Sacramento, CA where she reads dozens of picture books each month and reviews the best to help parents and teachers find books that will inspire and develop a child’s curiosity, their dreams, and passion for reading. CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MAY 2017

You Only Live Once

Ages 3½ thru adult Private piano instruction Over 30 years of teaching experience

piano-cat@myway.com

(916) 238-8072

(YOLO)

By Akshaj Mehta 6th grade NP3 Middle School

Do you live by the laws of YOLO? (You only live once) Or are you a non-risk taker. I am kind a person who is on the careful non-risk taker side. There’s a reason why we should all go by YOLO. Researchers have proved with many tests conducted with and on people, who live by “yolo” are more often and stay happier? I know this concept isn’t for everyone but if it makes people happy one should give it a try. A few facts about what I mentioned above: YOLO stands for You Only Live Once. People often say it when they try something new or something risky. YOLO connects to happiness because if one tries something new or something risky and challenging and still be able to accomplish that leads to happiness. Now Researchers say that living for today is a good thing. These Researchers conducted an experiment on college students about “yolo”. They gathered 139 college students. Then they split them into two groups. The Group 1 was asked to imagine they were moving away and meet with people that they cared about before they “left” The Group 2 were asked to write detailed journals of what they did in a day for 30 days. (Both group had 30 days.) Both groups had started out with the same levels of happiness. However, something started to change during the course of time with Group 1. Since they were asked to pretend they were leaving, they had cherished life more, and met with their friends and visited special places more often. Group 2, on the other hand was getting bored of the normal day to day routine they followed. Researchers found that the Group 1 was happier. They wondered is it because the group knew, they had limited time which almost pressured them to make the most of it? But this process wasn’t entirely flawless. It had contained mostly females and white people. So they were not entirely sure how this will work for people with different ethnicity and backgrounds. In conclusion, i would say that though Researchers are still experimenting with people of different background and ethnicity, but we all should give a try to live our lives with YOLO slang and create happiness every day for ourselves and everyone around us. Sources Newsela Akshaj Mehta is a 6th grader at NP3 Middle School. If you know a youngster interested in submitting stories, email editor Monica Stark at editor@news-ledger.com or vcneditor@gmail.com MAY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Who wrote that? KIDLIT CREATORS WHO MAKE KIDS WANT TO READ An interview with with Author Miranda Paul

By Bitsy Kemper

Who Wrote That? is a monthly column that profiles the talented authors and illustrators who bring children’s books to life. Bitsy: Have you ever met a crocodile? Miranda: I once read a poem for a video series—and we filmed it from inside a live crocodile pit in the Gambia, West Africa! You can watch the video on YouTube. BK: Do you feel like you’re making a difference? MP: I once traveled to do author visits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After school, I did an autograph session. A parent came to pick up her child and saw my book, One Plastic Bag, on display. She told the teachers that she has that book at home, in Korean (my book had been translated in other languages). She said her son wants to be an environmentalist because of that book. When the teacher turned the woman around and said, “The author is right here,” her eyes grew wide and she had a huge smile. Signing a book for her son that day was really special. Knowing I’ve inspired at least one future environmentalist feels like mission accomplished. BK: Which of your books are your favorites? MP: My favorite books are the ones I haven’t written yet. Think about it—we get better over time. I can’t wait to see what I’ll come up with next. It’s like reading—I have many favorite books, but if I went around saying “No book will ever be as good as THIS book,” why would I ever want to pick up and read another one? With this attitude, I’ll always be excited to write something new! BK: Any special memories from early on? MP: I’ll never forget the first time I read some of my poems for a large audience. Lucille Clifton and Kaia Sand, two award-winning writers who were also professors at my college, selected my poems for a Women in Poetry featured reading. To read to the same audience as Lucille Clifton, a national book award winner

Miranda Paul

and author of a dozen children’s books, was a gift that both humbled and empowered me. I didn’t know then I’d grow up to be a children’s writer of serious and silly books, but looking back I’m grateful for teachers who believed in me and put me on this path. BK: Any upcoming events? MP: I’m really excited to be a presenter at Book Expo America in New York City at the end of May, and at a book festival in Nebraska at the end of July. If kids want to meet me, my events calendar is published on my website, and include school visits in Wisconsin and Maryland. I love connecting with kids—selfies with me are always OK! BK: Paper and pencil, or laptop? MP: I almost always use pen and notebook paper when writing first drafts or brainstorming. My laptop comes out for second drafts and final revisions. I use a pencil and sketchbook for drawing. I did lots of drawing when thinking up Blobfish’s wacky story. BK: How did you come up with the idea for your newest picture book about Blobfish? MP: As a child, I loved playing the Telephone Game (hey, I still do!). I also used to play a pool game with my siblings and cousins, where we’d go underwater and someone would try to shout something out. The first person to come up to the surface and guess it correctly was the winner. I’ve always loved the water and marine animals, too. So…decades later when an editor planted the seed

in my mind to do a wacky book about the telephone game, my imagination went to work and the end result was Blobfish Throws a Party! BK: How much research is necessary? MP: I do a lot of research for my nonfiction books. I make weekly trips to the public library, but I also check out online sources as well. Sometimes, my best tips come from other people who steer me toward the right material or data. I think it’s important to have a range of sources for writing. And even fiction writing requires research

much of the time—My school visit presentation on Blobfish includes facts about the reallife deep-sea blobfishes, too.

about it, it seems kind of natural that I’d think up a deep-sea creature while working deep down in a basement!

BK: Where do you like to create? MP: Just down a large hill from our neighborhood is a protected park called Baird Creek Parkway. It has limestone rocks and hiking and biking trails, and it’s one of my favorite places to think up new stories. My writing studio is called The Underground Lair—it’s actually underground. I view it as a laboratory where I mix ideas with real stuff and see what happens. Now that I think

Bitsy Kemper is author of 16 children’s books. You may have seen Bitsy on CNN, heard her on national radio, noticed her quoted in a range of places from Parenting magazine to Writing Children's Books for Dummies, or seen her work in countless newspapers, radio and TV stations across the U.S of A. Busy with three kids (four if you count her husband), she happily finds time to present at schools and writer conferences from CA to NY. Find out more at www.BitsyKemper.com

Get to know miranda paul Nickname: “Chica” Lives: with family in Green Bay, Wisconsin Backyard: has a garden, a treehouse made from recycled wood pallets, a compost barrel and rain barrels, and a stone wood-fire pizza oven! Every year they tap the large maple trees on their property to make syrup. www.mirandapaul.com @Miranda_Paul facebook.com/AuthorMirandaPaul

BOOKS BY MIRANDA PAUL One Plastic Bag, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, Lerner Publishing Group/Millbrook Press Water is Water, illus. by Jason Chin, Macmillan Children’s/Roaring Brook Press Trainbots, illus. by Shane McG, little bee books 10 Little Ninjas, illus. by Nate Wragg, Knopf Books for Young Readers Blobfish Throws a Party, illus. by Maggie Caton, little bee books CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MAY 2017

Truckee, Family Daycation By Carmel L. Mooney

While historic Truckee, California is well-known for hosting below freezing, single digit temperatures in the winter and often remembered for the ill-fated pioneers who lost their lives there, it may not be first remembered for outstanding eateries, boutiques, and excellent day excursions for families, yet it certainly should be. Although we had stopped in Truckee on the way to skiing and en route to Lake Tahoe family vacations as a child, it wasn’t until several decades later that I discovered the gem that Truckee is for so many reasons and what a great all season getaway it makes for a weekend, overnight or simply a daycation as our family rediscovered recently. Nearly 20 years ago I became so enamored with Truckee that I began leading day excursion tours there for a local community college. I found the history of the Emigrant Trail Museum at Donner Memorial State Park more than intriguing. Our kids have always found the museum mesmerizing and the McGlashan Butterfly Collection spectacular. I enjoyed sharing these gems with anyone interested in learning about the gripping history that brought about these Sierra nuggets. But in recent years, Truckee holds even more.

On a recent day trip to Truckee we stumbled on many more reasons to love Truckee, California. Our day trip to Truckee included a stop over at the Truckee Donner Railroad Museum. Society member and Secretary Don Davis gave us a great tour of this little museum housed in a caboose next to the historic train station downtown. Stories, recreations, artifacts, and pictures depict the history and impact of the railroad on Truckee and beyond. The kids and my husband were equally enthralled with all the cool train stuff. A highlight of our day in Truckee was a lovely dining experience at Dragonfly. Chef Billy McCullough has brought a delectable experience of fresh and healthy ingredients with Asian influences of Thailand, Japan, Malaysian, and India. Everything we ate was uniquely presented and delicious. We started out with Sweet and Sour Eggplant dip with won tons and I was surprised how powerful and elegant the flavors were. The ultimate accolade is that my kids have been asking to go back just to eat there again. Chef Billy told me the amusing story of how he stumbled on this masterpiece that is now expected by locals as a permanent staple. I had the Thai Noodle Bowl as a main course and it was lovely

with grilled prawns, green curry, and Thai basil. Numerous gluten-free options are available which is refreshing. For dessert we tried the banana stuffed wontons with ice cream. Everything was lovely. The place was packed with locals and visitors alike and with good reason. We agreed that a couple of hours are a must at the Emigrant Trail Museum in Donner Memorial State Park. An excellent but dated movie is a must-see to learn the history and to get a feel for what these brave pioneers endured. Exhibits of artifacts from the Donner Party as well as Native Americans, builders of the First Transcontinental Railroad, a Pioneer Monument, Butterfly Collection and Donner Party

cabin sites are just a few of the highlights. A little browsing around town was mandatory as Truckee has some adorable little boutiques. The Mountain Home Center is one of my favorites with everything lodge-y and with gorgeous mountain home-style décor. My teen daughter likes the little clothing boutiques peppered throughout town. There are some adorable little gift, toy, and candy stores. So come prepared. After an hour or two of boutique-ing, it was time for some family-friendly snacks at Jax at the Tracks, a cool little vintage style diner sitting right on the railroad tracks. This place has won tons of awards and great reviews even from the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-

ins, and Dives”. Our kids love the shakes and malts and casual comfort food. We’ve eaten there several times over the years and the service is always impeccable. With our unusually wet year and tons of snowfall, don’t forget to pop a sled or some snow gear in the trunk, because there are lots of great places to stop for some snow fun on the way up or back from Truckee. Cisco Grove and other key spots for sledding and snow play, are easily accessible along the I-80 route from Sacramento to Truckee. Our clan was sad to leave Truckee but while so much hasn’t changed, Truckee has new treasures to discover. We’re sure there will be more and we will be back again, sooner than later.

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MAY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

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Games Create A Creature

hildren use their imagination to create animals, monsters or exotic creatures from a selection of fruit and vegetables. This works as a quiet activity as well as an unusual party game. You might want to provide a few props, too. Cocktail umbrellas, mini hats, plastic hair grips etc!

Beanbag Shapes

his is a fun way to reinforce your child’s knowledge of shapes, colors and numbers. Play with one child or a group. Age: 3+ Draw and cut out some large shapes - a triangle, square, circle etc - out of colorful paper or plastic and place around the floor. Gather together some different colored beanbags. Now call out instructions to your child or a group of children. For example: Stand on a square

Throw your beanbag onto a circle Hope on one leg Find a green beanbag Put it on your head Turn around Sit on a triangle Throw your beanbag on the blue square, and so on.

Beggar My Neighbor

eggar My Neighbor is one of the all-time favorite children’s card games. It is an exciting game of luck, best played to a time limit. The rules are below: Beggar My Neighbor rules Number of Players: 2 to 6 Age Range: 6+ Cards: For two or three players, one standard deck of cards can be used. Any more than three players will require two decks. Instructions: All the cards are dealt, one by one, around the group, until there are none left. It does not matter if some players have more cards than others. Each player collects his cards in a face-down pile and does not look at them. To start, the person to the left of the dealer places his top card face-up in the center. Then the game moves around clockwise, with each player adding one card to the cen-

tral pile until someone turns up an Ace, Knave, Queen or King. The player who turns up one of these cards can then demand payment from the next player: An ace earns four cards A King earns three cards A Queen earns two cards A Knave earns one card These payment cards are each placed on the central pile. If an Ace, King, Queen or Knave is turned up, then the next player to the left has to pay the required amount of cards, and

so on. This continues until a payment is complete without Aces or Court Cards. Then, the last player who turned up an Ace or Court Card takes the whole central pile and puts it at the bottom of his own. He starts the next round, and the game begins again. The winner is the player who first goes out by using up all his cards. If playing to a time limit, then the winner is the player with the least remaining cards when the time runs out.

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CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MAY 2017

Bath Salts

Make it yourself! Coffee Filter Rose

hese bath salts are a fun crafty gift which kids can make to give to mother on Mother’s Day, a grandmother on Grandparents’ Day or other favorite adult any time of year!

hildren can try making this pretty coffee filter rose for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day – it’s so pretty, who wouldn’t be happy to receive it!

You will need:

Plain bath salts (like Epsom salts) Essential oil Powder or paste food coloring (not liquid) Glass jar Pretty fabric Ribbon

3 coffee filter papers Red paint Green chenille stem

Instructions:

Instructions: Put some of the plain bath salts into an old bowl. Put in a tiny amount of essential oil (about 2 drops for every cup of salts) and a tiny amount of food coloring. Stir well with an old wooden spoon until all of the salts absorb the color. Repeat with as many different colors as you like. Carefully pour the salts into a clean jar (we layered different colors). Cut a square of fabric to fit over the lid of the jar, tie in place with some pretty ribbon.

Water down the paint (approx 4 parts water to one paint). Paint the filter papers. Let dry (you can speed things up by drying out in the oven on a very low heat for a few minutes). Trim two of the filter papers so you have three different sizes. Fit the smaller two papers inside the largest. Open out into a cone shape and twist the bottom to form a point. Wrap the chenille stem around this to hold the papers together. Leave the other end of the chenille stem loose to be the flower stem.

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w w w. p ar ad i seo ak s. c o m MAY 2017 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Camps:

Continued from page 5

ers will dive into stories and conduct their own hands-on experiments to test the science behind their favorite stories. Instructed by: Katlin Lee Art in Nature: August 7-11 9 a.m. to noon Kids will engage in art projects inspired by Mother Nature! Campers will explore nature in an artsy week of fun to create masterpieces with flora and fauna. Artists will be drawing, cutting, pasting and painting while using the outdoors as tools and inspiration. Parents and guardians are invited to the “Outdoor Art” reception on Friday where campers will showcase their nature art pieces. Instructed by: Sammi Hawes Dino Detectives: August 14-18 9 a.m. to noon If you love everything about dinosaurs, then this is the camp for you! Discover how paleontologists learn about these ancient reptiles by investigating real fossils

and replicas. Campers will excavate fossils, make their own fossil cast and dig in to what it takes to recover ancient dinosaur fossils. Meet real living Fairytale Town animals and explore the unique characteristics that help them survive and link them to the dinosaurs of the past. Please note: Campers will have direct contact with Fairytale Town animals and animal feed. Some children may be allergic to the natural oils found in animal fur/hair and feed. Instructed by: Evanne Harrison Morning Sessions for Ages 7–9 Drama-Rama: June 19-23 9 a.m. to noon Fairytale Town presents a Theatre Arts FunCamp that emphasizes creative playmaking onstage and off. Drama-Rama! Includes all aspects of theatre, from acting and script-writing to costume design and set/ prop construction. Campers will write, design, produce and perform short plays and skits in this fast-paced, funfilled week. Instructed by: Kaitlin Lee

Farm-to-Fork Fun: June 26-30 9 a.m. to noon Sacramento is America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital! From poultry to produce, campers will discover where their food comes from in this fun week following food from farm to fork. Campers will plant, tend, harvest and cook food straight from the Fairytale Town garden and learn about eating healthy and local food through a variety of cooking techniques. Please note: Campers will have direct contact with Fairytale Town animals and animal feed. Campers will also be working with a variety of foods. Please ensure to list any food allergies during registration. Instructed by: Evanne Harrison Culture Craft Club: July 10-14 9 a.m. to noon Take a world tour of multicultural crafts! Campers will discover the Indonesian art of batik, the Arabic knot tying craft macramé, Peruvian friendship bracelets and more. Campers will dive into some of the world’s oldest arts and crafts forms and learn the stories behind them. This camp is hands-on, messy, artistic, educational and fun! Instructed by: Kaitlin Lee Map Quest: July 17-21 9 a.m. to noon At the heart of every child is an adventurer! Campers will discover the adventure that awaits them as they blaze trails through Fairytale Town and William Land Park on the hunt for treasure and fun. Campers will not only learn to orient a map, use a compass and follow a trail, but they will become cartographers and make their own maps,

hide treasure and challenge others to find it. Please Note: This FunCamp will take supervised adventures outside the Fairytale Town gates in William Land Park. Instructed by: Sarah Thomas Buggin’ Out: July 24-28 9 a.m. to noon In Buggin’ Out, campers will be introduced to the lesser known arthropods that call Fairytale Town home. Children will get up close and personal with plenty of creepy crawlers including tarantulas, bees, cockroaches, termites, lady bugs, earthworms and more! Campers will take daily surveys of the park to find and observe bugs in their natural environment and learn basic concepts including life cycles, entomology, pollination and decomposition. Please Note: Campers will have direct contact with Fairytale Town’s arthropods; some children may be allergic to tarantula hair, bees and/or other bugs. Instructed by: Evanne Harrison Food, Fun & Fairytales: July 31-August 4 9 a.m. to noon Fairytales have common themes of magical creatures, heroes, villains…and food! Campers will become Magical Chefs as they taste their way through different stories. Learn about “Curds and Whey,” discover why Goldilocks ate so much porridge, recreate the gingerbread house from Hansel & Gretel and more in this tasty week of Food, Fun and Fairytales. Please Note: Campers will be working with a variety of foods. Please ensure to list any food allergies during registration. Instructed by: Sammi Hawes

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Imagination Engineers: August 7-11 9 a.m. to noon Creative thinking skills abound in this FunCamp designed to let kid’s imaginations run wild. Campers will take part in a collaborative week of building with different recycled materials. An igloo made of milk jugs? A tower made of cardboard tubes? Pool-noodle playhouse? Who knows what the campers will come up with, but it will certainly be fun! Discover the magic that happens when you mix imagination, cardboard, recycled materials and duct tape. Instructed by: Kaitlin Lee Comic Connections: August 14 – 18 9 a.m. to noon The perfect FunCamp for budding artists who want to draw, draw and draw some more! Campers will learn how to create characters, write dialogue and develop a basic storyline. Exciting handon activities and fun drawing games will build upon the children’s prior knowledge and skills to show them how fun art can be! Campers will have the option to create their own comic book or a freestanding art piece to display in a “Comic Book Convention” at the end of the week. Instructed by: John Lee Afternoon Adventures for Ages 4 – 9 June 19 – August 18 (no camp the week of July 4) Noon to 4 p.m. Ages 4-9 Keep the fun going all day long by enrolling in Afternoon Adventures! After the morning session, students will enjoy a supervised lunch and recess time followed by more hands-on activities, dramatic play, story time and more! The open-ended activities ignite imagination and creative thinking. Curriculumbased activities and themes vary each week, so campers can enroll in multiple weeks. Please note: Campers need to bring their own lunches or pre-purchase meal-deals from the Dish & Spoon Café. Also note that Afternoon Adventures will have children ages 4-9 years old together. Camper must be enrolled in a Morning Session to enroll in Afternoon Adventures. Instructed by: Kaitlin Lee

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MAY 2017

What’s Happening, Kids! MONDAY, MAY 1-FRIDAY, MAY 5 FAIRYTALE TOWN PRESENTS CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK: Celebrate Children’s Book Week with storytime, activities and giveaways each day of the week! From May 1 through May 5, join us on the Mother Goose Stage each day at noon. A different book will be featured each day with storytime and craft activities inspired by the selected book. There will also be a Scholastic Book Fair with books and more for sale. It’s a week of literary fun! Children’s Book Week activities are free with paid park admission.

THURSDAY, MAY 4 BIG DAY OF GIVING AT FAIRYTALE TOWN: The barnyard brood is often a child’s first introduction to the world of animals, and Fairytale Town’s littlest guests are particularly fascinated by our feathered flock that roams freely around the park most days. Fairytale Town has plans to rebuild the chicken coop to offer better viewing of the habits and life cycle of chickens— and help children learn the importance of animals in the daily lives. The project costs $12,000. Donations received on the Big Day of Giving on May 4 will go towards rebuilding the Coop. Can you help? Learn more: http://bit.ly/FTBDOG17. #BDOG2017

SATURDAY, MAY 6 SACRAMENTO COVERED TO HOLD 17th ANNUAL HEALTHY KIDS DAY: This year, the event which runs from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., will be held at the Golden 1 Center. Families can enroll for health insurance and receive free health services. Organizers expect to serve more than 2,500 people. Families can park their cars in the Serna Parking lot and take shuttle buses to the Golden 1 Center. Visit SacramentoCovered.org/Healthy-Kids-Day for more information. SJUMC BAZAAR: The Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church will host its annual Asian Food and Cultural Bazaar at 6929 Franklin Blvd. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 6. Please note, this is a new date and time for the bazaar. The bazaar will feature teriyaki chicken, sushi, sesame chick-

en, chow mein, udon, Korean short ribs, pastries, and manju ( Japanese confections) cooked on-site by church members and friends. Free entertainment will include performances by ACC Pocket Pickers ( a ukulele group), Sacramento Taiko and more. The event will also feature handmade items crafted by the Boutique Committee, hand made cards, and children’s games. Rev. Motoe Yamada welcomes everyone to SJUMC’s lively and growing congregation. Current membership includes people of all ages and of diverse ethnic backgrounds. The church’s programs include a Youth Basketball Program; Choir; United Methodist Women’s Group; Adult Education Classes; Youth Group; Garden Angels (church landscaping); Prayer Ministry; and more. For more information about the Asian Food and Cultural Bazaar or any of the SJUMC programs, please see www.sacjumc.com or call the church office at 421-1017. Children ages 1 and under are free.

SATURDAY, MAY 6 AND SUNDAY, MAY 7 FAIRYTALE TOWN PRESENTS A PUPPET SHOW: “THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF” Show times at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Puppet Art Theater Company presents the tale of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff ” in the Children’s Theater. This production starts with the classic race of “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Hare, super speedy; Tortoise, slow and steady. Who will win? The conclusion of the race takes place on the Troll Bridge, waking up the Grumpy Old Troll. Then watch on as the Three Billy Goats find a way to outwit the Troll and get across the bridge so they can enjoy the field of green grass. Tickets are $2 for nonmembers in addition to park admission and $1 for members. Tickets can be purchased at the Fairytale Town main gate or at the entrance to the Children’s Theater 15 minutes prior to showtime. For more information, visit fairytaletown.org or call 808-7462.

SUNDAY, MAY 7 Love on a Leash, 4:00 p.m. at Yolo County’s Arthur F. Turner Community Library,

located at 1212 Merkley Avenue in West Sacramento. Children (ages 6-12) are invited to join us for a fun “Read to a Dog” program. Love on a Leash® (LOAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing an avenue for volunteer pet therapy teams to engage in meaningful and productive animal assisted therapy. Parents/ caregivers are asked to stay with their child to help with the reading.

SATURDAY, MAY 13 Making Paper Flowers, 1:00 p.m. at Yolo County’s Arthur F. Turner Community Library, located at 1212 Merkley Avenue in West Sacramento. Families are invited to participate in our making paper flowers program. Learn how to create different styles of flowers out of paper. All materials will be provided. FAIRYTALE TOWN’S COMMUNITY DAY AT THE SACRAMENTO ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND: All ages are invited for a day of play at the Sacramento Adventure Playground, located at the Maple Neighborhood Center, 3301 37th Ave. from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Children get to create their own play structures and spaces by re-purposing everyday items such as cardboard boxes, plus household wares, natural elements and unexpected items. The Playground is a fun and safe environment where children can use their imagination and creativity to direct their own play! The Sacramento Adventure Playground is open rain or shine, and admission to the Playground is free. For more information, visit sacadventureplay.org or call 222-3831.

SUNDAY, MAY 21 May 21: Davis Pride: The third annual Davis Pride Community Festival, produced by the Davis Phoenix Coalition, will be Sunday, May 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Central Park in downtown Davis. The free, family-friendly celebration will feature live entertainment, vendor fair, food court; Teen Zone sponsored by Davis Food Co-op; Kids Fun Zone; a cheer clinic hosted by Cheer Sacramento; and the Hot Italian Pet Zone, featuring pet adoptions through the Yolo County SPCA. Up-and-coming singersongwriter Jonathan Celestin will be the

headline entertainer on the Wells Fargo Main Stage, with performances by Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 9 competitor Trinity Taylor; the Cal Aggie Alumni Band-Uh!, Sacramento Women’s Chorus, Nathan Temby, Cheer Sacramento and Nitty Dupree Studio of Dance, among other local and regional talent. The Sacramento LGBT Community Center Mobile Testing Unit will provide free HIV testing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the community health resources fair supported by Dignity Health. Proceeds from the event will support the development of an LGBTQ+ center in Davis/Yolo County, a long-time goal of the anti-violence organization Davis Phoenix Coalition. Davis Pride Director Sandré Nelson said area students and youth have been closely involved in the planning of the 2017 Pride Festival as a way of raising funds for the future center. In addition to hosting the Davis Pride Community Bubbly Brunch for the second year, the Cal Aggie Lambda Alumni Association will host an Aggie Game Zone and Photo Booth at the Festival. UC Davis fraternity Delta Lambda Phi (DLP) will host a dunk tank. “ We are so proud of our youth volunteers, who have stepped up in planning the festival this year,” Nelson said. “Davis Pride, along with other pride events, is an annual celebration of equality that brings people of all ages and backgrounds together for a positive purpose. Now we have a younger generation stepping forward to carry on that vision.” Davis Pride is able to offer free admission thanks to the generosity of its sponsors, including CBS Radio, Outword Magazine, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, Wells Fargo and Cares Community Health, to name a few, as well as the scores of businesses and non-profit organizations that participate in the festi-

val, said Gloria Partida, executive director of the Davis Phoenix Coalition. In addition to the Pride Festival, 2017 Davis Pride events will include the second annual Davis Pride Community Bubbly Brunch, on Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center, 530 Alumni Lane in Davis. The brunch is sponsored by the Cal Aggie Lambda Alumni Association. Ticket sales close May 14 and may be purchased at brunch.davispride.org On Sunday, May 21, the 3rd Annual Run/Walk for Equality (equalityrun.davispride.org), under the direction of ON THE MARK Race Management Company, will begin at 9 a.m., also at Davis Central Park. Race entry cost is $38, with all proceeds benefiting the Davis Phoenix Coalition’s anti-violence work. For more information about Davis Pride and other Prideweek events, visit davispride.org. For information about volunteering at Davis Pride, visit volunteer.davispride.org. Exhibitor spaces (vendor.davispride.org) and sponsorships (sponsor.davispride. org) are available.

THURSDAY, MAY 25 DEER AND FAWN STORYTIME FOR PRESCHOOLERS: From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m,, join Effie Yeaw staff for stories, song and crafts. If time allows, meet an animal friend.Preregistration required.The program ends before lunchtime, so feel free to bring a picnic lunch or enjoy a short walk in the nature preserve before you head home. Deer and Fawn Storytime introduces preschoolers and their parents to the wonders of the natural world and helps reinforce a lifetime love of learning in children. Appropriate for ages 3 and 4.Cost is $5 per child. (Adult accompanying child is free.) Call (916) 489-4918. Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located at 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael, CA 95608.

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