California Kids - March 2018 by Valley Community Newspapers

March 2018

www.valcomnews.com |  CRAFTS, 5 |  WHO WROTE THAT, 6 |  TRAVEL, 8 |  WHAT’S HAPPENING, 9

Crocker Art Camps Spring Break Camp at CSUS Aquatic Center Spring Break camp is a special four day condensed version of basic camp. Instruction and activities include sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and kayaking. Camp fee is $260 and is for ages 7 to 17. This program must have a minimum of 5 children enrolled, otherwise the camp will not occur. Session dates and times are Monday, March 26-Friday March 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. If you are registering for spring break camp online, download and print the camper packet. Your camper will need this for Monday morning check-in, and without it your camper will not be eligible to participate in activities. You can either mail the completed

packet to the Sac State Aquatic Center, or bring it with you on the first day of camp: Monday morning check-in. Spring break camp is only offered Monday-Thursday. It is recommended that parents drop off their children at the Aquatic Center at 8 a.m.; instruction begins at 8:30 a.m. Summer camp instruction ends at 3:30 p.m. Parents are advised to pickup their children at 4 p.m. Child must provide their own lunch, water bottle, and sunscreen. Children are required to wear a Personal Floatation Device at all times. Campers receive a T-shirt. www.sacstateaquaticcenter.com/youth-programs/ springbreak-camp.html

Crocker art camps are art-filled adventures that take kids into the Museum’s galleries, studios, and out into the world! Campers develop friendships and creative-thinking skills through looking at, talking about, and making art. The Crocker’s setting, renowned art collection, special exhibitions, and professional art educators make for a unique and high-quality camp experience. Rooted in art, camps feature an array of exciting themes and activities to meet your child’s creative interests.

Features: •Monday, March 26-Friday, March 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Low campers-to-educator ratio (never more than 9-to-1, and frequently lower) • Designed for ages 6 to 9 • Taught by permanent Crocker staff with extensive training in art education, plus guest visits from professional artists from a variety of art disciplines • All supplies are included • Each participant receives two snacks per day. Box lunches are available for purchase from the Crocker Cafe by Supper Club • Each camper receives a 100-percent cotton Crocker Kid T-shirt • Cost is $250 for members; $295 for nonmembers NOTE: Summer camp begins June 18. Member priority registration is March 15 - 21 for summer camps and classes. Visit crockerart.org on March 15 to see complete descriptions and to enroll. https://tickets.crockerart.org/Policies.aspx

Do you have a story? Tell it to us. email Monica Stark: editor@valcomnews.com

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.

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MARCH 2018

Under the oaks nature camps at Eﬃe Yeaw This spring break, the Effie Yeaw Nature Center invites children ages 5-11 to experience the wonder of nature in the Spring Nature Camps. Camps are from March 27-29. Precious Plants: Five-year-olds learn about the important role of plants in nature. Singing, crafts, storytime, and hiking are all included in this adventure. Buds and Blooms: The warmer weather of spring brings with it new flowers. In this camp, children ages 6-11 can learn all about them, explore, and even make things using plants. Creepy Crawlies: Did you know there are bugs that glow in the dark? And bugs that shoot boiling liquid? And bugs that look like plants? Campers ages 8-11 can learn all about them and even eat a cooked bug if they’re feeling brave! The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located at 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. For more information, call 916-489-4918, email info@SacNatureCenter.net, or visit www.sacnaturecenter.net

Spring break camp at Verge Center for the Arts This year’s camp is all about contemporary female artists. Campers will learn each day about a different artist and medium and how their work is changing the art world. Can’t make every day of camp? No problem! You can now sign your camper up for individual days, as well as the full week. This class is for ages 8-13. Camp goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, March 26-30. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Admission information: Member daily $55; non member daily $60; member weekly $225; non member weekly $275. For more information, contact (916) 448-2985 or email: susan@vergeart.com. Verge Center for the Arts is located at 625 S St., Sacramento, CA 95811.

Must present coupon. Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 3/31/17

Snowline Thrift Store (916) 246-7499 MARCH 2018 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

3133 Arden Way, Sacramento www.snowlinehospice.org

Doing what’s best for Jillian Jillian the Sumatran tiger moving back to SF Zoo Jillian the Sumatran tiger has moved back to the San Francisco Zoo. The Sacramento Zoo and the San Francisco Zoo worked together to move her back to familiar territory in San Francisco where she was born. Sometimes the comfort of familiarity is what is best. In the case of Jillian the Sumatran tiger, she has had difficulty adjusting to her new surroundings since moving to the Sacramento Zoo last year. 4-year-old Jillian was born at the San Francisco Zoo where she lived until last February when she moved to the Sacramento Zoo based on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan. Just like people, animals including Jillian, go through a period of transition after a move. Some settle in very quickly

and in rare instances, they may have a more challenging time adjusting to their new surroundings. Over the last year all of Jillian’s needs have been met. Her caretakers have worked diligently to feed her favorite treats, supply her with ample toys and enrichment, and help her settle in but she has not thrived as we would like to see. While Jillian has been well cared for, she has never quite settled in as we would expect and want. As it became clear that Jillian was having a more difficult time, one of the biggest indicators of her unease was her inconsistency with shifting from one area to another. Shifting is important because it helps keepers care for an animal. When an animal voluntarily goes inside, outside or moves from one space to another, zookeepers can clean

their exhibits, provide enriching changes to their environments, perform noninvasive healthcare checks, and safely care for the animal. Sacramento Zoo staff has coordinated site visits with staff from the San Francisco Zoo to evaluate and adjust care plans for Jillian. Zoo staff have also been utilizing consultation services with a veterinarian behaviorist from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The zoo has included recommendations from the behaviorist in Jillian’s care including the unusual length of prescribing Jillian an anti-anxiety medication. Along with these efforts, Sacramento Zoo staff has also been in consultation with the Sumatran Tiger SSP coordinator, and with other tiger keepers and curators throughout AZA for input on best care plans. At the Sacramento Zoo animal care and the needs of individual animals is top priority. While this is not the outcome we expected, the Sacramento Zoo will continue to participate in the Sumatran tiger SSP and will work with the AZA Sumatran tiger SSP coordinator to be a home for tigers in the future. “The SSP is supportive of the move because we believe it is in the best interest of the individual animal and we will work with both facilities to meet their needs and the needs of the Sumatran tiger population,” said Sumatran

Tiger Species Survival Plan Vice Chair, Karen Goodrowe Beck, Ph.D. Sumatran tigers are critically endangered and found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra off the Malaysian Peninsula. Fewer than 500 Sumatran tigers are believed to exist in the wild and approximately 320 live in zoos around the world. The Sac-

ramento Zoo participates in the Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan®, coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SSPs are cooperative conservation programs designed to maintain genetically viable populations of animals in human care, and to organize zoo and aquarium-based efforts to preserve the species.

Connecting Campers With What Matters 2018 Overnight Camp YMCA CAMP RAVENCLIFF YMCA CAMP LOMA MAR Youth Camp (Ages 7–13) Session 1: Session 2: Session 3: Session 4: Session 5:

June 24 - July 1 -At Camp Ravencliﬀ July 1 - 8 -At Camp Ravencliﬀ July 15 - 22 -At Camp Loma Mar July 22 - 29 -At Camp Loma Mar July 29 - Aug. 5 -At Camp Loma Mar

Teen Camp (Ages 13-15)

ycamprocks.org • 925-455-7975

Fee

Session 1: July 8 - 15 -At Camp Loma Mar

For more information or to register online visit

Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3

$680 $600 $560 CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MARCH 2018

Make it yourself!

Leprechaun Hat

ids can make this cute leprechaun hat for St Patrick’s Day. It’s a fun craft which they will enjoy wearing, too! Team it with the leprechaun beard if you like. You will need:

Handprint Rainbow

Instructions: Cut out lots of handprints from the colored paper. Arrange the red handprints in an arch and glue down the palms, leaving the fingers loose. Arrange the orange hands in an arch underneath, overlapping the fingers with the palms of the red arch. Glue down by the palms. Carry on, color by color until the rainbow is complete.

Rainbow Necklace Make a rainbow to wear round your neck for St Patrick’s Day, spring, or any time you need something bright and pretty to cheer you up! You will need: Polymer clay (you need the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. However as long as you have red, yellow and blue you can mix the others). Thin lengths of ribbon in red, yellow, orange, green, blue and purple. Instructions: Take a very small amount of each color of clay. Roll into a sausage shape. Lay the lengths of clay next to one another so they are in the order of the rainbow. Press lightly together so they all stick. Shape your clay to form a semi circle, trimming any uneven edges with a knife (with adult supervision). Make a hole in the top center of your rainbow. You can use a sharp pencil or a plastic drinking straw to make the hole. Ask an adult to bake according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Leave to cool.

Lie your ribbons together so that they meet at the top and tie together. Separate into three groups of two strands, and plait. Thread the ribbons through the hole in the rainbow. Knot the two ends of the lengths of ribbon together and wear with pride.

Large sheet of green card Orange paper Gold card Sticky tape Glue

Instructions: Fold the green card in half lengthwise and cut along the fold. Ask someone to bend the end of the pieces of card around your head and tape to secure. Place your cylinder of card on the other piece and draw around the circular end. (It won’’t be a neat circle but don’t worry’ it doesn’’t matter). Draw another circle around the outside of the first. Cut out the larger circle and then cut snips from the outside to the inside circle to make tabs. Fold in these tabs. Carefully push the circle of card inside your cylinder so the tabs sit inside. Tape the tabs down. You now have a top to your hat. To make the brim, again draw around the end of the cylinder on the remaining green card. Draw another circle around the outside (about 10cm larger). Cut out the larger circle. Draw a small circle in the center and carefully cut this out. Cut snips from the center to the pencil line to make tabs. Fold these upwards. Turn your hat upside down and balance the brim on the open end so the tabs sit inside the hat. Tape the tabs down. Cut a band of orange paper and glue around the hat. Carefully cut a buckle from gold card and glue this over the band.

Leprechaun Beard You will need: Orange card Elastic or ribbon Instructions:

Cut a beard shape from orange card. Punch a hole either side and tie through some elastic (or tie a piece of ribbon to each hole which can be tied at the back of the head).

Crafts courtesy of: www.Activity Village.co.uk - Keeping Kids Busy MARCH 2018 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

Who wrote that? KIDLIT CREATORS WHO MAKE KIDS WANT TO READ An interview with Kathleen Gorman

By Bitsy Kemper

Who Wrote That? is a monthly column that profiles the talented authors and illustrators who are bringing children’s books to life.

uthor Kathleen Gorman, who goes by Kathy, teases “I’m so old I have lifetime teaching credential.” You’d never know this baby-faced grandmother taught for 30 years before retiring in 2010. That is, she says she tried to retire, “but I failed. I found myself back in the classroom two years later. But this time, I work part time.” Now author of two picture books, she spends most of the rest of her part time writing. Kathleen sat down and talked with columnist Bitsy Kemper about her writing journey. Bitsy: You have several teaching credentials, right? Kathy: I went back to school and earned a Master’s Degree in Reading/ Language Arts and a Reading Specialist Credential. Not only that, but I have been trained throughout the years to mentor new teachers who are working on clearing their teaching credential. My credentials are very relevant to my writing because many of the picture books coming out will have curriculum guides embedded in the back of the book. Twisty has this. BK: Is retirement what impelled you to write? KG: When I retired I found myself searching for something to do. This lead me to Janice Stevens’ “Writing for Publication” class. Eventually I began to write memoirs that were accepted and published in the Fresno Bee Senior section. This is when I felt I really could be a writer. It was through the encouragement of the members of this class that I started writing stories for children.

BK: Have you always been creative? KG: I can’t say I always wanted to be a writer. My dream from as far back as I can remember was to be a teacher. I wanted to be a teacher who didn’t play favorites. I reached my goal in 1978. For 30 years I never had a teacher’s pet, or played favorites. BK: I bet most teachers can’t say that! Given your books, surely creativity has been lurking inside that lack of favoritism? KG: I create because I love to make up stories. I always have. When I was a waitress I used to turn my orders into stories and the cooks had to decipher the stories in order to figure out what the customers wanted. (I only did this on slow nights.) BK: I knew there was a spark of pizzazz in there somewhere! Where have your book ideas come from? KG: Right now my stories come from events in my childhood. For example, Twisty Green Monster is based on my own fears of the Jack and the Beanstalk slide that used to be in Story Land. I never could get the courage to go down that slide, yet my little brother could with no problem at all. My How Far is Heaven? is based on a story I told my own kids when they were little and my Godmother passed. I have many manu-

scripts in the works and some of them are based on trips my husband and I have taken. I go on a trip and then my imagination takes over. BK: Do you have any pets? KG: We have Kiwi, a mini Aussie who stepped out of line when they were handing out processing skills; Kona a collie/Aussie/chow mix who has so much anxiety she is on doggie Prozac; and Kali, and golden retriever who hates water and never learned to retrieve. We also has one resident cat Mystery Critter who is so old we think her brain shuts off every now and then. BK: Sounds like they are stories waiting to be written! KG: Haha, maybe so! BK: I bet there have been some special author moments on your journey. KG: With my first book, How Far is Heaven? I wanted to use the name Mikey. I had a student in one of my kindergarten classes who was very special to me [with that same name]. I called to get his parent’s permission to use his name. Hearing his excitement in the background was all I needed. He was the very first person to purchase a book on Amazon, and he was the very first person in line to have his book signed at my book launch. That was the best kind of recognition! BK: I bet you’ve got lots more recognition ahead of you. Best to you, Kathy.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT AUTHOR Kathleen Gorman Kathy and her husband Bill live in Madera, California, near Fresno. Their two grown kids, and their families, live nearby. Website: kathywrites4kids.com Facebook: kathywrites4kids Favorite sayings: “Learn anything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can—there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.” -Sarah Caldwell “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11 Genealogy: Half Italian and half German Favorite Food: Lasagna with meatballs and sausage! [See genealogy, above, lol] Least Favorite Food: Liver and onions Who Would Play Her in a Movie: Jennifer Garner or Jodi Foster

BOOKS BY Kathleen Gorman Twisty Green Monster illustrated by Shelby Veloz. Publisher: HBEPublishing, 2017 How Far is Heaven? Illustrator-Maggui Ledbetter,PublisherHBEPublishing, 2015

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 CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MARCH 2018

Kennedy music department to hold concert to aid sexual assault victims By Christopher Wong, Front Ensemble Section Leader

The John F. Kennedy High School music department is holding its annual benefit concert on Thursday, March 1, at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium as a means of giving back to the community. Performing groups include the school’s concert band, jazz band, choir, and percussion ensemble. While in previous years the concert fundraised for national organizations, this year the concert looks to make a difference at home by raising money for WEAVE, a Sacramento organization that fights to end sex trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic abuse and also gives aid to survivors of those crimes. “The reason why we put on a concert like this is...to do something nice for the community that doesn’t necessarily benefit us. We do so many things for ourselves, constantly raising money. We would like

to do something to help other people,” Jeremy Hammond, one of the Kennedy band directors shared. He hopes to fill the auditorium and raise at least $2,000 for WEAVE. Bryan Stroh, also band director and choir director, said that student leadership made the decision on which charity receives the funds raised from the concert. Kennedy senior and clarinet section leader Lucy Salazar originally made the proposal to donate to WEAVE. “...especially with what happened with our soccer coach, we wanna come together as a community to fight people like that,” explained Salazar. Since the issue of sex trafficking affects Kennedy students locally, the other student leadership members overwhelmingly voted for WEAVE. Also new this year, the band is inviting special guests from the community to help fundraise. “We want to make sure that while [our community repre-

sentatives] supporting us in our efforts to get to D.C., we are supporting our own community and taking care of what we can at home,” Stroh expressed. Tubist Rachel Lei believes the community should go to show solidarity in support of stopping sex abuse. “Why wouldn’t you go to a concert that’s helping end that issue?” she remarked. If enough people attend, meeting the $2,000 goal will be easy. “While we might not be able to each donate to WEAVE Sacramento, we are able to work together and create a synergistic program that allows us to support our local WEAVE chapter,” Stroh assured. Admission to the concert is just five dollars. For more information contact Jeremy Hammond, band director at 1 (916) 832-8657 email: jeremy-hammond@scusd.edu or Bryan Stroh, band director, choir director by email at bryanstroh@scusd.edu

at Do you know wh over 2000 kids Located on Beautiful Lake Natoma n fu r fo did YOUTH CAMPS • BOATING SAFETY • WATER SKIING WAKE BOARDING • JET SKIING • SAILING • WINDSURFING last summer? ROWING • KAYAKING • CANOEING • STAND-UP PADDLING CHALLENGE COURSE Boat Rentals • Team Building • Youth Camps Birthday Parties • Adult Classes • Facility Reservations

Your kids will never hav e so much fun ! Ages 7 - 1 7

A Program of:

CALL FOR YOUR NEW 2018 SCHEDULE! 1901 HAZEL AVENUE • GOLD RIVER, CA 95670 • 916.278.2842 • www.sacstateaquaticcenter.com MARCH 2018 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 7

Family travel to Europe for the cost of airfare only By Carmel L. Mooney

We had one of the most unforgettable and rewarding family travel experiences of our lives when we traveled to Spain for a week to teach conversational English to corporate business executives in and around Madrid. By the end of the program we all hugged and tears flowed as we forged lasting friendships and bonds that would likely last a lifetime. How does this have anything to do with family travel, you may be wondering? Vaughtantown offers and experience for families to travel to various locations through-

out Europe while the adults in the family“teach” conversational English to the adults while the kids mingle, socialize, play and “teach” the children. What better than to be immersed in a culture and international human experience than than as a family serving, and while staying for free at a four star resort or castle, dining, living, recreating and bonding with Europeans. We chose to go in October to be part of our Vaughantown experience program. We stayed in Gredos, Avila, Spain on a gorgeous ranch in the countryside just a few hours from Madrid.. There we dined with the Span-

iards three times a day enjoying sumptuous local fare. We developed skits and plays, team building exercises, mock phone calls and role playing projects, and toured the historic countryside and castles with our eager Spanish friends. Every morning we woke to native birds serenading us, while we watched colts frolicking in the pastures as far as the eye could see. We walked along centuries old rock walls and castles and at night we relaxed with our new friends in front of blazing fireplaces while sipping local wines and snacking on local produce and cheeses and meats. Sometimes we REGISTRATION STARTS SOON!

talked till the wee hours of the morning with our new-found friends. We even took afternoon siestas like our friends. While technically it was “work” it never felt like such as we helped our friends grow in their command of their conversational skills. Since leaving, we have dozens of Spanish friends who will welcome us back to their fascinating country anytime and who feel indebted to us for improving their corporate job performance. Many of them work for companies such as Oracle, HP, solar energy firms, law, aviation, and other high profile jobs requiring outstanding conversational English skills. Most had taken grammar courses and could conjugate a verb but would be perplexed with many nuances of our language and our help was invaluable in giving them that edge. It was structured in the sense that we would have a schedule of certain activities and outings to do with various participants each day in groups and one on one yet it never felt rigid or anything but fun and enjoyable.

Our Spanish friends even threw a party of us Anglos at the end of our stay which included a dance party the last night. It was a very profound and moving experience to see about 40 people, have of them the Spaniards and the other half the English speaking “teachers” from Australia, England, Texas, San Diego, Florida, the Carolinas, and South Africa, all come together and blend as a group with one common goal to help and enrich one another while forming meaningful friendships. If teaching and truly immersing your family in a culture with its customs, foods, laws, and human experience is of interest, you will want to consider a Vaughantown family program. There are various programs with differing duration, location, and ages so spend a little time on the website and see if one fits your needs. You will teach but you will also learn and be blessed in ways you may not even fathom.

SPACE ENGINEERING ROBOTS & MORE!

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MARCH 2018

What’s Happening, Kids! MARCH 1-16 LITTLE PEEPS CLASSES AT THE SACRAMENTO ZOO: The Little Peeps classes are two hours long and designed for 3- to 5-year-olds with a caregiver. Each class will focus on a different theme and will include a mini lesson, fun craft and other activities such as stories and songs to expand the learning. Little peeps will also enjoy a special visit with one of our animal ambassadors. At the end of the class, caregivers will receive additional activity ideas tok grove continue the learning fun at home. Admission info: General (with Little Peep) $35; Members (with Little Peep) $30. Register for six classes and receive a 10 percent discount. These classes are designed for a caregiver to accompany the Little Peeps. For more information, contact: 916-808-5888 or email info@saczoo.org Individual dates and times, are as follows: * March 1 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

SACRAMENTO’S SUPER PARTY CENTER! TWO FREE PIZZAS with purchase of any bounce party

COME JOIN THE PARTY! ALL AGES & THEMES

OPEN PLAY

Tuesday-Friday 9-11 am & Friday Nights 6-9 pm

(Coupon must be used at time of booking. Expires 3/31/18)

Now Enrolling for

WINTER CAMP!

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2939 Promenade Street, West Sacramento

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March 2 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 8 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 9 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 15 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 16 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Sacramento Zoo is located at 3930 West Land Park Drive. FRIDAY, MARCH 2 BOOKS BEFORE BEDTIME CELEBRATING DR. SEUSS: “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.” And there was no one quite like Dr. Seuss! Join Fairytale Town to celebrate Theodore Seuss Geisel’s 114th birthday with Seuss-themed hands-on activities around the park. From 6 to 8 p.m., you are welcome to come dressed in your pajamas and enjoy fun literacy based activities, readings from your favorite children’s books, bilingual storytime, poetry, arts and crafts and more! And “If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.” Books Before Bedtime is free with paid park admission. Receive 50% off one admission with a donation of one new or gently used children’s book for Reading Partners, a Sacramento non-profit literacy organization. Fairytale Town is located at 3901 Land Park Drive. SATURDAY, MARCH 3 HAWK TALK AT EFFIE YEAW NATURE CENTER: At 10:30 a.m., come discover more about these majestic raptors, learns tips on identifying the most common types in our area, and get close up with one of our resident hawks. This is a free weekend program for all ages. Donations gratefully accepted. Space is limited – sign-ups are taken the day of the event. Arrive 30 minutes prior to start time. There is a $5 per car entrance fee into Ancil Hoffman County Park (Free to members). The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located at 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. SATURDAY, MARCH 3-SUNDAY, MARCH 4 PUPPET SHOW: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. S: Join magician and ventriloquist Tony Borders and his puppets in a special birthday party for America’s favorite rhyme doctor, Dr. Seuss at Fairytale Town! You will meet Snortin’ the Elephant, a kooky kangaroo, a magical monkey, and a cat with a magical hat. Enjoy the fun in Happy Birthday, Dr. S! Tickets are a $1 for members and $2 for nonmembers, in addition to paid park admission. Tickets can be purchased at the Fairytale Town Box Office or at the entrance to the Children’s Theater 15 minutes prior to show time. All performances take place in Fairytale Town’s indoor Children’s Theater. Fairytale Town is located at 3901 Land Park Drive. Show times are at 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30 p.m. Run time is about 20 minutes

Construction Is Underway The City of Sacramento, Department of Utilities and its construction contractors are working on water meters, water mains, and water service lines in the area. Visit www.MetersMatter.org to learn more about the project and to ﬁnd out what may be happening in and around your neighborhood. This work may result in: • Traﬃc delays • Sidewalk closures • Construction-related dust and noise This work addresses the State’s mandate for water meters to be installed on all water services. Thank you for your cooperation on this very important project. Contact us for more information: www.MetersMatter.org Meter Information Line: 916-808-5870

See more what’s happening, page 10 MARCH 2018 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

What’s Happening, Kids! SATURDAY, MARCH 10 MARCH HARE MADNESS AT EFFIE YEAW NATURE CENTER: At 10:30 a.m., hop on over for a hare-raising good time. Join a naturalist for a hike and discover where a rabbit would make a nest, hide from danger or find a tasty plant to eat. This is a free weekend program for all ages. Donations gratefully accepted. Space is limited – sign-ups are taken the day of the event. Arrive 30 minutes prior to start time. There is a $5 per car entrance fee into Ancil Hoffman County Park (Free to members). The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located at 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. SUNDAY, MARCH 11 TAKE A BITE OUT OF NATURE AT EFFIE YEAW NATURE CENTER: What are herbivores, carnivores and omnivores? How can you tell which animals are which? Check out the skulls and teeth of various animals and see if you can figure out what they eat! This is a free weekend program for all ages. Donations gratefully accepted. Space is limited – sign-ups are taken the day of the event. Arrive 30 minutes prior to start time, which is 1:30 p.m. There is a $5 per car entrance fee into Ancil Hoffman County Park (Free to members). The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located at 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. MONDAY, MARCH 12 GIRL SCOUT DAY AT FAIRYTALE TOWN: From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., show your Girl Scout pride on Girl Scout’s 106th birthday! Wear your uniform when you visit Fairytale Town and receive one free child admission with one paid adult admission! Weekday admission is $4.75

for adults and children ages 2 and older. Members and children ages 1 and under are free. Fairytale Town is located at 3901 Land Park Drive. Event is weather permitting. FRIDAY, MARCH 16 MAKE A LEPRECHAUN CATCHER: Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day by joining us to design and engineer your very own leprechaun catcher! There will be a variety of materials to support your creativity. The Sacramento Public Library is committed to providing the community with free, quality events for people of all ages. Free event from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Library, 601 Alhambra Blvd. SUNDAY, MARCH 18 SEEING GREEN WEEKEND AT EFFIE YEAW NATURE CENTER: At 1:30 p.m., join a naturalist for some “catch and release” activities in the Nature Center’s pond. Explore what critters are living there and see how being green makes life a little easier in the pond. This is a free weekend program for all ages. Donations gratefully accepted. Space is limited – signups are taken the day of the event. Arrive 30 minutes prior to start time. There is a $5 per car entrance fee into Ancil Hoffman County Park (Free to members). The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located at 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. TUESDAY, MARCH 20 DEER AND FAWN STORYTIME AT EFFIE YEAW NATURE CENTER: A fun adventure awaits when children join Billy Bunny and his woodland friends as

they search under daffodils and bluebells for a magical insect called a butterfly. After the story, children will make a butterfly art project and look for signs of spring in the village. Then, they can see how many eggs when the group goes on an egg hunt! Appropriate for ages 3 and 4 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Registration is just $5 per child. Adults accompanying children are free. The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located at 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael. SATURDAY, MARCH 24 GLOBAL LOCAL MERCADO-SPRING EDITION AT SOL COLLECTIVE: Just in time for the Spring Season!- Handmade artisan goods, music and food from noon to 5 p.m.! Sol Collective invites you to the annual Global Local Mercado season! The mercado is meant to highlight handmade, arts & cultural goods by local and global vendors. Also featuring curated vintage and natural beauty products. The vision of the Global Local Mercado is to support economic development, cultural preservation of Global and Local artisans and to make arts & cultural goods accessible to the community at large. Our store embodies the work of global to local artisans focused on sustaining and sharing culture through art, clothing and accessories. Our purpose is to introduce their efforts through the Global Local Mercado. Sol Collective is located at 2574 21st St, Sacramento, California 95818. FUN ON THE FARM AT AMERICAN RIVER RANCH: Kids will explore the Youth Garden and the American River Ranch learning about what soil is made of, who lives in it, and how it helps us. Participants will have the opportunity

to engage in various fun, educational activities, make a farm fresh snack, meet the farm animals and create something to take home. Alyssa Kassner and Jenn MacLeod will instruct. This event is suggested for Ages 3-9. This is a childfocused farm experience. Admission information: $15. Registration is for children only, one adult may accompany each child. For more information, contact: 916-363-9685 or email info@soilborn.org. Buy tickets at https://www. brownpapertickets.com/event/3208158. Presented by Soil Born Farms and Farm to Fork Capital at Soil Born Farms American River Ranch. CYPHER HIP HOP WORKSHOP FOR KIDS: Kids and their families are invited to join the Cypher Hip Hop Crew to learn more about DJ-ing, rapping, and breakdancing with live performances and lots of audience participation at the Robbie Waters PocketGreenhaven Library, 7335 Gloria Drive, Sacramento, from 2 to 3 p.m. TAHOE PARK COMMUNITY EASTER EGG HUNT: First Church of God at Tahoe Park presents to the public a Community Easter Egg Hunt at Tahoe Park. They will have age designated hunts every 15 minutes so kids will all get eggs and stay safe. Additionally, they will have games, bounce houses, and a photo spot with the Easter Bunny. Bring your cameras and a basket for the kids. This event is coordinated by First Church on 58th and is their gift to the community with the help of a few neighborhood businesses. The event goes from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Tahoe Park, 3501 59th St., Sacramento.

COME TO OUR FREE KIDS’ OPEN HOUSE

on Sat. 3/31 Contact Julia at 916.494.9992

from 12 to 3 pm for fun Hawaiian activities such as crafts, hula lesson, and others.

Located at 6235 Belleau Wood Lane, Suite 1B (at Blair Ave), Sacramento 95822 10

CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • MARCH 2018

What’s Happening, Kids! PICTURES WITH THE EASTER BUNNY IN ELK GROVE: McConnell Estates Winery and Sacramento Regional Wine Guide at McConnell Estates Winery Kids can enjoy Easter Bunny snuggles and parents can sip on wine from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join in for pictures with the Easter Bunny while stocking up on some holiday wine. Admission info: General $5 or free with wine bottle purchase. Wine Club Members Free. For more information, contact: (916) 685-5368 or email info@mcconnellestates. com. McConnell Estates Winery is located at 10686 West Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove.

for the Arts is located at 625 S St., Sacramento, CA 95811.

MARCH 26-30

SATURDAY, MARCH 31

SPRING BREAK CAMP AT VERGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS: This year’s camp is all about contemporary female artists. Campers will learn each day about a different artist and medium and how their work is changing the art world. Can’t make every day of camp? No problem! You can now sign your camper up for individual days, as well as the full week. This class is for ages 8-13. Camp goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Admission information: Member daily $55; non member daily $60; member weekly $225; non member weekly $275. For more information, contact (916) 448-2985 or email: susan@vergeart.com. Verge Center

COMMUNITY EASTER EGG HUNT AT CARMICHAEL PARK: Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail to Carmichael Park. Egg hunts, arts and crafts, visits with the Bunny and a pancake breakfast. This annual egg hunt will be held rain or shine and begin at 10 a.m. (The entire event goes from 9 to 11 a.m. Children will be divided by age groups as follows: age 0-2, age 3-4, age 5-6, and age 7-8. Hunting areas will be spread throughout the park and all age groups will depart at the same time. Please arrive at least 30-45 minutes early so as not to miss this egg-citing adventure. Free event. For more information, contact: (916) 485-5322. Carmichael Park is located at 5750 Grant Ave., Carmichael.

MARCH 2018 • CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide

FRIDAY, MARCH 30 FRANKLIN COMMUNITY LIBRARY PRESENTS ‘1, 2, 3 ANDRÉS’: Latin Grammy Award Winner 1, 2, 3 Andrés is coming to the Franklin Community Library from 11 a.m. to noon. The globe-trotting musical sensation will delight our families with an energetic show of music, culture, geography and more in both English and Spanish. Franklin Community Library is located at 10055 Franklin High Road, Elk Grove.

UNDERWATER EGG HUNT AT FRUITRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER: There will be activities and an egg hunt in the Fruitridge swimming pool. This event is for kids ages 12 and under. They will have treats for all egg hunters and a special prize for the hunter who finds the golden egg! Participants are encouraged to bring a basket or mesh bag to the event. There will be open swim time for egg hunt participants after the hunt. This event will be canceled if it rains. Children 6 & under must be accompanied/supervised by an adult at all times including while in the pool. Admission is $3. The event goes from 1 to 3 p.m. at Fruitridge Community Center is located at 4000 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95820. BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY IN ELK GROVE: Cosumnes CSD Parks and Recreation: Celebrate spring with a hearty pancake breakfast with the Bunny, hosted by the Pride of Laguna Creek Lions Club. Bring your camera because each child will have the opportunity to take a picture with the Bunny! Pavilion in Elk Grove Regional Park, 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road. Seating times are 8, 8:45, 9:30 and 10:15 a.m. Cost: $5 per person in advance or $7 at the door. Children under 2 years old eat free. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult. To register, visit: https://goo.gl/jaXaMQ, call 916-405-5600, or in person at 9355 E. Stockton Blvd., suite 185 or 9014

Bruceville Road. Advanced registration is encouraged as seating is limited SATURDAY, MARCH 31-SUNDAY, APRIL 1 SPRING EGGSTRAVAGANZA AT FAIRYTALE TOWN: Join Fairytale Town for an egg-citing weekend featuring egg hunts, prizes, spring themed arts and crafts and more from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Daily egg hunts will be held at 12, 1, 2, and 3 PM, promptly. Hunt areas are separated by age groups as follows: ages 0 – 3 on the Mother Goose Stage Lawn, ages 4 – 6 in Pooh Corner, and ages 7 – 12 on the lawn behind King Arthur’s Castle. After the egg hunt, make your way to Mr. McGregor’s Garden to redeem your eggs for a prize! Kids can choose from a variety of new prizes based on the number of eggs they collect. Puppet Art Theater Company will also be on hand performing Bunny Boot Camp in the Children’s Theater. Tickets are $1 for members and $2 for nonmembers. Show times are at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 PM. Puppet show tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the Children’s Theater 15 minutes prior to show time. Plus, visit with Peter Cottontail on the Mother Goose Stage. Get a printed photo for $5, or take your own photo. And make spring-themed crafts, including bunny ears. Spring Eggstravaganza is a special ticketed event. Event is weather permitting. Tickets will go on sale now. Fairytale Town is located at 3901 Land Park Drive.