Vancouver Family Magazine March 2021

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March 2021

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YOUTH SPORTS Make a Comeback in Clark County

FARM

From the

to Your

FORK

NURSE-FAMILY

Partnership Connects Mothers with Vital Resources

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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contents

10

FEATURE ARTICLES

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Nurse-Family Partnerships in Clark County Clark County’s Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program offers low-income pregnant women and their child the support they need to overcome emotional, social and physical challenges and thrive—for free.

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From the Farm to Your Fork Community Supported Agriculture brings farm fresh produce straight to your table.

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Youth Sports Make a Comeback in Clark County With safety measures firmly in place, kids of all ages are getting back in the game.

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IN EVERY ISSUE

18 8 18

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March '21

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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Editor’s Notes

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Mosaic Family Voyage Sailboat cruising in the time of COVID

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Calendar of Events & Activities

ON THE WEB • Surrogacy Stories - Read Danielle's experience with twins and a death in the family

we never stop.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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EDITOR'S NOTES

Emerging from the Blast Photo by Scarlette Richards

In March 2020, when the coronavirus was brand new to our region, I wrote a post on our website about what the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens—a different catastrophe in Southwest Washington’s history that

www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com

Volume 20, Issue 3 Publisher

Julie Buchan Julie@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762

also had long-reaching effects—could teach us about the COVID-19 crisis. Immediately after the eruption, scientists predicted it could take a century for the region surrounding the volcano to recover from the ecological devastation. But flowers, shrubs and trees began growing again on the mountain in a fraction of that time, contradicting standard ecological theory. The casualties were tragic, and nothing could replace the human lives lost in the disaster, but in a way, the revitalization of the Mount St. Helens region stands as an homage to the destruction and death that once reigned there.

This month marks one year since COVID-19 changed all of our lives. And while the downturn in cases and upturn in hope for health, business and life to resume is coming much later than any of us originally imagined, and with devastating losses that will long be felt, it does appear to be coming.

Unlike the volcanic explosion 40 years ago, the economic and human revitalization of Southwest Washington will depend on our efforts, not on Mother Nature. It’s up to us to foster relationships of understanding, promote physical and mental health, help those around us who need it and support the businesses we love. Then, just like the audacious organisms on the mountain, we can defy all the odds and emerge stronger than before.

Editor

Nikki Klock Nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762

Graphic Designer

I-Shüan Warr Ishuan@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Ad Designer

Philip Nerat addesign@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Contributing Writers

Kristen Flowers, Dana Greyson, Graham Kendrick, Rachel Messerschmidt

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sales@vancouverfamilymagazine.com Vancouver Family Magazine is published monthly by Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC Address: PO Box 820264 Vancouver, WA 98682 Tel: 360-882-7762 Copyright 2002-2021. All rights reserved.

No portion of Vancouver Family Magazine may be reproduced without the written permission from the publisher.

Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC and staff do not recommend or endorse any service, product, or content represented in this magazine or on our website.

The sole purpose of this publication is to provide information on available services and/or products. It is the consumer’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of information given. Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC, and/or Julie Buchan and Nikki Klock and staff do not assume and disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by error or omission in this magazine or on our website. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

This month, learn about a few of the individuals and organizations who are helping to build and sustain a strong and resilient Southwest Washington, before, during and post-COVID, from nurses who provide one-on-one support to at-risk new mothers and their babies (page 10) to local farms who persevere through shrinking farmland to grow delicious and healthy food (page 14) to youth sports organizations and coaches who are helping kids get back out on the field (page 18).

Let’s emerge from the COVID-19 blast, ready to turn over a brand new leaf.

Nikki Klock, Editor nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

On the Cover: Mandy of Tiny Times Photography captured the glow of this soon-to-be mama on a beautiful sunny day.

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MOSAIC FAMILY VOYAGE

By Rachel Messerschmidt All photos courtesy of the author.

Sailboat Cruising

in the Time of COVID

We spent our first winter in the Puget Sound in a temporary slip at the Port of Poulsbo. If you’ve never visited the quaint little Viking village on the Kitsap Peninsula, this adventurer highly recommends it. “Little Norway,” as they call themselves, is an adorable town steeped in tradition and culture.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed the months that we called Poulsbo home base. The Port’s docks go ashore right in the heart of the downtown waterfront with shops, restaurants, and the Puget Sound’s best secondhand marine thrift shop within easy walking distance. We brought our SUV up to Poulsbo from my parents’ place in Woodland and settled into an easy routine of work and play. We even signed the kids up for horse riding lessons at a nearby stable and other fun classes through Parks and Recreation.

Despite loving a slower pace, we were anxious to get back out cruising. We had planned to leave the marina by March 1, but, of course, COVID struck and shook the world all up.

I scoured the internet for information as the situation around the sound changed daily. Were marinas allowing visiting boats? Were

the state parks open? Could we reliably get fuel or water or food if we left Poulsbo?

The state was put into stay-at-home orders, so we stayed put in the marina through April. We used the extra time to prep our floating home to be as completely self-sufficient as possible. We stocked up on non-perishable food items and guessed that we had about six months’ worth of canned goods stashed on the boat. We added a solar power system so that we wouldn’t need to rely on getting into marinas plus we still had our little suitcase generator aboard as a backup. We devised options for washing clothes and showering off-grid, and wished we had a functioning watermaker aboard to desalinate the salt water we sat in.

On May 1, the Port of Poulsbo ended their winter moorage program and we weren’t allowed to stay any longer. We headed out for our second cruising season with excitement and not a small amount of trepidation.

For me, the boat has always been something of an apocalypse plan. Being self-sufficient is a practice that I thoroughly enjoy. We had everything that we needed to survive and stay safely away from other people. A boat is, actually, the perfect self-isolation option.

Our pre-COVID plans had been to head north from Poulsbo to explore the beautiful and often isolated islands of Canada’s British Columbia. But, of course, the border was closed and we weren’t continued on next page Photos, top: The author's kids, Evan (10) and Kali (6), loved sailing around the big boats at anchor in their cute little 10-foot Ranger Minto sailing dinghy.

Left: The author and her family enjoy one of many, many hikes over the summer in 2020.

Here they were hiking from their boat to the Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island.

Page 9, left: For cruisers, the dinghy functions as the family car. Instead of seat belts, the family wears life jackets. The author's sailboat is in the background.

Page 9, right: The author's son, Evan, sits in an opportune spot on Lopez Island to watch for orca whales to come through Cattle Pass. Watching for whales is a favorite pastime.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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allowed. The island communities in the San Juans were also asking people to stay away, so we stayed south. The stay-home orders were technically still in place, but it raised an interesting question for us. Where were we supposed to ‘stay’ when we live on a boat and move from place to place eight months of the year?

But the summer cruising, while not at all what we had expected, was enjoyable and we were very happy to be back out exploring our world with our children. Avoiding other people, especially other family boats, was awkward and hard for us . . . but at least we had each other.

With our solar panels keeping up with our energy needs, we thoroughly enjoyed living at anchor. Being away from marinas and docks was freeing and my frugal heart loved that we only had to pay for a slip twice from the time that we left Poulsbo all the way into the fall stormy season.

Eventually, with the state phasing in opening up, we were allowed more freedom to move around responsibly, and we headed north to the San Juan Islands. We spent late July through early October exploring those beautiful islands and doing some great sailing.

nasty storm, with winds above 55 mph and much higher than predicted, caught us out at anchor and gave us the ride of our lives – and not in a good way. Thankfully, we made it through relatively unscathed. But after that, we were ready to head south toward winter moorage.

We’d decided to take a slip this winter in Olympia. We wanted to be closer to our family and spend more time with them for our final off-season before leaving for Mexico this fall.

Now we’re looking forward to some final boat projects to ensure Mosaic is ready for the ocean passage down the west coast. The passage south will be our biggest test yet. Unlike the 37-hour jump from Astoria to Port Townsend, getting to California could take a week or more offshore. And, this time, we won’t have a captain with us to hold our hands.

Rachel Messerschmidt and her family are Clark County natives currently living and cruising full time aboard their sailboat, Mosaic, in the Pacific Northwest and preparing to leave for Mexico in the fall. Rachel blogs about her life and journey at www.mosaicvoyage.com and shares her family’s adventures in a monthly column in Vancouver Family Magazine.

But the autumn squalls came in early and hit hard. One particularly

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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Feature: Nurse-Family Partnership Connects Mothers with Vital Resources

By Dana Greyson

W

hat’s a low-income mom-to-be to do if she finds herself pregnant and without critical support—especially if she’s young, single, abused, addicted, or with medical or mental challenges?

Clark County’s Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program offers low-income pregnant women and their child the support they need to overcome emotional, social and physical challenges and thrive—for free.

ONE VANCOUVER MOM’S STORY Instead of feeling excited about her pregnancy, Lena Torres (not her real name) couldn’t drag herself out of bed to make it into work. When she did, she struggled.

As a single mom, she worried—how

could she support her child if she couldn’t support herself? She didn’t know how to balance motherhood along with work and completing the professional degree that could put her on a better growth path for financial security. She felt all alone in her pregnancy and in her journey as a mom.

After getting diagnosed with anxiety and depression, Torres’s obstetrician put her in touch with a social worker who then referred her to the Nurse-Family Partnership program.

“I didn’t know what to expect. Any sort of help makes me feel a little embarrassed,” Torres admits. “I was reluctant initially. A

nurse coming to my house—do I really need this?” she asked herself. She thought, Other people need help more than I do, “but I was open to help, and knew I needed it. I was optimistic.”

Once she said yes, Torres met Elise Stills, her nurse, and she realized, “Oh, I actually really like this!” The program gave her much more support than she expected. Someone to talk to, someone to “bounce ideas off and to support me, find resources, navigate through things.”

For example, when Torres recently got hit with an unexpected Clark County College fee she couldn’t afford to pay, Stills applied on her behalf to the Vancouver Women’s Foundation. They took care of the fee.

“I was always doubting myself. Elise pushed me to do more doctor checkups, to know when to start reading to my daughter,” Torres said. “Hearing I was doing a good job gave me the confidence.

Kids pick up on it when their mom is happier. Her reassurance made a big difference for me and my daughter.” continued on next page

Photos, top: Giovanni builds his upper body strength while his mom Michaela watches proudly.

Left: NFP mom Rosa and her daughter meet with NFP nurse Inez.

Page 12: Marques gives NFP nurse Polita a high five while mom La’Quana looks on.

Photos courtesy of Nurse-Family Partnership

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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HOW ONE CLARK COUNTY NURSE HELPS PREGNANT MOMS Elise Stills is one of seven NFP public health nurses serving Clark County; she joined the program in 2015.

“We’re here to support the mom as a whole,” Stills explains, noting the program focuses on whatever it takes to foster a healthy pregnancy and the best environment for the baby and her mom.

“What we offer is a partnership—working with a mom on what she wants help with and to work on: coordinating care— especially special needs, providing mental health support, finding a job, getting an education, how to promote bonding and attachment between mom and baby, and build healthy relationships throughout the home . . . We set a plan. The next visit gets scheduled. We decide what to focus on for the next visit. It might change; if some other emergency comes up, we deal with that. Our role is as a guide.”

Stills reflects on some of the clients she’s helped. Molly Green (not her real name) was one of Stills’s first clients, and was using substances when she enrolled in NFP. “She went through the whole treatment process, getting clean and remaining clean throughout the length of the program.” Then Green’s baby was diagnosed with special health care needs.

While Green learned to become a mom, she also needed to take care of a baby with exceptionally challenging medical issues. The crises made Green stronger, helped her stay sober. Throughout it, Stills provided support and acted as cheerleader.

Born deaf and with limited physical mobility since birth, Jane Meadows (not her real name) has overcome many obstacles in her life. When she found out her baby was deaf, Meadows embraced the resources Stills referred her to. Stills assisted her in accessing specialized support for hearing-

disabled parents and their children. That led to an alert system that shook the bed or flashed a light when Meadows’s baby cried.

Maria Hernandez (not her real name), walked to the U.S. on foot from Mexico.

Her alcoholic partner was debilitatingly emotionally abusive.

Throughout Hernandez’s pregnancy and first year, Stills’ priority was to help Hernandez find a safe living situation. Their household income kept Hernandez from getting the assistance she needed to leave.

Hernandez did not have income herself, however, she was still considered ineligible for assistance. The YWCA advocate told her all the shelters were full. Her only other option was homelessness; with a baby, that didn’t seem like a better solution.

Finally, Stills managed to get Hernandez out and into her own place. “She’s thriving and doing well,” says Stills. “Her story will stick with me forever.” continued on page 12

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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Feature: Nurse-Family Partnership Connects Mothers with Vital Resources (cont'd) continued from page 11

NFP’S CLARK COUNTY BEGINNINGS In 2007, Clark County Public Health’s (CCPH) leadership heard about NFP, an evidence-based national program with a strong track record for helping moms and their children. They recognized that NFP effectively addresses life stresses that low-income pregnant teens and adults often face. NFP fit with CCPH’s Strategic Plan priorities, including “Ensure every child has a healthy start.”

“NFP is a gem of a program that we are lucky to have in our community. It’s a true partnership between the client and the nurse,” says program coordinator, Joan Riemer. “Clients build trust in their nurse and feel encouraged to learn more about having a healthy pregnancy and child.

Clients appreciate the health teaching, emotional support, care coordination, relief from isolation, and cheerleading provided by their nurse. NFP nurses take a holistic view of their client’s life circumstances, working with the client to achieve their heart’s desire for themselves and their family.”

WHO QUALIFIES? The program targets low-income mothers pregnant with their first child, as well as pregnant mothers with children. Ideally clients are referred and enroll early in their pregnancy, but no later than 28 weeks’ gestation. Clients with children may enroll

COVID-19’S IMPACT ON THE NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM The pandemic halted home visits in March 2020. Currently nurse “visits” are virtual: over the phone or through video conference. “It’s harder to notice when a child isn’t gaining enough weight, or detect when childproofing steps are needed,” Stills explains. “The relationshipbuilding is different. Some clients we’re serving, we’ve never met [in person].” She keenly feels the loss of personal connection, but also believes since the pandemic, with the prevalence of higher anxiety, they are helping moms who might not otherwise have become clients.

More Information about Nurse-Family Partnership: Visit clark.wa.gov/public-health/ nurse-family-partnership Call (564) 397-8440 Text (360) 518-5665 after 28 weeks. Mothers who are eligible for Medicaid or for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are likely eligible for the Nurse-Family Partnership.

Most clients are referred into the program by social workers and health care professionals. Other participants are referred by a friend or come across the program brochure and call. Follow-up usually occurs within two business days of referral.

PROGRAM RESULTS More than 40 years of scientific studies consistently prove NFP succeeds in

NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN When Compared to a Similar Population:

its goals: keeping children healthy and safe, and improving the lives of moms and babies. NFP clients are less likely to smoke, drink or abuse drugs, more likely to find stable employment, and their children adapt better to school and learning.

Most program participants remain in the program for the entire 2 1/2 -year duration.

“It’s a very relationship-based program.

Those graduation visits are tough,” Stills says. “You’re proud, but it’s hard to say goodbye.”

Torres is grateful to the program for connecting her to another person who wanted her and her child to do well. “What they’re doing is really important. I had someone who had my back, who I could turn to for help.” She encourages other moms to consider benefitting from NFP. “If you feel curious at all or unsure, just try it.”

Dana Greyson is a freelance writer and a frequent VFM contributor on health, travel and relationship topics. She’s writing her first memoir about her tropical sailboat escape, due out later this year. For a sample chapter visit danagreyson.com. She blogs about her current travels on GalleyWenchTales.com.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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Feature: From the Farm to Your Fork

FR

OM THE

FARM to your

By Kristen Flowers

Freshly tilled soil mixed with crisp country air welcomes

you as you park at Flat Tack Farm. It’s a grounding reminder that the vibrant colored vegetables found in the CSA boxes lay deep within the SW Washington ground just a few days before. For Cathy Stentz, it’s one of the best parts about picking up her produce. “It smells clean. It smells like fresh ground. It’s hard to explain, but when I get out, and I just look at the beauty of the country. It’s so hard to put into words. It just overwhelms you.”

Inside the pick-up tent, the energy grows electric as people pick up their vegetables. They stop and talk with the farmers, ask when they picked the produce. They learn how it was grown and, more importantly, what on earth to do with it.

It’s a unique grocery shopping experience, and many people don’t know about it.

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is when people decide to invest in the farmer by purchasing their portion of a crop before it’s even planted. Under a CSA, you sign a contract with the farmer to buy produce on a monthly or weekly basis. CSA acts as a subscription box, but instead of hair care products or crafting supplies, it’s fresh, locally grown produce.

Depending on the farm, there are multiple plans you can choose from, but you remain at the mercy of the Pacific Northwest weather for what makes it into your box.

Thankfully, this is where the farmer shines. Catherine Miller-Smith from Slice of Heaven Gardens works the land so hard that she’s developed a relationship with the soil. Miller-Smith understands what it’s deficient in, so she can add to it to make the healthiest and best tasting produce possible.

“When you have healthy soil, you have healthy food.”

You can hear the excitement in her voice as she explains how her high tunnel can trick a crop into producing more and how she can extend the season of the produce.

Miller-Smith had her fingers in the soil from a young age. She watched her dad plant his tomatoes and onions and saw the pride in him when the crop grew and produced. It’s a memory that’s stayed with her and helped cultivate her love of gardening. For 11 years, she volunteered for NatureScaping of SW Washington, a 501-3(c) nonprofit organization, as secretary, and continues to volunteer during their yearly plant sale benefiting their demonstration garden, The Wildlife Botanical Gardens. This year, she’s dedicating all the knowledge of her two acres of land to subsidize her family income from the sale of CSA boxes.

“It’s heartwarming to know you’re growing something that somebody else is going to consume, and you’re producing something that’s going to improve their health.”

That focus on health is what drives Stacey Schubel to continue her CSA box subscription. Each week Schubel packs up her 5and 7-year old kids and heads to the farm to show them that food comes from the ground. It’s an invaluable learning experience that shows them the difference between what local farmers are producing and how that differs from the produce they see in the grocery store. continued on page 16

A trip to the farm is a weekly event for Stacey Schubel and her kids.

Photo courtesy of Stacey Schubel

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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Feature: From the Farm to Your Fork (cont'd) continued from page 14

“Yes, we can have strawberries in February, but where are they coming from? How did they get to us? How long did they take to get to us? All that’s really important to me.”

It’s also essential to the farmers that their community understand the difference between buying locally versus at a grocery store.

It can be weeks or even months before grocery store produce makes it to the shelves. More often than not, it also comes from overseas or on the other side of the county. By the time it reaches the dinner plate, the healthy nutrients and taste drain from the vegetable. On the other hand, CSA boxes contain the freshest and most nutritious vegetables you can buy.

That knowledge is something Schubel wants to pass down to her kids. She brings them to the farm to meet with the farmers who grew the food they will be having for dinner that night. “It’s one of the greatest things I can teach them for their own health and hopefully help them make their own choices when they feed their families.”

Besides health and taste, there are other reasons to explore CSA boxes.

Kelly Peters is the co-owner and farmer at Flat Tack Farm, and for her, farming is all about living with less impact on the earth. “Being able to buy directly from the farmer, you’re helping, not only the farmer, but you’re also lowering your carbon footprint, and you’re also increasing your health because that produce is as fresh as it’s going to get.”

For two years, Peters and her partner Patrick Dorris traveled to places like New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia, learning from farmers and working the land in exchange for a place to stay.

They have now been farming locally in Clark County for four years, all the while observing how hard their fellow farmers are working,

Sample contents of a seasonal produce subscription box from Vancouver Farmers Market.

16

This June, Vancouver Farmers Market will roll out its first ever Market Box Subscription program, supporting multiple farmers at once. Market staff will source the best Washington grown fruits and vegetables from Market vendors and prepack a box that will be ready for pick up at the market every week on Sundays, June through October. Each box, available in either small or large size, will also include recipes, storage tips and easy preparation ideas to make cooking healthy and seasonally even easier. Customers can choose a 10- or 20-week subscription, and SNAP customers receive 50% off. Learn more and pre-order your subscription at

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Kelly Peters and Patrick Dorris of Flat Tack Farm Photo courtesy of Kelly Peters

and how hard it is to gain access to land needed to effectively produce food.

After the pandemic hit, Peters and Dorris quickly jumped into the digital world to offer a unique CSA shopping experience.

They teamed up with fellow farmers who lost their land access to expand the variety of things they could offer. On their website, you can go in and set your preferences for the things you like and don’t like. The farmers will tell you what they will have that season, and you choose only items that interest you.

The fun begins for Peters after people have made their selections.

She goes to work handpicking each item. She sees what unique and exciting produce people have selected. Often, she takes a minute to breathe in the fresh herbs being packed or marvel at the produce’s beautiful, vibrant colors.

It’s also a heartwarming sight because all money spent on a CSA box goes directly to a local farmer, unlike grocery stores that buy wholesale, with only a fraction of that money going to the ones whose hands worked the land.

That’s why Cathy Stentz continues to get her CSA box. “I just feel that as long as we can keep supporting these farms, we can have farms. I would love for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to experience the joys of walking around and looking at cows and looking at fruits and vegetables that are growing.”

It’s cliché to say that the secret ingredient these farmers put into their produce is love, but for Catherine Miller-Smith at Slice of Heaven Gardens, her feelings about feeding her community are summed up quite simply. “If I had to give it one word, joyous.”

Kristen Flowers is the host of the morning show, Nick and Kristen in the Morning on 99.5 The Wolf. She lives in Vancouver and currently blogs for her own website, AccordingtoKristen.com. She moderates the Positive Parenting Posse group on Facebook, a page dedicated to sharing positive and helpful tips about parenting. In her spare time, she’s working on her debut novel and making everything she possibly can on her new Cricut maker.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

17

Feature: Youth Sports Make a Comeback in Clark County

Make a Comeback in Clark County

By Graham Kendrick

Saturday afternoons at the soccer field. Early morning hockey practices.

All-day swim meets. When COVID-19 hit our area last year, the drumbeat of youth sports suddenly just . . . stopped.

For months, baseball fields sat bare and volleyball courts were vacant. The cacophony of youth sports—the cheering and whoops of joy from the kids—was silent. An industry that provides so much structure and activity simply disappeared.

Then programs would re-open and hope would emerge . . . only in many cases to close again.

It’s affected every age group, including youngsters for whom their first introduction to sports is through their city’s parks and recreation department programs for kids as young as age 4. They can learn not just the basics of a sport, but habits like exercise, sportsmanship and teamwork in a fun, non-competitive environment.

“We really understand from building a basic love of physical activity and being a healthy person, those habits are instilled at a really young age. We take a lot of pride in being a part of that for families,” David Perlick, recreation manager for Vancouver

Parks and Recreation told me last fall. “It’s certainly very difficult,” he said of having to shut down programs to slow the spread of COVID-19. “We talk about it every day.”

On the other end of the spectrum are high school athletes who have been training in their sports for years. Many of last year’s seniors lost their final season of eligibility in the spring. And while school districts are moving schedules to hopefully allow for competition in spring of 2021, there are no guarantees.

School Sports As of this writing, several school districts in Southwest Washington, including Evergreen, Vancouver and Camas, are allowing athletes to train with coaches in small pods and/or outdoors, but actual games are still far from certain to be played.

“There’s a finite timeline to their high school athletic experience, so it’s not like we can push pause, which we’re trying to do right now to get them some sort of season . . . But it’s not like they can get it back,” said Cale Piland, director of athletics and activities for Evergreen Public Schools.

“It was already rough last spring when

Athletes take to the soccer field at Harmony Sports complex in Vancouver, 2019 (before youth sports were paused to slow the spread of COVID-19).

Photo courtesy Washington Timbers FC.

those spring athletes who were seniors lost their season. And it’s rough even for an underclassman because that’s one less year that you get. From my athletic administration background—and I have a coaching background as well—it breaks your heart for them.”

Staying Active In Vancouver, there are opportunities for young athletes to at least stay active. At Firstenburg Community Center, a FIT Pass allows teens 13 and older to use many of their facilities, including fitness centers. The pass is good for 30 days and costs $15 per user (or $17 for non-city residents). In addition, swimming lessons remain available for private lessons or kids who live in the same household. Marshall Community Center pool was recently closed to the public due to ongoing maintenance issues, and as of this writing, the fitness area at Marshall is also closed due to space and capacity challenges.

The City’s youth organized indoor sports programs are on hiatus until further notice, but outdoor sports continued on next page

18

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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classes that comply with the Healthy Washington reopening plan are tentatively being planned for roll out in spring. Check vanparksrec.org for the latest information.

many others have been back to at least training and scrimmages, even if in most cases games and tournaments are still on pause.

Private Sports While most city youth sports programs are on hold, private club teams in a variety of sports like soccer, baseball, volleyball and

The Washington Timbers FC soccer program was initially shut down for about two months, and upon return were only allowed small group skill work before then moving into 3 vs. 3 scrimmages. Since the new year, full scrimmages within teams have resumed. For Sean Janson, executive director of the organization, getting the players back on the field, even under COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, was a vital milestone for the program as the coronavirus impacted the Timbers’ business. He said that while virtually all of their older players remained in the program, their numbers are down in the younger age groups.

“The older kids pretty much define themselves as soccer players already and this isn’t

going to change that,” he told me last fall.

“But the younger kids, they’re exploring different activities, they don’t really know what they like. So that group, we saw a significant drop. I’m talking about 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-year-olds, we saw a big drop.”

The Timbers had to cancel spring 2020 and fall 2020 recreational soccer, leaving only the higher-level academy teams.

Even for those age groups, it’s been hard on the older players—the seniors in high school who might be looking ahead to continuing their playing careers in college, or the ones for whom this would be their last year playing competitively.

“That’s quite frankly the toughest group for us to talk about because it sucks. There’s no way of looking at it any different,” Janson said bluntly, echoing Piland’s concern for teen athletes. “One of the things we’re doing is really trying to promote college ID camps, which are allowed. We send information to all our kids on those . . . It continued on page 20

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

19

Feature: Youth Sports Make a Comeback in Clark County (cont'd) continued from page 19

just takes a lot more work but we realize we have to put in the work for these kids.

They’re losing their last year.”

sign up early to reserve a spot for their kids.

While club sports are open and running to various degrees, there is the elephant in the room: the cost. Where city-run sports leagues focus on affordability, club sports fees often run in the thousands of dollars per year, which is particularly problematic in an age where many families are suffering the financial impacts of COVID-19.

If you’re interested in club sports but concerned about the cost, it’s a good idea to contact the program. Many teams offer scholarships or financial aid to help players get on the field. For instance, Janson says no child will be prevented from joining the Washington Timbers FC program because of the cost. “Last year we gave out $119,000 in player scholarships. The answer is never no,” he said. “That’s something we’re adamant about—financial need is never a reason not to play.”

Safe and Socially Distanced Sports While soccer players wait for a time when they can get back to full contact games as normal, other athletes were able to return to action relatively quickly in sports where social distancing was already part of the game.

Take tennis for instance: two players on opposite sides of a court who never come into direct contact with each other. If ever there was a sport made for the era of social distancing, that would be it. Nikki Nadig is the registration and league coordinator for

A young tennis player participates in a tennis program at Vancouver Tennis Center following the center’s recent reopening.

Photo courtesy Vancouver Tennis Center.

Vancouver Tennis Center, and she said that when they have been allowed to be open, they’ve been busy as parents seek ways to safely keep their kids active.

“We have seen a lot of interest in tennis because it is one of the few activities where you’re not right next to somebody all the time,” said Nadig. “At the moment almost all of our programs for youth are full, or close to full. We’ve upped our age limit—we used to have a tots class for 4-year-olds but we no longer do that. Our youngest age now is 6 because we felt it was easier talking to them about keeping your distance.”

Lessons run in month-long increments at both Vancouver Tennis Center and Evergreen Tennis in Camas throughout the year, and parents are encouraged to

“We really understand from building a basic love of physical activity and being a healthy person, those habits are instilled at a really young age. We take a lot of pride in being a part of that for families,” - David Perlick 20

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

Golf is another sport that has seen increased interest over the last year. “I’ve got a lot of junior golfers [from prior to COVID-19] and then some of the athletes from other sports transferred over because baseball was shut down, soccer was shut down.” said Michael Parker, director of instruction at Tri-Mountain Golf Course in Ridgefield. Youth, eager to participate in activities, play even through the winter months. “If you’re dressed appropriately it’s not a big deal. It can be 38 degrees and you can still be warm out there,” said Parker of cold-weather golfing.

While the different situations with different sports remain fluid during this unprecedented time, options abound at different price points in different sports.

From a safety standpoint, all associations have to abide by the state’s guidelines, and many add their own additional policies as well. It does mean that as a parent, you may have to do a little more research to find the sport that works best for your child. However, if it allows them to be safely among friends and getting exercise, then regardless of the final score, it’s a winning proposition.

Graham Kendrick lives in Vancouver with his wife and two sons. He spent over 15 years working in the sports industry, and now stays involved in athletics, shuttling his boys to their various practices, games and tournaments.

Coach Julius Agabayani instructs young athletes at Harmony Sports complex in Vancouver, 2019 (before youth sports were paused to slow the spread of COVID-19). Photo courtesy Washington Timbers FC.

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21

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Calendar

March '21

S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

of events

Have a community event that you want to share?

Go to www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com and click on “Calendar” to submit your event. Deadline for print calendar submissions is the 1st of the month prior to the issue.

Genealogy Brick Walls. Register at fvrl.org.

2-3:30 pm

4 THURSDAY

Imagined Ink: Teen Write-In. Calling all teen writers! Have a new idea you want to get down on paper? Need to edit your latest draft? Or maybe you’re somewhere in between? Join and meet fellow writers at FVRLibraries virtual writein event. We will discuss the writing process, have visual prompts and brainstorming sessions as well as have time to share. For ages 12-18.

Register at fvrl.org. 4-5 pm

Page Turners Online: Book discussion group through Camas Public Library for 4th-6th graders and their adult. This month’s selection: “Restart” by Gordon Korman. Register at cityofcamas.us/camaspubliclibrary. 6:30-7:30 pm

5 FRIDAY

Nature Lovers Book Group. Join FVRLibraries on the first Friday of each month for a lively discussion focused on books about nature.

This month we will be discussing “Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard” by Douglas W. Tallamy.

Register at fvrl.org. 4-5:30 pm

6 SATURDAY

Jackbox Games for Teens. Join FVRLibraries online for an afternoon of trivia, funny quips, t-shirt design, robot raps, and other silliness.

Don’t want to be in the spotlight? Play along as the anonymous audience and use your influence to sway the outcome. Register at fvrl.org.

7-8:15 pm

8 MONDAY

Genealogy Club. Researching ancestry can be challenging. Where do you start? Which of the 60,000 websites will give you the information you want? With the help of the FVRL Virtual Genealogy Club, led by experienced genealogist John Lake, you can join your neighbors in learning how to explore your past. Any level of experience is welcome, from the long-time genealogist to those interested in starting a search. This month we will look into ways to prove family stories using physical evidence and church records -- Breaking down those pesky

22

Check out our website for even mo re local events .

Events are subject to change. Please contact organization directly to confirm. All library events are free and open to the public.

3 WEDNESDAY

Wintler Park Beach Cleanup Volunteer Opportunity. Register for this physically distanced spring cleanup of this well-loved local beach. Bring a maks, water bottle and snack. Gloves, litter bags and hand sanitizer will be provided. RSVP at cityofvancouver.us.

9-11 am

activities

11 THURSDAY

Discussion Group: Let’s Talk Articles. Don’t have the time for a book group? Then this online discussion group from FVRLibraries is for you!

We meet virtually every second Thursday of the month to discuss a thought provoking magazine article. Register at fvrl.org. 4-4:45 pm

13 SATURDAY

Sensory Storytime, online through FVRLibraries. Storytime emphasizing interaction and movement, designed for children on the autism spectrum, those with difficulty processing sensory information, or any who prefer an alternative to a traditional storytime.

Every Second Saturday at www.youtube.com/ FVRLvirtual. 10 am Un-Muted! An Open Mic Night with FVRLibraries. Calling all Poets, Musicians, Comedians, and Performers of all kinds! And audience members, too! We definitely need an audience! FVRL is hosting its first Virtual Open Mic Night! Performers, ages 13+, amateur or professional, this is a chance to showcase your talent for your community. We hope to feature original poetry, music, skits, comedy routines, and monologues, etc. (if you perform an existing piece, you must credit the author). Perfomers must register before March 6. Register as audience or performer at fvrl.org. 6-8 pm Virtual Trivia Night, through Camas Public Library. Enjoy a lively trivia night from the comfort of your own home! Join with a team, or be assigned a team at the event. You must have a computer with video/audio and Zoom. Free to play, and we encourage you to have snacks

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

and beverages handy. For adults and teens. The second Saturday of every month. Registration required at cityofcamas.us/camaspubliclibrary.

7-8:15 pm

15 MONDAY

Notorious 5K. Run/Walk on Ruth Bader Ginsurg’s birthday to honor ‘Notorious’ Women Leaders who went against the norm and fought for Women’s rights. Register for this virtual race (run anywhere) at whyracingevents.com, and get cool swag and more. $10 from each entry will benefit Girls Inc. Kids 12 and under race free, ages 13-17 race for 50% off. 8 am The Media: Truth, Lies and Misinformation.

What’s the latest news popping up on your feed? Is the truth? Lies? How can you tell?

Join FVRLibraries each month as we look at the most popular misinformation showing up in social media, alternative media, and mainstream media. We’ll explore trending misinformation on a variety of topics including COVID-19, political and social issues, and more as well as practice looking for information outside our media bubble. 6-7 pm

16 TUESDAY

Supporting Children Through the Pandemic.

A year of living in a pandemic is inevitably affecting our children. Join FVRLibraries for an interactive discussion with Stephanie Amato, LCSW, a Vancouver school district counselor and Laree Foster, NCSP, a Vancouver school district psychologist as they discuss the trends they are seeing in schools. Participants will have a chance to share their own experiences and learn from each other. Register at fvrl.org.

6-7:30 pm Music Livers Club: “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis. (Online through Camas Public Library.)

Listen to the album before you we meet and then we’ll talk about it. Register at cityofcamas.us/ camaspubliclibrary. 6:30-7:30 pm

17 WEDNESDAY

Book Group: Catch up with the Classics. Do you have any classics on your to-read list that you’ve been meaning to get around to? Now is

continued on next page

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continued from previous page the perfect time! Join FVRL’s Catch Up With the Classics book group to discuss a classic work of literature each month on the third Wednesday.

This month we will read “The Story of My Boyhood and Youth” by John Muir. Register at fvrl.org. 7-8 pm

18 THURSDAY

Virtual Tween Book Group. Do you like reading? Do you like talking about books?

Join FVRL’s book group for friendly, lively discussions. This month we will be discussing “Owl’s Outstanding Donuts” by Robin Yardi.

Please register at fvrl.org and tell us which branch library you use and we’ll send a copy of the book there for you to pick up and keep. You will get a phone call when it is ready for you.

Books are generously donated by Friends of the Library groups from throughout FVRLibraries.

For ages 9-12. 4-5 pm

21 SUNDAY

Couve Clover Run. Celebrate in your festive green while running or walking 3, 7 or 10 miles along an extremely fast and scenic course to support local charities! Kids 12 and under race free, ages 13-17 race for 50% off. Register at

whyracingevents.com/couve-clover-run.

8:30 am

25 THURSDAY

Virtual Teen Book Group. Great books, no homework! Join FVRLibraries each month for a discussion and snacks. This month we will be discussing “Darius the Great Is Not Okay” by Adib Khorram. Please register at fvrl.org and tell us which branch library you use and we’ll send a copy of the book there for you to pick up and keep. You will get a phone call when it is ready for you. Books are generously donated by Friends of the Library groups from throughout FVRLibraries. For ages 12-18. 4-5 pm Doing the Work: An Anti-Racist Media Discussion Circle. Do you want to be a part of the fight for equity, but don’t know where to start? Join us for a monthly moderated discussion group focused on anti-racist literature and other media. All assigned materials will be freely available online with an FVRL library card.

Register at fvrl.org. 6-7:30 pm

27 SATURDAY

Marine Park Beach Cleanup Volunteer

Opportunity. Register for this physically distanced spring cleanup of this well-loved local beach. Bring a maks, water bottle and snack. Gloves, litter bags and hand sanitizer will be provided. RSVP at cityofvancouver.us.

9-11 am Bakeology for ages 6th-12th grade. Calling all Teen Bakers! Join Camas Public Library every month for Bakeology, a group where we’ll meet virtually to share a new recipe we’ve worked on. We’ll go over what went well, where we can improve, and learn new things along the way. All levels of bakers welcome! Register at cityofcamas.us/camaspubliclibrary. 3-4 pm

29 MONDAY

Make Anything, online through FVRLibraries.

Get creative and join others to learn how to make stuff! Monthly project will feature a variety of projects and tools, including recycled crafts, sewing and basic mending, 3D design, fiber arts, paper-making, stamp-carving, watercolor, embroidery, cooking, baking, painting, and more! Projects are suitable for older teens and adults. No experience is necessary. Register and learn more at fvrl.org. 6-7:30 pm

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • March 2021

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