Vancouver Family Magazine August 2020

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August 2020

Give Them a Break:

Movement Helps Young Students Learn

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contents

August ‘20

10

FEATURE ARTICLES

10

Give Them a Break Using movement breaks to help young students learn

14

Personal Path New graduation requirements for Washington high school students

18

Recycling and Composting Right in Clark County Earth-friendly practices for a clean and green community

IN EVERY ISSUE

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18

6

Editor’s Notes

8

The New Domesticity Helping kids honor endings

24

Calendar of Events & Activities

ON THE WEB • Post-foster care independent living skills for young adults • Waterplay Wednesdays on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: The best cool-off, splash-around spots for families in Clark County

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EDITOR'S NOTES

Worth the Effort

In July, my family and I drove to a remote area of Skamania County, north of Stevenson, to a trailhead that, though poorly marked, was equipped with (vault) toilets and populated by more cars and people than I’d have expected, given the brutally bumpy gravel road leading up to it. Our goal was to behold Falls Creek Falls, but, as with discovering most stunning natural phenomena, we’d need to work for it. We anticipated hiking more than three miles before reaching the waterfall, enjoying its wonder, then returning for six miles roundtrip. But we were pleasantly surprised when the waterfall appeared in our view after just 1.7 miles of trekking.

It would have been worth twice our originally expected effort.

Falls Creek Falls flowed relentlessly and majestically. Photos couldn’t seem to do the sight justice, so I put down my phone down and enjoyed the view while my husband and daughters ventured around for a closer look. Near me was a middle-aged Black man also enjoying the view without distractions or companions, seemingly in reverie. As I often do when in the presence of strangers, I wondered what his story was. Was he praying? He looked so peaceful and dignified, I was almost embarrassed by the other people at the falls (myself included) who were disrupting his tranquility by merely existing.

The spell was broken, though, when my husband’s drone emerged from the forested area closer to the falls, capturing footage from a bird’s eye view. I worried that fellow hikers and the solitary man would complain about the intrusion. But instead, the man smiled broadly and uttered something amicable toward me. He seemed to appreciate my husband’s efforts to record the beauty, and we fell into a friendly conversation about the man’s goal to visit waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest throughout the summer. We drifted between effusing on the splendor in front of us, sitting in silence, and recommending hikes and waterfalls for the other to visit. When he got up to leave, he warmly said goodbye and I wished him luck in his adventures. The exchange was brief, but impactful in a contentious world we’d both left behind in favor of nature’s indisputable grandeur. It, too, was worth the effort.

Learn more about other efforts in our community worth making, including creating a more sustainable Clark County (page 18), using sensory input and movement to help young students learn (page 10), personal paths toward high school graduation (page 14) and more, in this issue.

www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com

Volume 19, Issue 8 Publisher

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

Editor

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

Associate Editor

Sarah Mortensen Sarah@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Graphic Designer

I-Shüan Warr Ishuan@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Ad Designer

Philip Nerat addesign@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

Contributing Writers

Sara Halcumb, Julia Antopol Hirsch, Julianna Lawson, Sarah Mortensen

Ad Sales

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 2002-2020. 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.

On the Cover: Aiyana M. of Vancouver hopes she can make new friends this year as she takes her learning to the next level through kindergarten. She likes to learn online by playing educational games on the computer.

Nikki Klock, Editor nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com My husband, JR, and our daughters at Falls Creek Falls, north of Stevenson.

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Photo by Yukari Powers. yukaripowersphotography.com yspowers@gmail.com

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THE NEW DOMESTICITY

the

NEW DOMESTICITY

1

By Julianna Lawson

Honoring

the

D N E

I was in upper elementary school when I decided to write the story. It seemed as simple as coming up with a plot, grabbing my wide-ruled notebook paper, sharpening my trusty Ticonderoga pencil, and blazing my way through a gripping narrative. The plot, naturally, would center around a family’s westward journey across the Oregon Trail. The heroine, naturally, would be an 11-year-old girl with a calico sunbonnet, long brown braids, summer-bronzed skin and an adventuresome spirit. (You would be right if you guessed I was an avid student of all things “Little House on the Prairie,” not to mention the Oregon Trail computer game we occasionally played at school.)

In my story, the family would journey across the rugged terrain and encounter hardships, though the hardships wouldn’t be too hard. (I chose to be blissfully ignorant of dysentery and starvation.)

The father would be a wise family leader, the mother would give birth to a healthy baby along the way (no hardships there), and the 11-year-old girl would write all about it in her journal, sharing a warm and winsome glimpse into the (not-too-hard, mind you) westward journey.

Now, many writers are familiar with the maxim, “Write what you know.” As a young schoolgirl, it didn’t occur to me to heed this advice. But it didn’t really matter. In my mind, I knew all about the Oregon Trail. (After all, I did own a calico dress and I did enjoy reading by candlelight.) More importantly, I knew that, if I wrote about a family’s westward journey, my narrative would have a tidy, linear plotline: the beginning, middle and end would be pretty straightforward, saving me the mental anguish of creating a brand new plot out of nothing. The beginning of the story would be set in the east. The middle of the story would follow the family across the wide and vast lands. And, with much joy and celebration, the end would find the family neatly nestled in their cozy new western home.

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Now that I’m decades removed from that writing project, I smile a bit over my youthful ambition—and ignorance. But I have to admit, my eager little self was grasping at a core truth, though I wouldn’t have known to articulate it at the time: our lives are driven by the stories we live every day, and we find comfort in the reassuring pattern of the beginning, middle and end of each story. The pattern cycles again and again throughout our lives. Sometimes the cycles are small blips on our timeline, like the beginning, middle and end of a family vacation. Sometimes the cycles span many seasons, like the beginning, middle and end of a child’s education.

This past year has been marked by many unique stories— stories we will share with our children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren for years to come. Part of the strangeness of this season, however, is that the “endings” have not been as marked as they have been at other times in our lives. Take, for instance, graduation, which is usually an “end” celebrated in large, triumphant gatherings. This year, thousands of students quietly saw that end go by with very little pomp and circumstance.

Yet the end was still very important. Really, all endings are worth acknowledging, and it can be helpful to guide our children in doing so. An ending may be anticipated or abrupt, welcome or feared.

An ending may come as a relief, it may come as a celebration, it may come as a disappointment, it may even come and go without anyone taking notice. Through each of these experiences and emotions, we have the opportunity to take a pause with our child and look at the thing together. If you are walking through grief, talk about the hurt. If a family vacation has come to an end, reflect on the memories shared. Even if it’s simply time to come out of the pool for the day, help your child transition to the end of that activity: “Alright, kiddo! We’ll swim for five more minutes, and then it’s time to get ready for dinner!”

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

continued on next page

continued from previous page

Author and speaker Emily P. Freeman shared in episode 82 of her podcast, “The Next Right Thing,” that “When things end, we come forth changed. We would do well to take some time to pay attention to those changes, to mark them, to honor them and see how they might lead us forward.” As summer draws to a close, let’s look for even the simplest ways to mark endings for our children.

Celebrate with ice cream, remember with photos, chat with loved ones, acknowledging the chapter behind and looking ahead with gratitude to the blank, wide-ruled notebook paper of tomorrow, just waiting to be filled with yet-to-be written story.

Julianna Lawson and her husband, Jamie, make their home in Vancouver with their four children, ages 14 to 22. Julianna firmly believes that the best way to acknowledge the end of a thing is with a nice big slice of chocolate cake.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

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Feature: Give Them a Break: Using Movement Breaks to Help Students Learn

Give g Move Us i n m

Them

a

ent Breaks to He

Break:

udents Learn t S lp

By Julia Antopol Hirsch

O

ne child can sit quietly, focus on her classwork and finish without distraction.

Another finds sitting still torturous; as if his chair is on fire. Some students are on the autism spectrum or have other learning disabilities and find it difficult to focus. Every child, or adult for that matter, processes learning differently. In order to support each elementary school child individually, no matter how they learn, occupational therapists (O.T.) in the Camas School District have created a “toolbox” of sensory motor activities to stimulate students’ sensory pathways and help them refocus their attention on academics.

“There are a lot of studies that have shown the benefits of movement with learning, especially in elementary school,” says Nick Calais, O.T. at Dorothy Fox and Woodburn

Elementary Schools. “Kids don’t have very long attention spans, especially when you are asking them to sit for a long period of time. We therapists help teachers incorporate creative movement breaks to help kids calm down and refocus.”

Technically speaking, this is called proprioceptive input, and it plays a role in helping children feel calm, alert, and focused. When we perform activities that require heavy work, receptors in our muscles and joints send messages to our brains about where our bodies are in space, resulting in improved body awareness.

“If a child doesn’t have good body awareness, it may be challenging to sit still and listen to the teacher,” says Sharon

Peddie, O.T. at Grass Valley Elementary School. “’Heavy work’ movement breaks, such as carrying a stack of books to the library, provides a way for the student to incorporate movement and proprioceptive input. The weight of carrying the books sends a message to the brain. ‘OK, this is where my body is in space.’ Now, the child comes back to the classroom more prepared to focus.”

While an unruly child used to be sent to the principal’s office, teachers and therapists now try to decipher what the child is trying to communicate. Maybe the student is antsy because he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or perhaps he’s frustrated by the work. Something as simple as going out for a sip of water can help, or maybe eating something crunchy continued on next page

Kids don’t have

ver y long attention spans, especially w en you are h asking them to sit for a long period of time.

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(crunch stimulates the brain), or any short movement break such as playing Simon Says, going to the back of the classroom and doing a series of wall push-ups or finger movements.

“Asking a kindergartner to sit still and focus for extended periods of time without movement breaks is unfair,” says O.T. at Prune Hill Elementary, Kristen Mitchell.

“They are not developmentally ready for that yet.”

One popular item in a therapist’s toolbox is what Calais calls the Motor Course. He and other fellow therapists have devised an obstacle course, placed in the hallways outside various classrooms, that a child can use at the teacher’s discretion. Made continued on page 12

Lacamas Lake Elementary School’s motor course, where students can refocus through movement with the help of an occupational therapist.

Photo courtesy Sharon Peddie.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

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Feature: Give Them a Break: Using Movement Breaks to Help Students Learn (cont'd) continued from page 11

from Velcro, vinyl or sometimes painter’s tape, the course is designed with areas to jump, hop, twist their bodies in different directions, tiptoe or even crabwalk. Often decals with letters and numbers are incorporated. It only takes a minute or two to complete the course.

“I have the children help me design the course,” says Mitchell. “That way they get sensory input not only by using the course but by planning and problem solving their way through the course. They need to think about the space in which they are working, how things are going to fit in the space and visually come up with a concept and work it through.”

Calais also enjoys involving the kids, by visiting classrooms and getting students’ opinions on the course and then making the changes they suggest. “I took the students through the course in their area and then asked them how they felt before and how they felt afterward. Some of the kids were excited and some felt really tired and calm.”

The obstacle course can be used for all kinds of challenges.

“When working with children who have trouble with flexibility, throwing in continued on next page

" We therapists help teachers incorporate

creative movement

breaks to help kids calm do wn and refocus."

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

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When you think about it, we as adults have our own way of thinking and learning.

Some of us pace; some tap their foot; some get up and raid the refrigerator. (I’ve eaten three chocolates while writing this article.)

“We all self-regulate,” says Calais. “We allow ourselves breaks, as adults, but we often don’t allow the kids to have them.

Julia Antopol Hirsch lives with her husband and two children in Vancouver, where she is working on her third novel. She is the author of “The Sound of Music: The Making of America’s Favorite Movie,” which was reissued in 2018.

She loves to swim and read, and has three mischievous dogs who insist on going to the dog park every day.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

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All the stimuli in a classroom can feel overwhelming to some children, so teachers find that a quick two-minute brain break is another great way to reset. “The classrooms can be a sensory overload for some kids with all the auditory stimuli and visuals,” says Calais. “They need to step out. We have brain break boxes that we’ve

Ultimately the goal is for a child to selfregulate, meaning they become aware, themselves, that they need a break before acting out, and know which strategy works best for them.

They have to sit still and memorize, and you know, they need a break as much as we do.”

4

“Each of us has a unique sensory profile,” says Peddie. “What one person may find to be calming or soothing, another may find to be distracting or bothersome.

Some people find it calming to swing while others might feel nauseated or dizzy.

Some feel secure in small spaces while others might prefer wide open spaces.

It’s all about individuality when it comes to understanding each person’s sensory profile.”

set up where the kids can color or work on a Rubik’s Cube or maybe put a puzzle together.” Mitchell has developed what she calls a Fine Motor Toolbox with special hand manipulation tasks for strength or dexterity, such as grasping skills to help a child hold a pencil correctly.

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something unexpected helps them work through that particular element,” says Mitchell.

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Feature: Personal Path: New High School Requirements for Washington

Pe rs o na l pat h :

New High School Graduation Requirements for Washington

By Sarah Mortensen

Students in high school

often lament to their teachers, “But when am I ever going to use [insert algebra, calculus, chemistry, etc.] in the future?” Now, thanks to Washington State House Bill 1599, students are encouraged to tailor their high school courses to their future career interests. The bill passed with a final unanimous vote on April 22, 2019, bringing changes to required courses and testing, while also opening up more options for Washington students to graduate from high school.

Previously, passing standardized tests in math, science and English were required to earn a diploma. Washington was one of only twelve states still requiring these high stakes tests.

Some previous tests included the Washington Assessment for Student Learning (WASL) and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC). Passing the SBAC is now just one of many

“paths to graduation” as the new law aims to promote “career and college readiness” by recognizing that a single test should not stand in the way of graduation.

Local Vancouver representative Monica Stonier of the 49th district was the bill’s primary sponsor. With the support of parents and Washington Education Association (WEA, Washington’s teachers’ union), Stonier worked to help educate other lawmakers on the need to expand options for students. Original complaints about removing the testing requirement were that a high school diploma would not mean as much as it should to potential employers.

Additionally, they argued that most of the high skilled jobs coming to Washington will not be filled by Washington students if they are not proficient in math, science and English language arts.

However, parents and educators had long recognized that not continued on next page

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

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all students will need or use advanced algebra or biology in their future careers. They also insisted that a passing grade in core academic classes proves proficiency in that subject.

College and Career Readiness HB 1599 sought to strike a balance between these concerns.

Students will continue to take the SBAC during high school for measuring progress statistics by school, but the score will not be tied to a student’s graduation. However, an increase from 22 to 24 total credits are required. As part of those 24 credits, and to ensure students are thinking about their future career while in high school, three credits in a “Personalized Pathway” (PP) are a brand new requirement. The PP credits have some flexibility, depending on a student’s goals. For students who plan to attend a university, two of the three PP credits must be in a foreign language with one art credit. Those who do not plan on attending a university work with a counselor to pick classes that will help them in their future careers. Their three PP credits could be filled by additional art credits or even physical education classes. The plan is recorded in a “High School and Beyond Plan” (HSBP).

As an unfortunate side effect, these new changes greatly reduce the number of elective credits students can take while in high school—classes which often help them to explore a variety of

“Kids are still able to take the electives they want like art, but have to be disciplined and thoughtful ahead of time about how to fit in all their requirements. It does put more pressure on the kids because they can no longer fail any class and graduate on time. They used to have a buffer, but now they do not.”

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interests. There is now room for only one elective class per year, or four credits over the course of high school. “There have been consistent drops in elective class opportunities for students with the additional core classes,” explains Jay Gowen, a counselor at Skyview High School. “Kids are still able to take the electives they want like art, but have to be disciplined and thoughtful ahead of time about how to fit in all their requirements. It does put more pressure on the kids because they can no longer fail any class and graduate on time. They used to have a buffer, but now they do not.”

Planning Early The stricter requirements mean it is essential for students to plan their schedules in advance. “Our high school counselors travel to the middle schools multiple times throughout the year,” says Evergreen High School principal, Danny Orrantia. “Sometimes they give presentations and sometimes they meet with kids at the individual level. On top of our academic counselors, we also have college and career counselors who help students navigate their HSBP to choose the best pathway toward graduation.” Students actually begin the HSBP during seventh grade after attending a presentation by counselors. In the presentation they learn how some classes taken in middle school can count toward the core classes needed during high school. Doing this can free up space continued on page 16

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

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Feature: Personal Path: New High School Requirements for Washington (cont'd) continued from page 15

for more elective courses in high school. For example, two years of a foreign language in middle school will count toward one credit of foreign language in high school. Algebra 1 and Environmental Science classes in middle school also count toward the high school requirements. Planning for graduation while in middle school can be intimidating for many students, but counselors are there to help and reassure every step of the way.

Brynne B., who will be a sophomore this year at Skyview, plays the cello in orchestra. Prioritizing her music means she is not able to take other classes she’s interested in, like photography and calligraphy. “I take orchestra because I love music and I love my teacher Ms. O’mara,” she says. “I also love doing it with my friends. But, I don’t like [that] since I do orchestra I have less elective options.” Because Brynne plans on attending a university after high school, her one and only elective will be orchestra if she continues it through all four years of high school. “I think the foreign language requirements are a good thing, because it’s good to learn different languages, but when there’s so many required classes, your schedule gets full and you don’t have any room to try any new electives or gym classes.”

Making it Work To help students make the most of their high school experience, schools are providing creative ways to fit in classes. For example, a zero-period hour before the regular school day helps students fit in an extra class. These classes are limited and are often physical education classes, but can still help some students make room for other requirements. Some schools offer classes that meet dual requirements. “Classes like Physics through Engineering (a freshmen level class) counts for both career/technical education credit as well as science credit. These types of courses, especially when front-loaded in a student’s high school career, allow for more schedule flexibility as they progress through their education,”

explains Orrantia. These options vary greatly by school and from year to year.

Extra support is more important than ever to keep kids on track due to the increased credit requirement. Failing a single semester in a class can now put a student’s graduation at risk. Any student could fall into this situation with the unpredictable stresses of life.

Thankfully, there are options. “[Evergreen Public Schools’] board has written policies which allow for competency credit for lower level courses when a student passes a higher level course in the same subject,” continues Orrantia. “For instance, if a student fails English his or her sophomore year and then earns a B in [their] junior English class, credit is earned for both junior English and sophomore English. This is one of the benefits of residing in a standards based state where students demonstrate proficiency based on Common Core standards as opposed to working to earn points for their grade based on the number of assignments they complete.” Many schools also offer a seventh period after school for “credit recovery” to make up failed courses.

Focusing on Other Paths With rising college costs, more young people are looking for alternative options that will not leave them in debt. Removing the SBAC testing requirement validates students’ career path choices outside of college (since the main goal of the SBAC was to measure a student’s readiness to begin college without needing remediation courses). “[Preparing kids for college] has been a focus of the district for many years. Traditionally, most post-secondary discussions were around four-year and two-year college entry,” admits Gowen. “We have really shifted that over the years so that all kids get the exploration and planning support that they need. No longer is the primary focus on four-year college acceptance; we provide information, planning and support for all post-high school options.” Many jobs coming to Washington will include trades that do not require a four-year-degree, so helping students understand those paths ultimately helps Washington by reducing unnecessary student debt in the population, and by adding skilled workers to the workforce.

The most significant change HB 1599 introduced is individual graduation pathways. The varied pathways highlight work, apprenticeships, career training and military enrollment as postgraduation goals equally as worthwhile as attending college. The HSBP helps a student plan toward one of those goals. “I am glad that the students can now meet testing standards through a variety of other methods,” says Gowen. “Those methods are diversified enough to provide multiple graduation pathways for students. The single test had definitely been a huge barrier keeping students from graduating.” continued on next page

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

continued from previous page

The Washington State Board of Education has approved seven different pathways in addition to the SBAC test to fulfill graduation requirements, although every district may not offer all seven of the new pathways. Students must first attempt the SBAC, which usually occurs in the tenth grade, before pursuing an alternative method below.

Students can now graduate with acceptable English and math scores in the following categories:

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• ACT or SAT college entry tests • Advanced Placement or Inter-Baccalaureate classes • Dual Credits earned through Running Start or other college courses • Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) • Career and Technical Education sequence • Transition Courses, including Bridge to College classes • A combination of the above options

Alternatives to Graduation There are many reasons a student may fall behind or leave school early. Therefore, Washington high schools provide services for anyone seeking to complete a diploma up to at least age 21.

Vancouver area districts have multiple options to help students at risk of dropping out, or those who have left school, finish what they began. Washington Youth Academy, Open Doors and Success Academies are free programs counselors recommend to help students before they drop out, with the aim to help kids graduate on time. For those who have left school, or are above the age restrictions, Clark College and Open Doors offer free or low-cost GED assistance.

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The COVID-19 pandemic hit Washington State the first year HB 1599 was meant to go into effect for students. To offset the difficulties of distance learning, waivers were given to 2020 high school seniors.

It is yet to be seen how these recent graduation requirement changes will affect future graduation rates, for better or worse.

Increasing test options and helping students plan for their own futures should benefit a broader range of students, not just those who are college-bound. However, increasing the number of academic core classes while reducing electives still pushes most students toward the college route. Hopefully, those students who are interested in trades will now feel more supported and all students will explore multiple options for their future success.

Sarah Mortensen recently completed her degree in marriage and family studies and works for Vancouver Public School as a paraeducator.

When Sarah is not reading to her kids or students, she is probably in her backyard taking care of her vegetable garden. She also enjoys hiking, hot chocolate, and dressing up for Halloween. She lives in Vancouver with her husband, son and daughter.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

17

Feature: Recycling and Composting Right in Clark County

By: Sara Halcumb, RN

P

ete DuBois grew up on the east coast, studied economics and spent his college summers working on Wall Street. But when he came out west with his college rock band, he fell in love . . . with the natural environment. “I was enamored by the Pacific Northwest and the rivers, mountains, coast, and high desert . . . I wanted to do my part to protect the environment.”

DuBois is not alone in his passion for the environment, but because it’s often hard for individuals to perceive direct benefits, sustainable habits can be difficult to cultivate in a community.

According to Clark County Green Neighbors, the average American throws away 4.5 pounds of stuff each day. That waste creates a huge burden on the environment and the continued on page 20

Waste Connections’s West Vancouver Materials Recovery Facility line sorters and machines sort out recyclables.

Photo courtesy of Waste Connections of Washington, Inc.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

20483107 $399,000

4316 NE 41st Street, Vancouver • Centrally located home with 3 bay detached 24x 48 garage/shop. 3rd bay has separate door. Home has been recently remodeled with new roof & new flooring. Country kitchen open to vaulted family room (could be formal dining). Living room with skylight & pellet stove. Front room would be great for office or playroom. Large additional bonus room or 4th bedroom. Home has RV parking & additional parking with fenced alley access - large .31 lot. Home is 1/2 block to bus line. Lots of space inside/out.

Upcoming Classes

Thinking of Buying, or Selling a Home in 2020?

Real Estate Education Classes are the best places to begin your Home August 2020 Adventure. Classes are Free, and Non-Promotional!

All home BUYER and home SELLER classes will be held virtually until the offices & community centers open up. Virtual Classes are TWO hours starting at original posted & scheduled time. We are hopeful that Marshall Community Center & the Vancouver YMCA will open soon, but until they do, we are happy to host these classes virtually. Please email traciedemars@aol.com for link & password for the classes.

Home Buying Classes & Home Selling Classes

Home Buyer Classes

We are hopeful that the Home Buyer and Home Seller classes will be taught in person at the Marshall Community Center, Vancouver YMCA and Cardinal Financial very soon. However, due to COVID-19, these locations are still closed, so we are currently teaching by secure webinar. We look forward to teaching in person as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. We want to respect everyone’s level of comfort both now, and as things open up more.

In the meantime, please email traciedemars@aol.com, for link & password. Please continue checking the website @ www.learningtobuyahome.com for updates as we have them. Thank you, and stay well.

Saturday, August 1st, from 9am - 11am (ish) Tuesday, August 4th, from 5pm-7pm (ish) Saturday, August 8, from 10am-12pm Saturday, August 15, from 11am-1pm Saturday, August 22nd, from 12pm-2pm (ish) Monday, August 24th, from 5pm - 7pm (ish) Saturday, August 29th, from 10am - 12pm (ish)

Free Seller Classes

We would love to be the ones you call when you are thinking about buying, or selling, or refinancing.. and we hope that you will.

However, the classes are non-promotional, and informational only.

Saturday, August 22nd, from 9am-11:00am Thursday, August 27th, from 5:30pm-7pm

Class schedule for more class dates and locations available at:

Tracie DeMars/ REMAX Equity Group traciedemars@aol.com

www.learningtobuyahome.com

www.traciedemars.com (link for upcoming classes)

360.903.3504

Appl� Now Aplique Ahora

While slots are still available! ¡Mientras ha�a espacio disponible!

*Some families are eligible to receive FREE services.

Algunas Familias son elegibles para recibir servicios gratis.

Clark County Services We Offer: Servicios del condado de Clark que ofrecemos: » FREE Preschool* » Accepting Child Care Subsidies » Playgroups » Prenatal Support » Developmental Screenings » Home Visits

(360) 952–3466

» Preescolar GRATIS* » Aceptando Subsidios de Cuidado Infantil » Grupos de Juego » Apoyo Prenatal » Evaluacion de Desarrollo » Visitas al Hogar

www.esd112.org/ece

Your local partners in Earl� Learnin�

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

19

Feature: Recycling and Composting Right in Clark County (cont'd) continued from page 18

economy. Recycling and composting are excellent ways to reduce this impact for a greener and more sustainable future.

But within the U.S., recycling efforts vary from region to region.

As Meg Johnson, waste reduction educator and recycling events coordinator for Waste Connections of Washington explains, “There are no national recycling rules and so every small part of the country has to come up with their own rules, find recyclers to make the materials collected into something new and make the system work for their local area.” To encourage vital earth-friendly practices locally, Waste Connections, the City of Vancouver and Clark County Green Neighbors have implemented some new programs in recent years to improve recycling and composting practices in Clark County and maintain a clean and green way of life in our region for generations to come.

The Recycle Right Program In January 2020, Waste Connections rolled out their new Recycle Right Program with the aim of improving recycling habits in our area. During this year-round program, a team of recycling advocates visually inspect residential recycle carts for items that do not belong. You may notice an “Oops Tag” on your cart after the recycling advocates have visited your neighborhood, informing you of which non-accepted items were observed in your cart. The initiative provides firsthand recycling feedback to residents in order to keep items that cannot be recycled out of the cart and increase efficiency for processing recyclables.

What are acceptable items for the blue recycle bin at the curb?

Plastics: Shape, size and rigidity are especially important in this category. We accept plastic bottles, plastic tubs and plastic jugs (think plastic shampoo bottles, sour cream containers or milk jugs, all rinsed out). If the item is not clearly identifiable as one of those three shapes, it is not an item that can be recycled.

Paper/Cardboard: This is probably our most straight forward category. This includes paper, cardboard, cartons (think broth cartons or alternative milk cartons) and paperboard (such as dry pasta boxes).

Metal: For this category we are looking for aluminum, steel and tin cans, empty aerosol cans and aluminum trays. These items we often find pretty contaminated with food or grease, so giving these a good rinse before placing them in your cart is particularly important.

Glass: Glass is a recyclable item that can be placed in your “glass only” bin next to your blue recycle cart. Too often we find glass in the blue carts which can harm our line sorters. For glass, we only want food-grade glass bottles and jars. No lids, corks, broken glass or citrus rinds pressed into the beer bottles (one of our top contaminants for this category of recycling).

Johnson goes on to emphasize, “We in Clark County are incredibly lucky that we can accept all [these] materials . . . many parts of the country have had to radically shift what they accept because of lack of local resources for their communities.”

Johnson advises, “All recyclables must be empty, clean and dry.

All the recyclables collected in Clark County are sorted by both machines and people, dozens of people in fact. If you would not want to touch your recycling items again, neither do our line sorters.”

What are common unacceptable items found in the blue recycle bin?

She further breaks down acceptable recycling practices in Clark County by category.

These include: • Plastic “clamshell” containers • Plastic bags • Styrofoam/block foam • Lids from plastic containers • Shredded paper • Fridge/freezer packaging • Take-out food packaging items • Items that still have food residue in them • PPE and related materials (gloves, masks, wipes, etc.)

She stresses that some items are incredibly hard for the line sorters to sort through and don’t have a recycler who wants to make them into new products.

continued on next page

Waste Connections’s West Vancouver Materials Recovery Facility line sorters sort out recyclables from a conveyor belt.

Photo courtesy of Waste Connections of Washington, Inc.

20

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

Caring for infants, children and adolescents in the Vancouver area since 1978!

We are accessible to you every day!

Phone advice line available 24/7 Compassionate, comprehensive care

Main Office

• Open 7 days a week • Weekday evenings open until 7pm • Sat & Sun morning for Urgent Care

Salmon Creek Office

• Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm

Call Us Today!

(360) 892-1635

Evergreen Pediatric Clinic PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center 505 NE 87th Avenue, Suite 120 Vancouver, WA 98664

Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital Medical Building 2101 NE 139th Street, Suite 370 Vancouver, WA 98686

www.evergreenpediatrics.com continued from previous page

Styrofoam/block foam and shredded paper can be brought into any of the three transfer stations within Clark County to be recycled at no charge.

Household hazardous waste such as herbicides, pesticides, toxic cleaning products, paint and other environmental poisons can also be brought to any of the three transfer stations on most Fridays and weekends for free.

Plastic bags can be taken back to most grocery stores and placed in the drop-off containers at the entryway.

A few household hazardous wastes such as batteries, motor oil and antifreeze can be collected curbside alongside your recycling cart in appropriate containers.

residents can include food scraps with their yard debris. While curbside recycling is available to all residents of Clark County, the new curbside organics program is only available to residents in Vancouver city limits.

Liz Erickson, solid waste analyst for the City of Vancouver states, “The list of acceptable items for yard debris stays the same (brush, weeds, grass clippings, etc.), however subscribers to this great optional service can now include many other items such as peels, cores, leftovers, coffee grounds, meats, bones, shells and cheese.” continued on page 22

For further details on best recycling practices, download the free RecycleRight Vancouver ClarkCo app for your smartphone or tablet, which allows users to search specific waste items and learn how to recycle or dispose of it safely.

The Organics Program The City of Vancouver’s yard debris service is now called “organics” because Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

21

Feature: Recycling and Composting Right in Clark County (cont'd) continued from page 21

There are some items not accepted in the organics cart. These include pet waste, cat litter, free-flowing liquid waste (such as milk, etc.), dead animals, general garbage, glass, take-out food containers, compostable service ware, soiled paper and ashes.

Erickson highlights that, “This new service is one way to move food out of the landfill and get it composted into nutrient-rich compost used locally. When food goes into the garbage and then to the landfill it emits methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, as it decomposes. The City of Vancouver’s organics option can help reduce the amount of methane emitted into the atmosphere. It can also reduce the amount a household puts into its garbage cart.”

Dirt made from the material in the organics program is available to buy in East Vancouver at Sundance Rockery. This way the program “closes the loop” for residents to buy a product made from local recycled content—which is what makes recycling work.

Become a Master Composter Recycler For his part, DuBois relocated from the east coast to this land that he loves, and has now worked for Clark County for over 25 years, currently as senior environmental outreach specialist. He shares his passion and skills with others who want to take their environmental stewardship to the next level through coordinating the county’s Master Composter Recycler certification program.

“Master Composters are a community embracing waste

reduction,” he explains. “We share information and support each other to minimize our carbon footprint, shrink our garbage, reduce household toxins and grow nutrient dense food with living compost soils.” The free 10-session volunteer training course explores backyard composting, vermicomposting, recycling, sustainable living, green cleaning and more. Spring and fall composting webinars are also held. Participants then share what they learn with the Clark County community in a variety of events and community outreach initiatives.

Recycling and composting benefit our community far into the future, and each of us can do our part to keep it going strong.

“Composting and recycling are a critical step in doing what we can continued on next page

Master Composter Recyclers feed large scale vermicompost system at the 78th Street Heritage Farm in Hazel Dell. Red worms are grown here to give away to the community as part of the Worm Bin Composting workshop and webinar series. L-R: George Gross, Peter DuBois, Mike Boer, Alex Luna.

Photo courtesy Peter DuBois.

22

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

continued from previous page

on an individual basis to protect natural resources,” says DuBois, “and to ensure that there are enough for all future generations.”

Sara Halcumb is a registered nurse with more than 10 years of experience in healthcare. She also writes for the Southwest Washington blog Literally Simple. Sara was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and currently lives in Battle Ground with her husband and their two children. Most days you can find her enjoying the beautiful outdoors with her family and their dog Bandit.

Go to VancouverFamilyMagazine.com/recycling for Recycling A-Z from the City of Vancouver and Master Composter Recycler program information.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

23

CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Calendar

August ‘20

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

1 SATURDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver, at 8th St and Esther St. Physical distancing required, masks encouraged, send one person per household. Go to www. vancouverfarmersmarket.com to learn more about safety restrictions to this year’s market, and to access the market’s new online store with curbside pickup. First hour of each day is reserved for seniors and individuals with underlying medical conditions. Saturdays and Sundays through November 1. 9 am-3 pm Farm Days at Pomeroy Farm, 20902 NE Lucia Falls Rd., Yacolt. Physical distancing friendly drive-thru experience, including I-Spy activity, local vendors, and farm history!

While taking a scenic drive of the historical grounds, there will be several snack options available, including popcorn, cotton candy, coffee, and ice cream. 11 am-4 pm

2 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Aug. 1) 10 am-3 pm Farm Days at Pomeroy Farm. (See Aug. 1) 11 am-4 pm

of events

activities

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.

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 MONDAY

Build It! – Virtual Event. Inspire your imagination and develop your STEM skills.

You never know what we’ll build with: LEGO® bricks, blocks, boxes, or other fun materials.

Join FVRL on Facebook (www.facebook. com/fvrldistrict) for a challenge presented by a member of FVRL staff. You might even recognize them from your local library. Not available at 2 pm on Mondays? These will be recorded for later viewing. Each week we’ll suggest an at-home activity. You can share a photo and a story about your creation with us and other builders in the comments on Facebook. This activity is open to and fun for all ages. 2-2:15 pm

4 TUESDAY

Eric Ode in Concert – Virtual Event.

Children’s author, poet, and award-winning songwriter Eric Ode uses American Sign Language and other hand motions, body movement, fingerplays, children’s books, poems, puppets, and props to create programs sure to teach, engage, and entertain. View at FVRLibrary’s Facebook page.

T

4

Y

UESDA

Salmon Creek Farmers’ Market at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, 2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver. Every Tuesday Jun 16-Oct 6, 2020. Face coverings and physical distancing required. 11 am-3 pm

5 WEDNESDAY

Camas Farmer’s Market, located between the library and City Hall in historic Downtown Camas, every Wednesday through Sep 30. Bring a mask for the safety of fellow shoppers, vendors and yourself. 3-7 pm

6 THURSDAY

East Vancouver Farmers Market at 17701 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. Thursdays through August 27. Physical distancing and masks required, send one person per household. 10 am-2 pm Will Hornyak Presents The Adventures of Medio Pollito (Half Chicken) and Other Unlikely Heroes -Virtual Event. Join master storyteller Will Hornyak as he weaves together myths, fables, tall tales and folktales from oral traditions around the world into engaging and thoughtful performances.

View on the FVRLibrary’s Facebook page.

11-11:30 am

7 FRIDAY

Summer History Virtual Tours, presented

by Clark County Historical Museum. Take a tour through the notable building and events in the history of various locations in

Photo credit: Eric Ode

continued on next page

24

Eric Ode's upbeat, high-participation programs are bubbling over with fun and music and include stories, skits, poetry, props and puppets. It will be available online at the FVRLibrary's Facebook page.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

6

Photo credit: Sarah Vandervoort

Y

THU

RSDA

continued from previous page

Soulful storyteller, creative teacher and dynamic performer, Will Hornyak’s highly imaginative performances will be available on FVRLibrary's Facebook page.

16 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Aug. 1) 10 am-3 pm

18 TUESDAY

Salmon Creek Farmers’ Market at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital. (See Aug. 4) 11 am-3 pm

19 WEDNESDAY

Camas Farmer’s Market. In Downtown Camas. (See Aug. 5) 3-7 pm continued from previous page Clark County, streamed on Clark County Historical Museum’s Facebook page. August 7: Downtown Camas, August 14: Downtown Battle Ground. 12-1 pm Alderbook Park Friday Night Cruise In at Alderbrook Park, 24414 NE Westerholm Rd., Brush Prairie. $5 cash per vehicle/$5 per person for spectators at the main gate (please have exact change). Physical distancing and masks required. Café, snack shack, beer garden will be open for orders.

Every Friday through September 11.

4 pm-Dusk

8 SATURDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Aug. 1) 9 am-3 pm

9 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Aug. 1) 10 am-3 pm

11 TUESDAY

Salmon Creek Farmers’ Market at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital. (See Aug. 4) 11 am-3 pm

13 THURSDAY

East Vancouver Farmers Market at 17701 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. (See Aug. 6) 10 am-2 pm Jeff Martin - Sleightly Amazing-Seriously Funny Entertainment - Virtual Event.

Comedy to make you laugh out loud and magic to amaze your brain. View on FVRLibrary’s Facebook page. 11-11:30 am

14 FRIDAY

Alderbook Park Friday Night Cruise In at Alderbrook Park, 24414 NE Westerholm Rd., Brush Prairie. (See Aug. 7) 4 pm-Dusk Summer History Virtual Tours, presented

by Clark County Historical Museum. (See Aug. 7) 12-1 pm

15 SATURDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Aug. 1) 9 am-3 pm Rocksolid Community Teen Center Lucky Shamrock Auction (Online). Live online stream and silent auction. More information at www.rocksolid-teen.com. 6:30 pm

20 THURSDAY

East Vancouver Farmers Market at 17701 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. (See Aug. 6) 10 am-2 pm

21 FRIDAY

Alderbook Park Friday Night Cruise In at Alderbrook Park, 24414 NE Westerholm Rd., Brush Prairie. (See Aug. 7) 4 pm-Dusk

22 SATURDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Aug. 1) 9 am-3 pm

23 SUNDAY

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Aug. 1) 10 am-3 pm

24 MONDAY

Meditation for Everyone – Virtual Event.

This workshop will introduce you to the practice of meditation, which can help you to replace stress and fear with patience and love. View on FVRLibrary’s Facebook page.

6:30-7:30 am continued on page 26

The Zaniac Virtual Show! A very funny one man variety show with magic, juggling, music and lots of laughter. View at FVRLibrary’s Facebook page. 11-11:30 am

12 WEDNESDAY

Camas Farmer’s Market. In Downtown Camas. (See Aug. 5) 3-7 pm

Camas, Salmon Creek, Vancouver and East Vancouver Farmer's Markets are all open with fresh local produce and craft items.

Check your local market for safety guidelines.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

25

continued from page 25

IDAY

S

FR

Calendar of Events & Activities (cont’d)

25 TUESDAY

Salmon Creek Farmers’ Market at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital. (See Aug. 4) 11 am-3 pm

26 WEDNESDAY

Camas Farmer’s Market. In Downtown Camas. (See Aug. 5) 3-7 pm

27 THURSDAY

East Vancouver Farmers Market at 17701 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. (See Aug. 6) 10 am-2 pm Doing the Work: An anti-racist media discussion circle – Virtual Event. 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

Photo credit: Alderbrook Park

UGH THRO ER MB E SEPT

The Alderbrook Cruise In is open every Friday, weather permitting, from 4 pm to dusk. Special interest cars, trucks and bikes are on display for the whole family. focused on anti-racist literature and other media. All assigned materials will be freely available online with an FVRL library card.

Registration required at fvrl.org. 6-7:30 pm

29 SATURDAY

28 FRIDAY

30 SUNDAY

Alderbook Park Friday Night Cruise In at Alderbrook Park, 24414 NE Westerholm Rd., Brush Prairie. (See Aug. 7) 4 pm-Dusk

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Aug. 1) 9 am-3 pm

Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Aug. 1) 10 am-3 pm

V VANCOU ER PARKS &

R EC

RE

AT IO

Vancouver Parks & Recreation’s Food & Fun Program provides free creative activities for children ages 6-11 to help them stay engaged in learning over the summer. The take-home activity kits include a USDA lunch to support students’ health and wellness while they are not receiving school meals over the summer. Lunch is served Monday-Friday to children and teens 18 and under (kids and teens must be present to receive a meal). Activity kits designed for ages 6-11 are available every Tuesday on a first come, first served basis. Sites are set up to support physical distancing and ensure safe distribution of food and activities.

Program Dates: Weekdays through August 14, 2020 Locations and Hours:

Evergreen Neighborhood Park Fort Vancouver High School Harney Elementary Park John Ball Neighborhood Park Leroy Haagen Community Park

(3500 E Fourth Plain Blvd.)

(5700 E. 18th St.) (3212 E Evergreen Blvd.)

(23rd St. and Kauffman Ave.) (NE 9th St., west of NE 136 Ave.)

12:15 - 1:00 pm 11:00 - 11:45 am 11:00 - 11:45 am 12:15 - 1:00 pm 12:00 - 1:00 pm

More information at www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec 26

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2020

N

Washington State Department of Health's

DO’s and DON’Ts of wearing masks

Practice compassion.

Remember, wearing a cloth face covering is an act of compassion. We cover our faces to protect others. There is no public health reason to wear a cloth face covering if you are alone in your car, in your own home, or around members of your own household.

DON’T wear surgical-grade masks or N95 respirators. We need to reserve those for health care and other frontline workers.

DON’T think that wearing cloth face masks means we can gather in large groups of people. For most of the state, all gatherings are prohibited. For the counties that are in Phase 2, all gatherings of more than 5 people outside your household are prohibited.

DO cover your face with a couple layers of cloth while in public places.

DON’T think that wearing a cloth face mask makes it safe to come within six feet of other people. At best, a cloth face covering is just one added level of precaution. It doesn’t really help unless we are also washing our hands, staying home when we are sick, and practicing physical distancing.

DO wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before you put your mask on and after you take it off.

DON’T wear a cloth face covering while exercising outdoors. It’s not dangerous, just annoying and not necessary.

DO wash your cloth face covering in a washing machine after a day’s use.

DON’T put a cloth face covering on a child under age 2 or on a person with a disability that keeps them from being able to remove it.

DO take a cloth face covering with you if you are hiking or visiting a park. Although you do not need to wear one outside, you may find that you need to come within 6 feet of someone else on a trail. At that point, put your cloth face covering on, say hello, and carry on.

DO make sure the cloth face covering covers both your mouth and nose.

DON’T touch your cloth face covering after you put it on. Try not to touch your face at all.

DON’T worry that a cloth face covering might restrict your oxygen. It’s not airtight. If you ever feel like you’re having trouble breathing, remove the cloth face covering and sit down. If the feeling persists, call 911.

advertiser index Camps, Parties & Entertainment Naydenov Gymnastics Fun Center................11 Events FVRLibraries....................................................3 Fitness Naydenov Gymnastics Fun Center................11 Health Barnick Chiropractic.........................................3 Evergreen Pediatrics......................................21 PeaceHealth.....................................................5 Priority Life Chiropractic and Massage...........11 Storybook Dental............................................17 Vancouver Clinic...............................................7 Vancouver Vision Clinic....................................7

Legal Schauermann, Thayer, Jacobs, Staples & Edwards PS...................................28

Schools & Education ESD 112.........................................................19 St. Andrew Preschool.......................................3

Resources ESD 112.........................................................19 Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Seminars.............19 Natura Pest Control..........................................2 Retail ArchCrafters.....................................................3 Jaime Bugbee Photography...........................13 Kazoodles Toys................................................9 Literary Leftovers..............................................7 Vancouver Mall...............................................15

Vancouver Vancouver Family Family Magazine Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December • August 2016 2020

27

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