Vancouver Family Magazine February 2019

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February 2019

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contents

February ‘19

12

FEATURE ARTICLES

12

Relationship “Connectication” Transforming relationships with the head and the heart

18

Mac Potts Local musical prodigy shares love through music

22

Day Trip: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Explore the wonder of Tacoma's historic and groundbreaking attraction

IN EVERY ISSUE

22 18 8

6

Editor’s Notes

8

The New Domesticity Relishing the stillness of "February Twilight"

10

Renaissance Dad Love means never having to wear hiking boots

26

Calendar of Events & Activities

ON THE WEB • Children's Film Festival Seattle • Enter for a chance to win a Slumberkins gift package

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Photo: Scarlette Richards – scarlette.squarespace.com

EDITOR'S NOTES

Marriage Matters In 2014, a fascinating article in “The Atlantic” entitled “How to Save Marriage in America” asserted that while marriage may be viewed

by some as obsolete for adults, it is crucial for children. “Recast for the modern world, and re-founded on the virtue of committed

parenting, marriage may yet have a future,” wrote contributor

Richard V. Reeves, policy director of the Center on Children and Families at the Brookings Institution. “That future of marriage

matters most for the individuals in the house that aren’t in the union:

www.VancouverFamilyMagazine.com

Volume 18, Issue 2 Publisher

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

Editor

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

Graphic Designer

I-Shüan Warr Ishuan@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

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our children.” Reeves described high-investment parenting, or “HIP”

Philip Nerat Philip@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

marriage. Romance novels and Hollywood rom coms emphasize the

Julianna Lawson, Perry P. Perkins, Brooke Strickland, Brenda and Gil Stuart

sequel detailing the difficult yet highly rewarding adventures of co-

sales@vancouverfamilymagazine.com

marriages as offering the best hope for saving the institution of

stimulation and gratification of adults in a relationship, with nary a

parenthood. But the reality is that children thrive when both parents

are highly invested in both the quality of their adult relationship, and the well-being of their children (not simply the former). For many

families, it’s a daily conflict of interest that presents new challenges

with each age and stage. But when managed well, two-parent homes

can still be successful in this modern age of independence and shared childrearing responsibilities. Perhaps even more so.

Discover how marriage relationships, even those most vulnerable, can be transformed with the head and the heart, on page 12.

Contributing Writers

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Vancouver Family Magazine is published monthly by Vancouver Kidz Magazine, LLC Address: PO Box 820264 Vancouver, WA 98682 Tel: 360-882-7762 Copyright 2002-2018. 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.

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On the Cover: Pat and Tim of Longview will be celebrating their 45th anniversary in June.

Correction: In our January 2019 issue, we incorrectly listed The Blind Onion Pizza and Pub’s website. The correct website is www. blindonionpizza.com, and Vancouver locations include Mill Plain & Grand, Hazel Dell, Orchards, and Fisher’s Landing.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

Photo by Erika Radek. erikarenaephotography.com @Erika.Renae.Photography erikarenaephotography 360-442-8601

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THE NEW DOMESTICITY

the

NEW DOMESTICITY

1

By Julianna Lawson

February Twilight

When my children were young, I regularly encouraged

the memorization of seasonal poems. We’d delight in the rich autumn days as we envisioned Helen Hunt Jackson’s lines, “From dewy lanes at morning / The grapes’ sweet odors rise,” or we’d soar into spring with the immortal lines of Wordsworth: “I wandered lonely as a cloud / That floats on high o’er vales and hills.”

The February poems always seemed to be limited to two obvious themes: Valentine’s Day and snow. Yet a poem by Sara Teasdale, whispered into our home many years ago, speaks of a February gem we might unearth if we dig a bit. Yes, it features the characteristic snowfall, but it goes deeper than that, too. Take a moment to slowly read through “February Twilight,” letting the scene and its implications settle quietly: I stood beside a hill Smooth with new-laid snow, A single star looked out From the cold evening glow.

There was no other creature That saw what I could see -I stood and watched the evening star As long as it watched me.

If you have the time, read it again. Do you see it? Do you hear it?

Teasdale draws us into a scene that is rare: a scene devoted to solitude, to reverence, to quiet. The snow is smooth . . . the star is solitary . . . the evening glows . . . and—wonder of wonders—there is time to simply stand . . . and watch!

We lead busy lives. We push for more, we reach for the next thing, we anticipate that which is around the bend. Sometimes this foresight and ambition can be helpful, even necessary. Other

times, it takes away from the moment at hand—a moment that will never come again. Emily P. Freeman, in her podcast, “The Next Right Thing,” brings this to light: “The louder the sound, the more instinctual my attention . . . . The urgent bursts into the room, dramatic and demanding. The quiet things—the sometimes more important things—whisper, steady and waiting.”

The quiet, unobtrusive things—like that single star looking out “from the cold evening glow”—is it possible to even care about them anymore? Or have we become too driven by demand, by immediacy, by urgency? I’m a hopeless romantic, but I do believe it’s possible to have “February Twilight” moments, even on a daily basis. As we do so, we’ll be modeling this habit for our children, a habit of paying attention to the things that matter, the things that “whisper, steady and waiting” in our homes, not in our devicedependent hands. The memes, the tweets, the snaps—they feel so urgent! But how much more mesmerizing is the curve of your baby’s smile? The giggle of your girls as they play dress-up? The flicker of candlelight on a cold winter evening?

One practical way to begin this habit of purposeful stillness is to start small. Freeman suggests simply sitting for five minutes. That’s it! Sit still, with your hands and immediate agenda . . . empty. Use this time to enjoy the rest, the quiet. (I often accompany this time with a cup of tea and the flicker of a candle or two, but then you already know I’m a hopeless romantic!) This quietness eventually gives birth to the ability to slow down at other times, too.

Start to pay attention to those little things that beg for stillness and awe. Appreciate those moments, perhaps even jotting them in a spiral notebook: “the hum of the dishwasher . . . the simmer of soup on the stove . . . the way my son’s eyes glow when he’s eager to talk about his school day.” As we pay attention, we can invite our children to develop this habit of paying attention, too. We continued on next page

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

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can sit with the toddler and squish playdough without responding to notifications. We can rub our child’s back and sing a sleepytime song without feeling pulled toward the television. It takes practice, and it takes discipline, but it also takes us back to the quiet that makes room for meaningful family connection.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret: my plan is that, someday, my children will look up at that mysterious moon and reach for the hand of their own child. They’ll say, with a wry grin, “Your Nonna would have pulled me out on a night like this, too. Let’s watch that moon for a few minutes. Believe me, everything else can wait.”

I’m working on this discipline myself, and I’ve become notorious for grabbing my children at moonrise. “Let’s go to the park!” I beckon.

Shrugging on our coats, we run down to catch the golden orb on the horizon, the magnificent glow that begs for awe, for stillness, for reverence. Right now my kids probably think I’m the crazy one.

Julianna Lawson and her husband Jamie make their home in Vancouver with their four children, ages 13 to 20. Although Julianna’s idea of stillness usually involves a cup of tea, a flickering candle, and a good book, she also delights in putting together puzzles with her kids or in gathering with the family for a lively game of cards.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

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RENAISSANCE DAD

Love Means

Never Having to Wear Hiking Boots

Ah, my life is good.

She leans down, her lips brushing my ear, and whispers…

, wa iia n Cruise Ba bymo on Ha d! ire qu re ing no hik

20th Ann iversar y, Os ter ville Wa shingon

My hiking boots? Oh yes, today we’re going hiking.

Each year I swear that I’ve learned my lesson, that next year I will find us a cushy resort with a nice ocean-view wayside to sit and compare notes while sipping my bacon-mocha latte, and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation as He intended . . . from the padded comfort of heated bucket seats.

Crap.

Apparently, a year is too long to remember such things.

Our annual State-of-the-Perkins Hike began on our second anniversary, while strolling lazily down the beach and holding hands as we remembered aloud the highlights of our first year.

Now it’s an entrenched activity, complete with maps, notepads, planners, and pens. It’s our opportunity to sum up the events of the last twelve months and set goals of the coming year.

The parking lot is cool and quiet, and blanketed in the soft whispers of the sea and a scent of brine. The trailhead map shows a chipper dotted line leading through the forest. Starlings warble a sweet spring song from high above.

Example: Vic: “What do you think about paying off the car, and putting that payment in Gracie’s college fund?”

An hour later I’m slogging the muddy edge of a dizzying cliff-side trail, scraping pine needles from my dragging tongue as I suck curious chipmunks from the surrounding branches with each gasp.

“Don’t forget to wear your hiking boots.”

Me: “Gasp . . . WHEEZE . . . Gasp . . .”

It’s a very productive time for us.

Increasingly, however, it also tends to be a grueling, sweating, death-march up some nearly non-existent goat-trail (a very small, inebriated goat) to some gray stretch of ocean, a waterfall or, heaven help me . . . another lighthouse.

It’s all a trap.

What the chipper little line didn’t elaborate upon is that the peninsula runs, like a rocky spine, all the way out to the point (and lighthouse), crossing and re-crossing this ridge, and dropping far down the slope on either side before starting back up, gaining and losing altitude like a seagull on crack.

Freely translated: 49 percent of the hike is straight up, and my bulging eyeballs are continued on next page

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

Photos cour tesy of Perr

Spring sunshine creeps through the curtains, throwing lacey shadows across the thick comforter of our hotel bed. Victoria, the amazing woman who became wife on this very morning, years ago, appears with a tall, steaming carafe of coffee.

y P. Perkins

By Perry P. Perkins

CHIROPRACTOR: Dr. Mignon Cejalvo

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inches from the muddy slope, as I water the poison oak with my sweat.

49 percent is straight down, and I’m clutching desperately at various species of prickly, thorny flora, while my hamstrings ping like an ‘83 Ford Focus.

During the remaining 2 percent, I’m staggering along the crest, trying not to throw up, as the starlings chirp, like mocking laughter, from the trees.

Finally, we reach the end of the trail, where rests some gray, gullsplatter pinnacle that looks remarkably like every other freakin’ lighthouse on the freakin’ planet.

Now it’s time to sit back and, once the roar of my exploding capillaries fades, discuss our last twelve months of marital bliss.

This is where Vic pulls out the pad and paper, while I chew a handful of aspirin and pray for a Coast Guard helicopter to appear.

We always begin the same way, focusing on the positives, sharing our favorite memories from the past year, and what we’ve admired most about one another. Next, we review our goals; how did we do with last year’s targets? (Besides, of course, the anniversary activities.) And, lastly, what new things do we want to strive for in the coming year?

Finally, we start the long, slow hike back, stopping a few times along the way, usually when the bright light begins to call to me, to soak in the

beauty of nature. Vic takes some pictures, while I fling rocks at the #$%@&# starlings, and seriously consider throwing myself into the ocean.

Is the hike worth it? Well . . . maybe not.

Is spending some focused time evaluating and celebrating our relationship worth it?

Always.

With a little work and a lot of love this can be the best year of our marriage.

Assuming, of course, that I live to reach the car.

Perry P. Perkins is a third-generation chef, award-winning writer, and culinary instructor. He lives with his family in Longview, and operates the MY KITCHEN Outreach Program, for at-risk and underserved youth. His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including sixteen “Chicken Soup for the Soul” anthologies.

He is also a recurring guest-chef on AM Northwest. More of Perry’s work can be found on Amazon at www.perryperkinsbooks.com, and his cooking blog at www. chefperryperkins.com.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

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Feature: Relationship “Connectication”

Relationship

By Brenda and Gil Stuart

For human beings in every part of our society, and especially between couples, great value is placed on clear communication. We all want to be understood. At some level, we all want to be known. We are Brenda and Gil Stuart, a coach and counselor team in Clark County. Couples approach us to help them untangle their relational knots, and they commonly say they have a communication problem. But often there is a deeper challenge. Consider the following hypothetical, which is indicative of what we (Brenda and Gil) see a lot: Emily asks her husband, Luke, to run to the grocery store for her. Among other items on the list, potatoes are at the top.

Upon Luke’s return, it is discovered that he got everything on the list except the potatoes. As the groceries are being unloaded, the conversation starts: Emily: “How could you have forgotten the potatoes? They are the key ingredient for grandma’s recipe. The meal is ruined!” Emily bursts into tears as she sees the perfect meal she had planned for their dinner guests evaporate into frustration and disappointment in Luke.

Luke: “Look, I got everything else on the list. Can’t you at least acknowledge what I got? You never appreciate what I do.” Luke grimaces in anger at her habit of continually catastrophizing. He feels inadequate and demeaned.

Emily: “You never understand the importance of the little things to me.”

continued on page 14

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

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13

Feature: Relationship “Connectication” (cont’d)

continued from page 12

Luke: “Listen, I’m sorry, I do the best I can. You gotta admit you’re pretty high maintenance.”

Brenda: As you can tell, this conversation is headed for an RDS (Relational Downward Spiral). At this point, Emily and Luke have fallen prey to contempt, defensiveness, criticism and a very poor attempt at trying to repair the failure of completing a simple task.

Emily and Luke’s dilemma is not just miscommunication. It’s the loss of connection.

Gil: Exactly. Communication is about being understood and being known. When unhealthy communication happens, we feel missed.

It’s easy to become angry and defensive. Connecting with one another is when the head and the heart work together. “Heart” is all the intricate parts of your emotions and personality.

Brenda: So, connecting at the head level is more about logistics, rules, and information. And “the heart” is what’s going on under the surface.

Gil: Sure thing. When you are angry, that is a protest that I don’t feel heard, understood, respected or cared for. This is what is going on below the surface. I get set up for more miscommunication and disconnection because my emotions now cloud my thinking.

Brenda: What a mess! Our emotions can misinterpret and distort simple messages. But we can cut through these clouds of confusion that are so emotionally packed.

Gil: To start, intentionally slow down. Emotions are a reaction to something you believe that might not be true. Let’s look at Emily and Luke’s interaction. For instance, getting the meal exactly right was really important for Emily because she believed she was a terrible cook. But Luke did not share the value of something so simple, and he missed her heart. And he felt that Emily did not appreciate his efforts.

Brenda: And Emily wanted acknowledgment from Luke that he missed her heart. That he felt bad, not defensive. More importantly, she

It’s the gs in h t e l t lit e k a m t t ha p i h s n o i a relat

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

continued on next page

and it’s t little thi he n that erod gs relations e a hip.

Where

Children

continued from previous page

wanted acknowledgment of her emotions. And isn’t it easier to be defensive rather than owning our failings or missteps? When couples first get together, they tend to find and think the best of each other. As time goes on and the grind of life takes its toll, we lose that. What if Emily showed Luke a little grace and understanding? Would he have felt safe to admit he goofed up?

Blossom!

Garrett Jewish Preschool

Gil: Both spouses or partners need safety in their relationship to feel connected. That safety begins with a secure bond. The continual reinforcing message of trust and unity in the couple is foundational. Safety makes known that I am not only present but that I am emotionally available. This is demonstrated in the little things, not just the big things.

Brenda: It’s like we always say, “It’s the little things that make a relationship, and it’s the little things that erode a relationship.”

Gil: Secure bonding starts at a very young age and carries on into adulthood. It is better known among therapists as the attachment theory. Below the surface, people have styles of how they connect with others that get “wired in” during their formative years of life.

For kids, it truly is the little things that let them know they are safe and cared for that they carry into adulthood. Unfortunately, “wires” get crossed up or the protective coating can get peeled away which leaves people anxious or disorganized.

Brenda: Human beings are very complicated! As we work with our clients, we introduce them to the basics of attachment styles.

This helps them become self-aware, make any adjustments needed, and grow. Attachment to your spouse or partner is foundational to your relationship. Trust, honesty, and safety will grow in this fertile foundation.

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Gil: Keeping a strong attachment with each other is important.

Positive sentiment toward one another will strengthen your attachment. It will also strengthen your connection. And ultimately it will affect your relationship for a long haul mentality.

Communication is at the head level. Connection is at the heart level. When you put those two together you get “connectication.”

“Connectication” is intentionally focusing on the head and mental level to stay positive. At the heart level, it is to feel and empathize with one another. These two actions are a choice, especially when the clouds of RDS are looming. continued on page 16

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15

Feature: Relationship “Connectication” (cont’d)

For details about Gil and Brenda Stuart’s next Restored and Remarried seminar to be held on March 15-16, 2019 in Vancouver, go to www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com. continued from page 15

Brenda: In Emily and Luke’s conversation, they both let their emotions get the best of them. Maybe Emily is correct, that Luke let her down again. Maybe Luke is right that Emily is a drama queen. But to be able to stop in the moment, and listen with your heart . . . that is a game changer. Emily needed an “emotional potato”! She needed reassurance that she is a great hostess. She needed Luke to accept her disappointment and that he “got her.”

Gil: Luke needed some grace for fumbling the potatoes. His deeper need was affirmation for his efforts to help “the team”.

It’s not about who is right or wrong. Preserving trust and safety in the relationship is the objective of “connectication.”

16

No matter the season of life you are in, “connectication” will serve you well. Practice moving from your head to your heart as you interact with spouses, co-workers, coaches, kids, and friends. You may be surprised to hear what’s really going on!

Gil and Brenda Stuart live in Brush Prairie and have seven grown children and multiple grandchildren between them. Together, they use their professional expertise and personal experience to operate Restored and Remarried, an organization that “encourages and equips couples who are thinking about, starting out on, or are living the stepfamily adventure with fun, interactive and practical resources.” Learn more at www.restoredandremarried.com.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

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Feature: Mac Potts: Local Musical Prodigy Shares Love through Music

Photo credit: Brian Harrison

MAC POTTS Local Musical Prodigy Shares Love through Music

By Brooke Strickland

Mac Potts was born with music inside of him.

He recalls playing with musical toys as a young child growing up in Kalama, and listening to any cassette tape he could get his hands on. He says, “Music has always been part of my life. I don’t really remember a time when it wasn’t. I don’t even remember the first time I played a song on the piano. Apparently, I was in a diaper, reaching above my head to get to the keys in order to play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb.’”

Potts was also born blind, but that has not stopped him from experiencing life to the fullest. In fact, he has been able to experience more than most, because of his musical gifts. Potts is a professional pianist and vocalist now living in Vancouver, and he has been perfecting his talent and skills since childhood. From as

early as age 11, Potts began performing at festivals and events around the Pacific Northwest, and soon he was traveling to take the stage in Memphis, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Florida, and New York. For regular employment, he tunes pianos and performs live regularly at Warehouse ‘23 in downtown Vancouver, and he always has a gig on the books, simply because people are stunned at his mastery of music. “I play almost all styles of music, however, most of it can be easily classified as pop,” he shares. “I had classical training growing up, but I like to think of my roots as rock and roll, soul music, and blues, with a little bit of jazz. I don’t particularly specialize in a style of music. My main talent is making the entire piano sound like a full band, as well as, in the right situation, using my piano bench and feet as extra percussion.

On top of it, I play saxophone, drums, and harmonica, as well as dabbling in a little bit of guitar, ukulele, and bass.”

Music is such an integral part of Potts’s life that it only makes sense that music is also what brought him and his wife together. He knew his wife, Hailey, for 11 years before they were married, but they only encountered each other once a year at Portland’s annual Ten Grands concert hosted by Michael Allen Harrison, where some of the most accomplished pianists, including young prodigies, perform. He said, “For the better part of the first five years, we were mere acquaintances. We eventually started saying more to each other than just ‘Hi, Mac’ and ‘Hi, Hailey.’

We began dating in 2013 and got married in March 2016.” In September 2018, Mac continued on page 20

Check out links to Mac Potts’s new studio album “Three”, his YouTube channel, and his website at www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com/mac-potts.

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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

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GET and DreamAhead are qualified tuition programs sponsored and distributed by the State of Washington. The Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment and College Savings administers and the Washington Student Achievement Council supports the plans. DreamAhead investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. If in-state tuition decreases in the future, GET tuition units may lose value.

Feature: Mac Potts: Local Musical Prodigy Shares Love through Music (cont’d) continued from page 18

and Hailey welcomed a baby daughter.

Potts explains that being a new father has caused him to work even harder as a provider. “I’ve always been the type of person to work hard and do my best but having another family member to provide for just gives me that much more motivation,” he says.

That hard work gave birth to another baby of sorts: Potts’s new album was just released in January. The original concept was inspired by his wife. He says, “This project actually began in November 2017. My wife and I were going through a very difficult time, and her birthday is on November 30. Due to some bad luck, I haven’t necessarily been able to do much for her on her birthdays, but I was determined to change that. I reconnected with a friend of mine, Michael Allen Harrison‘s brother Brian. We got together at his house and I knocked out a live album of piano and vocals in less than two weeks. It was all featuring the music of Ed Sheeran, and I used the songs to tell a story describing

Tickets are on sale now for April 2019’s Ten Grands concert, featuring both Mac and Hailey Potts, among other featured performers.

Learn more at www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com. the journey of my wife and I starting right before we met, all the way up to that point.

It definitely made my wife’s birthday very special, and it was also a good source of therapy for me.”

Over the following months, the project evolved into a real studio production. He decided to use the piano in unique ways,

both on the strings and with digital effects.

The next part was coming up with a name for the album. The day before he started setting up to record, he and his wife found out they would be parents. The name he came up with just felt right: “Three.”

In addition to the new album, Potts recently revealed that he auditioned in continued on next page

I’ve always been the type of person to work hard and do my best but having another family member to provide for just gives me that much more motivation. –Mac Potts

20

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

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Potts offers wonderful wisdom to young musicians, especially those that may be living with a disability. He says, “If you are talented and you have a disability, don’t let that limit you. You are only limited by what you mentally think your limitations are, or what other people try to say your limitations are. My advice to those aspiring young musicians out there is to stay relevant and current, but not lose sight of who they really are.”

A lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, Brooke Strickland is a full-time freelance writer and social media specialist. She is also the co-author of “Hooked on Games,” a book about technology and gaming addiction. When taking a break from writing, she can be found reading a historical fiction novel on her front porch swing, trying a new recipe in the kitchen, or spending time with her husband and two kids. Visit her website at brookestrickland.org.

Photos courtesy of Hailey Potts

front of celebrity judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie for American Idol Season 17. But fans will need to tune in to the show’s season premiere on March 3 to find out if he received a golden ticket to continue in the television talent competition.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

21

Feature: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

POINT DE F IANCE &

ZOO AQ UAR I U M

^ Day Trip

TACOMA

is home to one of western Washington’s most diverse congregations of wildlife. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (PDZA) opened its doors to curious visitors in 1905 and has been stunning sightseers ever since with interactive exhibits and multiple aquariums. The zoo is currently home to nearly 600 species, many of which PDZA is actively working to conserve and protect.

Situated on a striking peninsula with peekaboo views of Puget sound, and adjacent to a park of the same name,

By Nikki Klock

Photos courtesy Nikki and JR Klock

the scenery alone makes it worth the 2.5-hour drive from Vancouver, but the animals and sea life within the zoo were the main attraction that brought my family and me up north last fall.

Our morning at the zoo started off in a way I don’t suppose any morning will begin for me again: with a face-to-face encounter with sharks. PDZA introduced this shark dive experience in 2013. Using scubatype equipment and surface-supplied air, shark dive participants are completely submerged in a large saltwater tank with multiple shark species gracefully swimming just inches away, though on the other side of a human cage.

My husband and I and our fellow adventurers started out with some instructions from experienced divers, then suited up in multiple layers designed to keep our street clothes underneath (mostly) dry, though we couldn’t say the same for our hair and heads. As we were immersed in the comfortably warm water, with our kids watching through the glass (though kids age 8+ may participate), any abrasive or distracting sounds were immediately muffled, highlighting the peaceful simplicity of the underwater world, and the elegance of the creatures who make it their home. I relished my role as invited guest, and found my perception of sharks as monsters eroding. After about 25 minutes of observing, staff assisted us out of the tank and out of the dive gear, and left us with some parting wisdom about shark species in danger, and how to help conserve these majestic animals, such as supporting sustainably and responsibly sourced seafood suppliers.

The eye-to-eye shark dive experience at South Pacific Aquarium was quite the way to start off our visit, but it was just the beginning of our up-close encounters with animals. Stingray Cove, also housed within PDZA’s South Pacific Aquarium, is aptly named for its touchable sting rays, small bamboo sharks and epaulette sharks. Kris Sherman, spokesperson for PDZA, emphasizes continued on next page

22

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the broad value of this direct contact. “The great thing about [touchable exhibits] is that people can come and touch these animals and it’s actually touching nature,” she told me. “We connect people with animals because we know when we do that, they become inspired and say, ‘What can I do to help these animals in the wild?’”

More direct contact with nature awaited us at the much-anticipated Pacific Seas Aquarium, which had opened just days before we visited. This 35,000 square foot

building is the largest capital project in PDZA’s 113-year history, and the years of planning and development have certainly paid off in this awe-inspiring attraction that features striking displays and interactive features.

A favorite for my kids at Pacific Seas was the jellyfish, whose graceful movements were accentuated by blacklights and brightly colored tanks. Continuing the theme of physically connecting humans to

the natural world was a Tidal Touch Zone featuring touchable marine animals native to nearby Puget Sound. “We can touch everything, yay!” I heard an exultant child cry. Multi-dimensional sea-themed art is placed throughout each exhibit, honoring PDZA’s animals and their natural habitats.

The real gem of the aquarium, though, is Baja Bay, a dramatic 32-foot-long transparent sea tunnel where hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays continued on page 24

Photos: Pg 22: Baja Beach Sand Sculpture at PDZA was constructed in June 2018 by international sand sculptor Sue McGrew and her crew, who used 100 tons of sand and wooden forms for support.

Pg 23: The jellyfish are a highlight at the new Pacific Seas Aquarium at PDZA.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

23

Feature: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (cont’d) continued from page 23

and various tropical fish swim overhead. Visitors can even catch the occasional diver cleaning the inside glass or caring for the marine animals inside. Interactive screens teach about the various species who make this particular habitat their home.

My family agreed: Pacific Seas Aquarium is by far the most impressive of any aquarium we’ve visited. But the land animal exhibits did not disappoint either. PDZA showcases species from all over the world in their Asian Forest Sanctuary, Arctic Tundra, Rocky Shores, and Red Wolf Woods. In between each area are large open grassy spaces, which add to the natural ambiance of the 29 total acres. One of these open areas held a special summer-only feature that my kids loved: Baja Beach Sand Sculpture. Using 100 tons of sand and wooden forms for support, international sand sculptor Sue McGrew and her team worked throughout June 2018 to create a larger-than-life seascape out of sand. After preserving the sand with a special glue that holds up even in the rain, the sculpture still looked brand new when we visited in mid-September. Also busy during the summer are live shows and encounters at Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater, and a fabulous Kids’ Zone where uniquely designed play equipment is adjoined by animal enclosures that create the illusion of playing side by side with lemurs, meerkats and wallabies in the wild.

24

Clearly, at PDZA, wonderful things happen when humans connect with nature.

Nikki Klock has been the editor of Vancouver Family Magazine since 2006. She loves exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband of 18 years and their two teenage daughters.

Photos: In addition to two state-of-the-art aquariums, PDZA showcases land and mammal species from all over the world in their Asian Forest Sanctuary, Arctic Tundra, Rocky Shores, and Red Wolf Woods.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

Visit VancouverFamilyMagazine.com to see photos of my family’s visit to PDZA, and videos of my encounter with the sharks.

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IF YOU GO ...

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is open seven days a week from March-October, and closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays November-February with some special openings for winter break and holidays, including Zoolights during Christmas time.

The Kids’ Zone is open year round, with a sprayground open during the summer. Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater show generally runs May through Labor Day. The rest of the year, PDZA Wild Wonders staff does a special animal encounter at noon every day.

SHARK DIVE

Admission at the gate is $20 for adults age 13-64, $19 for seniors age 65+, $16 for youth ages 5-12, $12 for tots ages 3-4, and infants age 2 and under are free. Online ticketing provides a $2 discount on all of these prices.

Age 8+

Entrance into South Pacific Aquarium and Pacific Seas Aquarium are included in zoo admission, while shark dives and other animal encounters are an additional fee.

Tips and Requirements

Cost: $60 Zoo members/$75 non-members (special discounts offered on weekdays) Clothes are likely to get a little wet but clothes dryers are readily available.

You will be fully submerged. Don’t bother to style your hair before your dive! However, there is a bathroom with hair dryers to freshen up after your date with the sharks.

The water temperature is kept at a comfortable 74 degrees.

The entire experience, including orientation and suiting up, lasts about 60 minutes.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

25

CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Calendar February ‘19

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

1 FRIDAY

Explore: Ages 3-6 at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St, Vancouver. Explore a variety of STEM topics with your 3-6-year-old through hands-on activities. 10:30-11:30 am Night Market Vancouver at Vancouver Waterfront Terminal 1 (Warehouse 23), Vancouver. A family-friendly, monthly marketplace that celebrates local businesses, highlights regional talent, and brings the people of our community together. Featuring 80+ vendors, live music, entertainment, drinks, food and more. Free to attend and open to all ages. 5-9 pm Downtown Camas First Friday.

Features activities, art, dining, and afterhours shopping. Local art exhibits, themed family games and activities, and a free-toenter gift basket giveaway. 5-8 pm Father Daughter Valentine’s Ball at Pearson Airfield Historic Hangar, 1115 E 5th St., Vancouver. Tickets $12-$14 at www. cityofvancouver.us/parksrec. 6-8 pm

Photo Credit: Adan Ramos

26

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.

Friday Fun Night at Kids Club Fun & Fitness, 13914 NW 3rd Ct, Vancouver, WA 98685.

Make sure you pre-register your 4-11-yearold. They will spend time with their own age group only (kids are divided between two groups, 4-6-year-olds and 1st – 5th).

6:30-10:30 pm “Jeeves Takes a Bow” at Magenta Theater, 1108 Main St., Vancouver. A comedy adapted

by Margaret Raether from the stories of PG Wodehouse. Tickets $20 at www. magentatheater.com. 7:30 pm

2 SATURDAY

First Saturday at Ridgefield Community Library, 210 N Main Ave, Ridgefield. Stop by the library for activities, crafts, and fun.

10 am-4 pm Come and Play on Saturday at Three Creeks Community Library, 800 NE Tenney Rd, Vancouver. Art, crafts, games and various activities. For kids and tweens ages 3-12. 10 am-12 pm Preparedness Pals Puppet Show at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 NE 136th Ave. Vancouver. A free puppet show

all about fire safety, brought to you by the members of Mountain View High School’s Red Cross Club. 10:30 am Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience” at Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway Portland. From three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems, this cheeky musical shows that individualism can, and should, be worn proudly. Tickets $15-$34 at www.octc.org. 2 pm & 5 pm “Jeeves Takes a Bow” at Magenta Theater.

(See Feb. 1) 7:30 pm

3 SUNDAY

Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience” at Newmark Theatre, Portland.

(See Feb. 2) 11 am & 2 pm

5 TUESDAY

Tuesday Games at Three Creeks Community Library, 800 NE Tenney Rd., Vancouver. Play Dungeons & Dragons in the library meeting room. This group is intended for 4th grade through high school. 4-6 pm continued on page 28

1

Y

F

RIDA

of events

Join other members of our Vancouver community for family-friendly entertainment, food and vendors at Night Market Vancouver.

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

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27

Build It! at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St, Vancouver. Inspire your imagination and develop your STEM skills. Build with: LEGO bricks, blocks, boxes, or other fun materials. For ages 5-12. 4:30 pm

6 WEDNESDAY

Habitat Restoration Wednesdays at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, 1071 S Hillhurst Rd., Ridgefield. Volunteer to help with various habitat and biological projects around the Refuge. 9 am-12 pm Music and Movement at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St., Vancouver.

Enjoy songs, rhymes, rhythm and dance in this active program for children ages 0-6 and their parents or caregivers. 10:30-11:30 am Teen Zine Club at the Camas Public Library at 625 NE 4th Ave. Camas, WA 98607. Join for our Zine Afternoon, a chance for you to work alone or collaboratively on zines, comics, artist books, or other paper projects in the library. Grades 7-12 welcome. Every first Wednesday of the month. 3-5 pm

7 THURSDAY

“Jeeves Takes a Bow” at Magenta Theater.

(See Feb. 1) 7:30 pm

8 FRIDAY

Explore: Ages 3-6 at Vancouver Community Library. (See Feb. 1) 10:30-11:30 am “Jeeves Takes a Bow” at Magenta Theater.

(See Feb. 1) 7:30 pm

9 SATURDAY

Come and Play on Saturday at Three Creeks Community Library. (See Feb 2) 10 am-12 pm

EVERY WEDNESDAY

ESDA

12

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continued from page 26

TU

Calendar of Events & Activities (cont’d)

It's time to get that flat tire patched or dull pair of clippers sharpened! Repair Clark County can help!.

February Second Saturday at the Water Center: Love Your Earth – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way Vancouver.

Explore new ways to reduce waste and treat the Earth kindly. Kids can even make a card for Valentine’s Day using recycled materials at this free event. 1-3 pm Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience” at Newmark Theatre, Portland.

(See Feb. 2) 2 pm & 5 pm “Jeeves Takes a Bow” at Magenta Theater.

(See Feb. 1) 2 pm & 7:30 pm

10 SUNDAY

Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience” at Newmark Theatre, Portland.

(See Feb. 2) 11 am & 2 pm

12 TUESDAY

Build It! at Vancouver Community Library.

(See Feb. 5) 4:30 pm Repair Clark County at Smith Tower Apartments, 515 Washington St., Vancouver.

Bring your bicycles, clothing, small home appliances, small electronics, jewelry, or tools/knives that need sharpening, and fixers will try to repair them or help you fix them.

Attendees may bring one item each and must be present during the repair. If multiple items are brought, you will need to re-enter the line for your additional item after one repair is completed. Only bring items small enough to be easily carried by one person, and do not bring any items that are leaking, dangerous, dirty or have a strong odor.

6-8 pm

13 WEDNESDAY

Habitat Restoration Wednesdays at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. (See Feb 6) 9 am-12 pm Music and Movement at Vancouver Community Library. (See Feb. 6) 10:30-11:30 am “Jeeves Takes a Bow” at Magenta Theater.

(See Feb. 1) 7:30 pm

14 THURSDAY

“Jeeves Takes a Bow” at Magenta Theater.

(See Feb. 1) 7:30 pm

15 FRIDAY

Explore: Ages 3-6 at Vancouver Community Library. (See Feb. 1) 10:30-11:30 am “Jeeves Takes a Bow” at Magenta Theater.

(See Feb. 1) 7:30 pm

16 SATURDAY

Come and Play on Saturday at Three Creeks Community Library. (See Feb 2) 10 am-12 pm “Jeeves Takes a Bow” at Magenta Theater.

(See Feb. 1) 2 pm Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience” at Newmark Theatre, Portland.

(See Feb. 2) 2 pm & 5 pm Lantern Tour: An Evening at the Fort at Fort Vancouver, 612 E Reserve St, Vancouver. Each adult will carry their own

Volunteers at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge get to see the most beautiful places on the refuge while helping to ensure that native wildlife have food and shelter. Winter work is focused on planting and maintenance of these areas.

28

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

continued on page 30

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29

Calendar of Events & Activities (cont’d) continued from page 28 candle lantern and tour with a Park Ranger through the Fort. In each building, there will be experiences of historical vignettes.

Visitors will enjoy a cup of hot cider at the end of the tour. Reservations are required for all Lantern Tours, and cost is $10-$12.

To make reservations, call the Visitor Center at 360-816-6216. 7-9 pm

problems. Sewing machine and limited supplies provided. Ages 12 and up.

6-7:30 pm

17 SUNDAY

23 SATURDAY

Oregon Children’s Theatre presents “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience” at Newmark Theatre, Portland.

(See Feb. 2) 11 am & 2 pm

19 TUESDAY

Build It! at Vancouver Community Library.

(See Feb. 5) 4:30 pm

20 WEDNESDAY

Habitat Restoration Wednesdays at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. (See Feb 6) 9 am-12 pm Music and Movement at Vancouver Community Library. (See Feb. 6) 10:30-11:30 am

21 THURSDAY

The LEGO Club at Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas. A gathering for LEGO lovers of all ages. A new “Librarian’s Challenge” every month, free play, and thousands of bricks and minifigs. No sign-up is required. 4-5 pm Cosplay Collective at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St. Vancouver.

Monthly cosplay workshop where participants can work together on clothing, props, and accessories. Talk about fandom and get advice on how to solve your cosplay

22 FRIDAY

Explore: Ages 3-6 at Vancouver Community Library. (See Feb. 1) 10:30-11:30 am

Come and Play on Saturday at Three Creeks Community Library. (See Feb 2) 10 am-12 pm Family Escape Room: The Cave of Wonders at Three Creeks Community Library, 800-C NE Tenney Rd., Vancouver.

You and your family will have a limited time to solve the riddles, decipher the clues, and find the key to the escape room! Do you have the brainpower and teamwork needed to win?

Please call the library to register your family for a 20 minute time-slot. Recommended group size is between 4 and 8 participants.

Registration opens February 9. 10 am-5 pm Lantern Tour: An Evening at the Fort.

(See Feb 6). 7-9 pm

24 SUNDAY

Becoming American: Multicultural Music and Dance Performances at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver. Enjoy music and dance from Japanese, Russian and Chinese cultures.

3-6 pm

26 TUESDAY

Build It! at Vancouver Community Library.

(See Feb. 5) 4:30 pm

group for 2nd-3rd grades and their parents.

How it works: Sign out a special copy of the book before the meeting. You both read the book. You both come to the meeting, and then keep your copy of the book for free.

There will be snacks and an activity.

6:30-8 pm

27 WEDNESDAY

Habitat Restoration Wednesdays at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. (See Feb 6) 9 am-12 pm Music and Movement at Vancouver Community Library. (See Feb. 6) 10:30-11:30 am Meaningful Movies: Soundtrack for a Revolution at Old Liberty Theater, 115 N. Main, Ridgefield. Free documentary showing with discussion to follow the film in celebration of Black History Month. This film will get you singing with the powerful music of the American civil rights movement – the freedom songs protesters sang on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy wagons and in jail cells as they fought for justice and equality. Special guest speaker local jazz legend, the Doctor of Bebop, David Watson. Doors open at 6:15 pm, snacks and beverages available for purchase. Donations appreciated. 7-9 pm

28 THURSDAY

SICS: The Spoonies Information Circle of Support at Cascade Park Community Library 600 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver.

A group for teens experiencing chronic illness or disabilities, offering support and information sharing. Explore a new topic each month. 4-5:30 pm

Story Explorers at Camas Public Library 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas. A book discussion

27

AY February is Black History Month.

The Meaningful Movies Project in Ridgefield will show the documentary film "Soundtrack for a Revolution" and follow with a discussion with special guest David Watson, the “Doctor of Bebop.”

Photo Credit: Hydro Studios

WE

DNESD

30

Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • February 2019

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advertiser index Camps, Parties & Entertainment Mountain View Ice Arena................................27 Naydenov Gymnastics...................................31 Vancouver Parks and Rec................................5

Events Children's Festival............................................7 Journey Theater.............................................27

Financial iQ Credit Union.................................................3

Fitness Clark County Youth Lacrosse.........................23 Mountain View Ice Arena................................27 Naydenov Gymnastics...................................31 Vancouver Parks and Rec................................5

Health Adventure Dental............................................17 Barnick Chiropractic.......................................23 Child and Adolescent Clinic..............................5 Evergreen Pediatrics......................................13 Peacehealth.....................................................2 Priority Life Chiropractic and Massage...........11 Storybook Dental............................................29 Vancouver Clinic.............................................17 Vancouver Vision Clinic..................................29

Legal Schauermann, Thayer, Jacobs, Staples & Edwards PS...................................32

Retail Blind Onion Pizza and Pub.............................13 Kazoodles.......................................................15 Spoiled Spa and Salon...................................25 Vancouver Mall...............................................31

Schools & Education EOCF................................................................3 ESD112............................................................9 The Gan Jewish Preschool............................15 Good Shepherd Montessori.............................3 King’s Way Christian Schools.........................27 Naydenov Gymnastics...................................31 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School.............21

Resources EOCF................................................................3 ESD112............................................................9 WA529............................................................19

Vancouver VancouverFamily FamilyMagazine Magazine• •www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com• •December February 2016 2019

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