Wichita Family Magazine May 2013

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may 2013

TANGANYIKA WILDLIFE PARK AN INTERACTIVE ANIMAL EXPERIENCE THAT’S GROWING THANKS TO THE FOUTS FAMILY PASSION

Y.E.E.P. BUILDING WEALTH WHILE EMPOWERING PEOPLE AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES

KIDS e g e ll

Co Starts

June 10th!

Take a POWERFUL break from

Summer

Break Kids’ College is for any student entering the K-8th grades for the Fall 2013 school year.

Enroll Early FIND INFORMATION, SCHEDULE AND CLASS DESCRIPTIONS ONLINE. CLASSES HELD ON CAMPUS AT ANDOVER, EL DORADO & ROSE HILL Register online at

A FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACE TO PLAY AND PARTY ANYTIME! ClimateControlle d Inflatabl e Par k

www.butlercc.edu/youthprograms

or Call To Register

Community Education Office: 733-3193 or 733-3247

FUN!

When you have a party at Pure Entertainment we give a suite to the family - the whole time of the party! Mom, Dads, Friends and kids have a private glass-front view of the inflatable park area. Suites include: Over-sized Flat-screen, Private Phone \with Butler Service, Surround Sound, DVD/DVR box with 100's of channels, climate control, V.I.P Door that exits the suite to a Private Parking spot and MUCH MORE!

More than just inflatables

FOOD

ENTERTAINMENT Hours: Monday – Closed Tues.-Thurs.10am – 7pm Fri. 10am – 8pm Sat.10am – 9pm Sun.11am – 8pm Holidays and School Closings – 10am – 9pm

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may 2013

Inside this issue...

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Tanganyika Wildlife Park An interactive animal experience that’s growing thanks to the Fouts family passion Y.E.E.P. / Building wealth while empowering people and strengthening communities

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News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools

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WFM: Product Picks

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Join Wichita Family Magazine at PURE Entertainment

a note from the publishers

T

he Summer months will soon be upon us and the opportunities to get out and enjoy the weather and entertainment in the Wichita area will abound. This month we feature Tanganyika Wildlife Park –an absolute must this spring and summer season. Located east of Wichita in Goddard, the Fouts Family continues to grow the interactive park experience and give park goers the opportunity to connect with animals in an extremely safe environment. While the feature this month dives into the creation, the mission and the exhibits at the park, translating the shear passion that Matt and his family have about the park and animals simply doesn’t do it justice. To say that the Fouts are passionate about animals and Tanganyika would be the equivalent to my children enjoying candy—I simply can’t describe the depths of their passions.

Their passion and vision for the park’s future is simply inspiring. I can attest that checking out our feature about the park in this month’s WF and a trip to Tanganyika would be well worth your time. After getting to know Matt and his family’s hope for the park in the future, I suspect there is much more to come.

Eric and Christy Clark Publishers

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to celebrate National Schools Day Out on May 23, 2013 Mention you saw this ad in WFM and your entry is only $5!

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published by For the Families, LLC 316.295.8465 Publishers Eric and Christy Clark Advertising inquiries contact:

Vice President of Sales & Marketing Cari Fischer cari@wichitafamily.com Wichita Family Magazine is published 12 times a year by For the Families, LLC. Wichita Family Magazine is available free, at schools, stores, restaurants, libraries, retailers and local attractions, as well as other places families frequent. For a complete list of where to find Wichita Family, or for subscription rates, visit www.wichitafamily.com.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 817 Wichita, Kansas 67201 How to reach us: Phone: 316.295.8465 Email: publisher@wichitafamily.com Copyright 2009 by For the Families, LLC. All rights reserved. Wichita Family Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or contest fulfillment from third parties. Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. Wichita Family is distributed free of charge. The magazine’s advertisers make this possible, so support them! We reserve the right to edit submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication, but we reserve the right to refuse material. Materials will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of For the Families, LLC.

Doctor’s Orders With summer approaching and school coming to an end, it might be a good time to consider having your teenagers wisdom teeth evaluated. Wisdom teeth are removed to correct actual problems or to prevent future problems such as irritated gums, infection in association with impaction, or even crowding. Usually in younger people, the wisdom teeth’s roots are not fully developed and the jaw bone is not as dense making removal easier with decreased recovery time.

So consider a proactive approach and see if current or future issues can be prevented by visiting your local dentist.

What’s Virtual School?

vir·tu·al school noun An online learning environment that gives students and families the ability to structure an educational experience that is both flexible and challenging

Maize Virtual Preparatory School offers a tuition free option for K–10 Kansas students. Using the world-renowned Calvert curriculum, your child has access to a comprehensive course of study that is:

Virtual – blends the online experience with traditional texts Classic – reading, writing, math, scientific exploration, historical research, and art

Want to advertise with us?

Contact Cari at cari@wichitafamily.com

Flexible – fits your family’s schedule and your child’s pace Easy-to-use – step-by-step daily lesson plans Visit maizevirtualprepschool.com/events to register for free, fun and informative family events.

To learn more or to enroll call (316) 462-8800 or go to: MaizeVirtualPrepSchool.com

Tanganyika Wildlife Park

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or Matt Fouts and his parents Jim and Sherri Fouts, giving people the opportunity to interact with animals so they can better appreciate animals in a more natural environment has always been a passion. So when the family decided to open Tanganyika Wildlife Park in 2008, after years of breeding and raising exotic and endangered animals, it should come as no surprise that they’re still enjoying their venture after five years.

“We went from nothing but a pasture, barn and 500 head of elk to what people see today,” said Matt, who has been the Assistant Director of the park since its beginning. “We’ve gone from a simple pasture to a pretty

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An interactive animal experience that’s growing thanks to the Fouts family passion

solid regional zoo. If you think the park is cool now, I promise you in 20 years, this park is going to blow you away. There isn’t an animal my dad can’t get. ” Interactive Experience Recognized by Wichita Family Magazine readers as the “No. 1 Place to Visit With the Family,” Tanganyika continues to grow in popularity each and every year.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park has more interactive experiences than any other zoo in the Midwest.

The park offers varying degrees of interaction from feeding, petting, or simply walking around in each exhibit, basing the level of interaction on safety, each animal, and each animals

comfort within their respective habitat.

“I think we try to provide a higher quality experience than your typical zoo,” said Fouts. “We want people to feel the same passion we have for animals. You can’t do that with the normal zoo format that’s been around for hundreds of years. We want them to come away with a connection.

We have really tried to make the park more than a zoo. It’s an experience.”

Tanganyika houses hundreds of animals, many of which you can interact with directly.

“Through a place like ours, it’s our chance to connect people with nature,” said Fouts. “This is

our chance to have an impact.

By having people come to the park and providing them with an experience they’ll never forget, they’re just that much more likely to say ‘I’m going to do something about it. I’m going to try and support as many zoos as I can.’

The experiences are so important for the people. You have to engage them some way.”

Our staff separates us from other places. They’re knowledgeable and they really go above and beyond to make sure you have a wildly different experience.”

All interactive experiences are supervised by a knowledgeable and friendly staff. According to Matt, some of the most popular interactive experiences are: Giraffe Feeding Post Lorikeet Landing Indian Rhino Feeding Kangaroo Walk-about Children’s Zoo Ring-tail Lemur Island The Camel Ride Alongside the growing admission to the park, the number of exhibits continues to grow as well.

“We’ve added four or five exhibits every year,” said Fouts. “We’ve really made some significant strides. We’ve been able to add so many new species that we can breed and have an impact on. Because the public is coming out we’re able to help so many more species. We’re trying to get people to come at least once a year and see what’s new, get that experience, and then come back and see us.”

General Admission (does not include sales tax) Adult Admission - $13.95 Children (3-11) - $8.95 Children (under 3) - FREE Seniors (60-89) - $10.95 Seniors (90 and up) - FREE Discounts

Fouts says the park will be exhibiting some new and unique species this year. Some of the animals include Red River Hogs, Pigmy Hippos, Southern Black Rhinos, and an otter exhibit.

around the world.

Family Owned

“My mom has stories about me growing up around the animals,” said Matt. “I’ve got pictures taking naps with Tigers. I’ve been exposed to animals my whole life.”

Park Directors and owners, Jim and Sherri Fouts have 75 years of combined experience in the wildlife industry. Matt has over 30 years of experience .

Jim began as a zoo keeper at the Sedgwick County Zoo and later started his own zoo supply company, where he helped distribute animals to zoos all over the world. He opened the Goddard Facility in 1985 as a breeding and holding facility. Jim currently sits on the board of the Zoological Association of America.

Sherri has raised more than 50 species of animals including some of the worlds most endangered. Her animals have been seen in many movies and TV commercials in addition to zoos

The Fouts’ love of animals is what inspired Tanganyika Wildlife Park, and it is their joy to share this love with the Wichita community.

Despite having over 30 of experience, Matt’s passions initially took him outside the animal world as he headed off to college after high school.

He earned two undergraduate degrees from Fort Hays State University, including degrees in Business Administration, Marketing and Business Administration, and Computer Information Systems.

Professionally, he was the assistant vice-president of a group of insurance companies for two years before returning to Tanganyika as

Military Discount – 15% off with Military ID Rentals (does not include sales tax) Single Stroller - $6.00 Wagon - $9.00 Wheelchair - $15.00 Electric Scooter - $30.00 Large Electric Scooter - $35.00 Groups Schools/Licensed Daycares - $6.00 Group admission for the above groups includes a guided tour by one of our knowledgeable guides.

The tour lasts approximately 30 minutes. After the tour, you can tour the remainder of the Park on your own. Adults still pay $6.00, no limit.

Welcome to use any of the facilities to eat $85 minimum applies for guided tours.

To learn more, click here.

All other Groups (20 or more paying persons) – $1 off for all admissions

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PLAY EVERY DAY Summer Day Camp Greater WiChita YMCa

the Assistant Director, after rejuvenating his passion for animals.

“When we really started getting people in the park, they’d be with the animals, and you’d see their jaw drop. It was at that point that I realized how amazing this was,” said Fouts. “I’ve become so much more aware of the challenges that we’re going to face.

Growing up with it, I took it for granted. I love the animals, but I don’t have the passion for them like my mom and dad does.”

When I was in grade school, my mom would bring a pair of tigers to the school and we’d have a little assembly and she’d talk about them and stuff and we’d get to pet them. I still have people coming up to me 20 to 25 years later and they still remember that time.”

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Oklahoma’s

Festival City “Come Out and Play in Broken Arrow”

Come out and play!

Our festivals and events fill the days with play – Rooster Days with carnival rides and games, Tuesdays in the Park with live music and great food; softball and sports tournaments; Saturday farmers market treats and entertainment; and family-friendly stage and theater productions in our new Performing Arts Center. There’s a new adventure hiding around every bend of the six trails at Ray Harral Nature Park, delightful fun at our two aquatic centers and four splash pads, delectable ice cream from our own Blue Bell Creamery, and fantastic events from sand castle building to amazing chalk art displays.

Broken Arrow Convention and Visitors Bureau | VisitBrokenArrowOK.com | 866.503.7081

NE OKLAHOMA’S

GREEN COUNTRY

GREENCOUNTRYOK.COM

800.922.2118 |

Y.E.E.P. / Building wealth while empowering people and strengthening communities

Even in our most advanced school districts, the need for financial education is lacking. Children will likely not only go through all primary education levels without any education in handling their finances, but some will even make it clear through college without so much as a single study regarding budgets.

Summer Camps Start Monday, June 3 For Kids Entering Grades 1 - 12

Weekly camps: • engage curiosity • promote creativity • enhance scientific knowledge • and most of all are fun!

A local organization has made it their mission to change this. Youth Educational Empowerment Program, or Y.E.E.P., is a non-profit organization in Wichita.

Started by Marquis Murphy, this amazing program aims at empowering young people financially.

The vision of Y.E.E.P. is to “strengthen communities by empowering people to build wealth.”

Topics include: dinosaurs, robotics, science magic, splashdowns and more!

PLUS:

By offering programs such as Youth Financial Intern Cooperative (YFIC), Life Challenge Study Sessions, Mr. CoolMoney and the Gang, and simple banking activities, Mr. Murphy and Y.E.E.P. have brought this much needed financial education to our local youth.

For kids who love aviation, take off with Flight Crew and Pilot Training Camps, June 24 - 28.

Register Today! www.exploration.org 316-660-0620

Y.E.E.P. has given presentations to more than 10,000 participants since their inception in 1999.

Parents, teachers, and students agree that this is an essential service. Furthermore, with our help, we together can prevent, yet again, one of our children from becoming another poverty statistic.

300 N. McLean Blvd., Wichita, Kansas 67203 /ExplorationPlace

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/DiscoverAtEP

To learn more about how to get your children involved in the Y.E.E.P. program, visit www.myyeep.com, or call 316-771-7456.

News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools Earhart teacher still has influence on Heights student Bryce Nichols, senior at Heights, has a goal to become a teacher because of his 4th and 5th grade teacher at Earhart, Beverly Wilson.

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ryce Nichols, senior at Heights High School, is preparing to go to college to become an elementary school teacher. The inspiration is a teacher he had eight years ago: Beverly Wilson, 4th and 5th grade teacher at Earhart Environmental Magnet.

“She helped me with my reading.

She was always there for me,” Nichols said. “And she gave me extra responsibilities because I was one of the students who got his work done and could be trusted.”

“And she was fun,” he added.

Wilson remembers having Nichols in her class, saying he

always followed the rules and was very dedicated, but she didn’t realize she had such an influence on him until last year.

In his junior year, Nichols wrote a letter to Wilson sharing how she has made a difference in his life and she was an inspiration to him.

“Oh my goodness, I still have that letter. It means so much to me. It’s a prized possession,” she said.

She said that she’s eager to see him become a teacher and said his future students will be lucky to have him.

Northeast Magnet math teacher receives Albert Pike Award Dustin Francis, math teacher at Northeast Magnet High School, received the 2013 Albert Pike Masonic Lodge Teacher of the Year Award.

He was surprised with the honor in his classroom on April 9 and received cheers and applause from his students.

The Albert Pike Award is given to teachers whose lessons go beyond the classroom and into the community. He was nominated for the award by Northeast’s principal and assistant principal, Gil Alvarez and Matt Creasman.

Francis thanked the Lodge members for the award, stating that he loves teaching at Northeast Magnet and considers it an honor to work there.

He will be honored during a special ceremony on April 26. This is the fourteenth year the Albert Pike Masonic Lodge 303 has recognized teachers for their hard work.

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Boogie Wipes

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No more holding your little one down to wipe his nose when he has a cold! These soft and gentle alternatives to the common tissue make easy work of your little boogies’ . . . well, boogie’s! They come in many different scents, and even unscented if you so choose. (boogiewipes.com – starting at $1.59)

e

product picks Spring is more than just rain and warmer weather, it’s baby season!

Here are some of our favorite products to help you welcome your new little bundles this spring.

Snack Trap

Paige Lauren Baby Layette’s do not get more luxurious than this.

These soft and cozy sleepers will comfort any fussy baby, and truly warm your heart. (paigelaurenbaby.com)

Say goodbye to spilled cheerios in the back seat! The amazing Snack Trap allows your toddler to reach in and grab his goodies without the worry of spilling. They come in adorable colors and even stainless steel!! (snacktrap.com $4.99 and up)

Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet

The perfect gift for any mom-tobe. Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet will set your new mom up with an age appropriate travel bag full of essentials for her new little one. Gift bags come with everything from thermometers, to diaper ointment, or you can customize one with WubbaNub exactly what you need.

Save your babe from “missing pacifier (mommysmedicinecabinet.com) syndrome” with this soft, and soothing pacifier. No more bouncing and rolling from this guy! Their easy-to-clutch design makes WubbaNub a soft, and soothing alternative for your fussy one. (babiesrus.com $10.99)

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BuggyLove

Something most mommy’s don’t even think about is what to do when their stroller gets smelly and squeaky! Enter Buggy Love. This amazingly scented cleaning kit comes with everything you will ever need to keep your baby’s ride clean and like-new! The organic products even comes with a storage bag, and scrub brush. (buggylove.com $49.99)

Travel Roll Up Chalk Mat by JaqJaq Bird

Keep your little artist entertained before her meal comes with this creative dustless chalkboard mat. Ready for dinner? Simply flip it over to help contain the little messes that may come. Easy, portable, and safe for your family, as well as the environment. (jaqjaqbird.com $14.99)

Daddy Scrubs

Everything a daddy-to-be needs to get him through the big day! From scrubs, to hats, and even coffee mugs, everyone will know who the daddy is in this room. (daddyscrubs. com – Gift Set $89.95)

Baby Trend Inertia Infant Car Seat

According to www.prnewswire.com, more than 80% of child passenger safety seats inspected earlier this month by the Pennsylvania State Police were incorrectly installed. You have to try this one to believe it. Truly the easiest to install seat on the market today! This safe and innovative car seat is equipped with an 8-position adjustable head support, EPS energy-absorbing foam, rigid LATCH connectors and an adjustable base with 4 recline positions. It’s controlled motion base responds to crash forces by rotating more upright resulting in better force distribution. (babiesrus.com $179.99)

Mixie Bottle

Developed by a dad, this easy to use bottle stores the formula right in the bottom. With a simple push of a button, and a little shake, your baby is fussy no more! Perfect for the on-the-go family. (amazon.com – 8oz size $19.99)

K. Ellis Kids

Is your little star too cool for his onsie?

K. Ellis Kids offers a line of rockin’ duds for your the truly trendy babes. (kelliskids.us – Super Fly Onsie $20)

Noodle & Boo

More than just baby shampoo, this sweet smelling line of products also offers sunscreen and even ointments! Love the products for baby?

Check out their line for new mommy’s too. (noodleandboo.com)

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Canoeing, fishing, hiking, archery and ropes course Three to five day camps for ages 6 to 15 Kiddie Land (6 & Under) Party Pavilions Open May 25 at noon!

Bumper Boats 4 Waterslides Lazy River Wave Pool Mini Golf

NEW Go Karts NEW Battling Cages

8900 Lake Rd. Ponca City, OK 580-762-3331 or 580-763-7617 www.sunnfunwaterpark.com

Located along the west shores of Kaw Lake (Near Ponca City) 580.762.9955 l campmcfadden.com

For information about Kaw Lake contact the Kaw Lake Association 580.762.9494 or 877.671.6985 www.kawlake.com

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Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend

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Add some color to your life... at the most interactive zoo in Kansas! giraffe feeding post ring-tail lemur feeding island rainbow lorikeets feeding post

camel and Haflinger horse rides Feeding station for the 2.5-ton indian rhinoceros childrens’ zoo

introducing jerome, the mystic mandrill 2011 WICHITA FAMILY MAGAZINE’S

S WARD OICE A

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READE

(316) 794.8954 Westside of Wichita in goddard

Voted 2 years in a roW!