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april 2011 Our Annual Earth Day Issue!
‘Radical Homemakers’ The Environmental Power of Domestic Bliss
Why We Love Nature Camps Taming Media Madness
Summer Camps Section
contents
This Month in Metro Parent
This Month on the Web: Serving the Families of the Portland Metropolitan Area
Exclusively on Metro-Parent.com: Metro Parent P.O. Box 13660 Read the special online-only article Navigating Urgent Portland, OR 97213-0660 Care: Tips for Parents When Dealing with Injuries and Phone: 503-460-2774; Fax: 503-331-3445 Illnesses by Dr. Kelly Leaf, medical director of Doctors Express of Lake Oswego Publisher Martin Griffy, 503-460-2774 Enter to win a Cloth Diapering Basket valued at over [email protected] $150! Editor Check out our Family Fun Pages for reviews of GREAT, Marie Sherlock, 503-460-2774 family-friendly outings and our Parents’ Calendar, [email protected] featuring parent education offerings and other parent- Managing Editor ing-related events. Emily Puro Stay informed and connected all month long! [email protected] • Sign up for our e-newsletter Calendar Editor Teresa Carson • Follow “Metro_Parent” on TWITTER [email protected]
• Become a fan of “Metro Parent (Portland, OR)” on Contributing Writers Ages & Stages: FACEBOOK Melissa Favara, Anne Laufe, Julia Silverman Advice for every phase of childhood.....14 Advertising Account Executives Raising Media Literate Kids Westside/National/Outside Metro Area In Every Issue Debbie Dille, 503-997-4044; fax: 503-352-4373 L et’s face it: Today’s kids are growing up in a media- [email protected] saturated world. In this article, we explore how Editor’s Note...... 6 Eastside/Vancouver/Washington media is influencing kids today and what we can do Raising Media Savvy Kids Ali King, 503-331-8184; 360-695-0455 to help them learn to filter it, think critically about it, fax: 503-331-3445 and stay safe and in control of media interactions at Parent Postings...... 8 [email protected] every age. Announcements, community events, fundraisers and Design & Production Susan Bard other useful information The Early Years (2 and under)...... 14 For distribution issues, The Family Plan: Establishing Media Guidelines e-mail us at [email protected] Family Fare ...... 36 The Preschool Period (ages 3 to 5)...... 16 For calendar submissions, Burgerville Educational Media: There’s an App for That! e-mail us at [email protected] Elementary Concerns (ages 6 to 10)...... 18 Going Places with Ramona...... 38 To subscribe to Metro Parent, Peeking Behind the Curtain: How to A Theatrical View of the World e-mail us at: [email protected]. Help Kids Deconstruct Media Messages A one-year subscription is $25. T he ‘Middle Ages’ (ages 11 to 14)...... 20 Angels Among Us...... 40 Metro Parent is published monthly by Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. and is copyright ‘Friend’ Me on Facebook? Kids and Social Media Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation 2011 Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part The ‘Radical Homemaker’ Revolution...... 22 April Family Calendar without written permission is prohibited. Metro Parent is distributed free of charge R eclaiming Domestic Life as an Act of Political, In the Spotlight...... 42 Environmental and Personal Empowerment throughout the Portland, Oregon metropolitan Family Favorites...... 42 area. There was a time when women had no choice Earth Day and Easter Egg Hunt Events Metro Parent reserves the right to refuse but to be homemakers. Today, we have plenty of advertising for any reason. Distribution of this choices, but many modern women are choosing to Family Calendar...... 44 publication does not constitute an endorse- return to the home to gain more control over their ment of the products or services advertised lives, reduce their carbon footprints, build commu- Advertising Sections herein. nity and create a better life for their families and for Green Business Guide...... 23-26 Metro Parent does not discriminate on the themselves. basis of race, color, national origin, religion, Summer Camps...... 29-34 sex or sexual orientation. Summer Camp – the Way Nature Intended!.. 28 Parties...... 51 Although every effort is taken to ensure the Nature Camps Inspire Kids to Appreciate the accuracy of published material, Metro Parent Classifieds...... 51 Publishing Inc. and its agents and employees Great Outdoors cannot be held responsible for the use or mis- The Portland metro area is brimming with oppor- Advertisers Index...... 51 use of any information contained herein. The tunities to explore nature, from mountains, lakes and contents of Metro Parent and its Web site are for informational purposes only and are not rivers to working farms. Find out how kids benefit intended to be a substitute for professional from nature-focused experiences at camp, and what advice or treatment. options are available locally for kids of all ages.
4 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011
editor’s note
Raising Media Savvy Kids
Everywhere we turn these days, someone is tell- use media and technology wisely and in modera- ing us what we should do to be good parents – or tion – in other words, help them learn to control perhaps worse, what we shouldn’t do. But let’s face their interactions with mass media rather than be it, none of us is perfect. We do the best we can, controlled by them. but every once in a while we’re going to let our One of the most challenging aspects of all this, kids eat too much candy or stay up way too late, for parents at least, is keeping up with the ever or we’ll drive them to school when we really could changing media landscape. From television and have walked, or we’ll sign them up for too many video games to social networking to smartphone (or too few?) activities. apps to online gaming to whatever the next big So what? thing will be, we need not only to do our homework I for one would be happy if we could just agree but to keep the lines of communication open with to disagree on certain points and refrain from our kids and share these evolving media experi- judging each other. We all make our own choices ences with them. and create our own family cultures. What works With that in mind, we explore the roles media for my family might not work for yours, but that play throughout our children’s lives in our Ages & doesn’t mean one approach is inherently better Stages feature this month, offering some tips for than the other. approaching the issue thoughtfully and realistically This is particularly apparent when it comes to so you can determine how and when your children screen time. will interact with electronic media – and how you Some families shun electronic entertainment can help them become savvy media critics as well altogether. Others seem to center their lives around as informed consumers. screens and online media. Most of us fall some- Our best advice? Try not to be intimidated by where in between, but whether you embrace the the sheer volume of media surrounding us. If you ever-expanding realm of mass media or reject it learn to sift through the garbage to find the hidden – at least within the walls of your own home – it’s gems, focus on meaningful ways to share them with difficult to deny that our children are growing up your kids – with an eye always to keeping screen in a media-saturated world. You can limit their time in balance with other pursuits – you’ll do just exposure to it. You can monitor their interactions fine. with it. But ultimately, they’re going to be bom- barded with it on a daily basis. As parents, the best thing (possibly the only thing) we can do is teach our children how to sift through the onslaught of commercial and social Emily Puro, Managing Editor messages, make their own informed decisions, and [email protected] PHOTO BY studio ess
6 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 177 N.E. 102nd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97220 Office 503-254-1399 Toll Free 800-652-1399 Fax 503-256-1340 www.gatewaywomensclinic.com
Robert D. Dyson, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG Dina J. Levin, M.D., FACOG Asma S. Ahmad, M.D., MPH, FACOG Kimberlynn M. Heller, D.O., JFACOG Clea Caldwell, D.O., JFACOG Jennine M. Varhola, DO, FACOG Natalia Korneeva, MD, JFACOG Karen M. Rash-Gitner, C.N.M.
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 7
parent postings
Can your family Win a $4K Oregon College go “screen-free” Saving Plan account! for one week? The Oregon College Savings Screen-Free Week (formerly Plan recently announced “You “TV Turnoff Week”) is April 18- Can Get There,” a contest for 24. Will your family unplug in children 18 and under. To en- order to reconnect? ter, kids write a brief paragraph During that week, families about what they’ll be when they across the country will refrain graduate from college. Each of from electronic entertainment and five winners will receive a $4,000 rediscover the joys of connecting MD4KIDS, available for iPhone and online, can Oregon College Savings Plan help you decide when to call the doctor – or 911 with one another. For informa- – and when to play Dr. Mom or Dad at home. account. Enter by April 30 at tion about the effects of exces- oregoncollegesavings.com/news/ sive screen time on children and get-there-form.shtml. resources for making the most of home care for minor illnesses and your unplugged family time, visit injuries as well as weight-based commercialfreechildhood.org/ dosage tables for commonly used Free developmental screenfreeweek. medications. screenings at IKEA MD 4KIDS is available on iTunes. Don’t have an iPhone? As part of their ongoing se- ries on Positive Parenting, IKEA Doernbecher launches Access the service at ohsudoern- becher.com/MD4KIDS. is hosting free developmental iPhone app screenings on April 9 from 9:30 for worried parents am to 12:30 pm. No appointment Oregon Health & Science Uni- Gov. Kitzhaber introduces is necessary. IKEA, 10280 NE versity’s Doernbecher Children’s lifelong education strategy Cascades Pkwy. 503-282-IKEA Hospital has developed an iPhone (4532). IKEA-USA.com/Portland. app to offer parents advice about Oregon Governor John Kitzha- when to call a doctor – or 911 – ber has created the Oregon Educa- and when it’s safe to provide care tion Investment Team to develop In praise of bicycles a more integrated, efficient and at home. Bicycles are taking over the Using the free app – MD accountable education system from early childhood through Oregon Convention Center April 4KIDS – parents can search for 9-10 for the PDX Bicycle Show, terms that describe their child’s post-secondary school, with the goal of ensuring that children en- with loads of activities, demos, symptoms. For example, a search information and workshops for for “earache” brings up a list of ter school ready to learn, teachers have the support and resources to the whole family. $10 at the door, possible symptoms. Those requir- $8 online through April 4. Kids ing immediate medical attention teach, and high school graduates are prepared to pursue college 12 and under are free with a paid – a call to 911 – are listed first. adult. 10 am to 6 pm April 9; 10 Less serious symptoms gener- and careers. For more informa- tion, visit governor.oregon.gov. am to 5 pm April 10.Oregon Con- ate prompts to call your doctor vention Center, 777 NE ML King or administer home care. The Blvd. Pedalnationevents.com app also provides suggestions on Parent Postings continues on page 10
8 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011
parent postings CTIONS U
KidFest! features nonstop enter- RTESY OF PINT-SIZED PROD RTESY OF PINT-SIZED tainment and dozens of interactive U exhibits for the whole family. PHOTO CO Celebrate spring sale for volunteers and consignors at KidFest is April 29. The public sale runs The Northwest’s Largest Family 9 am to 5 pm April 30 and 9 am Expo – KidFest! CampFest! Baby- to 2 pm May 1. jbfsale.com. Fest! and the new SportFest! – re- Admission to both sales is free. turns to the Portland Expo Center April 16-17. This event highlights active and healthy family life- Mama Makeover styles and successful parenting winners announced strategies, including hundreds of Congratulations to the win- interactive exhibits for kids, teens ners of the 2011 Mama Makeover and parents as well as non-stop contest! It was a difficult decision, family entertainment. There also but the judges have selected Carrie will be a special Easter Egg Hunt Hartley of southwest Portland as and visit with the Easter Bunny the grand prize winner. The first on both days to benefit Easter runner up is Laurel Hallock Kop- Seals. $5; free age 3 and under. A pelman of northeast Portland, and family pass is available for $20 at the second runner up is Stephanie ticketswest.com. Parking is $7, $6 Brown of southeast Portland. For for carpools of three or more. April more information about the win- 16, 10 am to 6 pm; April 17, 10 ners, visit mama-makeover.com. am to 5 pm. kidfestnw.com. You can watch the progress of Carrie’s makeover, and get in on Your bargain hunting cup some great deals and discounts, runneth over! by following Mama Makeover on Facebook and Twitter, too. More Two consignment sale ex- details to come in our May issue! travaganzas are coming up this month, with loads of great gear at bargain basement prices. Super Car Seat Safety Kids Resale features over 70,000 Kohl’s, ACTS Oregon and gently used items, from clothes, OHSU Doernbecher are partnering toys and baby gear to books, to provide a yearlong outreach movies, furniture and more, plus program to improve children’s entertainment for the kids. Check car seat safety with monthly free website for details and to register car seat safety inspection events. for presales. 9 am to 8 pm April 7 April’s event is Saturday, April 9 & 8; 9 am to 5 pm April 9 & 10. from 10 am to 1 pm at Kohl’s De- Mall 205, 10090 SE Washington partment Store, 11055 SW Canyon St. superkidsresale.net. Rd. Families can have their chil- Just Between Friends hits the dren’s car seats inspected free of Portland Expo Center later this charge; replacement car seats may month with over 100,000 items be available to some families. including children’s and maternity Childseatsafety.org/calendar.html. clothing, baby equipment, furni- ture, DVDS, toys and more. Pre- Parent Postings continues on page 12
10 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 11
parent postings
March for babies Physical therapy on April 30 house calls for kids Raise funds to support the Beyond the Clinic, a Portland March of Dimes’ lifesaving re- area physical therapy business, search, education and advocacy now offers house calls for its that help babies get a healthy pediatric clients, providing conve- start on April 30. 10K begins at nience for families and allowing 9 am. 3K family walk begins at clinicians to tailor their recom- 9:15 am. Two local runs: At the mendations to the child’s living Rose Quarter, 1 N Center Court space. 503-496-0385. beyondthe St., in Portland, and at Vancouver clinic.com. Landing, 100 Columbia St., in Vancouver, Wash. marchforbabies. org. Parent Education The following parenting edu- cation opportunities are just a Running for Risa small sampling of those available Show your support for a in the region. You’ll find many, 17-year-old Beaverton teen bat- many more options in our online tling a rare form of cancer. Her parents’ calendar at metro-parent. insurance company labeled the com/calendars/?parents_calendar. illness a pre-existing condition, so friends and family organized Oregon PTA Leadership Con- this benefit run to help. Choose ference. Grow your leadership from a full marathon ($75), half skills with workshops and moti- marathon ($50), 5K ($20) or fun vational speakers. $195 (register run (0.7 miles, $5). April 23; by April 8). April 15-16. Sheraton check website for start times. Portland Airport Hotel, 8235 Henry Hagg County Park, Gaston. Northeast Airport Way. oregonpta. runningforrisa.com org/Events/convention.htm.
Join the Great Cloth Parent Naturalist Workshop. Diaper Change! Help the children in your life de- velop an appreciation for nature Bring your baby and cloth with the naturalist skills you’ll diapers to Milagros Boutique, learn in this workshop. Childcare 5433 NE 30th Ave., on April 23 available for $10 per child, ages 3 by 9 am to be part of this at- to 8. $18. April 23, 8:30 to 11:30 tempt to set the Guinness World am. Nature Park Interpretive Cen- Record for the most cloth diapers ter, 15655 SW Millikan Way, Bea- changed at the same time. verton. 503-629-6350. thprd.org. greatclothdiaperchange.com.
12 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011
ages & stages
By Julia Silverman Raising Media Literate Kids Using Screen Time Wisely at Every Age and Stage
We’re living in a golden age for The Early Years (Ages 2 and under) children’s media – although there’s The Family Plan: plenty of schlock on the market, too Establishing Media Guidelines – but if you want all the rich and en- Facing a long flight from Rome to Portland with a squirmy 13-month-old, Jaime gaging options to spark your kids’ Gennaro finally cracked. Until then, her son, Luca, had seen virtually no television, curiosity, you’ll need to share the ex- which is what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends — no screen perience with them. time for children under 2. But given the looming 17 hours in transit, Gennaro and her husband bought a portable DVD player and a DVD of a popular Italian cartoon. At least, Talk to your 3-year-old about the they figured, their bilingual son would get some exposure to Italian conversation, and iPhone app she’s entranced by and they might be able to avert a dreaded in-flight meltdown. teach her how to make the on-screen “I think, don’t beat yourself up too much,” says Gennaro, who lives in northeast Portland. “You have to be able to take those breaks as a parent.” cow go moo or find the matching The AAP’s recommendation to avoid screen time for babies and toddlers is the ideal, pairs. Turn video game time into fam- of course, and there’s plenty of documentation behind it: Studies have indicated links ily time by exploring under the vir- between screen time and a host of negative outcomes, including delayed language development, increased risk of childhood obesity, hypertension and attention problems, tual sea or having a game-controlled sleep disturbances and more. But that ideal can run quickly into the reality of piled up dance party together. Help your laundry, unprepared dinners, long overdue showers and a parent who’s greatest dream 8-year-old understand the buy-buy- is 10 minutes of peace and quiet to check email or sip some hot coffee. So, if TV and other screens are going to be an inevitable part of buy-more-more-more subtext behind your family life, says Ellen Currey-Wilson, a southwest Portland those commercials featuring grin- mother who’s written a book about trying to raise (relatively) TV-free kids, you need a plan. Take the time to determine in ad- ning celebrities. And yes, friend your vance how much and what types 13-year-old on Facebook, if she’ll of screen time will be allowed, have you. as well as when and where you’ll allow it. And make sure As parents, we can de- all family members – includ- cide when it’s time to turn ing indulgent grandparents and screen-savvy older sib- off the screens and head lings – are on board. outside – or to the dinner Be thoughtful about the table or the library – but type of content you’ll allow. Currey-Wilson suggests like it or not, our kids are families avoid anything growing up in a media- too flashy or fast-paced saturated world and ex- and keep it nonviolent, unless you want to ex- perts agree they’ll have plain what a machine the best shot at navigat- gun is to your toddler. ing their way through it, Be firm in your resolve Children learn by example, so parents need to keep the TV off at whether they’re toddlers to be aware of their own media habits, dinnertime, and don’t especially when kids are around. or teens, if you’re there by put a TV or computer in your child’s bedroom. their side. Instead, Currey-Wilson
14 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 recommends keeping the television in “(E)ven when quickly check your email on your a common room inside a cabinet that smartphone after pushing your tod- can be closed, if possible. That way, your kids are dler on the swings for a solid half- it’s not the focal point of the room hour, but remember that your kids and kids won’t be tempted to turn it young, you have are watching and they’ll notice if on every time they walk by it. to figure out a you tune them out for 20 minutes to play Angry Birds or scroll through Think carefully about setting strategy for man- screen time limits that are appropri- a day’s worth of Facebook status ate for your child’s age, adds Caroline aging the media updates. Knorr, parenting editor at the non- “You have to have boundaries profit media literacy website common- rather than hav- around what is important to you,” sensemedia.org. How long depends on ing the media Knorr says, “to say, look, my work your family and can change as your life, my social life doesn’t intrude kids get older, but she suggests start- manage you.” on my family time when my biggest ing small – perhaps 15 minutes a day - Caroline Knorr, priority is being with my kids and commonsensemedia.org for younger toddlers. Choose a time of interacting with them.” day when your kids are ready for play, As kids get older, she says, you Knorr adds, not right before bed or naptime when can get more flexible with the media use guidelines, they’re likely to be tired and might throw a tantrum or even use extra screen time as a reward or incen- when their time is up. Tell them ahead of time that tive, but those conversations will be more produc- they’ll be allowed 15 minutes of screen time, and tive if the groundwork has already been laid. let them know when they’ve got only five minutes “What parents should take out of this is that left. (You may even want to set a timer.) even when your kids are young,” Knorr says, “you Parents also should give careful thought to have to figure out a strategy for managing the me- moderating their own screen time when kids are dia rather than having the media manage you, be- around, Knorr adds. That doesn’t mean you can’t cause otherwise things can get out of hand.” Raising Media Literate Kids continues on page 16
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 15 ages & stages
Raising Media Literate Kids continued from page 15
The Preschool Period (Ages 3 to 5) Beware The Educational Media: There’s an App for That! Hidden Charges Nat Sims has a rule for his 3-year-old daughter, suggests making it a social event, whether you’re With smartphone apps, parents Hazel: No apps when it’s time for a nap. exploring an underwater coral reef together on a need to be aware of what are Hazel happens to be an app expert. She’s her fa- Nintendo Wii or throwing a family dance party with called in-app charges, invitations ther’s personal focus group for the iPhone and iPad Microsoft’s Kinect. for a child to click and buy add-ons apps he develops for Portland-based Night and Day as they play a game, unbeknownst When choosing television options for this age to their parents. Such charges can Studio, the company behind some of today’s most range, those in the field recommend looking for sim- add up quickly. popular and best-designed apps for kids, including ply told, easy to understand stories that can translate Peekaboo Barn and Eric Carle’s My Very First App. into real world experiences. Ellen Lee, who works You can turn off the ability to ac- But Nat, who lives in northeast Portland, draws in children’s programming at Oregon Public Broad- cept in-app charges on an iPhone, the line when Hazel asks to take his iPad to bed at casting, says the net- iPod Touch or iPad by going to naptime, though old-fashioned books are gladly work’s shows are cre- “Settings,” selecting “General,” allowed. ated so parents can “I look for apps then “Restrictions.” (You may be For preschoolers like Hazel, there’s no telling take what their kids that allow for an prompted to enter a four-digit pass what the media landscape will look like in the future are watching and ex- code; if you haven’t already set interaction be- – Computers as wristwatches? Robots as colleagues? tend it – by planning one up, do it now.) – and Sims wants his daughter to be ready to be a a trip to the fire sta- tween the child On the “Restrictions” screen, select part of that brave new world, however it evolves. So tion or grocery store and the parent. If “Allowed Content,” then switch he’s allowing screens to be a part of her life. like one they’ve seen you want it to be “In-App Purchases” to Off. Android Still, Sims and others in the know caution parents on Sesame Street, for and Blackberry users, check with of preschoolers to choose well from the often-bewil- example, or going to a learning expe- your provider to find out if this is dering array of media options, and to allow media the library to look for rience, then the possible on your device. consumption only in moderation. books about beloved animated characters parents have to Warren Buckleitner, who edits the like Clifford or Curi- New Jersey-based Children’s Technology be involved.” ous George (who both Review, knows just how saturated the — Nat Sims, northeast Portland started out in book kids’ media market has become. Dur- - form, after all!). ing the past four years, he’s tested over 13,000 kid-centric computer games, Unleashing kids this age onto the Internet unsu- DVDs, websites, apps and other media pervised isn’t recommended, but a few well-chosen aimed at children, and new ones show sites can help get them ready to become Internet up in his inbox at an average of about explorers. Dana Plautz, one of the Portland-based 10 a day. creators of MrsP.com, a website that features a kindly actress reading classic stories aloud, says a goal in To sort through it all, Buckleitner’s developing the site was giving kids a place to “use developed a five-point checklist that their imaginations and have a quiet moment. We applies across all interactive media wanted a place without an ad popping up, just an platforms: Is it easy to use? Is it fun old-fashioned story.” The site also reinforces one of for kids? Is it educational? Will it the most old-school media ideas, she adds, with fre- grow along with a child? And fi- quent recommendations to get a library card. nally, how much does it cost? (See “Beware the Hidden Charges” on As Hazel’s gotten older, Sims says, they’ve ex- this page for more on that last one.) plored more media together, from “Yo Gabba Gabba,” which he likes for its loosey-goosey storylines that The new class of media, Buck- leave room for imagination, to documentaries like leitner says, is tailor made for this the BBC’s “Earth” series. When choosing apps, he age group and their penchant for looks for ones that allow his daughter to accomplish obscure preoccupations. Is your something rather than just passively tapping and child into dinosaurs? Ponies? URTESY OF THE SIMS FAMILY watching. PHOTO CO Rocket ships? There’s an app for that, often a beauti- Even northeast Portland dad Nat But as always, he adds, the key is to play along. Sims, who designs iPhone and iPad fully detailed one from a respected name such as Na- apps for preschoolers, sets limits tional Geographic or the Museum of Natural History. “I look for apps that allow for an interaction between on when and where his daughter, the child and the parent,” Sims says. “If you want it Hazel, age 3, can use his iPad. There are even ways to make video gaming, tradi- to be a learning experience, then the parents have to tionally seen as an age-inappropriate haven of shoot- be involved.” ’em-ups, palatable for this age group. Buckleitner
Raising Media Literate Kids continues on page 18
16 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011
ages & stages
Raising Media Literate Kids continued from page 16
Elementary Concerns (Ages 6 to 10) Peeking Behind the Curtain: How to Help Kids Deconstruct Media Messages For northeast Portland father Nick Rothenberg, the first clue that his kids were growing up in a media-saturated world came when his eldest daughter, Chiara, was just 18 months old. She pointed at the Starbucks logo on the side of a paper bag and said, “Coffee!” “I knew,” Rothenberg recalls, “that what we were trying to manage was so much more intense than the nature of media messages while I was growing up. Abstinence from screens has a place, but it is not the reality. There is no such thing in the current landscape.” Short of moving to Pennsylvania Dutch country, there’s almost no way to shield kids from the pervasive advertising all around us – from the sides of buses to the billboards above, from the pop-up ads on the Internet to the enticements in the supermarket checkout line. And all of those ads – plus the TV, DVDs, video games and websites grade school kids are likely to frequent – carry subtexts, often pretty blatant ones, says Joan Rutkowski, who works with MediaThink, a Portland-based me- dia literacy group. Some scream, “Buy this! It will make you smarter/stronger/happier/more popu- “Ask (kids) ques- lar!” while others are shrewdly constructed tions: Do real images of what kids “should” look like and the products that can help them get there. women’s bodies So how can we help our kids sift look like that? through the mixed messages they might Who is paying be receiving? The answer is simple: Talk to them about it. The technical term is decon- for this message? struction – taking the messages apart and … Will you be analyzing them in an age-appropriate way. happy if you eat “Ask them questions,” says Ellen Cur- rey-Wilson, a southwest Portland author that candy bar? and media literacy expert. “Do real wom- What aren’t they en’s bodies look like that? Who is paying telling you?” for this message? How does seeing that – Ellen Currey-Wilson, make you feel? Will you be happy if you southwest Portland eat that candy bar? What aren’t they tell- ing you?” One goal is to teach kids to recognize the difference between a commercial and a story, all the more difficult these days with product placement and animated ads that pop up in a lower corner of a TV screen. Rothenberg has encouraged Chiara, now 8, and her sister Mattea, 5, to spoof commercials during their creative play, helping them learn to make the distinction between what’s meant for entertainment and what’s meant to make a sale. As kids get older, around fourth or fifth grade, Rutkowski recommends talking directly with them about commer- cial messages and images, running down the techniques that can be used to sell products from humor to repetition to celebrity endorsements. This is also an age when boys and girls start branching off and of- ten encounter different media. Girls are bombarded with the inescapable Disney Princess line and all its offspring, from Bratz to Groovy Girls. Boys are targeted with increasing amounts of violent entertainment, from pratfalls to gunplay. To counter that, Rutkowski recommends a
18 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Nick and Jacqueline Jonnatto Rothenberg have encouraged their daughters, Chiara (left), 8, and Mattea, 5, to spoof TV com- mercials to help the girls understand the difference between entertainment and advertising. com . campbellsalgado DIO, U PHOTO BY CAMPBELL SALGADO ST family-wide conversation about shared values, so if and monitor the quality and quantity of the media you decide to – as an example – ban shows that glo- they consume as well as, as much as possible, how rify violence, kids “may not like it, but they will know they consume it. that the rules apply to everyone and come from a “To use a 70s TV analogy, this ‘Jeannie’ ain’t going place of love, not a desire for control over them,” she back in the bottle,“ quips Rothenberg. Even though explains. that’s the reality, the Rothenbergs’ believe that, ulti- Rothenberg and his wife have picked their battles, mately, their daughters’ media savvy will depend on allowing their girls to joyfully dress up in frilly tutus “their ability to process information well from any and wave fairy wands while avoiding branded char- source and be creative and be good communicators.” acters. Their goal, he says, is to engage with their kids Raising Media Literate Kids continues on page 20
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 19 ages & stages
Raising Media Literate Kids continued from page 19 Learn More Online (Where Else?) The Middle Ages (Ages 11 to 14 and beyond) Children’s Technology Review: Independent ‘Friend’ Me on Facebook? Kids and Social Media reviews of thousands of children’s media op- tions from experts in the field. childrenstech. It’s an age-old question: Should you try to com be friends with your kids? Except these Common Sense Media: Great tips, picks and days, you’ve got to capitalize the F, as pans for all ages, including movies, gaming, in Friends on Facebook or MySpace apps, websites, TV, books and music. com- or any of the other social net- monsensemedia.org working sites that have colo- Coalition for Quality Children’s Media: An- nized the Internet over the other review site, particularly strong on past decade. films, TV shows and DVDs. kidsfirst.org Official Facebook Don’t Buy It!: From PBS, a site that teaches policy is that no one kids to think critically about mixed media under the age of 13 messages. pbskids.org/dontbuyit/ can open an ac- Media Awareness Network: A Canadian site count, but plenty of for parents on navigating media literacy for ‘tweens, teens and young children. media-awareness.ca/english/ even younger kids Media Think: This Portland-based nonprofit are on the site or promotes media literacy. See “Parent Groups its competitors. Asha Talking with your kids about social networking and privacy issues, and connecting with them online if Explore Kids and Media” on this page for Dornfest, a northeast they’re amendable to it, can help them learn how to act safely and responsibly in cyberspace. information on their discussion courses for Portland mother, prolific parents. Mediathink.org. blogger at parenthacks.com and one half of a Case in point: When his own daughter was very linked-in couple (her husband works for 11, she wanted to post a video to YouTube Twitter), doesn’t see the harm in that. featuring a slightly racy dance routine she’d “Look, it’s better to participate as a parent performed with a friend. Would she want the Parent Groups Explore principal of her school to see it, her father than arbitrarily restrict,” she says. “Don’t let Kids and Media remembers asking, or her grandparents? She fear be the guiding factor in how you make blanched at the idea, and the point was made. Navigating today’s crowded media landscape choices for your kids. So, yes, “friend” your kids. If they don’t want to, then fine, but insist As for the parental controls that can be put is a tricky business, especially as a parent. on computers, for this age, Buckleitner says, The Portland-based media literacy nonprofit that you can periodically take a look at their honest conversation and a relationship based MediaThink can help. Facebook profile with them present, so you can monitor.” on trust are a much more effective barrier to Board members at MediaThink are develop- the Internet’s seamier side. ing a five-session course for parents inter- Open communication is the key, agrees El- “When they are adults and you send them ested in holding their own media discussion len Currey-Wilson, a media literacy author out of the nest, there will be no more filters,” groups. The course is called “Media Mindful based in southwest Portland who has worked he says. “You want them not to be afraid of Family.” It’s kind of like a book club, says through these issues with her own 15-year-old technology.” board member Joan Rutkowski, but it’s fo- son. If your kids have given you a reason to cused on media issues kids might encounter, worry, she says, like a dip in grades or shutting A frank discussion about privacy set- tools parents can use in response, and how themselves alone in their rooms for long pe- tings also can help teach kids about so-called to make healthy media choices for your riods of time, then don’t be afraid to tell them “stranger danger” online, so they know not to family. that “friending” you is the only way they’ll allow people they haven’t met to “friend” them, Participants are given suggested weekly get to be on social networks. More trustwor- or that they can and should ignore online mar- readings on media issues as well as ideas for thy kids could be given greater leeway, but she keters who ask for personal information. And at-home experiments with kids. Group mem- still suggests keeping computers in a common “friending” your own kids (and their friends, if bers meet once a week to discuss the results. room rather than a child’s bedroom. the invitation is extended) can help you guard Course topics range from how to navigate a against cyber-bullying, whether your child is Experts also suggest making sure you’re as virtual world that’s second nature to many the target, a friend or classmate is the target, or up-to-date as possible with the latest technol- kids but a mystery to parents to considering they’re the ones flinging mud online. the effects of excessive screen time on chil- ogy so you can keep up with your kids, who’ve “There is so much on the Internet that you dren’s health. never known an Internet-less world. As your could never possibly protect for,” says Dorn- kids are getting started with social networking, At press time, the groups were still in the pi- fest. “I would much rather arm (my child) with sit them down for a conversation about pri- lot stage with about 30 local parents partici- information than block off large and undif- vacy, propriety and what it means to be post- pating, but Rutkowski says they’re working ferentiated chunks of it. We just talk openly on a more widespread roll-out in the coming ing their thoughts, whereabouts and pictures about it. That’s worked for us.” months. in a public forum, says Warren Buckleitner, For more information, visit mediathink.org. who edits the New Jersey-based Children’s Julia Silverman is a Portland freelance writer Technology Review. and the mother of 2-year-old twins.
20 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011
The Local Parents Harriet Fasenfest, Port- Reclaim Domestic land author of A Household- Life as an Act er’s Guide to the Universe: ‘Radical A Calendar of Basics for the of Political, Home and Beyond (Tin House Environmental Books, 2010), wants noth- Homemaker’ ing less than to overthrow and Personal governments and economies Revolution Empowerment as we know them. Her weap- ons are the tomatoes and root By Anne Laufe vegetables harvested from her garden, the chest freezer and glass jars lining the walls of her basement. The former restaurant owner left the business world several years ago, fed up with consumer Angela Baker homeschools her three children, weaves, spins, raises culture. She wanted to become chickens (pictured is Nudge) and more self sufficient. Now she grows food for her family and the community on a quarter acre lot in grows, prepares and preserves the Parkrose neighborhood. much of her own food and
teaches others these same skills. phOTO COURTESY OF THE BAKER FAMILY After all the blood, sweat and years our foremothers spent fighting for the right to work outside the and her husband home – and to be fairly compensated for that work – why does Fasen- read Your Money fest believe the domestic life actually gives her more freedom? or Your Life (see Her answer is decidedly political. “Radical Home- “When people ask me if this life pays, if it’s worth my time,” she maker Resources” explains, “they’re using the language of empire, which devalues labor on page 23 for de- and resources. We need to create a new economy of scale and systems tails on the most current version Harriet Fasenfest, author in which labor and resources are valued.” RTESY OF HARRIET FASENFEST of the book) and of A Householder’s Guide U “I don’t teach canning,” she adds. “I teach revolution.” to the Universe, is pictured decided to define Fasenfest – along with Shannon Hayes, the New York-based au- here with her root cellar their lives through in the background, just thor of Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming one of her many “radical their actions homemaker” efforts.
Domesticity from a Consumer Culture PHOTO BY LEAH NASH, CO rather than their (Left to Write Press, 2010) and others “I don’t teach possessions. – believes that by becoming as self reli- canning. I teach “That book led us to think about ‘life hours’ (the hours spent work- ant as possible and rejecting conven- revolution.” tional American ideas of success, today’s ing to earn money to buy things) not dollars,” says Baker. “As we’ve – Harriet Fasenfest, gotten older, we’ve gotten more intentional and more committed to women can embrace lives that value author of A Householder’s family, community, social justice and the Guide to the Universe our choices. Our lifestyle is definitely a political statement … not be- health of the planet. ing dependent on some sort of larger system.” They do this in a variety of ways but some of the hallmarks of Baker – who homeschools her three children, ages 2, 6 and 8, “radical homemaking” include growing much of your own food (or grows food on a quarter acre lot, weaves and spins – felt Hayes’ finding local sources for it), and preparing meals from scratch rather Radical Homemakers affirmed things she’d been doing for a long than purchasing processed foods. Radical homemakers also barter for time. Clearly, she’s not alone. There’s a national Radical Homemak- goods and services, eschew consumerism, learn to fix things when ers Google Group and a local Radical Homemakers Facebook group they break, and enjoy crafts that are both functional and beautiful. where like-minded householders can connect with one another and find support. Writer-activists like Hayes and Fasenfest have galvanized numer- ous Portland area families who walk a similar path, although they do Pia Watzig, a member of the local Facebook group, says her deci- so for a variety of reasons, from social to political to environmental sion to embrace a domestic life came about because she and her hus- and beyond. band didn’t want their son, now a toddler, growing up in daycare. Her husband was earning more money than she was, so he stayed in the work force and she became the homemaker. Why Embrace Homemaking? “I think it’s better for my family and for the environment,” says Angela Baker’s commitment to making more and consuming less Watzig, who lives in outer southeast Portland. Though she tries to stay goes back to her college days. The Parkrose resident, now 31, says she Radical Homemaking continues on page 24
22 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Green Business Guide Radical Homemaker Resources A Householder’s Guide to the Universe: A Calendar of Basics for the Home and Beyond by Harriet Fasenfest, Tin House Books, 2010. Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture by Shannon Hayes, Left to Write Press, 2010. The Urban Homestead: Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen, Process Media, 2008. (Coye and Knutzen also have an informative, engaging website at rootsimple.com.) Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence: Revised and Updated for the 21st Century by Vicki Robin, Joe Dominguez, and Monique Tilford, Penguin, 2008. See “Local Groups and Classes” on page 24 for more resources.
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 23 Local Groups Radical Homemaking continued from page 22 and Classes: away from politics, she does express dis- To find the localR adical “I have several degrees,” satisfaction with industrial farming and the says Pia Watzig, shown Homemakers Facebook way the American food system works – or here with son Gerhard, group, search “Portland doesn’t. now 17 months, “but I Radical Homemakers” on find a lot of satisfaction in building a home.” Facebook. “The farmers are hurting the most,” she says, “and the environment is hurting be- Find the national Radi- cause we’re growing so many monocrops. cal Homemakers Google We’re hurting also. People are becoming group at groups. more and more unaware of what’s going google.com/group/ into their bodies.” (Monocropping is the radical-homemakers. practice of growing the same crop on the Sign up for householding same land every year, which has numerous classes with Harriet Fasen- negative effects on the environment.) fest and home economist Watzig raises about 40 percent of the RTESY OF THE WATZIG FAMILY RTESY OF THE WATZIG Marge Braker at food her family eats. She also sews and U Preserve. 503-280-9895; knits, making many of their winter clothes. portlandpreserve.com PHOTO CO While others find solace in shopping and ac- Learn how to bake bread, cumulating stuff, Watzig says, she finds sol- raise chickens, buy in ace in the home she’s created. For Angela Baker, giving back to the commu- bulk, lacto-ferment and Another local radical homemaker, Christin Brezil, nity is a big part of the lifestyle. She and her family more from local radical recently moved her family from West Linn to a 280- keep what they need of the food they grow on their homemaker Chris Musser, acre farm in Molalla. They’re renting the land now oversized lot, donating the rest to Birch Community who runs Lost Arts but hope eventually to buy property nearby. The Services, an agency that works to reduce food in- Kitchen. 503-253-7331; lo- move was prompted by a desire for greater self suf- security in East Portland. Last year they harvested startskitchen.com ficiency and to give their three sons, ages 2, 4 and 9, 1,400 pounds of food with an annual budget of $400 The Portland Bureau of a better life. for water, seeds and compost. Baker also teaches free Planning and Sustain- “We felt kind of cooped up in a neighborhood,” gardening workshops to Birch Community Services ability offers classes on Brezil says. “We felt like we were just living, not nec- and Proud Ground Community Land Trust. a variety of topics from essarily being alive.” “I love that there are so many ways that you can organic gardening and One of the first changes the family made was get- contribute to your community when you’re not stuck cheesemaking to bee- in an office all day,” she says. “I wouldn’t be able to keeping and raising hens, ting rid of their television, which they felt was luring do this if I were working (outside of the home).” goats and rabbits. 503-823- their children into “the bottomless pit” of consum- 7700; portlandonline.com erism, she says, and the idea that happiness can be (search “Urban Growth bought. Now the boys are doing more for themselves, Why is Homemaking Radical? Bounty”) including helping out with their new milk goat and Radical homemakers are quick to point out that its kid. You’ll find tons of informa- their lives are not the same as those of isolated tion on food preservation, “We have one car, we shop at thrift stores and on 1950s-era housewives. For Hayes, the main differ- gardening, food safety craigslist, and we can’t go to a movie whenever we ence is that there is a balance of power between and more through OSU’s want,” Brezil says, “but we feel that nourishing our partners. If a woman trusts her partner and feels they Extension Service. To find bodies and being together are more important.” have equal voices in decision making, there’s nothing local contact information wrong with her being dependent on his income while go to extension.oregon- What’s Involved? she tends to the domestic sphere. (While we didn’t state.edu/locations.php. For all of the families interviewed, growing and find any local male radical homemakers to interview, Hayes interviews several in her book, including some Portland Community Col- preserving food and cooking from scratch were lege provides non-credit among the most important aspects of radical home- stay-at-home dads.) courses in raising goats, making. Homeschooling, making their own entertain- “We chastise women for being financially de- chickens and bees as well ment and being active members of the community pendent on men, but not men for being financially as many backyard garden- also ranked high. dependent on a boss or a job,” she says. “How many ing topics. pcc.edu/sched- Author Hayes helps run her family’s grass-fed people have found out in recent years that they have ule; 503-977-8888 beef farm in New York. She and her husband, who no pension or no job?” Urban Farm School of- works with her on the farm, also earn money through “Relying on my husband and his income is not fers urban farming classes beekeeping and basket making, and they now have necessarily a bad thing,” agrees Brezil, “because in Vancouver, Wash. a publishing company, too. Because the rule in their I’m bringing something to the table that’s just as urbanfarmschool.com; house is that they produce rather than consume, eve- valuable.” 360-852-3728 nings are spent making music, reading and doing Fasenfest turns the question of what homemakers crafts. Hayes’s 7-year-old daughter is teaching herself give up on its head, asking instead: “How much do to knit and weave and often cooks for entertainment. Radical Homemaking continues on page 26
24 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Green Business Guide
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Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 25 Green Business Guide Radical Homemaking continued from page 24
families sacrifice by running a home with children and two full-time jobs? That’s very “Relying on my challenging as well and lots of sacrifices husband and are made.” his income is While it can be difficult to explain the phenomenon to the generations of women not necessarily who fought for the right to work outside a bad thing the home, ultimately the issue is one of because I’m choice. Many women today have the choice bringing some- to work outside the home – and the choice to embrace a life of productive domesticity. thing to the “My mother thinks I’m insane,” Watzig table that’s just says. “She fought to work and not be a as valuable.” housewife and for her to find me wanting — Chrisin Brezil, Molalla to be home is absurd.” But while Watzig values the rights her mother and so many others struggled to obtain, she finds power in fo- cusing her energy on home and family. “I have several degrees,” she says, “but I find a lot of satisfaction in building a home.” Rather than being barefoot, pregnant and ruled by their husbands, today’s radical homemakers are redefining the very term homemaker, taking some wind out of the sails of our consumer culture, and build- ing interdependent communities in which their families can thrive.
Anne Laufe is a Portland freelance writer and mom.
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26 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 27 Summer Camp - The Way Nature Intended! Kids have fun Nature Camps Inspire Kids to while learning wilderness survival skills – like building Appreciate the Great Outdoors a shelter from debris – at Trackers By Julia Silverman Earth camps.
ay back when, just the words “summer camp” were enough to conjure up visions of lanyards and archery ranges, crushes on counsel- “Whether it’s climate ors and swims in cool mountain lakes, tall trees and bare feet on soft, change or a polluted greenW grass. river, making change At Tualatin Riverkeepers camps, kids spend a lot These days, you can send your kids to computer camp or film camp, involves changing a of time kayaking and chess camp or science camp – worthy pursuits to be sure – but if your local system and living canoeing, with plenty of opportunities to pull children want their own summer memories of hoisting a backpack and within what the land out for picnics and to heading down the trail on a blue-edged-with-gold Oregon afternoon, provides,” Burns says. observe wildlife. you’ve got to get them outside. “If kids don’t know how Thanks to the region’s geographically blessed to do that, they won’t be location between the mountains and the beach, “Nature equipped to live sustain- with waterfalls and rivers in every direction, requires ably.” there are dozens of wonderful nature camps a really within easy reach, both day and residential. Exploration and Done right, parents and camp directors agree, complex set Discovery RIVERKEEPERS ALATIN even a week at nature camp can inspire kids to of problem U Demand for nature explore and appreciate the great outdoors all solving skills camps in the Port- RTESY OF T year long. U that aren’t land area is high and continues to grow, says Why Kids Need Nature always there IMAGE CO Tony Deis, who founded Getting kids outdoors is exactly what’s in the paint- Trackers Earth camps six years ago after spending time as an envi- needed to curb the ever-rising childhood obesity by-number ronmental educator with the Audubon Society of Portland. The camp rate and growing numbers of kids diagnosed started with about 40 kids. Last year, nearly 2,200 were enrolled, from with Attention Deficit Disorder, argues author curriculum.” day camps for preschool and elementary school kids to more elaborate Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the — Tony Deis, overnights for ‘tweens and teens. Their latest summer offerings include Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Trackers Earth a canoeing excursion around the Hawaiian islands and archaeological Disorder (Algonquin Books, 2005). Louv coined expeditions through the inner American West. the term “nature-deficit disorder” to describe a generation of children being brought up indoors, glued to electronic screens, exactly what Trackers tries to take kids back to the most basic of skills, pre-in- Portland’s many nature-focused camps hope to remedy. dustrialized knowledge such as blacksmithing, boat building and for- aging for food. Kids are taught not only how to start a fire and pitch a Beaverton mom Kim Maher says she saw the change in her daughter tent, Deis says, but what to do if there’s no tent available – building a Shannon, now 8, after her first week at a camp run by Tualatin River- shelter and weaving a sleeping bag out of cattail reeds. So often, Deis keepers along the banks of the suburban river last year. Shannon came says, nature is sanitized for kids, whether by safety-conscious parents home talking about lazy days spent fishing for crawfish and learning to guiding them along well maintained trails or opting for organized identify animal tracks, Maher says. Spurred on by her enthusiasm, the sports in well-tended parks rather than letting kids roam free in a entire family took a canoe trip down the river. forest. “Time in the outdoors helps kids build relationships with the land,” “The wilderness skills that we teach are valuable in terms of build- says Heather Burns, an environmental education professor at Portland ing competency and capacity to earn a living,” he says. “Nature re- State University. Many of her graduate students, she says, first got quires a really complex set of problem solving skills that aren’t always interested in sustainability and the environment during summers spent there in the paint-by-number curriculum.” outside. Summer Camp continues on page 30
28 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Summer Camps
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 29 Summer Camps Looking for a Nature Camp?
Not surprisingly, the Portland metro area is rich in nature camp op- portunities for kids of all ages, including traditional sleep-away camps in natural settings. Here are a few to consider (you’ll find other nature camp possibilities in our Summer Camps & Learning Guide, available throughout the region wherever you pick up Metro Parent, and on- line at metro-parent.com): Audubon Society of Portland, 5151 NW Cornell Rd.: 971-222-6120; audubonportland.org Camp Namanu, 10300 SE Camp Namanu Rd., Sandy: 971-340-1604; 503-224-7800; portlandcampfire.org Friends of Tryon Creek Nature Day Camp, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd.: 503-636-4398; tryonfriends.org Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center: Camps take place in the Opal Creek Wilderness Area; 503-892-2782; opalcreek.org Portland Parks and Recreation Nature Camp: Locations at parks throughout Portland; 503-823-3601; portlandonline.com/parks (Search “Nature Day Camp”) Trackers Earth (TrackersNW): Camps explore various locations; 503-559-2825; trackerspdx.com Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District Nature Camps: Tualatin Hills Nature Park, Cooper Mountain Nature Park and other parks through- out the Beaverton area; 503-629-6350; thprd.org Tualatin Riverkeepers: Camps explore various locations; 503-620-7507; tualatinriverkeepers.org Zenger Farm, 11741 SE Foster Rd.: 503-282-4245; zengerfarm.org
Summer Camp continued from page 28 While Trackers tends to cast a broad net over the outdoors, the Tualatin Riverkeepers day camp program is more tightly focused on its namesake river. Often overshadowed by the showy Willamette, the Tualatin River is a vital water source for people throughout Clackamas and Washington counties. “Our main goal is to have people build a relationship with their watershed and become future boaters and future stewards,” says Lori Kruse, environmental education and outreach coordinator for the nonprofit group. The Riverkeepers camp is for kids between the ages of 4 and 13, with half-day camp options for the youngest kids and full days avail- able for older ones. Sessions are structured around themes, Kruse says. Younger kids might spend a day learning about bumblebees, drawing pictures of them, finding pollen, making bumblebee antennae, taking a hike to look for bees in their natural habitat (without getting too close!) and talking about what they’ve learned. Older kids spend a lot of time paddling in canoes and kayaks, pulling out for picnics and to observe signs of local wildlife, like beaver slides and osprey nests. “I get stories from parents that their children have taken them to natural areas, showed them around and become their guides,” Kruse says, “and sometimes families didn’t even know these natural areas existed.” Sherwood mother Margot Fervia says her 5-year-old son, Jona- than Neamtzu, came back from his days at the Riverkeepers camp and taught her things she didn’t know before about nature and being outside. “One question answered leads to more questions asked,” she adds. “It was that classic opportunity to go out and see what you can find in wide open space.” Summer Camp continues on page 32
30 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Summer Camps
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 31 Summer Camps Summer Camp continued from page 30
A Camp-Farm Connection A bit closer in, Zenger Farm in outer southeast Portland is a rural oasis in a sprawling urbanized quadrant of the city. The year-round farm and summer camp sits on 16 acres that was originally a dairy farm, preserved by the city to protect its valuable wetlands from being eaten up by development. You never know The farm was always intended to be a working what you’ll find educational farm, a place for school kids to visit and out in the wild, if you just look see firsthand where their food was coming from, says closely enough! Alice Froehlich, the farm’s educational coordinator. IMAGE COURTESY OF TUALATIN RIVERKEEPERS Summer camps began there six years ago and are now available for students in first grade through high school, with the oldest kids serving as counselors-in-training. The youngest campers spend most of their time with the farm’s animals, Froehlich says. They pick their snacks from the farm’s bounty, explore the preserved wetlands and do art projects. As kids get older, the focus turns more to the harvesting and preparation of food, even planning menus based on what’s in season. As much time as possible is spent outdoors, Froehlich adds, including periods set aside for quiet time, for listening for the sounds of a cricket or a frog or smelling the pungent scents of the barn. “Getting kids outside makes them healthier and happier, and the more people are out connecting to the land the better,” Froehlich says. “I’ve seen children’s attitudes change, seen them feel proud when they have ownership in a space and know how to identify the birds flying around and the foods that they are harvesting.” Summer Camp continues on page 34
32 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Summer Camps
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 33 Summer Camps Summer Camp continued from page 32
Northeast Portland mom Stacey Marshall says sending her daugh- ter, Adaline Beaupre, to camp at Zenger Farm for a week gave the 8-year- old a chance to “get her hands dirty, to learn about dirt and worms and composting. It’s about them being able to discover the wonderment of getting down onto the ground, of smelling the RTESY OF TRACKERS EARTH
grass and analyzing the U bugs.”
At the end of a week IMAGE CO of camp, Marshall says, Sometimes just having fun in the great outdoors is the best way to encourage kids to develop a bond with nature. parents and campers gather for a potluck din- ner, including food the children have harvested and prepared. After the meal, families are welcome to explore the farm. “It reminded me,” Marshall says, “of what it felt like to be 8 years old in the summer.”
Julia Silverman is a Portland freelance writer and the mother of twin toddlers.
34 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 35 Family Fare y family isn’t big on Burgerville is also commit- mfast food, but every once in a ted to supporting local schools, while we all crave a nice juicy hosting fundraising days on burger with fries and a shake. which they donate a portion If it’s affordable and quick, all of sales to your neighborhood the better. That’s why we love g school. With middle and high Bur erville schools, they give the kids a Burgerville. With ingredients sourced Fast Food With a Sustainable chance to participate in the fun- from local producers – includ- draisers by greeting customers, ing fresh, seasonal fruits and Northwest Twist clearing trays and more. vegetables – and a strong commitment to sustainabil- What’s Cool for Earth Day: ity, Burgerville lets us grab Burgerville’s commitment a quick, tasty meal, whether to sustainability runs deep, we’re in town or on the road, informing every aspect of the without worrying about the company’s operations. From us- quality of the ingredients or ing compostable cups and com- the destruction of any rain posting and recycling as much forests. waste as possible – including recycling used cooking oil into What’s Cooking: Burger- biodiesel fuel – to purchasing ville burgers feature Coun- 100 percent renewable wind try Natural Beef, Tillamook power credits to offset all the cheddar cheese and other local energy used at their locations ingredients – many of them and corporate headquarters, seasonal – but there are plenty Burgerville serves up traditional they walk their green business of other options as well. You’ll fast food fare while promoting practice talk. find white meat chicken ten- sustainability and supporting the community. As part of their ongoing ders and chicken sandwiches, commitment to charitable giv- a turkey club or turkey burger, IMAGES COURTESY OF BURGERVILLE ing, the company will make a vegetarian burgers, wild Alaskan halibut served as fish & chips or donation to EarthShare – a in a sandwich, and some tempting fresh salads including Grilled national nonprofit helping connect people and organizations Chicken Club, Rogue River Smokey Blue, and Wild Smoked with effective ways to support environmental causes – for every Salmon & Hazelnut. In addition to the ever popular French customer who eats at Burgerville on April 20. fries, seasonal sides include Walla Walla onion rings, Portobello mushroom wedges and more. (April’s seasonal side is Rosemary Shoestring Potatoes.) Breakfast options also are available. Ringing It Up: Burgers start at $1.29 for the Original and top out at under $6 for the Half-Pound Colossal Cheeseburger. Chicken, Liquid Refreshment: It’s the usual suspects with a sustainable turkey, vegetarian and fish sandwiches run about $4 to $5. Salads twist, including fair trade coffee, Odwalla juice and lemonade, are available in half ($3 to $4) and full ($6 to $7) sizes. Shakes and seasonal fresh berry shakes. (Of course, they’ve got soda, range from about $2 to about $5. too.) Shakes feature real ice cream and smoothies boast YoCream nonfat frozen yogurt, as well as fresh, seasonal produce including Keep In Mind: If you’re concerned about calories, check out the berries, cherries, pumpkin and hazelnuts (again, depending on the nutritional information available online (burgerville.com/our- season). food/menu-nutrition/) to help you focus on healthier options. (If you hold the spread on an original cheeseburger, for example, What’s Cool for Kids: Most kids crave familiarity, so the fact you save 80 calories and seven grams of fat. Go for a 20-oz. that they can walk into a Burgerville anywhere in Oregon – and strawberry smoothie instead of a 16-oz. strawberry milkshake many places in Washington – and find the same brightly lit, and save 390 calories and 33 grams of fat!) clean and welcoming atmosphere is a big plus. The goodies Concerned about food allergies? Check for ingredients and al- in Burgerville kids’ meals encourage children to be active and lergy information at burgerville.com/our-food/menu-nutrition/. creative, whether they get mini gardening tools with seeds and biodegradable pots in spring, colored sidewalk chalk in summer, Where and When: Multiple locations throughout Oregon and or activity books in winter, to name a few. Learn more, and find Washington. Check website for locations and hours. burgerville. online activities for kids, at burgerville.com/kids. com.
36 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 37 going places with ramona By Melissa Favara
by the time this goes to print, Ramona will have either gotten into the Spanish immersion kindergar- ten we’re gaming for or not. The stress of choosing a school will be past. I’m already more relaxed about the process than I was, though, because I’m confident in our collective ability as a family to get Ro educated good and proper wherever she ends up. Plus, she is already making her own independent study of Hindi. It’s not exactly independent. We give our friend Uma, also 4, a ride home from daycare. A few weeks ago I turned down NPR to listen to the chirping voices emanating from the back seat: A Theatrical View “aik, do, teen, chaar … ” – Uma was counting from one to ten in her family’s native language, Ramona dutifully repeating after her. Radical! of the World Ro also learned “How are you?” (apa kaise haim) and “I’m fine!” (maim thika hum). Sweet Uma is one of Ramona’s least volatile friends, so she was “There’s no comparison between this kind of storytelling and a a natural choice, along with kind and calm Jascha, for my first solo piece of art that’s static,” offered Shuhe Hawkins. “The oral tradition try at taking a gaggle of kids downtown for a great educational ex- keeps stories alive, and witnessing live storytelling stokes children’s perience when I found myself the owner of four tickets to a Tears of creativity. It invites them to tell stories. As an arts educator, my job is Joy Theatre puppet show. Tears of Joy has been staging high quality to impart to kids that anything is possible.” shows in Portland since 1973. They’re dedicated to exposing kids to Hawkins was speaking my language. We’re always looking for puppet theater from diverse world cultures and encouraging kids to ways to grow Ro’s brain, expand her options and her perspective, and perform themselves – a pretty good mission. help her learn and imagine. I had a sense that the arts are good for The play I had tickets to, “Bridge of the Gods,” was even more you from my own childhood attending a school that valued the arts, special because it told a very local story about how the warring but seeing Ramona’s coals blown to flame while she watched a beau- brothers Wy’East and Klickitat got themselves turned into mountains tiful story unfold with her friends hammered the point home. by not getting along – the same mountains we spy on clear days It turns out our fair city agrees that this kind of experience is im- crossing the Interstate Bridge. (Ramona often shouts, “Mama! Look at portant. In 2008, the City of Portland embarked on a partnership with this BEAUTIFUL VIEW!”). the Regional Arts and Culture Council on the Right Brain Initiative, Wearing the paper coyote masks they’d been invited to color in an effort to bring art experiences to all Portland-area K-8 students by the Portland Center for the Performing Arts lobby before the show, integrating art into core curricula in public schools. Ro, Uma and Jascha held hands in the Winningstad Theater and Mayor Sam Adams says, “The arts impart to students a willingness gasped at the man in buckskin and a coyote headdress hung with rac- to think creatively, to be open to new concepts and to imagine what coon tails and feathers gamboling about the stage. They pointed at is possible beyond the limitations of the present. Early exposure to the beautiful puppets crafted of handmade basket bodies and wizened the arts helps young people to become tomorrow’s innovators.” paper mache faces, the feathery owl puppet hooting over the pretend I’m sold, especially as Ro requested paper and crayons to draw fire. the story of our puppet show experience just 23 minutes after we got They didn’t really notice the two puppeteers, Amy Clark and home. Shuhe Hawkins, until the show was over and Clark and Hawkins in- Puppeteer Amy Clark, who helped design the puppets that so vited the kids in the audience to touch the puppets and try their little struck my Ro, said, “This show is typical of Tears of Joy. The last line hands at making them move. It was only after we got home that I in the play is ‘Learn a story. Then tell it.’” realized I had just watched a Jewish child, a Hindi child, and my own I cannot wait to bring our intrepid group back for the next show, little Judeo-Christian kid equally connect to a Native American myth “The Ugliest Duckling,” which I think will be educational indeed. It’s about our own part of the world. Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale set in Australia. The duckling is On the way home, Ramona suggested she and her friends vote on actually a platypus. which bridge to cross on the way back to the east side. It was a tri- “It’s different because the duckling never gets beautiful,” Shuhe umphant day for the Steel Bridge, and for me – I had only forgotten told me. “He stays weird looking, but it’s okay.” the string cheese and fruit leathers Daddy had packed for us, and we were all filled with that deep feeling that only live performance im- If You Go parts. I couldn’t wait to go again. Tickets typically run $15 for kids, but I suspect I’ll pony up for the next show. I decided to talk with Tears of Joy Theatre: 503-248-0557; tojt.com. Performances at the performers to investigate why this live performance felt so much Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. The Ugliest Duckling more fulfilling than a movie. runs April 8-17. Best for ages 4 & up. $15 children; $18 adults.
38 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 39 angels among us
Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation Knights of the Blind: Meeting Helen Keller’s Challenge
Austin knew something was wrong with his eyes. When the Oregon Lions Sight & Hear- ing Foundation (OLSHF) came to his school to NDATION provide free eye exams for over 100 children, U the 11-year-old insisted he be looked at, yet his parent had not returned the required consent form. But Austin was adamant. “Don’t worry, my mom won’t be mad” he The Oregon Lions Sight and said. When staff could not reach Austin’s mom Hearing Foundation provides screenings to over 30,000 on the phone, doctors from Casey Eye Insti- people (86 percent of whom are tute made a brave decision. They gave Austin children) in a mobile clinic and RTESY OF OREGON LIONS SIGHT AND HEARING FO at schools across Oregon. U
an eye exam. As it turns out, he has advanced CO stage glaucoma, a rare case in a child so young. With help, Austin’s vision likely will be • 24 percent of Oregonians are not aware they have saved. or are at risk for diabetes. For over 75 years, Lions in Oregon have been Approximately 4 percent of children have Am- helping children like Austin. Lions’ focus on sight blyopia or “lazy eye,” a disorder that can result in a and hearing began with an American legend. In child losing vision in the affected eye. The disorder 1925, Helen Keller asked Lions Clubs at a national is easily detected and can be treated, but if it is not convention to take up her cause to prevent blind- treated by age 10 it cannot be fixed. The Foundation ness and deafness. She beseeched them to become estimates that Lions volunteers discover over 1,000 “Knights of the Blind.” children with Amblyopia each year. OLSHF was founded in 1959 as the statewide The Lions Foundation also runs a statewide Low charity arm of the Lions Clubs of Oregon. Fifty-one Vision Clinic for children with disabilities, providing years later, the Foundation is now a $1 million per vision exams and adaptive equipment for over 150 year nonprofit organization with a staff of 10. The children each year. In addition, the Foundation pro- Foundation does not make grants. Instead, the goal vides funds for sight- and hearing-saving surgeries of OLSHF is to screen, treat, save and restore sight for uninsured Oregonians. and hearing in order to prevent blindness and deaf- Oregon Lions also collect, refurbish and distrib- ness for those in need. ute over 70,000 pairs of used eyeglasses and provide over 400 refurbished hearing aids to people each A Health Clinic on Wheels year. Over 35 years ago, Lions started the Lions Eye The flagship service of the Foundation is the Bank of Oregon. The Eye Bank provides “eye tis- Mobile Health Screening Program. The State of Or- sue” for corneal transplants that restore eye sight to egon requires schools to screen the sight and hear- the blind. In total, the Lions Foundation helps over ing of all school children, but it doesn’t pay for the 100,000 people per year at an average cost of only screenings. So since 1994, the Foundation has been $10 per person. providing health screening on a 65-foot-long truck that travels all across Oregon, a “clinic on wheels.” Get Involved For children, the focus is on sight and hearing. For Are the children at your school having their sight adults, the Foundation adds diabetes, blood pres- and hearing screened each year? Want to sponsor a sure and glaucoma screenings. The program screens the health of 30,000 people (86 percent children) public screening at your annual community event? per year. OLSHF also has developed screening kits There are many ways to get involved, even if you’re that do not require a truck, so now children can be not a Lions Club member. You can easily be trained screened in the school gym. to volunteer to help screen the sight and hearing of children. The Foundation wants to work with PTAs Why does this work matter? to supplement Lions volunteers. • 640,000 Oregonians are uninsured or under-in- sured. 118,000 of them are under 18. To find out how to get involved or to make a tax • 60 percent of children with learning problems deductible contribution to OLSHF, visit orlions.org, have undiagnosed vision issues. email [email protected] or call 503-413-7399. • 1 0 percent of Oregonians are hearing impaired.
40 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 41 family calendar Ine th Spotlight
The Ugliest Duckling. Tears of Joy’s magical puppets perform this re-imagined version of the fairy tale. Puppet making activities in Family lobby before Sat and Sun shows. Favorites Ages 3+. 7:30 pm April 8. 11 am April 9, 16. 2, 4 pm April 10, 17. Earth Day. Earth Day is $18 adults, $15 children, plus ser- officially April 22 but vice charge. Winningstad Theatre, we’ve listed events all 1111 SW Broadway. 503-248-0557. month designed to provide tojt.com. fun and raise awareness Tears of Joy Theatre works about our jobs as the its magic on a re-imagined version of The Ugly Duckling earth’s stewards. We’ve beginning April 8. featured a few here, photo courtesy of tears of joy but our calendar also How I Became lists, hikes, crafting a Pirate delivers adventure and music sessions and other and fun for families ways to honor beginning April 30. everyone’s mother. Oregon Garden Earth Day Celebration. Music, demos and more. 10 am-4 pm April 12. FREE, with 2 cans food. 879 W Main St., Silverton. 503-874-8100. oregongarden.org. SO LV IT for Earth Day. 75 worthy environment-enhancing photo by owen carey volunteer projects available in Portland. 9 am-1 pm April 16. How I Became a Pirate. Avast Call or visit website for details. 503-844-9571. solv.org. me hearties! Oregon Children’s Theatre presents this musical Earth Day 2011. Crafts, info booths, games, face painting and pirate adventure. A pirate’s life is more. Noon-4 pm April 16. FREE, with can of food. Vancouver- great, but there’s nobody to tuck Clark Parks & Rec. at Marshall Community Center, 1009 E you in or read you stories. Best McLoughlin Boulevard. 360-487-7100. cityofvancouver.us. ages 4+. 2, 5 pm April 30, May 1, Earth Day Celebration. Music, entertainment, kids village, 7, 8 14, 15, 21, 22. Adults $19-24, workshops and classes. 10 am-7 pm April 23. FREE. Sponsored children $16-20, plus service by City Repair Project at Washington High School Field, SE 12th charges. Winningstad Theatre, and Stark. 805-637-5711. earthday.cityrepair.org. 1111 SW Broadway. 503-228- 9571. octc.org. A Billion Acts of Green. Crafts, dive presentations and lots of environmental info. 10 am-4 pm April 23. Free w/admission: Ag Fest. Touch, taste and $15.45 adults, $12.75 ages 13-17, $9.95 ages 3-12, free ages 2-0. experience life on the farm. Dig Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road, Newport. 541- for potatoes, watch chicks hatch, 867-3474. aquarium.org. pedal mini-tractors, see farm StreamTeam Earth Day Celebration. Wildlife entertainment, animals, pony rides, entertain- kids’ activities. Environmental expression contest grades 3-12. ment and so much more “farm- PHOTOS COURTESY OF OREGON AG FEST 10 am-2 pm April 23. FREE. Salmon Creek Greenway, 1200 117th ily” fun. 8:30 am-5 pm April 30. All city slicker kids could use a day on Street, Vancouver. 360-992-8585. streamteam.net. 10 am-5 pm May 1. $7.50 adults, free the farm. The Oregon Ag Fest – April 30 ages 0-12. Free parking. Oregon State and May 1 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. NE. Salem. – is the next best thing! 503-535-9353. oragfest.com.
42 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 The Blue Lake Bunny Bonanza egg hunt – RTESY OF METRO frantic but fun – is just one of the many hunts U families can enjoy this month. PHOTO CO
Easter Egg Hunts. The Easter Bunny really gets around the metro area! We’ve gathered a basket of our favorite egg hunts and events here. You’ll find more details and more egg hunts online at metro-parent.com – look for Family Favorites on our calendar pages. Southwest Community Center. Pancake breakfast, petting zoo, photo opp with the bunny, egg hunt. 9 am-11 am, 10:30 am-12:30 pm April 16. $15, pre-registration. 6820 SW 45th Ave. 503-823-2840. port- landonline.com/parks. P earl Bunny Hop. Easter-themed treasure hunt around the Pearl. Noon-4 pm April 17. Free. Map at explorethepearl.com. Conestoga Rec Center. Underwater egg hunt, inflatables, crafts. Ages 0-13. 6:30 pm-8:30 pm April 22. $7, in-district, pre-register. 9985 SW 125th Ave., Beaverton. 503-629-6313. thprd.org. St. Johns Community Center. Flashlight egg hunt, crafts and more. Ages 2 1/2-11. 8-9:30 pm April 22. $3 per trip through the bunny patch. 8427 N Central St. 503-823-3192. portlandonline.com/parks. A lpenrose Dairy. Portland’s big hunt, arrive early. Ages 3-5 10:30 am, moms 11:30 am and ages 6-8 12:30 pm April 23. FREE. 6149 SW Shat- tuck Rd. 503-244-1133. alpenrose.com. Blue Lake Bunny Bonanza. Ages 0-4 hunt at 10:30. Ages 5-10 at 11 am April 23. FREE, $5 park fee. Blue Lake Regional Park, 20500 NE Marine Dr., Fairview. 503-665-4995. oregonmetro.gov. Cedar Hills Rec Center. Spring egg hunt, bunny photos. 10 am April 23. $6, in-district. 11640 SW Park Way. 503-629-6340. thprd.org. Great Westside Easter Egg Hunt. Pony rides, petting zoo, egg hunts and more. 9 am-3 pm April 23. FREE admission, charge for some activi- ties. Washington County Fair Complex, 873 NE 34th Ave, Hillsboro. 503-640-1360. kuik.com. Krugers Farm. Music, hay rides, 1 pm egg hunt. Noon-3 pm April 23. FREE; food for purchase. 17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd. 503-621-3489. krugersfarm.com. L ake Oswego. Egg hunt, bunny appearance. Ages 0-8 only. 9 am April 23. West End Building, 4101 Kruse Way. 503-675-2549. ci.oswego. or.us R abbit Romp at the Oregon Zoo. Egg hunts every 20 minutes for kids 0-10, kids 0-2 have their own hunt. Games, petting zoo and more. 9 am-3 pm April 23. Free w/admission: $10.50 adults, $7.50 kids 3-11, free 0-2. $2 to park. 4001 SW Canyon Road. 503-226-1561. oregonzoo.org.
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 43 family calendar
Need more family fun ideas? You’ll find MANY, MANY more events in our online calendar at Metro-Parent.com. Metro Parent believes all calendar information to be correct as of the date of publication; however, you may want to call to confirm events as scheduling and other changes may occur. April Family Calendar Visit Metro-Parent.com for an expanded calendar
Friday, April 1 Doctors Express. 16, 23, 30. FREE. Try- Grand opening of on Creek State Park, Go, Dog. Go! Northwest Chil- urgent care clinic 11321 SW Terwilliger dren’s Theater presents a musical, with face painting, Blvd. 503-636-4398. tail-wagging good time. Ages 4+. fitness classes, health tryonfriends.org. 7 pm April 1. Noon, 3 pm April 2, tips and snacks. 9 3. $22 adults, $18 kids, plus service Go, Dog. Go! See am-6 pm. FREE. April 1. charge. NW Neighborhood Cultural 17437 Boones Ferry Center, 1819 NW Everett St. 503- Rd, Lake Oswego. Movie Night at Café 222-2190. nwcts.org. 503-766-2215. doc- Sip-n-Play. See April Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. torsexpress.com/ 1. Family-friendly movies. 5 pm lakeoswego. every Friday. 3000 SE 164th Ave., Curious About Sunday, April 3 Vancouver. 360-896-4446. cafe- Community. The Trillium and many other native Reading Fair. Uni- sipnplay.com. plants will be sold at the annual Portland Children’s Trillium Festival at Tryon Creek versity of Portland Target FREE First Friday. Enjoy Museum hosts com- on April 2. hosts games, crafts, the museum FREE from 4 -8 pm. munity friends for PHOTO COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF TRYON CREEK storytelling to cel- Portland Children’s Museum. 4015 storytimes, demos ebrate reading. 1 free SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. and more. 10 am-4 pm April 2, 10 The Rat’s Tale. Play After Play book per child, while supplies last. portlandcm.org am-2 pm April 3. Free w/admis- presents a story from China. Ages 11am-3 pm. FREE. Chiles Center, 2-8. 10 am April 2, 9. 2 pm April 3, Ladybug Nature Walks. PP&R sion: $9 ages 1 and up. 4015 SW 5000 N Willamette Blvd. 503-943- 10. $7, free ages 0-2. Brooklyn Bay, naturalist-led walks for the littlest Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. 7135. up.edu. 1825 SE Franklin St. Bay K. 503- nature buffs. Ages 2-5. 10-11 am portlandcm.org 772-4005. playafterplay.com. $2 Day. Explore OMSI for $2 every every Friday. $3 per preschooler. Lakeshore Learning Crafts. first Sun. 9:30 am-5:30 pm. Parking 503-823-3601. portlandonline.com/ Creative crafts. Ages 3+. 11 am-3 Rock, Gem and Craft Show. $2. 1945 SE Water Ave. 503-797- parks. pm. FREE. April 2: Friends Around Rock hound fun. (Thunder) egg and 4000. omsi.edu. rock hunts April 2. 10 am-6 pm Story and Stroll. Naturalist led the World. April 9: Spring Chick. Sundays for Families. April 2. 10 am-5 pm April 3. FREE. Gallery walk, story time. Ages 3-6, with April 16: Tote Bag. April 23: Bunny Mt. Hood Rock Club at Mt. Hood tour (12:30 pm) art activities (1-3 grown-up. 1-2 pm April 1, 8, 15, Basket. April 30: Buzzing Bee. Community College Gym, 26000 pm) and stories (2:30 pm). April 3, 22, 29. FREE, pre-registration 16901 SW 65th Ave., Lake Oswego. SE Stark, Gresham. 503-760-1825. 10, 17, 24. Free w/admission: $12 required. Tryon Creek State Park, 503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning. mounthoodrockclub.com. adults, free ages 0-17. Portland Art 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503- com. Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave. 503- 636-9886 xt. 225. tryonfriends.org. Handprint Tiles. Make a great Owls Are a Hoot. Guided walk 226-2811. pam.org. Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest. Tulips mother’s day gift. $22+. 10:30 and craft. Ages 5-9 w/grown-up. 9 Go, Dog. Go! See April 1. am-5 pm April 2: Mother Natures, am-noon. $10/person, registration in bloom and more. 9 am-6 pm Trillium Festival. See April 2. daily through May 1. $10 car 2627 SE Clinton St. 10 am-4 pm required. Audubon Society, 5151 weekends, $5 weekdays. 33814 S April 8: Plue, 4431 SE Woodstock. NW Cornell Rd. 503-292-6855. Curious About Community. See Meridian, Woodburn. 503-634- 10 am-5 pm April 9: MamaBaby, audubonportland.org. April 2. 2243. woodenshoe.com. 4029 SE Hawthorn Blvd. 10 am-5 Kites! Kite-related crafts and Rock, Gem and Craft Show. See pm April 16: Hanna Andersson activities every April Sat and Sun April 3. Outlet, 7 Monroe Pkwy. 10 am-4 Saturday, April 2 to go with display Colorful Kites of The Rat’s Tale. See April 2. pm April 22: Little Urbanites, 916 China. Garden open 10 am-6 pm Trillium Festival. Tryon Creek’s NW 10th Ave. 10 am-4 pm April daily. $8.50 adults, $6.50 ages 6-18, annual festival celebrates this pretty 23: Polliwog, 234 NE 28th Ave. free 0-5. Lan Su Chinese Garden, Monday, April 4 perennial. Guided hikes, crafts, 9:30 am-4 pm April 29: Kazoodles, 239 NW Everett St. 503-228-8131. Momtopia Mondays. Bunny hop, music, native plant sale and more. 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancou- lansugarden.org. crafts and more for kids; treats for 10 am-4 pm April 2 and 3. FREE. ver. 10 am-4 pm April 30: Haggis parents. Ages 0-6 w/parents. 10-11 Guided Nature Walk. Explore the Tryon Creek State Natural Area, Mcbaggis, 6802 SE Milwaukie Ave. am. FREE. Near Legacy Funland forest at Tryon Creek. All ages w/ 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503- 503-658-7210. handprinttiles.com. (first level) at Lloyd Center. Lloyd- grown-up. 10-11:30 am April 2, 9, 636-4398. tryonfriends.org. center.com. 503-282-2511.
44 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011
family calendar
Zoo’s Gone Wild. Spring break Beanstalk. $3.50, babes in arms enrichment, keeper talks and more. free, reservations please. Smile Sta- 10 am- 3 pm April 4-8. Free w/ad- tion. 8210 SE 13th. 503-232-2346. mission: $10.50 adults, $7.50 kids ladybugtheater.org. 3-11, free 0-2. $2 to park. Oregon Preschool Play & Skate. See April Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road. 503- 5. 226-1561. oregonzoo.org. Zoo’s Gone Wild. See April 4. Van Oodles’s Lunch Party. Kid- die rock. Ages 2-8. Noon April 4, 11, 18, 25. FREE, food for pur- Thursday, April 7 chase. Warehouse Cafe, 3434 SE The Adventures of Flat Stanley. Milwaukie Ave. 503-206-5766. Make a Flat Stanley and take him vanoodles.com. on adventures. FREE. 3:30-5:30 pm April 7: Belmont Library, 1038 SE Tuesday, April 5 39th Ave. 503-988-5382. 1-3 pm April 30: Gregory Heights Library, Preschool Play & Skate. Skating, 7921 NE Sandy Blvd. 503-988- songs, games and lesson. Ages 0-6. 5386. Multcolib.org. 10-11:30 am Tues/Wed. $5.50 per child. Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Penny’s Puppets at Café Sip-n- Way. 503-233-5777. oakspark.com. Play. Puppet show. 10 am. FREE w/ paid admission to play area. 3000 Baby Hour. Docent-led 45-min- SE 164th Ave., Vancouver. 360- ute gallery tour, coffee hour after. 896-4446. cafesipnplay.com. For grown-ups with baby age 0-1. 10-10:45 am tour, 10:45 coffee. $5 Zoo’s Gone Wild. See April 4. members, $12 non-members, pre- Ladybug Theater. See April 6. registration encouraged. Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave. 503-226-2811. pam.org. Friday, April 8 Symphony Storytime. Oregon Super Seedlings. Families learn Symphony musician plays and to start seeds, transplant. Ages displays instrument, craft and story. 3-12, w/grown-up. 6-7 pm April 8. 3:30-4:30 pm April 5, 12, 19, 26. 6:30-7:30 pm April 11. $5-$25 slid- FREE. Sellwood-Moreland Library, ing scale. Location on registration. 7860 SE 13th Ave. 503-988-5398. Growing Gardens. 503-284-8420. multcolib.org. growing-gardens.org. Drop-in Craft. Projects for pre- Bumblebee Strolls. Listen for schoolers. 6-7 pm April 5, 12, 19, birds, search for animal signs and 26. FREE. Ledding Library, 10660 more. Ages 3-5 w/adult. 10-11 am SE 21st, Milwaukie. 503-786-7580. April 8, 22. $3 child (resident), $8 milwaukie.lib.or.us. (nonresident). Wilderness Park, Zoo’s Gone Wild. See April 4. 22101 Clark St., West Linn. Prereg- istration required: westlinnoregon. gov. Wednesday, April 6 The Ugliest Duckling. See In the Tadpole Tales. Story, crafts and Spotlight. hike. Ages 3-5. 10 am-11:30 am April 6, 13, 20, 27. $3 per child, Ladybug Nature Walks. See April pre-register. Whitaker Ponds Natu- 1. ral Area, 7040 NE 47th Ave. 503- Zoo’s Gone Wild. See April 4. 281-1132. oregonmetro.gov. Story and Stroll. See April 1. Wondrous Wednesday. $3 Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. admission to the World Forestry See April 1. Center Discovery Museum every first Wed. 10 am-5 pm. 4033 SW Handprint Tiles. See April 2. Canyon Road. 503-228-1367. worldforestrycenter.org. Saturday, April 9 Ladybug Theater. Ages 2.5 +. Pedal Nation. Bike convention 10:30 am. April 6, 7, 13, 14: The with kid zone, cool bike displays, Three Silly Goats Gruff. April 20, more. 10 am-6 pm April 9, 10 am-5 21, 27, 28: Baby Bear and the
46 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 pm April 10. $10 at door, free ages Lakeshore Learning Crafts. See Tuesday, April 12 0-12 with paid adult. Oregon Con- April 2. vention Center, 777 NE MLK Blvd. Young Artists. Concert by nine Handprint Tiles. See April 2. 603-887-3084. pedalnationevents. talented classical soloists ages com. The Rat’s Tale. See April 2. 10-18. Best ages 6+. 7:30 pm. $15- $25. Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-245-4885. metro- artsinc.org. $4 Zoo Tuesday. Visit the Oregon Zoo for $4 per person. 9 am-4 pm. 4001 SE Canyon Road. 503-226- 1561. oregonzoo.org. Fairy Tale Party. Stories, crafts, games. Ages 3-6, w/grown-up. FREE. 6:30-7:30 pm April 12: Fairview-Columbia Library, 1520 NE Village St. 503-988-5655. 10:30-11:30 am April 23, tickets 30 minutes prior. Capitol Hill LIbrary, 10723 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-988- 5385. multcolib.org. Preschool Play & Skate. See April 5.
The Pedal Nation Bicycle Show, on April 9 and 10, highlights all-thing-bike, promising fun, information Symphony Storytime. See April and more for families. 5. Creature Feature. See April 5. Family Adventure Day. Natural- Sunday, April 10 ist-led, drop-in activities along trail. Hearing Voices. Washington Drop-in Craft. See April 5. 10 am-1 pm. FREE. Tualatin River County Library’s storytelling Earth Day. See Family Favorites. National Wildlife Refuge, 19255 festival kicks off today and runs SW Pacific Hwy., Sherwood. 503- through April 16. Ages 6+ unless 625-5944. fws.gov/tualatinriver. noted otherwise. FREE. 1 pm: Ken Wednesday, April 13 FREE Family Day at Washington Iverson and Kelly Hoffman. Tigard Wild About Cooper Mountain. County Museum. Crafts, activities Public Library, 13500 SW Hall Blvd. 503-684-6537. wccls.org/voices. Walk, stories, craft and more. Ages and more with St. Pat’s theme. 10 4-6. 1-3 pm April 13, 20, 27. $13. am- 2 pm.17677 NW Springville Penny’s Puppets at the Ware- 18892 SW Kemmer Rd., Beaverton. Rd. (PCC Rock Creek Campus). house. 1:15-2 pm. $5 person, $17 503-629-6350. oregonmetro.gov. 503-645-5353. washingtoncounty- family of 4, non-walkers free. 3434 museum.org. SE Milwaukie Ave. 503-282-9207. Preschool Play & Skate. See April 5. Learning to Look. Guided gallery portlandgreenparenting.com. tour aimed at kids. 10 am ages 3-5 Pedal Nation. See April 9. Tadpole Tales. See April 6. with grown-up, 11 am kids ages 6-11 with grown up. $5 members The Ugliest Duckling. See In the Ladybug Theater. See April 6. and children, $12 non-members. Spotlight. Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Sundays for Families. See April 3. Thursday, April 14 Park Ave. 503-226-2811. pam.org. The Rat’s Tale. See April 2. Hearing Voices Storytelling. Second Saturday. Reptile show, Gene Tagaban: 7 pm. Banks Public crafts and fun. Ages 3-12. 1-3 pm. Library, 111 Market St. 503-324- FREE. Water Resources Education Monday, April 11 1382. Kelly Hoffman: 7 pm. Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way. Mondays on the Mall. Video Tualatin Public Library, 18878 SW 360-487-7111. cityofvancouver.us/ gaming truck 11:30 am-1:30 pm, Martinazzi Ave. 503-691-3074. watercenter. SW 5th/Oak. Get a caricature FREE. wccls.org/voices. The Ugliest Duckling. See In the drawing noon-2 pm, SW 5th/Tay- Ladybug Theater. See April 6. Spotlight. lor. Musician Scott Head performs noon-1 pm SW 6th/Jefferson. Ladybug Nature Walks. See April FREE. portlandmall.org. 1. Friday, April 15 Super Seedlings. See April 8. Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. Family Friday Concerts. Classical See April 1. Van Oodles’s Lunch Party. See Revolution PDX performs. 7:15 pm. April 4. FREE, $5 person donation sug- Guided Nature Walk. See April 2.
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 47 family calendar
gested. Community Music Center, Autism Walk-a-Thon. Raise 3350 SE Francis St. 503-823- money for autism. Registration 3177. communitymusiccenter. open 9:30 am, walk at 10:30 am, org. rides open 11 am. Entertainment and crafts. Registration $12 Newt Watch. Nature night out adult, $9 child. Oaks Park, 7805 to look for wildlife. Ages 6-11. SE Oaks Park Way. 503-636-1676. 6-9 pm. $25. Cooper Mountain firstgiving.com. Nature Park Interpretive Center, 15655 SW Millikan Way, Kids in Nature: Signs of Beaverton. 503-629-6350. Spring. All about woodpeck- oregonmetro.gov. ers. Ages 4-7, w/grown-up. 10-11:30 am. $10 child/adult Ladybug Nature Walks. See pair, pre-registration required, April 1. PHOTO COURTESY OF CANSTRUCTION Yes, we CAN … build amazing structures with Tryon Creek State Natural Area, Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. canned food, that is. Check out Canstruction, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503- a benefit for the Oregon Food Bank, at Pioneer 636-4398. tryonfriends.org. See April 1. Place April 25 through 30. Story and Stroll. See April 1. The Ugliest Duckling. See In the Spotlight. Spring Fest. Plant a seed, crafts, Sundays for Families. See April 3. Saturday April 16 face painting and more. 10 am-6 KidFest. Family fair with enter- pm. FREE. Handmade Local Market, KidFest. See April 16. tainment, info and fun - emphasis 7702 NE 219th St., Battle Ground. Easter Egg Hunts. See Family on camps, babies, sports. 10 am-6 360-576-5848. handmadelocalm- Favorites. pm April 16, 10 am-5 pm April 17. arket.com $5 adults, free ages 0-3, $20 family. OPB Day with the Kratt Broth- Monday, April 18 Parking $7. Portland Expo Center, ers. The goofy zoologists from Zo- 2060 N Marine Dr. 360-514-0767. boomafoo answer questions; enjoy Mondays on the Mall. Star in kidfestnw.com. crafts and more. Check website for your own photo shoot 11:30 am- 1:30 pm SW 5th/Mill. Listen to Elephantastic! Celebrate the hours. FREE, museum admission Gerardo Caldern noon-1 pm, SW Oregon Zoo’s pachyderms with and parking not included. OMSI, 6th/Main. Buckman Elementary training sessions, games and your 1945 SE Water Ave. 503-797-4000. Marimba Band, noon-1 pm, SW own elephant ears. Packy gets cake omsi.edu. 6th/Oak. FREE. portlandmall.org. at 2 pm. 10 am- 4 pm. Free w/ OHS Family Day. Native American admission: $10.50 adults, $7.50 arts demos, tour museum. 11 am-3 Van Oodles’s Lunch Party. See kids 3-11, free 0-2. $2 to park. 4001 pm. 2 kids FREE w/ 1 paid adult April 4. SW Canyon Road. 503-226-1561. $11. Oregon Historical Society, oregonzoo.org. 1200 SW Park Ave. 503-222-7141. Tuesday, April 19 Spring Gala Concert. Portland ohs.org. Reading Makes You Feel Good. Symphonic Girlchoir performs. 2 Earth Day. See Family Favorites. Author Todd Parr reads, signs pm. $20 adults, $10 student, $45 books, answers questions (1 free family. Zion Lutheran Church, The Ugliest Duckling. See In the book/family while supply lasts). 1015 SW 18th Ave. 503-226-6162. Spotlight. Ages 3-6. FREE. 10:15 April 19: girlchoir.com. Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. Hillsboro Public Library, 2850 NE Parents’ Survival Night. Kids See April 1. Brookwood Pkwy. 3:30 pm April have fun with physical fitness, Guided Nature Walk. See April 2. 20: Beaverton City Library, 12375 games, music and more and parents SW Fifth St. 4 pm April 21: Tigard get a night to themselves. Ages Lakeshore Learning Crafts. See Public Library, 13500 SW Hall Blvd. 3-12. 6-9:30 pm. Call for details. April 2. 503-648-9809 xt. 5. wccls.org. 503-595-9702. tlglakeoswegoor. Handprint Tiles. See April 2. Preschool Play & Skate. See April com. April 29 Easter Egg Hunts. See Family 5. Hearing Voices Storytelling. Jeff 8 pm Favorites. Symphony Storytime. See April Gere: 10:30 am. Sherwood Public Curious Comedy Theater 5. 5225 NE MLK Library, 22560 SW Pine St. 503- 625-6688. Gene Tagaban: 12:30- Sunday, April 17 Creature Feature. See April 5. Visit 2:30 pm. Beaverton City Library, Latino Cultural Festival. En- Drop-in Craft. See April 5. jackikane.com 12375 SW 5th St. 503-644-2197. tertainment, games and family for info Festival Finale with all 4 storytell- resource information. Noon-5 pm. ers: 7 pm Garden Home Commu- FREE. Civic Center, 150 E Main St. Wednesday, April 20 nity Library, 7475 SW Oleson Rd. 503-648-1102. hillchamber.org. Preschool Play & Skate. See April 503-245-9932. FREE. wccls.org/ 5. voices
48 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 49 family calendar
Sunday, April 24 Canstruction. See April 25. Sundays for Families. See April 3. Friday, April 29 Monday, April 25 El dia de los ninos/ El dia de Canstruction. Teams build struc- los libros (Children’s Day/Book tures/sculptures from cans of food Day). Enjoy bilingual story time, 9 am-5 pm April 25. Creations on Spanish songs and dances, face display 10 am-8 pm April 26-30, painting, snacks and multicultural 11 am-6 pm May 1. Watch FREE. fun. Ages 1-12. 5-7 pm. FREE. 1933 Public votes by donation. After Fort Vancouver Way Vancouver, display, food goes to Oregon Food WA 98663 Gaiser Student Center. Bank. Pioneer Place Mall, 700 SE 360-992-2977. clark.edu. Fifth Ave. canstruction.org. Open the Doors to Dance. Bea- Van Oodles’s Lunch Party. See verton student troupe Dance West April 4. performs. 7:30 pm April 29, May 1. 2 pm April 30. $12.50-$18. ACMA Performing Arts Center, 11375 SW Tuesday, April 26 Center, Beaverton. 503-672-3700 xt There are lots of opportunities this month to get the kids out exploring nature – like Tadpole Tales, featur- Shell Show. Exotic shells on 9. beaverton.k12.or.us. ing a hike, a story and crafts. See April 6. display. 9:30 am-5:30 pm April Faire in the Grove. Dance, music, 26-May 1. Free w/admission: $12 storytelling, juggling, medieval Tadpole Tales. See April 6. Handprint Tiles. See April 2. adults, $9 ages 3-13. Parking $2. combat demos and more. 3 pm- OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave. 503- dusk April 29. 10 am-dusk April 30. Wild about Cooper Mountain. Easter Egg Hunts. See Family 797-4000. omsi.edu. 10 am-3 pm May 1. FREE admis- See April 13. Favorites. Preschool Play & Skate. See April sion. McMenamins Grand Lodge, Reading Makes You Feel Good. 5. 3505 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove. See April 19. Saturday, April 23 Faireinthegrove.com. Symphony Storytime. See April Ladybug Theater. See April 6. See Family Favorites on pages 42 5. Ladybug Nature Walks. See April Easter Egg Hunts. 1. See Family and 43 for Easter Egg Hunts and Canstruction. See April 25. Favorites. Earth Day Events. Creature Feature. See April 5. Canstruction. See April 25. Kindie Concerts. Great kid music. Thursday, April 21 Drop-in Craft. See April 5. Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. 10 am-noon. April 23: Mr. Ben, See April 1. Meet Curious George. Say hi Professor Banjo, Matt Clark, The Al- to George at 9:30, 11:30 am. Jam phabeticians. April 30: Mo Phillips, Wednesday, April 27 Story and Stroll. See April 1. with Johnny 10 am, noon. Free w/ Johnny & Jason, The Toy Trains. Mariachi Viva Mexico. Handprint Tiles. See April 2. admission: $9. Portland Children’s $8 adults, $4 kids. Curious Comedy Six-piece Museum, 4015 SW Canyon Road. Theater, 5225 NE MLK. 503-231- band plays lively music. 6:30-7:30 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org 5753. squaredancepaul.com pm. FREE. Fairview-Columbia Li- Saturday, April 30 brary, 1520 NE Village St. 503-988- Reading Makes You Feel Good. Running For Risa. Fundraiser runs 5655. multcolib.org. Ponta & The Big Drum. Portland See April 19. for teen with cancer, insurance Preschool Play & Skate. See April Taiko performs a Japanese tale classed as pre-existing condition. Ladybug Theater. See April 6. 5. about a badger. Ages 5+. 11 am Fun run 0.7 mile, $5, 10 am. Lon- April 30, May 1, 7. 1 pm May 1, 8. ger runs too! Info runningforrisa@ Tadpole Tales. See April 6. $18.25 adult, $12.25 children/stu- Friday, April 22 gmail.com. Henry Hagg County Wild about Cooper Mountain. dents, plus service charge. Brunish Recycled Art. Turn cast-offs into Park, 50250 SW Scoggings Valley See April 13. Hall, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-288- Rd. Gaston, runningforrisa.com. 2456. PortlandTaiko.org. art. FREE. 3-5 pm April 22. Ken- Ladybug Theater. See April 6. ton Library, 8226 N Denver Ave. Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. Paper Airplane Construction! 503-988-5370. 2-4 pm April 23. See April 1. Canstruction. See April 25. Learn to make cool aircraft and Midland Library, 805 SE 122d Ave. fly in the library. Ages 9+. 3-4:30 Guided Nature Walk. See April 2. 503-988-5392. multcolib.org Thursday, April 28 pm. FREE. Troutdale Library, 2451 Ladybug Nature Walks. See April Lakeshore Learning Crafts. See SW Cherry Park Rd. 503-988-5355. FREE Preschool Piano Intro. 1. April 2. multcolib.org. Ages 3-5, w/grown-up. 1-1:45 pm. Bumblebee Strolls. See April 8. Handprint Tiles. See April 2. FREE, registration required (info@ How I Became a Pirate. See In MusicWerksStudio.com). Milagros the Spotlight. Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. Fairy Tale Party. See April 12. Boutique, 5433 NE 30th Ave. 503- See April 1. Ag Fest. See In the Spotlight. 287-5028. musicwerksstudio.com. Story and Stroll. See April 1. Ladybug Theater. See April 6. Canstruction. See April 25.
50 Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 Parties
Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. See April 1. The Adventures of Flat Stanley. See April 7. Guided Nature Walk. See April 2. Lakeshore Learning Crafts. See April 2. Handprint Tiles. See April 2. Open the Doors to Dance. See April 29.
Calendar Deadline Details. The calendar submission deadline is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. All submis- sions must be made in writing and e-mail submissions are preferred: [email protected].
clae ssifi ds
actitie vi s American Sign Language Workshops, Playgroups & Story Times With Local Children’s Author Dawn Prochovnic, MA / 503.223.5622 www.SmallTalkLearning.com ~Teaching Children to Sign~ ~Since 1999~
pre scHOOLs Co-op Preschools Call or email PCPO for the parent participation preschools near you. (503) 293-6161, [email protected] www.oregonpreschools.org
r umMAGE sale Brooklyn Preschool Rummage Sale, April 15-16 Friday 9-3 & Saturday 9-2 2901 SE Steele, 97202 OVER 30 FAMILIES! SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! Adv eRTIser’s index ABC Doula ...... 11 Clever Cycles...... 23 Harmony Road/Westside Lakeshore Learning... 49 Music Together...... 11 Oregon Connections Penney’s Puppets … 51 Swallowtail School...... 6 Music...... 33 Academy...... 37 su rROGACY Academy Theater...... 40 Clogs -N- More Kids..18 Larry Steele Basketball Musikgarten...... 27 The Portland French Sweet Peas Ag Fest...... 46 ClubSport...... 33 Hidden Valley Camp...32 Camp...... 31 Northwest Primary Oregon Episcopal School...... 49 Kidzone...... 8, 51 School...... 34 Creating Families Amiquitos...... 31 Council on International Hop Laurelwood...... 25 Care...... 11 Portland Japanese Thorsen’s Surrogate (Universal Pictures)....21 Oregon Healthy Kids Garden...... 46 Agency...... 6 Bob Eaton Magic...... 51 Education...... 27 Learning Palace...... 8 Northwest Surrogacy through Surrogacy Hopworks...... 23 Center...... 8 Program...... 41 Portland School Tidee Didee...... 25 Bob’s Red Mill...... 23 Dentistry for Kids...... 2 Legacy Emanuel...... 13 www.ggscnw.com In a Child’s Path...... 33 NW Children’s Oregon Hope Chinese Project ...... 15 Tillamook Forest Bodhi Tree Language Dentistry for Teens...... 3 Little Garden School...... 37 The International Preschool...... 35 Theater...... 33 Portland Taiko...... 37 Center...... 48 Center...... 35 Do Jump...... 34 Oregon Music Teachers v aCATION School...... 35 The Little Gym...... 29 NW Dance Theater.....27 PPS Russian Immersion Time Out: Café Sip-n-Play...... 37 Doctors Express...... 52 Association...... 12 Program...... 12 Mamalogues...... 48 Internet CEO Moms ....8 Little Smiles...... 10 Oaks Park...... 51 Camp Invention...... 33 D’Onofrio & Oregon Partnership to Preserve (Harriet Tualatin Hills Park & Plan a Family Getaway Associates...... 11 JLM Insurance Mad Science...... 34 OHSU Center for Immunize Children....17 Camp Nor’wester...... 31 (Jay Monteblanco)...... 6 Spoken Language...... 41 Fasenfest)...... 26 Recreation...... 29 EcoMaids of Portland. 25 Mama Makeover...... 49 Oregon Zoo...... 43 in Sunriver! Camp SCRAP...... 30 Just Between Friends OHSU Doernbecher The Reading Toolkit...37 U of O Academic CCLC...... 19 EinsteinWise...... 31 Sale...... 23 MetroArts Day Children’s Hospital.....39 OSU Degrees Royal Ridges...... 33 Extension...... 30 3 BR/2BA, Full Kitchen, Many Extras Camp...... 31 Online...... 7, 41 Childbloom® Guitar Energy Trust...... 25 Kid Institute OHSU Infant Study.....18 RubySky Coaching.....11 The Vancouver Clinic....7 $125/Night + Tax/Hskg: 503.349.4970 Metro Mountain Our World Learning Program of Portland..10 The French American of Technology...... 32 OHSU Nurse- Run Like a Mother.....35 Willowbrook Camp....34 School...... 37 Climbing...... 51 Center...... 27 email: [email protected] Children of The Sea....18 KidFest...... 5 Midwives...... 12 Run Mama Run...... 11 Woodhaven School....34 Gateway Women’s Micha-el School...... 35 Pediatric Urgent http://web.me.com/dawn Chinook Book...... 26 Kids Like Languages..32 Old McDonald’s Care...... 10 Small Friends...... 41 Clinic...... 7 Momtopia Mondays..19 Farm...... 32 Christian Youth Kindermusik...... 8 Pelonca School Stagecoach Theater...34 prochovnic/Sunriver/Welcome.html Theater...... 29 George Fox...... 46 Multisensory Learning Oregon Children’s Kohl’s Car Seat Com- Academy...... 7 of Music...... 30 Sunriver Resort...... 27 CLASS Academy...... 9 Handprint Tiles...... 47 munity Outreach...... 15 Theater...... 45
Metro Parent • metro-parent.com • April 2011 51