� DELTA DENTAL'
Worthy Efforts
At the end of 2025, I embarked on a long-overdue cleaning project: sorting through coloring contest entries from the past dozen years.
Seven Days was consolidating its o ce space to save money, giving up the room where the Kids VT editor and calendar writer used to sit. In 2020, we began inserting Kids VT inside Seven Days. Our editor, Alison Novak, became Seven Days’ K-12 education reporter, and the Seven Days calendar writer took over compiling kids’ events, which are now listed on a “family fun” calendar that’s part of the weekly paper. The Kids VT o ce sat empty for years.
measure how much a publication matters to its readers. The coloring contest is the most successful sustained reader engagement initiative we’ve ever attempted — but it’s not the only one.
When we finally tackled the move, I discovered thousands upon thousands of coloring contest submissions. No one could bring themselves to throw them away! As I started sifting through the massive piles, I began to understand why: Each one was the work of a hopeful young artist.
One of the first entries I came across was by Jonathan Kafumbe at age 8. His brightly colored September 2016 submission, “The musical fish,” included the words “Music is amazing!”
I recognized the name: Jonathan, now 18, had just performed as the senior soloist in the Vermont Youth Orchestra’s holiday concert at the Flynn. The show had appeared as a spotlight in Kids VT’s Winter Issue and in the weekly Wee-Mail newsletter.
Inspired by that sweet find, I spent hours paging through past submissions, recycling many of them. But I saved hundreds: winners, honorable mentions, memorable designs, entries from kids I know. Coloring contest creator Diane Sullivan and I have discussed showcasing them in a community art show someday.
These entries are evidence of reader engagement, a term that’s currently in vogue in journalism circles. It’s one of the ways to
My cleaning project prompted me to reflect on the past 15 years of this publication, which Seven Days bought in 2010. The way parents get information has evolved substantially during that time, and so have we. Today, Kids VT no longer contains a full calendar of events. But it now o ers more opportunities for local kids to shine — you’ll read about one of them,
Next GENerator: VT’s Youth Maker Market, on page 20. On March 28, a couple dozen young entrepreneurs will sell their creations at Burlington’s Generator Makerspace in the second iteration of this annual event. Kids VT helped make it possible.
Next GENerator is the perfect complement to our other reader engagement initiatives: the Spectacular Spectacular talent show in December and the Good Citizen Challenge youth civics project, which will kick o again in May.
Kids VT is a little business within a business, and we’re using it to educate and empower the next generation of artists, citizens and business owners. You can help kids learn hands-on lessons in entrepreneurship by coming to Generator that Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., chatting with them and buying some of their products. If you show up and don’t buy anything, that’s also a lesson!
Keep reading to learn more about money matters that a ect Vermont families, from information on the new Trump Accounts and Baby Bonds to a novel way to help your kids become financially literate. There’s a coloring contest in here, too.
CATHY RESMER
Jonathan Kafumbe
Jonathan Kafumbe’s coloring contest entry from September 2016
Ideas about food and bodies start young.
Getting Creative
A Woodbury sixth grader has won the coloring contest three times in the last year. How did she do it?
Trump Accounts and Baby Bonds give kids golden nest eggs
Earning Learning
Aldo’s Allowance Academy helps families teach financial literacy
Rescued Animals
A new Woodstock business saves stuffies from the landfill
6/22-8/14
Show and Sell
Meet some of the young makers who will set up shop at Next GENerator
MARCH 20 & 21
Save the Dates
Spring fun for the whole family
BY REBECCA DRISCOLL
APRIL 25 & 26
Go Hog Wild
Prepare for cuteness overload! The BABY FARM ANIMAL CELEBRATION evokes unbridled joy and sheepish grins at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. Snap udderly adorable pics with the season’s freshest and fuzziest arrivals, including calves, piglets and goat kids. Wagon rides, play stations and housemade cheese tastings complete the day.
Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. Regular admission, $14-21; free for members and kids under 3. Info, 802-457-2355, billingsfarm.org.
APRIL 25 & 26
Monster House
As Rod Serling famously intoned, “You’ve just crossed over into the Twilight Zone.” THE VERMONT SCI-FI, FANTASY & HORROR EXPO pulls families into another dimension at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. Costumed guests mix and mingle with more than 150 vendors, artists, authors and actors, including the stars of TV’s “Babylon 5” and “Ghost Hunters.”
Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. $20-30; free for kids under 6. Info, info@vtgatherings.com, vtgatherings.com.
In Character
Can you feel the love tonight? THE VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA invites kids — and kids at heart — to experience the magic of Walt Disney’s legacy with “Disney in Concert: Around the World” at Paramount Theatre in Rutland and the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. The symphonic showcase boasts orchestral suites of beloved animated flicks, from The Lion King to Frozen Friday, March 20, 7 p.m., at Paramount Theatre in Rutland. $45-75. Info, 802775-0903, paramountvt.org. Saturday, March 21, 6 p.m., at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $40-75. Info, 802-863-5966, flynnvt.org.
MARCH 21
Be Shellfish
The BURLINGTON AQUARIUM FISH, FRAG & REPTILE EXPO o ers fintastic fun for budding biologists and herpetologists at Delta Hotels Burlington. Visitors and vendors make a splash at this shimmering celebration of scales and coral, replete with locally bred species and DIY demonstrations. These critters are cold-blooded, but they’ll surely warm your heart! Saturday, March 21, noon-3 p.m., at Delta Hotels Burlington. Free. Info, 802-372-8716, tfcb.org.
APRIL 24-26
Sticky Situation
At the VERMONT MAPLE FESTIVAL, sweet tooths young and old tap into a citywide tribute to the state’s liquid gold. Gooey goodness takes center stage at grade A events across St. Albans, including pancake breakfasts, sugarhouse tours, cooking contests, tastings, a sap run and a parade — all capturing the spirit and flavor of the Green Mountains’ greatest export. Friday, April 24, through Sunday, April 26, at various St. Albans locations. Various prices. Info, 802-528-6579, vtmaplefestival.org.
APRIL 25
A Real Hoot
Nocturnal predators show o their talonts at Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s OWL FESTIVAL in Quechee, where avian aficionados of all ages soar through a day of crafts, games and interactive opportunities. Want to know more about whooo’s in your backyard? VINS educators share fascinating facts about the center’s feathered residents and their wild counterparts.
Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee. Regular admission, $17-20; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 802-359-5000, vinsweb.org.
MAY 10
No Need for Speed
UK theater company Tutti Frutti — hailed by the Guardian as “one of the most inspired ensembles specializing in work for very young children” — crosses the pond to present HARE AND TORTOISE at New Hampshire’s Lebanon Opera House. Performers breathe new life into the fable with upbeat music and charming characters who learn that slow and steady wins the race.
Sunday, May 10, 4 p.m., at Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. $25-30. Info, 603-448-0400, lebanonoperahouse.org.
Find more family fun each week in the Seven Days calendar or online at sevendaysvt.com/familyfun.
JOIN US FOR THE 4th ANNUAL
Celebrating health and safety!
A fun community party just for kids and families
April 25, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Held at the Greater Burlington YMCA | 298 College Street | Burlington
Visit with local organizations that focus on health and safety
Kids activity booklet, bounce house, fun games in the gym
Interpreters available
(May include ASL, Burmese, Dari, French, Kurundi, MaiMai/ Somali, Nepali, Pashto, Spanish, Swahili, and Vietnamese)
Free bicycle helmets and t-shirts (while they last, limited availability)
Sign up for Camp Splash, join a family fitness class Music, Food, Family Fun
Tons of fun activities for kids, and resources for families
Scan the QR code for more info, or go to gbymca.org/about-us/events/#kids-fest-2026
Getting Creative
A Woodbury sixth grader has won the Kids VT coloring contest three times in the past year. How did she do it?
BY CATHY RESMER
Picking the winners of the coloring contest is one of the last things we do before finalizing every issue of Kids VT Seven Days art director Diane Sullivan has drawn the coloring prompt for each issue since 2011, typically a line drawing of an animal. On a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon, the week before publication, she lays out all the entries, grouped by age, on office chairs and tables. The submissions — often numbering 100 or more — sometimes overflow onto the floor.
Then she prints out a dozen or so score sheets and invites whoever is in the office that day to be a judge. That includes writers, editors, proofreaders, graphic designers, sales reps and our business manager. Given the number of entries and the range of judges and their tastes, it’s unusual for anyone to win more than once.
But after we put out the Giving Issue at the end of 2025, I realized that Oona Raven Russell-McDade, our winner in the ages 9 to 12 category, had actually won twice before — in the past year! I invited Oona, a sixth grader at Orchard Valley Waldorf School in East Montpelier, to explain how she approaches each entry.
How many times have you entered the coloring contest?
I have won the coloring contest three times, but I have been submitting my art since I was about 4 years old! For a while I just got a lot of honorable mentions, but when I was 10 I started actually winning.
The contest prompt is a very simple image, but each of your entries has a specific theme. How do you come up with these themes?
For each of my art pieces I never really had an idea to start with; I would just begin by looking at the position of the animals in the coloring page and make a story out of it.
What do you use to color your entries?
In my art room I have a big box of mixed art materials. I would take down
C
the box and use a combination of glitter pens, colored pencils, Blick Studio markers and fine-tipped Sharpies. One time I thought about painting one of the creatures, but it didn’t seem like it would work because of the thinness of the newspaper, and it seemed like it might damage the page.
Have you taken any art classes? I go to a Waldorf school, so we draw and paint every day, and that has definitely been part of my interest in art. I’ve also watched some videos about how to draw and got inspiration from those. I’ve also gone to some art camps. But mostly I taught myself and think up my own ideas for my art.
What’s your favorite thing to draw? I don’t have a favorite thing to draw. I vary between manga, abstract art and acrylic painting. I also recently got into DIY doll making!
Any advice for other young artists? Something I’ve learned about art contests is, it’s not about winning. I didn’t give up when my art didn’t win; I kept drawing because I love to draw. I was doing it because I loved coloring in the pages. And I want to thank the Kids VT coloring contest because it gives kids a lot of inspiration for art projects on rainy days, and a fun side part is that you might win! K
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL
Small class sizes where every student is known
Experiential and service learning
Successful graduates ready to engage
A Budget-Friendly Indian Recipe
Masoor tarka dal with roti bread
I’m the youngest of four children. Growing up, my family of six was definitely on a tight budget, especially when I was younger. Luckily my father, the main cook, was wildly creative and willing to try new things. His favorite fare, and ours, was Indian.
For this Money Issue, I made masoor dal. A staple of cuisines from all parts of India, dal (also known as dahl or daal) refers to both dried lentils and the dish made from them. For this one, I chose dried red lentils. If you have a hard time finding them among the dried beans in your grocery store, try the global food section.
This recipe uses basic spices that are easy to find at any grocery store and shouldn’t cost too much. You’ll add the spices at the end, after cooking them briefly in oil or ghee (Indian clarified butter). This process is called tarka; hence, the dish is masoor tarka dal. You can serve this plain, with basmati rice or as I did, with roti, the simplest of Indian flatbreads. Roti is made with just wheat flour, water and a little salt and cooked on a dry cast-iron griddle, so it’s easy and quick to make. So many cultures around the world use this type of flatbread, from tortillas to Scandinavian tunnbröd. You can make the dough ahead of time if you want. Kids might enjoy rolling it out! If you are feeling adventurous when you sit down to eat — and have plenty of napkins — you could even forgo forks. K
SERVES 4 TO 6 INGREDIENTS
For dal:
• 1 cup dried red lentils
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced ginger
• 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon oil or ghee (to cook spices in)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Chopped cilantro
• Salt to taste
For roti:
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup water (more as needed)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
FOR THE DAL
1. Soak red lentils in 1 1/2 cups of water for about 30 minutes. Most of the water should be absorbed.
2. Preheat a large Dutch oven with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and ginger and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring often.
4. Add soaked lentils and remaining water from soaking them, along with tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium-low and keep at a high simmer/low boil for about 40 minutes, stirring often. Most of the liquid should be absorbed or cooked off, and the lentils should be soft and tender.
5. When the dal is nearly done, heat 1 tablespoon oil or ghee in a small saucepan. Add cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon and cayenne to hot oil and cook, stirring, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
6. Pour the spices over the dal and stir to combine. Salt to taste.
7. Squeeze lemon over the finished dish and serve with chopped cilantro.
FOR THE ROTI
1. In a stand mixer or by hand, knead flour, water and salt.
2. Knead for 4 to 5 minutes, adding a tablespoon more water at a time if needed. Dough should be smooth and not sticky.
3. Place dough in a bowl with a little bit of oil to coat the ball, so it doesn’t stick to the bowl. Cover and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Dough can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until needed — just bring to room temperature before using.
4. Separate into about 20 small balls and cover them with a damp cloth.
5. Roll each ball into a thin circle (not quite paper-thin, but not too much thicker).
6. Heat a small frying pan on medium high.
7. Add one rolled-out roti to the skillet and cook for about 1 minute. It should start to puff up. Carefully flip to the other side using tongs or a fork — or your fingers, if you’re careful. Cook for about 30 to 45 seconds on the other side. Bread should be slightly browned on each side and still soft.
8. Place finished bread in a bowl and cover with a cloth.
9. Repeat with remaining dough.
PHOTOS: ANDY BRUMBAUGH
Masoor tarka dal
Roti on the griddle
START YOUR KIDS ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH A STUDENT CHECKING ACCOUNT
Financial literacy is an important part of your child’s education. A Student Checking account, specifically for 13-17 year olds, can assist them in developing responsible habits today to ensure that they make sound financial decisions tomorrow.
No fees or minimums*
Debit card
Parent or guardian is joint on the account
ATM Access
Online & Mobile Banking
Automatically converts into Reward Checking account at age 18
*No monthly service or overdraft fees and no minimum balance requirement. Must be a member of the credit union to open a student checking account.
Investing in Futures
Trump Accounts and Baby Bonds give kids golden nest eggs
BY KEN PICARD
Saving for a child’s future can feel a little like losing weight and getting physically fit — something everyone talks about but few accomplish. In today’s economy, many Vermonters struggle just to pay their bills, never mind squirreling money away for their kids’ futures.
Two new government investment programs, one created by the federal government and the other by the state, aim to break that cycle by helping parents and caregivers jump-start kids’ savings while promoting smart investment habits.
TRUMP ACCOUNTS
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump last year created a new savings and investment tool for families called 530A accounts, aka Trump Accounts. Any child under the age of 18 who is a U.S. citizen and has a Social Security number is eligible for one, regardless of how their parents may feel about the president.
Babies born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, also qualify to receive a $1,000 contribution from the U.S. government — and potentially more from other contributors such as employers, charitable organizations and private philanthropies. For instance, Susan and Michael Dell, of Dell Technologies fame, have pledged to contribute an additional $250 per child to 25 million children — $6.25 billion total. To qualify, children need to be under the age of 10 and live in zip codes where the median income is below $150,000. Nearly all Vermont cities and towns meet that criterion.
A Trump Account is essentially a cross between an individual retirement account, or IRA, and a 529 savings account. Parents, relatives and friends can make after-tax contributions to the account of as much as $5,000 per year, enabling potential earnings to grow tax-free. Like an IRA, a Trump Account is held in the child’s name, with the parents or guardians its sole custodians until the child turns 18. With a few exceptions, the child cannot withdraw those funds before then.
As of February, about 3 million children were signed up for Trump Accounts,
according to the U.S. Treasury, but the $1,000 federal contributions won’t take place until July 5.
Though the U.S. Treasury has provided few details about where those funds will be invested beyond “broad equity investment funds,” the potential for earnings is significant. According to Invest America, a $1,000 investment at birth is expected to grow to $3,648 by age 5, $10,667 by age 12 and $22,466 by age 18.
You can sign your children up for an account by filing form 4547 with your 2025 tax return.
VERMONT BABY BONDS
Later this year, the Vermont O ce of the State Treasurer will launch a pilot project aimed at reducing poverty and helping newborns and their families get a financial leg up in life.
First Steps Forward is a three-part financial-assistance program created
We see this as an opportunity to break the generational cycle of poverty and also invest in our workforce.
TREASURER MIKE PIECIAK
by state Treasurer Mike Pieciak. The pilot project, which kicks o in Essex, Orleans and Caledonia counties and could later expand statewide, includes what are called Baby Bonds for children born into low-income families.
Here’s how they work: Despite the name, Baby Bonds are not governmentissued securities. Rather, each eligible child receives $3,200 to be invested collectively in the stock market by the treasurer’s office and grow over time. The child will be able to withdraw
that money anytime between the ages of 18 and 30 for the purposes of buying a house in Vermont, starting or investing in a Vermont business, or attending a college or trade school. Based on historical stock market data that assume a 10 percent annual yield, a $3,200 investment today would be worth $17,800 in 18 years.
To be eligible, a child must be born to Vermont parents, live in the state and meet the financial criteria for receiving Medicaid. “We see this as an opportunity to break the generational cycle of poverty and also invest in our workforce,” Pieciak said, noting that a disproportionate number of children in rural areas of the state are born into poverty. “It’s also a retention tool to keep young people in Vermont.”
Additionally, First Steps Forward will make direct cash payments of $500 per month to each eligible family throughout the baby’s first year of life. Pieciak explained that the goal is to foster families’ financial security, reducing parents’ anxiety during that first stressful year and creating a healthier home environment.
The program will also provide parents with free diapers and other newborn necessities, many of which are the most costly parts of becoming new parents. Finally, First Steps Forward will unveil a maternal mental health program aimed at reducing the likelihood of postpartum depression in new mothers.
The pilot project, which Pieciak expects to go live by year’s end, will cost about $4.5 million for the first three years, with foundations and private donors footing the entire bill. If and when the Vermont legislature decides to take the program statewide for all babies born into poverty, a Baby Bond program that gives a collective $6 million to children would be worth about $22 million by the time those kids are old enough to spend it. K
Learn more at irs.gov/trumpaccounts and vermonttreasurer.gov/ economic-empowerment-division/ vermont-baby-bonds.
Vermont Ballet Theater School Center for Dance presents Celebration of Dance 2019
VERMONT BALLET THEATER SCHOOL PRESENTS CELEBRATION OF DANCE 2026
2026 SUMMER
Classes & Camps
Our annual showcase of talent from ages 4 through pre-professional will dance their way onto the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington for 2 exciting performances,
Saturday, May 30 at 1:00 & 6:30 p.m.
Our annual showcase of talent from ages 3 through pre-professional will dance their way onto the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington for two exciting performances.
• Week-long camps for ages 5-9
Saturday May 25, 2019 at 1:00 & 6:30 pm.
• Week-long ballet MiniIntensive for ages 12-18, for the serious dancer looking to stay in shape for various summer-long intensives
For show & ticket information visit www.vbts.org.
For show & ticket information visit vbts.org.
& Camps
• Week-long ballet themed camps for ages 3-9; Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker and more!
• All That Jazz Musical Theater Camp, plus STORM Dance Co. Summer Intensive with Kate Stevens
• Weekly ballet classes for young dancers - adults - beginner - advanced
• Ongoing yoga and tness classes for adults
• Weekly ballet classes for young dancers, beginners, and advanced pre-professional dancers
VBT Summer Intensive 2019 Auditions Sat. March 9th for ages 8 & up. Visit website or call for details!
THIS SUMMER COME DANCE WITH THE BEST AT VBTS!
This summer come dance with the best at VBTS! For schedule and enrollment information, visit us at
For schedule and enrollment information, visit us at VBTS.ORG, or call 878-2941, or email INFO@VBTS.ORG
or call 878-2941, or email INFO@VBTS.ORG
Earning Learning
Aldo’s Allowance Academy helps families teach financial literacy BY
When Jillian Minerva was customer service manager of Richmond Market & Beverage in 2010, she noticed something strange in the cash registers at the end of each night.
The recent Champlain College grad knew from working retail jobs that dimes are never the most used coin, yet her store churned through the 10-cent pieces. Minerva soon realized that her teenage coworkers were relying on dimes to make change.
“So if the change that they were supposed to give back was 83 cents, they were handing back eight dimes and three pennies, rather than understanding to start with the quarters,” said Minerva, 37.
Since then, Minerva has seen gaps in basic math skills among the dozens of young people she has employed at the Barnard General Store, which she has owned with her husband, Joe, since 2013. She’s helped her workers figure 10 percent discounts on seafood preorders and set up car insurance when they didn’t have coverage as drivers.
She concluded that Vermont kids need help learning financial fundamentals. So in June, Minerva launched a series of guidebooks she calls Aldo’s Allowance Academy.
Aldo is an owl that guides kids through lessons on everything from basic coin counting to understanding taxes. The lessons progress through three guidebooks divided by suggested age group: 6 to 8; 9 to 11; and 12 to 14. The books started as a project of the store, but in February Minerva set up a stand-alone website and social media accounts for her resource.
Vermont is not among the 35 states that currently require K-12 students to take a course in personal finance to graduate, according to 2024 data from the Council for Economic Education, a national nonprofit aiming to give students tools to make better financial decisions. (Kentucky has added the requirement starting with the class of 2029.) Some Vermont school districts, such as Winooski, still mandate their own financial literacy classes.
In Minerva’s view, good monetary skills depend not on what kids learn in school but also on how they apply those lessons at home. It’s like learning a language, she said — if it’s not used in the real world, it won’t stick.
She blames screens for the lack of dollar sense among today’s youths. “I
think that everything is just so digital that these kids are never handling actual cash and coins anymore.”
The Aldo’s books include a variety of practical tasks, activities and companion guides to help parents develop plans best suited to their families. A key component is a weekly Money Meeting, where families can play games together and distribute allowances earned for chosen chores.
“It’s a system that’s supposed to create a rhythm throughout your household, where every day, or at least every week or something, you’re concentrating on teaching them some money skills and taking them out into the real world,” Minerva said.
The program has kids use ledgers to track their income and transactions.
CAROLYN SHAPIRO
This Book ofCents Belongs to:
Aldo’s guides include nonmonetary lessons, too, such as how to address an envelope and prepare for a job interview.
envelope and prepare for a job interview. “It’s just really approachable,” said Sarah Prentiss, who started her 9-year-old daughter, Winter, on the Aldo’s program about a year ago. She was pleased that the activities were offline and on paper. Winter particularly likes dividing her allowance into jars labeled “save,” “spend” or “give,” her mom said.
“We do kind of the odd numbers, and so she has to tally it up and figure out how much she’s going to get for that week,” Prentiss said of Winter’s earnings, which vary based on the tasks she does at home in Woodbury. “We talk about the want versus the need.”
So on an allowance week, a parent might tell a child, “You’re going to come shopping with me, and if you want a certain snack, you have to see how much money you have in your bank account, and you can buy it yourself,” Minerva said.
The books cost $19 per level or $49 for the three-level bundle. Customers order online and download them, but the guides are designed to be printed out.
“These kids are so addicted to their cellphones, it’s insane,” Minerva said. “So I’m trying to promote more screen-free activities, for sure. The idea of having these weekly money meetings and getting together as a family — I think that’s really important.”
Aldo’s guides include nonmonetary lessons, too, such as how to address an
Minerva said the idea for the guides dates back to when she was 16, growing up on Long Island, N.Y., and got her first job at a chiropractor’s o ce. Her first paycheck was less than she expected; she told her father there must have been a mistake. He explained that taxes were deducted from her total wages.
Minerva decided she would create a way to prepare her future children to understand money matters when they got their allowance. Aldo’s Academy will be there for her two kids, 3-year-old Francesca and 1-year-old Cullen, when they’re old enough.
Minerva has sold about 170 of the guides so far to customers in 22 states, she said. She recently added a “Business Blueprint” package to help youngsters start their own enterprises. K More at aldosallowanceacademy.com.
Summer by the Lake
Why Kids and Parents Love YMCA Camp Abnaki Day Camp
• Camp for boys who completed k-4
• Held at North Hero on Lake Champlain
• Archery, climbing and ropes course, swimming and boating, arts + crafts, and more!
• Transportation available to and from camp
• Overnight camp for boys 1-10 grade, too!
The Y’s Community Partner
Rescued Animals
A new Woodstock business saves stuffies from the landfill
BY CATHY RESMER
Let’s be honest. Some of our kids’ stu ed animals will be cherished forever and passed down to future generations. Others will likely be given away, sold at a garage sale or tossed in the trash when no one is looking. According to a 2023 article in the Yale Environment Review, 80 percent of toys end up in the landfill.
Kate Niemczyk is betting that the old adage is true: One family’s trash is another’s treasure. Her startup, the Bunny Bin, accepts donated stu es, fixes them up and finds them new homes. Not only does her approach keep those toys out of the waste stream, it also o ers gift givers a more a ordable and environmentally conscious option than buying something new from Amazon.
Niemczyk, 39, grew up in Woodstock; she came up with the idea after being laid off from her producer gig at NBC’s “Today” show in 2023 and moving back to Vermont. She developed the concept with help from mentors at SCORE New Hampshire & Vermont and the business “actuator” program at
the Black River Innovation Campus in Springfield.
The Bunny Bin launched with a booth at the artisan market during Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend in December. Niemczyk accepted donations and sold 25 stu es she’d already repaired, bringing in about $420. Once word got out that she was seeking stu ed animals, they started to appear — from parents and grandparents cleaning out the attic, from adults ready to downsize.
CLYDE
My story so far: I’m a big bear, and I give big hugs. You can tell I’ve given lots of them because my fur is slightly flattened. But I don’t mind. These are signs I was loved.
What I’m looking for: A friend who isn’t afraid to hold me tight. Someone who will lean against me as friends do on hard days.
“One woman said, ‘I’m 50 years old, and it’s time to get rid of my stu es,’” Niemczyk said. “People frequently tell me, ‘I just can’t deal with all this stu .’”
A January segment on WCAX-TV sent more donations her way. After just a couple of months in business, she’s housing around 200 stu es of all sizes in her stu ed-animal sanctuary, aka her Woodstock home.
After Niemczyk receives an animal, she puts it in a chest freezer for 72 hours — the “hibernation stage,” she quips — to kill any bugs. Then she washes and repairs it, fixing loose seams and replacing buttons or eyes that have fallen o . She also adds a rescue certificate that describes the toy’s previous life or imagines a past for animals that came to her without a pedigree. The storytelling aspect is one of the things that makes her project endearing and unique.
For example, she recently accepted a batch of stu es from a third-grade class at Orchard School in South Burlington whose teacher had seen the WCAX segment. The teacher had each student select a toy to
OATMEAL
My story so far: My knit mane may be a bit wild, and I’m a little lopsided, lumpy and perhaps slightly sleepy, but I’m still full of adventure and spirit. I long for the days when I trotted proudly through bedrooms, kicking up dust bunnies and showing off my homemade wobble.
What I’m looking for: I’m hoping for a loving home that will see the magic in a gentle heart like mine. And a best friend who will take me exploring.
donate and write a biography for it. One came from a girl who had accompanied her parents to a party for adults where she won a door prize — a stu ed gopher named “Tequila.” She renamed it “Gary,” and it’s now part of Niemczyk’s inventory.
“I obviously am not interested in taking toys from kids,” Niemczyk clarified. But when a child is done playing with a stu ed animal and decides to give it away, “it’s heartwarming and really selfless,” she said.
To sell the toys, she looks up the item’s value online and tries to price it competitively. Those that have been out of circulation for many years are made of higher-quality materials, she noted. So Gary the gopher is priced at $18, and some sell for just $5, while a 1968 Snoopy doll — built to last — went for $40 during Wassail Weekend.
Niemczyk will o er her stu es for online sale soon, and she hopes to do more markets this summer. Here’s a peek at some items from her collection. K
Learn how to purchase or donate stuffed animals at thebunnybin.com.
GARY (FORMERLY TEQUILA)
My story so far: A little girl once kept me close, and I learned what it feels like to be chosen. But gophers aren’t meant to stay aboveground forever.
What I’m looking for: A permanent burrow and someone who doesn’t mind a loyal little creature popping up when you least expect it.
Kate Niemczyk with Bernie
Show and Sell
Meet some of the young makers who will set up shop at Next GENerator on March 28
BY CATHY RESMER
Burlington sixth grader Naïma Carvalho Sandoval has been drawing since she was a toddler. When she was 8, her parents, who sell jewelry at farmers markets, made some of her art into prints to sell at their table. “Every time someone bought something, I always felt super happy that they wanted to bring my art home,” she said.
Naïma and her friend Riley Savage will share their own table at Next GENerator: VT’s Youth Maker Market on Saturday, March 28, at Generator Makerspace in Burlington. It’s a chance for students in grades 3 through 12 to earn money for goods and services they’ve created.
This is the second year of the annual market, which began in 2025 as the Young Entrepreneurs’ Fair. Organizers from Generator, Seven Days and Davis Studio gave it a new name to emphasize the commercial aspect of the event.
This year’s market — sponsored by Northfield Savings Bank, Vermont Community Foundation and Community College of Vermont — will have 25 vendors, selected from a pool of more than 40 applicants. Participants were chosen in January based on their products, their presentation and the mix of other vendors.
Naïma and Riley’s business, Toadstool
OUTSIDE THE LINES
Cupboard, will o er stickers and note cards imprinted with their designs, as well as mushroom ornaments made from orange peels and cinnamon sticks. Said Naïma: “All of our artwork is inspired by nature, especially mushrooms.”
Riley will also be drawing custom caricatures. “I love making people happy with my artwork,” she said.
Several of last year’s vendors applied again and were accepted, though multiple newcomers will participate as well — including, full disclosure, my daughter, Ivy. I recused myself from voting on her application.
Alister Griffin, grade 7, Vergennes
T-shirts, posters and hoodies, all with original hand-drawn designs
Why he started a business: “I figured I could use my talent for drawing things to turn it into a way to make some money.”
SUN AND MOON DESIGNS
Amelia Dabritz and Ruby Phillips, grade 6, Burlington
fashion
We hope reading about these entrepreneurial young people and their thoughtfully crafted goods inspires you to drop by the market on March 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Generator. Bring cash! Most vendors will also accept Venmo. K
Earrings, key chains, necklaces, wax seal stickers, bookmarks and cards
Why they applied to Next GEN: “We learned about the Youth Maker Market from our technology education teacher. We thought having a business would be fun and a great learning experience.”
Many vendors, like Naïma, were inspired by their entrepreneurial parents. Others cited role models such as YouTuber Ryan Trahan; fashion designer and entrepreneur Virgil Abloh; Reshma Saujani, creator of Girls Who Code; and Amika George, founder of Free Periods, a nonprofit that advocated to stock menstrual products in United Kingdom schools.
Find more vendors in the online version of this story at sevendaysvt.com/nextgen2026.
WICKS & WAX / WHITTLE ME THIS
Buck Cleary, grade 7, South Burlington
Nice-smelling candles, also wooden swords and butter knives
Why he started a business: “I first learned to carve at ReTribe in Underhill, and I like to share the things I make.”
What inspired his business name: “I use the name Whittle Me This as a challenge to myself to push the boundaries of what I can carve. Wicks & Wax is a short and sweet explanation of what I do with candles!”
Sun and Moon Designs necklace
Wicks & Wax candle
Olyla Quiles with some of her prints
WILD DAISIES
Daisy Wild, grade 5, Burlington Earrings, barrettes with origami and fun words on them, slime
DELLA’S DESIGNS
GOBLIN’S FORGE
Jax Washburn, grade 7, Jericho Bracelets, earrings, beaded animals, key chains
Why she applied to Next GEN: “I sold some homemade barrettes and bracelets at a yard sale last year. It was really fun, so when my friend told me about this I thought it would be a good opportunity to promote my business ideas.”
Della Scheller, grade 3, Colchester Jewelry featuring one-of-a-kind polymer clay creations
How she makes her jewelry: Della’s passion for art and fashion started her journey with polymer clay. Her designs and color combinations just develop as she’s working.
YARN BARF
Felicity Barras, grade 9, South Burlington Crocheted animals
What inspired his fiery business name? The Tea Dragon Society series of books, as well as Dungeons & Dragons.
Who’s his entrepreneurial role model? His mom, Izzy, who runs Riot Craft Studio in Jericho. “She does a lot of markets, and she taught me how to make jewelry and start a successful business.”
MOUNTAIN CALM
Lila and Lucia Alexander, grade 3, Burlington
Home spa products including a Himalayan pink salt scrub, plus bath fizzies and decorative soaps.
LOVEARTSYSTUDIO
Ivy Resmer, grade 12, Winooski Cutting boards and earrings
What inspired their product line: “Our mom had a really good experience using Himalayan pink salt as a scrub at a spa. We wanted to make her something just as good that she could use at home.”
LAID BACK CAT
What inspired the name of her business: “Yarn barf” is a term used by people who crochet. It refers to the clump of yarn that comes out of the center of a new ball or skein of yarn. “It’s also a quite eye-catching name.”
Why she works with wood: Ivy learned her craft as a student at the Center for Technology in Essex and now works in a woodshop in her garage, using tools she sourced on social media and Front Porch Forum. “I love the tangibility of my products and find it incredibly rewarding to be able to see my progress laid out. Additionally, I love creating functional art and enjoy seeing my boards be used.”
IZZY’S BEAD BAR
Izzy Singer, grade 4, Essex Pens and mechanical pencils decorated with charms and beads, both premade and custom
What motivated her to sell her products: “I want to sell them because it will bring people joy [instead of] looking at an ordinary pen or pencil. And if it is a custom one, they will be able to show some of who they are to other people.”
Naomi Ozeki-Blumberg, grade 5, Burlington
Stickers, greeting cards, screen-printed T-shirts
What inspired her product line: “I love cats and their laid-back personalities, which is why I love drawing them,” Naomi said. “I have taken classes at Davis Studio, Generator and BCA and have learned a lot from each.”
Her entrepreneurial role model: “My mom, Mieko Ozeki. She owns her own business, organizing events for Vermont Womenpreneurs. It’s inspiring to get to see someone who has put lots of e ort into their work. I aspire to be like that.”
TOADSTOOL CUPBOARD
Naïma Carvalho Sandoval and Riley Savage, grade 6, Burlington Stickers, mushroom ornaments, note cards, custom caricatures
What motivated Riley to join Naïma in her second year at this market: “I love making people happy with my artwork, and I think this is an awesome opportunity to do that!”
Yarn Barf animals
Toadstool Cupboard ornaments
Laid Back Cat T-shirt
Della’s Designs earrings
Loveartsystudio cutting board
Wild Daisies origami
Izzy’s Bead Bar pencils
Show and Sell
RAR DESIGNS
Rebecca Rogers, grade 6, South Burlington Hand- and machine-sewn items including key chains, scrunchies, box bags and fabric bags
OLLIE’S PRINTS
Olyla Quiles, grade 10, Cambridge Hand-carved prints on paper (framed and unframed) and on T-shirts and hoodies, pins, note cards, and notebooks
What inspired her business name and product line: “RAR is my initials! Big-brand feels! I’m selling key chains, scrunchies and headbands because they’re fun to make and use as accessories.”
DRAGON JEWELS
Rothko and Aalto Smith, grades 4 and 1, Burlington Stickers; custom stamped-metal necklaces, rings and bracelets
What inspired the brothers’ business name and product line: “Our business is named after Aalto’s dragon stu es and the jewelry we sell. Customers tell us what they want, and then we make the word or number or heart they want on the jewelry using metal stamping.”
Why she likes printmaking: “In my very first high school art class, we did a printmaking unit, and I really enjoyed it. When I got home, I recalled that I had done something like that before, carving stamps, and that’s where the obsession started. I made so many stamps that fall. I got more into printing on upcycled clothing when learning about clothing waste.”
What motivated her to start selling her designs: “I never really thought about selling anything until people started asking how to get them! I’ve never won any art contests or anything like that before, and the response of the community was really exciting!”
OREN’S ODDITIES
Oren Quiles, grade 7, Cambridge Perler bead magnets, small crocheted creatures
BARNYARD CRAFTS
Sage Minerd, grade 6, Sharon Stickers, bookmarks, glass beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings
What inspired her business name: “Living on a farm and making all sorts of jewelry and crafts.”
Her entrepreneurial role model: “Other small businesses on social media and also my mom.” Sage’s mother, Hillary Minerd, runs Winding Brook Farm.
LUCKY PENNY CHARMS
Una Hughes, grade 6, Burlington Custom charm necklaces
What motivated him to start selling his creations? “I’ve made stu with Perler beads for a while, and our fridge is getting full! I started felting in a summer camp a few years ago and really liked it, and then my mom taught me how to crochet and I taught a bunch of kids at school, so I had stu to sell.”
What inspired her business name: “When I came up with the idea of starting a business, I knew from the start that it had to be named after my dog, Penny, because she is such an important part of my family.” The name is a play on the phrases “lucky charms” and “lucky penny.”
What inspired his product line: “Video games, monster versions of ordinary things and whatever comes to mind. “
Her entrepreneurial role model: “I have to say my mom, Molly Hughes. She started Moloco because she wanted a business that she could structure around her personal work style and her family.”
Rebecca Rogers and one of her fabric bags
OPEN ENROLLMENT
War ren, Ver mont Author Robert F Graham, Jr
KIDS JUST FOR
Coloring Contest!
Three winners will each receive a gift card to a local bookstore. Send Kids VT your work of art by May 8, 2026 Be sure to include the info at right with your submission. Winners will be chosen in the following categories: (1) ages 5 and younger, (2) ages 6-8 and (3) ages 9-12. Winners will be named in the next issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com or mail a copy to Kids VT, P.O. Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05401.
KIDS JUST FOR
COLORING CONTEST WINNERS
A Robot Place Cameron Johnson, 5 NORTHFIELD 5 & under
Squirrels from all over the state scampered into our office over the past couple of months. One was dressed as Santa; others held acorns. One, cloaked in black, held a lightsaber. We studied every single one! Choosing the winners is always a challenge, but we managed to come up with a few that we’re nuts for. Thank you to everyone who entered. We can’t wait to see what you send us next!
Winter Wonderland
Wren Grossman, 8 STRAFFORD
6 to 8
These winners receive a gift card to a local bookstore.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
JUMPY
Niko Vacarr, 5, Essex Junction
SQUIRREL AT THE BEACH
Dean Zarriello, 5, Waltham
SQUIRRELY
Isabella Corrigan, 5, Northfield
SQUEAKER THE SMILEY SQUIRREL
Isabelle Mudget, 5, Fairfield
GRATEFUL
Elijah Fourie, 4, Enosburg
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Weezy, 8, Vergennes
SQUIRREL STRIKE BACK
Cameron Nunes, 7, Montpelier
SPRING TURNING INTO WINTER
FUZZY SQUIRREL
Allegra Ouellette, 8, Bridport
Fiona Newton, 7, Burlington
COLORFUL SNOW SQUIRREL Matteo, 7, Craftsbury
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
Mesa Garnett, 12, South Burlington
ELTON JOHN Willow Pfeil, 12, Richmond
WINTER DANCE PARTY
Ophelia Laskavski, 10, Roxbury
SANTA’S WORKSHOP
Parker Cotton Fabiano, 10, Winooski
Summer of Fun
At the Summer Camp at the Y in BTV day camp, kids enjoy the pool, the gym, walks around town, and a dedicated space for arts + crafts, STEM, and games, all close to home.
• Co-ed camp for kids who’ve completed K through age 10
• Held at the Y at 298 College Street
• Member + non-member rates
• Financial assistance available
The Y’s Community Partner
Start College for Free at CCV!
Attend CCV for a day. Take mock classes, learn about programs, and meet faculty & staff!
Take two free courses in your junior or senior year. Get a feel for college AND earn credits. Take this free class to improve skills, set goals, and plan for the future.
After Early College, stay at CCV to complete a FREE associate degree! Spend your senior year at CCV and meet your HS graduation requirements while also completing a free year of college.
