SUMMER FUN
Sylvan SUMMER CAMPS
Sylvan SUMMER CAMPS
Sylvan SUMMER CAMPS
Sylvan SUMMER CAMPS
Sylvan SUMMER CAMPS
Our camps will boost confidence and enhance academic skills so your child will be ready to start the new school year strong! We have camps for reading, math, writing and more!
CELEBRATION OF DANCE 2025
Saturday, May 31 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. For show & ticket information visit www.vbts.org.
• Week-long ballet camps for ages 5–9
• Week-long ballet Mini-Intensive for ages 12-18, for the serious dancer looking to stay in shape for various summer-long intensives
• Weekly ballet classes for young dancers, beginners, and advanced pre-professional dancers
Da
Finding the Fun
Lines from a sonnet by William Wordsworth have been on my mind the past couple weeks: “The world is too much with us; late and soon, / Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: / Little we see in nature that is ours; / We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”
It came to mind because “The World Is Too Much With Us” was one of the poems Vermont Poetry Out Loud state champion Mapenzi Selemani memorized and performed during the national competition in Washington, D.C., where the Winooski High School junior was chosen as a runnerup from her region. Seven Days sta writer Alison Novak interviewed Mapenzi for a story in this issue (page 8).
The poem lodged in my brain because it’s familiar — I’ve memorized it, too! — and because it speaks so clearly to this moment, even though Wordsworth wrote it in the early 1800s. I don’t know about you, but even in gardening season I spend more time looking at a screen than I do looking at anything green.
Wordsworth’s lines remind me to get outside. And what better time to do so than summer in Vermont? The way the frozen ground and bare branches become a landscape teeming with life seems like a miracle every time it happens. I appreciated this most as a child, followed closely by the years I spent exploring the outdoors with my own kids when they were younger. Finding and catching small creatures
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
There’s a lot to see in nature if you slow down and look.
wriggling around at the edge of a pond could entertain them for hours. So could searching for shells on a beach or lifting up big stones in our yard to look for bugs.
This Summer Fun Issue of Kids VT includes lots of activity suggestions for families, from reading new books (page 14) and swimming in pools with waterslides (page 17) to enjoying outdoor performances (page 19) and making frozen treats (page 27). I hope they’re helpful as you plan your days. Don’t forget, though, that sometimes just being outside and appreciating the grass, the trees, the air, the water — even the bugs and creepy-crawlies — can be fun. There’s a lot to see in nature if you slow down and look.
CATHY RESMER
PHOTOS: CATHY RESMER
Ivy and Graham Resmer at Gilbrook Pond in 2013
Ivy holding snail shells
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A National Stage
Winooski student Mapenzi Selemani represented Vermont in the Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C.
BY ALISON NOVAK
Before last December, Winooski High School junior Mapenzi Selemani had never performed onstage. But as part of an American literature class, she was required to memorize and deliver two poems in front of her peers as part of the school’s Poetry Out Loud competition. On the day of the event, she considered skipping school because she was so nervous. But a friend encouraged Selemani to go for it, and she ended up taking first place. That led the 18-year-old soccer player and track athlete to the Vermont Poetry Out Loud semifinals at the Barre Opera House on March 6, then the finals at Burlington’s Flynn Space later that month, where she was crowned state champion.
In May, Selemani traveled to Washington, D.C., to compete against fellow state champs in the Poetry Out Loud national competition, held at the George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium. The trip marked the first time she’d been on an airplane since she immigrated to Vermont from Zambia in 2020.
At the national competition, students were split into three regions. After performing two poems — “I look at the world” by Langston Hughes and “I Remember, I Remember” by Thomas Hood— Selemani was named a finalist in her region, which allowed her to perform a third poem — “The World Is Too Much With Us” by William Wordsworth. Selemani ended up taking honorable mention, or fourth, in her region, which earned a $1,000 cash prize and $500 for her school to purchase poetry books.
On the trip to Washington, D.C., Selemani was accompanied by her best friend, Bora Kashindi; her younger sister Ketila Selemani, a Winooski High School sophomore; her teacher Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver; and the school district’s director of communications, Miriam Greenfield. In between poetry events, the group visited the National Museum of African American History & Culture, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Howard University, and the offices of U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.).
The day after Selemani returned from her three-day trip to the nation’s capital, she sat down with Kids VT to reflect on the experience.
How did the national competition compare to the state competition?
There was a big difference. At the state level, I was just like, Oh, I’m going to compete and I’ll have fun. But when I got to D.C., everyone was focusing on the big prize. They wanted to be finalists. But I went in with this mindset of, Whatever happens, happens. The good thing is I made it here.
How did it feel being named a finalist in your region?
I was shocked. I wasn’t really expecting it because these people were, like, really good. I did not really have the confidence to be one of them. When I heard my name, I was like, Oh, it’s me!
What was it like meeting Sen. Welch and Rep. Balint?
They’re so nice. I was actually scared. I was like, What am I going to say to these people? But when I got there, the conversation just flew. It was just like I was having a conversation with my two besties.
Did you make connections with your fellow competitors?
I had so much fun with the other state champions. One night, we did a poetry slam. People started performing their poems. I didn’t have any intention to perform a poem, but my sister had a poem that she wrote, and she was scared to perform it, and she was like, “Can you do it for me?” I was like, “Let me give it a shot.” Everyone seemed to like it.
When I’m present, just standing next to the mic, I feel like I’m just being myself, and I don’t think about being scared.
MAPENZI SELEMANI
When we were doing the poetry slam, there was this one girl named Pendo [representing Maine] who told me she was from Mozambique. I told her I was born in Zambia originally. When it was time for the poetry slam, she was like, “You guys wouldn’t understand this. I wrote it in my language mixed with English.” And when she started reciting her poem, I could understand everything she was saying. It was Nyanja — not really Nyanja but basically the same words in her own language. I could understand everything!
Have you gotten over your fear of public speaking?
I think I’ve changed. The more I went onstage, I feel like I got comfortable. When I’m present, just standing next to the mic, I feel like I’m just being myself, and I don’t think about being scared. I forget everything, and I’m just there to do my thing. K
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Recent education stories in Seven Days
Swriter Alison Novak covers education and childcare for Seven Days. As a former elementary school teacher — and the parent of two teenagers — Novak draws from firsthand experience. She has received the top award for education reporting from the New England Newspaper & Press Association and has written deep dives for Seven Days on Vermont’s education funding challenges, PCBs in schools and the push to ban cellphones from classes. Here are a few of her recent articles. Find all of her work at sevendaysvt.com/alison-novak.
RURAL FAMILIES FEEL DISEMPOWERED IN THE FACE OF EFFORTS TO RESHAPE THEIR SCHOOLS
May 14, 2025
AT A MIDDLEBURY TECH CENTER, THEATER STUDENTS LEARN MORE THAN JUST STAGE SKILLS
April 23, 2025
COMPANY FOUNDER HELPING DESIGN DETENTION CENTER RUNS OTHER PROGRAMS FACING LEGAL CLAIMS April 9, 2025
taff
Mapenzi Selemani (center) onstage
Alison Novak
Mapenzi Selemani
Stone Gold
West Rutland’s Carving Studio & Sculpture Center hosts a free summer workshop for teens
BY CATHY RESMER
So much about life in the digital era is fleeting. This summer, Vermont teens have a chance to create something permanent through a unique free workshop offered at the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center in West Rutland. The two-week, handson session gives participants ages 13 to 19 the opportunity to design and carve a stone bench.
The Stone Bench Project launched in 2009 and has happened annually ever since, with a one-year break in 2020, during the pandemic. It grew out of a Peruvian exchange program at the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, said executive director Carol Driscoll, and it’s still taught by master sculptor Nora Valdez, who helped initiate the project in Ayacucho, Peru. Prior stoneworking experience isn’t necessary — just the ability and desire to be part of a team.
This year’s workshop runs on weekdays from June 23 through July 3. In the first week, the teens will work together to design and model the bench and assemble its components. In the second week, they’ll carve it using pneumatic and hand tools. The designs differ from year to year. “It grows out of what the kids are thinking of at the time,” Driscoll said. One group incorporated the issue of homelessness by carving houses and beds into the bench. Another showed Vermont under the sea, as it was millions of years ago. One memorable group incorporated
a dove at one end of the bench and a gargoyle at the other, with their wings touching in the middle. It represented good and evil, Driscoll said.
Stone Bench Project participants come from a wide variety of backgrounds, she added. Some of the kids in that last group were clearly struggling in life, while others had more advantages. “It was pretty impressive, what they came up with,” she said.
When finished, the benches are installed in communities in the Rutland region. Towns that have received them over the years include Fair Haven, Middlebury and Poultney. This year’s will wind up in Manchester.
To apply, students should send a brief statement about how this experience will benefit them to info@ carvingstudio.org or CSSC Bench Project, PO Box 495, West Rutland, VT 05777. The deadline is May 30. Funding for the Stone Bench Project comes from the United Way of Rutland County, as well as members and friends of the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, which provides workshops, residencies and events that draw on the rich industrial history of Vermont’s Marble Valley.
Younger kids can learn sculpting skills, too. The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center still has openings in its August summer camp for students ages 6 through 12. K
Find more info at carvingstudio.org.
Workshop participants assembling their bench
Save the Dates
BY REBECCA DRISCOLL
MAY 24
Part of the Flock
Fiber fanatics and animal lovers find much to bleat about at Billings Farm & Museum’s FAMILY SHEEP & WOOL day in Woodstock. Guests herd on down for a glimpse of Vermont’s fleecy history — from processing raw wool to examining the final product — collecting stamps on a “sheep-to-yarn” passport along the way. Live demos, flu y border collies and scoops of local ice cream complete the fun.
Saturday, May 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. Regular admission, $12-19; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 457-2355, billingsfarm.org.
MAY 31 Float Your Boat
No stormy waters here – only smooth sailing ahead! The Community Sailing Center’s SEASON OPENER makes waves in Burlington with a boatload of activities that can only mean one thing: Summer is finally upon us. Nautical families launch another year on Lake Champlain with low-cost sailboat rides, outdoor yoga, tasty treats, games and prizes. Don’t forget the creemees!
Saturday, May 31, noon-6 p.m., at the Community Sailing Center in Burlington. Free; cost of boat rides. Info, 864-2499, communitysailingcenter.org.
JUNE 7
Buggin’ Out
Friday, June 20, 3-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 21, 5:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 22, 5:30 a.m.-7 p.m., at Quechee Green Park. $25; $5 for kids 5 to 16; free for kids 4 and under. Info, 295-7900, quecheeballoonfestival.com.
Find more family fun each week in the Seven Days calendar, or online at sevendaysvt.com/familyfun.
The annual ADAMANT BLACKFLY FESTIVAL at the Adamant Cooperative o ers bug-friendly entertainment for all ages. Why blackflies, you ask? Why not! After another wearying winter, we’ll celebrate anything. Rain or shine, revelers gather for idyllic nature walks, great grub, toe-tappin’ live tunes and a costumed procession that many consider “the Macy’s Day Parade of the insect world.”
Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Adamant Cooperative. Free. Info, 223-5760, adamantcoop.org.
Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival
JUNE 26
Harmony and Hijinks
In Putney, Sandglass Theater’s summer series continues with POCKET MOXIE, a lighthearted homage to 19th-century vaudeville. The versatile performers of traveling troupe Happenstance Theater bring back the once-immensely popular form of entertainment with a stylish and spirited showcase of specialty song and dance. Think ventriloquist dummies, a musical saw and meatball juggling, all backed by Foley sound effects.
Thursday, June 26, 3 & 7 p.m., at Sandglass Theater in Putney. $20. Info, 387-4051, sandglasstheater.org.
JULY 4
Baby, You’re a Firework
Break out the red, white and blue for AN OLD-FASHIONED FOURTH OF JULY in Stowe. Families find something to delight everyone in their tribe, from “the world’s shortest marathon” at the Stowe Recreation Path to the fantastic floats in the Main Street parade. After a dandy day of Yankee Doodle adventures, cap off the night with an impressive fireworks display at Mayo Events Fields. Happy birthday, America!
Friday, July 4, 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., at various Stowe locations. Free. Info, 253-7321, gostowe.com.
AUGUST 8-10
Aces of Bases
The VERMONT SUMMER CLASSIC WIFFLE BALL TOURNAMENT at Little Fenway Park in Essex hosts 28 teams from across the Northeast as they take to the field for a fundraising extravaganza supporting people with type 1 diabetes. Players step up to the plate for some friendly competition as sports fans cheer from the sidelines and enjoy play-by-play announcing with loaded tater tots in hand.
Friday, August 8, 4 & 8:15 p.m.; Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; and Sunday, August 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Little Fenway Park in Essex. Free. Info, danp@slamt1d.org, slamt1d.org.
And on the seventh day, we do not rest. Instead we bring you...
Vietnamese Noodle Salad
A simple summer recipe with little to no cooking required
Serves 8 as a main dish. Ingredients
For chicken and marinade:
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
For an easy summer dish, nothing beats a good salad. This Vietnamese noodle option is an excellent choice. You can use whatever vegetables you like, and depending on what kind of protein you want to add, you might not need to turn on the stove at all.
Many brands of vermicelli rice noodles don’t require boiling. The ones I used could be softened simply by soaking in hot tap water for 15 minutes. The dressing is made of easy-to-buy ingredients, shaken in a canning jar.
Even better, this salad can be made ahead of time and would make a great addition to a potluck. It was a huge crowd-pleaser in my family — so much so that I made a second batch a couple days after the first because my son and I couldn’t stop thinking about the delectable flavors, reminiscent of spring rolls.
Don’t let the inclusion of fish sauce scare you away. This fermented condiment adds depth of flavor and umami, and leaving it out would be to the detriment of the dish. If you prefer, you can find vegetarian substitutes for fish sauce at larger Asian food markets or online.
I used chicken in my salad, but you could substitute shrimp, thinly sliced beef, pork, or tofu that has been marinated and cooked until crispy — or even a combination of several of these proteins. All of them sound delicious! You can always prepare those ahead of time and refrigerate until you’re ready to use them. K
Directions
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced into thin strips
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil (to cook chicken in)
For noodles and salad:
• 1 package (8.8 oz.) vermicelli rice noodles (I used A Taste of Thai brand, which specified that they can be prepared just by soaking, without boiling)
• 4 cups raw baby spinach, sliced in strips
• 1 seedless English cucumber, cut into julienned strips
• 2 cups shredded cabbage (I used a store-bought coleslaw vegetable mix)
• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
For salad dressing and to finish:
• 1/2 cup fish sauce
• 6 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 6 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup sesame oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup roasted, salted peanuts, roughly chopped
• 1 lime, cut into wedges, for serving
1. In a medium bowl, mix the marinade ingredients together, then add the sliced chicken, tossing to coat. Cover and let marinate for at least 30 minutes. Refrigerate if you want to marinate it longer.
2. Set a large frying pan over medium-high heat and add the sesame oil.
3. When the oil is hot, cook the chicken for a couple of minutes on each side, until cooked through. Set aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the salad.
4. In a large bowl or pot, cover the noodles with hot tap water and soak for 15 minutes, until tender. Rinse the noodles in cold water after soaking and set aside.
5. In a large salad bowl, mix all the vegetables together with the cilantro.
6. Toss in the noodles, using tongs to mix them well with the vegetables.
7. Combine the dressing ingredients in a lidded jar or blender and mix until well emulsified.
8. Add the cooked chicken and dressing (to taste) to the bowl, then toss.
9. Top with chopped peanuts and serve with lime wedges.
Words to Lounge By
Four new books by Vermont authors to add to kids’ and teens’ summer reading list
HOW IT ALL ENDS
by Emma Hunsinger
Norwich cartoonist Emma Hunsinger’s first book, coauthored with her wife, Vermont cartoonist laureate Tillie Walden, was a picture book called My Parents Won’t Stop Talking , which was among NPR’s 2022 Books We Love. Now Hunsinger has made her solo debut with the full-length graphic novel How It All Ends , which won this year’s Vermont Book Award for children’s literature.
Intended for readers 8 years old and up, the book tells the story of Tara, who, near the end of seventh grade, learns
that she’s been “selected” as a high-performing student to be hurled directly into high school. Tara has an audacious imagination; to capture her mental and emotional flights, Hunsinger employs a green palette for episodes in the everyday world and a red palette for the wilder realms of Tara’s dreams, fantasies and fears. These two color modes, with their divergent narrative effects, are often juxtaposed on the same page.
Hunsinger’s drawing technique is dramatically varied, ranging from spare to vigorous and scribbly. Her line work can veer from calm to agitated, or she’ll offer a sweeping panorama, then zero in for a close-up, like a madcap filmmaker. Abandoning the traditional comic sequence of boxlike frames, Hunsinger utilizes every inch of her paper, continually shifting the scale and pacing of the storytelling, with speech bubbles for spoken dialogue and free-floating text for Tara’s thoughts. She captures the almost constant panic of being a high schooler amid the barrage of bodily changes, social chaos and family tumult so inevitable for teenagers.
Friendships are confusing, stirrings of romantic feelings are bewildering, siblings are exasperating, and adults often seem like an alien species. Unlike many of her classmates, Tara genuinely loves learning. She’s especially taken with a literature class in which she’s paired for a project with quiet Libby, whom Tara finds smart and fascinating.
together. How It All Ends doesn’t really “end” — at the conclusion, Tara seems to be just getting going.
JIM
SCHLEY
How It All Ends by Emma Hunsinger, Greenwillow Books, 304 pages. $15.99.
KAT’S GREEK SUMMER
by
Mima Tipper
With the right amount of teen angst, any vacation can feel like a nightmare. Young heroines in novels such as Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty and Ann Brashares’ The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants remind us that idyllic scenery is no match for the chaos of growing up. South Hero author Mima Tipper adds to this coming-of-age canon with her debut, Kat’s Greek Summer
The novel follows 14-year-old Kat, who plans to spend her summer training to make the cross-country team at her high school. Just as Kat gets started, her mom informs her that they’re going to spend the summer connecting with their family heritage in Paralia, Greece. The horrors of sparkling beaches and fresh apricot jam!
Kat doesn’t spend the entire time griping. Due to the heat and modest dress code for women in the village, she sneaks out after sunset to train. During her nightly runs, she meets a local boy named Theofilus and has her first romance. But the lies Kat tells to sneak out eventually catch up with her, and she has to figure out how to be honest with her family.
Kat also has to navigate cultural barriers: The villagers in the fishing town speak limited English, and being part of a community, it turns out, is about more than playing new games and trying delicious food.
While the text is free of profanity or graphic detail, Kat and Theofilus kiss and touch each other above the waist. Kat is also sexually harassed by a group of boys. It’s an unfortunately realistic situation — but a good opportunity to have a conversation with your young reader about how Kat deals with it. This book is recommended for ages 11 to 14.
Shelburne Museum stays open late on two summer nights with activities for all ages, live music, food trucks, access to Museum buildings and exhibitions, and lawn games! Free admission. Thursdays June 12 and August 14, 5:00–7:30 p.m.
Shelburne Summer Nights are generously supported by an anonymous foundation, with additional support from our Members and donors to the Annual Fund.
Overall, Kat’s Greek Summer is a heartwarming story about first loves, learning to stand up for yourself and discovering cultural identity. Maybe that dreaded summer vacation in Greece wasn’t so bad.
GILLIAN ENGLISH
Kat’s Greek Summer by Mima Tipper, SparkPress, 248 pages. $13.99.
THE SECRET LIBRARY
by Kekla Magoon
The special locale in the title of Kekla Magoon’s latest novel isn’t only a secret library; it’s a library of secrets. This is a magical archive, with miles of shelves filled with volumes cataloged as “Minor Transgressions,” “Guilty Pleasures,” “Little White Lies,” “Hiding Places,” “Withheld for Someone’s Own Good” and (most compelling of all) “Family Secrets.”
The novel’s main character, Delilah, (“Dally” to most people) is an unusual almost-12-year-old. Thanks to her grandfather, she knows all the constellations in the night sky, how to tie every sort of knot and pick any kind of lock, and how to rig and steer a sailboat. When her grandfather dies, he bequeaths her a map that leads her to the Secret Library.
Along with being precocious, Dally is lonely. She misses her grandfather terribly. Her strictly controlling mother, Katherine, is a widow and single parent who insists that Dally must be tutored in finance every afternoon so she’ll be ready to take over the multitiered family business — construction, real estate, hotel and retail chains, manufacturing, and shipping.
Dally needs to deceive the adults in her life in order to visit the Secret Library. Once there, she chooses a volume from a shelf and is instantly launched into another place and time: a department store on the day her parents met, a pirate ship in the 1850s. Through these glimpses into the past, Dally gradually learns about her origins.
In the grand tradition of time-travel stories, Dally can be transported for days or weeks, but she’ll only be absent from her “home world” for minutes. Yet her excursions aren’t without danger: If she ever steps through the boundary of an enchanted fog that accompanies her on these visitations, she’ll be trapped in the past, unable to return through the library’s portal.
As in her tenderly observant previous novel The Minus-One Club, Magoon explores aspects of contemporary culture and society. While The Secret Library is intended for readers ages 8 and up, the book is complex enough for teens and adults, addressing themes such as
grief, gender fluidity, slavery and racism. Meanwhile, it tells a rip-roaring tale that will grip younger audiences.
J.S.
The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon, Candlewick Press, 384 pages. $10.99.
RED DOG FARM
by Nathaniel Ian Miller
When Vermont farmers speak about their livelihood, they don’t just talk about getting a paycheck. The work is grueling, unpredictable and doesn’t come with any financial security. But farmers have a unique connection to the landscape that comes from rising early and getting up close and personal with it every day. That relationship is central to Red Dog Farm, the second novel from Vermont author Nathaniel Ian Miller.
Orri, 19, a first-year student at a university in Reykjavík, Iceland, feels lost and homesick. He leaves mid-semester to help out on his family’s cattle farm in the western part of the country. His mother tells him that his father, Pabbi, has sunk into a depression since Orri has been away. Now, for the first time, Orri is allowed to help run the farm, and he soon discovers that there’s a lot about his father he doesn’t know.
The plot stumbles forward as aimlessly as young Orri’s future plans. He toils away on the farm, strikes up an unlikely friendship with an old classmate and falls in love with a woman who lives several hours away. Orri struggles with the complications of trying to keep the long-distance romance going when their lives feel worlds apart.
The small farm is a character in itself, with its worn-down machinery and weak fences. Orri’s family seems to be barely
scraping by, making just enough money to keep it going year after year. When Orri reflects on those challenges, he remembers his grandmother telling him that she liked Iceland because there was nowhere to run from your troubles; instead, you just “hunkered against the rock, and while you were down there, hunkering, you admired the moss.” Vermonters can likely find something relatable in that sentiment.
Red Dog Farm deals with some heavy subject matter, including mental illness, suicide, sexual orientation and animal slaughter. While this is an adult novel, the book is appropriate for older teens who may identify with its coming-of-age themes.
G.E.
Red Dog Farm by Nathaniel Ian Miller, Little, Brown and Company, 272 pages. $28.
Home, any way you like
We have loans for houses, condos, new builds, renovations, and more. Apply online and our mortgage experts will walk you through the process step-by-step.
■ Free prequalification
■ Down payment assistance available for qualified borrowers*
*Limited funds are available. First-come first-served.
■ Fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages available
■ Community Land Trust Equity Program
■ FHA and VA loans
These benefits are for Family Members only:
•Enjoy time in the pool together during Family Swim.
•Have fun in the Gym during Family Rec.
•Bring your children 13 and older to a Group Fitness class.
• Kids’ Night Out (Family Members only, June-August). Kids enjoy a fun night at the Y, while parents enjoy time to themselves.
•Work out on-site while the kids (age 4 months - 10 years) are safe and happy in Member Child Care.
•Have your next Birthday Party at the Y (openings this summer!)
Family Members also register early and pay less for swim lessons and youth programs. Take a tour at 298 College St., BTV | phone: (802) 862-9622 Make some lasting family memories at the Y. Join
LPublic pools to visit this summer BY
CATHY RESMER
akes and swimming holes aren’t the only places to splash and play or just take a refreshing dip this summer. Many cities and towns are home to public pools where kids and caregivers can swim. They’re not free, but all of them have bathrooms and changing rooms nearby as well as lifeguards — and none of them will close because of algae blooms.
JUST KEEP SWIMMING
We’ve included information about some of them here. The hours vary — so do the fees, depending on whether you’re a resident. Check websites or call ahead for the latest info. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
BUTTON BAY STATE PARK
5 Button Bay State Park Rd., Ferrisburgh vtstateparks.com
The only pool at a Vermont state park has a walk-in area and a waterslide. $2-$5 day pass, free for kids 3 and under. Park opens Memorial Day weekend.
GREATER BURLINGTON YMCA
298 College St., Burlington, gbymca.org
You don’t have to be a member to swim for the day. Just pay the daily guest fee — $10-15 per person or $25 for a family day pass. Note that “family swim” is available only to family YMCA members.
HARD’ACK POOL
179 Congress St., St. Albans stalbansrec.com
This year-round facility has it all — lap lanes, a walk-in area, water jets, a diving board and, after the wintertime dome comes o in late May, a corkscrew waterslide. $8-16 day pass.
MAPLE STREET PARK AND POOL
75 Maple St., Essex Junction, ejrp.org
Two pools at this location serve all ages. Older kids will like the waterslide and diving boards; caregivers with little ones will appreciate a walk-in spray-and-splash area. $3-8 day pass. Opens June 18.
MIDDLEBURY TOWN POOL
298 Buttolph Dr., Middlebury townofmiddlebury.org
Water toys beckon babies and toddlers to the wading pool. Big kids will enjoy doing cannonballs o the diving board. $5-7 day pass. Opens mid-June.
MONTPELIER CITY POOL
1 Poolside Dr., Montpelier montpelier-vt.org
This pool features two stationary docks
in the middle. $5-13 day pass; $15-22 family pass. Opens June 21.
MYERS MEMORIAL POOL
62 Pine St., Winooski, winooskivt.gov
Winooski’s newly remodeled pool complex includes a lap pool, a walk-in program pool, spray features and a 16-foot waterslide. $4-8 day pass. Opens June 8.
SAM FISHMAN POOL
47 East St., Vergennes vergennesvt.myrec.com
This public pool with two diving boards is located next to Vergennes Union Elementary School. Opens the week of June 7.
SAND HILL POOL
208 Sand Hill Rd., Essex, essexvt.gov
This suburban pool includes two diving boards in the deep end and a splash pad with water features for little ones. $4-8 day pass. Opens June 18.
UPPER VALLEY AQUATIC CENTER
100 Arboretum Ln., White River Junction uvacswim.org
This 47,500-square-foot facility near the New Hampshire border boasts an indoor splash park plus competition and family pools. During busy times, there may be a wait list for the splash park — call ahead to assess. $12-17 day pass; free for kids 2 and under.
WATERBURY COMMUNITY POOL
27 Butler St., Waterbury waterburyvt.myrec.com
This pool o ers a walk-in area for little ones — and close proximity to the Ben & Jerry’s factory! $5 day pass; $20 family day pass. Opens June 23.
WHITE MEMORIAL PARK POOL
21 Avenue B, Rutland, rutlandrec.com
This water oasis includes a lap pool, a family pool filled with colorful spray and splash features, and a waterslide. Opens mid-June. K
Sounds of Summer
A music editor recommends family-friendly concerts this season
BY CATHY RESMER & CHRIS FARNSWORTH
Outdoor concerts abound in Vermont during the summertime. They check several boxes for parents: They’re fun for both children and adults; with family rates or free entry for kids, they’re often an economical way to encourage music appreciation among the next generation; and seeing musicians perform can awaken an interest in learning to play the instruments that kids see onstage.
That’s what happened to Seven Days music editor Chris Farnsworth. His parents brought him to tons of shows as a kid, including a memorable UB40 performance at the Vermont Reggae Fest. He grew up to play guitar, bass and piano, which eventually turned into a full-time gig writing about music.
Farnsworth assembled this list of outdoor shows that you and your kiddos might enjoy. K
Brattleboro Gallery Walk series
Starting Friday, June 6, 5 to 9 p.m., various locations in downtown Brattleboro
On the first Friday of the month, rain or shine, Brattleboro throws a block party that’s free to attend and has a little bit of everything — music, food, games, plenty of kids stu and lots of art. Elliot Street is closed to tra c, and Harmony Lot becomes a stage. The All Night Boogie Band plays on June 6.
Info: brattleboro.com/downtown/gallery-walk
Summer Kick-Off Party & Shweebee Social
Thursday, June 12, 4-8 p.m., the Green at Essex Experience
Clint Bierman, front man of the band the Grift, has invented a new lawn game called Shweebee. You can try it out and play other lawn games, too, at this free event, featuring tunes from the Grift and friends.
Info: sevendaysvt.com/shweebeesocial
Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green
Monday, June 23, to Thursday, September 4, Shelburne Museum
These shows on lawn at the Shelburne Museum aren’t cheap for adults, but children 12 and under get in free. Some are already sold out, but as of mid-May there are still tickets available for Waxahatchee, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, and Ani DiFranco. With tons of food trucks — including one from Ben & Jerry’s — these shows are a go-to for music fans with kids.
Info: shelburnemuseum.org
Deerfield Valley Blueberry Festival
Friday, July 25, to Sunday, August 3, various locations in East Dover, Jacksonville, West Dover, West Wardsboro, Whitingham and Wilmington Blueberries are obviously the main event at this 10-day, multi-venue celebration, but free live music is a big part of it, too! Also live animal shows, a farmers market and a parade.
Info: vermontblueberryfestival.com
Maple Roots Festival
Saturday, July 26, noon to midnight, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Montpelier This one-day music fest features kids’ activities by Linda Bassick and the Busy Morning Band, as well as local food vendors and maple creemees at the Morse Farm store. Parking costs $25 per vehicle.
Info: maplerootsfest.com
Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green
Roots Fest
Help them take the next GOOD
CITIZEN CHALLENGE.
This youth civics project, organized by Seven Days and Kids VT, encourages participants to do activities that will prepare them to be responsible and community-minded adults someday. For each activity they complete and submit, they’ll be entered to win prizes in weekly drawings on “Channel 3 This Morning” — and entered into the grand prize drawing for a free trip to Washington, D.C.
This year’s activities will include:
• Designing a new “Future Voter” sticker for the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office
• Recruiting a blood donor
• Picking up trash on a local trail
• Attending a community event
• Visiting a museum or historic site
• Raising money or organizing donations for a local charity
• Reading, listening to or watching local news reports
KIDS JUST FOR
Coloring Contest!
Three winners will each receive a sun protection kit from the UVM Cancer Center. Send Kids VT your work of art by August 1. 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. Email your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com with “Coloring Contest” in the subject line, or mail a copy to Kids VT, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05401.
Sponsored by
KIDS JUST FOR
COLORING CONTEST WINNERS
“Zombie Master” Ezra Clarfeld, 5 COLCHESTER 5 & under
9 to 12
“Hatching Spring” Lila Garnett, 7 SOUTH BURLINGTON 6 to 8
So many creative and colorful bunnies hopped into our office for the latest contest that it was very difficult to pick winners. We always appreciate when artists use their imaginations to fill the background, and we were not disappointed with this batch of entries. Several featured jogging bunnies; one was sprinting after a school bus. Others showed rabbits with friends, babies and boba tea. Another wore an apron and oven mitts while preparing an Easter meal. Thanks to everyone who entered! We can’t wait to see what you come up with next time.
Winners receive a gift card to a local bookstore
HONORABLE MENTIONS
“RAINDROP COTTON CANDY CITY”
Lily Decatur, 5, Fairfax
“RAINBOW BUNNY”
Poplar Karkut, 3, Buels Gore
“UNTITLED”
Daniel Jerhale, 5, Waterville
“SPRING WALK”
Frida Zaloom, 8, Burlington
ADVENTURE CAMP
at Rock Point in Burlington Register today — 3 or 5 day options ��
• Co-ed day camp for kids that have completed 3rd grade to age 13
• Traditional camp held on the beautiful, private Rock Point property on Lake Champlain
• Campers hike, swim, garden, kayak, paddleboard, play games, do crafts + STEM projects, make pizza and s’mores, and much more!
• Financial assistance is available Register at: gbymca.org/programs/adventure-camp
“The Flame” Lily Harvey, 10 BURLINGTON
“DISCO BUNNY”
Ellis Mroczek, 6, East Montpelier
“THE SPRING EASTER PARTY”
Ophelia Bailey, 8, Shelburne
“TRUE VERMONTER”
Frank and Gabe Romano, 10 and 11, Fairfax
“THE EASTER CHEF”
Mesa, 11, South Burlington
“THE SUNRISE HUG”
Genevieve Madden, 11, Keene, N.H.
“THE TRUE BUNNY OF PARADISE”
James Boehm, 7, Burlington
“GOTTA BE SNEAKY”
Charlie Holland, 7, Essex
“THE CRAZY RIDE”
Maya and Juno, 7 and 3, Richmond
Best
Best
Fruit Ice Pops
A recipe to beat the heat
Raise your hand if you love Popsicles. Yep, that’s what we thought. Easy to make and fun to eat, these frozen treats are a summer staple. This recipe makes colorful, layered pops that are perfect for keeping cool when the weather gets hot. Tip: Whip these up right before bedtime, and they’ll be frozen by morning.
CAROLYN FOX
Materials
Blender
Half of a seedless watermelon, cubed Fine-mesh strainer (optional)
1 small bowl
1 mango, cubed
1 kiwi, peeled and cut into roughly 1/4-inch slices
Ice pop molds and sticks (this recipe makes about 8 ice pops)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Load the blender with the cubed watermelon and purée until the fruit is smooth.
2. If you notice any errant seeds or chunks in the purée, you can run it through a fine-mesh strainer as you transfer the watermelon juice to your bowl.
3. Rinse out the blender, then purée the mango until smooth.
4. Fill the ice pop molds about a quarter of the way with the mango purée. Slide a slice of kiwi into each mold, then fill the rest of the way with the watermelon juice. Insert the sticks.
5. Transfer the ice pop molds to the freezer for six to eight hours.
6. To serve, run the ice pop molds under warm water for a few seconds. Then pull each ice pop out to eat. K
