Kids VT, March 2019

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

COPUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Cathy Resmer cathy@kidsvt.com

COPUBLISHER

Colby Roberts colby@kidsvt.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Alison Novak alison@kidsvt.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Mary Ann Lickteig maryann@kidsvt.com

STAFF WRITER/CALENDAR WRITER

Brett Ann Stanciu brett@kidsvt.com

ART DIRECTOR Brooke Bousquet brooke@kidsvt.com

MARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR

Corey Grenier corey@kidsvt.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Kaitlin Montgomery kaitlin@kidsvt.com

PROOFREADERS

Katherine Isaacs, Kara Torres

PRODUCTION MANAGER

John James

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Don Eggert

DESIGNERS

Kirsten Cheney, Todd Scott, Rev. Diane Sullivan

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Matt Weiner

BUSINESS MANAGER

Cheryl Brownell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Astrid Hedbor Lague, Dan Bolles, Megan James, Elisa Järnefelt, Ken Picard, Nancy Stearns Bercaw

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Andy Brumbaugh, James Buck, Sam Simon, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur, Don Whipple

ILLUSTRATOR

Marc Nadel

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What’s the luckiest thing that has ever happened to you?

Mira makes dumplings in 2013

Despite being the daughter of an art teacher, I’ve never been particularly talented at painting, drawing or sculpting. And crafts? Forget about it. You won’t find any impeccably organized scrapbooks, handknit mittens or Mason jar lanterns in my house. I even failed home economics in 8th grade because I couldn’t finish a stu ed-animal sewing project.

One place I’m better at channeling my creativity is in the kitchen. I’m the type of home cook who likes to find a recipe that looks yummy, then improvise — subbing edamame for peas, adding a splash of coconut milk to soup broth or toasting big chunks of baguette coated in olive oil to make croutons.

For me, cooking is relaxing, fun and a way to be artistic without actually, well, making art. I’ve passed this love on to my two kids. When they were little, we’d make banana mu ns or applesauce together. Now, we take on more ambitious projects. On a recent Friday night, my 11-year-old daughter, Mira, and I had a “girls’ night in,” preparing homemade pita and hummus, spiced beef, and rice pudding with blackberries. And my son, Theo, just asked for — and received — an air fryer for his ninth birthday.

In this month’s issue, we write about a group of St. Johnsbury Academy high schoolers who are turning out gourmet food three times a week. As students in the high school’s culinary arts program, they serve as prep cooks, chefs, hosts and waitsta at the Hilltopper, an upscale student-run restaurant on Main Street. There, they learn cooking techniques and get professional experience. Read all about the program in “Hot Lunch” by Mary Ann Lickteig on page 22.

Our second feature story gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the popular Vermont Public Radio program, “But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids.” In “Wonder Women” (page 18), Dan Bolles talks with the podcast’s host, Jane Lindholm, and producer, Melody Bodette — both moms of young children — about how their show o ers kids and their parents the opportunity to learn and be entertained.

We cover a wide-range of other topics in this issue, from a movement class for kids with special needs run by University of Vermont dance students (page 10) to a neuroscience competition for high schoolers called the Brain Bee (page 15) to a rural library’s maker space, which just happens to be funded by the world’s top brewery (page 11). And you won’t want to miss Nancy Stearns Bercaw’s harrowing personal essay chronicling her son’s bout of dengue fever on page 55.

We continue our summer preview this month with a camp section starting on page 27. Inside, you’ll find information about many di erent programs, as well as an article in which camp sta ers share stories about a special place at their camp. We’ll be grilling up burgers and making s’mores before you know it!

ALISON NOVAK, MANAGING EDITOR

While working as a park ranger in the Texas Hill Country in the 1990s, I was trapping WHITETAIL DEER and relocating them to another part of Texas. The operation involved dropping huge nets on the deer, sawing o their antlers, then loading the animals into livestock trailers. While loading one large buck onto the trailer, he began to kick violently, and I felt a breeze blow across my face. Only later, when I looked in the mirror, did I see the tiny scratch his hoof left on my eyelid. A half-inch closer, and he would have taken my eye, if not killed me. Luckily, all he gave me was a good story.

KEN PICARD, STAFF WRITER

I found a $100 next to the curb on my street!

note

I posted on Front

saying I’d found a rather large sum of money, willing to give it back to whomever could identify the denomination they lost. No one did. Come to think of it, I never did anything fun with that money. Now that I’m reminded of it, maybe I will. It’s my second-luckiest day!

MARY ANN LICKTEIG, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

I found a BAG OF MONEY many years ago in the 1980s. I won’t go into details but, su ce to say, my buddy and I took a vacation to Jamaica!

STAFF QUESTION CONTRIBUTOR’S NOTE

DIANE SULLIVAN, DESIGNER

DAN BOLLES (“Wonder Women,” page 18) is the assistant arts editor at Seven Days and also edits the annual Burlington city guide What’s Good. He’s won local, regional and national awards for his writing on the arts, music, culture, comedy and sports. In 2018, he was named an honorary hobo by the National Hobo Convention.

Vermont is the only state where a majority of residents could pass a citizenship test that asked basic questions about U.S. government, according to a recent Woodrow Wilson Foundation study. A good factoid to cite when your kid complains about studying for a social studies quiz.

How can I help my family declutter for spring?

You might not believe this, but spring will return. It will! It has to! As the light changes and the days get longer, we start to feel a little less like binge-watching Netflix in sweatpants all day and a little more restless and energetic.

Every spring, my to-do list is suddenly ridiculously long. Full of renewed hope and ambition, I write down every step of every spring cleaning project I’ve ever wanted to do, and set the absurd expectation that I will accomplish all of it on top of my regularly scheduled life. Not surprisingly, it never works. Ever. I believe this is called “self-sabotage.”

Painter Lola June, a 2-year-old from New York City, recently had her first gallery show; six of her paintings sold for between $250 and $1,500. She “greeted guests with a chocolate-vanilla cookie crumbled in her hand,” New York magazine reported.

A video of kids in Seattle sledding on a massive flamingo pool float went viral. Whatever happened to the good ol’ trash can lid?

This spring, however, will be di erent! This spring, we can all calmly and logically declutter our lives with the help of our new best friend, Marie Kondo. You’ve already heard of her. Maybe you read her No.1 New York Times best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Maybe you know that Kondo was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2015. Or maybe you, like me, have recently discovered her hit Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.”

What’s so brilliant about Kondo’s approach? It’s actually about feeling and expressing gratitude. Her trademarked KonMari Method encourages tidying by category, not by location. “Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go,” Kondo writes on her website.

In a 2015 New York Times interview, Kondo told writer KJ Dell’Antonia, “Tidying is a skill that everyone, even a little child can achieve, and it takes practice for most people, young, old and in-between.”

Kondo goes on, “The basic rule of tidying is that you should focus on tidying up your

own things first. Once you have completely finished, you can assist your children or spouse to tidy their clothes.”

No parent will be surprised to hear that Kondo says the best way to teach kids to tidy up — and by extension to appreciate, express gratitude for, and learn to let go of — the things they have in their lives, is to lead by example.

So while it’s still cold and dark outside, go ahead and catch up on the first season of “Tidying Up.” When that springtime restlessness hits, you’ll feel empowered and ready

Thanks for sharing your cute photos with us using the hashtag #instakidsvt. We loved this picture of sweet siblings enjoying Valentine’s Day cookies in their jammies.

to decide which of those 37 concert T-shirts you’ve held onto for the last decade actually sparks joy. With a little luck, you’ll inspire your kids to do the same with that totally outof-control stu ed-animal collection.

In this monthly column, comedian, writer and mom Autumn Spencer answers tricky parenting questions. Have a question for Autumn? Send it to ideas@kidsvt.com.

HERE’S

Post

PARENT PARTICIPATION

We used shaving cream spread onto a cookie sheet. Drop food coloring drops and swirl with a toothpick. Place your paper face down and gently push. Lift up and scrape off excess with a plastic ruler. Allow to dry.

REBECCA BAYER CLOUGH

Harry Potterinspired with a splash of a million stickers.

HONI BEAN BARRETT

IN SEASON

I made these with my preschoolers. Watercolors and vinegar dripped on baking soda spread out over hearts.

Our almost-3year-old loves to paint, so we turned that love into some love for her classmates!

ALI PEARL

THROWBACK

MARCH 2018

Home-Grown Entertainment

Last year we wrote about East Hardwick residents Rose Friedman and Justin Lander, parents and performers who founded Modern Times Theater — billed as unplugged family entertainment. This year, the duo will be performing their Saturday storefront puppet show on Saturdays, March 16, 23 and 30 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Gohl Building in Hardwick.

KIDS SAY WHAT?

How much snow did we get last night?

“Just a toe.”

HENRY, AGE 4

PET CORNER

From February 15 to February 17, families flocked to North Hero for the communityrun Great Ice! festival, celebrating winter on Lake Champlain. The event included skating, hockey, an ice rescue demo, a pancake breakfast and fireworks. On Sunday, around 200 kids and adults hiked, skated and skied 1.5 miles from Hero’s Welcome general store to Knight Island State Park during the Over ’n Back Trek, sponsored by the Lake Champlain Land Trust. Upon arriving at the park, they were welcomed with hot chocolate. “We were so glad to cohost the Trek, since we helped conserve Knight Island back in 1990 and donated it to the state of Vermont,” said Land Trust outreach coordinator Jeff O’Donnell.

Enjoying

Samantha Giroux of Essex Junction shared this photo of her 5-year-old daughter, Lilly, with her mini horse, Vita. “Lilly was very timid of animals, especially horses,” and “Vita was wary of people,” said Giroux. But “when Lilly saw Vita, they fell in love.” Lilly loves to lead Vita through obstacle courses, groom her, feed her treats and give her kisses. “Vita has taught Lilly how to be brave and confident,” said Giroux. “And Lilly has taught Vita she can trust people to be kind.”

HOLLY BECKERT

This month, we asked our Facebook followers to show us photos of their kids’ sweet homemade Valentines.

COURTESY OF SASHA GOLDSTEIN

Skiing to Knight Island State Park

Festival goers watch an ice rescue demonstration

Some kids traveled by sled during the Over ’n Back Trek

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN LAND TRUST

BY ALISON NOVAK

FITNESS

Take a Break

Preregistration is required for childcare at Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center in Essex Junction. Cost is $5 in addition to the class fee. For more information, visit evolutionprenatalandfamily.com.

POLITICS

If I Were President

In February, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced the winner of his ninth annual STATE OF THE UNION ESSAY CONTEST, which asks Vermont high schoolers which issues they would prioritize if they were president. Firdaus Muhammad, a freshman at Essex High School, placed first with an essay about Islamophobia. She is the first freshman to win the contest, which drew 590 entries from 50 Vermont schools. Muhammad wrote about her decision to wear a hijab — a traditional Muslim head covering — in third grade, and how racism against Muslims has gotten worse since then.

“How can we live in ‘The Land of the Free’ when Muslims are afraid of being targeted based solely on their religion?” Muhammad wrote. “I am lucky to live in Vermont where most people are respectful and accepting of each other. But I also know that there are other Muslims who are not so lucky. Those Muslims who feel isolated in their o ces, schools and other public places.”

Muhammad — who runs track, plays viola, and has a passion for math and science — got the chance to attend a roundtable discussion with Sanders and the 19 other finalists on February 16. “I was exposed to a lot of new ideas and opinions,” she said of the event. Her essay, along with those of the second and third place winners — seniors Jackson Maiocco of Bellows Falls Union High School and Joseph Brody of St. Johnsbury Academy — will be entered into the Congressional Record, the o cial archive of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Find essays by Firdaus Muhammad and other finalists in the State of the Union Essay Contest at sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases.

While parents of young children tend to be pros at multitasking, exercising while child wrangling often feels impossible. And sometimes Mama (or Papa) just needs an hour to sweat it out. In February, EVOLUTION PRENATAL & FAMILY YOGA CENTER began o ering childcare services during three morning classes in its Essex Junction location. Families can preregister for childcare during Evolution’s Monday 10:45 a.m. and Saturday 9:45 a.m. strength training classes, and its Wednesday 10:45 a.m. yoga class. Kids — from crawling to 6 years old — can cavort in the center’s downstairs playroom while parents burn energy and build strength in the upstairs exercise studio. Babies who aren’t yet crawling can still accompany their parents to class. “People have been asking for this for a while,” owner Susan Cline Lucey said. “There are a lot of people home with their kiddo who need this.”

MOTHERHOOD A Place to Pump

Founded by Sascha Mayer and Christine Dodson in 2013, Burlington-based Mamava aims to support nursing moms by providing them with a clean, private place to nurse and pump milk. Their freestanding lactation suites have been installed in hundreds of locations across the country, from airports to sports stadiums. In February, Dodson and her son, Julius, a junior at Burlington High School, joined with parent and student volunteers to deliver and assemble a MAMAVA LACTATION SUITE for BHS employees and visitors.

The high school is the first in Vermont to install one of the suites. Currently there are four BHS faculty and sta members returning to work after maternity leave. One of them, history teacher Francesca Dupuis, said she is grateful to have a dedicated space to pump. “Historically, BHS employees have used small closets, such as the English department’s book closet or former utility closets,” she said. “These spaces were never designed to be private, sanitary spaces for nursing mothers, and it can be quite stressful when you are hoping that no one walks in on you.” The lactation suite was made possible by joint financial support from Mamava and parent volunteer organization Seahorse Pride. Burlington School Board chair Claire Wool and Superintendent Yaw Obeng jointly hailed it as “a creative way to better support mothers in our school and in the greater community.”

Learn more about Mamava at mamava.com.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Firdaus Muhammad

BHS employees and new moms Kelsey Shannon, Molly Roach, Lauren McBride and Francesca Dupuis with the school’s new Mamava suite

Prima Ballerinas

Katy Perry is blasting on the speakers. About 20 young women and girls glide across the floor, practicing the sideways ballet step known as pas de bourrée. One girl clutches a doll with bright red hair and fairy wings, a grin spreading across her face as she moves with the pack.

Her name is Lily Hicks, and she is 11. “My personality is bright, brave, strong…” she says, listing several more empowering descriptors with such rapid fire that this reporter can’t keep up. “… and I never give up on my friends.”

Lily has been dancing with Project Prima, a dance workshop led by the University of Vermont’s Ballet Viridis dance company for kids with special needs, for three years. The workshop is open to children of all ages and genders. It takes place several Sundays a month throughout the school year in a studio inside UVM’s Patrick Gymnasium or, sometimes, in Ira Allen Chapel. Sessions are informal and upbeat, with each child paired with a college dancer, who can tailor movements to the child’s specific needs. At the end of the school year, Ballet Viridis performs a spring showcase and invites Project Prima kids to participate.

“Lily absolutely loves it,” says her grandmother, Phyllis Blank. “These guys are so wonderful, so patient and so good,” she gushes, gesturing to the company dancers.

The project began four years ago. UVM clubs are required to have a community service component, explains senior Maia Padberg. One of the college dancers at the time was working with a local girl with special needs. She thought it would be cool to invite her, and other kids like her, to dance.

“It was a way to share our love of dance with young people, and to give back to the community,” says Padberg. Project Prima was born.

The workshop is designed to teach kids basic ballet and movement — but the college dancers are learning, too. “We come into the studio with our filters,” says senior Allie Piette. “The kids come in and have no inhibitions, no fear. They just want to have fun.”

But there are challenges, too. Some of the Prima dancers are nonverbal, Piette explains. “We do our best to connect and engage with the dancers, but it can be challenging to get feedback from them, to know what they are thinking, what they wish we did more or less of and

what types of movement they may be interested in exploring.” She says using basic American Sign Language and being attuned to body language and facial expressions has been helpful.

“These dancers possess an innate ability to share their love of dance with people of all abilities,” wrote Katrina Sliwka on Kayla’s Directory, a website that lists services, events and activities for Vermont kids with special needs. Her daughter, Delaney Johnson — who has epilepsy, as well as alternating hemiplegia of childhood, a rare neurological disorder — has taken part in Project Prima.

“Del’s physical abilities and movements have been described by professionals as ‘a series of near misses,’ which translates to daily bumps and bruises,” continued Sliwka. “However, during Project Prima she feels nothing but grace.”

Back in the studio, things get colorful when “How Far I’ll Go” from the movie Moana comes on. Everyone grabs a ribbon wand, then gathers in a circle. One by one, they improvise a movement, which the other dancers copy. One girl twirls, another jumps, another gets down low and waves her ribbon wildly.

Next, they break into small groups, each led by a Project Prima dancer who will choreograph a short dance to perform. A girl named Erin gets down to business right away, directing the college dancers where to stand, showing them how to lean back and shake their ribbons behind them.

Erin’s mom, who is watching from the sidelines, points out another Project Prima kid who is stretching with a college dancer in another corner of the studio. “If one kid isn’t feeling it,” Erin’s mom explains, “a teacher stays with them on the side to keep them included.”

Lily rehearses a solo in the mirror. She is beaming. When it comes time to perform, Lily gives it her all, enthusiastically lip-synching a song from her favorite

animated show, “Steven Universe,” while she dances.

“Obviously, Lily is our soloist,” college senior Sabrina Veo explains later with a smile.

Each class ends with a circle. While the dancers are stretching on the floor, they take turns saying something that made them happy that day.

“I tried a new Ben & Jerry’s flavor,” one declares.

“I talked to my mom,” says another.

“I danced with all of you,” says Lily. “And you really make me feel happy.” K

Learn more about Project Prima on Facebook at facebook.com/ projectprimauvm.

A dance workshop enables college students and kids with special needs to learn from each other

These dancers possess an innate ability to share their love of dance with people of all abilities.

MOM KATRINA SLIWKA

Lily Hicks dances in Ira Allen Chapel

Delaney Johnson with UVM dance students Claire Smith and Lia Ivanick

UVM and Project Prima students practice ballet positions during practice in Ira Allen Chapel

HABITAT BY BRETT ANN STANCIU

Library Maker Space

What’s the connection between a world-class brewery and a small, rural library?

The employees at Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro — named best brewery in the world for five years in a row by RateBeer — have an annual tradition of pooling their gratuities each year and donating them locally. “Since the very humble beginnings of the brewery, I have worked and donated to local charities in an effort to help revive and benefit the local community in which I was born and have lived,” Hill Farmstead owner Shaun Hill wrote in an email.

One beneficiary is the Greensboro Free Library. With its staff of three and a dedicated crew of volunteers, the library used the 2017 gift of $3,173 to transform a back room into a maker space. Geared toward young kids and their caregivers, the space serves residents of Greensboro and more than a half dozen surrounding towns. The shelves are stocked with bins of creative materials, like Legos and Play-Doh. Techy supplies like Snap Circuits — a kit which helps kids develop problem-solving and engineering skills through building electronic projects — are particularly popular. A long table in the space has shortened legs, making it the perfect height for small children. Some money was used to buy musical instruments and a microscope. Funds remain to replenish supplies like paint.

In tiny Greensboro, with a population of less than 800, the library building has played a central role in town history. Originally constructed as a hospital, the building has served as a nursing home and a health care clinic. Now, the library attracts both year-round residents and summer visitors, when the town’s population swells with an influx of outof-towners, drawn there by pristine Caspian Lake.

Part-time children’s librarian Emily Purdy encourages families to drop in, explore and use the maker space, even when she’s not present. She often leaves materials with step-by-step instructions on a table, such as how to make slime, or seasonal activities like seed starting in small pots. She says she’s pleased to see materials in some disarray when she returns, as that’s a sign folks have visited.

Emma Podolin, a local potter, who

never used the library before having her two young daughters, describes it as “so essential to my mothering. We rely on the community that happens in this space.” She emphasizes the importance of friendships and connections she and her family have made with other patrons. Podolin has also used the maker space room to teach a few children’s pottery classes.

Her sentiments are echoed by teacher Rose Modry, who frequents the library with her 3-year-old son, Fox. Modry says

the space enables her to “feel connected to a great community with lots of small children.”

Soft-spoken Purdy’s relaxed and welcoming attitude is a key component of the space’s success. She hosts two story times a week, with additional programming for families in the summer months.

Nivine Kotok, whose family recently moved to the area, describes Purdy’s approach as “kind of like a mama group.” During Kotok’s first visit to the library with her toddler, Aisha, Purdy baked homemade buns in a toaster oven and brewed tea.

Children happily painted with

watercolors on an icy February morning while their mothers and a few grandmothers chatted. Later, the 3- and 4-year-olds clustered in a corner, playing an imaginative game, using handfuls of Legos as pretend dinosaur eggs — a fitting illustration that if you build it, they will come. K

The space includes a collection of dress-up clothes

Painting on an icy February morning

Creating Valentine’s Day crafts at the Greensboro Free Library’s maker space

BRETT ANN STANCIU BRETT ANN STANCIU BRETT ANN STANCIU

Mud season is that time in Vermont between winter and spring. The surface layers of soil have started to melt, but the deeper, frozen layers cannot absorb the water, turning the top into a muddy mess. This season is not only messy, it’s also the time when the ground beneath our feet is most vulnerable. If walked on, the oversaturated topsoil can get overly compacted, making it hard for anything to grow later on. Hence, the Green Mountain Club’s advice: Until the soil hardens again and can carry our weight, turn around and stick to the roads.

Sometimes, life halfway between the winter holidays and summer vacation can feel like a personal mud season. The mind feels disorganized and the whole family feels stuck in its everyday routine. Here the Green Mountain Club’s advice can also apply. When we’re most vulnerable, it helps to be patient. The earth beneath our feet will harden again, and spring will be here soon. K

MOM TAKES NOTES BY ELISA JÄRNEFELT

BY ASTRID HEDBOR LAGUE

Hungarian Goulash

Comfort food with ancient roots

Ask most Americans what goulash is, and they’ll probably say tomato sauce with lots of meat, mixed with macaroni noodles. With origins in medieval Hungary, there are actually many variations of this hearty dish. According to my internet research, it began as a shepherd’s stew and the now-signature Hungarian paprika was added to the recipe in the 16th century. It can be made with beef, veal, lamb or pork, or a mixture of meats.

For my take on the dish, I made a brothy stew with bell peppers, carrots and onions, served over egg noodles.

VT | 845-802-2311

HUNGARIAN GOULASH

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter (or lard, if you really want to get authentic)

• 1 1/2 pounds chuck beef roast, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 3 onions, diced

• 1/4 cup sweet Hungarian paprika

• 4 cloves garlic, crushed

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• 1 orange bell pepper, diced

• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced

• 3 carrots, diced

• 5 cups beef broth

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste

• 1 pound wide egg noodles (optional)

Directions:

1. Melt butter (or lard) in a large Dutch oven. (Cast iron works best, but a stock pot or soup pot will do in a pinch.)

2. Dredge the meat pieces in flour, and brown on all sides in the butter. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Add the onions to the pan, and cook over medium heat for about 7 minutes, stirring often to coat with the butter and meat drippings.

4. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the paprika. (Doing this off the heat keeps the paprika from burning.) Add the garlic, peppers and carrots. Return to medium heat and cook for 5 minutes more.

5. Return the meat to the pan, along with the broth, bay leaf and tomato paste. Stir well, cover and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

6. If using egg noodles, cook them according to package directions when the goulash is almost done. Serve a generous portion of goulash, along with plenty of broth, over the noodles.

The key ingredient is sweet Hungarian paprika. The standard paprika you find at most grocery stores won’t have nearly as much earthiness and depth as an imported Hungarian paprika, as most American recipes use paprika mainly for its rich, reddish-orange color. You should be able to find Hungarian paprika in the bulk spice section of larger grocery stores or online. Don’t use smoked paprika. That spice has a more tangy, “barbecued” flavor that won’t give you the traditional goulash flavor.

For years, my husband and I have dreamt about a family trip to Prague — where we honeymooned — then a jaunt over to Budapest to sample all of the culinary treats the region has to o er. For now, we’ll just travel with our taste buds.

Valuable! Affordable! Inclusive! Innovative! Come see the benefits yourself!

Financial aid available!

MEALTIME

Astrid’s daughter Evalina enjoys a bowl of goulash

How Can Parents Keep Their Kids Safe From Lead Poisoning?

In December 2018, the Vermont Department of Health announced plans to test the water in every school in the state for the presence of lead. This came after a pilot project involving 16 schools found that the highly toxic metal was present in the water from at least one tap in every school tested. Lead isn’t safe for anyone, but it presents the greatest risks for children, pregnant women and developing fetuses.

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine explains why lead poisoning is a serious public health hazard and what can be done to prevent it.

KIDS VT: Why is lead especially dangerous to children?

MARK LEVINE: Lead can affect many different parts of the human body, but the parts we care about most in children are the brain and nervous system, which are rapidly growing and developing. Lead can affect all the things you care about for kids in school: learning, attention span, hearing, speech, the ability to integrate material (so-called executive functions), visual-motor integration and IQ. It can also affect their social behaviors, which can impair a child’s ability to remain in the school setting.

KVT: What are the signs of acute lead poisoning?

ML: Acute symptoms include headaches, vomiting, loss of appetite, irritability and, sometimes, gastrointestinal problems. But the more long-lasting ones, which I’ve already mentioned, are irreversible.

And unless a child is exposed to a dangerous amount of lead [all at once], they usually don’t show acute symptoms. So, if kids are getting small amounts of lead over time and it’s accumulating, parents may not know it.

KVT: How long does lead stay in the body?

ML: Once it gets into the organs, it remains there. When a 1- or 2-year-old has an especially high level in their blood, often they get hospitalized, or treated as an outpatient, with chelation therapy, in which medication delivered intravenously binds to the lead, creating a compound that is excreted from the body. But even when some of it leaves, the damage is already done.

KVT: How widespread is lead contamination in Vermont?

ML: Seventy percent of our housing stock was built before 1978, which was the year that Congress banned lead-based house paints. So, that’s a huge proportion of Vermont homes, and that’s the primary way that kids get poisoned by lead. It’s not the only way — homes can also have lead in old plumbing — but lead-based paint is a major source. Children often would eat lead-contaminated paint chips or soil, which is called pica disorder, or they’re inhaling it in dust.

KVT: Should all children be tested for lead?

ML: We recommend that all children get tested at ages 1 and 2. This is a nationally

recognized standard of pediatric care and required under Vermont law. Depending on the result, your health care provider may recommend additional testing.

KVT: What’s considered an elevated blood lead level?

ML: If a child has lead levels at 5 micrograms per deciliter, that’s considered mild lead poisoning. That level in a 1- or 2-year-old allows a family to access the Department of Health’s Healthy Homes program. A case manager will contact the family and offer a home visit to test the water and identify other potential lead hazards such as keys, toys, antiques, jewelry and pottery. Kids who play in the soil near older homes can be at risk because sometimes they eat the soil. And, if they don’t wash their hands before grabbing food, they can ingest the lead on their hands.

KVT: Would parents know if there’s lead in their water without testing it?

ML: No. It’s tasteless, colorless and odorless. Without testing, schools wouldn’t know what’s coming out of their faucets, and most parents wouldn’t know that their child’s blood lead levels are elevated.

KVT: If a school’s water has elevated lead levels, what’s the next step?

ML: Our pilot project tested 16 schools throughout the state. Generally, the water going into the schools wasn’t the issue.

It’s things like lead solder in the plumbing fixtures and occasionally in the pipes. We learned from the pilot study that the remediation costs were only in the $500 range for each school. Sometimes, schools were able to just shut that faucet off and not use it because they had other options. Some schools invested in bottled water or filtration systems.

KVT: Is the state testing all school water supplies?

ML: Yes, all public and private schools. The legislature would like to extend the testing to all childcare centers as well. Childcare centers — including homebased centers — are already required to test for lead, but the current limit is 15 parts per billion. The newly proposed state legislation would create an even lower threshold of 3 parts per billion. K

The Vermont Brain Bee

Most people have participated in a spelling bee at some point in their academic career. But a brain bee? Unlikely.

For 10 years, though, high schoolers in Vermont have had the opportunity to test their knowledge of neuroscience during the annual Vermont Brain Bee. In February, 48 students from seven area high schools — some clad in jeans and T-shirts, others in ties and button-downs — gathered in a large classroom at University of Vermont’s Medical Education Center to compete. The event started with a multiplechoice test, an oral exam and a practical quiz, in which competitors had to identify parts of the human brain.

In the afternoon, eight Brain Bee finalists — students with the top scores on the morning exams — competed in a final oral round, scrawling answers to questions on a paper hidden inside a folder, then revealing their answers to the judges simultaneously. A few di cult questions elicited nervous laughter. One of them: “The basis of functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques is the relationship between neuron functions and ________.”

(The answer: blood flow.)

Burlington High School senior Vilena Lee emerged victorious. Lee is the president of the BHS Neuroscience Club, which has just four members. She said she fell in love with the subject after learning about all of the processes that take place inside the brain in mere milliseconds. “It’s amazing to me how thinking and memory have specific chemical reactions that can be traced back to very specific regions of the brain,” she said. Lee prepared for the Bee by studying the texts on which the questions were based — an online booklet entitled “Neuroscience: Science of the Brain” and the book Brain Facts, published by the Society for Neuroscience — and by playing a lot of the online quiz game Kahoot!

Essex High School senior Kate Connolly was

another Bee participant. She said she especially enjoyed the practical part of the competition, where students had to identify the parts of the brain — using a real human brain. That kind of thing doesn’t make her squeamish, she said.

“‘Grey’s Anatomy’ has been a big part of that.” Since January, she’s led an afterschool club

for fourth and fifth graders in Essex, teaching them about the brain, then doing craft projects, like making neurons out of pom-poms, pipe cleaners and beads, and sculpting brain lobes out of salt dough.

The USA Brain Bee was founded in 1998 by University of Maryland professor Dr. Norbert Myslinksi. But it wasn’t until 2010 that Middlebury resident Lisa Bernardin started the Vermont chapter of the Brain Bee. Bernardin, a traumatic brain injury survivor, had teenage children at the time. She read about the national Brain Bee in a medical journal and thought Vermont kids should have the opportunity to learn more about neuroscience.

The Brain Bee isn’t just about competition. Students also have the chance to learn from experts in the field. In the morning, psychologists presented neurological and psychiatric case studies, playing the roles of patient and clinician, to help students learn how to di erentiate between conditions like psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder, and delirium and dementia.

Following a pizza lunch, Dr. Hugh Garavan, a professor in UVM’s Department of Psychiatry, spoke about the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which he’s helming in Vermont. The 10-year study — the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States — involves 21 sites and 11,874 children, who were recruited as 9- and 10-year-olds. He also touched on research he’s done about how cannabis a ects the teenage brain. Afterward, a panel of UVM neuroscience majors fielded questions about college and careers from the high schoolers.

A big smile spread across Lee’s face when she was announced as the winner, and her fellow competitors clapped and cheered. Lee said she hopes to major in neuroscience in college, then get a PhD in behavioral science. But first, she’ll travel to Penn State College of Medicine in April, where she’ll represent Vermont in the USA Brain Bee Championship.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF LISA BERNARDIN

Brain Bee winner Vilena Lee (center) with second place finisher Isabelle Petrucci of Essex High School (left) and third place finisher Grace Widelitz of Middlebury Union High School

In the practical part of the competition, students had to identify the parts of the brain — using a real human brain.

Students participate in the practical quiz portion of the Bee

Local Sugarhouses

The most practical advice for families visiting sugarhouses this month? Bring boots.

Vermont fêtes its famous sugaring season with Maple Open House Weekend — March 23 and 24. To help everything run smoothly, the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association provides a map of sugarhouses that are open for the event. Some of them, like East Montpelier’s Bragg Farm Sugarhouse on Route 14, o er easy access along a main highway. Others lie on muddy back roads.

Events run the gamut from simple to sophisticated. In Huntington, the Green Mountain Audubon Center will serve warm syrup samples and the traditional sugar-on-snow while billowing clouds of sweet steam rise from the sugarhouse. In Fairfax, Runamok Maple — known for the infused, smoked and barrel-aged syrups that made Oprah Winfrey’s 2017 Favorite Things list — will o er free samples of maple’s sweet and savory sides in mocktails and dips, along with cheese pairings. Runamok’s emphasis, co-owner Laura Sorkin says, is “all about pairing maple syrup with food.”

Whatever their approach, all sugarhouses do the same thing: boil maple sap to make syrup. Sugaring season begins when days rise above freezing and nights dip below 32 degrees. This weather causes the sap to move in the trees — known as a sap run. Sap flows out of trees through a tap — a small plastic or metal spout sugar makers drill into trees. This clear liquid is gathered in buckets or flows through plastic lines into a gathering tank. In the sugarhouse, stainless steel pans hold boiling sap. Traditionally, sugar makers burn wood to heat the sap, although many now use oil or gas as fuel.

In addition to free tours and samples during Open House Weekend, some sugarhouses will o er the classic complement to all that sugar — a sour pickle. And many will encourage visitors to walk through their woods, which is where those boots might come in handy.

THE SWEET LOWDOWN

• 40 to 50 gallons of sap are boiled to create one gallon of maple syrup.

• A sign that sap is turning into syrup is sheeting. That’s when syrup falls as a curtain from a scoop and doesn’t drip.

• Syrup is boiled to the correct density to prevent crystallization.

• Vermont makes nearly 2 million gallons of maple syrup annually and is the United States’ largest producer.

• Syrup over a buttery stack of pancakes is dandy, but the liquid gold is also delicious in homemade milkshakes and whipped cream, in cornbread and muffins.

• Entrepreneurs use maple in soda, hard liquor and salad dressings.

• Vermont has four syrup grades — golden, amber, dark and very dark. Darker syrup is generally made later in the season and has a more robust flavor.

For more fun facts about maple and information about Maple Open House Weekend, check out vermontmaple.org.

STILL HAVE A SWEET TOOTH?

Visit the Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans, April 26-28. In addition to all things maple, this 53rd annual shindig includes a grand parade, a Sap Run, a kids’ treasure hunt and good food galore. Learn more at vermontmaplefestival.com.

Maple Open House Weekend at Boyden Valley Farm

Syrup tasting at Boyden Valley Farm

Checking out the sap run at Runamok Maple

BOOKWORMS BY BRETT ANN STANCIU

Giving Voice to Youth

A Montpelier author tackles racial issues with smarts and savvy

Kekla Magoon’s newest middle grade novel, The Season of Styx Malone, sucks in young readers right from the start, when brothers Caleb and Bobby Gene briefly swap their baby sister for a gunnysack of fireworks. The brothers meet a new neighbor, Styx Malone — an older, cooler kid who hatches a summertime trading scheme, and has a few secrets of his own.

Magoon — a graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA program in writing for children and young adults and a faculty member there for the past five years — is a seasoned pro. She has written 11 novels, multiple essays and short stories and a nonfiction book about the Little Rock Nine. Her first young adult novel, The Rock and The River, earned Magoon a Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for new talent. Further accolades include three Coretta Scott King Honor Book Awards — the most recent for The Season of Styx Malone

These awards highlight the contributions of African American authors and illustrators to children’s and young adult literature.

Magoon spent her childhood in Fort Wayne, Ind. Although the metropolitan area is racially diverse, Magoon attended schools with few black students, and much of her writing directly confronts issues of race.

How It Went Down, published in 2015, is a young adult novel influenced by the fatal shootings of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. Magoon has also written about school integration and the Black Panther Party. Several years ago, one of Malcolm X’s daughters, Ilyasah Shabazz, asked Magoon to collaborate on a novelized account of her father’s adolescence. The resulting YA book, X: A Novel, was released in 2016

and longlisted for the National Book Award.

Magoon writes about racism, the civil rights movement and foster care, but her books are also filled with the exuberance of childhood. Her middle grade Robyn Hoodlum series — a retelling of the classic Robin Hood story — features a young, urban biracial heroine and her smart band of misfits. The three books are filled with rollicking and irreverent humor. In The Season of Styx Malone, racial conflict appears not at the book’s center, but permeates the characters’ quest for their own happy ending.

Magoon spoke with Kids VT about her work.

Kids VT: What was it like working with Malcolm X’s daughter?

Kekla Magoon: Amazing … Malcolm X was instrumental in showing the systemic nature of racism. The way we teach about the civil rights movement has been way too limited. But schools are now incorporating more discussion of Malcolm X, black nationalism and the black power movement … As a boy, Malcolm X didn’t know he was going to be famous. The book tells the story of a young man who was feeling lost and sad, and experienced the burdens of poverty and racism … Kids are able to recognize those feelings in someone. Maybe they can realize they don’t yet know what kind of impact they might be able to have … If somebody would have told me as a kid I would have grown up and written all these books, that I would live in Vermont and be interviewed by a magazine, I would have said, No way

KVT: Your insistence on the power of youth voice runs through your many books.

KM: One unifying thread in my work is about being or feeling ordinary. The Season of Styx Malone opens with Caleb, who wants to feel special — or not ordinary — but he doesn’t have a handle on it. He doesn’t really know what that means … It’s easy to feel insignificant in the face of history, and wonder what it is I’m going to stand up for … Traditional storytelling is about heroes. But what does that look like on a day-to-day basis? We forget that the everyday matters in the way we tell stories … I remember what it was like as a kid and being told, Someday you’ll be able to do X, Y or Z. But I was a smart kid, and I knew I could do more … I want kids to know they do have power.

KVT: What advice do you give to young writers?

KM: My advice is two-fold. Keep practicing. It takes a lot of work and rewriting and learning how to tell a story to become a better writer … You might have to rephrase, making things clearer so someone can understand, but that’s part of being a writer. Always believe that your stories are important.

Wonder Women

“Did you know that elephants have 42,000 muscles in their trunks?” Jane Lindholm asked me recently. I had to confess I did not. Humans, the Vermont Public Radio personality went on to explain, have about 650 to 800 muscles in their entire bodies, depending on how you categorize the muscle groups. Just four muscle groups interact with our noses. She paused, then reiterated with genuine, almost childlike wonder: “Elephants have 42,000 muscles in their trunks!”

Recently, childlike wonder has become Lindholm’s stock-in-trade. For almost three years, she’s hosted VPR’s “But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids,” a program in which she, producer Melody Bodette and experts answer questions posed by inquisitive children from around the world. As a result, she has become a fount of knowledge both obscure and interesting — and not just about the nasal musculature of pachyderms.

The elephant episode, which aired on February 1, also answered why gira es have purple tongues; most episodes tackle several questions related to the broader topic. Other recent episodes have addressed the floating garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean, why we sometimes see the moon during the day, what it’s like to be an adult and, in a lively episode that surely elicited giggles from kids of all ages, why we poop and fart.

“My Google search history is weird,” joked Bodette, who, along with Lindholm, spoke to Kids VT last month at VPR’s studio in Colchester.

Since it debuted on April 1, 2016, “But Why” has become an ascendant program for VPR, with 3.5 million total downloads. In 2018, subscribership on platforms such as iTunes and Spotify grew 70 percent; downloads went up by 82 percent. Lindholm and Bodette have received questions from kids in all 50 states and from at least 48 other countries.

PHOTOS: JAMES BUCK

“But Why” host Jane Lindholm (left) and producer Melody Bodette

BY DAN BOLLES

“There was no expectation that it would be particularly popular or successful,” said Lindholm of the podcast. And yet it’s clearly a hit. Which prompts a question: But why?

The answer likely starts with Lindholm, who is also the Harvardeducated host of VPR’s popular midday news program, “Vermont Edition.” On air and o , she carries herself with a bright, pleasant and studious demeanor. Those who only know Lindholm by her calm, made-for-public-radio voice may be surprised to learn she currently sports a shock of metallic purple hair. “My midlife crisis,” she joked.

In a given week, “Vermont Edition” covers topics from the push to commercialize marijuana in Vermont to the history of bird watching in the state — y’know, grown-up stu . To be conversant on such a broad range of topics from day to day requires considerable preparation and, just as importantly, insatiable curiosity. The same is true for making “But Why.”

That meticulous approach is what distinguishes her podcast, which airs every two weeks, from the rising tide of content flooding children’s entertainment channels. Just like other public radio programs, such as “Invisibilia” and “Planet Money,” “But Why” is entertaining and informative. It’s undoubtedly geared toward children, but it never panders — the occasional poop joke aside. To the undying gratitude of Peppa Pig-addled parents, it is engaging for grown-ups, too.

naturalist Mary Holland explaining how and why bears hibernate in the winter.

Lindholm, who lives in Monkton with her husband and their two small children, traces the origins of “But Why” to a friend who was listening to VPR in the car one day with her kids. Following a report on U.S. government employees carousing with Colombian prostitutes, a question issued from the back seat: “Mommy, what’s a hooker?”

“She said, ‘Oh, jeez. I guess I can’t listen to public radio with my kids in the car anymore,’” recalled Lindholm, who at the time had been brainstorming how to enter the booming podcast market.

“I think I’m the only person in America who realized that podcasts were exploding,” quipped Lindholm.

Jokes aside, her friend’s conundrum inspired an idea: Solicit questions from curious children and, with the help of Bodette — who is also a mother of two — research the answers.

“I thought, Why don’t we produce something that’s public radio for kids, that’s designed for them?”

“The style is di erent from other shows we listen to,” said early childhood educator Tara Gravelin. The Burlington mother of two puts on the podcast for her 6- and 4-year-old sons during quiet time.

“It’s humorous and playful,” she continued, adding that she finds Lindholm’s voice “captivating.”

“There are a lot of kids’ podcasts out there and some of them, for me as an adult who has small kids, I find them very hard to listen to,” Bodette explained. “So we definitely make ours with an eye towards it being interesting for parents as well.”

“It’s a fine line for us because we’re not making it for the parents, so it’s not tongue-in-cheek,” said Lindholm. “We want it to be something they enjoy listening to, too, but we’re not making it with the irony that an adult sense of humor would have.”

Still, parents will likely learn a thing or two by listening. As an example, Lindholm cited the podcast’s very first episode, which featured Vermont

“That’s still one of the favorite episodes for adults,” said Lindholm, “because you learned things that you didn’t really feel like you had permission to ask about: How do bears hibernate? How do they not go to the bathroom for that long? It’s a question that you probably wonder but you feel silly asking.”

“I learn a lot making the podcasts, too,” Bodette added. “Because a lot of it is stu that adults probably should know but don’t want to ask, because adults assume they should know everything,” she explained. “Kids assume they don’t know everything, but they want to know everything.”

Lindholm and Bodette don’t shy away from complicated questions on topics like death and how babies are made, or topical issues such as school violence and hurricanes, all of which they’ve addressed on past episodes.

“For our audience to trust us, we have to answer di cult questions,

VPR’s Jane Lindholm and Melody Bodette tap into kids’ curiosity with “But Why”

I want to be able to give kids the answers that they deserve.

HOST JANE LINDHOLM

WONDER WOMEN, P. 20 »

Wonder Women

CONTINUED FROM P. 19

too,” said Bodette. “We could do every episode about elephants and giraffes and have a great podcast.” But, she noted, kids ask uncomfortable questions. “I think about the way I would want to answer those questions for my own kids, and what would I do if I had all the time in the world to research them?”

“I want to be able to give kids the answers that they deserve,” added Lindholm. “They trust us, and we want to live up to that trust. And we also want to treat their questions with the honesty that they deserve. Because part of the problem in adulthood is that we get squeamish about things that kids aren’t. They just want to know the answers, and they want to know the truth.”

Create opportunities that will last your child’s lifetime. Children are more likely to go on to college or training if their families save even small amounts for education

Vermont ’s state-sponsored 529 college savings program makes it easy. Plus, the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan is the only college savings plan that qualifies families for a 10% Vermont income tax credit on annual contributions for higher education

For both the babies and death episodes, Lindholm and Bodette made a point to cover a range of experiences. For death, specifically, they tried to make the show comfortable even for listeners who recently experienced a loss.

As Lindholm does for episodes that tackle difficult topics, she opened the podcast by issuing an advisory for adults to preview the show before allowing kids to listen — or, alternatively, to listen with them. Then — as she and Jana DeCristofaro, an expert from the Dougy Center: the National Center for Grieving Children & Families in Portland Ore., navigated questions about what it feels like when you’re dead, what happens when we die and why we die in the first place — the show took quiet breaks meant for contemplation or for kids to ask their own questions.

“That was in the back of our mind: If there’s a kid listening who’s just lost someone, are they going to feel safe listening?” Lindholm explained.

As for how babies are made …

“Babies are made in a lot of different

ways,” said Bodette. “There’s adoption, gestational surrogates, reproductive technology, families with two moms, two dads, single parents.”

“We continually hear feedback from families who tell us that this was the first thing about how babies are made that included their families,” said Lindholm. “That episode particularly was designed to be a show that really envelops everybody.” At the top of the show, Lindholm assured nervous parents that the episode was created with “our youngest listeners in mind.” Indeed, mentions of sperm, eggs and other reproductive parts were handled directly, but tactfully.

Gravelin appreciates that Bodette and Lindholm tackle tough questions. “It’s real and it’s raw, but it’s done in a way that’s educational,” she said.

“It has to be age-appropriate; we’re not trying to scare kids,” said Lindholm. “But if a child is asking, ‘What happens when you die?’ they deserve an answer that’s honest.”

Providing those answers often means finding people who are willing to reveal intimate details about their lives. Four-year-old Ethan lives in Utah and suffers from a rare heart defect called heterotaxy. After listening to a “But Why” episode about how the heart works, he and his sister urged their mother, Ali Chandra, to contact Lindholm to share Ethan’s story. She reached out to Lindholm through social media and Ethan was subsequently featured on a special follow-up episode of “But Why” called “Heterotaxy and Hearts” on April 20, 2018.

“Any time that we’re able to get the word out about heterotaxy, that’s another family that we’re able to reach,” said Chandra, who runs a support group called Heterotaxy Connection. “And that episode reached even further than I think even Jane expected.”

“It makes me emotional sometimes to think about it, because you do want kids to feel represented and families to feel like their experience is valuable and counts,” said Lindholm. “And I think we can be fun and offer kids science facts and tidbits. But when we’re able to actually give families a feeling of inclusion, and give other families an idea of the variety of experiences out there, that feels really important to me.”

She does a fantastic job of explaining things in a way that kids can understand… and I usually learn new things, too.

“BUT WHY” LISTENER ANNE FISHER

Ver mont Higher Education Investment Plan is sponsored by the Ver mont Student Assistance Cor poration, a public nonprof t established by the Ver mont Legislature n 1965 to help Ver mont students and fam lies plan, save and pay for co lege or tra ning Before invest ng, please read the Disclosure Book et carefu ly (ava lable online at vheip org

or by ca ling 800-637-5860)

Chandra said she and her two kids became fans of “But Why” because the podcast takes them seriously.

“It doesn’t talk down to them at all,” she explained. “It’s like, ‘You’re a curious kid, and I’m going to find an expert grown-up who is going to explain this to you not in a condescending way or a way that assumes you won’t get it.’ And that really empowers kids to ask questions.”

One recent question came from 6-year-old Simon of Chicago: Why is tape sticky? His mom Anne Fisher, an accountant for, of all things, a tape manufacturer, recorded her son asking the question on her phone and submitted it to “But Why.” She never told Simon, a superfan of the show, that Lindholm would answer his question. Fisher and her wife videotaped their son’s surprise when the episode aired on April 27, 2018.

“Now he tells his friends that he was on the radio with his friend Jane,” said Fisher, a self-professed “public radio nerd.”

Fisher explained that Simon is drawn to questions about science and bugs, and typically listens to each episode many times.

“He really likes them and absorbs new things every time,” she said. That Simon’s repeated listening doesn’t drive her crazy is a testament to Lindholm, she added.

“She does a fantastic job of explaining things in a way that kids can understand, but also that doesn’t make me want to jump out the car window,” said Fisher. “And I usually learn new things, too.”

While “But Why” started in Vermont, Bodette and Lindholm knew it would eventually have to attract listeners beyond the state to work long-term.

“There aren’t enough kids around, even if every kid in Vermont listened, to sustain the podcast forever,” Lindholm explained. “So it was going to have to be something that was relevant outside Vermont.

“We want to be a podcast that has a sense of place in Vermont, and then sends that sensibility out into the world,” she continued.

Within a year of launching, Lindholm and Bodette were fielding questions from kids all over the globe. They use Vermont experts whenever

possible, but certain questions require broadening their scope, which, they say, bolsters the program’s wider philosophy of inclusion.

“We make a point to present kids with a really interesting cross-section of adults in the world, or other kids from around the world, so they really get this sense of diversity in the world,” said Lindholm.

As a recent example, she pointed to Lisa Desamour, a female firefighter from Philadelphia, who helped answer a dozen fire- and firefighting-related questions on the August 31, 2018 episode “Why is Fire Orange?” (It has to do with the presence of sodium in wood, BTW.)

“It was nice to have a woman’s voice representing firefighters because it gave kids a sense that there are a lot of different ways to be a firefighter in the world,” said Lindholm.

To submit to the show, listeners record audio of their children asking questions — typically with a smartphone — and send the clips in via email. With more than 4,000 questions from listeners around the globe since the program started, and more coming in all the time, Lindholm and Bodette are in no danger of running out of material. Still, there are certain questions they might prefer parents tackle themselves.

“We never mentioned the word ‘sex,’” Lindholm confessed about the babies episode. The omission drew a pointed critique from one listener.

“Somebody was like, ‘How can you have a show about how babies are made without ever mentioning sex?’” Lindholm recalled. “And I was like, ‘Well, sex isn’t required in all cases.’” Then she added with a chuckle, “And if that’s your family’s experience, you can tell your child about that.” K

Listen to “But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids” on iTunes, Spotify and at vpr.org.

The hottest lunch spot in St. Johnsbury is a high school classroom.

Before you think chips and Snapple, cramped student desks and an adolescent atmosphere, picture this: spiced sea scallops crowned with orange-olive salad, chicken and shellfish paella made with saffron rice and chorizo, and portabella cannelloni drizzled with ricotta-basil cream sauce. Think fresh flowers, water goblets, cloth napkins — folded to stand — and soft jazz.

But the kids are still there. They run the place.

Students in the culinary arts program at St. Johnsbury Academy are the prep cooks, chefs, hosts and waitstaff at the Hilltopper Restaurant at 1216 Main Street. Open to the public for lunch three days a week during the school year, the menu is extensive, the service is increasingly professional as the year progresses, and a table is hard to come by.

“It’s by far the best restaurant in St. Johnsbury,” says Mary-Em Saar. She and her husband, Fred, longtime fans of Academy cuisine, drive seven miles from

HOT LUNCH

Student-run restaurant wows diners in St. Johnsbury

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG

their home in Waterford to eat there every week. The food is “fabulous” and the prices “ridiculously low,” Saar says. Current entrees sell for between $7.50 and $11.50, bargains because the restaurant is nonprofit, the staff unpaid and the objective to keep the tables full to give students optimal real-world experience.

The menu changes every six weeks, and Saar knows the rotation by heart. The students kick off the year with a harvest menu, which celebrates local products; followed by the American bistro menu, an eclectic mix of dishes from around the country; the Mediterranean menu, featuring entrees

from five countries; and finally, in the spring, the signature menu. “That one is really special,” Saar says. That’s when each senior develops an entrée, which appears on the menu along with the student’s biography.

By that time, restaurant regulars feel like they know the kids. Saar’s been popping into the kitchen to compliment the chefs and to wish them a relaxing school break. “These guys,” chef instructor David Hale says of the regulars, “they’re part of the program.” They cheer on his students, he says. “They cry at the end of the year.”

Students leave ready for professional kitchens and top-notch culinary schools. Several have won full scholarships to Johnson & Wales University, the Culinary Institute of America and New England Culinary Institute.

Students typically start the St. Johnsbury program by taking Introduction to Culinary Arts, a onesemester class. They can continue to Culinary 1 — two periods per day — where students spend one semester at the Hilltopper and one semester in the

Jojo Williams-Keane, Grace Nadeau and Sam Newland with plates ready to go out

school’s bakeshop, and to Culinary 2, two class periods each day at the Hilltopper all year long.

About half of the students who complete Culinary 1 and 2 enter the hospitality industry, Hale says. But all, via instruction in professional food service techniques and vocabulary, acquire the ability to function in any professional setting. “It’s the learning to work in a team,” he says. “It’s learning to be ready to go every single day no matter what.”

Students working at the Hilltopper have to call in if they’re sick — the students, not their parents, unless it’s absolutely necessary. That’s not the norm in a high school class, Hale says, but he’s trying to instill professional responsibility. An absence doesn’t a ect the other kids in a math class. But, “when you’re in the sauté station here and you don’t call in, and you’re no-call, no-show, somebody’s got to pick up that work because we still have to open the restaurant,” he says.

Step into the kitchen on a Tuesday morning and Hale will welcome you aboard the “moving train.” It’s not yet 9 a.m., and two giant rectangles of focaccia are proofing under dish towels; veal stock, on its four-day journey to becoming demi-glace, is bubbling in a 40-quart pan on a back burner and the soup of the day is coming together in a smaller saucepan up front. “It’s broccoli-fontina,” junior Matthew Rice says. He and the other 19 Culinary 1 students arrive at 8:20. They prep everything on the menu, then turn the kitchen over to the 13 Culinary 2 students who cook, plate and serve.

St. Johnsbury Academy is the career and technical education center for all of Caledonia County. Just getting students to the Hilltopper is a logistical challenge. And once they arrive, they prepare an average of 25 menu items and serve 45 to 60 customers a day. “There’s a lot going on, right?” Hale says in the midst of morning prep. But the atmosphere is orderly, more like a symphony than Grand Central Terminal.

The kitchen is divided into stations, and the daily duties for each are spelled out on a prep list. Students are assigned to a new station each week, moving clockwise around the line. If they have a question, they can turn to the person next to them, who worked the station the week before. They also rotate through the “front of the house,” where they take reservations, seat customers, wait tables and run the beverage station. There, instructor Sue Libbey teaches them how many times to go to a table, how to work as a team and how to be e cient. “It’s really a lot of the social graces …” she says, “and just working with a nice rhythm.”

On this day, Danville School junior Matthew Rice is assigned to the veg/starch station. He periodically turns the red pepper he’s roasting in the oven as he makes the orange and olive salad for the scallops. “The sweet and the salt really balance each other well,” he says as he suprêmes oranges — peels them and removes whole sections — and quarters green olives. “There’s a name,” he says of the cut. “It’s French.” A couple of minutes later, he says, “It’s fermière!”

At the salad station, St. Johnsbury Academy junior Ty Avery wields a 10-inch French knife, dicing onion for risotto. He makes thin, horizontal slices first, then vertical cuts. “Chef gets very upset if you’re not using proper knife skills,” he says. Lyndon Institute senior Adrian Langmaid lights the fryer and shares the rookie mistake he made the first time he tried the task. Instead of pushing the button to ignite the pilot light, “I pulled this blue valve, which pours all the oil from the inside out,” he says. “That was a mess.”

All morning and through lunch service, students sporting white chef coats and hats julienne, juice, simmer, sauté, whip, braise, roast, plate and

Max Frechette with chef instructor Paula Bystrzycki

Adrian Langmaid on the grill

Summer Miller on the fry station, chef instructor David Hale (center) and Grace Nadeau working the grill

Everybody says, We can’t believe these are high school students doing this work.

ST. JOHNSBURY ATHENÆUM DIRECTOR BOB JOLY

BAKING SIBLINGS TAKE TOP HONORS IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

When St. Johnsbury Academy sophomore Max Frechette was named top high school baker in the nation last year, he not only retained the honor for his school, he kept it in his family. Max’s sister Gwen won the year before.

The siblings were gold medalists in the commercial baking division at the national SkillsUSA Championships, competitions for career and technical education students. Siblings have occasionally won national titles, SkillsUSA public relations manager Karen Kitzel said in an email. “But, I would say it is very rare!”

The Frechettes may be the first sibling winners in commercial baking, said Vickie Fuller, who chairs that competition. “I don’t know of any other brother-sister [pairs] who have won that,” she said.

At first, it didn’t appear that the Frechettes would do it, either. Gwen started taking culinary arts classes as a sophomore. Intent on a baking career, she was caramelizing onions when she was 11 and selling whoopie pies and macarons to teachers when she was in high school. Max, meanwhile, was less enthusiastic. His baking education was Gwen’s idea. “She kind of brought him right to the door, and she said, There you go; you’re going in there…” said baking instructor Paula Bystrzycki. “I don’t think he really wanted to be here. You could see it on his face.”

That’s how it happened, Max confirmed. He was intimidated. He was a sophomore Intro to Culinary Arts student starting Chef B’s hard-core, afterschool baking practices for kids aiming to compete at SkillsUSA. “There were lots of others going, and they were all Culinary 1 students, better than me,” Max said.

But as the year went on, kids

started dropping out. Many express interest in the fall, Bystrzycki said, “then they realize how much work it is, and they decide it’s not for them.” At national competition, students — one from each state or territory — take a written exam and make products in seven categories in seven hours and 45 minutes, taking a mandatory 30-minute break. Qualifying requires winning a gold medal at the Vermont competition, where students make four types of products in three hours and 45 minutes. Nationals last year required cookies, scones, pie, pâte à choux, Danishes, bread (three types) and a decorated cake. As the April state contest nears, Bystrzycki’s one- to three-hour after-school sessions are supplemented by several three-hour-and-45-minute Saturday run-throughs.

By mid January, two students were left. One would go to states, where competition is capped at 12 because the site — New England Culinary Institute’s La Brioche Bakery & Café in Montpelier — can’t accommodate more. Bystrzycki picked the other student. Because the 12 slots didn’t fill, Max got to go, too.

He won by one point.

“We were shocked,” said his mom, Dawn. “He wasn’t even supposed to go.” And then he went to nationals, held in the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, a space the size of 20 football fields. “And again, we said, There’s no way; he’s a sophomore competing against juniors and seniors. We were surprised when Gwen won as a junior. When he won as a sophomore, we were blown away.”

She attributes his success to “hard work and Chef B.”

This is Bystrzycki’s 19th year teaching at St. Johnsbury Academy, her alma mater. Her students have won

the state’s gold medal in commercial baking every year for the last 13 years and the silver medal in 10 of the last 11. They have won a medal — gold, silver or bronze — in national competition in 10 of the last 12 years. Four of those medals are gold.

“She is super dedicated and committed to doing the best she can for those students,” said Jane Donahue Davis, executive director at SkillsUSA Vermont. Said Gwen, “She’s the best at what she does.”

At the start of his national competition, Max tried to attach his prep list to a cart, but “my hands were shaking so much I couldn’t use a binder clip.” The girl behind him left about 20 minutes into the competition, he said. Another was in tears. But the tension didn’t get to him. “Once I got started, I didn’t really think about it. I just kind of did my thing.”

“It’s a very stressful seven hours,” Gwen said, “but it goes by quickly.” When she won, she cried. When Max won, “Max didn’t cry,” she said. “Chef B and I cried.”

A gold medal at nationals comes with full tuition to one of the nation’s top culinary schools. Gwen got to pick from four; she’s currently a first-year student at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., working toward an associate’s degree in baking and pastry and a bachelor’s in business management. Max, a high school junior this year, expects to choose CIA, as well.

Gwen would love to go into business with her siblings. There’s a third, Mari, who is 21. She’s an artist. Gwen wants her in the business, too. Maybe she will design the menus and the signage. “She doesn’t really cook at all,” Max said.

Added Gwen, “She definitely cannot cook.”

serve as Hale pinballs between their stations, instructing all the while.

“You want to cook those onions and that garlic until it’s soft and tender. It goes from smelling raw — right? — to smelling soft and sweet.”

“Let it come to a simmer and reduce it. And when it starts to get tight, then you add more liquid … You’re working the starch off the individual grains of rice. That’s what makes risotto creamy.”

“Make sure it’s hot. I don’t want ’em steaming. I want ’em sautéeing. Sautéeing implies ssssizzling, right? It should be making an ssss sound when it’s cooking.”

There is decorum here. Students respond to Hale with Yes, Chef and No, Chef. They announce their movements: Oven open! … Right behind … Hot pan! Hot pan! And Hale peppers them with the same question, over and over: Why do we do that?

This is Hale’s 10th year teaching in St. Johnsbury. He was executive chef at Napa Valley’s acclaimed Auberge du Soleil in the early 1990s, then worked for 14 years at New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, his alma mater. He worked as campus executive chef, supervising the school’s five food-service outlets and all of its chef instructors, and as director of career services, overseeing internships.

He is one of four chef instructors at St. Johnsbury Academy, which is both the town’s public school and an independent day and boarding school with students from 25 countries. Its culinary arts program started in 1971. Since then, it has operated cafés in different venues around town, moving to its current location in 2006. In addition to the flagship Hilltopper, the program operates a full-scale, on-campus bakeshop, which provides breads and desserts served at the Hilltopper, but no retail sales, and a kitchen at South Congregational Church, where Intro students serve a weekly free community lunch.

Students also cater. Nearby St. Johnsbury Athenæum has been hiring them for its major spring fundraiser, the Athenæum Gala, for about 10 years. “The kids are totally pro,” Athenæum director Bob Joly says. The Gala has evolved from a stand-up affair, where students passed hors d’oeuvres, to a formal sit-down dinner for 80. Six or seven years ago, the students surprised everyone at the event with an ice sculpture of the Athenæum founder. “In comes this carved bust of Horace Fairbanks in ice,” Joly says. Near the end of the evening, Joly often invites all of the students to the front of the room so his guests can thank them. “They get

a standing O,” Joly says, “because everybody says, We can’t believe these are high school students doing this work.”

On this Tuesday in January, when blackened snowbanks encroach upon Main Street, it’s possible to walk in and get a table at the Hilltopper. But, Hale says, “Come springtime, if you don’t make a reservation at least a week out, you’re probably not going to get in.”

Two Danville couples book weeks of reservations at a time. Jeff and Ellen Gold and Dan and Donna Schmiech sit next to the front window, gushing about the students, the vibe, and the food, oh, the food. “We actually don’t need any more people

Wales next year. “I’m kind of having an internal debate on being pastry or culinary arts,” she says. Drawn to the food industry since she was a child, she had a “Cupcake Wars” themed birthday party when she was in middle school .

Come springtime, if you don’t make a reservation at least a week out, you’re probaby not going to get in.

Academy senior Ethan Biggie, bound for the Culinary Institute of America, wants to work on a cruise ship. His classmate, Grace Nadeau, has been accepted by the Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales. She’d like to open a bakery in Waterford, her hometown. “I would like to go to college, you know, learn more skills, and then come back here and just impress everyone,” she says.

Providing a mixed-aged, developmental program for children 18 months through 12 years of age.

All inquiries: 802-479-0912 info@mscvt.org

education. All inquiries: 802-479-0912 info@mscvt.org

coming here to eat,” Donna interjects as the four of them rave, but they keep talking.

“And they have great desserts,” says Ellen.

“And they have the best hamburger in town,” says Dan.

“You can tell everyone is really happy here,” Donna says.

Some kids sign up for Intro class — 100 are enrolled this year — because they think it will be a fun elective. But those who continue through the program and end up in Culinary 2 are more serious. They move with purpose, Hale notes.

Academy senior Emma Smith wants to open her own vegan restaurant. She plans to attend Johnson &

But today, she’s on the grill, and she’s got orders to fill.

“Order, please!” says teaching assistant Sharon Hunter. “Two shrimp!”

“Two shrimp!” answers Nadeau.

“One swordfish!”

“One swordfish!” answers Nadeau.

“One spanakopita!”

“One spanakopita!”

This Mediterranean menu is designed to give diners a taste of the world, Hale says. But, more importantly, it is designed to expand students’ horizons. “We could run this restaurant six days a week, and people would be thrilled,” Hale says. “But it’s less education at that point. We’re very protective that education is first, and operations is second.” K

CHEF INSTRUCTOR

DAVID HALE

Lunchtime at the Hilltopper

Summer Camp at Shelburne Museum

Tumble through the grounds, paint by the pond, explore the beloved Ticonderoga, and ignite your creativity and imagination. Registration open now. Visit shelburnemuseum.org/camps.

June 24–29

CIRCUS CAMP

Ages 7–12

Come one, come all as Circus Smirkus and Shelburne Museum partner to offer a camp focusing on all things circus arts. Joni White-Hanson, residency artist, will join us each day to teach us the tricks of the trade—from clowning to juggling, and much more. The week will culminate in a big top performance for family and friends!

July 29–August 2

QUILT CAMP

Ages 8–12

Learn new sewing techniques or improve existing skills as we gather in this weeklong summer camp creating unique lap quilts. Campers will explore the Museum’s extensive collection of textiles and gather inspiration. Each camper will have access to a sewing machine for the week, as well as all materials needed to create beautiful, unique, and inspired quilts.

August 5–9

EN PLEIN AIR

Ages: 7–10

Geared toward children ages 4–6 years old, these weeklong camps teach children about the Museum’s collections through close looking, art making, games, and fun! Each week’s activities will focus on a single theme. Sign up for a single week, or up to four!

Week 1: July 1–5 Trains

Week 2: July 8–12, Circus

Week 3: July 15–19, Boats

Week 4: July 22–26, Animals NEW!

COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING PROGRAM

Ages 13–16

Have you outgrown the traditional summer camp but are still looking for summer fun? Consider being a Counselor in Training! Our new CIT program allows young adults the opportunity to explore the grounds and gain on the job experience working with campers and staff, while still in a supervised environment. Young adults will join Museum staff to help plan and prep for camp as well as assist in all day- to-day activities. CITs must be available for a full week and will need a personal reference and cover letter when applying for their camp choice.

Photography by Mollie Davis.

A Sense of Place

Camp staffers reflect on the spots that make their summer program special

COMPILED BY ALISON NOVAK

If you attended summer camp as a kid, chances are that some of your clearest memories involve those special places where you played, swam and roasted marshmallows. Those wooded trails, waterworn docks and dusty campfire circles are the features that live in our hearts and minds long after summer — and childhood — is over. This month, we asked camp directors and staff to tell us about a beloved place at their camp.

One of my favorite special places at Camp Abnaki is BENNINGTON POINT. It is basically the first place where all of camp comes together in a session for our opening campfire and where the magic of camp starts. Camp comes alive here. It has an absolutely breathtaking view, and the presence of the large oak tree makes it a very intimate setting. It is the perfect camp setting.

ADAM VAN VUGHT, ASSISTANT CAMP DIRECTOR, YMCA CAMP ABNAKI, NORTH HERO

A SENSE OF PLACE, P. 34 »

Bennington Point at Camp Abnaki

For kids who are wild about animals

For kids who are wild about animals!

For kids who are wild about animals!

Kids Ages 5-7: $200

Animal Adventures (ages 7-9)

Week 1: Monday-Friday, July 8-12 Session One: 8:30AM-12:30PM

Afternoons only still available!

Week 2: Monday-Friday, July 15-19

Session Two: 8:30AM-12:30PM

Kids Ages 8-9: $390

Week 3: Monday-Friday, July 22-26

Session Three: 8:30AM-3PM

Week 4: Monday-Friday, July 29-Aug. 2 Session Four: 8:30AM - 3PM

Or visit chittendenhumane.org.

Kids Ages 10-12: $390

Week 5: Monday-Friday, Aug. 5-9

Session Five: 8:30AM-3PM

Week 6: Monday-Friday, Aug. 12-16

Session Six: 8:30AM-3PM

Before & after care hours are

Night Eagle Wilderness Adventures

WILDERNESS ADVENTURES

A unique summer camp for boys, ages 10-14, in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains www.nighteaglewilderness.com

tipi living ▲ nature crafts

Call for a full brochure: (802) 773-7866

▲ canoeing ▲ backpacking ▲ wilderness skills ▲ tracking atlatls ▲ ’hawk throwing swimming ▲ archery ▲ hiking ▲ cooperative work & play ▲ and much more! ▲ (802) 446-6100

CAMP KODA

9

2019 Summer Camp Programs

Girls Basketball Week 1: June 17-21

Week 2: July 15-19

Boys Basketball Week 1: June 24-28

Week 2: July 22-26

Girls Soccer Week 1: July 8-12

Week 2: July 29- Aug 2

Field Hockey Week 1: July 22-26

Overnight: July 14-18

Boys Soccer June 24-28

Girls Lacrosse July 8-12

Boys Lacrosse Week 1: June 17-21

Week 2: July 29- Aug 2

Volleyball July 8-12

Knights Total Sports July 29- Aug 2

Baseball July 29- Aug 2

SAVE THE DATE FOR SMC SUMMER CAMPS REGISTRATION OPEN 2/01/19 For more information please contact: Meggan Dulude camps@smcvt.edu

KNOW CAMPS Register today for a summer of fun!

WE

Age: For kids in K - 6 grade

Location: 6 area communities

Hours: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm

Full-day, coed summer day camp with 3 and 5 day options in Burlington, Essex, Georgia, Underhill, and Waterbury.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

CAMPS

Age: Co-ed for ages 11-14

Location: Greater Burlington

Hours: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

These camps will provide an opportunity to make a real difference!

CAMP IGNITE

Age: For girls ages 8-14 Location: Burlington

Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

A camp to Inspire Girls in Nature, Technology, and the Environment on the shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington.

SUMMER BOOKEND CAMPS

Age: For kids in K - 6 grade Location: Burlington

Hours: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Beginning and end of summer camps celebrate A Universe of Stories in collaboration with the Fletcher Free Library.

CAMP ABNAKI

Age: For boys in grades K - 10 Location: North Hero, VT

Hours: 1 and 2 week sessions

Day and overnight camp on Lake Champlain. Campers build skills, a sense of values, and have fun! campabnaki.org

For more information about Y summer camps, and to register today, visit gbymca.org/camp

A Sense of Place

CONTINUED FROM P. 27

ReTribe’s programs are held on OUR NEW PROPERTY IN UNDERHILL. Our land is 80 acres of fields and forests that lead directly up to Mount Mansfield. Stevensville Brook runs off the mountain. Through the land and throughout the brook, you can find waterfalls and deep swimming holes with places where the water has carved and smoothed out the rock in beautiful ways. Through a big, open meadow, a path leads to our swimming pond. The field is bordered on one side by the brook, where children love to play and explore in the water.

JULIA HUNT, DIRECTOR, RETRIBE, UNDERHILL

The first sign of mountain biking from the Catamount parking lot is the PUMP TRACK. For years, riders from 3 to 73 have had a ball riding this roller-coaster dirttrack oval over and over and over. The smooth bumps are addictive, and riders can easily complete the loop with very little pedaling once they have mastered the “pump” method of creating more momentum. In the middle of the Pump Track is the bike teeter-totter.  It is an irresistible obstacle that beckons every rider upon arrival.  To dare to ride up the low side brings great reward as the high side then becomes your landing hill. If

you have been to Catamount, no doubt you are going to go away telling everyone about the Pump Track!

TAG CARPENTER, OPERATIONS MANAGER, CATAMOUNT OUTDOOR FAMILY CENTER, WILLISTON

Imagine a cluster of tall pine trees with perfect climbing branches reaching out to greet you, and a picnic table in the center. Beyond the pines, you are greeted by a young forest of staghorn sumac trees, the SUMAC FOREST. Here, campers build forts and fairy homes, which get added to each week as the summer goes on, eventually creating a small village. Some sumac trees help to support the structures, while others offer their dead branches for building. Some campers build camouflaged teepees for hiding during games; others build small, intricate fairy homes, sometimes introducing a caterpillar or snail they found to their new fortress. If building doesn’t interest them, campers look for bugs under dead logs, climb trees or play a game of camouflage hide-and-seek. Many happy memories are made in the Sumac Forest and it’s a favorite spot for campers and counselors alike.

LAUREN CHICOTE, PROGRAMS DIRECTOR, WINOOSKI VALLEY PARK DISTRICT (S.O.L.E. CAMP), BURLINGTON

The Sumac Forest at S.O.L.E. Camp

An open meadow at ReTribe in Underhill

Campers and counselors gather together and venture down the wooded trail at the end of the line of cabins overlooking Lake Champlain. They continue, passing beneath an archway made of twisted branches, and enter a clearing in the trees. Sunlight glints off of the lake beyond, dancing through the leaves and speckling the forest floor. Everyone settles in, finding a seat near a friend. Hochelaga’s Counselors in Training gather at the front of the space and everyone quiets. The CITs begin to share their reflections on the meaning of camp and the impact Hochelaga has had on them. This place at Camp Hochelaga is known as the REFLECTIVE SPACE. This place has had different names over the years, but it has been used as a space to come together as a community, fully immersed and connected to nature, for much of Hochelaga’s 100-year history. Over the years, campers have entered the reflective space for everything from small-group writing workshops to full camp community gatherings. It is simple in structure, maintained only by clearing away leaves and fallen branches to allow space for a seat, but holds an air of camp magic, and will continue to exist as a place to uphold and reflect upon the core values of camp: community, leadership, friendship and empowerment.

HANNAH

BOGARD, CAMP DIRECTOR, CAMP HOCHELAGA, SOUTH HERO

LEWIS CREEK is simply referred to as “the creek” by campers. It’s a beautiful, gentle flowing body of water that runs through the forest on our property. There are moss-covered rocks, sandbars, ferns, ripples, fish and more that make this creek so inviting. Its cool waters and shady shores make for the perfect summer escape from the heat. Campers wade in the shallows, swim in the deeper parts, float homemade boats and learn all about what lives below the surface. We do macroinvertebrate studies and talk about stream ecology. Our creek is special because it’s like stepping into a magical place.  There’s always plenty to explore and it’s super kid-friendly and safe because the water levels are low in the summer.

CHRISTA FINNERN, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, COMMON GROUND CENTER, STARKSBORO

One of the first things a River of Life camper gets to experience as they start their incredible week at camp is our iconic SUSPENDED BRIDGE that crosses over the beautiful Black River. Campers will utilize this bridge several times each day throughout their week here — though crossing the bridge for the first time begins their journey at camp. Their journey will be full of fun experiences where they will get to meet Jesus Christ through His Word, Bible speakers, and loving counselors. This bridge, which has been here since the beginning, truly is a special and unique place at our camp — one that we are very thankful for!

JESSE S. MONROE, DIRECTOR, RIVER OF LIFE CAMP, IRASBURG

The reflective space at Camp Hochelaga

The suspended bridge at River of Life Camp

COURTESY OF RIVER OF LIFE CAMP

COURTESY OF COMMON GROUND CENTER

Lewis Creek at Common Ground Center

Voyageur and Trekker Summer Camps

For boys and girls ages 12-16

100-year-old summer family camp in the heart of the Adirondack Park timberlock.com• 518-648-5494 unplug@timberlock.com

1/25/19

AM

Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity

Pre-College Summer Academy

July 14–27, 2019

Learn how to solve & prevent crimes through Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity

High school students—are you interested in how crimes are solved or prevented by investigating how people use their computers and other digital devices? In this 14-day residential camp you will learn by working alongside experts in the fields of digital forensics and cybersecurity at the Champlain College Leahy Center for Digital Investigation.

Space is limited. Register today. champlain.edu/digitalforensics2019

New Village Farm Camps

April Vacation Camp

Farm & Garden Ages 5 -11

CIT & Crew Ages 12+

www.NewVillageFarm.com

Shelburne, VT

River of Life Camp is a co-ed, nondenominational Christian camp located

2/20/19 11:42 AM

CAMP DATES

Session 1:

June 24 – July 5 - Burlington

Session 2:

July 8– July 19 - So. Burlington Session 3:

Partnering individuals with and without special needs, ages 7 through adults for a summer day camp experience. IEP designed programming. partnersinadventure.org

22 – August 2 - Essex Session 4: August 5 – August 16 - Burlington

W H E R E M E M O R I E S

A R E M A D E

2 01 9 SUMMER CAMPS

Sail, paddle, & more starting June 17th! Scholarships Available

Seekers of the sweet stuff flock to AUBUDON VERMONT’S SUGAR ON SNOW PARTY, where they can tour the sugar bush, learn tapping techniques, see sap boiling and sample the yummy results. Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Audubon Vermont, Huntington.

SAT

9

Model Railroad Show: The Northwestern Vermont Model Railroad Association hosts the state’s largest model railroad show, featuring multiple layouts, more than 100 tables of exhibits and vendors of model railroading supplies, handson children’s activities, and a food stand. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center, St. Albans.

SAT

Week to Week On Tap

‘The Kids Are Alright’: An all-star local lineup of Swale, James Kochalka Superstar and A2VT, and music by DJ Djoeh, rocks the house during this family-friendly concert supporting Burlington’s Integrated Arts Academy. Doors open at noon; 12:30 p.m., Higher Ground, South Burlington.

16

SAT MAR 30

Meeting the Needs of Young Families: Representatives from area organizations share ways to support parents.

Pizza provided. 10 a.m.-noon, The Children’s Room, Waterbury.

1 Friday

CHITTENDEN

Family Gym: Indoor playground equipment provides tiny tumblers a chance to run free. Ages 7 and under with caregivers. Greater Burlington YMCA, 10:15-11:45 a.m., $5-8 per family; free for members; preregister. Info, 862-9622.

Fun Food Friday: Junior chefs assemble cheese and apple quesadillas and chomp into their culinary artwork. Grades 3 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Info, 878-6955. FREE

Game Day: Strategy lovers get the weekend off to a super start. All ages. Winooski Memorial Library, 4-5 p.m. Info, 655-6424. FREE

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: Toe-tapping tunes captivate kiddies. Radio Bean, Burlington, 11 a.m. Info, 660-9346.

Lego Double Header: Kids on school break drop in and bust out creative constructions, followed by a related flick at 2:30 p.m. Snacks served. Ages 5 and up with adult caregiver. South Burlington Public Library, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Info, 846-4140. FREE

Magic the Gathering: Players of all abilities seek knowledge and glory in this trading-card game. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Preschool Yoga: Small ones sing, stretch and relax. Ages 2 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

FRANKLIN

Yoga Story Time Yoga with Ms. Liza: Small ones soak up a storytime with stories, songs, stretches and bubbles. Swanton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 868-7656. FREE

RUTLAND

First Friday: Youngsters get the weekend off to jolly start with group activities, rotating from games to crafts. Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Info, 422-9765. FREE Rutland Library Book Sale: Bibliophiles thumb through thousands of hardcovers, paperbacks, puzzles and more. Rutland Free Library, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 773-1860.

ORLEANS

Craftsbury Lego Club: Petite ones play with plastic cubes and chat companionably. Ages 4-12. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 3-4:30 p.m. Info, 586-9683.

2 Saturday

ADDISON

Middlebury Winter Farmers Market: Locally produced crafts, cheeses, breads, veggies and more vie for spots in shoppers’ totes, with free coffee and tea and children’s books to read at the market. Middlebury VFW, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

CALEDONIA

Caledonia Winter Farmers Market: Freshly baked goods, veggies, handmade crafts, meat and maple syrup figure prominently in displays of Vermont wares. St. Johnsbury Welcome Center, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 748-8575.

Read Across America: Kids celebrate Dr. Seuss’s 115th birthday with games and whimsical crafts. Ages 12 and under. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 1-2 p.m. Info, 748-8291. FREE

St. Johnsbury Lapsit Storytime: Parents and wee ones partake in stories, fingerplays, bounce songs and more. Ages 2 and under; older siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 748-8291. FREE

CHITTENDEN

Kids Building Workshop: Handy helpers learn do-it-yourself skills and tool safety as they construct seasonal projects. Ages 5-12. Home Depot, Williston, 9 a.m.-noon, preregister at workshops.homedepot.com. Info, 872-0039. FREE

One-on-One Tutoring: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences students coach elementary-age kids in reading, math and science. Grades 1-6. Some assistance available for other grades in certain subjects with inquiry. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 9-11:30 a.m., preregister. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Play, Laugh, Learn: Little ones explore the library through engaging and interactive activities with Early Learning Specialist Tina Boljevac from Allow Play and Yoga. Ages 5 and under. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Skate Your Winter Blues Away: This fundraiser for Robin’s Nest Children’s Center includes skate rentals for the slick stuff, a bake sale, games, crafts, warm drinks and special visits from Frozen’s Elsa and Anna. Leddy Park Arena, Burlington, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., $8 per person; $25 per group of four; includes rental skates. Info, 978-760-1144.

Classes

Webby’s Art Studio: Bird Map: Inspired by the Museum’s exhibit ‘Mapping an Uneven Country: Bird’s Eye Views of Vermont,’ mini-artists make a paper collage featuring the silhouette of bird. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., regular winter museum admission, $5-10; free for children under age 5. Info, 985-3346.

LAMOILLE

RiseVT’s Indoor Play Day: Families get grooving and shake off cabin fever blues with games and activities led by local physical activity organizations, including Ballet Wolcott, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and more. Morristown Elementary School, Morrisville, 9 a.m.-noon. Info, 888-8249. FREE

RUTLAND

Rutland Library Book Sale: See March 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Rutland Winter Farmers Market: More than 50 vendors peddle produce, fresh salad greens, apples and cider, artisan cheeses, homemade breads, and other local products. Vermont Farmers Food Center, Rutland, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 342-4727.

WASHINGTON

Capital City Winter Farmers Market: Root veggies, honey, maple syrup and crafts change hands at an indoor off-season celebration of locavorism. Montpelier City Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 793-8347.

WINDSOR

Family Clay: Children and their parents make memories firing and glazing special pieces. ArtisTree/Purple Crayon, South Pomfret, 10 a.m.-noon, $20 per parent-child pair; $5 each additional child. Info, 457-3500.

3 Sunday

ADDISON

Family Play: Families have fun with free court time and use of equipment. Open to all experience levels. Middlebury Indoor Tennis, 10:30 a.m.noon. Info, 388-3733. FREE

CHITTENDEN

Art Play Day: Little ones and caregivers drop in and get messy with multiple materials to spark imagination. Ages 18 months to 5 years with caregiver. Radiate Art Space, Richmond, 10-11:30 a.m., $5 per child; $8 max per family; $40 for a 10-visit punch card. Info, 324-9938.

Essex Open Gym: Energy-filled kids flip, jump and tumble in a state-of-the-art facility. Ages 6 and under, 1 p.m.; ages 7-12, 2:30 p.m.; ages 13 and up, 4 p.m. Regal Gymnastics Academy, Essex, 1-5:30 p.m., $8-14 per child. Info, 655-3300.

Family Gym: See March 1.

List your class or camp here for only $20 per month! Submit the listing by March 15 at kidsvt.com or to classes@kidsvt.com.

BABY & ME YOGA: Spend time enjoying your baby and building community and relationships with other caregivers and their little ones. Learn how to mindfully read and follow your baby’s cues, and connect with your child through deliberate touches, songs, finger-plays and gentle movement in all planes of motion. Weekly on Tuesdays, 3:15-4:15 p.m., $15/family. Location: Valley Glow Yoga Studio, 5197 Main St., second floor, Waitsfield. Info, valleyglowyoga@ gmail.com, valleyglowyoga.com/schedule to register.

BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU: The future of our nation lies in the courage, confidence and determination of its people. Our Kids BJJ Program promotes self-esteem, selfconfidence, character development and a physical outlet with discipline, cooperation with other children, respect for peers and adults, perseverance and a healthy lifestyle. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will help your kids to learn realistic bully-proofing and self-defense skills that they can use for the rest of their lives! Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu builds endurance, patience and self-respect. Give your kids the ability to get stronger, gain confidence and build resilience! Our sole purpose is to help empower people by giving them practices they can carry with them throughout life. Remember you are raising children, not flowers. First class is free! Please stop by our school at 55 Leroy Road, Williston; call 598-2839; visit vermontbjj. com or email julio@bjjusa.com to register your son or daughter!

INSPIRING PIANO LESSONS: Individualized lessons for students ages 6 through adulthood by renowned professional music director Randal Pierce. All experience levels welcome. Info, randalpiercemusic. com, randal.pierce@gmail.com or 999-1594.

FAMILY ART SATURDAY: Get creative and make art together! Families are invited to drop in to the BCA Center every third Saturday of the month to create their own artworks inspired by our current exhibitions. Each Family Art Saturday offers a different art-making project that will ignite the imaginations of your family members! Third Saturday of the month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Location: BCA Center, 135 Church St., Burlington. Info, burlingtoncityarts.org.

BEGINNING HARP LESSONS: Lessons for absolute beginning to high beginning harp students. Students of all ages are welcome! Ability to read music is not required. A small harp can be provided during lessons if you do not own one. For more information, please contact April Shandor at dreamingharmonies@gmail.com.  Info, dreamingharmonies.weebly.com.

MUSICAL MUNCHKINS — MUSIC CLASSES & BIRTHDAY PARTIES: You and your little munchkin will be accompanied by Miss Andrea on guitar while singing, dancing, playing instruments, utilizing props and puppets, and having so much fun! Options include Baby Boogie (4-13 months), Toddler Swing (1-2 years), Kids Jamboree (2-3 and 3-4 years) and Preschool Swing (3-5 years). Teaching for the past 25 years in New York, Miss Andrea has trained with some of the finest music educators and performers, including Laurie Berkner. Weekday and Saturday classes offered with ongoing enrollment. Sing into Spring, now registering. $158 for 9 weeks starting March 20. Includes CD and downloaded music. Book your birthday party, with prices starting at $150. Free demos. Location: Green Mountain Performing Arts, 37 Commercial Drive, Waterbury. Info, musicalmunchkins.net, musicalmunchkinsofvermont@gmail.com or 845-802-2311.

4 Monday

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Preschool Music: Bitty ones dance and sing to a brisk beat. Ages 3-5. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Itty Bitty Public Skating: Tiny feet learn the art of sliding on ice through jolly games. Ages 2-5 with caregiver. Leddy Park, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m., $8 per family; $1 skate rentals. Info, 865-7558.

Read to a Dog: Little library patrons practice literacy skills with a furry friend. All ages; under 5 with adult caregiver. South Burlington Public Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. Info, 846-4140. FREE

Read with Pugsley: Petite ones practice literacy skills with the library’s new pooch and friend. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Stories with Megan: Little listeners learn and laugh. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE Williston Preschool Music: Lively tunes with local musicians strike the right note among the wee crowd. Ages 5 and under with a caregiver. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11 a.m., limited to one session per week per family. Info, 878-4918.

RUTLAND

Babies & Toddlers Rock: Mini-musicians ages 2 and under sing songs and engage in early literacy activities. Rutland Free Library, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 773-1860. FREE

MARCH CALENDAR

5 Tuesday

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Lego Club: Fledgling architects assemble creations collaboratively with colorful blocks. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 3-5 p.m. Info, 472-5948. FREE

CHITTENDEN

After-School Snacks on Tuesdays: The library teams up with the Hinesburg Community Resource Center and offers munchies for after-school readers and library users. All ages. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 2-3 p.m. Info, 482-2878. FREE

Art Play Day: See March 3, 8:45-10 a.m.

Jelly Bean Construction: Crafty kiddos construct buildings, bridges and other structures with toothpicks and sweets. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:45-3:45 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Teen Advisory Board: Teens take time together. Grades 9 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2-3:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Seasonal Events

MAGIC MAPLE SYRUP: A PRESCHOOL

PROGRAM: Adventurous tots tromp through the forest in search of maple trees, taste local maple syrup and create sugar shack crafts to take home. Ages 3-6 with caregivers. The Nature Museum at Grafton, FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 10-11:30 A.M., $5-8 per child; preregistration available. Info, 843-2111.

SHELBURNE SUGAR-ON-SNOW PARTY: Families sample the state’s “liquid gold” and delight in boiling demonstrations, free samples, a farm barn, trails and live music. Palmer’s Sugarhouse, Shelburne, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, NOON-4 P.M., THROUGH APRIL 14, except SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 9 A.M.-5 P.M. AND SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 9 A.M.-5 P.M. Info, 985-5054. FREE

SUGAR-ON-SNOW AT SHELBURNE

SUGARWORKS: Families see the sweet stuff boil, sample fresh syrup, listen to live music from 12:30-3:30 p.m. and explore miles of hiking in the sugarbush. Shelburne Sugarworks, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, NOON-5 P.M., THROUGH APRIL 14; food and syrup available for purchase. Info, 233-7531. FREE

MAKE YOUR OWN PANCAKE MIX: At the indoor Burlington Winter Farmers’ Market, families stop by City Market’s booth for a hands-on food project and to enter a maple syrup giveaway. UVM Davis Student Center, Burlington, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 10 A.M.-2 P.M. Info, 861-9753. FREE

MAPLE OPEN HOUSE: Families trek into the sugarbush, collect sap, tap a tree, try a taste of new syrup and sugar-on-snow, discover wildlife and — on Sunday only — gather around the fire circle to discover Abenaki sugaring traditions and enjoy storytelling with Chief Don Stevens and members of the Abenaki community. Shelburne Farms, SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 10 A.M.-1 P.M. AND SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 10 A.M.-1 P.M. Info, 985-8686. FREE

Tinker Tuesdays: Inquisitive kiddos investigate what makes technology tick by taking apart objects and designing new creations. Use the library’s materials or bring in computers, keyboards or other old electronics. Winooski Memorial Library, 3:30-5 p.m. Info, 655-6424. FREE

FRANKLIN

Adoption Support Group: Families facing adoption issues and challenges join forces in a respectful setting. All welcome. Franklin County Seniors Center, St. Albans, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Info, 524-1700. FREE

WASHINGTON

Baby & Me Yoga: In a relaxed setting, parents take time with their wee ones, learning to follow baby’s cues, connect through touch, song, fingerplay and gentle motion, and build community with other caregivers. Ages 2-12 months. Valley Glow Yoga, Waitsfield, 3:15-4:15 p.m., $15 per family. Info, 793-6821.

6 Wednesday

CALEDONIA

Homeschool History Fair: Self-directed learners display their work to curious community members. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 748-8291. FREE

CHITTENDEN

Kids’ Chess Club: Strategy lovers of all abilities face off against opponents. Ages 6 and up. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Minecraft Club: Homeschool gamers play and socialize. Bring a device with Minecraft pocket edition. Ages 7-12. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1-2 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Open Studio: Kids ignite their imaginations with the library’s materials. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Info, 879-0313. FREE Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: Book buffs of all ages bring a selection from home or borrow from the library to amuse an attentive canine. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:15-4:15 p.m., preregister. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Yoga for Kids: Young yogis engage their energy and explore breathing exercises and relaxation poses with professional instructor Melissa from Evolution Yoga. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

FRANKLIN

Fairfax Read to a Dog: Book lovers choose stories to share with a furry friend. Ages 5-10. Fairfax Community Library, 3:15-4:15 p.m., preregister for 15-minute time slot. Info, 849-2420. FREE

RUTLAND

Lego Club: Budding builders bust out amazing architecture with blocks. Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington, 3-4 p.m. Info, 422-9765. FREE

WASHINGTON

Ongoing Exhibits

BRATTLEBORO MUSEUM & ART CENTER, BRATTLEBORO

Info, 257-0124

GLASSTASTIC 2019: 20 wild and whimsical glass creations wow visitors, conceived and drawn by students in grades K-6 and transformed into art by New England glass blowers. Over 1,200 children’s drawings submitted in this contest are displayed, too. $4-8; free for children ages 18 and under; free admission for all, Thursdays, 2-5 p.m. Through June 16.

ECHO LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN, BURLINGTON

Info, 864-1848

AGE OF DINOSAURS: Fans of these giant creatures journey back in time to the Mesozoic era, visit these amazing animals in their habitat and get hands-on with interactive stations including a fossil dig pit, fossil rubbing and remote-control dinosaurs. Regular museum admission, $11.50-14.50; free for children under 3. Through May 12.

MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, NORWICH Info, 649-2200

DESTINATION: SPACE!: In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission’s moon landing, space fans take a tour of the technology that landed astronauts on the moon, check out what’s happening on our sun and earth, and travel to the far reaches of outer space. Regular museum admission, $13-16; free for children under 2. Through August 4.

MAPLE OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND: Sweet-toothed visitors find satisfaction when sugar shacks all over the state open their doors. Various locations statewide, SATURDAY, MARCH 23 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 24. Visit vermontmaple.org to find a list of participating sugarhouses. Info, 858-9444. FREE

OPEN MAPLE SUGARHOUSE: Fans of Vermont’s spring gold visit with sugarmakers, take a steamy sugarhouse tour or a hayride, watch a tapping demonstration, and sample some free sugar-on-snow; self-guided woods walking available all day. Silloway Maple, Randolph Center, SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 10 A.M.-6 P.M. AND SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 10 A.M.-6 P.M.; maple products and doughnuts available for purchase. Info, 272-6249. FREE

RUNAMOK MAPLE OPEN HOUSE: Curious visitors check out food and beverage samples and sneak a peak into the production room at the plant. Runamok Maple, Fairfax, SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 10 A.M.-4 P.M. AND SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 10 A.M.-3 P.M. syrup available for purchase. Info, 849-7954. FREE

SUGAR-ON-SNOW PARTY: Seekers of the sweet stuff tour the sugarbush, learn tapping techniques, observe sap boiling and taste the yummy result. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 11 A.M.-4 P.M. AND SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 11 A.M.-4 P.M.; syrup available for purchase. Info, 434-3068.

FREE

A TASTE OF MAPLE: Maple lovers stop in for a sample of this year’s crop, speciality products, freshly baked goodies, door prizes and free coffee. Boston Post Dairy, Enosburg Falls, SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 9 A.M.-2 P.M. Info, 933-2749. FREE

Orchard Valley Walk-Through Wednesday: Parents checking out an alternative education for their children tour classrooms for grades 1-8, a mixed-age kindergarten, and Farm & Forest classes. For adults. Orchard Valley Waldorf School, East Montpelier, 8:30-10:30 a.m., preregister. Info, 456-7400. FREE

7 Thursday

CALEDONIA

Knitting for Kids: Small crafters learn simple skills with Hazen Union High School student Audrey Grant. Ages 7-12. Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 3-4 p.m., RSVP if yarn and needles needed. Info, 472-5948. FREE

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Lego Club: Mini-makers participate in surprise challenges with interlocking toys. Ages 6-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE Essex Lego Club: Small builders strengthen STEAM skills while having a blast with plastic blocks. Ages 5 and up. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Info, 879-0313. FREE

Itty Bitty Public Skating: See March 4. Monthly Home School Program: Home learners soak up nature-related studies in an outdoor classroom. Parent participation optional. Ages 6-8. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $20-25; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

Preschool Yoga: Children’s yoga teacher Melissa Nutting charms wee ones and caregivers with a half-hour of singing, relaxing, reading and stretching. Ages 3-6. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 11:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

MAKING MUSIC: Families explore the inner workings of all things musical — from cellos to electronic synthesizers — play and make instruments, and engage with multimedia exhibits that share stories of musicians, scientists and craftspeople, highlighting traditional and new practices, techniques, and materials. Regular museum admission, $13-16; free for children under 2. Through May 15.

ROBERT HULL FLEMING MUSEUM, UVM, BURLINGTON Info, 656-0750

SMALL WORLDS: MINIATURES IN CONTEMPORARY ART Devotees of diminutive realms are enchanted by the work of multiple artists, featuring tiny figures, rooms and landscapes in photographs or sculptures, evoking both childhood playthings and the dark forces hidden beneath the seduction of the small. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon-4 p.m. Regular museum admission, $3-5; free for members and children under 7. Through May 10.

SHELBURNE MUSEUM, SHELBURNE Info, 985-3346, ext. 3395

MAPPING AN UNEVEN COUNTRY: BIRD’S EYE VIEWS OF VERMONT More than three dozen drawn, painted and printed views of the Green Mountain State — from Bennington and Burlington to Vergennes and Waterbury — investigate through illustration the popular phenomenon of ‘perspective’ or ‘bird’s eye’ views of Vermont’s growing towns in the second half of the 19th century. Regular winter admission, $5-10; free for children under 5. Through March 3.

Audubon Vermont

Ukulele Kids: Musical ones join Joe to sing and play. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Williston Preschool Music: See March 4, 10:30 a.m.

Writing Club: Amateur authors create unique comic books, poems and more. All ages. Winooski Memorial Library, 4-5 p.m. Info, 655-6424. FREE

FRANKLIN

Franklin Lego Thursdays: Kiddie constructionists combine their imagination with the library’s supplies. Haston Library, Franklin, 2-5 p.m. Info, 285-6505.

PJ Story Hour: Sleepyheads get ready for bed, then arrive at the library for themed stories, snacks and a craft. Ages 6 and under. Fairfax Community Library, 6-7 p.m. Info, 849-2420. FREE Stay and Play: Little ones rally for romping in the youth room. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m.noon. Info, 524-1507. FREE

8 Friday

CHITTENDEN

Dungeons & Dragons: Players embark on invented adventures, equipped with their problem-solving skills. Game starts at 6:30 p.m.; come early for assistance with character design. Grades 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Family Gym: See March 1.

Family Paint Night: Moms, dads and kids take pleasure in painting together. Davis Studio, South Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m., $25 per person; preregister. Info, 425-2700.

Game Day: See March 1.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See March 1.

Music with Raph: Melody lovers of all ages play and sing. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9:3010:15 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

STEAM Fridays: Eager youngsters engage with inventive science, technology, engineering, art and math projects. Check online for specific program details. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

ORLEANS

Craftsbury Lego Club: See March 1.

9 Saturday

ADDISON

Middlebury Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

CHITTENDEN

Burlington Winter Farmers Market: Local farmers, artisans and producers o er fresh and prepared foods, crafts, and more in a bustling indoor marketplace made merry with live music. UVM Davis Student Center, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 656-4636.

Family Contradance: Movers and groovers swing to music by the Woodbury Strings Mega Jam Band, with instruction by the Mad Robin Callers Collective. The Schoolhouse Learning Center, South Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m., suggested donation $5-8; free for children. Info, 223-8945.

James Kochalka: This widely acclaimed cartoonist — and Burlington dad — shares a drawing lesson and celebrates his newest children’s release, Johnny Boo is King!, with an enthusiastic audience. Ages 5 and up. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 2 p.m. Info, 448-3350. FREE

One-on-One Tutoring: See March 2. Play, Laugh, Learn: See March 2.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Vermont Ballet Theater Summer Intensive Auditions: Young ballerinas do their best in tryouts for summer programs. Visit vbts.org for detailed information. Ages 8-18. Vermont Ballet Theater School, Essex, 1:30-5:30 p.m., $10-14. Info, 878-2941.

Webby’s Art Studio: Life-Sized Portraits: Amateur artists trace their outline on large sheets of paper and finish with paint, then compare their works to the Museum’s collection. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., regular winter museum admission, $5-10; free for children under age 5. Info, 985-3346.

FRANKLIN

NWV Vermont Rails Model Railroad Show: The Northwestern Vermont Model Railroad Association hosts the state’s largest model railroad show, featuring multiple operating HO, N, Z, G and O-scale layouts, with over 100 tables of exhibits and vendors of model railroading supplies, videos, and books. Hands-on children’s activities, face painting and a food stand round out the fun. Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center, St. Albans, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $2-6; free for kids under 6. Info, 598-0905.

RUTLAND

Rutland Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

WASHINGTON

Kids Trade & Play: Families exchange clean and gently used clothing and toys, sizes newborn to 12. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9:30-11:30 a.m., $3 per family. Info, 831-337-8632.

WINDSOR

Norwich Winter Farmers Market: Local growers present produce, meats and maple syrup, complementing baked goods and crafts from area artists. Tracy Hall, Norwich, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 384-7447.

10 Sunday

ADDISON

Family Play: See March 3.

CHITTENDEN

Essex Open Gym: See March 3. Family Gym: See March 1.

ORANGE

Youth Auditions for ‘Footloose’: Young thespians try out for roles in this high-energy musical. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, noon, $10 audition fee; preregister. Info, 728-9878.

WASHINGTON

Dance, Sing and Jump Around: Families delight in a lively afternoon of circle and line dances, singing with instruction, and live traditional music. Ages 3 and up with caregivers. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 3-4:30 p.m., $5 donation requested for adults; no one turned away. Info, 223-1509.

Settling into Care: Experienced infant/toddler teachers Kelley Hayes and Kirsty Gourlay facilitate a conversation about how to transition to a new care provider. Topics include ways to help mitigate this stress, preparing children and strengthening communication. The Children’s Room, Waterbury, 10 a.m.-noon; preregister. Info, 244-5605. FREE

Science & Nature

CIRCUIT CIRCUS: Students on school break learn about electricity, fluorescence and more through hands-on activities and science shows. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, THROUGH MARCH 5, 10 A.M.-5 P.M., regular museum admission, $11.50-14.50; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

MONTSHIRE MAKERS: Middle school inventors use their imaginations and the museum’s materials to create cool projects, with different monthly themes. Grades 6-9. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 6:30-8 P.M. $8-15; preregistration encouraged. Info, 649-2200.

ESSEX WINTER CARNIVAL: Families flock together for snowy-season activities inside and out, including music, performances and a chili cook-off. Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School, Essex Junction, SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 10 A.M.-2 P.M. Info, 878-1375. FREE

WHAT DO OWLS EAT FOR LUNCH?: Avian admirers make a mask and discover what these birds devour by dissecting an owl pellet. Ages 5 and up with adult. Shelburne Farms, SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 10 A.M.-NOON, $3-7; preregister. Info, 985-8686.

WINTER TRAILS DAY: The Green Mountain Club hosts an active day of outdoor exploration and indoor workshops. See greenmountainclub.org for times and specific activities. Guided group hikes take place at various locations. Flood Brook School, Londonderry, SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 8:30 A.M.-5 P.M. Info, 241-8324. FREE

THE WINTRY WANDER: Adventurous families snowshoe through the woods in search of checkpoints during this noncompetitive, fun-oriented outdoor trek, sponsored by the Green Mountain Adventure Racing Association. Bolton Valley Resort, SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 10 A.M.-1 P.M., $5 per person; free for children in backpacks or pulled on sleds. Info, 588-5755.

STORIES FROM SPACE: Science educator Mike Ressler zooms small ones through the solar system with stories and a space-based craft. Ages 5 and under. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 10-11 A.M. AND SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 10-11 A.M. Info, 748-2372.

FREE

BOOKS & BEYOND: SCIENCE FOR PRESCHOOLERS: Children’s literature and hands-on activities combine for fun science learning and exploration. Ages 3-5 with a parent or caregiver. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10:15 & 11:30 A.M., regular museum admission, $13-16; free for children under 2. Info, 649-2200.

WOOLLY FLOWER POWER: Junior crafters greet a sheep — and wash, card and spin raw wool into fluffy bracelets. Ages 5 and up. Shelburne Farms, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 10 A.M.-NOON, $3-7; preregister. Info, 578-8686.

SCIENCE & STORIES AT ECHO: Preschoolers rally ’round for nature-inspired tales and activities. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, TUESDAYS, 10:30 A.M. regular museum admission, $11.50-14.50; free for children under 3. Info, 864-1848.

MONTSHIRE UNLEASHED: AN EVENING FOR

ADULTS: The museum opens its doors after hours so grown-ups can let their inner curiosity run wild. Beer, wine and food available for purchase. Ages 21 and up. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 6:30-9 P.M., $7-10; free for museum members. Info, 649-2200.

PLAY DATE! SPRING ON THE FARM: Little ones drop in to meet wiggly worms, burrow underground like a woodchuck, tap a maple tree and greet a live owl with the help of farm educators. Ages 2-5 accompanied by an adult. Families are welcome to bring a snack or lunch. Shelburne Farms, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 9:30 A.M. & 1:30 P.M., $5-7 per child; preregister. Info, 985-8686.

FULL MOON SNOWSHOE HIKE: Hot chocolate fuels walkers for a sparkling stroll beneath lunar light. Snowshoes provided. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 7-8:30 P.M., $5-10; preregister. Info, 229-6206.

MAHANA MAGIC’S WINTERFEST: Families

directly or indirectly impacted by cancer are treated to an afternoon of cross-country skiing, snowshoe relays, face painting, games, snowman making, food and much more. Burlington Country Club, SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 1-4 P.M. Info, 540-0077. FREE

BIRD-MONITORING WALK: Eagle-eyed participants bring binoculars to search the museum’s property for fluttering feathers, followed by coffee. Best for adults and older children. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 8-9 A.M. donations welcome; preregistration encouraged. Info, 434-2167. FREE

Stories from Space

11 Monday

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Preschool Music: See March 4.

Itty Bitty Public Skating: See March 4.

Read to a Dog: See March 4, 5-6 p.m.

Read with Pugsley: See March 4.

Stories with Megan: See March 4

Williston Preschool Music: See March 4.

FRANKLIN

Chess Club: Checkmate! Kids of all ability levels scheme winning strategies. Fairfax Community Library, 3:15-4:45 p.m.; preregister. Info, 849-2420. FREE

RUTLAND

Babies & Toddlers Rock: See March 4.

12 Tuesday

ADDISON

Middlebury Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, discuss empathy and learn how to empower their families. A light dinner and childcare are included. Vermont Families in Transition, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m.; preregister. Info, 229-5724. FREE

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Lego Club: See March 5.

CHITTENDEN

After-School Snacks on Tuesdays: See March 5.

Art Play Day: See March 3, 8:45-10 a.m.

Birth Love Family BDay Party: Birth Love Family celebrates year one with community and play. All ages. Wildflowers Studio, Essex, 3:30-4:30 p.m.; preregister. Info, 847-814-9503. FREE

Creative Tuesdays: Young artists involve their imaginations with interesting materials. Kids under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:15-4:45 p.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Library Elementary Event Planners: Junior helpers prepare snacks and plan projects for younger students. Grades 6-8. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:45-3:45 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Spanish Musical Kids: Niños celebrate Spanish through Latin American songs and games. Ages 1-5 with a caregiver. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Info, 865-7216. FREE

Tinker Tuesdays: See March 5.

WASHINGTON

Baby & Me Yoga: See March 5.

13 Wednesday

CHITTENDEN

Dorothy’s List Group for Homeschooled

Students: Books nominated for this esteemed award generate group discussion. Grades 4-8. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Green Mountain Book Award Book Discussion for Homeschooled Students: High-school homeschoolers spark lively conversation around award-winning books. Grades 9-12. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Kids’ Chess Club: See March 6.

Live-Action Role Play: LARPers create characters and plots in an amazing and imaginary adventure. For ages 11 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-5 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Open Studio: See March 6.

Live Performances

A MUSICAL ZOO: LISTEN!: This Free Family Saturday ushers the community into the lobby, where families choose their own musical adventure in a relaxed setting with the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Society. Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 10 A.M.; preregister. Info, 863-5966. FREE

ONCE UPON A TIME: A CABARET FOR KIDS: Local performers sing beloved songs from movies — including classics from Cinderella and new favorites — while little admirers gather close to the stage, sing, dance, and meet the stars and villains afterwards.

Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 11 A.M. & 2:30 P.M., $10. Info, 859-0100.

MINI MUD YOUTH VARIETY SHOW: Young performers strut their stuff during this annual showcase of music, dance, theater and more. Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 7 P.M. $6-16. Info, 728-6464.

‘TALES FROM JAPAN’: Youth thespians wow the audience with an original script written and directed by Skyler Ambrose, featuring stories of East Asian mythology and the meaning of kindness and bravery. Rutland Intermediate School, FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 7 P.M. AND SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2 & 7 P.M. $6-8. Info, 773-1822.

GENKI SPARK — TAIKO DRUMMING: This all-female, multigenerational group with roots in Japan and other Asian countries energizes the audience with their passion for creativity and culture. Ages 3 and up. Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, N.H., SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 11 A.M. Info, 603-6462422. FREE

‘CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG’: Shelburne Community School middle schoolers present this classic musical of a flying car based on the 1968 film. Shelburne Town Hall, FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 7 P.M. AND SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2 & 6 P.M., $5-10. Info, 985-3331.

GOOD CLEAN FUN! (IMPROV): Family-friendly professional improv comedians invite audience participation in an evening of silliness and laughter. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 5 P.M. $5; food and drink available for purchase. Info, 859-0100.

‘THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT’: An all-star local lineup of Swale, James Kochalka Superstar and more rock the house during this family-friendly concert supporting the Integrated Arts Academy. Food and drink available for purchase. Doors open at noon. Ages 12 and under. Higher Ground, South Burlington, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 12:30 P.M., $5-7 for children, $10-12 for adults. Info, 877-987-6487.

THE SATURDAY STOREFRONT PUPPET SERIES: The creators of Vermont Vaudeville get the kiddie crowd roaring with laughter in three unique puppet shows with a handmade cast, live music, a pre-show gramophone dance party and plenty of jokes for parents, too. The Gohl Building, Hardwick, SATURDAYS, 11 A.M. & 2 P.M., THROUGH MARCH 30, suggested donation $8. Info, 472-8987.

VERMONT YOUTH ORCHESTRA RUG CONCERT: Wee classical music fans meet musicians and orchestral instruments in an interactive and child-friendly setting. Ages 5 and under. Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 11 A.M. $5-10; preregister; tickets are limited. Info, 655-5030.

‘PETE(HER)PAN, JR.’: The Youth Ensemble Studio’s spring musical mesmerizes the audience with the classic legend of Peter Pan and Wendy told through the eyes of Wendy’s precocious and daring daughter, Jane, and her nonstop adventures. The Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 6:30 P.M., SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 11 A.M. & 4 P.M. AND SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 11 A.M. & 4 P.M., $17.7523.75. Info, 296-7000.

TRIP DANCE COMPANY FUNDRAISER: This competitive young troupe, associated with the Stowe Dance Academy, shows off a wide range of classical and original choreography. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 7 P.M. AND SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 3 P.M., $25-30; proceeds benefit the dance company. Info, 253-5151.

THE MUSIC OF THE ROLLING STONES FOR KIDS: The Rock and Roll Playhouse — a family concert series — gets kids moving and grooving to tunes from the classic rock canon. Doors open at 11 a.m. Higher Ground, South Burlington, SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 11:30 A.M., $15; free for children ages 1 and under. Info, 652-0777.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS: This world-famous team cuts up the court. UVM Patrick Gymnasium, Burlington, MONDAY, MARCH 25, 7-9 P.M., $25-40. Info, 800-641-4667.

‘MADELINE AND THE BAD HAT’: Inspired by Ludwig Bemelmans’ beloved Madeline series, ArtsPower’s musical traces the adventures of a young Parisian girl who — despite starting off on the wrong foot with a mischievous new neighbor — eventually learns that first impressions aren’t everything. Ages 4-8. Woodstock Town Hall Theater, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 10 A.M., $6. Info, 457-3981.

CIRQUE ESPRIT: SPIRIT OF THE MACHINE: New York City’s renowned ABCirque and live music enchant the audience with breathtaking acrobatics and aerial acts paired with classic steampunk-era circus artistry. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe, THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 7 P.M. $10-20. Info, 760-4634.

Read to Willy Wonka the Therapy Dog: A certified reading pooch listens patiently to emerging readers. Ages 3-8. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4:15 p.m.; preregister. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See March 6. Red Clover Group for Homeschooled Students: Budding book lovers bury themselves in bibliophile activities. Grades K-4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Tiny Ones: This caregiver-child morning takes wee ones and their grownups on a woods adventure, with creative play and sensory challenges. Ages 18 months to 4 years. Ascension Lutheran Church, South Burlington, 9:30-11:30 a.m., $18 per child; preregister. Info, 489-0410.

Yoga for Kids: See March 6.

Yoga for Youth: Perfect for middle school and high school students on early dismissal days, this program encourages youngsters to stretch and relax. Yoga mats provided. Ages 8-18. O’Brien Community Center, Winooski, 1-2 p.m. Info, 655-6424. FREE

Young Writers & Storytellers: Small ones spin their own yarns. Ages 5-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4-5 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

FRANKLIN

Fairfax Lego Club: Amateur architects construct creatively with colorful blocks. Ages 6 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 3-4 p.m., preregister. Info, 849-2420. FREE

RUTLAND

Lego Club: See March 6.

14 Thursday

CALEDONIA

Knitting for Kids: See March 7.

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Lego Club: See March 7.

Essex Lego Club: See March 7.

Irish Stories for Kids: In celebration of the greenthemed holiday, Linda Costello shares legends and tales from the Emerald Isle. Ages 6 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Itty Bitty Public Skating: See March 4.

Monthly Home School Program: Home learners soak up nature-related studies in an outdoor classroom. Parent participation optional. Ages 9-12. Audubon Vermont, Huntington, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $20-25 per child; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

Preschool Yoga: See March 7. Ukulele Kids: See March 7.

Williston Preschool Music: See March 4, 10:30 a.m.

Writing Club: See March 7.

FRANKLIN

Franklin Lego Thursdays: See March 7.

15 Friday

CHITTENDEN

Baby Time: Families with wee ones socialize, read board books, learn some sign language and play. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9:30-10 a.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Family Gym: See March 1.

Family Movie: Viewers enjoy a family-friendly flick while feasting on free popcorn. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Game Day: See March 1.

Harlem Globetrotters

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See March 1.

STEAM Fridays: See March 8.

FRANKLIN

Yoga Story Time Yoga with Ms. Liza: See March 1.

ORLEANS

Craftsbury Lego Club: See March 1.

WASHINGTON

Montpelier Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up: Families discuss the realities of climate change, what that means on a local, state and national level, and how to create a more just and nature-friendly world. Dinner and naturethemed kids’ programming included. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 5:30-7:30 p.m., RSVP requested. Info, 229-0041. FREE

16 Saturday

ADDISON

Middlebury Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

BENNINGTON

24 Hours of Stratton: Stratton lights up its trails from 9 a.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday for skiers signed up in teams or as individuals to glide under the stars, camp out in the base lodge, and enjoy fireworks, music and giveaways. Funds raised fight against childhood poverty and hunger in Vermont. Stratton Mountain Resort, Bondville, 9 a.m., fundraising minimum for ages 12 and up; preregistration required for all. Info, 297-2096.

CALEDONIA

Caledonia Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

CHITTENDEN

Family Art Saturday: Families drop in and ignite their imaginations with a current exhibit, then get hands-on with an artistic endeavor. Burlington City Arts, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Info, 865-7166. FREE

Hinesburg Saturday Story Time: Stories, songs and games amuse youngsters, followed by free play and snacks. Ages 5 and under, with caregivers. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 10-10:30 a.m. Info, 482-2878. FREE Junior Iron Chef VT: Middle and high school students duke it out for cafeteria supremacy in a culinary competition celebrating the state’s farm-to-table roots. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $3 per person; $5 per family (up to 4 people). Info, 434-4122.

One-on-One Tutoring: See March 2.

Play, Laugh, Learn: See March 2.

Webby’s Art Studio: Over and Under: Crafters create a circular weaving using wool roving and an embroidery hoop. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., regular winter museum admission, $5-10; free for children under age 5. Info, 985-3346.

FRANKLIN

St. Albans St. Patrick’s Day Parade: The crowd comes out for this short but spirited shindig, followed by kids’ activities, live music, and a corned beef and cabbage dinner. Parade begins at the court house and ends at the City Hall Auditorium. Main Street, St. Albans, 5 p.m. Info, 524-1500. FREE

RUTLAND

Rutland Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

See Dr. First videos “First With Kids” at uvmhealth.org.

Shiver Me Shamrocks 5K Fun Run/Walk:

Kids ages 1-12 launch the Leprechaun Leap Fun Run at 1 p.m. with prizes for the finest green costumes, followed by a 5K and post-race party at the Hop’n Moose. Heritage Family Credit Union, Rutland, 1-4 p.m., $30-35; free for kids’ fun run; proceeds benefit Come Alive Outside. Info, 888-252-8932.

WASHINGTON

Capital City Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

Waterbury Meet & Greet for Care Providers and Families: Central Vermont area early learning and care providers — from babysitters to daycare centers — share their service philosophies with parents over pizza. The Children’s Room, Waterbury, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; preregister; childcare available on request. Info, 244-5605. FREE

Woodbury Pie Breakfast: Hungry eaters fill up on the all-you-can-eat sweet and savory bu et, while listening to local musicians. Woodbury Elementary School, 8:30-10:30 a.m., $4-7; free for children under 4; proceeds benefit the Woodbury Community Library. Info, 279-9266.

17 Sunday

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

ADDISON

Family Play: See March 3.

Middlebury Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up: Families discuss the realities of climate change, what that means on a local level, and how to transition to a safer and healthier world. Vegetarian meal and childcare for ages 8 and under provided. Middlebury Recreation Center, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Info, 382-0829. FREE

CHITTENDEN

Art Play Day: See March 3.

Essex Open Gym: See March 3. Family Gym: See March 1. ORANGE

Youth Auditions for ‘Footloose’: See March 10.

18 Monday

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Preschool Music: See March 4.

Crafts for Kids: Clever kiddos pursue artsy projects. Ages 5-10. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Itty Bitty Public Skating: See March 4.

Read to a Dog: See March 4, 1:30-2:30 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.

Read with Pugsley: See March 4.

Stories with Megan: See March 4. Williston Preschool Music: See March 4.

FRANKLIN

Chess Club: See March 11.

One to Watch

Do you know a local kid (age 17 or under) who's recently done something amazing? Won a spelling bee? Written an opera? Raised a bunch of money for a great cause? Tell us more! He or she could be featured as One to Watch in an upcoming issue of Kids VT.

MARCH CALENDAR

St. Albans Nurturing Parent Program: Moms and dads deepen parent-child communication skills, discuss empathy and learn how to empower their families. A light dinner and childcare is included. Church of the Rock, St. Albans, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; preregister. Info, 498-0607. FREE

RUTLAND

Babies & Toddlers Rock: See March 4.

19 Tuesday

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Lego Club: See March 5.

CHITTENDEN

After-School Snacks on Tuesdays: See March 5. Art Play Day: See March 3, 8:45-10 a.m.

Creative Tuesdays: See March 12.

Dorothy’s List Book Club: Middle readers make merry conversation around choosing a reading list from this year’s list. Ages 8-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 4 p.m. Info, 264-5660. FREE

Family Movie: See March 15, 2:45-4:30 p.m.

Spanish Musical Kids: See March 12.

Tinker Tuesdays: See March 5.

Playgroups

WASHINGTON

Baby & Me Yoga: See March 5.

20 Wednesday

CHITTENDEN

Kids’ Chess Club: See March 6.

Minecraft Club: See March 6.

Open Studio: See March 6.

Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See March 6.

Yoga for Kids: See March 6.

Zine Club: Imaginative youngsters experiment with different writing styles and art techniques to create personal publications. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

FRANKLIN

Crafternoon: Sun Catchers: Small ones work on crafts to welcome spring. Ages 6 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 3-4 p.m.; preregister. Info, 849-2420. FREE

Homeschool Program: Factile Game Day: Home learners team up in a jeopardy-style quiz game on the big screen. Ages 8 and up. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m.; preregister. Info, 524-1507.

LAMOILLE

Purim Festival with Modern Times Theater: Drama and laughter make this a festival for families to remember with a low-tech, old-time classic Punch and Judy show. Costumes optional; bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share. Jewish Community of Greater Stowe, 4-6:30 p.m. Info, 505-0365. FREE

RUTLAND

Lego Club: See March 6.

21 Thursday

CALEDONIA

Knitting for Kids: See March 7.

CHITTENDEN

Chess Club: Players of all ages pursue a game of strategy. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE Colchester Lego Club: See March 7.

Essex Lego Club: See March 7.

Itty Bitty Public Skating: See March 4. Milton Community Dinner: Hungry eaters sit down to a hot and healthy meal, paired with community partner exhibits and other information, promoting health and well-being. Milton Elementary/Middle School, 4:30-7 p.m., donations appreciated. Info, 893-5501.

Preschool Yoga: See March 7.

NORTHFIELD PLAYGROUP: United Church of Northfield, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 115.

WAITSFIELD PLAYGROUP: Big Picture Theater, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 115.

Kids enjoy fun and games during these informal gettogethers, and caregivers connect with other local parents and peers. The groups are usually free and often include snacks, arts and crafts, or music. Most playgroups follow the school calendar. Contact the organizer for site-specific details.

MONDAY

AUDUBON NATURE PLAYGROUP:

Audubon Vermont, Huntington, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 434-3068.

BURLINGTON CRAWLERS, WADDLERS AND TODDLERS: Janet S. Munt Parent-Child Center, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Info, 862-2121.

CHARLOTTE PLAYGROUP: Charlotte Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 425-2771.

JERICHO PLAYGROUP: Good

Shepherd Lutheran Church, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 899-3932.

MORRISVILLE PLAYGROUP: River Arts, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 888-5229.

OPEN GYM: Central VT Gymnastics Academy, 10 a.m.noon, $10. Info, 882-8324.

SENSORY PLAY STUDIO: The Children’s Room, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 244-5605.

TWINFIELD PLAYGROUP: Twinfield Union School, 8:15-9:45 a.m. Info, 262-3292.

TUESDAY

BRADFORD PLAYGROUP: Grace United Methodist Church, 9-11 a.m. Info, 685-2264, ext. 24.

BROOKFIELD PLAYGROUP: First Congregational Church of Brookfield, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 685-2264.

BURLINGTON FATHERS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER: Janet S. Munt Parent-Child Center, 4-7 p.m. Info, 862-2121.

EVOLUTION NEW FAMILY

PLAYGROUP BURLINGTON: Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, 11:15 a.m. Info, 899-0339.

WATERBURY BABYTIME PLAYGROUP: The Children’s Room, 8-8:45 a.m. Info, 244-5605.

WINOOSKI PLAYTIME: O’Brien Community Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 655-1422.

WEDNESDAY

BARRE PLAYGROUP: Aldrich Public Library, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 115.

MAMA’S CIRCLE: Good Beginnings, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 595-7953.

PURPLE CRAYON PLAY GROUP: ArtisTree/Purple Crayon, 9:3011:30 a.m., donations accepted. Info, 457-3500.

RICHMOND PLAYGROUP: Richmond Free Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 434-3036.

SOUTH ROYALTON PLAYGROUP: United Church on the Green, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 685-2264.

ST. JOHNSBURY TODDLER TIME: St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30 a.m. Info, 748-1391.

WATERBURY MUSIC & MOVEMENT: The Children’s Room, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 244-5605.

THURSDAY

DADS AND KIDS PLAYGROUP: Family Center of Washington County, 5:30-7 p.m. Info, 262-3292.

JOHNSON PLAYGROUP: United Church of Johnson, 9-10:30 a.m. Info, 888-5229.

MONTPELIER PLAYGROUP: St. Augustine Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292.

OHAVI ZEDEK SYNAGOGUE

PLAYGROUP: Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Burlington, 9:3010:30 a.m. Info, 864-0218.

RANDOLPH PLAYGROUP: St. John’s Church, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 685-2264.

UNDERHILL PLAYGROUP: Underhill Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 899-4676.

SoundCheck: Hosted by slam poet Rajnii Eddins, the Young Writers Project and Burlington City Arts sponsors a writing workshop for adolescent authors and an open mic at 7 p.m. Burlington City Arts, 6 p.m. Info, 324-9538. FREE

Ukulele Kids: See March 7.

Williston Preschool Music: See March 4, 10:30 a.m. Writing Club: See March 7.

FRANKLIN

Fairfax Read to a Dog: See March 6.

Family STEAM Night: Moms, dads and kids team up for activities around science, technology, engineering, art and/or math. Fairfax Community Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m.; preregister. Info, 849-2420. FREE

Franklin Lego Thursdays: See March 7.

LAMOILLE

Stowe Open Gym: Community members of all ages play pick-up sports. Equipment provided. Stowe Elementary School, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., $2 per participant. Info, 253-6138.

22 Friday

CHITTENDEN

American Girl/Teddy Bear Tea Party: Petite ones practice tea time etiquette with their favorite dolls or stuffies, and partake in pleasurable crafts and refreshments. Fancy dress optional. Ages 4 and up. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 2-3 p.m.; preregister. Info, 482-2878. FREE

Dungeons & Dragons: See March 8.

Family Gym: See March 1.

WILLISTON PLAYTIME: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 11 a.m.noon. Info, 878-4918.

WINOOSKI PLAYTIME: See Tuesday.

FRIDAY

ALBURGH PLAYGROUP: Alburgh Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Info, 582-9942.

CAMBRIDGE ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUP: Cambridge Elementary School, 9-11 a.m. Info, 888-5229.

CENTRAL VERMONT PLAYGROUP: The Children’s Room, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 244-5605.

EVOLUTION NEW FAMILY PLAYGROUP ESSEX: Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga, 11 a.m. Info, 899-0339.

OPEN GYM: See Monday.

RUTLAND PLAYGROUP: Rutland Free Library, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 773-1860.

WATERBURY PLAYGROUP: The Children’s Room, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 244-5605.

WINSOOSKI MOVE, PLAY, CONNECT PLAYGROUP: O’Brien Community Center, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 655-6424.

SATURDAY MONTPELIER SATURDAY PLAYGROUP: Family Center of Washington County, 9:30-11 a.m. Info, 262-3292, ext. 190.

Family Painted Pottery: Dads, moms and kids enjoy an instructional and creative evening together. Davis Studio, South Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m., $25 per person; preregister. Info, 425-2700.

Game Day: See March 1.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See March 1.

Music with Raph: See March 8.

STEAM Fridays: See March 8.

LAMOILLE

Stowe Open Gym: See March 21.

ORLEANS

Craftsbury Lego Club: See March 1.

23 Saturday

ADDISON

Middlebury Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

CHITTENDEN

beCAUSE Craft Show: Over 100 crafters spread their wares in this benefit for nonprofit organizations. Ross Sports Center, Colchester, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., $3 admission; free for children under 12; proceeds donated to Vermont Food Shelves. Info, 654-2000.

Burlington Winter Farmers Market: See March 9.

One-on-One Tutoring: See March 2.

Webby’s Art Studio: Rockin’ Geodes: Junior geologists study and sculpt these crystallized marvels from clay. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., regular winter museum admission, $5-10; free for children under age 5. Info, 985-3346.

FRANKLIN

Youth Baking Class: From Book to Oven: Junior chefs get hands-on and bake a batch of ‘blondie bites’ using a cookbook, sample the sweets and take home prepared batter. Ages 9-14. St. Albans Free Library, 1 p.m., preregister. Info, 524-1507. FREE

RUTLAND

Rutland Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

WINDSOR

Norwich Winter Farmers Market: See March 9.

24 Sunday

ADDISON

Family Play: See March 3.

CHITTENDEN

Essex Open Gym: See March 3.

Family Gym: See March 1.

25 Monday

CHITTENDEN

Colchester Preschool Music: See March 4.

Crafts for Kids: See March 18.

Itty Bitty Public Skating: See March 4.

Lego Fun: Budding builders bring out the blocks. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

Read to a Dog: See March 4, 5-6 p.m.

Read with Pugsley: See March 4.

Stories with Megan: See March 4.

Williston Preschool Music: See March 4.

FRANKLIN

Chess Club: See March 11.

RUTLAND

Babies & Toddlers Rock: See March 4.

26 Tuesday

CALEDONIA

Hardwick Lego Club: See March 5.

CHITTENDEN

After-School Snacks on Tuesdays: See March 5.

Art Play Day: See March 3, 8:45-10 a.m.

Burlington Circle of Parents for Adoptive & Guardianship Families: Moms and dads come together to socialize about their parenting experiences and strengthen skills. Childcare and dinner included without fee. Howard Center, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m.; preregister. Info, 864-7467. FREE

Creative Tuesdays: See March 12.

Spanish Musical Kids: See March 12.

Tinker Tuesdays: See March 5.

Wii Fun: Gamers check out Wii Sports Resort, Mario Kart and more. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-4 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

WASHINGTON

Baby & Me Yoga: See March 5.

27 Wednesday

CALEDONIA

Build a Story: In celebration of Women’s History month, little library-goers listen to Marching with Aunt Susan by Claire Rudolf Murphy, followed by a building block challenge. Ages 5-12. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 3-4 p.m. Info, 745-1391. FREE

CHITTENDEN

Kids’ Chess Club: See March 6.

Live-Action Role Play: See March 13.

Open Studio: See March 6.

Read to Willy Wonka the Therapy Dog: See March 13.

Read With Daisy the Therapy Dog: See March 6. Yoga for Kids: See March 6. Young Writers & Storytellers: See March 13.

FRANKLIN

STEM Club: Under the lead of local inventor Ralph Lemnah, science-y types challenge their imaginations with themed activities. Ages 6 and up. Fairfax Community Library, 3-4 p.m.; preregister. Info, 849-2420. FREE

RUTLAND

Lego Club: See March 6.

Story Times

Early literacy skills get special attention during these readaloud sessions. Some locations provide additional activities such as music, crafts or foreign-language instruction. Most story times follow the school calendar. Contact the organizers for site-specific details.

MONDAY

BARRE CHILDREN’S STORY HOUR: Aldrich Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 476-7550.

COLCHESTER PRESCHOOL STORY

TIME: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660.

ESSEX STORYTIME WITH EMILY: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 879-0313.

HUNTINGTON STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Huntington Public Library, 10 a.m.-noon. Info, 434-4583.

HYDE PARK STORY TIME: Lanpher Memorial Library, 6 p.m. Info, 888-4628.

NORTHFIELD CHILDREN’S STORY

TIME: Brown Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Info, 485-4621.

RICHMOND BABY LAP TIME: Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 434-3036.

ST. ALBANS MOVEMENT & MUSIC

STORY HOUR: St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 524-1507.

STOWE STORY TIMES FOR 2-3-

YEAR-OLDS: Stowe Free Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 253-6145.

WOODSTOCK BABY STORY TIME: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 457-2295.

TUESDAY

ALBURGH STORY HOUR: Alburgh Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 582-9942.

COLCHESTER TODDLER STORY TIME: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660.

CRAFTSBURY STORY TIME: Craftsbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 586-9683.

EAST BARRE STORY TIME: East Barre Branch Library, 10 a.m. Info, 476-5118.

ESSEX JUNCTION STORY TIME: Brownell Library, 10-10:45 a.m. Info, 878-6956.

28 Thursday

CALEDONIA

Knitting for Kids: See March 7.

CHITTENDEN

Chess Club: See March 21.

Colchester Lego Club: See March 7.

Essex Lego Club: See March 7.

Itty Bitty Public Skating: See March 4.

Preschool Yoga: See March 7.

JERICHO STORY HOUR: Jericho Town Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 899-4686.

LYNDONVILLE STORY TIME: See Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.

MARSHFIELD STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Jaquith Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Info, 426-3581.

FRIDAY

BRANDON STORY TIME: Brandon Free Public Library, 3 p.m. Info, 247-8230.

COLCHESTER BABY STORY TIME: Burnham Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 264-5660.

CRAFTSBURY STORY TIME: See Tuesday.

FAIRFAX PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Fairfax Community Library, 9:3010:30 a.m. Info, 849-2420.

HARTLAND EARLY LITERACY

STORYTIME: Hartland Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 828-436-2473.

HINESBURG YOUNGSTER STORY TIME: Carpenter-Carse Library, 9:30-10 a.m. Info, 482-2878.

LYNDONVILLE STORY TIME: Cobleigh Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 626-5475.

MILTON INFANT STORY TIME: Milton Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Info, 893-4644.

MONTPELIER STORY TIME: KelloggHubbard Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 223-3338.

MORRISVILLE PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Morristown Centennial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 888-3853.

SHELDON STORY TIME: Sheldon Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 933-2524.

SOUTH BURLINGTON TODDLER TIME: South Burlington Public Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 846-4140.

WATERBURY SONGS AND STORIES: The Children’s Room, 9-9:30 a.m. Info, 244-5605.

WILLISTON STORY TIME: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 878-4918.

WOODSTOCK PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Norman Williams Public Library, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Info, 457-2295.

WEDNESDAY BARNES & NOBLE STORYTIME: Barnes & Noble, South Burlington, 11 a.m. Info, 864-8001.

ESSEX BABYTIME: Essex Free Library, 10-11 a.m. Info, 879-0313.

ESSEX JUNCTION STORY TIME: See Tuesday.

HYDE PARK STORY TIME: See Monday, 10 a.m.

MILTON TODDLER RHYTHM & MOVEMENT STORY TIME: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 893-4644.

NORWICH WORD PLAY STORY TIME: Norwich Public Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 649-1184.

QUECHEE STORY TIME: Quechee Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 295-1232.

RANDOLPH PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Kimball Public Library, 11 a.m. Info, 728-5073.

RICHMOND MOVERS AND SHAKERS

STORYTIME: Richmond Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 434-3036.

SOUTH BURLINGTON BABY TIME: South Burlington Public Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 846-4140.

SWANTON STORYTIME: Swanton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 868-2493.

WARREN PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: Warren Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 496-3913.

THURSDAY

BRISTOL STORY TIME: Lawrence Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 453-2366.

HINESBURG MOVEMENT AND MUSIC: Carpenter-Carse Library, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Info, 482-2878.

NORTHFIELD CHILDREN’S STORY TIME: See Monday.

RUTLAND STORY TIME: Rutland Free Library, 10-10:45 a.m. Info, 773-1860.

ST. ALBANS MOVEMENT & MUSIC STORY HOUR: See Monday.

ST. ALBANS STORY HOUR: St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 524-1507.

VERGENNES STORY TIME: Bixby Memorial Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 877-2211.

WESTFORD STORY TIME: Westford Public Library, 11 a.m. Info, 878-5639.

ENOSBURG MOMMY & ME STORY

HOUR: Enosburgh Public Library, 9-10 a.m. Info, 933-2328.

ESSEX MUSICAL STORY TIME: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 879-0313.

GEORGIA PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Georgia Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 524-4643.

KILLINGTON STORYTIME: Sherburne Memorial Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 422-9765.

LINCOLN STORY TIME: Lincoln Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 453-2665.

MILTON PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 893-4644.

MONTPELIER STORY TIME: See Tuesday.

NORTHSHIRE BOOKSTORE STORY

TIME: Northshire Bookstore, Manchester,10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 362-2200.

RANDOLPH TODDLER STORY TIME: Kimball Public Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Info, 728-5073.

ST. JOHNSBURY ACORN CLUB STORY

TIME: St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 748-8291.

STOWE BABY & TODDLER STORY

TIME: Stowe Free Library, 10:3011:15 a.m. Info, 253-6145.

SWANTON STORYTIME: See Wednesday.

SATURDAY COLCHESTER SATURDAY DROP-IN STORY TIME: Burnham Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Info, 264-5660.

ENOSBURG STORY HOUR: Enosburgh Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Info, 933-2328.

ESSEX WEEKEND STORYTIME: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Info, 879-0313.

MILTON DROP-IN SATURDAY STORYTIME: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 893-4644.

NEXT CHAPTER BOOKSTORE STORY

TIME: Next Chapter Bookstore, Barre, 10:30 a.m. Info, 476-3114.

MARCH CALENDAR

28 Thursday (cont.)

Ukulele Kids: See March 7. Williston Preschool Music: See March 4, 10:30 a.m.

Writing Club: See March 7.

FRANKLIN Franklin Lego Thursdays: See March 7.

New Parents

EVOLUTION POSTNATAL YOGA: New mamas tote their pre-crawling kids to an all-levels flowing yoga class focused on bringing the body back to strength and alignment in a relaxed and nurturing environment. Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, SUNDAYS, 12:15 P.M., TUESDAYS, 10 A.M., THURSDAYS, 10:45 A.M. AND FRIDAYS, NOON-1 P.M., $17; $120-140 for a 10-class pass. Info, 899-0339.

EVOLUTION PRENATAL YOGA: Mothers-to-be build strength, stamina and a stronger connection to their babies. Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga Center, Burlington, SUNDAYS, 10-11:30 A.M., MONDAYS, 5:45 P.M., TUESDAYS, 4:15 P.M., WEDNESDAYS, 5:45 P.M., THURSDAYS, 12:30 P.M., FRIDAYS, 8:15 A.M. AND SATURDAYS, 11:30 A.M., $17 per class; $120-140 for 10-class pass. Info, 899-0339.

EVOLUTION PRENATAL YOGA ESSEX: Mothersto-be build strength, stamina and a stronger connection to their baby. Evolution Prenatal & Family Yoga, Essex Junction, SUNDAYS, 5:30 P.M., MONDAYS, 10:30 A.M., TUESDAYS, 6:15

P.M., WEDNESDAYS, 12:30 P.M., THURSDAYS, 4:15

P.M. AND SATURDAYS, 8:15 A.M., $17 per class; $120-140 for 10-class pass. Info, 899-0339.

BOSOM BUDDIES: New and expectant mothers, babies and supportive grandmas rally in a relaxed evening, when peers and professionals answer mothering and breastfeeding questions. Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 5:30-7 P.M. Info, 371-4415. FREE

BOSOM BUDDIES TOO: Nursing mamas of toddlers and mobile wee ones socialize and swap supportive stories and advice with peers and professionals. Babies welcome. Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 5:30-7 P.M. Info, 371-4415. FREE

MOM AND BABY YOGA: Brand-new mamas and their littles relax, stretch and bond. Followed by a free mothers’ gathering at 11:30 a.m. Embodied, Montpelier, TUESDAYS, 10:30-11:30

A.M., $11. Info, 223-5302.

PRENATAL YOGA: Moms-to-be stretch and bend. Embodied, Montpelier, TUESDAYS, 6-7:15

P.M., $16 per drop-in class. Info, 778 -0300.

BURLINGTON EARLY MONTHS INFANT MASSAGE: This mother-infant group includes baby massage and postpartum new mama support. The Janet S. Munt Family Room, Burlington, WEDNESDAYS, 11 A.M.-NOON. Info, 862-2121. FREE

GATHER: A POSTPARTUM SUPPORT GROUP: New mamas and papas join certified Postpartum Support Doula Dayva Savio in an informal support circle centering on the joys and struggles of parenting. Mount Mansfield Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Barn, Jericho, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 10 A.M.-NOON AND WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 10 A.M.-NOON, $10; preregister. Info, 658-5959.

ESSEX LA LECHE LEAGUE: Moms bring their bitty ones to a discussion of parenting and breastfeeding. Siblings welcome. Essex Free Library, Essex Junction, FIRST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 6:30-8 P.M. Info, 899-5490. FREE

HYDE PARK BABY CHAT: Parents with babies mingle, learn more about developmental needs and expectations, and have the opportunity to ask questions of a maternal health specialist. Lanpher Memorial Library, Hyde Park, FIRST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10-11:30 A.M. Info, 888-5229.

PRE/POSTPARTUM CIRCLE: Mamas, papas, primary caregivers of wee ones and mamasto-be drop in, recharge their energy, practice gentle stretching exercises and self-care, while savoring socializing, tea and snacks. Bring newborns through crawling babies. The Children’s Room, Waterbury, THURSDAYS, 11 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Info, 244-5605. FREE

MAMA’S CIRCLE BARRE: This supportive gathering brings moms of new babies and toddlers together to foster friendship through unique-but-shared experiences. Imagine Yoga, Barre, SECOND FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

MORRISVILLE BABY CHAT: Parents with babies socialize, learn more about developmental needs and expectations, and have the opportunity to ask questions of a maternal health specialist. Lamoille Family Center, Morrisville, SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10-11:30 A.M. Info, 888-5229.

BURLINGTON LA LECHE LEAGUE: New moms bring their babies and questions to a breastfeeding support group. Older children welcome. Lending library available. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10:15 A.M. free. Info, 985-8228. FREE LA LECHE LEAGUE OF THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM: Expectant, novice and experienced moms join nursing experts for advice and support. Enter through the children’s section of the library. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury

Athenaeum, SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10:30 A.M. Info, 720-272-8841. FREE

BABYWEARERS OF CENTRAL VERMONT: Brand-new mamas and papas check out infant carriers, get advice and spend some socializing time with other new parents.

Good Beginnings, Montpelier, SECOND THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. AND FOURTH MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 5:45-7:45 P.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

NURSING BEYOND A YEAR: In a supportive setting, mothers discuss the joys and challenges of breastfeeding children approaching one year old and beyond. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

WASHINGTON

Movie Night for Grownups: ‘No Small Matter’: Maroni Minter — field manager with Let’s Grow Kids — shares a new documentary about the science around child development in the early years, then catches up curious community

members about the changes to the early care and learning system proposed to Vermont’s legislature. Pizza provided. The Children’s Room, Waterbury, 5:30-7 p.m.; preregister; childcare available on request. Info, 244-5605. FREE

Pacem School Open House: Prospective parents and students learn about this state-approved school’s grades 6-12 curriculum and programs, meet faculty, current parents and students, and check out support for homeschoolers and part-time schoolers, ages 10-18. Pacem School, Montpelier, 4:30-6 p.m. Info, 223-1010. FREE

29 Friday

CHITTENDEN

Family Gym: See March 1.

Game Day: See March 1.

Kids Music With Linda ‘Tickle Belly’ Bassick: See March 1.

STEAM Fridays: See March 8.

ORLEANS

Craftsbury Lego Club: See March 1.

BREASTFEEDING CAFÉ: Mamas nurse their babies, chat and ask for answers from a certified lactation consultant. Pregnant women, supportive dads and older siblings welcome. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 11 A.M.-1 P.M. Info, 236-4136. FREE

BREASTFEEDING FAMILIES GROUP: Nursing moms (and supportive dads, too!) gather for snacks and advice. Church of the Nazarene, Johnson, THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 11 A.M.-1 P.M. Info, 888-5229. FREE ELIMINATION COMMUNICATION: Novice parents pursue advice about this practice where a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues and intuition to address a baby’s need to eliminate waste without using a diaper. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 1-2 P.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

LA LECHE LEAGUE OF CENTRAL VERMONT: Breastfeeding mamas swap stories and support each other, with a professional available for consultation. Good Beginnings, Montpelier, THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Info, 595-7953. FREE

TINY TWILIGHT CAFE: Caregivers and children ages 3 and under connect with each other in a safe and welcoming environment. Light dinner provided; older siblings welcome. Downstreet Community Room, Barre, FOURTH SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 4:30-6:30 P.M.; RSVPs appreciated. Info, 595-7953. FREE HOW TO BREASTFEED PRENATAL CLASS: Expectant mamas and their partners learn the basics of breastfeeding, how to get off to the best start with their baby and where to find assistance when needed. Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin, FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 4:30-6 P.M.; preregister. Info, 371-4415. FREE

JOHNSON BABY CHAT: Parents with babies mingle, learn more about developmental needs and expectations, and have the opportunity to ask questions of a maternal health specialist. Church of the Nazarene, Johnson, FOURTH TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 10-11:30 A.M. Info, 888-5229. FREE

MOMMY GROUP: Breastfeeding peer counselor Angela Scavo hosts mamas and answers questions in a relaxed setting. Junebug Mother and Child, Middlebury, FOURTH

WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9:30-10:30 A.M. Info, 349-9084. FREE

30 Saturday

ADDISON

Middlebury Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

CHITTENDEN

Doc & Talk: Folks interested in community conversations watch The Hate U Give, followed by discussion. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1-4:30 p.m. Info, 878-6956. FREE

One-on-One Tutoring: See March 2. Webby’s Art Studio: Collaged Quilt: Amateur artists consider composition, color and pattern, then design a miniature no-sew quilt from fabric. Shelburne Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., regular winter museum admission, $5-10; free for children under age 5. Info, 985-3346.

FRANKLIN

Welcome Baby: New babies are welcomed to the library with nursery rhymes, songs and simple stories. Ages 2 and under with caregivers. St. Albans Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Info, 524-1507. FREE

Welcome Infant Social: Fairfax’s newborns are fêted, while parents savor snacks and socializing. Fairfax Community Library, 10-11:45 a.m. Info, 849-2420. FREE

RUTLAND

Rutland Winter Farmers Market: See March 2.

WASHINGTON

Capital City Winter Farmers Market: See March 2. Meeting the Needs of Young Families: Representatives from area organizations share their offerings and ways to support parenting with curious families. Pizza provided. The Children’s Room, Waterbury, 10 a.m.-noon; preregister; childcare available on request. Info, 244-5605. FREE

31 Sunday

ADDISON

Family Play: See March 3.

CHITTENDEN

Essex Open Gym: See March 3. Family Gym: See March 1. K

JUST FOR

Teeter -Totter Total

BY MARC NADEL

Walter Melon was really happy when he got a front-row seat to see his favorite rock group, Spruce Stringbean and the Pea Street Band. But when he sat down, he saw that the concert was up in the air!

To make the music start, please put on your bean-counter thinking cap. If each band member weighs 2 ounces, and Walter weighs 5 pounds, how many band members do they have to add to get down?

KIDS JUST FOR

Writing Contest

St. Patrick’s Day — Sunday, March 17 — is a traditional Irish holiday. You’ll often hear people saying the phrase “Luck of the Irish” on this day. In honor of St. Patty’s Day, write a poem this month with the title, “The Luckiest Kid in the World.”

COLORING CONTEST WINNERS

The coloring contest entries that arrived in February were extra sweet. Nine-year-old Josie’s marvelous mouse — dapper in a top hat and striped tie — asked for a dance beneath a sparkling blue disco ball. Kenny, 8, surrounded his creature with a shower of hearts and adorned her ears and the tip of her tail with pretty pink bows. Four-yearold Tina’s mouse offered a love note to her sweetheart under a bright yellow sun. We loved your work, kids. Can’t wait to see your creations this month!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

“MOUSETACULAR NIGHT”

Elijah Burton, 12, Williston

“LOVE IS FLOATING IN THE AIR”

Fiona Case, 9, Burlington

“RAINBOW MOUSE”

Ozzy McGuire, 5, Vergennes

“I WUV YOU”

Ryli Ann Sweeney, 11, Alburgh

“MOUSE IN THE SNOW”

Iris Palisson, 6, Montpelier

“FLOAT”

We’ll pick two winners and publish their names and poems in the next issue. Winners receive a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop Deadline to enter is March 15.

Send your entries to: Kids VT, attn: Writing Contest, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

WRITING WINNERS

In our February issue, we asked kids to write a love letter to Vermont, telling what they love about our state. Below, find the winning entries. Tobias and Caitlyn each receive a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop in Burlington.

Tobias Counts, 11

ARLINGTON

Dear Vermont, I love you in the summer when I can kayak in your crystal clear lakes.

I love you in fall when your golden brown leaves flutter to the ground.

I love you in winter when I ski and snowshoe all around!

But best of all is spring when a new beautiful year starts again.

Love, Tobias

Caitlyn Reed, 10

HINESBURG

It’s winter in Vermont and the gentle breezes blow.

Oh, how I love Vermont. When the snow’s up to your knees

You take a breath of winter air and your nose freezes.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I’ll hang around. But I could never leave Vermont

’Cause I’m frozen to the ground.

Jack Eaton, 6, Worcester

“THE VALENTINE’S DAY MOUSE”

Natalie McDaniel, 8, Westport, N.Y.

“SQUEAK SENDS HER LETTER”

Indy Roberts, 9, Montpelier

“VALENTINE’S MOUSE”

Edward Thompson, 4, Coventry

“HEART”

Maddie Kolb, 4, Charlotte

“THE TEARS OF JOY MOUSE”

Annabel O’Meara, 7, East Orange

“ULTRA LOVE”

Leah Black, 5, Waterbury Center

TOP TITLES

“CHEESE MOUSE”

Lane Fortune, 5, Georgia

“I GIVE YOU MY HEART FOR VALENTINE’S”

Madison Weaver, 7, Concord

“IT AIN’T EASY BEING CHEESY”

Gabrielle Stevenson, 10, Essex Junction

Love

The winners of annual family memberships to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium are…

Coloring Contest!

Three winners will each receive an annual family membership to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. Send Kids VT your work of art by March 15. 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 April issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com or mail a copy to Kids VT, P.O. Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

Sponsored by

KIDS JUST FOR

Jumble

BY DAVID L. HOYT & JEFF KNUREK

The letters of these crazy words are all mixed up. To play the game, put them back into the right order so that they make real words you can find in your dictionary. Write the letters of each real word under each crazy word, but only one letter to a square.

Birthday Club

You are now ready to solve this month’s Jumble For Kids. Study the picture for a hint. Then play around with the letters in the circles. You’ll find you can put them in order so that they make your funny answer.

Print your answer here:

Puzzles4Kids

Riddle Search — HISTORY LESSON

Look up, down and diagonally, both forward and backward, to find every word on the list. Circle each one as you find it. When all the words are circled, take the UNUSED letters and write them on the blanks below. Go from left to right and top to bottom to find the answer to this riddle: What do history teachers talk about when they meet?

ACCOUNT ARTICLE DAYBOOK DEED

DETAIL

DOCUMENT EVENT

FACT

HERITAGE

JOURNAL

LETTER LIFE LIST

MAP MEMORY

NOTE PAPER

PIECE REGISTER REPORT

BY HELENA HOVANEC

CLIO lives in Burlington and turns 10 on March 22.

master and master builder who reads like crazy, loves science and makes a great Bolognese sauce. She’s kind and imaginative, and is just wild about Harry. Potter, that is. Clio wins four day passes and four 3D movie tickets to ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington.

MAPLE lives in Georgia and turns 5 on March 8. She has an infectious laugh, a great sense of humor and tons of energy. She loves kitties, dancing, and playing with her friends and siblings.

To enter, submit information using the online form at kidsvt.com/birthday-club Just

contact info, your children’s names and birth dates, and a photo, and they’re automatically enrolled.

Maple, Brandon and Esther each win four ECHO day passes.

Riddle Answer:

ESTHER lives in Burlington and turns 2 on March 25. She loves story time, doing yoga, playing house and having dance parties. She shares her mom’s passion for live music, sparkly clothing, the color purple and cake.

ANSWERS P. 55

BRANDON lives in Enosburg Falls and turns 13 on March 20. He’s an easygoing kid who loves to fish, hike and do just about anything outside.

In June 2018, days after my son David finished 8th grade in the United Arab Emirates, we flew to rainy Sri Lanka for a break from our parched existence in the Arabian desert. I was working as chief of staff for Ajman University, my second stint in the country’s higher education system. Both David and I were worn out from our hectic schedules and needed a refreshing break. Just prior to our departure for Sri Lanka, a short four-hour flight away, I scanned the internet for any particular “treats” or “threats” offered by our destination.

In the treats category, I discovered that Duran Duran’s video, “Save a Prayer,” was filmed on Galle Beach in the southern part of the country. As for threats, I was delighted to read that malaria had been eradicated on the island nation in 2016. We wouldn’t need anti-malarial medicine or heavy-duty mosquito repellant, as we had on a prior trip to Kenya.

David and I wound up spending a whole afternoon on Galle Beach learning about the fishermen – likely descendants of the ones in Duran Duran’s video – who sit on stilts in the Indian Ocean to catch fish. These days, though, they’re simply posing for tips from tourists, since the area’s fishing industry has largely dried up.

So much in Sri Lanka evaporated during a civil war that ravaged the country and its people from 1983 to 2009. Signs of near collapse were evident everywhere we went, including our guesthouse in the capital city of Colombo. Thanks to a few unhinged windows, David and I had unobstructed views and could hear the sound of falling rain every afternoon. A few pesky mosquitos came with the waterlogged territory.

A week later, back in the well-sealed, air-conditioned apartment that sheltered us from the UAE’s oppressive heat, David’s own temperature suddenly soared to a record high.

“Just a common desert virus,” said the doctor at a walk-in clinic for expats.

When David Got Dengue

A mother and son, far from home, contend with a deadly illness

“Treat intermittently with Tylenol and ibuprofen,” she said, treating us like a run-of-the-mill case, even though I mentioned repeatedly that we’d been in Sri Lanka.

Her diagnosis lost all credibility when David woke up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat and screaming, “Mommy, my head hit the swimming pool wall! Help me!” He was delirious from fever and a crushing pain in his forehead.

By morning, David could barely walk to the bathroom — his gait hobbled and posture askew. I tried to position him comfortably on the couch to watch television and drink as many liquids as I could get into him. Yet he refused the water and stared into space.

“Look at me,” I said.

“I can’t,” he said. “It hurts too much to move my eyes. I feel like there’s water leaking inside my forehead.”

By then, I was certain David’s illness wasn’t a run-of-the-mill virus. Something more sinister was at work. I feared the UAE’s cadre of doctors wouldn’t recognize what was starting to look like a full-blown tropical disease.

Making matters worse was the fact that my husband, Allan, was in the United States, where David and I were supposed to be headed for summer vacation in a week’s time. Until then, we were stuck in a health crisis on the other side of the world.

A quick scan of the World Health Organization (WHO) website seemed to confirm my worst fears. David likely had dengue fever, also known as “breakbone fever,” a mosquito-borne malady infecting upwards of 200 million people each year — killing thousands, mainly children. I knew about the disease from our time in Singapore in 2010.

After a series of frantic phone calls, I learned of a nearby doctor from India with expertise in tropical medicine. I rushed David to a clinic for immigrant laborers in the northernmost emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

The recommended physician, who insisted we call him Dr. Joe, began his exam with a question: “Have you been traveling?”

Before I could answer, “Sri Lanka,” he’d felt every inch of David’s febrile body and touched his telltale rash.

“Dengue,” he said, and immediately started David on an IV drip to replenish his fluids. “Rainy season in the tropics leads to epidemics.”

While David slept, Dr. Joe told me that the sickness was suppressing David’s bone marrow production and reducing his platelet count. That watery feeling in his head was, in fact, plasma leaking into surrounding tissue.

He’d either make a full recovery in a few days, as most patients do with plenty of rest and fluids, or else he’d need a blood transfusion to survive. Once his fever subsided, I’d have to watch closely for any signs of hemorrhaging, which occurs in the most severe, life-threatening form of dengue.

The next few days passed in a slowmotion blur. David slept, thrashing with delirium; I stayed awake, watching with terror. I had plenty of time to lament my traveling decisions and parenting skills. I’d dropped the ball on both accounts, and now my son was paying the price. When David’s fever finally abated, I started obsessively checking his gums and bowel movements for any sign of blood.

We visited Dr. Joe again when David showed signs of marked improvement. Although he’d lost 10 pounds in five days, a blood test revealed that his platelet count was on the rise. He was entering the recovery phase.

“Can we fly back to the United States tomorrow?” I asked.

“No one can stop you,” Dr. Joe said. “But if there’s a mosquito on that plane and it bites David, then someone else could get dengue.”

Through a veil of tears, and at great expense, I changed our flights. I wanted to be home more than anything in the world, but I couldn’t bear the thought of putting others at risk for dengue — a disease on the WHO’s list of Top 10 global health threats. There is no vaccine or treatment for dengue. There is only time, and sometimes it runs out.

Time brought us back to Vermont in early July – just 10 days after our originally scheduled return. Seven months later, a very happy and healthy David barely remembers his dark days of dengue. I only wish I could forget them, too. Instead, his life-threatening illness had a profound effect on the way I live. I ended up resigning from my job in the UAE and we’re back in the Green Mountain State. The only trips I’m interested in, for now, are to David’s basketball games. Whether his team is winning or not, I’m constantly thinking about the brave boy on the court who could have been lost. K

Planning a kids event?

List it for free in the Kids VT monthy calendar. Submit your April event by March 15th online at kidsvt.com or to calendar@ kidsvt.com

CALENDAR

PUZZLE PAGE ANSWERS

SEE “JUST FOR KIDS” SECTION FOR PUZZLES

So if you add just 1 more bean than that, those lyrical legumes can finally plant their feet and get back to their roots.

If you add 32 additional band -mem bers (2 ounces x 32 = 4 pounds) to the original band, you get 5 pounds.

Since the total weight of the band is 1 pound (2 ounces x 8 members), they need to add 4 more pounds just to equal Walter’s weight of 5 pounds.

Remember that 16 ounces= 1 pound.

33 band members

TEETER-TOTTER ION:SOLUT

RIDDLE SEARCH ANSWER: Old times

NUMBER NINE

RIDDLE ANSWER: What gets smaller when you turn it upside down? —

MET. BIKE. NOUN. RINK.

JUMBLES

Nancy and David in Sri Lanka