Kids VT, September 2012

The Y is the one place in the area where you can spend the whole entire day. There are tons of things to do to keep everyone in the family happy.

We love, love, love the Y!

with Matt age 6 ¾ Y Family ShelburneMember

EAT. LEARN. PLAY

School “Spirit”

Independent Study

More Vermont kids are opting out of school, but they’re not just sitting at home

Illustrator Jeff Drew created this month’s wild, back-to-school scene.

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

Copublisher Colby Roberts colby@kidsvt.com ext. 77

Copublisher/Executive Editor Cathy Resmer cathy@kidsvt.com ext. 74

Creative Director Don Eggert don@kidsvt.com ext. 71

Managing Editor Kate Laddison kate@kidsvt.com ext. 73

Director of Marketing & Events Corey Grenier corey@kidsvt.com ext. 76

Account Executive Kaitlin Montgomery kaitlin@kidsvt.com ext. 72

P.O. Box 1184 Burlington, VT 05402 802-985-5482 kidsvt.com

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Proofreaders Meredith Coeyman

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Lead Designer Brooke Bousquet

Designers Celia Hazard

Rev. Diane Sullivan

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Contributing Writers: Kathryn Flagg, Erica Housekeeper, Sachi Leith, Suzanne Loring, Cindy Morgan, Ken Picard, Grace Potter

Photographers: Daria Bishop, Andy Duback, Caleb Kenna, Matthew Thorsen, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

Illustrator: Jeff Drew, Rev. Diane Sullivan

Cover image: Jeff Drew

Whether you’re considering clear aligners, retainers or today’s braces, an orthodontist is the smart choice. Orthodontists are specialists in straightening teeth and aligning your bite. They have two to three years of education beyond dental school. So they’re experts at helping you get a great smile—that feels great, too.

i ViVidly recall my firsT day of school and my firsT Teacher: Joan Nye at Georgia Elementary and Middle School. I wore a blue velour jumper over a yellow turtleneck, and Mrs. Nye pinned a yellow elephant name tag to it when I arrived. I can still remember the thrill I felt being in school for the first time.

Our classroom shared a wall and doors with another early-grade classroom, and the teachers often communicated with each other via the transom windows. They taped messages onto the glass, saying “Have a great day” or “Here’s what we’re working on today...” The room-to-room banter added to my sense that there

was something awesome happening in every class, around every corner, behind every door. To me, school seemed the best place in the world to be.

That excitement is part of the secret to academic success, and students find it in a variety of settings. Vermont musician Grace Potter had a choir teacher at Harwood Union Middle and High School who helped cultivate her passion for music; she elaborates in the “Because Project” essay on page 13. Current and former students are devoted to Mount Saint Joseph High School in Rutland — one of only two Catholic high schools in Vermont. Kathryn Flagg describes their efforts to keep parochial education alive in “School Spirit” on page 18.

Of course, not all learning happens in a traditional classroom — more and more Vermonters are going the homeschool route. Ken Picard explores why in “Independent Study” on page 22.

No matter how much you love it, though, school isn’t all fun and games. Inevitably, there’s homework to be done. Fathers talk about how they help — or don’t — in “Go Ask Dad” on page 16. Looking for even more expert advice? On page 10, Dr. Lewis First offers pointers on talking to kids about drugs.

Good and bad, school days are back. Whatever your approach to education, we hope you and kids enjoy them.

Some of this month’s Kids VT contributors:

Sachi Leith (the “Kids Beat”) just completed her summer internship at Kids VT. By the time this issue hits the streets, she’ll be back at school at the New York University campus in Abu Dhabi. We miss her already.

Suzanne Loring (“Fit Families” and “Use Your Words”) is the program director for the Children’s Literacy Foundation. She’s also a freelance writer who has contributed to publications including Vermont Life and Parent Express. This is her first piece in Kids VT

Grace Potter (“Because Project”) is the guitar-and-piano-playing lead singer of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. The band recently released its fourth studio album, The Lion the Beast the Beat. You might recognize Potter’s voice on the soundtrack of Tangled, Walt Disney Studio’s animated re-telling of the Rapunzel story; she wrote and performed the movie’s theme song, “Something That I Want.”

First grader Kate Bilodeau Laddison

Q: What takes the biggest bite out of your back-to-school shopping budget?

Back packs & bags

COLORING CONTEST

Birthday wishes were the “mane” attraction of this month’s coloring contest entries — we received many party pictures of Leo with balloons, confetti and wild hats. Thanks for sending your colorful cats, and keep up the creative work.

HONORABLE MENTIONS OUTSTANDING

ORANGE

“Untitled”

Jadhyn Walls, 4, South Burlington

COOL CRAZY COLORS

These winners get $25 from TD Bank.

Clothes

55%

6% Sports Gear

Sounds like Vermont kids are dressed for success as they head back to school this month. According to this poll, Kids VT readers spent most of their money on new outfits. Are kids more fashion conscious these days? Or do clothes just cost more?

11% School supplies

22%

Lunch Gear

6%

“Rainbow Cat”

Marlee Rose Anderson, 4, Je ersonville

EXCELLENT EXUBERANCE

“Hatch”

Nevaeh LaRoche, 3, St. Albans

WE WERE BE-DAZZLED!

“Sparkle”

Aliyah Lashua-Morris, 7, Montpelier

BEST USE OF DUCT TAPE, EVER

“Polka Dot Lion”

Ava Kahl, 7, Burlington

BEST BASEBALL REFERENCE

“Yankee Kankee Clownish Lion”

Eddie Fallis, 6, Hubbardton

FANTASTIC FREEHAND ZEBRA

“A Lion Party”

Maeve McCullagh, 8, Colchester

MOST TRANSFORMATIVE COLORING

“Happy Cat Day”

Tegan O’Donnell, 8, East Montpelier

GLORIOUS GRASSY FIELD OF FLOWERS

“Rainbow Birthday Lion”

Madelyn Ford, 7, South Burlington

OUTSTANDING ORANGE, COUPLED WITH BEST BLUE

“Happy Birthday!”

Vittoria Pizzagalli, 7, Shelburne

NICE ZEBRA CAKE

“My First Kill”

Noah Cueto, 12, St. Albans

SUPER STRIPES

“Bright Rainbow Birthday!”

Brandon Tierney, 11, Vergennes

KING CONFETTI CAT

“Happy Cat”

Grace Kahl, 10, Burlington

BEST BALLOONS

“Lucky Leo”

Karl Mazzilli, 9, Moretown

TOP TITLES

“I’m not lion, it’s my birthday”

Zach Bean, 9, Middlebury

“Cake Belly”

Danica Proulx, 7, Middlebury

“Brright Parrrty”

Emily Cueto, 10, St. Albans

Maya Travis, 4

GEORGIA

“Gasp! It’s my birthday, it’s my birthday, it’s my birthday!”

4 and under 5 to 8

Selah Northrup, 6 EAST MONTPELIER

“A waxy lion’s birthday”

Emma Merrill, 10 MIDDLESEX “Party time”

THE BEAT

BY KATE LADDISON AND SACHI LEITH

SCIENCE Meet Your Makers

Kids need no nudge to make something from nothing. Cardboard box? Turn it into a castle. Sticks and stones? Build a dam. Tin can and string? It’s a phone, wind chime or dumbwaiter. The same can-do spirit inspires “Maker Faires,” family-friendly events that attract artists, craftspeople, inventors, engineers and hackers — collectively known as makers — who want to exhibit their DIY contraptions. They’ve popped up all over the country in recent years, but the MINI MAKER FAIRE at Shelburne Farms is the first-ever in Vermont. Workshops, speakers and demonstrations aim to inspire both kids and adults to roll up their sleeves. Don’t want to get your hands dirty? Enjoy the food and live music while you gawk at everyone else’s gizmos. Segway inventor Dean Kamen is one of the exhibitors. — K.L.

CHAMPLAIN MINI MAKER FAIRE: Saturday, September 29, Shelburne Farms, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. $6-15; free for kids under 12. Info, champlainmakerfaire.com; tickets, champainmakerfaire.eventbrite.com.

SCHOOL

Bye-Bye Bullies?

Vermont is blowing the whistle on bullies. This fall, Vermont Commissioner of Education Armando Vilaseca announced the formation of an ADVISORY COUNCIL to stop the pervasive problem. What’s a round table going to do? Provide a more coordinated approach to fighting it, for starters. “Up until this point, e orts have been piecemeal,” says council chair Tracey Tsugawa, a civil rights investigator for the Vermont Human Rights Commission. She says the council — which includes a student representative — will address needs for curriculum materials, training for parents, schools and law enforcement, and perhaps even some legal changes. At the top of the agenda is cyberbullying, which Tsugawa notes Vermont is “woefully underprepared to deal with.” The council met for the first time in late August. — K.L.

Back to Sch l Back to Sch l

HARASSMENT, HAZING AND BULLYING PREVENTION ADVISORY COUNCIL:

Members include Barbara Crippen, Charles E. Memusi Johnson, Curtiss Reed, Henri Sparks, Jeff Fannon, Jeff Francis, Kathy Johnson, Ken Page, Kim Brittenham, Mill Moore, Nicole Mace, Robert Appel, Saben Littlefield and Tracey Tsugawa. Full biographies online: education.vermont.gov/new/html/council_bullying.html. Info, 828-3154.

Children ages 4-12 1/2, 1, and 1.5-mile courses

ARTS Glass Act

Husband and wife glassblowers Tove Ohlander and Rich Arentzen trained in Sweden before they opened their Pine Street studio and store, AO GLASS WORKS, earlier this year. Many families and school classes have since stopped in to watch them mold molten glass, shaping it into vases, bowls, lampshades and tiny figurines available for purchase. This fall, the couple is adding a new service: custom glassware crafted in the shape of a child’s handprint or footprint. Your kids make an imprint in sand, and Ohlander and Arentzen use that form to produce the piece. Call ahead to find out what’s cooking in their 2000-degree oven. — S.L.

AO GLASS WORKS: 416 Pine Street, Burlington. Weekday hours, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.–2 p.m., closed Sundays. Info, 540-0223, aoglass.com.

BABY & MATERNITY

Nurses Come Knocking

Some health professionals still make house calls, and that’s good news for some low-income, first-time moms in Vermont. The newly launched NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP delivers support and information right to their doors — specifically, regular visits from a nurse up until their child turns 2. The initiative, which has been operating for 30 years at sites throughout the country, launched in Vermont this summer with programs in Franklin, Lamoille, Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties. The national Nurse-Family Partnership program says data shows it improves prenatal health, increases maternal employment, improves school readiness and lowers instances of abuse and neglect. — K.L.

NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP: To make a referral or get more information, contact: Franklin County Home Health & Hospice, 527-7531; Lamoille County Home Health and Hospice, 888-4651; Caledonia Home Health Care & Hospice, 748-8116; Orleans/Essex VNA & Hospice, 334-5213.

BOOKS Explaining Irene

More than a year after Tropical Storm Irene, Vermonters are still cleaning up the mess. A new children’s book simplifies the disaster for young readers. Written by Ferrisburgh resident Kevin Fitton and illustrated by Caldecott-award winner Mary Azarian, HIGHER GROUND presents a tale of a dairy farmer whose cows were endangered by the storm. Fitton’s story, which was inspired by news coverage of a Royalton farm, shows the positive side of the historic flood, focusing on the neighbors and community members who pitched in to help. Both Fitton and Azarian donated their services to produce the book, as did Orleans publisher Radiant Hen. Meet the author-illustrator team at a 7 p.m. reading on September 20 at the Bixby Memorial Library in Vergennes. Or order the book online at radianthen.com. — S.L.

HIGHER

GROUND: By Kevin Fitton, with illustrations by Mary Azarian. Radiant Hen Publishing, 32 pages, $10.95, ages 4 to 7. Proceeds go to the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund.

Back to Sch l Back to Sch l

How should parents talk to their kids about drugs?

BY KEN PICARD

WAITING UNTIL YOUR KIDS ARE TEENS TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT DRUGS?

You’ll be late to the party. By the time most kids reach preschool, they have seen adults smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or doing drugs, either in person, on television or on the internet.

It’s likely they already have questions. This month, Dr. Lewis First, chief of pediatrics at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care, o ers sobering advice on how to broach the subject — before it becomes a problem.

KIDS VT: How early should parents discuss drug use with their kids?

LEWIS FIRST: When your child enters grade school is a great time to start talking with them — not at them — about drug use. And not just about street drugs. Parents should also talk about alcohol, tobacco, and even over-the-counter and prescription medications. It’s important for parents to have regular times during the day, perhaps at the dinner table, to have nonjudgmental conversations. They need to make sure their kids feel safe and valued for expressing their opinions honestly, without parents saying “Don’t do this, don’t do that!”

KVT: What drugs are Vermont kids using the most?

LF: Most commonly, alcohol sends kids into the emergency department. In terms of overall use, alcohol, tobacco and marijuana top the list. After those come substances you wouldn’t expect: over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, prescription medicines and inhalants.

KVT: What are inhalants?

LF: They are common household products — hairspray, glues, nail-polish remover, felt-tip markers — that teens inhale to get high. What kids don’t realize is that these chemicals can also cause serious damage by getting into their bloodstream. Even one sni , or “hu ,” can lead to sudden death. These chemicals are extremely dangerous.

KVT: How can parents tell if their kids are using inhalants?

LF: If their breath or clothing smell like chemicals, if there are spots or sores around their mouths, or if they have a dazed, glassy-eyed look, you need to at least consider inhalants as a possibility.

KVT: Generally, what red flags should parents look for that might suggest drug abuse?

LF: Signs that something is awry and

that were once important to them.

that could indicate possible drug abuse include a loss of interest in school, a drop in grades, a sudden change in friends, and kids who become extremely moody, negative, want to be left alone, sleep a lot, get into fights or lose interest in activities that were once important to them.

They should be suspicious if they find these medicines in their middleschoolers’ rooms, and they should take any medicines and lock them up. Even if your children aren’t using them, they may know other kids who want to buy them.

KVT: How should parents warn younger children about the risks of drugs?

KVT: Are there any new drugs hitting the streets that even savvy parents might not recognize?

LF: Parents may not have heard of “bath salts.” Bath salts contain stimulants that kids are swallowing, snorting or injecting that can produce hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts and paranoia. These are life-threatening drugs that, until recently, were sold legally over the internet or in smoke shops. Synthetic marijuana and cannabinoids are also dangerous because they multiply marijuana’s negative e ects and can result in an elevated heart rate, high blood pressure and anxiety. Salvia, which are plant herbs, also have hallucinogenic properties and are very dangerous.

KVT: What are the most commonly abused household medicines?

LF: Cough and cold medicines are exceedingly dangerous. Parents may not realize that the cough suppressant dextromethorphan is a narcotic found in over-the-counter cough medicines. When taken in high dosages — some kids are taking 10 times the recommended amount — it can cause the same reactions as codeine or morphine.

KVT: How can parents prevent household drugs from being abused?

LF: Parents shouldn’t stockpile excess amounts of over-the-counter medicines.

LF: First, don’t talk about the long-term e ects with older children and teenagers because it just won’t register. For them, it’s more the dangers of the now: “Do you realize that your clothes smell if you use inhalants and no one will want to spend time with you?” Or, “Do you know that one hu of an inhalant may be enough to cause you to stop breathing?” If it’s cigarettes: “It’s going to cause bad breath and stain your teeth.” Statements like these will have a much bigger impact.

KVT: Should parents tell their kids about their own illegal drug use?

LF: Parents need to be honest and explain why they made mistakes. If there’s a history of substance abuse in the family, it’s very important to tell a child in middle or high school that they’re at greater risk for addiction. I love it when parents give kids a plan for how to deal with di cult situations.

KVT: Such as?

LF: Parents can teach kids to change the subject if they’re o ered drugs. Give them lines to use for getting out of a bad situation. They can blame their parents: “I’ll be grounded for life!” Or if they’re athletes: “Not now, I’m in training.” Parents should give their kids a guiltfree, no-questions-asked secret phrase to say over the phone, such as “I’m not feeling well,” that will get them out of a sticky situation. When parents hear that phrase, they should pick their child up immediately. When kids say no to drugs, they should be praised. That’s the highest form of courage and independence your child can demonstrate.

Give them lines to use for getting out of a bad situation. “I’ll be grounded for life!”

FAMILIES BY SUZANNE LORING

Into the Woods

SEPTEMBER IS THE TIME TO TAKE

ONE LAST WALK through the woods before the trees shed their leaves. But if you’re going to embark on a hike with small children, you should make sure that the trail meets certain criteria.

No. 1, it should be entertaining. My boys — Max, 1, and Tucker, 2 — are happiest when there’s at least one bridge, ample boulders and stumps to leap from, and at least a few little creatures; butterflies and the occasional frog usually seem to appease.

No. 2: Distance is a major consideration; Tucker is adamant about walking the whole way, and his little legs can only carry him so far.

The trick is finding a hike they’ll like that’s also appealing to older children and adults. Max and Tucker and I discovered one recently: the nature trail at Little River State Park. This scenic, half-mile loop trail boasts multiple footbridges and an abundance of leap-launching points. And it doubles as a self-guided tour of the park’s history, once a farming community. Perfect.

The trail starts out along the banks of Stevenson Brook. There I found the first of 12 wooden signboards with write-ups describing the plants, trees and animals that live in the park, as well as the historic aspects of the land. So while Tucker threw sticks and rocks into the water, I read about the history of the brook.

built their own stone towers to add to the collection, but we kept moving.

Tucker led the way, jumping o virtually every rock and stump he saw; Max and I kept an eye out for the next historical signboard.

✱ THE LIBRARIAN LIKES

PARK

Once he had thrown in enough stu to impede the water flow, we continued on, scrambling under a small tree that had fallen during the storm the night before — no easy feat with Max on my back. Then we wound our way through the trees to a sandy outcropping. It was covered with rock cairns left by travelers who’d come before. Slightly older kids might have hopped onto the ledge and

Over the course of an hour, we found each board and read all about the forest as well as the farm that once occupied the site. We saw its remnants, including stone walls and overgrown apple orchards. We discovered an old beaver pond, now covered with ferns, and read about its former inhabitants. Tucker and I even found old stumps they had chewed to points. We also spotted a white, wooly caterpillar crawling along a mossy rock, which intrigued Tucker, and won the trail extra points in the viewing-small-critters category.

The path led us up and down small hills, through a forest of changing leaves, and down a wooden staircase right back to where we started. We finished worn out, happy and a little more knowledgeable about Vermont’s history. It was a satisfying hike — for all of us.

Worland’s Summary: This poetic biography chronicles Carson’s childhood love of nature, her study of biology and her eventual success as a writer, including publication of the influential Silent Spring. Portrayals of Carson’s professional perseverance and personality are well balanced, as she battles sexism, poverty and the chemical industry while also caring for her family and enjoying the outdoors.

LIBRARIAN: Joy Worland, director, Joslin Memorial Library, Waitsfield

BOOK: Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World, by Laurie Lawlor, illustrations by Laura Beingessner

AGE RANGE: 2 to 5

Why it’s appealing: Carson was a groundbreaking researcher and writer, and it’s important for kids to know about her. But her life was also fascinating — full of adventure, travel, and trying things others never had. Packed with facts, including an informative epilogue, the book nevertheless reads like a story, with colorful illustrations that bring to life nature scenes as well as the many people Carson encounters. Sentences such as: “She lost her heart to a world of restless water and sky” and “I could never again listen happily to a thrush singing if I had not done all I could” engage readers on an emotional level, inspiring them to think about their own lives in a new way.

“The Librarian Likes” features a different librarian and book each month. Got an idea for a future LL?

Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

Tucker led the way, jumping off virtually every rock and stump he saw.

Brian and Cara Mezitt with their sons Will and Cullen

WHAT YOU NEED: Hiking shoes or sneakers and water.

WHERE TO GO: Little River State Park, 3444 Little River Road, Waterbury. After passing the ranger station, follow signs to trails. The trailhead and parking for the nature trail is located on the right just after the Stevenson Brook trail parking area.

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 9

mid-May through Columbus Day weekend. Admission: $3, adults age 12 and up; $2 children 4-11; free for children 3 and under.

BECAUSE

CAUSE

WITH SUPPORT FROM

supports statewide prevention programs for children and families to help give all kids a fair chance at success.

The Vermont Children’s

The Because Project asks Vermonters to share their stories about people and experiences that have shaped their lives, especially during their formative years — stories that may inspire others to get involved. Because together we can all make a di erence.

Icame to Harwood Union Middle and High School as a seventh grader, not knowing where I belonged in school. The middle and high school years are a very scary time.

I found my home in the music department. Diane Phillips was my choir teacher. She made me feel like choir wasn’t just a class — it was a lifestyle. It was a commitment to my voice, and to quality, to becoming knowledgeable about di erent genres of music.

Choir might sound boring, but she made it exciting. She always brought unbelievable energy and enthusiasm to every single session we had.

When I was in ninth grade, I was finally able to audition for her exclusive choir. I stayed after school and practiced for three weeks just to get in. She showed me that commitment to something you care about can create the groundwork for the rest of your life.

When I was in tenth grade, I came to her with some music of my own, and asked if she would let me write it into a choral piece and have the entire choir perform it. She said yes.

The sound a choir makes when they’re all singing notes you’ve written is pretty thrilling. It was a very ballsy thing for a teacher to do, to let go of the reins a little bit and allow a student to do that. I think she understood that I was reaching beyond the notes on the sheet music, for something more universal.

And it wasn’t just me. She gave other students the same opportunity a couple times after I did it. I thought it was a really commendable thing for an adult to treat her students

as peers and but also to be our mentor. She balanced that beautifully.

I had a very special bond with Di and the music department. I saw them go through ups and downs. I saw them struggle through budget cuts, changes in the schedule — just the lack of resources in general.

But Di would always spend extra time with you if you needed it. She didn’t just pack up her bags and go home at the end of the day. If you needed her, she was there for you.

On the week of our second CD release, I actually flew home so I could surprise her at her retirement celebration — she taught at Harwood for 39 years. I played piano at a high-school assembly.

The day I was there, it really sunk in. You could see that nothing had changed in the 10 years since I had been at Harwood. All these students knew exactly what I was talking about. They all understood how powerful an influential teacher can be.

When kids are influenced by somebody, whether it’s at 5 or 6, or during the formative teenage years, that respect never fades. Everybody understands the emotional connection you have to someone who encouraged you and pushed you to do things you may not have known you were capable of.

I mentioned my trip to Di’s retirement celebration to my friend, country music singer Kenny Chesney. Within a week, a white baby grand piano showed up at the school. He sent it because he related to my story; Kenny had an influential music teacher, too.

Trust Foundation

I dedicated myself to music BE

of my high school choir teacher, Diane Phillips.

GRACE POTTER, LEAD SINGER, PIANIST AND GUITAR PLAYER, GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS

VERMONT CHILDREN’S TRUST FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE

I found myself wondering if Frida’s could be our go-to Mexican restaurant in Vermont.

But the honeymoon ended there. My chicken enchiladas came in a thick, chunky, dark sauce with smoky flavor — more like BBQ sauce than the red-chili mixture I expect on enchiladas. The chicken was tasty, but I missed the ubiquitous rice and refried beans served in most Mexican restaurants. My husband was similarly underwhelmed by his three-taco meal. The carnitas, fish and shrimp

Frida’s Taqueria and Grill

WhEn iT comEs to bread and cheese, Vermont offers an embarrassment of riches. But if you’re looking for good Mexican food in the Green Mountain state, prepare for more embarrassment and fewer riches. This can be vexing for dedicated Mexicanfood junkies such as my family of four. Our hunt for a south-of-the-border fix recently led us to Frida’s Taqueria and Grill in Stowe.

We arrived at Frida’s at peak dinner hour on a steamy Saturday night in August. I expected a long, hot wait, but once the hostess arrived, she seated us right away. She brought us to the last

empty booth in a bright and cheery dining room festooned with images of Frida Kahlo. Looking around, I realized just how lucky we were to snag this comfy spot: Every seat at the U-shaped counter was full, as were all the tables in an adjacent room.

For us, salsa is nectar, and good tortilla chips ambrosia, so I wasted no time ordering both, with a side of fresh guacamole. The chips came hot and crisp, tossed in a sugar-salt blend that made it impossible to stop eating them. The roasted pepper salsa was mild and kid friendly. The waiter made the guacamole right there at the table

oUr

the Jones godfrey clan, including carter, 3, left, and mason, 6, get tableside guacamole at Frida’s in stowe.

Kid-friEndly AmEniTiEs: Kids menu with choices including quesadilla, single taco and baked mac ’n’ cheese, all for under $6; Izze Sparking Juice fruit sodas and locally brewed root beer; six high chairs; coloring supplies.

by smashing fresh avocados, cilantro, jalapeno and lime juice in a lava-stone bowl. The kids were captivated.

If the meal had ended right there, with the chips and dips, we all would have been happy. My daughter, a notoriously picky eater, loved the salsa, and my son polished off at least two avocados worth of guacamole.

tacos were smaller than expected; his shrimp taco had just one lonely shrimp.

The kids’ entrées, on the other hand, were delicious. The perfectly seasoned, slow-cooked beef in my son’s burrito melted into the cheese and beans. I was glad he had eaten so much guacamole, because it meant more burrito for me. The pork in my daughter’s chimichanga, a large fried burrito, was tender and well seasoned, and I found myself stealing bites of her meal as well.

For the amount of food we got, we paid a pretty high price. But the after-dinner family entertainment — a public bocce ball court next door — was free. K

“Out to Eat” is a monthly family-friendly restaurant review. Where should we eat next? Email us at ideas@kidsvt.com.

The chips came hot and crisp, tossed in a sugar-salt blend that made it impossible to stop eating them.

MATT HARRIS, BURLINGTON ENGINEER, BURTON SNOWBOARDS

Son, Owen, 10; daughter, Sadie, 7

Our son is a fourth grader. He gets homework every night, and it’s up to him whether and when he does it. He’s pretty lackadaisical about doing it, frankly — especially in math. At some point, he decided he didn’t need it anymore, so he stopped. The teacher talked to us, and we said, “You need to work it out with Owen.”

Finally, they made an agreement: He demonstrated that he didn’t have to do the math homework by doing some advanced assignments.

He still had to do the writing, though, and sometimes he would come ask us, “Hey, what do you think I should write about?” I love having opportunities like that, when he wants me to be involved, but I’m not going to say, “Hey did you do your homework?” He needs to learn responsibility, and he’s not going to learn by us reminding him all the time.

I’m personally, philosophically opposed to homework. I think that it has pretty limited utility. It’s not like you’re broaching any new subjects at home; it’s repetition. I think that self-directed activities are the most meaningful. I think we should leave them free to do more of that.

ANDREW PERCHLIK, MARSHFIELD

FUND MANAGER OF THE CLEAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT FUND, STATE OF VERMONT Daughters Mary, 14, and Maple, 9; son, Wren, 11

We do help, but we don’t help do it. I think that’s the key di erence between what I consider helpful parenting and what’s not helpful in the long run. My kids take the work seriously, they panic, and it’s hard to see them cry: “I don’t have time, my teacher’s going to be mad at me.”

That’s not the time to give them a lesson on planning. Often it starts with a reminder earlier in the process.

My kids do a lot of other stu ; they’re so busy. We try to look at the assignment to see how long it’s going to take, to fit it all in. The biggest part is being involved in their lives and knowing what’s going on. Then we know where they’re coming from.

We try to be as involved in their lives as possible. Discussions about homework lead to discussions about other things — this is just another opportunity to spend time with them.

Back to Sch l Back to Sch l

DAVID WEAVER, STARKSBORO TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, RADIUS NETWORK

Sons Sam, 17, Theo, 15, Dylan, 14, and Neo, 11

I did the Parenting On Track course, so I’m trying to get them to take more responsibility. My 17-year-old was upset with me this morning because I didn’t get him up for soccer practice. But he’s going o to college, and there’s not going to be somebody saying “Did you get it done? Did you get it done?” This is his last year of high school, so I’m going to sort of trust, but verify — and monitor from a distance.

The 11-year-old, I jump in on his homework to a degree. He’s quick to suck me in and have me do it for him, so I have to be cautious. I find it a joy, especially as he’s still studying for spelling tests. I was a dreadful student when I was a kid, and I appreciate the opportunity to study his spelling words with him and drill them into my own head.

Creating a good study environment is sometimes a challenge with a group of boys. One always wants to annoy the other one. There’s a bit of “OK, you have to go do your homework in this room and stop tapping your pencil against the table because you’re driving your other brother nuts.”

JASON MULLIN, VERGENNES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DONOR RELATIONS, MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

Sons Silas, 14, and Wade, 11

We’ve allowed our children to kind of manage their own homework. My wife and I have decided that as long as they’re doing well in their classes, we don’t need to be too involved.

They generally do their homework after dinner. They get home, have a half hour of screen time, we have dinner a little while later, and then the rest of the evening is wide open. They tend to do their work, if they have any, right after dinner.

My wife and I are available to help out if any questions come up. We’re realizing that ninth grade is going to be more challenging, and so we’re going to be a little more proactive and involved with Silas. We want to be more informed about what’s required of him. We’re going to ask him “what assignments do you have? What’s due this week?,” just so that there’s no chance of falling behind.

— INTERVIEWS COMPILED BY KATE LADDISON

Do you help your kids with their homework?

We do help, but we don’t help do it.

— ANDREW PERCHLIK

in This digiTal age, photography is more accessible than ever. The ubiquity of smartphones, tablets and digital cameras makes it almost too easy for kids to take pics of their friends, pets and toys. But what if kids want to take their skills to the next level?

“Photography is more about looking than capturing,” says Michelle Saffran, who teaches young shutterbugs through Burlington City Arts. “When you learn how to look for something to photograph, you develop intention and you transition out of simply taking snapshots.”

On the first day of a BCA children’s photography camp, Saffran takes kids ages 9 through 11 on a Church Street scavenger hunt to photograph everyday things: a dog, a red door, the letter C, a smile. The activity helps kids learn how to plan what they want to shoot, notes Saffran. “The kids have been on Church Street a million times, but now they’re interacting with the area in a completely different way,” she says.

Once aspiring photogs know what they’re looking for, they can work on following Saffran’s tips:

• Don’t always take photos at eye level. Instead, try different angles from above and below the subject.

• Use natural surroundings — trees, for example — to frame your subject, adding more balance and depth to a photograph.

• Don’t be afraid to get close. A common mistake is being too far from the subject.

• Hold your camera steady to avoid unintentional blurring.

• Always ask someone before you take their photo. Even if you’re photographing a dog, ask the dog’s owner for permission.

It’s never too early to pique kids’ interest in photography. Jordan Silverman, a Burlington-based professional photographer — who sometimes shoots photos for Kids VT — lets his sons, Noah, 5, and Aden, 2, play with a basic pointand-shoot camera.

“Having a clunker point-and-shoot is priceless, and I don’t have to worry about my sons breaking it,” Silverman says. “One thing that’s helped is bringing the boys’ camera everywhere we go — hiking, sledding, to the lake. And we always have

extra batteries and extra memory cards in the diaper bag.”

Noah loves photographing birds, plants and LEGOs, says Silverman, who encourages his sons by including them in every aspect of the process, from photographing to editing to making photo albums on the computer. Still, he tries to keep things simple.

“I lay off technique and really just focus on exploration and how they can make each photo their own,” he says. “Kids dictate their own interests. If they ask questions about light or composition, then we’ll talk about it. But if they don’t want me to say a word, then, boy, do I try to keep quiet.”

Parents can encourage budding photographers by framing their children’s photography and displaying it around the house. Or they can make albums, create calendars and share photos online with sites such as Flickr, Shutterfly and Snapfish.

“The value a parent places on a photo is key,” says Saffran. “If you value it

enough to put in on the refrigerator or make a calendar, kids will feel encouraged. And if they like what they’re doing, they’ll keep learning.” K

WhaT YoU need:

if you sign up for a photography camp at burlington city arts, cameras and supplies are provided. but those looking to buy their own equipment can find it at Le Zot in burlington, south burlington’s photoGarden or Green mountain camera in Waterbury. the stores sell a variety of cameras — including basic pointand-shoot digital cameras starting at about $100 — as well as camera bags, batteries, frames, and photo printing and developing services.

in addition to its summer sessions, burlington city arts holds camp in darkroom and digital photography during the february vacation week. info, 865-7166, burlingtoncityarts.org.

Hay Rides to the Pumpkin Patch

Every Weekend from September 24th

10 am - 4 pm (Weather Permitting)

Vermont Harvest Festival

Sat. & Sun. • Oct. 1���& 2rd • 11 am - 4 pm

Sat. & Sun. • Sept 29th & 30th • 11 am - 4 pm

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In

Every Weekend Starting September 22nd 10 am-4 pm (Weather Permitting) Sat. • Oct. 6th • Starting at Noon

Sat. • Oct. ������t������������h • 1 pm - 3 pm

Come out to Sam Mazza’s Farm & Enjoy these Great Events. Harvest Festival held Rain or Shine under the Pavilion with Great Food, lots of Kid’s Games, Face Painting, Petting Zoo, Pony Rides, Bounce House, Food Sampling & our MC keeps the Kids Hopping. Check out our Web Site for a full schedule of activities…and Bring your Friends!

Come out to Sam Mazza’s Farm & Enjoy these Great Events. Harvest Festival held Rain or Shine under the Pavilion with Great Food, lots of Kid’s Games, Face Painting & our Petting Zoo! WVMT’s Charlie Papillo plays host at our Family-Oriented Festivals. Check out our Web Site for a full schedule of activities... and Bring your Friends!

courtesy of daria bishop

Maren Altadonna

The kids have been on Church Street a million times, but now they’re interacting with the area in a completely different way.

the atmosphere is jovial at the open house for Mount Saint Joseph Academy — Rutland’s Catholic high school. Feisty, white-haired alumni tend the grills inside the athletic association hut. The new principal, Sandra Wilkes, glad-hands with parents and teachers. Meanwhile, a volunteer is playing matchmaker with some of the new students. She steers one long-legged, wide-eyed teenager over to a pack of four veteran classmates, and a few moments later the five girls lope o across the outfield of Saint Peter’s Field.

But the lightheartedness of the summer open house is balanced by a weighty reality: MSJ is desperate to attract more students. In its heyday, the high school educated as many as 600 students a year and earned more Division I football championships than any other school in the state, including rival Rutland High.

Three years ago, enrollment had sunk to a mere 65 students, almost a tenth of what it once was.

School “SPIRIT”

Championship basketball isn’t enough to save Rutland’s Catholic high school

BY KATHRYN FLAGG

The numbers have inched back up slightly as a result of recruitment e orts, such as this one, on the part of parents, teachers and alumni. Around 80 “Mounties” were scheduled to show up for the first day of school on Thursday — which has MSJ boosters breathing a bit easier than they were a few years back, when a letter from the diocese handed down an ultimatum: Cut the budget or close the school.

School board chair Peter Giancola admits the looming threat “lit a fire under us.” The school board slashed $100,000 from the school’s operating expenses, and today MSJ is still fighting tooth and nail to stay in the game. In a state where declining student enrollments threaten the future of both public and private schools, the Catholic high school faces the added challenge of convincing families that a faith-based education — to the tune of $5900 a year — is a worthwhile investment.

“I wish we could get the enrollment up,” says Chris Thraska, a mother manning the

refreshments table at the cook out. She frowns slightly. “It’s a wonderful place, and I think if people gave it a chance they’d see what I do.”

That would include college scholarships to the tune of $1.3 million bagged by the 24 graduates in the class of 2012. For three out of the last four years, 25 percent of the senior class at MSJ passed the college-level Advanced Placement calculus exam.

Harder to quantify: MSJ appears to be a closeknit community, in which everyone’s related, or darn close to it. The August barbecue feels more like a family reunion than a school function. Instead of the usual bellyaching about small towns and smaller schools, the students talk up their tiny classes and many friendships.

“I love it,” says junior Grace Giancola, the daughter of school board chair Peter Giancola.

“You’ve got to be friends with everyone because you can’t avoid anyone,” says her pal, senior Shea McGee.

“SIGN OF THE TIMES”

mSJ is nestled in a residential neighborhood southwest of downtown Rutland, surrounded by streets dotted with large, rambling old homes. Some blocks are in better shape than others. The brick high school, in the shadow of the hulking St. Peter Church, also neighbors two of the Catholic Church’s four eldercare facilities in the state. The Sisters of St. Joseph started MSJ as an all-girls academy in 1882. They built a larger facility in 1927 and began educating boys as well.

Jim Reardon, class of 1943, was one of 13 siblings to attend MSJ. Just look around, he says, at those big homes lining the nearby streets: They used to house the large Irish and Italian Catholic families — many of whom migrated to Rutland following the discovery of rich marble deposits in the region — that swelled the high school’s ranks. There are fewer Rutland residents today than there were in 1930.

Talk to enough MSJ parents, and you start to get the feeling that everyone’s grandparents went to school here, that everyone’s kids and grandkids will come up through the ranks.

Dwindling enrollment is a “sign of the times,” says alum David Fucci, class of 1977, who paid $325 a year to attend MSJ as did each of his four siblings.

“Today you can’t a ord to have five kids,” Fucci says, let alone pay private school tuition for all of them. At one point in recent years, Rutland had the highest unemployment rate in the state.

Vermont’s other Catholic secondary school, Rice Memorial High School, is located in more prosperous Burlington, and draws most of its students from Chittenden County. Times aren’t quite so tough there. Rice’s student body will grow this year from 364 students to 377, despite the school’s yearly $8500 tuition fee.

In a perfect world, says Giancola, MSJ would enroll at least 100 students — but for the time being “we’ll take what we have,” he says. Some “local” students travel from as far away as Granville and Whitehall, N.Y., to attend the high school. In the 1990s, the school began actively recruiting international students from China, Taiwan, Germany, France, Mexico and a host of other countries.

They also attracted a handful of students from the Bronx — a number of them talented basketball players who helped the Mounties bag a Division II basketball championship last year. Hailing from a notoriously crime-ridden housing project, the students arrived in September 2010 and stayed with host families in the area. Their recruitment stirred some controversy — parents and students complained of losing out on playing time; outsiders accused the school of stacking the deck. Those unpopular sentiments — including nasty remarks traded on Facebook and directed at the host families of the Bronx students — landed the school in a New York Times story, headlined: “In Vermont, Bronx Players Help Team, but Stir Outcry.”

Senior Matthew Sanborn, the tall, shaggy-headed captain of last year’s championship team, focuses on the positive. He says the team’s success sent a welcome jolt through the school. Having more

talented players on the team “made everyone better,” he says.

“After the Rutland game,” he says, referring to the school’s triumph over their one-time rivals, “I could see kids who were proud to put on an MSJ shirt. I saw a good sense of pride.”

It was a galvanizing moment for a school that, for decades, was renowned for its athletic prowess. “My grandfather talks about it all the time,” says McGee, a fourth-generation Mountie. She drops her voice an octave in imitation: “‘Back when I went to MSJ, we used to win football games.’” Matchups against their hometown rivals were especially infamous. Kathy

Back to Sch l Back to Sch l

Aicher, class of 1977, remembers those cross-town games as a “huge deal” — great pep rallies, cheerleaders, games that brought the town to a standstill. “It was the red and the green,” she recalls. “The rivalry was intense and fabulous and extreme.”

Those days are over. The football team dropped down to Division III three years ago. Athletic

SCHOOL “SPIRIT,” P. 20 »

Mount Saint Joseph is desperate to attract more students.

Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Rutland

School “Spirit”

CONTINUED FROM P. 19

Director Marty McDonough — who has worked at MSJ for 43 years — says the school just reached a point where it couldn’t compete anymore against larger schools with deeper teams. “There was a lot of emotion about it,” he admits. “Football has always been a draw for MSJ.”

Last year’s basketball bonanza was a shot in the arm. McDonough describes MSJ’s victory as a “big bonus, a big plus” that brought a lot of old alumni back into the fold. Still, he’s reluctant to pin too many hopes on hoops. A few of the Bronx students graduated last year, and, while the school hopes to attract more, officials say that decision is less about athletics than it is about realizing its Catholic mission.

HIGHER EXPECTIONS

when the economy started declining four years ago, Vermont’s 13 Catholic schools felt the impact almost immediately. Hardest hit was MSJ, according to Mona Faulkner, the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.

It’s not because people don’t want a parochial education in Vermont, which ties New Hampshire as the least religious state in the nation.

“It’s because they can’t a ord it,” Faulkner says.

In some ways, Catholic schools were better prepared for the crisis, because they had already gone through the process of consolidating and regionalizing — a prospect public schools could face in the years ahead. The last consolidation came in 2009, when schools in Barre and Montpelier combined. Faulkner hopes the remaining schools are well positioned for the years ahead.

Religion aside, “More and more parents are looking very closely at their public schools ... and they have much higher expectations. The more they look at us, the better we’re going to seem, the better choice we’re going to be,” Faulkner says. “I think they’re going to want their children to say a prayer now and again.”

According to administrators, downsizing and adapting to other changes has made Vermont’s Catholic schools more nimble than their public counterparts. “As a Catholic school, we’re able to make change happen very, very quickly,” says Paulette Thibault, the principal of Christ the King School in Burlington. There aren’t as many administrative hoops to jump through or state or federal restrictions to consider. No teacher unions, school boards or budget votes,

The Mount Saint Joseph’s basketball team plays a home game against Brattleboro High School. CALEB KENNA

either. Catholic school teachers tend to make less money than their public counterparts.

“You just get more stuff done,” says Faulkner, adding that the flexibility extends to individualized learning. “We personalize that instruction as much as we possibly can with the resources that we have,” says Faulkner. “It’s always a great loss to us when we have a child we cannot serve.”

Parent Jill Loeber isn’t complaining. When her daughter wanted to transfer to MSJ after two years at Mill River Union High School, she admits she was anxious — about the change, but mostly about the cost. Now, a year after that decision, she’s singing MSJ’s praises.

“I don’t think people realize how generous the school really is,” says Loeber. About 40 percent of the

Ultimately, though, there’s a tuition bill. Faulkner wagers that MSJ’s price tag may be among the cheapest in the nation for a Catholic high school education — but at nearly $6000 a year over 10 monthly payments, she concedes “that’s a house payment every month.” Parishes chip in, and fundraising and scholarships can help, but that money only goes so far.

student body receives some form of financial aid. Last year the school drummed up nearly $250,000 in donations for the annual fund. The volunteer-staffed athletic association raised more than $100,000.

This summer’s “Honor Our Past” fundraiser brought in more cash. At $75 a head, about 300 diners, mostly alumni, packed into the conference hall at Rutland’s Holiday Inn. The boisterous B.J. Costello III, chair of the development committee, played MC for the night, ribbing his old classmates from the podium and talking up the school’s recent achievements: that beloved basketball championship, the scholarship numbers, and the recent award from the “small and inspiring” grant program at the Vermont Community Foundation.

By the time John Casella, class of 1968, stepped up to the podium to receive a distinguished award on behalf of himself and brother Doug Casella, spirits were high. At MSJ, the school community is hoping that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.

“It doesn’t matter whether there’s 600 students on Convent Avenue, or 80,” Casella told the crowd. “The values are alive and well.”

Of course, the numbers do matter — but for now, on the razor’s edge of break-even, MSJ’s biggest supporters are cautiously optimistic.

They’re hoping the rebound lasts.K

Adults: $10, Children 5-18: $5. Dogs are free!

More and more parents are looking very closely at their public schools ... and they have much higher expectations.

The more they look at us, the better we’re going to seem. mona FaulKner

Julia Lesauskis and Ana Kusserow-Lair, 12

Independent Study

BY

When Ana KusserowLair of Underhill started seventh grade this fall, it wasn’t at Browns River Middle School in Jericho. The 12-year-old girl stayed home, giving up cafeteria lunches and gym classes to join the growing ranks of Vermont’s homeschooled students.

In years past, Ana went to public school, which her younger brother, Willem, still attends. She struggled in math but was well ahead of her peers in language arts, according to her dad, Robert Lair. As a result, she wasn’t getting the instruction she needed in either subject. Additionally, Ana didn’t enjoy “the tenor of the classroom,” her dad says, and often complained about social pressures and behavioral disruptions. So Lair and his wife, Adrie Kusserow, decided to take over her education themselves.

Lair and Kusserow both work at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, where Lair is an adjunct professor of religious studies and Kusserow is an associate professor of cultural anthropology. Despite the fact that St. Mike’s is a Catholic institution, there was nothing faith-based about their decision.

“We were interested in a place where we could have much more control over our child’s curriculum” than in a public or private school, Lair explains, “but we didn’t want to do the day-in, day-out

‘kitchen-table’ routine. So we created a hybrid.”

That “hybrid” is the Mansfield Cooperative — a collective of five families with six children, ages 9 to 13, who meet anywhere from one to five days a week during the school year to share the responsibilities of educating their kids. Founded last year, the cooperative allows each family to create an individualized learning plan for their own children that combines one-on-one lessons in their own home with group lessons in a shared space in Jericho.

thus far? “Absolutely beautifully,” Lair reports. Typically, she spends her mornings in class with other kids at the cooperative. In the afternoons, she goes to the Browns River Middle School for chorus, field hockey and other activities. Her academics also involve a couple of hours of math and language arts taught at home.

“It’s a real mixture,” Lair says. This kind of individualized approach to education is gaining ground in Vermont. According to statistics from the

89,428. Nationally, more than 2 million students in grades K-12 are educated at home — a number that’s been growing at a rate of 2 to 8 percent a year, according to estimates published by national homeschool researcher Brian Ray. Vermonters’ styles and approaches to homeschooling are as varied and unique as the children themselves.

They also take field trips in the community and participate in extracurricular activities o ered by the public schools. Every other week, the Mansfield Cooperative holds “Freaky Fridays” — group outings for members of the cooperative and other homeschoolers in the area. A science lesson may be a visit to the geology department at Johnson State College. A history lesson may be a tour of the Vermont Statehouse. Art education may involve a tour of the University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum, or a visit to a Burlington glassblower’s studio. How has Ana fared in the cooperative

Back to Sch l Back to Sch l

Vermont Department of Education, homeschooling has never been more popular in the state than it is today. The number of Vermont children in “home study programs” rose from 2064 in the 2002-03 school year to 2363 in 2011-12; some observers suggest the true number may be even higher due to parents who educate their kids under the radar.

An increase of 300 students over a decade may not seem like a huge jump, but that occurred during a time of steadily declining public-school enrollment. Between 2002 and 2012, the total number of public school pupils in Vermont dropped from 99,978 to

former teacher at Montessori and

The Mansfield Cooperative’s model is an innovative one. The cooperative’s parents employ a director, Julia Lesauskis, 31, of Johnson. A former teacher at Montessori and Waldorf schools, Lesauskis is a firm believer in alternative educational approaches. She embraces the idea that di erent children learn in di erent ways and that new skills are best acquired and honed in a homelike setting where students feel more, well, at home.

According to Lesauskis, the parents in her cooperative come from a variety of di erent cultural and educational backgrounds but share similar philosophies about academics. Most felt that their kids would benefit from the individualized attention that public schools cannot provide. They wanted a safer and more engaging environment where they could have more input and control over their kids curricula. And all wanted to create a learning environment that emphasizes the “whole child,” while taking care not to isolate children from their peers.

More Vermont kids are opting out of school, but they’re not just sitting at home

KEN PICARD

According to statistics from the Vermont Department of Education, homeschooling has never been more popular in the state than it is today.

One mom in the cooperative homeschools her daughter because the girl skis competitively during the school year. As Lesauskis explains, homeschooling allows her student more flexibility to travel and compete than a public-school setting.

Another family in the cooperative plans to bring their kids to Spain to learn Spanish. Lesauskis, who serves as an educational consultant to the cooperative’s members, helped them pick out books for their months studying overseas. “It’s cool that you can live and enjoy life to the fullest and not have a traditional 9-to-5 school experience,” she adds.

Other homeschooling parents choose a more traditional route.

Lynn Caldwell of Milton has been homeschooling her sons, Ryan, 14, and Will, 12, since they were very little; both were reading by age 4, she boasts. However, unlike some homeschooled kids, Caldwell’s never attended public or private school. She says her family’s

Christian identity played a major role in deciding how to educate the kids.

“I want my kids’ academic education to be inseparable from their spiritual education,” she says. “That could never happen in any public school.”

How has homeschooling changed in the years since she first started doing it more than a decade ago? According to Caldwell, years ago there were maybe two or three curriculums for math, reading or social studies to choose from; today there are dozens, if not hundreds. That can be both a blessing and a curse, Caldwell notes, as more choices also mean more decisions to make. In the coming school year, she plans to utilize a homeschool cooperative for some classes, such as biology.

On a typical “school day” in the Caldwell house, the kids start class at about 8:15 a.m. and go through 2:30 p.m. They get a 15-minute midmorning break and 45 minutes for lunch. That doesn’t include other study time in the evenings, extracurricular sports and other activities.

Julia Lesauskis, Ana and Willem Kusserow-Lair

Like many homeschooling parents, Caldwell says she is often asked how her children will learn to get along with others if they’re not attending a brickand-mortar school.

“My kids are involved in a ton of activities outside the home, lest anyone is concerned about their socialization,” she says. Then she ticks o a long list of their weekly activities: piano lessons, Boy Scouts, martial arts, chess club, monthly field trips, and volunteer work at church and in the community. She points out that her sons interact frequently with people outside their own age groups. “How many times in

SERIOUS ABOUT HOME STUDY?

Lorraine Kelm of Milton claims that the biggest fear among prospective homeschooling parents isn’t cost, stigma or socialization.

“The biggest one is, ‘Oh, my gosh! How do you do it? I could never spend that much time with my kids!’”

Perhaps. But for those willing to try, the Vermont Department of Education offers a free, downloadable booklet on the DOE website entitled “Guidelines for Home Study in Vermont.” This 50page guide spells out what you need to know in order to comply with Vermont’s compulsory attendance law. It also contains a home study enrollment form that must be filed with the DOE, as well as a list of other resources for developing a minimum course of study.

For a more independent look at some of the legal and social issues around homeschooling, Addison County attorney and parent Kevin Kite has created the blog homeschoolvermont. com, which explains homeschooling parents’ rights and responsibilities.

your life are you only with people within 12 months of your age?”

Lorraine Kelm of Milton also homeschools her two kids: Christopher, 17 and Nick, 13. Her older son has been homeschooled since first grade and the younger throughout his entire education. Kelm’s Catholic faith was a factor in her decision to homeschool, though not the only one.

Her first child had gross-motor and fine-motor skill di culties that made it hard for him to relax in a school environment; he fared much better in a home setting. And the more Kelm researched homeschooling, the more desirable it seemed — for both her boys.

“Now it’s much more common and accepted,” Kelm says, “but there are still people who think it can’t be done and you’re doing your child a disservice.”

Homeschooling definitely presents challenges. For starters, it’s expensive. One popular misconception is that homeschoolers get a refund on their

Kelm also suggests that homeschooling parents contact their local librarian. Librarians are not only a great source of age-appropriate learning materials, she says, but many work closely with homeschoolers and can make introductions to others in the area.

Homeschooling, she adds, is a lot like parenting: “One day at a time.”

My kids are involved in a ton of activities outside the home, lest anyone is concerned about their socialization.

LYNN CALDWELL

Independent Study conTInuEd

property taxes that pay for the public schools; they don’t. As Kelm points out, all books, computers, software, curricula and other school supplies must be paid for out of their own pockets, which can run more than $1200 per child, per year.

And, although Vermont is legally considered a “notification” state — meaning parents simply notify the Department of Education that their kids are enrolled in a home study program rather than ask permission — there are strict mandates for evaluating and reporting a child’s annual progress. Those evaluations also come at a price, such as the cost of photocopying a child’s art portfolio and

creative, innovative, outside-the-box thinking.

The rise of online classes and webinars has also expanded the options for homeschool lessons. Several homeschooling parents, such as Kelm, report that they’ve used Rosetta Stone language-learning software to teach their kids a foreign language.

Parents also like that homeschooling allows them to better control their children’s digital diets.

“Our kids are so bombarded by media all the time, cellphones and all that, that we have a pretty strict policy about trying to keep electronics to a minimum,” Lair says. “We take the best parts of it and leave the rest behind.”

taking standardized exams — yes, some homeschooled kids take tests such as the SATs and Iowa exams. In some cases, parents are required to pay for a licensed teacher to assess their child’s abilities.

Despite such hurdles, most homeschoolers report that the rewards far outweigh the expenses. Lesauskis suggests that the rising popularity of homeschooling in Vermont reflects larger changes underway in society, including parents working remotely rather than in an office setting. As she points out, the “traditional” style of education found in the public schools, with its emphasis on standardization, rote memorization and testing, arose during the Industrial Revolution, when children were being groomed to work on assembly lines doing repetitive and often mindless tasks.

Lesauskis suggests that such an outdated educational model no longer serves children who are entering a 21st century global workforce that rewards

Even the Vermont Department of Education, which supports and oversees the public schools from which these students are leaving, sees value in homeschooling. Vermont

Commissioner of Education Armando Vilaseca says that he’s now working with some homeschooling families to make the enrollment and evaluation process less bureaucratic. And he believes there are valuable lessons to be learned from their approach.

“In all my years as a teacher, principal, superintendent and commissioner, my experiences with homeschool education have been very positive,” he says. “I think that sometimes we try to emulate in our public schools the applied, hands-on, experiential learning that homeschool parents are already doing.”

Sounds flattering, but if the last few years are any indication, those parents aren’t about to stop what they’re doing and give the public schools a try. K

Seeing

The grade on children’s programs in Middlebury

MIDDLEBURY

ACSU Early Education Program

201 Mary Hogan Drive, 382-1760

STEP AHEAD RECOGNITION SYSTEM

VERMONT’S

(STARS) helps parents evaluate programs that care for their kids. Sponsored by the Child Development Division of the Vermont Department for Children and Families, STARS assigns star rankings to participating childcare, preschool and after-school programs.

Programs must apply to receive a ranking.

The STARS coordinators consider applicants’ qualifications and operating policies, then assign them one to five stars. A single star means a program is new or examining its practices and working

SHINING STAR Each month,

Kids VT spotlights one four- or five-star program from the featured geographical area.

to improve them; a five-star ranking signifies that an applicant is established and outstanding in all areas.

Parents who meet the state’s income-eligibility guidelines may pay less for childcare if they enroll their children in programs with three, four or five stars.

Each month, Kids VT publishes an excerpt of the list of STARS participants. This month’s issue features the listings from Middlebury. Find more information about STARS, a complete list of rankings and other childcare resources at dcf.vermont. gov/cdd/stars.

Addison County Parent Child Center

126 Monroe Street, 388-3171

Addison County Parent Child Center (Playlab)

126 Monroe Street, 388-3171

Champlain Valley Head Start

201 Mary Hogan Drive, 382-1478

College Street Children’s Center

228 College Street, 388-2401

Lathrop Daycare

172 Valley View Drive, 388-7271

Mary Johnson Children’s Center

81 Water Street, 388-2853

Middlebury Children’s Cooperative (MJCC) 81 Water Street, 388-4394

Type of program: Year-round childcare center and preschool

Year opened: 1984

Age range of children: 6 weeks to 5 years

Last field trip: The 3- to 5-yearolds in the Eagle classroom visited a farm. They went on a Clydesdale-drawn wagon ride, explored the barn and had a picnic lunch. They loved learning about and petting the big horses.

Favorite outdoor activity: The 2- and 3-year-old Tigers love to walk in the rain. They notice the raindrops, find waterladen leaves, stomp in puddles, and make streams with their boots and sticks.

Favorite rainy-day activity: The infants in the Sea Pups room play with water inside on rainy days. The teachers fill the sensory table with 1 inch of water and add colored ice

cubes, which feel cool and are fun to pick up and toss in the water.

Favorite book: The Journey Home from Grandpa’s, by Jemima Lumley, is a favorite among the 1- and 2-year-old Otters. They enjoy phrases

such as “bouncy, bumpy road” and “icky, sticky sand.”

Most recent staff-development activity: During a recent inservice week, instructors attended a Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessment training to improve teaching techniques.

Middlebury School Age Program 81 Water Street, 388-2853

Otter Creek Child Center 150 Weybridge Street, 388-9688

Quarry Hill School, Inc.

1622 Quarry Road, 388-3622

St. Mary’s School Foundation Incorporated

88 Shannon Street, 388-2117

Sunshine Children’s Center

13 Washington Street Extension, 3883866

Vermont Adult Learning Day Care Center

282 Boardman Street, Suite 2, 388-4115

CALEB KENNA

Shelburne Farms

34th Annual!

HARVEST FESTIVAL

a C elebration uture

Saturday  SEPTEMBER 15  10 am–4 pm

Forest, Farm & Traditional Arts Exhibits & Demonstrations  Children’s Activities

 Children’s Farmyard  Locally Produced Food  Wagon Rides by Green Mountain Draft Horse Association & Green Mountain Miniature Horse & Donkey Association  Haybale Maze and more ... performanCes by:

Atlantic Crossing  Banjo Dan & the Mid-nite Plowboys  Haliana Burhans  Gary Dulabaum

Jon Gailmor  Gigi and Joni  Green Mountain Cloggers  Lake Champlain Waldorf School

Heather Morris Celtic Dancers  Toben & Tim Traver  Mary Ann Samuels & Susan Reit

Social Band  Pete Sutherland & Rose Diamond  The Swing Peepers

Very Merry Theatre (featuring Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods)  Will Dicker Boys

ADMISSIon: Adults $8  Children $5 

Children under 3 & Members Free

InFoRMATIon: 985-8686 or www.shelburnefarms.org

DIRECTIonS: FoLLoW SIGnS FRoM RTE. 7

1611 Harbor Road  Shelburne, VT

RAIn oR SHInE  Please no pets  ATM on PREMISIS

Special thanks to our lead sponsor

DEALER.CoM  AnD To:

Special thanks also to Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary

SEPT CALENDAR

Missing the Olympics? Check out the athletic feats at SHELBURNE MUSEUM GOES TO THE DOGS day. This year’s event includes DockDogs, a traveling showcase that bills itself as “the world’s premier canine aquatics competition.” Pro pooches and their people will vie for top honors in the big air, extreme vertical, speed-retrieve and iron dog events, all of which involve dogs leaping over a pool of water. Locals can take part, too — visit dockdogs.com to sign up. Other hound happenings include talks at noon and 3 p.m. by Luis Montalvan, author of Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him; and the popular pet parade, in which owners of all ages and their dogs dress up for a stroll around the grounds. You pawsitively shouldn’t miss it. — K.L.

SHELBURNE MUSEUM GOES TO THE DOGS: Sunday, September 16, Shelburne Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $5-10. Info, 985-3346, shelburnemuseum.org.

S

ponsored by: CALENDAR SPOTLIGHTS

4 TUESDAY

Community

Lake monsters Game: Families watch as Vermont’s monster-themed minor leaguers take on the Aberdeen IronBirds. Centennial Field, Burlington, 6:05 p.m. $7-8. Info, 655-4200.

Food

Kids in the Kitchen: Pierogi magic: Potato-filled dumplings are the star of the show as kids learn to roll, cut, stuff and seal these Eastern European favorites. Ages 6 and up, but all are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Preregister. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 per adult/child pair. Info, 8632569, ext. 1.

Health & Fitness

Tuesday-Night Trail Running: Kids lace up for the largest weekly trail-running series in the country. This fun event is for all ages and abilities and includes a 5K race, a 2.5K Cadets race (ages 9-12) and a short Cubs race (ages 8 and under). Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Williston, 6 p.m. $3-6; free for kids 8 and under. Info, 879-6001.

Library & Books

craftacular Tuesdays: Kids get caught up in low-tech projects. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-4665.

creative Tuesdays: Crafters use their imagination and recycled materials. All ages. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

5 WEDNESDAY

Arts

Back Porch concert series: Bring your own blanket and join friends on the veranda for a concert series featuring local musicians. ArtisTree Gallery, Woodstock, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3500.

Williston Kids music With mister chris: Chris Dorman leads kids in song and dance. All ages. Buttered Noodles, Williston, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 497-7217.

Community

Breast-Feeding-mom support: New mothers get to know each other during this informative and informal session. Children welcome. Grace Church, Rutland, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 747-8665. Lake monsters Game: See September 4. 6:05 p.m.

Education

Afternoons With Farmer Fred: Plymouth’s Fred DePaul demonstrates historic farming activities such as sheep shearing and logging. He also loves to give wagon rides in good weather. Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, 1-5 p.m. $2-7.50; free for kids under 6. Info, 672-3773.

social Thinking: Kids with nonverbal learning disabilities, Asperger’s syndrome and high-functioning autism develop their social skills. Call for times. Ages 6-17. Preregister. Maple Leaf Clinic, Wallingford. Info, 446-3577.

Food cookie decorating: Budding bakers doll up treats with sprinkles, frosting, sugar and nuts. Panadero Bakery, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-8278.

Health & Fitness

Afternoon Hoops: Basketball-loving high school students spend the afternoon dribbling, shooting and scoring. Preregister. St. Albans City Hall, 2:303:45 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1500, ext. 266. Kids open Gymnastics: Tykes tumble and jump while adults connect with other families. Snacks provided. River Arts, Morrisville, 10-11:30 a.m. $510. Info, 888-1261.

Library & Books

dorothy canfield Fisher Book discussion: Bibliophiles voice likes and dislikes about award-winning books such as The Great Wall of Lucy Wu. Ages 8-11. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

LEGo Afternoons: Youngsters create freely from big buckets of building blocks. Parents encouraged to send a snack; popcorn provided. Ages 6 and up. Lincoln Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 453-2665.

movin’ & Groovin’ With christine: Tots let loose to the rhythms of rock and world music. Ages 2-5. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

NooK Kids APPtivity: Tots tap tablets, playing, creating and learning using store-provided NOOK devices and kid-friendly apps. Barnes & Noble, South Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

Preschool music With Raphael: Little ones dance and sing to guitar tunes. Ages 3-5. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

Nature & Science

Wagon-Ride Wednesdays: Horse-drawn wagon

Ongoing Events

BiRds oF VERmoNT mUsEUm

Info, 434-2167

The delight of decoys: Visitors view a showcase of carved birds. There’s one for every year the museum has been open.

FAiRBANKs mUsEUm & PLANETARiUm

Info, 748-2372

Wildflower Table: This living exhibit reflects the abundance and diversity of flowers, grasses, berries, ferns and evergreens found in the Northeast Kingdom. Kids are introduced to more than 400 species displayed throughout the year, in both fruit and flowering stages.

FoRT TicoNdERoGA

Info, 518-585-2821

Fort Ticonderoga: This historic relic and site of bloody military battles for control of important trade routes boasts nearly 2000 acres of land to explore and constantly changing exhibits.

rides are fun for the whole family. Admission includes all farm and museum programs and activities. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $3-12; free for members and kids under 3. Info, 457-2355.

6 THURSDAY

Baby & Maternity

Breast-Feeding support Group: Lactating moms bring their babies and share stories, advice and company. Preregister. Family Birthing Center, Northwest Medical Center, St. Albans, 10 a.m.noon. Free. Info, 524-7970.

La Leche League of Essex: Moms and little ones meet to discuss parenting and breastfeeding. Pregnant and planning moms are also welcome. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 383-8544.

middlebury La Leche League: Breast-feeding moms and kids gather for fun and conversation. Expectant mothers welcome, too. Junebug Mother and Child, Middlebury, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 382-1589.

Community

mom’s matinee: Parents and their wee ones catch a flick with dimmed lights and baby-friendly volumes. Palace 9, South Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Free-$7.25. Info, 864-5610.

Health & Fitness

Hot mama Workout: Kids are welcome while moms squeeze in some fitness. City Hall Gymnasium, St. Albans, 9-10 a.m. $10, or free with preregistration. Info, 524-1500, ext. 266.

iNdEPENdENcE PETTiNG FARm

Info, 948-2429

Animal menagerie: Rain or shine, families visit, pet and feed a variety of animals at this educational, hands-on farm. Open daily, yearround. All ages.

moNTREAL sciENcE cENTRE

Info, 877-496-4724

star Wars identities: Combining LucasFilm archive memorabilia with interactive elements, this exhibit explores the development of identity. Fans explore their own existence by creatimg a unique Star Wars character. All ages.

moNTsHiRE mUsEUm

oF sciENcE

Info, 649-2200

Homeschoolers’ day: Problemsolving: Home-based learners engineer their way through the day, participating in workshops on bridge-building and large-scale marble shooting. All ages.

sonic sensation: Experience the everyday sounds of the audible world in this interactive exhibition.

Postnatal Yoga: Sore shoulders and backs feel some stretch and abdominal muscles get a tone-up in a class designed for moms and their precrawling kids. Evolution Yoga, Burlington, 1:30 p.m. $14. Info, 864-9642.

Library & Books

Food for Thought: Teen volunteers chow down on pizza and work on library projects. Grades 7-12. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Highgate Youth Advisory: Kids in grades 5 to 8 plan projects with the Crossroads after-school program. Highgate Public Library, 3-4:45 p.m. Free. Info, 868-3970.

Homeschooler Book Group: Bibliophiles share thoughts on recent reads. Ages 8-14. Preregister. St. Albans Free Library, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

PJ story Hour: Don your pajamas for tales, songs and a craft. Ages birth-6. St. Albans Free Library, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

shelburne magic club: Illusionists practice card tricks and share their most successful sleights of hand. Grades 5-8. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 985-5124.

7 FRIDAY

Community

First Friday Family dance: Supper kicks off a wholesome evening of live music and dancing. All ages. Worcester Town Hall, 5:30-10 p.m. $5-12. Info, 229-0173.

NEW ENGLANd mAPLE mUsEUm

Info, 483-9414

Fall celebration: Maple takes a new twist as museum exhibits turn into a colorful autumn array demonstrating the Vermont tradition of scaring off “evil” spirits.

maple-candy making: Sugar lovers sample the final product of the crystallization of Vermont maple syrup.

sHELBURNE FARms

Info, 985-8686

shelburne storywalk: Bookworms read pages posted along the trail to Lone Tree Hill. All ages.

sHELBURNE mUsEUm

Info, 985-3346

Art Activities at shelburne museum: Kids explore museum exhibits and regular art activities, including self-portraits and hands-on “Art on the Go” carts.

Time machines: A historical look at space travel, robots and rockets inspires visitors to consider the promises of science and how imaginations are captured by big ideas.

UNiVERsiTY mALL

Info, 863-1066

Halloween costume Recycling: Good-hearted ghouls and goblins drop off new or used Halloween costumes and supplies at the customer service desk. Dress-up duds will be donated to area children in need.

VARioUs LocATioNs

Killington Hay Festival: A fiveweek festival celebrates Vermont’s harvest season with a collection of more than 30 giant hay animals on display throughout town. Other fun includes a scavenger hunt, photo contest, restaurant week and a 5K run/walk.

VERmoNT iNsTiTUTE oF NATURAL sciENcE NATURE cENTER

Info, 359-5000

Raptors Up close: Little nature lovers discover the fascinating lives of birds in this exhibit featuring touchable artifacts and hands-on materials. Kids learn how birds are rehabilitated and the fundamentals of raptor training. All ages.

Through the Eyes of Raptors: Kids explore the natural world from the perspective of these efficient predators. Bird programs cover the mechanics of flight, seasonal migration and conservation issues. All ages.

Camping Continues…

It’s not too late to sleep out under the stars. In fact, there are some big advantages to late-season tenting, says rochelle Skinner of the Vermont State parks. It’s not swelteringly hot, for example, and most of the bugs are gone. plus, campers will find plenty of vacancies at the two dozen parks open through columbus day weekend. designed to break down barriers for first-timers, a cAmPiNG cLiNic sponsored by eastern mountain Sports and the Vermont State parks offers some practically useful tools. It starts with a gear clinic and ends with an expert-led Q&a over campfire-roasted marshmallows. In between, families pick up tips on site setup and camp cooking, as well as ideas for kid-centered outdoor activities. — K.l

LEARN s’moRE ABouT cAmPiNG: Saturday, September 22, Mt. Philo State Park, Charlotte, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. No preregistration or day-use fee required; attendees check in with park staff at the gate for free admittance. Info, 241-3720, vtstateparks.com.

Classes

List your class or camp here for only $15/ month! submit the listing by the 15th at kidsvt. com or to classes@kidsvt.com.

After-school Art classes: Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays after school. Cost: $25/ class. Location: visit elizabethjdye.com for details. Contact info: 434-3302 or elizabethjdye. com. Description: Lollipops Childcare and local artist Liz Dye (on the bus route for Richmond) are offering after school art classes for drawing, painting and 3-D artwork.

Beginner Piano Lessons: Schedule: Call for details. Cost: $25 for a half hour or $40 for a full hour. Contact info: Randal Pierce, 999-1594 or randal.pierce@gmail.com.

Description: Children will be able to learn piano on a Steinway Grand in a beautiful Victorian house in downtown Burlington. Students can learn to read music, compose and improvise at the piano at a steady but flexible pace.

cVsc Learn to skate Program: Schedule: Saturdays 9 a.m.-10 a.m., six-week sessions. Session No. 1: Sept. 15, Session No. 2: October 27. Cost/Description: Ages 3-adult, new and advanced skaters welcomed! Snow Plow Sam: $50 per session, Basic Eight, Hockey, Adult, and Free Skate: $90 per session. Location: Gutterson Field House, UVM. Contact info: cvsc_us@yahoo.com, 309-0419, or visit champlainvalleyskatingclub.org .

The Parent operative: Schedule: Six-week series with dates starting September 20, November 8, and January 10. Thursdays 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $280. Location: 34 Patchen Road, South Burlington. Contact info: Heather Lynch, MA, associatesinpsychotherapy.net, 658-4208. Description: The Parent Operative is a psychologist-facilitated support and educational group for parents and caregivers of all kinds. The objective is to create a supportive environment to reduce stress and increase confidence when parenting a spirited child.

Education

Foodways Fridays: Children and adults use heirloom vegetables in historic recipes prepared in the Billings farmhouse kitchen. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock. $3-12; free for kids under 3 and for members. Info, 457-2355.

Food

Burger Night: Hungry folks munch on locally made patties and hot dogs on fresh-baked buns, accompanied by newly harvested greens and homemade cookies. Kids parade each Monday along with live music. All ages. Bread & Butter Farm, Shelburne, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free; cost of food. Info, 985-9200.

Health & Fitness

Afternoon Hoops: See September 5.

Kids open Gymnastics: See September 5.

Library & Books

After-school movie: Film buffs put up their feet and watch a flick, popcorn in hand. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 223-4665.

ductTapeParenting signing: Parenting on Track creator Vicki Hoefle signs copies of her new book, which takes a less-is-more approach to raising resilient children. Brown Dog Books & Gifts, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. Free. Info, parentingontrack.com.

8 SATURDAY

Arts

Enchanted Forest intuitive Arts for Kids: Kids learn about chakras, gemstones, auras and meditation. Bring gemstones and a mat to sit on (stones can be be provided, if needed.) Ages 4 and up, accompanied by an adult. Moonlight Gifts, Milton, 10 a.m.-noon. $15. Info, 893-9966.

Kids craft: Artistic types get busy with duct-tape pencil boxes, clay teddy bears, yarn apples and clothespin people. Creative Habitat, South Burlington, 1-3 p.m. $3-5. Info, 862-0646.

major mess: Young artists explore holiday-themed projects with mixed media. All ages. Children under 4 must be accompanied by an adult. Purple Crayon Productions, Woodstock, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $10. Info, 457-3500.

mixed media drop-in: Kid creators craft boats, prints, masks, cards and clay projects in a hands-on session. All ages. Shelburne Craft School, 10-11:30 a.m. $12.

music for sprouts open House: Families check out this music- and movement-based kids program set on the farm. Ages birth-3. Bread & Butter Farm, Shelburne, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 802 497-7217. saturday drama club: Thespians help Very Merry Theatre produce a show in just three hours. All ages. Preregister. Very Merry Theatre, Burlington, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $15 (or pay what you can). Info, 863-6607.

Traditional craft saturdays: Visitors explore Vermont crafts — their history, process and uses — through informal learning and discovery. Topics include quilting, cooperage, sheep shearing and paper cuttings in the Polish style. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $3-12; free for members and kids under 3. Info, 457-2355.

Woodwind Quintet Performance: The Liberty Bells play classic woodwind tunes for admiring audience members. All ages. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 338-3480.

Education

Beautiful Birds: Discover the amazing diversity of feathers, eggs, nests and songs from live raptors from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science.

Gardener’s Supply, Williston, 10-11 a.m. $5. Info, 658-2433.

Fairs & Festivals

Ethan Allen Heritage Festival: Folks enjoy a festival of arts and crafts from the 18th century featuring performances by folk singers, a fife and drum corps, and the Vermont National Guard’s woodwind quintet. All ages. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info, 865-4556. Glory days Festival: See spotlight, pg. 34.

Nature & Science

Bird-monitoring Walk: Birders bring binoculars for a walk on museum property. Best for adults and older kids with some experience. Preregister. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 7-9 a.m. Free (donations welcome). Info, 434-2167.

First LEGo League coach Training: Coaches learn basic and intermediate operation of the programming language for robotic kits including navigation, object manipulation and use of sensors. Preregister by September 4. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 649-2200.

9 SUNDAY

Health & Fitness

shelburne Farms Fun Run: Ready, Set, Run! sets up 5-, 1-, and 1.5-mile courses for kids to pick a pace. Ages 4-12. Preregister. Shelburne Farms, 1 p.m. $3-6. Info, 863-8412.

Nature & Science

sundays for Fledglings: Kids hike, create, carve, act, write and investigate the lives of birds, their habitats and their neighbors. Intended for kids in grades 1-4, but all are welcome. Preregister. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 2-3 p.m. Free with regular admission. Info, 434-2167.

10 MONDAY

Arts

shake Your sillys out: Children’s entertainer Derek Burkins provides musical entertainment to get little toes tapping and juniors jumping at the Center Court. All ages. University Mall, South Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-1066.

Baby & Maternity

Baby Yoga: Mini yogis and their minders stretch and move to soothing music, building coordination, strength and balance. Ages 3-10 months. Preregister. Move You Fitness Studio, Essex, 10:45-11:30 a.m. $10. Info, 734-0821.

montpelier Prenatal Yoga: Moms-in-the-making give their full attention to relaxation and strength building. Yoga Mountain Center, Montpelier, 5:30-7 p.m. $15. Info, 778-0300.

Yoga After Baby: New moms focus on their core, pelvic floor and arm strength, bringing their infants along if they choose. Shambala Center, Montpelier, 11 a.m.-noon. $10. Info, 778-0300.

Food

Burger Night: See September 7.

Health & Fitness

Hot mama Workout: See September 6.

Library & Books

Write Now!: Poems and books offer inspiration to budding writers. Grades 6-12. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 8780313. Young Adult Advisory Board: Tweens and teens discuss how to make the library a destination for like-minded kids. Preregister. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

7 FRidAY (contInued)

Nature & Science

Books & Beyond: Children’s literature meets hands-on activities for science learning and exploration. Ages 3–5 with a caregiver. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10:15-11 & 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $10-12; free for kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

11 TUESDAY

Co unity

Girl Scouts Information Session: Families learn about scouting as a leadership development program for girls. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 888-474-9686.

Education

Milton Activities Fair: Families find out about clubs, businesses, recreation and services for children in the community. Booths set up at the Milton High School and Elementary School; shuttles provided between locations. All ages. Milton Elementary School, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 893-1009.

Health & Fitne

Tuesday-Night Trail Running: See September 4.

Library & B ks

Creative Tuesdays: See September 4. Game On!: Kids learn new diversions or play old faves. All ages. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-4665.

12 WEDNESDAY

Arts

Williston Kids Music With Mister Chris: See September 5.

Baby & Maternity

Burlington La Leche League: Moms bring their questions, babies and older kids, too, to this breastfeeding support group. Lending library available. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, second Wednesday of every month, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 985-8228.

Co unity

Georgia Family Game Night: Candyland, checkers and Monopoly bring gamers to the library. Visitors are welcome to carry in other favorites, too. Georgia Public Library, Fairfax, second Wednesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-4643.

Girl Scouts Information Session: Families learn about scouting as a leadership development program for girls. Allen Brook School, Williston, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 884-474-9686.

Education

Social Thinking: See September 5.

F d

Cookie Decorating: See September 5.

Health & Fitne

Afternoon Hoops: See September 5.

Kids Open Gymnastics: See September 5.

Library & B ks

LEGO Afternoons: See September 5.

Movin’ & Groovin’ With Christine: See September 5.

NOOK Kids APPtivity: See September 5.

Preschool Music With Raphael: See September 5.

Nature & Science

Wagon-Ride Wednesdays: See September 5.

13 THURSDAY

Arts

Open Mic Night: Local talents strut their musical stu in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. Ages teen to adult. ArtisTree Gallery, Woodstock, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 457-3500.

Co unity

Mom’s Matinee: See September 6.

Fairs & Festivals

The Tunbridge World’s Fair: A Vermont staple since 1867, this family-friendly festival features ag-related demonstrations, ox pulling, horse racing, cattle shows, floral and 4-H exhibits, contra dancing, gymkhana and many free shows. All ages. Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Barre, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. $8-13. Info, 889-5555.

Kids in the Kitchen: Presto Pesto!: Budding gardeners and aspiring chefs tour the gardens, picking basil, grating Parmesan and peeling garlic to make some fresh green sauce. Ages 6 and up, but all are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Preregister. National Gardening Association, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 per adult/ child pair. Info, 863-2569, ext. 1.

Health & Fitne

Hot Mama Workout: See September 6.

Library & B ks

Highgate Youth Advisory: See September 6. LEGO Club: Building-block lovers of all ages get busy with the library’s sets of Duplos, Quatros and Legos. St. Albans Free Library, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Teen Program: Adolescents down piza slices while planning library programs for the benefit of the community. Ages 12-18. Preregister. St. Albans Free Library, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

14 FRIDAY

Education

Homeschool Project Day: Kids present projects under work. Milton Public Library, 2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Fairs & Festivals

The Tunbridge World’s Fair: See September 13. 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

F d

Burger Night: See September 7.

Health & Fitne

Afternoon Hoops: See September 5.

Kids Open Gymnastics: See September 5.

Library & B ks

After-School Movie: See September 7.

PJ Party Book Launch: Jeanne Blackmore’s first picture book, How Does Sleep Come?, sends kids o to sleep in style at a soiree with wine and cheese for adults and cookies and milk for jammie-clad kids. All ages. Preregister. Flying Pig Children’s Books, Shelburne, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 985-3999.

Eddie Spaghetti

Made with marinara or butter. $5 | add 2 meatballs for $1.5

Grilled Cheese

Texas toast with cheddar & american cheese. Ser ved with a side of hand-cut

1899 MOUNTAIN ROAD, STOWE 802.253.4411 PIECASSO.COM

14 FRIDAY (CONTINUED)

Nature & Science

Parachutes: Curious kids make their own chutes to test air resistance. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

15 SATURDAY

Arts

Ancient Pottery Making: Archaeologist Charlie Paquin leads a workshop on pottery making as Vermont Native Americans did. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Preregister. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

Kids Craft: See September 8.

Mixed Media Drop-in: See September 8.

Saturday Drama Club: See September 8.

Traditional Craft Saturdays: See September 8.

Co unity

Curious George Appearance: Everyone’s favorite inquisitive monkey visits the mall. Other fun includes children’s activity stations, photo opportunities and prizes. University Mall, South Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. $3 donation benefits the VNA Family Room. Info, 863-1066.

Face Painting: Kids get fancy with facial embellishments by Snowqueen, near the Center Court. University Mall, South Burlington, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $4-5. Info, 864-0683.

Rummage Sale: Folks find treasures for the home, wardrobe and family among items donated by over 200 families. Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 985-2827.

Sarah Holbrook Community Center Celebration: Touch-a-Truck: SHCC celebrates 75 years of service to the community with a family-friendly event with more than 15 vehicles to explore, carnival and field games, a bouncy house, face painting, airbrush tattoos, magic shows, comedy improv, sweet treats, snacks, and pizza. All ages. Sara Holbrook Community Center, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 862-6342.

Story Times

MONDAY

Bristol Toddler Story Time: Lawrence Memorial Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2366.

Burlington Stories With Megan: Fletcher Free Library, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Essex Drop-in Story Time: Essex Free Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Marshfield Story Time: Jaquith Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

Milton Infant Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Richmond Pajama Time: Richmond Free Library, 6:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

St. Albans Story Time: St. Albans Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Stowe Story Times for 2-3-Year Olds: Stowe Free Library, 10 a.m. Free.

Waitsfield Story Time: Joslin Memorial Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 496-4205.

Waterbury Toddlers-’n’-Twos: Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Williston Story Time at Buttered Noodles: Buttered Noodles, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 764-1810.

TUESDAY

Alburgh Story Hour: Alburgh Community Education Center, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 796-6077.

Barre Children’s Story Hour: Aldrich Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-7550.

Burlington Science & Stories: ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, 11 a.m. $9.50-$12.50; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 324-6386. East Barre Kids Story Hour: East Barre Branch Library, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-5118.

Fairs & Festivals

Shelburne Farms Harvest Festival: Families embrace the autumn traditions of Vermont’s farms and forests with music, hayrides, demonstrations, fresh food, antique farm machines, roving livestock and a hay-bale maze. Shelburne Farms, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5-8; free for kids under 3. Info, 985-8686.

The Tunbridge World’s Fair: See September 13. 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Library & B ks

Library Movie Matinee: Patrons are treated to an afternoon showing of an animated, classic Dr. Seuss story. All ages. St. Albans Free Library, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1507.

Meet Author Tracey Campbell Pearson: A Vermont writer and illustrator reads from her book Guinea Pigs Add Up. Complimentary refreshments provided. All ages. Brown Dog Books & Gifts, Hinesburg, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 482-5189.

Nature & Science

Hoopster Gliders: Kids create a craft that flies.

Early-literacy skills get special attention during these free readaloud sessions. Some locations provide additional activities such as music, crafts or foreign-language instruction. Contact the story-time organizer or visit kidsvt.com for details.

Fairfax Story Hour: Fairfax Community Library. Info, 849-2420.

Georgia Pajama Story Time: Georgia Public Library, third Tuesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-4643.

Grand Isle PJ Story Time: Grand Isle Free Library, first Tuesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Highgate Fall Story Time: Highgate Public Library, 10 a.m. Info, 868-3970.

Hinesburg Preschool Story Time: Carpenter-Carse Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 482-2878.

Hinesburg Toddler Story Time: Carpenter-Carse Library, first Tuesday of every month, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 482-2878.

Huntington Story Time in the Nestlings Nook: Birds of Vermont Museum, second Tuesday of every month, 10:3011:15 a.m. Free-$6. Info, 434-2167.

Milton Preschool Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Richmond Story Time: Richmond Free Library, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 434-3036.

South Burlington Tiny Tot Time: South Burlington Community Library, September 4, 9:15 & 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Williston Reading With Frosty & Friends: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Williston Story Hour: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 11 a.m. Info, 878-4918.

Williston Story Time at Buttered Noodles: See Monday.

WEDNESDAY

East Barre Realms of Reading Crafts: East Barre Branch Library, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 476-5118.

Essex Free Toddler Story Time: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

Highgate Fall Story Time: See Tuesday. 11:15 a.m.

Richford Story Hour: Arvin A. Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 848-3313.

Shelburne Story Time With Webby: Shelburne Museum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free$20. Info, 985-3346.

South Burlington Baby Book Time: South Burlington Community Library, Sep. 5, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

South Burlington Saturday Story Time: Barnes & Noble, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

South Burlington Story Time: Barnes & Noble, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

Stowe Preschool Story Hour: Stowe Free Library, 10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145.

Swanton Story Hour: Swanton Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 868-7656.

Warren Preschool Story and Enrichment Hour: Warren Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 595-2582.

Warren Story Hour: Warren Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 496-3913.

Waterbury Baby Lap Time: Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Williamstown Story Time: Ainsworth Public Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 433-5887.

Williston Story Time at Buttered Noodles: See Monday.

THURSDAY

Bristol Preschool Story Time: Lawrence Memorial Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2366.

Essex Free Preschool Story Time: Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Kitchen Chemistry: Kids explore scientific reactions with household products. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Nature Conservancy’s Field Day: Paddle the Poultney, float on Lake Champlain, hike Bald Mountain, explore a clayplain forest preserve or learn about nature in a workshop on gardening and conservation during a day celebrating the outdoors. All ages. Green Mountain College, Poultney, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $10-25; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 229-4425.

VPT Family Day at the Montshire: Vermont Public Television Family Club members get into the museum for free and are greeted by Cli ord the Big Red Dog. All ages. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 654-3665. Wood-Carving Demo: Bird lovers check out carvings-in-progress and guess which feathered friends will be added next to the museum collection. All ages. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 1-2 p.m. $3-6; free for kids under 3. Info, 434-2167.

Franklin Story Time: Haston Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 285-6505.

Montgomery Story Hour: Montgomery Town Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, montgomery.librarian@gmail.com.

Shelburne Story Time With Mary Catherine Jones: Pierson Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 985-5124.

South Burlington Baby Story Time: South Burlington Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

St. Albans Story Time: See Monday. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Vergennes Story Time: Bixby Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 877-2211.

Westford Story Time: Westford Public Library, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-5639.

Williston Story Time at Buttered Noodles: See Monday. 10-10:30 a.m.

FRIDAY

Enosburg Story Hour: Enosburg Public Library, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 933-2328.

Georgia Preschool Story Time: Georgia Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 524-4643.

Huntington Story Time: Huntington Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 434-4583.

Lincoln Children’s Story Time: Lincoln Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 453-2665.

Milton Toddler Story Time: Milton Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

South Burlington Pajamarama: Barnes & Noble, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 864-8001.

South Burlington Story Time Adventures: South Burlington Community Library, 9:30 a.m. Free. Info, 652-7080.

Stowe Baby & Toddler Story Time: Stowe Free Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 253-6145.

Waterbury Preschool Story Time: Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

Williston Story Time at Buttered Noodles: See Monday. 10-10:30 a.m.

SATURDAY

Barre Story Time: Next Chapter Bookstore, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 476-3114.

Milton Therapy Dog Story Time: Milton Public Library, third Saturday of every month, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

South Burlington Saturday Story

Time: See Wednesday. 11 a.m.

South Burlington Second-Saturday

Stories: South Burlington Community Library, second Saturday of every month, 10:15 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 652-7080.

16 SUNDAY

Fairs & Festivals

Harvest for Hunger Festival: Families share the fall harvest and make donations to the Hinesburg Food Shelf while having fun with a petting zoo, wagon rides, races, games and more. All ages. Community Alliance Church, Hinesburg, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Donation of non-perishable food appreciated. Info, 482-2132.

Shelburne Museum Goes to the Dogs: See spotlight, pg. 26.

The Tunbridge World’s Fair: See September 13. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Health & Fitne

Basketball Clinics: The Saint Michael’s College women’s basketball program instructs girls in grades 6 through 12 during this series of skills clinics. Clinics cover o ense, defense, rebounding, position play and special situations. Preregister. Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 9 a.m.-noon. $25. Info, 654-2503.

Nature & Science

Astronomy Viewing: The Vermont Astronomical Society shares telescopes and stellar information with curious visitors. All ages. Weather permitting. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free. Info, 865-4556.

Mirror, Mirror: Little ones use looking glasses to investigate reflection and symmetry. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Parachutes: See September 14. Sundays for Fledglings: See September 9.

17 MONDAY

Arts

Shake Your Sillys Out: See September 10. Young Adult Film Crew: Aspiring actors, directors or audio-visual bu s learn to put together a TV program on Lake Champlain Access Television. Ages 12-18. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-0313.

Baby & Maternity

Baby Yoga: See September 10.

Montpelier Prenatal Yoga: See September 10. Yoga After Baby: See September 10.

F d

Burger Night: See September 7.

Health & Fitne

Hot Mama Workout: See September 6.

Library & B ks

Chess Club: Kids learn the game and take on others in friendly matches. Ages 6-14. Milton Public Library, 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

18 TUESDAY

F d

Kids in the Kitchen: Banana Curry: Young chefs learn to chop, simmer and steam in the process of making a top-secret sauce using fruit, spices and vanilla beans for a curious curry. Ages 6 and up, but all are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Preregister. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 per adult/child pair. Info, 863-2569, ext. 1.

Health & Fitne

Tuesday-Night Trail Running: See September 4.

Library & B ks

Creative Tuesdays: See September 4.

DuctTapeParenting Signing: See September 7, Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m.

Nature & Science

Hiking Presentation: Green Mountain Club ambassadors give a glimpse of the Long Trail, sharing photos and stories of hiking adventures. All ages. Joslin Memorial Library, Waitsfield, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 496-4205.

19 WEDNESDAY

Arts

Art for Tots: Children create their own masterpieces using a wide range of materials in a relaxed yet adventurous atmosphere for parents and toddlers. Ages 18 months to 4 years. Purple Crayon Productions, Woodstock, 10-11 a.m. $10 drop-in. Info, 457-3500.

Williston Kids Music With Mister Chris: See September 5.

Education

Social Thinking: See September 5.

Cookie Decorating: See September 5.

Health & Fitne

Afternoon Hoops: See September 5.

Kids Open Gymnastics: See September 5.

Library & B ks

LEGO Afternoons: See September 5. Movin’ & Groovin’ With Christine: See September 5.

NOOK Kids APPtivity: See September 5.

Pajama Story Time: Kids dress in their bedtime best to hear stories over cookies and milk. All ages. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-7576.

Preschool Music With Raphael: See September 5.

Nature & Science

Wagon-Ride Wednesdays: See September 5.

20 THURSDAY

Arts

Art Explorers: Tots explore art with a story, music, movement and creation stations that include drawing, painting, collage, sculpture and printmaking. Children may be dropped o or parents may stay. Ages 3-5. Purple Crayon Productions, Woodstock, 3-4:30 p.m. $10 drop-in. Info, 802 457-3500.

Co unity

Girl Scouts Information Session: See September 12. On-site registration available for the 2012-2013 membership year. Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m.

Mom’s Matinee: See September 6.

Health & Fitne

Hot Mama Workout: See September 6.

Welcome to the Seven Days & Kids VT Family!

• May 8

Ezra Matthew

Graczyk-Picard

Dad: Ken Picard • May 29 •

Lark Virginia Bromage

Dad: Andy Bromage

June 17

Violet Celia Mercieca

Mom: Maria Valiente

July 13

Connor Jay Liggett

Mom: Jessica Piccirilli

August 12

Zoey Irish Cleare

Mom: Ashley Cleare

Gourd Games

tired of bobbing for apples? try pumpkin bowling. Just roll a small pumpkin toward milk-carton pins and see how many you can topple. If that’s up your alley — and it’s harder than it sounds — check out the billings Farm & museum’s PumPKin and aPPle celebraTion, which features pumpkin bowling and other harvest-themed competitions. Apple races invite participants to run while carrying an apple — on their heads, tucked under their chins or balanced on a large spoon. In the hanging-apple eating contest, competitors chomp and chew string-suspended fruit. Sweeter and lower-key activities include cider pressing, taste testing of four apple varieties, and cranking up pumpkin and apple ice cream. — K.L.

PumPKin & aPPle celebraTion: Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30, Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $3-12; free for kids under 3. Info, 457-2355, billingsfarm.org.

Library & Books

book to Film discussion: Middle schoolers read Anthony Horowitz’s Stormbreaker, then watch the movie at the library, discussing both formats over snacks. Books available at the library. Grades 6-8. Preregister. Milton Public Library, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Highgate Youth advisory: See September 6. meet HigherGround’s author-illustator Team: Local writer Kevin Fitton and artist Mary Azarian discuss their new children’s book, Higher Ground, which was inspired by the events of Tropical Storm Irene. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 877-2211.

shelburne magic club: See September 6, 6-8 p.m.

Nature & Science

Hooray for Habitats: Animal homes in the swamps, forests and meadows of the Audubon Center demonstrate why variety is the key to a healthy ecosystem. Ages 3-5 with adult companion. Preregister. Green Mountain Audubon Center,

Huntington, 10-11 a.m. $8-10 per adult/child pair; $4 for each additional child. Info, 434-3068.

21 FRIDAY

Community

light the night burlington Walk: Friends and families walk with illuminated balloons: white for survivors, red for supporters and gold to commemorate loved ones lost to cancer. All ages. The Annex at Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, 9233-0014.

Food

burger night: See September 7.

Health & Fitness

afternoon Hoops: See September 5.

Kids open Gymnastics: See September 5.

Library & Books

after-school movie: See September 7.

burlington book Festival: Celebrate the

20 THursdaY (contInued)

word in a weekend full of readings, signings, panels, demos, music and kid-appealing fun, including an on-stage showcase of Vermont’s best young writers, Circus Smirkus performances and dance workshops for families. Various times and locations around Burlington. Free. Info, 658-3328.

Youth Night: Teens and tweens hang out and enjoy movies, snacks and projects. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, 223-4665.

22 SATURDAY

Arts

Kids Craft: See September 8. 11 a.m.-noon.

Mixed Media Drop-in: See September 8.

Saturday Drama Club: See September 8.

Traditional Craft Saturdays: See September 8.

Baby & Maternity

Welcome Baby Celebration: Parents with babies born in the previous 12 months gather for a baby bash. Milton Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Co unity

The Cookie Craze: Tipped Cow Cookies o ers taste tests and themed sweet-treat activities, along with prizes for kids. University Mall, South Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. $3 donation to benefit Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. Info, 863-1066.

Fall into a Good Book: The South Burlington Public Library and National Gardening Association host a day of nature-themed crafts, snacks and stories. All ages. Vermont Garden Park, South Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5251.

Health & Fitne

Walk Williston: Walkers wend their way through the autumn woods with Winooski Valley Park District sta . All ages. Five Tree Hill Trail, Williston, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5744.

Library & B ks

Burlington Book Festival: See September 21.

Nature & Science

How to Camp Clinic: See spotlight, pg. 28.

Skulls: Science lovers explore skeletal remains of local wildlife. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Straw Rockets: Mini-engineers discover the power of air during this hands-on session. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

23 SUNDAY

Baby & Maternity

Newborn 101: Moms- and dads-to-be get the skinny on tiny babies and how to enjoy the first three months of parenthood. Preregister. Franklin County Home Health Agency, St. Albans, 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. $30. Info, 527-7531.

Co unity

Girl Scouts Information Session: Families learn about scouting as a leadership development program for girls with onsite registration available for the 2012-2013 membership year. Ages 5-17. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 888-474-9686.

Health & Fitne

Basketball Clinics: See September 16.

Catamount Family Center Fun Run: Kids ages

4-12 lace up their sneakers for 0.5-, 1- and 1.5-mile treks sponsored by Ready, Set, Run! Preregister.

Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Williston, 1 p.m. $3-6. Info, 863-8412.

Library & B ks

Burlington Book Festival: See September 21.

Nature & Science

Astronomy Viewing: See September 16.

Glaciers: Science bu s explore the properties of ice while making model glaciers. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200. Sundays for Fledglings: See September 9.

Turtle Discovery: Young naturalists learn about shelled natives and help feed those that reside in the museum. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

24 MONDAY

Arts

Shake Your Sillys Out: See September 10.

Baby & Maternity

Baby Yoga: See September 10.

Montpelier Prenatal Yoga: See September 10.

Yoga After Baby: See September 10.

F d

Burger Night: See September 7.

Health & Fitne

Hot Mama Workout: See September 6.

Library & B ks

Intergenerational Book Discussion: Book-lovers gather for a read-and-rant session complete with desserts. Ages 12-adult. Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-7576.

25 TUESDAY

Arts

Art Safari: Tots dive into stories and art activities related to the museum’s collections. Ages 3-5 with adult. Preregister. Shelburne Museum. $5-7.50 child. Info, 985-3346.

Library & B ks

Creative Tuesdays: See September 4.

26 WEDNESDAY

Arts

Art in the Alley: Families stroll through downtown Waterbury to enjoy outdoor exhibits, live music and children’s activities, such as hands-on gardening. All ages. Various locations, Waterbury.

5-8 p.m. Info, 244-1912.

Art for Tots: See September 19.

Williston Kids Music With Mister Chris: See September 5.

Education

Prepare Your Child for Reading: Parents learn to help their child build their vocabulary and practice other activities aimed at improving comprehension and extending the conversation. Stern Center for Language and Learning, Williston, Free. Info, 8782332, ext. 356.

Social Thinking: See September 5.

F d

Cookie Decorating: See September 5.

Health & Fitne

Afternoon Hoops: See September 5.

Kids Open Gymnastics: See September 5.

Library & B ks

LEGO Afternoons: See September 5.

Movie Day: Hunger Games: Kids spend an afternoon o from school watching Katniss and Peeta compete. Movie rated PG-13. Milton Public Library, Free. Info, 893-4644.

NOOK Kids APPtivity: See September 5.

Preschool Music With Raphael: See September 5.

Nature & Science

Wagon-Ride Wednesdays: See September 5.

27 THURSDAY

Arts

Art Explorers: See September 20.

Open Mic Night: See September 13.

Co unity

Mom’s Matinee: See September 6.

d

Handmade Spaghetti and Tomato Sauce: Kids learn to make a simple, fresh sauce sauce and pasta dough for thick or thin spaghetti using handcranked pasta makers. Ages 8 and up, accompanied by an adult. Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. $5-10. Info, 861-9700.

Kids in the Kitchen: Mini Apple Turnovers: Apples go from crisp orbs to juicy filling for a rolled-dough pie pocket seasoned with cinnamon, folded and baked ’til ready for tasting. Ages 6 and up, but all are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Preregister. Healthy Living Market and Café, South Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $20 per adult/ child pair. Info, 863-2569, ext. 1.

Health & Fitne

Hot Mama Workout: See September 6.

Library & B ks

High School Book Discussion: Book lovers read Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth, then discuss the stories at the library. Grades 9-12. Milton Public Library, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 893-4644.

Highgate Youth Advisory: See September 6. LEGO Club: See September 13.

28 FRIDAY F d

Burger Night: See September 7.

Health & Fitne

Afternoon Hoops: See September 5.

All Aboard

Ready to ride the rails? The GLORY DAYS FESTIVAL, designated as one of the state’s “Top 10 Fall Events,” is designed to be both nostalgic and locomotivational. Wannabe conductors of all ages enjoy carnival games, model railroad displays, a pancake breakfast and train rides along the Connecticut River. You can even take the choo-choo to and from the festival; contact your local Amtrak station for details. — S.L.

GLORY DAYS FESTIVAL: Saturday, September 8, downtown White River Junction, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $3. Info, 295-5036, ext. 230, vtglorydaysfestival.com.

Kids Open Gymnastics: See September 5.

Library & B ks

After-School Movie: See September 7.

Spanish Story Time: Constancia Gomez shares books, songs and rhymes en español. Ages birth-6. Preregister. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Nature & Science

Friday Nights for Teen Tinkerers: Young adults plan and build cool creations, such as robots that draw, electronic bugs or tessellating designs. Grades 6-9. Preregistration recommended. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 6:30-8 p.m. $14-16. Info, 649-2200.

29 SATURDAY

Arts

Kids Craft: See September 8.

Mixed Media Drop-in: See September 8.

Saturday Drama Club: See September 8.

Co unity

Face Painting: See September 15.

Saxon Hill School Barn & Bake Sale: Frugal families stock up for fall and winter at a sale of used, high-quality children’s clothing, outdoor gear, toys, books, movies and more. Old Fashioned Harvest Market, Underhill, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 899-1722.

Education

Color Mixing: Museum guests blend hues and observe the resulting change. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 11 a.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Proud of your project?

Fairs & Festivals

Brandon Harvest Fest: Imaginations run wild as festivalgoers create scarecrows with supplied materials and accessories. All ages. Central Park, Brandon, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Donations. Info, 247-6401. Champlain Mini Maker Faire: A first-ever Vermont event features workshops, speakers and demonstrations aiming to inspire both kids and adults to roll up their sleeves. Enjoy the food and live music while you gawk at everyone else’s gizmos, such as an etextile weaver that creates fabric with conductive, light-up thread. Shelburne Farms, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. $6-15; free for kids under 12. Info, champlainmakerfaire.com.

Mazza’s Harvest Festival: Traditional fall goodies accompany a petting zoo, corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, pie-eating contests and a spooky greenhouse. Sam Mazza’s Farm Market, Colchester, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Most events are free. Info, 655-3440. Pumpkin & Apple Celebration: See spotlight, pg. 32.

Health & Fitne

Youth Field Hockey Day: Youth players wear team jerseys during Vermont’s match against Maine at 1 p.m. Bring a stick for a session of pass-withthe-Cats after the game. Moulton Winder Field, Burlington, 1 p.m. Info, 656-3075.

Nature & Science

Archaeology Weekend: Archaeologists share hands-on presentations about nautical history and discuss what threatens the lake’s collection of shipwrecks. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, -30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $6-10; free for kids under 5. Info, 475-2022.

Bird-Monitoring Walk: Fans of feathers bring their own binoculars and explore museum property

26 WEDNESDAY (CONTINUED)

Immunization. Power to Protect.

for avian excitement. Best for older children. Preregister. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 8-10 a.m. Free. Info, 434-2167.

Full Moon Stroll: An environmental educator leads a 1-mile walk looking for critters and discussing how wildlife prepares for winter. Top it o with hot chocolate and a campfire. Binoculars and beverages provided bring your own a flashlight and appropriate footwear. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5744.

Leafcutter Ants: Nature fans examine the secret life of insect fungus farmers during this hands-on investigation. All ages. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 3 p.m. $10-12; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200.

Native American Pottery Workshop: An archaeologist and artist demonstrates how to make clay pots in a hands-on program. All ages. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 11:30 a.m. $9.50-12.50; free for kids 2 and under. Info, 877-324-6386.

Playgroups

MONDAY

Barre Open Gym: Sunrise Gymnastics, 10 a.m.noon. $10 child. Info, 223-0517.

Burlington Crawlers, Waddlers & Toddlers: St. Joseph School, 11 p.m. Free. Info, 999-5100.

Essex Open Gym: Regal Gymnastics Academy, 11 a.m.-noon. $8; free for children under 18 months. Info, 655-3300.

Isle La Motte Playgroup: Isle La Motte School, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Montgomery Playgroup: Montgomery Town Library, second Monday of every month, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Williston Music With Raphael: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Winooski Fathers and Children Together: Winooski Family Center, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 655-1422.

TUESDAY

Bristol Playgroup: Bristol Baptist Church, 9:3011 a.m. Free. Info, 388-3171.

Burlington Family Play: VNA Family Room, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Burlington Fathers and Children Together: VNA Family Room, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Burlington Music With Robert: Fletcher Free Library, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 865-7216.

Essex BBF Playgroup: Essex Junction Recreation and Parks Department, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 872-9580.

Essex Open Gym: See Monday. 11 a.m.-noon.

Hardwick Playgroup: Hardwick Elementary School, 8:15-10:15 a.m. Free. Info, 652-5138.

Johnson Baby Chat: Church of the Nazarene, fourth Tuesday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470.

Middlebury Playgroup: Middlebury Baptist Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 388-3171.

Milton Playgroup: New Life Fellowship Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 893-1457.

Montpelier LEGO Club: Kellogg-Hubbard Library, third Tuesday of every month, 3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 223-4665.

Montpelier Tulsi Morning Playgroup: Tulsi Tea Room, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 223-0043.

South Hero Playgroup: South Hero Congregational Church, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Orienteering: The fields and woods on the farm provide grounds for training in map-and-compass navigation. All ages; children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Preregister. Shelburne Farms, 9 a.m.-noon. $5-12. Info, 985-8686.

Prehistoric Roadshow and Flint-Knapping Demonstration: Analyze your prehistoric finds and see how flint fractures, working it to make a projectile point. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Burlington, 2 p.m. $9.50-12.50; free for kids under 2. Info, 877-324-6386.

30 SUNDAY Arts

VYO Fall Concert: Young musicians perform Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 in D major, Edvard Grieg’s Im Herbst (In Autumn) and Dmitry Kabalevsky’s Violin Concerto. Ages 5 and up. Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, 3 p.m. $10-15. Info, 863-5966.

Fairs & Festivals

Mazza’s Harvest Festival: See September 29. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Pumpkin & Apple Celebration: See spotlight, pg. 32.

Health & Fitne

Youth Soccer Day: Youth soccer player get in free to see UVM take on Boston University. Email RallyCatamount@uvm.edu before game day for free tickets. Virtue Field, Burlington, 1 p.m.

Nature & Science

Archaeology Weekend: See September 29. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Astronomy Viewing: See September 16. Sundays for Fledglings: See September 9.

St. Albans Playgroup: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Worcester Playgroup: Doty Memorial School, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 229-0173.

WEDNESDAY

Barre Open Gym: See Monday. 10 a.m.-noon.

Enosburg Playgroup: American Legion - Enosburg, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 933-6435.

Essex Open Gym: See Monday. Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-noon.

Essex Welcome Baby Playgroup: Move You Fitness Studio, 10 a.m.-noon, Free. Info, 872-9580.

Fairfield Playgroup: Bent Northrup Memorial Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Hinesburg Playgroup for Dads: Annette’s Preschool, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 860-4420.

Montgomery Playgroup: Montgomery Town Library, second Wednesday of every month, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Morrisville Open Gym: River Arts, Fridays, 10-11:30 a.m. $5 child, $3 additional child. Info, 888-1261.

Shelburne Sing-Along: Lemon Peel Café and Creperie, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 985-9511.

South Royalton Playgroup: United Church on the Green, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 685-2264.

Vergennes Playgroup: Congregational Church of Vergennes, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 388-3171.

Williston Baby-Time Playgroup: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, September 12, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 658-3659.

THURSDAY

Burlington EvoMamas Playgroup: Evolution Physical Therapy and Yoga, second Thursday of every month, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 864-9642.

Burlington Family Play: See Tuesday. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Essex BBF Playgroup: See Tuesday. 9:30-11 a.m.

Essex Movin’ Moms: Move You Fitness Studio, first Thursday of every month, 10:30-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 734-0821.

Essex Open Gym: See Monday. 11 a.m.-noon.

Milton Playgroup: See Tuesday. 9:30-11 a.m.

Montgomery Infant Playgroup: Montgomery Town Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Morrisville Baby Chat: First Congregational Church of Morrisville, first Thursday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470.

Richmond Welcome Baby Group: Richmond Free Library, second Thursday of every month, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 899-4415.

South Burlington Playgroup in the Park: Jaycee Park, first Thursday of every month, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 652-7451.

Williston Music With Raphael: See Monday. 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Winooski Playgroup: O’Brien Community Center, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 655-1422.

FRIDAY

Essex Center Playgroup: Memorial Hall, 9-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6751.

Essex Open Gym: See Monday. 11 a.m.-noon. Ferrisburgh Open Gym: Ferrisburgh Central School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 388-3171. Montgomery Tumble Time: Montgomery Elementary School, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 527-5426.

Morrisville Open Gym: See Wednesday. 10-11:30 a.m.

St. Albans MOPS: Church of the Rock, first Friday of every month, 8:45-11 a.m. Free. Info, 891-1230.

Williston Playgroup: Allen Brook School, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 876-7147, jakruwet@ yahoo.com.

SATURDAY

Morrisville Weekend Baby Chat: Lamoille Family Center, second Saturday of every month, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3470.

South Burlington Tots & Tykes Open Gym: Chamberlin Elementary School, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4108.

Dazed and Cornfused

Nothing brings families together like a CORN MAZE. Negotiating these life-size, seasonal labyrinths is an autumn tradition along with leaf peeping and apple picking. It’s best to start in the morning, when it’s cooler and everyone’s got enough energy to make it through to the end. Every maze seems to offer a different incentive — some cool you off with a creemee; others hook you up with a baby calf, a chance to go pumpkin picking or a cup of hot apple cider. Make sure to call ahead for hours and directions.

— S.L.

Boyden Family Farm

Junction of Routes 15 and 104, Cambridge, Info, 598-5509

Brown’s Beautiful Blueberries

493 Coburn Hill Road, Craftsbury Info, 586-2202

Gaines Farm and Kennel

6343 Coolidge Highway, Route 5, Guilford Info, 257-0409

The Great Vermont Corn Maze

1404 Wheelock Road, Danville Info, 748-1399

Hathaway Farm & Corn Maze

741 Prospect Hill Road, Rutland Info, 775-2624

Isham Family Farm

3515 Oak Hill Road, Williston Info, 872-1525

Percy Farm Corn Maze Route 108, Stowe Info, 371-9999

Sam Mazza’s Farm Market 277 Lavigne Road, Colchester Info, 655-3440

Wards Berry Farm 223 Miller Pond Road, Strafford Info, 333-4113

Weybridge Gardens

181 Thompson Hill Road, Weybridge Info, 545-2306

Whitcomb’s Land of Pumpkins 347 Fay Lane, Williston Info, 879-5239

Tie-Dyed T-shirts

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, Glamour tapped a tie-dyed top as a must-have piece, and now the hippy-trippy color scheme is back in style. You can buy tie-dyed T-shirts everywhere from Urban Outfitters to Target — or you and your kids can DIY. It’s fun, and a great way to artfully revive your stained socks, shirts and onesies. Start by buying a kit — $12 to $20 at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft. It’ll give you everything you need in one box; we used one recently and had more than enough dye for four adult and two children’s T-shirts, and two onesies. These instructions describe two tried-and-true tie-dye patterns, but you can also go freehand. The dye has to set for several hours before you rinse it o , so if you’re doing this project with a group, make it a sleepover or a two-part party.

— KATE LADDISON

Instructions

1. Prepare your space by covering a table with a disposable tablecloth or garbage bag. Arrange your kit items so that they’re handy, then don your gloves.

2. Wet the T-shirt or clothing to be dyed and lay it flat on your work surface. (Wet fabric dyes much more easily than dry.)

3. Choose your dyeing design:

Materials

• Disposable tablecloth or other protective table cover

• Tie-dye kit containing: Rubber gloves

Squeeze bottles

Dye

Rubber bands

• Cotton T-shirt (or other clothing) for dyeing

• Plastic grocery bags or other plastic bags to store dyed items during setting

• To make a swirl pattern, put your fingertips down on the center of the shirt-front and turn the fabric as though you are turning a large dial. Once the item is wound around your fingers, slip several rubber bands around it, trying to keep the cloth folded into the swirl as much as possible.

• To make a bull’s-eye pattern, grab the center of the shirt-front and lift it off the table so that it hangs from your fist. Slip several rubber bands over the shirt at evenly spaced intervals. Each interval will be a ring of the bull’s-eye.

Wet the T-shirt or clothing to be dyed and lay it flat on table and squeeze dye onto it and between the folded material.

4. Once your clothing is folded and securely banded, lay it on the table and squeeze dye onto it and between the folded material. Flip the material over and squeeze dye onto the other side.

5. Place a single piece of dyed clothing into its own plastic bag or container to set for 6 to 8 hours, or overnight. The dye runs, so make sure to separate your projects.

6. After the dye has set, use a garden hose or faucet in a stainlesssteel sink to rinse out the clothing.

7. Wash and dry the clothing before wearing.

Lovin’ the Oven

BY KATHRYN FLAGG

Jeff Weaber and Katina Martin like to host sprawling backyard parties at their Salisbury home. Martin, a midwife and naturopath, often invites the mothers and babies she’s served over the years. That adds up to quite a crowd. How to feed it? With a pizza oven, of course. Two years ago, Weaber read up on

so-called cob ovens, recruited some friends and built one in four days.

“You just get out there and slap it together,” says Weaber, who is confident that most families could assemble something comparable in their own backyards. Even his daughter, then 3, pitched in on the construction.

“Kids love to get dirty!” he says.

Parents: Jeff Weaber & Katina Martin

Children: Ada, 5; Isla, 2; Finley, 17 months See

Katina’s

clay harvested from their yard candles for atmosphere built inside a dairy barn foundation

portable table for entertaining

sturdy wooden chess set for outdoor games

BY HELENA HOVANEC

COLORING CONTEST!

Send us your work of art by September 15 for an opportunity to win $25, sponsored by TD Bank

Be sure to include the info at right with your submission. Winners will be chosen in the following categories: (1) ages 4 and younger, (2) ages 5-8, and (3) ages 9-12. The best artwork will be featured on kidsvt.com, and winners will be named in the October issue of Kids VT. Send your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com or mail a copy to Kids VT, PO Box 1184, Burlington, VT 05402.

Book Smart

When my firsT son, TucKer, Was born, I looked forward to reading him bedtime stories. I remembered how much I loved hearing them before bed when I was little — a story here, a chapter there — until I was reading on my own each night, something I do to this day. My love of books inspired me to become a children’s librarian and to pursue my current job as program director for the Waterbury-based Children’s Literacy Foundation. I’ve always thought: Reading is in my blood

I was determined to nurture Tucker’s love of reading — even before day one. In preparation for his arrival, I bought copies of my favorite children’s classics, requested books as shower gifts and made sure to install a bookshelf in his bedroom. I planned to read him a story when he awoke in the morning and another before bed every night.

When he was a newborn, my ambitious plan worked. He awoke to “I think I can, I think I can” and went to bed to the tune of “on Wednesday he ate through four strawberries.” It was wonderful, a dream come true.

And then, suddenly, it was over.

When Tucker was about 3 months old, it suddenly became apparent that he and I had very different opinions about what constitutes a good book or bedtime story. My “tradition” of picking out a book, placing him on my lap, and reading a story from start to finish came to an abrupt end. The chaos began even before I reached the first page. For Tucker, the book was there to be devoured — literally. Setting a book in front of him was like placing a large bowl of hamburger in front of our dog.

At first, I would gently pull the volume from his mouth, and tell him that we don’t

chew books; we read them. His response? He grabbed and ripped the pages, and threw the books to the floor. He didn’t care about the story; he just wanted a snack. I remained calm, telling him to be gentle.

But inside, I was dying. Every time a glob of drool landed on a page, every time Tucker ripped off a corner, my stomach would tighten in knots. “Be nice to the book!” I wanted to say. “You’re ruining it! How are you going to be exposed to all these vocabulary words and learn that a caterpillar turns into a butterfly if you don’t listen to the story?”

Trying a different approach, I sat with Tucker close to my body and held a book in my hands with my arms straight out in front of me. That kept him from grabbing the book.

He kicked it instead.

This was pretty much how it went for the first two years of my son’s life. I started to think maybe I hadn’t given birth to a reader. Was it possible?

And then one day, when Tucker was 2, we had a breakthrough. I was reading a magazine; he, I thought, was playing with trucks. But when I looked up at him, I realized that he was looking at a book. Not only was he looking at the book, but he also started telling me the story, repeating the words that I had read to him over and over, the ones I thought he hadn’t heard.

The whole time he was climbing up and down his “storytime” chair, skipping over pages, interrupting the story, he was listening! It was music to my ears.

Turns out Tucker likes books. Reading grew on him. Now my only problem is that I find myself saying “You want me to read that book again? Really?” K

Vermont’s only certified Irish Dance School! All Ages…All Levels

Did you enjoy watching Riverdance? Why not learn some of the steps!

Call now for a spot in our Fall Classes!

Classes offered in Williston & Middlebury

PUZZLE

ANSWERS (see p. 44)

JUmbLES

Few. wink. cart. next.

RIDDLE ANSWER: what can run but can’t walk? water

RIDDLE SEARCH ANSWER: in their launch boxes.

Every time a glob of drool landed on a page, my stomach would tighten.

“Be nice to the book!” I wanted to say. “You’re ruining it!”

A bibliophile describes her best effort to get her son to read

by suzanne loring

Come join me for a marvelous musical adventure! It will be spooktacular... hahahaha!

Presents

Halloween Family Concert:

“A Symphony of Whales”

This kid-friendly concert includes an introduction of the instruments and several seasonally spooky selections. The highlight of the performance is a narration with music based on the book, “A Symphony of Whales,” by Steve Schuch. It takes its inspiration from a true story about whales stranded in the Siberian Sea, and the heroic e orts by villagers and a Russian icebreaker to free them. Music plays a key role in the heartwarming rescue — and audience members get to participate in a crucial decision!

Costume Parade!

VSO String Quartet members are Sofia Hirsch and David Gusakov, violins; Hilary Hatch, viola; and Dieuwke Davydov, cello. Our special guest narrator is Melissa Ewell, a music teacher from Swanton. Enjoy this high-energy presentation, which includes a parade of costumes, and treats to take home afterwards!

Sponsored by:

Locations & Times

Saturday & Sunday, October 20 & 21

• McCarthy Arts Center at St. Michael’s College, Colchester, Saturday, October 20, 11 a.m.

• Bellow Free Academy Performing Arts Center, St. Albans, October 20, 4 p.m. Funded by St. Albans Society for the Performing Arts.

• Middlebury College’s Mahaney Center for the Arts, Sunday, October 21, 2 p.m.

Ticket Prices

$7 for adults • $5 for seniors & children $15 for families (up to 5 people)

For more information & ticket outlets visit vso.org