ome years I can’t wait for the crisp air, darkening sky and changing leaves of autumn. As Riley Bernatchy writes in the poem at the end of this issue, “Fall paints the landscape beautifully.”
Indeed. But I’m not ready yet. I need a few more weeks, maybe some cider doughnuts from Shelburne Orchards, a drive down I-89 when the leaves are changing, to get me in
Putting together this issue of Kids VT did help. Thinking about harvest festivals and a new season of shows at the Flynn gave me something to look forward to. But I couldn’t help filling some of these pages with a look back at summer and the work kids all over the state did for the 2024 Good Citizen Challenge, our nonpartisan youth civics project.
What a summer this was, in terms of political news! The fateful presidential debate, the assassination attempt on former president Trump, President Biden dropping out of the race, Vice President Harris dropping in, the vice presidential picks. Honestly, I found all of it bearable because several times a day I got notifications that kids were doing activities in the Challenge. It was my own private news feed of positivity, and I loved it — 850 entries and climbing!
I’ll never have enough pictures of kids reading their local newspapers or learning about memorials in their towns or setting up lemonade stands to benefit flood relief — and the amazingly creative “I Voted” sticker designs,
Seriously, keep them coming. The deadline is September 2. And take a few moments to read through the responses we got from participants, starting on page 18. Maybe they’ll inspire you to volunteer or vote or participate in a fundraiser.
You may not be able to influence thousands of voters in a swing state, but you’ll make connections with the people who live nearby. They’re the ones you can work with to raise money for a new playground or to get a speed bump installed in front of your house to slow tra c. At the end of the day, those things will likely have a bigger impact on your day-today life than the outrageous congressperson who said something o ensive.
Lastly, I want to thank our underwriters for the Good Citizen Challenge — the Evslin family, the Pomerleau Family Foundation and the Vermont Community Foundation — and all of our partners. We couldn’t have put this all together without their support. Writing a thank-you note is one of the activities in the Challenge, and all of these folks deserve a big one.
So, are you ready to start a new school year yet? Good luck to all of you parents out there buying school supplies, packing lunches and gearing up for the chaos ahead. We see you!
You got this!
Is it time for cider doughnuts yet?
CATHY RESMER
New Vermont “I Voted” stickers designed for the Good Citizen Challenge, clockwise from top left: Lyle Johnson, Willa Saunders, Grace Gillman, Charlotte Krueger, Alice Coco, Sophia Coco, Elianna Venables-Vogel, Alaina Willette, Douglas Arneson, Marion LaPorte, Ada Champlain Weinberger, Ruthie Frietze
BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH AND CATHY RESMER
Boho Baby Outlet
Opens in St. Albans
Looking for good deals on fall clothes for your kiddos? There’s a new place to find them in Franklin County: Boho Baby recently opened an outlet store in St. Albans.
Fans of Boho Baby’s Williston consignment shop will find gently used items of comparable quality at the outlet, owner Lisa Golding said. There might be more items from top brands in Williston, but “St. Albans is the place to go if you’re trying to stock up.”
Golding opened the new location to move some of the preemie-throughsize 14 inventory that had been piling up in the Williston store, clothes that sellers had dropped off to be priced and then abandoned. “We were being left with contractors’ bags full of stuff,” Golding said. Now those dresses, shorts and jammies can find another family.
Items typically sell for $2.50 to $6.50. There’s slightly used baby gear, as well, all of it priced to move. “You’d
ECHO Gets an Upgrade
The lake sturgeon that live at the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain will soon be big fish in a bigger pond. Burlington’s lakefront science and nature museum is more than doubling the size of the sturgeons’ 7,000-gallon freshwater aquarium, also home to other large lake dwellers such as the bowfin, channel catfish and muskellunge.
The new 15,000-gallon tank is part of a $3.3 million renovation that will refresh ECHO’s 20-year-old “Into the Lake” exhibit. It will also include improved habitats for native species, such as the American eel, landlocked Atlantic salmon and lake trout, and an invasive species display and exhibit. ECHO’s beloved snapping turtle is literally moving on up to bigger digs on the mezzanine level.
Funding for the project came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as gifts from local foundations and longtime donors. Construction gets underway in mid-September and will last a few weeks. ECHO will be closed to visitors on weekdays during this period, so check to be sure it’s open before making plans to visit. ECHO will reopen as usual after the initial closure but without “Into the Lake”; a grand reopening of the exhibit is planned for June 2025.
be hard-pressed to find anything over $20 in the entire store,” Golding said.
The outlet is also home to Boho Baby’s first Playspace, a room connected to the store that is filled with sensory boards, Pikler triangles and a train table to transfix toddlers while caregivers converse nearby on a comfy couch. Intended for kids up to age 5, the room is available by reservation only at $7.50 per child for a 90-minute session, with discounts for additional siblings.
Golding noted that the space is suitable only for supervised play — it’s not a drop-off-while-you-shop situation — and her aim is to give parents a place to socialize while keeping the kids entertained.
“Community is super important to us,” she said.
— C.R.
Boho Baby Outlet, 133 N. Main St., Suite 15, St. Albans City, @bohobabyoutlet on Instagram.
— C.R.
The Playspace
Boho Baby Outlet
Music Review: ‘Everyone on Board’
Land ho! Raise the ship’s flag, because Vermont’s most nautical of kids’ music pirates is back with a new self-released album full of sing-alongs, life lessons and positivity.
Musician Ron Carter, better known to little Vermont buccaneers as Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate, has been writing and releasing music for kids since 2002. The Smugglers’ Notch-based singer-songwriter mixes fun and education into catchy, aquatic-themed tunes.
Ron’s latest o ering, Everyone on Board, continues his long and consistent run of entertaining records. He adds just enough musical tricks to keep adult listeners interested, even as he gets the kids singing along to songs about such pressing topics as wanting one’s binky back (“Gimme Back My Binky”) and study habits (“Smarty Pants Pirate”). There’s a kind of subtle genius to Rockin’ Ron’s songwriting; balancing a sense of fun with an educational bent is much harder than it appears.
Find his tunes on Spotify and his calendar of appearances at rockinronthefriendlypirate.com.
Parents and Schools Put Limits on Phone Use
Your 12-year-old is asking for a smartphone, saying all her friends have one. How should you respond? If you’re struggling with this question and looking for some strategies, you’re not alone.
— C.F.
adviser to a group that calls itself the Phone-Free Schools Movement, which aims to help parents, educators and administrators create phone-free policies for K-12 schools.
Vermont's First Children's Museum
www.wonderfeetkidsmuseum.org is growing every day! Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00-4:00 $8 per person Discounts available for seniors, military, and with your EBT card
Figuring out whether, when and how to give kids access to digital devices is a uniquely contemporary challenge. Your pre-internet parents never confronted this question, and there are no o cial rules, regulations or even commonly accepted best practices around these digital decisions.
That’s starting to change, though. In the spring, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt published The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, in which he argues that the rise in smartphone use among kids is responsible for increased rates of depression, anxiety and self-harming behavior. Critics have quibbled over some of the data he cites, but the book has sparked conversations among parents — and policy makers. Haidt is now an
Some schools and districts in Vermont have announced that they’ll be phone-free during the academic day this year, including Harwood Union High School, Thetford Academy and the Lamoille South Supervisory Union district. Lamoille South surveyed parents and caregivers last spring to gauge support for a phone-free policy. In an August 5 letter to families, superintendent Ryan Heraty noted that parents and caregivers were “overwhelmingly” in support of the measure. And they weren’t the only ones: “Students also recognize the impact and distraction that devices are having on their school experience and many of our harassment and bullying complaints can be traced back to cell phone and social media use,” he wrote. Learn more about the case for phonefree schools at anxiousgeneration.com and phonefreeschoolsmovement.org.
As for when to give kids a smartphone, the group Wait Until 8th urges parents to hold o until at least the end of eighth grade, and it o ers resources and strategies for approaching the dilemma. Find them at waituntil8th.org.
— C.R.
this year’s best back-to-school supply. Forget those new jeans and superhero lunchboxes. Confidence is the best school supply you can give your kids.
Fall fun for the whole family
Save the Dates
BY CATHY RESMER
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30
African Acrobats
The performers of CIRQUE KALABANTE don’t just execute gravity-defying moves, they also bring the beat. Live percussion and kora music are interwoven into the show, which is inspired by daily life in Guinea. Bonus: The 6 p.m. start time bodes well for getting to bed at a reasonable hour on a school night.
Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 6 p.m. $27.50-52.75. Info, flynnvt.org.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Doggone Adorable
The Onion City livens up the last Sunday farmers market in September with BEST POOCH IN THE NOOSK, a dog show for lovable pups and their humans that returns this year after a pandemic hiatus. DJ Craig Mitchell emcees the contest, which includes prizes for the cutest canine, best costume, best trick, dog who looks most like their human and worst breath. Winners receive a gift card to a local pet store.
During its two-day HARVEST CELEBRATION, Billings Farm & Museum invites visitors to help out by husking and shelling corn, harvesting sunflower seeds, and pressing apples into cider. Also on o er: picturesque wagon rides, traditional barn dancing and pumpkin bowling. Cider and other seasonal snacks will be available for purchase in the Farmhouse Scoop Shop; the fall foliage views are free of charge.
Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $12-19; free for members and children 2 and under. Info, billingsfarm.org.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, THROUGH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Puppet Masters
Local and international puppetry practitioners gather in southern Vermont for workshops, discussions and performances during the annual PUPPETS IN THE GREEN MOUNTAINS festival. Kid-friendly productions include Bois, from Québec’s Puzzle Theater. The puppets are made of tree roots and branches; the title means “woods.” A German group explores the relationship between humans and machines in Free as a Robot.
Various venues in Putney and Brattleboro. Prices vary for individual events. Info, puppetsinthegreenmountains.net.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, SEPTEMBER 14 AND 28, OCTOBER 12 AND 26
Biz Kids
Budding entrepreneurs set up shop outside Once Upon a Time Toys in Stowe on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, selling their wares in the CRAFTY KIDS FARMERS MARKET. The items on o er vary depending on who shows up, but they have included jewelry, lemonade and abstract paintings. “It can be absolutely anything,” toy store owner Nancy Teed said. If you go, bring cash, though some vendors use Venmo. To exhibit, email fun@stowetoys.com or call the shop at 253-8319.
Once Upon a Time Toys, Stowe, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free to attend. Info, stowetoys.com.
Find more family fun each week in the Seven Days calendar or online at sevendaysvt.com/familyfun.
Ezra and Lyra selling their wares at Crafty Kids Farmers Market
News Vermont families can use from Seven Days
Education reporter Alison Novak covers K-12 schools and childcare for our parent publication, Seven Days. A former elementary school teacher and former Kids VT editor — and current mom of two teens — Novak draws from firsthand experience to cover her beat.
Here are excerpts from two of her recent stories, below.
SARA HOLBROOK COMMUNITY CENTER EMPLOYEES SAW SIGNS OF TROUBLE
August 7, 2024
In 2020, the Sara Holbrook Community Center, a prominent Burlington nonprofit that provided summer, afterschool and early education programs for city youths, got a much-needed overhaul. Following a five-year fundraising campaign, its humble building, near the intersection of North Street and North Avenue, underwent a $3.3 million renovation that more than doubled the amount of space, providing new classrooms, offices and a small gymnasium.
Picture windows on the second floor offered sweeping views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. The center’s new boxy, multihued façade looked both modern and playful. It was
Find Seven Days education reporter Alison Novak’s latest stories at sevendaysvt.com/ education.
a space with promise and possibility for the hundreds of mostly low-income children that walked through its doors.
But just four years later, Sara Holbrook abruptly closed.
“After a deep assessment of our financial picture, the board had no other choice but to move forward with this difficult decision,” a July 19 press release said.
In an interview days after the announcement, board chair Kristin Fontaine attributed the closure to a constellation of factors: an ambitious expansion project that cost more than
TRUE 802: TEMPORARY TOYS
August 14, 2024
As every parent knows, the cost of toys adds up fast. And it feels silly to invest in pricey playthings that kids will tire of in a few weeks.
That’s where Playscape Vermont comes in. The Burlington biz, launched in July, rents out kiddie items — high chairs, strollers, marble runs and Legos — by the day, week and month. Weekly prices range from $4 for a Little Tikes T-ball set to $40 for a souped-up stroller wagon for two.
The business is the brainchild of Burlington resident Alia Liberatore, who became well versed in kids’ toys and gear as an early childhood educator and social worker, followed by a stint pricing items for Williston kids’ consignment store Boho Baby. She also has a 3-year-old daughter.
Liberatore got Playscape off the ground with $15,000 in funding from
expected; the loss of pandemic relief funds; stiff competition for grants and donations; and staffing challenges that led to raising employees’ salaries and increasing benefits. The last day of operations was July 31.
Yet Fontaine’s explanation glossed over other difficulties. Interviews with former employees and those who worked with and donated to Sara Holbrook describe an organization that was financially mismanaged and spiraling in the years before it closed its doors. Despite its financial difficulties, the organization, which was considered a pillar of youth services in the community, never publicly sounded the alarm about its fiscal challenges.
READ MORE ONLINE.
Community Capital of Vermont, a small-business lender based in Barre that helped her create a business plan and come up with financial projections, free of charge.
For now, Liberatore is focused on renting to locals. Customers can pick up items in Burlington or pay a fee for delivery within 20 miles of the Queen City. Down the road, she’s hoping to partner with local Airbnb owners to supply out-of-towners.
Ericka Behrsing of Fairfax recently rented a gymnastics bar for her daughters, ages 4 and 6, while the Summer Olympics aired. Burlington mom Julie Garwood said her 3- and 5-year-olds loved their rentals: a science-themed toy called Air Toobz and an updated version of the classic game Twister.
“We were amazed that such a fantastic local resource hadn’t existed before,” Garwood wrote in an email. “We can’t wait to rent again!” K
For more information, visit playscapevermont.com.
A child playing with Playscape Vermont toys
Kids in a Sara Holbrook afterschool program in 2018
LAGUE
Simple Fruitcake
Everyone will want to eat this treat from ‘Aunt Annie’
Looking for a super-easy cake to make for breakfast, snack or dessert? Give my mom’s Aunt Annie Cake a try.
Truth be told, we’re not sure whose “Aunt Annie” came up with this recipe. My grandmother said it was also sometimes called To Catch a Wolf Cake or Poor Man’s Fruitcake. It doesn’t call for milk or eggs, and oil could be substituted for the butter, so it may be from the Great Depression. Whatever the origin, it has always been a favorite in our family — and it’s wonderful as a lunch box or afterschool treat!
of the water. At Christmastime, we have often made it with leftover glogg (Swedish mulled wine with raisins, lovely, easy, adaptable cake. Even better,
INGREDIENTS
• 3 cups water (divided)
• 1 pound (about 4 cups) raisins
• 1/2 cup butter
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two loaf pans with cooking spray.
• 2 cups sugar
2. In a large pan — at least 4-quart — boil 2 cups of water together with raisins until the raisins soften, about five minutes.
Though we normally use only raisins, you could add nuts or other dried fruit. Orange juice can be swapped for part
• • 1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
3. Add butter and stir to melt.
4. Stir in sugar and spices.
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon baking soda
5. Whisk in baking soda. The mixture will bubble up when the baking soda is added — this is why a larger pan is necessary, so nothing bubbles over.
6. Mix in flour and stir until well combined.
7. Pour the mixture evenly into the two prepared loaf pans.
8. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
9. Cool for about five minutes before removing from loaf pans.
MEALTIME BY ASTRID HEDBOR
Good Citizen VIBES
Hundreds of Vermont kids are taking the 2024 Good Citizen Challenge
BY CATHY RESMER
Picking up trash, listening to candidate debates, raising money for local charities, reading the news — over the past few months, Vermont kids have been doing all of these things as part of Seven Days’ Good Citizen Challenge. This nonpartisan youth civics project encourages students in grades K through 8 to learn about and get involved in their communities by doing these and other civic-themed activities.
For each one they complete, they’re entered to win prizes including a free trip to Washington, D.C.
Activity Checklist
*These activities can be completed and submitted more than once for additional entries in the prize drawing.
1. Design a New “I Voted” Sticker
After voters go to the polls on Election Day, they receive an “I Voted” sticker. This is a way of promoting participation in our democracy. Design a new, 2-inch, circular “I Voted” sticker that everyone will want to wear! A panel of judges will choose one to be reproduced by the Secretary of State’s O ce and distributed at the polls in the winner’s town on Election Day in November.
2. Borrow Something From the Library*
So far this summer, Good Citizen participants from around the state have done more than 850 activities. Some kids do just one, others set out to become “Distinguished Citizens” by completing all 25.
We’ve promoted the Challenge in print, on the radio, on TV and online through all of our awesome media partners. You might have seen me on WCAX-TV Channel 3 giving away prizes every Thursday during the morning newscast.
the so awards
Visit your local library. Borrow something from the collection — a book, a movie, a museum pass, a cake pan, gardening tools, etc. Tell us what you borrowed and why. Be sure to return it on time!
3. Visit a Memorial*
Middlebury College student Ben Conway, our Good Citizen intern, also distributed thousands of pocket brochures at stores and libraries. He and I handed them out in person, with help from other Seven Days sta , at events including Vermont Lake Monsters baseball games, a Vermont Green FC soccer match, Waterbury’s Not Quite Independence Day parade and the Do Good Fest in Montpelier. We took lots of photos of people holding our “I’m a Good Citizen”
signs; attending a community event was activity No. 9!
Seeing and interacting with so many smiling, community-minded kids and parents was our own Good Citizen prize. We’re looking forward to seeing those Good Citizens again at the awards reception at the Statehouse on Thursday, September 19.
Public memorials commemorate people and events a community wants everyone to remember. Visit a memorial near where you live and find out who it honors and why. Tell us which one you picked and why it was placed there.
4. Read This Comic Book
In the meantime, here are a few notable entries to inspire you during what promises to be a divisive fall election season, along with a list of the 2024 Challenge activities. The deadline to enter is Labor Day, September 2, but most of these are things you can do anytime — especially the ones about following the local news!
The Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction produced Freedom and Unity: A Graphic Guide to Civics and Democracy in Vermont with help from Vermont Humanities and the Secretary of State’s O ce. It’s an overview of the various ways local government works. Get a copy from the Secretary of State’s O ce or find it online at cartoonstudies.org/ css-studio/cartooningprojects/ freedomandunity. Tell us what you learned.
GOOD CITIZEN VIBES, P.20 »
Fifth grade class from Champlain Elementary School after picking up trash
Hanaleia Hartz
5. Go Jump in a Lake — or a Public Pool*
Take a dip in a public pool or in a pond or lake at a Vermont State Park. Find out who pays for it to operate and takes care of it. Who makes sure it’s safe to swim there? Is there anything you can do to help? Tell us what you learned. Can be repeated at di erent locations.
6. Support a Local Business*
Pick a business in your community that you and your family buy from regularly and fill out a comment card or leave a positive review online to show your support. Share your comments with us. Can be repeated at di erent locations.
7. Visit the Fire Department
Contact your local fire department and ask if you can drop by to talk with a firefighter or rescue squad member. Ask them why they joined the fire department or rescue squad, how long they’ve been doing this work, what kind of training they receive, and how you can help them keep your community or family safe. Tell us what you learned. If you have it, share a photo of your visit.
8. Search for a Deed
Go to your city or town hall and find the deed for a property that’s meaningful to you. How old is it? How many people have owned it? Do you recognize any of the names on the deed? Take a photo of the deed and tell us which property you chose and what you learned.
9.
Attend
a Community Event*
There are lots of community events during the summer: festivals, parades, concerts, talks, games, fireworks shows. Go to a gathering near the area where you live. Tell us about your experience. Lake Monsters games and Vermont Green FC matches count!
10. Write a Thank-You Note*
Think about someone in your community who you depend on, who helps you out without asking anything in return — this could be a snowplow driver, a mail carrier, a janitor, a librarian, an election worker, a business owner who sponsored a community event you attended. Write that person or group a thankyou note letting them know that you see and appreciate them. Give them the note, and share a copy with us.
11. Connect With Your Neighbors*
Join your neighborhood’s free Front Porch Forum — or, if you’re under 14, have an adult in your household subscribe — and contribute a post about the Good Citizen Challenge, sharing something you’ve learned. Be sure to write “Good Citizen Challenge” in your post. You can repeat this activity, posting about other activities you’ve completed. For every Good Citizenrelated post you write, you’ll be entered in a ra e to win a $250 gift certificate to a local store of your choice.
12. Organize Support for a Cause
Gather donations for a local nonprofit or nonpartisan charity of your choice by encouraging friends, neighbors or family members to contribute. Expand your impact by using Front Porch Forum or social media to seek donations or promote your fundraiser. Tell us which charity you chose and why and how much you raised. Everyone who completes this activity will be entered in a ra e to win an additional $500 toward their cause.
13. Pick Up Trash*
Spend at least 15 minutes picking up litter in a public park or playground. Send a photo of the stu you picked up and threw away. Don’t forget to wear gloves — and never pick up needles. If you find one, tell an adult.
14. Play or Sing
“America the Beautiful”
The words to “America the Beautiful” were written by Katharine Lee Bates; the melody that we sing today is by Samuel A. Ward. Record yourself singing or playing it on your instrument and send us the recording.
15. Visit a Historical Site or Museum*
Visit one of the area’s many historical sites or museums. This could be a local museum of any kind, a historical site or the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier; Fort Ticonderoga in New York counts, as well. So does the Vermont Statehouse! Tell us: What was your favorite part of your visit? Who works there and maintains it? You can often check out free museum passes at your local library.
16. Find Your Polling Place
You won’t be able to register to vote until you’re 18, but if you could vote, where would you go to cast your ballot?
Find out where your polling place would be — by asking your town clerk, librarian or a registered voter who shares your address — and tell us.
17. Work Together With Someone From a Different Background*
Find someone who comes from a di erent background or perspective. For example, this could be someone from a rival school, someone whose family looks di erent from yours, someone who practices another religion or supports an opposing political party. Do something positive for your community together. Share a photo of you with this person and describe your di erences. Tell us about your joint activity.
18. Watch a Candidate Forum or Debate*
There will be lots of opportunities to hear from candidates for o ce in 2024.
Trevor Glowac of Stowe at the Do Good Fest
Nora Rogers and friends attending the Lamoille Pride event in Morrisville
GOOD CITIZEN VIBES
SUPPORT OTHERS
Good Citizens are people who can be counted on to pitch in when needed. Many Challenge participants demonstrated that they’re willing to lend a hand by completing activity No. 12: Organize Support for a Cause.
GRACE GILLMAN, 8, raised more than $100 for the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington in June. “I baked two types of cookies with my grandma and sold them at our community garage sale,” she said.
CLAIRE SPARROW ZANDSTRA, 13, of Topsham sold earrings and cards at the Blake Memorial Library’s plant and book sale and raised more than $40.
SUSANNAH RYE , 10, of Waterbury invited her neighbors to join her in donating items to the Waterbury Common Market, a food resource for area families. “I just reached out to them over email and a lot of them responded,” she wrote.
Lemonade stands were also popular. Students from the HYDE PARK ELEMENTARY SUMMER PROGRAM set up one to support the Lamoille Area Cancer Network.
PIPER BLANCHARD of Randolph sold lemonade before the July 3 fireworks to raise money for the Randolph recreation department. “I go to camp there, I love their skating rink, and the outdoor pool!” she wrote.
WILLA AND HAZEL SAUNDERS of Burlington sold lemonade with their friend Sophie to benefit flood relief for Intervale farmers. “We chose this cause because we saw a story on the local news about the flooding and our family often buys food grown by the farmers there,” Willa wrote.
And CLARK AND MAEVE DICKINSON organized a lemonade stand in front of
who stepped up to support her kids’ efforts. “It was a beautiful thing,” she said, “and it lets kids see that they can have an even bigger impact than they thought.”
STAY SAFE
Vermont fire and rescue departments respond to many different types of emergencies. They’re staffed by paid and volunteer members who participate in trainings to stay current with the equipment they use. For activity No. 7, we asked participants to visit their local fire and rescue squad.
TUCKER BOUTIN, 8, visited the Fairfax Fire Department. “We brought them some pizza as a thank you for their service,” he wrote.
ALAINA WILLETTE , 11, of Ferrisburgh visited her local rescue squad in Vergennes and met an advanced emergency medical technician and an EMT in training. They explained that EMTs do a lot of computer testing and hands-on training, and they let Alaina and her sister check out the ambulance.
The members of the MORRISTOWN CENTENNIAL LIBRARY TEAM visited their local fire station and learned what a volunteer fire department means, what it takes to be a junior recruit, and how the department helps out with other emergencies, such as car accidents and the recent flooding. “Then we got to walk all around the rest of the fire house, sit in the trucks, try on the gear, and check out the equipment they use,” librarian Maggie Cleary wrote. Almost everyone who tried it on said it was “really heavy.”
SAY THANK YOU
For activity No. 10, participants wrote thank-you notes to people in their lives who’ve helped them in some way without asking for anything in return. We received lots of notes to neighbors, teachers, bus drivers, school chaperones and librarians.
their house in Williston. With help from many very generous neighbors, they raised $3,000 for HOPE in Vermont, an organization involved in flood recovery efforts in the Northeast Kingdom. Their mom, Sarah Dickinson, is from the NEK and reached out to friends in Lyndonville to find out which agency would make the most of their donation.
Dickinson was moved by all the people
ALAINA WILLETTE wrote to the volunteers involved in restoring Ferrisburgh’s Union Meeting Hall. “Thanks for planning and hosting fun events for our community,” she wrote. Alaina presented the note in person to president Ashley LaFlam and treasurer Lindsey Brown.
According to Brown, Alaina’s delivery of the card “just gave me such a big feeling of joy.” Brown got involved with the meeting hall to help create a welcoming place where children can feel they belong, so “that card just really hit home for me” by demonstrating that her hard work has been worth it.
Morristown Centennial Library team at the fire station
Grace Gillman
SUSANNAH AND JACOB RYE of Waterbury wrote to the sta of Revitalizing Waterbury, an organization that puts on events such as Waterbury Arts Fest. Executive director Karen Nevin said the notes were received — and appreciated. “It was incredibly sweet, and totally unexpected,” she wrote in an email. “It feels good to know that our work is recognized in the community.”
DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE
Activity No. 24 asks kids to take two tests. One is a quiz called “Spot the Troll” that was developed by the Clemson University Media Forensics Hub. It features eight social media profiles and asks the quiz taker to guess if the account belongs to a real person or if it’s a fake account created
to spread spam or misinformation. The second test was created by University of Washington professors Jevin West and Carl Bergstrom. “Which Face Is Real?” presents two faces — one that’s real and one that’s AI-generated — and asks the test taker to guess which one is legit. It’s harder than you might think. That’s the conclusion many Good Citizen participants came to.
“It was pretty hard to guess the faces,” wrote AMELIA DABRITZ, 10, of Burlington.
QUINN STEPHENS, 12, of Je ersonville took the “Spot the Troll” quiz. “I got four out of eight correct. I found it interesting how well they could hide as real people!” she wrote.
FINN STERLING NUNERY, 11, of Craftsbury Common summed up the lesson best: “It was hard to tell the real
Good Citizen Challenge Activity Checklist
19. Show What Vermont’s Motto Means to You
Vermont’s state motto is “Freedom and Unity.” Create a piece of art explaining what that means to you. It could be a drawing, collage, song, poem, sculpture, video, mural — whatever you like! Share it with us.
20. Read the News*
Read an issue of your local community newspaper, in print or online. Don’t have a copy? Look for it at the library. If your town doesn’t have its own news source, read at least five articles from a statewide news outlet such as Seven Days or VTDigger.org. Tell us the most interesting things you learned.
21. Watch or Listen to the Local News*
Watch the local news on WCAX, NBC5, ABC 22 or Fox 44 or the latest episode of “Vermont This Week” on Vermont Public, or listen to a local news show or podcast from Vermont Public, WDEV or another radio station. Younger participants can also listen to an episode of “But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids.” Tell us which station and program you chose and what you learned.
*These activities can be completed and submitted more than once for additional entries in the prize drawing.
22. Find the “Masthead”*
In a newspaper, the section that describes who works for the paper, who owns it and where it is printed is called the “masthead.” Online, you can usually find that information on web pages called “about us” or “our team” or “contact us.” If you’re reading a newspaper, listening to the radio, or watching something on TV or online, figure out who made it and where they are based. Share a photo of this information as proof. This activity can be repeated with di erent news outlets.
23. Talk to a Journalist*
Interview a reporter from your local newspaper, radio or TV station, or online news service. Why did they become a journalist? What are their favorite stories to cover? How do they decide what makes the news? Which one of their stories had the biggest impact? You can do this in person, in a virtual meeting or by email. Tell us what you learned and share a photo if you have one.
24. Take a Quiz: Is This Real?
Powerful advances in technology are making it di cult to trust that what we see is real. Test your powers of observation by taking one of two tests: Which Face Is Real at whichfaceisreal.com or Spot the Troll at spotthetroll.org. Tell us how well you did.
25. Take Control of Your Tech Use
Digital devices such as tablets and smartphones are designed to distract you and keep you looking at them. You can improve your ability to focus on what matters to you by taking control of your tech use. Do at least one of the suggested activities on the Take Control checklist from the Center for Humane Technology, at humanetech. com/take-control and tell us about your experience.
Elijah Maynard swimming in Lake Fairlee for activity No. 5
Willa and Hazel Saunders with friend Sophie selling lemonade to benefit the Intervale farmers’ flood relief
Vermont’s most nautical of kids’ music pirates is back with a new album full of sing-alongs, life lessons and positivity. The Smugglers’ Notch-based singer-songwriter mixes fun and education into catchy, aquatic-themed tunes. — SEVEN DAYS, 7/31/24
GOOD CITIZEN VIBES
people from the fake people.” A good reminder in the AI age to question what you see and check your sources before believing or spreading information and photos, especially online.
FOLLOW THE NEWS
Helping kids develop news literacy skills has always been an important part of the Challenge. Good Citizens keep up with local news so they can make informed decisions about how our communities are governed. Many students reported listening to or watching local news broadcasts, as well as listening to “But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids.” We loved seeing photos of Good Citizens reading newspapers.
MICHAEL BLANCHARD, 9, of North Springfield sent a picture of him reading his local newspaper.
Snack on the BITE-CLUB NEWSLETTER for a taste of this week’s flavorful food coverage. It’ll hold you over until Wednesday.
LILAH FOERSTER, 6, of North Ferrisburgh can’t read yet, but her mom read to her from their local paper, the Addison County Independent
interviewed the WCAX news reporter who interviewed them for a TV segment.
Lots of participants also talked with local journalists for activity No. 23. A FIFTH GRADE CLASS FROM CHAMPLAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in Burlington
The MORRISTOWN CENTENNIAL LIBRARY TEAM talked with the editor of their local paper, the Morrisville News & Citizen. They visited the paper’s office and looked through the archives.
We were also thrilled to see so many photos from kids who found the “masthead” of their news source, activity No. 22. This is the place in the newspaper or on the website that tells you who produces the publication, who owns it and where it is based. K
Alaina Willette reading the Addison County Independent
Morristown Centennial Library team at the News & Citizen office
KIDS JUST FOR
Coloring Contest!
Three winners will each receive a collection of art supplies. Send Kids VT your work of art by October 31. Be sure to include the info at right with your submission. Winners will be chosen in the following categories: (1) ages 5 and younger, (2) ages 6-8 and (3) ages 9-12. Winners will be named in the Winter Issue of Kids VT. Email your high-resolution scans to art@kidsvt.com with “Coloring Contest” in the subject line, or mail a copy to Kids VT, P.O. Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05401.
KIDS JUST FOR
COLORING CONTEST WINNERS
“Misty”
Marcel Morel, 8 UNDERHILL 6 to 8
5 & under
We were paws-itively in awe of the submissions to the Summer Issue coloring contest. The winners were chosen by a distinguished panel of a dozen judges, including the illustrator herself, art director Diane Sullivan. River, 10, told a story with an artistic depiction of a trip to the mall for a rodent shopaholic. Marcel, 8, completely captivated us with an intriguing psychedelic pattern. Juno, 2, depicted a colorful garden scene. Thanks to everyone who entered! We can’t wait to see what colorful creations you’ll send us next.
Winners receive a sun-protection kit from the University of Vermont Cancer Center
“PROUD TO BE A MOUSE” Sunjae Maas, 6, South Burlington
USE YOUR WORDS
The Artist of Fall
When night awakes sooner, and the stars become brighter, fall descends onto the land.
Soon enough, winter will bring its false sand; until then, the leaves paint the sky as the trees and wind begin to sigh.
There’s a slight chill to the air as clouds peer down at the land without a care.
Fall dances with life and death as it slowly kills the once green leaves. With this new death, it’ll bring new life.
Fall gently whisks away the last of summer’s gentle warmth from the land, preparing the animals for the winter that’s raging on the horizon, bringing its cold.
Fall paints the landscape beautifully, throwing yellows, oranges, and reds onto the portrait, bold blues and purples marking the horizon as the sun begins to quickly set, showing the eager stars as they glow.
Fall paints the chilly breeze in misty grays as it knows the morning fog will paint the land in a ghostly pale white curtain that will haunt the mornings until fall, always the selective artist, is satisfied with its art.
RILEY BERNATCHY, AGE 16, CAMBRIDGE
This poem was first published by the Burlington-based Young Writers Project and will appear in the forthcoming Anthology 15. Find more information at youngwritersproject.org.
Start College For Free at CCV!
Did you know that Vermont high school juniors and seniors are eligible for two Dual Enrollment vouchers, each good for one free college course? Credits earned at CCV also count as credit toward high school graduation!
