Wncparentmarch2014 by Stacey

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contents This month’s features 4

Summer learning From casual learning to hard-core classes, camps offer educational opportunities.

Away from home

Camp counselors

Camping at home

Equip children to cope with homesickness while they’re at camp. What camps look for in their staff members.

Dr. Susan Mims offers tips on making sure your children are safe and well at camp.

Create a camp atmosphere and have fun at home.

In the wild Camps teach children wilderness skills, an increasingly rare skill set.

2014 Camp Guide Our annual, comprehensive directory of spring break camps and day camps around the Asheville area.

Have a healthy camper

Citrus boost Add a zing to your meals with citrus.

69 Qui-what?

An ancient grain becomes hip. How to cook with quinoa.

In every issue

On the cover

Michael Miller ...............50

Earlie Ingle, at Camp Pisgah in July 2013. Photo by John Fletcher. Citizen-Times photo.

Nature Center Notes ......47

Artist's Muse .................52 Susanna Barbee .............54 Trip Woodard.................56 Librarian’s Picks .............57 Story Times ...................58 Chris Worthy .................59 FEAST ...........................60 Kids Page ......................76 Calendar .......................77

.com Are you a member? Join the conversation, post photos and connect with other parents at WNCParent.com. Look for WNC Parent on Facebook and Twitter.

Kids and sleepovers Katie Wadington, editor

I was the kid who fell asleep first at sleepovers. So if there were late-night shenanigans, I rarely knew about them. I thought about this as I read the Sleepover 101 story we have in this month’s issue. My kids are big on sleepovers. Every time, they expect the whole spread: popcorn, movie, pancakes and bacon for breakfast. It never gets old. What amazes me about their overnights, particularly those involving my teen daughter, is simply how late they stay up. Or maybe I should say, how early they stay up. As in, 5 a.m. At first this bothered me. Truly, it shoots the whole next day. But then I realized that when they are 40, they’ll think back on those great sleepovers they had where they stayed up all night and watched movies. (I’m going to assume this is what goes on, because I’m still the first person asleep for these sleepovers.) This issue is about sleepovers of a different, bigger kind: summer camp. And one thing that comes with sleepaway camp is homesickness. Learn what experts suggest to pre-empt homesickness in the story on Page 8. One thing that has stuck with my campers in their summer experiences is their counselors. My daughter can name practically every one she’s had in seven years at Lutheridge. But what do camps look for in counselors? And why do teens take the job? Learn on Page 10. But what if you can’t send your child to camp? Learn how to re-create a camp experience at home, on Page 12. The biggest part of this issue is our directory of day camps. Dozens of area camps, of every variety, to keep your kids busy this summer. Putting it together is my labor of love each year. Enjoy this issue, and plan, plan, plan. And I hope to see you March 1 at our fourth-annual Camp Expo at WNC Ag Center!

P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802 www.wncparent.com PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Dave Neill WNC PARENT EDITOR Katie Wadington — 232-5829 kwadington@citizen-times.com

ADVERTISING Katy Graziano — 236-8994 kgraziano@gannett.com

Special thanks to features editor Bruce Steele and designer Val Elmore. CALENDAR CONTENT Due by March 10. E-mail calendar@wncparent.com ADVERTISING DEADLINE Advertising deadline for the April issue is March 18.

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SUMMERTIME AND THE LEARNING IS FUN Education camps cover arts, sciences and more By Pam J. Hecht WNC Parent contributor

or kids with particular passions, summer can be a time to delve deeper into them, developing and applying newfound skills in interesting ways. WNC is home to camps that focus on learning in the classroom, but ramp it up a notch, in a relaxed environment that for many, is far from feeling like school. “To ensure a positive experience, make sure that kids are involved in choosing their camps and that instructors are qualified to lead activities in their fields of expertise,” says Katie Johnson, southeastern executive director of the American Camp Association

Budding entrepreneurs at A-B Tech’s YES! CAMPS

It’s no surprise that Kate Hyde’s kids, Daisy Hollifield, 11, Luther, 13, and Leroy Hollifield, 17, have an interest in entrepreneuring. Both Kate, and their father, Jake Hollifield, are business owners, along with their aunt, Gretchen Hollifield. “Yes! (Young Entrepreneurial Scholars) Camp has made them aware of the potential and realities of being business owners, with practical applications of what they learn,” says Hyde, of Kenilworth. Daisy now has her own business as a mother’s helper and baker, and Luther has a cleaning business. Hyde’s children have enjoyed creating businesses at the camp in a hands-on way, says Hyde. Middle and high school groups come up with a product or service, formulate a workable business plan and create marketing materials. “The business development process is also character building — the same traits and skills necessary for success as an entrepreneur like leadership, self-motivation, and perseverance, are very beneficial for success in life,” says Diane Hendrickson, Continues on Page 6

Carolina Day School offers educational camps in a variety of topics for several age ranges. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

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LEARNING Continued from Page 4

Program Developer for Entrepreneurial Outreach, A-B Tech Small Business Center. For more information, go online to www.abtech.edu/yes-camp

Techies, gamers and Lego lovers Kathleen Brookshire, of North Buncombe, was happy to find a camp that catered to her son Dylan’s passion for computer programming. Another bonus: Dylan, 13, loves his teacher, Tek-Kids Camp founder/teacher Ian Riddell. She says he is “eager to share his knowledge and always challenges and engages them.” Tek-Kids is offering video game design and 3-D animation programs this summer, along with classes focusing on the Minecraft computer game and a Lego building class for younger kids (which Riddell says is a common interest among kids with a technology bent.) “My campers are builders, they are curious and they like to take things apart,” says Riddell. “We build games, make digital movies and everything is infused with imagination.” Computer programming is an “academic subject” that often gets the short end of the stick during the school year, says Riddell. Tek-Kids offers an opportunity to focus on it at their own pace and according to their interests — the key to future learning, he adds. For more information, go online to www.tek-kids.com or contact Ian Riddell at 423-4046 or summercamps@tekkids.com

Creative writers at UNCA’s Write Now! Write Now!, with separate camps for middle and high school ages, features creative writing, including fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry. College professors who are also published writers teach classes suitable for both beginning and advanced writers, with additional guest speakers on a variety of writing-related topics. The camps offer exposure to a college-campus learning environment and

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College offers YES! Camps that teach campers about running a business. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

smaller than typical class sizes, “combining the structure of a classroom setting with the fun of a summer camp,” says Nancy Williams, camp director. For more information, go online to www.agc.unca.edu/write-now

For the science-minded space cadet set Kids with an interest in astronomy can immerse themselves in the study of space at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. PARI, about 45 minutes southwest of the Asheville Regional Airport in the Pisgah National Forest, has offered an overnight summer camp for high schoolers for the past 12 years, adding two middle school overnight camps for this summer. At the 3-D Planets camp, middle school girls will create educational tools for the visually impaired by building planetary and lunar surfaces using 3-D software and printers. At the Earth and Sky Science coed camp, middle school-

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ers will take images with telescopes and conduct team research. High school students become staff scientists as they explore astronomy, astrophysics and astrobiology at PARI through the Duke TIP summer field study program (students must apply online at www.tip.duke.edu) Students use radio and optical telescopes, present their research and visiting scientists talk about their work. Kids with an interest in science, engineering and/or math are most attracted to the camp, which helps prepare for future learning and careers, “making astronomy real,” connecting to other sciences, and teaching high-tech research and team collaboration skills, says Christi Whitworth, PARI education director. For more information, visit www.pari.edu and/or contact Christi Whitworth, cwhitworth@pari.edu, 877-6348. To apply for Duke TIP Summer Studies program, go to tip.duke.edu

For ‘motivated learners’ At the Appalachian Institute, campers ages 8-17 feel like college kids, choosing four classes a day at either a day or overnight camp during one- or two-week sessions on the campus of Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa. The only requirement: to be a “motivated learner,” says Margaret Hoff, camp administrator. Campers choose from a variety of hands-on classes, such as rocket construction, mask making, creative writing, sign language, mythology, newspaper reporting, public speaking, robotics, drawing and much more. “Campers typically experience breakthroughs in their thinking and understanding and new confidence in their social skills,” says Hoff. “But most of all, they receive a lesson that we hope will stay with them their whole lives – that learning is fun.” For more info., go to www.appalachianinstitute.org, email info@appalachianinstitute.org or call (800) 951-7442.

Creativity camps at WCU

Also on a college campus are the Creativity Camps at Western Carolina University (WCU) in Cullowhee, where elementary and middle schoolers create hands-on projects such as costumes for science fiction films, historical documentaries, inventions, robots, and more. Kids work in small groups and parents are invited to a project showcase each week. Classes are held in classrooms but not in the traditional sense, says Dr. Susan Fouts, WCU director of continuing education. Teachers are more like coaches and since the work involves projects to be completed, “the learning is all relevant to them,” which makes it engaging, she adds. For more information, go online to wcu.edu/academics/edoutreach/conted/ camps-and-programs-for-kids

Exploring interests at Carolina Day School Carolina Day School in Asheville offers a vast assortment of summer day programs of varying hours for all ages. Camps held in formal classroom settings feature an informal twist, with active hands-on activities like creative writing, crafts, map reading and mythology featuring Percy Jackson and The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings books series,

With day and overnight camps, Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning lets campers pick four classes per day in topics that range from arts to sciences and everything in between. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

science experiments, an introduction to French and many more. “Campers are up and moving, collaborating, experimenting and imagining,” says Libby Roland, camp director. “We want the campers to have fun while pushing themselves and each other,

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learning along the way.” For more information, visit www.carolinaday.org Pam J. Hecht is an Asheville-based freelance writer, editor and educator/tutor. E-mail her at pamjh8@gmail.com.

HOMESICK AT CAMP? Let them get over it

By Paul Clark WNC Parent contributor

h no. Your child is writing from summer camp, and he wants to come home. What do you do? Nothing, camp experts say, except to encourage them. Tell them how you can’t wait to see them at the end of camp and hear their wonderful stories. But don’t bail them out. You’ll do them more harm than good, it appears. Homesickness at camp is as inevitable as strange bathrooms and different food. A study by the American Camp Association suggests that 96 percent of campers at overnight camps of at least two weeks will experience homesickness for at least one day. “We encourage parents to tell their children that feeling homesick is a part of life, that almost everyone goes through it,” said Dan Davis, director of Camp Rockmont. The Black Mountain camp has 1,600 campers over the summer and deals with homesickness at each session. There are valuable lessons to be learned from yearning for home, if children are prepared to face them, Davis said. They won’t be if parents promise to pick them up if things aren’t working out. “That’s an absolute disaster that really sets a child up for failure,” Davis said. The subtext of such a promise, according to summer camp expert Christopher Thurber, is that the parent so lacks confidence in the child’s ability to handle these emotions that the parent has to

rescue him. That really undermines a child’s confidence, according to Thurber. Better, he and others say, is to let the child meet the challenge. Camp MerriMac, a girls summer camp in Black Mountain, states on its website that homesickness presents “a rare opportunity for growth,” in that it helps campers

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overcome an insecurity. “A wonderful home deserves to be missed,” the website states. “But we are also made to engage the world we live in and to not be afraid to move toward opportunity, even when it means leaving behind things that are more familiar.” “Learning to navigate away from home is part of the growing up process,” Davis said. His staff at Camp Rockmont practices the “three Cs” when they encounter homesickness — compassion, connection, collaboration. Compassionate toward the child, counselors share their own experiences of being homesick, then help the child create a plan that will help them emerge. The staff at Falling Creek Camp in Tuxedo will help boys find something or someone they enjoy. “The minute they have some down time is when they get homesick,” said Paige Hafner, a camp director. “As long as they’re busy, they’re fine.” The camp will often pair a child who is homesick with one who isn’t. Pretty soon, the child has gotten past her difficulties and is having a great time. And better, he’s gained some confidence, Hafner said. Said Davis: “One of the best days at camp is day two or three when the kid that was homesick thinks, now I know how to deal with that.” There’s a lot that parents can do before day one that will help. The first thing is to talk up the fun their children will have and the new friends they make. That expresses confi-

dence in their ability to take on new experiences, as well as stresses the excitement that lies ahead. The staff at Falling Creek Camp encourages parents to review photos of the camp on its website with the campers so the kids get familiar with it. Pictures of where they’ll sleep and what they’ll do will alleviate anxiety, Hafner said. Children who have helped select the camp they’ll go to are less likely to miss home. Kids who have not had what Davis describes as “experiences bigger than themselves” (dance classes, team sports, for instance) in whcih they’ve had to think of others are more likely to become homesick. Less likely are kids who had lots of sleepovers with friends or family, small rites of passage that pre-

“We encourage parents to tell their children that feeling homesick is a part of life, that almost everyone goes through it.” DAN DAVIS, Camp Rockmont director

pare them for larger adventures. Visiting a camp before opening day certainly makes it more familiar, experts say, as is arranging a child’s stay to coincide with that of a good friend’s. Day camps are a good steppingstone to over-

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night camps. Camp Merri-Mac states on its website that its rate of return campers is high and that it believes its return rate of once-homesick campers is even higher because of the growing the girls do at camp. Kids come to camp to stretch their abilities, and homesickness is simply one of the obstacles to overcome. Most kids get over it in a day or so, Davis said. “The thing about camp, there are so many complexities. It’s fun, but it’s not particularly easy,” he said. “Your senses are heightened, and you’re aware of everything around you.” What fertile ground for growth. “And then, you find out you’re good at making friends,” he said.

CAMPER KEEPERS

Junior counselor Kayla Petri, at right in white shirt, started attending camp at Long View Ranch when she was 9 years old. Last year, she had her first summer as a junior counselor, responsible for getting girls around camp on time. /SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

Counselors are key to safety and fun By Betty Lynne Leary WNC Parent contributor

hile watching my daughter get a haircut last June, the noon news caught my attention as a television reporter announced that a tornado had been spotted near Canton. People were warned to seek shelter immediately and stay off the roads.

My heart sank as I realized this was very close to Camp Daniel Boone, the Boy Scout camp where both of my boys were spending the week. The skies outside Asheville were dark and the wind was picking up. My mind raced to what the conditions must be like in camp with hundreds of boys scattered from Boonesboro Village to the rifle range to the lake and back, all potentially in harmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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way. I called the camp and was reassured that the boys were being called in from various outdoor activities and their emergency weather plan was under way. While my heart knows that scouts are always prepared, the sudden change in weather made me appreciate the training that counselors go through each year to keep campers safe.

“We did have a lot of rain and weather issues last summer,” says Brian Estler, Council Program Director for Camp Daniel Boone. “But our counselors go through a week of training where they not only learn first aid and CPR but what to do in emergency situations such as hazardous weather.” The camp employs 125 counselors ages 16 and older to handle the 6,000 scouts that attend camp from June through the first week in August. Plus, 14- and 15- year-olds can serve as counselors-in-training. “Our counselors learn safety and also how to teach classes such as aquatics and scout craft, plus they all go through youth protection training,” Estler adds. Bailey Strum, a 16-year-old from Candler, has been a scout for seven years and served as a counselor last summer for the first time. “It was hard being away from home the whole summer and only spending 24 hours a week at home,” Strum says. “But the best thing was knowing that you are making an impact on kids’ lives and fueling their desire for scouting.” At Camp Cedar Cliff in Asheville, assistant camp director Kasey McLeod hires more than 50 counselors each summer to shepherd between 400 and 500 campers to various activities. “I’m looking for counselors who are engaging, enjoy kids, and demonstrate responsibility and good judgment,” McLeod says. Camp Cedar Cliff is not a skills-based camp, therefore the counselors learn all the different activities and teach them to the campers, ensuring a safe and funfilled adventure each day. “We have a daylong interview process for those who want to be counselors,” McLeod explains adding that after they are hired, counselors participate in a weeklong training program. Counselors take abuse prevention training, learn first aid and CPR, how to handle emergencies, how to lead group discussions, and, of course, how to handle the homesick camper. Kayla Petri, a 16-year-old from Fletcher, was 9 when she went away to camp for the first time. She journeyed to east Tennessee, where she spent a week at Long View Camp. “I didn’t know a soul the first time I went,” Petri says, “but everyone made me feel so welcome. The staff and kids that I met there made me feel like fam-

“I’m looking for counselors who are engaging, enjoy kids, and demonstrate responsibility and good judgment.”

“We are also looking for students who demonstrate leadership and integrity.” KAY WIDMAIER,

Long View Ranch camp director

CASEY MCLEOD, Camp Cedar Cliff

“The staff and kids that I met there made me feel like family.”

“I believe the counselors are key in providing that positive memory-building camp experience that lasts for the long view.”

KAYLA PETRI,

KAY WIDMAIER

on her camp experience

“Our counselors learn safety and also how to teach classes.” BRIAN ESTLER,

Camp Daniel Boone

ily.” Every year, Petri looked forward to that one week of pure bliss, and last summer, she became a junior counselor. “It was my responsibility to get the girls out of bed and to the dining hall on time,” Petri explains. “I also have to make sure that I know where the girls are supposed to be and that they know how to get there. Most of the time, I walk with them.” Long View is a nondenominational Christian camp that requires a thorough

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application, photo ID, two references, an interview and a background check on all of its counselors. “We are looking for young people who are serious about their walk with God,” says Camp Director Kay Widmaier. “We are also looking for students who demonstrate leadership and integrity, have teachable spirits, like kids, and enjoy the outdoors.” Counselors at Camp Long View help establish an inclusive atmosphere in the cabin to bring first-time campers together with returning ones, kids who come with friends and campers who don’t know anyone and make them all feel welcome. They receive training in team building, safety procedures, CPR, and knowing how to respond when needed. “We are looking for the young person who is unselfish and sees the camper’s experience as being more important than their own,” Widmaier says. “I believe the counselors are key in providing that positive memory-building camp experience that lasts for the long view.”

MAKE HOME AN ADVENTURE, TOO Turn your home into a veritable summer camp By Penny Williams WNC Parent contributor

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arents aspire to provide kids with the quintessential childhood memories and experiences, like playing Little League, beach vacations and summer camp. Finances and life circumstances can make it tough to provide all we’d like. Take camp, for example. Overnight camp can cost $400 to $1,000 or more, not to mention the additional expenses of travel and supplies — an impossibility for a family with an already strained budget. Or sometimes, it’s not a matter of finance: your kids are just too young to participate in the activities they crave during the summer. Don’t let these circumstances get in the way; it’s possible to give your kids the same types of memories and life lessons right at home. “Both of my children hate summer camp,” says Kelly Allen, Asheville Realtor and mom of two children, ages 12 and 8. “We ‘home camp’ all summer by implementing a daily schedule and rewarding with fantastic summer outings.” Give your kids the summer camp experience by implementing a daily camp

schedule, as Allen does with her kids so she can also get work done, or simply incorporate many classic summer activities more freely throughout the summer.Some

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parents create a co-op of sorts by getting many kids together for a structured camp at home experience. No matter your free time or budget,

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there are plenty of ways to give your kids the camp experience from home. Here are some ideas: » Camp out at home: You can pitch a tent in the living room or the backyard and create a great camping experience, complete with sleeping bags, tents, s’mores, hiking, biking and more. Give your kids the opportunity to make connections and memories by inviting a couple of their friends to “camp” with them. No room at home? Camp at a nearby campground or wooded area to keep it simple and budget-friendly. » Theme weeks: Summer camp isn’t just about outdoor adventure experiences. Most day camps have a theme each week like arts and crafts, science, exploration, dance… Choose a week and assign a theme. Schedule one or more activities around that theme each day. If your child is interested in art, do paper mache, a landscape painting, bubble art, torn paper collage or pottery. Tour a museum, visit an art studio, check out books on art at the library, etc. Theme weeks offer a multitude of activities. If planning isn’t your thing, take the scheduling work out of it by following readymade theme plans found online. » Explore: “The lack of a schedule summer offers is an opportunity to explore and fulfill spontaneous summer wishes like catching fireflies, building a camp fire, or making s’mores,” says Cindy Freeman, Arden mom of three, ages 12, 10 and 7. Part of the beauty of summer is the chance to be adventurous and free-spirited. WNC is full of outdoor opportunities that invite exploration — hiking, biking, boating, investigating the ecology of our area or your own backyard, and more…

Check out or purchase an area guidebook on trees, flowers, birds, bugs, rivers, etc. and explore. Have your kids take photos or draw pictures of their expeditions and create a scrapbook of their summer memories too. » Summer fun: Of course, there are the always-agreeable, kid-tested classic activities of summer like swimming and water parks. Allen includes regular trips to the pool, creek and skate park as part of her summer camp at home. “Once the kids earn a certain amount of points for following the schedule and great behavior, we take summer field

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trips to regional attractions including Linville Caverns, Emerald Village and Otter Creek Water Park (in Greenville, S.C.).” Make camp at home as intensely or loosely structured as suits your family. “Don’t feel like you have to entertain your kids every moment all summer,” Allen cautions. “Learning to play independently encourages creativity.” As long as you set clear expectations for everyone in your family, summer camp at home can be as entertaining and rewarding as any other summer camp, maybe more.

GET WILD

Spencer Bolejack runs the Land of the Sky Wilderness School, a small coed camp in Haywood County for children ages 8-17. He teaches the children about self-sufficiency, safety awareness, cultural appreciation and their relationship with the natural world. /SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

Wilderness camps help kids track their way through life 14

By Paul Clark, WNC Parent contributor

ilderness skills camps teach lots more than how to be safe in the woods. True, they give children an idea of how to survive off the land. They show them how to forage for food, find drinkable water and navigate through the woods. But just as important, the camps instill in them the confidence that they can take care of themselves no matter where they are. “In order for us to survive and live more comfortably and competently, we have to learn more about ourselves and understand our environments better,”

said Josh Drexler, associate director at Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain. “Learning wilderness skills is an increasingly rare skill set that is a great confidence and self-esteem builder for young folks. It’s a gateway to a lot of great experiences.” Spencer Bolejack runs the Land of the Sky Wilderness School, a small coed camp in Haywood County for children 8-17 years old. LOTS Wild, as campers call it, is in Cruso, on the side of Cold Mountain. At its overnight camps and one-day camp for younger campers, LOTS Wild (lotswild.com) teaches

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Continues on Page 16

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Land of the Sky Wilderness, Run Wild! and Eagle’s Nest Camp offer lessons in wilderness skills. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

GET WILD Continued from Page 14

American Indian skills such as tracking and awareness. Guided by Bolejack and his two staff members, campers learn how to walk quietly in the woods. They learn the names and uses of plants and trees. “We get them outdoors and muddy and dirty and teach them to take calculated risks and be physical and get their energy out,” Bolejack said. “The camp isn’t run by rosy-cheeked college outdoor ed majors. I bring in blacksmiths and old gnarly men that have lived in the woods all their lives to pass Appalachian heritage on to the kids.” Bolejack teaches the children about self-sufficiency, safety awareness, cultural appreciation and their relationship with the natural world. In the camp’s training center, he also trains them in various marital arts disciplines appropriate to their ages and abilities. It’s physically and emotionally challenging, but it’s fun and there’s plenty of down time. Graduates of the basic camps can go on advanced five-day treks into the woods with not a lot of food. They learn to forage and fish and live like the American Indians and frontiersman used to live in Western North Carolina. They can enroll in sail camp, which teaches them the basics of boating (knots, rigging, navigation) and survival on the water. At the blacksmith camp, kids learn how to make knives. “We try to create situations that are a little bit out of our comfort zone and learn to enjoy them and navigate them safely,” Bolejack said. Campers have gone on to become travelers, members

of the armed services and professional writers and photographers, he said. Even vegetarian children among the campers benefit from animal stalking, because it can be useful in photography, he said. Run Wild! is a summer day camp put on by Forest Floor Wilderness Programs (ontheforestfloor.org) that meets at Herb Mountain Farm in the Reems Creek Valley near Weaverville. Campers learn about edible and medicinal wild plants and how to be safe outdoors. Animal tracking, bird language and friction fire-making are wrapped into studies about ecology and mammals. The coed camp is for kids ages 6-12. “Teaching them something like friction fire-making may have little practical applications today,” said camp founder and director Clint Corley. “But if it gets them excited again about being outdoors again, maybe when they get home they’ll want to go outside and play in the patch of woods outside their home. There are more and more studies coming out about the benefit simply being outdoors.” Corley started Forest Floor Wilderness Programs four years ago to connect people with nature and each other. He started the children’s programs because establishing that connection early in a person’s life makes it more likely he or she will continue it as they get older. Two of the 20-day Hante Adventure camps that Eagle’s Nest Camp & Foundation (enf.org) offers this summer teach high school students wilderness skills. During the leadership-focused Rocks and River camp, they paddle whitewater rivers, backpack and rock climb in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Hante Adventure’s Trail Trek starts in Georgia and travels across 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Other treks the company

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offers takes kids along the John Muir Trail in California and the famous pilgrimage Camino de Santiago trail in Spain. “The kids love it,” said Noni WaiteKucera, Eagle’s Nest executive director. “When they’re out on these trips, they’re pushing their comfort zone. Their backpacks are heavy. They’re not coming into civilization for weeks at a time. It’s an experience that not many of us would have unless we did it with a group.” Instructors are always there as backup, but the skills the kids learn in leading are just as important as the wilderness skills they’re picking up, she said. For middle school-age children, Hante Adventures has Added Adventures. One installs campers and counselors on Cumberland Island, Ga., for a week of camping, wilderness skills, coastal ecology and history. The Huck Finn trip puts kids on a raft for a week of floating down the French Broad River to Knoxville, Tenn. “It’s a real adventure. You never know what’s going to happen,” WaiteKucera said. The Appalachian Adventure is a week of rock climbing and “no-trace” camping in the Pisgah National Forest where students learn skills such as reading maps and building fires. “Children have many opportunities to connect with computers and other devices,” Waite-Kucera said. “When they are outside, they’re engaged on many levels, learning social skills with friends and how to be comfortable in the natural world. They learn what it’s like to be sure of themselves. That confidence can be carried over into almost any other realm in their lives. They push themselves and find out they can really do that.”

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SLEEPOVERS 101 Tips for hosting a memorable overnight visit By Marla Hardee Milling WNC Parent contributor

leepovers and slumber parties will most likely invade your home at some point. But how do you know when kids are ready to sleep away from home? What things do you need to consider before agreeing to host other kids? We have a few tips from some seasoned area parents to get you started on the right track.

Consider the age

Quite a few Asheville parents, like Jill and Nathan Boniske, pinpoint the 6 to 7 age range as the best time to start sleepovers. They explain it’s an age where kids are gaining independence and don’t get as rattled about being away from home. “Before the age of 7, many kids get homesick or miss their parents,” says

Leslie McCullough Casse, of Asheville. “I had that happen one time. I had a 5-yearold wake up in the middle of the night because he had a bad dream and he wanted his mother. His parents actually came and got him in the middle of the night. There was no consoling him. That was not a lot of fun.” “I think the best age depends on each child’s personality and how comfortable they are with the family where they will have the sleepover,” says Sue Magley, of Asheville. “For my daughter, her first sleepover was at a church family’s home when she was 8.” Magley says if your child seems hesitant about sleeping away from home, begin his or her entry into sleepovers by inviting another child to sleep at your house the first time.

Make it special

Casse says you can possibly alleviate

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any homesickness by making the guests feel special and planning entertaining activities. “Do something super fun,” she says. “Suddenly they will forget about missing home because they don’t want to miss out on the fun. “My favorite activity was to create an ice cream sundae bar after dinner,” she continues. “Each kid creates his or her own ice cream sundaes. It just takes a scoop of ice cream, some sprinkles, a couple of topping choices, whipped cream and maybe some gummy bears. Everyone is happy and it’s not such a bad cleanup.” The Boniskes agree that simple works best. “The winning formula of pizza an a special movie with popcorn always works or having a fire with s’mores in season.” Continues on Page 18

SLEEPOVERS 101 Continued from Page 17

Set some house rules Even though you want the kids to have a blast, you may find you will have an easier night if you set some house rules at the beginning. That’s what April Nance does when kids stay at her East Asheville home. “I always tell the other parents that I have a ‘no device past 10 or 11 rule,’” she says. “This includes phones, iPods, iPads, etc. This way they know what to expect and know they can’t be on them all night. I usually take them and store in one place.” Other parents set some advance rules about when lights go out or when voice levels need to drop. Even with “plans” for sleep, parents should expect latenight giggle sessions and kids reluctant to close their eyes. The anticipated lack of sleep is one reason Nance prefers to allow sleepovers in the summer months, when her kids don’t have to worry about being focused for school. “I also feel guilty sending home kids from my house when I know they didn't get a lot of sleep,” she says.

Clear communication

Kellie Whittemore, of Arden, says it’s really important to let the other parents know what you’re planning for activities. Different families may have their own ideas of what is acceptable and what’s not, and you don’t want to cross that boundary. “Make sure the parents are aware of the movies you’ve selected,” says Whittemore. “That became a problem for us one time. It was a PG-13 movie, and the kids were 10 and 11. I didn’t think about it at all but when the movie came on the child actually said something.” She says it’s also important to be clear about pickup time. “If you don’t, you might get stuck all day with a child you haven’t planned for.” It’s also crucial to let other parents know of your menu and snack food choices. She says some families may have specific diets or a child may have allergies or limitations to what they can eat, says Angela Roberts, of Fletcher. “I always tell parents about the foods the kids enjoyed at the sleepover so they know what choices they made,” she says.

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE

N.C. Arboretum’s camps get kids outdoors, with creek explorations, nature crafts, geocaching, fishing and more. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

SUMMERTIME ESCAPES

By Katie Wadington kwadington@citizen-times.com

here’s no shortage of ways to keep your child busy and even (gasp!) learning this summer. The Asheville area has dozens and dozens of day camp options, for children of all ages and with all interests. Sports camps that teach fundamentals. Adventure camps that promote outdoor exploration. Camps with dancing or Legos or video game design. From half-day programs that will keep kids entertained for a morning or afternoon to full-day programs that allow parents to work, you’ll no doubt find a camp that is right for you. Looking for overnight options? Our February issue had those listings, but you can find them online 24/7 at www.wncparent.com.

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WNC PARENT’S CAMP EXPO Find the right camp for you and keep the kids entertained at the fourthannual Camp Expo. When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 1 Where: WNC Ag Center, Fletcher What: Meet representatives for dozens of area camps. And keep the kids happy with a face painter, bounce house, balloon animals and a pony hop. Plus, raffle prizes!

COVER KIDS CONTEST Enter your child for a chance to be one of our 2014 Cover Kids. Register for $20 at the Camp Expo, where Lenka Hattaway Photography will be taking test shots of potential Cover Kids. Find details at www.citizen-times.com/ campexpo.

2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE / SPRING BREAK

Campers play a ball skills game as part of the skill-building sport curriculum taught at the Playball Summer Camp, which offers spring break and summer options. JOHN FLETCHER/CITIZEN-TIMES PHOTO See individual listing for dates.

ABYSA, FUNdamentals Camp

» www.abysa.org; 299-7277, ext. 304; shane@abysa.org » 9 a.m.-noon (ages 5-6) or 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (ages 7-14) March 31-April 4 Ages 5-14. Games-centered teaching approach to soccer education. Campers organized by age group and skill level. Camp will use games, designed to build technical foundations for soccer skills. Ages 11-14 will be exposed to individual and small-group tactical implications of the game. At John B. Lewis Soccer Complex at Azalea Park in East Asheville. $115 half-day; $195 for full day.

Airborne Gymnastics

Bricks 4 Kidz

» www.airbornegymnastics.org; 697-0084; airbornegym@att.net » April 14-18 » Ages potty trained-12. Gymnastics activities and more. Half-day for potty trained children to age 12; full-day for ages 5-12. At 85 P.E.M. Drive, Hendersonville.

» www.bricks4kidz.com/asheville; wland@bricks4kidz.com » 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 1 and 3 Ages 5-12. Come build with Legos, making motorized models, making crafts and having fun. Held in a party room at Fun Depot, 2 Roberts Road, Asheville. Send a lunch and water bottle. Register online. $35.

Art Buzz Kids

Hahn’s Gymnastics

» www.wineanddesignus.com/Asheville; 255-2442; wineanddesignasheville@gmail.com » 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 31-April 4 Ages 6 and older. Spring into creativity by exploring drawing, painting and sculpture. Snack provided, bring lunch. At 640 Merrimon Ave. $150.

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» www.hahnsgymnastics.com; hahnsgymnastics@hotmail.com; 684-8832 » 8 a.m.-12:30 or 6 p.m. March 31-April 4 and April 14-18 Ages 3-12. Gymnastics, games, crafts, snack, outdoor

2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE / SPRING BREAK activities, more. Half-day camp for ages 3-12, $18 per day or $90 per week. Full day for ages 5-12, $34 per day or $170 per week. At 18 Legend Drive, Arden.

Muddy Sneakers

» www.campmuddysneakers.org; lindsay@muddysneakers.org; 862-5560 » 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 24-28 (Brevard/Pisgah Forest) and April 14-18 (Mills River/Fletcher/Arden/ Asheville) » Rising grades 4-7. Campers will explore different ecosystems around WNC, learning animal habitats, aquatic ecosystems, geology, FBI! (fungus, bacteria and insects), weather and more. $295.

Playball

» www.playballasheville.com; maxyplayball@gmail.com; 575-3000 » 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 14-17 Ages 3-5. Each day is a discovery of movement, sport, song, dance, and crafts. Outdoor activities, including favorite Playball games and grass sports like football, soccer, cricket, rugby, field hockey, plus relay races, coordination games, and obstacle courses. Indoor games are held in large recreation hall and bring out the tennis player, volleyball player and basketball star in everyone. At St. Paul's United Methodist Church Preschool, 223 Hillside St., Asheville. $40 per day or $140 for four-day session.

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Roots + Wings School of Art and Design

» www.rootsandwingsarts.com; info@rootsandwingsarts.com; 545-4827 » 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 14-18 Ages 3-6 and grades K-5. “Dragons, Castles and Crowns: Imaginative Adventures in Make Believe.” Explore animals, lands and characters that live in our imaginations. Campers will work in a diverse collection of art and design media and gain experience working collaboratively as well as individually. Students will work with drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, bookmaking, sculpture and more. At R+W classrooms in The Cathedral of All Souls, Biltmore Village. $155, sibling discount of $15.

2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning

» Summer Enrichment Camp, July 13-19 and 20-26 » www.appalachianinstitute.org; 800-951-7442; info@appalachianinstitute.org » Ages 8-12. Campers are called “motivated learners,” figuring that anyone who shows up to take biology, math or art in July is motivated. Campers classes in topics include science and math, history, society and culture, visual arts, drama, more. At Warren Wilson College. $425 per week. Overnight camp available for up to rising 12th-graders.

Art Buzz Kids

» June 23-Aug. 8 » www.wineanddesignus.com/Asheville; 255-2442; wineanddesignasheville@gmail.com » Ages 7 and older. Kids create two canvas art projects, along with other arts and crafts. Themes include Seussimania; Flowers, Trees and Buzzing Bees; Journey to Other Places; Animal Planet. 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Wine and Design, 640 Merrimon Ave. $150. Snack included.

Art of Nature Camp

» June 9-July 11 » Kara McNerney, klmcnerney@hotmail.com Ages 3-12. Learn about the natural world through

exploration, hands-on activities, and artistic expression in a beautiful forest with pristine streams. While each week's theme varies, all are led by experienced Montessori teachers who are big fans of camp. $125, $100 siblings. In Ridgecrest.

Asheville Art Museum

» June 16-Aug. 8 » www.ashevilleart.org; 253-3227, ext. 122; » Rising grades K-12. Sessions offer wide variety of art activities taught by local artists and educators. Includes all materials and museum admission. Halfday (9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-5 p.m.) for $95 members/$105 nonmembers, and all-day (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) sessions for $165/$185.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

» June 23-27, July 21-25 » www1.abtech.edu/yes-camp; dianehhendrickson@abtech.edu » Middle- and high-schoolers. Young Entrepreneurial Scholars (YES!) Camps. High schoolers, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 23-27. Middle-schoolers, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. July 21-25. Campers learn about entrepreneurship and how to creat eand start their own business in a fun, interactive setting. Campers also gain an understanding about business resources in the communi-

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ty; generate business ideas; meet and learn from successful local entrepreneurs; work and cooperate with other students in groups; develop critical thinking and life skills; develop and practice leadership skills; gain self-confidence in business development activities; and identify and evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities in WNC. Both meet at A-B Tech Enka Site, Small Business Center. $50.

Asheville Community Theatre

» Tanglewood Summer Camp, June 16-July 25 » www.ashevilletheatre.org, 254-1320, ext. 27; chanda@ashevilletheatre.org » Ages 8-17. Camp well-suited for any child interested in exploring the world of theater. Session I, June 16-27, offers full-day camp (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) for ages 8-15. Session II, July 14-25 offers full-day camp (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) for ages 5-7 and 8-15. Advanced Camp for ages 13-17 is by permission only for veteran campers, June 16-27. $375-$500. At 35 E. Walnut St., Asheville.

ABYSA

» June 2-Aug. 8 » www.abysa.org; shane@abysa.org; 299-7277, ext. 304 » Ages 5-14. FUNdamentals Soccer Camps offers a games-centered teaching approach, creating an exciting and entertaining environment designed to

2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE boost player learning. Campers will be placed in proper age groups and skill levels to ensure all players benefit from developmentally appropriate activities, teaching and competition. The camp will employ games designed to build technical foundations for dribbling, passing, receiving, shielding, and shooting. Campers ages 11-14 will also be exposed to individual and small group tactical implications of the game. Half-day camps (9 a.m.-noon) for ages 5-6 for $115; full-day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) for ages 7-14 for $195. At the JBL Soccer Complex at Azalea Park.

Asheville Gymnastics

» June 9-Aug. 15 » www.ashevillegymnastics.com; 490-1496; info@ashevillegymnastics.com » Ages 5-13. Structured gymnastics activities, crafts, free time, daily field trips, weekly pool day and movie day. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with early drop-off available. Weekly themes. $175 per week, $40 per day (full day is 4 or more hours), half day $20. At 50 Coxe Ave., Asheville.

Asheville Jewish Community Center

» June 15-Aug. 8 » www.jcc-asheville.org; 253-0701 » Camp Ruach: Rising grades 1-8. Weeklong ses-

sions with swimming, sports, cooking, crafts, nature and gardening, dance and music and ending with a celebration of Shabbat. 9 a.m.-3:30 or 5:30 p.m., $199 members/$225 community. Extended and afternoon care available. Tae Kwon Do and tennis lessons for extra fee. At 236 Charlotte St., Asheville. » Camp Tikvah, June 23-Aug. 1: Rising grades 1-5. Enables children on the autism spectrum to enjoy the fun and community of Camp Ruach in an individually monitored and highly structured program. A collaboration between Autism Consulting and Training Inc. and Camp Ruach, Camp Tikvah allows kids to participate in as many peer activities as is individually appropriate. Limited to six campers per session. Families must be interviewed prior to registration. Contact Camp Ruach Director, Seth Kellam to arrange your interview.

Asheville Lightning Junior Olympics

» Youth track and field, April 22-July » www.ashevillelightning.org; Bill Agrella, 242-0404; Lee Pantas, 779-1569 » Ages 6-18. Youth track and field program, sponsored by U.S. Track and Field. Practice and sign-ups start April 28. Practice is 6:15-8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, rain or shine, at Reynolds High School. $180 full membership; $150 practice-only membership.

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Asheville Music School

» www.ashevillemusicschool.org; 252-6244; downtownams@gmail.com » All ages and skill levels. Camps in chamber music, pop band, Suzuki splash, rock band and more. At 126 College St., Asheville.

Asheville Parks and Recreation

Contact information for each camp included in listings. » Vance Summer Day Camp, June 16-Aug. 15: N.C.-licensed child care program for ages 5-12 at Vance Elementary School gym, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Fun-packed summer full of creative adventures and group play, along with special activities and field trips. $25/child or $40/family registration fee. $105 per week residents, $115 nonresidents; discounts offered for siblings. Lunch and afternoon snack provided. For more information, contact Kim Isley at 828-350-2062 or kisley@ashevillenc.gov. » Summer Playground Program, June 16-Aug. 15: Rising grades 1-5. At Asheville area community centers. Games, crafts, cultural art and field trips. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Contact your community center or Allison Dains, 350-2058 or adains@ashevillenc.gov.

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE Continued from Page 23 » Summer Teen Leadership Program, June 16-Aug. 15: Rising grades 6-9. The Temp-Teen Enrichment Program offers an alternative to traditional teen summer camps with creative activities, diverse projects, field trips, more. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Contact Allison Dains, 350-2058 or adains@ashevillenc.gov. » Therapeutic Recreation Summer Enrichment Camp, June 16-Aug. 15: Ages 6-13, with or without mild to moderate cognitive or developmental delays who meet eligibility requirements. Daily activities include group games, arts and crafts, nature exploration, special events and field trips. One-on-one workers may come free with participants. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Camp size limited. Contact Randy Shaw, MHS, LRT/CTRS, 259-5483 or rshaw@ashevillenc.gov. » Therapeutic Recreation Teen Summer Camp: Middle- and high-schoolers with or without mild to moderate cognitive or developmental delays, who meet eligibility requirements. Eight-week inclusive camp with group games, arts and crafts, nature exploration, special events and field trips. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Offered in cooperation with F.I.R.S.T. Camp size is limited. Contact Randy Shaw, MHS, LRT/CTRS, 259-5483 or rshaw@ashevillenc.gov.

Asheville Lightning Junior Olympics is a track and field program that runs from late April into July. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE » Food Lion Skate Park, June-July: Ages 6-15. Sharpen skateboarding skills. 9 a.m.-noon MondayFriday. $85 per session. Corner of Flint and Cherry streets, downtown Asheville. Call 225-7184 for dates and to register. » Tennis Program: Asheville Tennis Association and Asheville Parks and Recreation offer program at various city and countywide locations. Eight-week sessions held for youth, beginners and intermediates beginning in early June. Weekly practices scheduled in early evening and last 90 minutes. $20/child for summer session. Registration starts in May. Sites include Malvern Hills and Aston Park Tennis Center; Reynolds and Roberson high schools; Enka and North Buncombe middle schools. Call 251-4074 or email lloftis@ashevillenc.gov . Asheville Parks and Recreation Specialty Camps » Beyond-the-Page Comics Camp, June 26-27: Ages 8-12. Explore how to make comic books, create art from comics, and learn about character building and story development through creative games and activities. 1-5 p.m. $20/child for both days. Contact Allison Dains at adains@ashevillenc.gov or 251-4081 » Parking Lot Picasso Camp, July 1-2: Staff will assist youth ages 10-14 to create individual masterpieces in the parking lot. Bring creative ideas from within or from an inspiring photo, and then recreate it out of chalk. Camp explores difference between graffiti and art, giving youth an opportuni-

ty to develop positive self-expression. 1-5 p.m. $20/child for both days. Contact Allison Dains at adains@ashevillenc.gov or 251-4081. » Sports Camps, July-August: Ages 6-16. Designed to introduce and enhance skills in a particular sport and with full-day and half-day camp options. Contact Allison Dains at adains@ashevillenc.gov or 828-251-4081. » Champions Football Camp: Rising grades 2-7. Designed to help young athletes develop proper football fundamentals, skills and techniques through the use of lectures, demonstrations and drills. Focuses on sportsmanship, teamwork and social skills needed to succeed at the game of football. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Before June 1: $80 resident, $90 nonresident. After June 1: Add $10. For camp dates and more information, contact Randy Shaw at 259-5483 or rshaw@ashevillenc.gov. » Summer Tennis Camp, June 16-20: Ages 8-14. New camp will focus on skill development and play. 9 a.m.-noon t Aston Tennis Center. $70 resident, $90 nonresident. Space limited. To register, contact 251-4074 or lloftis@ashevillenc.gov Asheville Parks and Recreation Outdoor Adventure Programs For more information and to register, contact Christen McNamara at 251-4029 or email outdoorprograms@ashevillenc.gov. All dates subject to change with school calendar. Camps meet at the Oakley Recreation Center, 749 Fairview Road.

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» Adventure Camp, June 23-27 or July 21-25: Ages 8-12. Activities include hiking, swimming, rafting, tubing, games, environmental education and camping. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, with an overnight camp-out on Thursday night and pick up at noon Friday. Session will break into age groups, with maximum 24 campers per session. Campers must bring lunch and water daily, and provide own sleeping bag and pad. $180 resident, $185 nonresident. » Eco-Explorers Camp, June 16-19 and July 7-9: Ages 6-8. With an environmental education focus, activities include hiking, climbing at the Montford Wall, stream investigation, and a field trip to Grandfather Mountain. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; last day is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. After-hour care (supervised playtime/movies) is from 3-5 p.m. for additional fee. Bring lunch and water daily. Equipment, instruction and transportation provided. Camp size limited. $80 resident, $85 nonresident for four-day camp; $70/$75 for three-day camp. » Teen Adventure Camp, June 30-July 2 and July 15-17: Ages 11-14. Outdoor skills focus. Includes tubing, hiking, canoeing, and whitewater rafting on French Broad River (class III-IV). 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Bring lunch and water daily. $150 resident/$155 nonresident. Includes all equipment, instruction, and transportation. Maximum of 20 campers.

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE Continued from Page 25 » Teen Canoe Adventure Trip, July 8-11: Ages 12-15. Campers will canoe almost 25 miles on the New River in northwest North Carolina. Participants must be able to swim 50 meters and be comfortable in the water. Campers will help set up and break down primitive camps, cook meals and follow all safety rules. $250 resident/$255 nonresident. Includes all equipment, meals, instruction and transportation. Campers must bring lunch and water for first day, and provide sleeping bag and pad. Maximum 10 campers. Camper application required. » Big Adventure Camp, July 28-31: Ages 12-14. Activities include tubing at Deep Creek, canoeing the French Broad, rafting the Nantahala (class III) and Ocoee (class IV) Rivers. Campers will help set up and break down primitive camps, cook meals and follow all safety rules. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, with an overnight campout Wednesday, pickup at 5 p.m. Thursday. $225 resident/$230 nonresident. Includes all equipment, instruction and transportation. Campers must bring lunch and water for each day, and provide their own sleeping bag and pad for camp out. Maximum of 20 campers.

Asheville Performing Arts Academy

» June 16-Aug. 8 » www.ashevilleperformingartsacademy.com; 253-4000; theapaa@gmail.com » Pre-K to 8th grade. Campers will put on a show in one week and perform to an audience. Different show each week. Shows include “Annie,” “Aladdin,” “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan” and more. 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $250. At 210 Merrimon Ave., Asheville.

Asheville Racquet Club

» June-August » www.ashevilleracquetclub.com; 274-3361; info@ashevilleracquetclub.com Ages 4-18. Tennis and adventure camps offered all summer; soccer and golf camps offered specific weeks. Club membership not required. Camps at ARC South, 200 Racquet Club Road, include: » Little Sneakers, ages 4-7, introduces tennis, 9 a.m.-noon. » All Day Sports Camp, ages 7-14, provides tennis program, supervised conditioning program and swim time. Kids learn basic rules of tennis. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. » Advanced-Level Junior Tennis Camp, for competitive level juniors throught the summer. Check website for exact dates. » Soccer Camps. British Soccer Camp, June 23-27. Hourlong session for ages 3-5, half or full day for ages 4-16.TetraBrazil Futsal Camp, July 14-18. Ages 6-18. Half- and full-day options. Campers receive jersey, T-shirt, soccer ball, evaluation and poster on registering at www.challengersports.com. At ARC Downtown, behind Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1 Resort Drive, Asheville. » Adventure Camp, ages 8-15, ARC teams up with

Eliada Home, in West Asheville, runs day camp for ages 5-13 for the entire summer, based on the Buncombe County school calendar. Campers swim daily. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

Asheville Adventure Center to give kids an actionpacked week. Campers will experience these activities on 125-acre property. Additional activities include tennis, crafts, games, pool time. An optional rafting trip is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays with Wildwater Rafting on the Pigeon River. Additional fees apply. » Two Day Junior Golf Camp, taught by ARC’s Professional PGA instructor Gwen Miller. Includes instruction in full swing and short game skills plus on course experience. Lunch will be provided each day. $135.

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Ballet Conservatory of Asheville

» Dance and theater workshops, June 16-Aug. 15 » www.balletconservatoryofasheville.com; 255-5777 » Ages 5-10. Weeklong workshops with these themes: Broadway, Swan Lake, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia. Discount for multiple workshops. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 1-4 p.m., depending on session. $155. At Five Points Studio, 6 E. Chestnut St.

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Biltmore Equestrian Center

» June 9-Aug. 1 » www.biltmore.com/equestriancamp; 225-1454; emclean@biltmore.com » Ages 5 and OLDER. Horseback riding camps focus on natural horsemanship skills, on the ground and in the saddle. For ages 8 and older, half-day camps, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $400, discount before May 1; and full-day camp, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., $700, with discount before May 1. Two-day mini-camps for ages 5-7, $175.

Bricks 4 Kidz

» June 16-Aug. 15 » www.bricks4kidz.com; wland@bricks4kidz.com » Completed K and older. Half-day (9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m.) themed camps for Lego enthusiasts. Campers will build motorized models, have lots of Lego freeplay, make crafts and do themed activities. Some themes include: Mining and Crafting, Star Wars, Angry Birds, Remote Control Mania, Chima Challenge, Bricks 4 God, Superheroes & Ninjas, Pirates & Knights, Bricks 4 Girlz and Amusement Park Fun. $120. Register by March 31. At Asheville’s Fun Depot, 2 Roberts Road, Asheville, and First Christian Church, 470 Enka Lake Road.

British Soccer Camp

British coaching staff teaches skills and team tactics. Free ball and jersey if you register 45 days before camp. Visit www.challengersports.com for details and to register for all camps. » Henderson County Soccer Association, June 9-13: Ages 3-14. Camps range from one hour for ages 3-4 up to full day for ages 9-14. At Jackson Park. $81-$186. » Buncombe County Parks and Recreation, June 9-13: Ages 3-16. Hourlong camp for ages 3-4 (8:309:30 a.m., $89); 90 minutes for ages 4-5 (9:30-11 a.m., $113); half day (8:30-11:30 a.m., $142) for ages 6-16; and full day (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $180) for ages 8-16. With goalkeeper/goal scorer camp for ages 8-16 from 6-8 p.m. ($48). At Enka Middle School, 390 Asbury Road, Candler. » Buncombe County Parks and Recreation, June 9-13: Ages 3-16. Hourlong camp for ages 3-4 (8:309:30 a.m., $89); 90 minutes for ages 4-5 (9:30-11 a.m., $113); half day (8:30-11:30 a.m., $142) for ages 6-16; full-day (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $180) for ages 8-16. At Red Oak School, 53 Red Oak School Road, Weaverville. » Asheville Racquet Club South, June 23-27: Ages 3-14. Camps range from one hour for ages 3-4 to all day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) for ages 8-14. $109-$209. At 200 Racquet Club Road, Asheville. » Waynesville Parks and Recreation, July 21-25:

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Ages 3-14. Hourlong camp for ages 3-4 up to full day (9 am.-4 p.m.) for ages 8-14. $82-184. Rec Center Soccer Fields, 550 Vance St., Waynesville.

Camp Cedar Cliff

» June 16-Aug. 1 » » www.campcedarcliff.org; 450-3331; camp@campcedarcliff.org » Rising K-6th grade. Weekly full-day sessions (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.). Fun and adventure geared to help children succeed and grow, and to point them to God. Activities include archery, zip line, climbing wall, swimming, Bible studies, crafts, and more.At the Billy Graham Training Center in East Asheville. $215.

Camp Invention

» July 28-Aug. 1, Asheville Christian Academy, Swannanoa » June 16-20, Pleasant Gardens Elementary, Marion » www.campinvention.org; » Program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation for rising grades 1-6. Campers build their own invention. they will collaborate to build prototypes, upcycle and re-engineer with gears and gadgets, developing critical-thinking skills and creativity, and explore STEM enrichment. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $220; register by March 28 for $25 off.

2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE Camp Pisgah

» Day camp, June 16-Aug. 1 » www.camplikeagirl.org » Girls, grades 1-6. Sessions at Girl Scout Camp near Brevard include daily swimming, arts and crafts, sports, boating and a Thursday night sleepover. Themed weeks include Wet ‘N Wily, Horse Whisperers, Artful Antics, Girl Vs. Wild and more. Transportation available for additional cost from Asheville. $125-$160.

Camp Rockmont

» Coed day camp, June 9-Aug. 8 » www.rockmont.com/day-camp; 686-3885; info@rockmont.com » Ages 6-10. Coed Christian day camp incorporates many aspects of the camp’s overall mission of growth: discovering new skills, exploring the natural world and building a community that values each child. Activities include waterfront play, outdoor adventure, group games, creative learning, homesteading, hikes, crafts and more. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. $350 with sibling discount. Transportation available from Oakley Plaza on Fairview Road.

Camp Tekoa

» June 9-Aug. 8 » www.camptekoa.org; 692-6516

» Ages 5-8 (elementary), 9-11 (adventure) and 12-14 (middle school). Nature hikes, scavenger hunts, devotions, challenge course, swimming, paddle boating, hayrides, arts and crafts, games, songs, zip line, more. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. $190 elementary, $205 adventure, $215 middle school. » Special needs day camp, June 23-27 and July 7-11: Ages 8-12 with developmental disabilities. Campers have full participation in activities alongside other campers. Nature hikes, devotions, challenge course, zip line, boating, arts, crafts, hayrides, swimming, field games and water games. $215. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Capoeira Angola Summer Camp

» July 7-18 » www.capoeiraasheville.org; Daniele Odell, 2545591 or danieleodesigns@gmail.com » Ages 7-11 and 12-18. Capoeira Angola is an AfroBrazilian martial art that combines dance movements, acrobatics, theatrical fighting, music, history and the Portuguese language. 9:30-11:30 a.m. in West Asheville. $80/week.

Carolina Pediatric Therapy Camp Crayon

» July 14-Aug. 1 » www.campcrayon.com; 670-8056 » Preschool-5th grade. For children who have diffi-

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culty with handwriting as well as preschoolers who are just learning handwriting skills. Camps include Squiggly Scribblers for preschool-kindergarten; Wiggly Writers for grades 1-2; Loop de Loopers for beginning to learn cursive through remedial course through 5th grade. $250 with discount before May 31. Registration closes June 15. At 9 Summit Ave., Suite B, Asheville.

Carolina Day School

» June 16-Aug. 10 » www.cdschool.org; Libby Roland, lroland@cdschool.org; 274-0758, ext. 305 » Rising pre-K to 12th grade. Summer Quest is an active day camp with in-depth, fun and challenging programs. Campers can choose from academic and quest camps including (but not limited to) science, ecology, Pokemon, cooking, All About Tolkien, Camp Half Blood, Lego Robotics, Minecraft, American Girl dolls, more. Outdoor camps include hiking, biking, Frisbee golf, Nature Explorers, Going the Distance, WNC Waterfalls, Parks & Playgrounds. Art and creative expression programs include Big Messy Art, Paint and Play!, Bottle Cap Art, Prehistoric Art, Glitter Galore Art, more. Camps for Pre-K like Little Hands Art Adventure, Under the Sea and more. Summer Explorations for middle-school students offer a unique in-depth examination into a partic-

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE Continued from Page 29 ular subject. Summer Workshops at Carolina Day School are directed toward high-school students. See website or call for complete list of offerings. Most camps 9 a.m.-1 p.m., with extended care available. Starting at $155. Discounts before March 28. At 1345 Hendersonville Road. Starts at $155; discount before March 22.

Center Stage Dance Studio

» June 9-July 25 » www.centerstage1.com; 654-7010; dance@centerstage1.com » Boys and girls, ages 3-9. Expert supervision led by professional dance instructors with classes in dance, music, theater and art. Campers receive instruction in etiquette, manners, team building and group play. An informal performance for family and friends serves as the grand finale each week. Camps run 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $225, with discount before May 1. Extended care available. At 38 Rosscraggon Road, Asheville.

Climbmax Climbing Center

» June 16-20, July 7-11 » www.climbmaxnc.com; 252-9996; stuart@climbmaxnc.com » Ages 6-18. Programs start at indoor rock climbing

facility and progress to outdoors climbing locations. Junior Youth Climbing for ages 6-13 also includes crafts and water fun. Advanced camp for ages 12-16 is more intensive and directed climbing program with two days inside, one day of outdoor review, and two-day overnight camping trip near rock climbing location. Advanced rock climbing and lead climbing clinic for ages 14-18 with training in lead climbing, three-day camping trip at destination climbing area. $385-$525.

Crossfire Ministry

» www.crossfireministry.com; 255-9111 » June 30-July 4, Waynesville Recreation Center. Half-day (1-4:30 p.m.) for boys and girls ages 6-12. Camp teaches fundamentals such as shooting, passing, ball handling, and defense. Fun competition games will be played. Five on five competition and game fundamentals will also be taught. There will also be testimonies and share time dealing with age-appropriate issues.

Cub Scout Camp

» www.danielboonecouncil.org; 254-6189

Elevate Life and Art

» June-August » www.elevatelifeandart.com » Ages 5-11. Elevate Summer Camp is all about the

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kids and extends a wide variety of summertime fun keeping your child physically and mentally engaged through weekly field trips, swimming, nature hikes, sports, theater and dance class, team building games, advanced gaming studios along with many more extraordinary activities! Elevate Summer Camp is a celebration of fun, friends, and new experiences for each child, ensuring a summer every camper will always remember! 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Eliada Home for Children

» June 11-Aug. 18, depending on Buncombe County school calendar » www.eliada.org; 210-0224; atrimnal@eliada.org » Ages 5-13 (must have completed kindergarten). Campus of 200+ acres with heated swimming pool. Includes teacher-directed activities, free play time, outdoor activities, swimming daily. Field trips for ages 5-8 and 9-13. 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $138. Child care vouchers accepted. At 2 Compton Drive, Asheville.

Emmanuel Lutheran School

» Summer Rocks, June 16-Aug. 8 » www.emmanuellutheranschool.org; 281-8182 » Variety of programs with field trips, arts and crafts, tae kwon do, gymnastics, Spanish camp, science camp, more. Two camps per week to choose from. 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday, with free early

2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE drop-off at 7:30 a.m. and extended day 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. available for added fee. In drama camp, rising 1st- to 9th-graders can participate in the production of “Annie Jr.” Auditions are 6-8 p.m. May 27-28. At 51 Wilburn Place, Asheville.

Fired Up! Creative Lounge

» June 16-Aug. 8 » www.fireduplounge.com; 253-8181; info@fireduplounge.com » Ages 5-12. Art-intensive camp offering specialized instruction and a wide variety of projects. 9 a.m.noon Monday-Friday. $125 per week, $25 single day. At 26 Wall St., Asheville.

Flat Rock Playhouse YouTheatre

» June 9-Aug. `5 » www.ytrocks.com; 693-3517 » Pre-K to rising 12th grade. Sessions offered in musical theater, dance (ballet, theater dance and hip-hop), drama, improvisation, voice, visual arts (claymation, painting), stage combat, audition techniques, a traveling drama tour and more. Halfday (9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.) and full-day (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) camps available in 1- and 2-week sessions. Full- and half-day workshops and classes also offered throughout summer.

Fletcher Parks and Recreation

» June 9-Aug. 15 » www.fletcherparks.org; 687-0751; n.sweat@fletchernc.org » Ages 5-12. Includes games, arts and crafts, swimming at Cane Creek Pool, field trips, sports, nature activities. $100 residents ($130 nonresidents). No camp July 4. Camp runs 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at Fletcher Community Park, 85 Howard Gap Road.

Gwynn Valley Camp

» June 9-July 18 » www.gwynnvalley.com; 885-2900; mail@gwynnvalley.com » Rising grades 1-5. Coed camp is based on the tradition of its residential camp, founded in 1935. Traditional summer program with working farm. Also includes arts, drama, music, sports, archery, horseback riding, more. 8:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. $430, with $25 discount for additional children.

Hahn’s Gymnastics

» June 9-Aug. 22 » www.hahnsgymnastics.com; 684-8832; hahnsgymnastics@hotmail.com » Ages 3-13. (Preschoolers must be potty-trained.) Gymnastics, arts and crafts, games. Full-day campers go swimming and on weekly field trips. Themes

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include Mad Scientist; Super Soakin’; Messy, Messy, Messy; Splish! Splash! Water Bash! and more. Fullday campers go on two field trips per week. Counselor-in-training program for teens who have finished 7th grade. Half-day (8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) for ages 3-13, $90; full-day (8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) for ages 5-13, $170. Extended care available. Counselor in training program $65. At 18 Legend Drive in Arden.

Hands On! A Child’s Gallery

» June 24-Aug. 15 » www.handsonwnc.org; 697-8333; info@handsonwnc.org » Ages 3-12. Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead! Camps and classes filled with science, technology, engineering, art and math. Hands-on activities and experiments, with follow-up take-home extension activities for each class. Cost varies; starts at $18 nonmembers, $10 members. Camp is 10 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m. and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. depending on session. At 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville.

Hanger Hall

» June 16-20; July 14-18; Aug. 4-15 » www.camphangerhall.com; 258-3600; info@hangerhall.org » Girls ages 11-15 (rising 9th grade counselor-in-

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE barn. $425, which includes $25 registration fee. (Junior counselors $275, which includes $25 registration fee.)

Homestead Farm

» June 10-Aug. 18 » Lisa Tygielski, 684-8745 » Focus on horseback riding and horse care, with daily riding and barn lessons. Also includes arts and crafts. Half-day camp, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., on Hoopers Creek Road in Fletcher.

Joyful Noise Community Music & Arts Center

$200-300. At Hanger Hall School for Girls, 30 Ben Lippen School Road.

» July 14-18 » www.joyfulnoisecenter.org; joyfulnoisecamp@yahoo.com » Ages 7-18. Unique summer program combines intensive string education under master instructors with an eclectic interdisciplinary arts experience. For early intermediate to advanced string players. Core classes consist of string orchestra, chamber music, master class instruction, and a daily concert hour featuring faculty and area professionals. Students also choose from a variety of electives including Gamelan, music history, composition and percussion. Camp culminates in a showcase concert at the end of the week. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $295. Scholarships and discounts available. At First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville, 30 Alabama Ave.

Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Kasumi Mountain Martial Arts

Qi Gong with guest instructor Megan Becker at A Nature Adventure Summer Camp, hosted by Kasumi Mountain Martial Arts. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT Continued from Page 31 training option). Camps include Start It Up (technology including web tools and languages); Sporty Sports Sport (sports and games with strength and agility training techniques, discussion of what it means to be a female athlete); Warrior Women (empowering girls with skills and knowledge for confidence in the backcountry); Crafty Hoopla (swimming field trips, making crafts like felted soaps, masks, more). $300. For rising grades 5-8, Crafty Hoopla Week includes field trips to swimming holes, crafts, skits and more. 9 a.m.-1 or 4 p.m.

» June 16-July 18 » www.hickorynutgapfarmcamp.com; Annie Ager, 628-2616 or 273-6236, or Susie Hamilton, 628-3546 or 273-1628; annieagerhng@gmail.com » Ages 6-13 with junior counselor program for ages 13-15. Camp offers art, pottery, drama and horseback riding. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at Hamilton’s house and Hickory Nut Gap Farm Camp horse

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» June 16-Aug. 1 » www.ashevilleninjas.com; 280-0624 » Rising grades 1-6. Build confidence, movement skills, nature awareness and great friendships. Field trips to 160-acre farm land, swimming, Splashville, local gardens and more. Siesta time daily with

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE Continued from Page 32 choose-your-own activities like basketball, yoga, gardening and nature crafts with guest instructors. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with after care until 5:30. Begins studio on Merrimon Ave, near UNCA. $259, sibling discounts.

Land of the Sky Wilderness

» June 4-Aug. 12 » www.lotswild.com; 280-0847 » Ages 4-7. Various themes. Blacksmithing, ninja, photography, wilderness/scout camp. $350. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. In Cruso, with day camp dropoff in Canton.

LEAF

» July 21-25 » http://theleaf.org/index.php/schoolsstreets/leafsummer-camp » Rising grades 1-5. Adventures through creative and performing arts. LEAF Camp will re-create the festival experience for campers as they participate in dance workshops, healing arts, face painting, drumming workshops, hula-hooping, costuming, performances and more. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. At Dr. Wesley Grant Sr., Southside Center, 285 Livingston St., Asheville.

The Little Gym

» Anytime Summertime Camps, June 9-Aug. 15 » www.tlgashevillenc.com; 667-9588 » Ages 3-10. Themed camps include gymnastics, crafts and more. Offered 10 a.m.-1 p.m. MondayThursday. Pick as many or few days as fits your schedule. Cost varies. Flex pass available. At 1000 Brevard Road, Suite 168.

Mock Trail Camp

Lutheridge

» July 9-12, day and overnight » http://ncmocktrial.org/camps/ccce-summer-camps; Sue Johnson, 919-360-0848; SueHeathJohnson@gmail.com » » Rising grades 9-12; inquire about rising 8thgraders. At UNC Asheville. Students and teachers will learn about all aspects of mock trial, from opening statements to closing arguments and everything in between. Legal professionals will lead sessions on topics including direct examination, cross examination, Rules of Evidence, more. In small group breakout sessions, students will practice as they prepare to argue one side of a fictional civil case in an end-of-camp trial scrimmage. Basic and Advanced tracks offered. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or stay overnight in UNCA dorms (chaperone required). $245 day camp; $400 overnight. Early bird and group discounts available.

Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church

Molly Angel’s Art Camps

» Kinder Camp, June 16-20 and July 14-18 » www.lutheridge.com; 684-2361 » Ages 4-7. Traditional camp activities like crafts, games, songs, skits, stories and outdoor adventure on 160 acres of woods and trails. Campers grouped by age. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. On Hendersonville Road, south of Airport Road. $120, with discounts before March 15, April 15 and May 15.

» June 16-20 » www.mabaptist.org; 252-2768 » Rising 1st-7th grades. Camp with arts, crafts, sports, music, more. $5 per day, lunch provided. At 283 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville.

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» June 16-20 (in Fletcher) and Aug. 4-8 (in Weaverville) » www.mollyangel.com; 681-0106; mollyangelart@gmail.com » Ages 6-12 (grades 1-7). Learn to draw a toucan, make a castle out of clay and paint your way into outer space. Weeklong summer art camps feature drawing, painting, clay and collage offering stu-

2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE dents a wide range of media to explore and exciting projects to ignite their creativity. 10 a.m.-noon or 2-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Classes are limited to nine students. $95, includes all supplies.

Camp Muddy Sneakers

» June 9-Aug. 1 » www.campmuddysneakers.org; lindsay@muddysneakers.org; 862-5560 » Ages 8-12. Campers will spend the week exploring different ecosystems around WNC and learn about animal habitats, aquatic ecosystems, geology, FBI! (fungus, bacteria and insects), weather and more. Mills River/Flecher/Arden, Brevard/Pisgah Forest, Asheville (sessions offered in each location at different times throughout the summer). 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $295 per week.

Music Academy of WNC

» July 21-25 » www.wncmusicacademy.com/summer-programs; 693-3726; mike@wncmusicacademy.com » Rising grades 4-8. 9 a.m.-noon. Two camps offered. Mountain Dulcimer: Kids will learn to assemble an instrument and play several songs individually and in a group. Led by Leslie Zarnowski. $120. Beginning Orchestral Strings: Students will learn violin, viola or cello. Curriculum focuses on correct posture, listening techniques and rhythm. Format

includes private, group and masterclass instruction. Instrument rental available. Led by Carolyn Tackett. $110.

N.C. Arboretum

» Discovery camps, June 9-Aug. 15 » www.ncarboretum.org; 665-2492; jmarchal@ncarboretum.org » Rising K-8. Every child deserves a chance to enjoy and explore the natural world. Camps for younger children include wildlife safaris, creek explorations, nature crafts and fort building. Older students engage in adventure activities both on campus and at other local destinations. Camps include tubing, hiking, geocaching, mountain biking, nature study, fishing, more. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with before and after care available. Starting at $170. At N.C. 191 and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Odyssey ClayWorks

» June 16-20, 23-27; July 14-18; Aug. 4-8, 11-15 » www.odysseyceramicarts.com; 285-0210; odysseyclayworks@gmail.com » Ages 4-15. Activities include creating large sculptures with clay and lessons on the potter’s wheel. 9 a.m.-noon or 2-5 p.m. $175. At 236 Clingman Ave., Asheville.

Odyssey Community School

» Summer Adventure Camps, June 9-Aug. 19 » odysseysummercamp.com; 259-3653; tking@odysseycommunity.org » Rising grades K-6. Camps include sports and fitness, daily swimming, arts and crafts, nature exploration, outdoor adventures, ceramics, drumming, and hanging out with friends. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with before and after care available. $100 for two day (Tues/Thurs); $150 for three day (Mon/Wed/ Fri); $200 for full week. Discount available for three or more full weeks. At 90 Zillicoa Street, Asheville.

Parkway Playhouse

» July 7-Aug. 1 » http://bit.ly/1oXAKXy; mksmith@parkwayplayhouse.com. » Ages 3-18. Fairy Princess Ballerina Camp, Musical Theater Summer Intensive and “Disney’s The Aristocats Kids” two-week summer production camp. $90-$180. Held at Dance Express in Burnsville.

Playball

» June 30-Aug. 7 » www.playballasheville.com; maxyplayball@gmail.com; 575-3000

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE Continued from Page 35 » Ages 3-6. Coach Maxy guides children through the world of sport with high energy, creative lessons. Kids learn new skills, make new friends, and gain confidence. Each activity focuses on balance, coordination, speed, and how to have fun while playing team sports. $40 per day or $140 for 4-day session. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Thursday. At St. Paul’s Preschool, 223 Hillside St., Asheville.

RiverLink

» June 9-July 25 » http://bit.ly/1ms2HIj; 252-8474, ext. 18; education@riverlink.org » Rising grades 3-5 (June 9-13 and July 7-11) and rising grades 6-8 (June 23-27 and July 21-25). Activities include Kids in the Creek water quality testing, enviroscope watershed model, Project WET lessons, river games, nature journal, rafting and tube trips. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with drop-off and pickup at French Broad River Park on Amboy Road. $250.

Rock Academy

» June 23-27; July 7-11 and 21-25; Aug. 4-8 and 11-15 » rockacademync.com; 252-1888; anne@ rockacademync.com » Ages 9-17. Rock Academy Summer Camp is the perfect place for young musicians to meet and play with others who want the coolest of summer camp experiences. Hands-on atmosphere at a state-of-theart rehearsal space. Campers perfect their performance skills as individuals and, most importantly, as a band. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. with snack and lunch break, at 1408 Patton Ave, West Asheville, behind Music City. With noon Friday concert. $175.

Roots + Wings School of Art and Design

» June 16-Aug. 1 » www.rootsandwingsarts.com; 545-4827; info@rootsandwingsarts.com » Age 3-rising 12th-graders. Collaborating again with a variety of artists and art forms, including dance, music, film and more. Roots + Wings programs develop innovative problem-solving skills, creative and critical thinking skills, confidence, collaboration and more as we encourage the creative voice of every student. All camps run MondayFriday and include snack and outdoor time. Daily schedules and fees vary. Multiple locations in Asheville.

Sewing Camp

» July 7-25 » www.danieleodesigns.com; 254-5591 or danieleodesigns@gmail.com Ages 9-18. Learn to sew on your own sewing machine. Learn about patterns, fabrics and complete a garment. 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. In West Asheville. $80/week.

Rock Academy gives young musicians a chance to play as a band. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

Tek-Kids Summer Camp

» June 16– Aug 15 » www.tek-kids.com; summercamps@tek-kids.com; Ian, 423-4046 » Ages 7-16. Adventures in technology for every age and experience level. Camps aim to knock down barriers to technology and turn kids into the creators and inventors of tomorrow. All camps are strictly hands-on for maximum learning and fun. Camps include: Camp Lego!, Minecraft Modding Adventures, Video Game Design Camp and more. All camps are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday at in West Asheville. $229 (prices may vary).

TetraBrazil soccer camp

TetraBrazil Soccer Academy offers unique programs of technical development that challenge each player to raise their game to new heights. The curriculum has been designed by our professional coaches to provide teams, coaches and players with the same, expert level of training received by the top youth players in Brazil. » Asheville Racquet Club South, July 14-18: Ages 6-16. Half-day (9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m.) for ages 6-16 or full-day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) for ages 8-16. $170-$221. At 200 Racquet Club Road, Asheville. » Henderson County Soccer Assocation, July

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7-11: Ages 6-16. Half-day (9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m.) for ages 6-16 or full-day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) for ages 8-16. $140-$198. At 708 S. Grove St., Hendersonville. » Waynesville Parks and Recreation, June 23-27: Ages 6-15. Half-day (9 a.m.-noon) or full-day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) for ages 8-15. Also offers 3v3 Tournament that runs 6-8 p.m. June 23-26 for ages 6-14. $52-$202. At Waynesville Recreation Center soccer fields, 550 Vance St.

Toy Boat Circus Camp

» June 16-20 and July 21-25 » www.toyboatcommunityartspace.com; 314-7957232; classes@toyboatcommunityartspace.com » Ages 5-15. Run away with the circus for a week! Learn juggling, trapeze, tightwire, aerial silks, magic, acrobatics and more. Each week culminates in a jaw-dropping circus performance. Half-day $160 (ages 5-6, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.); full-day $295 (ages 7-15, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.). At 101 Fairview Road, Suite B, Asheville.

Transylvania Community Arts Council

» www.tcarts.org; 884-2787; tcarts@comporium.net

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE Continued from Page 36 Camps held at TCArts Council, 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard. » Summer Art Camp, June 16-20: Ages 5-12. Explore visual arts, music, dance and pottery. 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m. $75. » Mountain Roots Pottery Camp, July 7-11: Learn and practice basic hand-building skills including pinch, coil and slab techniques, and paint with their own glazes. Pick up pieces within two weeks of camp; shipping may be arranged. 9 a.m.-noon (ages 6-10) or 1:30-4:30 p.m. (ages 10-15). Visit mountainroots.org or email ali@mountainroots for more information.

UNC Asheville

For details, visit www.uncasportsacademy.com. » Basketball Camp, June 23-26 and June 30-July 3: For boys ages 6 and older. Provide campers the opportunity to improve their fundamental skills and increase their understanding of the game. Includes competitions during the week. 8:30 a.m.-noon (ages 6-8) or 5 p.m. Cost TBD, includes lunch, T-shirt. Call 251-6935 or e-mail nmcdevit@unca.edu. » Football Camp, June 23-26: For rising 7th- to 12th-graders interested in learning the fundamentals and technique of football. Daily schedule will include offensive and defensive football drills

teaching proper form for each position. Lunch provided. Includes pool time and T0shirts. Directed by Coach Reid Bennett of the Carolina Gladiators and his staff. Bring helmet, shoes for grass, swimsuit. » Volleyball Camp, July 21-23. Half- and full-day camp. For details, contact Frederico Santos, 828-2325659, fsantos@unca.edu. » Nike Smoky Mountain Running Camp, July 6-25: Ages 11-18. Weeklong sessions led by high school and college-level coaches. Advanced Placement Cross Country Class for elite runners with college-level instruction about art and science of running. Daily runs in the national forest. Video taping with personal form analysis. Middle school program, July 13-18 only. Overnight, $695. Visit http://bit.ly/1fbahmF.

Upper 90 Girls Soccer Camp

» June 16-20 » www.warrenwilsonowls.com; 771-3737; senos@warren-wilson.edu » Ages 9-15. Soccer training, swimming, alpine tower climbing. Camp will focus on dynamic drills to develop proper skills so players can improve their technical speed and ability. Collegiate and professional coaching staff. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $350 with discount before March 15. Includes lunch, T-shirt and activities.

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Voices in the Laurel

» July 28-Aug. 1 » www.voicesinthelaurel.org, 335-2849 » Rising grades 1-12. Regional children’s choir based in Waynesville hosts its SummerVoice Music Camp at First Baptist Church, 100 N. Main St., Waynesville. Half-day camp with optional full day for grades 3-12. Campers will experience a variety of musical activities focusing on choral music and group instrument sessions such as guitar, piano, percussion or violin. Performance at end of week. Includes T-shirt and snacks.

Waynesville Parks and Recreation

» www.townofwaynesville.org/camps; 465-2030; recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org » Day Camp, June 9-Aug. 15 (tentative with school schedule). Grades K-5. Games, movies, swim time, fishing, field trips, more. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $75 for Rec Center members, $95 nonmembers. » Basketball Camp, July 7-10: Ages 6-12. 9 a.m.noon at Rec Center. $125. Hold your spot for $50; balance due at registration, 8-9 a.m. July 8 at Rec Center. Call 246-2129 or 456-2030. » Volleyball Camp, June 16-19: Ages 8-14. Skillbuilding camp for boys and girls. Includes fundamental skills instruction, developing strategies and

2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE playing games. Pool time after camp ends. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Rec Center. $100. Email recathletics@townofwaynesville.org.

Western Carolina University

For details on WCU’s camps, visit www.wcu.edu/13177.asp. » Rocket to Creativity camp, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 23-27. Rising grades 2-9. Launch a rocket to creativity this summer. It will engage children in fun but challenging activities that promote creative thinking and problem solving. Campers may choose from a variety of projects that range from creating historical documentaries to creating costumes for science fiction films. There are interest groups at each grade level, including Crime Scene Investigation, The Inventors Club, Robotics, Spy and Espionage, Clown Around with Animation, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Children will be working in small groups with a ratio 1:3, providing a personalized learning experience for each child. Showcase at week’s end. $130, includes lunch. Email hensley@wcu.edu or call 227-7397. » Soccer Camp, July 14-18 for boys and girls; July 25-27 girls elite camp. Covers speed, agility and strength program, technical/tactical development, individual goalkeeper training and many other areas of the Western philosophy. Visit www.westerncarolinasoccercamp.com for more details.

WNC Nature Center

» June 16-Aug. 8 » www.wncnaturecenter.com; 298-5600, ext. 305 » Pee Wee Camp: Pre-K with parent or guardian. 9 a.m.-noon. $70 members/$75 nonmembers, $25 each additional participant. » Wild Week Camps: Rising grades 1-5. Using plants and animals, sessions create fun learning activities encompassing the arts, sciences and social studies. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. with after care available, 3-5 p.m. $150 members/$175 nonmembers. » Overnight Delight, Aug. 7-8: Family sleepover with programming, crafts, tours and food. $30 members/$35 nonmembers (child or adult).

Xplore USA

» June 30-Aug. 15 » www.xploreusa.org; 651-8502; info@xploreusa.org » Ages 10-18. Intercultural day camp with foreign language classes and local educational and adventure activities with international teens. Activities include hiking and swimming at waterfalls, a trip to Carowinds, climbing wall, ropes course, tubing, rafting, cross-cultural team competitions, community service projects, cultural workshops and more. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Francine Delany New School for Children, 119 Brevard Road, Asheville.

YMCA of Western North Carolina

www.ymcawnc.org; 210-2273 (except where stated otherwise) Camps have one-time registration fee, noted after the session cost per child/per family. Financial aid applications available for some camps. » YMCA Discovery Camps, June 9-Aug. 14: Rising grades 1-6. Traditional day camps located throughout the county. Themed weeks full of games, crafts, songs, swimming and weekly field trips. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $165 ($50/$75). State child care subsidy vouchers accepted all licensed county sites. » YMCA Community Camp, June 9-July 16: Rising grades 1-6. Community-based camp at Hall Fletcher Elementary. Themed weeks full of games, crafts, songs, swimming and special field trips. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. $165 ($50/$75). State child-care subsidy vouchers accepted at this site. » YMCA Discovery Camp in Hendersonville, June 9-Aug. 14: Rising grades 1-6. Traditional day camp with themed weeks full of games, crafts, songs, swimming and weekly field trips. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. $165 ($50/$75). » YMCA Explorer Camp, June 16-Aug. 15: Rising grades 1-6. Traditional day camp at the YMCA Youth Center in North Asheville. Activities include archery, high and low ropes, gardening, forestry, field trips

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2014 DAY CAMP GUIDE Continued from Page 39 and more. Select weeks include overnight add-on for $75. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday–Friday. $185 ($50/$75). » YMCA Adventure Camp, June 16-Aug. 15: Rising grades 3-9. Off-site field trip-based camp for the true outdoor enthusiast. All campers must be able to pass a swim test and be ready to hike, swim and explore the Blue Ridge Parkway. 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. $225 ($50/$75). On select weeks sleep-away add-on available Tuesday-Thursday, $75 per week. Financial assistance available. » Corpening Memorial YMCA Day Camp, June 11-Aug. 22: Rising grades K-12. Nature hikes, camp songs, group games, arts and crafts, swimming, outdoor exploration, water play, drama and music, sports, field trips and more. Camp Discovery for K-5; Leaders in Training for grades 6-8; Counselors In Training grades 9-12. 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. MondayFriday. Price for McDowell residents only: $85/$105 ($35/$50). Call 659-9622. » YMCA Kiddie Camp, June 16-Aug. 15: Ages 4-5. For younger campers who are ready for a little more adventure. Activities include nature walks, crafts, gardening, swim lessons, more. Half days, 8 a.m.noon or noon-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Register for either daily session or both. $85 ($50/$75). Financial assistance available. » Field Hockey Camp, Woodfin Field Space: Rising 1st grade-age 14. July 7-11. Specialty Sport Camp with the emphasis on field hockey. Runs 12:30-5 p.m. at the YMCA Woodfin Field. Expert coaching from former South African national players and local high school field hockey coaches work with campers teaching fundamental field hockey. Campers participate in technical learning, small sided games and group game. T-shirt included. Camp will conclude with a tournament on Friday — parents are invited. $130 members, $160 nonmembers. Call 210-9605. Financial aid applications available. » Lacrosse camp, Woodfin Field Space: Rising 1st grade-age 10. July 14-18. Specialty Sport Camp with the emphasis on lacrosse. Runs 12:30-5 p.m. at the YMCA Woodfin Field. Expert coaching from former collegiate and high school coaches work with campers teaching fundamental lacrosse. Campers participate in technical learning, small sided games and group game. T-shirt included. Camp will conclude with a tournament on Friday — parents invited. $130 members, $160 nonmembers. Call 210-9605. Financial aid applications available. » Basketball Camp, Reuter Family YMCA: Rising grades 1-5. June 16-20 and July 21-25. Drop-off at 7:30 a.m.; camp runs 8 a.m.-noon. Includes drills, strength and conditioning training, agility, more. Campers will learn the fundamentals of basketball. T-shirt included. Camp will conclude with a basketball tournament Friday — parents are invited. Register at the Reuter Family YMCA Member Services desk. $130 members, $160 nonmembers. Call 651-9622. Financial assistance is available. » Soccer Camp, Reuter Family YMCA: Rising grades 1-5. June 9-13 and Aug 4-8. Camp will be at an off-site location TBD. Drop-off at 7:30 a.m.; camp

Xplore USA offers an intercultural camp that includes service projects. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT runs 8 a.m.-noon. Includes athletic conditioning, training, skills clinics and more. Campers will learn the fundamentals of soccer. T-shirt included. Camp will conclude with a soccer tournament on Friday — parents are invited. Register at the Reuter Family YMCA Member Services desk. $130 members, $160 nonmembers. Call 651-9622. Financial assistance is available. » Football Camp, Reuter Family YMCA: Rising grades 1-5. July 7-11 and July 28-Aug. 1. Drop-off at 7:30 a.m.; camp runs 8 a.m.-noon. Includes football drills, scrimmages, and strength & conditioning. Campers will learn the fundamentals of football. T-shirt included. Camp will conclude with a 7v7 touch football scrimmage on Friday — parents are invited. Register at the Reuter Family YMCA Member Services desk. $130 members, $160 nonmembers. Call 651-9622. Financial assistance is available. » Cheer & Dance Camp, Reuter Family YMCA: Rising grades 1-8. June 23-27, July 28-31. Drop-off at 7:30 a.m.; camp runs 8 a.m.-noon. Includes tumbling, stunting, jumps, cheers, chants and learning a camp dance. Campers will learn the fundamentals of cheerleading and dance. T-shirt included. Concludes with a skills showcase for parents on Friday. Register at the Reuter Family YMCA Member Services desk. $130 members, $160 nonmembers. Call 651-9622. Financial assistance is available. » Volleyball Camp, Reuter Family YMCA: Ages 11-15. July 14-18 and Aug. 4-8. Drop-off at 7:30 a.m.; camp runs 8 a.m.-noon. Includes volleyball drills, games, strength and conditioning, more. Campers

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will learn the fundamentals of volleyball. T-shirt included. Concludes with a volleyball tournament on Friday — parents invited. Snack not included. Register at the Reuter Family YMCA Member Services desk. $130 members, $160 nonmembers. Call 651-9622. Financial assistance is available. » All-Sports Camp, Reuter Family YMCA: Ages 3-6. June 9-13, June 23-27, July 7-11, July 28-31, and Aug. 11-15. 9 a.m.-noon; drop-off begins at 8:45 a.m. with early drop-off available at 7:30 a.m. for $10 per week. Includes lessons in basketball, volleyball, soccer, T-ball, football and more. T-shirt included. Bring snack. Register at the Reuter Family YMCA Member Services desk. $130 members, $160 nonmembers. Call 651-9622. Financial assistance is available.

YWCA of Asheville

» June 16 - Aug. 15 » www.ywcaofasheville.org; 254-7206, ext. 111; cici.weston@ywcaofasheville.org » Grades K-6. Weeklong camps have bi-weekly themes. Activities include gardening, nutrition, swim lessons/free swim, arts and crafts, field trips, sports, reading, hikes, more. 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. with extended care 7-7:30 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. for $8 more per week or $5 per day. At 185 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville. $140 per week members, $160 nonmembers, with $35/individual registration fee or $50/ family registration fee. $8 per T-shirt. Child care vouchers accepted.

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guest columnist

Aim for a healthy camper By Dr. Susan Mims Special to WNC Parent

While your kids are trying to decide which swim suits to pack for summer camp, as their parents you should make sure that your camper’s safety and health needs will be met. Here are three things you can do to worry less and ensure that your child enjoys their camp experience:

Update vaccinations

According to the American Camp Association, campers are twice as likely to get sick from a communicable illness (a cold or the flu) than suffer an injury (a broken leg). The best protection is vaccination. Some camps require your child have certain vaccinations. Regardless,

it’s a good idea to update your child’s vaccinations since they will be in close quarters with other children. Ask your child’s physician which vaccines they recommend, but consider protecting them from tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), meningitis, hepatitis A, measles, mumps, and chickenpox (varicella). Don’t wait until the last minute, so there’s plenty of time for their bodies to build immunity to the diseases.

Protect your child from the elements

Sun, poison plants, and bugs can turn a fun camp experience into misery. Be sure to pack sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection. Waterproof is a good idea too. Hats are great for keeping sun off and you can get clothes with sun protection built in. Bug repellent helps keep mosquitoes and ticks away and protects your child from the diseases they spread as well as

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the uncomfortable itching from bites. Teach your child how to identify poison ivy and other toxic plants so they can avoid this hazard as well.

Notify emergency contacts

Leave a list of updated emergency contacts at camp. This list needs to include home, work, and cellphone numbers for all immediate family members and the child’s physicians. Let other family members, like grandparents, aunts, and uncles, and trusted friends know your child will be at camp and you’ve listed them as an emergency contact. Again, make a backup list for your child, just in case. Summer camp is a wonderful experience for kids. Remembering these tips can help ensure they enjoy every minute. Susan Mims, MD, MPH is VP for Women’s and Children’s at Mission Hospital and Medical Director for Mission Children’s Hospital. She may be reached at (828) 213-1746.

Study finds sensory disconnect in autistic children By Tom Wilemon Gannett

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Findings of a recent study released by Vanderbilt University researchers in The Journal of Neuroscience unveil cues as to why autistic children have communication problems and trouble bonding with people. They do not instantaneously connect noises with sources or relate the words they hear with the speakers. The research suggests that games to enhance sensory perception should be a

primary focus in early intervention therapy. “We know there are sensory problems in children with autism,” said Mark Wallace, a neurobiologist who is director of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute. “That’s been established for a long time. The new piece of information from our perspective is it hasn’t been appreciated how important the integration across the different senses is for building a healthy brain.” This week Wallace is in Switzerland, where he is scheduled to speak Thursday about the findings at the 2014 Alpine Brain Imaging Continues on Page 44

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AUTISM Continued from Page 43

Meeting. Vanderbilt researchers used computer games to compare typically developing children between the ages of 6 and 18 with the same number of highfunctioning children with autism. They matched up the two groups as closely as possible, with all the children having similar IQ scores. The autistic children had trouble identifying instantaneous sound and visual stimuli. “It is like they are watching a foreign movie that was badly dubbed — the auditory and visual signals do not match in their brains,” said Stephen Camarata,

professor of hearing and speech sciences at Vanderbilt. Wallace said computer games could be used to help autistic children improve their sensory skills. “On every test, the children are asked to basically make a judgment about the timing of a light and a sound,” Wallace said. “It can be very simple -- a flash of light and a burst of sound. One of the examples we have is a bumblebee. The children are asked to differentiate between male bumblebees and female bumblebees. With male bumblebees, the flash and sound are absolutely at the same time. With female bumblebees, the flash and the sound are at different times.” A carefully planned exercise that would reward children when they get a right answer could help them better con-

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nect noises with sources, he said. “One of the classic pictures of children with autism is they have their hands over their ears,” Wallace said. “We believe that one reason for this may be that they are trying to compensate for their changes in sensory function by simply looking at one sense at at time. This may be a strategy to minimize the confusion between the senses.” Researchers at Vanderbilt are also investigating how autistic children perceive touch. “A lot of what we are working on in the lab is what we call the tactile, the touch domain, to see if these same kind of things that happen with sight and hearing also extend into the realm of touch.” Wallace said.

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YOUNG PEOPLE FINDING NEW SOURCES OF

CAFFEINE

By Michelle Healy, USA TODAY

he sources of caffeine consumed by kids, teens and young adults have become more varied over the past decade, but overall intake has not increased, an analysis by federal researchers shows. Between 1999-2010, 73 percent of people ages 2-22 consumed at least some caffeine on a given day, including 63 percent of children ages 2-5, according to the analysis in the March issue of Pediatrics, published online recently. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages caffeine consumption by young people and said in a 2011 statement that “stimulant-containing energy drinks have no place in the diets of children and adolescents.” Using nationally representative health and nutrition survey data, researchers report: » The portion of caffeine intake from soda declined from 62 percent in 1999-2000 to 38 percent in 2009-10. » Coffee accounted for only 10 percent of caffeine intake in 1999-2000, but grew to nearly 24 percent of intake in 2009-10. » Energy drinks, which did not exist as a category tracked by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1999-2000, represented nearly 6 percent of caffeine intake in 2009-10. “If soda intake had not decreased over that time, then we certainly would have seen an increase in caffeine intake,” says Amy Branum, a health statistician with the National Center for Health Statistics and co-author of the report, the first to examine caffeine trends among teens and kids since energy drinks became widely available. Energy drinks’ contribution to caffeine intake among young people represented “quite a difference in a relatively short amount of time,” Branum adds. Although caffeine is considered a “safe” substance by the Food and Drug Administration, “because of the relative lack of empirical data on children and adolescents, we just don’t know whether or not that’s true at that age or what the impact is over the long term of higher caffeine consumption,” says Jennifer Temple, direc-

tor of the Nutrition and Health Research Laboratory at the University of Buffalo. Temple, who is researching the effects of caffeine intake in kids and adolescents, was not involved in the new study. Excess caffeine consumption can increase heart rate and blood pressure, hyperactivity and anxiety, the new study notes. And “case reports of caffeine toxicity and deaths among adolescents and adults reflect the potential dangers of excess caffeine or energy drink consumption,” it says. But caffeine also has some effects that are “thought to be more positive,” such as increasing alertness and energy and reducing fatigue, says Temple. For healthy adults, FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day (the amount contained in about three 8 oz. cups of brewed coffee) “as an amount not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects.” The agency has not set a safe level for children. In May, citing concerns about the growing number of food products with added caffeine, including waffles, jelly beans, gum and nuts, FDA said it would begin to investigate caffeine’s potential side effects on kids and adolescents. Although the report’s finding that overall caffeine intake did not change “comes as a bit of a surprise,” it will be “interesting to see what happens over the next 10 years” as energy drink consumption becomes “more widely available and more widely advertised to children,” says Temple. Among other study findings: » Among kids ages 2-5, tea overtook soda as the largest contributor to caffeine intake In 2009-2010. Tea, in fact, was the second largest contributor to overall caffeine intake for all ages and remained relatively stable over the decade. » Among 19- to 22-year-olds, coffee edged out soda as the primary source of caffeine, growing from 14 percent of intake to 34 percent. Energy drinks went from 0 percent in 1999-2000 to 10 percent. » Among all age groups, ages 12-16 had a the greatest intake of caffeine from sodas in 2009-10 (46 percent) down from 65 percent in 1999-2000.

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nature center notes

Ordinary scientists By Jordon Crawford Special to WNC Parent

What comes to mind when you hear the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;scientist?â&#x20AC;? A lab coat? Safety goggles? Lots of complicated chemical reactions? While those things are true of many sciencecentered professions throughout the world, many people are unaware that anyone can be a scientist. A citizen scientist, that is. A gray Citizen science usutree frog ally refers to research SPECIAL TO collaborations between WNC PARENT scientists and volunteers, and the goal of these partnerships is to answer real-world questions about the natural world. Sometimes research projects require more data than a single scientist or a group of scientists can collect, so volunteers may have the opportunity to collect data in their own backyards. This information goes into a large database that shows patterns and changes in plant and animal populations. Citizen science projects in WNC include many species of animals, like birds, salamanders and frogs. If scientists want to know which bird species spend winter in the mountains, for example, they might ask citizen scientists to help identify those birds. Groups of volunteers may also travel to places like Great Smoky Mountains National Park to identify the biodiversity of salamanders. WNC Nature Center recently offered a citizen science training for FrogWatch, a nationwide research project through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that allows volunteers to learn about amphibian conservation by recording the calls of frogs and toads. Learn more about WNC Nature Center at www.wncnaturecenter.com or call 259-8080.

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navigating education

NC Read to Achieve: What every parent needs to know

By Michael Miller WNC Parent columnist

NC Read to Achieve is a piece of legislation that has gone into effect this school year. It has made the news lately because lawmakers are beginning to point fingers as they realize the actual impact of this law. NCRA states that students who do not show proficiency in reading by the end of third grade are required to attend a summer reading camp, and if they still do not show proficiency then they are required by the law to be re-

tained in third grade. State educators have warned against the short-sighted and ill-conceived nature of this law, but the legislation was pushed forward anyway. Now, as we approach the first summer since the law has taken effect, state legislators are seeing the tsunami on the horizon. There is no doubt that the parents of our students have been paying attention to the turmoil around the most sweeping set of educational reforms in decades. This turmoil comes because most of these laws ignore any actual research in the field of education, much less the professional knowledge of leading educators in our state and our country. The best antidote to such laws is (ironically) education. Following is what every parent needs to know about NC Read to

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Achieve. As stated, any third-grader who does not show proficiency in reading according to the third grade end-of-grade test is required to attend a summer reading camp. If the student does not show proficiency by the end of the camp, then the school is required to retain that student. This is coming at a time when funding has been cut from education in a variety of areas, from text book and materials, to salaries. Yet, the state is mandating that local school systems find the money to operate these summer reading camps. It is also important to consider the instrument being used to measure reading proficiency. Do parents know how closely scrutinized these end-of-grade tests are? Are they appropriate? Is there any justice in determining retention

based upon one test given on one day out of the school year? How reliable is the scoring? The point here isn’t to create a wave of concern and doubt over the end of grade test itself, but to raise the important question of how appropriate it is to place such high stakes on one test or even a summer reading camp. Most importantly, it is crucial that lawmakers consider the overwhelming research showing that students who are retained for any reason are up to 11 times more likely to drop out before graduating high school. The same studies show that students who are retained show no gain in achievement as a result of retention. That bears repeating. Retention does not improve academic achievement. In fact, studies show that students who are retained struggle with myriad other problems that further impact their academics in a negative way. Why have our lawmakers ignored this important research, and the professionals who are literally shouting it at them from the streets? Finally, it is important that we follow the ramifications of this law through to its potential outcome for the student who does not meet proficiency. Has anyone noticed that there does not seem

to be a solid plan for the student who does not show proficiency for a second year in a row? What about a third year? There is a note on a flow chart the state has published with the plan that indicates students will receive more intensive tutoring if they fail for a second time. What if this doesn’t work? The answer to that is simple. Will we have 10-yearolds in third grade, and 16-yearold students in eighth grade? Will our state’s middle schools have to have student parking areas? Again, the goal here isn’t to create false hysteria, but to encourage our families to think about the education legislation being passed and how it is going to impact their children. After all, our children are our most precious resource. We cannot continue to allow their education to be dealt with in a manner that shows ignorance of what is truly beneficial for them.

ILLUSTRATION BY THINKSTOCK.COM

Michael Miller is the principal of Asheville Catholic School, www.ashevillecatholic.org.

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artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s muse

Students teach their peers, which helps them learn how to communicate, fosters growth and teaches them how to share a process. GINGER HUEBNER/SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

Getting beyond expectations By Ginger Huebner WNC Parent columnist

I have made many observations in all of my work with students of various ages. One stands out more than most on some days: If encouraged in the right ways, students will go way beyond

their own expectations in what they create, the process they took to get there, and the thought that lies behind their idea. Inspiring these innovative juices in people is what I love about what I get to do each day through my school, Roots + Wings School of Art and Design. A super fun way to just watch the creativity flow out of a student is to allow them to teach! It is such a wonderful time for all involved. We do this at our Visual Arts Preschool as well as

our After-school Community Design Lab programs multiple times per month. Not only does it give the student a chance to share something they love with their peers, it allows them an opportunity to learn how to communicate the process! This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always easy, but it definitely produces healthy, positive growth in everyone around the table. Our Lead Instructors help the students feel prepared by helping them craft lists of materi-

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Sometimes adults can learn from student teachers. GINGER HUEBNER/SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

als needs and steps involved. I always say that I learn from my students EVERY day. This is even more true when they are given a chance to structure and teach a lesson. Through these experiences I have discovered more interesting ways to share information, pass things out, get studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention, etcâ&#x20AC;Ś It is quite rewarding. The best thing is that this idea can translate to your home very easily! Have your child teach you something! Ginger Huebner is the director of Roots + Wings School of Art and Design, offering visual art and design education for all ages. Email her at info@rootsandwingsarts.com or visit www.rootsandwingsarts.com.

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educator’s view

Don’t forget to teach math By Susanna Barbee WNC Parent columnist

It’s common knowledge among parents and educators that early reading skills lead to greater academic achievement for children; however, early math skills may be just as — if not more — important than their literary counterpart. As an English teacher and writer, I feel more comfortable with books and literature than I do with number knowledge and concepts. My husband and I have been reading with our two boys since they were in the womb. We have been working on letter recognition and phoneme awareness with our 5-year-old for three years. While these skills are extremely important, it

appears that we’ve been neglectful in regard to fostering early math and number knowledge. When researching for an article last month, I discovered some interesting information that was found through a study conducted at Northwestern University. After completing six longitudinal studies of 36,000 preschoolers, researcher Greg Duncan said, “We find the single most important factor in predicting later academic achievement is that children begin school with a mastery of early math and literacy concepts." Why are early math skills important? » Early math skills provide the foundation for the development of rational and logical thought processes. » Children with an understanding of basic mathematical concepts are better able to see the connections between different objects and ideas. » Being able to compare objects

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and ideas is a critical step toward developing the skills necessary for reasoning, reading comprehension, and other complex processes. » Studies have shown that children who lack math/number knowledge skills in first grade never close the gap and remain behind their peers throughout school and into adulthood. Once I read and processed this information, I started wondering what it all meant. What types of activities should I be doing? What types of “math words” should I be using? How early is too early? What are my children developmentally ready for at certain ages? Fostering early literacy skills is rather intuitive, partly because most people are familiar with the types of activities that help with this (reading, learning the alphabet, writing letters, providing enriching experiences, using strong vocabulary, etc.) and partly because there is more information out in the world re-

garding early reading skills as opposed to early math skills. What types of activities foster early math skills? » Refrain from teaching your toddler to count by merely reciting numbers; attach numbers to a noun (i.e. “Here are two crayons;” “Hand me three blocks”). This helps teach quantity concepts. » Teach shapes but also describe them (i.e. the rectangle is like a square but tall and skinny; then compare the two shapes). » Talk about distance. For younger children, you may ask, “How many steps to your ball?” For older children, you may ask, “Does it take us longer to drive to Grandma’s house or to your preschool?” » Always involve children in daily math activities, such as making change or measuring ingredients. » When playing, toddlers should be sorting and matching in regard to color, shape, texture, etc. » When playing, encourage 3- and 4-year olds to recognize numbers, count, recognize geometric shapes and patterns, understand some spatial concepts, select which set is larger than/less than,

MORE RESOURCES » www.education.com/reference/ article/Ref_Building_Early_Math/ » www.kinderiq.com/kindergartenmath.php » www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/25/ math-skills-first-grade-numbersense_n_2950383.html

and identify one-to-one correspondence (the fact that a number actually represents an amount of something). » Set timers for certain activities like quiet time, play time, bath time, etc. This helps children begin to understand the passage of time.

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» Examples of grocery store activities include learning colors, discussing shapes, recognizing the aisle numbers, measuring produce/coffee/dried goods and counting change at the cashier. Whatever age your child is and whichever activities you decide to include, always make math learning fun and applicable to their everyday life. Many children grow up with the impression that math is very abstract and involves formulas to be memorized in school, but if children learn from birth that math is applicable and useful in everyday life, this mentality will continue as they mature. As you work with your young child, don’t put the books away; they’re still as important as ever. Along with reading, however, be sure you are sorting, counting, sequencing, matching, identifying, estimating, and enjoying any other activity that boosts your children’s math knowledge. That knowledge will positively impact them for the rest of their lives. Susanna Barbee is a local mom, writer and educator. Find more on her blog, www.zealousmom. com. Reach her at susanna.barbee@gmail.com.

families & relationships

How to find a therapist By Trip Woodard WNC Parent columnist

So, Valentine’s Day has passed and the relationship has not gotten any better. School is starting to begin winding down, and your child is still misbehaving in class. Your thoughts turn to getting a therapist. Now, the question is, how do you find one that will work for you and your situation? Here are 10 things for you to consider: 1. What type of therapist do you actually need? Therapy has become progressively more focused and specialized. For example, are you dealing with a marital issue? Maybe you might want to start by looking at finding a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Is it about trauma? Considered looking at someone certified or who has credible training in EMDR (Google “EMDR and trauma” to see why I recommend this). Search online for therapists who claim proficiency in what you need. 2. What does your insurance pay for? Unfortunately, many companies maintain “panels” of preapproved therapist, so if you are using your insurance, check there first. 3. When you talk to your potential therapist on the phone and in person, do you hit it off? If you feel safe, secure and respected at first contact; the therapist has a working plan that leaves you hopeful; and if the therapist respects your values (such as your religious system), then these are all good signs. 4. If you meet with your new therapist three times and don’t feel you are getting anywhere, drop him or her. A good therapist does not take this personally and should offer to help you find a “better fit.” 5. Your therapist should emphasize kindness before cleverness, and

compassion. If this is not the case, or if the therapist spends most of the hour talking about his or her own life, refer to No. 4 for the solution. 6. By insurance regulations, a therapy hour usually lasts around 50 minutes. If your therapist should start late, you should expect to get the full balance of your time. Because some practices deal with emergencies, let your therapist know if you feel flexibility for scheduled times is not an option. 7. Ask your therapist after hours coverage and any fees attached. Many therapists will talk or text with you for a few minutes without a charge and respond within a reasonable period of time. Find out if there are coverage options if the therapist is not available. 8. Let your therapist know from the beginning if there is even a remote chance that information about your therapy will wind up in court. This is critically important when it involves therapy with children who perceive this as a violation of trust. Also expect that your therapist may have an additional fee for dealing with the court on your behalf. Ask about this because you may become responsible for a fee that is substantially higher than a regular therapy hour. 9. In case you are starting to think otherwise, most therapists are not in the business of mental health to become even remotely wealthy. Like everyone else, they have bills to pay and time is their most precious commodity. Your average therapist may dedicate hours of case management time free of charge. 10. Finally, if your therapist uses psychological testing or questionnaires in the evaluation, remember that these are just tools. That is not an ultimate, infallible statement about who you are. Ultimately, people are not labels or consumers (sounds like a grub, doesn’t it?). You and your therapist are both human beings at our worst and best. Trip Woodard is a licensed family and marriage therapist and a clinical member of the N.C. Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Contact him at 606-8607.

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librarian’s pick

The sparkling world undersea comes alive Jennifer Prince Buncombe County Public Libraries

When it comes to children’s books about nature, Jim Arnosky is the name to remember. Arnosky is the author and illustrator of 132 books about nature. He has illustrated an additional 46 books for other authors. Arnosky is the perfect book maker. He is enthusiastic about his topics, and it shows in his writing. His research is thorough, yet he writes in a way that is accessible to young people. Arnosky’s penchant for patient observation and his remarkable talent for painting and drawing make him the ideal chronicler of things in nature. Each of his illustrations is filled with life-like detail, so much so that many of his illustrations take on a photographic quality. Arnosky’s newest book, “Shimmer & Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life,” is another diamond in his literary crown. “Shimmer & Splash” is divided into a dozen short chapters of two to four pages each. Chapters cover a multitude of oceanic life including stingrays, dolphins, jellyfish, coral reefs and sharks. The text is written in a chatty, informal style. It is as if readers are made privy to Arnosky’s field journals. Each chapter begins with a description of how and where Arnosky encountered the animal subjects. For instance, the chapter on fiddler crabs begins, “One day, Deanna (Arnosky’s wife) and I arrived at the beach at low tide just in time to see two fiddler

crabs fighting atop a mound of mud.” Subsequent paragraphs go on to describe the animal subjects’ habits and habitats, their physical appearances and life cycles. The illustrations are gorgeous. Arnosky’s intense study of the animals comes across in his detailed life-like illustrations. Every fin, spike and barb is apparent. The margins of some pages are illustrated with black and white pencil drawings depicting additional details. For instance, the margin of one the pages on sharks shows several kinds of shark tails, showing the reader how some shark breeds can be identified by the shape of their tails. Most of the chapters have a fold-out illustration. After the black and white print of the text, the full color of the illustrations within the foldouts is breathtaking. The perspective is like that of someone snorkeling. The fish and plant life are shown close-up, most at their true scale. Colors are vivid, and each illustration appears as if lit from the sun above the surface of the water. “Shimmer & Splash” is narrative nonfiction at its finest. Ideally suited for elementary school children, the writing is accessible and engaging, yet loses nothing in terms of substance. The illustrations are detailed and accurate enough to suit the most exacting scientific eye, yet they are filled with such color, variety and light as to appeal to the most discriminating artistic sensibility. This book is available in the Buncombe County Public Libraries. To learn more, visit www.buncombecounty.org/library.

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area story times

Henderson County Library

Visit www.henderson. lib.nc.us. Bouncing Babies (0-18 months) 11 a.m. Thursday, Main Toddler Time (18 months-3) 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Main; 10 a.m. Wednesday, Fletcher. Preschool (3-5) 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Main; 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Fletcher Family 10 a.m. Monday, Mills River; 10 a.m. Thursday, Green River; 10 a.m. Tuesday, Etowah; 10 a.m. Monday, Edneyville. 4 O’Clock Club (K-5) 4 p.m. Thursdays, Main

Buncombe County Libraries Visit www.buncombecounty.org. Mother Goose: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Black Mountain; 11 a.m. Tuesday, Fairview; 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, North Asheville; 11 a.m. Thursday, Oakley; 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Pack; 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Swannanoa; 11 a.m. Wednesday, Weaverville; 11 a.m. Monday, West Asheville. Toddler: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Black Mountain; 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Enka; 11 a.m. Wednesday, Fairview; 10 a.m. Wednesday, North Asheville; 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oakley; 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Pack; 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, S. Buncombe; 10 a.m. Thursday, Swannanoa; 11 a.m. Thursday, Weaverville; 11 a.m. Wednesday, West Asheville. Preschool: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Black Mountain; 11 a.m. Wednesday and Saturday, East Asheville; 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Enka; 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Fairview; 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Leicester; 11 a.m. Wednesday, North Asheville; 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oakley; 10:30 a.m. Monday, Pack; 10:30 a.m. Thursday, South Buncombe; 11 a.m. Thursday,

Swannanoa; 11 a.m. Tuesday, Weaverville; 11 a.m. Thursday, West Asheville. Reading Corner (ages 6-12) 3:30 p.m. first Wednesdays, Pack.

Haywood County Library

Visit www.haywoodlibrary.org. Waynesville, 356-2512 or 356-2511: Movers and Shakers: 11 a.m. Thursdays; Ready 4 Learning: 11 a.m. Tuesdays; Family story time: 11 a.m. Wednesdays Canton, 648-2924: Family story time, 11 a.m. Tuesdays; Rompin’ Stompin’ story time, 10 a.m. Thursdays

Barnes & Noble

Asheville Mall and Biltmore Park Town Square: 11 a.m. Saturdays

Spellbound Children’s Bookshop

50 N. Merrimon Ave., Asheville. www.spellboundbookshop.com Story time: 11 a.m. Saturdays, ages 3-6. Free. Book vs. Movie Club: 6-8 p.m. March 21. Free, all ages. Club for the whole family meets the third Friday of each month to watch a movie based on a book and discuss the differences between them. All ages.

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growing together

Baby love, this time around By Chris Worthy WNC Parent columnist

Babies are everywhere, and they’ve given me a different kind of fever this time around. For years, my husband and I kept the church nursery once a month. Sure, it was service and helping and all the good feelings that accompany that. Really though, it kept my baby fever at bay. For an hour and a half, I could snuggle toddlers and play with blocks and read board books over and over. I could say, “Let’s share,” 942 times and change several stinky diapers. When our time was up, we would hand them back to their parents and skip down the hall to our waiting teen-

agers who had dressed themselves, could read their own books and needed no assistance from us in their day-today hygiene. Life was good. A recent spate of pregnancies means my friends are having babies again. They are thrilled and I am thrilled for them. I am not jealous but I am making plans that quell this newfound desire they’ve given me. Instead of wistfully looking at little dresses and onesies or running the numbers on how old we would be when a new baby started school/learned to drive/went to college, I just spend loads of money at the fabric store. I have turned into the crazy friend who makes baby quilts. Admittedly, my skills are limited and I am not sure I have the patience (or the doctorate in geometry) required to make intricately pieced quilts that are too pretty to use. I make simple patchwork, relying on gorgeous fabrics to

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make up the difference. I carefully choose patterns and colors, cut and sew — and rip seams and resew, usually — and combine it all with the warmest unbleached cotton batting (that’s the soft, middle part of the quilt) to make sure baby has a soft place to play, stare at the ceiling fan and discover his toes. These quilts have received a mixed reaction, and I am learning to judge who will love them and who needs a set of cloth diapers from the gift registry instead. But, good or bad, I am undeterred. My joy comes in the making and in thinking of the little life who will receive it. With each stitch, I wonder who this new person will be and what impact his life will have. There is love and hope in each square. Chris Worthy is an attorney who took down her shingle to be a stay-at-home mom. Contact her at chris@worthyplace.com.

COOL

Black beans 1 pound dried black beans (2 cups), sorted and rinsed 3-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped 5 cups water 4 teaspoons ground cumin 1 -2 teaspoon salt

BEANS

Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker, cook on high setting for 6-8 hours Stove top instructions:

1 pound dried black beans, sorted and rinsed 4-5 cups water 1-2 teaspoons salt 3-5 whole garlic cloves, crushed

By Kate Justen

WNC Parent columnist

It never fails. You mention eating beans, and someone brings up the old song. “Beans, beans the magical fruit…” You know how the rest of that conversation goes. Many public health organizations — including the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society — recommend legumes, including beans, as a key food group for preventing disease and optimizing health. The Dietary Guidelines developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA recommend 3 cups of legumes per week. Beans also fall into the affordable and easy categories that are important to most families, so why not eat more? Many kids tell me they do not eat beans. First understand why someone says they do not eat a certain food. Beans have a skin on them and the inside can feel dry and a little chalky. For some kids, this is enough to say no thank you. To get kids comfortable with the flavor, puree beans for a soup, hummus or bean dip. Start with a legume with a thin skin, such as field peas or lentils. If your child is fine with the skin but does not like the inside texture of the bean, find out what it is that they do not like. Getting kids to describe what they think and feel can be a challenge. Don’t let them get away with saying. “It tastes bad.” It can be a fun process to find the beans that work for your family. Create a taste chart. Name each food you try, and have kids describe the flavor, feel, smell, look and sound of each food in a chart form. Kate Justen is the program director of FEAST — Fresh Easy Affordable Sustainable Tasty, a program of Slow Food Asheville. Contact her at feast.avl@gmail.com or visit www.slowfoodasheville.org.

Black beans with salsa are an easy way to try a legume. SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

Spicy salsa 3 medium-sized fresh tomatoes diced, or 12 oz canned tomatoes 1 clove crushed garlic 1/2 yellow or green bell pepper finely chopped 1/4 small onion finely chopped 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro 1 jalapeno, seeds removed and chopped 1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients in a bowl mix well and serve, or put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse for a few seconds.

1. Soak the beans overnight. The night before you cook (10-14 hours), soak beans to reduce cooking time and help them cook evenly. Empty dry beans in a bowl. Pick through and discard any shriveled or unappealing beans. Cover with a few inches of water and leave them on the counter. The next day, drain beans and rinse gently under water. 2. Transfer beans to a heavy cooking pot. Add aromatics, if using. Cover with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and bring to a gentle simmer. You should barely see the water moving. Cover pot with lid slightly ajar. 3. Cook the beans for one hour, and then begin checking for doneness. Depending on age, size and variety, beans can take anywhere from an hour to three hours to cook through. Be patient. Keep the beans a gentle simmer and taste frequently as they start to become tender. Add water as needed to keep beans submerged, and stir occasionally. Add salt when beans are barely tender. (If using canned beans, drain and rinse well before eating.)

Yellow rice with black beans and wilted greens Yellow Rice

rice to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes. Wilted Greens

2 teaspoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons chopped onion 1/4 red bell pepper, chopped 1 garlic clove, chopped 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice or basmati rice, well rinsed 2 1/4 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

2 large bunches Swiss chard, kale, mustard greens and/or collard greens 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 clove crushed garlic 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic; sauté until just beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add rice, water, salt, and turmeric. Bring

Tear the greens into pieces; discard stems and rinse well. In a pot, over medium heat, heat the oil and garlic. Add the greens and toss to coat. Cover and cook, stirring once, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the salt and serve.

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Eat heat, feel better

Chiles are delicious, healthful

By Karen Fernau, The (Arizona) Republic | azcentral.com

heryl Chavez, whose family owns the Valley’s four Los Dos Molinos restaurants, once shared her mother’s remedy for allergies, colds, flu and a host of other illnesses: Eat more chiles. According to medical studies, Mom’s remedy works. I, too, have become a believer, and consider chiles my No. 1 choice for allergy medicine. Chiles, the bedrock of the restaurant’s New Mexican-style cuisine, are touted for their ability to open airways. Medical experts explain the reason: Fiery peppers stimulate the fluids in the mouth, throat and lungs. In turn, the fluids thin out the mucus, making breathing easier.

Chile peppers also contain a turbocharged substance called capsaicin, an anti-inflammatory that also fights diseases and has been shown to help treat asthma. An added plus: These nutrientdense veggies are high in vitamins C and A. A new favorite chile “medicine” is adobo. The Spanish word for “sauce,” adobo is a type of hot sauce or marinade used in Mexican and Southwestern cuisines. Its main ingredients are typically dried chile peppers, garlic and vinegar, though variations of the basic sauce are common. Recipes often call for tomatoes, onions, orange juice and a variety of herbs and spices.

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Adobo is as versatile as it is hot. Slather on shrimp and grill, or simmer with pork or chicken. Serve with tortillas to sop up the sauce, or to top a baked russet potato. For a vegetarian pasta, toss with roasted corn and black beans. Whether used as a condiment or marinade, the sauce packs heat. So always taste before adding to foods. A little bit can go a long way. And be careful when scorching the chiles. If the skillet gets too hot, the fumes can be overpowering. I’ve tinkered with the sauce for a few years and my favorite allows the chiles to hog center stage, with small amounts of vinegar, salt, sugar, garlic

Adobo From The Arizona Republic 12-15 New Mexico chiles wiped clean, stems removed 3-4 ancho chiles wiped clean, stems removed 3 garlic cloves, peeled

Grilled shrimp with Adobo sauce over rice finished with Smoked Cotija cheese and Mexican oregano, as seen in Phoenix on February 13, 2014. Credit: John Samora/The Arizona Republic. JOHN SAMORA/THE REPUBLIC

and cumin playing bit parts. Most dried chiles can be used in making adobo. I prefer a mix of tingling New Mexican red and smoky flavor of ancho

11⁄2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 11⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt 3 ⁄4 teaspoon sugar 1 ⁄4 heaping teaspoon of cumin 3 ⁄4 cup water, or more if needed

Heat a griddle or saute pan over medium-low. Toast the chiles in batches for about 1 minute, frequently turning over and pressing them flat with tongs or spatula, until fragrant and skins slightly scorched. Soak chiles in enough cold water to cover and soak until soft, about 30 minutes. Drain chiles and place in a blender. Add remaining ingredient and blend until smooth. Add more water if necessary. Store in the refrigerator for 5 days or in the freezer for a month. Makes about 21⁄2 cups.

chiles, a combination that adds dimension to the heat. Packaged dried chiles are available in mainstream grocery stores, but for the

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best selection of dried chiles sold from bins, shop at Food City, Pro’s Ranch Market or any other Hispanic market.

Squeeze the most out of citrus crop By Karen Fernau, The (Arizona) Republic

JOHN SAMORA/ THE REPUBLIC

The bags begin showing up on communal office tables each winter like clockwork. Loaded with surplus oranges, grapefruit and lemons plucked from backyard trees, the bags typically are followed by an e-mail that goes something like this: “Help yourself. Our trees produced more than we can use, and we don’t want the fruit to go to waste.” As problems go, a bumper crop of citrus isn’t too shabby. What’s not to like about sweet, free and healthy? The key to squeezing the most out of the wintertime har-

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ZESTING TIPS Zest adds potent citrus flavors to just about anything, from salads to muffins to roasted chicken. When zesting, look for firm fruit without soft spots. Scratch the peel to release some of the skin’s oils. It should yield a fragrant bouquet. Avoid fruit that has a dull aroma. Also, the most desirable fruit for zesting is one with a pebbly textured, thick skin. Follow these steps for zesting: » Select fruit with bright-colored skin that is free of blemishes. Wash with hot

vest is to use citrus in as many ways as possible. A grapefruit half for breakfast, a slice of lemon in water or an orange for a snack are all fine, but the fruit has so much more potential. Citrus, with its bright, tart or sweet flavors, brings out the best in salads, soups, butter, cocktails, breads, seafood, baked chicken, baby back ribs, cakes, pasta, butter, marinades and olive oils. Whether juiced, sliced or slivered into zest, these juicy fruits are nutritious with-

water and dry well. » Use the vegetable peeler to cut off a thin, long layer of the skin. Avoid including the white, fleshy pith between the skin and fruit. The pith is bitter and will destroy the rich flavor of zest. » Place the strips on a cutting board and, using a sharp chef knife, cut each into matchstick-size pieces. » Next, use the knife to chop the strips into tiny pieces, releasing the aroma and oils.

out adding lots of calories. Citrus is loaded with cancer-battling bioflavonoids and the immune-system-booster vitamin C. Citrus fruit keeps for a couple of days at room temperature, but the best way to store it is in the refrigerator, where it keeps for several weeks. (Bring citrus to room temperature before juicing to get the most from the fruit.) Avoid storing in plastic bags or airtight containers, which turns Continues on Page 66

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CITRUS Continued from Page 65

the fruit moldy or soft faster. To celebrate the season, we offer these suggestions: » Juice and freeze in ice cube trays. These dollops of fresh citrus juice can be used all year in salad dressings, marinades, sauces and whenever a recipe calls for a tablespoon or so of fresh lime, lemon, orange and grapefruit juice. » Too many lemons? Make lemonade. Add the juice of 6 lemons, or about a cup, and 3/4 cup sugar into a large pitcher. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add 4 cups cold water, thin slices from 1 lemon and ice cubes. Serve immediately. Makes about 6 servings. » Citrus and avocados are pairs made in heaven. The creaminess of the avocado offers the perfect foil to citrus tart. For a salad, toss equal amounts of avocado and citrus with baby greens, lettuce or spinach. » Citrus marinades perk up fish, chicken and pork. For an all-purpose marinade, whisk 1/2 cup of orange juice, 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of hot pepper sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon of cumin, plus salt and pepper to taste. » For a bright-tasting vinaigrette, whisk 2 tablespoons of any citrus juice with 6 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. This also can double as a marinade. » A citrus-flavored butter turns a morning

JOHN SAMORA/THE REPUBLIC

Jicama, grapefruit and avocado salad 2 ripe grapefruits, divided use Juice of 1 lime 3 tablespoons sweet Thai chile sauce 1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar 4 tablespoons cottonseed oil 1 teaspoon finely chopped jalapeño pepper 1/4 teaspoon cumin Salt and pepper to taste 1 medium jicama, peeled, quartered and cut into 3-inch slices 1/4 each of red and yellow bell pepper, cut into thin slivers 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced 1 ripe avocado

For the dressing, squeeze juice from 1 grapefruit into a mixing bowl.

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Combine with lime juice, chile sauce, vinegar, oil, jalapeño, cumin, salt and pepper. Whisk ingredients together. For the salad, peel the remaining grapefruit, separate the segments and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, toss the jicama, red and yellow bell peppers, and onion. Pour dressing over salad and mix well. Just before serving, dice avocado. Mix in avocado and grapefruit segments. Makes 4 servings Source: Michael Cairns

Per serving: 318 calories, 22 g fat, 0 cholesterol, 3 g protein, 31 g carbohydrates, 11 g fiber, 16 mg sodium, 59 percent calories from fat.

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CITRUS

Citrus-kissed salmon

Continued from Page 66

slice of toast into a treat. Stir 1 teaspoon each of grated lime rind, grated lemon rind and grated orange rind in a pan of boiling water. Remove from heat and pour water through a wire-mesh strainer. Drain rinds on paper towels. Beat 1/2 cup of softened butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 2 tablespoons each of fresh lime, lemon and orange juice. Beat until blended. Stir in rinds and mold into a butter ball. Chill before serving. » Pasta anyone? Cook 16 ounces of dried wholegrain pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, squeeze juice from 2 lemons into a mixing bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and mix well. Add thin slices cut from 1 lemon and toss. When done, drain pasta and immediately mix with lemon sauce and 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings. » To make citrus-scented sugar, mix 2 pounds of sugar with the zest of two pieces of any citrus fruit. Pulse the mixture briefly — less than a minute — in a food processor. Store airtight in a cool place away from sunlight. » Use citrus peels to freshen your oven by baking a few on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Clean your garbage disposal by grinding the baked peels.

Plank for cooking 3 pounds fresh salmon fillets Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup frozen orange-juice concentrate, thawed but not diluted 2 cups Sauvignon Blanc or other good-quality white wine 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup chopped fresh dill

Soak the plank in water for 20 minutes to 1 hour before using. Place salmon in glass baking dish or other non-reactive dish. Season with salt and pepper. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over salmon 20 minutes before cooking. (Do not marinate longer.) Heat grill to medium-high. Put the meat on the plank, place the plank on grill’s top rack and close the lid. Grill fillets, without turning, for 17 to 20 minutes per inch of thickness. Allow for “carry-over” cooking (the temperature of the fish will rise 5 to 10 degrees after it’s removed from the grill). The middle

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JOHN SAMORA/THE REPUBLIC

should be opaque, but the fish should not be flaking apart. Serve with beurre blanc, lemon sauce with capers or drizzle with balsamic vinegar, if desired. Makes 8 servings. Source: Sur la Table

Per serving: 314 calories, 6 g fat, 89 mg cholesterol, 36 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 0 fiber, 131 mg sodium, 20 percent calories from fat.

FROM FRINGE FOOD TO FRONT AND CENTER SUDDENLY, QUINOA IS EVERYWHERE Karen Miltner, Gannett

Quinoa, up close. ANNETTE LEIN GANNETT

A couple weeks ago, I had bookmarked a recipe that I thought would make a cozy and relatively easy meatless dinner: millet and cheddar pilaf with roasted vegetables. Unable to find millet in my supermarket, it did not take long to decide upon a suitable substitution. In case you haven’t noticed, we have become a country of quinoa eaters. A dozen years ago, quinoa was a fringe food with a lot of health benefits. Now it’s ubiquitous, to the point that the United Nations pegged 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa. At my local supermarket I counted at

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least six brands and four color varieties of whole grain quinoa. It is also sold in flour and flake form and is also a key ingredient in rice blends, breads, crackers, cereals, soup mixes, baby food, pastas and even chocolate bars. And there is more to come. The food industry may be turning to quinoa protein concentrate, high-protein quinoa fiber and quinoa bran to augment nondairy, nonsoy nutrition in snack bars, breads, baby foods, sports drinks and other products. “It’s such a weird situation to go from Continues on Page 70

Garlicky quinoa sliders with smoked paprika, sun-dried tomatoes and olives The olives and paprika give these sliders (or you can call them miniature burgers) a lot of savory umami flavor. Serve them as a cocktail party appetizer or double up as part of a vegetarian main course. If you love beef, you won’t miss it here.

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 3 to 4 large cloves of garlic, minced 1 ⁄4 teaspoon smoked paprika, or more to taste (it is spicy, so use caution) 1 teaspoon plain paprika 1 cup red quinoa 2 cups vegetable broth or water 12 sun-dried tomato halves, drained well of oil, coarsely chopped 18 oil-cured black olives, drained, pitted and coarsely chopped Kosher salt to taste 3 large eggs 5 tablespoons chick pea flour (if you are not worried about gluten, you can use all-purpose flour) Tomato slices, cucumber slices and mes-

Quinoa burger ANNETTE LEIN GANNETT clun salad mix, for garnish (optional) Mayonnaise (optional) 12 small pretzel rolls or other rolls, cut in half lengthwise

Heat 2 1⁄2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, just until the garlic starts to turn color, about a minute. Add the smoked and plain paprikas and continue to

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cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds or so. Add the quinoa and cook for another minute or two to toast the quinoa a little bit. Pour in the broth or water, the sun-dried tomatoes and olives and stir. When the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat to a bare simmer, then cover the pan and cook until the quinoa is tender and little white tendrils have unfurled, about 15 to 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the pan. If the liquid runs dry before the quinoa is done, add a 1⁄4 cup more broth or water and continue cooking. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the quinoa to a large bowl to cool. Taste and add salt if necessary, though with the vegetable broth, sun-dried tomatoes and olives, you probably won’t need any. If you used water, you probably will. When the quinoa has cooled, place half of it in a food processor, along with the eggs and chick pea flour, and process until it is well-combined and mushy. Return the processed quinoa mixture back to the bowl with the unprocessed quinoa mixture, and stir together thoroughly. It will seem like the mixture is too moist to stick together as patties, but you will be surprised how it does so. Wash and dry the skillet used for

cooking the quinoa and add the remaining olive oil to it. Heat the skillet over medium heat until the oil is hot. Using an ice cream scoop or large spoon of some kind, spoon 2 tablespoons of the quinoa mixture into the hot pan, flattening the top until you have a miniature burger or slider about 2 inches across and half an inch thick. Repeat until the pan is full but not overcrowded — the sliders should not be touching. You may need to cook them in two batches. Cook until each quinoa slider is firm and golden brown on one side, about 3 to 5 minutes, then flip and continue cooking on the other side until it too is golden brown and firm. Drain sliders on a plate lined with paper towels. Put a slider inside a roll, garnishing it with tomato and cucumber slices and mesclun mix as desired. A dollop of mayonnaise also makes this a terrific little hand-held snack. Repeat with remaining sliders and rolls. Serve immediately. Makes 12 sliders, enough for 12 appetizers or six main-course meals.

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something that no one can pronounce (say KEEN-wah) to something you find everywhere,” says Cynthia Harriman, director of food and nutrition strategies at The Whole Foods Council. There are a lot of sound reasons to take a shine to quinoa, Harriman said: » It is one of those rare plant foods that is a complete protein, with all the essential amino acids. » Like other whole grains, it has a lot of fiber (soluble and insoluble) and other important nutrients including vitamin B and iron. » It cooks quickly, in about 15 minutes. » The flavor is agreeably nutty, mild and easy to blend with other foods. Though quinoa is grouped with whole grains, technically, the “pseudocereal” is a seed. It has a coating called saponin that protects the crop from insect damage. Most brands on the market have been cleaned of this bitter yet harmless compound, but it never hurts to rinse quinoa before cooking.

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Parents move to Colorado for ‘miracle’ pot for children By Marisol Bello USA TODAY

Greta Botker has been through more adversity in her short life than most adults. At the age of 7, she’s sampled a host of medications for her epilepsy: Onfi, Depakote, Felbatol, Keppra and Prednisone. She’s been on strict diets. She’s had brain surgery. Nothing reduced the 15 or so seizures she had every day since she was 5 months old that kept her from walking steadily, feeding herself or talking. Her parents, Maria and Mark, had run out of options. Then they heard about a strain of marijuana grown in Colorado that reduced the number of seizures in children with severe epilepsy. “We really tried everything with Gre-

ta,” says Maria Botker, a nurse. “We put our child through brain surgery, so a plant like marijuana was not going to scare me.” In November, Maria and Greta headed west to find a miracle. Mark and the couple’s two other daughters, 13 and 10, stayed on the family’s farm in Minnesota. Maria and Greta joined a migration of parents who, after trying countless methods to ease their children’s crippling seizures, are packing up their families and moving to Colorado. The state has become a refuge for those families for two reasons: Colorado has the most liberal laws for use of marijuana, and it has opened a market for a strain called Charlotte’s Web that is believed to be effective for people with severe epilepsy. At the beginning of the year, Colorado became the first state to allow recre-

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ational marijuana use for adults. It has permitted medical marijuana since 2000. Twenty states and the District of Columbia allow medical use of marijuana, but the diseases for which it is allowed vary . Washington State also has legalized recreational marijuana, but the law hasn’t gone into effect. Realm of Caring, a Colorado foundation started by the family that grows Charlotte’s Web, has 100 patients whose families have moved to Colorado from 43 states and two countries, says executive director Heather Jackson. It has a waiting list of more than 2,000 people, she says. In all, the foundation has more than 300 medical marijuana patients, 200 of them children, Jackson says. It’s the latest development in a movement that began in 1996, when California became the first state to legalize medical

Anna Burriesci and her 2-year-old daughter, Grace, in their Colorado home. NATHAN ARMES FOR USA TODAY

marijuana, says Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, a pro-marijuana group. Since then, he says, NORML has fielded thousands of calls

from people who want to move to states with medical marijuana. “Our advice is … if you can do it, literally get on a plane and fly west,” he says. Many of the Colorado newcomers

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have settled along Interstate 25 between Denver and Colorado Springs, where Charlotte’s Web is grown. The strain is high in cannabidiol, an ingredient in marijuana considered to have medical applications, and low in tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which causes people to get high. The strain is taken in liquid form, not smoked. Charlotte’s Web is named after Charlotte Figi, the first child to try the strain two years ago. Charlotte, who was 5 at the time, suffered 60 seizures a day. Now, her parents say, she has none. Cannabidiol is believed to act as a brake on parts of the brain that cause epileptic seizures and as a stimulant in other parts that help reduce them, says Igor Grant, director of the University of California’s Center for Medicinal CannaContinues on Page 74

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bis Research. The science behind it remains unproven, so the Botkers are relocating on a gamble. The Epilepsy Foundation and the American Epilepsy Society do not expressly tell families not to use medical marijuana, but they warn there is not enough research to show whether it is safe and effective. They urge patients to work with a doctor to determine the best treatment. Sharon Levy, a pediatrician who directs the Adolescent Substance Abuse Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, warns against using marijuana for any purpose. She says it has been proved to have negative long-term effects on children, such as impaired brain function and addiction. “Marijuana is not a medicine,” she says. Joel Stanley, one of the six brothers who grow Charlotte’s Web, says 85 percent of people taking it have seen reductions in seizures. A handful of patients have seen their seizures end altogether. In 2012, Jackson’s son Zaki, who is 10, was the second child to use Charlotte’s Web. Jackson says he has gone almost two years without a seizure. The successes are anecdotal, but Stanley says the foundation is working with chemists and researchers to document the drug’s effectiveness.

Families say the unknown is worth the risk. The alternative, they say, is their child’s death. The Botkers wasted no time getting to Colorado. They bought a house. Maria obtained a Colorado driver’s license. Following state requirements, they took Greta to two doctors who signed off on medical marijuana for her and got on Realm of Caring’s waiting list. By November, they had settled just south of Denver. It is the latest chapter in an odyssey that began when Greta was 5 months old and her mother noticed the first seizures. The couple took her to specialist after specialist until one diagnosed her with infantile spasms, which evolved into a rare genetic disease called Lennox Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. The doctor told them Greta would have developmental delays, difficulty with basic functions such as walking and feeding herself, and extreme seizures that would be hard to control. She was 7 months old. An array of medications didn’t cut the number of seizures. When she was almost 5, Greta had brain surgery. It didn’t work. When they heard about Charlotte’s Web on CNN, the Botkers saw it as a lifeline. Anna and Biagio Burriesci live four blocks from the Botkers with their 6- and 4-year-old sons and 2-year-old daughter, Grace. In November, the family moved to Colorado from New York City, where they grew up, to find help for their daughter. Grace is a friendly toddler with a

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sweet smile and curly black hair. Like Greta, she was born healthy. She began having seizures when she was a year old, her father says — as many as 300 a day. “She’d be walking and just drop to the floor,” Biagio Burriesci says. She was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome, a rare condition with seizures that are difficult to control, cause physical and cognitive delays and can lead to death. When the family learned on Facebook about a family moving to Colorado last summer, “hoping for a miracle,” Burriesci, a former paramedic, says they began researching. By the end of the summer, Grace was on Realm of Caring’s waiting list for the drug. The family sold their house in Queens, losing about $200,000, Burriesci says. He left his job as a New York City police officer and hasn’t been able to find work in Colorado. “We gave up everything,” he says. Anna, an emergency room nurse, found work in a hospital. He stays home with the children. The sacrifice pales in the face of the upside, Burriesci says. Gracie, as she’s known to her family, receives 0.7 milliliters of liquid marijuana three times a day. Her seizures are down to five a day, her father says. She is walking better and learning to speak. “We feel like we found our miracle,” Burriesci says. For the Botkers, hope costs $600 a month, which is not covered by insurance. It is worth it, Maria Botker says. Greta is down to four to six seizures a day.

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Kids’ page

DRAWING BY JEFF RUMINSKI

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calendar of events

Things to do

Feb. 24

BABY ORAL HEALTH SEMINAR: 5 p.m. Feb. 24, Great Beginnings Pediatric and Orthodontic Specialists, 10B Yorkshire St., Asheville. Great Beginnings is a Baby Oral Health Care Program provider, for infants 14 months and younger at no cost. Free seminars for parents and caregivers will offer more information on infant oral health care. RSVP to 274-9220 or www.appts.greatbeginningspedo.com.

Feb. 25

FRANKLIN SCHOOL OF INNOVATION INFO SESSION: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25, West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road. Franklin School of Innovation, a new public charter school, is enrolling students in grades 6-9 for the 2014-15 school year through March 31. Learn more about the school at this information session. Visit www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org. MAD SCIENTIST LAB: 11-11:30 a.m. Feb. 25, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Ages 3 and older. Join Dr. Bunson and Dr. Beaker in the lab as they make crazy concoctions. This week, focus is on gummy worms. $7 nonmembers/free for members. Limited space; please call to register. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org. YOUNG ADULT BOOK CLUB: 5 p.m. Feb. 25, Malaprop’s, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. Join host and bookseller Robin for a discussion of “Grasshopper Jungle” by Andrew Smith. Visit www.malaprops.com.

Feb. 26

CRITTER TIME: 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 26, WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. Five-week program, every other Wednesday into mid-March, for ages 3-5. This session focuses on “Scales and Tails.” Per session, $10 child/parent for members, $12 nonmembers. Call 259-8082 to register. Minimum of 10 participants. Visit www.wncnaturecenter.com. FIRST IN SERIES CLUB: 5 p.m. Feb. 26, Spellbound Children’s Bookshop, The Lofts at Reynolds Village, 50 Merrimon Ave., Asheville. For grades 4-6. Meets the last Wednesday of each month to discuss the first book in a series. January’s book is “Spirit Animals No. 1: Wild Born” by Brandon Mull. Free. Visit www.spellboundchildrensbookshop.com.

Feb. 27

SHAKE, RATTLE & RHYTHM: 4-4:30 p.m. Feb. 27, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hen-

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calendar of events Continued from Page 77 dersonville. Ages 5 and older. Music instructor Sydney Levitt leads participants in rhythms and teachs different isntruments. Runs each Thursday in February. Free with $5 admission/free for members. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

Feb. 28

‘MORE THAN GETTING YOUR BELL RUNG’ CONCUSSION EDUCATION EVENT: 5-7 p.m. Feb. 28, MAHEC Mary C. Nesbitt Biltmore Campus 121 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville. For youth/recreational athletes, parents, coaches, athletic directors, educators and interested health care providers. Includes “Concussion 101,” guest speakers, Q&A, refreshments. Free. Registration required. Details and registration at www.mahec.net TEEN AWESOME GROUP: 4-5:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Weaverville Library, 41 N. Main St. Teens and parents, watch the documentary “America the Beautiful” (PG-13), along with time for collage and discussion after the movie. Ages 13 and older, parents welcome. Please arrange for prompt pickup as the library closes at 6 p.m. For more information, call 250-6482 or email weaverville.library@ buncombecounty.org.

Starts in March

AFTERSCHOL FIRST LEGO LEAGUE ROBOTICS: 3:30-5:30 p.m. weekly or biweekly, at 94 Coxe Ave.,

Dr. Seuss’ birthday is celebrated around WNC this month, with events based on his books, like “Horton Hears a Who!” SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT Asheville. Ages 10-13. Learn, build and program FIRST Lego League (FLL) robots and prepare for 2014 FLL competition, www.usfirst.org/robotics. This year’s theme is Learning Unleashed. Parental participation strongly encouraged. Buncombe County Cooperative

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Extension and the Buncombe County 4-H Program Enhancement Fund sponsor this program. One or more FLL teams will prepare for the 2014 FLL World Class challenge competition. All Buncombe County youth are eligible; 4-H membership is not a prere-

quisite. Adult technical and nontechnical support needed. To enroll a child, volunteer or make a financial contribution to the Buncombe County 4-H robotics program contact John at 258-2038, bearberry@charter.net or Holly at 255 5522. Corporate and individual sponsorships are welcome.

March 1

AUTHOR READING: 1 p.m. March 1, Malaprop’s, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. Local author Katherine Stanley presents her book, “A Book of Bullies.” A self-proclaimed expert on bullies, Stanley was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome and has been the target of of bullying. Hear Stanley tell her story and read from this remarkably insightful book. Visit www.malaprops.com. DR. SEUSS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: March 1, Henderson County Public Library. Local teachers will read Dr. Seuss stories. Visit www.henderson.lib.nc.us. » 10 a.m.-noon Main Library, Children’s Auditorium. » 10 a.m.-noon Fletcher Branch » 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mills River Branch HEALTHY PARKS, HEALTHY YOU 5K FUN RUN/ WALK: 10:30 a.m. March 1, Buncombe County Sports Park, Candler. Recreation Division of the Library, Recreation and Culture Department of Buncombe County hosts the fifth-annual run/walk. All ages. Advance registration is available by mail; forms at www.buncombecounty.org/parks or call for a form. Or register at the race. Check in and late registration begins at 8:30 a.m. $12 adults, $7 ages 4-15. Baby joggers welcome; no dogs or bikes permitted on track during race. For more information

SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION REUTER YMCA SOCCER: Registration through March 2 at the Reuter YMCA front desk. First week of practice March 10, with games March 22-May 17. Practice held at Avery’s Creek Elementary, games at Carolina Day School Complex. $72 member, $95 nonmember. Contact: Ashley Hamer at ahamer@ymcawnc.org. FLETCHER BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL: Online registration through March 1 at www.fletcheryouthsports.com. First player is $105, second player $85, third player $65, fourth player $45. REUTER YMCA T-BALL/COACH PITCH: Registration through March 2 at the

and registration forms call Jay Nelson at 250-4269 or email jay.nelson@buncombecounty.org SWANNANOA VALLEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL TOURS: By appointment, starting March 1, at 130 Center Avenue, Black Mountain. Information and tours are being offered at preschool, elementary, and middle school programs. Accepting applications now for the 2014-15 school year. The elementary/ middle school program now located in Black Mountain is moving to Asheville in the fall. Contact, LuAnn Wilks, head of school, at 669-8571, or visit

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Reuter YMCA front desk. First week of practice March 10, with games March 22-May 17. Practice held at Avery’s Creek Elementary, games at Carolina Day School Complex. $72 member, $95 nonmember. Contact: Ashley Hamer at ahamer@ymcawnc.org. REUTER YMCA 7v7 FOOTBALL: Registration through March 4. First week of practice March 10. Games start March 21. Team fee $800. Contact Dana Hammitt at dhammitt@ymcawnc.org. REUTER YMCA INTRO TO TUMBLING: Contact Dana Hammitt at dhammitt@ymcawnc.org.

www.swanmont.org. WNC PARENT CAMP EXPO: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 1, WNC Ag Center, Fletcher. Meet with representatives from dozens of camps (day camp and overnight camp) and get information to plan your summer. Register your child for the annual Cover Kids contest. With goodie bags and enertainment for the kids.

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March 4

ART & DANCE COLLABORATION: 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, March 4-25, Studio Zahiya, 90 N. Lexington Ave., downtown Asheville. Explore the art and dance of Egypt with Studio Zahiya and Roots + Wings School of Art. $80 per month. Visit www.rootsandwingsarts.com. ART CLASS: 10-11 a.m. March 4, Spellbound Children's Bookshop, 50 N. Merrimon Ave., Asheville. Artist Paige Childs leads arts and crafts class for 3- to 5-year-olds and a favorite grown-up. $10 per session. Drop in or pre-pay. Call 708-7570 or visit www.spellboundbookshop.com BOOK LAUNCH: 5:30 p.m. March 4, Malaprop’s, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. Best-selling author Kathy Reichs and her son, Brendan Reichs, launch their latest co-written book for young adults, “Exposure.” The fourth in The Virals series, “Exposure” continues to follow the exploits of Victoria “Tory” Brennan, niece of Temperance “Bones” Brennan of the popular TV and book series. Involving plenty of forensic anthropology, mystery, and a dab of science fiction, The Virals series is set in and around Charleston, S.C., and is recommended for ages 10 and older. Visit www.malaprops.com. MAD SCIENTIST LAB: 11-11:30 a.m. March 4, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Ages 3 and older. Join Dr. Bunson and Dr. Beaker in the lab. This week, focus is on plastic dough. $7 nonmembers/free for members. Limited space; please call to register. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

March 5

VISUAL ART ADVENTURES: 4-5 p.m. Wednesdays, March 5-26, Roots + Wings School of Art and Design, at Cathedral of All Souls, Biltmore Village. Art class for ages 3-6. $55 per month. Register at www.rootsandwingsarts.com. Email info@rootsandwingsarts.com.

March 5-7

‘SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS’: 7 p.m. March 5-7, North Buncombe High School. Written by Carlo Goldoni in 1743, this Italian comedy is reminiscent of the Comedia Dell’arte style full of physical comedy, mistaken identity, stage combat, audience participation, music, acrobatics and juggling. $5. For information, contact Ricky Webb at 645-4221 or ricky.webb@bcsemail.org.

March 6

ADHD BEGINNERS GROUP FOR ADULTS: 6-7:30 p.m. March 6, ADHD Center for Success, 218 E. Chestnut St., Asheville. Designed for those adults who have been recently diagnosed with ADHD and want to learn more about adult ADHD and what to do next. The group will help develop strategies and skills to cope with the emotional and mental stress. Beginners group will teach time and organizational strategies, prioritization, help reduce procrastination, boost self-esteem, maintain focus, offer support and accountability from others suffering with

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Students ages 10-13 with an interest in robotics can join a First Lego League robotics team as it prepares for the 2014 FLL competition. The after-school program starts in March downtown. BILL SANDERS/WSANDERS@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM

ADHD. $240 for six-week session. Visit www.ADHDasheville.com. CLAY & MIXED MEDIA EXPLORATIONS: 4-5 p.m. Thursdays, March 6-27, Roots + Wings School of Art and Design, at South Side Studio classrooms, 3 Mulvaney St., Asheville. Art class for K-5. $55 per month. Register at www.rootsandwingsarts.com. Email info@rootsandwingsarts.com. HEALTHY KIDS CLUB: 11 a.m. March 6, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Theme is “Smile Time Friends!” For ages 2-5. Join Diana Rothweiler, public health registered dental hygienist, as she presents a dental health puppet show that teaches dental health concepts through music, songs and stories. Program is about 30 minutes. Free with $5 admission/free for members. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

Registration starts March 7

PLAY & LEARN (PRESCHOOL): Parents/caregivers and children ages 3-5 in Buncombe County who are not in regulated child care may attend a free eightweek series of 45-minute classes, focusing on preliteracy and school readiness skills. Activities include songs, puppets, games, hands-on activities, and crafts. Must be age 3 by class start date. Younger siblings may attend, but materials are not provided. Children new to the program receive a book each week. Classes will conclude June 3-4 and there will not be class on April 1-2 or April 15-16. All classes will be held in the Family Resource Center at Asheville City Schools Preschool on Haywood Road in West Asheville. Attendance is required at five of the eight sessions. Register is required and opens March 7, by

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calendar of events Continued from Page 80 email or phone. Contact Marna Holland at 350-2904 or marna.holland@asheville.k12.nc.us. Play & Learn is funded by Smart Start of Buncombe County, Asheville City Schools Preschool, and the Kiwanis Club of Asheville. Dates and school locations include: » 10 or 11 a.m. Tuesdays, starting March 18 » 10 or 11 a.m. Wednesdays, starting March 19

March 7

10 MINUTE PLAYS: 4 p.m. March 7, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. All ages. Join a spirited home-schooled thespian group, The Wildwood Players, as they perform two short plays, "Chicken Little" and "How Birds Fly". Free with $5 admission/free for members. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

March 8

‘JACKIE ROBINSON’: 11 a.m. Mills River Branch Library, 124 Town Center Drive; and 2 p.m. Main Library, 301 N. Washington, Hendersonville. Bright Star Touring Theatre presents children’s show on baseball great Jackie Robinson. Part of library’s centennial program. Visit www.henderson.lib.nc.us. “SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!”: 7:30 p.m. March 8 and 2:30 p.m. March 9, Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St., Asheville. Asheville Creative Arts presents

the award-winning 1970s Saturday morning cartoon series in concert. Something for all ages. $10 children (12 and younger); $15 (adult); $30 VIP (includes reserved seating and donation to ACA); 4 at $40 (2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children) UNC ASHEVILLE SUPER SATURDAYS: Saturdays, March 8-April 12 at UNCA. Registration open for Super Saturday program for creative, highly motivated and/or academically gifted students in grades 3-8. The 17 courses cover topics including stage acting, wildlife exploration, logic, movie making, martial arts, and much more. Some courses are restricted to certain grades. Mail-in registration deadline is Feb. 28, and online registration closes March 2. Late registration for courses that are not filled will be available in-person only on March 8 in Carmichael Hall, with a $15 late fee. $69 for each six-week course. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. For more information or to register, visit cesap.unca.edu/super-saturdayprogram, or call UNC Asheville’s Cultural Events and Special Academic Programs at 251-6674. WINDOWS ON WALDORF: 10-11:30 a.m. March 8, Azalea Mountain School, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 587 Haywood Road. Take a peek into Waldorf Education. Students will demonstrate the skills learned in the classroom through songs, movement and art. Teachers will share information about the Waldorf approach to education. Azalea Mountain School offers program for kindergarten through middle school based on the Waldorf curriculum. Visit www.azaleamountain.org.

March 9

“SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!”: 2:30 p.m. March 9, Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St., Asheville. Asheville Creative Arts presents the award-winning 1970s Saturday morning cartoon series in concert. Something for all ages. $10 children (12 and younger); $15 (adult); $30 VIP (includes reserved seating and donation to ACA); 4 at $40 (2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children)

Registration starts March 10

PLAY & LEARN (INFANTS AND TODDLERS):

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Parents/caregivers of children 3-35 months in Buncombe County who are not in regulated child care may attend a series of free sessions. Two infant and two toddler series offered. Each 45-minute session focuses on pre-literacy skills for children and educational information for parents. Activities include songs, puppets, dance, games, hands-on activities, music instruments, and crafts. Children who are new to the program receive a book each week. To register or for more information, contact Grace Ragaller at 350-2932 or grace.ragaller@asheville.k.12.nc.us. Attendance required at a minimum of five sessions. registration starts March 10 for new participants, March 12 for returning ones. Play & Learn is a program of Smart Start of Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools Preschool. » Infant (3-12 months): 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, March 25-May 27 at Asheville City Schools Preschool; 10 a.m. Wednesdays, March 26-May 28 at Eliada Homes. » Toddler (13-23 months): 10 a.m. Thursdays, March 27-May 29, at Asheville City Schools Preschool. » Toddler (24-35 months): 11 a.m. Thursdays, March 27-May 29, at Asheville City Schools Preschool.

March 11

“BEDTIME MATH” KIDS PARTY: Time TBA, March 11, Malaprop’s, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. Celebrate the second volume of “Bedtime Math” with a party, math riddles and a glow-in-the-dark geometric creation, all in your PJs if you like. A great way to inspire and promote math interest in kids of all ages. Visit www.malaprops.com. HOME-SCHOOL ART PROGRAM: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 11, Asheville Art Musuem, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville. Series of home-school programs for students in grades 1-4. Next classes March 11 and April 8. $4 per student, per session. Registration is required. Visit www.ashevilleart.org. MAD SCIENTIST LAB: 11-11:30 a.m. March 11, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Ages 3 and older. Join Dr. Bunson and Dr. Beaker in the lab. This week, focus is on building your brain with science: force and motion. $7 non-

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PARENTS’ NIGHTS OUT

members/free for members. Limited space; please call to register. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

Need a date night? Here is a roundup of upcoming parents’ nights out. Have an event to submit? Email information to calendar@wncparent.com.

March 12

FEB. 28

CRITTER TIME: 10 a.m.-noon March 12, WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. Five-week program, every other Wednesday into mid-March, for ages 3-5. This session focuses on “Barnyard Buddies.” Per session, $10 child/parent for members, $12 nonmembers. Call 259-8082 to register. Minimum of 10 participants. Visit www.wncnaturecenter.com.

March 13

BUILD YOUR BRAIN WITH WORDS: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 13, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. All ages. Learn about words and reading with a favorite storybook dog, Martha, in the book "Martha Speaks!" Do-it-yourself activities all day and book readings at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Free with $5 admission/free for members. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

March 14

BUILD YOUR BRAIN WITH ART: 10:30 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. March 14, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. All ages. Practice creating functional sculpture by learning to create a kite. Free with $5 admission/free for members. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org. ‘THE HOBBIT’: 7:30 p.m. March 14-15 and 2:30 p.m. March 16, Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St., Asheville. Youth Production Class presents The Hobbit. Bilbo, one of the most conservative of all Hobbits, is asked to leave his large and roomy home in order to set off as chief robber to recover an important treasure. Performed by a class of students ages 10-16. $5. Visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.

March 15

‘GALAPAGOS GEORGE’: 11 a.m. March 15, Diana Wortham Theatre, Pack Place, Asheville. Barefoot Puppet Theatre presents “Galapagos George” as part of the Asheville Puppetry Alliance’s 2013-14 young audience series. Show tells the tale of a one-of-a-kind tortoise from the Galapagos Island. Tickets $8 by calling 257-4530 or visiting www.dwtheatre.com. For more information, visit www.ashevillepuppetry.org. ‘THE HOBBIT’: 7:30 p.m. March 15 and 2:30 p.m. March 16, Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St., Asheville. Youth Production Class presents The Hobbit. Bilbo, one of the most conservative of all Hobbits, is asked to leave his large and roomy home in order to set off as chief robber to recover an important treasure. Performed by a class of students ages 10-16. $5. Visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.

March 16

DANCE YOUR DIAPER OFF 3: 2-5 p.m. March 16,

REUTER FAMILY YMCA: Parents’ Night Out with various activities for children ages 6 months-12 years. Themed nights include a healthy snack, games and crafts. 6:159:45 p.m. Cost: Members: $13 for first child, $11 additional. Nonmembers: $25 per child. Register at front desk, 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville. WOODFIN YMCA: Neighborhood Y at Woodfin offers Parents’ Night Out the fourth Friday of each month, 6-9 p.m. Themed nights include healthy snacks, games and crafts. $12 member/$18 nonmember, with $2 sibling discount. Ages 2-13. Register online at www.ymcawnc.org or in person at 40 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 101, Asheville. Call 505-3990.

MARCH 1

ASHEVILLE YMCA: Evening of fun and games, including craft, movie, and swimming. Runs 6-10 p.m. the first Saturday of the month. $15 for members/$23 nonmembers. Optional pizza, fruit and veggie dinner for $5; meal starts at 5:30 p.m. Register at Asheville YMCA, Woodfin Street, downtown. For more information, call 210-2271.

MARCH 7

REUTER FAMILY YMCA: In Parents’ Morning Out, children participate in various activities, like games and crafts. Includes healthy snack. Ages 6 weeks-12 years. 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Members: $13 for first child, $11 additional. Nonmembers: $25 per child. Register at front desk, 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville.

MARCH 14

FIRED UP! CREATIVE LOUNGE: Kids paint pottery, have pizza and play games, 6-9 p.m. the second Friday of the month. At 26 Wall St., Asheville, and 321 N. Main St.,

The Millroom, 66 Asheland Ave., Asheville. Asheville Flyer for Kids hosts all ages dance party with DJ T-Bone spinning hits and performing magic, Asheville Face & Body Painting, Bricks 4 Kidz interactive Lego area, balloons by Mister Twister, ice cream from The Hop, pizza from Asheville Pizza. With giant coloring pages, contest and games, prizes. Free for kids, $10 for ages 16 and older. ‘THE HOBBIT’: 2:30 p.m. March 16, Asheville Com-

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Hendersonville. Ages 5-12. $25. Registration required. Call Asheville shop at 253-8181 and Hendersonville shop at 6989960. REUTER FAMILY YMCA: Parents’ Night Out with various activities for children ages 6 months-12 years. Themed nights include a healthy snack, games and crafts. 6:15-9:45 p.m. Cost: Members: $13 for first child, $11 additional. Nonmembers: $25 per child. Register at front desk, 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville.

MARCH 21

MARCH 28

REUTER FAMILY YMCA: Parents’ Night Out with various activities for children ages 6 months-12 years. Themed nights include a healthy snack, games and crafts. 6:15-9:45 p.m. Cost: Members: $13 for first child, $11 additional. Nonmembers: $25 per child. Register at front desk, 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville.

MARCH 29

HAHN’S GYMNASTICS: Gymnastics activities, games, pizza and a movie. Ages 3-12. Runs 5:30 p.m.-midnight. $15 for the first child; $10 extra for each sibling if enrolled at Hahn’s; $20/$15 for unenrolled children. Visit www.hahnsgymnastics.com.

APRIL 5

munity Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St., Asheville. Youth Production Class presents The Hobbit. Bilbo, one of the most conservative of all Hobbits, is asked to leave his large and roomy home in order to set off as chief robber to recover an important treasure. Performed by a class of students ages 10-16. $5. Visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.

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March 18

ARTPLAYCE TOT TIME: 10:30 a.m. March 18, Asheville Art Museum, 2 N. Pack Square, Asheville. For preschool-age children. Museum offers interactive Art PLAYce for Children in monthly “Tot Time” series featuring a new guided art activity designed especially for tiny tots each month. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free with admission or membership. Visit www.ashevilleart.org. FITKIDS ASHEVILLE: 5-6:15 p.m. March 18-April 10, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville. New program designed for children ages 6 -11 to show children that leading an active lifestyle is fun. Participants will play active games, be introduced to different sports, and explore the active side of our city with different field trips. Each meeting will focus on a different type of activity exercise recommended for youth: cardio, muscle strengthening and bone strengthening. Three 4-week programs that meet each Tuesday and Thursday. $10 per child per 4-week session. Next session: April 22-May 15. For more information, call the Stephens-Lee Center at 3502058. MAD SCIENTIST LAB: 11-11:30 a.m. March 18, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Ages 3 and older. Join Dr. Bunson and Dr. Beaker in the lab. This week, focus is on green slime. $7 nonmembers/free for members. Limited space;

please call to register. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org. NEW VOICE SUPPORT GROUP: 5:30-6:30 p.m. March 18, Balance Point Collaborative, 263 Haywood St., Suite 100, Asheville. A new peer-led support group for those in recovery from eating disorders. Meets the third Tuesday of each month. Hear speakers share their stories of hope and success on their road to recovery from eating disorders. Speakers include staff, former clients, and community members. There will also be topic-centered and open discussion among participants. For more information, call 348-6922 or visit www.balancepointnc.com. ST. PATRICK’S DAY TREASURE HUNT: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 18. All ages. Try your hand at the luck o’ the Irish. Follow the clues to the treasure at the end of the rainbow. Free with $5 admission/free for members. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

March 19

BOOK N CRAFT: 11 a.m. March 19, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. All ages. Listen to the strange tale of the Dr. Seuss book "Horton Hears a Who" and complete a craft. Free with $5 admission/free for members. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

March 20

CRITTER CRAFT: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 20, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Create elephants like Horton, from Dr. Seuss’ “Horton Hears a Who.” Drop-in self-directed activ-

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ity. Free with $5 admission/Free for members. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

March 21

BOOK VS. MOVIE CLUB: 6 p.m. March 21, Spellbound Children's Bookshop, 50 N. Merrimon Ave., Asheville. Meets the third Friday of each month to watch a movie based on a book and discuss the differences between the two. This month, “Holes,” by Louis Sachar. Potluck. All ages. Free. Call 708-7570 or visit www.spellboundbookshop.com

March 22

‘MAGIC, MIRTH AND MEANING’: 6:30 p.m. March 22, St. Mary’s Church, 337 Charlotte St., Asheville. “Magic, Mirth & Meaning” is a family-friendly production featuring the talents of the disabled and those who wish to help them. Opens with interactive walk-around performances, then moves into an inspirational stage show. Free, with donations appreciated. Proceeds benefit The Vanishing Wheelchair Inc., which will use money raised to begin monthly dinners at which people with disabilities can enjoy a meal together and attend workshops learning skill in performing, painting, photography, music, crafts, writing, and wood working. Suggested donation of $10 for adult tickets and $5 for children tickets is appreciated. Tickets may be available at the door, but advanced reservations are strongly encouraged. Buy tickets online at www.VanishingWheelchair.org, or call 645-2941. For more information contact T.J. Shimeld at tjshimeld@gmail.com.

MONEY MAKES CENTS: 10 a.m.-noon March 22, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Ages 7-12. Play games and explore the history of money, budgeting and earn $5. Cost is $10 for nonmembers (includes museum admission)/free for members. Program aligns with financial literacy badgets for Brownies and Girl Scouts. Limited space. Call 697-8333 to reserve a spot. Visit www.handsonwnc.org. STORY TIME WITH THE CAT IN THE HAT: 3 p.m. March 22, Malaprop’s, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. Monthly children’s story time and party will include a special guest appearance by the Cat in the Hat. Celebrate March birthdays of children’s authors (including Dr. Seuss) with goodies, reading, and other fun. Visit www.malaprops.com.

March 25

MAD SCIENTIST LAB: 11-11:30 a.m. March 25, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Ages 3 and older. Join Dr. Bunson and Dr. Beaker in the lab. This week, focus is on hydrogel. $7 nonmembers/free for members. Limited space; please call to register. Call 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org.

March 26

FIRST IN SERIES CLUB: 5-6 p.m. March 26, Spellbound Children's Bookshop, 50 N. Merrimon Ave., Asheville. For grades 4-6 meets the last Wednesday of each month to discuss the first book in a series. March book will be determined at February meeting; check website for details. Free. Call 708-7570 or

For the full family-friendly calendar, visit CITIZEN-TIMES.com/Living. To submit events, email details to calendar@wncparent.com.

visit www.spellboundbookshop.com.

March 27

HEART SPEAK FOR PARENTS & KIDS: 5-6 p.m. Thursdays, March 27-April 10, Rainbow Community School, 574 Haywood Road, West Asheville. Ages 8 and older. Open to the community, registration required, love offering accepted. Family life flows easier when everyone speaks the language of feelings and needs. Through fun, interactive games and skits, you'll learn to connect through giving empathy to yourself and others, to get cooperation without threats, punishments, or rewards, to express your truth without blame or judgment. Visit www.heartspeakpeace.com. For more information or to register: Cathy Holt, cathyfholt@gmail.com or 545-9681. KINDERGARTEN READINESS RALLY: 4-7 p.m. March 27, Blue Ridge Mall, Four Seasons Boulevard, Hendersonville. Dr. Bunson & Dr. Beaker will showcase Mad Scientists on Wheels and do some Hands On! Forces & Motion science for preschoolers getting ready for kindergarten. Visit www.handsonwnc.org.

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March 28

NANO DAYS KICKOFF: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 28, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. One of 250 educational institutions across the country celebrating Nano Days, a nationwide extravaganza featuring science demonstrations, experiments and exhibits focused on the science of the very, very small. Sponsored by The NISE net and The National Science Foundation, and is an official event of the NC Science Festival. Free with $5 admission/free for members. Visit www.handsonwnc.org.

March 29

ASHEVILLE GLUTEN-FREE EXPO: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 29, UNC Asheville Kimmel Arena. More than 50 national and local gluten-free brands, companies and restaurants will offer samples and information. With guest speakers Rachel Begun, MS, RDN, “the gluten-free RD,” and Beth Hilson, food editor of Living Without magazine. $5 for 12 and older. FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT: 7-9 p.m. March 29, Hands On! A Child’s Gallery, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville. the Nano science of Camping Gear. Educators will present nanoscience experiments and demonstrations to show off the technology used in camping gear. How is your tent waterproof? How can that bike be so light? With guests from REI, UNC Asheville, Pardee Signature Care, and Fountainhead Bookstore. With treat, door prizes and more. $5 nonmember/$2 members. Limited spaces. Call

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calendar of events Continued from Page 89 697-8333 or visit www.handsonwnc.org to reserve a space. GIRLS GONE SCI-FI YA PANEL: 7 p.m. March 29, Malaprop’s, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. The national Girls Gone Sci-Fi Tour, with authors Jessica Brody (”Unremembered,” “Unforgotten”), Jessica Khoury (”Origin,” “Vitro“), Tamara Ireland Stone (”Time Between Us,” “Time After Time”) and Lauren Miller (”Parallel,” “Free to Fall”) with local author guests Megan Spooner (”These Broken Stars”) and Beth Revis (”Across the Universe” series). A group author tour that celebrates female writers in the young adult sci-fi genre, The Girls Gone Sci-Fi Tour features books that span several subgenres of science fiction with strong female heroines, "thinking" plotlines, and of course, kissing. Visit www.malaprops.com. PARENTING CLASS: 2-4 p.m. March 29, Nest Organics, 51 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville. Free class for parents-to-be and new parents covers cloth diapering, baby-wearing, how to protect your child from harmful chemicals and more. Runs the last Saturday of each month. RSVP to 258-1901 or nestorganics@gmail.com. SPRINGTIME KIDS’ CLIMB: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 29, Chimney Rock State Park. Ages 7-15. Get a taste of rock climbing and experience Chimney Rock from a new perspective with Fox Mountain Guides. Kids climb for half price with 20-minute “tasters” on Vista Rock at this fun, family-friendly event, weather permitting. Convenient, walk-up access to climbing for the whole family to try. Beginners welcome, and no experience is necessary. All equipment is provided. $10 for a kids’ taster climb or $20 per adult, plus park admission. Visit www.chimneyrockpark.com. SUNRISE BREAKFAST: 6 a.m. March 29, Chimney Rock State Park. Annual Passholder Spring Sunrise Breakfast, with gates open at 6 a.m. for 7:20 a.m. sunrise. Few sights in Western North Carolina are as spectacular as watching the sun rise over Lake Lure. Weather permitting, the park opens early for Annual Passholders with a tasty continental breakfast and the best seats in the area. $5 Annual Passholder, free for kids younger than 5. Advance registration required. Call 800-277-9611 by March 26 to RSVP. Check out area accommodations at chimneyrockpark.com if you plan to stay overnight.

April 6

AZALEA MOUNTAIN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 2-3:30 p.m. April 6, Azalea Mountain School, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 587 Haywood Road. Teachers and parents will share about using Waldorf Education to create a learning environment that ignites a love of learning, protects the sanctity of childhood, and fosters an evolving quest for truth. School offers an early childhood through middle school program based on Waldorf curriculum. Visit www.azaleamountain.org.

April 8

HOME-SCHOOL ART PROGRAM: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 8, Asheville Art Musuem, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville. Series of home-school programs for

MOM’S GROUPS Asheville Stay-At-Home Moms Playgroup: Visit www.meetup.com/AshevilleStay-At-Home-Moms-Playgroup/ Arden Moms Meetup Group: Visit www.meetup.com/arden-moms or contact Susan Toole at ArdenMoms@gmail.com. AshevilleMommies.com: Meet and greets for moms while kids play. Two sessions, 11 a.m.-noon and 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays at The Hop Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, 640 Merrimon Ave. Asheville Moms of Multiples: Group for moms with multiples meets monthly, usually 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, location varies. Meetings are an opportunity to share experiences and offer support in a social setting. Visit www.ashevillemom.com for details and contact information. Biltmore Baptist MOPS: Group for all mothers of children from infancy through kindergarten. Meets 9:30-11:30 a.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month, September-May at Biltmore Baptist Church, 35 Clayton Road, Arden. Call 6871111, email mopsofbbc@yahoo.com or visit www.biltmorebaptist.org/mops/. Hiking with Preschoolers: Visit www.meetup.com/hiking-with-Preschoolers/ La Leche League of Asheville/Buncombe: For all those interested in breastfeeding. Nursing babies, toddlers and pregnant women welcome. Meetings are second Monday of every month, 10-11 a.m., at First Congregational Church, Oak Street, and third Monday of every month, 7-8 p.m., Awakening Heart Chiropractic, Ravenscroft Drive. Please call a leader for more information or directions: Susan 303-6352 or Adrienne 603-505-0855. Visit www.lalecheleagueofnc.org La Leche League of Hendersonville: Offers information and mother-to-mother support for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Meets at 9:30 a.m. the third Saturday of the month at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville, 2021 Kanuga Road. Babies and toddlers are welcome. For more information email LLLofHendersonville@gmail.com or contact

students in grades 1-4. Next classes March 11 and April 8. $4 per student, per session. Registration is required. Visit www.ashevilleart.org.

April 15

ARTPLAYCE TOT TIME: 10:30 a.m. April 15, Ashe-

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a leader: MC 693-9899, Andrea 676-6047, Margaux 242-6405. Mom2mom: Christian moms group meets at St. Paul’s Church, 32 Rosscraggon Road, Rosscraggon Business Park Building B, Asheville. Moms with any age children are welcome. Call 388-3598. Moms Club of Hendersonville: A support group open to mothers of all ages in the Henderson County area, including mothers who have home-based businesses and those who work part-time but are home with their children during the day. The group meets for speeches and topics for discussion, park days, playgroups, nights out, holiday activities and service projects benefiting needy children in the community. Meets 9:30 a.m. the first Thursday of the month at Hendersonville Church of Christ, 1975 Haywood Road, Hendersonville. Children welcome. Call 699-6292 or visit http://hendersonvillemomsclub.wordpress.com. Moms’ Support Group: For new moms (children ages 0-5 years) who cope with depression. This group focuses on challenges of parenting, building positive coping skills and sharing experiences in a safe, private environment with professional guidance. Next session begins the first week of July, meets weekly in the evening. Email momsupportgroup@outlook.com for more information. MOPS at Mud Creek: Mothers of Preschoolers provides an open, faith-based atmosphere for moms of infants through kindergartners. Meets second and fourth Wednesdays, 9:15-11:15 a.m., SeptemberMay, at Mud Creek Baptist Church, 403 Rutledge Drive, Hendersonville. Email Melissa Thorsland, melthor@tds.net, or MOPS.MudCreek@gmail.com or visit http:// mopsatmudcreek.webs.com/links.htm. WNC Mountain Mamas: Moms and kids can meet up and play at 11 a.m. Wednesdays the Hop Ice Cream Shop, 640 Merrimon Ave. Enjoy half-priced coffees and ice cream. Encompassing, supporting and uniting WNC families. Visit www.wncmountainmamas.proboards.com.

ville Art Museum, 2 N. Pack Square, Asheville. For preschool-age children. Museum offers interactive Art PLAYce for Children in monthly “Tot Time” series featuring a new guided art activity designed espe-

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calendar of events Continued from Page 90 cially for tiny tots each month. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free with admission or membership. Visit www.ashevilleart.org.

Ongoing

CLOGGING CLASSES: Asheville Clogging Company offers classes for ages 5 to adult. All skill levels. Visit www.ashevillecloggingcompany.com or email ashley@ashevillecloggingcompany.com or call Ashley Shimberg at 329-3856. DEVELOPING FUTURE MALE LEADERS: Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts will offer a Developing Future Male Leaders program for boys in third to eighth grades, 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fall session runs September-December, and costs $5 per youth. A spring session will begin in February. The program will teach young men leadership and life skills. Topics include: being a leader, outdoor skills, cooking and giving back. Registration required in advance. For more information or to register, contact William Hoke at 253-3714, whoke@ashevillenc.gov, or Seth Jackson at 259-5483 sjackson@ashevillenc.gov. TINY TYKES: 10 a.m.-noon Wednesdays and Fridays, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Drive, Asheville. Program resumes for the fall. Organized crafts and active play. Great way for you and your toddler to socialize. $1/class for toddlers and parents. Visit www.ashevillenc.gov. SWIM LESSONS: ISR Survival Swimming Lessons for infants and children are taught weekday mornings at the Asheville Racquet Club Downtown location, year round. Limited number of scholarships available. Visit www.ISRasheville.com. CELEBRATION SINGERS: Thursdays, First Congregational Church, 20 Oak St., Asheville. Celebration Singers of Asheville Community Youth Chorus invites singers ages 7-14 to join. Rehearsals are Thursdays; Canti Dolci from 6-6:45 p.m. and Canti Spiritu (older group) from 6:45-7:45 p.m. Contact artistic director Ginger Haselden at 230-5778. LINWOOD CRUMP-SHILOH COMPLEX PROGRAMS: Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts offers a variety of community activities and programs at the complex, 121 Shiloh Road. Registration ongoing. Photo ID required for center access after 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact Tameka Crudup at 274-7739 or tcrudup@ashevillenc.gov » Afternoon Adventures Program, 2:45-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday on Buncombe County schooldays. Grades K-5. Homework assistance, group games, arts/crafts and special activities. $40/week/ first child, $30/siblings; families on reduced school meal plan: $30/week/first child, $20/siblings; families on free school meal plan: $10/week/each child » Teen Club Program, 2:45-5:30 p.m. MondayFriday, on Buncombe County schooldays. Grades 6-9. Homework assistance, group games, arts/crafts and special projects or trips. $40/week/first child, $30/ siblings; families on reduced school meal plan: $30/week/first child, $20/siblings; families on free school meal plan: $10/week/each child » Teen Hip Hop Dance Club, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday. Learn an array of new style dancing and a culture of dance moves from the 1970’s that involve breaking,

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KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS Children must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 to enroll. Most schools will set appointments for registration; call your school for a time. Bring these to registration, but attend even if you don’t have required documents to help schools prepare for correct number of students: your child, parent/guardian ID, child’s official birth certificate, copy of custodial agreement if child is living with a custodial adult, two proofs of residency, health assessment form and proof of immunizations. » April 15: Avery’s Creek, Estes and Glen Arden elementaries » April 25: Emma and West Buncombe elementaries » April 28: Johnston, Leicester and Woodfin elementaries » May 2: Weaverville Primary; Barnardsville, Bell, Fairview, Haw Creek, North

locking and popping. Mix your own freestyle form and develop unique routines. $2 per class. » Family ZUMBA, 6-7 p.m. on second, third and fourth Mondays. Family oriented fitness with focus on maintaining a healthy weight through fun cardio. ANIMATION WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY: 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Asheville Pizza & Brewing, 675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville. Bring a digital camera with USB cord and thumb drive and learn the art of stop motion animation including claymation, papermation, and legomation. All other supplies & instruction provided. Ages 10 and older. $10. More info at facebook.com/WorldPeasAnimations and www.youtube.com/WorldPeasAnimations. MUSIC TOGETHER: 3:30-4:15 p.m. Fridays, Nest Organics, 51 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville. Visit a class for free ages 8 months to 5 years. Call 258-1901 or visit www.nestorganics.com. KIDS YOGA: 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursdays, Black Moun-

Buncombe and Oakley elementaries » May 9: Candler, Hominy Valley and Pisgah elementaries » May 16: Black Mountain Primary, Williams Elementary ARTSPACE CHARTER SCHOOL Applications due 4 p.m. March 3. Lottery at 9 a.m. March 25. Tours offered 9 a.m. Thursdays; call 298-2787. EVERGREEN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL Applications accepted until March 31. Admission lottery is first week of April. Tours available; call 298-2173. FRANCINE DELANY NEW SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN Information session 6 p.m. March 6. Applications due March 31. Lottery April 10. Tours available; call 236-9441

tain Yoga, 120 Broadway St., Black Mountain. For ages 4-9. $9 each or $7 for each additional sibling. Drop kids off for an hour of mindful, creative play and movement with a different theme each week. For more information or registration visit www.blackmountainyoga.com. CHABAD HEBREW SCHOOL OF THE ARTS: Enrollment open for Chabad Hebrew School of the Arts, a combination Sunday School and Hebrew School Program, for 2013-14. General registration through Aug. 15. Half off for new children. Free trial class available. For ages 3-13. Sundays 10 a.m.-noon. September-May. At the Chabad House, 660 Merrimon Ave., Asheville. Call 505-0746, email chana@chabadasheville.org or visit www.chabadasheville.org. T-BONE’S RADIO ACTIVE KIDS: Stories, music, contests, interviews and all things for families in the Asheville area. 8-10 a.m. Saturdays on www.ashevillefm.org. HAPPINESS GROUP: 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 1528

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Smoky Park Highway, Candler. $20 per session. Who is the happiest person you know? If you have ever thought about increasing your own level of happiness this group is for you. This six-week group is led by a licensed psychologist and allows for dialogue and support among group members. It offers you proven methods to create lasting happiness; helpful strategies to fit your personality and lifestyle; and ways to increase your motivation and commitment to positive change. Registration required by calling 761-1017 or visiting www.drjamielopez.com MUSIC WORKSHOP: Singer/songwriter Sonia Brooks hosts free music workshop for children, 11 a.m.-noon Saturdays at Grateful Steps Bookstore, 159 S. Lexington Ave. Walk-ins welcome. Donations accepted. Call Sonia at 380-0275 with questions. PRENATAL BONDING: Relaxing 1-hour weekly program in West Asheville with prenatal specialist. Donation suggested. For more information, contact Emma at 255-5648 or emma@gentletouchparent-child.com. SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHESS CLUB: Meets 2-4 p.m. Thursdays at Blue Ridge Books, 152 S. Main St., Waynesville. Players of all levels welcome. Call 456-6000. SPANISH 4 KIDS: An enjoyable and effective way to learn Spanish by exposing children ages 3-5 to the language sounds. Taught by Monica Bastin, a native of Peru. With games, singing, dancing, storytelling and lots of fun. 3:30-4:15 p.m. Thursdays at Movement Center, French Broad Food Co-op. Email risitasavl@gmail.com or call 335-2120.

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