Savvy Kids April 2013

Great ways to go green

6

Year-round Sports

Homegrown Arkansas

Promoting farmers and local food

Summar Roachell’s hard work led to a spot with the Razorbacks

Drive for Success APRIL 2013 www.savvykidsofarkansas.com APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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Wine & Cheese Gala Benefiting Pathfinder, Inc.*

Celebrating 42 Years of Fostering Independence Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Thursday, April 25 6 pm – 8 pm

Individual Tickets Are $50 Corporate Sponsorships Also Available

To Reserve Tickets Or Request Corporate Sponsorship Information Please Email linda.curtis@pathfinderinc.org.

Cash, Credit Cards & Checks Will Be Accepted For Purchase. *Funds Will Be Utilized To Purchase Specialized Equipment For Pathfinder Programs

Adult trAining ProgrAms • develoPmentAl therAPy • mentAl heAlth services emPloyment contrActs • residentiAl services • WAiver services • trAnsPortAtion outreAch services • Preschool/school services

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Pathfinder Academy • 2520 W. main street • Jacksonville • 501.982.0528 Pathfinder Preschool •2400 W. main st. • Jacksonville • 501.982.0528 residential services • 2411 W. main st. • Jacksonville • 501.982.1124 www.pathfinderinc.org APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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contents April 2013

14

drive for success

Summar Roachell’s hard work landed her a spot on the Razorback women’s golf team

8 Odds and Ends 10 Little Hero,Big Heart 12 Potts’Picks 16 6 Year-Round Sports 22 StrengthTraining 24 Homegrown Arkansas 26 Go Green 32 Building Bridges:Why Socialization for Kids with Autism Matters

34 Book of the Month App of the Month

36 Savvy Arts 38 Pop Topics 40 Summer Camp Guide 48 Calendar of Events 50 Kids Eat Free 52 Savvy Recipe 62 Savvy Science ON THE COVER: Summar Roachell photographed by EMJ Fotografi. Savvy Kids would like to thank Conway Country Club for providing a backdrop for our cover photos.

4 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Once a Golfer.....

I

t may be surprising to learn, but I was once a golfer. I started playing in the back yard with my dad when I was about 5, and when I got good enough that I could hit the ball out of the yard, we progressed to golf courses. I had my own clubs, a pink golf bag, and even went to golf camp one summer. I played until I was about 9, and I don’t remember why I gave it up. About 20 years later, my dad talked me into playing golf with him one summer day and my arrogance got the better of me. I bet him I could still hit the ball like I used to. Let’s just say I lost that bet!

Photo by Patrick Jones

Riding around Conway Country Club in a golf cart with future Razorback Summar Roachell, I was more than amazed at, for lack of a better phrase, how good she was. Summar is also such a pleasant, down-to-earth young woman, and I know she will have a successful career in golf. I hope you enjoy reading about her, as much as I enjoyed meeting her.

In April, we celebrate Earth Day, and this issue discusses lots of ways to “go green.” I learned so much from researching these topics, specifically how much you should water a lawn and what kinds of plants are easy to grow. I hope to incorporate these lessons into my everyday life, though I won’t kid myself that I’ll actually start a garden this year.

publisher Alan Leveritt alan@arktimes.com editor Erica Sweeney ericasweeney@arktimes.com digital media producer Bryan Moats editorial art director Patrick Jones account executive Erin Holland erin@arktimes.com Becki Moore beckimoore@arktimes.com Lesa Thomas lesathomas@arktimes.com advertising sales assistant Kelly Lyles, kellylyles@arktimes.com production manager Weldon Wilson advertising coordinators Roland Gladden, roland@arktimes.com Kelly Schlachter Carr, kellys@arktimes.com Tracy Whitaker, tracy@arktimes.com graphic artists Kai Caddy, Rafael Mendez, Bryan Moats, Patrick Jones, Mike Spain photographers Brian Chilson, Patrick Jones, Chelsey McNeil, EMJ Fotografi controller Weldon Wilson accounts payable Angie Fambrough it director Robert Curfman billing/collections Linda Phillips circulation director Anitra Hickman

A Place For New Beginnings.

And, we have a couple of new things this month. “Odds and Ends” on page 8 will feature community events, programs and other noteworthy topics. We also have a new column, “Potts’ Picks,” written by fifth-grader Jasper Potts.

She’s a great writer, with a strong voice, and will discuss various topics from a kid’s perspective.

In the coming months, we would love to start a Letters to the Editor page, where we print your feedback. So, let us know if a particular story has impacted you or if you have other comments on our content. My email address is below and I would love to hear from you.

Follow our Pins on Pinterest

Follow us on Twitter

Become A Since 1985, our goal has been ARE to HANDLED provide best ALL MATERIALS WITH the DUE CARE; Facebook Fan HOWEVER, THE PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARE AND SAFE RETURN OF UNSOLICITED MATERIALS. ALL LETTERS AND PICTURES SENT TO SAVVYKIDS™ WILL BE TREATED AS INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION AND ARE SUBJECT TO SAVVYKIDS'™ UNRESTRICTED RIGHT TO EDIT OR TO COMMENT EDITORIALLY. 201 E. MARKHAM ST. SUITE 200, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985.

ALL CONTENTS ©2013 SAVVY KIDS™

psychiatric and behavioral health care while Erica Sweeney, Editor ericasweeney@arktimes.com

supporting the whole family. New beginnings are possavvykidsofarkansas.com

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sible at Rivendell where our mission is “changing lives

For Earth Day, we have pinned some fun projects that reuse items from around the house. Go green this April with these pinsthrough and more atcompassionate www.pinterest.com/savvykidsmag.com. healing.”

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Make a fashion statement with repurposed plastic Get the garden started with a mini greenhouse. Get bottles. Find out how to make these cute bracelets more details at indulgy.com. at gwennypenny.com.

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OddsandEnds

Horsin’ around

On April 27, Beyond Boundaries will host the seventh annual Boot Scootin’ Bash and 5k Dash, benefiting its equine-assisted therapy program.

The western-themed event will be held at the Beyond Boundaries center at 2195 Peyton St. in Ward. A silent auction, with items like movie tickets, dining certificates and veterinary baskets, begins at 7:30 a.m., says Tiffany Mattzela, who handles the organization’s marketing and public relations.

At 8 a.m. walkers and runners, both competitive and noncompetitive, take off for the 5k. At 8:30 a.m., clients will demonstrate their riding skills.

“Clients and parents enjoy participating, and it gives the audience a sense of what happens during an actual hippotherapy session,” Mattzela says.

“It promotes overall education and awareness regarding this very specialized therapeutic tool. It’s a cause near and dear to all of our hearts.”

The event also features booths from other community-based organizations and local businesses, and several activities for kids, such as a bounce house and a “kids’ corner” provided by Home Depot, where kids can practice their building skills, she says.

Beyond Boundaries is a nonprofit providing hippotherapy, a treatment using horses as tools in physical, occupational and speech therapy for kids with disabilities.

The event is free, but fees for the 5k are $20 or $25 for the “spirit runner” option. For more information, call (501) 941-1522 or visit www.beyondboundariesar.com.

Wine & Dine at the Governor’s Mansion In its second year, Pathfinder Inc.’s Wine and Cheese Gala 2013 supports “programs that assist individuals with disabilities achieve their maximum potential,” says Pam Satterfield, special projects coordinator at Pathfinder.

The gala, which will be held at the Governor’s Mansion Grand Hall on April 25 from 6 to 8 p.m., features drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and entertainment by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. A “client of the year” will also be recognized.

The event is a “celebration with friends in beautiful surroundings” that brings together consumers, employees and the community, Satterfield says. Last year’s event raised about $30,000 and nearly 300 attended.

“We are able to share our program with the community and thank individuals who have played a key role in our success,” she says, explaining that the money raised will help purchase specialized equipment to help the organization continue carrying out its programs for kids, teens and adults.

Pathfinder, Inc. provides programs that assist individuals with disabilities in becoming “self-supporting, productive members of society,” Satterfield says.

Tickets are $50 and may be purchased online at www.pathfinderinc.org.

8 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

Business in the Front, Party in the Back KidSource Therapy’s major fundraiser, called Mullet Madness, is set for April 5.

In its fourth year, the event raises money to provide scholarships for families of kids with special needs, as well as for the new hippotherapy program, called Freedom Reins, where horses help increase kids’ functional abilities, says Corey Tinkle, KidSource co-owner. “The money raised goes to the families we serve, and allows kids to receive services that may not otherwise be able to,” he says.

The event is a 1980s-themed party with live and silent auctions, including more than 100 items, and music by the band Tragikly White. Tinkle says the event has grown each year.

Attendees are encouraged to come in ‘80s-era costumes. “You’ll be in the minority if you don’t show up in a costume,” Tinkle says. In previous years, attendees have dressed as Ghostbusters, Smurfs, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna.

KidSource provides outpatient developmental, occupational, physical and speech therapies to children with special needs in Pulaski, Saline, Grant and Jefferson counties.

Mullet Madness is at Next Level Events in Little Rock from 7 to 11 p.m.

Tickets are $35 online or $40 at the door and can be purchased by calling (501) 315-4414 or at www.mulletmadness.net.

! w a H Yee

It is almost time for the

Boot Scootin’

Bash!

Volunteers are always welcomed to our programs.

Contact Stacey at smcminn@alliedtherapy.com for more information.

Serving the needs of children in the Central Arkansas area for 20 years 501.941.1522 • WWW.beyondboundARieSAR.Com • 2195 Peyton StReet/HWy. 319 • WARd, AR 72176

7th Annual Beyond Boundaries Boot Scootin’ 5K Dash & Bash ALLIED THERAPY & CONSULTING SERVICES, P.A. PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL & SPEECH THERAPY 1500 Wilson Loop Rd • Ward, AR 72176 • 501.941.5630

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HERO

little hero

Big Heart

Samantha Johnson and the Central Arkansas Heart Walk

By Lisa Lakey

Looking at 17-year-old Samantha Johnson, you would see a normal teenager. She has a bright, winning smile, enjoys dancing and playing basketball and sings in her high school choir. What you wouldn’t see right away is that Johnson was born a fighter.

Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped, she required bypass surgery when she was merely three days old, followed by a heart transplant at six weeks. As a newborn, all of Johnson’s energy was used to fight for her life.

Photos by Brian Chilson

Seventeen years later, she waves her hand while discussing the medications she takes daily and the surgeries she undergoes every other year as if to dismiss them as nothing out of the ordinary.

and tenacity she has, I think she’s fearless. She’s got that smile on her face and there’s nothing, in my opinion, she can’t do nor will she shy down from.”

“It’s not horrendous or terrible or anything,” Johnson says.

The Heart Walk isn’t her first experience working with the American Heart Association. When she was 13 and living with her family in Virginia, Johnson was approached by the AHA to be featured in a story for Heart Month and her photo was used for a promotional poster. She also volunteers to speak with Sweethearts, high school sophomores who participate in a heart health volunteer and education service. She shares her own story and teaches others how to start their own Heart Walk teams.

And all that energy she spent on surviving as an infant, Johnson now focuses on raising awareness of congenital heart defects and heart disease in Arkansas.

“When you have something like a chronic disease, I like to say, ‘OK, what is something good that we can get out of this?’” she says. “Not only for me, but for other people too.”

For the second year in a row, Johnson is a team captain for the Central Arkansas Heart Walk, raising money for research and education through the American Heart Association. Last year, she was a Super Star Walker, raising more than $1,000 for the event. She is still working on recruiting members for this year’s event on April 20.

“Samantha is special,” says Lloyd Webre, Heart Walk Director. “What she had to go through at a young age in life and to face it with the bravery 10 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

“It’s a great way to encourage others,” Johnson says. “You can say, ‘you can do this, I did this.’ And it’s been inspirational for me to meet other survivors.”

The Central Arkansas Heart Walk is one of four annual fundraisers of the American Heart Association in Little Rock. It is presented by Arkansas Heart Hospital and raises money for heart health research and education. For more information on the Central Arkansas Heart Walk, visit www.CentralArkansasHeartWalk.org or visit the AHA’s website at www.Heart.org.

APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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s k c i P ’ s Pott

Fifth-Grade Fashions

By Jasper Potts

A lot of adults, even parents, may think they know what children like. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but just to be sure you are on track, I should tell you about the latest fashion trends and things. Just for you to see it from a kid’s point of view.

First of all, poncho tops are pretty irresistible. Instead of just having regular sleeves, poncho tops basically join the end of the sleeves to the bottom of the top, creating a shawl-type look. Experiment with wearing different colors of jeans with these.

Of course, skinny jeans are always cute, but opt for a looser style once in a while.

Distressed jeans are fun, but are frowned upon at school if they are over-the-top.

I saw a girl a few weeks ago wearing a loose knit top over a short-sleeved shirt and short denim shorts with black leggings, and it was really cute. This is an idea of a trendy outfit style for kids.

And, they have come up with high-tops with a two-inch wedge. The reason I say “they” is because dozens of brands have developed their own version. These look great with jeggings, leggings with the design and any color of jeans. One brand, “Daddy’s Money,” makes Converse-type shoes with prints on them atop the heel.

Daddy’s money indeed! They cost 60 bucks! And so do most of the other brands, unfortunately. I had to have some, so I searched the internet far and wide for a pair that my parents would not have to file bankruptcy for me to have. You know the most ridiculous thing? I found some super-cute ones at Target for $25! Honestly,

Jasper wearing her denim leopard-print skirt, with back Merrell brand boots and layered tops.

Photos by Brian Chilson

the big-deal brands are going to get smoked by Wal-Mart and Target!

I am addicted to my black Merrell brand boots. They are lace-up in the back and have a patch of subdued brown-and-white pattern underneath. They are a casual, outdoorsy look, or a fab style, much different than the wedge shoes. Boots look great with knee-length skirts, so I wear my denim leopard-print skirt with them.

The thing I like most about these is that they look great with almost anything.

Here are a few other trends. Layers are supposed to be very “in” right now. At least that is what people have been telling me. I like wearing short tops that only come up to your natural waist on top of a tank top. Wide belts that go on the waist are cute, but kind of too old for me.

Jasper sporting a poncho top, distressed jeans and turquoise wedge high-tops.

Unless your birthday is in April, there are no gift-giving holidays in this month, so you’ll have to talk your parents into going shopping anyway. A girl can only wait so long for the holidays. Happy shopping!

Jasper Potts is in fifth grade. She enjoys writing, of course, and sushi. She is probably doing her homework right now.

12 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

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APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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Drive for Success Hard work landed teen a spot on the Razorback women’s golf team

By Erica Sweeney

Summar Roachell attributes many of her accomplishments in the sport of golf to a piece of advice her dad gave her: “There’s no shortcut to success.”

“I didn’t win first place just by being there,” she says. “I’ve worked for everything. It’s the little victories that build up to the big things.”

“It always stuck with me,” she says. “It’s the biggest reason that I’ve accomplished what I have. I firmly believe that’s gotten me to where I am.”

When she isn’t practicing, she knows someone else is, and that’s why Roachell plays golf nearly every day. “I don’t want to get behind,” she says.

And, Roachell’s hard work has definitely paid off. At 18, she has achieved more in the sport than most players do in a lifetime. She has won national tournaments, consecutive state championships and competed internationally.

This fall, she will join the Arkansas Razorback women’s golf team.

In addition to playing golf as often as possible, she works out with a trainer to develop core strength. Another part of it is the mental game, and she works on maintaining a positive attitude every day and not focusing on the negatives.

A Love for the Game

“I know I can win, and I compete to win,” she says. “I’ve learned to overcome bad rounds, and deal with things not going right. I focus on controlling what I can and not giving up or giving in.

Now a senior at Conway High School, Roachell began playing golf when she was 5 years old. She was introduced to the game through one of her dad’s co-workers, Martha McAlister, a member of the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame.

Roachell started in programs at The First Tee of Central Arkansas in Little Rock and the rest is history.

“I fell in love with it,” Roachell says. “I’ve wanted to have a club in my hand ever since.”

Excelling at golf doesn’t happen overnight. It takes lots of practice, dedication and positive reinforcement. Roachell says it’s important to start small and always work hard.

14 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

“I’ve had some good finishes over the past three or four years, coming in the top fives and 10s.”

If fact, Roachell has had some pretty awesome finishes.

Last summer, she won the 44th Annual Trusted Choice Big “I” National Championship, with a score of nine under par for the tournament. Previous winners include Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. And, she was invited to compete in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, which is an official LPGA Tour event.

In 2011, she became the only Arkansans to ever participate in the U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup, as one of 12 girls chosen to represent the United States against 12 girls representing Europe at a tournament in Ireland. She says she enjoyed her first time overseas and getting to represent her country was “really cool.”

Roachell has also won four consecutive high school state individual championships, and was a two-time Rolex Junior All-American. She has also been a member of her high school golf team and played in the American Junior Golf Association.

Looking to the Future

out, she would like to be a coach, so she’s planning to major in kinesiology and sports management.

Roachell says her parents are her biggest supporters, and they constantly remind her that she can accomplish anything.

“They always say, ‘you can be there,’” she says, referring to the LPGA. Despite her many successes, Roachell says she’s just a “normal kid.” Though, she admits, learning to balance school, golf and friends is tough sometimes.

On the rare occasion that she isn’t golfing, she enjoys drawing, hanging out with friends and going to her family’s lake house.

Through golf, Roachell says she’s met a lot of people and had many opportunities. The possibility that young golfers might look up to her means a lot, she says, and she loves the idea of passing along her knowledge to others.

“It’s tough getting started,” she says. “People helped me, so I feel like I should help younger girls and share my knowledge. It’s neat to think the younger kids want to do what I do.”

She encourages young people in sports to always work hard, practice and not get discouraged. And, most important she offers the same advice given to her: “there’s no shortcut to success.”

This fall, she plans to continue her game at the University of Arkansas as the lone freshman on the women’s golf team. She attended golf camp there as a youngster and has been impressed with how players have developed, including Stacy Lewis, a former Razorback and now a member of the LPGA Tour.

And, the Razorbacks are more than happy to have her. As head coach of the women’s golf team, Shauna Estes-Taylor says her goal is to keep top golfers in the state. She has worked with Roachell through camps over the past few years, and says they “immediately clicked.”

“I knew during that first camp that she was going to be a special young lady and that we needed to have her on our team,” says Estes-Taylor.

“Summar is a true competitor, possesses a strong passion for the game and loves to learn. She also loves the Razorbacks and, as a coach, there is nothing greater than the combination of love for your university, being an outstanding student and talent on the golf course. I know that she will continue to help lead this team to even greater heights once she arrives on campus in the fall.”

Even though Roachell says she kept her options open, ultimately she knew the University of Arkansas was where she wanted to be.

“Arkansas has the best coaches, the best facilities,” she says. “I want to see what the coaches do with me. It’s the best place to be to get to the next level.”

Photos by EMJ Fotografi

Plus, Fayetteville isn’t too far away from home, and Roachell says she’s looking forward to the atmosphere and going to football and basketball games. She says Conway was a great place to grow up, but “it’s time to start that new chapter.”

Landing a spot on the LPGA Tour and “competing with the best in the world” is Roachell’s ultimate goal. She says if that doesn’t work APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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6

Year-round Sports

By Erica Sweeney

Playing sports, either recreationally or competitively, has countless lifelong health benefits for kids. Childhood obesity affects more than 15% of Arkansas kids and teens. Sports are not only a great way to keep the body physically fit, they also build confidence, relieve stress, teach goal setting and promote social skills and teamwork. Memorizing routines and keeping track of rules associated with a sport is also a brain boost.

While many sports, such as football and basketball, follow specific

1

seasons, where athletes can only sign up during certain times, our list of six sports can be enjoyed throughout the year. So, whether you’re looking for an off-season activity or something new, Savvy Kids has some suggestions.

Our list includes many lifetime sports, so getting kids involved now will carry them into adulthood. And, most important, they are open to anyone, even the extreme novice and kids with special needs.

Golf

“Golf teaches amazing life lessons of honor, integrity and excellence,” says Shauna EstesTaylor, head coach of the University of Arkansas women’s golf team.

“There are so many opportunities that are created by learning the game.”

Brannon Watson, owner of Arkansas Golf Center in Conway, agrees. He says learning the sport broadens an individual’s worldview, especially in competitive golf, because players meet lots of people from different backgrounds, and it can even be helpful in business later in life.

The game is also never boring because there is no standardized playing area, like a football field. This forces players to continue striving for improvement since a golf game is never the same, Watson says.

Golf also enhances problem-solving skills,

says Brad Martin, director of golf at The First Tee of Central Arkansas in Little Rock, which is part of a national organization that teaches golf along with core values, like honesty, sportsmanship, confidence, responsibility, perseverance and more.

Taking lessons is the key to being a successful golfer, says Watson, because “there’s no such thing as a natural golfer.” He recommends starting around age 5, but kids can learn the basics, like holding a club correctly, even earlier. When players start young, they have more confidence and the game becomes more rewarding, Martin says.

Watson says he wants to “flip” the misconception that golf is a “last resort” sport or a sport just for boys. Attracting more female players will carry the sport into the future, he says, explaining that there are many more opportunities for girls in obtaining college scholarships for golf.

Cory Biggs, executive director of the First Tee, says the organization strives to “tear down barriers” to the sport of golf and does not turn anyone away. Scholarships are available to families who show need, and the organization provides equipment for players.

The First Tee also reaches out to “underserved” populations: kids with special needs, minorities, girls and military families in an effort to build the next generation of players, Biggs says. First Tee has partnered with organizations like Camp Aldersgate, Access Schools and others to bring the sport to kids with special needs.

According to Estes-Taylor, “There more doors opening in our communities to introduce kids to this amazing game. Golf has been a blessing to me and I want our future generations to be able to experience that same joy.”

Sign Up: Arkansas Golf Center offers lessons and provides a driving range for practice. For more information, visit www.arkansasgolfcenter.com or call (501) 327-0171.

The First Tee of Central Arkansas has orientations every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. for newcomers. This is an opportunity for families to see the facility and learn what it’s all about. For details, visit www.thefirstteelittlerock.org or call (501) 562-4653.

16 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

2

Gymnastics

“Where else do you get to run, jump, flip and swing? And, who doesn’t want to do a cartwheel?” says Laurel Adams, coach at Jacksonville Gymnastics at Huff ‘n Puff.

Gymnastics sets a foundation for other sports because it is strength- and muscle-building, and incorporates cardio activity, flexibility, balance and agility, she says.

Jacksonville Gymnastics offers classes beginning at age 18 months. Kids under age 4 use a gym with smaller equipment and lower balance beams.

Once they reach kindergarten, they progress to the “big gym” with full-size equipment, Adams says.

Spring 2013

The recreational program includes several levels and a year-end recital. After recreational classes, students may choose to start competitive classes.

Gymnastics is for anyone but is not “instant gratification,” she says. It takes a lot of hard work and discipline to develop skill, Adams says. While the Olympics may be a far-reaching goal for some, obtaining a college scholarship for gymnastics is not, she says.

2616 Kavanaugh Blvd. · Little Rock · 501.661.1167 · shopboxturtle.com

Sign Up:

Your kids are growing up so fast.

Jacksonville Gymnastics at Huff ‘n Puff has locations in Jacksonville and North Little Rock. www.huffnpuffgym. com; (501) 9851818 Leah’s Gymnastics and Cheerleading in Benton offers competitive and recreational classes. www. leahsgymnastics.com; (501) 776-3547

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The Little Gym of Little Rock offers classes for infants up to age 12. www.thelittlegym.com/ littlerockar; (501) 225-5437 River City Gymnastics in Little Rock offers competitive and recreational classes. www.rivercity-gymnastics.com; (501) 407-8000

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katherine@cupcakecastlestravel.com www.cupcakecastlestravel.com/katherine.htm www.facebook.com/CupcakeCastlestravelCompanyLlcKatherineMentzer APRIL 2013 savvy kids

| 17

Sports 6 Year-round

3

Continued from page 17

Lacrosse

Though relatively new to central Arkansas, lacrosse is one of the world’s oldest sports, created by Native Americans several hundred years ago, says Ilyssa Foxx, Little Rock Lacrosse director of operations.

Lacrosse is a fast-paced, high-scoring game for boys and girls that is similar to basketball, soccer and hockey, Foxx says. The game includes offense and defense, and she says it’s a great off-season sport for football players.

“It may seem confusing at first,” she says. “But once you watch it, you’ll see the similarities with other sports.”

In the game, players are decked out in pads (only boys wear helmets) and use sticks, with a kind of net or pocket on the end, to hold, catch or pass the lacrosse ball. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the

opposing team’s goal. Boys’ lacrosse includes 10 players, and girls’ includes 11, Foxx explains.

She says a common misconception about lacrosse is that players are frequently injured, but in fact, it has a much lower injury rate than most other sports.

Little Rock Lacrosse offers clinics year-round to athletes from age 7 to the 12th grade, along with summer camps. Currently, Foxx says there are about 50 players enrolled.

Because there is no lacrosse league in central Arkansas, the teams, called the Little Rock Lightning, travel to play in Northwest Arkansas, Memphis or Edmond, Okla. But, Foxx says, Little Rock Lacrosse is working to change that by attracting more players and someday forming a league

Sign Up:

4

Photo by Patrick Jones

Newcomers can rent equipment from Little Rock Lacrosse. Practices are regularly held at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, but spring clinics will be at War Memorial Stadium. The public is invited to visit practices to see what it’s all about, and Little Rock Lacrosse organizers will visit schools or other groups to talk about the sport. Go to http://littlerocklacrosse.com for more details and to sign up.

Lacrossefest was held at Burns Park in North Little Rock in late February. About 500 players on 26 teams from surrounding states played a round-robin style tournament.

Tennis Tennis can be enjoyed, either recreationally or competitively, in a variety of ways, including singles, doubles or mixed doubles, says Brittany Murphy, director of marketing at the Arkansas Tennis Association.

She recommends starting kids in tennis around age 5. Recently, the United States Tennis Association made a few changes to 10 and under tennis, including smaller courts, a low compression ball and a new play format. The USTA is also giving out free one-year memberships to junior players, she says.

Junior tennis teams exist throughout central Arkansas, including at the Little Rock Athletic Club, Burns Park Tennis Center, Rebsamen Tennis Center and more. Also, twice a year, the ATA holds tennis clinics for kids and teens with special needs. The next event will be this fall.

Sign Up: For more information about junior tennis, visit www.arktennis.com. The Arkansas Tennis Association can provide information about sign-ups in your area. Call (501) 227-7611 for details.

Continued on page 20 18 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

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New and exciting learning opportunities like Ms. Keesee’s outdoor classroom at Crystal Hill Elementary School are taking shape across our district, offering an education that goes beyond the books.

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501.234.2000 APRIL 2013 savvy kids

| 19

Sports 6 Year-round

5

Continued from page 18

figure skating

Push. Glide. Jump. Spin. Figure skating offers a feeling of freedom like no other sport.

“It’s not just about skating in circles. There’s so much more you can do,” says Amanda Griffin, figure skating director and senior coach at Arkansas Skatium.

Figure skating is not just a winter sport. It can be enjoyable as “freestyle, pairs, basic stroking and crossovers” in all seasons, she says.

Griffin recommends beginning figure skating around age 4. Arkansas Skatium offers options for all levels.

The Learn to Skate program consists of eight levels, with sessions twice a week.

Coaches decide when students can progress to the next level. Once skaters complete the program, those wanting to continue and possibly compete often move on to private lessons, she says. Skaters of all levels put on two shows a year.

Sign Up: Arkansas Skatium is located at 1311 Bowman Road in Little Rock. Sign-ups are year-round, and Griffin suggests dropping by during a training session.

Students in the Learn to Skate program receive free skates.

Visit www.arkansasskatium. com for more details and a training schedule.

20 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

Another way for kids and teens to get involved with skating is through the Diamond Edge Figure Skating Club. Members meet monthly, go to competitions and put on a yearly show.

Like anything else, practice makes perfect, and skaters need patience to achieve their desired level. “You must have a passion and a drive for it. If you love it, the sky’s the limit,” she says.

6

SWIMMING

Producing A New Generation of Christian Leaders we’ve Added 7th GRAde foR this fAll! Ages 2-1/2 thru 7th Grade

Not only is swimming a fun activity, it is also a “critical life skill,” just like reading and writing, says Karen Lamoreaux, owner of Safety Before Skill, a private-lesson swim school that focuses on safety and survival in the water first, and then swimming.

Children should be introduced to the water as early as possible to promote confidence and safety, says Eimear Fuller, aquatics director at the Little Rock Athletic Club, who recommends beginning lessons around age 2. She says kids often benefit more in lessons when the teacher is not mom or dad.

A common misconception about swimming is that individuals can learn in a short amount of time. Fuller compares learning to swim to learning a musical instrument.

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“You have to break it down and learn the steps,” she says. “It takes a lot of time and practice to be a good swimmer.”

The Athletic Club offers private, semiprivate or group swimming lessons for all ages. Swimmers who take lessons often continue on to compete with the club’s swim team, the Arkansas Dolphin-Laser Swim Team.

701 Napa Valley Dr. • Little Rock

Lessons at Safety Before Skill begin as early as 10 months old with a parent and child class. Lamoreaux says infants can learn to swim as soon as they start crawling. Once students at Safety Before Skill reach age 4, they can continue to learn basic competitive strokes for competitive swimming.

At Safety Before Skill, which opened in 2006, students first learn to selfrescue, including how to float on their backs, breathe and call for help, as well as pool safety, open water safety and pulling oneself out of the water. Students must demonstrate mastery of the skills at each level before they can advance.

According to USA Swimming, the governing body for swimming, drowning is a leading cause of death among kids, something that is “absolutely preventable,” Fuller says. “A pool can be a dangerous place. It only takes a minute for a child to drown.”

Drowning is even more common among kids with special needs, Lamoreaux says.

Coaches at Safety Before Skill are accustomed to working with kids with special needs, and often these kids feel more comfortable in a private-lesson setting, she says.

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Sign Up: Visit the Little Rock Athletic Club’s website, www.lrac.com, or call (501) 225-3601 for details about swimming lessons. The club is located at 4610 Sam Peck Road.

Safety Before Swim is located at 4701 Sam Peck Road in Little Rock (formerly the Westside YMCA), with satellite locations at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and Rick’s Dive ‘N Travel Center in North Little Rock. For more information, call (501) 940-4981 or visit www.safetybeforeskill.com.

drbpd.com APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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G N I N I A R T

H T G N E R ST The American Academy of Pediatrics states that one-third of all childhood injuries are sports related, with the most common being sprains and strains. While some injuries are unforeseeable accidents, many could have been prevented through training to develop stronger muscles, bones and tendons.

“Lack of training and/or poor training technique is a large part of the reason we see so many injuries in youth,” says Cory Weir, an athletic trainer in sports medicine at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. “Kids are expected to play sports year around, but do not have the physical strength or development to withstand the toll it has on their young bodies.”

Strength training is a form of exercise that uses resistance to build muscular strength. For children, this may include exercises using his or her body weight as resistance, or light free weights or resistance tubing. For decades, controversy surrounded the topic of strength training for children.

Myth vs. Fact “The most common myths concerning strength training in kids are that it can stunt growth, their growth plates might get damaged, or that they lack hormones needed to gain strength or muscle mass,” Weir says.

Research has proven each of these myths to be false. In fact, the AAP confirmed the safety of strength training in recent years and stated “appropriate strength-training programs have no apparent adverse effect on linear growth, growth plates or the cardiovascular system.”

How It Can Prevent Sports-Related Injuries

By Lisa Lakey

consider like improving metabolic rate, cardiovascular fitness, strengthens tendons, ligaments and bones.”

Weir also says that the health benefits of strength training are not just for athletes. Strength training can help kids maintain a healthy body weight and improve self-esteem.

He says that if the strength training exercises are fun for the kids, it can instill a lifelong love of fitness.

Risks As with any physical activity, strength training can pose some risks and injuries can occur. According to the AAP, “most injuries occur on home equipment with unsafe behavior and unsupervised settings.” In environments with proper supervision and instruction, strength training injuries occur less than in other sports or during recess at school.

“Your child’s ability to train should be addressed first,” Weir says. “Injury can occur if he or she is doing exercises that are too advanced or too much resistance is applied. Equipment should be appropriate to the size of the child to reduce the risk of an avoidable accident.”

Getting Started Before beginning strength training or any other physical activity, it is important for your child to be cleared by their primary care physician. While a set age hasn’t been determined for when it is best to begin strength training, Weir says that most experts would agree that if a child has the maturity to play organized sports, most likely around age 6 to 8, they are ready to begin training.

It was also once believed that strength training could not benefit children because higher levels of testosterone were needed to significantly strengthen muscles. This myth has also been debunked by research showing that children can gain strength before ever reaching puberty, therefore gaining muscle strength without high levels of testosterone in their systems.

“I would recommend that you seek the help of a certified trainer that has experience working with children,” he says. “It is very important that the child be evaluated on current strength and coordination before starting.”

Benefits

He says that kids should learn technique and control first, and then add resistance as the technique is perfected. And, with any exercise, it should be fun for the child to put them on the path to better health and fitness.

The benefits of strength go far beyond the strengthening of muscles and joints to prevent sports injuries.

“Start having fun living a healthy lifestyle,” Weir says.

“Strength training is helpful in developing motor performance such as balance, running and jumping,” Weir says. “It has a lot of other benefits that we should 22 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

Lisa Lakey is a freelance writer, wife and mother of two in Benton.

Summer Camps at the Clinton Center Culinary Camp

CULINARY CULINARY CAMP CAMP

Michael Selig and the culinary team at the Clinton Center lead this fun-filled day camp.

Children receive hands-on training to make their own nutritious lunch everyday, learn exciting tips from distinguished speakers in the culinary field, and even start their own garden on-site at the Center. Campers wrap up the week with a special reception for family members and guests to showcase their new cooking skills and earn their very own chef’s jacket!

Cost: $200 non-member and $175 member.

Cost includes camp fees, snacks, lunch, and materials needed for the class. First year students will earn their chef’s jacket and culinary tools at graduation.

Space is limited.

• June 17 – 21, 2013 – 3rd year • June 24 – 28, 2013 – 2nd year • July 8 – 12, 2013 – 1st year (Grades 7 & 8) • July 15 – 19, 2013 – 1st year (Grades 4-6) SOLD OUT

For more information please contact Brian Allen at 501-758-0454 or ballen@clintonfoundation.org 1200 President Clinton Avenue • Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 • clintonpresidentialcenter.org

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APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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T

Photo by Brian Chilson

Homegrown Arkansas Project promotes farmers and local food

By Erica Sweeney

With just about a month until graduation, the seven members of Homegrown Arkansas, all seniors at eStem High Public Charter School in downtown Little Rock, describe the ups and downs of the organization they created. They express unwavering enthusiasm about the project’s message, pride in what they’ve accomplished and a little sadness that it will all soon end as they move on to the next phase of their lives.

The idea for Homegrown Arkansas sprouted after the group – Zoe Corwyn, Alaina Grundy, Margaret Justus, Kasia Kready, Monica Velasquez, Claire Vogelgesang and Katie Walker – took Environmental Sciences last year and learned that the public is quite uninformed when it comes to local food. The team decided they wanted to “promote local famers and consuming local foods,” says Kready, and “change how people think about food,” says Walker.

So, during their senior year, all enrolled in the EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology) Initiative to further their work in raising awareness about local food.

EAST is a class with a student-driven educational model, says facilitator Chris Forster. In EAST, students are required to work on a project, where they identify and solve a “community problem,” he says. The program provides training and equipment to help students carry out the projects.

The Homegrown team, each with a specific role in the group, began by brainstorming ideas, which Justus says were initially a little overly ambitious because they were so excited.

The Homegrown Arkansas Team: Margaret Justus, Alaina Grundy, Katie Walker, Monica Velasquez, Claire Vogelgesang, Kasia Kready and Zoe Corwyn

In addition to filming, the girls worked on some of the farms and helped harvest crops. Corwyn and Velasquez also took groups of elementary school students to farmers’ markets to teach them about local food.

Filming is now complete, and the team is in the process of editing footage to produce “episodes,” which they plan to finish in May, Grundy says. She says they hope to have a screening at school and then put the episodes on YouTube.

The Homegrown Arkansas website (www.homegrownar.webs.com) aims to connect and familiarize Arkansans with local farmers and raise awareness about where food comes from. The site maps out farms, and when it’s completed, it will also show which restaurants use a particular farm’s crops, Corwyn says.

The website will also help the public understand the importance of eating locally and knowing where food comes from, says Vogelgesang.

“It’s so easy to get excited about,” she says. “It’s about knowing what you put in your body and knowing what went into making it.”

The seven were all friends before starting Homegrown Arkansas, and Grundy says the project has brought them closer. Through the project, they have learned a lot about themselves, including “important people skills,” and how to talk to people in a professional way, Grundy says. Working as a team is another important lesson, Corwyn says.

“We’re all doers, so we had to respect one another’s jobs,” she says, explaining that as the project progressed and evolved, so did their individual roles.

“It’s also changed the way I see Arkansas,” Grundy says, adding that she wishes she had another year of high school so she could continue working on the project. And, Kready says she gained a new appreciation for how hard farmers work and was inspired by their pride.

Through all the ideas they tossed around, they say focus on the farmers and promoting local food remained their priorities. Eventually, they decided on two major components for Homegrown Arkansas: a website and a documentary.

Recently, eStem High was named a Superior School at the national EAST conference. Homegrown Arkansas was a major contributor to that acknowledgment, Forster says.

Work officially began in late September, when they started traveling the state to interview farmers about their work. In filming, Justus says they ran into several challenges and frustrations, mainly from lack of skill in using the equipment, which was provided through EAST.

“I’m beyond proud of them,” he says. “I hope my daughter grows up to be just like them. There’s so much power in youth. It’s great to see young women, in particular, be so empowered.”

“Our original plans were insane,” Kready says, describing some of their ideas for filming, which would have required stuntmen and helicopters. “We had to rein it in.”

The Homegrown team hopes that next year’s class of seniors will follow in their footsteps and expand the project. They have even added a community internship program for seniors in the coming years.

“What we lacked in skill, we made up in enthusiasm,” Justus says. “The farmers were so excited, and it’s all about honoring them.”

“They have definitely inspired others,” Forster says. “There are people in line to take over the project.”

24 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

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Museum of Discovery offers a variety of camps with the flexibility to meet your schedule. Programming is offered for children between the ages of 4-13 from June 10-August 2. Here’s a preview of some of the camps that are sure to make the summer of 2013 your best one ever!

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space camp Download our camp brochure at museumofdiscovery.org

500 President Clinton Ave

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$5 admission during Riverfest Weekend Saturday, May 25- Monday, May 27 (Closed Friday, May 24) www.museumofdiscovery.org

501.396.7050 APRIL 2013 savvy kids

| 25

g green VEG OUT Farmers markets are vibrant community events where families can learn the value of eating well.

Meeting the farmers who have toiled to grow the food they eat can give kids a new perspective on food and a more holistic understanding of the “circle of life,” says Sam Hedges, director of operations of the Arkansas Local Food Network.

“Kids make the connection between what they’re eating and where it comes from,” he says.

Shopping at farmers markets can also teach young people about the seasonality of fruits and vegetables, something they won’t get from shopping at a grocery story, he says. It could also inspire healthier eating habits.

The Arkansas Local Food Network operates a year-round online farmers market, where farmers list their products, including meat, cheese, fruits, vegetables and more. Customers place orders online and pick them up on Saturdays at the Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Little Rock. For details, visit littlerock.locallygrown.net.

Times: Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; open April 14 until mid November Certified Arkansas Farmers Market www.certifiedarkansas.com Location: 6th and Main Street in North Little Rock Times: Saturdays, 7 a.m. to noon; open April 6 until November Conway Farmers’ Market Location: Antioch Baptist Church parking lot (150 Amity Road, Conway) Times: Opens May 11, Saturdays only; June 4 – Aug. 17, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; Aug. 17 – Nov. 2, Saturdays only; 6:30 a.m. to noon Hillcrest Farmers Market www.phbclr.com Location: Sidewalk in front of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh in Little Rock Times: Open year round from 8 a.m. to noon; spring and summer hours are 7 a.m. to noon

For shoppers who prefer visiting the markets, here is a list of some of the farmers markets in central Arkansas.

Jacksonville Farmers’ Market www.cityofjacksonville.net Location: 9 Municipal Drive (next to the Jacksonville Community Center) Times: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 6 a.m. to noon; opens May 4

Bernice Garden Farmers’ Market www.thebernicegarden.org Location: 1401 S. Main St. in Little Rock (corner of Dasiy Gaston Bates and South Main Street)

River Market Farmers Market www.rivermarket.info Location: River Market Pavilion Times: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; open April 30 to Oct. 26

What’s in Season

April – broccoli, lettuces, greens (kale and chard) May – cabbage, greens, peas, potatoes, strawberries June –blackberries, blueberries, eggplant, plums, potatoes, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini July – blueberries, corn, melons, peaches, plums, potatoes, raspberries, tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini August – blueberries, corn, melons, tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini September – apples (including Arkansas black apples), greens, hearty squash (like butternut), pumpkins, sweet potatoes October – apples, cabbage, greens, hearty squash (like butternut), pumpkins, sweet potatoes Available most months – cucumbers, eggplant, herbs, peppers Continued on page 28

26 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock, AR 72223 Little Rock Christian Academy is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, as a 2012 Blue Ribbon School. Out of 100,000 schools in America, 269 were given the Blue Ribbon distinction. Little Rock Christian was recognized as an exemplary high performing school in the elementary, middle, and high school divisions. “. . . a model of excellence that will inspire others.”

— Arne Duncan U.S. Secretary of Education

Schedule your personal tour today!

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4901 Northshore Drive • North Little Rock APRIL 2013 savvy kids

| 27

g green Continued from page 26

Mind the Tap Being water wise and passing this lesson onto kids will help protect central Arkansas’s water supply and ensure that it lasts for generations.

“We have to protect what we have,” says Mark Brown, county extension agent for water conservation at the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.

He says higher-than-necessary water use, population growth and changes in weather patterns affect our valuable water resource. To educate families about the importance of water conservation, the Cooperative Extension and Central Arkansas Water have partnered to provide free outdoor water audits through a program called Sprinkler Smart.

The program is aimed at helping CAW customers become more efficient and conservative in outdoor watering, says John Tynan, watershed protection manager at CAW. Through the program, customers learn about peak water demands, the best time to water lawns, how to adjust sprinkler systems, how much to water and the type of landscaping best suited for our climate.

An important message of the Sprinkler Smart program is avoiding watering during peak usage times, which are 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., Tynan says.

“Watering before or after these times will help to reduce the demand on our system and keep water rates low,” he says.

A common misconception is that watering should be done “every day to keep the grass healthy,” but in fact, only 1 to 2 inches of water, once or twice a week is needed for a healthy lawn, Tynan says.

Other ways to be water smart outdoors include collecting rainwater in barrels and using a watering can, attaching nozzles to hoses, putting timers on sprinklers and placing sprinklers effectively so water doesn’t end up on sidewalks or driveways, says Brown, who conducts the Sprinkler Smart audits.

rains about a half an inch in a week, there is no need to water the lawn that week. And, when the gauge measures 1 to 2 inches, sprinklers should be turned off, he says.

Parents should involve their kids in learning about water conservation, and families should even “make a pledge to reduce water use,” by following the Sprinkler Smart tips or simply reducing watering by one day, Brown says.

Families can make their own rain gauges or CAW has some available for free.

Getting kids involved will help them understand the value of water and lead to more water-wise adults.

To get involved, kids can remind their parents how long a sprinkler has been on or make a rain gauge to measure how much water the lawn has gotten, either from rain or the sprinkler, Tynan says. For example, if it

For more information about the program or to request a rain gauge, visit www. carkw.com or call (501) 377-1229. To schedule a water audit, contact Brown at (501) 340-6650.

Make a Rain Gauge 28 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

Rain gauges are a fun, easy way to teach kids about water conservation. Central Arkansas Water provides gauges to customers for free, but when families make their own, it gets kids more involved and leads to better understanding of what it means to be water wise.

What You Need: Cylinder-shaped container (like a tuna or coffee can) Ruler Permanent Marker

Directions: 1. Use any cylinder-shaped container. (The base should be the same width as the top.)

2. Use a ruler and permanent marker to mark and label ¼” increments on the container.

3. Stand the rain gauge upright in the yard.

4. Make a chart or log to record the date and the amount of rain or water from the sprinkler.

Arkansas Earth Day Festival

This year, the Arkansas Earth Day Foundation celebrates 10 years of promoting green living with its annual festival on April 20 at Heifer International’s grounds from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The goal of the festival is to encourage, educate and motivate people, businesses and governments to take responsibility for a greener, cleaner and healthier way of life.

Q: What’s 1st through 5th with the future inside?

A: Anthony School Elementary

The festival is free and offers many children’s activities, including the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s 1,500-gallon aquarium to educate kids about the types of fish living in the state. There will also be a Jump Zone area, which costs $5 for the day. This year, the festival includes the Great Diaper Change, where parents will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for changing cloth diapers.

Booths include educational materials for greener living, and a tie-dye booth, where participants can bring their own T-shirts to tie-dye for $3. Food vendors include The Green Cart Deli, the Café@Heifer, Green Cuisine and Loblolly Creamery. Musical acts, including Interstate Buffalo, will perform throughout the day.

For more information, visit www.arkansasearthday.org.

Recycling as Art

When she began visiting schools to talk about recycling more than 10 years ago, Carol Bevis, deputy director of Regional Recycling and Waste Reduction District, says she could easily answer all students’ questions. Now, that’s not always the case.

Over the years, she says teachers have increasingly incorporated recycling into curricula to ensure that young people understand its importance. So, to continue their mission and ingrain their motto – reuse, reduce, recycle – into students’ vocabularies, the district is creating new educational programs, she says.

One such program is the first-ever Art of Recycling Sculpture Contest for kindergarten to fifth grade. The contest also focuses on educating kids about what items are recyclable, a commonly asked question, says Reita Miller, the district’s public outreach specialist.

“Recycling extends the usefulness of items,” Miller says. “We want students to rethink how you can turn something into something else.”

Beginning an education at The Anthony School is anything but elementary. At Anthony, students meet their first friends, learn responsibility and become independent, excited learners. These complex years are something our students will remember for the rest of their lives.

Anthony Elementary ensures a seamless transition to Anthony Middle School; it is a knowledge base that serves them well beyond these walls.

If you’re looking for the right Elementary School for your child, we invite you to call 225-6629 to set up a personal tour.

PREK3 Eighth Grade

STRONG

TRADITION.

Contest winners will be announced in early April, and entries will be on display at the Museum of Discovery from April 10 to 30. Miller hopes to make the contest an annual event.

ACCREDITED BY ANSAA AND ISACS

To learn more about recycling, visit www.regionalrecycling.org. The site features videos, activities and other educational tools.

7700 Ohio St.•225-6629 AnthonySchool.org

Continued on page 30 APRIL 2013 savvy kids

| 29

g green Continued from page 29

Green thumb plus some Gardening in schools provides hands-on education in math, science, vocabulary and problem solving. It can also be a fun and relaxing hobby that kids can enjoy throughout their lives.

ACCESS Schools in Little Rock takes it one step further. Through ACCESS Gardens, the school, which provides education to individuals from preschool to adult with developmental delays and disabilities, also incorporates lessons in vocational training and social skills for kids, teens and adults with disabilities, says Becca Green, director of marketing and communications at the school.

“Our gardens are outdoor classrooms, where students benefit from hands-on, multi-sensory learning,” she says.

“Gardening can benefit children at any age, at home or at school.”

Norma Simmons, horticulture and gardening instructor at ACCESS Schools, started the gardens about seven years ago because she says she was “very interested in what gardening can do for kids with disabilities.”

Students, beginning in preschool, have weekly garden lessons and learn many practical skills, including cause and effect and problem solving.

Math and science lessons are also incorporated with gardening to enhance understanding weather and parts of plants. Students learn basic plant care, propagation, container garden design, lawn care, landscaping and floral design, Green says.

“In addition, our program is engineered to teach vocational skills, such as taking inventory, following instructions and handling financial transactions,” she says. “Students with language and learning disabilities sometimes need more direct, hands-on instruction in academics and vocational training, and our gardens provide an ideal setting to do that.”

Simmons says she loves seeing how excited the kids get when they accomplish something in the garden.

“The kids really become attached to the program and look forward to it,” she says.

Most of the plants in ACCESS Gardens are donated. P. Allen Smith has even provided advice about the gardens, Green says. ACCESS Gardens also has semi-annual plant sales and the students help out in all aspects, including planning what to grow, pricing, keeping track of inventory and providing customer assistance.

The education provided through ACCESS Gardens helps students acquire valuable social skills and job skills. Several former ACCESS students have gone on to have careers in gardening, including starting lawn are businesses and jobs at Cantrell Gardens, Green says.

ACCESS Gardens Plant Sales

Plant sales at ACCESS Gardens feature many types of plants, flowers, hanging baskets, containers and the school’s special plant food. Sales are at the ACCESS Stella Boyle Smith Campus, 10618 Breckenridge Drive in Little Rock.

Spring Plant Sale April 12, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

April 13, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

30 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

Friday Plant Sales April 19 and 26, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

May 3, 17, 24 and 31, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Mother’s Day Weekend Sale May 10, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

May 11, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Quick-Fix Gardening

Many gardening newcomers take much care in planting, watering and tending their gardens, but may become impatient waiting for flowers to bloom and crops to harvest. To keep gardeners with short attention spans interested, Sherri Keesee, who is in charge of the school garden at Crystal Hill Elementary Magnet in the Pulaski County Special School District, suggests starting a garden with a mix of seeds and transplants. This is because seeds take so long to sprout, and transplants will provide quick results.

A place where children with learning differences and developmental disabilities can grow and develop in an environment tailored to meet their unique needs.

For a quick and easy gardening fix, Keesee offers these suggestions for what to plant.

Garden Salad: Mixed greens, spinach and Asian greens are easy to grow both in the ground and in raised beds, Keesee says. To harvest, simply tear off leaves and the plants continue to grow.

Vegetables: Keesee suggests individuals think of what else they would like in a garden salad and that’s what to plant. For example, onions, carrots, radishes, cucumbers and grape tomatoes are all easy to grow. Keesee says kids enjoy eating what they can pick, like tomatoes, but also enjoy harvesting root vegetables, like carrots.

Herbs: Mint, oregano and Italian parsley are easy to grow. Keesee says kids enjoy planting herbs because of their aroma and suggests explaining how herbs can be used in kids’ favorite foods, like oregano for pizza.

Flowers: Cosmos flowers and native Arkansas wildflowers are fast growers.

Pretty flowers are always enjoyable for kids, Keesee says.

Pumpkins: April is a great time to plant pumpkins to harvest in the fall, she says.

5 Reasons Kids Should Be Gardeners 1. They get outside, dig in the dirt and connect with nature.

2. They learn valuable life skills like responsibility, trial and error, and that actions have consequences.

3. They become healthy eaters because they see where food comes from and are willing to taste what they grow.

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If your child has been diagnosed with a development disorder: Autism, Asperger syndrome, PDD, Down syndrome, Apraxia or other language disorders, or sensory integration issues, contact us today for more information or to schedule an evaluation for your child.

4. They feel pride and get excited when they see results.

5. They acquire a lifelong hobby.

Savvy Kids assembled this list with the help of Beth Phelps, a master gardener and Pulaski County extension agent at the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, and, Laura Warren, a program agent for Smart Nutrition Active People-Education (SNAP-Ed), a program administered through the Cooperative Extension.

(501) 663-6965 • 1600 Riverfront Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas We work with a variety of private insurance providers as well as ARKids 1st, Medicaid, TEFRA and TRICARE. APRIL 2013 savvy kids

| 31

Building Bridges

By Erica Sweeney

Initiating conversation, writing thank-you letters and ordering food at restaurants are aspects of everyday socialization that many of us don’t think much about. For young people with autism, activities like these can be difficult, and many need therapies for help enhancing their social awareness and better understanding the world around them.

Children with autism “lack theory of mind,” meaning they are unable to view the world outside of themselves, and many have trouble understanding the emotions and thoughts of others, explains Lindsey McDaniel, a speech pathologist at Pathfinder Academy in Jacksonville.

Socialization falls under two categories of therapy: occupational and speech and language. At Pathfinder Academy, which has eight students around middle-school age, therapies emphasize what is socially acceptable, including taking turns, controlling emotions and problem solving. Students also use comic books to build an understanding of figurative language and humor, McDaniel says.

Since enrolling in Pathfinder Academy about a year ago, Susan Griffin says she has seen an “amazing difference” in her 12-year-old son, Jacob, and his ability to socialize. Jacob was diagnosed with autism at age 6, and previously attended public schools. He has always been “very intellectual” and likes to read “college-level” books, but he had trouble initiating conversation with others and making friends, she says.

“Jacob has learned to be more expressive and to keep his emotions in check,” Susan Griffin says. She says this year is the first time he has ever told her about his school day. He’s also made a new friend at school, 13-year-old Dakota Hodgdon.

Pathfinder students take field trips into the community to practice socialization activities, like ordering food at restaurants and shopping at Walmart. These trips give them lessons in personal space and initiating conversation. Students also host events at school for their families, where they learn to greet people and act as hosts, and afterwards, they send thank32 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

Dakota Hodgdon, 13, and Jacob Griffin, 12, (right) practice reading aloud and discussing their books.

Photos by Brian Chilson

Why Socialization for Kids with Autism Matters

you notes to guests, McDaniel says.

“Any extra exposure to the community, outside the structure of school, is beneficial,” McDaniel says.

Pathfinder Academy also has a therapy dog, named Sophie. She helps students learn responsibility because they help feed and bathe her. And, she has a calming effect, McDaniel says.

“It’s scary for these kids to initiate play with their peers,” she says. “Sophie helps them ease into the concept.”

The two classrooms at Pathfinder are arranged by developmental level, rather than grade. Nonverbal students use communication devices to work together and learn from one another. Students have their own email accounts and learn how to compose emails, with a greeting, body and conclusion, McDaniel says.

The ultimate goal of socialization for youth with autism is to help them to function independently in the community, and to one day, “be able to work and complete tasks,” McDaniel says. Pathfinder staff also educates parents and siblings on how to interact with kids with autism and improve their socialization outside of school.

Susan Griffin says one way her family has helped Jacob with socialization at home is to make sure he does his best to make eye contact with people when speaking to them. She says they have also worked to help him “slow down” when talking because he can get “upset with himself if he can’t think of the word.”

At home, Griffin says she has always let Jacob help out around the house with activities that he likes. Laundry is one of his favorites. She urges parents of kids with autism to set expectations and find something their child likes and “let them explore it until it can’t be explored anymore.”

“Don’t set limitations, because they are limitless,” she says.

Socialization at Home Lindsey McDaniel, a speech pathologist at Pathfinder Academy in Jacksonville, offers these tips for parents in helping children with autism understand what’s socially acceptable.

1. Be honest about which types of communication and interaction are (and, are not) socially acceptable. It is difficult for children with autism to understand loaded language that suggests what is and is not appropriate, so be direct.

2. Always model socially appropriate behavior. This helps children learn and adapt social communication. Create opportunities for children to interact with typically developing peers, so they can observe and apply appropriate social interactions.

3. Allow children to practice their social communication skills in the community by asking for assistance to find items in a grocery store, ordering in restaurants, inviting friends over for play dates and participating in team sports.

Jada Gantt, 13, and Brenna Berry, 12, work together using communication devices.

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BOOK OF THE MONTH

Courtesy of the Children’s Department at the William F. Laman Public Library in North Little Rock

Compost Stew: An A to Z recipe for the Earth

By Mary McKenna Siddals, Illustrated by Ashley Wolff This rhyming recipe book explains how to make the earth-friendly food, called compost. It explains what can and cannot be used for compost, so that the “stew” will turn into nice healthy dirt!

Game Changers

By Mike Lupica This is part of a new series about sports and friendship for fourth- to seventh-graders. The story focuses on a coach’s son, Shawn O’Brien, who is chosen to play quarterback. When his friend, 11-year-old Ben McBain tries to be a good teammate and help the inconsistent Shawn, he is surprised to learn that his new friend does not really want the position.

APP OF THE MONTH Big Cat Race

By GenZplay $0.99 Description: In this fitness app, kids can become a character in the game, as they race against lions, leopards or cheetahs, with music and animation. The race can be customized by level (easy, medium or hard) and by length of race (10 steps, 30 steps, 30 seconds and more). Kids can watch video replay and track their progress. Available on Android devices, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

The Four Seasons An Earth Day Interactive Children’s Story Book

By TabTale LTD Free Description: Kids can help save the planet and learn all about Mother Nature with this interactive story. Youngsters can grow trees, drink water with bunnies, help gardeners, clean parks, learn vocabulary and more. The app includes HD illustrations, animations, singalongs, and “read to me” and “read it myself” features. Available for Android devices, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

34 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

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May 28-31 Fun Welcoming Summer June 3-7 Water, Sun & Fun June 10-14 Soccer Camp June 17-21 Bridges & Parks June 24-28 Basketball Camp July 1-3, 5 Discovery & Exploration July 8-12 Sports and More Camp July 15-19 Fun with the Arts July 22-26 Easy Summer Fun July 29-Aug. 2 Museums of Arkansas Aug. 5-9 Summer Finale Fun

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Students living in the LRSD or PCSSD attendance zone may In the NLR school district, we’re looking forward to big things. Soon, we’ll be eligible to 1attend the Improvement North Little School District begin Phase of our Capital Plan.Rock What does that mean for you and your family?

New and services and equipment. through School Choice or improved M-to-Mfacilities, transfer.

Children who will It also meansofthat futures brighter than ever. be five years age onare orlooking before August 15, 2013, are eligible to attend kindergarten for the 2013-2014 school year.

Registration for the 2013-2014 school year begins January 28. Call or click today for more information!

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SAVVY ARTS

Something for Everyone at the

Arkansas Literary Festival

By Lisa Lakey

Come watch a play about “How the Leopard Got His Spots” and stay to find out whether or not you could survive the Zombie Apocalypse. This is just a fraction of what your family can experience at the 10th annual Arkansas Literary Festival, April 18-21.

“The festival is now the premier gathering of readers and writers in the state,” says Susan Hill Gelé, assistant director, public relations, for the Central Arkansas Library System. “I believe the biggest accomplishment of the Literary Festival is the opportunity for Arkansans to meet published writers and support the dreams of those Arkansans who want to write.”

All Day, Children’s Library – Artmobile Featuring the “Weird and Wonderful,” a selection of unique works of original art.

10 a.m., Children’s Library – “Just So Stories” with Arkansas Arts Center’s Tell a Tale Troupe Kids can enjoy a production of one of Rudyard Kipling’s best known works.

11 a.m., Children’s Library – Book Fiesta Featuring award-winning authors Carla Killough McClafferty, Darcy Pattison, Steven Teske, Duncan Tonatiuh and Rita Williams-Garcia.

11 a.m., Main Library, 3rd floor – The Kinders Brian and Terri Kinder perform their original, interactive children’s music.

12 p.m., Main Library, 3rd floor – Fancy Nancy Party Kids can dress up, make crowns, enjoy snacks and even have their picture taken at this fancy event.

36 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

1 p.m., Children’s Library – Even More Mora Visit with Pat Mora, acclaimed author of “A Birthday Basket for Tia.” 1 p.m., Main Library, 3rd floor – Superhero Activity Afternoon Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite superhero and enjoy crafts that include cape building and mask making.

2:30 p.m., Children’s Library – Shakespeare Asian Fusion Introduce your child to Shakespeare with the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre’s presentation of the Bard’s scenes performed with an Asian flair.

Teen Events, aka ComiCALS: All teen events take place on the 4th floor of the Main Library, except for the Zombie Survival Activity

The festival also supports Arkansans who just love to read, regardless of age.

Children can visit with some of their favorite authors at the Book Fiesta and teens can pick the brains of authors and illustrators at Spine Shuffle.

From Superheroes and Shakespeare to Light Sabers and Zombies, you’ll find something for the whole family at the festival.

All events for kids and teens are free and take place on Saturday, April 20, at either the Children’s Library at 4800 W. 10th St. or the Main Library at 100 Rock Street, both in Little Rock.

10 a.m. – Right2Write Heather Sutherlin, author of “A Light in the Darkness,” helps teens organize ideas and provides steps to improve their writing.

11 a.m. – Spine Shuffle From ghosts to zombies in Camelot, teens will enjoy presentations from several authors and illustrators.

1 p.m. – Light Saber Combat Learn how to wield a light saber and use your skills in combat.

2 p.m. – Cosplay (costume play) competition Come dressed as a character from your favorite anime, manga, video game or comic book.

3 p.m. – Video Game Tournament Prize for the top winner at “Super Smash Bros. Brawl.”

4 p.m. – Ask an Artist: Graphic Novel Drawing With festival illustrator Dusty Higgins.

Cover to Cover: Understanding Comics – Learn about the ins and outs of comic books during this discussion panel.

Zombie Transformations – Become one of the undead to prep yourself for the Zombie Survival Activity.

5 p.m., Main Library Garden – Zombie Survival Activity Will you survive the Zombie Apocalypse?

Collect survival goods and try to make your way to safety without becoming one of the undead.

For more information about the Arkansas Literary Festival or for a full schedule of events, visit ArkansasLiteraryFestival.org.

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Water WiSelY through the laWn and garden SeaSon Central arkansas Water is partnering with the university of arkansas research and extension Service to assist consumers with tips to save money by reducing outdoor water consumption through the Sprinkler Smart Program. households in Pulaski County can learn how to adjust their sprinkler system properly, the best times and how much to water, and what type of landscaping is best to reduce water use for their yards. to learn more about the Sprinkler Smart Program, visit carkw.com or contact your county extension agent, Mark Brown, at 501.340.6650 or mbrown@uaex.edu.

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POP TOPICS

Nobody told me this stuff:

The Art of Communication

By Robert Bell Illustration by Bryan Moats So the trickle of words flowing out of my young’un’s mouth these last few months has steadily increased to the point where it is now a near-constant geyser of verbiage that overpowers anything anyone is talking about or listening to. Which is fine. Most of the stuff we say or try to listen to on the radio while cooking dinner or whatever isn’t really that important anyway. In fact, I’d rather hear him saying “Mama-mama-mama-mama-mama” off and on for 15 minutes than listen to whatever financial development it is that Kai Ryssdal is cogently discussing on “Marketplace.”

That’s not a knock against “Marketplace.” It’s just that my son’s vocabulary is expanding at what must surely be an exponential rate and it is very interesting to me. He absorbs new words and ideas and spits them back out at us pretty accurately, interspersing these recent acquisitions with old favorites. Sure, there’s still plenty of genuine frontier baby gibberish in the mix, but by and large he’s grasping things really quickly and it’s a lot of fun.

Naturally, I attribute some of this to the genetic advantage of having super-geniuses for parents. But also, we started going over sign language with him at a very early age, on the advice of my brother- and sister-in-law. It was a good move, because it seems to have established the idea for him that he can communicate things to us. So much of the frustration of being an almost-toddler has to be rooted in trying to get your parents to understand something and not being able to. So if you have the basics down — “more,” “I’m all done,” “help me,” “I need a new diaper,” “pick me up” and so forth — the better off you’ll all be.

He’s also laughing at way more stuff. He’s always liked dogs (or as they’re known in sign language: sticking your tongue out and panting). But lately?

Dogs are hilarious. Hilarious. Just seeing one will set him off. We were taking a walk the other day at Knoop Park and he saw a woman with her black lab and just lost it, pointing and squealing and generally expressing astonishment that there could be so many of these funny animals everywhere. I can picture the little gears turning in his head: “Man, look at that goofy thing! What 38 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

is up with that? That is a riot!”

On the other hand, there are some terms he’s picked up that I don’t know where he got them. He went to visit his grandparents for a week and at some point he began informing them when he was going to have a BM. The first time he announced this was when they were eating at a restaurant. They’d let him walk around the table a bit, as is his wont during mealtime. Then he walked up to my mother-in-law, looked up at her and said, “poopy,” while pointing at his posterior. Sure enough. Honestly, I have no idea where he learned that one. My in-laws were half amazed and half mortified, but you know what? Sometimes you’ve just got to communicate these things.

Avoiding the Academic

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June 10 - 21 9 am - 1 pm Cloverdale Magnet Middle School For Cloverdale rising 7-8th graders

ESL Summer School Camp Can Do

June 13 - July 21 9 am - 1 pm Western Hills Elementary For K-5 English Language Learners

Math Journeys Summer School

June 12 - July 3 8:45 am – 1:00 pm M. L. King Jr. Elementary School Registration preference given to basic and below basic rising 6th graders

“Summer Slide”

Keep them Reading

30 minutes a day

Practice Math Skills

Go to lrsd.org for more information about these and other summer programs.

Children can lose 25% of their literacy skills over the Summer. Encourage your child to read daily. Most public libraries offer free summer reading programs to card holders.

Math proficiency can get lost in the summer shuffle, too. Find ways to add math to daily activities. Let your teen set a budget, calculate fuel needs or figure the distance between destinations when traveling.

Set aside 30 minutes a day for reading, math worksheets, crossword puzzles or brain teasers. Doing these activities as a family makes learning fun.

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Donchawannago Summer vacation will be here before we know it, and now is a good to start planning activities for the kids. Savvy Kids has

compiled a list of some awesome summer camps, including academic, sports, arts, history, science and more.

4-H Center Weeklong Camp 1 Four-H Way Little Rock (501) 821-4444 www.arkansas4hcenter.org Want to spend a whole week at camp? This is the camp for you. 2013 Theme: 4-H Fun & Fit. Activities include swimming, basketball, volleyball, canoeing and learning the best ways to stay healthy for life.

Ages: 10 to 13 Dates: June 23-29 Cost: $390

culminating with Play & Display where budding artists show off the work they have created and, as young thespians, they perform original short plays based on the theme of the Academy. This year’s theme is “Amazing Artists.”

Ages: 6 to 9 Dates & Times: June 10-21 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: $396 for members $495 for nonmembers scholarships are available

a taste of college with this fun, interactive camp. Taught by college instructors, classes include dance, acting, playwriting, digital photography, writing, silk-screening, video game design, puppetry, life of Billie Holiday and digital media.

Ages: 11 to 18 Dates & Times: June 17-28 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: $50 nonrefundable deposit $100 per half-day session sibling discounts available

Arkansas Arts Center Summer Theatre Academy 501 E. Ninth St. Little Rock (501) 372-4000 www.arkarts.com This is a six-week audition-only theatre training program where students learn theater performing techniques under the direction of skilled theater professionals from across the United States. Auditions are at 5 p.m. on March 9, April 13 and May 11.

Ages: 10 to 18 Dates & Times: June 24-Aug. 2 Cost: 6-week: $750 for nonmembers, $700 for members; 3-week: $450 for nonmembers, $400 for members

Ballet Arkansas Summer Intensive 1521 Merrill Drive Little Rock (501) 223-5150 www.balletarkansas.org Students will have a placement class the first day of each week to determine skill level and proper class placement for the week.

Ages: 9 to 18+ Dates & Times: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Session 1 – June 17-21 Session 2 – June 24-28 Cost: $325 per session; $550 for both sessions

4-H Center Junior 3-Day Camp 1 Four-H Way Little Rock (501) 821-4444 www.arkansas4hcenter.org Join 4-H members from around the state in this 3-day camp. 2013 Theme: Express Yourself. Create comics, take photos, make videos, create music and so much more!

Campfire and swimming are part of the fun.

Ages: 9 to 12 Dates: Session I - July 8-10 Session II - July 15-17 Cost: $165 4-H Center Adventure & Challenge Camp 1 Four-H Way Little Rock (501) 821-4444 www.arkansas4hcenter.org Team up with 4-H teens, from around the state, to conquer challenges. Complete our award winning ExCEL Leadership program, which includes a ropes course. Swimming, campfire and other camp activities also included.

Ages: 13 to 15 Dates: Session I - July 8-10 Session II - July 15-17 Cost: $165 4-H Center Cloverbud Camp 1 Four-H Way Little Rock (501) 821-4444 www.arkansas4hcenter.org Join other 4-H families for this 2-day camp.

40 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

2013 Theme: Express Yourself. Express yourself by taking pictures, making your own video, creating your own music and so much more. Campfire, swimming, and Camp Olympics are also included.

Ages: 5 to 9, with adult/parent guardian Dates: July 5-6 Cost: $110 per child and adult 4-H Center High Adventure Trip 1 Four-H Way Little Rock (501) 821-4444 www.arkansas4hcenter.org Experience places many people never see on our backpacking trip to Pecos Wilderness, New Mexico. Beautiful scenery, wonderful leadership and teambuilding experience. Required training sessions: March 2 and April 5-7 at the Arkansas 4-H Center.

Ages: 13 to 19 4-H Adult advisors Dates: July 28-Aug. 4 Cost: $600 Agape Academy Summer Program 701 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock (501) 225-0068 www.agapeacademyonline.org This program includes field trips, reading activities and grade level review.

Ages: age 2 ½ to grade 6 Dates & Times: June 3-Aug. 2 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday Cost: $150 Registration $125 per week include fall planting, games, and “green” crafts. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Dates & Times: June 24-26 9 a.m. to noon Ages: 8 to 12 Cost: $40 Arkansas Arts Center Junior Arts Academy 501 E. Ninth St. Little Rock (501) 372-4000 www.arkarts.com This annual summer program provides both visual and theatrical arts instruction,

Arkansas Golf Center Junior Golf Camp 5150 John W. Allison Road Conway (501) 327-0171 www.arkansasgolfcenter.com Students will learn golf swing mechanics, basic golf rules, golf course etiquette and sportsmanship. Each day, students will play for prizes, and the last day of camp is the Golf Skillz Challenge Tournament, where they can win grand prizes.

Dates & Times: June 10-13 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Cost: $125 Arkansas Teen College at Pulaski Technical College 3000 West Scenic Drive North Little Rock (501) 812-2338 www.pulaskitech.edu Middle and high school students can get

Ballet Arkansas Dance Camp 1521 Merrill Drive Little Rock (501) 223-5150 www.balletarkansas.org This is a week long, half-day comprehensive dance training.

Ages: 5 to 8 Dates & Times: June 24 to 28; Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Cost: $150 Basketball Camp, Little Rock Athletic Club 4610 Sam Peck Road Little Rock (501) 225-3601, ext. 335. www.larac.com Learn the basics of basketball, or sharpen your skills.

Ages: 3 to 12 Dates & Times: June 24-28

Continued on page 42

Over 50 Years of

Caring

THE ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER CHILDRENʼS THEATRE PRESENTS

TALE OF GIANT PROPORTIONS!

APRIL 26 – MAY 12

The Pediatric Clinic, P.A. of North Little Rock Accepting New Patients Birth Through Adolescence Most Insurance Accepted Lourie Battles, MD • Robert Choate, MD • Kim Clinton, MD Matthew Hadley, APN, PhD • Kim Hurlbut, MD • Stephen Fiedorek, MD Eric Fraser, MD • Gary Fowler, APN Bishawn Morris, MD JoAnne Wilson, APN • Tina Jones, MD • Nicole Turner, APN

s escapes the clutches of his horrible Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker when he finds an en ormous peach growing in his yard. James, th old-Green-Grasshopper and th e wise e pessimistic Earthworm begin a wild adve nture to an unknown destination.

Adapted by David Wood from the book by Roald Dahl

Pay What You Can – Friday, May 3rd Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on the day of the performance and must be purchased at the AAC Box Office.

Limit 6 per family. Seating is limited.

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EVALUATION & RESOURCE CENTER · SPEECH, PHYSICAL & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY · ACADEMIC THERAPY · PRESCHOOL · ACADEMY · YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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Continued from page 40 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: Weekly rates: $140-$195 Daily rates: $34-$45 Camp Subiaco 405 N. Subiaco Ave. Subiaco, AR (479) 934-1001 www.campsubiaco.org Subiaco alumni, monks and students assist in the camp as counselors and venue specialists.

Camp Subiaco includes fishing, riflery, gokarts, tubing, sports, swimming, canoeing and more.

Ages: 9 to 13, boys only Dates: June 16-22 and June 23-29 Cost: $425 per week Clinton Presidential Center Culinary Camps 1200 President Clinton Ave. Little Rock (501) 748-0454 www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org Clinton Center Executive Chef and Arkansas Iron Chef Stephen Burrow, along with the culinary staff at the Clinton Center, will lead this exciting and educational day camp. Students will receive hands-on training, make their own nutritious lunches and snacks and learn special tips from distinguished speakers in the culinary field.

To wrap up the camp experience, campers will host a special reception for family members and guests to showcase their new culinary skills. First-year students will earn their chef’s jackets and culinary tools at graduation. Second and third-year students will earn culinary tool sets at graduation. Space is limited.

Dates & Times: June 17-21 – 3rd year students June 24-28 – 2nd year students July 8 -12 – 1st year students July 15-19– 1st year students All are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $175 for Clinton Center members $200 for non-members.

College Boot Camp 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock (501) 975-3441 www.littlerockchristian.com This is a two-and-a-half day workshop designed to help rising seniors from area high schools and homeschools prepare their college applications during the summer, so they are ready to submit in early fall. Students will complete applications, write and polish their resumes, experience mock interviews with college professionals, create and edit their admission and scholarship essays, set up scholarship searches, write an elevator speech, and confer with college admissions reps through individual questions and panel discussions. CBC allows rising seniors to take charge of their futures and maximize the opportunities of senior year. Details for getting great recommendations and completing the 42 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

FAFSA, etc., will also be covered. Camp is led by Carla Kenyon and held at Little Rock Christian Academy.

Ages: Rising seniors Dates: June 25-27 July 9-11 July 23-25 Cost: $295 per session Football University Camp www.footballuniversity.org/littlerock This national invitation-only camp provides elite training for the next generation of superstar athletes. The Camp will be held at Little Rock Central High, 1500 S. Park St. Ages: Grades 6 to 12 Dates: May 31 to June 2 Cost: $625 Grande Maumelle Sailing Club Camps 12000 Maumelle Harbour Road Roland Email: marcellameyer@att.net www.gmsc.org The youth Learn to Sail camps are for beginners and intermediate sailors.

Ages: 7 and up; must be able to swim in deep water Dates: Session 1 – June 10-14 Session 2 – June 17-21 Cost: $120 for club members; $160 for nonmembers IronKids Camps, Little Rock Athletic Club 4610 Sam Peck Road Little Rock (501) 225-3601 ext. 335. www.larac.com Make plans for a summer of health, fitness and fun. Camps include field trips and activities like swimming, crafts, tumbling, music and more.

Ages: 6 to 12 Dates & Times: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

May 28-31 – Fun Welcoming Summer June 3-7 – Water, Sun and Fun June 10-14 – Soccer Camp June 17-21 – Bridges and Parks June 24-28 – Basketball Camp July 1-3 & 5 – Discovery and Exploration July 8-12 – Sports and More Camp July 15-19 – Fun with the Arts July 22-26 – Easy Summer Fun July 29-Aug. 2 – Museums of Arkansas Aug. 5-9 – Summer Finale Fun Cost: $160, Kid’s Club $175, members $195, nonmembers Kids@First (First United Methodist Church) Experience the Rock 723 Center St. Little Rock (501) 372-2256 www.fumclr.org This interactive and adventurous camp is designed to broaden your perspective of Little Rock.

Ages: Grades 5 to 6 Dates: June 10-13 Cost: $10 Kids@First (First United Methodist Church) M.A.D.D. – Music, Art,

Drama & Dancing Camp 723 Center St. Little Rock (501) 372-2256 www.fumclr.org Learn the music, master the choreography, create the props and practice lines for a Friday night musical. Register online.

Ages: Grades 2 to 6 Dates: June 24-28 Cost: $10 Kids@First (First United Methodist Church) Vacation Bible School and Fitness Camp 723 Center St. Little Rock (501) 372-2256 www.fumclr.org In the mornings, Vacation Bible School will “Turn it Up,” followed by afternoons filled with a fun fitness camp. Register online.

Ages: 4 years to 6th grade Dates: June 17-20 Cost: $10 Lil’ Joey Camps, Little Rock Athletic Club 4610 Sam Peck Road Little Rock (501) 225-3601 ext. 335. www.larac.com Make plans for a summer of health, fitness and fun. Camps include field trips and activities like swimming, crafts, tumbling, music and more.

Ages: 3 to 5 Dates & Times: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

May 28-31 – Fun Welcoming Summer June 3-7 – Water, Sun and Fun June 10-14 – Soccer Camp June 17-21 – Bridges and Parks June 24-28 – Basketball Camp July 1-3 & 5 – Discovery and Exploration July 8-12 – Sports and More Camp July 15-19 – Fun with the Arts July 22-26 – Easy Summer Fun July 29-Aug. 2 – Museums of Arkansas Aug. 5-9 – Summer Finale Fun Cost: $140, Kid’s Club $155, members $175, nonmembers Little Rock Christian Academy Kanakuk Kamp Out 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock (501) 868-9822 www.littlerockchristian.com This is a nondenominational Christian camp offers a vast range of traditional Kanakuk activities such as water slides, climbing walls, zip lines, crafts, octaball, dodge ball, 4 square, field games, relays, archery and team sports. The daily schedule will include skits and devotionals, and a K-Life worship time wraps up the day!

Ages: Grades 1 to 6 Dates: June 3-7 Cost: $225 Little Rock Christian Academy Elementary Summer Camp Classes 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock (501) 868-9822 www.littlerockchristian.com LRCA instructors and staff are offering

classes, such as Marvelous Math, Kindermusik, Becoming Ladies and Gentlemen, A Little Bit of Show Biz, Reading Resort, Space Camp, Science Explosion and much more!

Ages: Elementary school Dates: June 10-13 Cost: $120 Little Rock Christian Academy Warrior Baseball Camp 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock (501) 868-9822 www.littlerockchristian.com Camp is held at the Warrior Baseball Field.

Dates & Locations: July 1-3 9 a.m. to noon Ages: Grades 1 to 8 Costs: $90 Little Rock Christian Academy Warrior Basketball Camps 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock (501) 868-9822 www.littlerockchristian.com Camps are held in the high school gym.

Dates & Locations: Camp 1 – Girls Basketball (Grades 4-7): May 28-30 Noon to 3 p.m.

Camp 2 – Boys/Girls Lil Warriors (Grades 1-3): July 15-18 9 a.m. to noon Camp 3 – Boys Basketball (Grades 4-7): July 15-18 1 to 4 p.m.

Costs: Camp 1 is $90 Camps 2 and 3 are $100 Little Rock Christian Academy Warrior Football Camp 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock (501) 868-9822 www.littlerockchristian.com Camp is led by Warrior Football Head Coach Jeff Weaver. Location is at Warrior Field.

Dates & Locations: July 1-3 9 a.m. to noon Ages: Grades 1 to 8 Costs: $90 Little Rock Christian Academy Warrior Soccer Camp 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock (501) 868-9822 www.littlerockchristian.com Camp is held at Warrior Field.

Dates & Locations: May 29-31 9 a.m. to noon Ages: Grades 1 to 6 (boys and girls) Costs: $90 Little Rock Christian Academy Warrior Tennis Camps 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock (501) 868-9822 www.littlerockchristian.com Tennis camps are for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Camp is led by Warrior Head Tennis Coach Cindy Lucas. Held at Pleasant Valley Country Club

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College Boot Camp

10th Annual

A 2-1/2 day program designed to help rising seniors ready their college applications • Admissions/Scholarship Essays and Resumés Written & Edited • Interview Skills/Practice/Feedback • Q&A with College Reps • College Applications Completed!

Three Sessions Available June 25-27 • July 9-11 July 23-25

TEENS ONLY!

Brochures and Registration forms at www.LittleRockChristian.com

Space Is Limited, Enroll Today!

Call Carla at (501) 975-3441 or Email Carla.Kenyon@LittleRockChristian.com

Held at Little Rock Christian Academy • 19010 Cantrell Road

This is the summer for Great Golf!

2013 Junior Golf Camp • Ages 6-16 June 10-13 • 9-11:30am Cost $125 • Register today!

Sign up now online, click Junior Golf on our site A GREAT SPOT FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES! Parties of 5 to 30 Call Today For Pricing!

5150 John W. Allison Road, Conway • (501) 327-0171 www.arkansasgolfcenter.com

501-791-3100 Birthday Parties Corporate Events Schools & Daycares Marketing & More!

www.frostytreats.com C r a t e r o f D i a m o n d s St a t e Pa r k

f r i e n d r eq ues t acce p t e d Reconnect at one of Arkansas’s 52 state parks.

SCAN FOR INFO

888-AT-PARKS • ArkansasStateParks.com APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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Continued from page 42 in Little Rock.

Dates & Locations: Beginners – June 10-13 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Grades K-6) Beginners – July 15-18 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Grades K-6) Intermediate and Advanced – June 10-13 1 to 2:30 p.m. (Grades 7-12) Intermediate and Advanced – July 15-18 1 to 2:30 p.m. (Grades 7-12) Costs: $100 Little Rock Christian Academy Warrior Volleyball Camp 19010 Cantrell Road Little Rock (501) 868-9822 www.littlerockchristian.com Camp is held at the Warrior Gym. Dates & Locations: June 10-12 9 a.m. to noon Grades: 5-8 Costs: $90 Little Rock Lacrosse Youth Summer Camp I www.littlerocklacrosse.com email: littlerocklacrosse@gmail.com This camp is open to boy and girl players of all abilities, from those just trying out the sport for the first time to those that have been playing for a while. Players will learn the fundamentals of lacrosse from passing and catching to game strategy and everything in between, while having fun! Players will be coached by U.S. Lacrosse certified coaches, as well as NCAA coaches with many years of experience coaching youth.

Location: Fellowship Bible Church Fields in Little Rock Ages: Entering grades 3 to 6 Dates & Times: June 3-6 8 to 11 a.m.

Cost: $100 Little Rock Lacrosse Youth Summer Camp II www.littlerocklacrosse.com email: littlerocklacrosse@gmail.com This camp is open to boy and girl players of all abilities, from those just trying out the sport for the first time to those that have been playing for a while. Players will learn the fundamentals of lacrosse from passing and catching to game strategy and everything in between, while having fun! Players will be coached by U.S. Lacrosse certified coaches, as well as NCAA coaches with many years of experience coaching youth.

Location: Fellowship Bible Church Fields in Little Rock Ages: Entering grades 7 to 12 Dates & Times: June 17-20 8 to 11 a.m.

Cost: $100 Museum of Discovery – Monday Discovery Camps 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 Little Rock 44 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

(501) 396-7050 www.museumofdiscovery.org These camps are a great way to introduce your little one to camp and get their hands on science in a safe setting. Camp is led by Lennie Dusek, who teaches Wiggle Worms each week at the museum.

Ages: 4 to 6 Dates & Times: 9 a.m. to noon June 10 – World Safari June 17 – Superheroes June 24 – Kitchen Chemistry July 8 – Tinkering Academy July 15 – Bright Lights, Big Scientist!

July 22 – Bubbleology July 29 – Electricity!

Cost: $30 per session for members $35 per session for nonmembers Museum of Discovery – Planet WOW! and Space Camp (full day or half day) 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 Little Rock (501) 396-7050 www.museumofdiscovery.org Explore the planet’s different ecosystems, learn how to help protect the environment and meet live animals at Planet WOW! Discover different planets, learn about gravity and avoid asteroids at Space Camp. These sessions are offered as halfday options, but campers are encouraged to attend both sessions during the day.

Dates & Times: June 10-14 Planet WOW! – 8 a.m. to noon Space Camp – 1 to 5 p.m.

Cost: All-day sessions: $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers Half-Day Sessions: $125 for members, $150 for nonmembers Museum of Discovery – Superheroes and Toy Master (full day or half day) 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 Little Rock (501) 396-7050 www.museumofdiscovery.org Learn the physics behind superpowers and create your own superhero to star in a movie or comic strip at Superheroes. Take apart a robot and invent a new toy at Toy Master.

These sessions are offered as half-day options, but campers are encouraged to attend both sessions during the day.

Dates & Times: June 17-21 Superheroes – 8 a.m. to noon Toy Master – 1 to 5 p.m.

Cost: All-day sessions: $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers Half-Day Sessions: $125 for members, $150 for nonmembers Museum of Discovery – Lights, Camera, Action! (full day or half day) 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 Little Rock (501) 396-7050 www.museumofdiscovery.org Learn the science behind what it takes to bring home the Oscar, create special effects, and make commercials, music videos and movies. Camps are offered as full day, but half days are available.

Dates & Times: June 24-28 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: All-day sessions: $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers Half-Day Sessions: $125 for members, $150 for nonmembers

Museum of Discovery – Spy Kids (full day or half day) 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 Little Rock (501) 396-7050 www.museumofdiscovery.org Help solve mysteries, decode messages, fingerprint and search for clues. Camps are offered as full day, but half days are available.

Dates & Times: July 8-12 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: All-day sessions: $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers Half-Day Sessions: $125 for members, $150 for nonmembers Museum of Discovery – Tinkering Academy (full day or half day) 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 Little Rock (501) 396-7050 www.museumofdiscovery.org Learn to use tools like hammers, drills, saws and glue guns and, take apart, modify and build like a tinkering pro! Camps are offered as full day, but half days are available.

Dates & Times: July 15-19 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: All-day sessions: $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers Half-Day Sessions: $125 for members, $150 for nonmembers Museum of Discovery – Rockets, Robots and Slime, OH MY! (full day or half day) 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 Little Rock (501) 396-7050 www.museumofdiscovery.org This camp focuses on physics, chemistry and technology. Launch rockets, make slime and program robots. Camps are offered as full day, but half days are available.

Dates & Times: July 22-26 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: All-day sessions: $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers Half-Day Sessions: $125 for members, $150 for nonmembers Museum of Discovery – Science Sampler Week (full day or half day) 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 Little Rock (501) 396-7050 www.museumofdiscovery.org Monday is Electrify Sci; learn elements of electricity. Next is Tinkering Tuesday. Wednesday is Nano Tech; find out how things so tiny can make materials stronger.

Thursday is World Safari, featuring live animals. Friday is Kitchen Chemistry; learn the science behind cooking. Camps are offered as full day, but half days are available.

Dates & Times: July 29-Aug. 2 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: All-day sessions: $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers Half-Day Sessions: $125 for members, $150 for nonmembers

Old State House Museum Summer Fun Program 2013 300 West Markham Little Rock (501) 324-9685 www.oldstatehouse.com Participants will meet a variety of characters representing both the military and home-front sides of the Civil War. Lessons will include handson activities. Military topics include medicine, life of a soldier (drill, gear, firearms, food, different branches of the military), battle flags, music, Army laundress espionage and secret code, and cooking. Home-front topics include letter writing, dancing, games, cotton/ knitting and cooking.

Ages: Grades 4 to 10 (rising) Dates & Times: July 22-26 8 a.m. to noon, daily Cost: $75 Pinnacle Mountain State Park Nature Explorers Day 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road, Little Rock (501) 868-5806 www.arkansasstateparks.com This “nature detective” camp includes hikes, visiting with live animals, nature programs, and more!

Ages: 7 to 10 Dates & Times: June 11-14 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

July 9-12 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: $75 Pinnacle Mountain State Park Wilderness Explorers Day Camp I 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road, Little Rock (501) 868-5806 www.arkansasstateparks.com Older children will enjoy this chance to explore the wilderness at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Activities may include canoe/kayak floats, extensive hiking, and survival skills.

Ages: 11 to 13 Dates & Times: June 18-21 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

July 16-19 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: $75 Pioneer Day Camp, Historic Arkansas Museum 200 E. Third Little Rock (501) 324-9351 www.historicarkansas.org Pioneer Day Camp is a great way for kids to have a fun and educational summer experience, with hands-on activities that help explore Arkansas’s past.

Ages: Grades 3 to 6 Dates & Times: 8 a.m. to noon June 10-14 for rising 3rd-4th graders June 17-21 for rising 5th-6th graders Cost: $85 or $65 for museum members Razorback Football Senior High Camp Practice field, the Pat Walker Pavilion

Continued on page 46

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Please contact contact your your rep rep with with approval approval or or changes: Please changes: Jennifer 590-2236 590-2236   Laura Laura 590-9140 590-9140   Ronda Ronda 590-3340 Jennifer 590-3340 Sabra 590-6992 or fax changes to 501-975-6780 Sabra 590-6992 or fax changes to 501-975-6780

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Continued from page 44 and Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville www.razorbacksfootballcamps.com Campers will enhance their football skills, and learn other valuable life skills like teamwork, attitude, discipline, pride and hard work.

Ages: Entering grades 9 to 12 Dates: June 9-11 Cost: Overnight campers, $315; commuters, $265 Razorback Football Youth Camp Practice field, the Pat Walker Pavilion and Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville www.razorbacksfootballcamps.com Campers will enhance their football skills, and learn other valuable life skills like teamwork, attitude, discipline, pride and hard work. Youth campers will not wear helmets and shoulder pads.

Ages: Entering grades 1 to 4 Dates: June 8 Cost: $50 Razorback Football Junior High Camp Practice field, the Pat Walker Pavilion and Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville www.razorbacksfootballcamps.com Campers will enhance their football skills, and learn other valuable life skills like teamwork, attitude, discipline, pride and

hard work. Junior high campers will not wear helmets and shoulder pads.

Ages: Entering grades 5 to 8 Dates: June 13-14 Cost: Overnight campers, $225; commuters, $175 Razorback Football Specialist Camp (Kickers, Punters, Long Snappers) Practice field, the Pat Walker Pavilion and Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville www.razorbacksfootballcamps.com Campers will enhance their football skills, and learn other valuable life skills like teamwork, attitude, discipline, pride and hard work.

Ages: Entering grades 6 to 12 Dates: June 15 Cost: $85 Soccer Camp, Little Rock Athletic Club 4610 Sam Peck Road Little Rock (501) 225-3601, ext. 335. www.larac.com Receive instruction in fundamentals, team play and will have plenty of scrimmage time.

Ages: 3 to 12 Dates & Times: June 10-14 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: Weekly rates: $140-$195 Daily rates: $34-$45 Sports and More Camp, Little Rock Athletic Club

Touchdown Training Football University is a three-day camp that provides “elite” training to the next generation of athletic superstars, says Joe Bouffard, director of the camp division.

The goal of the camp is to identify serious athletes and provide them with “elite” training, he says. The camp is also a good way to determine how players compare state by state, and which may be put on a “path to national exposure,” he explains.

For the second time, the camp is coming to Little Rock this spring. It will be May 31 to June 2 at Little Rock Central High School. The camp is limited to 200 participants, to maintain a 15:1 ratio of coach to student, Bouffard says.

All camp coaches have professional experience, either as a player or coach in the NFL, he says.

Open to players in grades 6 to 12, the camp is invitation only. Bouffard explains that there are three ways that individuals can participate in the camp. Camp alumni are always welcome, and regional scouts may invite players to the camp. Individuals may also nominate themselves or others through an online form.

Scouts then conduct phone interviews to determine nominees’ experience and goals, Bouffard says.

46 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

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4610 Sam Peck Road Little Rock (501) 225-3601, ext. 335. www.larac.com Camp includes soccer, relays, basketball, swimming, tennis, sand volleyball and more.

Ages: 3 to 12 Dates & Times: July 8-12 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: Weekly rates: $140-$195 Daily rates: $34-$45 Summer Adventures at The Anthony School 7700 Ohio St. Little Rock (501) 225-6629 www.anthonyschool.org A variety of week-long camps that feature science, math, foreign languages, art, sports and fun.

Ages: PreK3 to 8th grade Dates: TBA see website for more details Cost: see website Summer at the Academy (Pulaski Academy) 12701 Hinson Road Little Rock (501) 604-1907 www.pulaskiacademy.org This program provides students with an opportunity to grow intellectually, physically, creatively and socially.

Classes are taught by Pulaski Academy teachers, coaches, and experts from all

around the greater Little Rock area. The program includes academic enrichment, creative arts classes, sports camps, and our day camp.

Ages: Preschool to high school Dates: June 4-July 20 Cost: $30 per day, additional weekly classes available Thea Foundation 401 Main St. North Little Rock (501) 379-9512 www.theafoundation.org This is the third installment of Thea’s Art Class, a summer art camp designed to utilize arts-infused education. Each day, students will travel to a different historical time period and learn about its related art movement. By way of creative, hands-on teaching, students will be immersed in the life and culture of the places they travel in order to have a better understanding of the art movements. Class limit is 15 students.

Registration opens May 1. The deadline to register online is Wednesday, July 3.

Dates: Session I – July 8-11, 15-18 Students entering grades 3-6: 9 to 11 a.m.

Students entering grades 7-9: 2 to 4 p.m.

Session II – July 22-25, July 29-August 1 Students entering grades 3-6: 9 to 11 a.m.

Students entering grades 7-9: 2 to 4 p.m.

Cost: $100 for a total of eight classes.

Wildwood Park for the Arts -

Continued on page 52

A major component of camp curricula is teamwork, which is particularly important in football, Bouffard says. “Football is the ultimate team sport. You need all 11 guys to effectively do the job,” he says.

Other topics include rules for success, leadership, nutrition and, of course, football training. Bouffard encourages parents to attend the practices and says there are even seminars geared toward them. Practices are also filmed so that coaches can offer the ultimate teaching experience, he says.

The camp was founded by All American Games, creators and producers of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Bouffard says.

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The cost of the camp is $625, which includes 18 hours of instruction, he says.

Along with the camp is a free coaches’ clinic. For more information about Football University in Little Rock, or to nominate someone for the camp, visit www.footballuniversity.org/littlerock.

Therapeutic Recreation

Arts Festival Adventure AwAits!

Friday, May 3, 2013 Clear Channel Metroplex Colonel Glenn & Interstate 430 10am – 1pm

FREE

Hands On Activity Booths

Make It & Take It Crafts

Inflatable Slide

Magician

26ft. Climbing Wall

Dance Contest

Plus Many More Activities!

Food, Drink & Festival T-Shirts Will Be On Sale!

Get Involved!

Become a sponsor or provide a booth!

Helping to enrich the quality of life for people with disabilities by encouraging creativity through the arts.

For more information call 501-570-1131 or email SShinn@littlerock.org

Sick of Soccer? Bored With Baseball?

It's Time for Lacrosse Camp!

Camps are open to both boys and girls.

June 3-6 (for entering 3-6 graders) June 17-20 (for entering 7-12 graders) 8-11am Fellowship Bible Church Fields th

th

Register Online: Littlerocklacrosse.com Or Call (919) 889-3557

VBS Day Camp June 10 - 14 9am – Noon Online Registration Begins April 1st For Kids Going Into Kindergarten Through The 6th Grade

Challenging kids to face their fears and trust God as they zip along the roller coaster of life. Through every twist, turn and dive kids will learn that God has not given them a spirit of fearfulness, but a spirit of power, love, and sound judgement.

First Baptist ChurCh LittLe Rock

62 Pleasant Valley Drive | Little Rock | 501-227- 0010 www.firstlittlerock.com APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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SAVVY CALENDAR + SPECIAL NEEDS

April LDAA Meeting April 1: Dr. Tiffany Atkins Howell, pediatric psychology fellow at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, will present Dyslexia: Treatment and Resources at the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas meeting. Event time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Event place: Adolphine Fletcher Terry Library (2015 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock). The event is free.

For more information visit, www. ldarkansas.org.

William F. Laman Public Library Storytimes April 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24 & 29-30: Stories and crafts for kids ages 3-5. Event time: Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. Location: Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. For details, visit www.lamanlibrary.org.

Grossology at M.O.D. April 1-30: Explore why your body produces mushy, oozy, crusty, scaly and stinky gunk at Grossology. The (impolite) Science of the Human Body during its appearance at the Museum of Discovery.

Based on the best-selling book “Grossology,” this imaginative exhibit uses sophisticated animatronics to tell you the good, the bad, and the downright ugly about runny noses, body odor and more. Exhibit continues through May 26. For details, call (501) 396-7050 or visit www.museumofdiscovery.org.

Register to Walk, Run or Wheel April 1-30: Helping Hand will be having a 5K and 2K Fun/Run on May 11. Pre-register by May 6 online at www.racesonline.com. Cost is $20. Registration the morning of the race will be $28. The race starts at the Helping Hand center and goes down to the Cook’s Landing side of the Big Dam Bridge, through the Pfeiffer Loop and back to the center. For more information, contact Susie Taylor at (501) 791-3331.

William F. Laman Public Library Babytimes April 3, 10, 17 & 24: Lapsit program includes action rhymes, songs and stories for ages 6 months to 3 years. Event time: Wednesdays, 48 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

10 a.m. Location: Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. For details, visit www. lamanlibrary.org.

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William F. Laman Public Library Puzzlemania April 3, 10, 17 & 24: Puzzles for kids of all ages. Event time: Wednesdays, 4 to 6 p.m. Location: Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. For details, visit www.lamanlibrary.org.

Easter Seals 2013 Fashion Event April 4: The fashion event features spring fashion from local boutiques and retailers, a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres and refreshing libations.

Professional models are joined on the runway by Easter Seals children and adults. Tickets are $50 for general admission and $100 for table seating. Tables of 10 can be purchased for $1,000. Event time: 6 p.m. at The Peabody Hotel. For more information contact Cara Neal at (501) 227-3702 or cneal@ eastersealsar.com.

Youth Home’s Eggshibition 2013 April 5: Since that first Eggshibition in 1992, the event has raised approximately $2 million for Youth Home’s kids. The event will feature themed gift baskets and other silent auction items as well as a premier auction of fabulous parties, luxurious trips and other eggstraordinary items. Admission: $50$75. For more information, contact Larry Betz at (501) 821-5500.

Mullet Madness April 5: A night of gnarly, retro ‘80s fun featuring Tragikly White will help raise money for Kidsource Therapy Inc.’s hippotherapy program, Freedom Reins, which uses horses to help special needs children increase their functional ability. There will be silent and live auctions, along with food, beer and wine. Event time: 7 to 11 p.m.

Event place: Next Level Events in Little Rock’s Historic Union Station.

Tickets are $35. Purchase at www. mulletmadness.net or call (501) 315-4414.

Outdoor Adventure Series: Fish Fashion Weekend April 5-7: Through special programs and activities, you can learn about the fish that live in Lake Catherine and how they are adapted for their environment.

Join park staff for cane pole fishing around the marina and get an up close look at some of the species lurking under the water. Contact the park for a detailed schedule as the event draws near. Admission: FREE. For more information, call (501) 844-4176.

Nano Days Celebration at Mid-America Science Museum April 6: Explore the miniscule world of atoms, molecules and nanoscale forces at the Mid-America Science Museum’s hands-on activity stations. Discover the range of special and unexpected properties found at the nanoscale, example tools used by nanoscientists, experience nano materials with spectacular promise, and have discussions about technology and society.

Free with a paid admission to the museum. Event time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (501) 767-3461.

Boosters and Big Rigs April 6: Junior League of Little Rock presents Boosters and Big Rigs, featuring free immunizations; health, dental and vision screenings; free instructions about car seat by Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians; and, lots of hands-on fun for kids with Big Rigs like Ambulances, Fire Trucks, Tractors and more. Event place: Jack Stephens Center on the UALR Campus. Event time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Event is free.

For more information, call (501) 375-5557.

Breakfast with Rhinos April 6: Join the Little Rock Zoo for a delicious breakfast buffet in Café Africa and a unique keeper chat all about Rhinos. Seating is limited and prior reservations are a must! Event time: 8 a.m. Please be on time.

Admission: Member Adult $16.95, Member Child $12.95, Non-Member Adult $21.95, and Non-Member Child $16.95. Reservations require a Visa, Master Card or Discover Card. Changes or cancellations are accepted through the Friday before the event by 2 p.m. For more information or to make reservations, contact (501) 661-7218.

Kidsfest Superhero Race April 6: Kidsfest starts at the Faulkner County Courthouse (801 Locust St., Conway) at 8 a.m. with a 5K fun run for all ages and a 1K Superhero Race for kids 10 and under. Capes and tights are optional! Registration for the 5K is $25 in advance and $35 after pre-registration and for the 1K is $10 in advance and $20 after preregistration. Following the race, the event moves to Simon Park, where there will be an awards ceremony, bounce house, face painting, arts and crafts, games and more. A Children’s Music Festival will also feature choirs, dance teams, baton twirlers, gymnastics and cheerleaders. All park activities are free; however, vendors may charge or request a donation for food, drinks and merchandise. For more information, contact Kat Dull at kdull@hopeandjustice.org.

Certified Arkansas Farmers Market Opens April 6: The market is open until November at 6th and Main Street in North Little Rock. Times: Saturdays, 7 a.m. to noon. Details at www.certifiedarkansas.com.

William F. Laman Public Library Let’s Move! Family night!

April 9: Families will enjoy stories and activities that get the kids moving. Event time: 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Location: Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. For details, visit www.lamanlibrary.org.

Art of Recycling Exhibit April 10-30: See works of art made from recycled materials, created by students in Pulaski County at the Museum of Discovery. For details, call (501) 396-7050 or visit www. museumofdiscovery.org.

William F. Laman Public Library Creation Station April 11 & 25: Special crafts for kids of all ages. Event time: Second and fourth Thursday, 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.

Location: Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. For details, visit www.lamanlibrary.org.

ACCESS Gardens Spring Plant Sales April 12-13: These plant sales feature a variety of flowers and plants, as well as hanging baskets and containers. Times: Friday, April 12, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 13, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: ACCESS Stella Boyle Smith Campus, 10618 Breckenridge Drive in Little Rock. For details, visit www.accessgroupinc.org.

Lil’ Wild Ones: Nature Stories and Activities at WSJCANC April 13: The Lil’ Wild Ones series is the second Saturday of each month through the school year at 2 p.m. This month’s program is “The Lorax: A Conservation Challenge,” exploring wildlife and habitats of Arkansas through nature stories and hands-on activities. Programs are recommended for children ages 4-8. Registration is not required. For more information, contact Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center at (501) 907-0636.

Wildwood’s Wellness Weekend April 13: Engage the imagination and celebrate the human spirit with classes, discussions and demonstrations on yoga, tai chi, aromatherapy, stress relief, holistic health and lots more.

Cost: $20 for advance registration; $30 the day of. Event time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road, Little Rock.

To purchase tickets, visit www. wildwoodpark.org or call 501821-7275.

Bernice Garden Farmers’ Market Opening April 14: The Farmers’ Market is at 1401 S. Main St. in Little Rock, at the corner of corner of Dasiy Gaston Bates and South Main Street. It is open until mid November. Times: Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Details at www. thebernicegarden.org.

Little Beginnings Toddler Program: Earth Day April 17: Children ages 2 to 4 can learn about Earth Day with special guest teacher Jane Jones-Schulz at the Old State House Museum.

Event time: 10:30 a.m. Free. For details, call (501) 324-9685 or visit www.oldstatehouse.com.

Arkansas Literary Festival April 18-21: The festival features lots of free activities for kids and teens at the Main Library and new Children’s Library and Learning Center.

See page 36 for more details. For details, visit www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org.

Hershey Track & Field Games April 18: Kids age 9 to 14 can compete in basic track and field events and get the chance of a lifetime to receive an all expense paid trip to compete in the annual North American Final Meet held in Hershey, Penn. Beginners and track enthusiasts are all welcome. In case of rain, the event will be April 25, 2013. Call (501) 982-4171 for more information. Date, time and location subject to change. Event time: 4:30 p.m. Admission: Free. Event location: Jacksonville High School.

ACCESS Gardens Friday Plant Sales April 19 & 26: These plant sales feature a variety of flowers and plants, as well as hanging baskets and containers. Times: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Location: ACCESS Stella Boyle Smith Campus, 10618 Breckenridge Drive in Little Rock.

For details, visit www.accessgroupinc.org.

Archery on the Lawn (LR) April 20: Test your archery skills every third Saturday at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center. No experience necessary, but you must be at least 10 years old to pull the string back. This is a drop-in activity, so stop by any time from noon until 2 p.m. For more information, call (501) 907-0636.

Arkansas Earth Day Festival April 20: Celebrate green living on the grounds at Heifer International, with food, music and family activities. Event time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free. For details, visit www.arkansasearthday.org.

Central Arkansas Heart Walk April 20: The day includes a family friendly 5K fun walk, kid zone, red cap cafe, vendor expo and live music. The Heart Walk celebrates those who have made lifestyle changes and encourages many more to take the pledge to live healthier lifestyles while raising the money needed to fund life-saving research and initiatives in our local community. Event place: Burns Park in North Little Rock. For more information, visit www.centralarkansasheartwalk.org.

Candy Land April 20-21: Diamond Edge Figure Skating Club presents “Candy Land,” with performances by local talent and music from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Event times: April 20 at 11:30 a.m.; April 21 at 5 p.m. Location: Arkansas Skatium, 1311 S. Bowman Road in Little Rock.

Tickets are $7 if pre-purchased at the Skatium; $8 at the door; or $5 with a valid military ID. Kids 5 and under are free. For details, visit www. diamondedgefsc.org.

J.A. Legacy Award Business Luncheon April 23: The luncheon will be at the Doubletree Hotel Ballroom to recognize J. Thomas May, chairman and C.E.O. of Simmons First National Corporation along with Jim House, former President and C.E.O. of USAble Life Insurance Company. Event time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.jaark.org.

Boating Education (AGFC Little Rock) April 23 & 25: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is holding a Boating Education Safety Course.

Students will learn the fundamentals of safe and responsible boating to reduce loss of life, personal injury and property damage while increasing boating enjoyment for

outdoor enthusiasts. You must attend both days in order to complete the course. The event will take place at AGFC Headquarters Office (2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock). Event time both nights: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Registration is required. Call (501) 2236377. Interpreters for the hearing will be available.

2013 Wine & Cheese Gala April 25: This event’s proceeds benefit Pathfinder, Inc., and funds will be used to purchase specialized equipment for the organization’s programs. Tickets are $50. Corporate sponsorships are available. Event time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Event place: Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. For tickets and additional information, e-mail linda.curtis@ pathfinderinc.org.

The Hobbit April 25-28: J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is on stage at the Arts and Science Center in Pine Bluff. Event time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $5 per student with advanced booking. Teachers admitted free with students! For more information, visit www.artssciencecenter.org.

Global Youth Service Day April 26: The Clinton Presidential Center celebrates Global Youth Service Day by hosting its third-annual Service Learning Conference in the Great Hall for area high school students in partnership with City Year Little Rock/North Little Rock. The conference is comprised of service learning workshops focusing on living healthier lives, energy efficiency, the environment and the power of national service. Event time: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Interested high school students in the Pulaski County area should contact Sarah Roberson e-mail sroberson@cityyear.org. For more information about the event, visit www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org.

Continued on page 53

Get A Round!

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APRIL 2013 savvy kids

| 49

KIDS EAT FREE

Kids Eat FREE! EVERY DAY

JJ’s Grill Free kid’s meal with the purchase of adult meal for kids 12 and under (all day).

Conway: 1010 Main Street CICI’S PIZZA Ages 3 and under eat free at buffet.

• Conway: 1250 Old Morrilton Hwy, 764-0600 • Hot Springs: 3321 Central Avenue, 321-2400 • Jacksonville: 120 John Harden Dr, Jacksonville, 241-2224 • North Little Rock: 2815 Lakewood Village Dr, 753-1182

THE BALL DENNY’SHOPE RESTAURANT

March 10: The10Hope Ball is an annual event hosted by 4-7 p.m.

Ages and under.

Tues. & Sat.gala only. the 20th Century to raise funding for the continued • Little Rock: 4300Club S University, 562-5651 operation of the 20th Century Club’s Lodge. The 2012 Ball, themed “Garden of Hope”, will be held in the GOLDEN CORRAL Ages 3 and under eat freeCenter, at buffet.

Discounted prices The Statehouse Convention Wally Allen Ballroom.

Tuesday. for kids on elegant evening will include both live and silent auctions, Little Rock:dinner, 5001 Warden a• North delicious seated cocktails,Road, and 771-4605 dancing until midnight. For more information call 501-907-1760 or visit LARRY’S PIZZA www.hopeawayfromhome.org.

Ages 4 and under.

• Bryant: 4500 Hwy. 5 North, 847-5003 • Conway: 1068 Markham, 329-3131

• Little Rock: 12th & Center St., 372-6004; 12911 Cantrell Rd., 224-8804 San Francisco Bread Co. One FREE Kid’s Meal with the purchase of Adult Meal, after 5 p.m.

• Hot Springs: 261 Cornerstone Blvd., 525-7322 ZAXBY’S 5 p.m.-close, dine-in only.

• Jacksonville: 209 Marshall Rd., 241-0546 • Maumelle: 104 Carnahan Dr., 851-9777 • Sherwood: 208 Brookswood Rd., 833-9777

MONDAY

American Pie Pizza Kids eat free after 4 p.m.

• Little Rock: 10912 Colonel Glenn Rd., 225-1900 • Maumelle: 9709 Maumelle Blvd., 758-8800 • North Little Rock: 4830 N. Hills Blvd., 753-0081 IHOP (NORTH LITTLE ROCK LOCATION ONLY) 1 free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree Mondays and Wednesdays 3-9 p.m.

• North Little Rock: 11501 Maumelle Blvd., (501) 753-4457 CHICK-FIL-A First Monday of each month.

• North Little Rock: 4320 McCain Blvd, 945-1818 NYPD Pizza Free Kids entree, for children ages 10 and under, with the purchase of adult entree. Dine-in only, 4-6 p.m.

• Little Rock: 6015 Chenonceau Blvd., 868-3911

50 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

Below is a listing of locations and days in which kids, 12 and under, can eat free with a paid adult (unless otherwise noted).

SHORTY SMALL’S Up to two kids meals free per paying adult.

• Little Rock: 1110 N. Rodney Parham, 224-3344 TA MOLLY’S 5-9 p.m.

• Bryant: 206 W. Commerce St., 653-2600

TUESDAY

Arkansas Burger Company One free kid’s meal per adult meal.

Dine-in only, 5:30-9 p.m.

• Little Rock: 7410 Cantrell Road, 663-0600 BEEF O BRADY’S 4 p.m.-close.

• Maumelle:115 Audubon Dr., 803-3500 MOOYAH BURGER One free kid's meal with the purchase of adult meal.

• Little Rock: 14810 Cantrell Rd., 868-1091 NYPD Pizza Free Kids entree, for children ages 10 and under, with the purchase of adult entree. Dine-in only, 4-6 p.m.

• Little Rock: 6015 Chenonceau Blvd., 868-3911 DENNY’S RESTAURANT 4-7 p.m. Ages 10 and under.

• Little Rock: 310 S. Shackleford Rd., 224-8264 JIM’S Razorback Pizza Kids 12 and under receive a FREE six inch pizza with the purchase of an adult entree (Dine-in only).

• Little Rock: 16101 Cantrell Rd. • Maumelle: 20608 Hwy 365 North • Hot Springs: 4330 Central Ave. LONESTAR STEAKHOUSE 4 p.m.-close.

• Little Rock:10901 Rodney Parham, 227-8898 PIZZA HUT 5-8 p.m. Dine in only.

• Little Rock: 11410 W. Markham St., 228-7000 Stromboli’s One FREE Kid’s Meal (12 or under) per adult meal purchased at regular price. Kids may choose from the Kid’s Menu or Pizza By-the-Slice with up to two toppings.

Dine-in only. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

• Conway: 605 Salem Rd., 327-3700

WEDNESDAY

FAMOUS DAVE’S 4 p.m.-close.

• Little Rock: 225 North Shackleford Road, 221-3283 FIREHOUSE SUBS • Bryant: 3108 Horizon St., 653-3700 • Little Rock: 12312 Chenal Pkwy., 228-5553; 10300 Rodney Parham, 225-2001 • Maumelle: 11617 Maumelle Blvd., 753-9898 • North Little Rock: 2811 Lakewood Village Dr., 812-5002

LARRY’S PIZZA 4-8 p.m. With purchase of one adult meal, up to two kids get a small one topping pizza, drink, and $1 in tokens.

• Cabot: 2798 South Second Street, 843-7992 JIM’S Razorback Pizza Kids 12 and under receive a FREE six inch pizza with the purchase of an adult entree (Dine-in only).

• Little Rock: 16101 Cantrell Rd. • Maumelle: 20608 Hwy 365 North • Hot Springs: 4330 Central Ave. Western Sizzlin Up to 2 children eat Free with the purchase of an adult meal.

• Benton: 1916 Congo Rd., 778-9656

THURSDAY

CAPTAIN D’s • Benton: 1419 Military Rd, 778-7909 • Hot Springs: 1906 Central St., 321-4288 • Jacksonville: 1109 West Main St., 982-3330 • Little Rock: 6301 Colonel Glen Rd., 568-6244 • North Little Rock: 5320 JFK Blvd., 758-5144 Mexico Chiquito One FREE kid's meal per adult entree for kids 12 and under (Dine-in only).

• Conway: 1135 Skyline Dr., 205-1985 • Jacksonville: 1524 W. Main St., 982-0533 • Little Rock: 13924 Cantrell, 217-0700; 102 S. Rodney Parham, 224-8600; 4511 Camp Robinson, 771-1604; 11406 W. Markham, 217-0647 MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL 4 p.m.-close. One free kids meal with paid adult meal.

• Bryant: 7409 Alcoa Rd., 778-3111 • Conway: 625 Salem Rd., 336-6500 • Little Rock: 12312 Chenal Pkwy., 223-3378 • North Little Rock: 4834 North Hills Blvd., 812-5577

SATURDAY

BOSTON’S GOURMET PIZZA RESTAURANT • Little Rock: 3201 Bankhead Dr., 235-2000 LUBY’S CAFETERIA • Little Rock: 12501 West Markham, 219-1567

SUNDAY

BOSTON’S GOURMET PIZZA RESTAURANT • Little Rock: 3201 Bankhead Dr., 235-2000 DENNY’S RESTAURANT 4-7 p.m. Ages 10 and under.

• Little Rock: 310 S. Shackleford Rd., 224-8264 CORKY’S Kid's meals 1/2 off.

4 p.m.-close.

• Little Rock: 12005 Westhaven Dr., 954-7427

If you would like to add your Kids Eat Free information to this list, contact us at (501) 375-2985.

EvEry ChilD DEsErvEs Our BEst.

Let Us Help You Find High Quality Child Care Throughout The Year.

Better Beginnings is Arkansas’ quality rating improvement system for child care, early education and school-age programs that have gone above and beyond the state licensing requirements.

Visit ARBetterBeginnings.com to Get Started.

The Better Beginnings website makes it easy for parents to: • find Better Beginnings participating child care providers in their area • learn what to look for in a child care environment Get off to a good start by equipping yourself with the knowledge and information to choose a Better Beginning for your child!

Department of human services Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education

www.ARBetterBeginnings.com • 1-800-445-3316 Singing Gets You and Your Child Moving!

Singing together is learning together. Songs help your child connect words with their meanings. Plus many songs incorporate dancing and instructions that will get you and your child moving.

Think “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands” or “The Hokey Pokey.” Visit ARBetterBeginnings.com to find more activities and songs you and your child can share. Fill your house with songs and music. Your whole family will benefit.

APRIL 2013 savvy kids

| 51

Continued from page 46 Renaissance in the Wild 20919 Denny Road Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Campers will gain an appreciation for Renaissance art, exploring genres in visual art, theatre and literature, and create Renaissance-inspired works of their own.

Dates & Times: June 10-14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ages: 9 to 12 Cost: $200 Wildwood Park for the Arts – Let’s Rock!

20919 Denny Road Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Campers will celebrate how Rock ‘n’ Roll began, with music, art and drama.

Dates & Times: June 17-21, 9 a.m. to noon Ages: 6 to 11, completed first to fifth grades Cost: $150 Wildwood Park for the Arts – C.H.E.F. Culinary. Horticultural.

Educational. Fun! 20919 Denny Road Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Campers will learn where their food comes from and how it’s prepared through guided tours of local restaurant kitchens, organic farms and food distributors.

Dates & Times: June 17-21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ages: 12 to 18 Cost: $200 Wildwood Park for the Arts – WILDKids Go Green!

20919 Denny Road

Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Campers will enjoy a week of nature exploration and learn about compositing, vegetable and herb gardening and how they can create a better environment.

Dates & Times: June 24-28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ages: 7 to 12 Cost: $175 Wildwood Park for the Arts – Troupe d’Jour’s Midsummer Shakespeare Camp 20919 Denny Road Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Actors learn and develop skills in movement, voice, diction, text analysis, character development, improvisation, ensemble work, stage combat, focus and journal-keeping.

Dates & Times: July 1-5, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Ages: 6 to 18 Cost: $295 Wildwood Park for the Arts – WILDKids Read!

20919 Denny Road Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Campers will enjoy a different book each day with corresponding art activities and projects.

Dates & Times: July 8-12, 9 a.m. to noon Ages: 5 to 7 (5-year-olds must have completed kindergarten) Cost: $150 Wildwood Park for the Arts – WILDKids Sing!

20919 Denny Road Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Campers will learn how to sing as a chorus, and experiment with solo and duet performance, and dance-inspired movement.

Dates & Times: July 8-12, noon to 5 p.m.

Ages: 7 to 11 Cost: $175 Wildwood Park for the Arts – WILDKids Play!

20919 Denny Road Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Campers will participate in a wide range of theatre arts activities in a positive and fun environment.

Dates & Times: July 15-19, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ages: 8 to 12 Cost: $200 Wildwood Park for the Arts – Movement, Masks, and Mayhem!

20919 Denny Road Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Participants will learn skills in characterization through movement, masking and physical comedy and period movement styles. They will even design and build their own mask!

Dates & Times: July 22-26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ages: 11 to 15 Cost: $200 Wildwood Park for the Arts – KidsCook!

20919 Denny Road Little Rock (501) 821-7275, ext. 253 www.wildwoodpark.org Campers will receive hands-on training in the kitchen and basic cooking and food preparation skills while exploring various cuisines from around the world.

Dates & Times: July 29-Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to noon Ages: 8 and up Cost: $175 ZooFari 2013 Camps – Caring for Animals 1 Zoo Drive Little Rock (501) 666-2406

www.littlerockzoo.com Enjoy spending time at the zoo and learn about caring for animals.

Ages: 4 years to Kindergarten Dates & Times: 9 a.m. to noon, Monday to Wednesday; June 10 and July 8: Pets, Pests and Backyard Birds June 11 and July 9: E-I-E-I-O June 12 and July 10: Keeper Care Cost: $100 for nonmembers; $80 for members ZooFari 2013 Camps – Farming at the Zoo 1 Zoo Drive Little Rock (501) 666-2406 www.littlerockzoo.com Have fun at the zoo and learn about farming, crops and gardening.

Ages: Grades 1 to 3 Dates & Times: 9 a.m. to noon, Monday to Wednesday; June 17 and July 15: Critters and Crops June 18 and July 16: Barnyard Buddies June 19 and July 17: Farm to Table Cost: $100 for nonmembers; $80 for members ZooFari 2013 Camps – Zoo Jobs 1 Zoo Drive Little Rock (501) 666-2406 www.littlerockzoo.com This is a great camp for kids who are thinking about a future career working with animals.

Ages: Grades 4 to 6 Dates & Times: 9 a.m. to noon, Monday to Wednesday; June 24 and July 22: What It Takes to Save a Species June 25 and July 23: What It Takes to Be a Keeper June 26 and July 24: What It Takes to Be a Vet Cost: $100 for nonmembers; $80 for members

Set Sail

The Grande Maumelle Sailing Club offers year-round memberships and summer camps to attract young people to this unique sport.

Marcella Meyer, coordinator of the club’s junior program, says there are many misconceptions about the sport of sailing. For example, it is not an elitist sport and individuals do not need to own their own boats.

“We don’t want the image that it’s hoity-toity,” she says. Sailing camps are open to all kids age 7 and up, as long as they can swim.

And, newcomers are welcome.

Learning to sail comes with a lesson in weather and the physics of wind, and a test of patience. It’s also an individual sport that requires lots of strength. Kids often learn to sail very quickly and can enjoy it for the rest of their lives, Meyer says.

Junior Learn to Sail and Intermediate Sailing camps are June 10-14 and June 17-21 at the sailing club, 12000 Maumelle Harbour Road in Roland. Cost is $120 for club members and $160 for nonmembers.

For more information, visit www.gmsc.org or email marcellameyer@att.net.

52 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

SAVVY CALENDAR + SPECIAL NEEDS

April Calendar Continued from page 49

Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program Tournament April 26 & 27: The Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program (AYSSP) from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission aims to bring the joy of the outdoors and the rewards of safely learning to shoot to young Arkansans. The junior division, grades 6-8, competes on April 26, and the senior division, grades 9-12, competes on April 27. Event time: 8 a.m. on both days. Event time: 8 a.m. on both days. The public is invited to watch. Event location: Remington Gun Club (1604 Highway 15 North, Lonoke). For more information, contact Chuck Woodson at (501) 230-4738.

11th Annual Strawberry Festival April 26-27: The festival features a carnival, pageant, food, entertainment and, of course, strawberries. Event times: Friday, April 26, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Location: Cabot Community Center.

For details, visit www.juniorauxiliaryofcabot.com.

BV Memorial 5K+1 April 27: This certified 5K+1 (4.1 miles) course will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas. We are asking that people go the extra mile. Costs are $15, ages 5-17; $25, ages 18 and over; $5 of every registration will go directly to the Ronald McDonald House. Day of race registrations are $25. Event registration can be mailed to BV Memorial Foundation, 5805 Base Meadows Drive, Jacksonville, AR 72076 (make checks out to BV Memorial Foundation) or online at www.racesonline.com.

To receive T-shirts, mail in registration must be postmarked by April 17 and online registration must be completed by April 20. Event place: Little Rock Air Force Base University Center. Event time: 8 a.m. For more information, contact Stan Valley at (501) 837-7055, (501) 837-1778 or bvmemorial141@ gmail.com.

Boot Scootin’ Bash April 27: Yee Haw! It is almost time for the 7th Annual Beyond Boundaries Boot Scootin’ 5K Dash & Bash. Volunteers are always welcomed to our program. Race time: 8 a.m. Demonstrations and fun until 1 p.m. Contact Stacey at smcminn@alliedtherapy.com for more information.

Woo at the Zoo April 27: Take an after hours tour of the zoo and get a special zookeeper chat all about the interesting, strange and hilarious world of animal mating behavior. Then, jam to the tunes of one of the hottest cover bands around.

Food and beverages included. Must be 21 to attend. Admission: $35. Contact Katie Grant at (501) 661-7212 for more information.

River Market Farmers Market opens April 30: The market, located in the River Market Pavilion in downtown Little Rock, is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Oct. 26.

Details at www.rivermarket.info.

APRIL 2013 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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US Pizza We pride ourselves in offering our guests the very best pizza, salads and sandwiches, and we value your patronage. Our oldfashioned stone hearth ovens are one of the reasons our pizzas are worth the wait. From our Salad Supreme to our spicy Trey’s Chloroplast Blast pizza, you won’t find our award winning original creations anywhere else.

Little Rock: Heights, Hillcrest, Fair Park, Rodney Parham; North Little Rock: Pike, Fair Park, JFK Maumelle • Sherwood • Conway • Bryant • Fayetteville www.uspizzaco.net

NYPD Pizzeria Kids love pizza and NYPD Pizzeria loves kids. Coupon offer: Every Tuesday is “Two for Tuesday” at NYPD Pizza offering a free 14” cheese pizza when any other 14” pizza is purchased when you dine in. Crayons and coloring sheets are distributed and one of the many large TV screens offers something kids like to watch while parents enjoy the game or a movie. Renown for their homemade crust, pizzas are topped with hi quality, premium fresh toppings. Dairy free and gluten free options are available as well as a children’s menu.

6015 Chenonceau Blvd., Little Rock. 501-868-3911 www.facebook.com/NYPDPizzaLittleRock

Loganberry Frozen Yogurt Kids craving Ice Cream? Satisfy their desire with a healthy alternative at Loganberry Frozen Yogurt. Made fresh in Russellville, AR, in a boutique dairy farm, Loganberry Yogurt is cultured, probiotic yogurt with real fruit purees and natural ingredients. Fresh berries and fruit, nuts, and granola are some of the 50+ toppings at Loganberry Frozen Yogurt topping bar. 12 delicious, low fat, low sugar options range from Triple Dark Chocolate to Watermelon sorbet. Treat your family to a healthy dessert they can have fun creating themselves.

6015 Chenonceau Blvd., Little Rock. 501-868-8194 www.facebook.com/LoganberryFrozenYogurt

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“Little Rockers” Wrap Up Marathon About 90 kids and teens completed their final mile of the Little Rock Parks and Recreation’s Therapeutic Recreation “Little Rockers” walking program at McClellan Magnet High School on Feb. 22.

In its fifth year, the program, which is part of the Little Rock Marathon, is for students in grades K-12 with disabilities. Students complete the first 25.2 miles with their schools, and everyone walks the last marathonmile together, said Sherrie Shinn, therapeutic recreation coordinator at Little Rock Parks and Recreation.

Those who completed the last mile received medals and T-shirts.

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Brianna Jordan

Brianna Jordan, 14, from Benton Junior High, who also took part in the program for the first time this year, said completing all 26.2 miles “made me feel really good.”

Shinn said her office reaches out to local schools to get them involved in the walking program, as a way to “make exercise fun.”

Photos by Brian Chilson

“It’s a huge, prideful thing for them,” Shinn said. “They hear about the Little Rock Marathon, and being part of this community event is something to be proud of.”

Though the final-mile “race” was noncompetitive and untimed, Couryion McFadden, 9, from the Arkansas School for the Deaf, which took part in the event for the first time this year, finished first. With a big smile, McFadden said it was a good race. A few of his teammates, David Parker, 10, and Andrew Canu, 11, were also excited and proud to have completed the marathon. The ASD team was led

by Coach Jon Parker.

Couryion McFadden (right) with teammate.

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To purchase tickets, go to LittleRockZoo.com/wildwines or call (501) 661-7208. Proceeds benefit the Little Rock Zoo.

APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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Olivia Davidson Turns 4!

SAVVY EVENTS

Photos by patrick jones

Olivia Davidson recently celebrated her fourth birthday with a princessthemed party at Fun Trackers Fun Center in Little Rock. Many of her guests came dressed as princes and princesses. Everyone had a great time playing games, and enjoyed eating pizza and cake by Donna Jacks.

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skylar stone Turns 7!

Photos by Patrick Jones

Skylar Stone recently celebrated her seventh birthday at I Can Arts and Resource Center in Little Rock. The party had a Disney theme, based on Skylar’s Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World. Guests had a great time decorating crowns and cookies. And, everyone enjoyed a Disney princess cake from Harps.

1. Skylar Stone 2. Courtney Mayberry 3. Cake by Harps 4. Brayden Duke 5. Ashton Duke 6. Katie Mayberry 7. Ella Johnson 8. Adison Thomas 9. Kylie Robinson 10. Ellie Mayberry 11. Zoey Mayberry 12. Shelby Sides 13. Abby Robinson

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R A Z O R B A C K S APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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Makenzie Wise Turns 4!

Photos by patrick jones

SAVVY EVENTS

Makenzie Wise recently celebrated her fourth birthday with an Under the Sea Bash at the Jacksonville Community Center. The kids enjoyed swimming and playing with the pool’s 150-foot inflatable, called “The Crocodile.”

Everyone enjoyed the Little Mermaid cake made by Knight’s Bakery.

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1. Makenzie Wise 2. Emma Wise 3. Baron Stiefvater 4. Lilly Wooten 5. Chance Coffman 6. Reece Stiefvater 7. Paisley Wise 8. Autumn Stiefvater 9. Tyler Wise 10. Cake by Knight’s Bakery 11. Cortland Bowie 12. Rylee Wise

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Joshua Dorsey Turns 2!

Photos by Chelsey McNiel

Joshua Dorsey celebrated his second birthday with friends and family at The Little Gym of Little Rock. Joshua’s friends jumped and tumbled around the gym before enjoying a Sesame St. party theme with Big Bird’s party mix and Sesame St. character cupcakes.

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Hosted by The Junior Auxillary of Cabot • www.JuniorAuxilliaryOfCabot.com All proceeds fund projects for the children of Cabot APRIL 2013 savvy kids

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SAVVY SCIENCE

Homemade Planters A Lesson in Recycling and Photosynthesis Project Courtesy of Museum of Discovery

Spring is in the air and the plants are in bloom.

Of course the flowers and trees are beautiful to look at, but did you know they are responsible for creating the oxygen we breathe? Plants create oxygen when they make their own food in a process called photosynthesis.

What is Photosynthesis?

Have you ever noticed that plants don’t eat the same way we and animals do? Because they can’t move around to find food, plants use the process of photosynthesis to make their own. To do this, plants need three things: sunlight, carbon dioxide and water.

First, plants capture sunlight using a compound called chlorophyll. This compound is green and gives plants their color. Chlorophyll is stored in tiny cells called chloroplasts. Tiny holes called stoma take in carbon dioxide from the air where it is delivered to the chloroplasts. When sunlight and carbon dioxide meet with the water that is absorbed through the plant’s roots, the process of photosynthesis can begin. Both sugar and oxygen are created as a result. Sugar is used by the plant as food, and oxygen is released into the air for us to inhale.

After we take oxygen into our lungs, we exhale carbon dioxide. This creates a cycle allowing photosynthesis to continue!

Planting flowers is a great activity for explaining photosynthesis to children. Although you cannot witness the actual process, by giving your plant proper water and sunlight, you are giving it what it needs for photosynthesis to occur.

This activity will also allow you to recycle items found in your home. When you recycle, you’re taking care of the environment and helping our oxygen-making plant friends!

62 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

Make a Tin Can Planter What You Need: Empty tin can (preferably with a peel top to prevent rough edges) Craft paint Paint brushes Drill Potting soil Plant or seeds Directions: Rinse and dry the can (the size depends on the plant) and drill a few small holes in the bottom.

This will allow excess water to escape the planter.

Then, let your child decorate the can’s exterior with paint or stickers. After the paint is dry, add dirt and the plant or seeds. Be sure to water the plant and give it proper sunlight.

Self-Watering Planter What You Need: Empty 2-liter bottle Exacto knife or scissors Drill Masking tape Water Cotton ball Potting soil Plant or seeds Directions: Rinse and dry the bottle and remove its label.

Puncture several holes at the top 2 inches of the bottle. Drill a medium-sized hole in the plastic lid and secure back on bottle. With your knife or scissors cut the bottle in half. For your child’s safety, place masking tape around the edge of the top half of the bottle as there may be some jagged areas. Add an inch of water into the bottom half

of the bottle. Take cotton ball and shape until long and slender. Insert the cotton half way through the hole of the lid. The cotton will allow water to travel to the plant’s roots. Turn the top half of the bottle upside down and place inside the half with water. Make sure the cotton sinks into the water.

Fill the top half of the bottle with potting soil and add the plant or seeds. Monitor the water level in the planter and add more when it is low. Be sure to give the plant proper sunlight.

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Pinnacle Pointe HosPital

School-BaSed and outpatient ServiceS offered Statewide Pinnacle Pointe helps families learn to live calmer, happier, and more productive lives by providing high quality behavioral health treatment programs in the following settings: Acute InpAtIent ResIdentIAl InpAtIent OutpAtIent schOOl-BAsed

Let good things happen for your family. Contact us for a free and confidential assessment by calling 1-800-880-3322.

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11501 Financial Centre Parkway • Little Rock, AR 72211 64 | savvy kids APRIL 2013

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