Bear Essential News May 2021, Phoenix Edition

Bear 40 YEARS!

Special

Water Safety

essential news

®

& CAMPS Issue!

May 2021 • Phoenix Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com

DROWNING PREVENTION COALITION OF ARIZONA Special 4-Page Pullout Section!

See pages 11 thru 14

In This Picture: Find an ice cream cone, a life jacket, a first aid kit, the word CAMPS, swim goggles, 911, a pool gate key, a swim fin, a plastic cup and the word SAFETY.

FEATURE

CAMPS!

FAMILIES

NEWS NEWS

It's Water S afety Month Fi nd Yours Now! Ancient City Found! R unning for Awareness Avoiding Sugar Learn the ABC’s of pool safety pages 11 thru 14

Summer fun ahead Pages 16 thru 20

Spotlight on undersea gallery News Highlights page 3

& more news kids can use Scoops pages 5, 6, 8 & 10

from Phoenix Children’s Page 15

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May 2021

Let’s Go...

VALLEY METRO! Moving Around Town— Think Safety and Stay Healthy!

U

sing transit is a healthy way to travel to fun places because there is often walking or riding a bike to get to the bus stop or train station. Valley Metro wants all of your trips to be safe from getting to and from your transit stop to riding the bus and light rail. Many Valley Metro passengers are also pedestrians, people who walk, run or travel around in mobility aids.

Vehicles like cars, buses, bicycles, and trains transport people places. This movement of pedestrians and vehicles is called traffic. Roads were built for vehicles, so pedestrians need to be alert.

Community safety is a shared responsibility, so always follow the safety rules.

To stay safe is easy, but awareness and practice are the keys.

Use crosswalks when available, obey traffic signals, pay attention and get to your destination safely.

Walk around the Earth Did you know the average person walks the equivalent of three and a half times around the earth in a lifetime?

For more Valley Metro fun, go to https://www.valleymetro.org/transit-education/valley-metro-fun

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News Highlights

An Underwater Art Museum?

Photo courtesy of History with Kayleigh

Ancient Egyptian City Unearthed Egyptian archaeologists have discovered what is believed to be the largest city of the Egyptian empire, and it has been buried for 3,400 years.

The city, Aten, is being described as the most important archaeological discovery since Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered nearly 100 years ago.

Aten has been described as the lost golden city and dates back to the reign of Amenhotep III, one of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs, who ruled from 1391 to 1353 BC. “There’s no doubt about it; it really is a phenomenal find,” Salima Ikram, an archaeologist who leads the American University in Cairo’s Egyptology unit, told National Geographic. “It’s very much a snapshot in time—an Egyptian version of Pompeii.”

Archaeologists began excavating the site last September, and it wasn’t long before their efforts started paying off.

“To the team's great surprise, formations of mud bricks began to appear in all directions,” Dr. Zahi Hawass, the former Egyptian Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs, said in a statement. “What they unearthed was the site of a large city in a good condition of preservation, with almost complete walls, and with rooms filled with tools of daily life. The archaeological

When you think of things you might find in the ocean, your list probably includes things like fish, sharks, whales, dolphins, coral reefs. And art museums? That’s right, the Underwater Museum of Cannes is now open for visitors in the Mediterranean Sea! The INSTALLATION includes six threedimensional portraits, each more than two meters tall (roughly 6.5 feet) and weighing in at 10 tons each of pH-neutral cement! The sculptures are just off the coast of Cannes, France, and are of six local residents.

Before artist Jason deCaires Taylor created these sculptures, he put an ad in a local newspaper for locals to have their faces cast into art. He made casts of 40 faces and chose six to blow up into sculptures.

The installation was placed in relatively

layers have laid untouched for thousands of years, left by the ancient residents as if it were yesterday.”

After another seven months of searching, the team has uncovered several neighborhoods, including a bakery with ovens and storage pottery, as well as residential areas.

Archaeologists have found a wide variety of Museum Facts: items including jewelry, colored pottery vessels, Weight of each portrait: 10 tons scarab beetle amulets and mud bricks bearing Height of each sculpture: 6.5 feet the seals of Amenhotep III. Tools for spinning and Number of sculptures: 6 weaving have given archaeologists a small glimpse Depth in ocean: 3-4 meters into Egyptian life as the country was at the peak of Years to complete: 4 its power. Archaeologists have even unearthed a human skeleton and the skeleton of a cow or bull. shallow water and close to the shore, so Experts will continue working on the excavation of snorkelers and scuba divers alike can visit the lost golden city and attempting to uncover what the museum. Taylor says that he calls it a happened to the city and its inhabitants. museum for an important reason.

“Museums are places of preservation, conservation and education. They’re places where we keep objects of great value to us, where we value them simply for being thempoles like a lot of frogs and toads do. Instead, they selves,” Taylor states on his website. emerge as smaller brownish toadlets. As adults, Taylor’s goal is to draw attention to the females grow a bit larger than the males. declining state of the world’s oceans. The Their bright pumpkin color may be a warning to Mediterranean Sea, too, has suffered from potential predators to stay away. Although tiny and the common water problems pollution and DELICATE, pumpkin toadlets have strong neurooverfishing. Coral reefs are a vital compotoxins in their skin and organs. Interestingly, under nent of oceans as 25 percent of all marine ultraviolet (black) light, species are found in, on, and around coral the toadlets’ skull and reefs. More than 500 million people depend a backbone plate glow! on coral reefs for food, income, coastal proThis new species tection and more. In addition to highlighting is smaller than other the importance and fragility of our oceans pumpkin toadlets. It is and coral reefs, Taylor’s artworks serve as found living at higher artificial coral reefs. elevations in the coastAs impressive as the Cannes underwater al forests near São art museum is, it’s actually not the first of Paulo, Brazil. Sadly, its kind, or even the first underwater project about 93 percent of that Taylor has completed. He has created the Atlantic Forest more than 1,000 underwater sculptures there has been lost to deforestation and farming, so around the world in the Atlantic, Pacific, and scientists are scrambling to find new species like this Indian oceans! before they go extinct.

Photos courtesy of: Edelcio Muscat

New, Bright Orange Toadlet Identified What are tiny, bright orange and extremely TOXIC? Pumpkin toadlets from the east coast of Brazil. And now, scientists have identified a new species of these special amphibians.

Brazil is home to more than 1,000 species of amphibians and has dozens of kinds of these little pumpkin toadlets. The newest one is Brachycephalus rotenbergae and grows to about the size of an adult’s thumbnail.

The discovery is the work of a team led by zoologist Ivan Nunes that was just published in the science journal PLOS ONE. Pumpkin toadlets are cute and amazing. When they hatch from their eggs, they don’t emerge as tad-

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School Administrators — BEAR looks forward to bringing its newspaper and reporting program to your students this fall!

To make sure you’re on our list, Please call or email us with the number of

FREE newspapers you’d like delivered to your school.

Please include: School name, address, contact name and number of papers (to the nearest 100).

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Get the Scoop!

Man Runs Mouse to Mouse for a Cause

5

News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids

Making Sure No Birthday Is Left Behind

by Reporter Brett Eymann Transitions Delta Center Marathon runner Don Muchow made history by being the first person to run from Disneyland to Walt Disney World. Muchow, 59, has Type 1 diabetes and decided to run to raise money and bring awareness for Type 1 diabetes.

Muchow began his journey on Feb. 1, 2020. He planned to spend 90 days running, but the COVID-19 pandemic stopped him in his tracks–twice.

Muchow’s wife, Leslie followed him in a van, packed with all the supplies a coast-to-coast runner would need. He also had a mascot named Coco that accompanied him. Disney helped create the plush animal Coco, the diabetic monkey.

On April 5, 2021 Muchow arrived at Walt Disney World where Melissa Valiquette, the Vice President of the park, greeted him. Disney cast members were also waiting to give the Muchows a magical greeting, a Mickey ice cream bar and they were also treated to a ride on “It’s a Small World.”

Muchow accomplished his goal of completing the marathon by eating enough food to keep himself fueled and getting at least seven hours of sleep each night. He ran from sunrise to sunset, even in the rain. The distance he ran was over 2,800 miles.

BEAR 40 YEARS

Photo: Don Muchow

by Reporter Zaniyah Parker Arizona Desert Elementary

This 12-year-old Is a College Student

by Reporter Miliana Valenzuela, Arizona Desert Elementary

Imagine being a 12-year-old student, attending college. It is a reality for Caleb Anderson. He is currently attending Chattahoochee Technical College in Georgia.

“I will graduate with my AA Degree in May of this year. I will attend Georgia Tech in the fall,” says Caleb.

Caleb started reading at a very early age. “My mother read to me at one month old and I began to read at six months old,” he says.

Caleb liked Dr. Seuss books like Cat in the Hat. “When I got older, I enjoyed longer books by Percy Jackson. Lately, I have enjoyed books like Aragon, Lord of the Rings and King Arthur,” he says.

Science is Caleb’s favorite subject and then History. “I like learning how the world works and has worked. Knowledge is power and we can learn from our past mistakes.”

Caleb is attending Chattahoochee Technical College, majoring in Aerospace Engineering. “Climate change is a big problem. I want to help people go to Mars. I don’t want to go myself. I also want to create alternative fuel,” says Caleb.

Since COVID, Caleb attends classes online. “I do go in person to the labs for Science. For the most part, I have been very welcomed.

Kids think of me as their little brother. It is not what I am, but who I am.” Caleb hopes to have his PHD by the age of 22.

Caleb’s dreams and goals for the future is to stop climate change and have his own Aerospace company. “I want it to be accessible to minorities. I want their dreams to come true for them as well,” he says.

Adviser: Karen Golden

Can you imagine never having a party? What would that be like? Tanvi Barman, Founder and CEO of No Birthday Left Behind (NBLB), found a way to give birthday parties for homeless children in shelters.

Barman, a college student in Southern California, volunteered in shelters with her mom and sister since she was 7 years old. “I would help serve breakfast at the shelter on Sundays.

I would play with the homeless shelter children or eat breakfast with them. One particular conversation with one of the children made me rethink the blessed life I had and go through a deep soul searching,” says Barman.

Barman was talking about her birthday.

The kids gave her blank stares. Barman asked her parents if homeless children had birthday parties. “I decided during my eighth-grade summer that I would host a birthday party for a shelter child to see if I could bring joy to one child,” she says.

To Barman, that first birthday party was extremely special to her. “I planned for weeks, putting together decorations, paperware, goody bags and even arts and crafts. That first party made me realize that one event, celebrating one child was not enough. If I was going to make a even a tiny difference, I had to find a way to MORE BIRTHDAYS, page 6 ➧

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Explore the Science Behind Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

by Reporter Brianna Palacios Mondaca Arizona Desert Elementary The Arizona Boardwalk is full of family focused wonderful exhibits.

According to Karin Gallo, Public Relations for the Arizona Boardwalk, The Titanic exhibit was there for 18 months. “Our bosses went to Florida to see Ripley’s and they were excited to bring it here. It is family friendly for everyone,” says Gallo.

The strangest exhibit, according to Gallo, includes things that people make. “We have a praying mantis made of human hair and a camel made from small toys. Michael Jackson is made from dog hair and we also have a painting that an artist made the size of a pin-head. You can see it under a microscope,” she says.

According to Gallo, there is so much to see. “It’s an Instagrammer’s paradise,” she explains. “We have a calf with two faces, the tallest man in the world in animatronic. He is nine feet tall. There are funny things too. We have Justin Bieber made out of candy, fossilized dinosaur eggs, Nelson Mandela made out of pennies, a tiny piece of Mars and things that you wouldn’t see anywhere else.”

“Everybody likes something different,” says Gallo. The most popular exhibit is a P-50, the smallest car in the world. It is a one-seater. Gallo’s personal favorite is Justin Bieber and she also likes the section on optical illusions and the T-rex made out of tires. There is also a relocation room where you can dance and move, and it shows in color like a rainbow.

For more information go to Azboardwalk.com

Adviser: Karen Golden

More Birthdays

Continued from page 5

celebrate all homeless children and make them feel special on their birthday.”

Barman has been giving parties for four years. Today, the organization is run by volunteers. Each chapter in various cities is supported by its chapter leader and local volunteer groups who work together to plan needy children’s birthday parties in their shelters.

People can sign up to volunteer in any number of ways. Barman says volunteers can help at NBLB events or contribute items for a party, or simply help manage a child’s game or craft activity. Barman’s dream is to build a national network of shelters, cake and entertainment vendors.

For more information, visit www. nobirthdayleftbehind.com or go to the group’s Facebook page.

Adviser: Karen Golden

MORE SCOOPS, page 8 ➧

May 2021 •

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BEAR 40 YEARS

eather Brekke teaches first grade at Basha Elementary. She started working at the school in 2003 after beginning her career in her home state of South Dakota. Brekke left Arizona in 2016 and taught in Florida for two years.

When she moved back to the Valley she also returned to Basha Elementary.

Brekke says she first thought about becoming a teacher when she was a senior in high school.

She helped out in a first-grade classroom, and the teacher she assisted opened her eyes to a career in education. But at that time Brekke did not want to teach first grade herself, she admits. Later Brekke discovered that “I absolutely love teaching kindergarten and first grade!”

According to Blair, who nominated Brekke, “My teacher cares for her students.

She makes learning fun and exciting.”

Brekke believes that education is a partnership between parents and teachers. As much as she inspires students, students can also impact her.

“A few years ago, I had a little girl that just had a hard time at school. Her mornings before school were

kind of rough and it took her a little bit to settle in for our day,” recalls Brekke.

At the end of the year “we were writing about our year (and) she wanted me to read hers to myself, and it said, ‘My favorite part about school is my teacher because she always makes me feel safe and I know she loves me.’ That made me tear up and I gave her the biggest hug I have ever given a child.” Brekke says, “I made sure that every day she knew that this was a safe place for her to grow and learn. Mistakes were ok, bad days were ok and being upset and mad were ok...but she was loved.”

Brekke says that while the student doesn't attend Basha anymore, “I miss her like crazy. I wonder how she is...I wish her all the love in the world and hope she feels my big hug to this day.”

Brekke plans to visit her home state this summer and complete a 110-mile bike ride with her husband.

They have been training by riding 25 to 30 miles several times a week, Brekke reports.

When Brekke is not in the classroom or on a bicycle, you might find her in the kitchen. “I got into cooking over the pandemic,” she explains, and she says she enjoys trying new recipes.

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Continued from page 5

It Wasn’t By Design, But Now It’s His Job

by Reporter Amanda Vega Arizona Desert Elementary

Have you ever thought about being an interior designer? Imagine being an interior designer, being creative, designing rooms, living rooms, small spaces in your house and even your own bedroom.

Joel Lilliquist is an interior designer and a member of the American Society of Interior Design. Lilliquist says he has always been interested in being an interior designer.

“When I was younger, my parents would take me with them when shopping for furniture,” he recalls.

When he got older, he became a teacher and taught for 10 years. “I would help my friends decorate their homes,” says Lilliquist.

Twenty-five years ago Liliquist says he fell into the profession by accident. “I love everything about this profession. I get to meet a lot of people and every project is different. I get to design for a person or family. I like projects that challenge me,” says Liliquist.

He likes to get people to step out of their comfort zone and sometimes people get him out of his comfort zone.

Lilliquists’ teaching background was in fashion

merchandising, partly about color, textiles, scale and proportion. While teaching, he worked in a retail store making clothing look good. “My background was visual merchandising, coloration between both furniture and fashion,” he says. Now he works at La-ZBoy and designs for residential, apartments, condos and houses.

“My favorite area to design is bedrooms. People have a tendency not to do that room. A bedroom is a space to relax,” says the designer. “I would love to do small space designs. You see them in Phoenix and urban areas. It would be really challenging to do a space that is beautiful and has multi-purpose,” he shares.

Lilliquist recommends, “If you want to be an interior designer, there are certification classes. At least get an AA in interior design and then become an apprentice. There are also four-year colleges that offer interior design. I have no regrets that I stumbled into this industry. It has been good to me and I have been good to it.”

Animal Crossing Celebrates Mario

by Reporter Camilla Valdez La Paloma Academy Lakeside Do you like Animal Crossing? Or Super Mario? Well, you’re in luck. Nintendo decided to do a collaboration with Animal Crossing for Super Mario’s 35th anniversary.

After you download the new update to your village, the Nook Stop will start to offer promotion items. You can find familiar items like the Super Mushroom and the Question Block. Not only items but outfits are available. If you want your villager to look like Mario from head to toe, get the outfit! Maybe you like Luigi better than Mario, so you can get the Luigi outfit. Others like Wario and Princess Peach also have outfits available.

This doesn’t cost money but it does cost bells—the currency in Animal Crossing.

You may be wondering what these items can do. Most of them can be used as furniture items, meaning you can place them anywhere you like. But that’s not all you can do. A warp pipe is also available. You can place them anywhere and entering the warp pipe is also possible. But what happens if you enter? The only way to find out is to try it on your island!

MORE SCOOPS, page 10 ➧

May 2021 •

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Girl Scouts Gear Up for Summer Camp!

Summer camp, now more than ever, is a crucial part of Girl Scouting. Summer is on the way, and Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council is excited to host summer camp this year at its four beautiful camp properties.

A return to traditional summer camp provides girls with a sense of normalcy, and it’s also a great opportunity for girls to be bold, be brave, and unlock their endless potential!

Being outdoors and away from technology allows campers to continue building connections and social skills, discover themselves while exploring nature, and challenge themselves in new

ways. Connecting with nature and with other girls in a safe way during the pandemic also helps girls to maintain their physical and mental well-being.

And Girl Scout Summer Camp does just that in a safe all-girl environment.

To prepare for summer camp, Girl Scouts and their families are participating in the Get Outdoors Challenge, March 1–Sept. 13. They’ll earn points by completing outdoor activities to earn badges and patches. Girls like Samantha and Natalie (see photo to right) have been earning points by going on hikes, learning about birds, and horseback riding.

Girl Scouts Samanth a and Na learn about local bir talie go on a hike to ds and wildlife.

Like many things this past year, summer camp will be a little different. There will be increased health and safety measures, but camp counselors and staff will focus on keeping the camp experience consistent and as magical as possible.

Safety measures at camp will include health checks, small group cohorts, limiting indoor meeting times, and requiring masks when social distancing cannot be maintained.

Day camp and residential camp options are available and will include activities like backpacking, hatchet throwing, themed programs, aquatics, STEM, archery, and outdoor skills.

GSACPC has four fabulous camp locations: in Phoenix, Payson, and two campuses in Prescott.

Summer camp sessions are open to all girls! You don’t have to be a prior Girl Scout to attend a Girl Scout summer camp.

To browse summer camp offerings online or to learn more, visit:

girlscoutsaz.org/camp

Join Girl Scouts today!

Visit girlscoutsaz.org Call 602-452-7030 Text 844-317-9041

@GSACPC

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Continued from page 5

Do You Know About Valley Fever?

by Reporter Aleena Rafiyath BASIS Oro Valley

Appropriate Adult Supervision

Kool Kids

Aquatic Word Search

Free swim for boys and girls 17 & under at Phoenix public pools.

gov

Call

COVID-19 may be the main disease issue today, but there are other diseases that are with us, too. Valley fever, or Coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal disease that infects the lungs in people mainly living in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. The fungus, Coccidiodes, can also be found in Washington state.

Valley fever, specifically in Arizona, has no definite season, but usually the dry season, or when the early monsoon dust storms fly in is when the fungus is released from the dirt. The fungus grows inside the soil, and releases spores when dust is blown into the air. These spores, along with the dirt you breathe in, get into your lungs, and the spores infect the lungs. The infection can become disseminated, but this is not common.

With all diseases we have to take precautions. Staying indoors during dust or sand storms, wetting the soil before digging, and wearing a mask in dusty areas are all basic precautions to prevent you from getting infected. Anyone, regardless of age or health, can get it. Animals, mainly dogs, are also vulnerable to the disease. Unlike COVID-19, Valley fever precautions do not require social distancing, for the fungus does not infect from person to person, only rarely between wounds.

Cough, fatigue, night sweats, chest pain, rash, or fever can all be symptoms.

2019 AZDH If you have these, please ask your doctor poster contesS Valley Fever t Gra to test for Valley fever. The symptoms are —Nida A., agnd Winner e 16 similar to many other infections, making it harder to decipher if you have it.

For more information, visit health department websites such as www.cdc.gov or azdhs.gov.

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Water Safetyt Inserto t brough y: b you

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May 2021

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e have a lot of pools around here! One in three homes in the Phoenix area have ’em, many apartment complexes do, too, and there are all those public and semi-public pools. As schools draw to a close and temps warm up, kids and families look forward to a lot more time in the water. But before you go, there are some basics y’all need to know!

Swimming pools aren’t the only water people need to stay safe around—there are rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals, washes…also bathtubs, hottubs, toilets, buckets and those plastic wading pools can be drowning hazards.

In fact, drowning is the leading cause of death for kids ages 1–4. And in Maricopa and Pinal counties, we have between 40 and 60 fatal drownings a year, which usually are mostly adults.

Most years, there are more than 100 non-fatal drownings in the Valley, and most of those are kids.

The good news is that drownings are preventable. Kids and parents need to learn water safety rules and understand the importance of being careful when you’re around water!

Stewie the Duck

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Unfortunately, drownings are a year-round concern in Arizona. “Drownings are the number one cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4,” points out Tracey Fejt, injury prevention coordinator for Banner Desert Medical Center and part of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona. But the good news is that drownings are preventable!

A is for Active Adult Supervision. “Once you get out into the pool or if you have your kids in the bathtub— it’s truly eye-to-eye supervision,” Fejt emphasizes.

“And you can’t leave them, not for anything! Not for a phone call, not for a knock at the door.” For very young kids in the water, “they have to be close enough to touch.”

She also warns that just because there are adults around the pool, it doesn’t mean that any of them are actively watching the kids in the water. “We recommend that there’s one adult (a designated water watcher) who’s not eating, drinking or on their phone— they are truly watching the kids around the water,” Fejt says. With larger groups like at pool parties, she says it’s a good idea to switch up who’s watching the water every 20 minutes so they stay alert.

B

Barriers & Layers of Protection

With so many swimming pools, Arizona has

one of the country’s highest drowning rates.

Barriers, including an adequate pool fence and

gate, need to be in place.

Parents need to think ahead, especially these days. “No parent can watch their kids 24/7, and I think the COVID (situation) made things even worse because parents started working from home and children were being schooled at home. It just made it more CHAOTIC,” Fejt points out. “So you need to have protections set in place.”

Looking at your pool, make sure “there’s no doggy door that has access to the pool; the back door is locked and it has a high latch that kids can’t reach to get out; for sliding doors, lock them, put a bar in them, put the latch higher up,” she continues. “Alarms on doors and windows (that lead to the pool area) are wonderful to have.”

The pool fence needs to be at least 5 feet tall with a self-latching, self-locking gate. “We want the pool fence to go around the pool and not be attached to the house,” Fejt adds.

Such steps are called layers of protection—things put in place to prevent drownings.

Pool toys can be ENTICING for young kids to go after. “You never want to leave toys in the pool or anything that looks fun for the children.

Always when the kids come out, all of those (toys, etc.) come out,” Fejt instructs. And since most kids, even little ones, are expert climbers, keep patio furniture and other things kids could use to get over the pool fence as far away from the pool as possible.

we

OF SCOTTSDA L

E D E Pu o c are for y

Classes

Learn The Water Safety Song Sing these lyrics to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.

Life Jackets & More Certified life jackets (also called life vests) that fit right can be super importAlways stay away ant. Families need to stick with Coast from canals!

Guard-approved life jackets. “If the kids don’t know how to swim—it’s great to have a life jacket on them,” Fejt says.

They usually are printed with a weight and chest measurement, but Fejt says a parent really needs to get into the water with the child to make sure the life jacket is doing what it’s supposed to do. Don’t rely on plastic puddle jumpers that are growing in popularity or those arm floaties to keep a kid safe in the water!

Life jackets aren’t just for kids who don’t know how to swim. Everybody in open water like lakes or rivers, including adults who are swimming, tubing or boating, should have them on!

No one should ever swim in an open canal or the CAP aqueduct.

Fejt warns that a kid should never try to jump in the water to save another kid or an adult.

So if people are using the pool, there should be a phone available to call for help. Fejt also suggests having on hand something that floats—even a couple of pool noodles—to throw out to someone who needs help.

Solve Stewie’s Swim Riddle!

book “Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim” at

Stewietheduck.org

vest

Fill in the missing letters in the words below, using the Word Bank to help you. Then match the numbered letter in each word to the number in the riddle answer. The first letter is done for you.

1.

Authors Kim and Stew Leonard wrote the book and created the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation in honor of their son, a toddler who they lost in a drowning accident.

You can purchase Stewie’s

Page 13

Please visit www.preventdrownings.org for more information!

Another important layer of protection is classes. “We want young people in water safety classes or swim classes as soon as possible.”

Fejt emphasizes. While several sites that offer swim classes have been closed due to the pandemic, “we’re seeing more and more come back!” she says. Many of these places offer mom and tot classes. And for adults who don’t know how to swim? It’s never too late to take swim lessons! (Check out the next page for places like the YMCA that are offering swim classes and more.)

And classes don’t stop there. “Every parent needs to know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and they need to know children’s CPR,” Fejt says. This is something kids who are mature enough should learn, too! “We have to really look at kids individually because they mature at different times,” she explains. “We definitely want to see them in junior high knowing how.”

To find CPR classes, check with your local Red Cross or fire departments to see if classes have resumed.

Follow Stewie the Duck to learn the ABC’s of water safety!

Adult Supervision

IR

F

Learn How To Swim T his Summer!

TY CI

BEAR 40 YEARS

E

Let’s All Learn About Water Safety and...

•

T

Page 12

swim 1

6.

f e n __ e 6

2.

v e s __ 2

7.

d u c __ 7

3.

__ u a c k 3

8.

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4.

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9.

r __ l e s 9

5.

w__ t e r 5

10.

s __ l a s h 10

rules swim safety splash jump quack water

Riddle: What happens to a duck when it flies upside down?

Answer:

i __

1

2

__ __ __ __ __ __ 3

4

5

6

7

8

__ __ !

9

10

duck fence

BEAR 40 YEARS

www.bearessentialnews.com

• May 2021

May 2021

Sponsored by

W

C

e have a lot of pools around here! One in three homes in the Phoenix area have ’em, many apartment complexes do, too, and there are all those public and semi-public pools. As schools draw to a close and temps warm up, kids and families look forward to a lot more time in the water. But before you go, there are some basics y’all need to know!

Swimming pools aren’t the only water people need to stay safe around—there are rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals, washes…also bathtubs, hottubs, toilets, buckets and those plastic wading pools can be drowning hazards.

In fact, drowning is the leading cause of death for kids ages 1–4. And in Maricopa and Pinal counties, we have between 40 and 60 fatal drownings a year, which usually are mostly adults.

Most years, there are more than 100 non-fatal drownings in the Valley, and most of those are kids.

The good news is that drownings are preventable. Kids and parents need to learn water safety rules and understand the importance of being careful when you’re around water!

Stewie the Duck

A

Unfortunately, drownings are a year-round concern in Arizona. “Drownings are the number one cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4,” points out Tracey Fejt, injury prevention coordinator for Banner Desert Medical Center and part of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona. But the good news is that drownings are preventable!

A is for Active Adult Supervision. “Once you get out into the pool or if you have your kids in the bathtub— it’s truly eye-to-eye supervision,” Fejt emphasizes.

“And you can’t leave them, not for anything! Not for a phone call, not for a knock at the door.” For very young kids in the water, “they have to be close enough to touch.”

She also warns that just because there are adults around the pool, it doesn’t mean that any of them are actively watching the kids in the water. “We recommend that there’s one adult (a designated water watcher) who’s not eating, drinking or on their phone— they are truly watching the kids around the water,” Fejt says. With larger groups like at pool parties, she says it’s a good idea to switch up who’s watching the water every 20 minutes so they stay alert.

B

Barriers & Layers of Protection

With so many swimming pools, Arizona has

one of the country’s highest drowning rates.

Barriers, including an adequate pool fence and

gate, need to be in place.

Parents need to think ahead, especially these days. “No parent can watch their kids 24/7, and I think the COVID (situation) made things even worse because parents started working from home and children were being schooled at home. It just made it more CHAOTIC,” Fejt points out. “So you need to have protections set in place.”

Looking at your pool, make sure “there’s no doggy door that has access to the pool; the back door is locked and it has a high latch that kids can’t reach to get out; for sliding doors, lock them, put a bar in them, put the latch higher up,” she continues. “Alarms on doors and windows (that lead to the pool area) are wonderful to have.”

The pool fence needs to be at least 5 feet tall with a self-latching, self-locking gate. “We want the pool fence to go around the pool and not be attached to the house,” Fejt adds.

Such steps are called layers of protection—things put in place to prevent drownings.

Pool toys can be ENTICING for young kids to go after. “You never want to leave toys in the pool or anything that looks fun for the children.

Always when the kids come out, all of those (toys, etc.) come out,” Fejt instructs. And since most kids, even little ones, are expert climbers, keep patio furniture and other things kids could use to get over the pool fence as far away from the pool as possible.

we

OF SCOTTSDA L

E D E Pu o c are for y

Classes

Learn The Water Safety Song Sing these lyrics to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.

Life Jackets & More Certified life jackets (also called life vests) that fit right can be super importAlways stay away ant. Families need to stick with Coast from canals!

Guard-approved life jackets. “If the kids don’t know how to swim—it’s great to have a life jacket on them,” Fejt says.

They usually are printed with a weight and chest measurement, but Fejt says a parent really needs to get into the water with the child to make sure the life jacket is doing what it’s supposed to do. Don’t rely on plastic puddle jumpers that are growing in popularity or those arm floaties to keep a kid safe in the water!

Life jackets aren’t just for kids who don’t know how to swim. Everybody in open water like lakes or rivers, including adults who are swimming, tubing or boating, should have them on!

No one should ever swim in an open canal or the CAP aqueduct.

Fejt warns that a kid should never try to jump in the water to save another kid or an adult.

So if people are using the pool, there should be a phone available to call for help. Fejt also suggests having on hand something that floats—even a couple of pool noodles—to throw out to someone who needs help.

Solve Stewie’s Swim Riddle!

book “Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim” at

Stewietheduck.org

vest

Fill in the missing letters in the words below, using the Word Bank to help you. Then match the numbered letter in each word to the number in the riddle answer. The first letter is done for you.

1.

Authors Kim and Stew Leonard wrote the book and created the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation in honor of their son, a toddler who they lost in a drowning accident.

You can purchase Stewie’s

Page 13

Please visit www.preventdrownings.org for more information!

Another important layer of protection is classes. “We want young people in water safety classes or swim classes as soon as possible.”

Fejt emphasizes. While several sites that offer swim classes have been closed due to the pandemic, “we’re seeing more and more come back!” she says. Many of these places offer mom and tot classes. And for adults who don’t know how to swim? It’s never too late to take swim lessons! (Check out the next page for places like the YMCA that are offering swim classes and more.)

And classes don’t stop there. “Every parent needs to know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and they need to know children’s CPR,” Fejt says. This is something kids who are mature enough should learn, too! “We have to really look at kids individually because they mature at different times,” she explains. “We definitely want to see them in junior high knowing how.”

To find CPR classes, check with your local Red Cross or fire departments to see if classes have resumed.

Follow Stewie the Duck to learn the ABC’s of water safety!

Adult Supervision

IR

F

Learn How To Swim T his Summer!

TY CI

BEAR 40 YEARS

E

Let’s All Learn About Water Safety and...

•

T

Page 12

swim 1

6.

f e n __ e 6

2.

v e s __ 2

7.

d u c __ 7

3.

__ u a c k 3

8.

__ a f e t y 8

4.

j __ m p 4

9.

r __ l e s 9

5.

w__ t e r 5

10.

s __ l a s h 10

rules swim safety splash jump quack water

Riddle: What happens to a duck when it flies upside down?

Answer:

i __

1

2

__ __ __ __ __ __ 3

4

5

6

7

8

__ __ !

9

10

duck fence

14

BEAR 40 YEARS •

www.bearessentialnews.com

May 2021

Swim Safety Rules Worth Saving !

Contact These Valley Locations for Current Info On Swim Lessons Image: shutterstock.com

Apache Junction: Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center (480) 982-8002 June–August, Infants to adult lessons www.apachejunctionaz.gov/219/Aquatic-Center.

Chandler: 480-782-2750 Year round lessons, Infants to adult www.chandleraz.gov/explore/chandler-aquatics/swim-lessons

Water Safety Rules

El Mirage: Valley of the Sun YMCA (602) 404-9622 Parent/Child lessons, Infant to adult lessons https://valleyymca.org/swim/

Call 911 if there is an emergency at the pool.

Gilbert: Aquatics (480) 503-6200 Preschool to adults www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/aquatics

Take swimming lessons. They help you to be stronger in the water.

Wear a life vest when you are learning to swim. Always wear a life vest in a boat.

Never swim alone. Even grown-ups should swim with someone.

Always have a grown-up watching you. If the grown-up has to leave for a minute, get out of the pool.

Don’t swim at a friend’s house if there is no one to watch you.

Floaties and noodles are pool toys. They do not take the place of a safe life vest.

Watch out for your friends in the water. Call for help if someone is in trouble.

Make sure you watch little children around bathtubs, toilets, and buckets of water. They can drown in small amounts of water.

LIFESAVER MAZE FINISH

START 12

Glendale: Foothills Recreation & Aquatics (623) 930-4600 Rose Lane Aquatics (623) 930-7905 www.glendaleaz.com/live/amenities/aquatics Mesa: Parks & Rec (480) 644-7529 Infants to adult lessons www.mesaparks.com/parks-facilities/pools/swimming-lessons Peoria: City of Peoria (623) 773-7000 Parent/Child to adult lessons. Private lessons available www.peoriaaz.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation-andcommunity-facilities/recreation-programs/aquatics/swim-lessons Phoenix: City of Phoenix Parks & Rec (602) 262-6011 Registration begins May 13. Free lessons for ages 3-12 www.phoenix.gov/parks/pools Paradise Valley: Paradise Valley Pool (602) 534-5161 Registration begins May 13. Free lessons for ages 3-12 www.phoenix.gov/parks/pools/find-a-pool/paradise-valley Scottsdale: Aquatics (480) 312-6677 Infants to adult lessons www.scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/aquatics/swim-lessons Surprise: Parks & Rec (623) 222-2251 6 months to adult lessons. Private lessons available www.surpriseaz.gov/499/Swim-Lessons Tempe: (480) 350-4311 8 month to adult lessons www.tempe.gov/government/community-services/communityrecreation-centers/kiwanis-recreation-center/swim-lessons YMCA: Various locations around the Valley (602) 404-9622 Parent/Child lessons, Infant to adult lessons https://valleyymca.org/swim/

Sponsored by TY CI

F

IR we

OF SCOTTSDA L

E

Clickable links can be found in the Phoenix Summer Camp Guide at BearEssentialNews.com

E DEP

T

Water Safety Rules

care for you

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Growing, Growing,

May 2021 •

Strong!

BEAR 40 YEARS

15

Sponsored by

Fun tips on healthy foods, fitness and well being —from our family to yours!

Why We Want Water:

by Jasmine Swier, RDN, CDCES, registered dietician at Phoenix Children’s

phoenixchildrens.org 602-933-0935

Shocking Sugar Statistics!

o

grams

G

etting enough water every day is important for our health.

Many of us are consuming too many calories and added sugars from sugar-sweetened beverages and may not be aware of the amount of sugar in some of the most popular drinks like sodas, sports drinks, teas, and fruit juices. These types of drinks are often high in calories and low in nutrition.

Here are some popular drinks and how much sugar they have:

o

24 grams

What happens when we drink too many sugary drinks?

Drinking just one soda per day equals 55 pounds of sugar per year!

Consuming too much sugar can lead to excessive weight gain, heart disease, tooth decay, fatty liver, and type 2 diabetes. Water is so important for our health and helps our body stay at a healthy temperature, lubricates our joints, protects our spine, and helps our body get rid of waste.

W A T E R

Sometimes you will find drinks with sugar substitutes. While these don’t have sugar, they still don’t have much nutritional benefit. There isn’t enough research to know the long-term effects of these either. It’s truly the best option to stick with water.

40 grams

grams

What about artificial sweeteners?

52 grams

Tips to Avoid Sugary Drinks:

28 grams

56 grams

120 grams

32 grams

How much sugar is too much in my drink?

Aim for ZERO sugar in your drinks!

Water is always the best choice. The maximum amount of added sugar per day is 25 grams or 6 teaspoons.

• Start young – children should stick to water and milk.

• Stay hydrated with water. Aim for 6-8 cups per day.

• Add fun flavors. Add fruit and herbs to water or freeze fruit in ice trays and add to water.

• Get a reusable water bottle that you can always keep around.

• Read the label to see if there is sugar in the drink.

• Limit juice intake, including 100% fruit juice.

• Skip the sports drink. Most of the time water is plenty to rehydrate after physical activity.

Here’s a Cool Secret Message from Boomer!

To decode the message, do the math to find the correct letter code, then write that letter on the line above the code.

__ __ __ __

__

Key Code

6-1 14x1 11-1 3x5 20+5 A-1

H-8

O - 15

B-2 I-9 P - 16

C-3 J - 10 Q - 17 D-4 K - 11 R - 18 E-5 L - 12 S - 19 F-6 M - 13 T - 20 G-7 N - 14 U - 21

__ __ __

10x2 9-1 5x1 V - 22 W - 23 X - 24 Y - 25 Z - 26

__

__ __ __

3x4 10+5 2x7 5+2

__ __ __

__

__ __

10+9 7x3 11+2 14-1 4+1 3x6

__ __ __ __

2+2 1x1 5x5 20-1,

__ __ __ & __

2x3 3x7 7+7

__

__ __ __ __ __ !

4+2 20-2 3x3 15÷3 7x2 4x1 23-4

16

BEAR 40 YEARS •

www.bearessentialnews.com

May 2021

Bear’s

CAMP GUIDE • 2021 J Register Now for Summer Camps

Serious Fun.

The Little Gym of Paradise Valley and Scottsdale 4225 E. Windrose #111 • Scottsdale, AZ 85032

602-996-1380

tlgparadisevalleyaz.com@thelittlegym.com

Black Mountain BMX

We Are OPEN and

RACING!

For Dates and Times, check our website

602-999-5979

www.blackmountainbmx.com Volume 42 • Issue 8

Editor & Publisher

Sales Director & Publisher

Stephen B Gin

Nancy Holmes

City Editor

YR Coordinator

Copy Editor

Art Director

Mike Loghry

Gary Shepard

Renee Griffith

Julie Madden

Bear Essential News for Kids®

is published monthly by Kids’ View Communications Corp. to educate, enrich and entertain children and their families. Content of this newspaper is designed to promote reading and writing skills as well as creativity.

Classroom educators are welcome to reproduce any portion of this newspaper for their students.

Call or fax Kids’ View Communications for any additional information on stories.

Please Call (480)

752-2327 for any editorial or advertising inquiries.

©2021 Kids’ View Communications Corp.—all rights reserved • 2525 E. Broadway #102 • Tucson, AZ 85716 Fax# (520) 792-2580 • Bear Essential News is distributed free each month.

Printed with recycled newsprint.

www.bearessentialnews.com

ENDORSED BY THE

Arizona Education Association

ust like everything else this year, there will be changes with summer camps. Some camps will be virtual—using Zoom or Facebook Live platforms—but there also will be day camps and residence camps.

Things parents should look at when choosing a summer camp include how the camps are complying with Covid-19 regulations and suggestions set up by the Centers for Disease Control.

The CDC has prepared a Readiness and Planning Tool so camps and youth programs can design their programs to keep everyone, from campers to counselors, safe.

Most camps have a disclaimer on their website explaining how they will be following Covid-19 protocols during their camps. They should have a list of how many campers will be together at a time, what campers are required to bring with them (mask, lunch, snacks, water bottles), how they will keep campers social distanced and more. If you do not see this information on a camp website, do not hesitate to give them a call and ask questions so that your camper and your family stay safe.

Campers will be expected to do their part as well to ensure that their camp experience is fun, memorable and safe! Wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands frequently and staying home if you have a fever, feel sick or have any symptoms.

The CDC Readiness and Planning Tool can be found at this link: www. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/camp-planning-tool.pdf

Bear’s Summer Camp Guide is available online at

Bearessentialnews.com Click on the “Guides” tab for the 2021 listings.

May 2021 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

ARIZONA WORLD OF BASEBALL 1730 E. Elliot Road • Tempe 480-775-9800 info.azwob@gmail.com www.azwob.com

Indoor baseball and softball facility. A safe and friendly environment to work on becoming a more accomplished player.

We offer batting cages as well as Hitting, Pitching, and Catching lessons. Keep checking our web site for upcoming information for World of Baseball’s Summer Program for kids.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE VALLEY 602-954-8182 BGCAZ.org

Sign up for summer Enrichment & Fun at BGCAZ’s high-qualiaty, affordable summer program. Morning programs will focus on engaging and fun academic and social enrichment to prepare students for fall.

Afternoons will include arts, sports, games and more! Teens will create exciting service learning projects that will build self-confidence and leadership skills and count for volunteer service hours. Weekly program fees for youth 5-12 start at $60 and financial aid is available at all Clubs. Teens are free with Club membership.

Open 7 a.m-6 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are included daily in the full-day programming.

Check BGCAZ.org to find your local Club.This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

BLACK MOUNTAIN BMX

24024 N. 11th Street • Phoenix 602-999-5979 All Ages

www.usabmx.com/tracks/0257 All ages and all experience levels are welcome! Clinics, Practice and Racing. Visit www.usabmx.com/tracks/0257 for full details, location, directions and more.

BOOKMANS ENTERTAINMENT EXCHANGE MESA: 8034 N. 19TH Ave PHOENIX: 1056 S. Country Club Dr

www.bookmans.com Check out Bookmans.com for weekly family friendly events and activities.

CAMP ZOO AT THE PHOENIX ZOO

455 N. Galvin Pkwy. • Phoenix 602-286-3800 June 7–July 31 phoenixzoo.org

Children will have fascinating adventures with the natural world this summer at Camp Zoo. Each age-appropriate, weeklong session is filled with animal encounters, activities, games, in-depth investigations and organized free-time. Class size will be limited to allow for social distancing, and face coverings are required at all times. Camp Zoo is for students entering K- 8th grade in the fall of 2021.

MORE CAMP GUIDE, page 18

BEAR 40 YEARS

17

18

BEAR 40 YEARS •

www.bearessentialnews.com

May 2021

Bear’s

CAMP GUIDE • 2021 continued from page 17

EAST VALLEY CHILDREN’S THEATRE Summer Theatre Camps 4501 E. Main St. • Mesa 480-756-3828 June 1–July 16 Ages: 5–17 www.evct.org/camps info@evct.org

EVCT has four different in-person summer camp programs: Imagination Theatre Camp for kids age 5–8, Musical Theatre Camp & Theatre Workshop Camp for kids age 8–15 and a Four Day Acting Intensive for kids age 11–17. Participants learn performance techniques, teamwork, communication skills and have FUN in a non-competitive, educational atmosphere. Instructors are local theatre professional in the field of dance, music and theatre. CDC guidelines are in place for all of our great camp experiences.

ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

EMCC Kids College 3000 N. Dysart Rd. • Avondale 623-535-2730 www.estrellamountain.edu/kids-college

We offer a huge variety of kids camps for ages 8-16. Many classes are taught by experts at our college: Culinary, Auto DAD & 3D printing, Woodworking, gardening & animals, Cheer, Dance, Sign Language, Spanish & Gamemaster techniques.

GIRL SCOUTS — ARIZONA CACTUS-PINE COUNCIL Four Camps • Phoenix, Prescott, Payson 602-452-7000 June-July Girlscoutsaz.org/camp

Find Adventure. Get Outdoors!

Hiking, climbing, swimming, archery, stargazing, ceramics, canoeing–and much, much more! Girl Scout Summer Camp is a great place to meet new friends and make memories – you don’t have to be a Girl Scout, and Troops don’t attend together.

There’s something for every girl to discover in our safe, all-girl environment. Plus, we offer pricing options for every budget and are among the most affordable thanks to generous supporters and our iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program.

AZ Outdoor Ed – Grand Canyon Council, Boy Scouts of America

U

tilizing our Scout camps and programs, these six-day programs are available to all youth aged 13 and above! Young men and women are encouraged to get involved, enjoy the outdoors, create friendships, and explore new hobbies and interests as they learn in a safe, structured setting! Our traditional summer camp program is also available for all youth to participate in, regardless of your current Scouting affiliation!

June through July!

Fish Camp – $400 - This camp visits a variety of lakes, streams, and creeks throughout central Arizona as youth learn about types of fishing including: fly fishing, night-time fishing, fishing from canoes, and more! This course will also include workshops on fish anatomy, biology, and pathology, first aid, how to cook fresh fish, soil and water conservation, and more.

This program is conducted in partnership with Trout Unlimited.

Spade Ranch High Adventure – $500 - Our high adventure program allows youth to engage in an introductory level of a variety of exciting programs, such as caving, canyoneering, mountain biking, outdoor rock climbing, stand up paddle boards, and horseback riding!

Drone Camp – $600 - A STEM program focused on the emerging technology of drones. Youth will learn science and technology concepts as they build their own drone which they will be able to pilot through a series of obstacles and competitions. At the end of camp, youth will be able to take their drone home with them!

602-955-7747x239 • www.azoutdoored.org

May 2021 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

GOLD MEDAL GYMNASTICS Various Locations • Tempe & Chandler 480-557-0006 June–August Ages: 5–14 www.goldmedalgyms.com

A varitey of camp options to fit your childcare needs as well as gymnastic goals and activities for kids of all ages, abilities and training levels. Camps themes like Aloha Summer, Superhero Challenge and new this year is Ninja Camp. This camp is perfect for athletes of all ages and skill levels can push themselves to their physical limits on obstacles such as the warp wall.

GRAND CANYON COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AZ OUTDOOR ED Multiple six-day options • Payson 602-955-7747 x239 June–July All Youth 13+ www.azoutdoored.org

Utilizing our Scout camps and programs, these six-day programs are available to all youth aged 13 and above! Young men and women are encouraged to get involved, enjoy the outdoors, create friendships, and explore new hobbies and interests as they learn in a safe, structured setting!

Our traditional summer camp program is also available for all youth to participate in, regardless of Scout membership!

Fish Camp – $400 - This camp visits a variety of lakes, streams, and creeks throughout central Arizona as youth learn

about types of fishing including: fly fishing, night-time fishing, fishing from canoes, and more! This course will also include workshops on fish anatomy, biology, and pathology, first aid, how to cook fresh fish, soil and water conservation, and more.

This program is conducted in partnership with Trout Unlimited.

Spade Ranch High Adventure – $500 - Our high adventure program allows youth to engage in an introductory level of a variety of exciting programs, such as caving, canyoneering, mountain biking outdoor rock climbing, stand up paddle boards, and horseback riding!

Drone Camp – $600 - A STEM program focused on the emerging technology of drones. Youth will learn science and technology concepts as they build their own drone which they will be able to pilot through a series of obstacles and competitions. At the end of camp, youth will be able to take their drone home with them!

Ages 3–12 School Recess Dates and Summer Break

NEW Socially distanced curriculum with Enhanced Health and Sanitization

LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER ARIZONA

855-450-0558 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Ste 135 • Tempe Ages: 3–10 Arizona@LEGOLANDDiscovery.com www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/arizona/ Jump into the biggest box of LEGO bricks EVER at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona! With two rides, a 4D Cinema, plus 12 build & play zones, there is something for children of all ages. Tickets are limited, book online to guarantee admission.

MORE CAMP GUIDE, page 20

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weekly NEWSLETTER. You’ll find helpful information on:

• New Contests • Family Fun

• Scoops Stories

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To sign up, go to BearEssentialNews.com and click on the envelope icon at the top right hand side of the site.

BEAR 40 YEARS

(480) 596-5343 xtremegymnastics.com 14000 N. Hayden Rd. • Suite 102 Scottsdale, AZ 85260

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Bear’s

SETH KOREY TENNIS Summer Tennis Camp

7421 N. Scottsdale Rd. • Scottsdale skorey777@gmail.com

CAMP GUIDE • 2021 continued from page 19

THE LITTLE GYM OF PARADISE VALLEY AND SCOTTSDALE

4225 E. Windrose Dr. Suite 111 • Phoenix 602-996-1380 May 16–Aug. 7 • Ages: 3–12 years $35 per day for members $45 per day for non-members Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday 1 p.m.–4 p.m. tlgparadisevalleyaz@thelittlegym.com www.thelittlegym.com/ParadiseValleyAZ/ parties-camps/camps#schedules

School may be out—but fun is in!

Day camp at Little Gym of Paradise Valley gives your kid the summer camp experience without the bug bites, poison ivy, sun burns and week-long commitments. Combining fun physical activity, games, arts & crafts we’ll help your child beat the summer heat by staying cool at The Little Gym. Look for details online.

MARICOPA COUNTY READS TAILS AND TALES Registration begins May 1, 2021 Program runs June1–August 1 maricopacountyreads.org

Read for 20 minutes a day and earn a free book! Books available for babies to adults. Earn digital badges by participating in literacy-based events. Readers can create their own avatar and go on reading adventures while earning prizes along the way.

OCTANE RACEWAY

9119 E. Talking Stick Way • Scottsdale 602-302-7223 www.octaneraceway.com

A one-third mile track Full-time indoor/ outdoor competitive kart racing, mini-

bowling, video games and more. All racers must be at least 5’ 4”. Brickyard grill and outdoor patio. Group event packages available.

PHOENIX CENTER FOR THE ARTS SUMMER CAMP 1202 N. 3rd St. • Phoenix 602-254-3100 June 7 to August 6 Ages: 7–14 info@phoenixcenterforthearts.org phoenixcenterforthearts.org

Online Summer Arts Camp with Rising Youth Theatre, where kids use theatre, dance, visual art and more to connect and create together. Choose from four different twoweek sessions where kids can bring their “fandoms” to life using their own creative voices, with guidance from professional artists. Sessions explore connections to pop culture stories and worlds, finishing with a performance sharing and celebration.

Sessions include Mystery Bag containing all the camp supplies and surprises. Early Bird $250 (Ends April 30) Regular $300 (Starting May 1)

SEA LIFE ARIZONA AQUARIUM

855-450-0559 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Ste 145• Tempe Ages: All Arizona@SEALIFEUS.com www.visitsealife.com/arizona/ Dive into SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, home to Arizona’s only 360-degree ocean tunnel!

Discover thousands of creatures such as sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, and more in more than 30 exhibits. Tickets are limited, book online to guarantee admission.

Help Boomer find his way through the CAMP maze!

Check out all of our guides online at BearEssentialNews.com

www.sethkoreytennis.com 1- week sessions run May 24th - August 6th. Ages 4 - 16. $195/week with early bird discount before April 30 and 10% sibling discount. Monday - Thursday 8 a.m.–1p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Aftercare available for an additional fee. Camp includes tennis instruction and games, lunch, swimming and daily themes! Optional field trips on Fridays. skorey777@gmail. com for more information.

Online registration: www.sethkoreytennis. com/summer-camp-2021

TUTOR TIME

26 Schools Valley-Wide 877-794-6704 May 31–August 13 www.tutortime.com/educational-programs/ summer-camp/ A busy summer is a fun summer. Make this summer like no other at Tutor Time’s Camp One-of-a-Kind, which is brimming with activities and features weekly and bi-weekly themes that may include science, geography, zoology, art, fitness, games, and STEM learning. Your child will enjoy immersive learning experiences, fun projects, cool gear, and healthy meals.

Choose your favorite camps, or go all summer long. Younger siblings at home?

We offer programs for younger children too!

Get ready for a summer camp experience that’s totally unique! Call us at 877-794-6704 or visit tutortime.com to learn more and find your local school.

UPTOWN JUNGLE FUN PARK 7608 W. Cactus #101 • Peoria 623-203-7169 sscheffert@uptownjungle.com peoria.uptownjungle.com

Uptown Jungle is more than a trampoline park, it’s a city-style indoor playground metropolis that allows kids to enter into a world where they become a superhero, rock climber, explorer or even an uptown ninja warrior all inside a child-safe environment.

Enjoy Trampolines, Climbing Walls, Spider

Tower, Mini Zip, Super Slides, Ninja Course and more!

The indoor park features a huge variety of action-oriented fun activities that guarantee that your kid will have a blast while getting an excellent workout.

VALLEY OF THE SUN YMCA CAMP SKY-Y 5725 S. Senator Highway • Prescott 888-747-2894 david.madden@vosymca.org azycamps.org

Located in the heart of Prescott National Park, this summer overnight camp is a big adventure for kids ages 7-16–the fun and freedom of being outdoors, while learning new skills, and making new friends will make memories that will last a lifetime.

Fun-filled weeks with activities including archery, paintball, crafts, canoeing, games, rock climbing, and much more–will make a summer experience your kids will love! Sign up today!

WILDLIFE WORLD ZOO & AQUARIUM

16501 W Northern Ave. • Litchfield Park 623-935-9453 Open 365 days a year www.wildlifeworld.com Student and group field trips welcome!

Feed the Lory parrots, learn about animal ambassadors and see some display natural behaviors during a Wildlife Encounter Show.

Meet baby animals in our children’s play area and petting zoo. Call for rates. We accept cash, check or purchase order.

XTREME GYMNASTICS

14000 N. Hayden Rd. #104 • Scottsdale 480-595-3543 June–July Ages: 3–12 xtreme@xtremegynmastics.com xtremegymnastics.com FIT-N-FUN camps promote health and fitness while having a blast. Children ages 3-12 yrs. will enjoy high energy themes each week, incorporating our New SOCIALLY DISTANCED curriculum and enhanced sanitization. The Xtreme Gymnastics staff is USAG Safety Certified with complete background checks. Come MOVE-LEARN & XCEL with us.

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Teachers! Start planning your Fall 2021 Field Trips Now!

Make Wildlife World part of your classroom experience!

Arizona’s largest animal collection is exhibited on over 80 acres.

Discount pricing for your class and chaperones. Admission includes access to scheduled lory parrot feeding, wildlife encounters shows, children’s play area and petting zoo.

Call 623-935-9453 for rates, info and to schedule your visit.

School Onsite Outreach Program also available.

For more information call 623-935-5692 X 106.

Named Arizona’s Best Zoo! by Readers Digest Magazine—2019.

Aquarium

•

Zoo

•

Safari Park

•

Dragon World

Summertime at Wildlife World Zoo! Join us for special aquarium evening hours at Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium in Litchfield Park

•

Adventure Land

•

Mining Experience

It’s Zoocabulary Adventure Time!

Can you match the word to its definition?

Check out fish, mammals, birds, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles at the Wildlife World Aquarium. Explore 4 aquarium buildings: The Diversity of Life in Water, The Wild and Wonderful, Predators and River Monsters as you wander through more than 75 exhibits.

Make your way throughout the Aquarium Maze!

ADAPTATION FERAL

NOCTURNAL DIURNAL

HABITAT OMNIVORE

VERTEBRATE CAMOUFLAGE

HERBIVORE PREY

1. _______________ An animal that is hunted by predators.

2. _______________ Active at night 3. _______________ Concealment of an animal by its color or shape 4. _______________ A change in structure, function or behavior that produces better adjustments to the environment

START

5. _______________ Plant eater 6. _______________ Area where a plant or an animal species lives 7. _______________ Domesticated animal that has been returned to the wild 8. _______________ Active during the day 9. _______________ An animal with a backbone 10. _______________ Eats both plants and animals

FINISH

n 8 acre additio rk. a P to our Safari us!

Come join

e l i Sm

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium, in Litchfield Park, is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays. Zoo exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last zoo admis­sion is at 5 p.m.)

Aquarium exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daytime admission includes access to the zoo and aquarium. Special reduced evening Aquarium-Only admission is available after 5 p.m.

Discount coupons available: www.BearEssentialNews.com

Wild

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It’s Time to Play...

Chocolate Milk or Strawberry Milk?

Smoothie or String Cheese?

Bicycle or Skateboard?

Art Class or Music Class?

Ice cream or popcorn?

Big Dog or Little Cat?

This OR That?

Mac & Cheese PIZZA CUPS Ingredients 2 cups large macaroni noodles 1 tbsp butter 1 large egg 1/2 cup milk 1 cup pizza sauce divided 1 tsp minced garlic 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1 cup colby jack cheese shredded

2 cups mozzarella cheese divided 1/2 cup mini pepperoni slices

For the crumb topping: 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs 1/2 tbsp butter melted 1/4 tsp salt freshly chopped parsley for garnish if desired

Use the QR codes to get to the directions for these recipes—and lots more great ideas for your family!

Berry-Licious

SMOOTHIE Ingredients 2 cups plain Greek yogurt 2 cups assorted frozen berries strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and/or blackberries 1/2 cup orange or carrot juice 2 tbsp honey 4 cups milk

www.arizonamilk.org