ShortStuff

Observe. Explore. Wonder.

With funding from the National Science Foundation, the Space Science Institute's National Center for Interactive Learning, the American Library Association, Twin Cities PBS, Institute for Learning Innovation, and Education Development Center, the Chowchilla Branch Library (300 Kings Avenue, Chowchilla) was one of twelve rural libraries to be selected to participate in the STEAM Equity Project.

This project empowers tweens and their families around equitable STEAM learning and career paths by leveraging their existing strengths, interests, and diverse cultures. The Madera County Library, Chowchilla Branch has been working to:

• Collaborate and co-create gender-equitable STEAM exploration pathways.

• Encourage tweens and their families to engage in STEAM explorations in the library and beyond.

• Work with community collaborators to initiate and sustain STEAM learning opportunities.

During this project, the library will have a STEAM exploration space, active STEAM learning programs, and STEAM outreach kits—along with interactive traveling exhibitions! The next exhibit arrives during the first week of July and is entitled Soy Super Curios@ / I’m Super Creative.

Learn about outer space, weather, oceanography, and more through an interactive global display. Challenge your observation skills and explore citizen science opportunities to study animals, weather, the night sky, and more in this hands-on experience.

This exhibition is especially designed for tweens 10–13 years old and their families, but people of all ages will have fun learning and exploring. The exhibition is written in both English and Spanish and offers so much to see and do! Community members have opportunities to practice citizen science skills and try asking their own "super" questions.

The display will remain on-site through the end of September and will host three activities: a Curious World Trivia Game, a Wonder Worlds floating planet, and a Critter Cam that views a shark tank, birdfeeders, penguins, and an African wildlife park.

Call the Chowchilla Branch Library 665-2630 to learn more!

Building Healthy Families at Family Café

Join Babies First and have conversations about parenting, building healthy families, and The Protective Factors. This free program takes place on Wednesdays in July from 3–4:30 p.m. at Alegre Commons, 130 W. Barstow Avenue in Fresno.

Family Cafés:

• Encourages self-reflection and peer-to-peer learning.

• Helps parents support other parents.

• Builds a sense of community.

• Highlights family resources in Fresno.

Enter for a $25 gift card raffle drawing at each café and attend three cafés to receive a thank you prize! Visit tinyurl.com/babiesfirstevents or call 600-3330 to learn more!

$1 Million for a Friend?

The $1 million Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless (STOP) education identifies, rewards, and celebrates education that not only helps underserved students, but is happening with excellence and innovation!

The STOP principles are the core qualities that form the heart of the Yass Prize—because they have the power to drive educational change for every child.

Do you know a friend, colleague, teacher, or exceptional leader that is STOP-ing for kids?

Have them head to yassprize.org and apply by July 15th for a chance to win!

Some Shorter Stuff

Meet our Cover Kid, Justice!

Justice is 4 years old and is smart, spunky, outspoken, outdoorsy, a lover of all animals, and a swimmer. She knows all the months of the year, days of the week, planets, can spell and write her full name, and count to 20 in English and Lao. Her favorite desserts are acaí bowls and mint chip ice cream. She has a 13-yearold sister named Laila and a dog named Harley. Justice is a social butterfly and loves to be in the presence of friends and family!

Calling All Student Artists!

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is accepting clean air drawings for their upcoming Healthy Air Living Kids’ Calendar, an annual contest showcasing the San Joaquin Valley’s K–12 students’ art and commitment to clean air. Get out your markers, crayons, and paints and start your clean air masterpiece! Deadline for entries is September 29th. Visit valleyair.org/kidscalendar for contest rules and more information.

Weekly Giveaways!

Be sure to stay connected with Central California Parent at ccparent.com and on all our social platforms for a chance to win prizes every week! Last month, we gave away Monster Jam tickets, a diaper bag bundle, a subscription box, books, and more!

All Aboard!

Get your ticket to fun and educational activities with Amtrak. Kids can learn about the railroad and the many places they can go. Travel to national parks and historic landmarks, add color to some fun coloring pages, play games, and more! Keep checking in at amtrak.com/activity-center, new stops are always being added!

Fire is Everyone's Fight!

Help your local fire department by educating yourself and your kids on what you can do to prevent fires in your home. Visit usfa.fema.gov for free fire safety materials and educational programs.

Always at ccparent.com!

Visit us online to view the digital edition of this month’s issue, our full calendar of family events any day of the week, local resources, additional family-focused articles, and so much more!

Hearing Protection Vigilance for Children.

With children across the country gearing up for summer break, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is urging parents and caregivers to be mindful of seasonal hearing hazards that could put children at risk for noise-induced hearing loss. Among these hazards—which are especially prominent during the summer months—are unsafe listening to personal audio devices and exposure to noisy public events and venues such as concerts, sporting events, and fireworks. Anyone with concerns about their hearing should seek an evaluation from a certified audiologist. Visit asha.org/public to learn more.