Moms & Dads Today May 2019

Summer is a great time to take a moment to be grateful for our community. In this issue of Moms & Dads Today, you’ll see dozens of ways that our community comes together to nurture and educate our children. From day care providers to camp counselors to librarians, it’s good to stop and think for a moment about how much people care. We hope you find something fun to do with your own kids, or maybe a niece, nephew or neighbor in your life.

group publisher

Neal Ronquist

executive editor

Rick Lubbers

advertising director

Megan Wedel

advertising sales manager

Kathleen Pennington

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PHOTO BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Building community in child care

Local day care provider creates training program and support group

BY JESSICA MORGAN PHOTOS BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

The entire downstairs of Summer Emison’s home is set up for 12 children ages 2-5. Emison provides care from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and one of the things the kids like is the puzzle wall, she said of her space complete with interactive doors and creative, brain-twisting activities.

“I live by Lincoln Park, and I like taking my kids over there because it’s like a natural playground,” she said of the creek, leaves and the park’s other features. “We walk across the bridge and throw rocks in. My age group is perfect for that. When I give them the option, ‘Do you want to get lunch?,’ they want to keep going. I love exploring with them.”

But while her day is spent with many small kids, Emison said day care can be isolating. “You’re in the house all day with no other adults,” she said. Noticing her own needs as a child care provider led Emison to establish a training program and support group in the area.

Toward the start of this year, Emison organized caregiver “Meet and Eats” to provide a space for people who work in the business to interact face-to-face. Once a month, the group gathers at a local restaurant to decompress, discuss new legislation, resolve problems and feel a sense of community.

Another topic of discussion at the Meet and Eats is the training program Emison started in October 2018 to address a need for more substitute providers. “I had a sub, and she was canceling all the time, and we needed someone reliable and responsible because we schedule our day off to do all of our doctors’ appointments and kids’ stuff,” she said. “It’s so hard to do anything and take time off because parents rely on you.”

In addition to providing full-time care for other people’s young kids, Emison is a mom of four, ages 7-20. The training program she started has helped her manage her time and aid in training more licensed caregivers, who are in high demand due to a growing shortage of providers in the area.

Summer Emison laughs with LaNyiah Williams, right, while Demariate Williams plays with playdough during playtime at her West Duluth day care on March 28.

LaNyiah Williams swings on a swingset at Summer Emison's day care in West Duluth on March 28.

Children play with Play-Doh at Summer Emison's day care in West Duluth on March 28. Left to right: Echo Kedrowski, Ethan Melde, LaNyiah Williams, Olivia Schaffer, DeMariante Williams and Chance Barry

Animal Allies Summer Camp Sessions

4006 Airport Road, Duluth, MN 55811

218-722-5341

Email: education@animalallies.net

Camp Highlights: Campers can select from a variety of offerings including full day and half day camps. Learn arts and crafts, train the animals, investigate animal-related careers and more! Camp sessions are available online at animalallies.net/camps.

Many Rivers Montessori Summer Camp

110 W. Redwing St., Duluth, MN 55812

218-464-5570

Email: info@manyriversmontessori.org

Camp Highlights: Join Many Rivers to celebrate art, science and nature. Build, investigate, cook and have fun!

Camp Hiawatha and Camp Vermilion (Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry)

2555 Vermilion Camp Road, Cook, MN 55723

218-666-5465

Email address: VLM@VLMcamps.org

Camp Highlights: We offer programs for all ages, from completed kindergarten through adults. Choose from Hockey Camp program, Canoe Camp program, guided trips to the BWCAW, Family Camp, and one-, two-, and five-day programs for 3rd-12th grade. Faith-based programs are open to everyone with opportunities to learn camping, cooking, canoeing, and other life-long skills.

Camp Amnicon

8450 E. Camp Amnicon Road, South Range, WI 54874

715-364-2602

Email: info@amnicon.org

Camp Highlights: We offer wilderness and adventure experiences for elementary through high school youth, adults and families.

Wolf Ridge Summer Camps

6282 Cranberry Road, Finland, MN 55603

218-353-7414

Email: mail@wolf-ridge.org

Camp Highlights:  Bring the whole family for a stress-free week of naturalist-guided adventures. We’ll cook so you can relax and enjoy exploring our 2,000-acre campus together by canoe, on foot, or from the comfort of one of the MAC Lodge decks.

Also check out our summer camps for kids entering grades K-12. We offer traditional overnight camps and specialty camps such as EcoArtists, Wildlife, Angling to Archery, Rock the Ridge Leadership,  Green Energy, Ultimate Survival, Wilderness Trips, Freshwater Credit Academy, and more.

Duluth Art Institute

2229 W. 2nd St, Duluth, MN 55806

218-733-7560

Email: info@duluthartinstitute.org

Camp Highlights: We offer half and full day camp sessions. There are camps for ages 7-17 in a wide range of mediums such as clay, fiber, photography, and more! All classes are instructed by licensed art teachers in the state of Minnesota.

Emison stressed the importance of getting a license and proper training when getting involved in day care — and of ensuring your provider has the necessary experience. “Parents are going to Craigslist or wherever to find unlicensed providers or babysitters, and that’s where people run into problems,” she said. “If a baby is crying, and they’re not trained or know how to deal with it, they can hurt them.”

Currently, Emison has five substitutes she is training or working with, but hopes to have 10 by the end of the year.

“Summer was really helpful about what classes I needed to take to get my license,” said Kaitlin Romper, one of the first subs that Emison trained through her program. Before working with Emison, Romper had completed CPR and other training as a nurse, but needed more training before getting her license. Emison’s program helped guide her to the information she needed and provided her with hands-on experience.

Training for a child care license requires CPR, first aid, SUIDS (Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome), AHT (Abusive Head Trauma) and more. Once completed, providers maintain their license by completing classes. Topics within these classes included areas of health and safety, active supervision, outside play, balancing screen time and nutrition.

Romper described that both the Meet and Eats and training program have been helpful for gaining new ideas. She described her mentor as “creative with activities for the kids to do. It’s cold for half of the year, and it’s hard to get the kids outside. She is great at keeping them occupied and busy. She keeps the kids laughing.”

Instead of having her kids sit down with worksheets

Summer Emison supervises playtime at her West Duluth day care on March 28. Kids, left to right: Nolan Allen, Gavin Bunt, Chance Barry, Demariante Williams.

S

U M M E R camps for kids

Summer Emison talks with Ethan Melde during playtime at her West Duluth day care on March 28.

Gavin Bunt sits at a table

plays with Play-Doh during

Summer Emison pushes LaNyiah Williams and Demariante Williams on a swingset.

tracing letters, Emison focuses on play-based learning. “The kind of care I provide always changes,” she said. “I don’t sit down and do a curriculum with the kids, so it changes in the summertime, especially, because we are doing more learning outside.”

Play-based learning consists of counting stairs and identifying the colors of signs. She also dedicates time to reviewing numbers, colors, letters and body parts. Her mornings also include crafting, music and dance.

The type of care Emison provides has also shifted over the years while working with child care centers as well as kids in her home. She has partnered with military branches and crisis nurseries such as Bethany Crisis Shelter to provide care. Similarly, her sub-training program has expanded to help prepare workers for child care centers and at-home environments.

Emison has attributed one of the causes for the lack of licensed caregivers to laws and legislation that make the job more complicated and one of the “reasons why people don’t always take infants.” Describing a disconnect between caregivers and legislators, she said, “I think that if people are making laws about how to take care of day cares, they should work in a day care.”

Providing day care can mean long days that don’t end at closing time; there’s shopping for groceries and craft preparation. Another reason Emison gave when asked about the shortage of providers is that providing day care to kids is

“a thankless job.”

“You get parents that don’t appreciate you, and it’s long days that don’t end when it’s closing time,” she said.

Despite the long days that coincide with her career choice, she said she enjoys watching the children grow.

“While it’s a thankless job, it’s one with the greatest rewards.”

Emison welcomes new substitutes to her team and can be reached at (218) 727-7887.

Jessica Morgan is a Duluth freelance writer and musician. She runs the Duluth chapter of the League of Minnesota Poets nonprofit.

Summer Emison helps Ethan Melde into his outdoor clothing at her day care in West Duluth on March 28.

Borrow a free life jacket Water safety program found at six landings

BY CONNIE WIRTA PHOTOS BY DEREK MONTGOMERY PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s simple: Life jackets save lives.

Drowning consistently ranks among the top causes of accidental death for children, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. And most boating deaths occur because people are not wearing life jackets.

That’s why Essentia Health has teamed up with Safe Kids of Northeastern Minnesota to loan life jackets at six popular boat launches in St. Louis and Carlton counties. Each “Flotation Station” holds 20 life jackets in adult and children's sizes that can be borrowed free of charge for a day or weekend. Anyone can borrow a life jacket while boating, paddling or swimming and then simply return it to the loaner station.

"Our goal is to increase the use of life jackets and to educate people on the importance of wearing a proper fitting life jacket," says Allison Nicolson, Essentia Health’s injury prevention coordinator who also coordinates the local Safe Kids coalition. “A life jacket loaner program just makes good sense for preventing injuries and deaths in the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes.’”

Now in its second summer, the program has expanded from four to six locations. Loaner stations can be found at boat launches at Dunlap Island in Cloquet, Fish Lake Dam, Island Lake's Abbott Road landing, Island Lake's Hideaway landing, the Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center and the Big Lake landing. The landings were chosen because they are popular areas and because the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issues a high number of life jacket violations there, Nicolson explains.

Minnesota law requires all children younger than 10 to wear a life jacket on any boat or watercraft that’s not docked. It also requires one U.S. Coast Guard-approved, properly sized and easily accessible life jacket for each person on a boat. Life jackets also are recommended for children who are on docks or shorelines.

Each “Flotation Station” has life jackets in four adult sizes; four for ages 10-18; five for ages 5-10; and seven for ages 5 and under. The life jackets are available from the Minnesota fishing opener, which is May 11, through midSeptember.

Nicolson says each life jacket has a tag that helps adults choose the right one for a child. The first step is determining the child’s age and weight. Next, fasten all straps, zippers

and buckles for a snug fit. Then test the fit by having the child hold his arms straight up and then lift up on the life jacket’s shoulders. If the life jacket hits the child’s chin or ears, it’s too big. A proper fit helps ensure that a child doesn’t slip out while swimming or in the event of an accident, Nicolson explains.

“We need to remember to watch kids when they are in or around water and not become distracted,” Nicolson says. “It’s a myth that someone who is in danger in water will yell for help and make a fuss that we can hear. Most drownings are silent and can happen in water as shallow as a few inches for little ones.”

The Minnesota Safety Council says more than 1 in 5 drowning victims are children age 14 and younger. And for every child who dies, another four receive emergency department care for submersion injuries.

Since 2001, the Trauma Program at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth has treated 47 children under age 18 for water-related injuries or drownings, Nicolson says. Of those children, 18 were injured on lakes and nine children died.

“Wearing a life jacket should be like wearing a seat belt or using a car seat in a vehicle,” Nicolson says. “It’s another way we can keep our kids safe and prevent injuries.”

Safe Kids Northeast Minnesota modeled its life jacket loaner program on one offered by the BoatUS Foundation. Essentia Health donated money to purchase life jackets for the project that’s a partnership with the Duluth-Superior EcoRotary, Minnesota Power and Carpenters Union Local 361. The Duluth Kiwanis recently joined as a “Floatation Station” sponsor.

Connie Wirta is an Editor for Essentia. She wrote this for Moms & Dads Today.

Sarah Buhs of Cloquet (center) helps her daughter, Melanie, try on a loaner life jacket while getting tips on a proper fit from Allison Nicolson, injury prevention coordinator at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center. Nicolson and Buhs serve on Safe Kids Northeast Minnesota, which created “Flotation Stations” at six boat landings including Dunlap Island in Cloquet.

HOW TO PROPERLY FIT A LIFE JACKET

1 2 3 4

Check

2 3 4

Inspect

condition of the life jacket, paying attention to any missing or broken buckles or straps.

Try

jacket on. Tighten buckles and straps. Zip zippers.

Why summer camp is a big deal

BY NATIONAL CAMP

ASSOCIATION

PHOTOS BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Emily Wartman, Learning Program Manager with the Great Lakes Aquarium, points out differences in fish in the Shipwrecks Alive! exhibit to a group of students at the aquarium. The kids were taking part in a weeklong school break camp.

Friendship

If you ask any adult about the summer camp friends they made, many will tell you that those friendships were among their truest and deepest. It shouldn’t surprise you if they are still friends today. The reason is because doing just about everything together forces kids to bond, and get to know each other for who they really are. They play sports, dance, make bracelets, go camping and sleep in the same cabin. They sit at a campfire singing, planning color war strategies, sharing stories in their bunks, and can be silly without the threat of peer pressure. These are the friends that you can rely on in 20 years when you need them the most.

Self confidence

Camp activities are planned to encourage kids to try new things and step out of their comfort zone. It’s done in a noncompetitive environment where trying is rewarded more often than winning. Kids often find that they like something they didn’t think they would. They also learn new skills and see their potential. As the summer progresses, they will be less reluctant to climb the tower that scared them when they first saw it. They will jump into the lake without worrying if something lurks beneath or care if it’s cold. They will want to keep learning new skills and improving on others. These achievements will fuel the knowledge that they can succeed.

Social skills

Meeting new people and making friends can be scary for some kids. At camp, they find they aren’t the only ones who feel that way. They are guided by counselors, but more importantly, they end up helping each other. They are around other kids their age the entire time they are at camp and need to learn how to get along and resolve conflicts. Camps take bullying very seriously. It is simply not tolerated. Kids learn that everyone’s opinion matters and that it’s not a bad thing when it is different from their own. Having an open mind and accepting others will help kids throughout their life when they are in situations that require patience and understanding.

Independence

Kids are given a lot of responsibility at camp. They may have chores like cleaning their cabin, or cooking a meal. Some camps have uniforms kids are required to wear. They need to be on time. They are expected to adhere to the conduct rules. They are responsible for following a schedule. Many camps offer activity choices so kids can decide how

they want to spend their time. All of this will be valuable when they go away to college or live on their own for the first time. When they get a job, they will have the discipline to help them succeed.

Physical activity

With no computer games or cellphones, kids keep busy with physical activity. They go from soccer to swimming and then off to archery or a hike in the woods all in the same day. There are no buses or cars to take them around the facility. They walk, run, or skip to get there. They are also fed wholesome meals to help keep them going. Both physical activity and eating well contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Stress relief

At every age we need to find ways to decompress, rejuvenate our spirit, and work through the stress in our lives. At camp, kids learn different methods of relieving stress. It may be found in the freedom of running around outside playing. Realizing that hiking through a natural forest listening to the sounds of the river below is calming. Trying a yoga class and learning how to breathe can slow or eliminate anxiety. Focusing on the upcoming talent show can take your mind off what is causing the stressful feelings. At camp these tools are taught in such a way that kids don’t even realize the connection. They just know that they are happy and not stressed. This is a feeling they want to hold on to so they continue doing it throughout their lives.

National Camp Association can be found online at summercamp.org.

Summer Camp may be over in August, but the lessons and skills learned last a lifetime. Here are just a few ways summer camp can change your child’s life:

Summer Camp

Camps & careers

Teens can get a glimpse into future jobs in aviation, metalwork, sailing

BY ANDREA NOVEL BUCK

Twin Ports area teens can try their hand at welding at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College’s Mind Over Metal Camp, get acquainted with all aspects of the aviation industry at Lake Superior College’s Aviation Academy, or learn to sail through the Duluth-Superior Sailing Association — to touch on a few local camp offerings.

Aviation Academy

(One-week session beginning June 17, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for teens 15 to 19. Cost: Free. For more information, go to www.lsc.edu/summer-camps/. Select either the Women in Aviation cohort or Aviation Co-Ed cohort.)

Maybe it’s the high fences, the barbed wire, the belief that the only way to get onto an airport is to go through a TSA checkpoint, Dan Traska said of a perceived barrier to entry into the aviation industry. The director of LSC’s Center for Advanced Aviation sees the summer Aviation Academy as a way to break down that barrier.

The academy showcases every aspect of aviation — flying, manufacturing, maintenance and repair, a bit of history.

Campers take “discovery flights” in small planes and helicopters, operate flight simulators and — for fun — launch foam airplanes off therapy stretch bands on a makeshift runway. They explore all areas of aircraft maintenance and repair from avionics and engines to fuel systems and riveting/sheet metal. They tour Cirrus airplane manufacturer, the AAR airplane maintenance facility, the 148th Air National Guard, the control tower at Duluth International Airport, the Sky Harbor Airport and Seaplane Base, suppliers such as Ikonics, SCS Interiors and American Precision Avionics, the Bong Museum and Commemorative Air Force. They hear and learn from commercial airline pilots, LifeLink helicopter pilots, mechanics and others involved in the industry.

“If you have any inkling aviation might be for you, this is one way to find out what it’s like,” said Will Beecroft, LSC aviation maintenance instructor in charge of the camp.

For teenagers, summer camp can be an opportunity to explore a career field or learn a life skill.

PHOTOS COURTESY LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE

A teen heads out on a “discovery flight” with an instructor from Lake Superior Helicopters during last year’s Aviation Academy.

Teens check out a helicopter during last year’s Aviation Academy.

A former Aviation Academy student operates a flight simulator in Lake Superior College’s Center for Advanced Aviation.

Mind Over Metal

(One-week session beginning July 29, 1 to 4 p.m., for teens 13 and older. For more information, go to www.witc.edu and search for College for Kids Classes: Summer 2019.)

“WITC opens doors to students to be exposed to this career possibility,” welding instructor and program director Aleasha Hladilek, said of the summer camp session she teaches. “I wish I had these opportunities when I was in high school.”

Instead, she was tracked for college, took Advanced Placement courses in high school and earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. Days spent making futons for Global Village convinced her she wanted to work with her hands. Eventually she earned her welding certification, working as a welder in the aviation and shipping industries, plus a master’s degree in education.

The camp gives teens a taste of basic welding by fabricating metal plaques with their names and metal boxes. Campers learn to cut metal using a computer-controlled CNC plasma cutter. And they learn two different types of handheld welding: oxyacetylene welding and stick welding.

“It’s a very interactive class,” Hladilek promise campers. “You will be learning a new skill.”

The first day is spent on safety. Campers have use of the school’s welding jackets, welding hoods and safety glasses. Leather gloves, leather boots and thick pants are required. Hladilek maintains a controlled environment for safety.

“I’m always pleasantly surprised how quickly my young students catch on to welding,” Hladilek said. “They all want to be here.”

She issues parents one warning: “You might have to buy your child a welder after this.”

PHOTOS COURTESY WISCONSIN INDIANHEAD TECHNICAL COLLEGE

A camper uses wire feed welding on a metal project he designed as part of a previous Mind Over Metal Camp.

Milling, or cutting and shaping metal, is another process explored in the Mind Over Metal Camp.

Sailing for All

(One-week sessions beginning June 24, July 15 and July 29 for teens 12 to 16; July 8, July 22 and Aug. 5 for kids 7 to 11. Cost: $300. For more information, go to www.sailingforall. org or attend the DSSA open house, noon to 4 p.m., June 15 at its bayside sailing pier near the Park Point Beach House.)

Your teen could be sailing around the Duluth-Superior Harbor on a 13-foot Laser Class this summer.

DSSA Sailing for All camps prepare teens (and kids as young as 7, although on smaller 8-foot Optimist prams) to sail a small boat independently or crew on a bigger one. All sailing is done on the Superior Bay and Duluth Harbor Basin within eyesight of certified sailing instructors.

The camp offers a week of sailing basics: launching, rigging, raising the sails, departing a dock, maneuvering, tacking, sailing in different types of wind and weather, safely bringing the boat back to dock, unrigging, and putting it away for the day. Campers are on the water six to seven hours each day.

The week begins with a lesson on how to capsize and bring the boat back up. Other highlights: playing sponge tag, which involves skillfully maneuvering your sailboat close enough to another to toss a sponge on board thus making that sailor “it,” sails down to the Superior entry and up to the Duluth

Harbor entry/Aerial Lift Bridge, and the experience of sailing as part of a crew on a bigger boat.

Campers need to know how to swim, and to remember to bring warm gear along with their sunscreen, sunglasses and swimsuits. “We take advantage of the good weather and the nasty weather,” Waterfront Director Zach Lange said, noting that a heavy wind can make for a more exciting day. Only lightning and winds of more than 20 mph will keep campers off the water.

A DSSA membership is included, which means accomplished campers can come back anytime that summer and take a boat out for open sailing.

“After one week of sailing, you’re going to have a good grasp of sailing,” Lange said. “But the thing is to come back.” Returning campers are set up in a boat they’re most comfortable handling and, like all new members, kept “in eyesight,” about a half-mile from the pier.

“It’s enough of an introduction for an older teenager to get on a Duluth Yacht Club boat,” said Jim Sharrow, DSSA board president.

Andrea Novel Buck, a professional journalist for 25 years, is a Duluth freelance writer and Youth Education Director at Temple Israel.

PHOTO COURTESY DULUTH-SUPERIOR SAILING ASSOCIATION

Teens head out for a sail on Superior Bay during a previous summer sailing camp session. Six weeklong sailing camps are offered this summer, three for teens and three for youths as young as 7.

Summer Camp

Love your library!

Summer programs provide a great time for kids of all ages

BY ALISON STUCKE PHOTOS BY DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE

Girl Scouts

girlscoutslp.org

(218) 726-4710

Office: 424 W. Superior St., Ste G3, Duluth

Twin Ports area teens can try their hand at welding at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College’s Mind Over Metal Camp, get acquainted with all aspects of the aviation industry at Lake Superior College’s Aviation Academy, or learn to sail through the Duluth-Superior Sailing Association — to touch on a few local camp offerings.

Aviation Academy

(One-week session beginning June 17, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for teens 15 to 19. Cost: Free. For more information, go to www.lsc.edu/summer-camps/. Select either the Women in Aviation cohort or Aviation Co-Ed cohort.)

Maybe it’s the high fences, the barbed wire, the belief that the only way to get onto an airport is to go through a TSA checkpoint, Dan Traska said of a perceived barrier to entry into the aviation industry. The director of LSC’s Center for Advanced Aviation sees the summer Aviation Academy as a way to break down that barrier.

The academy showcases every aspect of aviation — flying, manufacturing, maintenance and repair, a bit of history.

Campers take “discovery flights” in small planes and helicopters, operate flight simulators and — for fun — launch foam airplanes off therapy stretch bands on a makeshift runway. They explore all areas of aircraft maintenance and repair from avionics and engines to fuel systems and riveting/sheet metal. They tour Cirrus airplane manufacturer, the AAR airplane maintenance facility, the 148th Air National Guard, the control tower at Duluth International Airport, the Sky Harbor Airport and Seaplane Base, suppliers such as Ikonics, SCS Interiors and American Precision Avionics, the Bong Museum and Commemorative Air Force. They hear and learn from commercial airline pilots, LifeLink helicopter pilots, mechanics and others involved in the industry.

“If you have any inkling aviation might be for you, this is one way to find out what it’s like,” said Will Beecroft, LSC aviation maintenance instructor in charge of the camp.

Girls Scouts offers resident, day, family and troop camps. Get outdoors and explore one of four locations. In addition to having a summer full of trying new things and meeting great friends, campers discover teamwork, leadership and confidence skills. Grades 1-12. If not a scout, can join when you register.

K.E.Y. Zone, ISD 709

duluthymca.org

(218) 336-8900

K.E.Y. Zone is a collaborative program of the Duluth Y and ISD 709 Community Education. The locations of these programs are at all nine Duluth public elementary schools, which provides services for grades K-5 year-round, including summer and school breaks. Schedule includes snack, physical recreation, brain-time activities, clubs and choice time. Off-site field trips. Students need not attend Duluth public schools. $39 per full day. Extended care available for a fee.

Lake Superior Zoo

lszooduluth.org

(218) 730-4500

info@lszoo.org

7210 Fremont St., Duluth

Toddler program available for parents to attend alongside. Each camp features animal encounters, hands-on activities, crafts and games that focus on inspiring children to care about wildlife, conservation and the natural world. Teenagers can join the Zoo Crew and gain real-world knowledge about caring for animals and visitors. Ages 4-17. Offers camp for children 8-11 with autism. $15-$224. Single class, half-day, full-day.

For teenagers, summer camp can be an opportunity to explore a career field or learn a life skill.

While your family is busy this summer with camping, biking, swimming, baseball, soccer, barbequing, picnicking, hiking, vacationing and whatever additional summertime activities you do, don’t forget to visit your public library for summer fun that’s free to everyone. Your library is open and ready to provide adventure, entertainment, and learning to kids, teens, and all members of the family all summer long!

The Duluth Public Library

“There’s a lot of fun planned for this coming summer,” said Kristy Nerhaugen, Youth Services Coordinator at the Duluth Public Library. “First is our Summer Reading Program that kicks of June 3 and runs through Aug.16 for children ages birth through 18. They’re encouraged to read or be read to 20 hours over the summer.”

Every child and youth who reaches this goal gets to pick out a free book and enter for the grand prize drawings with fabulous prizes including four $75 Visa gift cards for teens and Barnes & Noble gift cards for kids.

The theme of the Summer Reading Program is “It’s Show Time at the Library!”

“Many of our summer events at the Library naturally fit into that theme,” Nerhaugen explained. “That includes our Kaleidoscope shows for children that run Tuesdays July 9 through Aug. 6 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. outdoors on the plaza stage at the Main Library.”

Kaleidoscope performances include the following:

July 9 Kenny Ahern -Physical Comedy

July 16 Siama Congo Roots -Music, Drumming, & Dance

July 23 Laura Ernst -Aerialist

July 30 Jim Gill -Award-Winning Children’s Musician

Aug. 6 Teddy Bear Band -Music

“Especially during those last two shows, kids will be up and dancing,” Nerhaugen said. “The Duluth Public Library has been running Kaleidoscope for a very long time, and Kiwanis Club of Friendly Duluth has supported the programs for 40 years.”

The fun doesn’t end there. On Monday, June 17 at 1 p.m., the Duluth Public Library partners with Duluth Public Schools to bring International 3 Time Award Winner Master Magician Brodini to Lincoln Park Middle School. It’s a show not to be missed. The next day, on June 18 at 11 a.m. at the Main Library Duluth Huskies players and mascot Harley will host activities for kids as part of the Summer Reading Program.

Here’s a list of even more events for kids this summer:

The Dollipops: Music, dancing and theater group, getting kids moving, grooving, and using their imaginations. June 25, Main Library 10:30 a.m.; Mount Royal 3:30 p.m.; West Duluth 6:00 p.m.

Bubble Wonders: Tricks with bubbles, and motivational speaking. June 28, Mount Royal 2:30 p.m.

Old McDonald Had a Banjo: Folk musician Paul Imholte plays the part of Old MacDonald as he sings original and classic children’s songs. During the show, Paul will play fiddle, guitar, hammered dulcimer, autoharp, cello, harmonica, spoons, jaw harp, and, of course, banjo. July 10, 10:30 a.m. West Duluth; 1:30 p.m. Main Library; July 11, 10:15 a.m Mount Royal

Weekly Story Times include the following:

Baby and Toddler Storytime at 10:15 Wednesdays at the Main Library;

West Duluth Storytime at 10:30 Wednesdays for Babies, Toddlers and Preschool;

Preschool Storytime at 11:15 Wednesdays at the Main Library;

Mount Royal Storytime at 10:15 Thursdays for Babies, Toddlers and Preschool.

The DPL has not forgotten teens in planning fun activities. Teen Scene meets from 4 to 6 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month in the Green Room. Teens in grades 6-12 are welcome. The fun includes games, crafts, movies, book discussions and more. Pizza is served while quantities last. The June 6 meeting will include Messy Arts and Water Balloons on the Library Plaza. No meeting in July. The Aug. 1 meeting will be Paint Day. Teens can relax and paint with acrylics or watercolors.

The Teen Anime and Manga Club meets from 4 to 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. On June 20, this group will have a Cosplay Contest: Come dressed in your best Cosplay for a chance for prizes including gift cards to Barnes & Noble. July 18 is Candy Tapeball with candy galore for the fastest fingers. On Aug. 1, create anime buttons and keychains, and enjoy Wii U Gaming.

Children get a huge laugh out of ventriloquist James Wedgwood and his dummy Patrick McWiggins at the Kaleidoscope program at the Duluth Public Library in 1996.

Justin Lansing (left) and Joe Mailander, who perform as the Okee Dokee Brothers, perform before a large crowd of children and adults at the Duluth Public Library's Kaleidoscope entertainment program in 2013

The Superior Public Library

The Superior Public Library will also be busy with exciting activities for children and young adults this summer, according to Kelly Wiisanen, Manager of Children and Young Adult Services at Superior Public Library.

The Superior Public Library’s Summer Reading theme is A Universe of Stories, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 and the first moon landing. The program starts Saturday, June 1 when children of all ages can come in and pick up their reading logs to get rewarded for reading all summer long. Prizes include toys, stickers, bookmarks, and books. Everyone who finishes the program will also be entered in a grand prize drawing.

“Last year we had over 200 kids read at least 12 books over the summer, and we are hoping for even more this year,” Wiisanen said.

This program is possible thanks to the Victoria Gotsky Trachtenberg Fund and the Rod Campbell Memorial Fund.

The library will have fun, family-friendly programs every Tuesday at 2 p.m. from June 18-Aug. 13, including visits from the Duluth Children’s Museum, AstroBob, author Tracy Maurer and the Duluth Monarch Buddies.

The Duluth Children’s Museum will be bringing a NASA program to kids ages 8-11 on June 18. Space is limited, so please register in advance. Please email Kelly Wiisanen wiisanenk@superiorlibrary.org for more details and/or to register.

On June 25, Bob King (aka AstroBob) will be giving an informal talk about asteroids, and real meteorites will be passed around for you to hold and study.

“We'll also demonstrate how a telescope works and take a peek at the sun through a safe solar filter, weather

permitting,” Wiisanen said.

The Duluth Monarch Buddies will visit July 9. See all four stages of the monarch as it develops from an egg to a caterpillar to a chrysalis and finally to a butterfly. Learn why milkweed is important to monarchs, and take home some free seed to plant if you want to help the monarchs.

Preteens and teens are invited to join the Library’s Dungeons & Dragons Club, which is held every Friday from June 21 to Aug. 16. Please email Wiisanen at wiisanenk@ superiorlibrary.org for more details and/or to register.

The Homeschool Book Club (ages 7-11) will be meeting twice this summer. On Friday, June 14 at 2 p.m., they will be discussing Charlotte’s Web.

Summer Storytime takes place every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. from June 18 to Aug. 20. “Join us for stories, songs, and crafts,” Wiisanen said.

Alison Stucke is a Duluth freelance writer.

Toys are available for checking out at the main Duluth library.

The Duluth library maintains a seed exchange.

Summer Camp

CAMP IT UP

The Northland offers a wide range of camping experiences for children all summer long. Here’s a sampling of what’s out there. Many organizations offer reduced rates for members, so now might be a time to consider joining.

Visit each organization’s website or call for more details. — MDT

Animal Allies

animalallies.net

(218) 722-5341

education@animalallies.net

4006 Airport Road, Duluth

Does your child love animals and want to learn how to help care for shelter pets? Learn how to train dogs, or just snuggle kittens. Groups split by age and experience for ageappropriate projects. Art, service projects, direct animal care, games, reading with animals, photography and more. Ages 7-13. Full- and half-day camps. $90-200 per week.

Duluth Art Institute

duluthartinstitute.org

(218) 723-1310

avarsek@duluthartinstitute.org

2229 W. Second St. and 506 W. Michigan St., Duluth

Week-long camps explore art from all angles and abilities, encouraging campers to create work unique to themselves. Camps include painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, multimedia, fiber arts and more. Ages 7-17. Full day and half-day. $90-$275.

Boy Scouts

vac-bsa.org

(218) 729-5811

Office: 3877 Stebner Road, Hermantown

Knight-themed activities include flaming marshmallow torches, catapult contest, foaming dragons, shield and sword design, archery range and more. Grades 1-5. $55 two-days, $110 four days. Location varies. If not a scout, can join when you register.

Duluth Playhouse

duluthplayhouse.org

(218) 733-7555

phoffice@duluthplayhouse.org

506 W. Michigan St., Duluth

The education program focuses on teaching performing arts skills including acting, dance, singing and theater tech. Develop lifelong skills in teamwork, public speaking and confidence. Classes offer an array of creative, fun and challenging opportunities to explore the power of performance. Class offered for children with autism. Ages 5-18. $115-$215 per week. Full day and half-day.

Naturebasedschoolservingstudents

Pre-K - 6th Grade

Naturebasedschoolservingstudents

Naturebasedschoolservingstudents

Learn more at northshorecommunityschool.org or call to schedulea tour!

Naturebasedschoolservingstudents

Pre-K - 6th Grade

Pre-K - 6th Grade

Pre-K - 6th Grade

Learn more at northshorecommunityschool.org or call to schedulea tour!

Learn more at northshorecommunityschool.org or call to schedulea tour!

onmental Educationintegrated throughout the ,w 20-acre schoolforest,greenhouse, orchard, and outdoorclassrooms.

Learn more at northshorecommunityschool.org or call to schedulea tour!

Pre-K-6th: Environmental Education integrated throughout the curriculum, with a 20-acre school forest, greenhouse, orchard, and outdoor classrooms.

Pre-K-6th: Environmental Educationintegrated throughout the curriculum,witha 20-acre schoolforest,greenhouse, orchard, and outdoorclassrooms.

Pre-K-6th: Environmental Educationintegrated throughout the curriculum,witha 20-acre schoolforest,greenhouse, orchard, and outdoorclassrooms

Pre-K-6th: Environmental Educationintegrated throughout the curriculum,witha 20-acre schoolforest,greenhouse, orchard, and outdoorclassrooms.

Art, PE,Music,andEnvironmentalEdSpecialists, SmallClass Sizes BusingfromDuluthand TwoHarbors

Nor th Shore Community School

Art, PE, Music, and Environmental Ed Specialists

Small Class Sizes

Art, PE,Music,andEnvironmentalEdSpecialists, SmallClass Sizes BusingfromDuluthand TwoHarbors

Art, PE,Music,andEnvironmentalEdSpecialists, SmallClass Sizes BusingfromDuluthand TwoHarb

Busing from Duluth and Two Harbors

Nor th Shore Community School

Nor th Shore Community School

Nor th Shore Community School

Preschool: Fu ll an dH alfDay op tions, Ha nds-on learning that isdevelopmentally appropriate, Busingavailable for4 &5 year olds,Possiblescholarships

Preschool: Fu ll an dH alfDay op tions, Ha nds-on learning that isdevelopmentally appropriate, Busingavailable for4 &5 year olds,Possiblescholarships

l: Fu ll an dH alfDay op tions, Ha nds-on learning that isdevelopmentally appropriate, gavailable for4 &5 year olds,Possiblescholarships

Preschool: Fu ll an dH alfDay op tions, Ha nds-on learni isdevelopmentally appropriate, Busingavailable for4 &5 year olds,Possiblescholar

Kids First* Knowledge* Stewardship *Partnership

Kids First* Knowledge* Stewardship *Partnership

Kids First* Knowledge* Stewardship *Partnership

MN 55804

Art, PE,Music,andEnvironmentalEdSpecialists, SmallClass Sizes BusingfromDuluthand TwoHarbors Naturebasedschoolservingstudents

Naturebasedschoolservingstudents

Naturebasedschoolservingstudents

Naturebasedschoolservingstudents

Pre-K - 6th Grade

Learn more at northshorecommunityschool.org or call to schedulea tour!

Pre-K - 6th Grade

Pre-K - 6th Grade

Great Lakes Aquarium

glaquarium.org

(218) 740-3474

info@glaquarium

353 Harbor Drive, Duluth

The Great Lakes Aquarium sits within sight of the biggest freshwater lake in the world! Explore history and animal care, interact with wildlife at aquarium, and pick up some STEM skills. There’s even a SCUBA diving class! Ages 6-14. Full- and half-day campes. $99-$259 per week. Camps run 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Early drop-off available for a fee.

Many Rivers Montessori

manyriversmontessori.org

(218) 464-5570

info@manyriversmontessori.org

916 E. 3rd. St., Duluth

Enrollment in the four-week elementary summer program is open to all children, regardless of where they attend school. Younger ages must be MRM students. Explore arts, games, scavenger hunts, science, cooking and more. Programs are guided by Montessori learning principles that respect the natural development and interests of children. Choice, freedom and responsibility within a caring community characterize the summer program. $110-$225 per week. Full-day and half-day programs. Early drop-off and pickup available for extra fee. Toddlers must be in the full nine-week program.

DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

The touch pool at Great Lakes Aquarium.

Marshall School Summer Programs

marshallschool.org

(218) 727-7266 ext. 263 summer@marshallschool.org

1215 Rice Lake Road, Duluth

The mission of Marshall School is to educate students to become global citizens who demonstrate strong academics, respect and integrity — and the learning continues all summer.

During summer programs, campers can choose from our STEM camp, or new this year, three additional weeks of THEA/ARTS and OAC (Outdoor Adventure Camp). OAC camp includes mountain biking, rafting, stand up boarding, kayaking, canoeing and water safety. For campers entering K-eighth grades. Programs require no previous experience. $130-$230 per week. Full-day and half-day options, with extended care available from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Space is limited, and camps are filling up quickly! Register online or call with questions.

On the Rocks Art Studio & Gallery

ontherocksart.com

(218) 390-2621

info@ontherocksart.com

307 Canal Park Dr., Duluth

Enjoy the scenery and beauty of Canal Park and waterfront. Campers will paint a daily 16×20 acrylic artwork focusing on the theme of Lake Superior and northern Minnesota. Campers also work with soft pastels, markers, drawing pencils and glaze a ceramic bowl. Art reception at the end of the week. Daily schedule includes snack and outdoor break time. Ages 8-16. All day, $450 per week. Dates are June 10-14, June 24-28, July 15-19, July 22-26 and Aug. 5-9. Limited to 15 campers.

Positive Energy Outdoors

outdooredventures.org

(218) 391-0147

4757 Datka Rd, Duluth

Programs emphasize teamwork, healthy risk-taking, positive communication and creating learning opportunities that can lead to a lifetime of active adventures. Develop interpersonal skills and life skills while participating in a range of fun activities. Programs include horse riding, rock climbing, kayaking, paddle boarding and more. Day camps, teen programs, field trips and family adventure tours. Grades PreK-12. $265-$450.

BOBBIE LARSON / SUMMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR, MARSHALL

BOBBIE LARSON / SUMMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR, MARSHALL

University of Minnesota Duluth

d.umn.edu

(218) 726-7128

rsop@d.umn.edu

1216 Ordean Court, Duluth

UMD Kidsrock classic camp experiences include exciting activities such as climbing, biking, bowling and canoeing. Talent show, nature adventures and art. Non-competitive team sports and puzzle games. $135-$210 per week. Ages 5-15. Extended care available for a fee.

Vintage Sports Camps

duluthheritage.com

(218) 393-1837

ds@vintagesportcamp.com

120 N. 30th Ave W., Duluth

Enjoy active days at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center. Camps include baseball, softball, fishing, archery, rock climbing, soccer, ice time, karate and more. $199 per week. All day. Flexible drop-off time. Extended care available with the Boys & Girls Club.

YMCA Day Camp Kitchigami

duluthymca.org

(218) 722-4745

302 W. First St., Duluth

Day Camp Kitchigami is a summer day program owned and operated by the Duluth Area Family YMCA. Programs designed to develop self-esteem, lifelong skills, acceptance of all people and an appreciation for the environment. Takes place at Chester Bowl Park, surrounded by towering pines, a creek perfect for exploring and a large field for games. Ages 4-12. Half-day and full-day programs. $85-$195 per week. Extended care available for a fee.

University of Wisconsin-Superior

uwsuper.edu

(715) 395-4651

jmeyer49@uwsuper.edu

Marcovich Wellness Center, 1810 Catlin Ave., Superior Campers in the Little Yellowjackets program visit the planetarium, explore Pattison State Park and beat the summer heat during water fun week. Sessions include games, discovery, exercise and field trips. Educational camps emphasize core values of teamwork, communication, sportsmanship and fun. Three- to five-day camps. Grades K-6. $75-150 per session. Extended care available for a fee.

Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center

wolf-ridge.org

(218) 353-7414

mail@wolf-ridge.org

6282 Cranberry Road, Finland

Have a wild time learning about animal survival, tracking, nutrition, farming, wilderness survival and more. Campers are encouraged to discover and explore the natural world, meet personal challenges, build outdoor skills and express their individuality. Grades K-12. Overnight, all-day camps, multi-week wilderness trips. $190-$2,050.

YMCA Camp Miller

ymcacampmiller.org

(218) 372-3188

campmiller@duluthymca.org

89382 E. Frontage Road, Sturgeon Lake

Established in 1898, Camp Miller offers age-progressive groupings for children to learn and experience traditional camp activities at the skill level of their peers. Specialty camps allow for older campers to expand their skills in a specific area, such as horseback riding, art, canoeing, rock climbing, archery and boating. Ages 7-16. Overnight camps, $360-$625 per week.

COURTESY DULUTH PLAYHOUSE

COURTESY DULUTH PLAYHOUSE

PHOTO COURTESY HARTLEY NATURE CENTER

Support for the journey

St. Luke’s helps new moms by offering free lactation support at the AfterCare Clinic

BY CLAIRE KIGER PHOTOS COURTESY OF ST. LUKE'S

Becoming a parent is exciting and terrifying.

“Everything is so new and you want to do things right,” said first-time mom Paige Wilhelmy. “But you don’t always know what is right.” To help moms adjust to their new role, St. Luke’s Birthing Center offers the AfterCare Clinic at no extra cost to patients for ongoing support from delivery forward.

New parent, new challenges

After 23 long hours of labor at St. Luke’s Birthing Center, the Wilhelmys met their son, Sawyer. “He’s doing great now, but the initial delivery was actually pretty scary for us,” said Paige. “When Sawyer was born, he wasn’t able to breathe on his own for about 12 minutes.” The delivery team worked to help safely stabilize him, and he transitioned normally after that.

Paige and her husband were able to breathe a sigh of relief and start enjoying their new son. Soon, the Wilhelmys brought Sawyer home for the first time.

A day after their discharge, Sawyer was having trouble staying awake. “We didn’t know what to do,” Paige said. “We couldn’t wake him up to feed. He was just so incredibly tired.” Paige called the AfterCare Clinic for guidance, and she was able to come in that day to make sure everything was alright.

Help from the AfterCare Clinic

The AfterCare Clinic is located in St. Luke’s Birthing Center, right down the hall from where Sawyer was delivered. It’s a quiet, inviting space with a few comfortable chairs, a scale and a changing area. There’s even a small play area for parents who also have toddlers coming in with them.

“We do a complete head-to-toe assessment when a mom and baby come into AfterCare,” said Selina Layman, RN, CLC, at St. Luke’s Birthing Center. “We talk to mom to see how she’s doing.” The assessment includes checking mom and baby’s vital signs, taking baby’s weight, testing bilirubin levels (the yellow compound that causes jaundice) and helping mom through a feeding.

Sawyer’s bilirubin levels were elevated. Having high bilirubin levels is a very common problem that can occur during the newborn period, and can cause an infant to become overly sleepy. Typically, an excess of this compound will leave the system through urine and stool. However, if baby is too tired to eat, the compound will continue to build up.

“It’s a tricky cycle some newborns can get stuck in,” said Selina. “A lot of the babies that come into AfterCare have an increase in their bilirubin.” For most of these newborns, frequent feedings will help flush the bilirubin out of their systems. In some cases, the baby will be admitted to the hospital and undergo phototherapy (exposure to special blue lights) until their bilirubin levels decrease.

Breastfeeding support

Another common struggle among new moms is breastfeeding. “A lot of women don’t know how much milk their babies are getting,” said Selina. “That’s probably the number one concern we address.”

Paige found this to be true in her own experience. “Breastfeeding was a lot harder than I ever thought it would be,” she said.

A nurse sat with Paige through a feeding and helped her make sure Sawyer was in the best position for a good latch. He was also weighed before and after to measure his intake. “We could see how much food he was actually getting, which was really comforting,” Paige said.

Each nurse in the AfterCare Clinic has received extra training in lactation and is either a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Certified Lactation Specialist (CLS) or Certified Lactation Educator (CLE). There are also staff members who have obtained International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) designation.

The AfterCare Clinic can also help moms who have chosen not to breastfeed as well. “What’s most important is for babies to eat, no matter how they’re getting the nutrition,” said Selina. “For mom’s who are choosing not to breastfeed, or who are not able to, we can talk about how to safely

Inside the AfterCare Clinic a nurse helps a new mother with her little one.

prepare formula and properly bottle-feed”

Paige and Sawyer came into AfterCare again the next day for a follow up, and have been back a few times since. “It has been so amazing to have the support,” said Paige. “We’ve visited AfterCare four times already.” Sawyer’s bilirubin levels have decreased, and feedings have been going well.

Grateful for St. Luke’s

Paige is thankful for the care she has received from St. Luke’s. “I had the most amazing experience that I think I could have,” she said. “During the whole process: pregnancy, delivery and the care we’ve received after. I would definitely encourage moms to deliver at St. Luke’s.”

The AfterCare Clinic is completely free to St. Luke’s patients, and is available as often as needed. For more information about St. Luke’s Birthing Center visit slhduluth. com/baby. To schedule a tour of St. Luke’s Birthing Center call (218) 249-5605.

Claire Kiger is a writer for St. Luke’s. She wrote this for Moms & Dads Today.

Paige and Sawyer Wilhelmy with Jen Nylund, RN at St. Luke’s Birthing Center just outside the AfterCare Clinic.

A room filled with tiny delights

St. Paul museum will expand your train-lover’s horizons

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN MURPHY

Every train-loving kid knows they are lucky to live in the Twin Ports. Our modest little city boasts not one, but two scenic railroads, along with an outstanding railroad museum and summer visits from the most famous train of them all, Thomas the Tank Engine.

At some point, they’ll want to expand their train universe. The Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul is centrally located in the Twin Cities area, a little over two hours from Duluth, and is the perfect starting point for your family train-cation.

“The best thing about our space is you can spend as much or as little time as your family needs,” said Brandon Jutz, the marketing and public relations manager for the museum. “If you or your child is really into trains, you can spend hours. If you just need a breather between events, you can spend an hour. It’s really open-ended.”

A recent visit made me a believer. The museum is housed entirely in one expansive room, but each exhibit is so engaging and detailed, it is hard to imagine seeing everything even in a day. One of the train tables (though table is an inadequate word here) boasts both the St. Paul and Minneapolis skylines, including notable landmarks such as the Stone Arch Bridge, St. Anthony Falls, the Mississippi River and the St. Paul Streetcar lines. And these are just the big-ticket items. Small details are a delight to notice, like the tiny, well-dressed people in the dining car that just clickclacked past, or the numerous vintage automobiles to be found along the main street of their tiny, rural Minnesota town replica of Mattlin.

Several model trains pass in a replica railyard. In the background, there is a model of the Third Avenue Bridge that passes over St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, complete with streetcar lines.

This blue beauty is one of the numerous interactive model train engines found at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum.

The Endion Depot in Duluth is recreated in Lego blocks. There are at least three other Duluth references to be found at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul.

There are more types of model trains than the average person knows, and it appears this museum has a train table for all of them. Most of the exhibits are interactive in some way, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to operate the trains. One exhibit offered a model train weaving through an amusement park setting. Every amusement park ride on the table — such as roller coasters and ferris wheel — had a corresponding button that set the ride into motion. Toddlers and adults alike seemed enthralled with this simple set-up, the table was constantly busy.

The Greater Midwest Lego Train Club has a large exhibit in the museum, offering something for not only train fans, but Lego fans. Duluthians will be proud to see that one of the most prominent structures on the Lego table is our very own Endion Depot. Sharp eyes will spot several other Duluth landmarks dotted throughout the museum.

Not forgetting that small hands need time for constructive play, the museum has a large Brio Train play area, as well as an area for kids to play with Legos. Both offer benches nearby for any weary parent who needs a few moments to catch their breath. A small gift shop is on premises, as well as an extensive library with tables so that patrons can leaf through books. Nestled behind the gift shop, a model railroad repair center is open for guests to ask questions of “The Train Doctor.”

“Some families like to take advantage of our family admission rate and let the smaller kids run in between sporting events for their older kids,” said Jutz, “but there are so many train-related things to do in the Twin Cities, you could start with us then spend all weekend checking out trains.”

Right behind the museum sits the Minnesota Commercial rail yard — not a tourist attraction in itself, but a nice background setting for a model train museum. The Minnesota Transportation Museum is a short drive away, and features the Jackson Street Roundhouse, one of the last operating roundhouse turntables in the country. A 15 minute train ride is included in the price of admission.

Also in St. Paul, pay a visit to Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store. They sell all types of play wooden train sets, but also have an interactive play area for kids and host events such as a story hour. There is a Choo Choo Bob Show that runs on cable channels, but can more easily be found through a quick YouTube search.

During the summer months, historic streetcars give public rides at both the Excelsior Streetcar Line in Excelsior, MN, and Como-Harriet Streetcar Line in Minneapolis. A streetcar from Duluth’s olden days makes its home at the Excelsior station. If it is a more modern ride you’re going for, the Minnesota Light Rail has stations throughout the Twin Cities and is not expensive to ride.

The Union Depot in downtown St. Paul is home to both Amtrak and the Light Rail, as well as several other transportation options. “It’s a great place for a train enthusiast to have a picnic in the summer months,” said Jutz. “The Rail View Picnic Area looks over a set of tracks that carries 5 percent of the nation’s freight volume.”

If you need a place to eat in, Can Can Wonderland is just minutes from the Model Railroad Museum. It has food, but also a mini golf course and boardwalk arcade, all within an old can factory that now makes it a mission to support the local arts scene. It’s not train-related, but you’d be hardpressed to find a more interesting place to eat.

An interactive amusement park and train table was very popular with museum patrons of all ages.

Kathleen Murphy is a freelance writer who lives and works in Duluth.

A model tanker passes through a replica Main Street at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum. Many of the model trains can be operated by museum guests.

One of the streetcars on the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line in downtown Minneapolis is pictured in September.

Raising Children

Making food and feeding babies

Doctors adjust recommendations about starting solids

PHOTOS AND STORY BY ADELLE WHITEFOOT

Ever since I became a mom, I’ve spent more time reading labels on everything I buy from formula to food pouches to baby oatmeal to food jars. I’ve learned a lot from looking at these labels.

For instance, when we decided to switch to formula, I did a bunch of research, and everything I read said the same thing: make sure the formula is made with milk.

My son suffered from acid reflux, so the first formula containers I looked at were for spit-up, and I was saddened to see that the first ingredient on the list was corn syrup. It was the same for sensitive stomach. From then on, I read every label.

When my son was showing signs of wanting to try solid food, I knew before looking at the labels that I was going to make my own, especially since I got a Ninja Kitchen System for Christmas the year before. But I wanted to get a food pouch or jar from the store before I committed to making a large batch of homemade food that he wasn’t ready to eat.

So again, I started to look at labels. What I found was that the jars of food I was fed as a baby had a lot of salt in them. I did find an organic food pouch that only had the fruits and vegetables listed in its ingredients, and that’s how I found out that my son really, really likes apples and sweet potatoes.

Making my own food

My son is about 6 months old and can’t feed himself yet, so once a month, I make him food.

I buy vegetables and fruits and blend them into purees with my Ninja food processor attachment. I freeze the purees, which can be stored in zip-close freezer bags for up to three months.

The way I freeze the food is by filling up WeeSprout rubber freezer trays. Each cube is 1.5 ounces when filled to the top, and there is also a 1-ounce mark on the inside for smaller portions. Each tray comes with a lid, so the food is covered and the trays are stackable.

Here’s how I make the purees:

First, I cut up the vegetable or fruit, then I throw it in a pot to either boil or steam, depending on the food. For instance, I boil apples and sweet potatoes, but I steam carrots and cauliflower. Doing this makes the food softer, so when you puree it, it’s less chunky. Some fruits, like bananas or berries, I will just throw in the food processors as is.

My Ninja has a puree button, so I just push that, and it purees for about two minutes. You can add water to the puree gradually to get the consistency you prefer. Once the puree is made, I fill the trays, leave them in the freezer overnight and then pop out the frozen cubes and put them in zip-close freezer bags. I label the bags with the food name and the date.

My son’s favorite is apples and sweet potatoes with a little bit of cinnamon.

Sometimes, I mix the apples and sweet potatoes into one puree and other times I will freeze the purees separate and add one cube of each to a bowl and mix together.

The Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System food processor attachment works great for making homemade baby food.

To unfreeze the food, I take it out the night before and put it in a container with a lid in the refrigerator. If I forget, I’ll pop it in the microwave for about a minute in the morning and leave it on the counter to cool in a container with a lid and serve it to him in the afternoon.

Most of the purees I’ve made have been from trial and error, and you’ll find those recipes on these pages. But I recently purchased “The Big Book of Organic Baby Food” by Stephanie Middleberg, and I definitely recommend it, even if you don’t plan on buying organic food.

It has recipes and tips for foods from 6 months old all the way up to 18 months old, and it even includes a few recipes for family dinners. So far, I’m loving the book and can’t wait to try more of the complicated recipes.

Tips from a doctor

Dr. Addie Vittorio, a family physician with St. Luke’s Hospital, gave some tips for introducing foods to infants for the first time, and she put some myths to bed.

According to Vittorio, it is no longer recommended to introduce one vegetable or fruit at a time.

“In the past, parents would try carrots for three days, then try Dr.

• Dr. Paul K. Hodapp

Dr. Scott K. Varland

Dr. Nathan A. Jarnot

Chopped up bananas fill the top of a Ninja food processor.

Pureed banana and pear makes a tasty homemade baby food.

Addie Vittorio

beans for three days to make sure there was no reaction and it turns out that fruits and vegetables are not likely to be highly allergenic, so that practice is no longer recommended,” she said.

Also the myth that introducing a fruit to your infant before a vegetable means they won’t like vegetables later on, is just not true, Vittorio said. Doctors are now recommending introducing possible allergen foods — grains, nuts or dairy — to children sooner than later, unless there is a family history of the allergy.

“Parents would often worry that once their kids start taking solids that they still would avoid introducing them to allergens like dairy, seafood or nuts, and actually we recommend introducing allergens of all types,” Vittorio said. “Obviously, if there is a history of severe food reactions in the family, we would want you to be more cautious.”

The biggest thing when it comes to introducing solids to infants is that once you start, don’t stop.

“There is a gag reflex in all infants between 6 and 9 months, and it disappears when exposed to solids and our goal is to gradually get that gag reflex to disappear by exposing it to more and more solid foods over time,” Vittorio said. “When the baby is ready and wants to eat, I recommend that you feed at least once a day to keep those skills up.”

Vittorio recommended “Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense” by Ellyn Satter for parents who want to learn more about introducing solids to their infants.

Vittorio said when it comes to deciding when to start your infant on solids there are signs to look for.

“When the child follows food, follows spoons or makes motions or gestures that they would like to try some of that, that is one of your cues,” she said. “The other cue would be being able to sit up mostly supported and keep their head and back in line. Usually that comes between 5 and 6 months old, but you don’t want a baby that is completely lumped over in a seat trying to eat something and being at risk for choking.”

And even if your infant isn’t eating solids yet, Vittorio recommended having them at the dinner table in a high chair while you eat.

“That allows you to have that bonding time even when they are not eating,” she said.

Before making the puree, it’s best to chop and steam the vegetables to soften them up.

WeeSprout rubber freezer trays are great for freezing baby purees. Once frozen, pop out the food and store in a zip-close freezer bag.

The Ninja Kitchen System food processor is great for making baby purees. Sliced and steam bell peppers fill the food processor attachment.

Adelle Whitefoot is a reporter for the Duluth News Tribune.

Apple Puree

• Peel, decore and slice six apples

• Put apple slices in a pot and cover with water

• Boil until apples are soft and tender

• Drain the pot

• Put apples in food processor or blender

• Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

• Puree apples

• Mix in oats or cooked quinoa to thicken (optional)

Carrot Puree

• Add baby carrots to steamer

• Steam for 10-20 minutes, depending on amount

• Put steamed carrots in food processor or blender and puree

Apple and Sweet Potato Puree

• Peel, decore and slice three apples

• Peel and cut up five medium sweet potatoes

• Put apples and sweet potatoes in separate pots and cover with water

• Boil until apples are tender and sweet potatoes fall apart when poked with fork

• Drain both pots

• Put apples and sweet potatoes in food processor or blender

• Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

• Puree apples and sweet potatoes

• Mix in oats or cooked quinoa to thicken (optional)

Hands On

Be ready for takeoff with Galaxy Shoes

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARY RASCH

Time for some intergalactic fun! If you’ve been searching the cosmos for a project to share with your kiddos, put down your telescope and look no further! With just a couple of steps (steps … see what I did there?) you’ll be moonwalking your way across the galaxy … or at least down the street.

First, in order to minimize the well-known craft related frustration known affectionately in our house as “be-frazzlement,” a quick story. Our first attempt, call it mission one, involved a fabric paint that was available at the same store we got the black canvas shoes. My daughter and I happily painted the canvas to our liking, and came back after an hour to find virtually zero color showing after the paint dried! Needless to say, we ended up with a failure to launch! We laughed because it looked like we hadn’t painted them at all! All paint is clearly not created equal, but that’s no reason to scrub the mission.

What I should have done to avoid my astronomical mistake was follow the instructions by artsyfartsymama.com because she listed the paints she used on her blog. Once we bought the right paint, the results were universally awesome. Prepare for some stellar reactions as you eclipse the rest of the neighborhood with your new custom kicks. I apologize but I just have one more … these shoes are out of this world!

Materials:

• Black Canvas Shoes

• Newspaper or Drop Cloth

• Foam Applicators

• Fabric Creations — Plush Fabric Paint

• Navy

• Blue Raspberry

• African Violet

• Hot Pink

• White

• Wet Rag

• Old Toothbrush

Tips and Tricks (Learn from Us)

• As mentioned, buy the right paint.

• Use foam paint applicators. We used cotton balls at first and fuzz was transferred to the canvas.

• Round applicators are very helpful as it aids to blend the colors together.

A dabbing motion works best to blend.

• Don’t play basketball near your workspace — basketballs tip paint.

• Be ready with a wet rag, as even the most skilled painter needs help sometimes.

• Make sure that whoever is sacrificing their toothbrush is okay with doing so prior to applying the paint.

• You’re going to want to make a pair for everyone with how great they turn out. Buy a pair for everyone in your crew!

Mary Rasch is a Duluth artist and mother of two. Her book, "Fleece Hat Friends and Playful Hoodies," is available on Amazon.

Instructions:

Remove any tags or other packaging that is on the shoes and then remove the shoelaces.

Spread out something to protect your workspace from paint that might drip, spill or splatter. You may want any kiddos “helping” to wear play clothes in case an accident happens.

Begin by painting the darkest colors first using a different foam applicator for each color. As you add lighter colors, you’ll begin blending them as you go. Use your own preference as to how much or little you paint each section of color.

Let the paint dry according to the instructions on the bottle. You’ll want to wipe away any paint that gets onto the rubber part of the shoes using a wet rag.

Using a paintbrush, place a dollop of white paint on the bristles. Run your finger along them in order to get the white paint to spray onto the shoes. This creates the stars on the shoes. Using your other hand or the helping hand of another individual, spin the shoe to get good star coverage.

Let the shoes dry completely before donning these awesome kicks.

A fun twist to cooking together

Soft pretzels can be made from premade or homemade dough

STORY BY BONNIE AMBROSI PHOTOS BY EMMA AMBROSI

This is how our pretzel adventure came about. For some time, I had been bringing home fresh pizza dough from Whole Foods Co-op, where I am a cook. (In case you’re wondering, I like Daiya nondairy pepperjack shreds on my pizza.) In fact, I was bringing home the dough so often that we were all getting tired of pizza.

Then the proverbial light bulb went on over my head: We could make this dough into pretzels! I remembered making soft pretzels with the children at Quaker Meeting years ago — a happy activity worth revisiting.

Dough is fun to work with. Little hands can form it into simple shapes: lumps, balls, snakes. Older kids can make longer snakes and twist them into circles or even the classic pretzel form, as illustrated here by my teenage daughter Emma.

Boiling the pretzels briefly is a job for teens or adults, but little ones will enjoy watching the water foam up when you stir in the baking soda. This soda-water bath gives the pretzels their shiny-chewy exterior.

If you buy premade pizza dough, this is a very quick and easy project, but making your own dough is fun, too. Here’s my version of a recipe from “Italian Pizza and Hearth Breads” by Elizabeth Romer, copyright 1987 — a dear little cookbook that has traveled with my husband and me from one address to another for three decades.

Pizza Dough

• 1 cup very warm water

• ½ teaspoon sugar

• ¾ teaspoon active dry yeast (about ½ a packet)

• 3 cups unbleached flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

"My new favorite mother-daughter kitchen project is homemade soft pretzels!"

First step in forming a classic pretzel: Make a dough snake and shape it into a U.

Twist the two ends of the U together.

Fold the twisted ends down and press them into the round part of the pretzel. Press firmly so it doesn’t come apart in the water bath.

Instructions:

Pour the warm water into a glass measuring cup or a small bowl and whisk in the sugar and yeast. Set aside in a warm place for about ten minutes until the mixture becomes foamy. (If it doesn’t foam, your yeast died. Try again with slightly cooler water or fresh yeast.)

Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the foamy yeast-water along with the olive oil. Mix with a wooden spoon until the dough begins to come together, then turn it out onto a floured board and knead it with your hands for a few minutes until it feels bouncy.

Let the dough rest for a few minutes while you prepare the oven, baking sheets and water bath.

From this point on, instructions are the same whether you’re using homemade or store-bought dough:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Line baking sheet(s) with parchment paper and oil lightly with spray oil, or just oil the baking sheets directly.

Fill a wok, soup kettle, or other wide, deep vessel with water 4-5 inches deep and bring to a simmer. Add 3 tablespoons of baking soda.

Pull off pieces of dough and form them into whatever shapes you and your kids desire. Keep in mind that the dough will expand as it cooks. Flour your hands to keep the dough from sticking.

Bring the soda-water to a low boil. Gently place two or three pretzels at a time into the soda-water and let them cook for about 30 seconds, then lift them out with a slotted spoon, place them on the oiled baking sheet, and sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake the pretzels for 10 to 15 minutes until they are golden brown on top and bottom. The bigger the pretzel, the longer it will take to bake.

We like our soft pretzels just plain, warm from the oven, but you can also dip them into any tomato sauce that you and your kids like.

A note about whole wheat pretzels

In previous columns, I have expressed my undying love for whole grain flour. In the case of these pretzels, however, I am making an exception. I baked a trial batch of whole wheat pretzels, just to see how that would work. They were so dense and heavy, they practically had their own gravitational field. If you like that sort of thing, go for it! Otherwise, I advise using organic unbleached bread flour.

Place pretzels in the soda-water bath.

Finished pretzels are shown in a classic shape and pretzel bites.

KIDS' CORNER

Q: At what time does a duck wake up?

A: At the quack of dawn.

Q: What do you call a duck that steals?

A: A robber ducky.

Q: Why are ducks bad drivers?

A: Their windshields are qwacked.

Q: Where did the duck go when he was sick?

A: To the ducktor!

Q: What do ducks watch on TV?

A: Duck-umentaries!

Source: jokes4us.com

SPOT THE DIFFERENCES

There are 10 changes for you to find. Answers are on page 3.

Family Events Calendar

Winnie the Pooh

May 11-26

Saturdays 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. This honey-filled delight is based on the beloved characters of A.A. Milne. Performed by TYA’s adult acting company. Tickets $15-$17. 506 W. Michigan St. Call (218) 733-7555 or visit duluthplayhouse.org.

Nature Play Group

Mondays June-August

Join us for this weekly drop-in program that meets Mondays at 10 a.m. in the Hartley Nature Playscape. (Cancels only for extreme weather). Runs 10-11:30 am, June through August. $2 per child. 3001 Woodland Ave.

Father’s Day Super Hero Party

June 16

Put on your superhero cape and get to the zoo faster than a speeding bullet! We will be hosting superhero training Father’s Day at the zoo all day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lake Superior Zoo, 7210 Fremont St. lszooduluth.org.

Grandma’s Marathon

June 20-22

Enjoy several days of activities until the big race on Saturday. Fitness Expo, spaghetti dinner and Whipper Snapper Races. Then get up early to line the racecourse on Saturday. grandmasmarathon.com.

“Singin’ in the Rain Jr.”

June 28-30

Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.

Actors ages 8-13 take the stage. In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item, but behind the scenes, things aren’t always as they appear! Tickets $15-$17. 506 W. Michigan St. Call (218) 733-7555 or visit duluthplayhouse. org. Coming up in August: Teens take the stage for “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Xanadu,” Aug. 8-18.

“Grease”

July 11-28

Thursday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. Join the Rydell High School class of 1959 including head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new girl Sandy Dumbrowski as they try to relive their summer romance. Tickets $50. NorShor Theater, 211 E. Superior St. Call (218) 733-7555 or visit duluthplayhouse.org.