STAR SWIMMERS

January 2020

Meet the kids making waves in the Valley + Water Safety

Vol. 1 • No. 1

PAGE 9 12-year-old Jonathan Zinger

Photo by Peter Vander Stoep, photographyaz.com

AUGUST 2021

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Gi vi ng B a c k

Eight-Year-Old Kaia Hansen Makes a Difference with Book Drive

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a kindergartner who is also a Girl Scout Daisy and wanted to participate). As a result of Kaia’s efforts and the support that she received, she was able to donate 144 new children’s books to Arizona Helping Hands that will now be Kaia decided to host a book drive as a way to give back and help others—spe- gifted to children in foster care. She also cifically, children in the local community. collected an additional 288 gently Kaia was presented with The Gold Star Award She researched organizations, designed used children’s books and magacertificate by Arizona Helping Hands for the zines that she donated to the Sunand created a flyer, determined an community book drive that she hosted. shine Acres Children’s Home library. outreach plan, and then collected and sorted books that were generously do- A total of 432 books and magazines Children’s Home in Mesa at the time nated by family, friends, and neighbors. were donated to local children in need as a result of an 8-year-old being inof donating, Kaia—along with her sibShe also gathered books to donate spired to make the world a better place. lings—left feeling inspired to do even from her own bookshelf and used some more to continue to help other children money from her piggybank (as well as After touring both Arizona Helping a monetary contribution from her sister, Hands in Phoenix and Sunshine Acres in the local community. econd-grader Kaia Hansen, who is a Girl Scout Brownie with Troop 2674 and resides in Gilbert, was recently inspired to take action and help make the world a better place.

Water for the Thirsty Cookie Money

Y

ou don’t have to be a grown-up to make a positive impact on your local community. As Daniel Capehart prepared to graduate from Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies, he began working on his eighth-grade service project. As desert temperatures began to rise, he set out to collect bottles of water for the annual Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign. “I know some people don’t have immediate access to water,” says Daniel, “so I thought this would be a good way to help.” The campaign is a life saver, particularly for people experiencing homelessness during the Valley’s hot summer months. United Food Bank works with numerous agencies in the Valley, including A New Leaf – East Valley Men’s Center, Paz de Cristo, and Mesa United Way to get bottles of water into the hands of those thirsting for it. By posting to his neighborhood Facebook page, Daniel raised awareness among his neighbors about the need and collected 1,500 bottles and $252 in cash donations to benefit the campaign. “Through the process of collecting bottles and money, I learned that you can accomplish some pretty big things when you have a comDaniel Capehart collected munity that supports you. I was surprised by 1,500 water bottles how much people donated,” says Daniel. 4 | AUGUST 2021 | EPIC KIDS

Girl Scout troop uses cash for good

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handler Girl Scout Troop 6710 opted to donate $1,025 of the proceeds from their cookies sales to do good in the community. Troop leaders presented the girls with a choice, have a Girl Scout Troop 6710 presented Phoenix bigger end of Children’s Hospital with a $750 check. the year party or spend some of their earnings on philanthropic causes. The troop voted that they would much rather have a smaller party and be able to donate more. The girls donated $750 to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, which will be used to help pay for programs that make their patients’ stays more comfortable, like animal therapy. The girls also donated $275 to send a girl to school through Heifer International. EPICKIDSAZ.COM

H e a d li n e rs

S H OW R O O M O P E N

SAV0E0 $ 50 :

de With Co IC P E

CHAMPIONS

Students use their STEM skills to win big on international stage

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group of standout middle school students and their coach, under the team name Overdrive 1696Z, earned bragging rights by winning an international robotics competition. The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation’s Live Remote VEX Robotics World Championship 2021 was recognized as the Largest Online Robot Championships record holder by Guinness World Records. During the live remote event, over 1,600 teams from 30 countries and 49 U.S. states competed in timed robotics competition matches with

their custom-built robots. Overdrive 1696Z won the competition’s middle school division and the excellence award for the science division. Led by Pranil Kanderi, CTO and co-founder of Lotus Labs, the winning team consists of: Aari and Sidharth Kanderi from Arizona College Prep, and Karan and Rohan Vallamshetla from Basha Accelerated Middle School. The students created the team and connected outside of their schools to practice. To learn more about robotics teams and competitions, visit roboticseducation.org/ new-to-robotics.Aximp

Team Overdrive 1696Z shares what it takes to win on the international stage:

Karan: “We were an underdog team who only hoped of being top 25 in the world, but we worked hard to be our very best, and we were able to win the whole thing.” Rohan: “I hope that people learn that you have to work hard to achieve anything at the highest level and that the awards you get reflect the amount of work you put in.” EPICKIDSAZ.COM

Sidharth: “A lesson I will always take away from this is how to communicate with other people, being in any kind of team requires communication and patience, which is no different in vex.” Aari: “Learning how to manage your stress and frustration is a huge part of teamwork.”

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YOU! Epic Kids is where good kids can be famous too! Are you or do you know a kid doing amazing things in the Valley? We want to hear about it for a possible feature in Epic Kids. Email the details to sondra@egpublishing.com.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM @EpicKidsAZ CONNECT WITH US EVERYWHERE

Share your photos, win cool prizes, and more! EPIC KIDS | AUGUST 2021 | 5

H e a d l i n e r s Introducing Now with Nicholas Join in a monthly adventure with 8-year-old blogger and CEO.

Do you know what it means? I didn’t, so I asked my mom. I soon learned that being epic means being adventurous and heroic. Kind of like my favorite superhero, Spiderman.

3. Travel somewhere new Exploring new places is the best; I love visiting national parks and the beach. If you could visit anywhere, where would it be? 4. Start a new hobby With summer being over, I came I love art, so I created a business selling up with five ways kids like us can craft plane kits. I turned my hobby into be epic as we start the school year. something big, and it makes me feel Here’s my list: i! My name is Nicholas, and happy. What’s your favorite hobby? 1. Try new things this is my first magazine col5. Be a good friend I’ve never blogged before, so I guess umn. I’m excited to write every When I was in first grade, one kid month about a bunch of fun stuff. I live you can say I’m being adventurous. What’s something new you want to try said something hurtful to a buddy of in Scottsdale, am in second grade, mine. When I heard it, I told him to have two younger brothers, and am this year? stop being mean. To me, that’s being the CEO of my business, Creations 2. Help around the house heroic. Have you stood up to a bully? by Nicholas. Also, my favorite food is (that’s kind of heroic, right?) pizza. What’s yours? My mom loves it when I help put my Join me on my epic journey via Instagram @creationsbynicholas and I thought it would be cool to have my baby brother to sleep. What can you first article talk about the word “epic.” do to help your parents? creationsbynicholas.com

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A New Local Charity Hits the Ice in Support of Underserved Communities By Ethan A. Kispert

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cottsdale teen Alena Kremer, a high school senior and award-winning figure skater, has started SkateUP, a nonprofit aimed at reducing inequality and promoting diversity in competitive figure skating.

ners and the community and use this money to award yearly sponsorships to athletes based on merit and need,” according to the organization.

Part of Alena's intention behind starting the organization is to help support skaters who have a hard time participating in the sport due to cost. “It As figure skaters progress [the sport of figure skating] through the various levels, is so expensive that it tends the time and financial deto be exclusive,” she says. “So mands can be burdensome for athletes. Costs can some- I decided to create a way to allow others to skate even if times build up to as much as $20,000 a year. SkateUP helps their family’s income doesn’t allow it. I also want to increase athletes in need with these the diversity of athletes within expenses. SkateUP aims to figure skating,” she explains. “raise money from our part6 | AUGUST 2021 | EPIC KIDS

Steven Cousins, her coach and also a former competitive skater himself, stresses cohesion and inclusivity as a major aspect of her charity. “I think the main goal, certainly in my view, is just bringing communities together,” Steven says. “In my opinion, it’s quite remarkable. To have empathy and just a wider perspective on people and people’s strug- start the effort. They plan to gles.” award scholarships going forward. Locally, Alena practices her craft at the Ice Den. SkateUP SkateUp accepts donations currently has the support of and welcomes the community two Olympic skaters, expeto get involved. To learn more, rienced coaches, and a new visit skateup.org or e-mail skateuparizona@gmail.com. leadership team to help kickEPICKIDSAZ.COM

C a r e e r D ay

Meet Ballet Arizona Ballet dancer

KATHERINE LOXTERCAMP “Choose a job you love, and you will never

have to work a day in your life.” —Confucius Katherine Loxtercamp

dance and do what I love every day, and getting to work on improving my abilities and artistry. Some days I feel really tired and other days I feel energetic. On good days Job: Professional it’s really fun to move and dance, and even Ballet Dancer on days when I don’t feel good I still get to Age: 25 be creative and hang out with my coworkers What do you do for a and friends. living? What did you want to be when you I am a professional bal- were growing up? let dancer. I get paid like When I was growing up I wanted to be phoa normal job and spend tographer for National Geographic. I didn’t my days practicing ballet and rehearsing. decide that I wanted to be a ballerina until I Then I get to perform on stage for lots of was around 12 years old, but I think it’s never people in beautiful costumes with live music too late to start pursuing something if you and big sets! have the motivation to work hard at it. Now I’m 25 and there are still many more things I What type of training do you need to want to learn and be once I’m done dancing! do your job? You need lots of ballet training to do my What advice would you give to a kid job. I’ve been dancing since I was 4 years who wants to be a ballerina when they old and took ballet classes multiple times a grow up? week. When I was older I took class every For those who want to be a ballerina when day. Practicing to learn new choreography, they grow up, my best advice is just to not acting, and being comfortable in front of give up! It’s easy to get discouraged somea big audience is necessary. You need to times but as long as you show up and keep be able to do other types of dance too, like dancing then you’re a ballerina! Just keep modern, jazz, or character. I also need to be working, keep trying your best, and keep very strong, so even when I’m not dancing I enjoying what you do! have to spend time working out and making One fun fact NOT about your job? sure I do everything my directors need me to One fun fact about me is that I love space do without hurting myself. and science fiction! I hope to one day go What’s your favorite part of your job? into a more math and science based career My favorite part of the job is getting to after I’m done dancing. EPICKIDSAZ.COM

Practicing ballet and rehearsing is essential for a good performance.

Dancer Katherine Loxtercamp wears beautiful costumes and performs intricate choreography on stage.

EPIC KIDS | AUGUST 2021 | 7

E p i c c r e a ti o n s

FREE Ice Cream for a Year Yes, it’s true—Epic Kids awarded one lucky kid a year of free ice cream!

Ava, 9

Kaylee, 11

Nihal, 7

Nanami, 4

Winner: Kai, 7

John, 6

Evelyn, 3 1/2

YOUR EPIC CREATIONS Share Your Epic Creations

Hannah, 13 Kaylee, 11

Email a photo of you holding your creation to hello@epickidsaz.com. Zaza, 6 and Nicolas, 8

8 | AUGUST 2021 | EPIC KIDS

Psst, don’t forget to include your first name and age.

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STAR SWIMMERS Meet the kids making waves in the Valley

Age: 12 School: Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School Grade: 7th Grade Twelve-yearold Jonathan Zinger is dedicated to making his dream of reaching the 2024 Olympic Trials a reality. Most early mornings and evenings, you’ll find the seventh grader training to reach that lofty goal. “He likes to be 15 minutes early to practice,” says his mom Tamanika Zinger. “If you’re on

time, he considers you late.” One of only nine boys to be selected to compete in the Western Age Group Zone Championships National Meet in Lewisville, Texas, in August, Jonathan has his sights on besting his time in the 50 meter freestyle. Jonathan started swim lessons at age 4 with swimming coach Shiela Arredondo. At 6 he was swimming recreationally with The Lakes Snakes in Tempe. From there he started swimming competitively with the Gold Medal Swim Club three years ago. Gold Medal

This Month’s

COVER STAR

Swim Club head coach Mike Chasson has coached at Stanford, Harvard, Arizona State University, and has mentored several Olympians. Speaking of Olympians, Jonathan got to meet the most decorated Olympian of all time at a competition. Jonathan was wearing Michigan gear and Michael Phelps approached him to say how much he liked it. While you might think winning lots of medals is what Jonathan is most proud of, his favorite accomplishment is assisting to save a younger kid from drowning using the skills he was taught in swim school.

Photo by Peter Vander Stoep, photographyaz.com

Jonathan Zinger

Three Other Swimmers to Keep an Eye On Madison Gillette Age: 6 School: Sequoya Elementary Grade: 1st Swimming Start: She learned how to float before she could walk. Madison’s mom put her into ISR (Infant Swimming Resource) when she was 9 months old. Best Stroke: Backstroke Favorite Thing About Swimming: Madison isn’t shy about how good of a swimmer she is; she really likes winning. Medal Count: At least 10, but probably 18 (she’s lost count) Memorable Accomplishment: Trying hard and getting faster Goal: Winning and swimming in the Olympics EPICKIDSAZ.COM

Talan Denison Age: 12 School: Sonoran Trails Middle School Grade: 7th Swimming Start: Swimming as an infant with swim lessons at Hubbard Family Swim School Best Stroke: Distance Favorite Thing About Swimming: Talan enjoys the team atmosphere and finds the water relaxing and fun. Medal Count: At least 50 Memorable Accomplishment: “My first race at state was the 200-yard freestyle and I was in lane eight and wasn’t supposed to win it, but I had a really good swim and won the race.” Goal: Trying to keep his stroke longer and staying underwater longer

Dylan Denison Age: 10 School: Desert Willow Elementary School Grade: 5th Swimming Start: Like his brother, Dylan started swimming as an infant with lessons at Hubbard Family Swim School Best Stroke: Freestyle Favorite Thing About Swimming: “Swimming is so unique. You don’t rely on your team as much." Medal Count: At least 50 Memorable Accomplishment: Dropping 8 seconds off his time in a recent race Goal: Getting better at his dives EPIC KIDS | AUGUST 2021 | 9

F e a t u r e s to ry

WATER SAFETY Don’t let back-to-school distractions take your eyes off the risk of drowning.

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By Sondra Barr

ugust is Drowning Impact Awareness Month. This initiative started in 2004 with Phoenix Children’s Hospital and is now the largest collaborative water safety effort in Arizona. “Back-to-school distractions in August make it a high-risk month for child drowning,” says Lori Schmidt, President of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona. Every child drowning is preventable, and DPCA’s goal is to educate kids and their parents on common-sense steps to prevent tragedy. “Once a child is between 5 and 7 years of age, people become a lot less vigilant about water––almost as if they assume the child is old enough so, of course, they can swim,” says Lori, who is also the Public Information Officer for Scottsdale Fire Department. “Many kids have not had formal lessons. That’s a problem when you’re going over to other people’s homes, and they don’t realize you don’t know how to swim.” 10 | AUGUST 2021 | EPIC KIDS

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Addressing the problem demands a full spectrum approach with layers of protection in place to prevent drownings. These include: Designated Adult Supervision: “We have to keep our eyes on the swimmers in the water. Don’t let supervision fail because of distractions,” says Lori. She encourages families who are hosting parties by the pool to hire a lifeguard because if parents are enjoying the party, it’s difficult to keep their attention on the water. Life Vests: Don’t know how to swim? Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest. “Wear one in any kind of water that’s above your swimming ability–– no matter your age,” says Lori. “Even though the law says after age 12 you don’t have to wear a life vest on open water, say if you’re boating, we still encourage people to wear them because that’s where most of our adult drownings happen.” Pool and Spa Fencing: “When there’s a lapse in supervision, you need to have something blocking access to the water. This is usually a five-foot isolation fence, but can also include pool covers and nets,” says Lori. “That gives you a few extra moments to be able to find a child, once you realize they’ve gone missing.” Self-Latching and Self-Closing Gates: Keeping the gate closed when adult supervision is absent is paramount, as is making sure there are no ways for kids to get under or over the barrier. Alarms for Doors Leading to Pools and Spas: The big advantage of a door or gate alarm is that it offers parents another layer of protection and the opportunity to intervene before a child gets near the water. Swimming Lessons: “Knowing how to swim is a life-saving skill,” says Lori. “As people get older and we start seeing them on open water––we’re in an even more dangerous situation. Swimming in open water is more challenging than in a pool.” Take advantage of lessons offered at city-run aquatic centers or through private swim schools. Water-Based CPR Skills: “If all other layers fail, you have to know how to do CPR, and that’s full mouth-to-mouth CPR, while you’re waiting for the emergency responders to arrive. You have to feed the brain what it needs, which is the oxygen it’s been deprived of,” says Lori. EPICKIDSAZ.COM

Learn to Be a Lifeguard

The City of Scottsdale and other municipalities offer Junior Lifeguard programs for kids ages 12 through 14. Scottsdale’s program resumes in summer of 2022 and teaches kids water rescues, CPR, and the chance to shadow lifeguards at work, while lifeguarding, and in swim lessons. To learn more, visit scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/ aquatics/volunteer

ABC’S of WATER SAFETY Think safe around water and practice the ABC’s of Water Safety.

A B C

is for Adult: An adult must always be with you around water. is for Barrier: A barrier is something that keeps you away from danger. is for Coast Guard Approved Life Vests and Classes: Anyone who does not know how to swim must wear a Coast Guard approved vest.

Think about all the time you are around water. Did you take a bath? Did you play near the water fountain at the mall?

Did you go swimming? Did someone in your house mop the floor?

These are all times you and adults need to think safe and practice the ABC’s of Water Safety.

EPIC KIDS | AUGUST 2021 | 11

cool giveaway

e l z puz PAGE

1. FIND 10 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO PICTURES. 3 5 - 2 =

1. 1.

7 + 2 = 9

3 5 - 2 = 3 =

5 - 2

7 + 2 = 9

7 + 2 = 9

Sign up for the Epic Kids eNewsletter by September 30 for a chance to win a family four pack to the Crayola Experience (an $85 value!) Visit EpicKidsAZ.com

2. 8 5 + 3 == 8 3

to sign up! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM @EpicKidsAZ CONNECT WITH US EVERYWHERE

2.

5 +

7 + 2 = 9

7 + 2 = 9

8 5 + 3 =

7 + 2 = 9

Share your photos, win cool prizes, and more! 12 | AUGUST 2021 | EPIC KIDS

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just ffo or fun B r a i n P lay

JOKES AND FUN FACTS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. What do you call a boomerang that won’t come back? A stick

Tomatoes and avocados are actually fruits, not vegetables.

How do you make a

Lemon Drop? Just let it fall

As well as having unique finger prints, we all have unique tongue prints.

A group of frogs is called an army.

How does a scientist freshen her breath? With experi-mints

What is a computer’s favorite snack? Computer chips

Kangaroos can’t walk backwards.

make us chuckle!

Email a joke or far out fact, along with your first name, age, and the school you attend, to hello@epickidsaz.com EPICKIDSAZ.COM

EPIC KIDS | AUGUST 2021 | 13

Southwestern Flare Z’Tejas Southwest Grill E a ts

offers tasty eats for the entire family. By Gretchen Pahia Looking for a fun place to grab a bite to eat with your family and friends? We have a tasty idea for you. Z’Tejas Grill just opened a new restaurant location in Scottsdale, and it is a cool spot right on the waterfront. There is something on the menu for everyone, even those with the pickiest of tastebuds. Be sure to come hungry as there is plenty of food to go around. Looking for fajitas? They’ve got some of the best in town. Looking for a yummy taco or burrito? Look no further than this hot spot. With a range of affordable menu options, Z’Tejas has it all. Every table gets fresh cornbread and butter to start off the meal, and if that isn’t enough, there are a lot of appetizer options fit for two or a whole table of hungry people. One of our favorites is crab stuffed mushrooms. There are enough on

the plate to share, but it was just enough for one. There are also tons of other options including queso dip, salsa trio, nachos, shrimp tostada bites, and more. There are also several soup and salad options for those looking for a lighter option, as well as classics including enchiladas, tamales, chile rellenos, tacos, and more. There is a very cool kids menu that has a number of choices for the younger crowd. The choices range from grilled cheese and cheeseburgers to quesadillas and nachos. There is also a brunch menu for kids which includes eggs, French toast, and omelets. Don’t forget dessert. The ancho fudge pie with chocolate, pecans, walnuts, whipped cream, and cinnamon satisfies.

lley Two Vaio Locat ns!

Baja tacos. Z’Tejas has two locations here in the Valley. One in Chandler and one in Scottsdale and both are open to the public seven days a week. Hours do vary between locations.

Z’Tejas

SCOTTSDALE 8300 N. Hayden Rd., Suite D-101, 602-767-4790 CHANDLER 7221 W. Ray Rd., 480-893-7550 ZTEJAS.COM

14 | AUGUST 2021 | EPIC KIDS

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E a ts

Apple Granola Cinnamon Stackers

Curb the afternoon munchies with this yummy snack that’s easy to make.

INGREDIENTS Have a parent help you 1 Granny Smith apple, skin on, with cutting the apples. * cored and sliced crosswise red apple (we used a Gala * 1apple), skin on, sliced crosswise cup creamy peanut butter * 1/4 cup granola (we used locally * 1/2 produced Laura’s Gourmet Granola LocoCocoNut Crunch) 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon

* * DIRECTIONS

1. Spread the apple slices with peanut butter. 2. Sprinkle granola over the peanut butter. 3. Mix the cinnamon and sugar and then sprinkle the mixture over the apple slices. 4. Stack and enjoy!

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Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species.

Cover apple slices evenly with peanut butter. Apples are a good source of fiber.

Peanut butter is a good source of copper, a mineral that helps maintain our bone health, immune function, and blood vessels. EPIC KIDS | AUGUST 2021 | 15

B rain P lay

Board Game REVIEW

MARVEL VILLAINOUS: MISCHIEF & MALICE BRINGS THE MULTIVERSE HOME.

With the rise in popularity in Marvel, a lot of new games have come out for fans. One of them is Marvel Villainous: Mischief & Malice. In this game, you get to take control over one of three villains from the Marvel universe. Two of them, Madame Masque and M.O.D.O.K, haven’t been in the movies as of yet, but are prominent villains in the comics. Whereas the other character is a fan favorite of Marvel, Loki. Each villain has a different goal; to win the game, Loki has to cause mischief across the multiverse, Madame Masque has to defeat eight heroes to gain control of New York, and M.O.D.O.K has to gain the loyalty of his henchmen and create the cosmic cube. Each character comes with their own mini game board for the players to play on, some sort of special piece, a 3D mover, and a villain/fate deck. The villain deck is what helps the player to win the game, while

16 | AUGUST 2021 | EPIC KIDS

the fate deck is used for players to stop the other players from winning. The fate deck can have items or heroes, some of which many will recognize from the movies.

While this game may seem like an expansion at first, it isn’t just that. This game can be played as a stand-alone game, or with the other Marvel Villainous game, which has villains like Thanos and Taskmaster. All in all, this is a great game to play if you have fallen in love with the Marvel universe, as have so many others. It is also a great game to play with the family to enjoy spending time together. A.C. Pahia is a sophomore at Centennial High School. He enjoys gaming in his free time.

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B r a i n P lay

Book Club THE LAND OF STORIES: THE WISHING SPELL AUTHOR: Chris Colfer GENRE: Middle Grade Fantasy AGES: 9+ RATING: (1-5 stars) A A A A A

“The first cut is always the deepest, but not every cut leaves a scar. If you spend your whole life worrying about getting hurt, then you aren't really living. You don’t want to shield yourself so much from the bad stuff that nothing good gets to you, either.”

SYNOPSIS: Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales. The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories passed down from their grandmother, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. Alex and Connor fight some of fairy-tales' most iconic villains, meet courageous heroes, and uncover secrets long buried in the Land of Stories. But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought. MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS BOOK WAS: I loved seeing my favorite fairy-tale

characters interact with the modern world! Reading about princesses and witches learning to use a cell phone was pretty hilarious!

MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK WAS: My favorite character was definitely Alex! She is a good role model and overall kind person! She is friendly to every magical creature they meet on their adventure in the Land of Stories. FANS OF THIS BOOK MAY ALSO LIKE: Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend, The Train

To Impossible Places by PG Bell, Wings of Fire by Tui T Sutherland

Avery, 15, is an avid reader and book reviewer. When not reading, you can find her playing volleyball, hanging out with friends, or with one of her pets! You can follow her on Instagram and TikTok at @readbyfin.

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EPIC KIDS | AUGUST 2021 | 17

What's Happening

August 2021

FLASHLIGHT NIGHTS WHEN: Every Saturday through Sept. 4, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. WHERE: Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix WHAT: Flashlight Nights are nighttime self-guided adventures through Desert Botanical Garden. Nocturnal explorers can bring their own flashlights to shine along the trails to capture the night-blooming plants and animals that appear in the desert after dark. INFO: dbg.org POP! THE SCIENCE OF BUBBLES WHEN: Through Jan. 29, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: AZ Science Center, 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix

AZ on the Rocks Has it All! Sign Up for

KLIMBERZ AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES at kids@azontherocks.com

Climbing • Birthday Parties Camps • After School Adaptive Programs • Yoga Team Building & Much More All Ages No Experience Required 16447 N 91st St, Scottsdale 480.502.9777 azontherocks.com

18 | AUGUST 2021 | EPIC KIDS

WHAT: Your iridescent journey includes hands-on activities like making bubbles with wands of all shapes and sizes, bubble tables, and giant bubbles. INFO: azscience.org FREE ENTRANCE DAY IN THE NATIONAL PARKS WHEN: Aug. 25 WHERE: Arizona National Parks WHAT: In honor of the National Park Service’s birthday, enjoy free admission to one of more than 400 national parks. In Arizona, that includes the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Canyon de Chelly, Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Montezuma Castle in Camp Verde, and other popular destinations. INFO: nps.gov

602.734.9950 CLASSES |BIRTHDAY PARTIES | CAMPS SCOTTSDALE

6969 E Shea Blvd #165 Scottsdale 85254 (corner of 70th)

tutuschoolscottsdale.com

ARCADIA

3184 E Indian School Rd Phoenix 85016

tutuschoolarcadia.com

• No registration fees • Unlimited make-up classes, while enrolled • Custom classes for “pods” of friends, family or classmates • Tutu TV on-demand classes available

T

utu School is a boutique storybook ballet school that provides a creative dance education experience for children 18 months to 8 years. It is a place where dancers are encouraged to

fully exercise their imaginations as well as their bodies, and where we not only focus on teaching children age-appropriate motor skills and the fundamental principles of ballet, but also expose them to the world of classical music and the enchanting stories of famous ballets.

EPICKIDSAZ.COM

ANIMANIACS IN CONCERT WHEN: Aug. 28 WHERE: The Madison Center for the Arts, 5601 N. 16th St., Phoenix WHAT: The beloved Animaniacs characters will sing live on stage in a musical revue starring original cast members Rob Paulsen (Yakko, and Pinky from Pinky & the Brain), accompanied by Emmy winning composer Randy Rogel, who wrote and created many of those memorable songs you still can’t remove from your brain! INFO: themadison.org BEAT THE HEAT WHEN: Aug. 28 WHERE: Scottsdale Quarter, 15059 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale WHAT: Celebrate the end of summer by cooling down with treats, snow, fun, and music in the sun. The first 500 people will also get to pick up toys and items that will help you Beat the Heat. INFO: scottsdalequarter.com

On Deck: September PAWS 2 READ @ YOUR PEORIA LIBRARIES WHEN: Sept. 11 WHERE: Sunrise Mountain Library, 21109 N. 98th Ave., Peoria WHAT: The second Saturday of every month, PAWS 2 Read is an on-going program which allows children to read aloud to therapy dogs in order to improve reading skills. When children practice reading individually to trained therapy dogs (and their handlers) they become more confident readers, while having fun! After all, a dog will not correct them or make them feel awkward if they stumble. This same event takes place the third Saturday of every month at Peoria Main Library as well. INFO: library.peoriaaz.gov

TELL STORIES: CHILDREN'S BOOKS ILLUSTRATIONS WHEN: Through Sept. 20, during library hours WHERE: Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale WHAT: Two Arizona collectors share their passion for children's literature and illustration with original artworks from children's books in their collections. INFO: scottsdalepublicart.org EPICKIDSAZ.COM

Join our musical community! Phoenix • Scottsdale Online www.musictogetherinphx.com (602) 363-8202

EPIC KIDS | AUGUST 2021 | 19

Now Enrolling

K-8 STUDENTS Creighton School District is enrolling K-8 students for the 2021-2022 school year! Some of the specialty programs Creighton offers are:

NOW HIRING Creighton School District is seeking staff members who share our belief of inspiring students to become adventurous thinkers, collaborative learners, and kind-hearted leaders.

Dual Language Spanish Immersion Arts Integration Coding and Robotics

Visit us to learn more at www.CreightonSchools.org

Apply online today at www.CreightonSchools.org 2702 E. Flower St. Phx, AZ 85016 (602) 381-6000 See what fun we’re having at:

2702 E Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-381-6000 | www.CreightonSchools.org

@CreightonElementarySchoolDistrict