Growing Up Chico Summer 2021

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A quarterly resource celebrating family life in Butte County since 2004 Summer Issue 2021 May - June - July

TOP Summer Camps for 2021

20 Awesome Day Trips

Travel Around Northern California This Summer!

Summer Fun!

Check Out Our Activities, Articles, and Recipes

Emily Lee-Hajec Emily is a professional writer with a local marketing agency, as well as the founder of Story Makers Chico. In her spare time, you will find her spending time outdoors with her family, gardening, running, and enjoying good conversation over a solid cup of coffee.

Cover Photo By:

Park Avenue Photography (530) 521-4340 www.parkavenuephotos.com Park Avenue Photography specializes in Newborn, Maternity, and Children Photography. Visit their new studio at 1376 Longfellow Avenue in Chico.

On The Cover: Pictured is Sophia, daughter of Caitlin and Jared. In her free time from school, Sophia enjoys spending time with her sister Evelyn, making new art pieces, skateboarding, playing outside, and playing with her new puppy Pasha. Her mom works at Evolve Spa and Wellness Center in Chico as an esthetician, and her dad works as a local healthcare facility worker.

Marne Larsen Publisher marne@growingupchico.com (530) 518-6154

DeAnna Holman Layout Design/Editor

For Advertising Information, Contact Rachele Thompson: (530) 519-0320 rachele@growingupchico.com Advertising Deadline: To advertise in our upcoming Fall and Back to School Issue, please contact us by June 30th.

Our Fall Issue will be on stands August, September, and October.

Article and Photo Submission Deadline: Please submit family-friendly and seasonally appropriate photos and informative articles for the Fall Issue by June 20th.

Growing Up Chico Magazine is published quarterly and available, free, at over 200 family-friendly locations throughout Butte County. We are also available online at www.growingupchico.com.

Copyright © 2021 by Growing Up Chico Magazine. All rights reserved.

Reproductions without permission are prohibited. Articles and advertisements found in Growing Up Chico Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management. We reserve the right to edit. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions. If an error is found, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us of the mistake.

Allison Hopkins Allison is a freelance writer who loves to interview people and tell their stories. Her goal is to use her writing to help others. She enjoys traveling with her husband and their 12-year-old son. You can find her at www.editsbyalli.com.

Sumiti Mehta Sumiti is the author of the book, A Campaign That Won Hearts and Not Votes. She serves on Sacramento city’s Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment Commission, and several Natomas Unified School District committees. She was a Guest Contributor for ABC 10 digital series “Moms Explain All” and “Three Moms and a Dad.” Sumiti has been nominated for the N Factor Community awards.

Sandi Schwartz Sandi is a freelance writer/blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. You can find her at www.happysciencemom.com.

Kimberly Blaker Kimberly is a mother of two and has two grandchildren. She is a freelance family and lifestyle writer, and owner of KB Creative Digital Services, a digital marketing company specializing in content and SEO.

The Center for Healthy Communities at Chico State The Center for Healthy Communities at Chico State (CHC) is a leader in nutrition education, food security, and physical activity programs and policies addressing diverse populations’ needs locally, regionally, and internationally. CHC provides services to community members within the City of Chico, Butte County, Far North region, and California. To learn more about the services CHC provides, visit our website at https://www.csuchico.edu/chc/index.shtml.

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School and Home

08 Story Makers Inspire the Community 10 The Emotional Benefits of Pet Dogs 12 Budgeting for Your Family’s Future 14 Summer Recipe From Local CHC

Family Time

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16 20 Awesome NorCal Day Trips

Summer Camps

18 GUC’s Annual Summer Camps Guide

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Summer Fun

23 Color Wheel Scavenger Hunt

24 GUC’s Guide to Top Local Campgrounds 25 The Importance of Adult Friendships

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26 Together or Apart, We Grow

29 Help Your Family Feel Calmer

In Every Issue

04 Contributors 30 Advertiser Directory 31 Preschool Directory

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school and home www.growingupchico.com 08

growing up chico magazine

Story Makers, Chico: Inspiring a Stronger Community, One Story at a Time

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upport. Encourage.

Empower. In a nutshell, this is the ultimate goal of the Chico Story Makers: a nonprofit organization aimed at bringing a community writing hub to Downtown Chico.

“We want to bring people together to experience, not only the unique power of writing and story, but also the positive impact of mentorship and community,” says Julie Rinehart, secretary and one of the founding board members of Story Makers.

With structured and thoughtful writing workshops built around various

By: Emily Lee Hajec

themes, participants (age K-12) can join an eight-week scheduled session that meets once or twice a week. Sessions will improve communication and writing skills, support creativity, and foster relationships with peers and positive role models. Additionally, summer and spring break sessions will be offered, as well as adult writing classes.

“Story Makers is so much more than just writing,” Rinehart says of their organization. Now more than ever, students in our community struggle to experience success, cultivate their creativity, or even find a sense of community and belonging. The truth

is this: Not every kid has someone in their corner. Even for kids who do have someone in their corner and have a strong support system at home, those children may want to embrace their love of writing further.

Part of what makes Story Makers such a versatile support piece for kids in the community is that the workshops are designed around various themes and with different outcomes for each session. The curriculum is designed for students who struggle with writing and students who want to embrace their love of creative writing. And the team behind Story Makers recognizes this. Their founding

board is a group of five working parents who want to see kids in our community gain confidence and feel inspired while getting the support, guidance, and encouragement from both a mentor and their peers. The design of a small group setting will allow workshop leaders and writing coaches to act as positive role models and mentors, fostering friendships, and building relationships.

“Right now, our biggest obstacle is securing funds to open our doors at a physical location where we can host our workshops and create a safe and inspiring space for the participants,” says Rinehart of their current needs in moving the project forward. As an incubator fund beneath the North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF), monetary contributions to the Story Makers organization are managed by the NVCF and are 100% tax-deductible for the donor.

To get involved, find out more, and/or make a donation, please visit www.

StoryMakersChico.org to contact their team today.

5 Facts About Writing & Mentorship:

1. Expressive writing has been linked to improving mood and well-being and reducing stress levels for those who regularly engage.

2. 75% of at-risk young adults who had a mentor aspire to enroll in and graduate from college.

3. Students who are taught competent writing skills at an early age often reach greater levels of academic success as a result. These benefits pour over into professional skills on a very fundamental level.

4. Adding 15 minutes of writing each day can make a substantial difference in writing outcomes and contribute to improved reading skills.

5. Perhaps more than any other subject, writing demands a supportive environment in which students want to become better writers because they love the opportunity to express themselves and to interact in writing with valued peers and teachers.

By Sandi Schwartz

www.growingupchico.com

school and home

Emotional Benefits Of Pet Dogs For Kids

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Dogs are known to be “a man’s best friend.” Not only are they adorable, friendly, and fun to play with, they also provide so many incredible emotional benefits. Many people feel happier and calmer by welcoming a furry friend into their home. In fact, more than 38 million American households own a dog, according to an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) survey in 2017-2018.

Dogs, in particular, have gotten a great deal of attention lately for being a soothing friend to their human owners. A recent study by Preventing Chronic Disease revealed that having a dog as a child makes an individual less likely to suffer from anxiety later in life. Scientists compared two study groups of young children: 370 who were living with a dog and 273 who were not. They discovered that 12 percent of those who grew up with a pet dog suffered from anxiety compared to 21 percent who didn’t have a dog.

Here are the incredible emotional benefits of having a pet dog for children: Offers Comfort and Companionship A pet’s companionship offers coping skills for kids by alleviating loneliness and isolation, which can be part of

anxiety and depression. Kids find support and security in having a pet companion to always be there for them and provide them with the feeling of unconditional love.

According to The Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “There is growing evidence that children turn to their pets for comfort, reassurance, and emotional support when feeling anger, sadness, or happiness. Thus, it is plausible that companion animals may have the potential to encourage better emotional health and reduce anxiety and depression.”

Provides a Healthy Distraction Pets give children something to focus on that is positive versus the sometimes negative thoughts swirling through their heads. The magic of concentrated attention is that we can use it to help get over negative emotions like fear. We can redirect our attention towards something that relaxes us. Just petting or playing with a dog can give a child the healthy distraction they need to feel better.

Boosts Positive Hormones The simple act of petting a dog has been shown to release endorphins in our brains. Endorphins are powerful pain relievers and mood boosters. These are the same hormones

that give us pleasure and that feeling of a natural “high.” Petting a dog also reduces cortisol, the hormone released in response to stressful situations. Dog owners are also less likely to be depressed and have higher levels of serotonin and dopamine than non-dog owners.

Increases Social Interaction Being social boosts happiness at all ages. Having a dog provides new ways to interact with more neighbors and friends. For example, when you go for a walk with your dog around the neighborhood, you will probably run into people and chat with them. You can venture out with your kids to the park and see friends or make new ones. Dogs also tend to be a hot topic, so having a dog helps to initiate conversations with both those you know and those you want to know better.

Encourages More Exercise We know how important exercise is for our physical and mental health. Having a dog to walk helps us get more exercise, which ultimately reduces stress. A study out of the University of Missouri showed that the best companion for a walk is your dog.

The study showed that individuals who walked alone with a dog averaged 300 minutes a week of walking versus 168 minutes a week if they walked with family or friends. The study also found that those who walked a dog reached the recommended level of

physical activity for their age group 50 percent more often when compared to those walking without a dog.

But what if you can’t or aren’t interested in owning a dog?

There are so many reasons why having a dog just isn’t possible: allergies, your partner or child doesn’t want one, your apartment or neighborhood doesn’t allow it, you travel too much, illness, financial constraints, etc. There are ways that you and/or your children can still enjoy time with dogs to feel happier and calmer.

Here are some ideas: • • • •

• • •

Volunteer to walk dogs at an animal shelter.

Offer to walk the dog of an ill or elderly friend or neighbor.

Participate in a therapy dog reading program at your local library.

Partner up with a friend or relative who owns a dog to volunteer with the animal to do community service like therapy visits or participating in a dog-friendly charity walk, run, or other events.

Offer to watch after a friend’s dog while they are out of town.

Foster a rescued dog temporarily or volunteer with the rescue organization.

See if your school will start an adopt-a-dog program or at least bring in a dog occasionally. Research shows that classroom pets provide significant benefits for children’s social, behavioral, and academic development.

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school and home

Budgeting for Your Family’s Future: Create an Accurate Budget That Works

by Kimberly Blaker

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ixty percent of today’s families rate their finances as poor to fair, according to a 2015 report

by Pew Research Center. Yet, a 2013 Gallop Poll found only one-third of Americans prepare a budget.

As a result, millions of Americans are in financial distress because of their debts and spending habits, as pointed out by the Federal Consumer Information Center.

Without a budget, even some of the savviest parents find raising a family an ongoing financial struggle. When finances are tight, creating and using a budget is vital to both preventing financial difficulties and attaining financial security. It can make the difference in being able to save for family vacations, kids’ college funds, or retirement.

Calculate Your Monthly Expenses Budgeting consists of determining your income and expenses, making necessary adjustments to your cost of living, and following your budget religiously.

The first step in creating a budget is to determine your monthly income and expenses. One of the biggest problems in budgeting (aside from failing to follow it) is the failure to include all costs. It’s an easy oversight with expenses you don’t incur on a regular schedule, such as vacations, gifts, auto maintenance, clothing, and extracurricular activities.

Bills paid quarterly or annually, such as life and homeowners insurance or property taxes, are often forgotten as well.

Another error people make is the temptation to budget for the best-case scenario with fluctuating bills such as gas and electricity. So be sure to determine the average cost over 12 months, or else budget for the high side.

Finally, small day-to-day expenses are frequently overlooked. Over a month, these add up to a heap of change. This includes allowances, eating out, buying a newspaper, school lunches, pet expenses, entertainment, or stopping for a pop or candy bar. Other overlooked costs include replacing a toaster, repairing the garbage disposal, and countless other repairs and replacements over a year.

Brainstorm and create categories for all these types of expenses to include in your budget.

Now determine your monthly expenditures for bills that fluctuate from month to month by adding up the previous year’s bills. Add 5% to account for inflation. Then divide by 12 to get a monthly average.

For categories like gifts or clothing, calculate what you spend in an entire year. When totaled for the whole family, this is often an eye-opener. This category includes back-to-school shopping, outerwear, footwear, underwear and socks, sportswear, summer clothing, work wardrobe, and casual wear. Add the total expense for the year. Then divide by 12 for your average monthly spending.

The Positive Side – Determine Your Monthly Income Determining your monthly income is simple if you work the same number of hours each week and receive an hourly wage or salary. Just multiply your weekly take-home pay by 4.3 weeks since there

are nearly 4 1/2 weeks in a month.

If your income varies because of commissions, overtime, or selfemployment, calculate your average weekly pay, then multiply it by 4.3.

The Balancing Act To determine the difference between your monthly income and expenses, add up each column individually. Then subtract total expenses from total income.

Hopefully, you’re earning more than you’re spending. If so, you can create a savings plan for your child’s college fund, make additional deposits to your IRA, or increase your emergency savings.

If you have a negative difference, you’ll need to cut costs. Place a checkmark next to each item you can’t reduce. This might include mortgage or rent and fixed loan payments.

Next, from the items that don’t have a checkmark, determine which are

unnecessary, and begin cutting or reducing. Your cable connection might be an excellent place to start. The vast number of channels offered by cable companies often keep kids glued to the TV. The benefits of not having cable might help justify cutting the cost.

Other items you can reduce include dining out, entertainment, vacations, and gifts. You might also be able to reduce some of the essential categories, such as clothing, grocery, and miscellaneous expenses. First, determine how much you must spend to have your needs met.

Then continue cutting and reducing until your budget balances, or preferably, has a positive balance to cover savings, emergencies, and miscalculations.

Keep in mind when making reductions, you need a realistic, detailed plan you’re able to stick to. You might want to devise a plan to reduce several costs rather than completely eliminate a couple if it helps reduce your temptation to break the budget. Or vice versa. Just be sure to think it through.

Don’t Get Sidetracked The final step in budgeting is to stick to it. That’s where it’s easy to go astray.

To remain within your budget, track unfixed expenses such as vacations, entertainment, clothing, gifts, and miscellaneous. Buy a ledger, and label a separate page for each category. When you dine out, log the expense to ensure you don’t go over your allotment by month’s end.

Also, keep in mind, when extra cash is floating around, it’s tempting to assume the money’s available to spend.

Remember, your budget is based on averages. This means the extra $100 or $1000 sitting in your bank account must be available to cover another expense down the road, such as property taxes or back-to-school shopping.

Attaining financial security requires self-discipline to live within your means.

By setting up an accurate budget and sticking to it, you’ll not only avoid debt and financial hardship but the stress that usually accompanies it.

family time

Enjoy the Hot Weather with this Cool Summer Salad

By Joscelyne Jauregui, Center for Healthy Communities at Chico State

Wondering what to make for lunch on a summer day? Try this quick and tasty peach and black bean salad! Whether you’re debating on taking a hike at Bidwell Park or enjoying the sun while splashing in the Chico Creeks or Sacramento River, make sure to pack yummy snacks. This salad is a crowd pleaser and can make 6 servings to share with friends. It’s vegan-friendly but can pair well with shredded chicken or fish.

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This dish is an excellent addition to many meals; whether you opt for a salad or host a taco night, you will be sure to satisfy everyone at the dinner table. Pair this salad with a side of tortilla chips for the perfect side dish or garnish on top of soft tacos for a yummy way to incorporate more fiber into your taco night.

Keep your recipe as local as possible and support farmers directly. Stop by the Chico Farmer’s Market located on West 2nd St & Wall St on Saturdays and Pillsbury Rd on Wednesdays to pick up local fresh ingredients.

Visit the Center for Healthy Communities (CHC) booth to learn how affordable shopping at the market can be. CHC offers CalFresh Food application assistance and Market Match, which help stretch eligible shoppers’ budgets and support the local economy!

To learn more about Market Match or for a complete list of other farmers’ markets you can find us at, visit CHC’s website: https://www.csuchico.edu/chc/programs/market-match. shtml.

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Recipe

Tasty Peach & Black Bean Salad You’ll Need: • • • • • •

Knife Measuring spoons Strainer Cutting board Large mixing bowl 2 large spoons

INGREDIENTS ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

1 ½ cups cooked Black Beans rinsed and drained 2 cups Fresh Peaches or Mangos chopped and pitted ¼ cup Green Onions sliced ¼ cup Red Bell Pepper chopped 2 tablespoons Lime Juice 2 tablespoons Orange Juice 1 tablespoon Cilantro chopped ½ teaspoon Chili Powder ¼ teaspoon Ground Cumin

INSTRUCTIONS: Rinse all produce well before chopping. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Serve after mixing or cover and chill for at least 60 minutes to allow flavors to combine.

Recipe inspired from EatFresh.org

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Northern California

20 Awesome

Day Trips

family time

1. Lake Shasta Caverns

11. Sacramento Zoo Area

2. White Water Rafting

12. Downtown Sacramento

Take a catamaran tour across Shasta Lake to the underground caverns on a guided tour.

Raft California offers family raft trips for children 4 and up. They offer ½ day, full-day, and overnight trips on the American (South Fork, Lower Middle, Middle Fork, and North Fork), East Fork Carson, Lower & Upper Klamath, Yuba, and Trinity, Truckee Rivers. www.raftcalifornia.com.

3. Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Visit the Sundial Bridge, a museum, forestry & wildlife center, arboretum, and botanical gardens.

4. Empire Mine State Park

Visit the site of one of the oldest, deepest, and richest gold mines in California. The park is located in Grass Valley. Afterward, stop by historic downtown Grass Valley to window shop, be sure to visit Lazy Dog, a fun ice cream and candy shop.

5. Placerville

This historic downtown has cute shops and the Gold Bug Mine. Take a short drive over to Coloma to visit the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and have a picnic and cool off in the beautiful river.

6. Jelly Belly Factory

Factory tours! Adults $5, Children $2, free under the age of 2.

7. San Francisco

With so many places to list, you may need to make several trips! We recommend seeing the Ice Cream Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Exploratorium, the Zoo, Golden Gate Park.

8. Bay Area Discovery Museum

Located in Marin county, make a day of it and stop in the nearby town of Sausalito for lunch. Or go to Marin Headlands to visit the Point Bonita Lighthouse, Marin Mammal Center, or Rodeo Beach.

9. Columbia State Historic Park

Take a step back in time and pan for gold, ride a 100year old stagecoach, or grab a homemade treat at the Columbia Candy Kitchen.

1o. Quarry Park in Rocklin

Adventure park built within and atop a former rock quarry, has six aerial adventures from zip lines to climbing walls, a via Ferrata, free fall, aerial adventure, Kidz Kove area, and Paddle Boat rentals.

Visit the Sacramento Zoo, Land Park, Funderland, and Fairytale Town.

Visit the State Capitol, Sutter’s Fort, California Museum, California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento, and Sacramento River Train.

13. Lincoln Fishery

Visit this 20-acre catch and release fishing and recreation site.

14. Six Flags

Located in Vallejo, the park includes a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides.

15. Legoland Discovery Center, BAY AREA

Located in Milpitas, the ultimate indoor LEGO playground has LEGO-themed rides and 10+ interactive play zones!

16. Treetop Sac

It’s much more than just zip lines and different from a climbing gym; it’s a 2-hour aerial journey through the forest canopy. Located in West Sacramento for ages 7 and up.

17. Sacramento State Aquatic Center, Roseville

Located on the beautiful Lake Natoma, the aquatic center offers equipment rentals such as kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. It also offers a full range of boating classes such as sailing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, water skiing, jet skiing, and more!

18. Forebay Aquatic Center, Oroville Rent the following by the hour: Youth Kayak, Hydrobike, Kayak, Canoe, Fantasy Island, Tandem Kayak, Inner Tube, Neptune Island, S.U.P, Floating Island, Pedal Boat, and 3-Person Raft.

19. Stinson Beach

Located about 20 miles north of San Francisco, this beautiful white sand beach has a café and small grocery store nearby. If you are looking for a smaller, quieter beach, head over to Muir Beach just down the way.

20. Bidwell Park

One of the largest municipal parks in the nation, this park offers picnicking, hiking, swimming, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and much more.

summer camps www.growingupchico.com growing up chico magazine 18

Apollo School of Music

CONTACT: 530-924-4469, ApolloSchoolofMusic.net Music Builders - Beginners and Intermediate AGES: 4-18 + Adults COST: $125-$250/week DATES: 8 weeks in June & July, 2021 DESCRIPTION: For kids new to music. We lay the groundwork for music lessons with singing, dance, and an introduction to piano and other instruments.

Don’t fall behind this summer! In our Piano Express Immersion Course, students are propelled through several months of study in just one week. Students with some experience on guitar, bass, drums, piano, violin, sax, or any other instrument, will thrive in our Rock Stars band class! Requires own instrument (except drums); ages 7-12. Broadway Stars Musical Theater teaches singing, acting, and dancing to beginners and low intermediate performers from ages 6-12. Moms and Dads will LOVE having the entire family learn to sing and play ukulele together this summer (all ages). Broadway, Rock Band, and Piano Express students present a concert at the end of the week. Check our website for additional classes!

Intermediate through Advanced Courses Some classes require an audition or placement AGES: 7-18 + Adults COST: $250/week DATES: 8 weeks in June & July, 2021 DESCRIPTION: Ever wonder how songs are crafted and recorded? Learn to analyze and write and record your own music in SongLab. Our two-week Advanced Broadway Stars and Rock Stars programs are for performers ages 10-18. Utilizing our own year-round instrumental, voice instructors, acting and dance instructors, students learn how to learn, refine skills, and put on a show in just two weeks. Live or video audition required; all students will perform in a Showcase at the end of the 2 week program.

All classes take place in our 6000 square foot facility on Mangrove Ave in Chico. Check our website for additional classes!

Azad’s Martial Arts

CONTACT: www.AzadsMartialArts.com or call 530-892AZAD (2923), 530-896-0777 DESCRIPTION: In-person & Online Lessons! Keep Your Child Active & Engaged with Chico Summer Camps at Azad’s Martial Arts! Don’t let your child slip into the habits of inactivity this summer. Join us at Azad’s and

treat your child to the fun, challenging, and exciting world of Jongshindo! We’re proud to work with students of all ages across our community, building skills like discipline, respect, courage, plus lifelong habits of physical fitness and mindful actions. Our inperson or Live Online Summer Camps in Chico include Martial arts training for all experience levels, indoor and outdoor activities, self-defense instructions and supervised games & drills, team-building exercises, and challenges. Azad’s Summer Camps will stimulate your child’s mind and help them develop essential tools to succeed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Azad’s online training, your child can overcome anything life throws their way while having a lot of fun.

Boys & Girls Club of the North Valley

CONTACT: www.bgcnv.org, 530-899-0335 Camp Jamoa – Boys & Girls Club Chico AGES: 6-13 years COST: $150.00 per week DATES: June 7-August 6 DESCRIPTION: Our day camp program is open Monday through Friday from 7:45am to 5:30pm. Camp Jamoa is the most affordable summer program and provides some of the most inclusive and extensive services, including weekly themes, local field trips, snacks, and more. Sign your children up for a summer filled with fun, laughter, learning, and memories to last a lifetime.

Register now for 1 week or all 9 weeks. Register at https://bgcnv.org/chicocampjamoa/.

Camp Jamoa – Boys & Girls Club Paradise & Magalia AGES: 6-13 years COST: $50.00 per week DATES: June 7-July 30 DESCRIPTION: Our day camp program is open Monday through Friday from 7:45am to 5:30pm. Camp Jamoa is the most affordable summer program and provides some of the most inclusive and extensive services, including weekly themes, local field trips, snacks, and more. Sign your children up for a summer filled with fun, laughter, learning, and memories to last a lifetime.

Register now for 1 week or all 8 weeks.

Register at https://bgcnv.org/ridge/.

Camp Name: Camp Jamoa – Boys & Girls Club Hamilton City AGES: 6-14 years COST: $50.00 per week DATES: June 9-July 30 DESCRIPTION: Our day camp program is open Monday through Friday from 7:45am to 5:30pm. Camp Jamoa is the most affordable summer program and provides some of the most inclusive and extensive services, including weekly themes, local field trips, snacks, and more. Sign your children up for a summer filled with fun, laughter, learning, and memories to last a lifetime.

Register now for 1 week or all 8 weeks.

Register at https://bgcnv.org/hamilton-elementary/.

Camp Wild Heart

(Brought to you by Thrive) CONTACT: 530-809-4638, www.CampWildHeartChico.com AGES: 4 years and 9 months to 13 COST: Virtual punch cards for a truly flexible schedule.

Package rates depend on how often you attend. Days do not need to be consecutive, mix and match dates throughout the summer.

DATES: June 7th to August 26th, M-Th 9:30am to 4:30pm, plus NEW Friday Evening Camps, 3 to 10pm DESCRIPTION: Camper’s Create their own Adventures and get to choose from a daily array of engaging, hands-on STEAM activities. Chico’s Premier STEAM Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math Summer Day Camp. Where kids are free to Learn, Imagine, Explore, Create, Play, Dream and Shine. Fun, friendship, science, art, nature, adventure, park and creek exploration come together in a fully child choice environment with respectful, caring adults sharing fun, hands-on activities and projects. FREE breakfast and lunch.

Chico Area Recreation and Park District

CARD Summer Camps CONTACT: 530-895-4711, www.ChicoRec.com AGES: 3 and up COST: Varies; see website DATES: Vary, June 7-Aug 13; see website DESCRIPTION: CARD’s massive list of camps covers all ages and interests. Several toddler camps cater to the youngest kiddos. Various sports camps—baseball, flag football, soccer, and more—are great for your aspiring athletes; and plenty of others like Camp Chico Creek, Chi-Da-Ca, Summertime Delight, music, mountain biking, welding, cooking, and dance will make your child’s summer engaging and memorable.

Chico Cheer All Stars, Inc,

July Summer Camps CONTACT: 894-2227, www.ChicoCheerAllStars.com AGES: 5-18 COST: Camp $125-150/each, $25 for extra care 8 – 10 AM &/OR 2-4:30 PM DATES: See below CAMP INFO: All camps run 10am-2pm with a min. of a half hour lunch break. Please wear shorts and tank top or tee with flexible tennis shoes and bring a sack lunch. Extra care available 2-4:30 PM. Please register & pay on our “Parent Portal.”

Beginners Cheer Camp: July 5-8 DESCRIPTION: If your athlete loves to cheer and tumble, then this is the camp for them! Athletes will learn basic cheerleading and a special dance to perform on the final day!

BEGINNING Tumbling Camp: July 12-15 DESCRIPTION: If your child loves to tumble, this is the perfect camp to help them succeed. This week’s camp is for our entry level tumblers working on Level 1 (Cartwheels, Round offs, Walkovers) and Level 2 (Handspring and Round off Handsprings). THIS IS OUR MOST POPULAR CAMP AND FILLS UP FAST. ADVANCED Tumbling Camp: July 19-22 DESCRIPTION: If your child loves to tumble and has experience, this is the perfect camp for them! The requirement for “Advanced Tumbling Camp” is a Round Off Tuck on spring floor. This week’s camp is for our advanced level tumblers working on Level 3 (Tucks, Punch fronts, multiple handsprings) and Level 4/5 (Layouts & Fulls). Special guest “Brandon Bliss” will be instructing the second day of camp!

Chico Children’s Museum

CONTACT: www.chicochildrensmuseum.org, 530-809-1492 AGES: 5-9 years COST: $150 per child DATES: June 23-25th, 10am-2pm DESCRIPTION: The Chico Children’s Museum Summer Camp will be an exciting, three days of local flora and fauna themed activities and learning. The camp will focus on the furriest of forest friends and identifying edible berries and plants in the wild. Join us and the CCM family in celebrating the beautiful world around us. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more information and to be first in line when registration opens!

Chico Creek Dance Centre

CONTACT: 530-893-9028, www. chicocreekdancecentre.com 2 Week-Camp!!

AGES: 4-9 COST: $275 DATES: June 14th-25th Monday-Friday, 9am-12noon DESCRIPTION: Join us for an amazing 2 weeks of dance camp, exploring many styles of dance. From Ballet to Tap, Jazz, and Broadway. No experience needed to join in this camp. Come explore the world of dance this summer at Chico Creek Dance. Camp T-shirt included with price, and we will have a small performance at the end of camp for parents to enjoy.

High School Musical Tween Dance Camp AGES: 9-12 COST: $175 DATES: June 28-July 2nd, 9am-12noon DESCRIPTION: Join us for an entire week of dance learning choreography from HighSchool Musical. Come ready to dance, sing, and act!! It’s going to be amazing.

The perfect dance camp for your tween ages 9-12.

Camp T-shirt included with price, and we will have a small performance at the end of camp for parents to enjoy.

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summer camps

FunLand/Cal Skate Chico

Chico Creek Dance Centre (Continued)

CONTACT: 530-893-9028, www. chicocreekdancecentre.com The Greatest Showman Tween Dance Camp AGES: 9-12 COST: $175 DATES: July 5-9, 9am-12noon DESCRIPTION: Join us for an entire week of dance, learning choreography from The Greatest Showman.

Come ready to dance, sing, and act and learn about backstage running of a production. It’s going to be amazing. It’s the perfect dance camp for your tween ages 9-12. Camp T-Shirt included with price, and we will have a small performance at the end of camp for parents to enjoy.

CRT KIDS

Theatre Camps CONTACT: www.crtkids.com Disney’s “Winnie The Pooh” Kids Camp AGES: 5-6 & 7-10 COST: $250.00 DATES: 6/7-6/27 DESCRIPTION: Welcome to the Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh is once again in search of honey. Along the way, he meets his pals, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, and Owl, but soon discovers that Christopher Robin has been captured by the mysterious Backson!

As they prepare for a rescue operation, the animals learn about teamwork, friendship and, of course… sharing snacks.! This summer CRT is offering camps for ages 5-10. These classes are designed to build skill in the area of performing arts, including vocal performance, acting, and dance. Camps will culminate with a full performance for family and friends! Learn more at www.crtkids.com.

Hats Off to Broadway AGES: 11-16 COST: $275.00 DATES: 6/7-6/27 DESCRIPTION: Filled with songs, dances and great performances from classic and current Broadway shows, this high energy variety show is packed with amazing fun for “up and coming” Broadway stars!

This summer CRT is offering camps for ages 11-16.

These classes are designed to build skill in the area of performing arts, including vocal performance, acting, and dance. Camps will culminate with a full performance for family and friends! Learn more at www.crtkids.com.

FunLand Extreme Fun Summer Camps CONTACT: www.funlandchico.com, 530-343-1601 AGES: 5-12 COST: $195 weekly all day from 9am-5pm or $155 weekly mornings only from 9am-1pm DATES: Session 1: June 14th-June 18th Session 2: June 21st-June 25th Session 3: July 5th-July 9th Session 4: July 19th – July 23rd Session 5: August 2nd – August 6th DESCRIPTION: Fun? Check. Safe? Check. Variety?

Double check! This is a chance to do everything FunLand/Cal Skate has to offer, and then some!

Campers can spend the mornings or whole days doing things not normally offered to the public. Our goal is to offer days FULL of assorted activities – we can’t even list them all here! Activity examples: Skating, mini-golfing, batting, jump house, arts/crafts, arcade games, dodge ball, hockey, and more!

Govan Ranch

Everything Horse!

CONTACT: Marianne Govan 530-828-9547 call or text / or email: the govanranch@att.net AGES: 6-9 and 10 + and up COST: Day camps range from $65-$85/day with multiple day packages available. We can customize a camp for your group. Birthday parties and other small events on availability. Just ask!

DATES: Due to COVID 19, Summer Camp dates will be released as soon as possible. Please call, text, or email to inquire and be added to our contact list.

We also have camps and private lessons for all ages throughout the year.

DESCRIPTION: Come ride and play with us! We teach the fundamentals of horsemanship and riding for beginners and up. Our camps and lessons are for kids who love horses and want to learn! We provide a safe, fun family atmosphere. Our small groups of 6-8 kids per camp are provided with individual helpers so each student can learn safely at his or her skill and comfort level. Sample day schedule: Meet & greet, assign horses, grooming, and tacking up and riding daily. Fun and games, both on and off the horse, horse-related activities, and snack breaks. Some camps include lunch and a swim after horses are put away.

HYPE Dance Studio

CONTACT: www.hypedancestudio.com 530-898-8789 FAIRYTALE TEA PARTY – Disney Princess Dance AGES: 3-5, 6-8 COST: $120.00 DATES: June 21-23, 9AM – 12PM daily DESCRIPTION: Join your favorite characters in our most popular camp for younger dancers! Dancers will learn ballet and lyrical styles of dance, and are

welcome to dress in their favorite Disney Princess attire! Each day includes an hour ballet, ½ hour snack/ craft/color time, ½ hour story time, an hour of learning a dance. Please bring a snack! Each camp includes final day Princess Parade inside the studio at 11:30 AM for all friends and family to see!

POP STAR DANCE PARTY – Jazz & Hip Hop AGES: 4-6, 7-10 COST: $145.00 DATES: June 28-July 1, 9AM – 12PM daily DESCRIPTION: You’re invited to the most exciting party of the summer...the Pop Star Dance Party! Dancers will learn jazz and hip-hop routines to fun pop music!

Get ready for a sassy week of dance, where everyone will get to make their own musical crafts to keep!

Activities include hour of jazz technique and hip-hop class, ½ hour snack/craft time, ½ hour obstacle courses to fun music, and an hour of choreography. Bring a snack! Final day showcase for parents at 11:30 AM! SUN & SAND – Moana, Ariel, Nemo AGES: 3-6 COST: $120.00 DATES: July 12-14, 9AM – 12PM daily DESCRIPTION: Calling all beach babes and dudes! Get ready to have a fun-filled week at the ocean with your favorite characters and music from Moana, Under the Sea, and Finding Nemo! Dancers are welcome to dress in their favorite attire. Each day includes an hour jazz/ lyrical/ballet, ½ hour snack/craft/color time, ½ hour story time, an hour of learning new dances, and fun with bubbles! Please bring a snack. Camp includes final day BEACH PARADE inside the studio at 11:30 AM for all friends and family to see!

HIP HOP CAMP AGES: 5-7, 8-12 COST: $145.00 DATES: July 19-22, 9AM – 12PM daily DESCRIPTION: Our most popular camp, 9 years running!

Learn the latest hip-hop moves with great music kids love! Each day will include 2 hours of hip-hop instruction, including warm-up, tricks and skills, rhythm and musicality, and choreography. 1 hour of freestyle and creative dance. Clean and appropriate music and movement for children. Breaks included. Bring a snack!

Final day showcase for parents at 11:30 AM! BROADWAY BOUND – Musical Theater Dance AGES: 4-6, 7-10 COST: $120.00 DATES: July 26-29, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM daily DESCRIPTION: Get ready to enjoy some musical theater fun and activities with the classic Broadway hits! Dancers come dressed for the stage, ready for tap, jazz and showtime! Each day includes an hour jazz and tap, ½ hour snack/craft/color time, ½ hour creative time for painting nails and making pillow cases, and an hour of choreography. Please bring a snack! Camp includes final day showcase at 11:30 AM for all friends and family to see!

ACRO FOR DANCERS “MOVEMENT TO THE MUSIC” AGES: 6+ beginning tumbling for dance COST: $55.00 per dancer DATES: Session 1: June 24-25, 10AM - 12 PM, Session 2: Aug. 2-3, 10AM – 12 PM DESCRIPTION: 2-Day Acro Mini-Camp with Acro instructor Liz Murphy!

ACRO “TRICKS AND FUN” AGES: 9+, intermediate/advanced tumbling for dance COST: $55.00 per dancer DATES: Session 1: June 24-25, 12:30 – 2:30 PM, Session 2: Aug. 2-3, 12:30 – 2:30 PM DESCRIPTION: 2-Day Acro Mini-Camp with Acro instructor Liz Murphy!

CONTEMPORARY & BALLET 2-DAY INTENSIVE AGES: Minis: ages 7-11, Juniors: ages 12-14, Teen/ Seniors: ages 15+*Ages are an estimate. Dancers will also be placed based on their level.

COST: Minis: $110.00 per dancer. / Juniors, Teen/Sr: $150.00 per dancer.

DATES: Aug. 5-6, 9 AM - 4 PM daily DESCRIPTION: Guest Master Teacher Judy Rice, Tatum Wozniak + more to being booked! This intensive is designed for dancers to focus on improving techniques and training in both ballet and contemporary. The fusion of styles incorporates the importance in the support that each style has for each other, blending together the genres to help educate dancers of the benefits of technical application to contemporary dance.

Inspire School of Arts & Sciences

Inspire Summer Performing Arts – “Rock the Musical” CONTACT: 530-895-4711, www.ChicoRec.com AGES: Grades 6-12 COST: $275 DATES: 7/12-7/23, 9AM-1PM, M-F DESCRIPTION: Inspire School of Arts & Sciences will present a 2-week, immersive musical theatre intensive. Students will be introduced to the world of theatre by exploring works from our very favorite rock musicals. Enthusiastic and experienced professional staff and alumni will work with students in all areas including: acting, vocals, choreography, stagecraft, and performing. They will explore and deepen their understanding of the craft of performance and develop their own skills in all areas. $25 supply fee includes event T-shirt, PPE, and a showing the evening of 7/23. CARD registration deadline 7/1.

summer camps www.growingupchico.com www.growingupchico.com

Kids Outdoor Sports Camp – KOSC

CONTACT: Taylor Byars, Camp Director, 530-513-7556, www.kidsoutdoorsportscamp.org AGES: 9-16 COST: $800 DATES: Beginner Camp Dates: June 6-10, June 20-24, July 11-15. Advanced Camp Dates: June 13-17, July 1822, August 1-5 DESCRIPTION: KOSC hosts camps Sunday – Thursday of the weeks stated above. We will be hosting camps at three different locations in Northern California this summer! At camp, youth are educated about the outdoors, wildlife, and conservation. All beginner campers will go through Hunters Education and will receive their Hunters Ed Certification if they pass the exam at the end of the week (pending Hunter Education’s COVID rules). Campers will receive hands on training from our first class instructors on how to safely and successfully shoot shotguns, rifles, and archery, and they will even learn how to fish! If your child already has their HE certificate, they can attend our advanced camp; where they will receive more advanced training in all areas listed above. For more information about camp activities, our instructors, or the locations please visit our website. KOSC has been in operation since 1998, educating and hosting campers from all over the United States and we look forward to the future of saving the endangered species, the youth hunter. Scholarships are available, please visit our website for details on how to apply.

growing up up chico chico magazine magazine 2222 growing

Kinetics Academy of Dance

CONTACT: 530-345-2505, KineticsAcademyofDance. com AGES: 3-16 COST: $135-$140 DATES: Held weekly from all Summer DESCRIPTION: See website for times and days each camp is offered.

JoJo Siwa Hip Hop Diva – Hop on in to this camp and live your Sweet Life. Set to JoJo’s fun, upbeat music, we’ll learn Hip Hop and Jazz moves sure to make you smile. Peace signs, big bows and lots of sassy attitude will make this a camp one you won’t want to miss.

My Little Pony in FantasyLand Dance Camp – Your favorite ponies visit a magical land and find unicorns, mermaids, fairies, dragons and more! Hear the stories and become the legends as we immerse ourselves into the pony’s FantasyLand. This will be a fantastically fun filled camp for your little ones imagination!

Dancing, stories, crafts, games and dress-up will make their dreams come true.

Trolls Fever Dance Camp - Let’s Dance, Dance, Dance!

Join us for this crazy fun and educational camp.

Dancers will enjoy moving to hits from the Trolls movies and shows while learning tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop and navigating an obstacle course. Stories, crafts and games will ensure your campers will enjoy their adventure.

Next Step Performance Dance Camp - Want something a little more advanced to work on this summer? This camp will get you there. With a focus on ballet techniques, you will do full barre routines, across the floor, centers and more. Throw in some fun and games and you’ve got yourself a winner!

Fairy Tale Princess & Tea Party Camp - Let the classic stories of Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella and others inspire you to move your feet to an enchanting beat!

Each day will include a pre-ballet foundations class, a snack fit for a princess, story time, crafts and dances celebrating the themes of the day.

TJ Farms

Farm Camp at TJ Farms CONTACT: 530-343-2294 AGES:6-12 COST: $160 DATES: June-July, Weekly-Monday thru Friday DESCRIPTION: Welcome to TJ Farms! Lil’ Farmers will get hands on experience on an actual working farm.

We will be learning about gardening practices, animal science with our friendly animals, building leadership skills and having fun exploring the great outdoors.

Expect to do some hen hugging, cow cuddling and cowboy cooking! Farm Camp is taught by two credentialed agricultural instructors using STEM and Ag in the Classroom curricula. Sessions are weekly, Monday-Friday, June-August. Please register on our website www.tjfarmsestates.com Also follow us on Facebook for up to date activities.

Valene Smith Museum of Anthropology

Anthropology Camp at the Valene Smith Museum of Anthropology CONTACT: www.csuchico.edu/anthmuseum, ascott@ csuchico.edu Zoom camp - Anime edition based on the Netflix series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. (no previewing required) Do you love art & science? So do we! Jump with us into fantastic futures and wonder subjects that connect us to the world and each other. Each day will be a little different: exploring ecosystems, anime drawing lessons, out-of-this world creatures and more. Register for individual dates or full week www. csuchico.edu/anthmuseum for details.

Color Wheel Scavenger Hunt Recreate the color wheel below by collecting items for each color on the color wheel.

Try these fun challenges: • Find multiple items for each color.

• Try not to use art supplies.

3 Primary Colors Yellow - Red - Blue These colors can’t be made by mixing.

• •

Use different items for each color.

Try a nature scavenger hunt by only finding items found in nature.

3 Secondary Colors Orange - Green - Violet These colors are made by mixing 2 primary colors.

6 Tertiary Colors Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet, Red-Violet These colors are made by mixing 1 primary color and 1 secondary color together.

summer fun www.growingupchico.com 24 growing up chico magazine

Growing Up Chico Magazine’s staff has come up with an extensive list of their favorite family-friendly campgrounds in Northern California. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

1. MacKerricher State Park: Located in Fort Bragg, this park offers various beautiful habitats: beach, bluff, dune, forest, and wetland. Tide pools are along the shore, and there are seals on the rocks, off the park’s coastline.

2. Gualala River Redwood Park: Relax amidst the magnificent Redwoods on the Gualala River, just 1 mile to the beach. There is a general store, ping pong tables, horseshoes, and karaoke on Saturday evenings.

3. Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Located in Santa Cruz County, the park has many waterfalls, hiking trails, and a new interactive nature museum.

4. Manzanita Lake: Located in Lassen Volcanic National Park, camp near a general store and cafe with soft-serve ice cream, espresso, hot and cold sandwiches, and more.

Kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals are also available.

5. Summit Lake Campground: Located in Lassen Volcanic National Park, the campground has a beautiful and quiet mountain lake.

6. Collins Lake Campground: Located between Marysville and Grass Valley, this campground has a boat ramp, sandy beach, children’s playground, beach volleyball, shady picnic area, and general store.

7. Lake Francis: Located in Dobbins, a little over an hour from Chico, Lake Francis offers fishing, kayaking, basketball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, hiking, and more.

8. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort: Tower Park is located in Lodi and offers pools, hot tub, jumping pillow, bumper boats, mini-golf, laser tag, gem mining, water sport rentals, and more.

9. Sly Park Campground: Located by Pollack Pines, some lake-front campsites, hiking trails, water skiing, wakeboarding, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, cruising, and sailing are allowed on the lake.

10. Donner Memorial State Park Campground: Located on the shore of Donner Lake, this campground is popular for boating, fishing, water skiing, pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards. It also has a history museum and a nature trail.

11. Bodega Dunes: Located in Bodega Bay, Bodega Dunes has large campsites, easy access to the beach, and is close to town.

12. Ice House: Located in El Dorado County on a large reservoir, this area has hiking, biking, jet skiing, and fishing.

13. Scotts Flat: Located just outside Nevada City, it has a playground, camper store, fishing, and boating available.

14. Camp Richardson: Located in South Lake Tahoe, it offers a full-service marina with boat rentals, lakeside restaurant, general store, mountain sports center, and icecream parlor are all within a short walk.

15. Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort: The resort has an on-site restaurant, arcade, sandy beach, and an inflatable water park that offers slides and trampolines.

16. McArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park: Located northeast of Redding, the campground is forested and within a short walk to Lake Britton, fun for boating and swimming. There is a cute store at the campground where you can purchase supplies.

17. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: Located just south of Carmel, the park has gorgeous backdrops and water hole access. Just be sure to watch out for the poison oak.

18. Sunset State Beach: This peaceful campground under the pines offers picnicking on the beach and unmatched Monterey Bay views.

19. Calaveras Big Trees State Park: The park is home to the world’s largest trees, the giant sequoias. You will also find the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, ancient volcanic formations, natural meadows, hiking, biking, and beautiful nature trails.

20. Safari West: Enjoy the 400-acre private wildlife preserve located 12 miles north of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County and home to over eighty species of animals with luxury tent cabins and safari tours.

21. Raft California: Enjoy whitewater rafting and camping adventure trips on several rivers throughout Northern California. Suitable for families with kids ages four and up! Non-swimmers welcome. One night to 4-night trips available. Find them online to view the many trips they have to offer.

Friendships Are More Important Than We Think: My Friends Spark Joy in Me

By Sumiti Mehta

B

orn and raised in India’s modern metropolitan capital city, New Delhi, I grew up in a community and a house filled with people I love (Friends, grandparents, family, cousins). So, emotionally rich relationships seemed normal. You would have family and friends to lean on for sharing happiness, anxiety, and sadness.

Moving to Sacramento in 2009 made us happy. We knew it had a well-diverse community, and this could be a way to connect and socialize frequently; we did feel that we fit in the community seamlessly, but the need to communicate and connect at a deeper emotional or intellectual level was missing for a few years. It felt almost like how we are more networked in today’s world than ever and still isolated.

Having good friends and friendships is more important than we think, especially during the transition points in our lives, around our 30’s and 40’s. Good friends enrich your life in many ways; they teach you about yourself and challenge you to be better.

The fact is we all talk about the standards for relationships, be it romantic or for a life partner, but not as much for the friends we keep.

I gave this a thought, and here is what I have learned:

I have become selective of who I allow into my circle.

Through my personal experience over the years, especially during tough times, I have learned that I have to be selective of who I allow in my friendship circle. I think of this space as sacred, where I can have unequivocal mutual trust without fear of judgment. Over the last year, I reevaluated my friendships almost as a snake would shed skin. This process was challenging and therapeutic for my mind and my soul.

Do the people we call friends spark joy in us?

Marie Kondo, author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” talks about the relationship with objects — but I feel it is also true for our friendships or other relationships. To feel

positive and inspired, we should always surround ourselves with friends who uplift us and avoid compromising our values to fit in a group or circle, be it a Moms group or PTA group. I have always stood behind friends who need support and help in any which way I could. I am so grateful that I found my “real friends” during my campaign. These were the friends who stood for me and cheered for me, and supported me in every way they could. Lesson learned that amazing friendships grow by loving and supporting unconditionally.

What do we value in a friendship?

What expectations do we have of friendships — what are the qualities we look for in friends, and are these the qualities we possess? If we attract what we are, are we the best versions of ourselves to draw that in friendship? For me, it has always been honesty, kindness, and unconditional support. We choose to be happy, and life is too short of having friendships that seem like more work than joy.

There should always be mutual respect and have something in common.

It is true of some friendships that we have had something in common at a certain point in our lives, and we remain friends because of those shared experiences or common interests. Do we continue to have common interests, and is there reciprocity in the respect we have for each other? The answer, in my case, is yes.

These friendships didn’t happen automatically; it was the repetitive time spent together, like how we had friends growing up. These friends met me at different places and phases of my life. Some at my son’s school, some in community events, but we make sure to figure out a way and reason to meet outside of those settings till the day.

I love and treasure all these wonderful women I call friends; they have helped me find a purpose and meaning. The understanding, support, likeness, and emotional bonds I have in my friendships are unique.

summer fun www.growingupchico.com 26 growing up chico magazine

Together or Apart, We Grow

A

By Allison Hopkins

s I reflect on the world’s longest year while challenging myself to find the positives, I am intrigued by a quote from the Old Owl Press.

“Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.”

Have we realized that the sports, music, art classes, scout meetings, youth groups, and other organized kids’ activities can be gone in the blink of an eye? What is left? Well, I guess it is the ability to “bounce,” switch gears, and be flexible and adaptable.

In many conversations this past year, the word “resilient” kept popping up. “Kids will be fine because they are so resilient,” people kept saying. At times, I struggled with this because the age group I continued to worry about most, in terms of their happiness, development, and growth, was school-age kids.

Our kids had way too much time on their hands. Suddenly, we parents needed to figure out how to keep them occupied and win the ongoing battle of us against electronics- All while continuing our daily responsibilities.

When it looked like we were in it for the long run, I made many calls to see who I could hire to teach my 12-year-old

son something (anything) to help break up the day. I will share that takelessons.com has been a savior. He is making a lot of progress learning Japanese through weekly video chats with his instructor. This is something we would not have signed up for with our regular routine. We have also discovered that road trips are a great way to see the world beyond the four walls we’ve been staring at.

I was curious, so I took a survey. What have other kids been up to besides mastering virtual learning? My survey results have been fantastic, and I wish I would have done this six months ago.

Long-term Positive Effects Seeing What it Takes to Run a Household vs. Coming Home with Everything Magically Done. Mom of Kaine (12) says this is invaluable.

Talking More with Their Parents. Kaine’s mom also noticed that instead of one-word responses from her kids when they came home from school (how was your day), they are distance learning and talking her ear off!

Connecting More as a Family.

• Mom of Everett (11) found this to be something she believes our society needed. “Time to slow down, and time for family meals,” she explains. “The only way to change this social paradigm was for us to be forced to do it.” (I immediately started to think that here’s another article topic.)

• Mom of Addyson (13) and Jack (11) shared that the family being home 24/7 has resulted in learning to lean on each other, give more, listen more, and know each other’s needs.

• Brothers Noah (17) and Joshua (13) have bonded by visiting their grandma, who recently moved into a care facility. Only two people have been able to go at once.

• Veronica (10) and her mom are drawing pictures together, each getting one side of a large sheet of white paper.

• My son and I have connected by overcoming the challenge of completing a 1,000-piece anime puzzle.

• As a family, we have shared many laughs in the evenings watching the entire series of The Office, Scrubs, Monk, and Psych (Is this something to be proud of?).

Meeting the Neighbors. Juliette (9), her sister Jessalyn (8), and their parents have enjoyed getting to know eight neighbor kids and their families.

Learning Life Skills Learning Perseverance. A second-grade teacher has commented that her students cheer her on as she gets stuck with technology issues! They say, “You can do it!” She mentions that one student could lead the distance learning group by herself at this point.

More Independence. Caleb (14) was nervous about getting his braces on but went to the appointment on his own. He is becoming more assertive with teachers and is making his own lunch.

Appreciating the Small Things. Mom of Addyson and Jack shared that things like getting to play at a friend’s house won’t be taken for granted.

Cooking. Cooking. Cooking. From little ones to high schoolers, this seems to be a popular response.

• Alex (9) has been making lunch for his mom; he taught himself over-easy eggs with only verbal instructions!

• Cameron (11) is cooking eggplant parmesan in Maryland while his grandma in North Carolina gives him directions over Zoom.

• Addyson has a new cookbook and is making banana bread from scratch.

• Asher (15) is watching Gordon Ramsey and learning basic cooking methods, making a shopping list, and creating tasty entrees.

• Aidan (15) makes homemade pizza, soft pretzels, and Olive Garden breadsticks, specializing in anything with yeast. (Before the pandemic, his mom was not sure if he could make toast).

• Twin sisters Anneka and Avery (15) have been cooking ethnic meals from all around the world.

Sewing. Madeline (9) took a virtual sewing class and is using the machine without her mom’s involvement.

Okay, this is just AMAZING! More Time for Cleaning. Ethan (14) is now in charge of the kitchen, and his parents are loving it!

Exploring Different Types of Exercise • Online Dance Lessons. Madeline’s parents converted the basement into a dance studio.

• Surfing. Basketball and soccer were canceled, but Gavin (12) had a chance to take surfing lessons in Monterey and rent a board on a trip to San Diego.

• Golf. Parker (10) and his brother Bennett (8) started taking golf lessons and are now golfing with mom and dad as a family. This is something mom says never would have happened with their regular busy routine.

• Tennis. Everett is having a good time on the tennis courts, a different experience for him.

Having New Types of Fun • Hogwarts Class. This class is an hour a day for four days through OutSchool.com. Liam (9) learned about spells, potions, and the care of magical creatures. How cool!

• Chess. Holden (10) is playing the game and loving it.

• Telling Dad Jokes. At eight years old, Evo’s been practicing dad jokes while his little brother is busy scootering around. (Love this.)

The list goes on and on. Thank you to all my participants.

Together we’ve found some positives!

Join us for the 9th annual

Growing Up

Thur

sday, Aug 1 2 th

28 growing up chico magazine

www.growingupchico.com

summer fun

Chico Night 6-9 pm

FREE activities for kids Resourceful information for parents Giveaways & more!

Downtown City Plaza Mark your calendars for this fun filled evening!

We hope to see you there!!

3 Simple Ways Water Can Help Your Family Feel Calmer

By Sandi Schwartz

With summer just around the corner, our children will enjoy so many fun outdoor activities, and many of them will involve water. Did you know that science has found that being in and around water can calm our bodies and minds? Wouldn’t you love to be able to calm your children using something as simple and available as water? Here are three ways that water can help your children relax this summer and throughout the year.

Observe It Have you ever lost yourself in the beauty of the ocean, a flowing waterfall, or even an aquarium? You are certainly not alone.

Water is known to give us a sense of peace and serenity. In fact, medical studies have found less cortisol (the stress hormone) and more serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine (the feel-good hormones) in people as they spend time in, on, or around the ocean.

When we’re around water, our brains become engaged in our environment, and we enjoy pleasant sensory stimulation. We become so focused on the water that we enter a mindful state. As a result, we enjoy lower stress levels; relief from anxiety, pain, and depression; improved mental clarity and focus; and better sleep.

Water inspires a sense of awe as we take in the vastness of the ocean or swim in a large lake. These experiences make us aware of and appreciate our place in this immense world. Such awe-inspiring experiences boost our mood, making us feel happier and calmer.

Water also provides soothing sounds that help us feel calm, as evidenced by all the relaxation and sleep aids that use sounds of water – whether it be crashing waves, the pitter-patter of rainfall, or the rush of a flowing river.

Why does the sound of water cause this reaction? Studies show that it’s based on how our brain interprets different noises.

These slow, rhythmic whooshing sounds are non-threatening, which is why they calm us down. Also, the sound of water is a type of white noise that helps drown out other noises that might cause us concern.

Find ways to expose your children to aweinspiring water scenes and sounds, such as: • Plan trips where you can visit impressive water sights like Niagara Falls, the turquoise sea in the Caribbean, waterfalls in Hawaii, and the Great Lakes.

• Visit marine nature centers and aquariums.

• Spend time at the beach and encourage your children to express how the scene makes them feel in creative ways like writing, painting, or singing about it.

• Go fishing or on a boat ride or cruise.

• Listen to water sounds to calm your children at bedtime.

Immerse In It Spending time in water has a tremendous soothing effect. Some believe this is because it’s reminiscent of the time we spent in our mother’s womb surrounded by amniotic fluid. It may also be related to how the water makes us feel weightless and free.

Studies show that floating can change our brain waves and reduce cortisol levels, therefore making us feel more relaxed. Swimming is also known to boost endorphins that increase feelings of wellbeing. Plus, the rhythmic strokes and sound of water make swimming very relaxing.

Research shows that swimming produces the same relaxation response as yoga, increasing calming chemicals and allowing us to enter a meditative state. When we swim laps, we can focus simply on our strokes and breathing, making it easy to shut off all the noises and activity going on outside the pool.

Baths and showers have been used as ways to escape daily stress for ages. By practicing some mindfulness during a bath or shower, we can really focus on the sensations on our skin and the sounds of the trickling water.

This helps us be in the moment and forget our worries.

Look for opportunities for your children to spend time in water: • Sign them up for swim lessons or join a swim team.

• Encourage them to practice floating on

• •

their back in the pool.

Choose vacations where you can enjoy swimming and water sports.

Turn bath time into a mindfulness moment by asking them questions about how the water feels and sounds.

Drink it Let’s also not forget how critical water is to our health. By simply drinking enough water throughout the day, children can minimize feelings of stress and anxiety.

Water plays such an important role in how our body functions. All of our organs, including our brain, need water to work properly. If we are dehydrated, our body is strained, and we can become stressed and edgy. Dehydration can actually cause symptoms that feel like anxiety, such as dizziness, muscle fatigue, headache, feeling faint, increased heart rate, and nausea.

Dehydration has also been linked to higher cortisol levels. According to the Calm Clinic, water appears to have natural calming properties. Drinking water can be soothing, and our body can benefit from the added hydration when we are stressed.

It is so important that we encourage our children to drink enough water every day to help them stay calm and balanced. The amount of water a child needs depends on several factors like activity level and local weather, but in general, children should drink at least six to eight cups of water per day.

Your children will probably need more water if they’re participating in sports. It’s suggested that they drink a half cup to two cups of water every 15 to 20 minutes while exercising. For specific recommendations, see the Dietary Reference Intakes(DRIs) developed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

As one of our most important natural resources, water provides so many benefits, including improving our health and happiness. Have fun exploring new ways for your children to enjoy water through their senses – and you will be grateful for how calm they are as a result.

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Enter to win a one-month family membership to In Motion Fitness! Enter once during May, June, & July for a chance to win!

Growing Up Chico is excited to announce our Win It Wednesday promotion! Every month, we will have a giveaway from one of the local businesses featured on this page. To enter to win, simply go to www.growingupchico.com/giveaways.

In Motion Fitness is a five-acre resort of pools and palm trees nestled in a luxurious Mediterranean resort setting. We offer Northern California’s largest selection of group exercise classes, fitness equipment, and aquatic facilities. We invite you to experience the world-class facilities, services, and programs that have made In Motion Fitness a nationally acclaimed fitness facility.

1293 East 1st Avenue, Chico 530-343-5678, www.inmotionfitness.com

Growing Up Chico’s Business Directory

30 growing up chico magazine

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Magazine.

Azad’s Martial Arts Center: pg 18, 28 Apollo School of Music: pg 2, 18 Bless Your Heart Mercantile: pg 5 Board & Brush Chico: pg 5 Boys & Girls Club of the North Valley: pg 13, 18 Chico Area Recreation and Park District: pg 19 Chico Cheer Allstars: pg 19 Chico Children’s Museum: pg 19 Chico Creek Dance Centre: pg 5, 19 Chico Mother’s Club: pg 5 Chico Pediatric Dentistry: pg 28 Children’s Choice Dental Care: pg 32 CRT: pg 13, 20 DeAnna Holman-ARBONNE: pg 31 Downtown Chico Business Association: pg 28 Forest Ranch Charter School: pg 28 Funland/Cal Skate: pg 20 Govan Ranch: pg 20 Happy Campers RV Rentals: pg 30 Hooker Oak School: pg 7 HYPE Dance Studio: pg 3, 20

In Motion Fitness: pg 2 Inspire School of Arts & Sciences: pg 3, 21 Instant Nails: pg 7 Kids Outdoor Sports Camps: pg 22 Kinetics Academy of Dance: pg 3, 22 Little Sprouts Preschool:

pg 15 Luxe Picnic Chico: pg 15 My Oven’s Meals: pg 7 Northern Valley Indian Health: pg 11 Pivot Charter School: pg 3 Sherwood Montessori: pg 15 Silver Dollar BMX: pg 15 Taming Tangles Hair Salon: pg 28 The Human Bean: pg 5 Thistle and Stitch:

pg 7 Thrive: pg 19 TJ Farms: pg 15, 22 Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology: pg 22 Willow & Birch Realty: pg 7 Youthful Smiles Dentistry: pg 11

Pr e sc h o o l & C hildc are D irecto ry

Center

Ages

Hours

Curriculum

Contact

Little Sprouts Preschool

2-5 years

7am-5:30pm Monday-Friday

Nature ABCs

1-5 years, with parent

10am-11am Runs every Monday free of charge. Registration required to guarantee a spot as space will be limited.

Little Sprouts Preschool offers organic gardening and recycling. The Kindergarten readiness program has Zoo Phonics, daily circle time, and enrichment activities.

Nutritious snacks and lunch included.

15 Overland Ct. 345-0123 littlesproutspreschool1@gmail.com

3-5 years

9am - 1pm, runs in 6 week sessions on Tues, Weds, and Thursday, each day is a separate registration

License # 045405784

Nature School

Runs every Monday free of charge. Due to limited space, registration is required to guarantee a spot with no more than one parent per child. Check our website for updates on dates.

An hour of fun free activities including an animal visit, story and song time, and a nature walk in Bidwell Park.

Check our website for updates on dates, days, and prices.

A first learning experience in nature with crafts, songs, games, animal visits, and guided exploration of Bidwell Park.

Chico Creek Nature Center 1968 E 8th Street 530-514-5730 www.chicorec.com/preschools

Chico Creek Nature Center 1968 E 8th Street 530-514-5730 www.chicorec.com/preschools

D-Diapers L-Lunch P-Parent participation T-Traditional school year A-After-school program S-Summer program Y-Year round program

D L Y S