Island Parent August 2014

Island Parent Celebrating

26 Years

The Resource Publication for Vancouver Island Parents

August 2014

Education

schools & educational services 10 Things to Do Before Summer Ends Saunter Over to Sidney ...the Island Cycling with Children Be Berry Aware The Case for Camping

children’s boutique

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Teaching opportunities available

Fall Active Living Guide Available Aug. 6, 2014 Reserve your space for our Fall classes and programs.

Printed copies available at: • Cedar Hill Recreation Centre • Pearkes Recreation Centre • Gordon Head Recreation Centre • Saanich Commonwealth Place • Pepper’s Foods • Tru-Value Foods Cordova Bay • Any Saanich Thrifty Foods or Public Library

www.saanichrec.ca www.saanichrec.ca

Nationally Recognized Level B Assessments

Language Arts

Math

Sciences

Study Skills

Learning Camps

Individualized Learning Programs

Think Learning…Think READ Since 1976 the READ Society has been supporting children and youth in the Greater Victoria community to reach their potential. We offer nationally recognized academic assessments to pinpoint your child’s academic needs. We then develop an individualized learning program for your child that is delivered in small or private after school classes by BC Certified Teachers.

Learning skills, confidence and potential READ also offers learning assistance to lower income families in our sponsored programs: Noisy Kids Reading Club • READ is on the Road • Tuition Assistance

The Victoria READ Society would like to thank our sponsors:

We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia

To learn more about our programs and to register: 250-388-7225 info@readsociety.bc.ca www.readsociety.bc.ca Locations: Victoria, Westshore and Sidney

Celebrating 38 Years of Remedial Learning! www.IslandParent.ca

August 2014 1

Contents: August 2014 Abra-Kid-Abra

Car Seats, Cribs, Play-n-Pak, High Chairs available for short term rentals • A great selection of books • Dress-up for girls and boys • Shoes…Pedipeds, See Kai Run …and More • Rainwear and rainboots…TUFFO – MUDDYBUDDY, now up to size 5

Now Accepting Fall Consignment New & Used Toys, Clothing & Furniture 2024 Oak Bay Ave • 250 595 1613

Articles The Case for Camping.................................................................................... 8 10 Things To Do Before Summer Ends.......................................................... 10 Saunter Over to Sidney…the Island............................................................... 14 Cycling with Kids.......................................................................................... 16 Schools & Educational Services..................................................................... 18 Dear Gwyneth............................................................................................... 28 Making Summer Fun..................................................................................... 29 Get Ready for Symphony Splash................................................................... 30 Be Berry Aware............................................................................................. 31

Columns Editor’s Note................................................................................................... 3 Healthy Families; Happy Families................................................................. 42 Dadspeak...................................................................................................... 44 Just Eat It!..................................................................................................... 46 Book Nook................................................................................................... 50 Is There an App for This?.............................................................................. 52 New Parent Pages.......................................................................................... 56 Maternity & Beyond..................................................................................... 60 Nature Notes................................................................................................ 62 Cut It Out..................................................................................................... 64

PIANO! Learn !

Departments

Piano!

LEARN PIANO! !

FUN SEASONAL PRIZES!

EXIBLE

CHING

VIC

IPM Notes....................................................................................................... 5 Party Directory........................................................................................ 26, 27 Family Calendar............................................................................................ 32 Around the Island......................................................................................... 40 Family-Friendly Cowichan Valley & Mid-Island..................................... 48, 49 Family Services Directory........................................................................ 54, 55 Preschool & Child Care Directory........................................................... 58, 59 Island Business & Professional Directory...................................................... 60

WITH MARY ROGERS! BMus (Piano Performance) UBC, ARCT and BCRMT FUN SEASONAL PRIZES!

WITH MARY ROGERS! BMus (Piano Performance) UBC, ARCT and BCRMT

Island Parent Magazine, produced by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a monthly publication that honours and supports parents by providing information on resources and businesses for families, and a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Letters (max 250 words) should be emailed to the Editor at editor@islandparent.ca. No material herein may be reproduced without the permission of the Editor. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome and should be emailed to editor@islandparent.ca.

Island Parent Magazine is distributed free in selected areas. Subscriptions can be obtained by sending $28.00 (includes GST) with your name and address to the address below. Canada Post: Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement 40051398.

LESSONS FOR

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2 Island Parent Magazine

830-A Pembroke St, Victoria, BC V8T 1H9 Tel: 250-388-6905 Websites: www.islandparent.ca, www.kidsinvictoria.com Publisher/Owner: Mark Warner Editor: Sue Fast Sales & Marketing: RaeLeigh Buchanan Publisher’s Assistant: Linda Frear Distribution: Ray Cutts, Ted Dawe (Mid-Island) Founders: Jim Holland & Selinde Krayenhoff Production: Eacrett Graphic Design Printed at Black Press, Victoria Cover printed at Hillside Printing ISSN 0838-5505

Cover Photo: Becky Sunderland

Follow Us on Facebook & Twitter facebook.com/IslandParent twitter.com/IslandParent www.kidsinvictoria.com

A Mother, a Grandma, a Grammy & a Nana are Born ...not to mention a beautiful baby, a Dad, a Grandpa, a Gramps and a Papa

T

he waiting room in the maternity ward at Richmond General Hospital is empty.

The only sounds are coming from the TV mounted on the wall above the row of chairs, and from hushed voices around the nurses’ station.

My husband, Barry, and I scan the hallways, looking for his daughter, my step-daughter, Jessica, and her husband, our son-in-law, Andrew.

Jess’s due date was the day before, and strangely enough, that’s when she went into labour. We’ve made it over from the Island and are now hoping to wish them both well before Jess is wheeled off to the delivery room.

We find her room and a crowd around her bed. When she sees us in the doorway, she waves us over. She’s been in labour for nearly 12 hours, with discouraging progress, but has had an epidural so is now relaxed and calm.

Andrew is standing beside her bed, watching the fetal heart rate monitor hooked up to Jess’s belly. Because the doctor is worried about the baby’s heartbeat, somewhat irregular and, at times, dipping dangerously low, they are considering a caesarean section. We visit with Jess and Andrew while nurses come and go and then, after the doctor decides a c-section is the safest option, return to the waiting room while Jess is prepped for surgery.

In the waiting room, Jess’s mom, Cathie, sits down and rests her head against the wall. It’s been a long night. She’s been at the hospital with Jess and Andrew since they were admitted yesterday morning. Jess’s labour, Cathie says, is strangely reminiscent of her own when she was pregnant with Jess nearly 29 years ago. What, at the time, Cathie and Barry had hoped would

www.IslandParent.ca

be a smooth and uncomplicated natural birth turned into an emergency c-section. After 44 hours of labour.

We talk and laugh now about some of the details of the delivery, how Barry sat at Cathie’s side, sinking deeper and deeper into his chair when the fabric draped across Cathie’s midsection, there to block the view of the surgery, started to sag. How he escaped for a burger not long before Jess was born. How, after Jess’s birth, Cathie and Barry marvelled at their new baby’s tiny fingers and toes, her wide blue eyes, her thick, dark hair swirled around her head in a distinct semi-circle that made her look like she was wearing Caesar’s laurel wreath.

As we sit in the waiting room, sharing our memories of Jess growing up, I realize how lucky I am to be a part of this day. And these lives. For nearly 27 years, since Cathie and I first met, she has always been accepting and kind, making me feel like one of the family and an important part in Jess’s life. Since Barry and I started having children of our own, Cathie has been quick to share kids’ clothing, toys, video cameras, camping equipment, bicycles and other kid-related gear. The blanket she gave us for a wedding present is still my favourite, one that’s been wrapped around each of us—when sick, snuggled up reading a book, or watching a movie on a rainy night. She has always opened up family events to everyone so that we have become, not a fractured family of step-parents, halfsiblings, and in-laws, but a bigger one. I have never told Cathie how much I appreciate this, how much it means to me that she has helped this happen, although for years now, I’ve meant to.

Barry leaves the waiting room to pace the hallways and stretch his legs. Cathie and I sit together and wait. When we hear voices in the corridor, getting nearer to where we’re sitting, we both glance out into the hall. An exhausedyet-exhilarated young couple pads past, pushing a clear-plastic baby bed, the baby barely visible beneath the blankets.

Editor’s Note Sue Fast “Not ours,” Cathie says, sinking back into her chair.

Not ours.

I let the word “ours” hang in the air.

Our grandchild. One small word that, at that instant, means so much.

Barry has just sat back down in the waiting room when we find out that Jess and Andrew’s baby—Abigail Ivy—has been born, weighing 8 lbs, 11 oz and measuring 21.5 cm long. Jess will be in the recovery room for at least an hour, but Andrew will be out with the baby soon. We all rush to Jess’s room and wait. When Andrew enters, still dressed in his delivery-room duds, we move in closer to get a glimpse of Abigail.

She is beautiful. Scrunched and rosy and perfect. Andrew is a mixture of exhaustion, relief and pride. He holds Abi out to us, offering the chance to hold her.

“You go ahead,” Cathie says to me. Her gesture is sincere—she would happily wait and would truly enjoy watching the rest of us holding Abi before doing so herself—but I shake my head. She or Barry should be the first hold their granddaughter, our granddaughter.

Cathie takes the baby from Andrew and cradles her gently. Just like Jess was when she was a baby, Abi is in good hands.

All of ours.

August 2014 3

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FUNDING PARTNERS

We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia

www.kidsinvictoria.com

IPM Notes

beaches, rocky cliffs and swim floats. www. facebook.com/gorgeswimfest

Westhills B.C. Day Celebration

Victoria Conservatory Open House

Westhills is hosting the 3rd Annual Westhills B.C. Day Celebration and Performing Arts Festival on August 4 from 10am-8pm, located at Westhills Stadium on Langford Parkway. Westhills, partnered with the West Shore Arts Council, is offering a familyfriendly free event for all ages.

This year’s Performing Arts Festival will host the largest range of local talent ever presented at the Westhills B.C. Day Celebration. Headlining the event will be awardwinning singer, Maureen Washington. The event also features live performances by Miguelito Valdes, Karly Summers, Raven Baroque, Vandersloot Family, and more.

Four Seasons Musical Theatre and Lighthouse Dance Academy will also provide live entertainment. There will be face painting, bouncy castles, mini golf, buskers, artisans, and much more for the entire family.

Residents of and visitors to the Wests Shore are encouraged to stop by and check out the festivities or relax at Westhills Stadium for the duration of the event. There will be free water provided by Westhills, along with food and other beverages for purchase to keep all event goers comfortable while they enjoy an action-packed day with activities and entertainment for all ages! Event sponsors include Business for the Arts, CTV, CFAX, KoolFM, Santa’s Anonymous, The City of Langford, and many other local businesses.

The West Shore Arts Council is also offering an Opening Night Concert on August 2, featuring Ken Lavigne. Tickets for this event are $25. Visit westshorearts.org.

Bring the whole family down to the Victoria Conservatory of Music for a special day. The Conservatory’s 6th Annual Open House on Saturday, September 6, from 10am-3pm, is the perfect time for everyone in the community to discover how music can be a part of their lives.

The Open House is free for the entire family and includes a concert with from three time JUNO Award nominees for Children’s Album of the Year, The Kerplunks!

Sign up for free mini-lessons, visit practice rooms and performance halls, enjoy live entertainment, meet the instructors, explore new instruments, and bounce in the bouncy castle. Visit the Children’s Music Department and participate in music classes.

Providing a child with a foundation in music is one of the most valuable things a parent can do. The VCM’s Open House is a great way to learn more about the wonderfully creative and innovative collection of music classes that can be the start of your child’s lifelong journey with music. The VCM offers something for everyone—all ages and all abilities. For more information visit www. vcm.bc.ca or phone 250-386-5311.

Gorge Swim Fest The third annual revival of the Gorge Swim Fest is slated for Sunday, August 10 from noon-4pm. The iconic inland waterway is a clean and warm swimming hole.

This year the celebration of The Gorge’s storied past and accessibility will be in Banfield Park and Esquimalt Gorge Park.

The family-oriented event emphasizes the Gorge’s viability as a perfect place to swim. The water is clean, warm and accessible. Midday water temperatures over the past month have consistently been 23-24˚C. Again this year there will be a variety of food, beverages, live music, face painting, bubble making and other playful, familyoriented activities. The Gorge Swim Fest venues feature sandy beaches, pebble www.IslandParent.ca

The Little Fox Run The Terry Fox Foundation is looking for daycares and preschools to host their very own Little Fox Run! This fun filled event teaches children the value of giving, raises cancer awareness, and provides them with the opportunity to be a part of the Marathon of Hope. As a Little Fox Run host, you will have the creativity to plan a route and determine how you would like to fundraise. The children could make a wish and throw their donations into a “Wishing Well” or participate in a “Loonie Parade” as you map out Terry’s route with loonies August 2014 5

on a giant map of Canada. Foundation staff will be happy to provide you with free promotional material, stickers, tattoos, pledge forms, and posters. Join in continuing Terry’s battle against cancer and be a part of his dream of finding a cure. If you are interested in registering your childcare centre for the 2014 Little Fox Run, please call 1-888-836-9786 or email bcevents@ terryfoxrun.org.

Family-Based Physical Activity Study Do you want to try to increase your family’s physical activity levels? At UVic’s Behavioural Medicine Lab, researchers are exploring different ways that parents and their children can increase their physical activity levels. They are looking for families with children between the ages of 6 and 12 who are interested in increasing their physical activity levels together.

Your involvement in this research is very important. Despite the known benefits of physical activity—prevention of a number of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers—over half of Canadian adults are not active enough to reap these benefits, and over 80 per cent of Canadian children are not meeting the recommended guidelines for

physical activity. Therefore, an intervention aimed at increasing physical activity levels among the whole family is so important!

Participants will receive information and strategies to help increase your family’s activity levels for a period of six months, delivered by a member of the research team.

Participation in this study will include: • Wearing an accelerometer (which measures activity) for one week (three times) • Completion of three questionnaires • One 15-minute interview (at the end of the study) • Monetary compensation for your time If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please email bml@uvic. ca or phone 250-472-5288.

Look for playgrounds wherever you are by simply clicking “Find Playgrounds Near Me” or by entering an address and find playgrounds near that location. If you’re travelling out of town, province or country, you can use Playground Buddy to help you keep active while away from home. Check out playground amenities (swing set, slide, bathrooms, etc.) or look at a street view (where data is available) to see if the playground is suitable.

The app has over 200,000 playgrounds. If a playground does not show up, simply add it and you’ll benefit the entire Playground Buddy community. That’s good karma.

Currently available for Androids through the Google Play store. A version for iPhone users is in development.

A New Playground Buddy

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentors

Looking for playgrounds? Wish there was an app for that? Well now there is.

Playground Buddy is a free app that can help you find playgrounds anywhere you go…in the world (even Iceland).

Two Victoria parents wanted to find playgrounds in both local and unfamiliar neighbourhoods (because as parents they know sometimes you just need a playground ASAP to burn some energy!) so they built a mobile phone app that does just that.

K-9 Distributed Learning

By becoming a mentor, you can help a child succeed. Big Brothers Big Sisters is seeking volunteers who are committed and consistent, willing to serve at least a year, but hopefully until a child graduates high school. Studies show that by doing so, BBBS mentoring helps kids stay in school, avoid risky behaviour, and experience first-hand the importance of helping others in their community.

Hands-On Home-Learning for a Sustainable World - expense budget provided - unique hands-on learning activities

The joy of learning - naturally.

http://oakandorca.ca http://oakandorca.ca 250 383 6619 888 383 6619) 250 383(1 6609

- support from a certified teacher - constructive feedback without grading - children can learn at their natural pace

Maxine Fisher M.Ed., RCC, MTA

Counselling for Children, Families & Adults

Over 19 Years Experience (Music Therapy Also Available) Stress & Trauma (Acting Out) • Parenting • Family Transitions Physical & Learning Disabilities • Relationships • Individuals M.Ed. | Registered Clinical Counsellor | Accredited Music Therapist

Call Today for a Complimentary 10 minute phone consultation Call 250-686-7582 maxinefisher@shaw.ca victoriafamilycounselling.com 6 Island Parent Magazine

www.kidsinvictoria.com

Professional staff will work with you, the child and the family throughout the course of the mentoring relationship to provide necessary training and support. Visit www. bbbsvictoria.com for more information or to apply to become a mentor.•

An Island Parent Moment Dear Island Parent, It was way past bedtime and my little one just wouldn’t settle down. After a busy weekend of moving, my husband and I were feeling frazzled to say the least.

We decided to take a stroll down to the beach in the hopes that some fresh air would calm us all down.

As we stepped down off the little causeway and onto the sand, it was like stepping into a surreal dream world.

The water was beautifully still, and even though it was past 9 p.m., the leftover glory of the sunset still had the sky in a haze of pinks and purples.

My husband, baby, and I all sat at the water’s edge and all our tensions melted away, as if the tiny waves tickling our toes really were washing away all the stressful energies we had been collecting over the frantic weekend.

I was filled with an incredible sense of gratitude to be living in such an amazingly beautiful part of the world.

This picture doesn’t do the evening justice, but it’s still a good one.

Jennifer Moray www.IslandParent.ca

Licenced group childcare for children 6 months to 5 years Open 6:30am – 5:30pm 2758 Peatt Road, Langford 250-818-9225 or 778-265-5955 www.leapforwardlangford.com info@leapforwardlangford.com August 2014 7

Learning

Through Play

Rachel Dunstan Muller

The Case for Camping C

Discover our parent-operated cooperative preschools where children (and their parents) learn through play.

Victoria Cordova Bay Preschool

cordovabaypreschool.org

Countryside Preschool

countrysidepreschool.org goldstreampreschool.com

Goldstream Preschool Gonzales Preschool

gonzalescooppreschool.com lakehillpreschool.org

Lakehill Preschool Lambrick Park Preschool

lambrickparkpreschool.ca

Lansdowne Preschool

lansdownepreschool.com oakbaypreschool.com

Oak Bay Preschool

Call (250) 655-3333

Sidney Preschool Strawberry Vale Preschool

strawberryvalepreschool.org

Outside Victoria Errington Preschool erringtonhall.bc.ca/preschol.htm Gabriola Island Preschool www.gabriolapreschool.org Call (250) 753-1939

Nanaimo Preschool Salt Spring Island Preschool

saltspringcooppreschool.com

www.vicpa.org 8 Island Parent Magazine

amping was the ultimate affordable summer holiday when I was a child, and my family did lots of it. Our excursions were anything but luxurious. My parents gravitated towards campgrounds with private sites and proximity to wilderness over those with fancy amenities like flush-toilets and showers. Our equipment was basic as well: a canvas-walled tent, a temperamental camp stove, Canadian Tire sleeping bags, and air mattresses that invariably went flat by morning.

I have fond memories of those camping trips, simple as they were. There was something magic about living outside for days at a time. Nothing heightens the senses more than walking to an outhouse in the dark, with only the tiny beam of a flashlight to guide you.

Or listening to the noises just beyond your tent when you’re sleeping in bear country. Or waking at dawn to a symphony of birdsong.

One August night stands out in particular.

We were camped in a remote spot in the Port McNeill area—a fair distance from any significant source of light pollution.

The sky was unusually clear for the north Island, and I started the evening with my sleeping bag outside the tent. As I lay gazing up in wonder at more stars than I’d ever seen, something inside me shifted. For a moment it was as if I were suspended above the stars instead of lying beneath them. It was a curious feeling, as if only gravity were keeping me from falling into the great bowl of space. I felt a deep sense of connection to the natural world as I stared up at the sky that night.

Our camping trips may have been inexpensive, but they made my childhood immeasurably richer. My siblings and I had adventures in the great outdoors, feasted our

eyes on gorgeous landscapes, and bonded with each other far from the distractions of home. We watched a family of otters play in a protected bay, and trailed our fingers through phosphorescent surf. What more could a kid want?

Now that I’m a parent, camping is still an essential summer activity. There are some guidelines my husband and I try to follow, to make our camping experiences as rewarding as possible.

No electronic devices. Unplugging is an essential part of getting away, so the laptops and portable gaming devices stay at home.

My husband and I bring our cellphones— but only for emergency purposes. They’re either turned off, or out of range anyway.

Being fully present to each other and to our surroundings definitely makes this rule worthwhile. In the evening or when it rains, we have books and board games or cards to keep boredom at bay.

Start where you are. Going camping doesn’t have to be a big production. We frequently lay out sleeping bags in our own backyard to watch August’s annual meteor shower. (The Perseid meteor shower has been visible in the northern hemisphere since mid-July, but will peak on August 12). Start where you feel most comfortable if you’re new to sleeping outside. Camping shouldn’t www.kidsinvictoria.com

Rachel Dunstan Muller is the mother of five, and a children’s author. Her previous articles can be found at www.kidsinvictoria.com. www.IslandParent.ca

S T A G E S Su m mer Pro g ra ms 2014 34th A n nual

Da nce I ntensive Aug ust 18 th - 29 th

Part-day program for dancers 10 years old & up in Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop & Acrobatics

Plus Week-long, part day

Youth Da nce Ca mps Throughout July & August for dancers 6-12 years old in Jazz, Hip Hop & Acrobatics

A nd Week-long, morning

Preschool Dance Camps Throughout July & August for 3-5 years olds in Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre & Tap plus

Little Dancers Classes are running through the summer for those 16 months to 3 years old

photos by D Haggart

be a miserable experience, so find a campground with real toilets and hot showers if that’s what your family members need.

If sleeping on the ground is a deal breaker, consider renting a trailer, a yurt, or a rustic cabin. I personally love backpacking, but in deference to my husband, I agreed to let a refurbished tent-trailer enter our lives.

As long as it gets our family outside for extended periods of time, I’m happy!

Rough camping has its own rewards. I admit that the queen mattress in our tenttrailer is very comfortable, but sometimes it’s worth sacrificing comfort to go off the beaten track. My most rugged camping experiences—the ones that have involved hiking boots and heavy packs—have been by far the most memorable, with stunning scenery and exhilarating wildlife encounters. Vancouver Island is a world-class destination for all kinds of back-country adventures, from rugged hiking trails to canoe or kayak camping. If your family is ready for this kind of experience, you might want to check out some of the following books: Hiking Vancouver Island,

by Shannon Cowan; Hiking Trails 1, 2 or 3, published by the Vancouver Island Trails Information Society; The Wild Coast 1, 2 or 3, by John Kimantas; or Hiking Adventures With Children: Southern Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula, by Kari Jones.

As a general guide, there’s Hiking and Backpacking With Kids, by Molly Absolon.

(All of these books are available through the Vancouver Island Regional Library.)

Explore someplace new. Once you’ve found a favourite camping spot, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. But don’t let that stop you from discovering new favourites.

Google a map of Vancouver Island. How far north have you travelled? How much of the Island’s interior have you seen? Have you been to Strathcona Park? What about Cape Scott, or the many Gulf and Discovery Islands? Whatever region intrigues you, chances are there’s camping accommodation nearby.

Take advantage of interpretive programs and local museums. Wherever you choose to stay, be sure to check out the educational programs and exhibits in the area. They’re often geared towards families, and will make your experience richer as they teach you about local flora, fauna and history.

Happy Camping!

Come Da nce With Us

For more information call (250) 384-3267 email us at stagesdance@shaw.ca or visit us at www.stagesdance.com

Strawberry Vale Preschool Join Our Great Preschool Community!

www.strawberryvalepreschool.org August 2014 9

Island Parent Celebrating

on for Vancouver Island

The Resource Publicati

26 Years

Parents

August 2014

Education &

Schools Educational Services 10 Things to Do s Before Summer End Saunter Over to Sidney ...the Island Cycling with Children Be Berry Aware The Case for Camping

is

GROWING! We’ve recently expanded our free distribution into additional outlets!

Please visit any of our valued partners to pick up your latest copy of Island Parent.

We welcome and thank our newest partner…

Save-On-Foods

(six Greater Victoria locations) plus GREATER VICTORIA Greater Victoria Public Libraries Vancouver Island Regional Libraries Greater Victoria Recreation Centres Thrifty Foods All 25 Serious Coffee locations Island-wide Victoria Gymnastics Country Grocer Chapters Vitamin Shop The Bay Centre (info booth) Scallywags Royal BC Museum Buddies Toys Crumsby’s Market on Yates Market on Millstream Victoria Conservatory JamTots Lifestyle Market Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre

DUNCAN Duncan Mall (centre court) Indigo Red Balloon Cowichan Recreation Centre Cowichan Aquatics Centre Kinderbeez Duncan Tourist Information CHEMAINUS Chemainus Theatre SHAWNIGAN LAKE Community Centre LADYSMITH Ladysmith Recreation Centre NANAIMO Nanaimo Aquatic Centre Quality Foods Country Club Mall Regional Library – Boban Fairway Market Island Natural Health Foods Woodgrove Centre

For a complete list of where you can find a copy of Island Parent Magazine, go to

www.islandparent.ca 250-388-6905 10

Island Parent Magazine

10

Things To Do

Before Summer Ends

With more than a month of summer to go, there’s still plenty of time to tackle this “10 Things To Do” list. Now there’s no excuse for lazing around as the balmy days pass by—unless, of course, that’s your idea of perfect summer fun!

1

Visit a Festival

There’s no shortage of festivals this month. For starters, there’s the Filberg Festival (www.filbergfestival.com), a celebration of all things arts, crafts, and music, from August 1-4 where, along with artisans’ wares, you’ll find the Enchanted Forest, a kids’ interactive area that includes storytelling, face painting, sandboxes, painting, crafts, and games. Then there’s the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival (www.victoriadragonboat.com) from August 15-17 where you can cheer on the paddlers and enjoy live multicultural entertainment, crafts for kids, the Forbidden City Food Court and Grand Dragon Challenge. Don’t miss FringeKids Fest (www.intrepidtheatre.com) in Market Square on Saturday, August 23 from 11am-4pm. This completely free one-day family festival in Market Square introduces young children to the magic of theatre, with strolling performers and music, along with craft activities including puppet making, and a life-sized cardboard castle for small artists to paint. Young Fringers can also see two family friendly shows: Tatterhood, a puppetry comedy folktale, at Fairfield Hall on August 21-24, 28, and 31; or Vaudevillian, comedy magic, at Victoria Conservatory of Music Wood Hall from August 27-31.

Catch a Show

2

Chemainus Theatre (www.chemainustheatrefestival.ca), 9737 Chemainus Road, presents Munsch-ercise, a wacky and wonderful collection of Canada’s great children’s author, Robert Munsch, running from Tuesday through Saturday until August 16. Play along, sing along and enjoy this wacky world that celebrates good times. Suitable for ages 7+. To book your tickets, phone 1-800-565-7738. For rainy day entertainment, check out the IMAX productions Vikings: Journey to New Worlds, a breathtaking breathtaking film about the Viking warriors, explorers and settlers as they set out in search of new lands; Island of Lemurs: Madagascar, a film about a spectacular journey to the remote and wondrous world of Madagascar., and the highly endangered lemurs; and Rocky Mountain Express, a steam train journey through the breathtaking vistas of the Canadian Rockies and how it relates to the adventure of building the nation’s first transcontinental railway. For showtimes and information, visit www.imaxvictoria.com or phone 250-953-IMAX (4629).

3

See a Movie under the Stars

If you feel like seeing a show, but don’t feel like being cooped up indoors, why not drop by one of Victoria’s outdoor venues? The Victoria Film Festival (www.victoriafilmfestival.com) is once again presenting the Free-B Film screenings on Friday and Saturday nights until August 23. The first screening (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure) will take place on the Legislature lawn on August 1. After that the screenings will be at Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park on a 20-foot-wide inflatable screen. The line-up includes Monster Squad, Spaceballs, and Logan’s Run along with a list of others. For the complete line-up, visit the website.

Movies start at 9pm and are free. Just bring your own snacks, flashlights and blankets. www.kidsinvictoria.com

Take a T’ashaii Cultural Tour

4

Paddle as a group (up to six people) in an authentic handcrafted dugout canoe and explore Tla-o-qui-aht Territory—Tofino and the area around Tofino—from a Nuu-chah-nulth perspective. Learn about local aboriginal history and culture that spans back thousands of years. Explore the environment, culture, and the inter-connectedness of both. The two-hour Clayoquot Sound Tour ($65) lets you explore the area surrounding Tofino, the southern section of Clayoquot Sound.

The four-hour Meares Island Canoe Tour ($80) is a magical way to enjoy a guided walk on the Big Tree Trail to see some of the oldest red cedar trees in the area. Tours start in Tofino Harbour.

No special gear is required. Paddles and life jackets are provided. Dress for the weather, bring proper walking shoes for the Big Tree Trail, and pack a snack, water bottle, camera, and sunscreen. Trip times change based on tide. Potential trip times are: 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm. For more information, visit www. tofinopaddle.com. To book a trip, phone 250-266-3787

5

MEND is being offered this September in:

Find Fun at Fisherman’s Wharf

Steps from Victoria’s Inner Harbour, along a picturesque waterfront walkway, there’s a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered at Fisherman’s Wharf.

You’ll find friendly and entertaining seals, an assortment of food kiosks, including the famous Barb’s Fish & Chips along with a new sushi restaurant Rock ’n Rolls, among others. Rent kayaks, book fishing charters or whale watching tours, or just stroll amidst the house boats. Wander down the docks and buy seafood fresh off the boat, see moored pleasure vessels, and watch as fishing vessels unload their wares. For a different view of the city, and a chance to get out on the water, hop aboard a Harbour Ferry, leaving from Fisherman’s Wharf daily from 10am-9pm (until September 14, then from 11am-5pm), and take a ride. Be aware that cost is $5 per zone. For more information, visit www.victoriaharbourferry.com.

www.IslandParent.ca

August 2014

11

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Make Raspberry Strawberry Watermelon Popsicles

7

Do the Tube Shack Boogie

Head to The Tube Shack at Lake Cowichan, and sign up for a $15 all-inclusive tubing package that includes your tube rental and a shuttle service from Little Beach to Saywell Park.

Float down the Cowichan River through the crystal clear water and pristine scenery on this 2.5 hour journey. Family tube rentals (two adults, two kids) costs $50. Pack and waterproof a picnic or leave one along your route. Make sure to lather up with waterproof sunscreen, wear a life jacket and a hat, and bring lots to drink along the way. If you have your own tubes and want to use just the shuttle service, the cost is $5 per person. The Tube Shack is fully licensed and insured. Located underneath Jakes at the Lake Restaurant, 109 South Shore Road, beside Saywell Park. For more information or to book ahead, visit www.cowichanriver. com or phone 250-510-RIDE (7433).

Sail Over to Saltspring

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6

makes 6 pops, depending on popsicle mold size 2 cups watermelon, cut into chunks 1⁄2 cup raspberries 1 cup sliced strawberries 1⁄4 cup sugar Set aside half of the raspberries and strawberries. Toss the sugar with the remaining fruit and then blend slightly, until liquid but still a bit chunky. Mix in the reserved raspberries and strawberries. Pour into molds and freeze until set. Enjoy!

From iamafoodblog.com

8

No matter how you spell it, Saltspring or Salt Spring, this island will make you want to stay for more than just one day. Twenty-seven kilometres long, 182-square kilometres in all, Saltspring Island is the largest southern Gulf Island and boasts eight lakes, four villages, several mountains, 225 small farms, one movie theatre, 22 beaches, a population of 10,000, and three B.C. Ferries routes. Only a 25-minute ferry ride from Swartz Bay, Saltspring is a popular summertime destination, especially on Saturdays when around 150 local artisans, musicians and farmers display their wares at the weekly Market in the Park (www.

Victoria’s favourite dentists believe a healthy smile starts early. Free first visit for children under 5.

12

Island Parent Magazine

www.kidsinvictoria.com

saltspringmarket.com). Here you’ll find such things as Saltspring Island goat cheese, sea salt hand scrub, and driftwood garden benches. Children will be intrigued by the sights, sounds and smells at the market, and when they’ve had enough, the playground nearby provides respite. If you’re looking for a great place to hike, try Mt. Maxwell, the third highest mountain on the Gulf Islands, where you’ll find hiking trails and views of Fulford Harbour, Burgoyne Bay, Maple Bay and the surrounding islands.

9

Fire it up at the Fireworks

If you’ve never seen the Fireworks at Butchart Gardens (every Saturday night through August), you are missing a great opportunity to be delighted and amazed. This is not your standard high-in-the-sky shower of stars—although there’s lots of those—it’s a full-on pyrotechnic extravaganza set to music. You may be treated to sparkling, spraying elephants, brilliant trains rolling along tracks or waterfalls of fire. Anything is possible and it’s pure magic. This show is worth it—it changes every year, it’s truly fabulous and it’s all ours. Plan for the crowds, pack a picnic, a game or two and some warm clothes, wander the gardens, listen to some music, and spend a family evening hanging out waiting to be awed.

Visit www.butchartgardens.com.

Flit About in a Float Plane

Learning Naturally Discover what happens when children create insightful solutions through purposeful playtime.

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Designed and/or made in Germany, our brands are of exceptionally high quality, and made to last forever. In our large and bright activity-area, you and your child get to try out and work with the products we are offering in the store.

Come on by for some meaningful playtime, and take a look around to see what we have to offer.

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10

Harbour Air’s most popular seaplane tour, the halfhour Victoria Panorama Tour, departs daily from the Inner Harbour and features views of downtown Victoria and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with the Olympic Mountains in the distance.

Enjoy sweeping views of the buildings surrounding the harbour and the grand houses perched above the rugged coastline. Fly the coastline north along the Saanich Peninsula, wrapping around its point near Sidney.

Return along the sheltered shores of the Saanich Inlet, over Butchart Gardens, and then back to the city. The spray of the water adds to the drama of take-off and landing.

The cost is $104/adult and $52/child (11 and younger). For more information, visit www.harbourair.com.•

778 - 406 -2102 | www.kinderspiel.ca | sandra@kinderspiel.ca

Classical Ballet for students ages 4 to Advanced

Registration for 2014–2015 Season Wed, Aug 27 & Wed, Sept 3 4–7 pm Valerie Grant

Licentiate C.S.C.-C.I.C.B., L.I.S.T.D. (Cecchetti Faculty)

www.dancearabesque.ca or 250·595·3107 www.IslandParent.ca

August 2014

13

Tina Kelly

Saunter

Over to

Sidney ...the Island Did you know a National Park Reserve is right off our door step?

REGISTER NOW !

Kids' and adults' dance classes.

14

Island Parent Magazine

Well, with one minor catch, you can’t walk or drive there. Have no fear, this doesn’t make it inaccessible. A short 25 minute passenger ferry from Sidney takes you to an island of the same name.

S

idney Island is one of 15 islands—in the Southern Gulf Islands archipelago—that make up the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. This island may not have a zip-line, a shopping centre, or a spot to grab an Americano, but it does offer up a beautiful, quiet place to partake in any of the following activities.

Explore tidal flats and eelgrass meadows. Nothing beats mucking about at the beach on a summer day and Sidney Island has kilometres of sandy shoreline to explore. Visit during a low-tide and the eelgrass beds on the northeast corner of the island are a treat to discover. Eelgrass is a vascular plant rooted into sandy sediment that provides critical habitat for a vast variety of fish and invertebrates. Gently move the blades of grass aside—being careful not to uproot the plant—to look for snails, nudibranchs, crabs, flatfish, sculpins and more. Under the sand, you can find worms and a wide variety of bivalves like clams and cockles. You may realize a clam is nearby by if you see a stream of water shooting out of the sand as if from a buried squirt gun.

Uncover the island’s history. Before the name Sidney, this island was known to First Nations as Sallas Island. A sign of First Nations culture can be found on the northeast side of the island where erosion and wave action have exposed a midden. Archaeological middens offer evidence of human activity; sometimes called kitchen middens these sights contain shells, bones or other evidence of a previous inhabitant’s diet. On Sidney Island, the shell-laden midden shows a historical First Nations diet of clams. Take a close look, but please do not disturb this archaeological site.

Industry came to the island in 1906; the Sidney Tile and Brick Company used the island’s clay to manufacture bricks. Building remnants, overgrown with vegetation, can be found at the old brickworks site, along with piles and piles of bricks scattered along the beach.

Spot wildlife in the water, the forest and the air. Nature on Sidney is not limited to what is burrowed in the sand or hiding among eelgrass, remember to look up and look out. www.kidsinvictoria.com

Harbour seals and river otters are regulars in the ocean nearby. River otters are extremely agile on land, so you may find them rolling on the beach or heading up to the forest.

Walking the trails of the island’s forests you may come across introduced fallow dear or at least a bit of evidence—bones or poop—they are island residents. Located on the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south migratory route, the island hosts a wide variety of birdlife. Upon arrival you may notice bird nest boxes and their residents, the purple martin, flitting about in search of flying insects. The purple martin, a member of the swallow family, has faced competition for habitat from introduced European starlings. A nest box initiative across North American has been hugely successful in increasing purple martin populations. Other avian species to keep your eyes out for are great blue herons, bald eagles, osprey and shorebirds.

Try your hand at geocaching. Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt; originally

requiring a GPS device, the explosion of GPS-enabled phones is making the geocache challenge more accessible. Parks Canada’s geocaching loops include caches on multiple islands, but start with Sidney to get your feet wet on this engaging activity. By finding the treasure boxes, or caches, you’ll learn about the Park’s natural and cultural heritage.

Two levels of difficulty are available and their passports can be downloaded from the Parks Canada website. A completed passport earns a limited edition coin; to receive your coin, mail the passport to Parks Canada or visit the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney to pick one up in person. www.pc.gc.ca Spend the night! Enjoy rustic island life for more than just an afternoon by pitching your tent at one of 27 camp sites. It’s important to note the sites are a 1 km walk—through the forest or along the beach—from the ferry dock so pack only what you absolutely need. Available fresh water comes with a disclaimer to “not be ingested by those

with kidney or heart problems because of high sodium.” Reservations are required for camp sites. www.pc.gc.ca How to get there: The Alpine Ferry departs the dock at the end of Beacon Avenue in Sidney 7 days a week until September 5. The first ferry leaves Sidney at 10 a.m. and the last ferry leaving Sidney Spit is 4:30 p.m. (6 p.m. Friday and Saturdays only). Roundtrip fare is $19 for adults and $16 for children 12 and under. www.alpinegroup.ca Additional Information: • Outhouses and picnic tables are available. There are no garbage bins in the park, so what you pack in must go home with you.

In a National Park, it is illegal to remove anything other than garbage from the island: all bricks, shells, bones, and rocks must be left where you found them.

Tina Kelly is the Visitor Experience Director at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre.

Emillie Parrish

Cycling with Kids T

here’s joy in flying down a hill with my heart still pumping from the climb. My children squealing with delight, begging me to go over the potholes so they can bump up and down. But the thrill of the rollercoaster ride is over much too soon as we pull up to a stop light inconveniently placed at the bottom of the hill.

“Nice bike!” calls a leather-clad motorcyclist who is stopped beside us. “You guys are lucky to have a ride like that.” My children respond with a nod and a smile. By now they are used to the attention we get from riding in our box bike; it’s just part of our daily commute.

I will admit that it wasn’t always so easy.

At first I was daunted by the idea of cycling, and the two big barriers: bad weather and traffic. While I can’t recommend cycling in snow or heavy rainfall, I have found that light rain is not really an issue. Though high-tech clothes are available, I usually wear my wool coat and a pair of rain boots.

Learning to be comfortable in traffic is more difficult. It’s best to start by sticking to the side streets and bike paths. Google Maps has a great bike route function for some areas. When you’re ready to try out busier roads, approach them with the following mentality: you are traffic. Legally you need to follow all the normal rules of the road: stop at four way intersections, signal when turning, and use lights at night. Don’t be afraid to take up the whole lane if there isn’t enough room on the shoulder. Cyclists are safest if they act in a predictable manner, so don’t bob in and out of cars. I have also found that the majority of drivers are extra cautious when approaching a bicycle with children on board.

There are more reasons to take up cycling than just reducing your carbon foot print.

We all could use more exercise, fresh air and sunshine. There is also a sense of community as you invariably start to recognize people along your route. And cycling provides an opportunity to slow down, get away from your cellphone and focus on your ride.

There are many options available for biking with children:

Box bike This is basically a bike with a wheelbar16 Island Parent Magazine

row in front. It can be used with both older and younger kids. It is great for carrying lots of kids, doing massive grocery shops, and hauling large items. You can buy a raincover to protect your kids from rain and wind, it is stable to ride, and cars tend to give them extra room. However, it is the most expensive option. Also, unless you have an electric assist to help you power the bike, it is heavy to push up hills and to cycle for long distances.

Trailers This is a great all-purpose option. It is the best option for long rides with young children. It offers protection from sun, wind and rain. Children can easily nap in a trailer, and it can carry extra stuff. Also, most trailers convert into a stroller. The only real drawbacks are that you can’t easily talk to or see your child when they’re in a trailer, and children don’t have much of a view from a trailer.

Front bike seat A front seat is great for small children as you can easily keep an eye on them, and children love the view. However, it’s not for everyone. You need to have the right set up because it can be hard to reach around a front

seat and avoid hitting it with your knees.

It also might make your bicycle less stable.

Rear bike seat A rear seat is a fun way to bike around town. However, it can be hard to put your kid into it without help.

Long-tail bike This is a bike with an extended back end. It is like a rear bike seat, except that it can carry multiple children and lots of extra stuff.

Trailer bike This is a one-wheeled bike with a bar that attaches it to the seat-post of an adult bike. It’s meant for older children who are too large for a bike seat or trailer, but are

not old enough to cycle on their own. It is a great way for children to learn how to cycle in traffic, and it has a free-wheel so your child can take breaks as needed.

Child’s bike tow bar This is a bar that attaches a child’s bike to an adult bike turning it into a trailer bike.

It is easily detachable so that your child can switch between cycling on their own and getting pulled along. However, many children’s bikes are fixed gear so they can’t take a break from pedaling without breaking.

Happy Cycling!

Emillie Parrish loves having adventures with her two busy children. She lives in Victoria and is the author of the food based blog www.fermentingforfoodies.com www.kidsinvictoria.com

I was a bright student who struggled academically, having to rely on coping mechanisms yet expending extra effort continually to make up for my deficits.

Alexandra Dunnison, Director of Eaton Arrowsmith Academy and Eaton Jason Cruickshank, Principal of Eaton Arrowsmith School and Eaton Cognitive Cognitive Improvement Centre in Redmond invites you to further explore Improvement Centre in Victoria, invites you to further explore the Arrowsmith Program the Arrowsmith Program and the success it brings to those who struggle and the success it brings to those who struggle with mild, moderate or severe learning with mild, moderate or severe learning challenges. The Arrowsmith Program challenges. intervenes The Arrowsmith identifies, and strengthens the weak identifies, andProgram strengthens theintervenes weak cognitive capacities that cognitive capacities that affect If you, your child, student someone you know affect learning.

If you, yourlearning. child, student or someone youorknow struggles with dyslexia, dysgraphia, non verbal learning attention struggles with dyslexia, dysgraphia, non verbal learningdisabilities, disabilities, attention difficulties, difficulties, social difficultiesororgenerally dyscalculia, or generally has some degree social difficulties or dyscalculia, has some degree of diffi culty keeping up in of difficulty keeping up in school without support, despite his or her school without support, despite his or her intelligence, you’ll want to learn more. intelligence, you’ll want to learn more.

Contact at admissions@eatoneducation.com for Contact usus at 250-370-0046 or admissions@eatoneducation.com more and to arrange for moreinformation information and to arrange a visit. a visit. www.eatonarrowsmithschool.com / www.eatoncognitive.com www.eatonarrowsmithschool.com/eaton-arrowsmith-academy 200 – 3200 Shelbourne St, Victoria, BC V8P 5G8

www.IslandParent.ca

August 2014

17

Schools & Educational Services For more information about the following schools and educational services, check out the ads in this issue.

Preschools Almosthome Childcare provides a safe, nurturing environment for each child to explore, develop and grow. We provide care for children aged 10 months to 5 years and foster the development of a positive self-image and instill confidence in our children through the joy of learning and socialization. Our wonderful group of mature Early Childhood Educators will guide your children in various natural settings and let them explore at their own pace. Being an all weather facility means we can enjoy getting outside regardless of the weather. Almosthome will ease the transition of each child to kindergarten and prepare them for entrance into the local school district. 250-590-7666. www. almosthomecare.com.

Arbutus Grove Children’s Centre has a long history of providing outstanding early learning programs to the Victoria community. We previously operated as Goosey Gander Kindergarten before moving to our new 1.4 acre site in a natural setting in the Cadboro Bay/UVic area. We offer half- and full-day preschool programs for 3 and 4 year olds and a small after school program for K-Grade 1 students attending Frank Hobbs Elementary. Children’s curiosity, sense of wonder and innate desire to learn is supported and nurtured through inquiry, exploration, play and creative expression. www.arbutusgrove.ca, or 250-477-3731.

Cloverdale Child Care Society offers a fun safe environment for children to learn and grow through play, with an easy transition into Kindergarten. Our programs: Early years program: 3- to 5-year-olds from 7am-6pm daily, children in preschool wear the Cloverdale Traditional School Uniforms; Preschool for 3 year olds Tuesday and Thursday 9amnoon; Preschool for 4 year olds Monday,

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Wednesday, Friday 9am-noon; Preschool for 3–5 year olds daily 12:30-2:45pm; Before and after school care for children registered in Cloverdale Traditional School. www. cloverdalechildcare.com cloverdalechildcare@shawbiz.ca. 250-995-1766. Come grow with us.

Cordova Bay Preschool is a bright and cheerful cooperative preschool that encourages and benefits from parent participation. Our brilliant educators provide a stimulating environment designed to offer a variety of learn through play opportunities, including circle time, art, library, dramatic play, creative outdoor play and more. Extended hours assist with the transition to full-day kindergarten(9:15am-12:15pm Tues/Thurs for 3 year old; 9:15am-1:15pm Mon/Wed/ Fri for 4 year olds). A non-duty option is available for parents unable to volunteer in class. Limited spaces for the 2014/2015 school year are still available, wait list for 2015/16 being taken. www.cordovabaypreschool.org or 250-658-3441.

Emmanuel Preschool is a welcoming and inclusive Christian preschool, where students with special needs have the support of an additional teacher. Our morning classes are offered either two or three days per week.

Both programs are for 3- and 4-year-olds and include stories, games, singing, arts and crafts, science activities, free play (indoors and outdoors) and some field trips. Each class is licensed for a maximum of 20 children and has two licensed and experienced Early Childhood Educators. Our staff strive to teach and model Christian attitudes and values, and to maintain a warm, caring and safe environment.

Full o’ Beans Preschool, operated by Saanich Neighbourhood Place, offers flexible and accessible early learning programs for families and children aged 3 and 4. Children are guided and encouraged by qualified Early Childhood Educators as they learn, explore and grow through play. Our ‘Classic’ program offers classes on either Mon/Wed/Fri or Tues/Thur, from 9am-11:30am, while our ‘Flex’ program offers more flexible classes from 9am-1pm Monday through Friday.

The ‘Flex’ program also includes our ‘Forest Discovery Days’ on Monday and Friday, ofwww.kidsinvictoria.com

fering an outdoor learning experience in the park and woods nearby. Call 250-360-1148 for information and registration.

Island Kids Academy. An enriching experience for children, providing an invaluable support for working families. Children participate in a nurturing, safe, environment where they are free to choose activities that support their individual development and learning. Island Kids incorporates the Virtues Project, which focuses on universal virtues (respect, kindness, understanding, appreciation, enthusiasm), using teachable moments to learn how to practice these in everyday life. Preschool curriculum is offered within all-day care, ensuring that children are well prepared for life-long learning. Community programs such as swimming and music education are offered.

Local, environmental and global awareness are a focus within our business practice and programming. Part-time and full-time spaces are available. 250-413-7429.

THE NEXT GENERATION IS HERE. And because we believe in them and we believe they can change the world, they deserve an education that lives up to their promise.

Meet the next generation here at SMUS.

At Lansdowne Cooperative Preschool, children are free to play, discover materials that are natural, use real tools, and create art from their own imagination. Our classroom is a compelling environment that celebrates children’s curiosity, exuberance and drive.

Lansdowne is cooperative in both structure and spirit, with parent participation at the cornerstone. We divide our free play time between indoor and out. Our unique outdoor classroom features a large sandbox, outdoor blocks, planks and tires, mud kitchen with a sink and tap, dragon’s den, rock quarry and spider web for climbing. This space is ever changing and truly inspiring. www. lansdownepreschool.com Oak and Orca Pre-primary School is a licensed facility offering bioregional programming for 3- to 5-year-olds. Founded on ten years of experience in quality instruction for children, the pre-primary offers an early learning curriculum based on child-directed learning, individual awareness and choice.

Natural learning is supported through investigation, experience and play. Relationships take priority for teaching time, where a focus on needs helps create harmony and self awareness. Regular out trips connect youngsters with the natural world, while at the school they enjoy experiences in science, math, language and more. Located in the Hillside area, the program is run by an ECE and certified teachers. oakandorca.ca, 250-383-6609. www.IslandParent.ca

OPEN HOUSE Junior School (Grades K-5) 820 Victoria Ave

Middle School (Grades 6-8) 3400 Richmond Rd

Friday Oct. 24th

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August 2014 19

Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry “The path is made by walking”

learningstorm.org @psiivictoria psii@learningstorm.org

Looking for a Grade 9 to 12 school that fits your teenager and not one that expects your teenager to fit it? One designed on what we now know about adolescent learners and not what we thought we knew over a century ago?

Victoria’s newest high school still has a few spaces left for Sept 2014.

Email psii@learningstorm.org to book an information meeting for your family, for September 2014 entry or for future planning.

Check our website in the fall for information sessions through the school year.

Recreation Oak Bay is excited to introduce a new, exciting, licensed Nature Preschool where children explore and learn in the natural outdoor world. Natural Wonders Preschool begins September 2014 and will be situated outdoors, allowing children to let nature be their guide. Recreation Oak Bay also offers full time licensed daycare at Carnarvon Centre, licensed Before and After School Care with an exciting variety of games, activities, arts and crafts, and licensed Preschool Playhouse at Windsor Pavilion. Detailed information and registration packages for all licensed childcare programs are available online at recreation. oakbay.ca or call 250-370-7200 for more information.

Strawberry Vale Preschool. Do you want an opportunity to be actively involved with your preschooler’s education? Would you like to participate in the classroom where you can watch your preschooler’s confidence grow? Are you looking for friendships with Jr. Kindergarten (ages 3 - 5) | K - Grade 8 families that have similar educational values? Join our caring community of parents Spaces available for Jr. K, gr. 1 , 6 & 8 and passionate educators who encourage An affordable independent A few spots your child to explore their own interests still available! and try new experiences. Strawberry Vale’s school with exceptional results program fosters your child’s independence,  Small classes To learn more, visit creativity, and curiosity. Seasonal themes victorianatureschool.com  Outstanding Fine Arts engage your child and encourage a pasor call 250 588-3303.

Changing the face of education! & Athletic programs sionspots for nature and an understanding of A few  Proven academic record the world. still available!Participating in a cooperative  Before and after school care preschool provides a foundation for sucTo learn more, visit  Downtown location cessful life-long learning. www.strawbervictorianatureschool.com About Victoria Nature School or call ryvalepreschool.org.

250 588-3303.

Changing the face of education!

Call us to arrange your personal tour The Victoria Nature School is a non-profit, Vancouver Island Co-operative Preschool Ascommunity based organization committed to 250-383-5125 | 912 Vancouver Street | www.cathedralschool.ca sociation (VICPA). Co-operative preschools offering unique, forest-based programs. The are special and unique. Early childhood licensed preschool programs are designed for About Victoria Nature School 2 - 5 year old children. School-aged forest educators and parents work together on programs are also available.

The Victoria Nature School is a non-profit, education programs that emphasize “Learncommunity based organization committed to ing Through Play”. Visit one of our 14 cooffering unique, forest-based programs. The preschool programs arespots designed for operative preschools located on Vancouver A few Philosophy licensed 2A - 5 year old children. few spotsSchool-aged forest Island and the surrounding Islands to disprograms are also available. still available! still The Victoria Nature Schoolavailable! philosophy is cover how these schools strengthen families based on the forest school model where an and communities. Co-operative preschools To learn visit learn more, visit environment of child-led play more, andTo nature Philosophy provide educational and creative play activivictorianatureschool.com exploration creates a happy and vibrant victorianatureschool.com or call 250 588-3303.

The Victoria Nature Schoolties philosophy is in half-day programs to children aged Changing the face of education!learning community. or call 250 588-3303.

Changing the face of education! based on the forest school model where an 3-5 plus orientation and education programs environment of child-led play and nature toand parents/caregivers.

Classes are small, exploration creates a happy vibrant Program Schedule learning community. warm, and nurturing, providing children with considerable individual attention and About Victoria Nature School Children spend every morning at the forest or time to “Learn Through Play”. Members of Program Schedule beach at Mt. Douglas Park and afternoons in The VictoriaVictoria Nature School is a non-profit, About Nature School an indoor/outdoor classroom at Gordon Head VICPA are listed at www.vicpa.org.

Christ Church Cathedral School

community based organization committed to Children spend every morning at the forest or Rec Centre. beach at Mt. Douglas Park and afternoons in offering unique, forest-based programs. The The Victoria Nature School is a non-profit, an indoor/outdoor classroom at Gordon Head licensed preschool programs are designed for Monday-Friday full and half day programs are community based organization committed to Rec Centre.

2 - 5 year old children.

School-aged forest programs areavailable. also available. programs. The offering unique, forest-based Monday-Friday full and half day programs are

licensed preschool programs are designed for available.

2 - 5 year old children. School-aged forest Philosophy programs are also available.

20 Island Parent Magazine The Victoria Nature School philosophy is based on the forest school model where an environment of child-led play and nature exploration creates a happy and vibrant

Philosophy

Victoria Montessori. Twenty-first century children are growing up in a crazy-paced world, with the stresses of busy home life and over-stimulating media and toys. At www.kidsinvictoria.com

Victoria Montessori, we create harmony and the right balance. We try to cultivate self-awareness, confidence, and calm amid the “moving sea of chaos.” At Victoria Montessori, we build a strong foundation and strong values. The directoresses model respect for the environment, respect for others, and respect for oneself. These values build confidence, self-esteem and selfexpression, vital for emotional and mental health. 250-380-0534. victoriamontessori@ shaw.ca.

The Victoria Nature School is a nonprofit organization created by local parents and educators looking to create an optimal learning environment for their children.

This new full-day option, parent participation program will focus on inquiry-based activities including art, literacy and music that will take place in the forest, beach and indoor classroom. Inspiring life-long learning through play and exploration in nature! www.victorianatureschool.com

Schools ArtsCalibre Academy. Imagine a school… where music, dance, theatre and visual arts are infused into all aspects of an outstanding curriculum. The result is a learning process in which students experience, explore, exercise, and express themselves in order to truly understand and remember. Our structured but dynamic program consistently exceeds the B.C. Ministry of Education’s Curricula for Kindergarten to Grade 5. Dedicated, highly qualified educators, excellent facilities and central Oak Bay location, which is also home to our Junior Kindergarten. We also offer Preschool for 3 and 4 year olds within the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre’s beautiful Fine Arts wing. www.ArtsCalibre. ca. 250-382-3533.

Christ Church Cathedral School (CCCS) is Victoria’s Anglican Preschool, Elementary and Middle School, welcoming students from all backgrounds. CCCS offers before and after school care, a wide range of extracurricular programs, small class sizes, high caliber learning in math, science and technology, a strong focus on fine arts and progressive athletics programs. Weekly chapel service and seasonal performances are held in beautiful Christ Church Cathedral just a few steps away. Through focused encouragement of personal responsibility, self-discipline, community service and engaging learning opporwww.IslandParent.ca

tunities with dedicated teachers, the School helps children realize their true potential. www.cathedralschool.ca. 250-383-5125.

The Conseil scolair francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF), also known as BC’s Francophone School District (SD No 93) was created in 1995 to serve Francophones across the province. Since its creation in 1995, the CSF offers educational programs and services geared towards the growth and cultural promotion of the province’s Francophone learners. An active partner in the development of British Columbia’s francophone community, the Conseil has presently in its system, and distributed across 78 communities in the province, over 4,350 students and 38 schools, which includes 21 homogeneous schools. For more information visit www.csf.bc.ca (604)-214-2600 or 1-888-715-2200, info@csf.bc.ca.

Discovery School. Is your child between age 7-16 and struggling in school? Would your child benefit from an individual program with adaptations/modifications presented by trained, qualified teachers? Are you looking for a quiet, nurturing, non-denominational Christian school that encourages academic development, perseverance, responsibility, and organizational skills? For over thirty-six years Discovery School has helped students who are struggling to learn.

Please visit www.discoveryschool.ca or call 250-595-7765 to set up an appointment and tour.

Eaton Arrowsmith School/Eaton Cognitive Improvement Centre Victoria. Eaton Arrowsmith School (EAS) and Eaton Cognitive Improvement Centre (ECIC) focus on the potential of children and adults with learning disabilities to benefit from the brain’s ability to change itself, in order to improve cognitive functioning for life. Our students, ranging in age from 5-18 at EAS and 18 and above at ECIC, spend three to four years within our supportive, nurturing community in order to rewire the weaker areas of their brains that have been holding them back academically and/or socially.

Students leave EAS/ECIC with the ability to remember, attend, process and reason, thereby improving their ability to read, write, spell, do math, plan, prioritize and interact socially. Our students then transfer back to typical public and private schools in the area, or on to college, university or employment with greatly reduced or no need for extra learning support. 250-370-

0046. eatonarrowsmithschool.com and eatoncognitive.com Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS). Each child holds our attention at GNS, a JK–12 day school that is firmly rooted in the values of the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Round Square. As one of only ten schools in Canada offering all three IB programs, GNS is proud of its unique ‘IB Advantage’: a 21st-Century approach which educates the whole child and creates global thinkers. Our students are musicians, athletes, artists and scholars, thriving in an independent school that encourages individuality. Visit us to find out more about the community that is GNS. www.mygns.ca or 250-370-6801.

Island Montessori House School. Dr. Maria Montessori developed the Montessori method of education with the understanding that each child has a natural desire and ability to learn. The staff of Island Montessori is committed to providing a rich, safe, developmentally appropriate and caring environment, and to establishing rapport with each and every child. Our child-centred program promotes a sense of well-being, confidence and independence.

Individual and group activities foster growth in all areas of development. We are proud to have children in our school from a variety of economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds, as well as a whole host of abilities and special needs. Our rural location at 5575 West Saanich Rd is beautiful.

For more information call 250-592-4411 or visit www.islandmontessori.com.

Oak and Orca Bioregional School is an affordable option for Kindergarten to grade 10 in the Hillside area. The B.C. Curriculum is offered in an individualized format through practical, engaging, child-directed learning.

The ungraded program uses independent learning logs, conferences and workshop choices to provide children with the structure they need to learn at their own pace.

Regular field trips encourage connections with the natural and cultural heritage of our home place. As part of a community of learners, children are able to communicate effectively, think and act creatively, and develop into responsible, ecological citizens.

Join a unique learning community. Call if you are curious about child-directed learning and bioregional education. oakandorca. ca, 250-383-6609 or 1-888-383-6619 outside of Victoria.

August 2014 21

Pacific Christian School nurtures students in Christ-like living, critical thinking and joyful service to be faithful citizens in God’s world. PCS is a pre-school through grade 12 Class 1 independent school serving the Greater Victoria region. With close to 900 students, it is a dynamic learning community exploring the full provincial curriculum from a Christian worldview perspective.

Students regularly excel in arts, athletics and academics. You are invited to come by our Agnes Street campus and see what it’s all about. www.PacificChristian.ca 250479-4532.

Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry.

What if learning at school was based on the things you were actually interested in? What if your inquiry led you to independent and collaborative projects that were evidence of real-world competency, and not just marks in subjects? Well, that’s what we do! PSII (pronounced “sigh”) is a new independent high school in Victoria that helps its learners co-construct personalized learning pathways leading to full BC graduation and beyond. Inquire within. Explore at www.learningstorm.org or email us at psii@ learningstorm.org if you have questions. A few spaces still left for September 2014.

from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, and is supported by experiential programs designed to engage students in learning beyond the classroom. Enjoy the benefits of a small school from high participation in athletics, to extensive extracurricular opportunities, to our tight-knit community where each girl is known and driven to achieve. www. stmarg.ca or 250-479-7171 At St. Michaels University School, we are proud of our students’ academic accomplishments as we are of their courage, compassion, honesty, and their desire to make the world a better place. From kindergarten to Grade 12, our students flourish in a welcoming, interactive and resource-rich curriculum, where they can continuously challenge themselves with the support of dedicated teachers and the encouragement of their peers. Music, physical education, art, and second language instruction are not extras—they are integral to the program. At the end of their time here, SMUS grads are exceptionally prepared to find their place as engaged citizens of the world. For more details, please visit our website at www. smus.ca or call 250-370-6170.

St. Joseph’s Elementary School is a Catholic school where children learn to love, and love to learn. We are building strong foundations for a bright future, with an expansion of our facilities at Burnside Road at McKenzie Avenue, in Victoria. The school will double in size, offering two sections for each grade, increasing the opportunities for children to experience full-spectrum education, including Music, Band, and French. Religious education is central to the school, where children learn in a Catholic, Christian atmosphere in which the teaching of Christ are paramount.

Come learn with us—space available from K through grade 7. Phone 250-479-1232 or visit www.stjosephschool.ca.

Do you feel something is missing from your child’s education? You’re probably right.

At the Victoria School for Ideal Education, our holistic education (kindergartengrade 8) nourishes all aspects of children’s growth. Our beautiful renovated schoolhouse and outdoor classroom provide perfect environments for the children to come to understand their place in nature and in the community. We offer an enriched BC curriculum, including daily meditation that fosters children’s receptivity to the many special learning opportunities we provide.

The warm and nurturing atmosphere which our teachers have cultured helps the children to feel at home and ready to learn. Phone: 250-383-6654 to arrange a tour. Website: vsie.ca.

At St. Margaret’s School, we seek to empower each girl to set her own course and shape her own dreams. Tucked away on 22-acres in the Blenkinsop Valley in Victoria, SMS is an all-girls school where your daughter can be herself, build confidence, and be a leader.

SMS teachers and our unique environment offer rich resources and challenges to support each girl’s development as a student, an individual and a citizen of the world.

Our rigorous academic program emphasizes STEM learning and leadership at all levels

West-Mont Montessori School offers innovative, personalized Montessori instruction in a beautiful natural environment for students in Preschool to Grade 8. The Montessori program adapts to students from Preschool to Middle School, providing a balanced approach to incorporating nature, French, music, and art into a highly enriched curriculum. For details about our programs visit www.westmont.ca, or stop by our campus in Metchosin and feel what it is like to be part of a community devoted to the develop-

22 Island Parent Magazine

ment of the whole child. Open House every Thursday 9-11 am. West-Mont is located at 4075 Metchosin Road, Metchosin. Phone 250-474-2626.

Distributed Learning Hands-On Home-Learning For a Sustainable World is a K-9 distributed learning opportunity offered by Oak and Orca School. This certified program weaves local and global perspectives into a supportive foundation to help your child discover her/his own learning path while satisfying the B.C. Curriculum.

Through regular communication, certified teachers are accessible to support families in creating their own educational programming. Hands-on, child-centered activities are available to supplement and enrich what you naturally offer and to cover the basics.

Parents are provided with the guidance they need, without pressure. The program is free and includes an expense budget to help meet educational needs. Info at oakandoraca.ca, 250-383-6619 or 1-888-383-6619.

SelfDesign, a distributed learning school, offers programs and special education services with personalized education and support for every learner and family. From K-12, certified teachers are paired with each learner to guide the creation of personalized learning plans and to tailor an approach unique to the aspirations, needs, and learning style of the child. SelfDesign provides online, and some in-person, student-centered programs and highly customizable courses with weekly guidance to nurture a lifelong love of learning and to honour the unique passion of every learner. www.selfdesign.org.

Mid-Island Schools/ Education Services Dwight School Canada. I invite you to join the Dwight community, where excitement for learning is palpable. Our passion for igniting the “spark of genius” in every child is woven into the tapestry of life at Dwight School Canada, from our classrooms and sciences laboratories to our dance studio and sports fields. Set along the shores of beautiful Shawnigan Lake, our 23-acre campus is home to a vibrant group of diverse students who come together each day in the pursuit of knowledge and self-discovery. Every student benefits from Dwight’s three pillars: personalized learning, community and www.kidsinvictoria.com

At Evergreen Independent School in Cobble Hill, we value academic excellence and individual development in an educational community that nurtures the joy of learning.

We offer small class sizes, vibrant multiage groupings, and individualized learning plans. Children develop in unique ways, at different rates, and in different directions, and that development is best accomplished in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.

We strive to instruct children in ways that best fit their unique learning styles. Our graduates are self-motivated, curious people engaged in their community and in life-long learning. Evergreen welcomes students from Junior Kindergarten through grade 8.

Island Oak Waldorf High School, Duncan, B.C. Think for yourself. We encourage clarity, conviction, and freedom of thought.

At IOHS, you’ll develop independent thinking, collaborative skills, and responsibility; essential qualities for leading cultural, economic and political change. Our 10 to 1 student-teacher ratio means attention to your needs. Develop confidence in an atmosphere of social authenticity where you are valued for who you are. Students describe IOHS as “optimistic, accepting, and kind”, the teachers as “happy” and “caring”, and say coming to school feels like being part of a family. Students earn a Dogwood Diploma with extra credits. islandoak.org 250-701-0400.

Morning Glory School, just minutes from Qualicum Beach in a beautiful natural setting, offers quality education Pre-School to Class 8. MGS blends the best of Waldorf ideals with the BC curriculum as an established Group 1 Independent School. We are able to provide students with individualized attention and encouragement to participate in all subjects. Children here enjoy a well balanced school life; academics are integrated with art and music, as well as practical skills (such as knitting, woodwork and gardening) and plenty of outdoor activities—guided and free play time. With a focus on lifelong learning, we strive to teach children to be independent and innovative thinkers. Special activities and events create a vibrant school community for both students and parents. 250-752-2722, mgs@shawcable. com, www.morninggloryschool.ca.

www.IslandParent.ca

What did Socrates, Einstein, Mozart and da Vinci have in common?

Answer: They all had tutors.

global vision. Call: 250-929-0506 Email: admissions@dwightcanada.org www. dwightcanada.org

Smart

Tutor

Referrals

250-544-1588

SmartTutorReferrals.com

Professional, 1-on-1, in-home tutoring in Victoria since 2002.

Emmanuel Preschool

Emmanuel Preschool

2121 Cedar Hill Cross Road (by entrance to UVic)

Openings forHill 2013–2014 2121 Cedar Cross RoadClasses! (by entrance to UVic)

Openings Children learn throughfor play in2014–2015 our all inclusive, Classes! non-denominational Christian play preschool.

Children learn through in our all inclusive, nonGreat facility; outdoor play area and a gym for rainy day play! denominational Christian preschool.

Greatteachers facility;to Two teachers with ECE certification plus assistant playneeds area and a gym for rainy day play. Two helpoutdoor with special children.

A competent teaching team! teachers and withcaring ECE certification plus an assistant teacher to help with special needs children.

Opportunities: A competent and caring teaching team!

Mon / Wed / Fri morning class Opportunities: Tues / Thurs morning class Mon/Wed/Fri morning class 5 mornings a week

Tues/Thurs morning class Phone 250-598-0573 5 mornings a week preschool@emmanuelvictoria.ca Phone 250-598-0573 preschool@emmanuelvictoria.ca www.emmanuelpreschool.ca

www.emmanuelpreschool.ca

St. Joseph’s Catholic School Daycare/Preschool to Grade Seven

We are accepting applications now for the 2014/2015 School Year A Catholic, respectful learning environment where children learn to love and love to learn!

Outstanding academic preparation.

For additional information please contact:

St. Joseph’s School 757 W. Burnside Road 250-479-1232 Registration forms are available at www.stjosephschool.ca August 2014 23

Fall 2014 Registration OPEN NOW Come play with us! Our preschool programs offer your little ones opportunities to learn and play together.

Qualified early childhood educators and assistants provide indoor and outdoor play experiences, art activities, stories and music. We enjoy library visits, trips to the nearby parks and community visitors too. Located in Pearkes Recreation Centre, Full o’ Beans Preschool is operated by Saanich Neighbourhood Place.

Thinking about a “nature kindergarten” experience for your child? Consider joining us for our new “I Spy” Forest Discovery Days, offered Monday and Friday in our 4 hour program.

For more information about Full o’ Beans Preschool, visit Saanich Neighbourhood Place Reception, contact Corinne at Corinne@snplace.org or call 250-360-1148 ext 101

Navigate offers a blended learning model which allows students to forge relationships with their teachers and the broader community while offering all the flexibility of traditional distributed learning, distance learning and home school models. Though we are located in the Comox Valley, we serve more than 4,000 learners throughout BC in our K-9, high school and adult learning programs. Many parents considering home school for their children find we offer a rich educational approach that provides the flexibility of traditional homeschooling. A Navigate education meets all provincially mandated learning outcomes and is instructed by a BC-certified teacher. For more information, please call 250-337-5300 or visit www.navigatenides.com.

At Queen Margaret’s School we offer a university-preparatory education to 325 students in our co-ed Early Childhood Education Program, co-ed Junior School (Kindergarten-Grade 8) and all girls Senior School (9-12, boarding and day). Our picturesque 27-acre campus in the Cowichan Valley is also home to Canada’s only fullyintegrated optional on-campus equestrian program. The equestrian centre provides training opportunities for recreational riders and elite equestrian athletes alike. The school’s rigorous academic program and extensive extra-curricular offerings provide opportunities for achievement and personal growth... empowering students to think critically, lead confidently and live honourably. Discover at QMS. Call 250-746-4185 or visit www.qms.bc.ca.

Nestled in a wooded landscape St. Joseph’s School in Chemainus offers faith-enriched education to children from preschool through Grade 7. Skilled educators provide a safe and caring environment, and nourish each student academically, physically, spiritually and artistically. St. Joseph’s offers music and band programming, specialist teachers for PE, and K-7 French instruction. On-site preschool and before and after school care is available. St. Joseph’s is an inclusive school, welcoming students of all backgrounds and abilities. Affordable tuition. Financial assistance is available. Please call 250-246-3191 for more information or to arrange for a tour.

Sunrise Waldorf School. At SWS, we develop analytical, imaginative minds capable of prolific, life-changing ideas. Our students will shape the future, by redefining soci-

24 Island Parent Magazine

ety’s concepts of intelligence, acumen and originality. For 90+ years Waldorf schools have created an educational experience that inspires students to evolve into confident, creative thinkers who are socially responsible and environmentally conscious. SWS is nestled on 7 idyllic acres in the Cowichan Valley. A beautiful setting where your children will be allowed to develop naturally, supported by the wisdom of experienced teachers who are truly interested. Visit us to learn why 94% of North American Waldorf graduates attend university and 50% attain a master’s or PhD. Parents from over 2500 schools and kindergartens in 70 countries have made Waldorf the world’s fastest growing educational movement. Parent and child programs, Pre-K to Grade 8. 250-743-7253. www.sunrisewaldorfschool.org.

Educational Services & Programs The Alliance française de Victoria, one of the many worldwide branches of the Alliance, seeks to support the francophone culture throughout the world. During the years 2009-2010, the Alliance in Victoria celebrated one hundred years of involvement within the community. We offer French language courses to all ages and at all levels. These courses, which are intensive and progressive, are based on the inter communicative approach. Our teachers are highly qualified with special training in the teaching of a second language. Students may choose to learn with a group or choose individual tutoring sessions. Phone: 250-598-2723.

Email: af@afvictoria.ca Dyslexia Victoria Online provides assessments and teaching programs for Dyslexia related issues, and offers certified Irlen Syndrome screenings. We also offer wokshops and manuals for parents, teachers, special needs professionals and tutors for Dyslexia awareness, indicators, teaching strategies and accommodations. We approach Dyslexia as a learning difference using methods that focus on right brain learning styles and integrating useful computer programs and digital devices. For more information, please contact Karen Hope, 250-655-3034 khope@dyslexiavictoria.ca, www.dyslexiavictoria.ca.

Youth Programs in the Gardens at HCP. School Tours and Programs…visit us at HCP with your class and experience a fun and www.kidsinvictoria.com

interactive learning opportunity based on BC Ministry Curriculum Outcomes. School Visits…let us visit your facility and offer a hands-on program designed for your specific class needs, starting at $3/person. Spring Programs (Jan-Jun), Fall Programs (SeptNov). Workshop Series…learn and play with your family in the Gardens at HCP during our series of Growing Together workshops.

Check hcp.ca for upcoming events.

Journeys of the Heart Cultural Learning Program (JOH) is a 10-month program for Aboriginal children aged two to five years old and their families. The program nurtures a child’s cultural identity while preparing them for the education system. JOH will provide children and their caregivers the necessary skills and tools to promote a positive transition into the public school system. There are no other cultural learning programs in the Victoria area that address the needs of urban Aboriginal children ages 2, 3, 4, and 5 years and their families.

Journeys of the Heart prepares Aboriginal children for kindergarten while fostering a strong sense of cultural identity. School readiness: fulfilling requirements for kindergarten participation using cultural curriculum designed specifically for Journeys of the Heart; Parent Support, for example: Role modeling, positive parenting techniques, discipline strategies and importance of establishing a routine; Socialization skills: Taking turns and sharing, respecting each other; Seeds of empathy teaching verbalize thoughts and feelings; Moe the Mouse speech and language program. Hulitan Family and Community Services Society. Contact Winnie Williams, 250-384-9466, ext. 251.

Monarch House, always here and making it easier. Monarch House offers an interdisciplinary approach to treating individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, from infancy to adulthood. Providing individual and group treatment, transition planning for the different life phases, and recreational drop-in programs; our coordinated care and streamlined services ensure individuals reach their full potential. All our clinicians are under one roof which means no wait lists and faster access to services and available funding. No waiting for diagnostic assessments—Monarch House provides timely access to professionals who are qualified to diagnose ASD and other developmental disabilities. Monarch House operates two locations on Vancouver Island, including www.IslandParent.ca

Victoria and our new Langford location.

You can contact us at monarchhousevictoria@cbi.ca/monarchhouselangford@cbi.ca or 250-220-8999.

Oxford Learning Victoria. Studies show that kids lose about 2.6 months worth of learning during the summer. This means that kids often spend up to the first 6 weeks reviewing and getting back into the swing of things, rather than learning new material. We’ll help your student catch up and keep up, all year. Now registering for fall programs for Grades K-12. 250-477-5550. www.oxfordlearning.com.

READ Society. Learning, skills and confidence—that’s what parents and guardians tell us the READ Society means to them and their children. Starting with an academic assessment, READ teachers design individual learning plans that build on strengths and close gaps. In small classes, using a wide range of learning tools, students are inspired to explore new ideas and ‘how’ to learn.

Because READ has 38 years of experience, chances are that you know someone who has benefited from a READ learning experience.

Find out more about after-school classes and summer learning camps at www.redasociety. bc.ca and see the latest activity ideas on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/ Victoria-READ-Society. 250-388-7225.

Smart Tutor Referrals. Why are parents, teachers and students in neighbourhoods all over Greater Victoria choosing Smart Tutor Referrals? It’s because we’re innovating an approach to learning that’s both traditional and new. We are able to have a much greater impact on students when we guide them to understand topics through examples and teaching styles geared specifically for them.

We believe that students became motivated to learn when they understand the context and extensions of what they are learning.

We teach less, guide more. How is that for flexibility? Smart Tutor Referrals has been supporting Victoria’s families since 2002.

Please call 250-544-1588 or visit www.

SmartTutorReferrals.com to learn more.

Sylvan students go forward, not back to school. Transitioning to a new grade is made easier by Sylvan’s individualized programs.

As the leader in math, reading and writing instruction Sylvan can pinpoint and develop the skills your child needs for success.

Staffed entirely by teachers, we know how to motivate and empower your child to

confidently tackle the demands of the new academic year. We can help your child study more effectively and be better prepared when tests and quizzes come around. Sound structures need solid foundations. Let Sylvan help you build a successful school year for your child. Call 250-477-3212 (Victoria) or 250-590-6211 (WestShore) or visit www. educate.com.

Other Mary Rogers Piano Studio. I have been teaching piano for over thirty years and hold a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from UBC. I am an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and I am a BC Registered Music Teacher.

I am very proud of my “family friendly” lesson fees. I enjoy teaching all ages of students (adults, youth, and children) and take great joy in sharing my love for music with them. Emphasis is placed on building a strong technical foundation, excellent musical understanding, and a high level of sight reading competency. mrogersmusicstudio@ shaw.ca. 250-744-9049.

All Ages Together in Song, offered by the Victoria Good News Choir, Louise Rose, director. We welcome you and your family to sing with us for the joy of singing. Experience the gift of singing with your child in a warm and caring community. Bring grandma, grandpa, auntie, uncle or cousin too. No auditions and all ages welcome. Rehearsals on Tuesdays and Saturdays beginning Sept 9 and Sept 13. Choose one or both. More info at www.victoriagoodnewschoir.com, by phone: 250-658-1946, or email: info@ victoriagoodnewschoir.com. Come sing with us. You’ll have the time of your life!

This is Wendy’s 40th year of operating Wendy Steen Mitchell Dance, located in the heart of Fernwood at 2033 Belmont Avenue. Our students range from age 3 to 18+, and we offer classes in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, tap, and hip hop. Our performance groups are made up of students who demonstrate hard work, commitment, and a true love of dance and performing. Students also have the option of participating in ballet, tap and modern theatre exams through internationally recognized teacher-training and examining bodies. All students, from preschoolers through to adults, may perform in our year-end show. www.tiptoesdance.ca•

August 2014 25

Party Directory Funtime Inflatables Vancouver Island’s #1 choice for party rentals

250-474-0597 Dirt Bike Birthday Parties We supply everything: Bike • Gear • Riding Lesson for ages 6yrs to adults over 30 bikes to choose from

Westshore Motocross Park No experience necessary

We offer the largest selection of inflatables on Vancouver Island—trust your party or special event to the experts—the original bouncy castle company, serving Vancouver Island since 1990.

2207 Millstream Rd, Langford

250 590 8088 westshoremx.com

www.funtimeinflatables.ca

2207 Millstream Road Victoria, BC V9B 0J7 Tel: 250.590.8088 Cel: 250.893.9547

G

FALCON

Y Learn to Ride with Us! brought to you by SG POWER We offer a complete line of entry level dirt bikes, 50cc, 70cc, 90cc non clutch bikes and 80cc,110cc, 125cc 4 strokes with clutches. All safety gear is supplied, from boots to helmets and everything in between. This 1.5 hour Learn to Ride with Us course includes the basics of a motorcycle orientation including safety gear and safe riding habits, stop-n-go circle riding, escorted first laps on motocross track, and supervised solo riding sessions.

M

GYMNASTICS Birthday Parties

M N

Our great instructors will treat you to an action packed two hours of fun and fitness in our great facility!

A

S T I C S

th

40 sary r Annive 2013 1973–

• 2 large decorated birthday rooms • Free T-shirt for birthday child, invitations for up to 10 children • The ONLY Inflatable Climbing Mountain with trampoline in town • Party Time now offered for many different groups (schools, daycare centres)

Book Early: 250-479-6424

#208 – 721 Vanalman Ave

(Broadmead & Royal Oak Area)

www.falcongymnastics.com

Paint

Y

N Celebrate your birthday with us!

A

Fire

G

S T

Book your party with us today!

We now offer online booking.

All parties are held in a private party room with a dedicated staff member. Birthday child gets a very special keepsake and all guests paint their own ceramic item.

See website for details: www.firedupceramics.ca

C

Fired UP!

S

1801 Fort Street @ Richmond

I

Paint your own ceramics

Now Offering Full-week and one day camps!

Ages 6 and up.

See website for details! www.firedupceramics.ca

Enter Our Online Contests Every month at Island Parent and Kids In Victoria you can enter to win some great prizes!

Action-Packed Birthday Parties Supervised • 2–8 Yrs

It’s about skills, not scores.

Go to www.sportball.ca for schedules & information Call us: 250 590 4625 Email: van.island@sportball.ca

26 Island Parent Magazine

Prizes include:

• • • •

Family Getaways Gift Certificates IMAX Passes Books, CDs and More

One entry per family per week.

Check out the prizes and enter the contests by visiting

www.IslandParent.ca or www.kidsinvictoria.com www.kidsinvictoria.com

N Full-week Ag See w www.f

Party Directory Birthday Parties! :: Gym & Bouncy Castle, themed parties: creative kids, girl power and preschool parties from Princesses to Pirates! at Henderson Recreation Centre!

Call 250-370-7200

Pool, Skate, or Soccer parties at Oak Bay Recreation Centre!

Call 250-595-SWIM (7946)

www.recreation.oakbay.ca

Hassle Free Parties for kids & families You provide the space and food…

We’ll provide an hour of fun with puppet shows and play

250 472 3546 www.puppetbooth.homestead.com

ctoria

You’ll Flip Over Our Birthday Parties * Greater Victoria’s newest, largest and cleanest facility with hassle free parking for you and your guests * * Large private party rooms * * Experienced Qualified Fun Coaches * * 3 Trampolines & 40ft Tumble Trac * * Awesome Foam Pit *

Gymnastics

Birthday Parties Come Fly With Us!

250-383-FLIP

Party sizes up to 18 kids

www.lionspridegymnastics.com Located in Langford

We supply table top cover, napkins, hats, streamers and balloons Optional character

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• Indoor facility options for all your bouncy castle and inflatable requirements • School fairs/festivals and picnics • At home/indoor theme parties, i.e. Teddy Bear stuffing, craft parties • Free gift for birthday child when you mention this ad • Costumed facepainters and balloon twisters, i.e. princesses, pirates, ragdoll style clowns • Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

August 2014 27

Erin Bodner

Dear Gwyneth

D

ear Gwyneth, I had a few slip-ups on the road to perfect motherhood.

Please understand, Gwynnie, that I meant well, really. But raising a baby turned out to be less about idealism and more about, um, anarchism than I anticipated. So, here is my defense of some of my most eyebrow-raising parenting behaviours so that you might come to understand the nature of human weakness…

Breast is best, you say? Yes, so I’ve heard.

And I had every intention of nursing exclusively—until I had milk supply issues. Every poster at the public health office screamed the benefits of breastmilk at me, simultaneously increasing my stress level and decreasing my supply even further. I tried desperately to avoid giving my son a bottle, heeding the warnings of “He’ll never latch properly again!” For days, I enlisted my husband’s help in inserting one end of a tiny tube in a hidden bottle of formula, and sneaking the other end into the corner of Charlie’s mouth while he nursed. I waited desperately for my medication to kick in, filling out a chart every feeding. My husband bought a weighscale, and I noted the baby’s pre-feed and post-feed weight, along with which boobs were used and for how many minutes (eg. LRL: 10, 10, 5). In short, I was insane.

Eventually, I relaxed a bit, we chucked the tubes, returned the scale, and all those pills did their magic. I breastfed—and could still supplement with formula So, on to cloth diapers. Again, I tried. I happily signed up for a diaper service. But the diapers that came were hand-stitched… apparently by a halibut. In one delivery,

K-11 Alternative School

we’d get a batch that were such a maddening variety of shapes and sizes that each bum change was a baffling experiment. And the covers had such a wide Velcro band across our baby’s gut that it seemed the boy would never be able to sit up in them. And then he reached the age when my weekly parenting email bulletins suggested that my child should now be able to sit up on his own—when he could barely roll over! So we panicked and cancelled the service. I still feel embarrassed when more enlightened parents see the top of the disposable peeking up over his pants. My husband tries to reassure me that, as carless vegetarians, we’re already doing our part to decrease our environmental footprint. But I still think I’d like to try just washing my own cloth ones next time—if only because we’re going broke.

Sorry, what’s that, Gwyn? You need to whip up a batch of quinoa-amaranth-goji berry muffins before you head out for your photo shoot? I understand; I’ll try to pick up the pace a little. I’m impressed, by the way, that your children don’t hurl your homemade food on the floor while wretching with disgust. Must be nice.

Anyway, about television. I certainly didn’t mean for five of my son’s first 10 words to be the names of his animated friends. He really wasn’t much of a TV-watcher, but then he got sick. Like, really quite sick. As in, he was hospitalized four times in as many months, for several days at a time, hooked up to an oxygen machine. (Which was very scary and mystifying, but was later explained by a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea that he has since had surgery for.) My point is that I don’t think any of us would’ve got-

ten through those times without the cooing sounds of children’s programming. And, these days, I’ve become okay with the fact that sometimes I don’t have the energy or resourcefulness to think of another way to spend those 20 minutes. Am I a little mortified that he can’t hear the phrase “oopsy-daisy” without yelling “night garden?” Yes, a little.

I also think it’s rather cute.

There’s something else. I actually thought I was winning at the game of baby-transporting. I have a nice stroller, and two different carriers that show how fervently I’ve embraced the baby-wearing concept. Which is why I couldn’t believe that I—and about a third of the women at a baby-and-me dance class—were publicly shamed for wearing our babies front-facing…at a studio where the brochure featured an illustration of a proud mama wearing her kid front-facing.

Honestly, though, I do recognize that this judgment stuff goes both ways. I’ve heard some crib-users speak as viciously of co-sleepers as some co-sleepers speak of them. Boutique shoppers versus thrift store shoppers…there are as many ways to divvy us up as there are cute onesies at both kinds of stores. Our desire to be good parents—in our different ways—occasionally places us in heated battles reminiscent of the showdown between Ripley and the motherbeast at the end of Aliens.

As I anticipated doing this all over again with my second child, my goal was not to be perfect, but to be a bit less judgmental…of myself as well as of my fellow mothers down here in the trenches. Including you, Gwyneth.

Sincerely, your number-one fan Since writing this missive, Erin Bodner has welcomed her second child, and can now confirm that—this time around—she has won at breastfeeding, but lost at cloth diapering... and continues to have much of her homemade food pronounced “hucky.”

An empowering multi-age learning community: - child-directed learning & choices

The joy of learning - naturally.

http://oakandorca.ca 250 383 6609 28 Island Parent Magazine

- compassionate communication - hands-on/minds-on math & science - prioritized environmental education - regular field trips & nature awareness

www.kidsinvictoria.com

Making Summer Fun T

here’s something about summer that calls out for a dash of creativity, a smidgeon of imagination and the time to take full advantage of both. Here are a couple ideas to get you started.

Make a Permanent Sand Castle Some people might argue that part of the tradition of building a sand castle is the bittersweet reality that your creation will be swept away by the incoming tide. While we don’t want to upset the natural order of things, you may want to try this recipe with a bucket of sand you brought home from the beach: think of it as a new twist on an old theme.

1⁄3 cup flour 2 Tbsp sugar 1 cup water 6 cups sand Mix flour and sugar in saucepan. Gradually add water, stirring constantly. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is clear. Remove from heat and let it sit until cool enough to handle. Combine this mixture with the sand. Knead until clay-like, adding additional water as needed.

Build your castle on a piece of plywood or a work table. Use kitchen utensils to carve out the finer details such as windows and stonework.

Add flags and decorations if you like. Let your creation air dry to a permanent hardness (it will take a few days).

Note: You don’t have to make a sandcastle with this mixture. Try making a fairy or toadstool house and set it out in the garden.

Homemade Silly Putty 2 Tbsp Elmer’s glue 1 Tbsp liquid starch Pour both ingredients into a small bowl and mix with a fork. When mixture forms a ball, knead by hand until you get the right consistency. Add a drop of food colour and knead it into the putty. Store in an airtight container (in plastic wrap).•

www.IslandParent.ca

Vivace Violins Louise Reid B.Mus. M.Mus. 250-884-9574 www.vivaceviolins.ca vivaceviolins@yahoo.ca August 2014 29

Jerri Carson

Get Ready for Symphony Splash!

S

ymphony Splash is fast approaching, so it’s time to get your family ready for this summertime musical event. Splash is an annual Victoria event that takes place on the first Sunday of August on a barge anchored in the Inner Harbour. The Victoria Symphony performs on the barge and the event has become one of the largest symphony events in North America, attracting close to 40,000 people. The Symphony performs a selection of classical and popular music, with the culminating performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture accompanied by carillon bells, cannons and a spectacular firework display.

Before attending the Splash, be sure to spend some time introducing your child to the instruments of the orchestra and listening to some symphonic music, too. An excellent book to read together is Meet the

Orchestra by Ann Hayes. It is a lively book that explains the orchestra sections with colorful illustrations of animal musicians.

There is an otter playing a piccolo, a polar bear playing a bassoon and the conductor is a lion. Another good book is Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin by Lloyd Moss. It is written in rhythmic verse with bright detailed artwork and there is an accompanying CD of the different orchestral sounds.

The Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten is a well-known recording that demonstrates the various orchestra sections. It’s a fun way to learn how the instruments all play together in a symphony. A narrator introduces each instrument section: first the woodwinds, then the brass, followed by the strings and finally the percussion.

Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens is

another arrangement of orchestral music for children that offers an amusing way to hear the different instruments. It is a suite of 14 movements and each movement represents an animal. For example, there is the Royal March of the Lion, Hens and Roosters, The Elephant and The Kangaroo. Children love to move and dance to the music, pretending to be the animals.

The Symphony Splash is an outdoor event so it’s best to bring folding lawn chairs or a blanket for your family to sit on the Legislature lawn. The Inner Harbour can be breezy and chilly in the evening, so bring extra sweaters and blankets. Another good idea is to pack a cooler with water and snacks.

Listening to symphonic music is an enjoyable and wonderful way to spend time with your family, especially when it is presented in an outdoor venue in the Harbour. By taking the time to explore music and by attending the Splash you will be expanding your child’s music appreciation and creating memories for your whole family.

Jerri Carson is a primary music teacher for SD #61. She is a member of the CRD Arts Advisory Council. Jerri plays the cello in the Victoria Conservatory Cello Orchestra.

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VancouverIslandBabyFair.com

SEPTEMBER 27 & 28

Fundraising

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Jody Wiger Photography

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FEA

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2014

Shopping | Resources | Speakers | Photo Contest | Baby Races | Prizes

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Admission: $8/Person Add $2 for weekend pass Kids 12 & under free

Sponsored by:

30 Island Parent Magazine

www.kidsinvictoria.com

Be Berry Aware I

f you’re planning on foraging for food this summer, make sure you pick up Richard J. Hebda’s A Field Guide to Edible Fruits & Berries of the Pacific Northwest (Harbour Publishing, 2014), a double-sided, lightweight, weatherproof brochure-like guide that’s built to withstand excursions ranging from a short walk in the woods to backcountry hiking.

In the guide, you’ll find close-up and colourful photos of familiar and not-so-familiar fruits and berries: from strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries to blue elderberry, June plum, and Pacific crabapple. Thanks to the clear photos and the vivid written descriptions, you’ll be able to identify more than 40 kinds of wild snacks—and a host of potentially poisonous ones. There’s even a measurement guide—in inches and centimetres—along the outside edge of the back flap that will help you determine, based on measurements provided in each description, which plants are which.

You’ll also learn about seasonal availability along with information on how best to prepare and preserve the edible bounty.

Did you know that salal berries make excellent jams and jellies, pies, and even smoothies?

And that coastal aboriginal people used salal berries to flavour fish soup? Can you tell the difference between an Alaskan blueberry and a black huckleberry? And did you know that most white berries are unpleasant or toxic?

Where’s the best place to find thimbleberries?

And how many litres would you need to pick to make an excellent thimbleberry pie?

You’ll find answers to these and many other fruit-and-berry-related questions, in A Field Guide to Edible Fruits & Berries of the Pacific Northwest. Now all you need is a bucket!

A Field Guide to Edible Fruits & Berries of the Pacific Northwest, Harbour Publishing, 2014. $7.95. www.IslandParent.ca

The Victoria School for Ideal Education OPEN HOUSE august 26

1–3pm & 7–8pm • Daily meditation • Nature based learning • Individualized instruction • BC curriculum K – Gr. 8 2820 Belmont avenue

250-383-6654 vsie.ca vsie@shaw.ca Come See Our Outdoor Classroom

Curiosity • Diversity • Exploration Nature • Play-Oriented Learning

Open House August 28, 1 – 4 p.m.

3905 Haro Road, Victoria BC

250-477-3731

arbutusgrove.ca

Natural Wonders Preschool

This new exciting nature preschool starting in September is a licensed program where children explore and learn in the natural outdoor world.

The program is situated outdoors for the majority of each day allowing children to let nature be their guide.

Tuesday/Thursday 9am-11:30am • $16250*/month Henderson Recreation Centre 2291 Cedar Hill X Road 250-370-7200 recreation.oakbay.ca

August 2014

31

August 2014

Generously Sponsored by and

Family Calendar For calendar updates throughout the month visit www.kidsinvictoria.com FRI 1 Animal Crackers at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. Listen to loopy stories and songs featuring wacky animal antics, then make a creative craft that is sure to crack you up. For ages 3-5. 10:30-11:30am. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-727-0104 for more information.

Art with Andrea: Wonderland Creations at Nellie McClung Branch Library. Using Alice in Wonderland as your inspiration, create your own mixed media collage using paint and a variety of techniques with Andrea Soos from the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. For ages 6-9. 10:30-11:30am. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-477-7111 for more information.

SAT 2 Bejewelled Dragons of the Pond at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Did you know dragonflies live a dual life? Join a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist for an up-close look at the amazing world of dragonflies as they zig and zag across wetlands in search of their prey. Meet at the Retriever Ponds area off Beaver Lake Rd at 1pm. All ages. 1-2:30pm. BC Transit #70 or #72. 250-478-3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

SUN 3 25th Annual Victoria Symphony Splash in the Inner Harbour. Music, festivities and fireworks. Be there when Tania Miller, the Victoria Symphony and a host of special guests put on

32 Island Parent Magazine

a show like no other. Kids’ activities start at 1pm, music on the main stage begins at 4pm, and the Victoria Symphony takes the stage at 7:30pm. www.victoriasymphony.ca/splash.

MON 4 BC Day Celebration at Westhills Stadium, Langford Parkway. Live performances, face painting, bouncy castles, mini golf, buskers, artisans, and much more. Free water provided

by Westhills, as well as food and other beverages available for purchase. Free. 10am-8pm.

Free Demonstration Classes at Jennifer’s MYC Studio. Looking for the best in music education? You’ve found it! MYC® is a dynamic, child-centered curriculum for ages 2-11. This innovative, Canadian system combines proven music education theories into one comprehensive method of keyboard, singing, creative movement, rhythm, ear training, sight-reading, music theory and composition. Parents must attend with their child(ren). RSVP to reserve a spot. Jennifer Yuen at 250-380-1189 or jennifer@JennifersMusicStudio.com

TUES 5 Super Snakes at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. 10-11:30am. Members: $12 per adult/child pair, $4/additional child; Non-members: $17/pair, $6 per additional child. To register, call 250-479-0211. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. www.swanlake.bc.ca.

Spy Academy at Juan de Fuca Branch Library.

Report to library headquarters for your lat-

est assignment involving mysteries, disguises and missions that aren’t impossible, just fun.

For ages 6-9. 1:30-2:30pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-391-0653 for more information.

Tales with a Twist at Saanich Centennial Branch Library. Once upon a time, things went crazy at the library and all the fairytales that you know and love took an unexpected twist. For ages 5-12. 2:30-3:30pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-477-9030 for more information.

WED 6 Paws and Tales at Oak Bay Branch Library.

Read to a friendly dog, learn about dogs who assist people, and how to be a great dog owner with volunteers and their furry companions from the Pacific Animal Therapy Society Paws and Tales program. For ages 5-8.

10:30-11:30am. Register online at www.gvpl. ca or call 250-592-2489 for more information.

Viking Journeys at Central Branch Library.

Peek inside a Viking bag filled with Viking artifacts. Learn about Viking lives, crafts and games from a Royal BC Museum expert.

Fun activity included. For ages 7-12. 10:3011:30am. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-382-7241, ext. 601 for more information.

Animal Crackers at Nellie McClung Branch Library. See FRI 1 for details. For ages 3-5.

10:30-11:30am. Register online at www.gvpl. ca or call 250-477-7111 for more information.

www.kidsinvictoria.com

Mammals Madness at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. I’m a mammal and so are you. Come and meet some of the other amazing mammals that make Swan Lake home. Hands-on explorations, games and lots of furry fun. Admission by donation. Noon3pm. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. 250-479-0211. www.swanlake.bc.ca.

Makerspace Clicking Bugs at Central Saanich Branch Library. Assemble your very own electronic clicking bug. Decorate it, then let the sumo match or fashion show begin. Inspired

by Makerspace Victoria. For ages 10-12.

1:30-2:30pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-652-2013 for more information.

Boo Hoo Bird and Friends Puppet Play at Sidney/North Saanich Branch Library. Get ready to giggle with the Summer Reading Club puppet show. Join librarians for some ‘funny business’, a puppet show full of songs, jokes and entertainment for the whole family.

All ages. 2-2:45pm. Please call 250-656-0944 to register.

Impossible Characters: Creative Story Writing for Kids at Juan de Fuca Branch Library.

Plunk a robot-wizard in the refrigerator, a bumblebee-dog in space, or any character into an unlikely setting and see what story unfolds. Led by writer Korina Miller from Story Studio Writing Society. For ages 7-10.

2:30-3:30pm Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-391-0653 for more information.

Acting Out, Funny Business at Saanich Centennial Branch Library. Explore comedy skits and fractured fairytales “Acting Out” style. Use improv, theatrical silliness, puppets, costumes and music in this fun program with Jennifer Callioux (Theatre B.A.) For ages 8-12.

2:30-3:30pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-477-9030 for more information.

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembered at Esquimalt Gorge Park. Lantern making starts at 7pm, with words and songs of peace at 8pm, followed by floating the lanterns on the Gorge.

All welcome. Bring a blanket and/or chair to sit on and a battery tea candle if you wish. Floating lantern supplies will be provided. Free. 7pm.

www.IslandParent.ca

THUR 7 Tales with a Twist at Esquimalt Branch Library.

See TUES Aug 5 for details. For ages 5-12.

10:30-11:30am. Register online at www.gvpl. ca or call 250-414-7198 for more information.

Paws and Tales at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. See WED 6 for details. For ages 5-8.

10:30-11:30am. Register online at www.gvpl. ca or call 250-727-0104 for more information.

Snake Day at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park.

CRD Regional Parks has teamed up with Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary for this slithery event. Watch snake shows, hold a snake, play a snake game and more.

Drop by the tents at the main Beaver Beach any time between 11am and 2pm. All ages.

BC Transit #70 or #72. 250-478-3344. www. crd.bc.ca/parks.

Makerspace Clicking Bugs at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. See WED 6 for details. For ages 10-12. 1:30-2:30pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-727-0104 for more information.

Acting Out, Funny Business at Juan de Fuca Branch Library. See WED 6 for details. For ages 8-12. 2:30-3:30pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-391-0653 for more information.

FRI 8 – SUN 10 Victoria Indian MeLa in Centennial Square.

Indian classical and modern/fusion music, fashion shows, Gidda/Bhangra, Garba/ Dhandia and Bollywood dances, and many other multicultural presentations. The event includes booths with arts and crafts, henna, palm reading, face painting and fashion. Let Indian delicacies and aromas tantalize your senses. Fri: 1-6pm; Sat: 11am-8pm; Sun: 11am-6pm. www.iccavictoria.com.

SAT 9 Moon Walk at Coles Bay Regional Park. When the moon is full and the tide is low, down to Coles Bay we’ll go. Join a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist to look for marine creatures

TM

like crabs, sea stars and the elusive moon snail.

This program includes wading in the water, so be prepared to get your feet and clothes wet (wear shorts and sandals or beach shoes). Meet at the information kiosk in the parking lot off Inverness Rd at 9:30am. 5+ years. 250-4783344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

Sing-Along Music with Professor Trainboat at Nellie McClung Branch Library. Sing, dance and laugh with professor Trainboat’s energetic, interactive educational music show.

For ages 2-5. 10:30-11:30am. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-477-7111 for more information.

Mask Madness at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library. Make a funny mask and then improvise silly scenes using drama, music, and clowning with the Kerploding Theatre team.

For ages 6-9. 2:30-3:30pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-727-0104 for more information.

SAT 9 & SUN 10 20th Annual Arts & Music in the Gardens at The Gardens at HCP. Meet over 60 Island artists and listen to a variety of music by some of Victoria’ musicians. View classic cars participating in the Auto Art Show, unique Land Art displays, and visit the Bonsai Garden. $12/adults; $10/students and seniors; children under 16 free. 11am-5pm. 505 Quayle Rd. 250-479-6162. 250-479-6162. www.hcp.ca.

August 2014 33

Confident girls.

Inspiring women.

•

Leaders in Early Childhood Education

•

Nature-based Kindergarten (JR & SR)

•

STEM focus

•

Empowering girls’ leadership progams

•

Small school benefits: safe, supportive, high achievement and participation

•

Continuity in education from JK to Grade 12

ST. MARGARET’S SCHOOL Still accepting applications for Fall 2014 1080 LUCAS AVE, VICTORIA 250.479.7171 | WWW.STMARG.CA

Experience a life-changing educational opportunity SelfDesign enables learners to complete K-12 by exploring their passions and taking the lead in their own learning and life. With personalized guidance from BC-certified educators, learning unfolds at home and within local and online communities.

SUN 10 Whelks to Whales at East Sooke Regional Park. Pristine ocean wilderness offers much to be explored. Join a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist to discover more about ocean dwellers near and deep. Be prepared to get your feet wet (bring sandals or beach shoes). Meet at the kiosk in the Aylard Farm parking lot off Becher Bay Rd at 10am. All ages. 250-4783344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

Cadboro Bay Festival at Gyro Park. Enjoy building your own sand sculpture at the beach, or take part in a variety of hands-on activities including bouncy castles, face painting, pirate school, the Saanich game board, kids treasure map, hand drum workshops, information displays, and arts & craft stations. Local entertainment on stage throughout the day.

Bring your own reusable water bottle to be filled at the CRD Water Cart. Free. 11am-3pm.

250-475-5558.

Gorge Swim Fest in Banfield Park and Esquimalt Gorge Park. A family-oriented event to emphasize the Gorge’s viability as a perfect place to swim. The water is clean, warm, and accessible. Food, beverages, live music, face painting, bubble making and other playful, family-oriented activities. Noon-4pm. www. facebook.com/gorgeswimfest.

MON 11 Sandy Shore Explore at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. Join a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist for an intertidal exploration and discover the strange and wonderful creatures that appear between the tides. Be prepared to get your feet wet (bring sandals or beach shoes). Meet on the main beach. Park in the main parking lot off Metchosin Rd and follow the 20-minute forest trail to the beach. Witty Beach access closed. 5+ years. 10am-noon.

BC Transit #54 or #55. 250-478-3344. www. crd.bc.ca/parks.

Baby Signs with Layla: a Baby Sign Language Program at Oak Bay Branch Library. Learn the basics of using nonverbal signs with babies and toddlers. Benefits may include improved communication, fewer tantrums and cognitive and language development. For parents, educators and children ages 0-24 months.

10:30-11:30am. Register online at www.gvpl. ca or call 250-592-2489 for more information.

TUES 12 Radical Raccoons at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. See TUES AUG 5 for details. 10-11:30am. Members: $12 per adult/ child pair, $4/additional child; Non-members: $17/pair, $6 per additional child. To register, call 250-479-0211. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. www. swanlake.bc.ca.

www.selfdesign.org 34 Island Parent Magazine

www.kidsinvictoria.com

Feeling Crabby at Island View Beach Regional Park. Red crabs, green crabs, smooth crabs, hairy crabs. This beach has them all. Drop in any time between 11am and 2pm and meet the crabs of Island View Beach as well as some of their crusty cousins. Explore under rocks, make a craft and more. Be prepared to get your feet wet (bring sandals or beach shoes). Look for the blue tent on the beach off Homathko Rd. All ages. 250-478-3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

Music in the Park at Rutledge Park. Arts and crafts, face painting and children’s activities.

Please bring a lawn chair or blanket. Donation gratefully accepted. 6-8pm. 250-477-3673.

WED 13 Paws and Tales at Nellie McClung, Saanich Centennial and Central Saanich Branch Libraries. See WED 6 for details. For ages 5-8. Nellie McClung: 10:30-11:30am, 250-477-7111; Saanich Centennial: 10:30-11:30am, 250-4779030; Central Saanich: 2:30-3:30pm, 250652-2013. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call the hosting branch for more information.

ALL FUN KARTS • CAGES • CLUBS • CAMPING at Western Speedway

at Western Speedway

o much fun!!

There’s no such thing as to Open: July & August Every Day 11am-6pm Open: September on Weekends & Holidays from 12-5pm (all above, weather permitting)

2207 Millstream Rd, Victoria BC • 250-474-1961 • allfun.bc.ca • westernspeedway.net

Making Masks with Eliska Liska at Sidney/ North Saanich Branch Library. Artist Eliska Liska returns to the library to lead us in an afternoon of mask making fun. Just bring your imagination. Ages 6+. 2-3pm. Please call 250-656-0944 to register.

WED 13 & THURS 14 Travelling Puppet Show for School-Aged Kids: Puppetry Camp at Esquimalt Branch Library.

Join the Travelling Puppet Show for a 2-day mini-camp featuring puppet-making, storytelling, and your wonderfully wild imagination.

Make and take home your very own puppets.

Family and friends are invited to attend for the last 15 minutes of the last day of camp to enjoy a performance. For ages 7-9. 1:30-3:30pm.

Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250414-7198 for more information.

THUR 14 Masked Bandit at Devonian Regional Park. A CRD Regional naturalist will lead you on a raccoon trail for a day in the life of these little rascals. Meet at the information kiosk in the parking lot off William Head Rd at 1pm. All ages. BC Transit #54 or #55. 250-478-3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

THURS 14 & FRI 15 Crafts for Tween & Teens with Angel: Modern Macramé at Bruce Hutchison Branch Library.

Learn basic macramé techniques and create your own simple macramé bracelet with Angel in this fun two-part workshop that won’t leave you tied up in knots. For ages 10-18.

1:30-3pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-727-0104 for more information.

www.IslandParent.ca

August 2014 35

FRI 15 Evening Campfire at the Beach at Island View Regional Park. Meet a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist for an evening beach walk followed by campfire stories at the Island View Beach campground. Learn more about the animals that call Island View Beach their home. Bring a beach chair. Meet at the campfire ring at the Island View Beach campground, off Homathko Rd. 6-8pm. All ages. 250-478-3344. www. crd.bc.ca/parks.

Creatures of the Summer Night at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. Check out the nightlife of Swan Lake. Sharpen your senses to look for owls, bats and other nighttime creatures. Using a grab bag of tricks, discover how these animals are adapted to their nocturnal life. Suitable for families with children under 6 years. 8-9:30pm. $4/ members; $6/non-members. Pre-registration required. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. 250-479-0211. www.swanlake.bc.ca.

SAT 16 Go with the Flow (Line) at Charters Interpretive Centre, Sooke. Join the Sooke Region Museum and a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist for a short, steep hike through the woods to see a historical bake oven built 100 years ago by workers constructing the 27 mile-long flowline to carry water to Victoria. 5+ years.

10am-noon. There is no fee for this program, but you must pre-register as space is limited. To reserve a spot, call 250-478-3344 by August 15th. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

Pete the Cat Day at the Tanner’s Books. Come for a rockin’ day in celebration of one cool cat. Come in and sing Pete’s song, play Pete games, and make a Pete puppet. Plus see Pete’s new book: Pete the Cat and the New Guy. 11am-3pm drop-in. 2436 Beacon Ave, Sidney.

250-656-2345. www.tannersbooks.com.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Francis/King Regional Park. Wear your craziest hat and join a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist for a fun family tea party. Take a short walk to learn a few fabulous local plants and celebrate the day with a tea party featuring native plants.

5+ years. $7 + GST. Pre-registration required

by August 15. Space is limited. 1-2:30pm.

250-478-3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

SUN 17 ‘Bear’ Necessities at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. We can co-exist with these magnificent forest dwellers. Join a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist to learn about the natural history of the black bear. Meet at the Witty’s Lagoon Nature Centre off Metchosin Rd at 1pm. All ages. BC Transit #54 or #55. 250-478-3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

MON 18 Travelling Puppet Show for Preschoolers: Performance at Central Branch Library. Puppets! Stories! Fun! What more could you ask for in a puppet show? Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend. Please note: Puppetry workshop and puppet performance require separate registration. Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment. For ages 4-12.

10:30-11am. Register online at www.gvpl. ca or call 250-382-7241, ext. 601 for more information.

Travelling Puppet Show for Preschoolers: Workshop at Central Branch Library. Puppets are the best friends, especially when you’ve made your very own! We provide the arts and crafts supplies, and you supply the creativity. Parents and caregivers are welcome to participate. Please note: Puppetry workshop and puppet performance require separate registration. Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment. For ages 4-6. 11:1511:45am. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-382-7241, ext. 601.

Travelling Puppet Show for School-Aged Kids: Performance at Central Branch Library. See above for details. Visit www.gvpl.ca or call 250-382-7241, ext. 601 for more information.

Travelling Puppet Show for School-Aged Kids: Workshop at Central Branch Library.

Just like Geppetto! In this workshop, you’ll

Expecting or Nursing?

We Deliver Style!

Ripe Maternity Boob Design Seraphine Maternity Maternal America JoJo Maman Bebe www.BelliesInBloomMaternity.com Victoria 250.479.0803 36

Island Parent Magazine

THE VIKINGS ARE HERE AU G U S T 9 & 10 I 11 A M – 4 P M See Vikings come alive when the members of the Society for Creative Anachronism recreate a Viking market site.

Free with admission or membership

royalbcmuseum.bc.ca Vikings: Lives Beyond the Legends exhibition not included.

www.kidsinvictoria.com

TUES 19 Outstanding Owls at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. 10-11:30am. Members: $12 per adult/child pair, $4/additional child; Non-members: $17/pair, $6 per additional child. To register, call 250-479-0211. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. www.swanlake.bc.ca.

Animal Adventures at Francis/King Regional Park. Join a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist on a family adventure as you learn some cool animal skills. Creep like a deer, jump like a cougar, and feel like a raccoon as we wind our way through the Francis/King forest. Meet at the Nature Centre off Munn Rd at 1pm. 10 years and under. 250-478-3344. www.crd. bc.ca/parks.

Music in the Park at Braefoot and Hyacinth Parks. See TUES 12 for details. 6-8pm. Admission by donation. 250-477-3673.

TUES 19 – THURS 21 Travelling Puppet Show for Preschoolers: Puppetry Camp at Central Branch Library. Join the Travelling Puppet Show for a 3-day minicamp. Explore stories and create your very own puppets. Family and friends are invited to attend for the last 15 minutes of the last day of the camp to enjoy a performance. For ages 4-6. 10:30-11:30am. Register at www. gvpl.ca or call 250-382-7241, ext. 601 for more information.

Travelling Puppet Show for School-Aged Kids: Puppetry Camp at Central Branch Library. Join the Travelling Puppet Show for a 3-day minicamp featuring puppet-making, storytelling, and your wonderfully wild imagination. Make and take home your very own puppets. Family and friends are invited to attend for the last 15 minutes of the last day to enjoy a performance.

For ages 7-9. 1:30-3:30pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-382-7241, ext. 601 for more information.

THUR 21 Blood and Guts at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. They’ve got pointy teeth and sharp claws, and they don’t eat tofu! Learn more about animals that make their living by eating meat.

Cougars and owls and bears—oh my. See live raptor demonstrations. Drop in at the tents at the main Beaver Beach any time between 11am and 2pm. All ages. BC Transit #70 or #72. 250-478-3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

www.IslandParent.ca

Homeschooling: Will it Work for My Child?

For Me? at Nellie McClung Branch Library.

Are you exploring homeschooling as an educational alternative? Do you want to know how to go about it? What are the legalities? Marty Layne, author and pioneering homeschooling mom, will address these issues and answer some of your questions about home-based education in BC. You’ll come away with a better understanding of what’s involved and learn ways to support your children’s learning.

For parents and educators. 7-8:30pm. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250-477-7111 for more information.

SAT 23 Bountiful Berries at East Sooke Regional Park.

Join a CRD Regional parks’ naturalist on a walk to explore for blackberries, Oregon grape berries, salal berries and more. There will also be an opportunity to taste jams made from some of these natural delights. We will look at and taste berries, but will not be collecting them to take them home. Meet at the kiosk in the Aylard Farm parking lot off Becher Bay Rd at 1pm. 5+ years. 250-478-3344. www. crd.bc.ca/parks.

Presents the 28TH

Rayola Creative 2014. Illustrations © Mike Kerr

Animal Grossology at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. Are you oozing to learn about the disgusting science of animal grossology? Find out about slug slime, owl barf and even the scoop on poop. Check out worms, slugs, spiders and scum as you learn about the secret world of the revolting. Activities and crafts that will gross you out! Admission by donation. Noon-3pm. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. 250-479-0211. www.swanlake.bc.ca

ANNUAL

Comedy Drama Magic Music Physical theatre

MORE THAN

50 SHOWS from around

THE GLOBE

Puppetry Spoken word and more

AUGUST

21-31

Twenty-Fourteen

Tickets: ticketrocket.org or 250-590-6291 Info: VICTORIAFRINGE.COM

Lighthouse Academy of

Dance

Summer Reading Club Wrap-Up Party: The Great Smartini at Sidney/North Saanich Branch Library. Let’s celebrate a summer full of reading and fun. Join the Great Smartini for a magic show featuring Jo Jo Coconut, Canada’s only talking chimp. Summer Reading prize winners will be announced, and there will be cake for everyone. All ages. 2:30-3:30pm.

Please call 250-656-0944 to register.

SUN 24 Bejewelled Dragons of the Pond at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. See SAT 2 for details.

Meet at the Retriever Ponds area off Beaver Lake Rd at 11am. All ages. BC Transit #70 or #72. 250-478-3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

TUES 26 Busy Bees at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. See TUES AUG 5 for details.

10-11:30am. Members: $12 per adult/child pair, $4/additional child; Non-members: $17/ pair, $6 per additional child. To register, call 250-479-0211. 3873 Swan Lake Rd. www. swanlake.bc.ca.

Pure, pleasing, positive.

Photo: Andrei Fedorov

make your own puppet and learn techniques that will make it seem alive. We provide the arts and crafts supplies, and you supply the creativity. Please note: Puppetry workshop and puppet performance require separate registration. Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment. For ages 7-9. 2:30-3:30pm.

Register online at www.gvpl.ca or call 250382-7241, ext. 601 for more information.

Beginner–Professional • Boys & Girls • Age 2 – Adult Ballet • Tap • Jazz • Modern • Contemporary • Acro Jazz/Hip Hop • Creative • Musical Theatre • Zumba Highland Dance • Fitness Classes • Special Needs Class RAD & ISTD Exam & Leisure Courses

New Location! 934 Goldstream Ave, Langford Register for Summer Camps and Classes and Fall!

We also do DANCE PARTIES for kids and adults!

250.595.8705

info@lighthouseacademyofdance.com www.lighthouseacademyofdance.com

August 2014 37

Music in the Park at Rudd Park. See TUES 12 for details. Donation gratefully accepted.

6-8pm. 250-477-3673.

ONGOING

WED 27

Drop-in Family Storytimes at the Greater Victoria Public Library. Storytimes are free and drop-in. Please come early to find a space.

Caregivers are welcome and encouraged to participate. For a complete list of drop-in programs, call your local library, or visit www.gvpl.ca.

Bountiful Berries at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. See SAT AUG 23 for details. Meet at the Beaver Lake Nature Centre off the main parking lot at 1pm. 5+ years. BC Transit #70 or #72. 250-478-3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

THURS 28 Going Squirrelly at Francis/King Regional Park. What does it take to survive as a squirrel? With a CRD Regional Parks’ naturalist, discover what keeps these furry creatures busy at this time of year. Meet at the Francis/King Nature Centre off Munn Rd at 1pm. 5+ years.

250-478-3344. www.crd.bc.ca/parks.

SAT 30 Captain Underpants Day at the Tanner’s Books. Explore the wacky world of Captain Underpants. Take home your very own FlipO-Rama Book of Fun and official Captain Underpants Collector’s cards in your very own Captain Underpants bag. 11am-3pm drop-in.

2436 Beacon Ave, Sidney. 250-656-2345. www.tannersbooks.com.

38 Island Parent Magazine

BABIES, TODDLERS & PRESCHOOL

Read to Me Club at Sidney/North Saanich Branch Library. Bring your littlest ones to the library on Thursday mornings for stories, songs, rhymes and movement. Stay for a snack and some socializing afterwards. 0-5 years.

10:15-10:45am. 250-656-0944.

KIDS Summer Reading Club 2014: Funny Business at the Greater Victoria Public Library. Whether you’re reading at home or on holidays, you can keep track of your reading and enjoy some incentives along the way. Drop by your local library to pick up a self-paced reading record.

For kids 12 and under. gvpl.ca Summer Reading Buddies at the Greater Victoria Public Library. Reading Buddies pairs children who need extra practice with reading with teen volunteers for fun literacy-based

activities. Little Buddies and Big Buddies meet for an hour daily for one week. Week-long sessions are available until August 22 at different branch libraries. For children in Grades 2 to 4. Register online at www.gvpl.ca.

GVPL Summer Challenge at the Greater Victoria Public Library. Choose from 40 fabulous library-related activities that you can do whenever you like throughout the summer.

Every challenge completed will earn you an entry into our prize draws. Everyone welcome.

Visit www.gvpl.ca/summerchallenge, or call the library for more information.

Children’s Concerts in the Park at Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park. Wednesday August 13 and 27. 11-11:45am. www.victoria. ca/cityvibe.

YOUTH Teen Volunteers Needed at the Greater Victoria Public Library. If you like working with children, enjoy reading, and want to help struggling readers, we need you. Volunteer for one or two hours per afternoon for one or more weeks this summer. Week-long sessions are available until August 22 at different branch libraries throughout the summer. For ages 13-18. For more information, email teens@ gvpl.ca. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or in person at all branches.

www.kidsinvictoria.com

Tech Buddies: Teen Volunteers at the Greater Victoria Public Library. Volunteer using your skills with computers and other new technologies, and connect with someone in your community. Teens earn volunteer hours and help adults with their questions about computers and gadgets. For ages 13-18. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or email teens@gvpl.ca for more information.

Teen Council: Summer Edition at Greater Victoria Public Library. Interested in developing content for social media? Earn volunteer hours by joining this short-term project-based version of GVPL’s Teen Council. For ages 13-18. Register online at www.gvpl.ca or in person at all branches.

FAMILIES Multi-Island Geocaching Challenge. Embark on a self-guided adventure to experience the park’s cultural and natural hotsports. Choose from two routes: a family-friendly treasure hunt or a more strenuous route. Each visitor to complete a route receives a limited edition geocoin. Until September. For more information, call 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada. gc.ca/gulfislands.

Music in the Park in Pioneer Park, Brentwood Bay. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, a picnic, or buy dinner at one of the food vendors. This is an all-ages event. Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm.

Junior Naturalists at McDonald campground, Sidney. Collect a new sticker each week and get a prize for collecting all four. For children 6-12 with an adult. No registration required.

Attend one program or several. Please park at the adjacent Blue Heron park and follow the signs to the group campfire ring. Thursdays 7-8pm in August. For more information, call 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada.gc.ca/ gulfislands.

Campfire Magic at McDonald Campground, Sidney. Share the magic of a traditional Canadian campfire with your family at this free program. Bring a flashlight and a mug for hot chocolate. Fridays 7-8pm, in August. For families with children 12 and under. No registration required. Please park at the adjacent Blue Heron Park and follow the signs to the group campfire ring. 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada.gc.ca/gulfislands.

Sunset Wildlife Watch at East Point, Saturna Island. Discover the wildlife of the Salish Sea and relax into the peacefulness of an East Point sunset. Dress warmly and bring blankets, chairs and flashlights. Enjoy the talents of island musicians and storytellers. Meet out at the point (5 minute walk). Fridays 8-9pm in August. For more information, call 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada.gc.ca/gulfislands.

Concerts in the Park at Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park. Dance, theatre and musical

performances as well as community events.

Bring a blanket, or your personal lawn chair and enjoy and afternoon or evening of free entertainment. 1:30-3:20pm, Friday, Saturday and Sundays until September 12.

Orca News 2014 at East Point, Saturna Island.

Join a park interpreter for a free and engaging update on the endangered southern resident killer whales. East Point is a prime spot for land-based whale watching. Bring a blanket or a chair. No registration required. Meet out at the point (5 minute walk). Saturdays 2-2:30pm in August. For more information, call 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada. gc.ca/gulfislands.

GPS Family Adventures at Winter Cove, Saturna Island. Drop-in anytime for this free program, but allow one hour to complete an adventure. Set out equipped with a clue book and a GPS (provided by the interpreter).

Choose from three adventures: Wildlife Trackers, Smelly-Sticky-Prickly or Nature Photographers (bring your camera for this one). No registration required. Sundays in August, 11am-1pm. Phone 1-866-944-1744 or visit parkscanada.gc.ca/gulfislands.

Moss St. Market at Sir James Douglas School.

Local organic produce, delicious food, handcrafted products and live music. Children’s activity tent. Saturdays 10am-2pm until Oct.•

g n i K of ! l o Co Iced Mocha! www.IslandParent.ca

August 2014 39

SAT 23

Around the Island

Super Saturdays at the Campbell River Art Gallery. See SAT 9 for details. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 1-3pm.

Admission by donation. 250-287-2261.

Visit www.IslandParent.ca for these and other events and resources for families from Cowichan Valley north to Campbell River and west to Tofino wed 6

THURS 26

Glow in the Dark Skate at Frank Crane Arena, Nanaimo. Come skate in an atmosphere of dimmed lighting and special effects. Regular admission rates; glow necklaces $2. 6:30pm.

250-756-5200.

Symphony by the Sea in Maffaeo Sutton Park, Nanaimo. A musical variety show for the whole family. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs and picnics. Free, but donations gratefully accepted.

6pm. Visit www.vancouverislandsymphony. com for more information.

FRI 8

WED 13

Duck Days of Summer at Crofton Pool. Nothing is more fun than rubber ducky. Come see hundreds of rubber ducky in the pool. Games and activities will be ongoing. 6-9pm. 250746-7665.

Sno Cone Swim at Ravensong Aquatic Centre, Parksville. Come for fun in the pool and a tasty sno cone treat. Every welcome. 6:30-8pm.

250-752-5014. www.rdn.bc.ca/recreation.

SAT 9 Super Saturdays at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Drop-in art making program. All materials provided. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 1-3pm. Admission by donation. 250-287-2261.

3-5 yrs Pre-primary School

Family Fun Night and BBQ at Departure Bay Centennial Park. Celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer with musical entertainment, family activities, science in the park, tennis and a BBQ hosted

by Nanaimo Foodshare. Free. 4:30-7:30pm.

250-756-5200.

SAT 28 Super Saturdays at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Drop-in art making program. All materials provided. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 1-3pm. Admission by donation. 250-287-2261.

ONGOING

WED 20 Glow in the Dark Skate at Nanaimo Ice Centre.

Skate in an atmosphere of dimmed lighting and special effects. Glow necklaces $2. Regular admission. 6:30-8pm. 250-756-5200.

PRESCHOOL Parent and Tot Drop-in at the HUB at Cowichan Station. Come for songs, organized games, and free play with balls, parachutes and more. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and young children to connect with

A gentle learning opportunity for young children: - learning naturally through play

The joy of learning - naturally.

http://oakandorca.ca 250 383 6609 40  Island Parent Magazine

- nature awareness and respect - compassionate communication - experience with math and science - exposure to books and language arts

www.kidsinvictoria.com

other families in the community. Free. For more information, email kids@cowichanstation.org.

LaFF at the Aggie. A safe play-based learning environment for families and caregivers with children newborn to age 6. Reading centre, craft area, Brio train station, and snack table.

Indoor car and toy riding area. Monday to Friday, 9:30am-noon and Thursdays 12:151:45pm. $2 suggested donation per family (punch cards available). 250-210-0870, laffexecutivedirector@shaw.ca, www.familyandfriends.ca.

Family Storytime at Cowichan Library, Duncan. Bring the whole family for stories, songs, rhymes and fun. For ages 0-5. Tuesdays 10:3011:30am. 2687 James St. krumohr@virl.bc.ca.

Adventures in Early Literacy at the Ladysmith Resource Centre. A parent-child, fun-filled program designed for children ages 3 to 5 years. Participants learn and have fun doing crafts, games and singing. A book is read, lunch and snacks are provided. 9:45-noon.

Space is limited, so call 250-245-3079 to get on the list. 630 2nd Ave.

CHILDREN After school Recreation Drop-in at the HUB at Cowichan Station. This is a fun, safe space to get active and have fun with friends. Lots of great sports equipment and organized games and activities, outdoor education activities as well as time for free play. For children 6-12.

Free. For more information, email kids@ cowichanstation.org.

Homelearners Recreation Drop-in at the HUB at Cowichan Station. A fun morning of outdoor education activities, organized games, and free play with lots of great sports equipment. For ages 5-12. Free. For more information, email kids@cowichanstation.org.

Water Parks are open to the public 9am-8pm June to September. Hours are subject to change.

It is recommended that all children use the parks under adult supervision. Departure Bay Kiwanis Park, Deverill Square Park, Harewood Water Park, Mansfield Park.

Bowen Park Kin Outdoor Pool Open to the public Saturday and Sunday, June 7 to August 29, 1-3pm and everyday June 30 to August 29, 1-3pm. $3. Swim meets or other events will result in public swim cancellations on some weekends.

Summer Programs at Miracle Beach Provincial Park, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park and Goldstream Provincial Park. Programs include Jerry’s Rangers programs for kids 5-12 and evening amphitheatre presentations for all ages. For more information, visit www. naturehouse.ca.

www.IslandParent.ca

Summer Swims at Bowen Park Kin Outdoor Pool, Nanaimo. Come swim in the heated pool. 1-3pm every day until August 29. $3.

250-753-8176.

Waterparks in Nanaimo. Open to the public 9am-8pm June to Sept. Departure Bay Kiwanis Water Park Kiwanis Park; Deverill Square Park, Harewood Water Park; Mansfield Park.

All children should use parks under adult supervision. Hours subject to change. Free.

Playground Program in Nanaimo. Drop in to one of the neighbourhood playgrounds this summer and join for free family fun. Activities could include games, arts & crafts, and sports. Monday to Friday, 10am-3:30pm, July 2-August 22. For children 5-12. Parents must be on premises. 250-756-5200.

YOUTH The Youth Zone in Ladysmith. A fun and safe place to hang, meet new friends and enjoy games tables, internet kiosk, TV, movies, board games, karaoke and more. Play sports in the gym, do homework, Energized leaders will challenge you to try new activities. Mondays, 3-6pm in the Rec Room (girls only); Wednesdays, 3-5pm in the gym; Fridays 6-10pm in the Rec Room or gym. Free. 250-245-6424. www.ladysmith.ca.

Cloverdale Child Care Society

Cloverdale child care offers a fun safe environment for children to learn and grow through play, with an easy transition into Kindergarten.

Our programs: Early Years Program

3 to 5 year olds, 7am to 6pm daily Children in preschool wear the Cloverdale Traditional School Uniforms

Preschool for 3 year olds Tues & Thurs 9am to 12pm

Preschool for 4 year olds Mon, Wed, Fri 9am to 12pm

Preschool for 3 to 5 year olds daily 12:30 to 2:45pm

Before and After School Care for children registered in Cloverdale Traditional School

www.cloverdalechildcare.com cloverdalechildcare@shawbiz.ca 250-995-1766

Come grow with us

FAMILY Family Frolics at the Community Centre, Ladysmith. Bring your parent or caregiver for open gym fun. Burn off some energy with soft toys (balls and nerf-type games), mini-trampoline, ride-on toys, hula hoops and more. Tuesdays, 5:45-6:45pm. $2 suggested donation/family.

250-245-6424. www.ladysmith.ca.

Special Swim Rate Tuesdays at Ravensong Aquatic Centre, Parksville. All summer long.

Tuesdays until August 12. 1:30-5pm. 250-7525014. www.rdn.bc.ca/recreation.

The Bloedel Fire at BC Forest Discovery Centre. Travel along a scenic trail marked with interpretive panels, passing by the Lookout Tower and arriving at the Ranger station building, where the exhibit will be displayed.

Open to the public during the centre’s hours throughout the spring and summer seasons. www.bcforestdiscoverycentre.com.

Performing Arts School since 1980

ch o o l S e r P r e S umm C l a s spe s & s p m a du Da n c e C onths an for ages

16 m

Concerts in the Park at Bowen Amphitheatre, Maffeo Sutton Park, Nanaimo. Tuesdays until August 26, 12:30-1:30pm; Wednesdays until August 27, 6-7:30pm.

Beat the Heat Skate at Oceanside Arena, Parksville. Beat the heat this summer and go for a refreshing skate. Wednesdays, until August 20. Everyone welcome. 6:45-8:15pm.

250-752-5014. www.rdn.bc.ca/recreation.•

Even the littlest angel can dance For more information call 250-384-3267 or email us at stagesdance@shaw.ca or visit us at www.stagesdance.com August 2014 41

Preparing Your Child for Homework Healthy Families, Happy Families

Child, Youth & Family Public Health South Island Health Units Esquimalt 250-519-5311 Gulf Islands 250-539-3099 (toll-free number for office in Saanichton)

Peninsula 250-544-2400 Saanich 250-519-5100 Saltspring Island 250-538-4880 Sooke 250-642-5464 Victoria 250-388-2200 West Shore 250-519-3490

Central Island Health Units Duncan 250-709-3050 Ladysmith 250-755-3342 Lake Cowichan 250-749-6878 Nanaimo 250-755-3342 Nanaimo Princess Royal 250-755-3342 Parksville/Qualicum 250-947-8242 Port Alberni 250-731-1315 Tofino 250-725-4020

North Island Health Units Campbell River 250-850-2110 Courtenay 250-331-8520 Kyuquot Health Ctr 250-332-5289 ‘Namgis Health Ctr 250-974-5522 Port Hardy 250-902-6071

www.viha.ca/prevention_services/

42 Island Parent Magazine

W

ith the start of a new school year it’s a good time to talk about preparing your child for homework. Children are usually expected to spend some time outside of school doing homework. Expectations vary between schools and teachers so it’s important for parents to speak with their child’s teacher to find out what is expected.

You can have an important role in helping your child develop good study habits and routines. Homework time should not be stressful or filled with pressure. It should be a pleasant time when parents can provide encouragement and offer help where their child needs it.

Triple P—the Positive Parenting Program provides the following suggestions for helping your child develop a good homework routine.

• Let your child relax after school. Offer a healthy afternoon snack and give your child time to tell you about their day.

• Ask your child about their homework.

Find out what your child needs to do for homework and when it needs to be completed.

• Set a time for doing homework. A regular schedule that fits around your work and your child’s other commitments such as sports, clubs, music or other courses, is important for helping your child get into a good routine. Homework should have a high priority. Try fitting homework in after your child has had time to relax and before they are allowed to go out and play or watch television.

• Arrange a place to do homework. Set up a good study environment with a cleared space at a table, that is well lit, and where there are few distractions.

• Help your child get started. Prompt your child to get their work out and get started.

• Praise your child for working on their homework—this can help motivate your child to persist.

• Wait until your child asks for help. Give

them a chance to do the work on their own before helping.

• Help your child solve problems for themselves. If they ask for help, prompt them to come up with the answer before giving it to them right away.

• Show an interest in your child’s work.

When children are doing their homework, they need encouragement for attempting

Healthy Families, Happy Families Child Y out h & Family Pub lic Health

CINDY KNOTT

the task rather than criticism for making mistakes. Show an interest and praise your child for their efforts.

• Encourage desirable behaviour. Praise and reward your child’s efforts when they have finished doing their homework. You might reward them by allowing them time to watch television, play with a friend, or play a special game.

Children’s learning, and how well they do at school, is strongly affected by their motivation as well as their ability. One of the best ways to encourage better motivation is to focus on your child’s successes—the things they do right rather than the things they do wrong. Providing your child with encouragement, support and help, will mean they are more likely to work to the best of their abilities.

For more Triple P tips and ideas for all ages and stages of development or to find Triple P services in your community, visit www.triplepvip.ca or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TriplepVIP. Cindy Knott has worked for 25 years supporting children and families in Manitoba and British Columbia. She is currently the Vancouver Island Triple P Coordinator. www.kidsinvictoria.com

Irlen Syndrome Screening for Children & Adults

Based on the stories by

Robert Munsch

when other assessments and testing for learning disabilities have not found answers, Irlen Syndrome, a visual perceptual problem might be the issue.

Fun Family Getaway

theatre, a nights stay in the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn, dinner and breakfast

Karen Hope Certified Irlen Screener 250.655.3034 khope@dyslexiavictoria.ca

www.dyslexiavictoriaonline.com

Almosthome Childcare • Provides a safe, nurturing environment for each child to explore, develop and grow in their individual time and style.

• Mature Early Childhood Educators and Infant and Toddler Specialists will guide your children in various natural settings and let them explore at their own pace.

Drawing from The Paper Bag Princess

by Michael Martchenko

For information, screenings and accommodations please contact:

July 19 to August 16

1.800.565.7738

KidzPlay

chemainustheatre.ca

MOTION™ STROLLER

Gliders & for Ideal Furniture everyday Evolving adventures.

With Your Family Needs

• All weather facility.

Drop in any time and watch us grow!

The Kiddies Store 3045–C Douglas St. (Rear) 386-2229 www.tjskids.com

Finlayson St.

St.

www.IslandParent.ca

Serving the Infants • Toddlers • Youth • Parents & Grandparents of Victoria s Dougla

250-590-7666 www.almosthomecare.com

For All Your Your Baby Baby Needs…

Needs… New, We Also Do&Rentals!

For Used Rentals

Larch St.

T.J.’S

(Under Sleep Country in the REAR)

August 2014

43

THERAPY INTERVENTION, DIAGNOSIS GROUP PROGRAMS & SUPPORT Monarch House offers an interdisciplinary approach to treating individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.

Guilt & Forgiveness

WWW.MONARCHHOUSE.CA

Monarch House - Victoria Unit 211 - 611 Discovery Street 250.220.8999 monarchhousevictoria@cbi.ca always here and making it easier

Ask about our Westshore location

New Kids Dentist

Dr. Anita Gadzinska-Myers

is a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry and has a Fellowship in Special Needs Dentistry for children • Accepting new patients now (infants to teenagers) • Referral not needed • Member of Cleft Lip and Palate Team

Special Services:

short wait list • oral sedation • hospital dentistry • nitrous oxide

Victoria Pediatric Dental Centre g We’re Movin

New Location: 205–1830 Oak Bay Ave

www.victoriapediatricdentalcentre.ca

250-383-2133

Early French Immersion Early French Immersion: Kindergarten or Grade 1 are the two early immersion entry points for students.

Early French Immersion is offered at: Campus View, Doncaster, George Jay, Macauley, Margaret Jenkins, Marigold, Quadra, Sir James Douglas and Willows Elementary.

Registration Process: Registration takes place at your French Immersion catchment school on January 12 to 16, 2015. *Note* SD 61 has revised its French Immersion registration process. For more information, please refer to the district website www.sd61.bc.ca/earlyFIreg.aspx Simon Burgers, Coordinator, Languages and Multiculturalism, will be pleased to provide you with additional information, 250-475-4120 or sburgers@sd61.bc.ca

44 Island Parent Magazine

I.

As I write this, I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed with guilt for getting more angry with my daughter than I should have tonight. It happens: kids push buttons and one of the worst thing we can do as parents is take things personally, but sometimes we just do. What makes it worse is that my daughter has been going through a phase where she hasn’t exactly been a daddy’s girl for a while now, to say the least. So every time we get into a squabble, it seems like it’s one more layer of distance added between us.

But that’s just in the heat of the moment.

Luckily, I know that underneath the tough exterior she’ll always be daddy’s girl. I was recently out of town for work for a week and on the first night she was in tears saying how much she missed me. In her early-’tween demeanour, of course, this is nothing I’d ever hear. But it’s good to know it’s how she’s feeling deep down inside.

It’s good to know because I have gotten more angry with her than I should have over the years. And I’m always ravaged by guilt, even though the stories I hear from other parents tell me it happens to them, too. And the kids still cry and miss us when we’re gone.

II.

It’s now the day after I got mad at my daughter. In my mind, we’d wake up and my girl would give me the cold shoulder, still mad at me for getting upset with her last night. But here’s the joy of kids: she hasn’t. All is forgiven. I know all isn’t forgotten: her memory is, for better and for worse, wildly sharp. But she forgives me and we get on with life. And I know if I were to leave town again tomorrow, she’d cry and miss me.

Now, none of this is to say that, yeah, we CAN be jerks to our kids and get away with it after all! But it is to say that even though you and I both try our hardest to not lose our cool, we do sometimes. Try your hardest

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not to, but don’t feel like a parenting failure when it inevitably happens.

And here’s a tip that I’ve found is a huge release valve: talk to another parent about any guilt-inducing experiences the next time you’re chatting about kids. Chances are, they’ve been there too, and are probably too embarrassed to admit it. Once those conversational gates are open, you’ll be sharing laughs at how tense things get sometimes.

Remember, we all make mistakes. Kids forgive, and we should forgive ourselves for and try to learn from the slip-ups.

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GREG PRATT

III.

Greg Pratt is the father of two children and a local journalist and editor. His writing has appeared in, among other places, Today’s Parent, Wired, Revolver and Douglas.

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CELEBRATING

I’ve said it before, but there are new dads­—new parents—popping up all the time, so it’s worth repeating: you will not be the perfect parent. You will read the parenting books, see the parenting experts on videos, and peruse parenting magazines and feel like you’ve failed. But you haven’t. Your little girl or little boy is still going to look at you as a hero, even if you did bark at them a bit too quick the other night.

Is it best if you just never lose your cool?

I suppose. But never forget this: we’re not aiming for “best” as parents. We’re aiming for “best we can be.” And then a bit more.

But don’t hold yourself up to some ideal that can’t be reached. Because, let me assure you, when you’ve got a kid who thrives on pushing your buttons, those plateaus of perfect parenthood get lost in the fog of reality.

So just do your best. If you screw up, learn from the guilt, but don’t let it consume you. One more time: the little ones forgive fast, as we should too. We should forgive them for being, at times, outrageously antagonist limit-testers, and we should forgive ourselves.

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August 2014 45

Berry, Berry Delicious

S

ummertime, and the pickin’ is easy.

Ripe berries hang in burgeoning clumps along alleyways, temptingly over back fences, and sometimes in our own back yards. The tough part is not eating more than you bring home. I spent the first five years of my life in Sechelt, and have childhood’s usual drowsy summertime memories of the blackberry vines creeping closer and closer to the house, evoking the magical realism of a novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, luring the unwary with plump juicy berries, and then sticking them with those vicious thorns. No amount of scraped skin would make us quit the quest for the berries. When we lived in the Kootenays, we would go on expeditions to gather huckleberries, so that Mum could whip up batches of huckleberry pancakes.

Dad (and his brothers, and mother) always mused fondly of the saskatoon berries of their youth—tough berries, full of flavour, and well used in pies and preserves by Prairie folk.

Wildernesses may be shrinking, but there are still berry patches, and they can still make a good family adventure—and some delicious things to eat!

Banana Wheat Germ Muffins 11⁄2 cups flour 1 cup wheat germ 1⁄2 cup brown sugar 1⁄2 tsp salt 1⁄2 tsp baking soda 1 cup mashed bananas 2⁄3 cup yogurt 1⁄4 cup vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 cup fresh berries, any type, sprinkled with 1 Tbsp flour Preheat oven to 400˚F. Stir dry ingredients together in large bowl. Toss berries with flour, then gently fold into dry ingredients. Blend together bananas, yogurt, oil and eggs. Pour into dry ingredients and stir just until mixed.

Fill greased muffin tins (these make very nice mini-muffins) and bake until top gently gives when pushed, about 20 minutes.

Diana’s Fruit Crumble 6 cups fruit (seasonal berries—blackberries, raspberries, blueberries—apple, peach, plums, as available and to taste) 2 cups flour

1 cup sugar 1 cup butter, softened Preheat oven to 350˚F. Mix topping ingredients, either with a hand mixer or using

Just Eat It! Kathy Humphrey a pastry blender. Clean fruit, and cut larger types into bite-sized chunks. Spoon fruit into 9"x 13" glass baking dish. Spread topping evenly over fruit mixture. Bake for one hour, or until topping is golden in colour and fruit is bubbling. Serve with whipped cream, or ice cream. Enjoy!

Raspberry Vinegar 4–5 pounds raspberries 1⁄2 cup white vinegar 1⁄2 cup water 1 cup white sugar, perhaps more Rinse berries and put them into a pot. Mash them, using a potato masher, leaving berries still with some shape (avoid mashing them

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Enrolment is limited. For more information or to arrange a tour, visit www.discoveryschool.ca, call Sherri Ko at 250-595-7765 or email principal@discoveryschool.ca 46 Island Parent Magazine

www.kidsinvictoria.com

into a semi-puree). Add equal parts water and vinegar, only until berries are covered (you may need less than called for in the recipe).

Cover pot with lid and let sit for 48 hours.

Mash again and strain through cheesecloth.

For each cup of juice retained, add one cup of sugar. Bring the entire mixture to a boil, and bottle. (If you lack proper bottling equipment, you can keep your mixture in the fridge).

Serve over ice, with mineral or soda water added, to taste.

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Blackberry Sauce 2 cups blackberries 1 Tbsp brown sugar splash olive oil (or a good dab of butter) 1⁄4 cup orange juice pinch freshly ground black pepper Heat pan over medium flame. Melt butter; add brown sugar and stir slowly, until carmelized. Add orange juice slowly and bring to a boil. Add pepper, stir. Slowly stir in blackberries and continue to cook and stir (over low heat) until they are just starting to become mushy. Serve over ice cream, frozen yogurt, or waffles.

Galette 4 cups assorted berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries) 1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar 3 Tbsp corn starch pinch salt 11⁄4 cup flour 1 Tbsp sugar 1⁄2 cup butter, cold, cubed pinch salt 4 tsp ice water 1 Tbsp lemon juice Combine flour with salt in large bowl. Using pastry blender, cut butter in gradually, blending until it’s crumb-sized. Gradually drizzle water and lemon juice over: mix until just combined. Form into a ball, then a disc, then refrigerate for 30 minutes or so. Meanwhile, mix cornstarch with salt in a bowl. Toss berries in and mix well, until berries are covered with the cornstarch mixture. Preheat oven to 375˚F. Place large piece of parchment paper on the counter and sprinkle lightly with flour. Roll pastry out to rough circle, approximately 12" in diameter. Scoop fruit onto pastry, leaving about 2" around the edge. Fold pastry over fruit, just to cover the edge. Bake until pastry is golden and fruit is hot and bubbling.

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August 2014 47

Island Oak Waldorf Secondary Education

Family-Friendly Cowichan Valley & Mid-Island Where you matter.

Looking for a more personal school experience? Earn your Dogwood, make great friends, adventure outdoors and have teachers who care. We are a Ministry-certified, Cowichan Valley independent school. Admission is based on an interview - not capacity to pay tuition.

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Island Parent Magazine

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School Open for Tours august 25–29 Please call to arrange a time.

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August 2014

49

Local Authors Part Two...

L

ast month I wrote about several fantastic local authors. I thought I would continue on this theme and share a few more favourites. So pull up a lawn chair and soak up the last days of summer with these treasures…

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny Detectives Extraordinaire (Random House, 2012) by Polly Horvath is a delightful little treasure. Polly Horvath is a celebrated author and previous winner of the National Book Award, the Newbery Honor, the Mr. Christie Award, and the Young Adult Canadian Book of the Year, among others. And she lives in Metchosin!

When I read this book I thought I was reading it primarily for my six-year-old.

However, the language has a beautiful, classic feel that makes reading it a pleasure and appropriate for kids older than I would have initially thought. For all of you families heading up to Hornby Island this summer it is a perfect take-along as the main character is a smart resourceful young girl, Madeline, who lives with her “hippy” parents and is graduating from elementary school on Hornby Island. The local cultural references are good fun and the story is well told. When Madeline’s parents mysteriously go missing it is up to Madeline, with the help of some bunny friends, to find them. If talking animals isn’t normally your preferred pick, I still urge you to give this one a try.

FaceSpace (Orca Currents, 2013) is written by Adrian Chamberlain, a local journalist and author of this newly released Orca Currents by Orca Books. The story is about a 14-year-old boy, Danny, at Oak Bay High

School, who is struggling with his identity and need to fit in. He finds himself at home, cruising pages of “FaceSpace” looking at pictures of all the other kids having fun while he hangs out alone, or with his mom.

And then Danny hatches a plan. He creates a fictional person on “FaceSpace”; someone who is cool and from Britain and then he befriends him online. Soon more and more kids at school “friend” his fictional friend and Danny finds he is also given more attention. Danny does have a true friend, a guy he has been close to since he was eight, and in the end this friend shows the power kindness can have in someone’s life. The book does a great job of creating tension, giving readers a bit of a stomach ache as they wait for Danny to come crashing down in his deception. The story is also a useful tale to discuss the public/private issues around social media. The ending is a bit abrupt but the book is well worth reading for middle school kids.

Mike Deas, the author of Dalen and Gole (Orca Books, 2011), grew up on Saltspring Island and has illustrated many books but Galen and Dole is the first he both wrote and illustrated. Two curious little alien friends, Dalen and Gole, find themselves transported to Earth after investigating some suspicious activity. They land in the town of Port Angus, a suffering little fishing village, where fish have been disappearing. Dalen and Gole find themselves on a mission to discover what evil has been brewing and how they can stop it.

The story is a quick paced, well-illustrated read with fun characters and my boys have read it many, many times over.

Sheryl McFarlane has written many wonderful kids books, both YA and picture books. She also runs the Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable. Jessie’s Island (Orca Books, 1992) is now over 20 years old but reminds me of a love letter to coastal B.C.—a reminder of all of its treasures. She writes of, “ribbons of slippery kelp” and

Book Nook PaisleY aiken “harlequins so pretty, they look painted.”

In a day when kids seem to be forever glued to their portable screen devices, McFarlane’s book reminds us of the magic and fun that can happen around us when we remember to look for it.

It is likely that many of you have read Troy Wilson without knowing it as he has regularly written in Chirp and Chikadee magazines. Perfect Man (Orca Books, 2005), turns 10 this year, but the story is timeless. A young boy, Michael Maxwell McCallum, is obsessed by the superhero, Perfect Man, and comes to believe that his teacher, Mr. Clark, is actually Perfect Man. His teacher doesn’t say yes and he doesn’t say no to Michael’s endless questions, but Mr. Clark is, in fact, the true hero as he inspires and encourages Michael to follow his dreams and passion and to find his own super powers. Filled with bright superhero illustrations and a fabulous little moral.

If you have any favourite local authors feel free to email me at paisley@storystudio.ca Paisley Aiken reads extensively to her three energetic young boys. She is founder of The Story Studio Writing Society, a charity that grows kids’ relationship with literacy.

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A

t a baby shower I recently attended, we were all given a card and instructed to write down parenting advice for the mother-to-be. Our friend has come slightly later to the new parent game, as she struggled with infertility for many years, so most of the guests mingling in the sunny backyard were already mothers. The invitation to advise was jumped upon with gusto: the sheer quantity of parenting commentary that we have kept from our friend throughout the years could not be kept restrained for a minute longer. The tidbits that were drawn from the pink bag festooned with storks and pacifiers far exceeded any genius I could muster in my own brain. So here you are.

Enjoy. I wish I was making this up.

On sleeping arrangements: “If you bring the baby to bed with you, you can get lots more sleep!”

“Don’t do the family bed! You’ll never have a good night’s sleep. Babies feel safe in their cribs.”

On convenience: “If no one at this shower bought you one, go get a vibrating bouncy seat. It’s the only way to have a shower or cook dinner when the baby is little!”

“Get a sling for your baby. It’s so easy to carry them around while you cook dinner, and you don’t need to leave them feeling lonely in a bouncy seat!”

On sleeping: “Never wake a sleeping baby.”

“Just before you go to bed, wake them up for a nurse or a bottle. They’ll fill up and will sleep soooo much better!”

On the nursing mother’s diet: “Eat lots of yummy spicy foods. The flavours will go to your milk and you’ll have a gourmet eater on your hands.”

“Avoid spicy foods when you’re nursing or the baby will get fussy.”

Miscellaneous Part One: “Drink wine! The Santa Margherita Pinot www.kidsinvictoria.com

Grigio is a great deal.” (This much needed respite from the developing theme was provided by our child-free sommelier friend. I sensed the mother-to-be was wishing for an illicit glass at that very moment.)

On ambience: “Keep the baby in a quiet environment for the first three months. It eases their transition to our crazy world.”

“Bring your baby out to restaurants and parties. She’ll get used the noise and be able to sleep through anything!”

On crying babies: “Remember that when your baby cries she’s trying to tell you something. Always listen.”

Is There an App for This?

Carly SUTHERLAND “It won’t hurt your baby to cry it out every once and a while. Don’t feel guilty if you’re driven to it!”

Miscellaneous Part Two: “Get Josh to draw you lots of nice bubble baths with lavender!” (No one could really argue with that.)

On finances: “Set aside money for her RESP now.

You’ll never regret prioritizing your child’s education.”

“Set aside money for date nights. You’ll never regret prioritizing each other.”

And finally, on advice: “Your monkey, your circus! Follow your instinct and don’t second-guess yourself.

Mom always knows best!”

“Listen to the wisdom of your mothers and grandmothers. They’ve been down this road before and are there to guide and support you.”

“Don’t listen to anyone. Burn these cards after the shower!” (That final piece of advice won the writer a box of Ferrero Rochers and a gardening spade with a whimsical floral design.)

Welcome to new parenthood, friend.

Carly Sutherland’s best parenting advice is to learn how to tilt your head slightly, think about napping in a hammock strung between two palm trees, and allow the smile that gently spreads across your face to fool future advice-givers into thinking that you care. www.IslandParent.ca

August 2014 53

Family Services Directory This directory, sponsored by Thrifty Foods, features not for profit agencies and organizations serving children, youth and families.

1Up, Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre (www.1-up.ca) provides support, education and resources for parents in the Greater Victoria area through free counselling, volunteer training for reception and peer helper positions, a mentoring program for single moms, and a support group for dads. The Centre also offers over 20 integrated life skills and parenting courses which are open to the whole community (fees are on a sliding scale).

Child care assistance is available based on financial need. The Centre provides a bread pantry and free clothing for single parents. Donations of gently-used clothing, small household items, books, and toys are very welcome every Monday and Wednesday. Centre hours are 9–4 weekdays. 602 Gorge Rd. East; call 250-385-1114 or info@1-up.ca.

BC Families in Transition (formerly the Separation and Divorce Resource Centre) is one of three non-profit agencies in North America that offers professional counselling, legal support and education for people who are having problems in their relationships. Each year we help 10,000 adults, children and youth through family changes, separations and divorces, remarriages, and complex family situations. Whether you wish to separate or remain together, call us at 250-386-4331 or visit www. bcfit.org to see how we can help. Some evening and weekend appointments available.

Beacon Community Services is a communitybased non-profit agency providing social, employment, and health services to Saanich Peninsula, Greater Victoria, and Southern Gulf Islands residents.

Beacon offers: child, youth, and family services; a drop-in family resource centre; counselling; employment services for adults, youth, and people with disabilities; home support; volunteer services

TM

and opportunities; community events; affordable assisted living for seniors; referrals, information, and resources; thrift shops. For Home Support information call 250-658-6407; for all other inquiries call 250-656-0134, or visit www.beaconcs.ca.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria is a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring programs for children and youth between the ages of 7 - 17.

Adult volunteers (“Bigs”) are matched with children (“Littles”) based on shared interests, respect and trust. No special skills or experience are needed to be a mentor to a child, just a willingness to be a friend and commit to being a consistent, positive adult role model. Make a BIG difference in the life of a child in as little as 1 hr./week. Contact us at 250-475-1117 or visit www.bbbsvictoria.com or ‘LIKE’ our page at facebook.com/bbbsvictoria.

Boys & Girls Club Services offer after-school and evening social, educational and recreational programming for children and youth at 4 locations.

We also offer support to parents (Parents Together) and programs at our Outdoor Centre in Metchosin.

For more information on all programs and services visit www.bgcvic.org or call 250.384.9133.

The Canucks Autism Network (CAN) provides year-round, innovative, high quality sports, recreational, social and employment related programs for individuals and families living with autism, while building awareness and capacity through community networks across British Columbia. The Canucks Autism Network currently offers the following programs on Vancouver Island: Soccer (ages 5-15), Swim (ages 4-15), Family Events and Camps.

To learn how you can become a member, please visit canucksautism.ca/join or call (604) 685-4049.

Community Living Victoria supports people with developmental disabilities and their families by providing residential services, day and community supports (supported employment, parent support and independent living). Our Host agency provides direct supports for those with Individualized Funding and Home Share service. We also provide Autism Services for youth between 13 and 19. Our family support program offers advocacy, conflict resolution, education, newsletters, workshops, support groups and a resource library. Please call 250-477-7231 ext 233.

Esquimalt Neighbourhood House Society. Our Family Services offer family resource programs with a focus on early childhood development and learning, parenting education and pre and post-natal services. Our Counselling Services are free to adults and youth (12-18 years); adult and short term clinical counselling is offered for acute mental health problems. For more information call 250-385-2635 or visit 511 Constance Ave. in Esquimalt.

HeadWay Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Centre supports families living with seizures by providing tutoring and one-on-one professional consultations to help your child live up to their full potential. We offer a parent workshop three times a year as well as education presentations in schools and community groups. Keep up to date with the latest research about treatments, lifestyle, and safety issues for your child. We can be reached at www. headwayvictoria.com, or you can contact our Epilepsy Program Coordinator directly at 250-475-6677.

Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) is a service agency for immigrants and refugees. Programs offered include cross-cultural counseling, parenting programs (child care available), family violence programs, employment services, interpretation and translation, diversity workshops and training, ESL instruction, volunteering, youth programs and tutoring, as well as intercultural arts programming. 930 Balmoral Rd, 250-388-4728, info@icavictoria.org, www.icavictoria.org.

Send Us Your Stories!

Island Parent is looking for articles for upcoming issues. Some of our best content comes from people just like you—Vancouver Island parents who are passionate about their families and are dealing with the day to day issues of raising children in our community. Share your experiences, your thoughts on a particular issue, your ideas on places to see or projects to do—anything related to parenting.

Check our Writer’s Guidelines at www.islandparent.ca for specific information on submissions.

We’d love to hear from you. Please email submissions to editor@islandparent.ca.

54 Island Parent Magazine

www.kidsinvictoria.com

O’Brien School of Irish Dancing

Learning Disabilities Association of BC, SVI Chapter, educates, supports and advocates for children and youth with learning disabilities and related conditions.

Services include a public lending library, individual/ group support for parents and children, professional/ educational workshops for parents and professionals.

Child and youth programs include: reading/writing, academic skills, social/emotional skill development and Fast ForWord. 1652 Fort Street, Victoria, BC V8S 5J2. Ph 250.370.9513. Fax. 250.370.9421. www. ldasvi.bc.ca. www.knowyourrights.ca

• Traditional Irish dancing classes including ceile and step dancing

• Classes in Cadboro Bay, Esquimalt, Nanaimo and NOW IN DUNCAN! • Recreational, performance and competitive classes

Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) provides programs and services to the military family community including: 24-Hour Information Line; Deployment Information and Workshops; Short Term Counselling, Crisis Support or Intervention; Welcome/Relocation Services; Childcare and Family Support Services; Assistance for Families with Special Needs and Responsibilities. Exciting Volunteer opportunities available! Call the MFRC: 250-363-2640 (1-800-353-3329) for information or visit www.esquimaltmfrc.com.

Parent Support Services Society (www. parentsupportbc.ca) provides support circles, parenting resources and referrals to all in a parenting role including grandparents raising grandchildren.

Our training in peer group facilitation is open to the community. Support circles are free with child minding and transportation assistance available.

Volunteers are always needed. Call 250-384-8042; email parent-support@shaw.ca.

Sooke Family Resource Society (SFRS) provides Family Resource Programs including: Prenatal Education and Outreach, Parent-Tot Drop-In Groups, Parent Discussion Groups, Family Support Groups and Outreach, a Toy and Book Lending Library and Kingfisher Preschool. Sooke/Westshore Child Care Resource and Referral services are also provided by SFRS. Services are provided from the Child, Youth, and Family Centres in both Sooke and the Westshore.

Call 250-642-5152 for more information or visit our website at www.sfrs.ca.

South Island Centre for Counselling & Training is an affordable, non-profit, counselling and training agency serving individuals and families from all social, ethnic, and financial backgrounds. We help people with a wide range of issues including low self-esteem, depression, grief, marital and family conflict, abuse and spiritual direction. We also offer helpful “life” courses. For more information contact us at 250-472-2851; info@southislandcentre.ca or visit www.southislandcentre.ca.

www.IslandParent.ca

www.obrienirishdance.com 604-340-2370

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gardens at HCP

Horticulture Centre of the Pacific

nature adventures happen hcp.ca August 2014 55

WENDY STEEN MITCHELL DANCE ‘One Step at a Time’ 40 Years in Victoria CLASSES START SEPT 8th 2033 BELMONT AVE (corner of Pembroke & Belmont) (ample free parking) Ballet Modern Tap, Lyrical Jazz Hip-Hop for students ages 3-18+ Option of RAD/ISTD Exams; Festivals Annual show: May 14th UVIC NEW FALL CLASSES FOR: Pre-schoolers - Thursdays (am) Tap & Ballet (ages 3-5) Hip Hop ( ages 4-6) and for ages 6+: Jazz (3.30pm) Details: www.tiptoesdance.ca Or phone 250-598-7679

VICTORIA MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL & CHILDCARE “Building a foundation for the rest of their lives”

The Best of Montessori and “Learning through Play” Combined

• beautiful, bright classroom • open between 8am–5pm • open year round • licensed for children 21/2–5

750 Front Street 250 380 0534 56 Island Parent Magazine

Babies & Sun Safety

I

t is a hot summer day and you have been invited to join some other parents at the beach. You wonder if you can take your young baby out in the sun and heat.

Babies can quickly suffer the short- and long-term damage of sunburn and heat stroke so keeping your baby safe in the sun is crucial. Statistics show that just getting one sunburn during childhood raises the risk of melanoma—the most deadly type of skin cancer—later in life. But does this mean you have to stay indoors all summer long?

Babies six months and younger

rays are more likely to cause sunburn and wrinkling, while UVA rays cause damage deeper in the skin. It is a good idea to test your baby’s sensitivity to sunscreen by first trying a small amount on the inner wrist.

Babies’ skin is thinner compared to adults, and infants have a higher surface-area to body-weight ratio compared to older children and adults. Both of these factors mean that an infant’s exposure to the chemicals in sunscreens may be much greater, increasing the risk of side effects from the sunscreen.

Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before

The best approach is to keep young babies out of the sun and to avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when ultraviolet (UV) rays are most intense. If you do venture out, keep in mind that the sun’s rays bounce off surfaces like water, cement, and sand. Keep your baby in the shade of a tree, umbrella, or stroller and dress them in long sleeves and a hat. Light coloured clothing reflects the heat and keeps skin cooler than dark colors, which absorb heat. Fabrics with a tight weave protect skin better than loosely woven fabrics. Hold the fabric up to the light. The less light you see shining through, the tighter the weave. Sunscreen for use on babies younger than six months is not recommended, but if you find yourself out without the proper protection, it is better to use a small amount of sunscreen on your baby’s face and hands rather than burn under the sun. Limit the time you are outside and keep in mind that sunscreen should be used to limit the damaging rays, not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

Make sure everyone in your family knows how to protect his or her skin and eyes. Remember to set a good example by practicing sun safety yourself.

Sun protection for babies six months and older

Your baby can also get burned at other times of day and on cloudy or cool days.

Why? Up to 80 per cent of the sun’s UV rays can get through the clouds. It is not the heat of the sun that burns the skin but the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays can damage the skin at all times of day, all year round, even in the middle of winter.

And a baby’s thinner, more delicate skin is especially vulnerable. You cannot feel these when they hit your skin, but you will see the effects later (It can take several hours for the redness and pain of a mild first-degree burn to appear).

For babies six months and older, choose a physical sunscreen—one made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Unlike chemical sunscreens that the skin absorbs, which may cause irritation or allergic reactions, these ingredients merely sit on top of the skin, forming a barrier against the sun’s rays.

Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Look for the words “broad spectrum” on the label.

“Broad spectrum” means the product protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB

heading outdoors, and reapply it every two hours. Make sure you cover all exposed areas of your baby’s skin, including the tips of the ears, the back of the neck, and the tops of the feet. If you bring your baby into the water, reapply sunscreen as soon as you towel him off—even if it’s been less than two hours since you applied it. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be used for sun protection, not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

Sunburn

www.kidsinvictoria.com

Other tips: • Replace your sunscreen periodically.

The active ingredients lose effectiveness after a while.

• Offer your baby plenty of liquids

New Parent Pages Diana Hurschler, BScN (breastmilk provides plenty of hydration; there is no need to offer water before baby is six months old). If you are breastfeeding, make sure to increase your water intake, too.

• Check with your baby’s other caregivers to be certain that they understand the importance of protecting your baby from the sun.

• Tote sunscreen in your diaper bag, an extra light coloured outfit along with a hat with a strap and little sunglasses, if your baby is willing to wear them.

• Make sure everyone in your family knows how to protect his or her skin and eyes. Remember to set a good example by practicing sun safety yourself.

If you are longing to spend some time outdoors this summer, plan out how to give your baby maximum sun and heat stroke prevention. Use the sunshade on your baby’s stroller whenever you are outside.

Consider buying an inexpensive cover that has built-in UV protection and fits over your stroller to shelter your baby’s whole body. Whether your baby is bald or has a full head of hair, a hat is a must. Choose a hat with a brim that is wide enough to shade the face—baseball caps are cute, but they do not protect the ears or neck at all.

When you are on the beach or in the garden, a pop-up beach cabana shelter can be really useful. Cabanas are little tents for your baby, which fold away for easy carrying. Pop a couple of toys inside, and they are ideal places for your baby to rest, play, and eat a sand-free lunch. Sit back and enjoy your time outdoors, knowing that you are doing everything you can do to be sun safe.

Diana Hurschler, RN BscN, childbirth educator, certified breastfeeding counselor has been helping families in their childbearing years and beyond since 1998. Diana is the proud Mama of four little ones. She can be reached at diana@hurschler.com. www.IslandParent.ca

ALL AGES TOGETHER

IN

SONG

Y OU AND Y OUR F AMILY ARE I NVITED !

SING WITH US… FOR THE JOY OF SINGING !

R EHEARSALS : Tuesdays and Saturdays Begin Sept 9/14 and Sept 13/14 Choose one or both Victoria’s Non-Audition Community Choir for all ages

YOU’LL HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE !

Directed and Inspired by Louise Rose www.victoriagoodnewschoir.com info@victoriagoodnewschoir.com 250-658-1946

Art Classes COMPLETE A PORTFOLIO COURSE DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR YOU FOR ENTRANCE INTO A VARIETY OF COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY DEGREE AND DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

Interior Design Automobile Design Architecture • Art THerapy Bachelor Fine Arts Fashion & More

Artistic Statement Gallery & School of Fine Art Call Joan at 250-383-0566 www.artisticstatementgalleryandschool.com

Spaces Available Childcare Ages 1–5

Island Kids Academy Equimalt 250-381-2929 ext 21 or 25

Island Kids Academy View Royal 250-727-2929

www.islandkids.ca islandkidsesquimalt@shawbiz.ca

Where Children Are Honoured for Who They Are August 2014 57

Preschool & Child Care Directory CENTRAL SAANICH Almosthome Childcare/Preschool......... 250-590-7666 Quality childcare with a preschool curriculum/kindergarten readiness program. Experienced Early Childhood Educators. Nurturing environment for ages 21⁄2 to 5 years old. www.almosthomecare.com.

Chrysalis Child Care................................ 250-652-0815 A nurturing and stimulating environment for a small group of 3–5 year olds. Qualified ECE promotes learning through play. www.chrysalischildcare.ca.

Colwood/LANGFORD Almosthome Childcare/Preschool......... 250-590-7666 Quality childcare with a preschool curriculum/kindergarten readiness program. Experienced Early Childhood Educators. Nurturing environment for ages 10 months to 5 years old. www.almosthomecare.com.

Caring Touch Daycare............................. 250-478-4886 A warm, loving, fun family daycare in a safe, nurturing environment. Infant/toddler care for ages 1–5 years.

Goldstream Co-op Preschool........................................

Learning Through Play for 3 and 4yr olds! For registration information go to our website: www.goldstream preschool.com.

Jenn’s Little Bears................................... 250-478-8999 A safe nurturing environment for children from infancy to kindergarten. Our Infant and Toddler Program enriches each child’s development while our 3-5 Program prepares children for kindergarten. Two separate buildings allow each age group space to grow!

Leap Forward Childcare......................... 250-818-9225 2758 Peatt RD. Licenced group childcare for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Offering fulltime and part-time care. Open 6:30am-5:30pm. For more information please contact Amber: info@leap forwardlangford.com, www.leapforwardlangford.com.

Miles of Smiles Nature Junior Kindergarten.................... 778-265-4374 Come see why learning in nature rocks! Reggio Influenced Philosophy for ages 3-5. Have your child become a nature detective today! www.naturejuniorkindergarten.com

CORDOVA BAY Carrot Seed Preschool............................ 250-652-2311 Where children can discover, imagine, construct and learn through play. Wondrous natural playground. www.carrotseedpreschool.com.

ESQUIMALT CIARA Early Childhood Centre............... 250-386-7369 Education and fun hand in hand. Exceptional care for little ones ages 12 month-5yrs in an inclusive centre with Christian values. Facebook.com/CIARAEarly ChildhoodCentre.

Island Kids Academy Esquimalt............. 250-381-2929 High quality child care (ages 1-5). Preschool curriculum offered within a warm, caring all-day program. Character development using the Virtues Project. Access to community programs including swimming, skating, Victoria Conservatory of Music. Part-time spaces available. www. islandkids.ca.

La Pre-Maternelle Appletree Preschool................................ 250-479-0292 French immersion program. 30 months to school age.

Licensed Christian centre. www.prematernelleappletree.com.

Simply Fun Childcare Centre.................. 250-881-3958 A warm, loving, fun and nurturing place for children to grow and learn. We have spaces available for registration ages 2.5 to 12 in our Licensed Group Facility. We offer extraordinary childcare, before and after school programs and a preschool. Our teachers are extremely qualified with ECE training and have lots of experience. Call Brenda to set up a tour. Let your child’s light shine bright with us!

Highlands Lexie’s Little Bears Child Care Inc......... 250-590-3603 Welcome to Forest Daycare! Our OUTDOOR nature program provides your child with an experience like no other...in the elements! Our Nature-lovers program boasts our own 2 acre forest, outdoor gardens and handmade playgrounds; strongly influenced by Reggio Emilia! New Infant/Toddler centre this spring! Wait list being taken NOW! www.lexieslittlebears.com. Visit our facebook page for ongoing photos and news!

METCHOSIN A Growing Place...................................... 250-391-1133 Half day program (AM or PM) for 2.5-5 yrs. ECE educator, small class size. Our own petting farm. Summer program for July.

Metchosin Co-op Preschool................... 250-478-9241 Come visit our stunning natural outdoor playspace, and see how our inclusive, play-based program allows parents to grow and learn alongside their children. Exceptional ECE staff provide a warm and enriching experience for 2.5–5 yr. olds. Come Grow With Us! EST. 1960. Reg. begins March 1 @ 9am. metchosinpreschool@gmail.com.

West-Mont Montessori School............... 250-474-2626 Preschool Montessori instruction in a beautiful natural environment in Metchosin. Ages 30 months and up.

Providing a balanced approach to incorporating Nature, French, Music, and Art. Stop by and feel what it is like to be part of a community devoted to the development of the whole child. Open House: Thursdays 9-11 am. www. west-mont.ca.

North SAANICH In The Garden Childcare Centre............. 250-654-0306 A GREAT PLACE TO GROW. Offering preschool, full day care, before and after school care for children aged 2.5 to 12 years old. Open all year.

OAK BAY Creative Child.......................................... 778-679-0076 At Creative Child, you will find a place of quality learning and care for a small group of young children in a beautiful Montessori-inspired setting. www. creativechildcentre.com Emmanuel Preschool.............................. 250-598-0573 Children learn through play in our non-denominational Christian preschool near UVic. Bright attractive setting. www.emmanuelpreschool.ca.

Gonzales Co-op Preschool..................... 250-727-1003 Children use imaginations in a Learning through Play classroom and natural playground. Reggio-Emilia inspired, focus is on art, nature and music. Nurturing, highly qualified ECE and ECE assistant. Parent participation options. Allergy aware. gonzalescooppreschool.com.

Kindred Spirits Children’s House.............. 250-590-6966 Now accepting registration for a small group of 2.5–5 year olds in a purpose built Montessori classroom. The prepared environment stimulates and engages the children at their own pace with hands on, size, age and developmentally appropriate materials. www.kindredspiritschildrenshouse.com Oak Bay Co-op Preschool........................ 250-592-1922 Children Learn Through Play in this parent participation school. Our bright facility is allergy-free with a large outdoor playground. www.oakbaypreschool.com.

Recreation Oak Bay................................ 250-370-7200 Fully licensed, qualified ECE Daycare and Preschool with play based learning. After school care also available.

St. Christopher’s Montessori School.................................. 250-595-3213 A beautiful, warm environment, steps from beach and park in Oak Bay. We offer an enriched Montessori program – half days for 3 and 4 year olds and half or full day Kindergarten. www.stcmsoakbaybc.com.

SAANICH Arbutus Grove Children’s Centre........... 250-477-3731 Formerly known as Goosey Gander Kindergarten. Half Day and Full Day Preschool Programs. Children’s learning is supported and nurtured through inquiry, exploration, play and creative expression. www.arbutusgrove.ca Cloverdale Child Care.................................250-995-1766 Full time daycare spaces available for 3-5 year olds starting Sept. 2014. Preschool spaces available Sept. 2014 for 3-year-olds Tuesday & Thursday 9am-noon. www.cloverdalechildcare.com. cloverdalechildcare@shawbiz.ca.

Full o’ Beans Preschool............................... 250.360.1148 Opening September 2013. We offer ‘learn through play’ programming designed to foster your child’s natural curiosity and imagination. Flexible scheduling, 2.5 and 4 hour programs, qualified staff. Registration is ongoing!www. saanichneighbourhoodplace.com.

Island Montessori House........................ 250-592-4411 Inclusive, integrated and nurturing preschool, kindergarten, Grade 1/2 program. Located in a lovely rural setting.

Extended day available. www.islandmontessori.com.

Lakehill Co-op Preschool....................... 250-477-4141 Where children’s development is nurtured through a child centered inclusive, play based program.

Come visit our out natural outdoor playground and meet our loving qualified ECE team. Multiple Levels of participation available, please enquire. www.lakehillpreschool.org.

Lambrick Park Preschool & Childcare.................................................. 250-477-8131 Gordon Head’s only parent-participation preschool and childcare centre. Flexible options, play-based learning and outdoor play. Allergy friendly. Celebrating 40+ years. www.lambrickparkpreschool.ca.

Looking for child care? Taking care of children?

Call your local Child Care Resource & Referral for free referrals and resources.

Child Care

Resource & Referral Your community’s best source of child care information and resources.

58 Island Parent Magazine

Victoria & Gulf Islands: 250-382-7000 or 1-800-750-1868 Sooke: 250-642-5152 Westshore: 250-391-4324 Cowichan Valley: 250-746-4135 local 231 PacificCare (Ladysmith north): 250-756-2022 or 1-888-480-2273 Funded by the Province of BC

www.islandfamilyinfo.ca www.ccrr.bc.ca www.kidsinvictoria.com

Preschool & Child Care Directory Little Readers Academy.......................... 250-477-5550 An enriched learn-to-read program for your 3-6 year-old!

Reading, Writing and Math. Half-day, weekend and evening sessions available. www.oxfordlearning.com.

Montessori Educare................................ 250-881-8666 Beautiful learning environments in Broadmead and Saanichton. 30 months – 5 years. Summer program available.

Special needs are welcome. www.montessorieducare.com.

Oakcrest Preschool................................. 250-472-0668 A welcoming, nurturing environment with a large, bright facility. Learn through play with 2 caring ECEs. www.oakcrestpreschool.org.

Puddles & Paints (Nature Daycare)........ 250-658-6573 Introduce your children to the natural world around them!

Surrounding them with nature and animals, we build on their curiosity while exploring the outdoors! On 10 acres of parkland the children lead the way towards environmental awareness! With a new ART STUDIO, and weekly lessons from the Vic. Academy of Music... your child’s day will be FULL of wonder and NATURE. Strongly influenced by Reggio. Visit our facebook page for pics of our studio, and handmade toys!

Rainbows & Dreams Preschool.............. 250-479-1966 Small classes for 3-5 yr olds in a safe nurturing environment. Children learn through play and fun–developing a sense of confidence, independence and creativity. Highly qualified ECE teacher.

Ready Set Grow Preschool..................... 250-472-1530 Caring, quality licensed Learning Through Play environment. In Hillcrest School, Gordon Head. Highly qualified, warm ECE. heosc@pacificcoast.net.

Rogers Child Care Centre....................... 250-744-2343 Trusted High Quality Programs since 1991. Early Learning and Out of School Care. www.rogerschildcare.com.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Preschool.................................... 250-479-1232 ext 120 • A Christian child centre for 3–5 year olds.

• A warm nurturing and challenging program • Offered by St. Joseph’s Catholic School.

St. Margaret’s School Early Learning Centre............................. 250-479-7171 Junior Kindergarten for girls age 3 and 4. Nurturing, playbased curriculum with art, STEM and outdoor exploration.

Specialist teachers.­New LEED-certified facilities on 22acre parkland near Quadra and McKenzie. Half or full day options. www.stmarg.ca.

Strawberry Vale Preschool..................... 250-479-4213 Programs for 3 or 4 year olds at “The Little Red Schoolhouse.”

Choose between full or partial parent participation. www. strawberryvalepreschool.org.

Victoria Nature School............................ 250-588-3303 A nonprofit community based organization. Their licensed preschool, running out of the forest and beach at Mt Douglas Park, offers full-day and half-day programs for 3-5 year olds with Monday-Friday options. The VNS forest school philosophy focuses on fun, child-led, inquiry-based education.

Visit www.victorianatureschool.com for more information.

Contact: Bonnie Davison.

Wiseways Preschool & Daycare............. 250-477-1312 Fully licensed Christian preschool for 3 and 4 year olds.

Designed to meet the needs of the whole child. Subsidized fees welcome. www.wiseways.lambrick.com.

SIDNEY Adel’s Play N Discovery House.............. 250-655-4888 Licensed childcare, 3-5 years, Reggio Emilia inspired.

Mon–Fri, 7:30am–5:30pm. 2146 Beacon Avenue W. adelplayndiscovery.com, adelina.gotera@gmail.com.

Positive Path Early Learning.................. 250-655-7244 Year-round quality child care where preschoolers explore and learn in a culture of Christian values and virtues. positivepath@shaw.ca.

VICTORIA ArtsCalibre Academy.............................. 250-382-3533 Comprehensive programs for Preschool through Grade 5, delivering academic excellence through music, dance,

www.IslandParent.ca

drama and visual arts. Outstanding educators, locations and facilities. www.ArtsCalibre.ca Babies to Big Kids Childcare......................250-590-2722 949 Fullerton Ave. Licenced group childcare for children ages 6 months to 11 years old. Offering full-time and part-time care. Open 6:30am-5:30pm. info@babies tobigkids.com, www.babiestobigkids.com.

Castleview Child Care............................. 250-595-5355 Learning Through Play & Discovery. Licensed non-profit, qual. ECE staff. Since 1958. Preschool and full-time care. www.castleviewchildcarecentre.com.

Little Wonders Preschool (View Royal OSC)..................................... 250-744-2718 A creative and supportive program that will prepare your child for a lifetime of learning! Out of School Care is also available for school aged children. www.viewroyalosc.com.

Quails’ Nest Daycare............................... 250-721-2342 At-home licensed daycare near VGH; multi-aged; all families welcome. Play-based environment promoting social, emotional, physical growth. Art, songs, story-telling, puppet shows, daily walks. $800.00 quailsnestdaycare. weebly.com.

Cedar Daycare......................................... 250-479-2032 Community oriented, NFP Child Care facility. Wide variety of activities offered including the use of a private outdoor pool during the summer months. Licensed ECE educators devoted to nurturing children aged 30 months – 5 years. www.cedardaycare.com.

View Royal Preschool.............................. 250-479-8067 An exciting inclusive program in an exceptional care environment. Licensed 3–5 year olds. Outside play and themes enrich this program. viewroyalpreschool@live.com.

Christ Church Cathedral Childcare and Junior Kindergarten......................... 250-383-5132 ECE and specialist teachers provide an outstanding all day licensed program for 3–5 year olds in our spacious and welcoming facility in James Bay. www.cathedralschool.ca.

Starchild Centre........................................ 250-929-3240 Unique infant/toddler daycare, combines the best of Montessori and Waldorf. Our 9 acre hobby farm enables each child to have a garden plot, participate in planting trees, picking fruit, feeding animals, and other outside adventures. www.starchildcentre.ca.

Downtown Y Child Care Centre............. 250-413-8869 Enriched program, for children ages 3-5 years, supporting healthy child development and future school success. www.victoriay.com.

DUNCAN

Lansdowne Co-op Preschool................. 250-370-5392 An extraordinary learning environment for families with young children. Parent participation. wwwlansdownepreschool.com.

Moss Rock Preschool............................. 250-382-2065 Join our ECEs in our play based licensed preschool which builds on the intellectual, social and emotional growth of the children through a pedagogy of listening and relationships. www.fairfieldcommunity.ca Nightingale Preschool and Junior Kindergarten......................... 250-595-7544 – Taking children’s learning forward – One of Victoria’s leading preschools and Junior Kindergartens. Balanced approach to play and education.

Programme supports literacy, numeracy. Visit www. nightingalepreschool.com. Fernwood.

Parkdale Early Childhood Centre........... 250-382-0512 ECEs offer the highest quality care and positive learning experiences in our daycare and preschool.

Full time or part time. Call for a tour or visit us at www.parkdalechildcare.ca.

Rainbow Express Daycare...................... 250-382-2314 Enriched preschool style program in a daycare setting.

Visit our website at www.rainbowexpressdaycare.com.

The Sir James Douglas Playschool....... 250-389-0500 Fun, creative and educational ECE program for 3-5 year olds to grow and develop life long skills. Come play and learn in our bright and modern centre in Fairfield.

Victoria Montessori................................. 250-380-0534 Unique, innovative learning environment combining the best of Montessori and Learning Through Play. Open yr. round. 30mths–grade 1. www.victoriamontessori.com.

Mill Bay / Cobble Hill

Maple Tree Play House Licensed Family Childcare..................... 250-746-5060 A daycare program that provides enriched outdoor play time and activities that build on a child’s intrinsic love of nature. Healthy meals and snacks are provided. mapletreekids@telus.net.

Queen Margaret’s Preschool/Junior Kindergarten................ 250-746-4185 Offering a co-ed enriched curriculum in a friendly atmosphere. Morning ECE/afternoon daycare. www.qms.bc.ca.

Queen of Angels Early Learning Centre............................... 250-701-0433 We believe that the development of the whole child (physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually) encourages each individual to develop to their full potential.

We offer an enriched full day program for 3–5 year olds based on Kindergarten readiness.

Sunrise Waldorf School Preschool........... 250-743-7253 A warm, nature-based rhythm where wonder is nurtured. www.sunrisewaldorfschool.org.

Chemainus Cherry Tree Child Care Centre............... 250-246-9195 Preschool program nurturing creative play and engaging learning activity. 30 months to age five. Qualified and experienced Early Childhood Educator.

St. Joseph’s Preschool........................... 250-246-3191 An enriching preschool program allowing children to grow as individuals in a safe and nurturing Christian environment.

Qualicum Beach

VIEW ROYAL

Children’s Discovery Centre................... 250-752-4343 Our program recognizes the uniqueness of each child and provides a nurturing, safe and creative learning environment. Preschool, Groupcare, Out of School care. ECE qualified staff. childrensdiscoverycentre@hotmail.com.

A Secret Garden Preschool.................... 250-380-8293 Program built on Christian values. Monthly themes, weekly topics and daily activities. asecretgardenpreschool@ shaw.ca.

Little Star Children’s Centre................... 250-752-4554 Earth friendly preschool education inspired by nature.

Kinder-Prep classes. Licensed group care. ECE instructors. www.littlestardaycare.ca. littlestar@shaw.ca.

Island Kids Academy View Royal........... 250-727-2929 High quality child care (ages 1-5). Preschool curriculum offered within a warm, caring child care environment.

Character development using the Virtues Project. Access to community programs including swimming, skating, Victoria Conservatory of Music. Part-time spaces available. www.islandkids.ca.

Thimbleberry Childcare........................... 250-752-8342 A place for preschoolers to seek out adventure and exploration in a natural environment. A magical forest of 20 acres right on our door step.

Thimbleberrychildcare@gmail.com

Little Friends Childcare Center.............. 250-479-8423 For a creative learning environment. Licensed group facility. Infants/Toddlers/Preschool. www.littlefriends childcare.ca.

John Paul II Catholic School.................. 250-723-0637 “Where children grow and learn through play.” We provide a program that will inspire development physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, creatively and spiritually.

Port Alberni

August 2014 59

Island Business & Professional Directory

Move to the head of the class.

One Tutor

W

One Student Your Home

Mortgage Team

Smart Tutor Referrals.com Professional In-Home Tutorial Support

Call 250-544-1588 to learn more.

Krista Lawless & Sherri Brown 250-656-0855 info@lawlessbrown.com www.lawlessbrown.com

Art Classes Kids Horse Riding Camp Salt Spring Island

Summer 2014:

July 7–11 • July 21–25 August 4–8 • August 18–22

Mon to Fri, 9am to 12:30pm • Cost: $225 For children age 7 to 14 who would like to learn to ride a horse. Or for children who have ridden before and would like to learn more. Learn or improve how to groom, tack up, work safely around a horse and basic English riding. Limit eight children per camp. Stable management topics will include learning about grooming tools, saddlery, feeding, breeds, colours and parts of the horses and equine first aid. Last day is a games day on horseback.

Contact Geri Alton at 250 653 9648

bramblewoodfarm@shaw.ca www.bramblewoodfarm.ca

Ad Directory Abra Kid Abra............................2 All Fun.....................................34 Alliance Francaise....................39 Almosthome Childcare.............43 Arabesque Dance....................13 Arbutus Grove..........................31 Artistic Statement....................57 Arts Calibre............................IBC BC Recreation & Parks.............11 BC Transit................................45 Bellies in Bloom.......................36 Cathedral School......................20 Centrepointe Ballet...................45 Chemainus Theatre..................43 Cloverdale OSC........................41 Conseil Scolaire.......................53 Cordova Bay Preschool.............61 Dance Unlimited......................61 Discovery School.....................46 Dwight School.........................48 Dyslexia Victoria.......................43 Eaton Arrowsmith.....................17 Emmanuel Preschool...............23 Evergreen School.....................48 Full ‘o Beans............................24

Glenlyon Norfolk......................63 Horticultural Centre of the Pacific..........................55 Huckleberry Baby Shop............49 Hulitan Family & Community Services.............................64 International Nannies...............55 Intrepid Theatre.......................37 Island Farms............................32 Island Kids Academy................57 Island Montessori.....................47 Island Oak...............................48 KinderSpiel..............................13 Lansdowne Preschool..............57 Larsen Music.............................7 Leap Forward Childcare..............7 Lifestyle Markets......................40 Lighthouse Academy of Dance.............................37 Lizzy Lee & Me Mad Science...........................24 Mary Rogers Studio....................2 Maxine Fisher............................6 Monarch House.......................44 Morning Glory..........................49

60 Island Parent Magazine

Vacation Time

• Drawing • Painting • Sculpture • Cartooning • Portfolio Preparation for College or University

Now Registering for Fall Ages 5 & Up Day & Evening Classes Emphasis on Technique – Fabulous Results

Artistic Statement Gallery & School of Fine Art Call Joan at 250-383-0566

www.artisticstatementgalleryandschool.com Mothering Touch........................5 Music for Young Children.........IFC National Acrobats of China........52 North Island Distance Education...........................49 O’Brien Dance.........................20 Oak & Orca....................6, 28, 40 OCEAN 98.5............................51 Oxford Learning......................63 Pacific Christian......................IBC Pacific Coast Swimming...........62 Pacific Dance..........................11 Pacific School of Innovation......20 Queen Margaret’s....................49 READ Society.............................1 Recreation Oak Bay..................31 Royal BC Museum...................36 Saanich Dental........................12 Saanich Fair............................18 Saanich Recreation.................IFC Scallywags.............................IFC School District #61..................44 Self Design..............................34 Serious Coffee.........................39 Smart Tutor Referrals...............23 St. Joseph’s.............................23 St. Joseph’s Chemainus...........48 St. Margaret’s..........................34 St. Michaels University School...19

Stages................................9, 41 Strawberry Vale Preschool..........9 Sunrise Waldorf......................IBC Sylvan Learning.......................34 The Children’s Treehouse.........52 Thrifty Foods............................33 TJ’s The Kiddies Store..............43 Tom Lee Music........................35 Toopy & Binoo..........................47 Tourism Richmond...................29 Vancouver Island Baby Fair.......30 Vancouver Island Cooperative Preschool Association............8 Veselka Dance.........................14 Victoria Conservatory of Music....4 Victoria Good News Choir.........57 Victoria Kids Consignment........38 Victoria Montessori..................56 Victoria Nature School..............20 Victoria Pediatric Dental...........44 Victoria School for Ideal Education...........................31 VIHA........................................42 Vitamin Shop.............................3 Vivace Violins...........................29 Wendy Steen Mitchell Dance....56 West-Mont School...................61 Westshore Ctr for Learning.......12 Westshore Parks..................... BC

hen I was working, and completing my MFA, and busy in the pre-parenthood sense of the word, I remember whining with a friend about “The Moms.” The Moms were a group of women in our writing program who hijacked discussions on the online forum, spinning them to revolve around their offspring. Any topic was fair game, but the most popular were ones that focussed on finding time to write (a common theme as most of us were years past our previous degrees and without the luxury of full-time student-hood). Time for writing, according to The Moms, was in way shorter supply for them than for us non-breeders. If we were tired, they were exhausted. If we were struggling, they were besieged. The Moms, to be clear, were not all the students who happened to be mothers, just a small but vocal group of them.

The Moms infuriated me. I took offense to the implication that holding down a full-time job, while being a full-time Masters student, was a cakewalk compared to their lives. And also, could they not shift their focus for five minutes? Could they not discuss contemporary Canadian short fiction without being reminded of an anecdote about their five-year-old? Could they not manage to have children without being consumed by them?

I would never join the ranks of The Moms, I was certain. When I had a child, that child would be one aspect of my life.

An important aspect, but definitely not the only one that mattered. And I would always maintain my ability to hold a conversation without dragging him or her into it.

Then Angus came along. Sure, he’s only one aspect of my life, but the rest of the aspects fill pint glasses while Angus takes up a swimming pool. Angus consumes my mind and spills into my conversations. How could this not be the case? Aside from two afternoons a week when Angus has Granny time, and occasional men-only hiking excursions, I have spent every moment of the last three years with my son.

Initially, I couldn’t imagine it any other way. Yes, I was envious of the moms who took breaks—not just for an hour to jog around the neighbourhood, but for an www.kidsinvictoria.com

evening out, for a night away—but Angus wasn’t ready, and I wasn’t really either. It was limiting, but acceptable to me, that Angus wouldn’t sleep at night without being nursed until he was two-and-a-half.

But the first time Granny put him to bed, and Mike and I had a leisurely dinner eaten at the time when normal people eat, I had

Maternity & Beyond Laura TRUNKEY a taste of what I had been missing. I was ready for more.

Though we had weaned him from night feeds, Angus still nursed in the morning. It was a key part of his gymnastics routine, but I decided to put a stop to it. There are few things I feel in control of these days, but my milk supply is one of them. And so we set a deadline: when Angus turned three and became—as he refers to it—a biggie boy, there would be no more liquid appetizer before breakfast.

A couple weeks later, once the tears had dried, I had my first weekend away. No tropical beach, no sleep-ins. I was a 15-minute drive from home, the senior counsellor of a UVic dorm for Operation Trackshoes. I got less sleep than I get at home (though, now that I’m a mom, five hours a night doesn’t feel debilitating, it feels familiar). And I was busy, so had very little time to worry things were going terribly. It was hard to say goodnight over the phone, harder still to hear Angus’s explanation for his threeam wakeup (he was “so, so sad”), but we all survived the experience.

Among the many things I have gained from parenthood is empathy for The Moms.

Of course they seemed to be consumed by their children—they were consumed. All parents are, to an extent. Those who don’t act like it are likely appreciating the opportunity to be something other than somebody’s mother, even for a couple minutes of conversation. They are enjoying a shift in focus, time off without having to invest in the hotel room and the babysitter. Even the most devoted workers need vacation time.

Laura Trunkey is mother to the amazing Angus and the author of a forthcoming short fiction collection from House of Anansi. Email laurajtrunkey@gmail.com. www.IslandParent.ca

©Fresh Air Photography by Janis Morrison

Witty’s Lagoon: Just One of West-Mont’s Classrooms Not many schools are fortunate to have a backyard like West-Mont Montessori School. We offer innovative, personalised, fully Montessori instruction in a beautiful natural environment for students in Preschool to Grade 8. Visit our website for details about our programs, or stop by our campus and feel what it’s like to be part of a community devoted to the development of the whole child.

4075 Metchosin Rd - Victoria t: 250.474.2626 e: info@west-mont.ca web: west-mont.ca

What Moves You? Inspiring dancers since 1993

250-361-3267 info@danceunlimited.ca

Why choose Cordova Bay Preschool?

• A warm, inviting Co-op Preschool with an ECE, ECE assistant, and a parent helper in every class • Class hours are Tues/Thurs (9:15–12:15) for 3 year olds; Mon/Wed/Fri (9:15–1:15) for 4 year olds • Extended hours assist with transition to full day kindergarten • Free parent education speakers or workshops every month • Non-duty option • Limited space still available in both the 3s and 4s classes

5182 Cordova Bay Road

(behind St. David’s by the Sea Anglican Church)

250-658-3441 www.cordovabaypreschool.org A member of the Vancouver Island Cooperative Preschool Association (VICPA)

August 2014 61

Outdoor Family Fun Cut up strips of coloured paper. Find similar colours in nature.

Watch herons at Albert Head Regional Park.

Stop quietly along a forest trail. Cup your hands behind your ears and listen like a deer.

Go on a night hike in the summer woods.

Take a family camping trip at Jordan River Regional Park campground.

Photo: Terrie Skinner

W

hen I was a child, summer days went on forever. My days were spent finding insects and running in the forest.

These were deep sensory memories, not of grand road trips or big adventures, but of the dragonflies by my house, the crickets in the back field. They are memories of the small things, because really, it is the small things that count.

Educator Charles Swindoff once wrote, “Every day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” Let your summer be filled with natural joy with these adventures to share with your loved ones, created by the interpretive team at CRD Regional Parks. And who knows, perhaps when your little ones are big ones, with children of their own, they will look back at these summer memories with a smile.

Walk barefoot in the grass.

Catch and release a dragonfly.

Look for signs of insects.

Put paper over a leaf and rub a crayon over the paper. You have made a leaf rubbing!

Visit a new park.

Go on a smell safari. Smell fir needles, forest flowers, and mossy bark.

Try out the fishing dock at Durrance Lake.

Watch the clouds.

Spot western painted turtles at Matheson Lake Regional Park.

Make a mud pie.

Sign out a free nature backpack at a CRD Regional Parks Nature Centre.

Find feathers and fly through the forest with them.

Feel the differences between dirt, sand, earth, and clay between your fingers.

Skip rocks in the calm waters of Coles Bay Regional Park.

Find a pillbug under a log and let it crawl and tickle your hand.

Jump like crickets.

Watch bats swoop for insects during sunset at Thetis Lake.

Spot clam and worm burrows at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park.

Gather a handful of fallen leaves in the forest. Can you find their matching tree?

Shake a fuzzy tufted plant near a stream.

Watch the seeds float off to new homes.

Play jump rope with strands of bull kelp on the beach.

Make a nest out of clay. Decorate it with twigs and grasses.

Look for ant nests in the forest. See how much the ants can carry.

Lift up the rocks at Island View Beach Regional Park to see who lives underneath.

Remember to put the rocks back!

Come Swim With Us! Lightning Fast Swim Series, Levels 1–5:

Learn to swim faster than regular swim lessons and learn the techniques of competitive swimming right from the earliest levels.

2007 Swim BC Club of the Year 2014 Provincial Champions

62

Island Parent Magazine

To register please contact: Commonwealth Place 250-727-5300 Gordon Head 250-475-7100 UVic Vikes Rec vikesrec.uvic.ca Oak Bay Recreation 250-595-7946 Esquimalt & Panorama 250-727-9243

www.pacificcoastswimming.com

Registration BBQ: Sept 12 at Beaver Lake Park, 5pm–Dark www.kidsinvictoria.com

Draw a picture map of a park trail. X marks the spot!

Decide on your favourite swimming hole at Sooke Potholes Regional Park.

Go for a family bike ride on the Galloping Goose. Practise ringing your bell at the stops.

GNS.

The advantage starts at ages 3, 4 and 5…

My child can: ✓ Sing over 10 songs in French. ✓ Speak this: 我爱我的家 (I love my family). ✓ Play on the Beach from September to June.

Nature Notes

At Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS), our youngest students are able to enjoy: • Weekly lessons with specialty teachers in Mandarin, French, Music and PE. • A morning a week at Uplands Park exploring nature.

• A classroom just steps away from the ocean.

• The IB Advantage (International Baccalaureate – a leading modern approach to education).

HEATHER CHATWIN Float tiny sticks down a creek. See which stick goes the fastest.

Spot bird feathers, chewed leaves, and tree markings as you hike.

Take a camera out in the forest. What do your little ones photograph?

Register for an interpretive canoe program at Beaver Lake.

Hold a crab at Devonian Regional Park. Watch how it wiggles its eyes and mouthparts.

Look for garter snakes by the hot rocks of Mill Hill Regional Park.

Explore the forest by touch alone. See if you can tell trees apart using only your hands at Horth Hill Regional Park.

Do a kid-sized hike up Lone Tree Hill Regional Park. See a 360-degree view of Victoria.

Take a sketchpad to a meadow and draw what you see.

Build a sand castle at East Sooke Regional Park.

Close your eyes. Count how many bird sounds you hear.

Find the hollowed-out western red cedar tree in Francis/King Regional Park’s Heritage Grove. Pretend to be an animal family living inside the hollow.

Hide along a forest trail. See if your friends can spot you.

Put a moon snail shell to your ear at Coles Bay Regional Park.

Count how many insects you find on a small patch of ground.

Creep like a mouse along the forest path.

Roll down a grassy hill.

Hold a slug.

Options for: • Half-day or Full-day classes in Junior Kindergarten.

• Before-school or After-school Care.

To enrol for Fall 2015, please contact: admissions@mygns.ca or 250.370.6801

www.mygns.ca Pre-K to Grade 12 Grammar

Reading Study Skills

•

250.370.6801 Writing Homework

Math French

Reading is to learning what breathing is to living Call today, or visit oxfordlearning.com Victoria 203-1595 McKenzie Ave. Victoria, BC, V8N 1A4

250.477.5550

victoria@oxfordlearning.com

Heather Chatwin is a naturalist with CRD Regional Parks. Join her on a guided nature outing or a nature event this summer. See the calendar at crd.bc.ca/parks.

www.IslandParent.ca

August 2014 63

Cut It Out!

Tips from Parent Educator Allison Rees of LIFE Seminars

The “I promise...” of Pet Care

I

f I can have a pet, I promise to look after it. Honest!”

If you believe your child will consistently care for a pet without being nagged, Cut it Out! Kids aren’t great at being consistent with chores, they aren’t wired to think that way. Kids focus on things that are important to them—hopefully this involves a lot of play.

Children are egocentric and can have difficulty understanding the importance of being kind to others, especially creatures who are covered in fur. “Surely something so different than me can’t have feelings and needs?” It is common for preschoolers to be too rough with family pets and just as common for older children to dismiss their pet’s needs. They will put

off changing the hamster cage, walking the dog and filling up the cat’s dish. This doesn’t mean that they are acting selfish, it means that they are acting like a normal child.

Be realistic. Pets are a wonderful source of love and learning for children. They become family and must be cared for by everyone.

A family pet cannot be left in the hands of a child who doesn’t have the maturity to be consistent. It isn’t fair to the pet and it’s not good for the parent/child relationship when the parent is constantly nagging and scolding.

What to do: • Avoid setting your child up for failure with expectations that are too high.

• Recognize the eager pleas for a pet come with high promises that can’t be kept.

• Be realistic and know that as the whirlwind of love and desire for a pet peters out, the reality that is left is a responsibility that must become a priority.

• Be the primary coordinator of the pet care with invitations to your child to change the cage together, walk the dog together and help with serving food. As kids mature, you might find they take these responsibilities on happily.

• Take time to enjoy your pet and to notice when your child is being gentle and loving.

• Supervise young children with pets and keep your pet separate, comfortable and safe if necessary.

LIFE Seminars has two books available, Sidestepping the Power Struggle and The Parent Child Connection. See www. lifeseminars.com.

Journeys of the Heart is a “free-of-charge” 10 month (30 week) cultural early learning program for Aboriginal children ages 2–5 years and their families. Program structure and delivery is designed to provide opportunities to empower and contribute to positive cultural identity within Aboriginal children and their families.

There are spaces available for this coming fall at Quadra and Wishart Elementary schools.

For more information call

Winnie Williams 250-384-9466 ex 251 64 Island Parent Magazine

www.kidsinvictoria.com

Educational Excellence to the Glory of God Waldorf education in a vibrant island community, abundant with the arts, surrounded by organic farms and endless outdoor adventures.

Check Out Your Place in the PCS Community Today

PacificChristian.ca 250-479-4532 Facebook.com/YourPCS

Preschool to Grade 5…and beyond.

Mixed Age Kindergartens Grades 1-8|Preschool|Parent & Child Island Oak High School nearby

sunrisewaldorfschool.org Founded in 1980| Located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley| 45 minutes north of Victoria.

Imagine a School…where music, dance, theatre and visual arts are infused into all aspects of an outstanding curriculum. v Junior K and Half/Full-day Kindergarten options also available v Comprehensive K–5 program consistently exceeds BC Curriculum v Excellent facilities, convenient Cedar Hill and Oak Bay locations v Highly qualified, dedicated staff and low student/teacher ratios

Visit our website, come to one of our Open Houses, or call us! www.ArtsCalibre.ca info@ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533

WEST SHORE PARKS & RECREATION

Spend each day creating, exploring, singing and learning about nature and the outdoors through hands-on learning and play. Led by ECE instructors this program for 4 year olds takes place completely outdoors, as well as field trips to locations including Goldstream Park, Esquimalt Lagoon and Fort Rodd Hill.

For more information call Katherine 250-474-5825

2 Days a Week Tuesdays & Thursdays

This play-based program is designed to meet the needs of your child and prepare them for kindergarten. Led by ECE instructors this program for 3 and 4 year olds allows children to participate in a variety of activities, indoor and outdoor play, off site field trips, and use of the Library and Kindergym.

For more information call Alexandra 250-474-8619

2 or 3 Days a Week

Monday/Wednesday/Friday & Tuesday/Thursday

www.westshorerecreation.ca | 250-478-8384