Jax4Kids May 2017

Visit us online at www.jax4kids.com

In this issue: Summer Camps and Travel

FREE!

May 2017

TEACH KIDS HOW TO BE

MORE THAN A BYSTANDER. Kids see bullying every day.

In 2015, nearly 1 in 2 Duval County Middle School Students reported experiencing some form of bullying on school property.

Teach kids to: • Be a friend • Tell a trusted adult • Safely help the person being bullied get away from the situation • Don’t give bullying an audience • Set a good example

View a brief video with your child at: StopBullying.AdCouncil.org

Page 2 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

Contents

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LIVING WELL

Dear Readers,

T

Community Profile: The Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center ........................4 Mother’s Day Events ................................................................................4 10 Things You Can Do to Save the Oceans ...............................................5

he countdown to summer is on!

EATING WELL

Have you made travel plans? Booked summer camps for your children? Found activities to do with your kids for Mother’s Day? This issue is full of ideas and useful information.

Say Hello to a Healthy Summer!................................................................6 Dirty Dozen Guide To Food Additives .........................................................6

HEALTH & SAFETY

You’ll find lots of Summer Camps and helpful information on pages 17 – 21.

Burn Safety..............................................................................................7 Race Plays Role in Hypertension .................................................................7 Things to Do: Health & Safety ...................................................................7 Throwing Up: Causes and Concerns .........................................................8

Turn to page 4 for a listing of Mother’s Day events. You’ll also find a complete list of Mother’s Day events online at Jax4Kids.com.

If you are pondering places to go on vacation this summer, check out 50 States, 50 Landmarks on pages 14 and 15, and See Our Nation’s Captial on page 16. Wherever you may go, a travel journal for your kids will not only document the experi­ ence, it will encourage writing, and any oppor­ tunity to build writing skills will pay off. Turn to page 22 for journaling ideas.

I think we would all agree that a sense of humor is a great asset in life. You can help your children develop this asset. If you have a toddler, turn to page 11 and find ways to help develop a sense of humor.

We possess the ability to access information to live a more healthful life than previous genera­ tions and, armed with that knowledge, we are able to give our children the advantage of a healthier start. One way to do that is eliminating the worst of the 10,000+ food additives in our diets. Turn to page 6 and find out what they are.

Do you know what a Finsta is? I’ll bet your teen does. Turn to page 28 to find out what it is. If you

May 2017

INFANT & TODDLER have a teen, you may also want to read “How the new SAT stacks up against the ACT” on page 24.

We are among the fortunate to live near the ocean. On page 5, you will find ten things that you and your family can do to help protect our oceans for future generations.

Kudos to Sesame Street Live for including an autistic Muppet in their cast of characters. Meet Julia on page 13.

Visit us online at Jax4Kids.com to find summer camps places to go, things to do for Mother’s Day, with Teens, Infants and Toddlers, Special Needs children and more.

Give Them a Calm Down Basket ...............................................................9 Crying Babies: What is Normal?................................................................9 Stimulate Your Newborn’s Senses .............................................................9 Help To Develop A Sense of Humor..........................................................11 Things to Do: Infant & Toddler.................................................................11

SPECIAL NEEDS

Tips for Moving with Special Needs Kids .................................................12 Things to Do: Special Needs ...................................................................12 Sesame Street Introduces Autistic Character ...........................................13 Tests Show Kumbuka is Deaf .................................................................13

TRAVEL 50 States, 50 Landmarks ................................................................ 14-15 Games for On The Road .........................................................................15 See Our Nation’s Capital This Summer ...................................................16

Happy Mother’s Day!

SUMMER CAMPS

Until next month,

Camp Homework Needed for Children with ADHD ...................................17 Packing Right Can Save The Day (or Week) .............................................20

Alison Peters-Carlson Editor

Follow us...

Alison Peters-Carlson Editor....................................... editor@jax4kids.com Linda Bigbee Graphic Designer......................................linda@jax4kids.com Tim Chavez Graphic Designer........................................... tim@jax4kids.com Judi Fields Circulation Manager........................................judi@jax4kids.com Beth Canonica Advertising Sales.................................... beth@jax4kids.com Donna Paunetto Advertising Sales.............................. donna@jax4kids.com Doug Berle Advertising Sales......................................... doug@jax4kids.com Mary Gustafson Business Manager............................... mary@jax4kids.com Published by Child Enrichment, LLC, 12620-3 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246. Copyright 2017.

Reproduction of any artwork or copy prepared by Jax4Kids.com To Go is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. We will not be responsible for any errors and/or omissions. The Publisher’s liability for error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Articles for publication are welcome and may be sent to editor@jax4kids.com. For more information concerning advertising, call 904-710-2020 or e-mail advertise@jax4kids.com.

EDUCATION

For Kids, Happy Summer Travels Means Taking a Journal Along ...............22 That’s My Job! Lisa Almeida, Owner, Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville and St. Augustine ..................................22 How the New SAT Stacks up against the ACT .........................................24 Things to Do: Education .........................................................................24

DUVAL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS One Life – Infinite Possibilities ..............................................................25

ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL NEWS

3…2…1…Blast Off! ............................................................................26 Ready, Set Go ........................................................................................26 Three Seniors Get Fellowships ...............................................................26 PVPV Rawlings Has Character ................................................................26

CLAY COUNTY SCHOOL NEWS

Mawhinney Comes in Second.................................................................27 Sophmore Tops Concert on the Green Contest ........................................27

TEENS

What’s a Finsta? And Does Your Teen Have One?....................................28 Things to Do: Teens................................................................................28

PETS

Putting the Brakes on Pet Car Sickness...................................................29 Things To Do: Pet Events........................................................................29 MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 3

LIVING WELL

Community Profile: The Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center

I

n America’s juvenile justice system, experts say girls, who make up a larger portion of incarcerated youth than in the past, have often been victims of trauma and abuse. In our community the nonprofit Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center is fighting this trend with advocacy, training, research, community organizing, and model programming to advance reform of a system that often times does more harm than good. The Policy Center was established in 2013 with financial support from local philanthropist Delores Barr Weaver, a lifelong advocate for girls and young women.

Why girls?

• Girls are more likely to be committed to lock-up programs for less serious offenses than boys.

Similar to statewide trends, the majority of girls in our area were committed for less serious offenses (i.e. misdemeanors and violations of probation) (64% of girls vs. 26% of boys).

• Almost three in four girls who are locked up have diagnosed mental health problems related to the impact of trauma and violence.

• 100 per cent of the girls who are locked up in our community have experienced loss (e.g.; death of a primary caregiver, parent incarceration, abandonment).

• Half of girls who are locked up have histories of sexual or physical abuse.

detention and elementary schools. In 2012, a more targeted plan focusing on the disparate policies and practices in Duval and the surrounding counties was developed for Delores Barr Weaver.

The mission of the Policy Center is guided by girl-centered principles: • Acknowledges girls as experts of their lives and relationships.

• Embraces sitting where the girls sit and seeing what they see.

• Honors and values girls’ lived experiences, knowledge, culture, ethnicity, and language.

• Understands health as more than and different from the absence of illness.

• Emphasizes the importance of girls’ connections (family, friends, schools, and others).

• Recognizes the dynamic community in which girls live, play, and learn.

• Focuses on the intersectionality of gender, race/ ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, age, ability, and education.

• Uses reflective practice and listening without judging.

• Ensures that programs are guided by gender relevant theories.

• Promotes activism and informed advocacy.

Model programming includes:

The vision of the Policy Center is to create communities where all girls are safe, valued and have opportunities for a prosperous future. The center is the outgrowth of the girls’ reform movement that began more than 15 years ago.

Starting in the late 1990s, statewide programming for girls in the juvenile justice system faced repeated threats of elimination in the Florida state budget. A public awareness counter-offensive to stop these proposed devastating budget cuts was led by Dr. Lawanda Ravoira, current president & CEO of the Policy Center, and Roy Miller, president and founder The Children’s Campaign Inc. They launched a focused reform initiative for justice-involved girls and young women throughout Florida that led to the publication of two of the largest research studies specific to girls ever conducted. Funded by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Educate or Incarcerate and Rallying Cry for Change documented girls’ pathways into the Florida system and provided specific recommendations for reform. They also spearheaded a legislative effort resulting in Florida becoming the second state in the country to pass legislation requiring gender-specific services in the juvenile justice system.

Through a partnership with the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, The NCCD Center for Girls and Young Women opened in Jacksonville in 2009 and had remarkable success in the development of cutting edge, research-based curricula, providing training and technical assistance and developing and implementing researched-based direct service programs for girls in

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Girl Matters: It’s Elementary, a project model funded by the Department of Juvenile Justice that intervenes early in girls’ lives to improve school success and stop their suspension and expulsion from school. Research indicating that school failure is a major factor in girls entering the juvenile justice system (Duval County Public School data revealed that 849 elementary girls were suspended or expelled in the 2008-2009 school year) gave rise to the program. Girls in the intervention phase receive services focused on their personal safety, relationships, communication, emotions and identity.

Girl Matters: Continuity of Care was created by the center in response to the incarceration trends in Northeast Florida and data showing a high proportion of unmet needs for girls, including the few treatment options available, fragmented community response, and lack of continuity of care for girls transitioning from one part of the juvenile justice system to another.

The goals are to increase access to therapeutic services and provide advocacy within a continuity of care with girls who are on probation, in detention, in residential placement, or transitioning back to the local community.

For more information, or to get involved with time or money, see the website: seethegirl.org j seethegirl.org

Mother’s Day Events 2017 Mother’s Day 5K - Virtual Run Thru May 31 The Moon Joggers host the fourth annual Mother’s Day 5K virtual race. Participants can sign up, and do a 5K anywhere, and any time during May. Then, log on, and record your time.

Registration cost is $17. Includes a custom medal and bib that will be shipped directly to you. There is also a two medal option when signing up, so you can order an extra medal to give to the favorite mother in your life. Plus, at least 15% of every entry will be donated to Vitamin Angels, an organization that provides vitamins and minerals to mothers and babies that need them. www.moonjoggers.com

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens hosts a Mother’s Day Brunch on the Shaba Terrace.

There will be one seating for brunch which will include a buffet brunch, crafts and animal encounters. Price is $24.95/adult & $9.95/ child for members and $28.95/adult & $12.95/ child for non-members (price does not include admission). Reservations must be made by Wednesday, May 10.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens / 904-757-4463 / 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www.jacksonvillezoo.org

Mother’s Day Brunch at NOLA MOCA May 14, 11am to 3pm Families are invited to bring Mom for brunch at NOLA MOCA. Sample the buffet while you Home Depot Kids Workshop: Build a Flower wait for your gourmet hot entrée. Then tour Pot • May 6, 9am to 12noon the MOCA Jacksonville galleries and attend a Offered the first Saturday of each month Jacksonville Symphony performance at 1pm between 9am and 12 noon. All kids get to keep or 3:30pm in the theater (tickets sold sepatheir craft, receive a free certificate of achieve- rately). Reservations are strongly suggested ment, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative by calling 904-224-0113. Brunch cost is $25 pin while supplies last. This week’s project is adults, $8 children. a Build a Flower Pot. Once the flower pot is NOLA MOCA at the Museum of Contemporary built, your child can decorate it and personalize Art / 904-224-0113 / 333 N. Laura Street, it. Perfect for spring flowers for Mother’s Day. Jacksonville, FL 32202 / mocajacksonville.unf.

Area Home Depot Stores / workshops.homede- edu pot.com Moms Swim Free and Play Free at AdvenMother’s Day Storytime • May 13, 11am ture Landing • May 14 In celebration of Mother’s Day, come for a Moms swim free on Mother’s Day with the purstory about raising a happy, healthy mom. Ac- chase of a full-priced daily waterpark admistivities to follow. sion. Valid at Jax Beach location only. Not valid Barnes and Noble San Jose / 904-886- 9904 / with any other offers.

11112 San Jose Boulevard Suite 8 Jacksonville, Adventure Landing, Beaches / 904-246-4386 / FL 32223 / ww.bn.com 1944 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www.adventurelanding.com Mother’s Day Brunch at World Golf Village May 14, 11am to 3pm Donovin Darius Foundation: 5th Annual Celebrate Mom on Sunday, May 14th at either Mother’s Day Celebration Life Camp the King & Bear’s Champions Grille or the May 20, 9am to 2pm Renaissance Resort’s Villagio Bar & Grille from On Saturday, May 20th, the Donovin Darius 11am – 3pm. Reservations for the King & Bear Foundation is hosting its 5th Annual Mothers & Brunch can be made by contacting Cara Riten- Children’s Life Camp at Terry Parker Senior High our at 904-940-6207. Make your reservation at School. The purpose of this Life Camp is to the Renaissance by calling 904-940-8000. give support and celebrate those women who , World Golf Village / 904-940-6207 / 2 World without much credit, do the job of lifting up and Golf Place, St. Augustine, FL 32092 / www. developing our future men and women. This worldgolfvillage.com Life-Camp is limited to the first 100 families that sign up. Camp is for mothers and her Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Mother’s Day children only. Children must be between 5-18 Admission Offer • May 14 years old to attend & participate. The event To celebrate Mother’s Day, the Jacksonville Zoo will feature breakfast snacks and drinks upon and Gardens has a special admission offer for check in, individual family photo, Good mornmoms. Buy one child or adult ticket and get one ing talk and welcome from Donovin Darius, adult or senior general admission ticket for free full camp photo, motivational message to all on Sunday, May 14th. Coupon required. Down- families, mothers only and children break-out load coupon online or be green show the ticket sessions, mid-day snacks and beverages, on your phone or tablet. Coupon may not walk to the field, field activities and family fun, be used in conjunction with any other couand more. Check-In Begins at 9am and the pon, discount, or special offer, including Zoo program begins promptly at 10am. Free.

Value Tickets. One free admission per coupon.

Terry Parker High School / 904-290-3320 / One coupon per transaction.

7301 Parker School Road, Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens / 904-757-4463 32211 / / 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 / donovindariusfoundation.com www.jacksonvillezoo.org Mother’s Day Brunch at the Jacksonville Zoo Visit Jax4Kids.com for more Mothers’ Day and Gardens • May 14, 10am event listings.

LIVING WELL

10 Things You Can Do to Save the Oceans H ere is a list of suggestions for green – dare we say blue? – lifestyle choices that can help preserve the oceans for future generations.

1. Join Oceana More than 550,000 members and e-activists in over 200 countries have already joined Oceana - the largest international organization focused 100 percent on ocean conservation. Oceana was established in 2001 by a group of leading foundations — The Pew Charitable Trusts, Oak Foundation, Marisla Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund – after a study discovered that less than 0.5 percent of all resources spent by environmental nonprofit groups in the United States went to ocean advocacy and no organization was working exclusively to protect and restore the oceans on a global scale. The Ocean Law Project was absorbed into Oceana in 2001 as Oceana’s legal arm. Since its founding, Oceana has won more than 100 victories and protected more than one million square miles of ocean.

winter. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in your house.

5. Use reusable plastic products.

Plastic debris in the ocean degrades marine habitats and contributes to the deaths of many marine animals.

Because floating plastic often resembles food to many marine birds, sea turtles and marine mammals, they can choke or starve because their digestive systems get blocked when they eat it. Help prevent these unnecessary deaths—use cloth grocery bags and reusable water bottles.

6. Properly dispose of hazardous materials.

Motor oil and other hazardous materials often end up washing into coastal areas because they aren’t disposed of properly. This pollutes the water and hurts the overall health of our oceans.

Be sure to dispose of hazardous waste in an environmentally safe way.

7. Use less fertilizer.

When fertilizers are used in gardening and agriculture, the excess eventually ends up in the ocean. One result is a “dead zone” — an area with very low levels of oxygen in the water — the 2. Vote responsibly. Contact your size of New Jersey in the Gulf of Mexico during representative. the spring and summer. Since all marine life Electing the right public officials is essential to good ocean policy. Do your research and make an requires oxygen to live, including fish and shrimp, informed decision. Exercise your right to vote and they must flee the area or die. Many other coastal areas are at risk too. So, use fertilizer sparingly stay involved after Election Day. If you have and remember more is usually not better. concerns or questions, contact your representative.

8. Pick up garbage and litter near beaches.

Much of the plastic and debris found in the ocean 3. Eat sustainable seafood. has its beginnings in beach litter. As beach Global fisheries are on the verge of collapse. crowds increase, so does the amount of trash left According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture behind. Don’t let your day at the beach contribute Organization three quarters of the world’s to the destruction of our oceans. Bring a trash fisheries are now overexploited, fully exploited, bag with you for your garbage and volunteer for significantly depleted or recovering from beach clean-ups. overexploitation. Carry a sustainable seafood card and ask your seafood restaurant or fish market to buy from sustainable fisheries. Look for 9. Buy ocean-friendly products.

Avoid products produced through unsustainable special terms like “line caught”, “diver caught”, or environmentally harmful methods. For “sustainably caught” or “sustainably harvested. example, avoid cosmetics containing shark squalene and jewelry made of coral or sea turtle 4. Reduce energy use. shell. These products are directly linked to Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is unsustainable fishing methods and the making our oceans more acidic. One destruction of entire ecosystems. consequence could be the loss of corals on a global scale, as their calcium skeletons are weakened by the increasing acidity of the water. 10. Share with a friend.

There are many simple ways you can reduce your Tell people what’s going on with the world’s oceans and what they can do to make a energy use. Ride a bike, walk or use public difference. Spread the word and join the transportation. Use high efficiency appliances in conversation with us on Facebook and Twitter. j your home. Turn off appliances when they aren’t in use. Turn up your thermostat a few degrees in oceana.org the summer and down a few degrees in the

Children’s Art Classes Summer Workshops www.childrensartclasses.com • 904.612.7557 Baymeadows location Student name_________________________Age______Parent Name___________________________________ Cell Phone___________________________________ Home Phone_____________________________________ Mailing Address_______________________________________________________________________________ Email Address_________________________________________________________________________________ Workshops requested: June 12 - 16 ____ ____ ____ ____ June 19 - 23 ____ ____ ____ ____ (PLACE LETTER ON LINE) June 26 - July 3 ____ ____ ____ ____ July 10 - 14 ____ ____ ____ ____ Mail registration form and deposit to: Children’s Art Classes 9838 Old Baymeadows Rd. #330 Jacksonville, FL 32256

All workshops MEET at: 8411 Baymeadows Way Jacksonville, FL 32256 **You will be notified ONLY if your requested workshop is full**

Please use LETTER of workshop from summer workshop schedule (ex. A, B, C, ETC.) Up to four workshops each week may be selected. (Each workshop will meet Monday - Friday at given time.)

Orange Park location Student name_________________________Age______Parent Name___________________________________ Cell Phone___________________________________ Home Phone_____________________________________ Mailing Address_______________________________________________________________________________ Email Address_________________________________________________________________________________ Workshops requested: June 13 - 16 ____ ____ ____ ____ June 20 - 23 ____ ____ ____ ____ (PLACE LETTER ON LINE) June 27 - 30 ____ ____ ____ ____ July 11 - 14 ____ ____ ____ ____ Mail registration form and deposit to: Children’s Art Classes 11250 Old St. Augustine Rd.#15310 Jacksonville, FL 32257

All workshops MEET at: 1406 Kingsley Ave Orange Park, FL 32073 **You will be notified ONLY if your requested workshop is full**

Please use LETTER of workshop from summer workshop schedule (ex. A, B, C, ETC.) Up to three workshops each week may be selected. (Each workshop will meet Tuesday - Friday at given time.)

Cost is $82/per 4-day or 5-day workshop, and includes all supplies.*unless noted $20 deposit per 4-day or 5-day workshop is due with registration.

BALANCE to be paid on FIRST DAY of workshop.

CUT

2017 SUMMER WORKSHOP SCHEDULE: BAYMEADOWS WAY

JUNE 12-16 A. Beginning Drawing ages 7 - ADULT B. Charcoal Drawing ages 7 - ADULT C. Drawing, Painting and CLAY: famous ARTISTS! - ages 8 - ADULT D. CLAY for TINY HANDS! ages 3 - 7 JUNE 19-23 E. DRAWING and PAINTING for TINY HANDS - ages 3 - 5 F. PAINTING for Young Artists ages 4 - 7 G. PAINTING LANDSCAPES in Water Colors - ages 7 and up H. CLAY CREATIONS!! ages 7 and up JULY 26 - 30 I. STAIN GLASS for CHILDREN!! ages 5 and up J. PASTELS: SELF - PORTRAIT ages 7 and up K. PAINTING ON CANVAS: Colorful Chameleans! ages 7 and up L. 3–D ANIMAL portraits in CLAY! ages 8 and up JULY 10-14 M. BEGINNING DRAWING ages 7 and up N. PAINTING ON CANVAS!! ages 7 - 12 O. SCRATCHBOARD ANIMAL ART! ages 7 and up P. “ALL ABOUT ME” COLLAGE ages 8 - ADULT

9:00 - 10:15 a.m.

10:15 - 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

12:45 - 2:00 p.m.

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

10:00 - 11:15 a.m.

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

12:30 - 1:45 p.m.

9:00 - 10:15 a.m.

10:15 - 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

9:00 - 10:15 a.m.

10:15 - 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

2017 SUMMER WORKSHOP SCHEDULE: ORANGE PARK JUNE 13-16 A. BEGINNING DRAWING ages 7 - ADULT B. DRAWING, PAINTING & CLAY: Art History ages 7 - ADULT C. CLAY for TINY HANDS!! ages 3 - 6 JUNE 20-23 D. PAINTING a Landscape in Water Colors! ages 7 and up E. STAIN GLASS for CHILDREN!!! ages 4-8 F. DRAW, PAINT, and CLAY: Art History ages 7 and up JULY 27 - 30 G. CHARCOAL DRAWING!! ages 7 - ADULT H. PAINTING for YOUNG ARTISTS ages 5 and up I. AFRICAN MASKS in CLAY!! ages 7 and up JULY 11-14 J. PAINTING ON CANVAS: COLORFUL CHAMELEONS! ages 6 - 10 K. “ALL ABOUT ME” COLLAGE!! ages 7 and up L. DRAWING WITH SCRATCH BOARD!! ages 7 - ADULT

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

1:00 - 2:15 p.m.

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

12:45 - 2:00 p.m.

MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 5

EATING WELL

Say Hello to a Healthy Summer!

M

emorial Day is just around the corner! For many people, a long holiday weekend may include an extended car trip, heading to the beach or heading out to a local park for food and family time. I’ve put together some healthy nutrition travel tips so you will be prepared no matter what the weekend brings.

Road Trips Traveling to see family for the holiday with anticipated hours in the car? Packing snacks for the road not only saves your family money, but also saves time from having to make extra stops for snacks. Besides making sure that everyone has a list of activities for the car including games, music or coloring books, try to stick to a normal eating schedule when on the road.

Below is a list of healthy, travel-friendly foods.

Keep cold foods cold in a cooler with ice.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Low-fat yogurt (Greek yogurt has more protein) Cheese sticks Cottage cheese cups Sliced bell peppers, baby carrots, sliced cucumbers or other easy-to-eat veggies Applesauce cups Dried and fresh fruit Popcorn Trail mix (make your own without peanuts if needed) Peanut butter or other nut-butter sandwiches Whole-grain crackers Skim or low-fat milk boxes 100% fruit or vegetable juice Water

Don’t forget the plastic silverware and plenty of paper towels and/or wipes for easy clean up in the back seat! If you do need to stop at a restaurant or drive through, make sure everyone knows the rules before stopping. Water and milk are the best beverage choices, and choose a fruit or vegetable option if available with a kid’s meal.

At the Beach Beach time can be a challenging environment for healthy snacking. A good cooler is a must! A little preparation ahead of time will save you a lot of headache on the beach, and give you more time

Page 6 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

with family and friends. Some of the same foods listed above will work for the beach, as long as you pack plenty of ice. Try freezing grapes for a refreshing treat, or offer pre-cut watermelon slices to help kids stay hydrated. Water bottles can be frozen ahead of time too. Pack ample water and encourage frequent sipping. Make sure kids take an hourly break to get rehydrated and apply more sunscreen.

Visiting Family or Friends Whether you’re traveling with others or staying in their homes, you may run into well-meaning food pushers. In other words, those who insist that your child “try a cookie” or “clean their plate” at mealtime. Give relatives and friends a kind heads-up to your expectations when it comes to offering food to your children. Help them find other ways to express love and warmth such as reading a story or taking your child for a special outing.

Whether you’re traveling near or far, make this a healthy start to lots of summer fun!!

Try this recipe for a homemade frozen treat! Kids can help by slicing the bananas with supervision.

Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cream (Vegan!)

Prep Time: 5 minutes Freezer Time: 2 hours Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes Servings 2 half-cup servings Ingredients 2 frozen, sliced bananas 1½ tablespoons honey 2½ tablespoons peanut butter Directions 1. Blend bananas with honey and peanut butter.

2. Place in freezer or serve and enjoy.j Aurea Thompson, MSH, RD, CSP, LD/N Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition Wolfson Children’s Hospital

Dirty Dozen Guide To Food Additives F

ood should be good for you. But some isn’t. More than 10,000 additives are allowed in food. Some are direct additives that are deliberately formulated into processed food. Others are indirect additives that get into food during processing, storage and packaging.

The Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Additives” helps you figure it all out by highlighting some of the worst.

Nitrates and Nitrites Ever wonder how cured meat like salami and ham are able to retain their fresh pink color after weeks in the store? They may be treated with nitrates or nitrites – chemicals commonly used as coloring agents, preservatives and flavoring. Although they can prolong a food’s shelf life and give it an attractive hue, they come with health concerns. Nitrites, which can form from nitrates, react with naturally occurring components of protein called amines. This reaction can form nitrosamines, which are known cancer-causing compounds.

Potassium Bromate This is used to strengthen bread and cracker dough and help it rise during baking. It is listed as a known carcinogen by California, and the international cancer agency classifies it as a possible carcinogen. Baking converts most of it to non-carcinogenic potassium bromide, but research has shown that residues are still detectable in finished bread. The United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union prohibit its use. The United States, however, still allows it to be added to flour.

Propyl Paraben It’s hard to believe that this endocrine-disrupting chemical is allowed in food, and even harder to believe that it’s “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS). It has been reported to accelerate the growth of breast cancer cells. And a recent study linked it to impaired fertility in women. It is used as a preservative in foods such as tortillas, muffins and food dyes.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) The FDA considers this preservative used in chips and preserved meats to be a GRAS additive – even though the National Toxicology Program classifies it as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen,” and it’s listed as a known carcinogen in California.

These designations are based on consistent evidence that BHA causes tumors in animals.

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) A chemical cousin to BHA, also listed as GRAS, is added to food as a preservative. The two compounds act synergistically and are often used together.

Propyl Gallate Used as a preservative in products that contain edible fats, such as sausage and lard. It is classified as GRAS even though a National Toxicology Program study

reported an association with tumors in rats.

Theobromine In 2010, Theocorp Holding Co. requested that the FDA list this alkaloid found in chocolate as GRAS for use in a variety of foods, including bread, cereal and sport drinks. FDA scientists questioned the designation, noting that the estimated average human consumption rate was five times higher than the level reported as safe. Theocorp withdrew its request, but later Theobromine was declared GRAS and is now being used in food. This is just one example of an enormous loophole in the FDA’s voluntary GRAS notification process. The industry is allowed to designate a substance as GRAS without notifying the agency, relying instead on “expert panels.”

Secret Flavor Ingredients The term “natural flavor” finds its way into more than a quarter of 80,000 foods in the Food Scores database, with only salt, water and sugar mentioned more frequently on food labels. “Artificial flavors” are also very common food additives, appearing on one of every seven labels. Flavoring mixtures added to food are complex and can contain more than 100 distinct substances. These can contain synthetic chemicals such as the solvent propylene glycol or the preservative BHA. Diacetyl Concerns about food additives are not limited to consumers; some have been associated with serious workplace diseases. Diacetyl, used as a butter flavoring in microwave popcorn, is associated with a severe and irreversible respiratory condition called bronchiolitis obliterans, which leads to inflammation and permanent scarring of the airways. It is also used to flavor dairy products such as yogurt and cheese).

Phosphates Phosphates are among the most common food additives, found in more than 20,000 products in EWG’s Food Scores database. They can be used to leaven baked goods, reduce acid and improve moisture retention and tenderness in processed meats.

Phosphates are frequently added to unhealthy highly processed foods, including fast foods. In people with chronic kidney disease, high phosphate levels in the body are associated with heart disease and death.

Aluminum Additives Aluminum is the most abundant metal in Earth’s crust.

It can occur naturally in food, but people are mainly exposed through food additives used as stabilizers in many processed foods. Animals exposed to aluminum in the womb and during development show neurological effects such as changes in behavior, learning and motor response..j ewg.org

HEALTH & SAFETY

Burn Safety

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designed to get hot, such as clothes irons or urn safety is a foreign concept to most curling irons, unplugged and out of reach. young explorers. In fact, one of the most difficult lessons young children might learn is that • Test food temperature before feeding young children. Be careful with food or liquids some things — such as stoves, radiators and warmed in a microwave, which might heat flickering flames — can be painfully hot. If foods unevenly. Never warm a baby’s bottle children play with matches or lighters, the threat in the microwave. can extend to the entire family.

• Choose a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer.

Cool-mist humidifiers prevent steam burns Take burn safety precautions to prevent injuries and hot-water spills. and dangerous situations.

• Address outlets and electrical cords. Cover unused electrical outlets with safety caps.

Burn Safety at Home Inserting a fork, key or other metal object • Many ordinary things in a home — including into an outlet could result in an electrical bath water, food and electrical outlets — burn. Keep electrical cords and wires out of can cause childhood burns. To prevent the way so that children don’t chew on burns at home: them. Replace damaged, brittle or frayed • Reduce water temperature. Set the thermoelectrical cords. Don’t run cords under rugs stat on your hot water heater to below 120 F or carpets.

(48.9 C). Aim for bath water around 100 F (38 C). Check the temperature of bath water • Choose fire-resistant fabrics. Check labels to make sure mattresses and pajamas meet with your hand before putting your child in federal flammability standards. the bath.

• Avoid hot spills. Don’t cook, drink or carry hot beverages or foods while holding a child. Burn Safety Outdoors • To protect children from outdoor hazards: Keep hot foods and liquids away from table Watch grills and fire pits. Don’t let children and counter edges. Don’t use tablecloths or play near grills, fire pits or campfires. placemats, which young children can pull • Check car seats. Before placing your child down. Turn the handles of your pots and in a car seat, check for hot straps or buckles. pans toward the rear of the stove and use If you park in direct sunlight, cover the car back burners when possible. Don’t leave the seat with a towel or blanket. stove unattended when you’re cooking.

• Avoid backyard fireworks. Don’t let children • Establish ‘no’ zones. Block access to the play with or near fireworks or sparklers. j stove, fireplace, space heaters and radiators.

Don’t leave a child unattended in a room when these items are in use.

Mayoclinic.org • Keep hot devices out of reach. Store items

Race Plays Role in Hypertension

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ace and ethnicity may tip the scale on how often adolescents with obesity also develop hypertension according to a new study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics Journal.

For the study, “Race and Obesity in Adolescent Hypertension,” researchers measured the blood pressure, along with height and weight for bodymass index (BMI), of more than 21,000 adolescents at 27 Houston area schools between 2000 to 2015.

Readings were taken on three separate occasions to identify students, who ranged in age from 10 to 19, with sustained hypertension. Overall, about one-third of the adolescents were overweight or obese, which aligned with national estimates, and students in these categories had the top overall rates of hypertension.

Things to Do Health & Safety

Beginner Bicycle Fair May 4, 6:30pm to 8:30pm Bird Legs Bicycles hosts their annual Beginner Bicycle Fair. Meet local bicycle clubs, find people to ride with, and learn about nearby bike events, all while enjoying some food truck goodies in a fun, casual atmosphere. Register online in advance.

Free to attend.

Bird Legs Bicycles / 904-246-4433 / 1313 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www.

BirdLegsBicycles.com Brady’s Superhero 5K May 13, 8am to 11am Ultimate Racing Inc hosts the first annual Brady’s Superhero 5k and fun run. The Brady Kinder Foundation, Inc is a 501(c) non-profit organization founded in memory of Brady Kinder. The purpose of the foundation is to help underprivileged children in the greater Jacksonville area by meeting their physical and emotional needs through outreach to local shelters, schools, and organizations that foster children who are orphaned. Participants are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite superhero. All pre-registered 5k runners will receive a t-shirt, finishers medal, and Chick-fil-A promo card. All pre-registered fun runners will receive a cape and finishers medal. Fees for the 5K are $35; fun run fees are $20.

Jacksonville Landing / 2 Independent Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www.ultimateracinginc.com Safe Kids Day at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Researchers noted a disproportionate rise in the prevalence of hypertension among obese Hispanic and white students (7.7% and 7.4%, respectively), however. Conversely, while blacks had the highest prevalence of hypertension among normal weight (2%) and overweight (2.8%) subjects, they had the lowest rate of hypertension among obese subjects (4.5%). The Asian cohort had lower hypertension rates across all BMI groups.

As early-onset cardiovascular disease becomes a growing problem among U.S. youth, the study’s authors said their findings support the need for a variable approach to BMI interpretation in a racially and ethnically diverse population. j Healthychildren.org

May 13, 9:30am to 1pm Safe Kids Day At The Zoo, held at the zoo’s Play Park and Great Lawn, will feature tables and exhibits with information about water, child-passenger, bicycle, pedestrian and home safety with prizes, giveaways and activities for children and adults. The event is presented by Safe Kids Northeast Florida.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens / 904-202-4302 / 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www. wolfsonchildrens.org Annual Walk the Talk for Epilepsy May 20, 9am Come help spread epilepsy awareness, walk for a cure, and help support the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida this spring. Registration is at 8am, and the walk begins at 9am. Fees range from $20 to $35 for adults, and $10 to $20 for children. Visit website for fundraising information, and registration details.

Metropolitan Park / 1410 Gator Bowl Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / support.efof.org Community CPR/AED May 25, 6pm to 9pm Safety First CPR & Safety Training hosts a Community CPR/AED class at Babies R Us at St. Johns Town Center. This course offers certification in Community CPR and includes instruction and certification in Adult, Child & Infant CPR. Includes AED and Choking. Certification is through ASHI (American Safety & Health Institute.) Upon registering, you will get an email confirmation which will serve as your reminder of the date, time, location and what to bring with you. Cost is $40.

Babies R Us, St. Johns Town Center / 904-434-6032 / 4875 Town Center Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32246 / www.safetyfirstjax.com Visit Jax4Kids.com’s Health Events online at www.jax4kids.com

MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 7

HEALTH & SAFETY

Throwing Up: Causes and Concerns

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hen a child throws up – or even an adult – it can be scary if the person doesn’t understand what’s happening.

Why We Vomit In many cases, throwing up is a protective reflex to rid your body of viruses, bacteria, or parasites in your digestive system.

“If you were to eat something that was spoiled or poisoned, your body would get a signal that something was wrong,” says Bruno Chumpitazi, MD, of Texas Children’s Hospital. Then, you need to get rid of it.

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thriving and doesn’t seem bothered by it, you don’t need to worry,” Krugman says.

Stress: Have you ever been so nervous – say, before an important presentation – that you threw up? Or maybe your child has vomited the morning of a big test? “Stress and anxiety can sometimes cause you to vomit,” Chumpitazi says. “It’s pretty common in kids, and not necessarily serious, but it’s worth bringing up to your doctor.”

Red Flags In rare cases, vomiting can point to a more serious health concern. Here are signs that you need to see a doctor: This reflex can also be triggered by stress, • Dehydration: This is the most common issue anxiety, pregnancy, certain medications, and a doctors worry about, especially when the disruption of the vestibular system, the parts of vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea, as your inner ear that help control balance, he says. with a stomach bug or food poisoning. To prevent it, give small amounts of water or an Causes electrolyte solution like Pedialyte until they The most common things that cause us to vomit can keep more down. If your child isn’t aren’t usually serious, and they get better on their urinating much, has dry, cracked lips or own. sunken eyes, or seems listless, call your doctor.

They include: • Strange colors: Vomit may look bright red or • Gastroenteritis: Most people know this as dark (like coffee grounds) if it contains blood. the “stomach flu,” and it’s usually the result Meanwhile, bile – a fluid made by your liver of a virus. Sometimes bacteria and parasites that helps with digestion – can make vomit can cause it, too. It can also bring diarrhea. look bright green. Both are cause for It typically goes away within 24 to 48 hours. concern. Blood could be a sign of an ulcer The best way to avoid it: Wash your hands or an irritation in your GI tract. Bile could -- a lot. signal some kind of blockage in your • Food poisoning: This is more common in digestive system. teens and adults eating a wide variety of • Belly pain: An intense pain in your abdomen food. You may have diarrhea in addition to that’s also accompanied by fever and the vomiting, but episodes usually last a day vomiting, but not diarrhea, can be a telltale or two. sign of appendicitis. In that case, contact • Motion sickness: Experts aren’t sure why your doctor or head to the ER. motion sickness affects some more than • Projectile vomiting in infants: That can be a others. It’s thought to be caused by too sign of something called pyloric stenosis much activity in the part of your inner ear which is a blockage at the stomach that that controls balance and eye movement. makes food’s journey harder.

Parents can help by teaching children how to • Vomiting after an injury: If you’ve recently focus on the horizon and making sure they suffered a blow to the head or the belly, get plenty of fresh air. vomiting can be a sign of a concussion or • Ear infections: These are often accompanied trauma to your digestive organs. by a buildup of fluid inside the ear, which • Waking up with vomiting: If your child begins can throw you off. They can cause nausea throwing up soon after getting up in the and vomiting the same way that riding in a morning and also has a headache, call your boat or a car can cause motion sickness. doctor. Migraines and meningitis can also • Reflux: Why do babies spit up all the time? cause vomiting with headaches.

Scott Krugman, MD, at MedStar Franklin • Vomiting that lingers: If you’re not getting Square Medical Center in Baltimore, says it’s better after 48 hours – especially if you’re because infants don’t have good control of not able to hold down food at all, you don’t the muscle that keeps things in your have any diarrhea, or you develop a high stomach from coming up. So parents may fever – see your doctor. j find themselves constantly wiping clear or milk-colored dribble from their babies’ chins. Webmd.com Don’t sweat it. “As long as your child is

Page 8 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

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INFANT & TODDLER

Give Them A Calm Down Basket

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Stimulate Your Newborn’s Senses

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lay is the chief way that infants learn how to get his or her attention. These are signs that move, communicate, socialize, and your baby may be getting overstimulated. understand their surroundings. And during the first month of life, your baby will learn by interact- Over the coming weeks and months, you'll learn ing with you. to recognize when your infant is ready to learn or overstimulated.

The first thing your baby will learn is to associate the feel of your touch, the sound of your voice, As you care for your newborn, he or she is and the sight of your face with getting his or her learning to recognize your touch, the sound of needs for comfort and food met. You can your voice, and the sight of your face. encourage your newborn to learn by stimulating your newborn's senses in positive ways — with In the first few weeks you may want to introduce smiles, smoothing sounds, and gentle caresses. some simple, age-appropriate toys that appeal to the senses of sight, hearing, and touch, such as: Even at this young age, newborns are ready to rattles, textured toys, musical toys, and unbreaklearn about the world around them. A newborn able crib mirrors. loves to look at faces, especially Mom's. LikeTry toys and mobiles with contrasting colors and wise, in the first days and weeks of life, newborns patterns. Strong contrasts (such as red, white, can recognize their mother's voice. Your infant and black), curves, and symmetry stimulate an will respond to your voice (or other interesting infant's developing vision. As vision improves sounds) by looking alert and becoming less and babies gain more control over their moveactive. The baby may try to find out where the ments, they'll interact more and more with their sound is coming from by looking around and environment. turning his or her head.

Here are some other ideas for encouraging your When you smile and talk to your infant, your face newborn to learn and play: and the sound of your voice will become a • Put on soothing music and hold your baby, familiar source of calm and comfort, and your gently swaying to the tune. little one will learn to associate you with getting • Pick a soothing song or lullaby and softly nourishment, warmth, and soothing touch. sing it often to your baby. The familiarity of the sound and words will have a soothing Babies are born with reflexes or programmed effect, particularly during fussy times. responses to certain stimuli, such as touch.

• Smile, stick out your tongue, and make other sychologists have created the world’s first baby is crying too much and suffering from colic, expressions for your infant to study, learn, universal charts for normal amount of crying are the Wessel criteria, which were formulated in These reflexes help ensure survival. But they also provide an opportunity for a baby to interact and imitate. in babies during first three months. They found the 1950s. with the world.

For example, the rooting reflex is • Use a favorite toy for your newborn to focus that on average, babies around the world cry for elicited by gently stroking a newborn's cheek. on and follow, or shake a rattle for your around 2 hours per day in first two weeks, peak As childcare and the family unit has largely infant to find. at 2 hours 15 mins at six weeks -- and crying transformed over the last half century and across The infant's response is to turn head and mouth to that side, ready to eat.

• Let your baby spend some awake time on reduces to 1 hour 10 minutes by week twelve. different cultures, new universal guidelines were his or her tummy to help strengthen the needed for modern parents and health profesneck and shoulders. Always supervise your If this is what it’s like for adults, imagine what it sionals to assess normal and excessive levels of By the time they're 3 weeks old, babies will turn toward the breast or bottle not just out of a reflex, infant during "tummy time" and be ready to In a new study by the University of Warwick in crying in babies. but because they've learned that it's a source of help if he or she gets tired or frustrated in Coventry, England, involving almost 8700 infants – in countries including Germany, Denmark, Professor Wolke comments on what the research food. this position. Never put an infant to sleep on Japan, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK will lead to: “Babies are already very different in his or her stomach — babies should sleep – Professor Dieter Wolke in the Department of how much they cry in the first weeks of life – During the first month of life, your newborn will on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden Psychology calculated the average of how long there are large but normal variations. We may spend much of the day sleeping or seeming infant death syndrome.. babies fuss and cry per 24 hours across different learn more from looking at cultures where there is drowsy. Over the next several weeks to months, cultures in their first 12 weeks. less crying and whether this may be due to your baby will mature and be awake or alert for Keep in mind that babies develop at different parenting or other factors relating to pregnancy longer periods of time. rates, and there is a wide range of normal Babies cry the most in the UK, Italy, Canada, and experiences or genetics. development. If you have any concerns about the Netherlands – the lowest levels of crying were It's important to recognize when your baby is your newborn's ability to see or hear, or your baby found in Denmark, Germany and Japan.

“The new chart of normal fuss/cry amounts in alert and ready to learn and play and when your doesn't seem to be developing well in other ways, babies across industrialized countries will help little one would rather be left alone: talk with your doctor. j The highest levels of colic – defined as crying health professionals to reassure parents whether • A baby who is quiet and alert will be more than 3 hours a day for at least 3 days a a baby is crying within the normal expected range kidshealth.org attentive and responsive and interested in week in a baby- were found in the UK (28% of in the first 3 months or shows excessive crying surroundings. infants at 1-2 weeks), Canada (34.1% at 3-4 which may require further evaluation and extra • A baby who is awake but active (squirming, weeks of age) and Italy (20.9% at 8-9 weeks of support for the parents.”j flapping arms, or kicking legs) or fussing will age). be less able to focus on you. The baby may sciencedaily.com seem agitated or start to cry when you try to The current definitions for determining whether a e’ve all been there – overcome with emotion, angry, frustrated. Sitting in traffic for 45 minutes? Not the best way to start the day.

How would we feel if every morning when sitting in traffic, the only way we knew how to handle our feelings was just to scream and act out? Our blood pressure and anxiety would go up, and we’d just make ourselves even more frustrated.

But fortunately we have other ways of coping with these feelings, whether it’s switching on some good tunes, saying a quiet mantra or prayer, or taking deep breaths. (And let’s face it, sometimes we still scream and act out!)

collection of tools that can help a kid regulate herself when she’s feeling overwhelmed. The basket is full of small objects – things like a stress ball, silly putty, a kaleidoscope, and toys with a variety of textures.

Any time a child is feeling overwhelmed, she can choose to grab something from the calm down basket. Often a child will just need a few minutes alone to self-regulate. But asking a child to sit in the corner and calm down will often not get the results we hope for. Instead, giving her something If this is what it’s like for adults, imagine what it to hold and do with her hands while she calms is like to be a young child overcome with down will be a good distraction. emotion. Kids who are young don’t yet know

about identifying their feelings, isolating the Often when young kids act out, it is a call for skill element that is frustrating, and working on coping building. The child is telling us, “I am oversolutions. Often young kids just are angry, or whelmed. I don’t have the tools to calm myself frustrated, or sad, or excited, and don’t have an down.” When we can help a child find the tools outlet for their big emotions. she needs, we are setting her up for long-term

success. j Enter the calm down basket. momentousinstitute.org

Simply put, the calm down basket is a small

Crying Babies: What is Normal?

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MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

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Page 10 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

INFANT & TODDLER

Help To Develop A Sense of Humor

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ylan is busy in the bathtub, trying on a variety of “hats.” First, it’s the little bucket he uses as a bath toy. Then it’s his washcloth, then his rubber duck. He finds all this very funny. But when his dad takes the rubber duck and balances it on his own head, the giggles really get going.

sound funny are favorites. You’ll be surprised how many times your toddler can listen to you sing “my name is Yon Yonson, I come from Wisconsin” and still find it funny. Kids this age also can anticipate humor. If you repeat jokes regularly, you’ll find your child giggling before the punch line.

Sounds like a typical bath time routine, but Dylan isn’t just getting clean — he’s starting to develop a sense of humor. It’s a good quality to have.

Experts say a well-developed sense of humor can boost a person’s immune system, contribute to a more optimistic outlook on life, and increase self-esteem.

Some people seem naturally gifted when it comes to a sense of humor. But what if you don’t consider yourself a natural? Here are two easy ways all parents can develop a child’s sense of humor: • Be open and playful.

• Be willing to laugh yourself.

What’s more, research shows that a sense of humor is learned, not inherited. From a very young age we all have the capacity to laugh; kids as young as 9 months old may begin to understand physical or visual “jokes.” Toddlers are willing recipients of all we have to teach them about the pleasures of humor.

Toddlers are very physical about everything.

There are few better ways to make a child laugh then to chase and catch him or her (funnier still: when you try to catch your toddler and “can’t”).

Early on, babies respond to things that look or feel funny — a silly face, raspberries on the belly. But in the toddler years, kids understand more language and also have a good grasp on how the world is supposed to work — the right way to wear a pair of pants, for instance.

So, if you put your child’s pants on your head or diaper the teddy bear, you’re likely to get an uproarious response. Anything that disrupts a pattern or expectation is funny to a toddler. Try removing something from its usual place — put a stuffed animal in the cabinet with the dishes, for instance. “How did this get here?” you might ask your child. Or wear a pair of their shoes on your hands as puppets and do a little song-anddance routine.

You might already have books on your shelf that use this device — ones that focus on something surprising or obviously out of place, like hippos wearing purple boots or frogs who go ice skating.

Visual humor is also very funny to toddlers. You can make faces, put on a funny hat, or knock yourself on the head with a pillow and pretend to fall over — any kind of broad slapstick will delight toddlers.

As kids begin to understand language, verbal humor is a great source of amusement. Rhymes and silly names, even nonsense words that just

Perennial favorite peek-a-boo also continues to amuse toddlers. You can always refine the game — try encouraging your child to “hide” under a scarf or blanket while you “search,” then react with surprise when he or she emerges (“Where’s Will? I can’t see him. Oh, there he is!”).

Other fun games you can play include: • Ring Around the Rosy. Play this the traditional way with everyone falling down or with substitutions like “all run around” or “all jump up and down.”

• This Little Piggy. Pull off your child’s socks for this nursery rhyme, and conclude with a rousing bout of tickling.

• This Little Sheep Goes Moo. Once your child knows animal sounds, what could be funnier than pretending that the cat says “baa” or the dog says “meow”?

Things to Do Infant & Toddler

Early Learning Coalition of Duval VPK Enrollment Early Learning Coalition of Duval is now enrolling for Voluntary Pre-K for the 20176-2018 school year. The Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program – or VPK – is a free prekindergarten program fo 4-yearolds who reside in Florida and were born on or before September 1 each year. To be eligible to offer VPK, you must submit a complete. For 2017-2018 program year, children living in Florida must be born between 9/2/12-9/1/13. A list of required documents and participating providers, as well as instructions on how to apply, can be found on the Early Learning Coalition website.

Early Learning Coalition of Duval / 904-208- 2044 / www.vpkduval.org

day of every month for exclusive programming for preschool-aged children and their caregivers. This month, learn about why bees are so important to our environment. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for Museum exploration, followed by Little Learners circle time and sing-along, programming and community learning activities through 11:30. Admission is only $5 per person (ages 3 and up). This program is extremely popular, please pre-register online.

MOSH / 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / www.themosh.org

Toddler Movement Class • May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 10:15am to 10:45am and 11am to 11:30am Every Tuesday from 10:15am to 10:45am and 11am to 11:30am (2nd class is a repeat of the 1st). Active walkers up to pre-K ready children and their caregivers are invited for Shaky Egg dancing and singing through active storytelling. This class is specifically designed for the interactive reader with their caregiver actively participating and for families with multiple children including babies. Please Note: For the safety of all children attending and the enjoyment of everyone, latecomers will be asked to come to the second session or to come the following week.

Ponte Vedra Beach Branch / 904-827-6950 / 101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www. sjcpls.org

Yoga Cubs • May 20, 9:15 – 10am Navigate the early stages of motherhood, reduce anxiety, stretch, relax, breathe and bond with your child during a baby and mommy yoga class. This class is designed for moms (or dads/grandparents) and babies: newborn to 7 months old. You and your baby will cuddle to specially selected yoga songs. Breathe and om with your little one, give gentle kisses and incorporate your baby into poses while strengthening your core. Infants will respond to the rhythm and tempo of the music while strengthening the muscles in their head, neck, shoulders and core. Classes take place at the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus located at the south end of the Zoo’s main parking lot.

Bring your own yoga mat or you may purchase a Zoo education logo’d yoga mat for $20 (cash or card). Zoo Members - $12 per adult/baby pair; Non Members $15 per adult/baby pair. Class size is limited to the first 12 adult/baby pairs that register. Register for classes online at jacksonvillezoo.org/yogacubs.

Deadline for registration each month is 12pm the Friday before the scheduled class.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens / 904-757-4463 / 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www.jacksonvillezoo.org/yogacubs

Little Learners: Busy Bees May 10, 9:30am to 11:30am Bring your little ones to MOSH the second Wednes-

Visit Jax4Kids.com’s Infant and Toddler Events guide, online at www.jax4kids.com

GLASS SLIPPERS ARE SO BACK.

Here’s the really fun part: One day soon, your toddler just might start playing jokes on you, hiding under the covers when you come in to get him or her up from a nap or running away laughing when you say it’s time to go home from the park. Or, if you say “Show me your nose,” your child might purposely point to an ear or knee.

Repetition is big with toddlers, so you’ll probably hear these same jokes more than once. Be sure to give your child a big laugh — even if you’ve heard this one many, many times before!j kidshealth.org

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Page 11

SPECIAL NEEDS

Tips for Moving with Special Needs Kids

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f you’re reading an article about moving with special needs children, I bet you’ve already thought of finding a doctor, replacing your current services and therapies, and choosing a new school. Of course if the process was as straightforward as replacing old with new, relocating wouldn’t be considered a major life stressor.

the hotel I packed each child 11 pairs of underwear. That’s 33 pairs of underwear, people. And let’s not forget the diapers.

4. Got Shots?

We made sure James had a physical and all of his immunizations caught up for the school year while we were still in New York. With his complete Moving from New York City to Texas with four phobia of shots, it was easier to take him children was nothing short of arranging an somewhere familiar to him, with nurses we knew expedition to the moon. What added even more to would handle the inevitable meltdown once he the challenge was relocating with my special realized shots were involved. needs son James, who would start eighth grade, and my allergic-to-everything toddler. And did I 5. Find a Fancy Hotel mention that I was pregnant?

The Holiday Inn was a clear winner on several fronts. The suite had two large rooms with three Was finding a new school and doctor at the top of beds. The indoor swimming pool would help my list? You bet. But for me it’s not always the big break things up and there was an onsite things that make moving hard. Here’s the rest of restaurant where kids ate free that had several my relocation survival tips: dairy-, nut-, and soy-free items, but even better, the suite came with a kitchenette, enabling us to 1. Find the School prepare and store special food.

My husband essentially picked out our house.

Many people were stunned that a known 6. Make Friends, Ahead of Time control-freak such as myself would let a minor I discovered meetup.com in New York and was detail like finding a house pass me by, but to me thrilled to find it existed in Houston. I was able to it was all about the school zone. We actually went find groups tailored to our interests, special needs down to Houston about four months before long before we moved. You cannot overestimate moving. My accommodating husband dropped the value of talking to people living in the area me off at two to three schools each day of our that you’re moving to about grocery stores, week-long trip. By the end of the week the doctors, adaptive sports leagues… . By the time decision had basically been made for me, so I we moved I already had a pool party organized! told my husband to pick a house as long as it came with the “winning” school zone.

7. Find a Babysitter Or at least set up a few interviews. Moving 1800 2. Hot Weather Means More Swimming! miles away from extended family with four Even though I was still struggling to wrap my children and a baby due in 8 weeks made finding mind around leaving New York, I acted to James a sitter or two pretty high on the priority list. I and the rest of my children as though we had found potential candidates on care.com and won the lottery. We started to look on the map at sittercity.com, which have search filters for places around Houston we could visit, checked caregivers with special needs experience. out pictures of our new house, and read guidebooks each night. What I did not focus on was I’m happy to report that 6 months later, everyone that we would be living in a hotel (we get to stay in my family is thriving in Houston. Did my list at a hotel with a pool!); most of our stuff would cover absolutely everything? Unfortunately not. arrive about a week after (you each get your very Did we run out of underwear? Unbelievably, yes. own suitcase!); or that it was going to be as hot But for those of you who find yourselves facing a as nacho cheese (we’ll be able to go swimming similar situation, let me be the first to reassure every day!). you that it’s not going to be the end of the world.

It’s about preparing for what you can, accepting 3. Pack More Underwear Than You Think You’ll that there will be surprises, and finding your own Need. Same for Prescriptions. And Earplugs. “swimming pool in the nacho cheese.” j We made a visit to James’s neurologist shortly before the move, who wrote him prescriptions to Michaela Searfoorce give us time to find a new doctor. For our week in childmind.org

Things to Do Special Needs

Brooks Rehabilitation Pediatric Recreation: Brooks Game Night May 2, 9, 16, 23, 6:15pm to 7:15pm Brooks Rehabilitation Pediatric Recreation hosts a Brooks Game Night for ages 7 and up. Held Tuesdays, April 18 through May 23. To register, call or email Brooks Rehabilitation Pediatric Recreation.

Winston Family YMCA / 904-345-7501 / 221 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / brooksrehab.org First Coast Autism Support – Addressing Elopement • May 2, 6pm to 7pm First Coast Autism Support offers a free monthly parent support group for families raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Childcare is provided. A simultaneous Sibshop is also provided. This month’s presenter is Paul Argott.

Oak Hill Academy / 6910 Daughtry Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL 32210 / www.firstcoastautismsupport.com Super Sprouts Social Group Wednesdays, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 4pm to 6pm This special social group targets social skills that many high-functioning children with special needs struggle with. Examples of skills taught include but are not limited to: sharing, emotion recognition, eye contact, conversation initiation and exchange, and many other essential skills that help children thrive. The Super Sprouts Social Group is open to boys and girls with or without special needs, between the ages of 7 and 13. Contact Bloom Behavioral Solutions if your are interested in your child becoming a Super Sprout.

Bloom Behavioral Solutions / 904-647-1849 / 9141 Cypress Green Drive, Suite 2, Jacksonville, FL 32256 / www.bloom-behavioral-solutions. com Jumpstreet Special Needs Event May 6, 9am to 11am Jumpstreet hosts a special event for children with special needs and their siblings. The semi-private event will be held the first Saturday of the month. From 9am to 10am, the event is private; from 10am to 11am, the event is open to the public. Cost is $8 for children 4 and up; $4 for children 3 and under. Parents/guardians are free.

Jumpstreet / 904-853-5721 / 1214 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www.gotjump. com Buddy Breaks at Raiford Road Church May 6 Buddy Break is a free kids respite program where kids with special needs (VIP Kids) make new friends and enjoy all kinds of activities, while caregivers get a break. This program is provided by partnerships with local churches.

Raiford Road Church / 904-259-6015 / 9201 South State Road 121, Macclenny, FL 32063 / www.nathanielshope.org

River Race For Autism • May 6, 10am Rubber Ducks and Food Trucks fundraiser to benefit the HealthyUNow Foundation for families and children with autism. Buy your ducks and enjoy a day of family fun for a cause. Every duck purchase, donation, and food purchase benefits the treatment, cure, and prevention of autism. Benefiting the HealthyUNow Foundation for families and children with autism. There will also be food trucks, live music, and more. Gates open at 9am, and the Duck Race begins at 10am. Ducks can be purchased for $5 for one; $25 for 6; 12 for $50; 25 for $100; 60 ducks for $250; or 130 for $500. You don’t have to be present to win. Winners will be notified by email.

Adventure Landing-Beaches / 904-834-2938 / 1944 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32250 / jaxduckrace.org 2017 DSAJ Charity Golf Classic May 19, 8am The 2017 Charity Golf Classic will be held at Amelia National Golf Club. The event features Captain’s Choice, Putting Contest, Golf Shirts, Complimentary Beverages, Awards & Raffle Prizes, and Breakfast Reception & Lunch. Breakfast and check-in begins at 8am, followed by a shotgun start at 9am. Lunch and awards will be at 2pm. Participation fee starts at $150 for players, and $25 for nonplayers. Funds raised benefit Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville.

Amelia National Golf Club / 904-353-6300 / 95211 Clubhouse Road, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 / dsaj.org Celebrate Children 2017 May 20, 10am to 2:30pm Celebrate Children is a community event hosted

by Brooks Rehabilitation. The vision of Celebrate Children is to increase awareness of resources related to pediatric recreation, wellness, injury prevention, and support services for children with special needs. Jacksonville is a large community which often presents challenges as families try to navigate the available systems, seeking information for their child. Celebrate Children is free to all attendees and will consist of four educational sessions and a comprehensive resource fair. A KidzKorner will be available throughout the event for youth activities geared towards children of all ages/abilities. There will be helmet giveaways for all attending, carnival games, and more. This event will benefit consumers, professionals, and providers of pediatric related services in the Jacksonville area.

UNF, Adam W. Herbert University Center / 904230-7761 / 12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224 / brooksrehab.org Surf Quest 2017t • May 20, 1pm to 3pm This program is a free monthly event with trained volunteers who introduce adaptive aquatic recreation using specialized surfboards and flotation devices for anyone with a disability. All ages and abilities are welcome. This program allows family and friends to participate in outdoor recreation as ohana (family). All events start at 1pm.

Crescent Beach Ramp / 904-824-7249 / Mary Street, Cresent Beach, St. Augustine, FL 32080 / www.arcsj.org Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.

Page 12 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

SPECIAL NEEDS

Sesame Street Introduces Autistic Character

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he gang from “Sesame Street” is welcoming a new girlfriend to the neighborhood — Julia, a four-year-old with autism who has bright orange hair and big green eyes.

Originated by Leslie Kimmelman for the digital storybook “We’re Amazing, 1,2,3!”, Julia was introduced as part of the Sesame Street and Autism outreach initiative in 2015. After a positive response, Julia was made into a physical Muppet and debuted on Sesame Street in episode 4715 which aired last month.

Kimmelman used her own experiences as the mother of a child with autism, as well as input from research and advisers from the autism community, to develop the character. On Sesame Street, Julia is performed by Stacey Gordon, who also used her own experiences raising her autistic son to help inform the actions of the character. The puppet is built with two sets of arms, one of which allows Julia to flap her arms in an emotional state.

Julia likes to paint and pick flowers. When she speaks, she often echoes what she’s just heard her friends Abby and Elmo say. It can be hard to

EDUCATE. ENGAGE. get Julia’s attention (Big Bird has to repeat himself to get her to listen) and she sees things where others don’t.

“Children with autism are five times more likely to get bullied,” Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, the senior vice president of community and family engagement at Sesame Workshop, told People Magazine in a recent interview. “And with one in 68 children having autism, that’s a lot of bullying. Our goal is to bring forth what all children share in common, not their differences. Children with autism share in the joy of playing and loving and being friends and being part of a group.” j

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Tests Show Kumbuka is Deaf

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acksonville Zoo and Gardens zookeepers began to suspect Kumbuka, a 20-year-old Western Lowland gorilla, might be deaf after they had a hard time waking her up in the mornings.

“When [a staff member] came in, turned the lights on, made noise, clapped her hands, Kumbuka was still snoring away, she didn’t even stir,” Dan Maloney, the zoo’s deputy director of animal care and conservation, said in a recent interview with InsideEdition.com. “That’s when they really thought she couldn’t hear.”

you’re touching the gorilla, it’s unbelievable,” Cook said in footage provided by the hospital.

Maloney explained that they were able to use the same equipment they use on children to inspect the structure of Kumbuka’s ear: “They were able to send in a series of tones and see how the ear drum was responding to that.” As they suspected, they determined her ears did not respond to the noises, and she was likely totally deaf.

“My heart breaks for her,” Maloney said.

“Kumbuka doesn’t behave in the typical way that Christine Cook, a pediatric audiologist for a gorilla would – she wants to be closer to [her Nemours Children’s Health System was brought troop], they’re such social animals.” But, he in to test the gorilla’s hearing using the same explained her keepers can now adjust their device used to measure hearing in babies, interactions with Kumbuka now that they know because a gorilla’s ears are a lot like ours. As you her diagnosis. can imagine, Kumbuka was a once-in-a-lifetime patient for Cook.

“The keepers can communicate with her [using] light and hand gestures,” Maloney said. “She “To be able to do a test I do on children all the certainly responds to colors, and they’ll train with time, it took my breath away, because you see her to make the association. Gorillas pick up on them at such a distance when you see them at things very quickly.”j the zoo in the enclosure area, but when you walk up to that table, and that gorilla is massive and MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 13

TRAVEL

50 States, 50 Landmarks

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rom coast to coast, the United States of America brims with diversity. Check out the Travel Channel’s picks for the top landmark from each of the 50 states, in order of statehood.

Louisiana, Oak Alley Plantation By the banks of the Mississippi River stands Oak Alley Plantation – so named because of the double row of 300-year-old oak trees that sit alongside each side of the path leading to the mansion. Designed in the spirit of French Creole architecture, the plantation home was built between 1837 and 1839 for a wealthy sugar planter of the day.

Delaware, Caesar Rodney Statue This statue of Delaware’s most cherished patriot stands in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. On July 1, 1776, Caesar Rodney rode horseback to Philadelphia – the very next day, the American lawyer and politician from Dover, Delaware, cast a crucial vote that paved the way for the passage of the Declaration of Independence.

Pennsylvania, Liberty Bell This iconic symbol of American independence carries the words, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”

Historians believe the copper bell was one of many bells rung to mark the public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776.

New Jersey, Atlantic City The Atlantic City Boardwalk was the first boardwalk in America. It opened in June 1870 to help hotel owners keep sand out of their lobbies.

Today, the boardwalk lures many visitors on the way to one of the area’s many casinos… and to a confectioner’s stand for the boardwalk’s famous salt water taffy.

Georgia, Ebenezer Baptist Church A great leader was born here. Before he ever became America’s leading civil rights leader, Martin Luther King’s moral conscience was shaped at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Connecticut, Mystic Seaport The Mystic Seaport was one of the first living history museums in America, having opened in 1929. Spanning nearly 20 acres, the museum showcases a recreated 19th-century coastal village with more than 60 historic buildings, as well as a collection of historic ships – including four that are National Historic Landmarks.

Massachusetts, Plymouth Rock Legend has it that the Pilgrims first landed upon a boulder – it came to be known as Plymouth Rock.

That enduring symbol of America’s early history now sits under this granite canopy, built in 1921, at Pilgrim Memorial State Park.

Maryland, Fort McHenry The star-shaped Fort McHenry was built to

Page 14 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

defend the port of Baltimore against enemy attack. That moment came in September 1814 when the British continuously bombarded the fort for 25 hours. American forces successfully defended Baltimore Harbor – a move that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

South Carolina, Fort Sumter In the early morning hours of April 12, 1861, Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter.

They fired continuously for the next 34 hours, setting off the Civil War. It would take nearly four years for Union forces to regain control of the fort.

New Hampshire, Mt. Washington Cog Railway In 1857, a man named Sylvester Marsh was climbing New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington when he got the idea to build a railway up the mountain. He put up $5,000 of his own money to fund what would become the world’s first mountainclimbing cog railway. Today, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway is the second steepest rack railway in the world, behind Mt. Pilatus Railway in Switzerland.

Virginia, Monticello Monticello stands as an enduring symbol of America’s third president and his genius. Thomas Jefferson designed his Monticello estate in Charlottesville, Virginia, to embrace both old and new thinking: classical features such as pedimented porticos, mix with sophisticated interior spatial organization and low elevation, borrowed from 18th-century Parisian townhouse designs.

New York, Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty was the first landmark that many immigrants to the United States saw as they approached New York Harbor. A gift from the people of France, the iconic figure represents the Roman goddess of freedom. In one hand she bears a torch, in the other a tablet upon which is inscribed the date of the Declaration of Independence.

North Carolina, Wright Brothers Memorial Steady winds lured Ohio brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, between 1900 and 1903. Their vision was to fly a heavier-than-air machine. The Wright Brothers National Memorial marks that successful effort -- attained on Dec. 17, 1903, following three years of trial and error.

Rhode Island, Breakers Mansion When American millionaire Cornelius Vanderbilt was looking to build a summer home, he got his wish with The Breakers. Built in 1893, the 70-room mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, sits on 13 acres of land overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It came with a cool price tag: $12 million (today, the equivalent of $335 million).

Vermont, Camel’s Hump

The third-highest mountain (and highest undeveloped peak) in Vermont, Camel’s Hump is part of the Green Mountain range. It’s also featured on the state quarter.

construction of this lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Two people had died that same year in a shipwreck, a tragedy heightened by the lack of lighthouses on Maine’s rocky coast.

Kentucky, Kentucky Derby Every first Saturday in May, Louisville, Kentucky, is home to the “Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports.” The Kentucky Derby marks the annual stakes race for 3 year-old thoroughbreds, which race around a 1 1/4-mile track. The tradition began in May 1875, when the first Derby was held before a crowd of 10,000 people.

Missouri, Gateway Arch The Gateway Arch celebrates America’s westward expansion. At 630 feet (taller than the Washington Monument), it is the tallest man-made monument in the United States.

Tennessee, Ryman Auditorium The Grand Ole Opry was born here. First opened as a church, Ryman Auditorium was later used to broadcast the famed country music stage concert series from 1943 to 1974. In subsequent years, Ryman fell into disrepair, until performances by country singer Emmylou Harris sparked renewed interest in the space. Today, the 2,362-seat live performance venue hosts a variety of music performances.

Ohio, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum The quiet shores of Ohio’s Lake Erie are home to rock ‘n’ roll’s biggest celebration: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Located in Cleveland, the museum preserves the work of rock’s most influential artists and producers through exhibits that span five floors.

Indiana, Indianapolis Motor Speedway In 1905, Indianapolis businessman Carl Fisher envisioned building a speedway to test cars before they went to market. Four years later, ground was broken -- and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was born. Since that time, the speedway has been the site of 248 automobile races.

Mississippi, Blues Trail There’s just something about Mississippi – more blues singers have come from state than all the other states combined. The Mississippi Blues Trail, which extends from the border of Louisiana into southern Mississippi honors many blues legends. Follow the trail to Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis Presley.

Illinois, Willis Tower When the 108-story Willis Tower was completed in 1973 it became the world’s tallest building – a distinction it held for 25 years. More than 1 million people visit its observation deck each year, taking in views of the Chicago skyline.

Arkansas, Buffalo National River Flowing nonstop for 135 miles, Arkansas’s Buffalo National River is one of the last undammed rivers in the lower 48 states. It was named the first National River, under the oversight of the National Park Service, in 1972.

Michigan, The Henry Ford Museum Discover America’s entrepreneurial spirit at The Henry Ford, a large indoor-outdoor history museum complex in metro Detroit. Opened in 1929 – on the 50th anniversary of the lightbulb’s invention – the museum’s exhibits span historic artifacts such as Thomas Edison’s laboratory.

Florida, Kennedy Space Center The Kennedy Space Center has been the launch site of every U.S. human space flight since 1968.

At the KSC Visitors Complex discover the thrill of takeoff with a Shuttle Launch Experience, a motion control ride that simulates a shuttle launch.

Texas, The Alamo The Alamo is the most enduring symbol of Texas independence. In 1836, Mexican forces waged a 13-day battle on the grounds of a former church.

In the end, Mexican forces killed 190 men, including frontiersman Davy Crockett.

Iowa, High Trestle Trail Bridge Take in the awe-inspiring view of the Des Moines River Valley from the High Trestle Trail Bridge. The bridge is located in central Iowa near the town of Madrid, and is the centerpiece of a 25-mile trail.

At 2,300 feet long and 13 stories tall, it is the fifth largest trail bridge in the world.

Wisconsin, Taliesin Taliesin, located near Spring Green, Wisconsin, was the summer home of the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was where he designed the architecture of Fallingwater and the Guggenheim, among others.

California, Golden Gate Bridge The Golden Gate Bridge has been called the most “beautiful bridge in the country, if not the world.”

Alabama, The Selma Bridge Visitors walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in So just why isn’t the bridge golden? The term Selma, Alabama. Built in 1940 – and named after “Golden Gate” actually refers to the Golden Gate a former Confederate brigadier general – the arch Strait, which is the entry point to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. As for the bridge later became the site of Bloody Sunday, bridge’s color -- it’s International Orange. the day in March 1965 when 600 civil rights marchers were attacked by police.

Minnesota, Headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itacsa Maine, Portland Head Light At Lake Itasca in Minnesota, the Mississippi River In 1787, George Washington ordered the

TRAVEL begins its flow toward Louisiana. The Mississippi’s headwaters are surrounded by the picturesque woods of the Itasca State Park.

Oregon, Crater Lake Distinguished by its clarity and deep blue color, Crater Lake in southern Oregon has a violent past. A caldera lake, it was formed when the volcano Mount Mazama collapsed.

Kansas, Dodge City “Get out of Dodge” – that popular phrase owes its origins to the wild frontier town of Dodge City, Kansas. The town’s roots stretch back to 1871.

Wyatt Earp, one of the toughest and deadliest gunmen of his day, became marshal of the town in 1876 -- with gun-slinging exploits that earned the town national attention.

small island in its center called Wild Goose Island.

Folklore surrounds its name – the story goes that two young lovers met on the island where they were turned into geese… and so given the chance to stay together forever and flee their disapproving tribes.

Washington, Space Needle Seattle’s Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. It features an observation deck at 520 feet and a rotating restaurant (at 500 feet) that offers diners 360-degree views of the city.

Games for On The Road

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oad trips with your children don’t have to be difficult ordeals punctuated with a repeated “Are we there yet?” There are plenty of ways to make time in the car fun for both you and your children. Here are eight fun games to try the next time you’re on the road again.

and the resulting garbled message usually inspires a good laugh.

5. The Theme Song Game Ages 5 and up: One person hums the tune to a favorite TV show, and everyone else tries to name the show as fast as possible. The first person to guess correctly hums the next song.

1. The Alphabet Game Ages 5 and up: One person chooses the rightIdaho, Middle Fork of the Salmon River hand side of the road, and someone else the left. 6. Memory Test Middle Fork of the Salmon River spans 110 miles, Each player looks for letters of the alphabet that Ages 6 and up: The first person says “A is for ---” and includes 300 ratable rapids and six natural appear on signs or license plates on their side. filling in the blank with any word beginning with hot springs, making it a popular whitewater The object of the game is to point out all the the letter A, such as “apple.” The second person rafting destination. letters of the alphabet in order, from A to Z. The comes up with a word for the letter B, such as first person to spot the entire alphabet wins. “book,” but must also repeat the “A” word: “A is Wyoming, Old Faithful New River Gorge, West Virginia for apple, B is for book.” Continue through the Among West Virginia’s must-see sites is the New Two-thirds of the world’s geysers are located at Yellowstone National Park -- among the park’s River Gorge Bridge, a 3,030-foot-long steel arch 2. The Animal Name Game alphabet, each person taking several turns and bridge near Fayetteville, that spans the 1,300 feet 300 geysers, Old Faithful is its most famous. In Ages 6 and up: One person names an animal. reciting more and more letters and words. By the 1870, Old Faithful became the first geyser in deep river gorge.

Then each person in order has to name another time you reach the letter Z, that player will recite Yellowstone to be named, earning its name due to animal (no repeating!) that starts with the last the whole alphabet and its corresponding words. its predictable eruptions every 91 minutes.

Nevada, Las Vegas Strip letter of the previous animal named. There are no However, if you’re playing with younger kids you The Strip – a lot of action happens along this winners or losers in this game. With older may want to choose an earlier letter than “Z” to Utah, Salt Lake Temple 4.2-mile stretch of Vegas. The Strip runs from children, try the game with TV shows, or geobe the final one.

The largest Mormon temple, Salt Lake Temple Sahara Avenue to Russell Road, with famous graphical categories such as cities or countries. took 40 years to complete. The cornerstone was resorts and casinos, plus 15 of the world’s 25 7. Secret Place Race laid by Brigham Young, the second president of largest hotels, in between.

Ages 7 and up: One person looks at a road map the Mormon Church and founder of Salt Lake City. 3. Twenty Questions Nebraska, Chimney Rock Ages 4 and up: One person secretly thinks of and finds a small town, village, river, etc. That Oklahoma, Oklahoma City National Memorial “Pack your wagon” and discover one of the either an animal, mineral, or vegetable. The other person announces the name of the place she has The Oklahoma City National Memorial honors all wonders of the West. At 4,226 above sea level, players then take turns asking yes-or-no chosen. A second player has 60 seconds to look who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing questions, such as “Can it fly?” or “Does it grow Chimney Rock in western Nebraska is visible for at the map and try to find the secret place. miles -- which is why it was the perfect landmark in 1995. The memorial includes a reflecting pool, in the ground?” After the players have asked 20 field of empty chairs, survivors’ wall and survivor for pioneering travelers on the Oregon Trail. questions, each player gets a chance to make a 8. Restaurant Race tree. guess.

Ages 5 and up: Each player chooses a restaurant, Colorado, Colorado National Monument such as Burger King, Taco Bell, McDonalds, etc.

Millions of years of erosion went into making the New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical 4.

Telephone Players earn points by spotting their restaurant Park vibrant, orange, slick walls and canyons of Ages 4 and up: A child whispers a story to off the road, on a billboard, on exit markers, on A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chaco Culture Colorado National Monument. Spanning 20,500 someone else in the car. That person whispers Food/Fuel signs, or by hearing it mentioned on National Historical Park in New Mexico contains acres, the monument is composed of deep the most expansive collection of ancient pueblos the same story – as close to a word-for-word canyons that cut into sandstone and granite in the radio. Impose a time limit – say, 20 minutes and ruins north of Mexico. the desert on the Colorado Plateau. recount as possible – to a third person, and so –- and then add up the points. on. The last person to hear the story repeats it Arizona, Havasupai Falls North Dakota, Painted Canyon out loud so everyone can hear. Invariably, some In the midst of the Arizona heat, Havasupai Falls In September 1883, future U.S. president of the story will have been lost in the translation, offers a relaxing swimming hole – making it the Theodore Roosevelt visited the North Dakota Badlands to hunt bison. Discover this world of flat perfect place to cool off in the Grand Canyon. desert mixed with petrified wood and rock Alaska, Denali formations at the Theodore Roosevelt National Really Fun Travel Activity Book The highest mountain peak in the United States, Park and its Painted Canyon overlook.

For 5-7 Year Olds Denali (formerly Mount McKinley) is regularly climbed with 58 percent of climbers reaching the South Dakota, Mount Rushmore Whether you have some downtime on holiday or need a top.

In 1923 South Dakota historian Doane Robinson boredom-beater for the car these carefully selected fun envisioned carving the likenesses of U.S. coloring images, mazes, facts & puzzles are perfect to presidents into South Dakota’s Black Hills region. Hawaii, USS Arizona Memorial keep kids entertained for hours. Mickey MacIntyre’s book Situated on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, the USS It took 14 years and 400 workers to complete is ideal for both girls & boys each page is easy to follow, Arizona Memorial straddles the sunken hull of the Mount Rushmore, with the likenesses of George introducing suitably challenging activities for your child. battleship, marking the final resting place of Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore From confidence boosting easy starters to tricky brain 1,102 soldiers who were killed on that fateful Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. ticklers these fun exercises support their learning through attack that led to the United States’ involvement in World War II.j Montana, Wild Goose Island in St. Mary Lake, play by developing concentration, imagination and Glacier National Park problem solving skills. There is also a “Really Fun Travel St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park features a Travelchannel.com Activity Book For 9-11 Year Olds.”

MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 15

TRAVEL

SUMMER CAMP

See Our Nation’s Capital This Summer

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he nation’s capital is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States and offers a wide range of attractions and activities.

A well-rounded trip should also include exploring the region’s historic landmarks, parks and neighborhoods, but visiting the key places will keep you busy.

Visitors from around the world come to Washington DC and hope to visit the most famous house of government. To arrange a tour you must make a request in advance through one of your members of Congress. Without advance planning, Start at the Smithsonian Institution where you can you can visit the White House Visitor Center, pick up a map and information on all of the located at the southeast corner of 15th and E museums. The 19 museums are among the most Streets, which is open daily from 7:30 a.m. until 4 popular attractions and cover a wide range of p.m. View a short video and learn about the White subjects from art to space exploration. Plan to House architecture, furnishings, and the presiexplore the exhibits that you are most interested dents and first families. in, but don’t try to see too much at once. If you have just a few hours, focus your time on one Visiting the U.S. Capitol museum.

The Capitol is open to the public for guided tours only. Tours are conducted from 9 a.m. to 4:30 Enjoy interactive exhibitions such as the America p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visitors must on the Move at the American History Museum, obtain free tickets which are available online or the Discovery Room at the Natural History through your Senator or Representative. The CapMuseum or How Things Fly at the National Air and itol Visitor Center has a variety of interesting Space Museum. exhibits about the history and operations of this house of government. Best to visit early in the Our national monuments are truly spectacular day. and “must see” attractions when visiting the nation’s capital. Among the most popular are Visiting the U.S. Supreme Court the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, The Supreme Court is in session Monday through the Jefferson Memorial and Vietnam MemoWednesday from 10 a. m. until noon, October rial and the World War II Memorial. They are through April. You can watch a case being argued spread out throughout the city and can be difficult but seating is limited. Arrive at least an hour early to see on foot. The best way to see the major to wait in line. When the court is not in session monuments is to take a guided tour – you won’t you can tour the building and attend a free have to negotiate congested city traffic and you lecture about court proceedings and the buildwill learn a lot of interesting facts. ing’s architecture. The Supreme Court Building is open throughout the year from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 The memorials are beautiful at night when they p.m. Monday through Friday. Arrive early in the are illuminated. Many of them are open 24 hours day. Visitors are admitted on a first-come, and offer great views of the city. Arlington first-served basis.

National Cemetery, located just across the Potomac River, is also a prime place to visit and Visiting Mount Vernon home to dozens of memorials including the Coast No trip to Washington is complete without a side Guard Memorial, the Space Shuttle Challenger trip to Mount Vernon. Explore the 500-acre estate Memorial, Spanish-American War Memorial, and of George Washington and his family, and tour the more.

14-room mansion that is beautifully restored and furnished with original objects dating back to the The Three Houses of Government are key places 1740s. Be sure to plan enough time to tour the to visit. The White House, the Capitol and the Ford Orientation Center and Donald W. Reynolds Supreme Court are impressive buildings and visit- Museum and Education Center, plus the outbuilding them will help you understand more about the ings, including the kitchen, slave quarters, U.S. government and its history. smokehouse, coach house and stables.

The National Mall is home to the city’s most famous monuments, memorials and museums and the starting point for most visitors.

Visiting the White House

Page 16 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

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Camp Homework Needed For Children With ADHD

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ith the end of the school year in sight, your summer plans are probably set.

You’ve found a program that matches your child with ADHD’s interests and offers the structure he needs. If it’s a mainstream program, you’ve made certain the camp directors have experience with children like yours who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

But despite your efforts, you may have lingering concerns. How will counselors keep your child’s interest in an activity from waning? How will they respond if he’s impatient or refuses to follow instructions?

And what more can you do to make the summer a success?

We put these questions to psychologist Steven Kurtz, clinical director of the Institute for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Behavior Disorders at the New York University Child Study Center in New York City. He draws on 20 years of professional involvement in camps, as a counselor, administrator, and consultant.

Some parents are reluctant to tell counselors about their child’s behavior problems. What’s your advice?

“It’s understandable that parents want their child to start camp with a clean slate. But it’s better to be open about potential problems, especially since counselors may have little experience in managing disruptive behavior.”

“I recommend providing the counselors with a list of strategies to use in working with your child. Does she respond to incentives, like special privileges? Does it help to pull him aside when he’s rowdy? If a daily report card has been helpful during the school year, ask counselors to prepare something similar. And ask your child’s teacher to let counselors know what works.”

“I also encourage kids to write to their counselors before camp starts – to introduce themselves, describe their interests, and discuss problems they sometimes have. A child might say, “I have trouble listening to directions, and what helps me is… .”

“If your child is going to an overnight camp, see if he can maintain some familiar routines. If he’s used to listening to music at bedtime, for example, ask if he can bring a cassette player

with earphones.”

What should parents do to help prepare their child for camp?

“When a child knows what to expect, he’s less apt to be nervous. If this will be his first year at the camp, meet the staff ahead of time, or get a camp video and photos of your child’s counselors. Familiarize your child with the daily routine.”

“If she’s nervous about certain situations, role-play what might happen and how she can cope with it. What if she doesn’t want to take part in an activity? Praise her for good problemsolving, and make sure she knows whom to go to if she needs help.”

Is camp a good time to take a “vacation” from ADHD medication?

“Children with ADHD often have difficulty with social skills, and being in a new setting, with different kids and expectations, can be hard.

Unless your child has already done well without meds in a similar situation, it’s wise to continue his medication. Any reasons for taking a break from treatment should be weighed against the risk of having a negative camp experience – and the potential damage to your child’s self-esteem.

Discuss the matter with the doctor.”

Once camp begins, how much oversight should parents provide?

“If your child attends day camp, chat with her counselors at the end of each day. If it’s an overnight camp, check in with them weekly via e-mail or phone. Behavioral interventions may need to be tweaked; invite counselors to call you if they feel changes are needed.”

At the end of the summer, evaluate whether sending your child to a mainstream program was successful. Did she fit in socially and enjoy the activities? Were his counselors effective in managing behavior problems? If you conclude that your child would have done better at a camp with special services and specially trained staff, don’t view the experience as a defeat. Consider yourself a step closer to finding the right fit next year. j attitudemag.com

MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 17

See www.esj.org/summer to sign up for camps.

Programs run May 26 - August 3

Grades K-12

SUMMER

Summer’s coming and so is S.E.A. Camp for kids age 7-12 and teens age 13-16. Join the crew at Marineland Dolphin Adventure for a fun-filled week of science, activities, exploration, beach combing and of course...DOLPHINS!

Sessions run M-F from June-Aug SPACE IS LIMITED

PROCEEDS SUPPORT

EDUCATION

06.05.17 — 08.04.17 CONSERVATION

RESCUE

RESEARCH

9 a.m. — 3 p.m.

Extended care available

REGISTER TODAY AT

Marineland Dolphin Adventure is a 501c3, dedicated to the conser vation of aquatic animals.

904-471-1111 • www.marineland.net 9600 Oceanshore Boulevard, St. Augustine

Page 18 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

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SUMMER CAMPS Aquatics Camp • June 19 – August 4 Owned and operated by the North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, the property is located at the St Johns River Base at Echockotee sitting on Doctors Inlet in Orange Park. Aquatics Camp serves boys and girls ages 6-14. A camper’s day is filled with activities that bring them from the shores of Doctors Lake to the heights of the climbing wall, and from the woods of the archery range to catching some air off the back of one of the wakeboard boats. Extended Care Available. Discounts for multiple weeks, siblings, & early registration by May 15, 2017.

904-269-2091 / 2513 Doctors Lake Dr, Orange Park, FL 32073 / www.aquaticscamp.org Bricks 4 Kidz Summer Camps Experience the Bricks 4 Kidz approach to educational play.

Themes include: Mining and Crafting, Bat League, Galaxy Far Away, Ev3 Robotics, Stop Motion Animation, and many more! Build mechanized models designed by engineers and architects using LEGO® bricks. Bring a friend and experience the camaraderie of playing and building together.

Beaches - 904-599-5886 / www.bricks4kidz.com/jaxbeach Westside/Clay County- 904-513-3114 / www.bricks4kidz. com/florida-jacksonville-westside Campapalooza • June 5 - August 4 Extended day available from 7am - 6pm Field trips, games, special events, and activities each week. Different theme every week. Early Registration: $99/week. After May 6th: $119/week. $50 registration fee. Extended Day available. Most field trips are an additional cost. Camp is held at Blessed Trinity Catholic School. Open House is May 6th from 9am-12pm.

904-233-5605 / 10472 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32246 / www.michaelleesdojo.com Camp Discovery June, July & August • 6:30am - 6:30pm Campers spend the summer exploring a variety of venues our community has to offer. Examples of our expeditions include: The Jacksonville Zoo, Sweet Pete’s Candy Factory, Skate City, Bowl America and the Alligator Farm. $125 per week plus $25 for field trip fees. Lunch & snacks provided. thediscoverytreeacademy.com Oakleaf / 904-779-1770 / 7629 Old Middleburg Road, Jacksonville, 32222 / Lic# C04DU0391z San Pablo / 904-619-8797 / 3232 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, 32224 / Lic# C04DU0350 Camp Intercoastal Kids June 5 - August 4 • 6:30am - 6pm Ages 4 -12. Campers will experience many of the fun, exciting and educational attractions that North Florida has to offer. They will travel three to five times per week on fun field trips including Adventure Landing, Skate Station, AMC Movies, Amelia Island, Jacksonville Beach and much more.

904-220-3993 / 13109 Professional Drive Jacksonville, 32225 / www.jaxsummercamp.com Creative Minds Academy Summer Camp June 5 - August 9 • Monday - Friday 6am - 6:30pm Ages 5-12. Field Trips to Rebounderz, Movies, Adventure Landing, Skating, Bowling, Swimming, and More. We have an Indoor Game Room with XBOX, Fuseball, Pinball, etc. $145/week and includes Field Trips, Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks. Expires 08/01/2017* www.creativemindsacademyfl.com 904-379-8126 / 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd Suite #704 Jacksonville 32256 904-880-8588 / 14985 Old St. Augustine Road Suite #120 Jacksonville 32258

Episcopal School of Jacksonville Eagle Arts Camp June 12 - 23 • 8:30am - 3pm Eagle artists ages 6-14 will have a safe and exciting experience with hands-on learning, performing, and group interaction packed full of fun. Discover talents in music (Orff), musical theatre, creative dramatics, movement, arts & crafts, story-telling, mime and improvisation. Campers will work with their professional directors (all artists themselves in their own disciplines) as campers come together to create! Make sure to bring a bathing suit, because they will also visit the pool!

904-396-5751 / 4455 Atlantic Blvd / www.esj.org/summer Gymnastics Unlimited Summer Camps June 5 – August 11 • 9am – 3pm Boys and girls ages 5 – 18. Gymnastics on all four Olympic Events (Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor), Cheerleading, Dance, Fitness, Arts and Crafts, Movies, Indoor Games and more.

There is a Show-off day EVERY Friday with Awards. Free extended hours available. Half days and daily drop-ins welcome. Cost: First week $165. $10 discount for each additional week (maximum discount of three weeks). 50% deposit is required to reserve space. All money is due on the 1st day of camp week. Family discounts available.

904-783-8043 / 5532 Lenox Ave / www.gymnasticsunlimitedfl.com Jax Surf Camp June 5 - August 11 • 9am – 3pm Jax Surf Camp is a fun and safe way to advance a child’s surfing skills, ocean knowledge, and comfort in the water.

Ages 6-16 and will break into groups depending on age and skill. Intermediate level surfers are welcome as well as beginners. After completing our five-day surf camp, your child will have learned these fundamental skills: water safety, paddling, the surf zone, and of course stand up on a board! Enter “Jax4Kids17” for $10 off a full week of summer camp.

904-372-4653 / 7th St & Beach Ave, Atlantic Beach, 32233 / www.jacksonvillesurftraining.com JJVA Summer Sports Camp • June 5 - August 4 SPORTS CAMP is offered daily or for a full week.

SKILLS CAMP is offered Mon-Fri (5 days), Mon-Wed (3 days) or Thu-Fri (2 days) SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS focus on team building, leadership skills, sports, fitness and fun! JJVA camp counselors make sure that every child has a rewarding, safe, and fun camp experience. Camp is open to boys and girls, graded K through 5.

VOLLEYBALL SKILLS CAMP is open to boys and girls grades 4-12 is designed for the beginner to intermediate player and will incorporate teamwork and sportsmanship.

904-854-2323 / 8457 Western Way, Jacksonville, 32256 / www.jjva.com KidsPark Summer Camp June - August • Opens at 7:30am KidsPark is an hourly drop in childcare center that also offers fun and enriching summer camp themes. Camp Buddy for kids ages 2 - 5 and Camp Blue Crew for kids ages 6 - 12. Each week will have different themes that are sure to be a hit with each age group. Camps focus on imaginative play, arts and crafts, music and movement, circle and story time, group games, as well as outdoor play. They have a flexible “pay as you go” rate. No need to pay if you are on vacation or your child is sick. Cost: $8 an hour or $48 daily rate per child. Additional sibling discount available. Families must be registered at KidsPark. www.KidsPark.com Kidspark Avondale - 4274 Herschel St. / 904-387-8602 / #CO4DUO724 Kidspark Tinseltown - 9726 Touchton Road #111 / 904683-4554 / # C04DU0978

Marineland Summer Camps June 5 - August 11 • 8:30am - 3pm *Friday is a half-day S.E.A. Camp I & II - Ages 7 - 12. Fun-filled weeks of science, activities, exploration, beachcombing and of course, dolphins. Campers will spend their days outside enjoying the beach and exploring the Intracoastal hammock ecosystem.

T.E.E.N. Camp - Ages 13 - 17. This unique experience provides campers with an in-depth look into our local ecosystems and its diverse array of resident species.

Campers will be able to kayak the Intracoastal waterway, conduct lab experiments and perform mock field work for the Conservation Field Station.

904-471-1111 / 9600 Oceanshore Blvd, St Augustine, 32080 / www.marineland.net MOSH Summer Discovery Camps June 5 - August 4 • Monday – Friday 9am – 3pm Summer Discovery Camps are offered primarily for kindergarteners through 5th graders with select weeks offered for 6th through 8th graders. Join MOSH for a new adventure each week! Campers will explore science, history and astronomy as they conduct experiments, journey to the edge of the universe in the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium and explore Museum exhibits, including this summer’s exhibit: Dinosaurs in Motion! Cost of Camp: $164 for MOSH Members / $205 for Non-Members.

Before- and after-care is available.

904-396-6674 / 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, 32207 / www.themosh.org Rebounderz Extreme Summer Day Camp June 5 - August 11 • 9am - 2pm Ages 6 - 14. Each day your child will have a fun-filled and action-packed experience. They will receive lunch, snacks, and participate in several different activities.

Activities will vary by day, and can include the following: Trampoline Jump Time, Laser Tag, Unreal Bowling, Ninja Warrior Course, Climbing Walls, Arts & Crafts, Games & Team Competitions and more.

904-300-0070 / 14985 Old St. Augustine Rd, Jacksonville, 32258 / rebounderzjacksonville.com Smitty’s Day Camp June 5 - August 11 • 6:30am - 6pm Ages 5-12. Activities include swimming, fishing, boating, arts and crafts, sports, field trips, nature walks, hayrides, carnival, and water slide. Mini-Camp is also available for children entering kindergarten this year. Cost: $150/week.

904-732-9660 / 7710 Hilsdale Rd, Jacksonville 32216 / www.smittysdaycamp.com Summer Camps at Main Event Starting weekly in June • 8:30am - 1pm Ages 8-15. The ultimate camp with all the activities, food and games kids love. Video Game Play . Laser Tag Battles.

Bowling Contests . Hand-crafted Lunches . Camp T-Shirt included!

904-260-7500 / 10370 Philips Hwy, Jacksonville, 32256 / www.mainevent.com Sylvan Learning EDGE Camps Full-day and half-day options Innovative STEM camps for elementary and middle school students that are sure to motivate, inspire and encourage creativity. Robotics Camp where your child will enjoy fun, hands-on projects building, programming and animating robots using LEGOS®. Coding Camp where your child will learn computer programming through engaging, hands-on projects. In the Engineering Camp, your child will turn into a real engineer: designing, evaluating and redesigning machines and super structures.

800-789-6721 / www.SylvanLearning.com 1414 Kingsley Ave, Ste 4, Orange Park, 32073

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2416 Dunn Ave, Jacksonville, 32218 Theatre Jacksonville Session A: June 5 - 30 • Session B: July 10 - August 4 9am – 2pm Ages: 7-14. During each of the 4-week sessions campers will cycle daily through classes in acting, musical theatre, dance, and improvisation. After an initial week of preparation and training, they hold camp-wide auditions for an original show, written by their professional instructing team and directors, which becomes the curriculum for all classes for the remainder of camp.

904-396-4425 X16 / 2032 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, 32207 / www.theatrejax.com

S

Tommy Hulihan’s Summer Sports Camp @ St. Paul’s Gym • June 12 - August 4 • 8am – 3pm K - 6th grade. Campers will participate in Team Sports and age appropriate activities including Basketball, Soccer, Flag Football, Kick Ball, Tag Games and more. Cost: $120/week includes the cost of bowling, pizza lunch, T-shirt and bowling.

904-349-2611 / 212 5th Street North, Jacksonville Beach, 32250 / www.TommyHulihanBasketball.com T’s Learning Center Summer Camps June 5 - August 11 6:30am - 6:30pm Ages 5 - 10. 10 fun-filled weeks of science experiments, art activities, field trips and much more. Price includes all field trip and on site activities, snacks and lunches. Camp themes including Pirate, Chef, Little Picasso, and Magic weeks just to name a few. Field trips to places such as Sweet Pete’s Candy Factory, Pump it Up, Movies, Chuck E Cheese, Swimming, Bowling and more. Cost: $165/ week includes lunch and field trips. Enroll before May 27 for $50 off the sixth week of camp. One offer per family.

Multiple discounts not allowed. New enrollments only. www.tlearningcenter.com Intracoastal - 904-641-5273 / 11761 Beach Blvd #13 / Lic #C04DU370 Southside - 904-997-1971 / 8595 Beach Blvd #201 / Lic #C04DU369 Arlington - 904-807-9191 / 3033 Monument Road #21 / Lic #C04DU806 Gate Parkway - 904-538-0900 / 11526 Lake Mead Ave #105 / Lic #C04DU1135 Ponte Vedra - 904-551-2614 / 11300 US HWY 1 North / Lic # C07SJ0111 TNT Gymnastics Summer Camp May 30 - August 11 9am - 3pm Ages 3-12. Every child will participate in gymnastics rotations focusing on new skill and position development.

They will get to interact on all apparatus in the facility from vault, bars, beam, rings, trampoline, pit, & more!

When it’s time to slow down and catch a breathe, they will have snack, crafts, & lunch each day. Cost: $150 / WeekPromo codes available for multi-week discounts.

904-998-8681 / 2683 St Johns Bluff Road S. Unit #107, Jacksonville, 32246 / www.tntgymfit.com YMCA Summer Day Camps May 30 - August 11 6:30am - 6:00pm (hours vary by location) Ages 5 – 12. It’s GAME ON! at the YMCA Day Camps across the First Coast. Campers will discover new adventures, interests, skills, build self-confidence, make new friends and feel a sense of achievement. Above all, the focus will be on making summer fun! Cost: Registration Fee: $50. Deposit: $15/week. Weekly Fee: may vary by location.

904-265-1775 / firstcoastymca.org

MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 19

SUMMER CAMPS

Packing Right Can Save The Day (or Week)

F

irst of all, be prepared to lose everything you send to camp except your kid.

“Where are my shoes?” “I can’t find my bathing suit, help me look.” Just another typical day for a summer camp counselor. Digging through overstuffed duffel bags, suitcases that are bigger than the campers who brought them and travel trunks closely resembling small coffins.

So what can you, the parents, do to save your child’s camp experience and the counselor’s sanity?

Pack smart. It’s just as important to know what not to pack as it is to pack what’s needed.

Children need an extra bathing suit, not a cell phone; a water bottle, not a bottle of aspirin.

Here are some tips to help send your child better prepared than the average camper.

The bag. Big duffel bags work best. They should be big enough to have some extra space after everything is inside because we all know dirty balled up clothes take more room than clean folded ones. Large zip lock bags work well to organize things like underwear, socks and toiletries. Extra pillow cases could hold shorts and T-shirts. If you want to go the expensive route you can buy nylon stuff sacks in lots of different colors and sizes from camping suppliers.

The flashlight. For a flashlight just send one that is small and cheap. Counselors try to keep flashlights in the camper’s bag. Campfires are not much fun when the most commonly heard phrase is “if you turn that flashlight on again I’m taking it away.”

The clothes. Every camp clothing list is pretty much the same: shorts, T-shirts, underwear and socks – Cheap low-cut white socks should work fine. A sock’s life at camp starts by getting worn, then getting dirty, sometimes getting wet and finally getting lost. That’s the easy part. But there are some very important things that get forgotten. One major thing is an extra bathing suit.

Most any camp’s activities are based around swimming or water.

Don’t forget. One thing parents often forget is toiletries. Sometimes during a week of swimming in a lake, sweating outside and being a kid, campers need a shower. But no one showers

Page 20 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

every day, not even counselors. Send enough toiletries for them to get by. Hotel-sized or sample bottles are great. Two little shampoos and a bar of soap should be all a young camper needs in a week.

Medication and first aid. If your child needs medication be sure to give it to the camp nurse with instructions on when it is to be given.

Inhalers also go to the nurse. Don’t send any medication in the child’s bag, even if it is over-the-counter.

No high tech. They’re not there to play video games.

Cell/Smart phones. Cell phones aren’t allowed for another reason. Calling home promotes homesickness. When a child misses home, the last thing he or she should do is call and think more about it.

Sleeping bags. Every family has dad’s old sleeping bags with the nylon outside, the metal zipper and the plaid lining. They’re great for sleepovers, not so great for campers. Get a new one that will dry out quickly – it will get wet. Also buy one to fit your child. A child who is 4 feet tall doesn’t need a sleeping bag that can fit a 6-foot 200-pound man.

Water bottle. Every camper needs a water bottle.

Pull top or sport bottles are the best bet for price and usefulness. On a hot day a child can a gallon of water every day. It’s not a bad idea to “teach” your kids to drink water. At dinner tell them, “No juice or milk until you drink a glass of water.”

Mark it all? Putting your child’s name on everything isn’t necessary. Mark the most important things: towel, swimsuit and shoes. As long as your camper has that stuff set, the counselors can take care of the rest.

Follow these tips and you’ll be able to send your child off prepared for everything. Then, when you pick your child up from camp, the only thing that will matter is the smile on his or her face.

The duffel bag will be a mess, it’s a given. It might drip water as you carry it to the car and you’ll smell things that you may never have smelled before. You’ll also have a child who is begging you to sign up for camp next summer.

j Aca.org

Overnight Camps Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Camps June 4 - August 4 (weekly sessions) At camp, Girls will learn all the best outdoor skills like archery, kayaking and fire building — plus favorite activities like crafts and cooking over an open fire while gazing at the stars. Camp (5 night/ 6 day) or Day Camp (5 day). Both provide offer exciting activities, work towards Girl Scout Badges and weekly fun themes. Cost: $450/Girl Scout, $465/ non-Girl Scout.

904-421-3490 / locations vary / www.girlscouts-gateway. org Blue Ridge Camp • June 11 - July 30 Ages 6- 16. Blue Ridge Camp is a family oriented, coed, activity oriented camp. Each session consists of various field trips, special events, and 45 camper selected summer camp activities. With proper guidance from our staff, every camper has the opportunity to enjoy an abundance of activities in the areas of aquatics, athletics, outdoor adventure & the arts. Every 3 days (6 periods per day) each camper selects his/her activities (each activity is 1 hour long). At the end of the 3 days, a camper may select new activities, or elect to continue with some.

Whether a camper is 6 or 16 years of age, he/she may participate in any of the off-campus field trips as well.

These trips include: white water rafting, climbing/bouldering expeditions, and our all-camp trips (Six Flags Over Georgia & White Water Park in Marietta). Additionally, each week they offer exciting camp-wide special events and Color War. Cost: starts at $5500.

706-746-5491 / 355 Playhouse Dr, Mountain City, GA 30562 / www.blueridgecamp.com Camp Immokalee • June 11 - August 4 Ages 7 - 15. Camping, like many YMCA programs, is about learning skills, developing character and making friends.

But few environments are as special as Camp Immokalee, the resident camp, where kids become a community as they learn both how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group as they engage in physical, social and educational activities. Cost (per week): Members $530 / Non-member $582.

352-473-4213 / 6765 Camp Immokalee Rd, Keystone Heights, FL 32656 camp.firstcoastymca.org Camp Indian Springs • June 4 - August 12 Ages 7 - 17. Camp Indian Springs is a private summer resident camp for boys and girls. The camp’s 77 acres are nestled on the wooded springs of beautiful Wakulla Springs State Park amidst the Apalachicola and Wakulla Forest of North Florida. With a heritage that dates back to 1965, they offer a summer experience rich in fun, friendship, learning and extreme adventure. Camp Indian Springs offers one to nine week sessions with programming that no other camps offer ATVing, SCUBA, Yachting, Skateboarding, Zip Lining, Horseback Riding, Wake Boarding, and the new High Seas Adventure Camp. Cost: $1155/week, $2310/2 weeks, $4620/4 weeks or $11,550/10 weeks.

850-926-3361 / 2387 Bloxham Cutoff Rd, Crawfordsville, FL 32327 / www.campindiansprings.com Camp Juliette Low • June 4 - July 29 Girls ages 7 -17. One and Two-week Sessions. Atop Lookout Mountain. Horseback, Tenting, Swimming, Sailing, Ropes Course, Canoeing, Crafts, Climbing wall and more. Cost: Campers: one week session $915. Campers: two week session $1800. Counselors-In-Training (CIT) $1350. * A $150 non-refundable deposit is due with the application.

770-428-1062 / 321 Camp Juliette Low Rd, Cloudland, GA 30731 / www.cjl.org Camp Kateri • June 4 - July 28 Grades 1st - 8th. Girls can earn a badge with each full-week session or work toward multiple badges at once! The possibilities are endless! Plus, with all-new night activities, this summer is one girls will never forget. Outdoor adventure is the destination when girls arrive at Camp Kateri. With all the exciting activities and fun themes, girls might never want to leave. Cost: weekly sessions start at $450/Girl Scout, $465/ non-Girl Scout.

904-388-4653 / 183 Camp Shalom Trl, Hawthorne, FL 32640 / www.girlscouts-gateway.org Duval County 4-H Camp Cherry Lake June 12 - June 16 Ages 8 - 13. This camp is full of outdoors activities like

kayaking, fishing and swimming as wells as arts, crafts, and games! Duval County 4-H will provide transportation from the Duval County Extension Office to Camp Cherry Lake and back for camp participants.

904-387-8850 / 3861 NE Cherry Lake Cr, Madison, FL 32340 / florida4h.org Haven Horse Ranch Summer Camp May 31 - July 24 Ages 6-17. Campers spend each morning hands on with the horses, learning, general care, tacking, and riding each day. Lunch is followed by a shade tree class where kids will learn about tack, horses, different events, etc. The rest of the afternoon is spent in crafts, games, or assorted activities.

Cost: please call for rates and availability.

904-813-5710 / 7333 County Road 208, St. Augustine, FL 32092 / www.havenhorseranch.org Honey Creek Episcopal Camp June 11 – June 17 High School Camp (completed grades 9-12, not yet started college) June 18 – June 24 Camp St. Peter I (completed grades 6-8) June 25 – June 27 Parent and Child (completed grades K-2) June 25 – July 1 Camp St. Joseph & Mary I (completed grades 3-5) July 9 – July 15 Camp St. Peter II (completed grades 6-8) July 16 – July 18 Parent and Child II (completed grades K-2) July 16 – July 22 Camp St. Joseph & Mary II (completed grades 3-5) All lodge rooms and meeting rooms (including the dining hall) have wifi access. Media projectors are available for a fee. Cost: Tuition for each session is $440. The required deposit of $75 is applied to the total camp tuition. Tuition covers room and board, special activities, art supplies, camp photo and camp t-shirt.

912-265-9218 / 299 Conference Center Rd, Waverly, GA 31565 / www.honeycreek.org ID Tech Camps • June 12- July 28 Ages 7-17. Develop real-world tech skills and experience firsthand how interests can turn into a college degree and future career. Code apps, design video games, mod with Minecraft, engineer robots, build websites, produce films, and more. Curriculum is delivered in small clusters of just 8 students per instructor for personalized learning. Optional Accredited Continuing Education Units issued by Villanova are available. Cost: Starting at $899+.

888-709-8324 / University of North Florida, 1 UNF Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32224 / www.idtech.com SeaWorld Resident Summer Camps June 5 - August 5 Grades 7th - 12th. Immersive resident camps begin Monday at 4pm and ends Saturday at 9am. Campers will experience all the fun of the three Orlando parks and go behind-thescenes to learn how they care for our amazing animals.

Camp includes a dolphin swim at Discovery Cove, snorkeling in the shark cage and the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the animals including penguins. Cost: Starting at $1,200 based on availability.

407-351-3600 / 7007 Sea Harbor Dr, Orlando, FL 32821 / SeaWorldCamps.com White Oak Conservation Camp • May 28 - August 4 Ages 10 - 17. This summer, students will embark on a global journey into conservation! Each day they will learn about threats to nature on a different continent, connecting to not only animals - but people and places as well. This STEM camp will put them up close to wildlife, science and leading experts in conservation! The adventure begins on Sundays when campers arrive for their week-long experience. During the week, campers will spend time in the conservation center, veterinary clinic, and our world-class conference center. In addition to learning about wildlife, they will engage in classic camp activities such as boating, hiking, swimming, bowling and so much more. Campers depart on Friday evening after the parent event that tops off their week. Your student will leave camp with critical thinking and leadership skills that will enhance their ability to make decisions that benefit people and wildlife worldwide. Cost: $1100/week.

Visit Jax4Kids.com’s Summer Camps guide, online at www.jax4kids.com

SUMMER DAY CAMP & RESIDENT CAMP Now Registering Get ready for the Best Summer EVER! Campers will discover new adventures, interests and skills, build self-confidence, make new friends and achieve success!

Let the Memories Begin!

Learn more and register at

ADD/ADHD without MEDICATIONS

June 5th - August 4th

Join us for Theatre Jacksonville’s Summer Camp, where children gain self-esteem, confidence, communication tools and friendships.

For ages 7-14

The American Academy of Pediatricians has given neurofeedback the highest grading of effectiveness for ADD/ADHD. Provides a non-drug approach for diagnosing and treating ADD/ADHD, Learning disabilities, Autism and Aspergers and it is based on research that has been widely replicated all over the world.

Other benefits include: • Overcoming academic difficulties • Progress is maintained once program is completed • Better social skills • Improvement of the emotional climate at home

BIOFEEDBACK ASSOCIATES

904.646.0054

Session A: June 5-30 Session B: July 10-Aug. 4

ENROLL TODAY!

Open House

May 6th 9 am 12 pm-

ed 9 Them ! !! s k e We

• Dodgeball • Nerf-apoolza • Blast from the Past Week • Wild West

• • • • •

Stars and Stripes Talent Showcase Talent Show Sport Week Boot Camp

Early Registration: $99/week After May 6th: $119/week One-Time Registration Fee: $50 Extended Day: $25

(904) 396-4425

www.theatrejax.com

Sibling Discounts Available

Camp located at Blessed Trinity Catholic School on Beach Blvd

www.biofeedbackassociates.com Most Insurances Accepted

MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 21

EDUCATION

For Kids, Happy Summer Travels Means Taking a Journal Along

V

acation season is almost here. As you consider what to pack for your trip, please remember to include travel journals for your children.

from magazines, added specialty papers with bikes on them, and added phrases about being outdoors to the journal. The front cover simply says, “Summer Adventures 2016.”

As with reading, the more kids write, the better they get at writing. Encourage your students to write about people, places, or things they find interesting on their summer trips this year.

You and your kids could do something similar using recycled magazines (many are free at local libraries), photos, and scrapbook art.

Focus on Details When my husband and I traveled to Yellowstone a few years ago, I kept a journal. I’m so glad I did because I wrote down many sights, sounds, and smells we encountered on our visit. I would have forgotten about the man we saw whittling in a roadside park, for example, unless I’d written about him in my journal.

Encourage your kids to include sensory details as they write, focusing on colors, music, pine-scented breezes and more. If they’re feeling creative, they may want to write poems as some of their entries.

Encourage Your Kids to Blog Blogs are a fun, free, and easy way to publish writing and build readership. Encourage your child to start writing blog entries about the trips they go on. They can easily add photos and videos to their entries.

I love to read travel blogs, especially if we’re planning a trip somewhere. Reading the thoughts of someone who has been where I’m planning to go helps me prepare for the trip.

Create Your Own Journals Last summer, a friend of mine gave me a journal she made for me. She knew my husband and I love to bike, so she cut out pictures of bicycles

Mix It Up My daughter loves to draw maps. I’ve been encouraging her to study maps in our atlas at home and then draw maps to help us get to places around town. Your kids could add maps (hand-drawn or professional) of places they go in their journals.

Your kids may also want to keep track of states they go through on vacation. Maybe they could keep a list of state mottos as they travel. Another option would be to take pictures of signs located on the border of each state.

That’s MY Job! Lisa Almeida Owner, Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville and St. Augustine 1. How long have you been the owner of Freedom Boat Club?

Since 2009 2. Why did you choose this career? I was a boater my whole life, always loved boating, my parents were competitive water skiiers (picture attached of my mom, and me at 3 years old trying to copy her.)

3. What kind of education did you get to become a? I graduated from Flagler College with a BA. 4. What are some of your responsibilities? I handle all the Marketing, and Sales, all the customer events, I organize the calendar, and all the Public relations.

5. What do you like most about your job? I help families have fun together, and I help make dreams come true for people.

Add Art If your child likes to draw or sketch, consider giving them a sketch book as a journal. The paper in most sketch books is thick and highquality. It’s great for writing and sketching.

Encourage your kids to draw people or things they see on their trips this summer. My daughter recently drew a picture of an historic site she visited on a school field trip. You will be helping them create a habit of chronicling their lives for the future.

Here’s to happy summer travels!

j

Nancy Lee Bethea

Kids Travel Journal Taking a trip? Going on vacation? Great! Use this journal to keep a record of everything!

Plan your trip and packing list. Write what happened on the way there and back. Write down what you did.

Sketch what you saw. The journal also includes: Puzzles and games; maps of the world, North America, and Europe; helpful words and phrases in other languages; metric information; fun world facts and travel-related quotes from kid’s books.

Recommended for ages 7 to 12.

Page 22 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

Kids really do say the funniest things! Please share your favorites with us by e-mailing your story directly to editor@jax4kids.com. One entry each month will be turned into a cartoon to be published in the next issue of Jax4Kids. We’ll send you the original cartoon as a keepsake.

MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 23

EDUCATION

How the New SAT Stacks up against the ACT

T

he first opportunity to get relevant New SAT and ACT data comes this spring as the colleges start releasing data for their graduating class of 2021. One school, Georgetown University, has already released data, and, so far it’s looking like the concordance with the ACT at the top end is about equivalent. However, in the middle score range, there is a discrepancy in the percentile rankings that may affect which test a student should consider taking in order to get the most out of their testing requirements.

The following table shows the score results and percentiles for Georgetown University; the numbers in parentheses after the scale score number are the SAT/ACT national percentile rankings.

In the “75th Percentile” column, the numbers are relatively equal at the 98th and 99th percentile.

However, in the “25th Percentile” column, notice that the SAT numbers only require that a student be in the 88th to 92nd percentile range, whereas the ACT score of 31 is in the 96th percentile.

this trend could have hurt students who preferred to submit scores for ACT versus the new SAT. Deacon said, “A lot of people are advised by their high school counselors maybe to take the ACT, which we don’t think is great advice, because the ACT was unchanged but the SAT came out higher, so that could have had an impact.”

So, how does this translate to other schools, whether they are just as competitive as Georgetown or less competitive? How should a student approach taking college entrance exams? The best advice is to take a practice test (preferably for free) for both the SAT and the ACT to determine which test best fits the student. Then the student should focus on the test that will show him/her in the best light possible.

No matter which test you decide to take, think of it like you are preparing for a marathon. These are not tests you study or cram for; these are tests you practice for over a period of time. The more you practice and review, the better you get, but consider getting outside help if you don’t improve and start feeling like a hamster running around in a wheel getting nowhere.

Some possibilities to consider when determining whether to focus on the SAT or the ACT: j

This could point to the possibility that the SAT is “easier” than the ACT, since a student would have to score up in the 96th percentile on the ACT to have the equivalent of the SAT’s 89th to 92nd percentile score range. A student submitting his/ her SAT score would only need to land in the 89th to 92nd percentile to be considered “average” for this selective university, but would need to reach the 96th percentile on the ACT to be considered “average.”

According to Charles Deacon, the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Georgetown University, the College Board has suggested there might be more students scoring higher than they would have on the old SAT. In Georgetown’s early admissions pool, the number of students submitting ACT scores increased this year, but

Ginny Wirzbicki College Planning Consultant Horizon College Planning Member HECA, NACAC, SACAC, NCTA 904-742-4716

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

– Mother Teresa

Page 24 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

Things to Do Wild Wonders Nature Program May 13 and 27, 11am A hands-on nature program for the entire family will be held at Dutton Island Preserve in Atlantic Beach.

Mike Rossi, an experienced local educator, will present his program “Warm Fuzzies & Prehistoric Pals”. Kids can experience one-on-one encounters with turtles, snakes, small mammals and reptiles.

Dance, storytelling and humor are interwoven into the presentation.

Dutton Island Preserve / 1600 Dutton Island Road, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 / www.coab.us MOSH Homeschool Program May 17, 9:30am to 11am MOSH offers engaging, inquiry-based programs for your student and family in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Programs have been developed specifically for elementary-aged students. Parents with younger or older siblings may observe classes with registered students. Homeschool programs will consist of two 45-minute interactive sessions, which cover a range of topics. You will have time to explore the Museum 30 minutes before the program begins and will also have time after the program. Doors open at 9am, and the program begins at 9:30am. Cost is $8 per student and parent (unless otherwise noted); 20% discount for MOSH Members and their students. Register in advance. This month’s program features Nutritional You! (Age Group 5-7).

MOSH / 904-396-MOSH / 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / www.themosh.org

Education World Language and Cultures May 18, 6pm to 7pm Come get exposure to world language instructional strategies, cultural information, and the value of second language acquisition.

The Parent Academy of Duval County Public Schools is a free family resource designed for parents, caregivers, and community members.

Samuel W. Wolfson High School / 904-390-2960 / 7000 Powers Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32217 / www. duvalschools.org Florida STEM and Health Expo 2017 May 20, 11am to 3pm The STEM & Health Expo is Florida’s alternative to the typical County Science & Health Fair. It allows the students to get a chance to showcase their science work in a fun and unique venue, with learning opportunities for the entire family. This free, one-day event features exciting science shows, STEM educators & scientists, hands-on activities, many cool robots, community health supporters, doctors, health professionals, community workers, fire and police department, vendor booths, public servants, and more.

This is a free event for anyone of any age and is open to the public. There will be games, food, activities, and free health screenings. The Expo will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at River City Science Academy (RCSA) Gymnasium.

River City Science Academy / 904-855-8010 / 7605 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32216 / flstemexpo. com

Sme

ONE LiFE

Infinite Possibilities

GO OUT AND TRAVEL!

WORK ON SUMMER READING!

PRACTICE AN INSTRUMENT!

TAKE AN ONLINE CLASS!

VISIT A MUSEUM! HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS!

MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 25

St. Johns County School District News 3…2…1 Blast Off! Ready. Get set. Go! Theresa Le and Anoushka Patel of Switzerland Point Middle School won top honors at St. Johns County School District History Fair. Their project, “3 … 2 … 1 … Blast Off to the Space Race: John F. Kennedy’s Influence in the Start of the First Space Program in the United States” was awarded the Overall Most Outstanding Project.

Here come the Knights. Running that is.

This is the seventh year the Creekside Knights High School Athletics Booster Club has sponsored the Running of the Knights fund-raising event for the school.

One of the most entertaining events is the Centipede team race.

It is an optional team division of the 5K race. The “Centipede” requires that at least 5 runners are connected as one unit with a team name and outfitted in a theme of their choice. They must stay connected throughout the race. Centipedes will also be considered in the costume contest.

“John F. Kennedy’s motivation to assemble the country together and his confidence in the potential of the American people to accomplish anything that may seem impossible, inspired us to form our topic around Kennedy and the influence he had on the start of the first space program,” the students said. Each were awarded a $75 check by the St. Augustine Historical Society.

The theme of the fair was “Taking a Stand in History.” Students in grades 6-12 from six middle schools, one K-8 school and four high schools conducted research using primary and secondary sources on related topics. After analyzing and interpreting the information they have gathered, students express their findings in a paper, exhibit, performance, documentary or website. They may work individually or in groups of up to five members except in the historical paper category, which is open only to individuals. Students’ entries are judged in two divisions—junior (grades 6–8) and senior (grades 9–12)—during the various levels of competition. First- and second-place winners in each category and division advance to the state contest.

Theresa and Anoushka will be joining 22 other students representing seven schools to compete in the State History Fair in Tallahassee, May 7.

First- and second-place state winners in each category and division earn the right to represent Florida at the National History Day competition in College Park, Maryland, in June.

The History Fair is produced in conjunction with the Florida State History Fair sponsored by The Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee and the National History Fair sponsored by National History Day. The project-based learning emphasized by the history fair provides an excellent opportunity for students to showcase college and career readiness skills including research, writing, speaking and creative thinking while embracing history.

Funds raised have allowed the athletic department and band programs to purchase needed items such as weight room equipment, a new band equipment trailer, physical therapy equipment, a basketball shooting machine, as well as allowing them to resurface the gym floor, football and band practice fields.

Last year, 1,500 fun-loving supporters turned out for the races and the festival. Attendance including over 770 registered runners, students and family members, volunteers, business sponsors, school administrators, and people from the community to cheer on their friends in the race competition.

St. Johns County School District’s Character Cup is an annual student-centered event linking academics, physical education and character building through athletic competition.

This year’s event, held at St. Augustine High

Awards include: -- Medals for all Fun Run finishers and awards for the top 3 finishers; -- 5K Top male and female awards; -- 5K Age group awards male & female 10 & under, 11-14, 15-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70 & over; -- Centipede team awards for the Most School Spirit, Fastest Time, Most Creative, Funniest, Best Team Effort, Biggest/ Longest and Best Creekside HS Class Representation.

School brought together 210 student-athletes representing 21 elementary schools who participated in a variety of track and field events, including a Frisbee throw, 100 meter run, long jump, tennis ball throw, 4 x 100 relay, sack race, field ski race, and tug-of-war. This friendly

Three talented young women have been chosen to receive $1,000 Fellowships for 2017. Kiera Pheffer, a senior from St. Augustine High, will be continuing her dance studies. Gemma Smith, St. Augustine High, intends to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre. And Delaney Maxwell, Creekside High, has set her sights on a career in medical and scientific illustration. Their applications were reviewed by a panel of ROWITA awardees: Jan Tomlinson Master, Wendy Mandel McDaniel, and Dr. Dorothy Israel.

Written by Neil Simon, the play tells the story of a 19-year-old New Yorker who moves to Hollywood to become an actress and find her father, a screenwriter. It was the first show produced by the Limelight Theatre when it was opened 25 years ago by Jean Rahner and Anne Kraft.

Rahner and Kraft have both received the Dr. Gail Pflaster ROWITA award for their significant contributions to the St. Johns County arts community.

Awards Ceremony begins at 8 p.m.

See runningoftheknights.com for more information.

May Wednesday, May 24...... 4th Quarter ends, last day for students Calendar Thursday, May 25......... Teacher planning day, last day for teachers

PVPV/Rawlings Has Character

To support burgeoning young artists the St. Johns Cultural Council has “Bought the House” for the Friday, May 12, performance of “I Ought to be in Pictures” at St. Augustine’s Limelight Theatre, 11 Old Mission Ave. A portion of the $30 ticket cost will go to the Jr. ROWITA (Recognizing Outstanding Women in the Arts) Fellowship fund. The purpose of the fund is to help graduating high school women seniors achieve their goal of developing their artistic skills.

This year the fun begins at 4 p.m. Friday, May 12, at the high school.

Festivities include: • 5K Run/Walk • Centipede Team Race • 1 Mile Fun Run • High Energy Games • Food and refreshments • Live music performances • Vendor booths • Prize drawings

Three Seniors Get Fellowships

Tickets for “I Ought to be in Pictures” may be purchased at tututix.com/stjohnsculture/ or by calling 435-222-2849.

The application for the 2018 Jr. ROWITA Fellowship is available at stjohnsculture.com. Deadline for submissions is the last day of February.

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competition allowed students to demonstrate the event’s theme that “Character Builds Champions!”

While all of the students were winners, PVPV/ Rawlings Elementary School collected the most points overall, earning the privilege of displaying The 2017 Character Cup also brought together the Character Cup trophy at their school during parents, teachers, administrators, school mascots the 2017-2018 school year. and community members who came out to support these hard-working students.

Visit St. Johns County Schools online at http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/schools/ for more information.

Page 26 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

Clay County School News

Mawhinney Comes in Second Fleming Island third grader Tyler Mawhinney tied for second in the 7-9 age division of the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship’s national finals at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on the Sunday before the Masters Tournament last month.

Tyler and Max Vandermolen of Richmond, Mich., both finished four shots behind Carter Garde of Manhattan Beach, Calif. Tyler was second in putting, sixth in driving and fourth in chipping.

One of 80 contestants, Tyler secured his spot by winning the regional final at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach last September. The eight-year-old was the first area resident to qualify for the event.

Tyler began playing as a toddler and entered his first U.S. Kids Golf tournament at age 6. He finished 18th out of 136 in the 8-year-old group at the World Championships at Pinehurst, North Carolina, last year. He plays with his father Joseph at their home course at Eagle Harbor Golf Club on Fleming Island.

Now in its fourth year, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship – a joint initiative by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and The PGA of America – is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, sub-regional and regional qualifying in each age/ gender category earn a place in the National Finals. There were 10 finalists in the boys division and 10 finalists in the girls division in each of the four age groups at the Championship.

Local qualifying for the 2018 championship will take place throughout all 50 states during the months of May, June, July and August. Top performers at the local level will advance through subregional and regional qualifiers with the top performers – 40 boys and 40 girls – earning an invitation to the National Finals at Augusta National on Sunday, April 1, the eve of the 2018 Masters.

Expanding this year to 268 total sites, local qualifying begins Saturday, May 6, at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

See drivechipandputt.com for a complete schedule and registering information.

Miss Clay County Fair The 2017 Miss Clay County Fair is Faith Carrier of Clay High School. Other winners include Kaelin Hair, Teen Miss; Mattie Hancock, PreTeen Miss; and Maria Herman, Jr. Miss. www.oneclay.net OP/Middleburg (904) 272-8100 Green Cove Springs (904) 284-6500 Keystone Heights (888) 663-2529 TDD (904) 284-6584

May/June Calendar

Monday, May 29

Memorial Day, student/teacher holiday

Wednesday, June 7

Last day for students, end 4th grading period

Thursday, June 8

Teacher planning day, last day for teachers

Sophomore Tops Concert on the Green Contest Orange Park High School sophomore Adrianna Horne is the winner of the 2017 Concert on the Green poster contest.

1st place, senior division, Adrianna Horne

1st place, junior division, Alivia Claxton

“Musical World” will serve as the event’s official poster and be printed on the front cover of the program for the 2017 outdoor event.

The May 28th concert features local bands, family activities, food trucks and is highlighted by an outdoor concert by the Jacksonville Symphony. The event will conclude with a spectacular fireworks show.

Lauren Hoffman, President of Concert on the Green, stated “Congratulations to Adrianna, to her instructor Ms. Carrie Keene and to Orange 1st place, elementary divi- Park High School. And sion, Ellie Susser thank you to all the students who entered this year’s contest, and to the schools that offered them this creative outlet as a way to expand their education. Activities involving art and music encourage students to explore, experiment and problem solve. Artistic and musical pursuits provide us a universal language that can open the door to a world of possibilities.” Adrianna will get a $500 scholarship.

Capturing second place in the Senior Division was Catherine Drawdy, a junior at Orange Park High. Third place winner was Savannah Gilreath,

a freshman at Ridgeview High. Honorable Mention winners were Bailey Binderim, Fleming Island High, and Lisette Coll-Roman, St. Johns Country Day. Three eighth graders swept the Junior Division: Alivia Claxton, Lake Asbury Junior High, captured first place; Allison Korahais, St. Johns Country Day, placed second; Emma Lantinberg, St. Johns Country Day, placed third. Karah Martin, Lake Asbury Junior High, was awarded an honorable mention.

Three students were declared elementary division winners. Ellie Susser of St. Johns Country Day won first, and Stuart Smith and Bobby Hahn from Seven Bridges School won second and third.

The “Honoring Military” award winner was Amelia Beaver, a tenth-grade student at Orange Park High School.

The jurors for the competition chose two additional awards for this year. To honor the 30th year celebration of Concert on the Green a special award for the 30th Year Celebratory Poster went to James Cloud from Fleming Island High. And a special Jurors Award for Artistry was won by Megan Castiglione of St. Johns Country Day. The winning posters will be on display in the art gallery at the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts until May 26. Concert on the Green is celebrating its 30th year and is the largest event of its kind in Clay County.

More than 198 elementary, junior, and high school students entered the scholarship contest where judges rated the art on originality, creativity, and artistic elements. The Clay County Schools participating this year were: Clay High, Fleming Island High, Keystone Heights Junior High and High School, Lake Asbury Junior High, Orange Park High, Ridgeview High, Seven Bridges School, and St. Johns Country Day School.

The contest, which encourages art students to create art representative of musical performances in an outdoor setting, was coordinated by A new military family resource center for Clay “I want to extend a warm welcome to all of the miliGreat Hang Ups Gallery of Fleming Island. This schools has opened on the west campus of Orange tary-connected families in our area to join us at this year’s judges were Beth Haizlip, artist for the Park High School, 2306 Kingsley Ave. month’s grand opening. This resource center will 2007 Jacksonville Jazz poster; Pauline Dickson, showcase some of the outstanding learning experiartist and art teacher in the Clay County School The center will serve as a clearinghouse of ences we are able to provide here in Clay County, System for over 30 years; and Dee Roberts, artist information and resources for military families and ensure military families have the resources they Military families play a big part in the Clay school for over 40 years and 2015 Jacksonville Waterarriving in the area, from general information about need to help their students be successful in and system. The number of students that are children of the school district such as enrollment and setting out of the classroom,” said Superintendent Addison active duty military personnel averages nearly 3,000 color Artist of the Year.

Military Resource Center Opens

with the resources we have gathered from the Department of Defense and through our ongoing partnership with DoDEA, and to help these families feel welcome in our schools,” said Kathy Schofield, the school district’s Supervisor of STEM and Military Family Support.

up a parent portal account, to issues that affect military-connected families specifically, including counseling and other special resources available to their children in school through the U.S. Department of Defense.

in a given year, Schofield said. Because of this, the district has been awarded Department of Defense Education Activity grants that have been used to fund STEM initiatives throughout the system.

Davis.

“As a former military spouse, I understand the challenges of relocating a family. I look forward to providing continued support to our military families

See concertonthegreen.com for more information.

Connect with us!

MAY 2017 • Jax4Kids.com •

Page 27

Things to Do What’s a Finsta? And Does Teens Your Teen Have One? TEENS

Finstagram noun / fin.sta.gram/ A fake Instagram account where people, typically girls, post funny and embarrassing photos and videos that wouldn’t make it on to their real Instagram.

Y

ou may be wondering, what the heck is a “finsta”? No, it’s not the latest new app.

Finsta refers to a fake Instagram account. Just add “F” to “Instagram” for “Finstagram” and shorten that to “Finsta”.

A finsta is a second Instagram account used for sharing with a smaller circle of followers. A finsta is usually a private Instagram account. While a teen’s primary account might also be private, a finsta is for close friends only. Only your BFF’s, your baes.

WHY ARE KIDS CREATING FINSTAS? Instagram is likely a teen’s primary social media account and it is not uncommon to have over 100 followers, sometimes many, many more. The longer you’ve been using Instagram, the more followers you have. Teens – particularly girls – are feeling the pressure to create a beautifully curated Instagram account. They don’t just snap a photo and upload (that’s for Snapchat); on Instagram they will edit the photo within another app (perhaps VSCO), create and refine the perfect caption, then publish and hope for the likes to roll in.

3. Take a look at their list of followers and who they are following. Your teen may be following his or her own finsta and then you’d see it here, although likely using a fake name. Oftentimes kids will collaborate on a finsta; it could be a joint venture, and they may have more than one finsta.

SHOULD PARENTS BE WORRIED ABOUT FINSTAS? In one sense, parents could look at fake Instagram accounts as a good thing. It means your child has given some thought to what they want to share with a wider audience vs. smaller group of friends.

An area of concern in general is the very notion of a finsta account in the first place. If a teen’s Instagram profile and photos were a true reflection of their lives, a fake account may not even be necessary. As a commenter on a recent newspaper article about finstas put it “So, the real Instagram accounts are their fake selves, and the fake accounts are their real selves”.

And there might actually be some pressure to have a finsta. So not only are teens feeling like they’re left out if they’re not on social media, they Having a second Instagram account or finsta gives may feel it is not enough to even have just them a place to share their silly pictures, inside one account. jokes and rants, or anything not meant for public consumption. It’s a place to share with their Lastly, just as with anything posted online, any closest friends, not every single person they’ve photo or video posted to a finsta account is out of met since middle school. It’s a place where they your control the moment you post it. While the can put their guard down and not worry about finsta account is shared only with those you trust, how many “likes” they will receive. that could be a fluid group especially in adolescence. A so-called-friend could always take a HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD HAS A FINSTA? screenshot and share outside your inside circle.

There are a few ways you can determine if your Always a good reminder when discussing with child has a second Instagram account: your kids. So talk to your teen – they may be 1. Ask them. impressed that you’ve heard of finstas! Find out if 2. Instagram recently introduced the ability and how they’re using a fake Instagram account. to switch back and forth between accounts j without logging out of one and logging into bewebsmart.com another. Take a look at the app on their phone. Click on their profile (icon in the lower right) and then look next to their username at Be Web Smart is a web site offering articles, tips, guidance and reviews for parents who want to the top. If you see an arrow next to it, click the arrow. If there are any other accounts in keep their families safe and productive online.

Site creator Jean Dumais has worked as a web use, they will show up here. And, this is professional since 1998. where someone can add a new account (which will require a different e-mail address than used on the primary account).

Page 28 • Jax4Kids.com • MAY 2017

Youth Quake Live: Lost & Found May 5, 8pm to 10pm The doors open at 7:30pm and the show begins at 8pm. Admission is free, but a donation is collected during the show to cover production fees. YouthQuake Live offers reserved seating for all events. For $3 per seat, youth groups & families have the opportunity to sit together & enjoy the event without worrying about the crowds. Reserved seating does not necessarily mean front row. Location of your seats is dependent on the event and the church layout. The Deadline to reserve seats is Tuesday at 1pm of event week. If you have any questions email info@youthquakelive.com.

Beach Church / 325 7th Ave N., Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www.youthquakelive.com Twin Peaks Fan Party May 9, 5:30pm to 7:30pm Teens and adults are invited for a Twin Peaks Fan Party to celebrate “Twin Peaks” returning to TV on May 21. There will be cherry pie, donuts, coffee, and more. Answer “Twin Peaks” trivia questions for your chance to win a BluRay set of the entire series, plus the prequel movie, “Fire Walk with Me.” Then, watch the “Twin Peaks” pilot episode on the large movie screen with surround sound. Free.

St. Johns County Public Library, Ponte Vedra Beach Branch / 904-827-6950 / 101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www. sjcpls.org

Financial Aid 101 • May 9, 6pm This course is designed to help families understand the financial aid process and participants will have the opportunity to complete both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as the Florida Financial Application. The Parent Academy of Duval County Public Schools is a family resource designed for parents, caregivers, and community members. All Parent Academy courses are free of charge.

First Coast High School / 904-390-2960 / 590 Duval Station Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www.duvalschools.org #Adulting at the Main Branch May 13 and 27, 2:30pm to 3:30pm Young adults (ages 15-24) teens will learn about all the topics you need to know to be a successful adult. Attend these workshops and tell your friends you’ve mastered #Adulting.

Plus, you will be prepared for the Young Adult Job Fair on June 6.

5/13/17: Interview Skills 5/27/17: Dress for Success Main Library / 904-630-2665 / 303 N. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / jpl.coj.net City Wide Prom May13, 7pm to 11pm The theme for the 20th annual City Wide Prom is a “Black & White Ball”. The Citywide Prom is an alternative to the traditional prom and is open only to high school students (9th-12th grades) who are home schooled or attend public or private schools. This annual event offers a positive environment for students who may not enjoy the atmosphere of their own high school’s prom. The prom festivities include food, live dj, dancing & more. Tickets are $14 (presale) or $18 (day of prom).

Murray Hill Theatre / 904-388-7807 / 932 Edgewood Ave. S, Jacksonville, FL 32205 / www.murrayhilltheatre.com Free Poetry Class May 18, 6pm to 7:30pm Through a grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, local nonprofit Hope at Hope at Hand will host monthly poetry sessions to celebrate a poet born in each month. All sessions are free and open to the public and will offer a poetry lesson, punch and a birthday cake. Lessons are appropriate for ages 13+ and parents must accompany youth participants. All sessions will be held at Hope at Hand’s headquarters. This month’s featured poet is Walt Whitman. Participants must register in advance.

Hope at Hand / 904-868-HOPE / 3886 Atlantic Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / www. hopeathand.org Child & Babysitting Safety Course May 20, 9:30am to 2:30pm This course offers certification in Child & Babysitting Safety for youth (approx.) ages 11-16. Certification is through the American Safety & Health Institute. Cost is $45. Register in advance to reserve your spot.

Palm Valley Baptist Church / 904-434-6032 / 4890 Palm Valley Rd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www.safetyfirstjax.com Visit Jax4Kids.com for more event listings.

Things to Do

PETS

Putting the Brakes on Pet Car Sickness

M

uch like humans, dogs and puppies can also experience a feeling of illness while on car trips. This car sickness can make travel, whether short or long, quite an ordeal for dogs and their families. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help your dog in the car.

The most common reasons for car sickness in dogs are: The ear structures used for balance aren’t fully developed in puppies. This can cause motion sickness. Fortunately, many dogs will outgrow car sickness.

Stress can also add to travel sickness. For example, if your dog has only been in the car to go to the vet, he may make himself sick from the worry and apprehension of seeing the vet.

If your dog has been nauseous the first few times traveling in the car as a puppy, he may have conditioned himself to see car travel as a time when he will get sick.

You can look for some common signs of car sickness in your pet, such as: • Inactivity • Restlessness • Excessive Yawning • Whining • Hyper Salivation (drooling) • Vomiting Typically symptoms will go away shortly after the vehicle stops.

There are a number of treatment options available to help prevent car sickness for your puppy or dog.

1. Physical Comfort in Car: Try these options to help make the car ride as physically comfortable as possible for your dog. Face your dog forward in moving vehicle - if your dog is facing forward he will see less movement. Looking out of the side windows causes objects to blur and that can cause or compound motion sickness.

Avoid letting your pet travel in the farthest backseat because this is where there is the most motion.

Opening the windows in the car a little bit may help reduce air pressure inside the vehicle and allow for better ventilation.

Don’t give your puppy or dog any food for a few hours before getting in the car.

Try putting him in a travel crate. Sometimes, this helps to keep him from looking outside too much and helps to keep any sickness he may have in a confined space.

Keep it cool in the vehicle. A hot, stuffy ride can make car sickness worse for your dog.

Taking frequent potty breaks may also help.

Exercise before getting in the car to travel.j tripswithpets.com

Soles For Souls Shoe Drive to Benefit Flagler Humane Society Thru May 31 This program is to help Flagler Humane Society’s animals while at the same time helping developing countries. The shoes are repurposed by individuals there who can start, maintain, and grow a business. It allows them to feed, clothe, and house their families. Collection runs through May 31. Drop off shoes at Flagler Humane Society.

Flagler Humane Society / 386-445-1814 / 1 Shelter Drive, Palm Coast, FL 32137 / www. flaglerhumanesociety.org Spirit Night: Putting For Pups May 3, 4pm to 8pm Come join Friends of Jacksonville Animals at Top Golf on May 3rd to raise money for the homeless animals of Jacksonville. Show up between 4pm-8pm to play a few rounds of Top Golf, enjoy some food/beverages and save some animals. Just mention FOJA at time of check-in to be placed on the level to help raise money. Open to all ages and golf skill.

TopGolf / 904-328-2002 / 10531 Brightman Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32246 / topgolf.com Pet Food Distribution May 6, 10am to 12noon The Pet Food Bank provides a one-month supply of cat or dog food to households with up to 4 dogs and 5 cats. As a requirement, all animals must be spayed or neutered pets. If you arrive before 9:30am, you will be asked to wait off-site. No lines will be allowed before 9:30am, however, lines are much shorter after 11am. Please keep your pets at home during food pickup. But be sure to bring Proof of Spay/Neuter for Each Pet, Proof of Income Qualifications, Photo Identification, Container or Bag for Each Pet’s Food, Terms of Agreement – First Time Receivers Only, and a Food Bank Application – First Time Receivers Only.

First Coast No More Homeless Pets Cassat Hospital / 904-425-0005 / 464 Cassat Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32254 / www.fcnmhp.org Puppy de Mayo May 6, 10am to 2pm Salty Paws Healthy Pet Market hosts Puppy de Mayo with Jacksonville Dog Cafe. Chef Gary Burney will be cooking up pulled pork burritos, Mexican rice, plus a variety of queso and chips ($5 lunch deals), and of course the Dog Cafe’s famous coffee. There will be several pets up for adoption, and $1 basket raffle items. 10% of all sales will go to support Jacksonville Dog Cafe’s efforts.

Salty Paws Healthy Pet Market - Atlantic Beach

Pet Events / 904-372-9433 / 677 Atlantic Blvd, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 / www.saltypawsmarket.com Riverside Arts Market - Arf Barket May 6, 10am to 3pm In addition to the regular vendors and activities at the Riverside Arts Market, this weekend will feature pet related businesses and events.

Riverside Arts Market / 715 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204 / riversideartsmarket. com 2017 Pet and Community Expo May 13, 10am to 4pm Dogwood Park hosts the 2017 Pet and Community Expo. This event will have vendors for Jacksonville pets and their people, food trucks and more.

Dogwood Park / 904-296-3636 / 7407 Salisbury Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32256 / www.jaxdogs.com Jacksonville Pet Funeral Home Public Memorial Service May 14, 3pm The Jacksonville Pet Funeral Home will hold a The Butterfly Release Of Loving Memories. This event is free and open to the public. At this event, participants will release butterflies in memory of all the pets that have passed away. There will also be “Eco-Friendly, Government Approved” mylar balloons for you to release in memory of your pet(s) that have passed away. Please RSVP to 904-724-5556, so event organizers have an estimated number of attendees.

Jacksonville Pet Funeral Home / 904-724-5556 / 4969 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32207 / www.jacksonvillepetcrematory.com Yappy Hour King & Queen May 21, 2pm Last year’s Yappy Hour King and Queen will hand over their title and a new king and queen will be crowned. Registration is from 2pm to 3pm and the pageant begins promptly at 3:15pm.

Make sure your pup is dressed in their Sunday best when they strut down the dog walk. Your pooch will be judged on: Bio, Attire, Appearance, and Overall. Enjoy live music on the Coca-Cola Riverfront stage, pet vendors, free giveaways, prizes, drink specials and more. Yappy Hour is a free event for dogs, their parents and dog lovers.

Jacksonville Landing / 904-353-1188 / 2 W Independent Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www.jacksonvillelanding.com Like Jax4Pets.com’s Facebook page at facebook.com/jax4pets to find out about other events for pets.

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THINGS TO DO 54th Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival May 4 – 7 The 54th Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival returns to the historic downtown Centre Street business district in Fernandina Beach. Activities include Pirate Parade, Kids Fun Zone, Food, Live Musical Entertainment, Invasion of the Pirates, Face Painting, YMCA Shrimp Run and more. Free admission. The pirate parade is May 4, and the festival runs May 5 – 7.

Downtown Fernandina Beach / 102 Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 / www.shrimpfestival.com St. Luke’s Spring Festival May 5 - 4pm to 11pm; May 6 - 4pm to 11pm; May 7 12noon to 4pm The St. Luke’s Spring Festival features the annual fireworks show, live entertainment by the Paul Lundgren Band, amusement rides, inaugural cornhole and pool tournaments, Lil’ Luke’s Lane, Sweet Shoppe Baked Goods, and, of course, the ever popular Spring Festival Raffle. Free admission. Discount ride tickets are available online through April 29 at 2pm. The 5th Annual Fireworks Spectacular will take place on April 30 at 9:30pm.

St. Luke Catholic Church / 904-282-0439 / 1606 Blanding Blvd, Middleburg, FL 32068 / www.stlukesfestival.org First Friday Cosmic Concerts • May 5, 7pm to 10:30pm The Bryan-Gooding Planetarium at MOSH rocks the First Friday of every month. Experience the collision of laser lights and images with 35,000 watts of digital power. First Friday Cosmic Concerts are just $5 per person.

NOTICE: Planetarium shows, laser shows and light effects may cause seizures in certain individuals. If you have any concerns or questions about the show’s content or nature, please ask the operator/educator before the program begins. For your safety, and the safety of others, there is no admission or re-admission after a planetarium show has begun.

Cosmic Concerts begin promptly on the hour. Please arrive 15 minutes in advance of show times.

MOSH / 904-396-MOSH / 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / themosh.org Sunshine Open Market at Eagle Landing May 6, 10am to 2pm Monthly Sunshine Open Markets at Eagle Landing are held on the first Saturday of the month. There will be free giveaways, music, games, bounce houses, live performances, food, arts & crafts, and more. Free parking, free admission, and free entertainment.

Eagle Landing Golf Club / 904-508-1685 / 3989 Eagle Landing Parkway, Orange Park, FL 32065 / www.sunshineoneconnection.com Jax AquaFest at MOSH • May 6, 10am to 4pm Our bodies need clean bodies of water. Immerse yourself in ways to save this vital resource. Special features include a waterless carnival, river tours, invertebrate encounters at the Vystar Interidal Touch Tank and more. Free admission to event and museum.

Museum of Science and History / 904-396-6674 / 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / themosh.org Musical Madness For Kids • May 10 from 4pm to 5pm The Jacksonville Symphony will be at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch of the St. Johns County Public Library System. The interactive events are aimed at Elementary School kids, and will feature a different theme each month. There will be live performances and opportunities to learn all about the instruments and see them up close. Free. Please note the audience for which each program is geared and if you wish to bring younger children to any of these programs, please be mindful of the decorum expected for everyone’s enjoyment. All children 10 and younger must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of these performances. This month’s feature will be the Jacksonville Symphony String Quintet.

Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library / 904-827-6950 / 101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www.sjcpls.org MOCA Family Day • May 6, 11am to 5pm MOCA Jacksonville celebrates the end of the school year with a free day of art-making, interactive fun, and other surprises. Free and open to the public.

MOCA / 904-224-0113 / 333 N. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / mocajacksonville.unf.edu Family Literacy Fun Day: Calling All Superheroes May 6, 12noon to 4pm Family Literacy Fun Day provides the community with information and educational tools to enhance and support education for all ages. This event has been designed to promote literacy and learning through activities such as, Picture Word Bingo, Family Reading Circle, Literacy arts & crafts, spelling relays, and a book walk. By organizing this community-building event, the program

hopes to inspire students and families to take charge of the pressing literacy issues.

CRC Educational & Community Resources / 904-632-4885 / 1964 McQuade Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209 / www.crceducational.org Doktor Kaboom! Live Wire! The Electricity Tour Doktor Kaboom will explore the fundamentals of electrical energy and the history of humanity’s adventures into its potential. Topics covered include: safety; Tesla; Edison; Faraday; lightning bolts, current; voltage; conductive and non-conductive media; electrical arcs; light emission; sparks; resistance; magnetic fields, electric generators: mechanical energy to electrical energy; electromagnetic coils and conductors. Tickets are $8.50 per person. Two performances, 10am and 12noon.

Reserve your tickets in advance.

Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts / 904-442-2947 / 11901 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246 / www.fscjartistseries.org 2017 FWC Kids Fishing Clinic • May 13, 9am to 1pm Amelia Island and George Crady Fishing Bridge Pier State Parks invites kids to a hands-on angling experience for young saltwater fishing enthusiasts on Saturday, May 13, 2017. Learn skills and techniques for tackle, casting, fish identification, coastal ecology and more. Take home a rod and reel, enjoy lunch and try your luck wetting a line in the Nassau Sound. Register online in advance so they know how many to plan for. When registering, choose a time slot: 9am to 10am; 10am to 11am; 11am to 12noon; or 12noon to 1pm. Please arrive 20 minutes before your reserved time slot for parking and onsite registration. For any questions please contact Fort Clinch State Park 904-2777274 or Little Talbot Island State Park 904-251-2320.

Amelia Island State Park / 904-277-7274 / 9000 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226 / myfwc.com Household Hazardous Waste Remote Collection Events May 13, 9am to 3pm - Jacksonville Beach Public Works Department May 20, 9am to 3pm - Lonnie Miller Park The Solid Waste Division will host twelve household hazardous waste and electronic waste (e-waste) mobile collection events throughout the city. Types of waste which may be brought to one of the mobile events or to the HHW Facility include: Televisions, Computer monitors, Computer terminals, CPUs, Keyboards, Printers, Scanners, Stereo equipment, Radios, VCRs, DVDs, Camcorders, Desk and mobile phones, Pagers, Power tools, Small kitchen appliances (i.e. microwaves, toaster ovens), and Health and beauty appliances. There is a limit of 3 Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) and televisions per customer. Household hazardous wastes cannot be collected curbside with regular trash. Residents may bring these items, however, to one of the scheduled mobile collection events. Types of waste which may be brought to one of the mobile events or to the HHW Facility include: Paint, Paint thinners and paint strippers, Rechargeable batteries, Photographic chemicals, Thermometers and thermostats, Drain cleaners, Pool chemicals, Aerosol cans, Pesticides, Antifreeze, Fertilizer, Acids, Gun powder, Ammunition and fireworks, Fluorescent bulbs and tubes including CFL light bulbs, and 20-pound propane cylinders.

May 6th,2017 - Jacksonville Beach Public Works Department: 1460 Shetter Avenue, Jacksonville Beach May 20th,2017 -Lonnie Miller Park: 7689 Price Lane www.coj.net Spring Fling at Cooper Chiropractic May 13, 9:30am to 11:30am Cooper Chiropractic presents a family fun kids carnival to celebrate the end of school and start of summer benefiting BEAM food pantry. Please bring two non-perishable goods per person or $5 donation for entry. Activities include a bounce house, dunk tank, photo booth, live demonstrations of Jax Muay Thai, Infinity Cheerleading and MyGym, DJ/Music, face painting, food and drinks, prizes and more. The festivities will start at 9:30am. RSVP online.

Cooper Chiropractic / 904-619-8229 / 14333 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / cooperchirojax.com Safe Kids Day at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens May 13, 9:30am to 1pm Safe Kids Day At The Zoo, held at the zoo’s Play Park and Great Lawn, will feature tables and exhibits with information about water, child-passenger, bicycle, pedestrian and home safety with prizes, giveaways and activities for children and adults.

The event is presented by Safe Kids Northeast Florida.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens / 904-202-4302 / 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www.wolfsonchildrens.org Harry Potter Event • May 13, 12noon to 8pm Families are invited to take a walk down St. Augustine’s Diagon Alley, leading you into a wizarding world and a new view of some local shops. Walk through to AUGSmeade Village, try

‘Butterbeer’, cheer for your favourite team during a Quidditch Match, try your wand technique, get sorted by the sorting hat, and more. Special Guest Chris Rankin, who played Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter films, will be at the festival signing autographs. Tickets will be $4 in advance, or $5 at the Gate. Kids under 3 are free.

This event will be during the Romanza St. Augustine Festivale, which is a celebration of art and music in America’s Most Romantic City featuring more than 100 events and exhibits by dozens of organizations.

Francis Field / 904-687-9037 / 29 West Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084 / www.romanzafestivale.com Alice in Wonderland • May 13, 7pm and May 14, 2pm The St. Augustine Ballet presents Alice in Wonderland. Tickets are $25, and are available online. The performances will be held at the Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College.

Lewis Auditorium / 855-222-2849 / 14 Granada Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 / www.saintaugustineballet.com JSYO Spring Concert • May 14, 5pm The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra presents an inspiring concert featuring all ensembles of the JSYO in their final concert of the season. Tickets are Presale: Adults $8; Children $3 or Day of: Adults $10; Children $5.

Jacoby Symphony Hall / 904-354-5547 / 300 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / www.jaxsymphony.org Anger Management & Conflict Resolution May 16, 5pm to 6pm This course will assist in obtaining knowledge on how past learning can influence present behavior. It also will discuss current trends and how they impact potential future societal issues.

The Parent Academy of Duval County Public Schools is a free family resource designed for parents, caregivers, and community members.

S.P. Livingston Elementary School / 904-390-2960 / 1128 Barber Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209 / dcps.duvalschools.org Douglas Anderson School of the Arts: Musical Theatre Spring Show May 17, 7:30pm to 8:30pm; May 18, 7:30pm to 9:30pm The Douglas Anderson School of the Arts presents their Musical Theatre Spring Show. The MT Class of 2017 grace the DuBow Mainstage for their final HS performances. Tickets are available for purchase online.

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts / 904-346-5620 ext.

122 / 2445 San Diego Road, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / www. datheatreboosters.org 57th Annual Morocco Shrine Circus • May 18 – 21 The Morocco Shrine Circus will be at the Morocco Shrine Center from May 18 - 21 in an air-conditioned, old fashioned circus tent. Circus Midway will be there with games, kiddie rides and a free petting zoo. Tickets can be purchased online, in advance and range from $20 to $25.

May 18, 7pm May 19, 7:30pm May 20, 10am, 2:30pm, 7:30pm May 21, 1pm and 6pm Morocco Shrine Center / 904-642-5200 / 3800 St Johns Bluff Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32224 / moroccoshrine.org All About Bullying • May 18, 5pm This course will review the warning signs and descriptions of behavior associated with bullying for both the victim and the bully, the laws associated with bullying, and DCPS policies and procedures. This course will also provide a description of a safe and supportive environment, while offering resources for both students and their parents.

The Parent Academy of Duval County Public Schools is a free family resource designed for parents, caregivers, and community members.

Edward H. White High School / 904-390-2960 / 1700 Old Middleburg Road North, Jacksonville, FL 32210 / dcps. duvalschools.org Get Hooked on Fishing! • May 20, 9am to 1pm Come out for a free fishing program for children ages 15 and under. Enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, pony rides, games, Dunk the Cop, prizes, and more.

Huguenot Park / 904-270-1630 / 3rd Street between 16th and 19th Avenue South, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www. jacksonvillebeach.org Kids Cake Decorating Class • May 20, 2pm Hot Shot Bakery hosts a Kids Cake Decorating Class. Cost is $38. By reservation only; 904-824-7898.

Hot Shot Bakery N Café / 904-824-7898 / 47 Cordova Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 / www.hotshotcafe.com Mother Daughter Alice in Wonderland Tea Party

May 20, 2pm to 5pm Dreams Come True Learning Center is hosting their annual Mother Daughter tea party. Mothers and daughters of all ages need to spend a little one on one time with each other, so what better way than to do so with other mothers and daughters.

Ticket price is for a mother and up to two daughters and is $20.

Additional daughters will be $5 to be paid at the door.

R & T Rental / 910-583-0211 / 5675-7 Timuquana Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32244 / www.eventbrite.com St. Mary’s Railroad Rock & Roll Express May 20 and 27, 10am to 4pm Ride the rails through scenic woodlands and over marshlands and come face to face with Rock ‘n’ Roll legends as they take you back in time. Special At The Throttle Experience is available.

(Must be 16 and up). This once in a lifetime opportunity allows you to actually run an authentic 1930s steam locomotive at the controls of the Lehigh Valley 126. Must call 912-729-1103 for details and to schedule an At The Throttle Experience. All rides depart at 10am, 12noon, 2pm and 4pm. Tickets start at $11. Children 2 and under are free, but must sit on someone’s lap. For $50 each, two people can ride in the locomotive.

St. Mary’s Railroad / 912-200-5235 / 1000 Osborne Street, St. Marys, GA 31558 / www.stmarysrailroad.com Moonlight Movies: Finding Dory • May 26, 9pm Arrive early for the best seats in the house for a showing of Finding Dory. Shown on a huge screen on stage at the Seawalk Pavilion, movies start at 9pm. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and a picnic to enjoy before the movie, visit the popcorn/candy/ beverage vendor, or dine at one of the many restaurants in the downtown Jacksonville Beach area then catch the movie.

Sea Walk Pavilion / 1st Street North, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 / www.jacksonvillebeach.org Dinosaurs in Motion Exhibit Opening • May 27 An engaging traveling exhibition featuring 14 magnificent, fully interactive, recycled metal dinosaur sculptures with exposed mechanics inspired by actual fossils. The exhibition theme captivates the visitor by drawing them into the powerful “brand” of dinosaurs while creating a unique opportunity to teach and interact with the basic principles of STEAM. Museum of Science and History / 904-396-6674 / 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / themosh.org Bluestar Museums - Free Admission May 28 through September 3 Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America. Each summer since 2010, Blue Star Museums have offered free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Participating locations include: Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens Mandarin Museum & Historical Society MOCA Jacksonville GTM Research Reserve www.arts.gov Concert on the Green • May 28, 8pm The annual event features family activities, prize-winning contests, local bands, Jacksonville Food Trucks, and is highlighted by an outdoor concert by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

The event will conclude with fireworks. Tickets day of the concert are $15/adult; $5/student (6 to 17 years of age); children 5 and under are free. Pre-sale tickets, Family Packages, and Dinner Package tickets are also available. The gates open at 4pm, and the concert starts at 8pm.

St. Johns Country Day School / 904-278-9448 / 3100 Doctors Lake Dr, Orange Park, FL 32073 / concertonthegreen.com Annual Memorial Day RiverFest Celebration May 29, 10am to 9pm The City of Green Cove Springs hosts the 29th Annual Memorial Day RiverFest Celebration in Historic Spring Park. Activities include food, arts & crafts booths, pony rides, entertainment, and contests, including a Hotdog Eating Contest, Rubber Ducky Race, and more. The event concludes with a fireworks display.

Historic Spring Park / 904-297-7500 / 106 Walnut Street, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 / www.greencovesprings.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dates, times and locations are accurate at time of publication; events and activities listed in this guide are subject to change without notice. Visit Jax4Kids.com for updated information and more events!

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Mattamy Jacksonville LLC: Richard Egger – License No. CGC1523769, Scott Paige – License No. CGC1523142, David Koon – License No. FRO6526 Mattamy Rivertown LLC: D.J. Smith – License No. CGC1517223 All illustrations are artist’s concept. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E. Builder #CGC1523769

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