Boomerang - June, 2021 Edition

BoomeranG SUMMER EDITION

YOUR PLACE FOR FUN, GAMES & MORE.

ISSUE #12 • June 2021

GET READY FOR THE MOST FUN, ACTIVE AND HEALTHIEST SUMMER EVER

ILLUSTRATIONS BY: PENELOPE DULLAGHAN

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IN THIS ISSUE 04 GET FIT

Make this the healthiest summer ever

06 THE SUMMER BUMMERS

Bees, ticks and poison ivy can put a damper on summer fun.

10 DESTINATION FUN

Area parks offer places to walk, run, hike, bike and much more.

PLUS: 14 LOOK UP! 10 SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS 16 WHAT IS THAT? PLANT MYSTERY SEEDS FROM THE PARK

17 AVOID FIREWORK DANGER GETTING TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT IS NOT ADVISED FOR KIDS. 18 YUMMY + HEALTHY MAKE YOUR OWN FRUIT POPSICLES 20 BOOKSHELF 21 MAZE

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MAKE THIS THE HEALTHIEST SUMMER EVER! BY: MARY L. GAVIN, MD KIDSHEALTH FROM NEMOURS

IT’S HERE! SUMMER!

And after the last year (that was weird, right?), we are all ready to get out and enjoy life. What better time to make this the healthiest summer ever and have fun doing it?

While a lot of adults talk about “getting healthy and being fit,” it doesn’t need to be a chore filled with kale and carrots. If you’re a kid who wants to be fit, here are some easy ways to get started (knowing that some days — like your birthday — might call for cake and ice cream!).

1. EAT A VARIETY OF FOODS

You may have a favorite food, but the best choice is to eat a variety. If you eat different foods, you’re more likely to get the nutrients your body needs.

Taste new foods and old ones you haven’t tried for a while. Some foods, such as green veggies, often taste better the older you get. Shoot for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day: two fruits and three vegetables.

Here’s one combination that might work for you: •

• • •

At breakfast: ½ cup (about 4 large) strawberries on your cereal With lunch: 6 baby carrots For a snack: an apple With dinner: ½ cup steamed broccoli (about 2 big spears) and 1 cup of salad

How much do kids need? If you are 4 to 8 years old, drink 2 ½ cups of milk a day. If you’re 9 or older, aim for 3 cups of milk per day. You can mix it up by having milk and some other calciumrich dairy foods. Here’s one combination: • • •

2 cups (about half a liter) of low-fat or nonfat milk 1 slice cheddar cheese ½ cup (small container) of yogurt

If you want something other than milk or water once in a while, it’s OK to have 100% juice. But try to limit juice to no more than one serving (6 to 8 ounces) a day. Avoid sugary drinks, like sodas, juice cocktails and fruit punches. These contain a lot of added sugar. Sugar just adds calories, not important nutrients.

3. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

What does it feel like to be full? When you’re eating, notice how your body feels and when your stomach feels comfortably full.

Sometimes, people eat too much because they don’t notice when they need to stop eating. Eating too much can make you feel uncomfortable and can lead to unhealthy weight gain

4. LIMIT SCREEN TIME

What’s screen time? It’s the amount of time you spend watching TV or movies, playing video games (console systems or handheld games), and using a smart phone, tablet or computer. The more time you spend on these sittingdown activities, the less time you have for active stuff, like basketball, bike riding and swimming. Try to spend no more than two hours a day on screen time, not counting computer use related to school and educational activities.

5. BE ACTIVE

One job you have as a kid — and it’s a fun one — is that you get to figure out which activities you like best. Not everyone loves baseball or soccer. Maybe your passion is karate or kickball or dancing. Ask your parents to help you do your favorite activities regularly. Find ways to be active every day.

You might even write down a list of fun stuff to do, so you can use it when your mom or dad says it’s time to stop watching videos or playing computer games!

6. FOLLOW THE 5-2-1!

How are you going to remember all this? Follow the “5-2-1” plan this summer! Eat five or more vegetables a day, watch two hour

2. DRINK WATER AND MILK

When you’re really thirsty, cold water is the best thirst-quencher. And there’s a reason your school cafeteria offers cartons of milk. Kids need calcium to build strong bones, and milk is a great source of this mineral.

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or less of TV and be active for at least 1 hour a day.

DOWNLOAD OUR GUIDE and put it someplace to remind yourself to stick to your health goals!

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THE

SUMMER BUMMERS BEES, TICKS AND POISON IVY CAN PUT A REAL DAMPER ON YOUR SUMMER FUN. But the more you know, the less scary they are!

You’re so excited to go on a picnic with your family or maybe take a hike in the woods … but, wait, what is that buzzing?

What is that red spot? Why am I all itchy? Noooooooo!

Every kid knows that bees, ticks and poison ivy should be avoided. Here’s all the info you need to keep you from being itchy, scratchy and miserable this summer!

WHAT’S A BEE? “Bee” (or “honeybee”) is the word many people use to describe any flying insect that has wings and a stinger. But honeybees are really only one of a group of insects that includes other types of bees, wasps and ants.

Bees are fuzzy insects that feed on flowers. There are thousands of different

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types of bees worldwide, and they can be many different colors. The most familiar kind of bee is the honeybee. These bees build nests out of wax in old trees and manmade hives (like the ones that beekeepers take care of) and spend a lot of their time collecting nectar and pollen from flowers. Then they turn the nectar into honey for food.

Wasps are closely related to bees, but instead of only feeding on pollen and honey, wasps eat animal food, other insects or spiders. They are not fuzzy like bees, but seem kind of smooth and shiny, and they have skinnier bodies. There are also thousands of different types of wasps in the world. Two common types of wasps are bald-faced hornets and yellow jackets: •

Bald-faced hornets are black with white

markings, and they build papery nests shaped

like footballs in trees and shrubs.

•

Yellow jackets have yellow and black stripes

on their bodies and are smaller than hornets

and honeybees. They make their nests in the

ground or in old tree stumps.

Ants are small insects that can be brown, black or red. Some have wings; others don’t. Some ants can sting, like the fire ant. Fire ants are tiny, reddishbrown and live in nests under the ground.

WHAT A STING LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE Honeybees, wasps, hornets, fire ants and yellow jackets may look different and have different homes, but they all sting when they are upset! If a person is stung by any of these insects, the sting will feel a lot like a shot at the doctor’s office.

The site of the sting will feel hot, and it may itch.

A red bump surrounded by white skin will develop around the sting, except for the sting of the fire ant, which turns into an itchy blister.

Wasps and many bees can sting more than once because they are able to pull out their stinger without injuring themselves. Only honeybees have special hooks on their stinger that keep the stinger in the skin after a person is stung. The stinger gets

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO If you think you have been stung by one of these insects, tell an adult immediately. Some people are allergic to stings from insects. The symptoms of an allergic reaction include hives (red patches on the skin that sting and itch), nausea, dizziness, a tight feeling in the throat or difficulty breathing. A person who has these symptoms needs medical attention right away.

But most sting victims can simply follow these steps after getting stung: •

Have an adult help you remove the stinger if one

is left behind after a honeybee sting. (It doesn’t

really matter how it’s removed. What is important

is that it’s removed as quickly as possible.)

•

Wash the area with soap and water.

•

Apply some ice to the area.

•

Ask your mom or dad for a pain reliever.

WHAT A DOCTOR WILL DO Call the doctor if you or your parent are worried about the redness, swelling or itching. Sometimes, the doctor will suggest giving a medicine called an antihistamine to control symptoms. If someone has an allergic reaction to a bee sting, a doctor must immediately give a shot that fights the reaction.

People who know that they are allergic to bee stings also sometimes carry emergency medicine that they can give to themselves to prevent a severe reaction from happening.

HOW TO AVOID GETTING STUNG If you know you are allergic to bees or other insects, you’ll want to take extra steps to avoid getting bitten or stung. You may want to avoid places where such insects spend time, like gardens or orchards in bloom.

No one likes to get stung, so here’s some advice for everyone: •

Wear shoes outdoors.

•

Don’t disturb hives or insect nests.

•

Don’t wear sweet-smelling perfume, lotions

or hair products.

•

Avoid bright-colored or flower-printed clothing.

torn out of the bee’s body as it tries to fly away. As a result, the honeybee dies after stinging.

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•

Cover food when eating outdoors.

•

Be careful when outside with open

soda cans because yellow jackets

and ants like to climb inside for

a sip.

•

Watch out for garbage cans

because they attract bees and

yellow jackets.

•

If a bee or wasp flies around you,

stay calm and don’t swat at it. If

you get stung, tell an adult and go

indoors right away.

WHAT’S A TICK? Ticks are part of the arachnid family, which also includes mites, spiders and scorpions. A tick attaches itself to the skin of an animal and sucks blood.

There are hundreds of kinds of ticks on the planet, and they can be found almost everywhere. The two types of ticks that many people talk about are the deer tick and the dog tick.

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WHAT A BITE LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE

WHAT A DOCTOR WILL DO

A person who gets bitten by a tick

bites. But if the tick was carrying

usually won’t feel anything at all.

Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain

There might be a little redness around

spotted fever and passed it on, any

the area of the bite.

symptoms that might mean you are sick will be treated with antibiotics.

If you think you’ve been bitten by a

Your doctor might ask to see the tick

tick, tell an adult immediately. Some

to help make a diagnosis. If these

ticks carry diseases (such as Lyme

diseases are treated early on, it’s rare

disease or Rocky Mountain spotted

for there to be any lasting changes to

fever) and can pass them to people.

a person’s health.

These diseases can be very serious and need immediate treatment.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

HOW TO AVOID GETTING BITTEN Ticks like spending time in shrubbery,

Your parent or another responsible

where they can remain close to the

adult should check you for ticks,

ground in order to jump on people

especially on your head (including

or animals that pass by. If you are

your scalp), back, neck, armpits and

hiking in the woods, wear long sleeves

groin area, after you’ve been playing

and long pants, and tuck your pants

or hiking in the woods. If you ever find

into your socks. Wearing an insect

a tick on you, ask for an adult’s help

repellent also might help. Have your

in removing it. Using tweezers, an

parents apply one that contains 10%

adult should grab the tick as close as

to 30% DEET.

•

The deer tick is about the

same size as the head of

a pin, and it is found in many

parts of the United States.

One of the diseases that deer

ticks can carry is Lyme disease,

especially in New England and

parts of the Midwest. (Lyme

disease gets its name from

the place where it was discovered:

Lyme, Connecticut, which is in

New England).

•

Dog ticks are very common and

Once the tick is removed, your parent

can be up to ½ inch long. If you

may want to put the tick in a small

have a dog, chances are pretty

container or zip-locked bag to show

good that you’ve seen a dog tick

to your doctor.

on its coat. One disease that this

type of tick can carry is called

Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

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Doctors don’t need to treat most tick

possible to your skin, and pull the tick off in one motion. Don’t cover the tick

Dogs are also very good at picking up

with petroleum jelly, fingernail polish

ticks in their coats, so ask an adult to

or any other substance, since these

help you bathe your dog with a tick

don’t help the tick come out and can

shampoo and treat it with flea and

make things more complicated.

tick preventative all year-round.

If part of the tick stays in your skin, don’t worry; it will eventually come out. But you should tell a parent if you notice any irritation in the area.

WHAT IS POISON IVY? “Leaves of three, let them be!“

WHEN SHOULD I SEE THE DOCTOR?

HOW CAN I PREVENT RASHES FROM POISON IVY?

You’ve probably heard that little

It’s a good idea to see your doctor if

To avoid getting a poison ivy rash:

rhyme about poison ivy, the plant

you have any kind of rash, especially

•

Learn to identify poison ivy, oak

that can cause an itchy rash. But

if you have a fever, too. If your rash

and sumac, so you can steer clear

do you know why? It’s because of

was caused by poison ivy or a similar

of them. The leaves of poison

urushiol (say: yoo-ROO-shee-ol), a

plant, the doctor may recommend

plants release urushiol when

colorless, odorless oil (or resin) found

cool showers and calamine lotion.

they’re “injured,” meaning

if they get bumped, torn or

In more severe cases, a liquid or pill

brushed up against. Once

medicine called an antihistamine

the urushiol has been released,

in the leaves of the plants.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF POISON IVY?

might be needed to decrease itching

it can easily get on a person’s skin.

Urushiol is considered an allergen

and redness. A steroid (say: STER-

When the oil is released, the

because it causes an allergic reaction:

oyd), another kind of medicine, may

leaves may appear shiny or you

the rash and sometimes swelling. Not

be prescribed in some cases. This

may see black spots of resin

everyone will get a reaction, but most

medicine may be applied directly to

on them.

people will.

the rash or taken in a pill or liquid

•

Avoid areas where you know these

form.

plants live.

•

Wear long sleeves and long pants

when you’re in areas that could

contain poisonous plants.

This reaction can appear within hours of touching the plant or as late as five days later. Typically, the skin

IS POISON IVY CONTAGIOUS?

becomes red and swollen, and blisters

The poison ivy rash itself isn’t

•

If you come into contact with

will appear. It’s super itchy, too! After

contagious. But it’s possible to get a

urushiol oil, try to wash it off your

a few days, the blisters may become

poison ivy rash without ever stepping

skin right away. But don’t take

crusty and start to flake off. It may

into the woods or directly touching

a bath! If you do, the oil can get

take two to three weeks to heal.

one of the plants. Here’s how: Urushiol

in the bath water and spread to

can pass from one person to another.

other areas of your body. Ouch!

Plus, a person can pick it up from

Take a shower instead and be sure

anything that’s come in contact with

to use soap. And if your dog has

the oil, including your dog that likes

been out exploring the woods, give

to roam the woods! Urushiol even

your pet a shower, too!

can travel through the air if someone burns some of the plants to clear brush.

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visit these parks in

HANCOCK COUNTY

start

for a summer of fun SCHOOL IS OUT AND SO IS THE SUMMER SUNSHINE. SO, WHAT’S A KID TO DO?

RILEY PARK

HEAD TO A PARK! Whether you go with friends or family, exploring the parks around your home and beyond can be a fun way to enjoy new places and make great memories.

In fact, we think it’s so much fun that we’ve created a scavenger hunt for

BECKENHOLDT PARK

some of the best parks in Hancock County. Print out your copy by clicking below.

DOWNLOAD Visit these amazing parks, check off the sunshines, and then bring your completed list (with your name and parent’s contact information!) to any Hancock Wellness Center location (in Greenfield, McCordsville or New Palestine) to receive a FREE pedometer and be entered to win a grand prize!

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COMMONS PARK

Parks of Hancock County

SCAVENGER HUNT MARY MOORE PARK THORNWOOD NATURE PRESERVE

LION’S PARK

HENRY B. WILSON PARK

end

GET HEALTHY

Spending time outdoors is important for your health and the health of our planet. Kids should be getting a minimum of 60 minutes of exercise EACH day, but summer is a great time to aim for more than that. Always make sure to have your water bottle, healthy snacks and sunscreen handy so that you can enjoy your time outdoors!

JACOB SCHRAMM NATURE PRESERVE Boomerang

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Parks of Hancock County RILEY PARK

HENRY B. WILSON PARK

Riley is one of the most popular parks in Greenfield. With a swimming pool, creek, picnic area and plenty of open space to play, you can be sure to get your daily dose of fun here!

This 14-acre park offers trails, fishing, picnic tables and a floating bridge!

APPLE STREET & I-40, GREENFIELD

BECKENHOLDT PARK 2770 N. FRANKLIN ST., GREENFIELD

Bring a picnic basket full of your faves or even some hotdogs to roast on one of the charcoal grills in this fun community park.

BRANDYWINE PARK 900 E. DAVIS RD., GREENFIELD

Looking to get closer to the natural world? Check out the trails, creek and playgrounds at Brandywine!

COMMONS PARK 856 W. 5TH ST., GREENFIELD

This Greenfield park has awesome playgrounds to test your skills on the monkey bars or even create an obstacle course with your friends!

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2349 COLLINS WAY, GREENFIELD

MARY MOORE PARK 951 FRANKLIN ST., GREENFIELD

There are 8 acres to explore of mulched trails with information markers to learn about local flora and fauna.

THORNWOOD PRESERVE 1597 S. MORRISTOWN PIKE, GREENFIELD

These beautiful 40 acres offer 7 nature trails, a campground, 2 creeks, a picnic area and a suspension bridge you MUST experience!

LION’S PARK

301 N. BUCK CREEK RD., CUMBERLAND Located in Cumberland, Lion’s Park has both play equipment and sports fields, so you can bring your friends and start a pickup game.

CHECK ALL YOU HAVE VISITED JACOB SCHRAMM NATURE PRESERVE

SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP PARK

Ready to go for an easy hike? Head on over to this 31-acre nature preserve in New Palestine for some great exercise and so much more!

To date, 35 acres of this 88-acre park have been developed with shelters, fitness trails, playgrounds, a Frisbee golf course, gazebo, free dog park, education trails and a veterans memorial.

1926 S. 600 W., NEW PALESTINE

HANCOCK COUNTY VETERANS PARK 116 S. STATE ST., GREENFIELD

Why not learn a bit about the sacrifices Hancock County soldiers made for our freedom? This educational tribute features a walking tour covering about 1/3 of an acre.

LANDMARK PARK 223 E STAAT ST., FORTVILLE

4136 S. 700 W., NEW PALESTINE

FORTVILLE MEMORIAL PARK 400 W. CHURCH ST., FORTVILLE

Rolling hillsides and running water comprise this park of playgrounds, ball diamonds, tennis courts, picnic shelters and trails.

SOUTHEASTWAY PARK 5624 S. CARROLL RD., NEW PALESTINE

Near downtown, this little park features a pretty gazebo, picnic areas, a football-soccer field and offers live music and festivals all summer long.

Check out this 188-acre green space that offers 2.5 miles of paved walking trail, several forest trails, numerous prairies, a pond, shelters, a playground and activity center!

MACY PARK

MCCORDSVILLE SPORT PARK

Explore the Little Brandywine with walking trails and shelters on 16.9 acres.

This park offers 15 acres of sportsrelated fields for training, playing, camps and pickup games.

980 GONDOLA RUN, GREENFIELD

5450 IN-67, MCCORDSVILLE

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REACH for the

STARS -10 SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS TO FIND14

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THE SKY WAS ONCE FULL OF STORIES. ANCIENT CULTURES SPENT NIGHTS TELLING EPICS OF HEROES AND MONSTERS AND MEMORIZING PATTERNS IN THE STARS.

find Polaris, the North Star. Polaris is very close to the celestial pole, meaning it tends to stay fixed in the north, while all other stars circle around it.

URSA MINOR

The stars are a little less familiar these days as light pollution and obstacles such as sturdy roofs often get in the way of our view. However, if you venture away from the city lights, you can still find a handful of star constellations to enjoy. Let’s explore 10 constellations you can find for an epic summer.

Now that you’ve found Polaris, you can spot Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Dipper. The North Star is positioned at the very tail end of Ursa Minor. While the stars in this constellation are 10 to 100 times fainter than the North Star, you can still make out a littler dipper.

SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS OVERVIEW

• Ursa Major (Big Dipper) • Polaris (North Star) • Ursa Minor (Little Dipper) • Cassiopeia • Leo • The Summer Triangle o Aquila o Cygnus o Lyra • Scorpius • Sagittarius

Let’s go back to the Big Dipper.

Draw a line between the two stars at the constellation’s edge and follow it through the sky about the same distance as you did to find Polaris. Keep going and you’ll spot the distinctive “W” shape of Cassiopeia. According to Greek mythology, Cassiopeia was a vain queen who angered Poseidon, the sea god. As a consequence, Cassiopeia was chained to her throne in the heavens.

URSA MAJOR

LEO

One of the most recognizable groups of stars in the Northern Hemisphere (that’s where we live!) is the Big Dipper. These stars form the center of the constellation Ursa Major, which is Latin for “greater bear.” As the sun sets, look to the northern sky for a collection of seven bright stars. Once you’ve spotted it, the Big Dipper can be used as a guide to find other summer constellations.

POLARIS, THE NORTH STAR If you draw a line between the two stars at the Big Dipper’s edge and follow it through the night sky, you’ll

CASSIOPEIA

If you have trouble finding it, you can follow two stars from the Big Dipper across the sky to a star called Deneb, one of the most distant visible stars. Deneb forms the tail of Cygnus, a great swan constellation that gets its name from an Arabic phrase meaning “the tail of the hen.”

Many other stars have names with Arabic roots. For instance, Vega, a star in the constellation Lyra, gets its name from the Arabic phrase “the falling eagle.” Altair, in the constellation Aquila, means “the flying one.”

SCORPIUS AND SAGITTARIUS Floating above the southern horizon, you’ll find two more constellations known as Scorpius and Sagittarius.

Between these two constellations is the exact center of our galaxy, the massive black hole around which all the stars of the Milky Way rotate.

A bright reddish star, Antares, marks the heart of a giant scorpionshaped constellation named “Scorpius.”

Leo is a constellation of stars that ancient cultures viewed in the shape of a lion. In early summer, right around sunset, begin at the two stars closest to the Big Dipper’s handle and follow their line toward the western sky. A backward question mark forms the mane of Leo, a constellation reportedly discovered more than 6,000 years ago.

Sagittarius, located just east of Scorpius, is sometimes depicted as a centaur (a half-human, halfhorse creature in Greek mythology) wielding a bow. However, other people say it looks more like a teapot with the Milky Way rising from its spout like steam.

THE SUMMER TRIANGLE

The night sky offers much to explore. Make the summer a bit more magical this year by searching the glorious heavens for these 10 star-studded constellations.

If you look to the east, you’ll see a trio of bright star constellations known as Aquila, Cygnus and Lyra.

Together, these constellations make up the iconic Summer Triangle.

IT’S WRITTEN IN THE STARS

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answer the call of

NATURE PLANT MYSTERY SEEDS FROM THE PARK

Looking for the perfect outdoor adventure this summer? Go on a seed hunt at your local park! This activity is educational and fun, teaching you about the nature cycle as you explore the great outdoors. Plant your seeds to watch your collection grow, literally! !

Before you start, you’ll need • • • •

a bag for collecting seeds on your hunt small containers to store seeds (glass jars, boxes, etc.) tape and a marker to label your seeds large magnifying glass and child-size tweezers (optional)

Prepare for your seed hunt

Now that you’ve gathered your materials, prepare for your seed-collecting adventure by discussing what a seed is and how it can grow into a new plant if the conditions are right. Chat about all the different types of seeds you might find on your journey. What purposes do they serve?

Set out on your journey

It’s time to take a trip to your local park and begin seed hunting! You may be surprised by how many seeds you’ll find in just a few minutes. Enjoy the great outdoors and collect seeds to your heart’s content.

Sort your seeds

Upon arriving home, sort your seeds. Spread your collection onto a clean table and separate them into small containers of your choosing. Using your tape and marker, label the plants you know and put question marks on the ones you don’t know; these are your mystery seeds.

Further your understanding

Looking to learn more about seeds? Plant the seeds you have gathered!

Throughout this process, talk more in-depth about what conditions seeds need to grow into healthy plants. To make this activity even more exciting, plant your mystery seeds, help them grow, and watch the mystery unfold!

The adventure continues

Seed hunts are a great way to learn about the cycle of nature. Grow your seed collection over time by going on even more seed-hunting adventures.

Have an abundance of seeds? Create fun art projects with them. It’s the activity that keeps on giving!

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ENJOY THE FIREWORKS BUT AVOID THE DANGER! WHILE FIREWORKS ARE THRILLING, GETTING TOO CLOSE IS NOT ADVISED FOR KIDS.

BY KIDSHEALTH MEDICAL EXPERTS ISN’T THE FOURTH OF JULY GREAT?

In addition to being a celebration of America’s independence as a nation, there’s no school, lots of families have barbecues or cookouts, and you can go see a fireworks display at night.

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is at a professional display. Some people light sparklers at home or even set off their own fireworks, but this can be dangerous. Some of the people hurt each year aren’t the ones setting off the fireworks but people who are nearby them.

It’s best to stay away from areas where nonprofessionals are setting off fireworks. Fireworks can cause serious eye injuries, including blindness, if the eye tissue gets damaged or torn. Other common injuries from fireworks include burns to the hands and face, which can leave scars. Someone could even lose one or more fingers if fireworks go off the wrong way. Fireworks can also start fires, which can hurt even more people.

If you know someone who plans to set off fireworks at home, here are some safety tips to share: • Only adults should

light fireworks.

• Never use fireworks indoors.

• Be prepared to put out a fire by

having a hose or water nearby.

• Light fireworks one at a time.

• Stay away from a firework that

has not gone off and never try to

relight it.

• Sparklers may seem less

dangerous than fireworks, but

they get extremely hot —

as hot as 1,800°F (982°C).

Sparklers can light clothes on

fire and can cause kids to get

badly burned. That would take

the fun out of a great holiday!

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There’s nothing better than enjoying a homemade fruit popsicle on a warm summer’s day.

Directions 1. First, gather your equipment

and prepare your ingredients.

Once you’ve gathered your materials, it’s time to create your masterpiece!

These treats are a fun way for both kids and adults to work together while experimenting in the kitchen. Not only is this recipe delicious, it’s healthy, too! Homemade fruit popsicles add more nutrients to your day without using refined sugar. All you will need are a few simple ingredients and perhaps some fun music to fuel your treat-making time.

2.

Second, combine popsicle ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

LET’S GET STARTED!

3.

To make fruit popsicles you’ll need

EQUIPMENT • a blender • popsicle mold tray(s)* • cupcake liners (optional)

*Don’t have popsicle mold trays?

No problem! Use 3-ounce plastic cups to serve as molds for your fruit popsicles. For this method, you will also need: • aluminum foil • popsicle sticks

Ingredients •

• • • •

2 cups frozen fruit (your choice), thawed ¼ cup apple juice 2 tablespoons honey ½ lemon, juiced 1 pinch salt

The ingredient amounts listed are perfect for 10-count 3-ounce popsicle mold trays. Feel free to adjust these measurements based on what you use as your popsicle mold!

There are so many different fruits to choose from when creating your very own delicious popsicles. You can try bananas, blueberries, kiwi, strawberries, watermelon and more.

For even more fun, try a combination of two or even three fruits!

Don’t be afraid to experiment with your ingredients until you find the perfect blended mixture. This is where your creativity will come into good use!

Third, pour blended mixture into popsicle molds.

If you are using 3-ounce plastic cups as your molds, pour the blended mixture into each cup until there is no more mixture left. Next, cover each cup with aluminum foil. Then, insert one popsicle stick through the center of each cup’s foil.

4.

Next, place popsicle molds in the freezer for at least 5 hours or overnight.

Leaving your popsicle molds in the freezer overnight will give you something to look forward to the next day!

5.

Finally, it’s time to enjoy!

To prevent melted popsicle drips from making a mess, cut a small slit through the bottom of a cupcake liner and insert the popsicle stick through it. The cupcake liner will catch any dripping juice, saving you from unwanted messes.

AN “a-peeling” treat

With a little bit of creativity, you can turn wholesome fruit mixtures into delicious homemade frozen popsicles.

Now you have the perfect recipe in your back pocket for those warm summer days. Be sure to experiment with this recipe each time you recreate it. The possibilities are endless!

Boomerang

19

PERSONAL HEALTH SERIES

SAFE AND HEALTHY SUMMER HAVE FUN FOR ONE Instructions: Use this chart so you can keep track of every day you get at least 1 hour of physical activity this summer. Keep the chart where you can use it as a reminder to keep moving, like on the fridge or in your bedroom. Ask a family member or friend to join you. When you reach that daily goal, fill in a circle. If you have seven filled-in circles at the end of each week, reward yourself with a special healthy treat, a family outing, a new book, anything that’s healthy and makes you feel good!

week one week two

ARLO & PIPS: KING OF THE BIRDS BY ELISE GRAVEL (AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR)

WEST MEADOWS DETECTIVES: THE CASE OF MAKER MISCHIEF

BY LIAM O’DONNELL (AUTHOR), AURÉLIE GRAND (ILLUSTRATOR)

week three week four

A GIRL, A RACCOON, AND THE MIDNIGHT MOON

BY KAREN ROMANO YOUNG (AUTHOR), JESSIXA BAGLEY (ILLUSTRATOR)

week five week six

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY (SERIES) BY BETTY G. BIRNEY (AUTHOR)

week seven week eight

THE UNICORN RESCUE SOCIETY: THE CREATURE OF THE PINES (SERIES) BY ADAM GIDWITZ (AUTHOR), HATEM ALY (ILLUSTRATOR)

CIRCLE SOME OF THE ACTIVE THINGS YOU’LL DO THIS SUMMER, AND ADD SOME OF YOUR OWN: SWIM

SHOOT HOOPS

KICKBALL

FOOTBALL

PLAY TAG

ROLLERSKATE

STREET HOCKEY

FLASHLIGHT TAG

RIDE A BIKE

SKATEBOARD

SOCCER

HIDE-AND-SEEK

RUN

GO FOR A WALK

FRISBEE

BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL

WALK

WALK THE DOG

VOLLEYBALL

GARDENING

SKIP

HULA HOOP

TENNIS

HOPSCOTCH

JOG

CAPTURE THE FLAG

EXERCISE VIDEO GAMES

JUMPING ROPE

Boomerang

POLLY DIAMOND AND THE MAGIC BOOK: BOOK 1

BY ALICE KUIPERS (AUTHOR), DIANA TOLEDANO (ILLUSTRATOR)

POWER FORWARD: ZAYD SALEEM, CHASING THE DREAM

BY HENA KHAN (AUTHOR), SALLY WERN COMPORT (ILLUSTRATOR)

I was active for at least 1 hour these days:

20

BOOMERANG BOOKSHELF

start

end Boomerang

21

Become the healthiest generation ever!

When you know more about your health and how to take care of it, you can be more, do more and have more fun — starting now!

Hancock Health 801 N. State Street Greenfield, IN 46140 HancockRegional.org