Northland, MO August 2022

Into the Woods: Northland parents send their kids outside for school

S T Y LE + B E AUT Y

GO O D D O G IS U N LE A SH IN G ST YLE I N KC AU G U S T 2 022

Health club meets cutting edge healthcare.

Located oo I-35, adjacent to Liberty Hospital, WellWay at Norterre (formerly the Aurora) provides a unique combination of health services and resources to deliver a proactive approach to better health.

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Dog Days of Summer

August 2022 PUBLISHER

Jeron Traphagan | jeron.traphagan@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Katie Currid | katie.currid@citylifestyle.com

It’s August — some of the hottest days of the year, but also the times when the carefree days of summer begin to morph into busier times, with a return to sports schedules and the back-to-school mentality. While the return to routine is often welcome by August (as well as the promise of cooler days ahead), it’s also a little bittersweet.

Our August issue is dedicated to the cutest members of our community — kids and pets. In honor of going back to school, our cover story for this issue is about how Northlanders are adopting the concept of Forest School, with all its promises of instilling confidence in children by allowing them to take calculated risks outside while also prying them away from this generation’s dreaded enemy: screentime. We also have two inspiring teenage entrepreneurs, who developed their own businesses in the Northland CAPS high school program. And lastly, we talk to the fantastic duo behind Good Dog, a stylish and modern dog apparel company run by a mother and daughter who remind us that every moment with our children is precious.

In between these pages, you’ll find sweet treats and events to help you make the most of your summer while it’s still here. And as the season comes to a close, we hope you are able to take some time to relax and spend time with the ones you love.

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Corporate Team K AT I E C U R R I D, E D I TO R @NORTHLANDCITYLIFESTYLE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Northland City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Northland area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in Northland City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but

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the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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AUGUST 2022

inside the issue The Kids and Pets Issue

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F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

16 Local Talent Spotlight: A Chat with Filmmaker Patrick Rea

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Lifestyle Letter

8

City Scene

10

Business Monthly

12

Local Experiences

16

Back Stage

20

Local Limelight

26

Outdoor Adventure

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Pet Friendly

40

Events

If you’re afraid of the dark, his latest film will not alleviate that fear

20 Put on your thinking CAPS

Northland students learn real-world skills with the CAPS program

26 Into the Woods

How the idea of Forest School is being adapted by Northlanders to get kids learning in nature

34 Good Dog

Unleashing stylish and modern pup products

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Katie Currid Students in Countryside Montessori Day School’s Forest School summer program walk through their classroom’s creek.

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A RTS + C U LT U R E EDU CAT I O N S PO RTS + R E C R E ATION

ST Y LE + B EAU T Y

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AUGUST 2022

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

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KATIE CURRID

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KATIE CURRID

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CHELSEA DOHERTY

1: People watch the Masonic Lodge Fireworks display on July 2 in Weston. 2: A dad holds his two children as they watch the Masonic Lodge Fireworks display on July 2 in Weston. 3: Chelsea Doherty holds daughter, Isla, during the Masonic Lodge Fireworks display on July 2 in Weston.

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FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

New year, new tech in the Youth Services department at NKCPL North Kansas City Public Library is happy to announce the grant-funded acquisition of four new early learning/ AWE computer stations in our Youth Services department. These machines replace the existing ones and represent a needed and exciting upgrade of the Library’s current digital offerings in the early and elementary learning spaces.

Have littles? Check out these new learning stations next time you have a minute!

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Physician and Patient Make Special Bond and Donate Blood Together

In 2020, 23 blood and plasma donors saved Katherine’s life and the life of her unborn son, William. At 38 weeks pregnant, Katherine Bredemeier’s liver had erupted, and she began hemorrhaging.

She required transfusions of blood and plasma. During her hospitalization, Katherine and Carrie Bastin, MD, with Meritas Health Anesthesiology bonded and their friendship continues. Katherine and Carrie donated blood together at North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health’s blood drive on Friday, June 10.

Photography North Kansas City Hospital

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Liberty Hospital names Raghu Adiga, MD, as Interim President and CEO The Board of Trustees of Liberty Hospital has named Raghu Adiga, MD, to serve as interim president and chief executive officer following the recent retirement announcement by long-time hospital President and CEO David Feess. Dr. Adiga will assume the role on July 11 while the search by the hospital’s Board of Trustees for a new chief executive moves forward. Dr. Adiga has served as chief medical officer at Liberty Hospital since 2018.

Photography Liberty Hospital

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AUGUST 2022

local experiences The best places and things to do in our area.

As the end of summer approaches, cool off and satisfy your tastebuds at these go-to spots around town. Treat yourself, your kids, or your fur-kids to a frozen treat that bids adieu to summer.

Photography Katie Currid

Sweet Treats LILO'S SHAVED ICE: I love driving by Lilo's on summer nights — a parking lot full of people with brightly-colored tongues. They've got locations in Liberty and Parkville. 8261 N Ditzler Ave, Kansas City, Missouri 64158 ELLA MAE'S CR EAMER Y: Ella Mae's Creamery is a food truck with all the summer faves — ice cream cones, shakes, splits, sundaes, and even hot dogs and nachos! 16360 SW 42nd Rd, DeKalb, Missouri 64440 PALETER IA LA MONAR CA: Here are all your go-to Mexican sweet treats, like chamoy-topped fruit and fried ice cream. But my eye is on the Monarca sandwich — a Mexican sweet bread filled with ice cream and toppings. 6928 N Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, Missouri 64118 ITALIAN SAUSAGE COMPANY: If you're craving Betty Rae's but don't want to go south of the River, Italian Sausage Company has specialty flavors, like Italian fig cookie, made just for their location. 7315 N Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, Missouri 64118 SWEET EMOTION: If you're looking for vegan, dairy-free oat milk ice cream with a bit of a punk rock flair, this spot will hit your very specific needs! 312 Armour Rd, North Kansas City, Missouri 64116

Lilo’s Shaved Ice

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Film stills from They Wait in the Dark

Local Talent Spotlight: A Chat with Filmmaker Patrick Rea ARTICLE BY TIFFANY KILLOREN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANUMAN BROWN-EAGLE.

If you’re afraid of the dark, his latest film will not alleviate that fear Laurie Catherine Winkel

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Patrick Rea. Photo by Brad Austin

Not much scares Patrick Rea. As an award-winning movie director/writer who specializes in suspense, that’s probably a good thing. A proud Northlander since 2013, Patrick has directed five feature-length films, four of which fall into the literal and figurative nailbiter genre (one of his films is actually titled Nailbiter). For those who fear a presence in the night that can’t be seen, his latest film, They Wait in the Dark, might just be another reason to keep those lights on.

In 2020, the world had to adapt to a new day-to-day reality, and Patrick used this time to write the script for They Wait in the Dark, eventually shooting the film at sites in De Soto, Leavenworth, and Claycomo over the course of 12 days in 2021. The film features a young woman and her adopted son running from her abusive ex-girlfriend, only to find themselves hiding in an abandoned house that brings its own dark secrets, memories, and threats.

“Every ghost story has been done,” Patrick says. “I had to figure out how to go about this differently, so I combined a domestic thriller with a ghost story.”

This begs the question: If a haunted house is the only safe place, would you stay? Patrick addresses this by cleverly combining two fears in the film – one that accompanies a tangible threat and one that goes unseen. Which is more terrifying? If you ask Patrick, it’s the things you can’t see or explain that is most frightening, and he still holds the films Poltergeist and Paranormal Activity in high regard in terms of suspense. For him, it’s the sound in movies that can make all the difference, soft footsteps on the stairs sometimes adding a chill that a visual cannot.

Tapping into the talent pool of Kansas City and its secluded Midwest locations, Patrick proves that Hollywood has nothing on us when it comes to movie making. They Wait in the Dark’s main character, Amy, is played by Sarah McGuire, who relocated to Kansas City when she attended college.

“I wrote the script for Sarah,” Patrick says. “I had done two short films with her and she’s so good.”

Laurie Catherine Winkel, also in the film’s cast, graduated from the University of Kansas and is wellknown among the Kansas City and Atlanta film scenes.

Most of Patrick’s films have been shot either in or near the Kansas City area and it’s not just the lower cost that makes the Midwest an attractive location option. Not only can a local cast and crew return to their homes at the end of the day, but local businesses are open to onsite shoots because they don’t receive those types of requests every day. For his latest film, Patrick shot one scene at a diner in Claycomo.

“I went into the diner and just talked to them,” Patrick explains. “I got to know them. Everyone was really cool about it. It’s still exciting to make movies here.”

The house in They Wait in the Dark is itself a character in the movie, an old home outside of Topeka essentially untouched since 2005, complete with furnishings.

Together with his wife, Kristin, and daughters, Violet, 9, and Willow, 4, Patrick has established firm roots in the Kansas City area, but has made a name for himself that reaches far beyond the Midwest.

Appearing at film festivals around the world, he has achieved a level of success in an industry known for rare success stories.

CONTINUED > AUGUST 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/NO RT HL A N D

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Sarah McGuire in They Wait in the Dark

“Every ghost story has been done,” Patrick says. “I had to figure out how to go about this differently, so I combined a domestic thriller with a ghost story.”

His latest recognition took him back home again. Patrick recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his high school in Schuyler, Nebraska, and admits to feeling a bit unworthy of such an award.

“There’s a little bit of imposter syndrome,” he says. “I mean, I’m not Janes Cameron.” Such distinction is all relative, however; there are many who would consider an IMBD page with five feature films quite an accomplishment.

At the end of the day, Patrick is a natural storyteller who spends his life telling stories. There’s something to be said for that, even if those stories make you keep the lights on.

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They Wait in the Dark has been accepted to Popcorn Frights on August 11-18th, where the film can be seen virtually with the price of admission. It was also accepted to FrightFest in London on August 25-29th and Horrorhound Film Festival in Ohio on September 9-11th. Patrick’s other films are available on a variety of streaming services and include: "I Am Lisa" (horror, filmed in Kansas City); "Belong To Us (family film, filmed in Kansas City); "Arbor Demon" (horror); and "Nailbiter" (horror).

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Put on your thinking CAPS

NORTHLAND STUDENTS LEARN REAL-WORLD SKILLS WITH THE CAPS PROGRAM ARTICLE BY KATIE CURRID PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY ELWELL

Entrepreneurship is difficult. Learning the ins and outs of business, whether you’re creating a new concept or launching a business from a tried-andtrue model, is hard to do. It’s even harder when you’re a teenager.

Andrew Armstrong and Taylor Mayne are two graduates of the Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies program — CAPS, for short.

The Northland CAPS program takes high school juniors and seniors from all over Platte and Clay counties and provides immersive experiences into the business world, pairing students with local businesses to stoke the students’ interests. By the end of the program, students have had experience with business software and technologies in fields they’re interested in, have made connections with local businesses, have worked on real-world projects to navigate problem-solving as a business owner, and sometimes, they’ve even launched their own business. Andrew and Taylor both launched businesses through CAPS.

WoodShop MotorSport Launched: May 1, 2021 Name: Andrew Armstrong Age: 19 Instagram: @WoodShopMotorSport

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Andrew Armstrong

Andrew Armstrong and Blake Rhine

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS: WoodShop MotorSport is a car detailing company but also has different services to offer. We do vinyl wrap, custom wheel paint, polishing, ceramic coating, and we even tint headlights and taillights. This is a full custom shop that works with every client to make sure their needs are met.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR YOUR BUSINESS? This was originally my partner’s idea (Blake Rhine). He came to me with the idea of wanting to wrap his car and so we wrapped it, and we realized we could do this for a lot more people and started wrapping and detailing as a hobby and to make a little extra cash. Then Blake encouraged me to go to Northland CAPS so I could learn more about how to start a business and everything like that. So, I signed up for CAPS and they helped me personally to start WoodShop MotorSport. And ever since then we have been working full-time detailing or wrapping cars or doing any other custom work we do.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST PART OF RUNNING A BUSINESS? The hardest part about running a business is that we had to realize this is what we do full time now. It’s no longer just a side hobby. Whether it’s me or my two partners (Blake Rhine, Deven Bierle) we are constantly thinking about how to get better or how to grow this business. With me going into my first year of college and Blake going into his second year we have to move around our classes so we make sure we can still work on our business.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR? My favorite part about being an entrepreneur is that we get to see what we’ve worked so hard for to pay off. It’s just me and my two friends working on cars all day and it’s what we love to do so it doesn’t feel like work. We get to make this business the way we want it to.

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Melting Moon Jewelry Launched: 2022 Name: Taylor Mayne Age: 18 Instagram: @meltingmoon.jewelry

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS: Melting Moon Jewelry specializes in handmade metal rings with unique stones, making excellent statement pieces in our customers’ collections.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR YOUR BUSINESS? I was wanting to start [a business] while in the Northland CAPS program last year. I knew I wanted to own a jewelry business; I just didn’t know what kind of jewelry I wanted to specifically make. I came across a video on YouTube of someone making a metal ring with some stone and thought, “Hmm, I wonder if I could figure out how to do that.” From there, I found a local jeweler, Kelly Connor with MeritMade, who offered jewelry lessons. I took a couple of lessons, learned how to make a ring, and ever since then have been making rings on my own.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST PART OF RUNNING A BUSINESS? Having to learn how to run a business while running a business. I have seen my parents run their own business for a few years now, but never saw much of what goes on behind the scenes. There is a lot to think about when figuring out where is best to buy your supplies from, how much to sell your products for, and more. In addition, getting my name out there has been

Taylor Mayne

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difficult, but attending networking events this past year has helped out tremendously.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR? It has been so cool to see myself start something on my own and just get to grow my own business. I have grown up around business and entrepreneurs, so it was just something I have always wanted to do. I actually had my own slime business for a year or two when I was 12 and I ran my own Etsy.

So after that, my dream was to always start another business. Also, I have really enjoyed the community I have been around and the support I have gotten for my business.

If you’re interested in learning more about CAPS — whether you’re a local business owner who would like to get involved or a prospective student — you can find out more about the program at northlandcaps.org

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Countryside Montessori Day School's Forest School group plays in the swimming hole.

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into the woods HOW THE IDEA OF FOREST SCHOOL IS BEING ADAPTED BY NORTHLANDERS TO GET KIDS LEARNING IN NATURE ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CURRID

As I follow a group of a dozen or so children down a beaten dirt trail toward a creek, Maximus Van Tol, 6, stops me and points into the thicket. He points out the poison ivy and the stinging nettle, warning me not to go near them and telling me how to identify them.

Maximus, a student in Countryside Montessori Day School’s summer Forest School program, exudes confidence as he transforms into a teacher in this moment.

Identifying plants is one of the lessons he and the other children learned at the start of Forest School, establishing a basic set of skills on how to navigate their outdoor classroom on an 80-acre farm near Kansas City’s airport.

And confidence is exactly one of the skills that Sarah Lockridge, the lead elementary teacher at Countryside, hopes they will walk away with at the end of the summer. The Forest School program, which is solely a summer school program at the moment, takes kids between the ages of 6 and 12 outside 40 hours a week from June to August. By the end of the summer, they’ll experience how to safely wield a knife, start a fire with a flint tool, fish with a hook, and learn a host of other skills, like confidence, that are just as important but perhaps less measurable.

“These kids walk away with so much confidence,” says Sarah. “They feel so good that I trusted them to hand them a knife.”

Before using a knife, all the children are coached on how to do so safely. The phrase “watch your blood triangle” is said frequently throughout the day, referring to the area of your legs and groin where major arteries are found. Children are not allowed to use a tool until they can demonstrate their competency This is one of the few rules guiding the children. Others include respecting live animals by not touching them, not swimming without an adult present, and staying where they can see an adult. Other rules are created as the summer goes on, decided and created by the children in a democratic-style council session guided by an adult, usually after multiple incidents that cause injury or conflict. Other than that, it’s pretty much a free-for-all of swimming, climbing, fishing, and exploring.

Though Countryside is a Montessori school first, Sarah believes Forest School is a perfect fit for their program.

“Pedagogically speaking, the two programs really complement each other naturally,” she says.

The idea of Forest School is not unique to Countryside, though. It’s a model that has been gaining traction in the United States in the last few years, starting in Denmark in the 1950s. Forest kindergarten is a popular schooling model there, and though the idea is pretty open-ended, it does have some common pillars.

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Countryside Montessori Forest School students climb up a hill on the side of the creek.

Amy Eastin, mother of 3 and leader for the toddler pod of North KC Forest Playgroup

According to the UK-based Forest School Association, Forest School must be “a long-term process, rather than infrequent visits,” and “must occur in a natural environment.” The hope is that Forest School “promotes holistic development” and supports play, exploration, and self-esteem by being learner-inspired, rather than guided by a rigid curriculum. Finally, arguably the most important tenant of Forest School is the idea of supported risk tasking.

While Countryside does offer their summer Forest School, there is no year-round traditional Forest School in the Northland, though there are some south of the River, such as Blue River Forest Experience in Overland Park or Well Wilderness Kids Therapeutic NaturePlay Center of Olathe.

However, there are plenty of parents trying to fill the desire for a Forest School-like atmosphere the entire year.

Emily Wegener is the admin of the North KC Forest Playgroup on Facebook. The group was actually started by a military spouse, Kara Blackwell, who brought the concept to KC from the east coast when Emily’s youngest son, now 5, was just a few weeks old. After Kara’s family moved on from Kansas City, Emily knew the group had to remain.

“I was just hellbent,” says Emily about keeping the group going. “I was like, no, this has helped me so much that I know we gotta keep this going because other families need this just as much as we do. Until they figure out that they need it too, we gotta keep it going.”

The group has grown a lot since it was first started, sometimes drawing up to 75 families an outing. Since then, and partly due to the pandemic, smaller pods have broken off, usually made up of families with similar schedules or children of a similar age. The format is pretty loose, sometimes starting with a book or a craft, sometimes a planned activity involving magnifying glasses or fishing nets. But often it’s just showing up on your forest playgroup day of the week at a predetermined time and spot, and letting the kids play in nature.

Amy Eastin is the leader of a toddler playgroup that meets on weekly. She’s the mother of three children — two 4-year-old twin girls and a 2-year old boy — and has been looking into how to start her own year-round Forest School in the Northland. On the day I accompanied her forest playgroup pod, a group of 14 families gathered at Line Creek with children ranging in age as young as a month old, worn by their mothers and frequently nursing, and up to 5 years old.

There’s no agenda on this day — a perfect, breezy 80-degree June day where there’s finally a break in the unrelenting Midwestern humidity. The children come armed with bikes and helmets, pails, fishing nets, and plastic shovels, and stomp through the shallow water, pointing out crawdads, waterbugs, frogs, and dragonflies.

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O UT D OOR A DV E N T U R E | S PORTS + RE CRE ATI ON

Boys inspect crawdads in Line Creek during a toddler meet-up for the North KC Forest Playgroup.

Parker Morris and Oliver Holdsworth eat lunch on a log while Nova Hitchcock sits in a hammock.

AUGUST 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/NO RT HL A N D

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Liam Anderson, right, whittles a piece of wood with a knife.

Emmalynn Lockridge makes sparks with a flint during Forest School at Countryside Montessori.

Tatum Strahm, 2, plays in Line Creek during a toddler meet-up for the North KC Forest Playgroup.

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O UT D OOR A DV E N T U R E | S PORTS + RE CRE ATI ON

“I think that when kids are in a temperaturecontrolled environment, it gets harder for them to function in different environments. I want my kids to realize that they can be a little bit uncomfortable and still have fun." —Amy Eastin

This sort of completely unregulated free time is exactly what Emily, the group admin, strives for.

“We’re always micromanaging their schedules in this generation,” says Emily.

“It’s really easy to plan every moment.

Take a block of time and say, ‘Alright, what are we gonna do? Do whatever you want to do. Here’s your moment.’”

While there are certainly fieldcraft skills the children can learn through forest play, there are also qualities the children gain through regular interaction with nature.

“Resilience is definitely one of them,” says Amy, the toddler playgroup leader. “I think that when kids are in a temperature-controlled environment, it gets harder for them to function in different environments. I want my kids to realize that they can be a little bit uncomfortable and still have fun.

Confidence is a big thing that I really hope my kids gain from being outside. I see it all the time. They climb a tree and they say they’re so proud of themselves. They work together with other kids. The forest group is really great for that. That collaborative spirit is definitely something else.”

Amy, who also runs an Instagram account called @everydayoutdoorfamily where she shares tips on outdoor activities in the KC area and the Midwest, doesn’t really consider herself an outdoorsy person. In fact, she grew up with a very different-looking childhood than her own children.

“I want them to get the childhood that I didn’t get,” says Amy. “When I was a kid growing up in Texas, I wasn’t allowed to play out there unattended. I wasn’t allowed

to climb trees. I think that part of it is that I want them to be able to experience that quintessential childhood. Part of it is how much joy I see that it brings my children.

All of them love to be outside. I see what it does to their mood. They get bored inside with the same old toys. [Outdoors,] the seasons change. The bugs are different every day. I love that it inspires that curiosity in them.”

Another push for outdoor play among millennial parents is the growing concern over screen time.

“I think trying to find the balance with social media and nature and electronics with our environment [is difficult],” says Emily. “Just being outside and being outside with others cannot be duplicated with a screen.”

While, of course, the primary goal in both Forest School and the forest playgroup is to get kids outside, the parents in the playgroup are also reaping the benefits.

“I always use this playgroup for my own personal mental health as well, through postpartum depression and just not knowing how to meet other people while having a kid,” says Emily. “Outdoor playgroup time is still sacred in my calendar for my own mental health and exploring and riding right alongside my kids.”

Because, of course, it’s not just the kids who are soaking up lessons.

“I feel like I’m new to learning this, too,” says Amy. “I certainly don’t feel like an expert. I’d love to be — that’s my dream.

I feel real because I didn’t grow up doing this stuff. If I can do it with 3 kids four and under, I feel like everyone can.”

AUGUST 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/NO RT HL A N D

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C A R P E T - T I L E - V I N Y L P L A N K - H A R D W O O D - L A M I N AT E - N AT U R A L S TO N E

TURNING HOUSES INTO HOMES FOR OVER 34 YEARS

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HOME

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For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

THE JEWELS OF ST. JOSEPH HOMES TOUR: A SHOWCASE OF ARCHITECTURAL GEMS

Tickets go on sale August 1, 2022 Call 816-232-2667 or e-mail stay@shakespearechateau.com

This annual tour showcases the extraordinary historic architecture of St. Joseph. This year 8 homes are featured on the tour, plus the River Bluffs Brewing Company, which occupies a piece of land with ties to the Prohibition years in St. Joseph AUGUST 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/NO RT HL A N D

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Scarlett and her dog, Kahlo

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P E T F R IE N D LY | STY L E + BE AUTY

Good Dog UNLEASHING STYLISH AND MODERN PUP PRODUCTS

ARTICLE BY TYLER SHANE PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE ORTEGA

Nicole Ortega and her daughter, Scarlett, were among the thousands of people who added a fur baby to their family during the pandemic — a Goldendoodle named Kahlo. Being entrepreneurs, the mother-daughter duo were inspired by their puppy and decided to go into business together making and curating a collection of stylish dog accessories. Their brand, Good Dog, can be found at popups throughout the Kansas City metro. Good Dog is easy to spot – the incredibly chic and modern dog collection is as appealing to dogs as it is to their owners.

Nicole is the owner of Clothz Minded, an eco-friendly secondhand women’s boutique in Westport. Since Scarlett was only four days old, she has been raised in her mother’s shop and quickly grew to take on more responsibility, helping her mother sort clothes, ring customers up at the cash register, and even styling customers CONTINUED >

AUGUST 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/NO RT HL A N D

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“Since Scarlett was only four days old, she has been raised in her mother’s shop.”

with her fashionable recommendations.

Nicole noticed her daughter’s entrepreneur mindset at a young age and Good Dog seemed like the perfect opportunity to provide an outlet for Scarlett’s talents.

However, in September of 2021, Nicole was diagnosed with breast cancer. The devastating news put any idea of starting a business with Scarlett on hold.

Unfortunately, Nicole’s cancer treatment would include multiple hospitalizations; her third, and most recent, one so severe she was facing heart failure and had to have a blood transfusion. The near-death experience left Nicole not willing to waste any more time. She was determined to pursue the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to start a brand with her business-savvy daughter.

At only nine years old, Scarlett is the dazzling front woman of Good Dog. She sews, along with her mother, a denim line of dog bandanas. The accessories consist of collars, leashes, key chains, and even dog toys and treats. Inspired to make dog accessories more aesthetically pleasing, Scarlett and Nicole focus on filling their brand full of beautiful earth tones and natural fibers. Unlike many dog products, Good Dog’s sophisticated line is designed

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P E T F R IE N D LY | STY L E + BE AUTY

to complement the owner’s dog and home.

Bringing the core values from Clothz Minded to Good Dog, 90% of the vendors the mother and daughter curate their brand with are female owned, sustainable, and eco-friendly.

With the new business, Scarlett has taken the initiative to learn more about all types of dogs to help her customers to the best of her abilities. She has such a natural way with animals that her family calls her “the dog whisperer.” You can find Scarlett being the ultimate saleswoman, educating and interacting with her customers and stunning patrons with her contagious enthusiasm and incredible knowledge of Good Dog products.

Catch Scarlett and her booming business during the Westport Art Fair September 9-11 in front of Clothz Minded or at popups all throughout the city.

Good Dog plans to expand their product line in the near future to include dog beds and t-shirts. Along with popups, buyers can also purchase from the Good Dog website, gooddogkc.com. Check the schedule for further Good Dog popup events on their website and on Instagram at @good_dog_kc.

AUGUST 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/NO RT HL A N D

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From our Farm to Your Family VOTE D

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FOR B EEF J ERKY, HAMB URGERS , & HOTD OGS

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NOW SCHEDULING CLASS OF 2023 SENIOR PORTRAITS www.threethreephotography.com 816.454.3334

AUGUST 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/NO RT HL A N D

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AUGUST 2022

events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

AUG U ST 5T H , 1 2 T H, 1 9 T H, 2 6T H, SE PT E M BE R 2 N D

AU G U ST 9 T H

Friday in the Park

FESTIVAL S HELTER AT MACKEN PA R K | 1 1 :30 A M Enjoy a Friday afternoon in the park listening to local musicians in cooperation with the Music Performance Trust Fund, Local 34-627, every Friday through September 30 until 1 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Cops & Kids

MAIN STR EET IN PLATTE CITY | 5 :0 0 P M A free event getting to know your public safety community! There will be games, music and food, plus an appearance from KC Wolf.

AU G U ST 1 1 T H

Moonlight Yoga

STOCKS DALE PARK | 9:00 PM Moonlight Yoga is a monthly benefit for the off-leash dog park instructed and coordinated by Patti Stark, owner of Serenity on the Square. Bring a mat or blanket and cash or check tax-deductible donation for the Liberty Dog Park.

AUG U ST 1 2 T H

Friday Night Concert: Raitt & Rondstadt Revival

MACKEN PAR K FESTIVAL S HELT E R | 7 :0 0 P M Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets and join us at the Festival Shelter in Macken Park to sit back, relax, and listen to live music. No alcohol permitted in the park. Free and open to the public.

AUG U ST 12TH-14TH

AU GUST 1 5T H

Steam Engine Show

PLATTE COUN TY FAIR G R OUN DS | 1 :0 0 P M Revisit agricultural history with the 60th annual Platte County Steam & Gas Show on August 12-14, 2022 at the Platte County fairgrounds. There will be demonstrations, activities for the kids, and great food all weekend long. $10 per person. Kids under 15 free. Sunday free entry with a donation

Butterflies & Monarch Tagging: Citizen Scientist

PLATTE R IDG E PARK IN PLATTE C I T Y | 8 :0 0 A M Join a conservation educator for a morning experiencing local butterflies and potentially contribute to the citizen science of tagging monarchs. Participants will learn about local butterflies, their lifecycles and role as pollinators, and monarchs’ unique journey to Mexico. Participants will use butterfly safe nets to capture butterflies they encounter. Registration is required to participate.

CONTINUED >

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EVENTS CONTINUED

AUGUST 19 TH-21ST

Parkville Days

MA I N ST R E E T I N PA R KV I L L E | 6 :0 0 P M One of downtown Parkville’s largest events, the Parkville Days festival features a variety of family-friendly entertainment. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy live music along the Missouri River and on Main Street. There is also the Evans Midland Empire Carnival, a 5/10K, helicopter rides, the American Legion pancake breakfast, vendors, sidewalk sales, and more.

AUGUST 19 TH

We have Aspen Spas on display. www.aspenspas.com

THESE BEAUTIFUL HOT TUBS ARE MADE IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. 6289 N. Oak Trafficway Kansas City MO 64118 816-216-1942

pepperspoolandspa.com 42

EVE N TS

Movies in the Park: Sing 2

MAC K E N PA R K F E ST I VA L S H E LT E R | 8 :0 0 P M A fun time for the whole family! Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and enjoy some fresh air with a movie in the park. Movies will start at dusk next to the Festival Shelter in Macken Park. Free and open to the public.

AUGUST 26TH

Popcorn in the Park: Ghostbusters: Afterlife

CAPITOL FEDERAL SPORTS COMPLEX IN LIBERTY | 6:00 PM Bring your family and friends, blankets and lawn chairs, and head out to one of Liberty's parks to enjoy a free showing of Ghostbusters: Afterlife under the stars. There will be fun and games starting at 6 p.m., with the movie beginning at dusk, around 8 p.m. Liberty Parks & Rec will provide popcorn and water.

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Connecting You to Better Health The path to better health is guided by primary care teams who provide connections and information. With several convenient locations, same-day appointments, urgent care and more, Liberty Hospital Primary Care is the premier choice in the Northland for personalized, whole-person care.

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PRIMARY CARE For an appointment visit: libertyhospital.org/primarycare For urgent care, visit: libertyhospital.org/urgentcare Liberty • Kearney • Shoal Creek • Excelsior Springs • Plattsburg

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