Carolina Parent June / July 2018

June/July 2018 • Free

Delaying Pregnancy The pros and cons of waiting

3 Mountain Getaways Cool off in Asheville, Brevard or Bryson City this summer

TRADITIONAL

GAMES

Why kids need to play them

StoryWalks READ AS YOU HIKE TRIANGLE TRAILS carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

1

If birthplaces were fine hotels, we know of at least three that would get five stars.

The care is world-class. The experience is five-star.

Between our three beautifully appointed locations, WakeMed offers the highest quality care and an unrivaled patient and family experience. Luxurious, private labor and delivery suites with plenty of room for family. Highly skilled obstetricians. Neonatologists.

Expert maternal-fetal medicine specialists. A NIDCAP-certified Level IV Neonatal ICU and two Level III Special Care Nurseries.

The latest monitoring. Lactation support. Birthing and parenting classes. One of the lowest C-section rates in the nation. And the sense of well-being that comes with knowing that a team of experienced, compassionate, caring nurses are here for you.

WakeMed Women’s. Because all babies come into the world. Some, however, are fortunate enough to come into ours.

Learn more at wakemed.org/pregnancy.

With three childbirth locations in Wake County, WakeMed Women’s offers a seamless continuum of maternity, neonatal and high-risk specialty care.

For obstetricians who practice and deliver at WakeMed Women’s, visit wakemed.org/pregnancy.

wakemed.org/pregnancy A Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care A Cigna Center of Excellence for Deliveries

UNC URGENT

CARE 24/7

ACCESS the CARE YOU NEED from ANYWHERE.

Get quality care via your phone, computer or tablet with UNC Urgent Care 24/7. Visit with board-certiďŹ ed doctors online who can diagnose symptoms, recommend treatment, and in most cases, send prescriptions to your local pharmacy.

Visits are private, secure and depending on your insurance, cost $49 or less. Feel better faster with UNC Urgent Care 24/7.

LEARN MORE and SIGN-UP at UNCUrgentCare247.com

CONTENT › J U N E / J U LY

14

Pregnancy in Your 30s

16

This is Your Loss, Too

19

Carolina Parent’s 2018 Readers’ Favorites Awards

20

StoryWalk Trails Combine Nature Hikes With Storytime

22

Reintroducing Traditional Childhood Games

24

3 Must-Visit North Carolina Mountain Towns

26

Cool Summer Fun Out of the Hot Sun

IN EVERY ISSUE 5 June/July Online 6 Editor's Note

22

FYI 8 Community 10 Education 12 Health CO LU M N S 28 Growing Up 31 Tech Talk 32 Understanding Kids 35 Father Figuring 36 College Transitions 38 Excursion 48 Faces and Places CALENDAR 39 Our Picks 40 Independence Day Celebrations 42 Outdoor Fun 44 Exhibits 45 Performances 46 Festivals

26

20

14 carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

3

150 Towne Village Dr., Cary, NC 27513

919-467-1112

www.kidsrkidscary.com 6010 McCrimmon Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560

919-460-1500

www.kidsrkidsmorrisville.com

WHAT’S NEW AT ‌

carolinaparent.com Photo courtesy of Billion photos/Shutterstock.com

Explore a Museum Search our Family Fun directory for a list of Triangle museums.

carolinaparent.com/cp/ family-fun

CHILL OUT Cool Water Destinations

Frozen Treats

Summer Movies

Cool off with a sweet treat from

Watch a family flick under

Check out our updated roundup

one of these frozen dessert shops.

the stars.

carolinaparent.com/cp/ the-scoop-on-7-sweettriangle-treat-shops

carolinaparent.com/cp/ triangle-summer-moviedeals-for-families

facebook.com/ carolinaparent

twitter.com/ carolinaparent

From toys to books to performances, enter to win great prizes.

of cool water fun spots.

carolinaparent.com/cp/ cool-water-fun-places-inthe-triangle

Win Prizes

pinterest.com/ carolinaparent

carolinaparent.com/ cp/contests

instagram.com/ carolinaparent

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

5

›

EDITOR’S NOTE

The Plan

S

hortly after becoming engaged in 1995, my husband and I mapped out our first few years of newlywed bliss. The plan was to get married in November, make as much money as possible for three years to pay off college loans and buy new cars, then travel — before having children.

One year after we were married, I became pregnant with our son. So much for that “plan.”

Having three kids in the space of four years before turning 30 helped Carolina Parent Editor The beauty of having three kids before age Beth Shugg and her husband sustain enough 30 was that even though we didn’t have enough energy to make it through each busy day. money to buy the cars or house we wanted, or to explore Europe, we did have enough energy to keep up with two boys spaced only 17 months apart (also not part of the “plan”) — and two-and-ahalf years later, a precious baby girl. And we somehow managed our financial situation so I could stay home with our kids until all three of them started school — well worth the financial sacrifice.

The advantages of delaying pregnancy, however, never escaped me. Most, if not all, of my friends waited at least three years after they married to have children. We watched wistfully from the sidelines as they moved into big, beautiful homes and traveled the world. But now, as we prepare for two of our three children to graduate from college before we turn 50, we may get the last laugh.

Our “Pregnancy in Your 30s” feature on page 14 focuses on both sides of the coin: The pros and cons of waiting until you are older to have children. Whether you’ve already had kids or want to wait a few more years before starting a family, it’s worth considering what the experts have to say about both approaches.

One of the dark clouds of pregnancy is the possibility of miscarriage. Often, we think of what a mother who miscarried has endured, but on page 16, a father writes of how his wife’s miscarriage affected him — a perspective worthy of considering, and remembering.

Our combined June/July issue also focuses on summer fun. Kids enjoy endless days at the pool, beach vacations beckon and families unite at reunions to share memories and meals. Schedule some time this summer to share a childhood game or two with your kids. “Reintroducing Traditional Childhood Games” on page 22 will help you rediscover the value of playing “Capture the Flag,” “Mother May I,” “Red Light, Green Light” and other cherished games with your kids.

Travel to Myrtle Beach on page 38 and three mountain getaways on page 24, get advice on how to set parental controls on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles on page 31, and find out why your child should consider attending an honors college on page 36.

There’s plenty of summer fun to be found in our calendar section, which starts on page 39 and includes roundups of July Fourth celebrations, festivals, performances and other outdoor activities your family will enjoy. And don't skip page 19, where we announce our 2018 Readers' Favorites winners.

We’ll return in August with our annual back-to-school issue. Until then, enjoy the lazy summer days ahead!

morrismedianetwork.com

PUBLISHER

Katie Reeves · katie.reeves@morris.com

EDITOR

Beth Shugg · bshugg@carolinaparent.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Janice Lewine · jlewine@carolinaparent.com

ART DIRECTOR

Melissa Stutts · melissa.stutts@morris.com

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Susannah Carpenter

DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Allison Hollins · allison.hollins@morris.com

DIGITAL EDITOR

Myra Wright · mwright@carolinaparent.com

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Lauren Isaacs · lisaacs@carolinaparent.com

MEDIA CONSULTANTS

Candi Griffin • cgriffin@carolinaparent.com Sue Chen • schen@carolinaparent.com Jen Pieh • jpieh@carolinaparent.com

ADVERTISING SALES COORDINATOR Julianne Clune · julianne.clune@morris.com

MORRIS VISITOR PUBLICATIONS PRESIDENT

DONNA KESSLER

DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING DONALD HORTON

DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING SERVICES KAREN FRALICK

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR CHER WHEELER

CONTACT US

carolinaparent.com

Phone: 919-956-2430 · Fax: 919-956-2427 5716 Fayetteville Rd., Suite 201, Durham, NC 27713 advertising@carolinaparent.com · editorial@carolinaparent.com Circulation 35,000. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services.

Carolina Parent reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing that is not in keeping with the publication’s standards.

Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

A Publication of the Visitor Publications Division of Morris Communications Company, L.L.C. 725 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901 Chairman William S. Morris III

Beth Shugg, Editor

2018 GOLD

President & CEO William S. Morris IV

8

8

Cover photo of Alison Sherman, a teacher in Durham, taken by Melissa Hayes Photography at Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

8

6

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

8

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

7

› FYI

|

community

BY JANICE LEWINE

Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn presented William Winslow a volunteer award.

Photo courtesy of Prudential Financial

Daniels Magnet Middle Student Wins National Volunteer Award William Winslow, 12, of Raleigh, was named one of America’s top 10 youth volunteers of 2018 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards during the program’s annual award ceremony April 30 in Washington, D.C. William, a sixthgrader at Daniels Magnet Middle School, fights childhood hunger in his community by organizing food drives to fill backpacks with weekend food for children who otherwise might go hungry, and by helping to build school gardens in neighborhoods where access to fresh food is limited.

He was selected from more than 29,000 youth volunteers from across the country to earn the title of National Honoree and received a personal award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a trophy for his school and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of his choice. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a national youth recognition program sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Learn more at spirit.prudential.com.

8

Dick Vitale poses with gala honorees. Photo courtesy of Kit Carlson Photography

Dick Vitale Gala Raises $3.7 Million for Pediatric Cancer Research The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a top-rated cancer research charity, and ESPN Hall of Fame Sportscaster Dick Vitale have announced that the 13th Annual Dick Vitale Gala raised a recordbreaking $3.7 million for pediatric cancer research.

Held in Sarasota, Florida on May 11, the gala hosted hundreds of supporters and celebrities to further groundbreaking advancements in childhood cancer research while celebrating this year’s gala honorees, including ESPN television and radio personality Mike Greenberg, Florida State University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Leonard Hamilton and University of Michigan Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh. With the addition of this year’s funds, the Dick Vitale Gala has raised $25 million to help defeat the leading cause of death by disease in American children.

Family Donates Farm to Wake County The Wake County Board of Commissioners recently accepted the donation of a nearly 60-acre farm in Raleigh from the Kellam-Wyatt family for future use as a park, nature preserve or agricultural capacity.

Susan Wyatt, her late husband, Bob, and his daughter, Leewyn Kellam, donated the property, which is located off Rogers Road between Raleigh and Knightdale and consists of woods, lakes and trails.

Once the land acquisition is final, Wyatt, county staff and the City of Oaks Foundation will begin master planning to preserve the farm for the public’s future enjoyment. Learn more at cityofoaksfoundation.org/kellam-wyatt-farm.

STATS

U.S. Volunteer Statistics HOURLY WORTH OF A VOLUNTEER IN THE U.S.

$24.14

NUMBER OF NORTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS IN 2015

2,012,199

MILLIONS OF HOURS CONTRIBUTED BY NORTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS IN 2015

230

Sources: VolunteerHub (volunteerhub.com) and Corporation for National and Community Service (nationalservice.gov/vcla)

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

Gender Determination at

15 weeks!

Packages starting at $50

Book Online 24/7!

Call/Text 919.760.3474

Durham4DBaby.com

Located Near Streets at SouthPoint carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

9

›

FYI

|

education

BY KAREN SHORE

Myriah Luke, orchestra director at East Millbrook Magnet Middle, was named WCPSS’s First Year Teacher of the Year at the middle school level. Photo courtesy of Paul Cory, WCPSS

WCPSS Announces First-Year Teachers of the Year In recognition of the challenges of the first year of teaching, Wake County Public School System annually honors a group of oustanding first-year teachers with the Diane Kent-Parker First-Year Teacher Award. The award recognizes new teachers who are able to quickly acclimate to their workplace and establish themselves among more experienced educators. The selection committee bases its decisions on teacher portfolios, video submissions and classroom observations.

This year’s winner in the elementary school category was Kennedy Wilmer, a second-grade teacher at Lynn Road Elementary School in Raleigh. At the middle school level, Myriah Luke, orchestra director at East Millbrook Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, received the award. And at the high school level, Rebeka Townsend, a math teacher at Rolesville High School, received the award. Leanne Klarer, a special education teacher at Millbrook Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, won the award in the special education category.

Principals can nominate any teacher who has made significant professional success in his or her initial year of teaching for this annual award.

10

The Riverside High School Battle of the Books team took first place in the North Carolina School Library Media Association’s first high school competition. Photo courtesy of Ron Whalen

Durham Public Schools Holds High School Battle of the Books Competition For the first time, the North Carolina School Library Media Association is recognizing Battle of the Books for high schools, and almost half of Durham Public Schools’ high schools competed.

Riverside High School, coached by Kate Mester, took first place in the district.

The school’s students met weekly for six months in preparation for the competition. Each participant was responsible for presenting one of 15 books from a master list.

Mester says her team formed such bond that they wanted to keep meeting, and are already reading books on next year’s Battle of the Books list.

Southern School of Energy and Sustainability, coached by Mattie Perry Johnson and Alice Mba, took second place. Hillside High School, coached by Caroline Herbert, took third place.

Since this is the first year NCSLMA recognized the high school program, there will not be a regional competition this school year; however, plans are being made for regional competitions in the future.

Grant to Address K-12 Homework Gap Through Broadband Adoption Students who do not have home internet access fall into what is called the “homework gap.” Some North Carolina K-12 students who do not have home internet access will soon receive assistance through a $250,000, two-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant was recently awarded to the State Library of North Carolina and the Broadband Infrastructure Office of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology.

The project, which begins in July, includes hiring a digital inclusion librarian who will lead the project and partner with library systems to provide cellular hot spots and digital literacy training.

Up to four North Carolina library systems, not yet identified, will receive training, resources and hot spots that can be loaned to students to provide at-home internet access. In each partner county, up to 30 families will be identified to participate in the program.

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

For the Smile Of a Lifetime...

Enter to Win! Mudcats Baseball Ticket Vouchers Take your kids to a Carolina Mudcats game in Zebulon this summer! Enter to win vouchers for four box seats and two parking passes.

Enter to win by going to carolinaparent.com/cp/contests and clicking on the “Carolina Mudcats” post. Type this code in the online form you’ll be required to fill out: CPMudcatsTix. We’ll announce a winner June 25, 2018. Good luck!

Robert T. Christensen DDS, MS Pediatric Dentistry

John R. Christensen DDS, MS, MS Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

Now Accepting New Patients!

919.489.1543 DurhamPDO.com

The vouchers are good for any game after the winner is announced, except July 4. Learn more about the Carolina Mudcats, a minor league baseball affiliate team for the Milwaukee Brewers, at carolinamudcats.com.

121 W. Woodcroft Pkwy • Durham, NC 27713

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

11

›

FYI

|

health

BY KATHERINE KOPP Image courtesy of Maramorosz/Shutterstock.com

Image courtesy of Brown32/Shutterstock.com

Most NC Births Occur in Hospitals

Study Links Medications in Infancy to Food Allergies A study published online in the April 2018 journal JAMA Pediatrics found that infants given acid-suppressive medications and antibiotics were more than twice as likely to have a food allergy as those who were not. The risk was especially high for allergies to cow’s milk.

Those infants who were given antibiotics were at a 14 percent increased risk for a food allergy, a 51 percent increased risk for anaphylaxis and more than double the risk for asthma.

The study followed the children for an average of four-and-a-half years.

Learn more at jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2676167.

NC Ranks 37th in Best and Worst States to Have a Baby In a 2017 WalletHub survey, North Carolina ranked 37th overall in the best and worst U.S. states to have a baby. North Carolina ranked 36th for the cost of having a baby, 34th for health care, 41st for baby-friendliness and 31st for family-friendliness. According to the International Federation of Health Plans, the average cost of a normal delivery of a baby in the U.S. is $10,808 — the highest cost for childbirth in the world. The additional cost for a delivery by caesarean section is $5,298.

For the full report, go to wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-to-have-a-baby/6513.

10 12

According to a study from The Birth Place Lab of the University of British Columbia’s Division of Midwifery, 99 percent of all births in North Carolina take place in a hospital, 0.5 percent occur at home and 0.5 percent take place in a birthing center.

The study also reports that in North Carolina, midwives attend 13.4 percent of all births. This is slightly higher than the national average of 10.3 percent. Learn more at birthplacelab.org/wp-content/ uploads/2018/04/North-Carolina.pdf.

Katherine Kopp is a freelance writer in Chapel Hill.

94.3%

The percentage of midwife-attended births that took place in U.S. hospitals.

Source: American College of Nurse-Midwives

The percentage of women in the U.S. who smoke in the last three months of their pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for premature birth, some birth defects (including cleft palate) and infant mortality.

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

NOW OPEN! Ticket Price (all ages): $5 Members get in free.

F E AT U R E D

E X H I B I TI O N

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

13

Githens Middle School students Hugh Wheeler, 13, and Lily Donohue, also 13, enjoy afternoon tea at the Duke Washington Inn in Durham.

Pregnancy in Your

30s AND BEYOND

Photo courtesy of Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com

The challenges and joys of having children later in life

BY CHRISTA C. HOGAN

L

aura Stennett of Apex met her husband, Bob, when she was 30. They had trouble getting pregnant, so the couple went to see a fertility specialist. Before she could begin treatment, however, Stennett found she was pregnant. Age 33 at the time, Stennett was considered high risk, even though she was physically fit and healthy.

Being labeled “high risk” didn’t overshadow Stennett’s pregnancy experience. “It was amazing,” she recalls. “I loved being pregnant. I loved everything about it.”

Stennett's pregnancy went smoothly, right up until her delivery at 38 weeks when she endured 25 hours of labor. She avoided a cesarean section, however, and delivered a healthy baby boy.

14

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

Three years later, as she approached her 37th birthday, Stennett gave birth to her second son. “With my second pregnancy, the labor and delivery was half the time,” Stennett says. “So in terms of being physically pregnant as an older woman, I had no challenges.”

A Rising Trend Stennett is just one example of the increasing number of women in the U.S. who experience pregnancy later in life. In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the average age for a woman’s first pregnancy in the U.S was 24.9. By 2016, that number had risen to 28.

To explain the higher average age in 2016, experts have pointed

to the decreasing rate of teen pregnancies. However, the CDC also found that, for the first time, women in their 30s are having more babies than women in their 20s. The reasons behind why women are waiting longer to start their families varies.

Professor Hans-Peter Kohler of the University of Pennsylvania is a social and economic demographer who focuses on fertility and health. Kohler has concluded that the rise in age for first pregnancies is most likely due to more women participating in higher education and the job market.

Diagnostic Screening and Tests

While few would argue that women increasing their knowledge and influence is anything but positive, Kohler also found that there are unintended consequences. As the average age of first pregnancies rises, the overall fertility rate decreases. This decrease is due in part to the difficulties involved in later pregnancies, which is confirmed by the OB-GYN community.

“Everything gets riskier as women age, with regards to pregnancy,” says Dr. Daniel Breazeale of Atrium Obstetrics & Gynecology in Raleigh.

“Although plenty of our clients are pregnant in their late 30s and early 40s, there is age-related decline in the ability to have biological children.”

Physicians can provide older mothers with chromosomal abnormality screening and diagnostic tests, including amniocentesis. With amniocentesis, physicians use ultrasound to guide a needle into the amniotic sac to collect fluid. The fluid is analyzed at a laboratory to detect chromosomal abnormalities.

The optional test is 99 percent accurate in detecting chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, but also carries a small risk of miscarriage, according to DartmouthHitchcock, a nonprofit academic healthy system serving communities in New England. Test results give mothers the opportunity to prepare for caring for a special needs infant or to pursue interventions, such as fetal surgery.

In addition to amniocentesis, many physicians offer mothers of advanced age a series of noninvasive prenatal tests and a detailed anatomy ultrasound. The ultrasound, sometimes called a Level II ultrasound, provides a clearer picture of the baby’s heart and brain.

Chapel Hill Obstetrics and Gynecology, for example, offers patients the option of a 3D or 4D ultrasound, and ensures that an ultrasonographer certified by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers is available five days a week.

Reductions in Fertility

Advantages of Delaying Pregnancy

According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a woman’s fertility begins to decrease at age 32 and even more rapidly decreases after age 37. The organization says that is because, over time, a woman’s eggs decrease in quantity and quality.

Women over age 35 are also more likely to experience health concerns that could affect their fertility, such as endometriosis and fibroids.

Advances in procedures such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization have helped many older women overcome infertility.

However, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicates that age can also play a factor in decreasing success of fertility treatments like artificial insemination. The study found that women under age 31 who received artificial insemination had a 74 percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year. For women age 35 and older, that chance drops to 54 percent.

Despite the many medical risks and challenges, women report practical benefits to delaying pregnancy.

“One of the benefits of being an older mom is maturity,” Stennett says. “I was much more patient with my kids than I think I would have been earlier. I already had a career and had traveled and experienced life. We were also established financially, so we didn’t have the worries of finances. But I don’t think any age is the right age or wrong age. It’s really dependent on where you are in life and what it is you’re looking for.”

Breazeale advises his older patients to seek an evaluation from a fertility specialist if they haven’t achieved a desired pregnancy within six months. However, despite the difficulties and the lack of medical advantages to delaying pregnancy, Breazeale agrees with Stennett.

“The social factors associated with [delaying pregnancy] outweigh the medical factors in my opinion.”

The Risks of Late Pregnancy

Medical Risks to Babies and Mothers In addition to a decrease in fertility, older mothers also face an increased risk of medical complications such as preterm delivery, diabetes, hypertension and pre-eclampsia, Breazeale says. Older mothers are also more likely to experience miscarriage or stillbirth.

“For some women [pregnancy loss] can be particularly devastating if they delayed childbearing until a later age, and were one of the few whose reproductive options were limited,” Breazeale says.

Babies born to older mothers also face increased risks for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome. According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the risk of having a baby with a chromosomal abnormality at age 30 is 1 in 385. By age 40, this number rises to 1 in 65.

Christa C. Hogan is a local freelance journalist and author, and mom of three boys. Learn more about her at christachogan.wordpress.com.

BIRTH DEFECT SCREENING: For more information about available diagnostic tests and screening for birth defects, talk to your physician or visit acog.org/patients/faqs/diagnostic-tests-for-birth-defects.

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

15

Koldunov/Shutterstock.com

This is Your Loss, Too MISCARRIAGE FROM A DAD’S PERSPECTIVE

BY ELLIOT ACOSTA

I

t was the night of Christmas. While our son was dreaming of the presents he had just opened that morning, my wife, Sara, and I were in the hospital receiving grim news: “Sorry, you are having a miscarriage.”

I held Sara’s hand as she fought back tears while the doctor explained the low human chorionic gonadotropin levels and blank ultrasound.

The next few days, as my wife endured all the aches and pains of pregnancy, knowing there was no longer a baby growing inside her, I fielded the uncomfortable and inconvenient conversations that come with miscarriage.

Some conversations were seemingly routine, like making the follow-up doctor appointments; while others were emotional, like telling our closest friends we were no longer expecting. But each conversation reminded me of our devastating loss.

16

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

Being the bearer of bad news also meant I got the initial wave of condolences.

Support and sympathy from our families came immediately, but eventually I took offense to even the most well-intentioned chats. I found little comfort in the suggestion that there was a silver lining or a plan behind what happened. Nor did I find comfort at the seemingly obligatory assurances that everything would be OK. I suffered through conversations about considering adoption or fertility treatments.

My best friend even thought it was an appropriate time to tell me about his belief that the world was overpopulated. For the most part, I nodded along, but inside I felt hurt and isolated, thinking how my friends didn’t understand the pain I was experiencing.

Miscarriage is thought of as a traumatic event for the would-be mother, and rightfully

so. Not only did Sara have to carry the weight of the emotional toll, but she also had to endure the physical pain. What I and others often forgot about, however, was how to deal with my own fragile state. I thought I needed to be the composed one who kept the family aloft through this storm. But as I tried to carry the weight of my grieving family, little things eventually snowballed.

There was the lost cellphone, an inconsiderate driver who cut me off, dishes that didn’t get adequately clean during the dishwasher cycle … What would typically be an everyday inconvenience started to feel like another snowflake piling onto an avalanche.

One night our toddler was having a difficult time going to bed. Every time I tried to lay him down, he cried out reaching for me.

Experiencing one more difficult moment in what felt like a monsoon of hardship led me to a breakdown.

I finally realized: Our family needed help. Once we asked for it, the community responded. From meals to babysitting, the compassion shown to us sustained us until we were able to get back on our feet. This taught me that I wasn’t solely responsible for making my family feel whole again.

It has been a few months since that night in December, but grief still finds itself in unexpected places. The TV show where a baby’s life is saved by a miracle, or the acquaintance who asks when we’ll have a second child stops me in my tracks, forcing me to face the sadness still in my heart. But suffering a miscarriage has also shown me that we aren't alone. Many people have told us their own story of the baby they never got to meet.

At times it was difficult for me to know what my role should be in the loss of this pregnancy, but one of my friends told me something that still sticks with me today, and I hope something that every partner of a miscarriage hears: “This is your loss, too.”

Elliot Acosta is a husband, father and food blogger who writes at eatRaleighBlog.com, where he explores Raleigh’s culture, history, people and passion through its food.

WE BELIEVE IN THE LITTLE THINGS LIKE KNOWING YOUR NAME

Photo credit: Amy Dixon, CNM, with baby

Services we provide: • Comprehensive obstetrical care • Full service gynecological care including well-woman care, gynecologic problems and surgery (include in-office procedures) • Midwifery Service - Routine in-office obstetrical care with 24/7 availability for labor and delivery at Duke Regional Hospital • CenteringPregnancy®

Call us to be your medical home.

919-942-8571 chapelhillobgyn.com

120 Conner Drive, Suite 101, Chapel Hill

Now Open Durham Southpoint location 6216 Fayetteville Road, Office Park II

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

17

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:

SOUTH CARY 103 Parkway Office Court, #204 Cary, NC 27518 (919) 858-0078

THANK YOU FOR VOTING OUR PRACTICE YOUR FAMILY FAVORITE FOR FIVE YEARS!.

PRESTON AREA 3701 N.W. Cary Parkway, #200 Cary, NC 27513 (919) 467-9300

www.carybraces.com Dr. Kelly W. Ritter

Dr. Reid H. Brogden

We love serving this wonderful community. Thank you for your support!

2018

GOING PLACES

PARK OR PLAYGROUND Pullen Park HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

Sylvan Learning Center

Got to be NC Festival

Sassafras All Children’s Playground at Laurel Hills Park

AREA MUSEUM Museum of Life and Science

FAMILY FITNESS FACILITY YMCAs of the Triangle

HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

ANNUAL FESTIVAL Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival

Marbles Kids Museum

DINING OUT FAMILY RESTAURANT Red Robin HONORABLE MENTION:

The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar NONCHAIN FAMILY RESTAURANT Elmo’s Diner HONORABLE MENTION:

Sassool NATIONAL CHAIN FAMILY RESTAURANT Chick-fil-A HONORABLE MENTION:

Red Robin ETHNIC EATERY Sassool HONORABLE MENTION:

Neomonde PIZZA PLACE Mellow Mushroom HONORABLE MENTION:

Blaze Pizza and Lilly’s Pizza (tie) SWEET OR FROZEN TREATS Goodberry’s Frozen Custard HONORABLE MENTION:

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt KIDS-EAT-FREE DEAL Moe’s Southwest Grill HONORABLE MENTION:

IHOP PLACE FOR A PICNIC Pullen Park in Raleigh HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

Kamm McKenzie OBGYN

Lifetime Fitness Health Club

HONORABLE MENTION:

SPORTS LEAGUES OR CLUBS North Carolina FC Youth

PEDIATRICIAN Jeffers, Mann and Artman Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine

Greystone Recreation Center

HONORABLE MENTION:

Western Wake Pediatrics

FAMILY SPORTS EVENT Durham Bulls Baseball

YMCAs of the Triangle

HONORABLE MENTION:

SUMMER DAY CAMP YMCAs of the Triangle

Carolina Hurricanes

HONORABLE MENTION:

PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS Sarah P. Duke Gardens HONORABLE MENTION:

Pullen Park

HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

FAMILY DENTIST Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry HONORABLE MENTION:

Triangle Family Dentistry

Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center TRACK-OUT CAMP Triangle Rock Club

ORTHODONTIST Gurley, Ritter and Brogden Orthodontics HONORABLE MENTION:

Bovenizer & Baker Orthodontics

YMCAs of the Triangle

VETERINARY SERVICES Banfield Pet Hospital

FREE ACTIVITY OR PLACE North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

RESIDENTIAL CAMP Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center

HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

Chatham Animal Hospital

Camp Kanata

KIDS’ HAIRCUT Great Clips

Pullen Park DAY TRIP North Carolina Beaches HONORABLE MENTION:

North Carolina Zoo PERFORMING ARTS Durham Performing Arts Center HONORABLE MENTION:

PNC Arena

GET MOVING

PLACE TO RIDE BIKES American Tobacco Trail HONORABLE MENTION:

PARTIES

PARTY ENTERTAINER Happy Dan the Magic Man HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

Cookie Cutters

Cotton the Clown

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER JCPenney Portrait Studio

PARTY FACILITY BounceU

Katie Garcia Photography

HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

Pump It Up

LOCAL TOY STORE Learning Express

BIRTHDAY CAKE OR TREAT Gigi’s Cupcakes

Stone’s Education Superstore

HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

William B. Umstead State Park

Publix

CONSIGNMENT STORE Once Upon a Child

PLACE TO WALK OR HIKE William B. Umstead State Park

SHOPPING & SERVICES

Goodwill

HONORABLE MENTION:

Eno River State Park

FARMERS MARKET State Farmers Market

PLACE TO ENJOY WATER ACTIVITIES Jordan Lake

Durham Farmers Market

OB-GYN OR MIDWIFERY Atrium ObGyn

CAMPS

RAINY DAY OUTING Marbles Kids Museum

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

HONORABLE MENTION:

TUTORING Kumon

HONORABLE MENTION:

HONORABLE MENTION:

DAY CARE FACILITY Kids R Kids Learning Academy and Country Sunshine Children’s Center (tie) HONORABLE MENTION:

Harvest Learning Center and Kiddie Academy (tie)

MALL Crabtree Valley Mall HONORABLE MENTION:

The Streets at Southpoint

Buffalo Road Aquatic Center

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

19

StoryWalk Trails Combine Nature Hikes With Storytime

BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC

I

magine following the pages of a storybook along a nature trail, reading as you explore the outdoors. “Ten or eleven years ago, this idea was just kind of magic,” says Sean Higgins, interpretation and education manager at North Carolina State Parks. “I’m thrilled to see it pop up all over.”

As a community educator and parent, Higgins has joined individuals and communities across the country in his enthusiasm for StoryWalk trails: outdoor learning experiences that combine nature exploration with storytime.

The StoryWalk concept began in 2007 with Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont.

A specialist in chronic disease prevention, Ferguson was looking for fun ways to get families outside and moving. She came up with the idea of separating out the pages of a children’s book and posting them along a local nature trail. The community responded with enthusiasm, so

20

Ferguson began loaning out other StoryWalk books through Montpelier’s Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Eleven years later, StoryWalk trails have been installed in parks, on library campuses and along nature trails in all 50 states and 12 countries.

How It Works The basic StoryWalk concept is simple: Select a children’s book, take apart the pages, laminate them and post them along a trail so families can follow the trail from page to page, reading the story as they go. The process is perfectly legal as long as the pages are not altered in any way (including enlarging them).

Making changes requires permission from the book’s copyright holder.

Within that basic framework, StoryWalk trails can vary widely. Durability is a prime concern for long-term StoryWalk installations.

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

CLOCKWISE:

Hugh MacCrae Park in Wilmington installed a “Bug Safari” StoryWalk.

Photo courtesy of Margaret Miles, New Hanover County Public Library A child enjoys a pop-up StoryWalk event at George and Julia Brumley Nature Preserve in Chapel Hill. Photo courtesy of Michelle Rosen, lower school librarian at Durham Academy A child examines a North Carolina State Parks StoryWalk. Photo courtesy of Sean Higgins, North Carolina State Parks Partnership for Children, for example, recently installed a StoryWalk trail in Kinston. Because the installation is permanent, they ordered custom metal frames and posts that can withstand time and wear.

For a one-day StoryWalk event that Carolina Friends School, Durham Academy and Duke School set up in April at the George and Julia Brumley Family Nature Preserve in Chapel Hill, the organizers simply laminated the pages of a book themselves and posted them on sticks.

“It doesn’t have to be that fancy,” says Higgins, who uses a set of portable StoryWalk stakes and signs to display books at trails and events in state parks across North Carolina. “It

can be the laminated pages of a kids’ book hole-punched, with yarn tying them to trees. I’ve seen everything.”

Display Choices A community’s goal for its StoryWalk trail affects presentation choices. In the Wilmington area, the New Hanover County Public Library System, for example, has set up four permanent StoryWalk trails across the county.

These particular books offer move-along instructions that encourage participants to move in certain ways while walking from one sign to the next.

One book, “I Got the Rhythm” by Connie Schofield-Morrison, instructs families to move their feet rhythmically on their way to one sign, and shake their hips with their arms in the air on the way to another. In this case, the library system has gotten permission from the book’s authors to alter the book’s pages. That process costs money, but it also fits well with local community goals, says Harry Tuchmayer, library director for the New Hanover County Public Library System. The county welcomed the library system’s StoryWalk proposal, Tuchmayer says, because it “fit with one of our county’s initiatives.

We’re trying to get people a little bit more active — physically active — and libraries are always looking for ways that we can coordinate with the county’s overall strategic plan. And getting people healthy and moving was one of their goals.”

A StoryWalk trail’s purpose also helps coordinators choose which books to display. Librarians at the New Hanover County Library look for books they can adapt to include move-along directions in ways that make sense with the illustrations.

The North Carolina State Parks system, on the other hand, often seeks books compatible with particular educational themes or events. At Stone Mountain State Park, for example, the park system holds an annual Old-Fashioned Day and sets up a book called, “When I Was Young in the

Mountains” by Cynthia Rylant as part of that event. The parks system also chooses books according to each year’s educational theme. “This year is The Year of the Fish,”

StoryWalk Trails in North Carolina

trail to be, the amount of space available,

Temporary StoryWalk trails pop up all the time, especially in North Carolina State Parks, so keep your eyes open for StoryWalk events in your community. Here are locations of permanent StoryWalk installations in North Carolina that are free for public use:

and the ages of the people whom they

Alamance County

explains Higgins, “so ‘The Rainbow Fish’ is making it around to a few parks.”

Other display considerations might include how long the organizers want the

expect will use the trail.

Why Install a StoryWalk?

Higgins appreciates StoryWalk trails in part because they are a practical way to get families moving. “I love how it gets kids

North Park: 849 Sharpe Rd., Burlington Beth Schmidt Park: 2150 Elon Park Dr., Elon

Ashe County Ashe County Park: 527 Ashe Park Rd., Jefferson

Haywood County

hike! I wanna get to the next one!’ he says.

Canton Branch Library (mini StoryWalk): 11 Pennsylvania Ave., Canton Vance Street Park: 430 Vance St., Waynesville

“But then instead of running out of view,

Lenoir County

excited so they run ahead like, ‘I wanna

there’s a natural break for something that gives you time to catch up to them.”

Jennelle Lewis, project development coordinator for Partnership for Children in Lenoir and Greene counties, says, “It’s for people of all ages, for families to get outdoors, to bond. It really connects early literacy and physical activity.”

Lewis also emphasizes StoryWalk trails’ potential to bring people together. “I

Pearson Park: 210 W. Gordon St., Kinston

Macon County Little Tennessee River Greenway: 573 E. Main St., Franklin Horst Winkler Nature Trail at The Bascom: 323 Franklin Rd., Highlands

Mecklenburg County Independence Park: 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte Seversville Park: 530 Bruns Ave., Charlotte Grier Heights Park: 3110 Leroy St., Charlotte

Moore County

think it will help build communities,” she

Southern Pines Public Library: 170 W Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines

says. “You just sit and talk about what you

New Hanover County

see — do the activities at the bottom of the posts. It’s just a really great way to engage children and families.”

Bringing StoryWalk to Your Community Want to bring StoryWalk to a trail near you? Vist kellogghubbard.org/ storywalk and consult your local library and other literacy or education-oriented organizations about working together to install one in your community. Learn more at vermontlibraries.org/wp-content/ uploads/2008/05/bringingsw.pdf.

Elizabeth Brignac is a freelance writer and mother of two adventurous boys.

Hugh MacRae Park: 314 Pine Grove Dr., Wilmington Smith Creek Park: 633 Shenandoah St., Wilmington New Hanover County Arboretum: 6206 Oleander Dr., Wilmington Carolina Beach Lake Park: 400 S. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach

Onslow County Onslow Pines Park: 1244 Onslow Pines Rd., Jacksonville Hubert By-Pass Park: 220 Hubert Blvd., Hubert Stump Sound Park: 1771 NC-172, Sneads Ferry Deppe Park: 5472 New Bern Hwy., Mayesville Richlands Steed Park: 278 Francktown Rd., Richlands

Watauga County Memorial Park: 1036 Main St., Blowing Rock The Tot Lot: 231 Complex Dr., Boone Old Cove Creek School (spring/summer): 207 Dale Adams Rd., Sugar Grove

Wilkes County W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir: 499 Reservoir Rd., Wilkesboro

She lives in Cary. carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

21

Photo courtesy of Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

Reintroducing Traditional

Childhood Games

The value of skinned knees and other life lessons

BY WHITNEY MACDONALD

There’s a shallow spot in the Eno River with a small rapid, a sandbar and a wide stretch of water that never gets over 3 feet deep. As the weather gets warmer, I often walk there with my dog and remember never-ending summer days I spent with my sons teaching them to swim, building dams in the rapids and racing stick boats through the channels of the rocks.

Most of all, this will always be known as the place of the Monster House.

Across the river is an old cabin maintained by the North Carolina State Parks service. The doors and windows are gone, but

22

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

it is otherwise well-maintained. A monster lives there. If you are touching the wall on the front porch you are safe — but if you venture into the house, or off the porch, the monster can catch you. If he catches you, you become the monster.

We played this simple game with tireless delight. To this day, just the mention of the Monster House brings smiles to our faces, and I occasionally take a picture of the house and send it to my boys, who now live far away. This, of course, is one variation of the traditional game of “tag” that fills many a

childhood. All over the world children play the same games — slight variations to the rules, and maybe a different focal point — but otherwise identical.

Teaching Traditions For the past 15 years I have had the pleasure of teaching workshops on traditional games to children and parents both here and in Asia.

It seems strange somehow that games once passed from child to child for hundreds of years need to be taught. Yet, this is the case as TV, computers, smartphones and T-ball

leagues have pushed these gems to the brink of extinction. Still, the games persist. “Peekaboo” will never perish. The phrase, “I’m going to catch you!” will always bring joy and laughter to a 3-year-old.

A few years ago I was in Shanghai when I noticed two 3-year-old children chasing each other around a field. They were laughing so hard they almost fell over, and when one did catch the other, they tumbled on top of each other like little puppies. A few months later I was in a park in upstate New York and saw the same thing: Three young girls chasing each other back and forth between two trees that served as bases. When I saw this, I wished I could still experience the uninhibited joy I saw in them.

Luckily, I still get to play these games with children, and I get to watch adults experience the joy of traditional games as I teach them. During these workshops, adults become like children again. I’ve seen Chinese military officers skipping around a circle holding hands and singing, “Go In and Out the Windows,” howling with laughter. I’ve watched “too cool” teens giggle with delight trying to figure out who is hiding the “Key to the Castle” in their hands. Kids who don’t think of themselves as athletic sprint away from a wolf, or spin and twist to avoid the dreaded sea serpent.

Metaphors of Life These games resonate deeply in us and I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t like a good game. But why? “It’s just a game,” we say to console a child who may have been on the losing end. But it wasn’t “just a game” for me when I was that age. It was life.

Maybe that’s why these games have always been played — they are pictures, metaphors of life in forms children can understand. Dogs play to learn how to be dogs; lions play to learn how to be lions. Maybe, just maybe, traditional games teach children the skills they need to become successful humans.

Having played these games for many years I can guarantee two things will eventually happen: injuries and arguments. Injuries teach us to be careful and aware of our surroundings. They teach us self-control. They teach us to be respectful of others. Injuries allow us to experience healing; to understand that what hurts now won’t hurt forever. Skinned elbows heal. So do broken hearts.

Arguments teach us social skills, emotional control

and conflict resolution. The arguments almost always concern agreed-upon rules, which someone is deemed to have violated. They are about not respecting boundaries, either of another player’s personal space or of the game.

Now, reflect on many of the issues we face today. We deal with people who are too easily offended or overreactive, who aren’t respectful of other people and social boundaries, and who are overwhelmed by small setbacks. We all will experience heartbreak and disappointment. Have we learned the process of healing and recovering?

Have we endured the experiences in childhood that teach us to learn from our mistakes? These lessons, I believe, are the greatest gifts of these traditional games.

Connecting With Humanity There is one more thing: connection. Every traditional game is about connection. That is what “tag” is — a connection. More than the joy of playing “Monster” with my sons, it created a deep bond we will share forever. What young children want and need most of all is connection with the people who love them. This is the foundation of who they are, and sets the base from which they will venture out into the world. That’s where my boys are now, and I am proud they are finding their way. I miss them dearly. We will rarely have time to play “Monster” anymore so I’m really glad I took the time to play it when they were small.

I remember, also, when they were young that the struggles of parenting seemed endless.

There were times my wife and I were frazzled by the demands of guiding our sons through various challenges. I know now that it’s not endless. By age 14 or so they want to be with their friends. By 18 they are off to college — and then they are off into the world.

So play a game when you can. All it takes is a little space, a base, a few rules and some characters to make it exciting — wolves, foxes, pirates and, of course, monsters.

Whitney MacDonald lives in Hillsborough with his wife, Amy, and works nationally and internationally as an educational consultant. He runs workshops on topics ranging from traditional games to parenting, rites of passage for teens and conflict resolution. Learn more at creatingmen.com.

20

TRADITIONAL GAMES TO PLAY WITH KIDS

Tag Freeze Tag Hide-and-Seek Capture the Flag Red Light, Green Light Mother May I? Simon Says Kick the Can Hopscotch Marco Polo Red Rover Blind Man’s Bluff Heads Up, Seven Up Musical Chairs Telephone Parachute Hand-Clap Games Double Dutch Jump Rope Jacks Marbles

Need help remembering the rules? Check out “30 Classic Outdoor Games for Kids” published Aug. 20, 2009, at wired.com/2009/08/ simpleoutdoorplay.

Source: wired.com

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

23

The view across the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Craggy Pinnacle Trail at Craggy Gardens is majestic.

Photo by Amy Ragsdale

3 Must-Visit North Carolina Mountain Towns

BY AMY RAGSDALE

N

eed a change of scenery from the hustle and bustle of life? Want the kids to unplug from their devices so you can connect as a family this summer? Take a scenic hike, kayak down a river, pitch a tent or explore the local shops in these three inviting western North Carolina mountain towns.

ASHEVILLE Asheville is an artsy, architecturally appealing town with acclaimed restaurants and a craft brewery on nearly every block. It’s also surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, which offer family-friendly hiking trails and the French Broad River — perfect for a lazy day of tubing.

Stay downtown within walking distance of everything, or stay closer to Biltmore Estate, just 5 miles south of downtown.

You can also search for that perfect antique at the renowned Tobacco Barn, just a few miles south of the downtown area.

24 16

Where to Stay If you’d like to be able to walk to restaurants, shops and other attractions downtown and not have to deal with the hassle of parking, most major hotel chains — Marriott, Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Omni — operate in the area, along with a few boutique hotels like the Aloft Asheville Downtown, Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville, Hotel Indigo and Haywood Park Hotel.

Just a little over a mile south of the downtown area, you can stay at one of Biltmore Estate’s renowned hotels: The Inn on Biltmore Estate, Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate or the Cottage

JUNE/JULY 2018| |charlotteparent.com carolinaparent.com SUMMER 2018

on Biltmore Estate. The Omni Grove Park Inn is 2.5 miles north of downtown and offers a memorable boutique experience as well.

If you’d rather rough it, check out Lake Powhatan Recreation Area and Campground in Pisgah National Forest, 12 miles southwest of downtown Asheville. Make reservations in advance on the U.S. Forest Service website at fs.fed.us.

Where to Play Craggy Gardens is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 364. A less-than-1-mile hike

puts you at the summit in no time and offers big rewards with 360-degree views. The trailhead is located 20 miles from downtown Asheville.

Enjoy a float trip down the gentle, slow-moving French Broad River while you’re in the area. Rent a kayak, pack snacks and enjoy a lazy day along a 7-mile river trip that passes by the shoreline of the Biltmore Estate. The Asheville Outdoor Center, located 5 miles southwest of downtown, provides everything you need for a self-guided trip and will send a staff member to pick you up at the end of your two- to threehour adventure.

Before you go, purchase candy treats and a water toy for the kids at Mast General Store, located on Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville.

Where to Eat Recently named one of the hottest food cities in America by restaurant review website Zagat, Asheville has no shortage of family-friendly, local restaurants and breweries. Satisfy your Southern cravings with barbecue and banana pudding at Buxton Hall, a converted roller-skating rink on Banks Avenue. Early Girl Eatery on Wall Street is great for breakfast bites and can accommodate food allergies.

Wicked Weed Brewing Pub makes for a good afternoon stop and offers a full menu, a wide selection of beer on tap and patio seating for watching passersby on Biltmore Avenue.

White Duck Taco Shop, also on Biltmore Avenue, offers more than just basic tacos. Choose from the Duck Taco With Molé, Thai Peanut Chicken and Crispy

Chicken BLT, plus many other unique combinations.

Pizza lovers can get their fix at Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company on Coxe Avenue. Kids of all ages will love the dine-in movie theater and arcade, which features classic games and pinball machines.

BRYSON CITY Bryson City’s proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Nantahala Outdoor Center makes it an excellent base camp from which to explore all kinds of activities in the area. Downtown Bryson City features quaint shops, breweries and restaurants, and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad train depot. Within a 20-minute driving radius you can canoe on Fontana Lake, raft the Nantahala River, mountain bike at Tsali Recreation Area and explore trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Where to Stay Aloft in the Smokies offers four condominiums located above McClanahan’s Collectibles, a popular downtown store. Park your car and walk to shops, restaurants like the Nantahala Brewing Company and the train depot.

The Deep Creek Tube Center and Campground can be very crowded during summer.

For a sparser option, check out Lost Mine Campground, which is conveniently located near the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

Where to Play The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad departs from downtown Bryson City and offers scenic train excursions

through the North Carolina mountains, along the Nantahala and Tuckasegee rivers, across valleys and through tunnels.

Check the railway’s website for special events throughout the year, including the Freedom Train in July.

Construction on The Road to Nowhere began in the 1940s to replace a road that flooded when Fontana Lake was formed by the damming of the Little Tennessee River. Funding ran out before its completion, but not before a two-lane tunnel was constructed through a hillside.

The road ends at the mouth of the tunnel and Lakeshore Trail continues on the other side. Walk through the tunnel and continue on the trail as long as you’d like before turning back.

Located roughly 14 miles southwest from downtown Bryson City, the Nantahala Outdoor Center offers guided rafting trips on level II/III rapids.

Children must be 7 years or older and weigh at least 60 pounds. For a less adventurous outing, rent kayaks or a stand-up paddleboard to enjoy on Fontana Lake. A two-hour rental includes gear and transportation to and from the lake.

Where to Eat Downtown Bryson City offers a variety of dining options and two breweries on Everett Street. Be sure to try the French toast or biscuits and gravy for breakfast at Everett Street Diner.

The High Test Deli and Sweet Shop, also known as The Filling Station Deli, offers a variety of sandwiches, including paninis, subs and frozen ice cream sandwiches.

Pack a lunch to enjoy on a hike.

You can’t go wrong at Anthony’s on Depot Street. Enjoy a pizza or Italian entrée on the restaurant’s outdoor patio.

With its old-time decor, Soda Pop’s Ice Cream Parlor serves up handmade shakes, fountain floats, sundaes and banana splits. You will leave happy with sticky, smiling faces.

BREVARD Brevard is another charming mountain town filled with shops, restaurants and galleries specializing in art and antiques.

It’s also home to DuPont State Recreation Forest and Triple Falls, where “The Hunger Games” was filmed.

Where to Stay If you’re looking for a unique, retro-style hotel, check out the recently renovated Sunset Motel on Brevard Street, just minutes from downtown.

You can’t beat the Davidson River Campground in Pisgah National Forest for its proximity to town. The campground is large, but fills up fast. Bring bikes to ride on the trail along the Davidson River.

Where to Play Window shop along Main Street and enjoy Brevard’s relaxing downtown vibe. Don’t miss O.P. Taylor’s on Broad Street, which claims to be “the coolest toy store on the planet.”

Browse through two floors loaded with toys for all ages, including retro toys, a large track where kids can race cars and a vast selection of Legos.

Hike to High Falls and Triple Falls and walk through a covered bridge in DuPont National Forest. These easy, short

hikes are perfect for all ages.

Pack a picnic, relax and channel your inner Katniss from “The Hunger Games” at Triple Falls, where many of the movie’s scenes were filmed. Arrive early as these trails often become crowded on weekends.

Nearby Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest offer several hundred miles of single-track trails and fire roads (wider dirt roads) for biking. Stop by The Hub to rent a mountain bike and get the scoop on local trails.

Where to Eat For a small town, Brevard offers something for everyone. Cedar Mountain Café, located near the entrance of DuPont National Forest, makes everything in-house and is a popular breakfast spot. Have a burger and milkshake at Rocky’s Grill and Soda Shop’s authentic 1950’s lunch counter.

Get your southern food fix at Magpie Meat and Three, located at the Brevard Lumberyard on King Street.

Kids’ menu options include one meat and one side, or a grilled cheese and one side. If you can, sit outdoors (by the fire pit when it’s cool) and play cornhole.

Oskar Blues Brewery on Industrial Drive offers a relaxing outdoor patio where burgers and tacos are served in the evenings from the on-site “chubwagon.”

You can also schedule a free tour of the brewery.

Amy Ragsdale is a travel planner, wife and mom who loves scenic beauty and good food. See more of her suggestions for family-friendly places to stay, eat and play at simplyawesometrips.com.

charlotteparent.com| |JUNE/JULY SUMMER 2018 2018 carolinaparent.com

17 25

CLOCKWISE:

Make homeade ice cream. Enjoy the Museum of Life and Science's shady "Hideaway Woods" exhibit. Camp out in your backyard. Photos courtesy of Shaiith/ Shutterstock.com, Museum of Life and Science and RonTech3000/Shutterstock.com.

Cool Summer Fun Out of the Hot Sun 14 ways to chill during the Triangle’s warmer months

BY CATHY DOWNS

L

ooking for ways to spend some time outdoors with your kids this summer, but don’t want to swelter under the hot, midday sun? The Triangle is full of fun, family-friendly activities you can embark on in the early morning or evening, when it’s cooler.

To get you started charting a fun (and educational) summer, we’ve compiled a list of places to go and things to do. And since we’re moms, we’re compelled to remind you to wear sunscreen and bug repellent, be sure you’re back to your car by dusk, and check for ticks after spending time in grassy or woodsy areas.

Try the following activities — many of which you can do right at home.

26

1. Catch fireflies.

3. Look for wildlife.

If you use a jar, punch holes in the lid so the fireflies have oxygen, and release them after a short time. Also called lightning bugs, fireflies are actually beetles. The cold light they produce comes from a chemical reaction that occurs in a light-emitting organ located in their lower abdomen.

Visit one of the many parks in our area to hike a trail that leads to forested lands or that borders a body of water to see a variety of wildlife native to the Triangle area. (Go to carolinaparent.com/ cp/family-fun and search the “outdoor recreation” category.)

2. Make homemade ice cream or smoothies.

Whether you pitch a tent in your own backyard, or head to a state park campground for a full weekend of camping activities, there's nothing quite like enjoying a summer night under the stars. Which leads to our next suggestion ...

Making the old-fashioned, hand-cranked kind of ice cream may take longer, but it gives everyone a chance to slow down.

Add strawberries, peaches or peppermint candy for an added treat. If you want to introduce a nutritious frozen snack to your kids, try making fruit-filled smoothies with a scoop of protein powder.

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

4. Camp out.

5. Stargaze.

Just lie back for a moving experience gazing up at the

nighttime sky. All you need is a beach towel or old blanket, and a relatively unobstructed view of the sky. Morehead Planetarium on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus offers indoor and outdoor star-gazing activities.

6. Stroll through a garden.

If you have a green thumb, you could plant night-blooming annuals such as flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata), moonflower vine or night phlox. Or leave the gardening to someone else and visit one of the Triangle’s famous gardens with your kids. There are several to choose from: Sarah P. Duke Gardens, North Carolina Botanical Garden, JC Raulston Arboretum, the WRAL-TV Azalea Gardens and The Raleigh Rose Garden.

7. Hike and bike.

11. Explore a museum.

Take a family hike, or bike around your neighborhood or a local greenway early in the morning or when the sun is past its peak.

The Triangle has an abundance of city, county and state parks located right around the corner or less than an hour’s drive away. Check park websites for hours of operation and activities.

Between Raleigh and Durham, there are numerous, state-ofthe-art museums to explore.

From Marbles Kids Museum's air-conditioned indoor exhibits to the Museum of Life and Science's shady "Hideaway Woods" playspace, you’ll have plenty of options. Find a list of museums and historical sites by going to carolinaparent.com/cp/family-fun and clicking on the “museums and historical sites” category.

8. Boat and float.

Go on a boating or floating adventure at Bond Park, Lake Crabtree County Park, Eno River State Park, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area or Falls Lake State Recreation Area, to name just a few of the options here.

9. Try geocaching.

If you like treasure hunting, you’ll get a kick out of geocaching, an outdoor treasure hunt in which participants use a GPS to locate a small, waterproof container filled with treasure that has been placed there by other geocachers. Proper etiquette requires that you bring a treasure to replace what's in there, so there will be a prize for the next geocacher to find. To locate geocaches close to you, visit geocaching.com and type in your ZIP code, or city and state.

10. Watch an outdoor movie or concert at night.

Outdoor movies and concerts are offered at many Triangle venues and are typically held during the evening hours. Read our summer movie deals and outdoor concert roundups for locations and details. Find them at carolinaparent.com by searching for “summer movie deals” and “outdoor concert series.”

12. Take an art walk.

Triangle towns offer the perfect opportunity for families to see a variety of art one evening a month. Two well-established art walks in the Triangle are First Friday Raleigh and 2nd Friday Art Walk in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Learn more at godowntownraleigh. com/first-friday-raleigh and 2ndfridayartwalk.com.

13. Take the kids to a baseball game.

What better way to spend a summer evening than watching one of the Triangle’s professional baseball teams? Check out the Durham Bulls and Carolina Mudcats for some wholesome, all-American fun. Learn more at milb.com/durham and milb.com/carolina-mudcats.

14. Support local farmers.

Some farmers markets open early in the morning, and may stay open in the evening when it's cooler. Find one near you at carolinaparent.com (search for “farmers markets”).

Cathy Downs has two sons and is a freelance writer in Cary.

staystay in the in know the know sign up for our freeupe-newsletters sign for our free e-newsletters // // // // // //

monthly news // monthly news monday update // monday update family fun planner // family fun planner healthy families // healthy families the bib // the bib exclusive offers // exclusive offers from our partners from our partners // digital subscription // digital subscription

CarolinaParent.com/newsletters CarolinaParent.com/newsletters carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

27

›

GROWINGUP UP GROWING Playing outdoors is a great way to connect with neighbors.

Photo courtesy of shutterstock.com

Be My Neighbor Helping kids connect to their community

unsupervised outdoor time as their parents did mainly because of concerns about safety.

When neighborhoods are viewed as less safe, kids spend more time inside, get less exercise and are less connected to their communities.

According to Bright Horizons Family Solutions, a child care provider with locations throughout the Triangle area of North Carolina, helping kids feel safer in their community fosters a healthier, more balanced perspective to counteract the sometimes scary world depicted by news reports.

Families concerned about neighborhood safety can establish guidelines for outdoor play like requiring kids to check in with parents every hour or always coming home by dusk.

They also can allow kids to explore community centers where they can play with peers in a more supervised setting. Devices like the GizmoGadget, GizmoPal or Tinitell watches provide GPS tracking and basic phone service to give parents peace of mind while kids enjoy free-range neighborhood play.

BY MALIA JACOBSON

N

eighborhoods matter. Where children live, play and attend school impacts their long-term social, emotional and physical health. According to research presented in the American Journal of Community Psychology, kids in disadvantaged neighborhoods get less physical activity and underperform at school compared to those in wealthier areas. Neighborhood connections matter too. The same study also shows that “social embeddedness,” or a strong connection to social and cultural relationships within a neighborhood, can help protect families from some of these negative outcomes. Like growing a garden, cultivating a richly connected neighborhood may take time and effort, but families can reap rewards for years. Here’s how to create social connectedness in your corner of the world.

Early Years

Neighborhood Knowledge Creating a connected community starts with getting to know your neighborhood and your neighbors, says Catherine Bagwell, professor of psychology at Oxford College of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

“One of the most important ways to foster relationships with neighbors is to create opportunities for children to have frequent, positive contact and interactions with them,” she says. Often, this simply means playing outdoors, from riding bikes and scooters in the driveway to spending time at a local park.

Investing in your own sports and play gear like a simple soccer goal or basketball hoop can

10 28

SUMMER 20182018 | charlotteparent.com JUNE/JULY | carolinaparent.com

attract neighborhood children to your yard.

Help children get to know their area by creating a scavenger hunt that includes specific neighborhood landmarks and ask other kids on the block to participate. Young children are usually generous and enthusiastic about giving. Offering neighbors baked goods or a handpicked bouquet of backyard flowers can help facilitate introductions and build friendships over time.

Teen Years

Grass Roots For teens motivated by earning some extra cash, starting a neighborhood business can build community connections along with independence, social skills and earning power. A quick look around the neighborhood can help teens determine which types of businesses might flourish. Are there lots of lawns in need of care? Young families who need babysitting? Professionals who travel and need pet- or house-sitting services? Or would a car-washing or dog-walking business work best? Handing out business cards or flyers around the neighborhood can help teens make faceto-face connections with people in their immediate area. Meeting neighbors and earning money are the immediate benefits, but learning about neighborhood needs and figuring out a way to fill them is an exercise with long-term learning value.

Elementary Years

Safe Spots Remember long hours spent roaming your childhood neighborhood? Many adults do, but kids today don’t get nearly as much

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published journalist. Her latest book is “Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.”

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

29

Discover your capable, confident Montessori child.

Visit us online to RSVP for one of our upcoming events, or to book a tour. guidepostmontessori.com/spruce-tree 12600 Spruce Tree Way, Raleigh, NC 27614 (919) 825-1771

Infant • Toddler Preschool • Kindergarten GP032918

Spanish Immersion programs available!

GP-CarolinaParent (18-0229).indd 1

30

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

4/3/18 9:20 AM

›

TECH TALK

PlayStation 4

Photo courtesy of icemanphotos/Shutterstock.com

You’ll be prompted to join the PlayStation Plus community at playstation.com/en-us/explore/ playstation-plus. It will ask if you want to set up a Family Manager account. Once you’ve added family members, customize the settings for each.

Access – Set separate levels of access for DVDs/ Blu-ray discs, virtual reality, the PlayStation 4 browser and video games. The video games setting is tricky: If you don’t want your child to play a game rated T for Teen, for example, which correlates with the parental control number “4,” set your parental control level one number lower to “3.” By doing so, you’re preventing your child from playing games at any level higher than 3.

Web Content – Subscribe to Trend Micro Kids Safety, a web-filtering software made specifically for the PlayStation 4’s browser that is available in

4 Key Parental Control Options on Xbox One and PlayStation 4

the PlayStation Store. Then enable the Kids Safety software by opening the web browser on the PlayStation 4, clicking Options > Settings > Web Filter > Trend Micro for PlayStation 4

BY LAURA TIERNEY

Settings. Enter the passcode and choose the filter

T

you want to enable.

oday’s gaming consoles are less like video game delivery systems and more like desktop computers. You can connect to players around the world, and even watch movies and listen to music on them.

Many parents ask us: What apps and games can kids access on gaming consoles? What content can kids be exposed to on web browsers? What can kids purchase there?

How can I manage how long my child uses the console each day/week?

Let’s break down these parental control options on the two most popular gaming consoles: Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Xbox One Start by creating an Xbox Live account through your Microsoft online at account. microsoft.com. From there, go to account. microsoft.com/family/faq to create accounts for your kids, too. Then sign into the Xbox One to manage the settings for each account.

Access – Sony provides preset limits, determined by age, that you can apply to your child’s account. But you can choose the

“Under 13” option even if your child is 15.

Microsoft lets you give one-time or ongoing exceptions.

Purchases – Your kids can use the credit card associated with the Family Manager account, and you can set their spending limits. You’ll be notified of each purchase.

Time – Choose how long and when your child

Web Content – Control what kinds of websites your child can access by selecting the child’s account and clicking on “Web filtering.” Add specific websites to an “Always allowed” list on the Microsoft family website.

can be logged into the PlayStation 4 console each

Purchases – Control what kinds of apps your child can download by choosing “Blocked," “Free apps only” or “Free or paid apps.” Turn on “Ask a parent” to require your approval.

conversations are the biggest gamechanger for

Time – Set time limits on the Microsoft Family website via your parent user account. Choose a child’s account and click “Screen time” under your child’s name. Then, under the Xbox screen time option, change the “Set limits for when my child can use devices” and toggle to “On.”

day. Customize each day of the week separately, if necessary.

Take advantage of this opportunity to talk about why you’re choosing certain settings and when the settings may be loosened. Trust-building empowering and equipping your child.

Laura Tierney, a digital native who got her first phone at age 13, is founder and president of The Social Institute, which offers students positive ways to handle one of the biggest drivers of their social development: social media. She also recently became a mom. Learn more at thesocialinstitute.com. carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

31

›

UNDERSTANDING KIDS Photo courtesy of Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

When Adoption is Part of a Family’s Story

BY LUCY DANIELS CENTER STAFF

F

or some couples, adopting a child is their path to parenthood. In our work with families, we are often asked when and how to tell a child the story of his or her adoption. Since every adopted child’s situation is different, there is no spot-on, correct answer to this question.

Some children are adopted at birth, others during infancy or toddlerhood, and others as late as their teenage years. Some children are adopted before they develop a relationship with their birth parent(s), while others have a little bonding time with them beforehand.

There are many adopted children who experience multiple relationships with relatives or foster families before settling with their forever family.

There are children who are adopted by grandparents or other family members, as well as those who are are adopted by families in their community. Some children come from faraway places to live with their forever family. Frequently, adoption closes the door completely on previous relationships; however, there are adoptions that incorporate a form of ongoing contact with the birth parent(s). These are just some examples that convey the scope of possibilities when it comes to adoption.

The specifics of any child’s circumstances also lead to other, deeper questions: Were there prior relationships that had or have meaning to the child? Have those relationships remained a part of the child’s life? Does the child have conscious memories of the time before his or her adoption? Are there siblings in the family, either older or younger, who were not adopted?

Are there multiple adoptions in the family?

Clearly, there is no “textbook” way to respond to these questions — there are only

32

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

sensible and sensitive ways to respond to the particular and individual situation.

Be Honest, But Measured It may feel easier — and less painful — to tone down the story of a child’s past and adoption, but being open and honest is essential when helping a child understand who she is and where she came from. However, sometimes honesty must be timed so a child can bear painful realities.

How does a parent explain to a child that her

early life experiences took place in a neglectful or abusive setting? Or that her birth parents may have loved her but couldn’t — or decided not to — keep her?

These are questions to consider as you think about how the dialogue should unfold. This information should be given in small doses over time, with increasing honesty as the child moves through grade school and adolescence. As you do so, take some time to anticipate how your child may interpret and understand your words.

Have a Sense of What Your Child Can Handle Ideally, the conversation about adoption should take place gradually. As a child grows and matures, he will have different thoughts, feelings and questions about his adoption. Parents of adopted children will do their child a great service by staying open and ready to listen and talk.

Other considerations: Does your child have emotional difficulties that may be related to the adoption? Does he or she become avoidant or reactive when you talk about the adoption?

In some cases, guidance from mental health professionals can be helpful as children and parents learn how to communicate feelings about the adoption.

Help Your Child Develop a Narrative Parents who actively work to create an honest and meaningful life story will foster resiliency in their adopted child. This may involve weaving the child’s individual story with the adoptive family’s narrative.

Keep the Discussion Open and Ongoing Many families introduce discussion about their child’s adoption from the very beginning. This allows for the development of a story that can be refined and added to over time in a natural way.

Keep the door open to talking, thinking and feeling together, and you will ultimately provide your child with a safe, comforting environment in which to learn and grow.

The Lucy Daniels Center is a nonprofit agency in Cary that promotes the emotional health and well-being of children and families.

Visit lucydanielscenter.org to learn more.

Chapel Hill Pediatrics

&Adolescents

Welcome NEW and Established Patients • Care from birth through college •Complimentary “meet and greet” sessions • Same-day appointments • Comprehensive sports & camp physicals Appointment hours

8 am - 5 pm M-F All Locations

Walk in Availability: Chapel Hill Office:

7:15-7:50 am and 1-7 pm M-F; 9 am- 2 pm Sat-Sun

Durham Office: 7:15 -7:50 am M-F

919-942-4173

Open daily including weekends and holidays.

2 locations Chapel Hill: 205 Sage Road., Suite 100 Durham: 249 East NC Hwy 54, Suite 230

www.chapelhillpeds.com carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

33

Resurrection is not just a school.

It’s a community.

Kindergarten-8th Grade

Come Celebrate your Smile with us!

Resurrection Lutheran School 919-851-7271 | www.rlscary.org

Martha Ann Keels, DDS PhD Dylan S. Hamilton, DMD MS

We Welcome New Patients!!

2711 North Duke Street Durham, NC 27704

919-220-1416

www.dukestreetsmiles.com 34

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

Contact admissions@rlscary.org to schedule a tour TODAY!

›

FATHER FIGURING

Photo courtesy of Vagengeim/Shutterstock.com

We Need a Dog

BY PATRICK AND J.L. HEMPFING

T

he Westminster Kennel Club holds its famous dog show each year in Madison Square Garden. My wife, Mattie, and 9-year-old daughter, Jessie, watch every minute of the six-hour, two-night telecast. As they snuggle under a blanket, eyes glued to the TV, the oohs and aahs from the sofa continue nonstop.

“I want that one.”

“Ah, it’s sooooo cute.”

When the announcer calls, “May I have the hound group into the ring,” they shriek like we won the lottery.

While Mattie and Jessie enjoy their dog fantasies, I might as well be invisible. They’d probably notice if I rode a camel in front of the TV, before promptly responding in unison, “Get out of the way!” Simply put, Mattie and Jessie love dogs.

Don’t get me wrong. I like dogs, too, and have owned a few great ones in my lifetime. However, I also remember when we lost our beloved Shetland sheepdog, Ginger, to a stroke after she endured a year of fighting kidney disease. I’ll never forget Jessie’s wails, which were striking in both volume and duration. It was my worst day as a father.

Plus, dogs — and especially puppies — are a lot of work. As a stay-at-home dad, I knew who would perform most of it.

• Doggie needs to be taken out early or late. Dad. • Walks in unpleasant weather.

Dad.

• Trips to the vet, clean up accidents, keep the little chewer from ruining our furniture.

Dad, Dad, Dad. So, you can see why I was less than enthusiastic about adding a furry new member to our family.

However, I knew it was just a matter of time. Probably way deep down I wanted another dog, too. We welcomed Sadie, a Shetland sheepdog puppy, into our family two years ago.

Just as I expected, my workload has increased by all of the aforementioned tasks and more.

Dogs need lots of love and attention. Frequently, Sadie puts her front paws on the arm of my desk chair or brings her stuffed gorilla and uses her big, brown eyes to guilt-trip me into playing. I throw the gorilla and she brings it back, over and over, as I try to type a few words. Yes, it’s harder

to focus on my work. And somehow, Sadie became a sofa dog, claiming that privileged place to shed her fur that we kept off-limits to previous pooches.

I’ll concede that Sadie has been a welcome addition to our family. The first sentence of Jessie’s bedtime prayer sums this up: “Thank you for Mommy and Daddy and the best dog in the whole world that I love so, so, so, so, so, so very much.”

Patrick Hempfing had a 20-year professional career in banking, accounting and auditing before he became a father at age 44. He is now a full-time husband, stay-at-home dad and author of “MoMENts: A Dad Holds On,” available at amazon.com. Follow him at facebook.com/patricklhempfing and on Twitter @patrickhempfing. carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

35

›

COLLEGE TRANSITIONS offerings and policies look like, as they can take various forms.

The University of South Carolina encourages freshmen to live in their honors-only residence, which also includes three lecture halls that allow students to get to class without stepping foot outside. Boston University actually requires members of its Kilachand Honors College to live in a designated honors dorm as a freshman. Other schools, such as Michigan State University, have honors floors in eight of their residence halls across campus, rather than all in one building.

Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com

Why You Should Consider an Honors College

BY DAVE BERGMAN, ED.D.

W

hile honors programs have existed in one form or another since the GI Bill first brought an influx of talented but cost-conscious students to public universities in the post-war era, the full-blown honors college is a more recent phenomenon. The majority of honors colleges were born in the 1990s, designed to lure Ivy-league caliber students to public institutions.

Today, it’s difficult to find a large, public university that does not advertise some type of honors distinction. Yet, with new programs sprouting up faster than dandelions in spring, determining the quality and value of a university’s honors experience involves looking at several key factors.

Class Size and Number of Honors Courses Ideally, an honors college will offer a wide variety of honors-only courses in which class sizes are commensurate with those of elite liberal arts schools — typically in the 15-20 students-perclass range. In reality, the numbers of courses offered and students in the classroom vary widely across schools.

Despite its large size (over 1,000 honors students), The University of Mississippi’s Barksdale Honors College boasts more than 70 honors courses and class sizes of fewer than 15 students. A perusal of the ample and diverse honors course selections being offered by the honors college reveals that a large number of sections per course are also offered. For example, there are 29 sections of the freshman honors seminar set to run in fall 2018.

Arizona State University, Indiana University, Pennsylvania State University and

36

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

Temple University offer a similarly vast array of honors courses as well as class sizes under 20. Unfortunately, some programs may only offer a smattering of honors courses with 15-20 students, supplemented by a majority of classes in 300-seat lecture halls. As such, be sure to ask your prospective college for a complete list of honors courses if this cannot be found online.

Does the “Honors” Experience Extend Outside the Classroom?

If your child is a fairly serious student, he or she may benefit by being surrounded by other academically minded students outside the classroom. Sharing a living space affords honors students the chance to study or complete group projects together, and partake in unique intellectual experiences. Find out if your student’s prospective school offers special honors living arrangements and, if so, what the

How Does the Cost Compare to Private Colleges?

State schools have a significantly lower sticker price than most private colleges (sans merit aid considerations). Let’s say a North Carolina resident is choosing between Wake Forest University, a well-regarded private school, and the honors program at UNC-Asheville. Here’s how the financials break down: Wake Forest (room/board/meals/fees): $71,682 x 4 years = $286,728 UNC-Asheville (room/board/meals/fees): $19,708 (in-state rate) x 4 years = $78,832 Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, North Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina also offer affordable honors experiences.

Key Takeaway Honors colleges can be a cost-effective and highly rewarding undergraduate experience for top-notch students. In the best-case scenario, your student can enjoy all the benefits of a large university (research opportunities, athletics and a diverse student body) while still benefiting from an intimate, rigorous and individualized experience usually reserved for elite liberal arts colleges.

Dave Bergman, Ed.D., is a co-founder of College Transitions, a team of college planning experts committed to guiding families through the college admissions process. He is also a co-author of “The Enlightened College Applicant: A New Approach to the Search and Admissions Process.” Learn more at collegetransitions.com.

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

37

›

EXCURSION

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 13 ideas for family fun along the Grand Strand

BY LAUREN ISAACS

T

he 60-mile stretch of wide, soft sandy beaches in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, often referred to as the Grand Strand, is home to dozens of activities and attractions perfect for any adventure-loving family. Here are 13 ideas for how to take your family vacation beyond the beach this summer.

1. From nostalgic rides to adrenaline-pumping and kiddie rides, Pavillion Parks at Broadway at the Beach satisfies all amusement whims.

New rides include a giant observation wheel gondola ride and the largest pendulum ride in the U.S. pavilion-park.com.

2. Looking for more thrills — and a stunning view? The Family Kingdom Amusement Park is located seaside and has 38 rides and an attached water park. familykingdomfun.com.

3. Broadway Grand Prix Family Race Park features seven different go-kart tracks including the Family Track, a 200-foot Junior Racer track designed for 48-inch-tall beginners, and a Kids Track for children at least 40 inches tall. broadwaygrandprix.com.

4. Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet features internationally acclaimed sculptures nestled amid local flora. You’ll also find a zoo of rescued low country animals, nature programs, a butterfly house (which requires an extra fee) and a storybook playground. brookgreen.org.

5. Thanks to an emphasis on exotic animals, buffalo, zebras, lions, cougars and tigers can be viewed in natural, unpaved areas during a visit to Waccatee Zoo. Kids can pet some of the tamer animals, and peacocks freely roam the grounds. waccateezoo.com.

38

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

Photo courtesy of DoubleTree Resort By Hilton 6. Ripley’s Aquarium features a transparent tunnel and a moving, 340-foot conveyor walkway that takes you through a natural reef where you can view sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and thousands of colorful fish. ripleyaquariums.com/myrtlebeach.

7. Just across the water from Drunken Jack’s Restaurant and Bar, Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk and Goat Island is inhabited by goats and peacocks. Visit in the late afternoon or early evening if you’re up for a scenic dining experience. drunkenjacks.com/drunken-jacksrestaurant/goat-island.

8. EdVenture Myrtle Beach encourages kids to learn about their world through interactive exhibits and programs. There’s a play pirate ship, a kids’ medical center, an art center and weather reporting exhibit. cmsckids.org.

9. From pirate ships to dinosaurs, there’s a puttputt theme for every interest in the "Miniature Golf Capital of the World” — choose from more than 50 courses. myrtlebeach.com/golf/top10-myrtle-beach-mini-golf-courses.

10. The newly renovated DoubleTree Resort

by Hilton, Myrtle Beach Oceanfront feels uniquely private, yet it is only a short drive from Myrtle Beach’s downtown hustle-and-bustle.

Enjoy unlimited mini-golf, oversized yard games and oceanfront cornhole. During summer, resort activities include shark tooth hunts (a Myrtle Beach must!) and “dive-in” movie nights. myrtlebeachresort.doubletreebyhilton.com.

11. On the corner of Ninth Avenue and Ocean Boulevard is the iconic Peaches Corner restaurant — a symbol of summer for thousands of visitors and locals alike since 1937.

Enjoy casual fare such as hot dogs and beer. peaches-corner.com.

12. Enjoy several summer concert series, including street performers and face painters, most evenings of the week at Plyler Park and the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk’s “Hot Summer Nights,” Broadway at the Beach’s “Summer Nights Series” and The Pier at Garden City’s “Music on the Pier.” plylerpark.com, broadwayatthebeach.com, pieratgardencity.com.

13. Fireworks displays take place each Monday at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, Tuesdays and Fridays at Broadway at the Beach, and Wednesdays at Plyler Park. bflanding.com, broadwayatthebeach.com, plylerpark.com.

Lauren Isaacs is the social media specialist for Carolina Parent and Charlotte Parent magazines.

June/July OUR PICKS

BY JANICE LEWINE

Image courtesy of Thor83, Shutterstock.com

Fire Truck Festival | June 23 See more than 100 fire trucks, meet firemen from across North Carolina and vote for your favorite fire engine at the North Carolina Transportation Museum’s Annual Fire Truck Festival, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., in Spencer. The festival features Jaws of Life and hose reel demonstrations, a kids’ obstacle course, live music and train rides. See the Norfolk Southern Safety Train, which stops in 23 cities this year as part of its Operation Awareness and Response Program, and provides first Photo courtesy of Angela Jamison, Communicopia

responders with free training on how to safely respond to a potential rail incident.

Brew ‘n’ Choo Ice Cream Social | July 28 All aboard! New Hope Valley Railway in Bonsal welcomes train lovers of all ages to its

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for ages 3-13 at nctrans.org.

annual Brew ‘n’ Choo Ice Cream Social, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy a diesel train excursion through the leafy New Hill woods at 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m. or 3 p.m. The event features a DJ, contests, games and a G-scale model train with multiple tracks and landscaping. All ticket purchases include free ice cream. Hot dogs, pizza, drinks and other treats will be available for purchase. Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for ages 2-12 at triangletrain.com.

Robert Beatty Visits | July 10 Meet best-selling author Robert Beatty to celebrate the release of his new book, “Willa of the Wood,” the much-anticipated follow-up to his popular Serafina Series, at Barnes & Noble at The Streets at Southpoint in Durham, 6-8 p.m. Beatty will discuss his book, and offer fans a Q&A and book signing. Enjoy refreshments, and Willa and Serafina giveaways. Admission is free. Wristbands are required to enter the signing line and will available at the store starting at 10 a.m. on event day. stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2109.

Photo courtesy of Camille Beatty

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

39

›

CALENDAR

|

independence day celebrations

Photo courtesy of Tweetsie Railroad

40

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

›

CALENDAR

|

independence day celebrations

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS CARY INDEPENDENCE EVE CELEBRATION July 3 – Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave., Cary. 7:30 p.m.

Free. The Cary Town Band performs patriotic music. A preshow begins at 6:30 p.m. with Applause! Cary Youth Theatre. townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/events/ holiday-events/independence-day-events.

GARNER INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 3 – Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Rd., Garner.

5 p.m. Free. Celebrate the nation’s independence with inflatables, games and food. The North Carolina Symphony performs at 8:30 p.m. prior to a spectacular fireworks show. garnernc.gov/departments/parks-recreation-andcultural-resources/events/independence-day.

FUQUAY-VARINA INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 3 – South Park, 900 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina. 6 p.m.

Free. Enjoy food vendors, live music, kids activities and a fireworks display. Gates open at 6 p.m. fuquay-varina.org.

MORRISVILLE JULY 3 FIREWORKS July 3 – Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Pkwy., Morrisville. 6 p.m. Free. Celebrate America’s birthday with live music and a grand fireworks display at 9 p.m. townofmorrisville.org.

SELMA ALL-AMERICAN FESTIVAL July 3 – Uptown Selma. 5-10 p.m. Free. Enjoy live entertainment, vendors and a children’s area. Fireworks cap off the event. selma-nc.com/all-american-festival.

WAKE FOREST FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR July 3 – Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Rd., Wake Forest. 5:30 p.m. Free. Take the family for a grand fireworks display, food trucks and live music from Raleigh-based band Crush. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. wakeforestnc.gov/ fireworks-spectacular.aspx.

APEX OLDE FASHIONED FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION July 4 – Downtown Apex. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Celebrate the nation’s birthday with a flag raising, carnival games, inflatables, street performers and more. Kids 12 and younger can take part in Uncle Sam’s Parade of Wheels at noon. Cool down with the Apex Fire Department’s Splash Down at 12:30 p.m. Bicycle helmets are required for the parade. apexnc.org/532/olde-fashioned-fourth-of-july.

BRIER CREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AND FIREWORKS July 4 – Brier Creek Commons Shopping Center, 8300 Brier Creek Pkwy., Raleigh. 7-10 p.m. Free. Kick off the evening with the Star Spangled Block Party starting at 7 p.m., followed by a choreographed fireworks display after dark. shopbriercreekcommons.com/events.

CARRBORO JULY 4 CELEBRATION July 4 – Town Hall Commons, 301 W. Main St., Carrboro. 9:30 a.m. Free. Enjoy kids’ activities, live music, contests and more.

The event kicks off at 9:30 a.m. at the Weaver Street Market lawn, followed by a kids’ parade to Town Hall at 10:50 a.m. carrborojuly4th.com.

CARY INDEPENDENCE DAY OLDE TIME CELEBRATION July 4 – Bond Park Boathouse, 801 High House Rd., Cary. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Cary’s annual celebration features a parentchild fishing tournament from 8-10 a.m., a parade in the park at 10:30 a.m., and family contests at the boathouse at 11 a.m. townofcary.org.

CHAPEL HILL’S FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION July 4 – Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill. 7-10:30 p.m.

Free; $5 donation per family appreciated. Take the family for old-fashioned fun in Chapel Hill. Enjoy fireworks at 9:30 p.m. townofchapelhill.org/town-hall/departments-services/parksrecreation/festivals-events/july-fourth-fireworks.

CLAYTON FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION July 4 – Municipal Park, 325 McCullers Dr., Clayton. 4-10 p.m. Free. Contests, live music, inflatables, rides and fireworks highlight this celebration of America’s birth. townofclaytonnc. org/parks-and-recreation/july-4th.aspx.

DURHAM INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 4 – Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell St., Durham.

6-9:30 p.m. Free. Take the family for a baseball game and fireworks.

The baseball park opens to the general public at the end of the seventh inning for a post-game fireworks show. All ages. Free; purchase tickets online for the baseball game. The rain date is July 5. durhamnc.gov/3556/independence-day-celebration.

JOEL LANE MUSEUM HOUSE HISTORIC INDEPENDENCE DAY OPEN HOUSE July 4 – Joel Lane Museum House, 728 W. Hargett St., Raleigh.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Take part in hands-on activities such as

writing with a quill pen or making rag dolls at this annual open house that also features costumed docents and re-enactors who demonstrate various aspects of colonial life. joellane.org.

JULY FOURTH CELEBRATION AT BOOTH AMPHITHEATRE July 4 – Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary. 3-10 p.m. Free. Take the family for a scavenger hunt, watermeloneating and cornhole contests, magicians and a Ferris wheel.

The Cary Town Band performs on the main stage at 5:45 p.m., followed by the North Carolina Symphony at 7:30 p.m.

A grand fireworks display caps off the event at 9:15 p.m. townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/events/holiday-events/ independence-day-events.

KNIGHTDALE’S JULY FOURTH CELEBRATION July 4 – Knightdale Station Park, 810 N. 1st Ave., Knightdale.

5-9:30 p.m. Free. Knightdale celebrates Independence Day with kids activities, food vendors and live music. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. knightdalenc.gov/index.aspx?page=659.

RALEIGH FIREWORKS CELEBRATION July 4 – PNC Arena area, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh.

9:30 p.m. Free. Raleigh lights up the night sky with dazzling fireworks in the PNC Arena area. raleighnc.gov.

ROLESVILLE JULY FOURTH CELEBRATION July 4 – Rolesville Ballfields, 121 Redford Place Dr., Rolesville.

4:30-10 p.m. Free. Celebrate Independence Day with a parade at 4:30 p.m., which leads directly into the Rolesville Ballfields where families can enjoy food vendors, face painting, live music and more. A grand fireworks display at dusk caps off the event. rolesville4th.com/event-info

TWEETSIE RAILROAD’S FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA July 4 – Tweetsie Railroad, 300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln., Blowing Rock. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. $45/adult, $30 ages 3-12. Free for ages 2 and younger. Spend the day at Tweetsie Railroad in the North Carolina mountains and enjoy a spectacular fireworks show after the park closes. tweetsie.com/special-events/fireworksextravaganza/#details.

JULY 5 AT SUGG FARM July 5 – Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park, 2401 Grigsby Ave., Holly Springs. 5-9:30 p.m. Free. Join the fun in Holly Springs after Independence Day with face painting, food vendors, inflatables, kids’ crafts, live music and skydiving demonstrations. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. hollyspringsnc.us/358/july-5th. carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

41

›

CALENDAR

|

outdoor fun

Photo courtesy of karelnoppe/Shutterstock.com

OUTDOOR FUN ECO TRACK: INCREDIBLE INSECTS June 14 – Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill. 9 a.m.4 p.m. $28/child. Explore the forest and pond for a variety of insects. Ages 7-11.

Advance registration required online. wakegov.com/parks/harrislake.

42

NIGHT OUT IN NATURE June 15 – Stevens Nature Center/ Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Raleigh. 6-9 p.m. $15/resident, $19/ nonresident. Kids spend a night out in nature making memories and new friends in an old-fashioned, camp-style program. Ages 8-12. Register online. classweb.townofcary.org.

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

RECREATIONAL ADVENTURES: NATIONAL GO FISHING DAY FUN June 18 – Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh.

11 a.m.-noon. $1/person. Learn to fish. Supplies and instruction provided.

Ages 5 and older with parent. Advance registration required online. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.

PRESCHOOL SWAMP ROMP: BEETLES June 20 – Walnut Creek Wetland Park, 950 Peterson St., Raleigh. 11 a.m.-noon. $2/person. Ages 2-6 enjoy a craft, engaging activity and guided walk along the greenway. Advance registration required online. Choose course #219939. reclink.raleighnc.gov.

› NATURAL EXPLORATIONS: A MIDSUMMER DAY DREAM

RECREATIONAL ADVENTURES: PADDLE THE POND

KIDS GET CRAFTY: FRESH FRUITS AND VEGGIES

June 21 – Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh.

4-5 p.m. FREE. Take a short walk near the millpond to search for faeries and hear a few quotes from William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” All ages.

Advance registration required online. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.

June 23 – Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh.

3-4 p.m. $10/boat. Learn basic canoeing skills before venturing out on the pond.

Canoes, paddles and life jackets provided.

Ages 5 and older with adult. Register online. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.

June 25 – Crowder County Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 11 a.m.-noon. FREE. Create a painting using fresh produce.

Materials provided. Registration not required. Meet at the Cardinal Shelter. wakegov.com/parks/crowder.

TOTALLY TURTLE

July 3 – Walnut Creek Wetland Park, 950 Peterson St., Raleigh. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $25/person. Use natural materials from the wetland to produce art. Ages 10-13.

Register online. Choose course #220640. reclink.raleighnc.gov.

CROWDER BY NIGHT: FIREFLY FRENZY June 22 – Crowder County Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 7:30-8:30 p.m. $1/person. Catch and release fireflies, and explore what gives them their special glow through hands-on discovery, games and more. All ages with adult.

Advance registration required online. wakegov.com/parks/crowder.

June 23 – Blue Jay Point County Park, 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd., Raleigh.

10-11 a.m. $1/person. Get the real scoop on turtles. Discover how they “earn” a living and listen to a story. Ages 5 and older. Advance registration required online. wakegov.com/parks/bluejay.

WETLAND ART AND NATURE

PLAYING OUT WITH ELEMENTS: CLAY FACES July 15 – Walnut Creek Wetland Park, 950 Peterson St., Raleigh. 2-3:30 p.m. $3/person. Discover clay through an

CALENDAR

| outdoor fun

engaging activity. Register online. Choose course #220634. reclink.raleighnc.gov.

PRESCHOOL SWAMP ROMP: DRAGONFLIES July 18 – Walnut Creek Wetland Park, 950 Peterson St., Raleigh. 11 a.m.-noon. $2/person. Budding naturalists ages 2-6 enjoy a craft, engaging activity and guided walk along the greenway.

Register online. Choose course #219940. reclink.raleighnc.gov.

WEE WETLAND WALKERS July 19 – Walnut Creek Wetland Park, 950 Peterson St., Raleigh. 11 a.m.-noon.

FREE. Enjoy an easy-paced and strollerfriendly walk along the greenway.

Suggested for ages 3 and younger with a parent. Register online. Choose course #219871. reclink.raleighnc.gov.

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

43

›

CALENDAR

|

exhibits Take a mind-bending journey in the “Mazes & Brain Games” exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Photo courtesy of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

EXHIBITS “YOU ARE HERE: LIGHT, COLOR, AND SOUND EXPERIENCES”

KidsExchange

ConsignmentSale

the ultimate recycle

NC’s largest event to buy & sell your kids’ gently used items

SALE & PARENTS’ FAIR

“Clean Closets & Full Pockets $.”

Gently used: Kids’ Clothes • Baby Equipment Furniture • Toys and much more: Infants to Teens!

Sell & Shop Early • Work Exchange Shops First!

7 DAYS ONLY! Mon., July 16 - Sun. July 22 NC State Fairgrounds ★ Graham & Expo Bldgs.

Sell & Shop Early ★ Work & Shop 1st!

See KidsExchange.net/Raleigh for more info!

2 BUILDINGS 150,000 Sq Ft OF BARGAINS!

SALE DATES

Drop off Items: Mon, July 16, 5pm-7pm, July 17, 10am-8pm, July 18, 9am-11am Sellers Only: Thursday July 19, 9am-8pm Sunday: 1/2 price day, see hours on website

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: Fathom Realty: Amy Winstead Realtor & Renovation Coach - BUY * SELL * RENOVATE AWinstead@FathomRealty.com or (919) 889-1736

44

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

Through July 22 This exhibit features immersive art installations by 15 contemporary artists that engage the senses, activate the imagination and provide connections between the viewer and the work of art. The recently acquired work, “Light of Life,”

by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, is a mirrored hexagonal box that features an enclosed “infinity room.” The interior of the work is lined with mirrors and filled with LED lights that are programmed to change patterns and colors in a dazzling two-minute light show. $15/adult, $9 ages 7-18. North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh. ncartmuseum.

“BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES” Through July 29 View nature photography by Matthew Leavitt, whose favorite subjects include herons, ospreys, eagles, bees, dragonflies and butterflies. All exhibited art is for sale in the Nature Art Gallery, which is located in the museum store. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh. 919-707-9950. naturalsciences.org.

“MAZES & BRAIN GAMES” Through Sept. 3 This family-friendly exhibit features a collection of more than 60 puzzling experiences to inspire exploration and ingenuity. It offers mindbending adventures, 3D puzzles and fullbody games. Purchase tickets online. $5/person ages 3 and older, free for museum members.

North Carolina Museum of Natural

Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh.

919-707-9950. naturalsciences.org.

“BEYOND CURIE: A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE” Through Dec. 31 This exhibit features 40 female scientists, mathematicians and engineers who have made incredible advances in their fields but never earned the recognition they deserve. They include all 16 female winners of the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine/Physiology, and many others. FREE. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh.

919-707-9950. naturalsciences.org.

“NORTH CAROLINA AND WORLD WAR I” Through Jan. 6 This exhibit, covering more than 6,500 square feet of gallery space, showcases North Carolina during World War I. See a reproduction field hospital, floor-to-ceiling murals, historic film footage, interactive video and more than 500 artifacts. Visitors can wind their way through a life-size trench system — complete with 8-foot-high, mud-plastered walls; hundreds of sandbags; and the lights and sounds of battle. Stories of numerous Tar Heel soldiers are distributed throughout the exhibit and include a special showcase of the African American 92nd Division. FREE. North Carolina Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh.

919-807-7900. ncmuseumofhistory.org.

›

CALENDAR

|

performances

Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE performs June 30 at Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke University as part of the American Dance Festival. Photo courtesy of Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE

PERFORMANCES EXPRESSIONS IN RHYTHM STUDIO PRESENTS “MOONWALKER” June 16 – Garner Performing Arts Center, 742 W. Garner Rd., Garner. Noon-2:30 p.m. $10-$15.

Take a journey through Michael Jackson’s career with talented performers from Expressions in Rhythm Studio. Purchase tickets online. eirstudio. com/moonwalker-2018-recital.html.

AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL CHILDREN’S SATURDAY MATINEES June 16, 23 and 30 – Performances are at Reynolds Industries Theater, Duke University, 125 Science Dr., Durham; and Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham. $17.25/ person. The American Dance Festival presents one-hour performances that are specially curated to inspire the imaginations of children. Kids can

enjoy face painting, live music and snacks in the lobby after the show. The Dayton Dance Company performs June 16 at 1 p.m. at Reynolds Industries Theater, Duke University; Pilobolus performs June 23 at 1 p.m. at the Durham Performing Arts Center; and “Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE” performs June 30 at 1 p.m. at Reynolds Industries Theater, Duke University. Purchase tickets online. americandancefestival.org/performance/adf-kids-2.

MISS NORTH CAROLINA PAGEANT June 19-23 – Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, 2 E. South St., Raleigh. June 19-21, 7:30 p.m.; June 22, 6 p.m.; June 23, 8 p.m. $27 and up. See talented young women compete for the title of Miss North Carolina. Purchase tickets online. ticketmaster.com.

“CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STORY OF SLEEPING BEAUTY, PRESENTED BY INFINITY BALLET” June 23 – Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave., Cary.

2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. $10-$16. ”Conversations” features ballet dances based on the story of “Sleeping Beauty,” as well as a contemporary dance medley themed “Talk to Me, Listen to Me.” Purchase tickets online. etix.com.

“NEWSIES: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL” July 24-29 – Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, 2 E. South St., Raleigh. See the website for show times and to purchase tickets. $25-$83. Disney’s smash-hit musical tells the story of New York City newsboys who seize the day when they strike against unfair working conditions. Produced by North Carolina Theatre. ticketmaster.com.

“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”

“PIPPIN” July 6-8 – Fletcher Theater, 2 E. South St., Raleigh. July 6, 7:30 p.m.; July 7, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; July 8, 2 p.m. $15-$50/person. North Carolina Theatre’s student production, complete with Fossey-style choreography and an infectious score, illustrates young Prince Pippin’s quest to find meaning in his life. Purchase tickets online. ticketmaster.com.

July 25-30 – Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, 2 E. South St., Raleigh. See the website for show times and to purchase tickets. Disney’s musical features unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the beloved title song. Produced by North Carolina Theatre. ticketmaster.com.

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

45

›

CALENDAR

|

festivals

Don't miss the Carolina Hurricane Summerfest Celebration June 30 at PNC Arena in Raleigh.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Baxter, Carolina Hurricanes

FESTIVALS PEAK CITY PIG FEST June 15-16 – Downtown Apex. June 15, 5-9 p.m.; June 16, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. FREE admission; purchase barbecue plate tickets online, $10/person. Teams from across the country compete for prize money while cooking chicken, ribs, beef brisket and pork.

On Saturday, the event features kids’ activities, pig races, live music and street vendors. peakcitypigfest.com.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION June 16 – 330 E. Main St., downtown Durham. 1-10 p.m.

FREE. Take the family for an educational and uplifting event that celebrates the end of slavery 153 years ago. Enjoy live entertainment, food, vendors, a health fair and kids’ zone. spectacularmag.com.

46

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com

FAMILY DAY AT DUKE HOMESTEAD: FARM CREATURES June 16 – Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Rd., Durham. 10a.m.-2 p.m. FREE. Meet creatures that would have been part of homestead life in the 1200s. dukehomestead.org/ special-events.php.

MORRISVILLE SPRINGFEST June 16 – Morrisville Town Hall Campus, Town Hall Dr., Morrisville. 4-9 p.m. FREE. Morrisville celebrates the spring season with live entertainment, carnival-style games, inflatables, craft vendors and food trucks. townofmorrisville.org.

POLLINATOR FESTIVAL June 16 – Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. FREE. Enjoy games, crafts, familyfriendly activities, local experts and food vendors at the sixth annual Pollinator Festival in honor of National Pollinator Week. wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree.

PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF CARY SPRING FLING CARNIVAL June 16 – Primrose School of Cary, 1500 Evans Rd., Durham.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. $5 and up. Crafts, face painting, games, food, a silent auction and more highlight this festival for all ages. primroseofcary.com.

WAKE FOREST CHARITY CAR SHOW June 16 – Downtown Wake Forest. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

FREE. See muscle cars, sports cars, pony cars, classic and antique autos, street rods and trucks at this event. wakeforestnc.gov/wake-forest-charity-car-show.aspx.

BLUEBERRY DAY AT THE STATE FARMERS MARKET June 21 – Raleigh State Farmers Market, 1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. FREE. Enjoy a free blueberry dessert and fresh blueberries for sale from local growers. ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/promos.htm.

POP-PUPALOOZA June 23 – Dorothea Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Dr., Raleigh.

Noon-6 p.m. FREE. Let your dog run free at this pop-up event that features a specially crafted dog park. Enjoy games, food trucks, raffles and dog-related vendors. Registration required online. eventbrite.com.

VOLLMER FARM BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL June 23 – Vollmer Farm, 677 NC Hwy 98 E., Bunn. 2-10 p.m. $15/person. FREE for ages 12 and younger. Live music, pie-eating contests and food trucks highlight Vollmer Farms’ annual blueberry celebration. The Back 40 Playground features a giant jumping pillow, underground slide, goat walk, racer barrels and more. Purchase tickets online. facebook.com/thevollmerfarm.

REPTICON June 30-July 1 – North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Kerr Scott Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh. June 30, 10 a.m.5 p.m.; July 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $12/adult, $5 ages 5-12. FREE for ages 4 and younger. Explore the world of reptiles and exotic animals through presentations, raffles, vendors and more.

Purchase tickets online. repticon.com/north-carolina/raleigh.

CAROLINA HURRICANES’ SUMMERFEST CELEBRATION

›

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

July 1 – PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh.

10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. FREE. Enjoy an autograph session, inflatables, games, free giveaways, appearances by Stormy and the Pepsi Storm Squad, hockey games and more. nhl.com/hurricanes/fans/summerfest.

FESTIVAL FOR THE ENO July 4 and 7 – West Point on the Eno, 5101 N. Roxboro Rd., Durham. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. See the website for fees and to purchase tickets. The 39th Festival for the Eno features more than 70 music performance on five stages, a juried craft show, interactive arts, environmental and backyard farming demonstrations, local food, and opportunities to paddle and play on the Eno River. All proceeds benefit the Eno River Association. enoriver.org/festival.

PORK, PICKLES AND PEANUTS July 14 – Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Rd., Durham. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. FREE. North Carolina’s food heritage comes to life with cooking demonstrations, food competitions, live music, arts and crafts vendors, kids’ games, living history re-enactors and guided tours of the homestead. dukehomestead.org/special-events.php.

BREW ‘N’ CHOO: ICE CREAM SOCIAL July 28 – New Hope Valley Railway, 3900 Bonsal Rd., New Hill. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $12-$14/person. Enjoy a DJ, contests, ice cream, train rides and G-scale garden trains on display.

Purchase tickets online for 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m. or 3 p.m. train rides. triangletrain.com.

CALENDAR POLICY The Carolina Parent calendar lists local and regional activities for children and families. Visit carolinaparent.com/calendar to submit an event for consideration by the 6th of the month for the next month's issue. Please call ahead to confirm dates and times. This calendar may include some events not intended for young children. Find more events at carolinaparent.com/calendar.

YOUR AD. THIS SPACE. NEXT MONTH. advertising@carolinaparent.com

carolinaparent.com | JUNE/JULY 2018

47

› FACES & PLACES

Frankie (3) and Ty (1) enjoy a sunny day at E. Carroll Joyner Park in Wake Forest.

Submit high-resolution photos of your kids having fun in the Triangle at carolinaparent.com/facesandplaces.

48

JUNE/JULY 2018 | carolinaparent.com