NW Kids Magazine October 2012

nwkidsmagazine.com | october 2012

Halloween Tricks & Treats | Harvest Calendar Girl Scouts 100th | Little Word an interview with aaron nigel smith

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NW Kids Magazine | 3

Publisher / Advertising Director Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com Editorial Beth Friesenhahn beth@nwkidsmagazine.com Kelley Schaefer-Levi kelley@nwkidsmagazine.com Account Manager Laurel Ackerman laurel@nwkidsmagazine.com Client Services Coordinator / Client Ad Design Karel Chan karel@nwkidsmagazine.com Advertising Inquiries: 503-282-2711, ext. 1 sales@nwkidsmagazine.com Design Robyn Barbon robyn@folkloremedia.com

ON THE COVER and above: Photos courtesy of Jen Downer.

Jen is a lifestyle portrait photographer for beautifully messy, miraculously complicated, ferociously loving couples and families, and owner of She Saw Things Photography here in Portland. You’ll find her at shesawthings.com Correction: Yoga Playgrounds was listed as Yoga Playground in the Birthday Party Guide last month. yogaplaygrounds.net.

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Staff Photographer Emma Darden/RLP Studios emma@rlportraits.com Accounting & Business Services Heather Rex heather@nwkidsmagazine.com Connect With Us: • Phone: 503.282.2711 • email: contact@nwkidsmagazine.com • Facebook: facebook.com/nwkids • Twitter: @nwkids NW Kids is published monthly by Miche Media, LLC. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy; sometimes we make errors. Please let us know when we do and accept our apologies.

Printed locally; Please recycle.

contents

INSIDE:

profile

halloween

8 Girl Scouts: 100 Years of Girl Power 30 P romoting Unity: An Interview with Aaron Nigel Smith 10 A Special Kind of Halloween: Strategies to help kids with sensory processing disorders

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20 Green Halloween 29 Recipe: Witches’ Brew

resource guide

goods

12 Support Groups and information for families with children with special needs 14 F ound Around Town: Products for children with sensory processing disorders 28 Fantastic Fall Books

outings

16 Wordstock for Kids: Little Word 23 Harvest & Halloween events nwkidsmagazine.com Found Around Town: Halloween

online this month

Halloween Recipes & Games Tricks for a Healthy Halloween Liepold Farms

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Resource Guide for Families with Children with Sensory Processing Issues OT Tips and Sensory Strategies for School Success

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listings Advanced Pediatric Therapies.......................13 Amanda Arp....................................................9 Autism Behavioral Consulting......................13 Autism Service Dogs of America..................13 Barre3..............................................................2 Beanstalk.........................................................7 Bennett Suzuki Violin Studio..........................7 Coffee Kids......................................................9 Dodge and Burn Photography......................31 EZ Orchards...................................................25 Fazio Farms....................................................25 Girl Scouts.......................................................9 Heiser Farms..................................................25 Hi 5 Dental....................................................17 i9 Sports........................................................31 Justus Orthodontics......................................15 KidFest.............................................................7 Kids’ Backyard Store........................................3 Liepold Farms................................................27 Ninja School..................................................19 Oregon Children’s Theatre...............................2 Oregon Episcopal School..............................19 Oregon Garden..............................................27 Organic Valley...............................................32 Park Family Dentistry......................................7 Plumper Pumpkin Patch...............................25 Portland Ballet..............................................19 Portland Language Arts...............................15 Portland Trampolines......................................3 Rasmussen Farms.........................................25 Reversed Lens Photography.........................17 Ryser’s Farm Pumpkin Patch.........................25 Smith Berry Barn..........................................26 Spanky’s Legendary Consignment.................9 Spielwerk Toys...............................................19 Sweet Peas Kidzone......................................15 Tears of Joy Theatre.......................................15 Therapy Shoppe............................................15 Willamette Valley Fruit Company.................27 Willow Tree Wellness....................................31 World of Smiles.............................................15

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editor’s

corner

It’s harvest time! We love this time of year in Portland. There are so many wonderful things to look forward to including outings to pumpkin patches, apple orchards, Oktoberfest celebrations, Wordstock, and the Greek festival. No less planning for Halloween, feeling the crunch of leaves beneath your feet, and settling into chilly nights with layered sweaters. With so much to explore, there are endless opportunities for exploration and fun with the family.

This month we’re featuring all things Halloween. For many children, Halloween can be a little overwhelming; especially for kiddos with sensory processing differences.

Don’t miss Jen Downer’s article on resourceful ways to help kids with sensory challenges enjoy the fun. We’ve also compiled a resource guide for families with children with special needs and have found some products suitable for children with special needs in Found Around Town. Also, don’t miss tips on how to green your Halloween and a fun recipe for Witches’ Brew you can try with the kids. For more information on where to go this month to find the best of the harvest check out our events calendar.

Online at nwkidsmagazine.com this month we will continue the festivities with some of our favorite picks of the season, plus, an interesting article on Liepold Farms that involves thousands of stuffed animals. Say, what? For giggles, we’ve found some fun old-timey Halloween recipes and games that the whole family can enjoy like Jack O’ Lantern Carrots and Hallo-weenies. Can you tell we’re incredibly excited for the season? We’d love to hear about how you celebrate Fall and see your kiddos Halloween costumes. Feel free to post them to facebook.com/nwkidsmag. And while you’re there check out our October giveaway sponsored by Organic Valley where you can enter to win a year’s worth of Organic Valley products and other amazing prizes.

Happy Fall!

— Kelley and Beth

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profile

Girl Scouts: 100 Years of Girl Power

by Kelley Schaefer-Levi In 1912 Juliette Gordon Low invited 18 girls to join a club exclusively created to get them out of the home, into nature and learning about how to serve their communities. The first troop of Girl Scouts played basketball and earned badges for Aviation in a time when women were not yet allowed to vote. Low’s goal was to foster opportunities for stewardship and prepare girls for their futures. Her mission remains the cornerstone of Girl Scouts today. Sarah Miller, Director of Communications for the Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington says of how Girl Scouts prepares girls, “Everything girls do in Girl Scouting is built around a set of outcomes such as developing positive values, learning to seek challenges in the world, feeling connected to one’s community locally and globally, identifying community needs and feeling empowered to make a difference in the world. Through Girl Scouting, whether a girl chooses to participate in a troop, in an event or at camp, girls learn to think critically, resolve conflict, lead others, practice business skills, and choose and develop other skills she may be interested in such as science or art.”

Girl Scouts is also a great place for girls to meet new friends and to build new skills in school and life related subjects like science, math, technology, business, healthy living, art and more. “Girl Scouting offers girls a safe space to discover themselves and what they value, connect with others and take action to make the world a better place,” says Miller.

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This year marks Girl Scouts 100th year as an organized club. The scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington have been celebrating the anniversary all year long through local girl and volunteer-led events, a council-wide patch contest, kickoff events in Portland, Medford, Eugene and Salem, as well as a couple of huge events this summer serving thousands of girls. Each celebration has joined history and Girl Scout heritage as well as everything cool about being a Girl Scout today. Other activities included service projects around the state and a Geocaching challenge.

Historical photo courtesy of GSUSA; GSOSW photos courtesy of Shannon Spencer and Rebekah Hubbard

Check Out A few local farms are featuring Girl Scouts in their fall harvest festivals and corn mazes; Rasmussen Farms in Hood River, Willamette Valley Fruit Company in Salem and Fort Vannoy Farms in Grants Pass.

This is a wonderful year to join Girl Scouts as a member. There are tons of fall events for girls in the Girl Scouts’ Program Guide such as Girl Scout Day of Service and the Juliette Low Birthday Tea Party. For more information visit, girlscoutsosw.org.

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halloween

A Special Kind of Halloween: strategies to help kids with sensory processing disorders Photos courtesy of Jen Downer

by jen downer stuff ). We also find that the same care must be taken when navigating through stores that are stocked full of Halloween goods. When its just not possible to avoid these things, we also make sure he has a blanket or hat on hand to hide his eyes.

Halloween is a frightfully thrilling holiday, and for a person who has sensory processing challenges, it can be overwhelming, exciting, anxiety producing, or downright horrific.

My autistic seven year old son, Sam, has a complex (and challenging!) relationship with Halloween. He is both completely obsessed with and stop-in-your-tracks-shaking-andwhimpering TERRIFIED of many aspects of the big October holiday. It is a fancy dance we do, getting through this time of year, finding ourselves needing to tap into our creativity and flexibility more than any other time.

• W e plan a trip to any number of the many sweet pumpkin patches, avoiding the ones that are overcrowded and full of noisy activities like bounce houses and such. Carrying a heavy pumpkin is a great activity for our sensory seeker, and strolling around a farm setting fits his need for being out in nature.

Here are some of the things we do to feed his interest as well as manage his fears and anxieties:

• F or trick or treating, we have chosen a few close friends’ houses as a safe destination free from unexpected frights.

• W e collect (as do our friends and family) a healthy stack of Halloween catalogs, magazines and books. This fulfills Sam’s desire to look at all of the things he enjoys the most about Halloween during the season, but also year round.

• W e do a lot of communicating about what to expect, give him choices, and fully expect needing to be flexible with our plans; always respecting his comfort level.

• B ecause Sam is paralyzed with fear by some of the more horrific decorations we see out and about, carefully planned routes are a must. We try our best to avoid passing by the houses decorated with things that are visually shocking (mostly the gory, graphic 10 | NW Kids Magazine

I am loving the idea of planning a sensory friendly party and inviting a few friends over early on in the day. Keeping things on the innocent fantasy side, as opposed to some of the scarier imagery, means that we can keep things ‘happy’. I also love the idea of having some control over what my kids eat as well.

halloween Our story is unique and everyone has varying challenges. I want to also offer a broader perspective outside of our extreme experience so I consulted with our community for some helpful input on how to best help kids with some sensory differences cope with what can be a really intense holiday.

Barbara Avila, RDI specialist from Synergy Autism Center, had these ideas to offer for a successful Halloween experience: • U sing social stories or visuals for the basics of what will happen 1st, 2nd, next, etc. is often quite comforting, especially if you review them when you are not in the anxiety producing times leading up to the events.

• P hotos and video are ideal for planning and reviewing successful holidays. Pull out those old holiday photos and videos to review.

• P ractice going up to neighbor’s houses and NOT going in. This can be to bring treats to them on occasion, or simply to role play the “trick-or-treat” scenario the week ahead.

a quiet area to regroup and then return without the festivities being over.

• C onsider going to the neighborhood that is NOT known for the wild, crazy houses and the best candy. These tend to be the most crowded.

I love this time of year so much. I adore the colors, the leaves, the crisp cool air that gives way to sweaters, boots, knee-highs, hats and scarves. I never was a big fan of Halloween as a kid but am a big fan of making my kids smile.

My family finds Halloween to be a challenging time and it’s simply not feasible to shield my son and daughter from the frightening and graphic imagery. The best thing my husband and I can do is approach Halloween with creativity and flexibility, and prioritize our kids’ needs and stamina. There is fun to be had, even in the most challenging of times.

• H ave identification information on your child for safety purposes. If your child disappears into crowds, s/he may be more stressed and less able to communicate to find you.

• G et dressed up, too! Enjoy the evening with your children by sharing the silliness of putting the makeup or costumes on.

Use a mirror and take extra time to dress up together. If you never get out the door, you will have had great sharing without leaving the house.

• C hoose costumes that may incorporate a child’s need for extra tight or extra loose clothing, headphones to decrease noise, or hats to decrease unexpected lighting.

• T ake breaks. Allow your child to take breaks from the busy/crowds/events in

Jen Downer is a lifestyle portrait photographer for beautifully messy, miraculously complicated, ferociously loving couples and families, and owner of She Saw Things Photography here in Portland. You’ll find her at shesawthings.com NW Kids Magazine | 11

resource guide

resource guide:

Support Groups and Information for Families with Children with Special Needs Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) portlandonline.com/parks/index. cfm?c=39830 ADHD Parent Support Group chadd.org Advanced Pediatric Therapies Support Group advancedpediatrictherapies.com Arc of Oregon arcoforegon.org Autism Empowerment autismempowerment.org Autism Oregon autismoregon.org Autism Research and Resources of Oregon arroautism.org Autism Society of Oregon oregonautism.com Child Development and Rehabilitation Center ohsu.edu/cdrc/ Developmental Disabilities Office ddsweb.mhd.hr.state.or.us/ Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT) feator.og

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Family and Community Together (FACT) factoregon.org Learning Disabilities Association of Oregon ldaor.org NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness nami.org Parents Active for Vision Education (P.A.V.E.) pave-eye.com/vision/ Parents of Special Needs Kids Meetup Groups spclneedsparents.meetup.com/members/ us/or/portland/ Play Connections ABA/VB Autism Intervention playconnections.com Portland Aspergers Network aspergersnetwork.org Oregon Family Support Network ofsn.org Oregon Home Education Network (OHEN) ohen.org/oregon/special Oregon Parent Training and Information Center (OR PTI) www.orpti.org/supportgroups.htm

resource guide

Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAC) otap-oregon.org/Pages/OTAPServices.aspx Northwest Autism Foundation autismnwaf.org/oregon.htm Sensory Kids Support Group sensorykidsot.com SPD Parent Support Group spdconnect.com Special Education of SW Washington (SEPTSA) facebook.com/pages/Special-Education-PTsAof-SW-Washington-SEPTSA/170823742959661

Swindells Resource Center of Providence Child Center oregon.providence.org/patients/programs/ swindells-resource-center/Pages/default.aspx The Family Center on Technology and Disability fctd.info/ The Shadow Project shadow-project.org/resources/ United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon and SW Washington ucp.org/ucp_local.cfm/129

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goods

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Found Around Town 2

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1. Sensory Ball by Edushape at Child’s Play, $5 • 2. Cloud B Tranquil Turtle Night Light at Piccolo Mondo, $30 • 3. Pustefix Bubbles with Wand at Kids At Heart Toys, $4 • 4. Kid-O Bilibo at Spielwerk Toys, $30 • 5. Bubber Smart Shapes Pack by Waba Fun at Child’s Play, $35 • 6. Quercetti Georello Kaleido Gears (55 pieces) at Finnegan’s, $28 • 7. Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child With Sensory Processing Issues at Powell’s Books, $16 • 8. Citiblocs Hot Colors (50 piece set) at Spielwerk Toys, $16 • 9. Words Story Songs That Promote Positive Behaviors at Babywit.com, $12 • 10. VariableBounce™ by AlleyOop at Portland Trampoline, $1200 and up 14 | NW Kids Magazine

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outing

Wordstock For Kids: Little Word

by Rose Finn Photos courtesy of Alex Broderick-Forster

For most kids, reading is homework—a chore in the same vein as choking down broccoli before they can get to the chocolate and Nickelodeon. Wordstock seeks to remove any trace of reading drudgery, one literary extravaganza at a time.

As the reigning champion of Northwest literary festivals, Wordstock Festival and Book Fair is a weeklong event that celebrates reading and writing, and encourages everyone to open up a book once in a while.

In addition to hundreds of reading and writing experiences for adults, one trademark feature of the Wordstock Book Fair is the Little Word Children’s Stage and Discovery Place. What a way to spend a rainy Portland weekend; especially when children 13 and under get into the Book Fair for free.

Wordstock isn’t just an annual event. It began in 1997 as a Portland area program called Community of Writers, sponsored by the Portland Schools Foundation.

Community of Writers placed writers in schools to do weeklong residencies in classrooms. The program has given teachers 16 | NW Kids Magazine

new approaches to teaching writing, as well as given students a positive application for writing and reading. Residencies ranged in such relevant topics as newspaper layout, poetry and songwriting.

In 2005, the Wordstock Festival was created as a means to fund Community of Writers. Eventually, both organizations combined to offer both educational programming and the beloved festival every fall celebrating the written word. Some of the fun, functional literary programs throughout the year include Wordstock for Teachers, serving over 1,800 teachers across the region, affecting over 40,000 students, with notably improved test scores. Parents as Partners helps parents develop skills to foster their children’s desire to learn and communicate through words. Wordstock’s success in K–8 classrooms has led to the Regional Arts and Culture Council’s Right-Brain Initiative to request them as their sole literary provider. continued on p. 18

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outing Wordstock Festival and Book Fair hosts hundreds of authors from around the world, with a week of special partnership events throughout the city, culminating with the Book Fair at the Oregon Convention Center.

The Book Fair offers a weekend of workshops, conversations, and readings across nine stages, featuring over 195 authors and over 125 exhibitors.

In addition to plenty of literary enlightenment for parents, the kiddos find numerous hands-on children’s activities in the Little Word children’s stage and discovery place: Saturday and Sunday include • Creating collage board books based on Eric Carle’s techniques. Picture book author/ illustrator Addie Boswell leads children through the process while showcasing the natural connection between art and the written word.

• C harlotte Rodenburg, author of Bronto and the Pterodactyl Eggs, performs the puppet show of her work, complete with book signings.

• K lutz Activity Table showcases how-to sessions with the art of “twisted” paper and quilling.

Sunday Only • One of our favorites, Read to the Dogs, allows kids to practice their reading skills in a fluffy, judgment-free environment. Pet Partners provides kindly service animals and makes this ingenious event possible at Little Word.

Wordstock festival takes place at the Convention Center October 13–14, 2012.

Book Fair Ticketing: $7 general admission and free tickets for ages 13 and under are available via bewordstock.org or at the OCC box office. For more information visit, wordstockfestival.org.

Rose Finn, a Portland native, has been writing since she was eight. When Rose isn’t writing, editing, or working, she can be found playing music. Her most ambitious project to date has been creating, editing and publishing F Magazine.

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halloween

Photos courtesy of RLP Studios

green halloween

by Brenna Burke

Kids are settling into school, the leaves are beginning to turn, and the apples are just begging to be plucked from their branches at the local farms. We all know what this means.

It’s time to start thinking about Halloween!

It is great to start thinking early about Halloween to make it as green as possible.

Top 5 Tips for a Green Halloween: 1. Reuse, reuse, reuse Reusing costumes, pieces of costumes, or items from around the house is a great green way to save money. If you don’t have what you need, chances are someone else does.

Talk to friends, neighbors, check out your local consignment or thrift shop, or try to find (or host one yourself ) a costume swap for National Costume Swap Day 2012 on Oct. 13. Find out more: (greenhalloween. org/CostumeSwap/register.html). Avoid plastic which is typically cheaply made with potentially toxic chemicals like PVC or phthalates and can’t be recycled.

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2. Eco-friendly treat bags Any reusable bag will do, but if you want to get a little more creative there are plenty of crafty options. Reusable organic cotton bags or old pillowcases are perfect for kids who love to paint. Eco-friendly felt can easily be stitched into a simple bag and any shape, face, or decoration added to the front. Old towels can also make a fun and fuzzy treat bag.

3. Green decorations The first line in an eco-friendly defense against Halloween waste is to reuse what you already have. Borrow other elements from nature that can be dressed up and spookified: pumpkins, gourds, pinecones, sticks and twigs, autumn leaves, and straw bales. Light the way with solar lights, beeswax or GMO-free soy candles inside jack o’ lanterns and luminaries, or LED candle alternatives and string lights. Then turn the kids loose making fun spiders and ghosts from recycled materials like old sheets, egg cartons, and paper scraps.

4. Minimize waste when the fun is done Avoid anything that is designed for only one use. If it can’t be reused at least make sure it can be recycled or composted. Definitely

halloween

Think Outside the Candy Box Healthier Treats and Alternatives

Unreal. This is being touted as the newest healthier candy. (getunreal.com) Organic fruit snacks like Annie’s Homegrown Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, Clif Kids Organic Twisted Fruit Rope, or Stretch Island Fruit Strips can be found at many local stores including Costco.

Real fruit snacks like Bare Fruit are made from real organic fruit from Washington state which are bake-dried. Nothing is added, except sometimes organic cinnamon. This company is also carbon neutral!

If you just have to have candy, Natural Candy Store (naturalcandystore.com) has perhaps the biggest selection of natural, organic, fair trade, made in the USA, and special diet options anywhere. Some favorites are Organic Yummy Earth Lollipops, Endangered Species Bug Bites, and the Tiny Treats Natural Candy Mix.

For treat alternatives, please choose something that won’t wind up going straight to the landfill. Think about materials and usability.

• Pencils made from recycled materials.

• Mini cookie cutters.

• Coins. What kid doesn’t love money?

• P lay Dough. Homemade in a nice container or mini versions of Mary’s Soft Dough.

• Organic or Heirloom seed packets.

• C hronicle books (chroniclebooks.com) has a great series of cards with activities or projects to try. One per child would be a fun treat alternative. Some favorites are 52 Activities in Nature, 52 Amazing Science Experiments, and 52 Creative Craft Projects.

Surf Sweets Spooky Spider gummies are made from 90% organic ingredients and are all natural. Portions from the sales of Spooky Spiders will go to Eco-Mom Alliance, a nonprofit organization nurturing, connecting and empowering mothers to create a healthy and sustainable world. (surfsweets.com/products_ spookyspiders.php) make sure you compost those pumpkins and jack o’ lanterns.

5. Walk the neighborhood If you have a safe neighborhood, walking is a great choice to get a little exercise, get to know your neighbors, and reduce your carbon footprint by leaving the car at home. Your kids may not get as many treats while walking, but they will get to spend more time with you and isn’t that what the holidays are supposed to be about?

Brenna Burke is a mama of three trying to live a green life, pursue greater health and well-being for her family and the planet, and teach her children well, all while always seeking the best tips, insight, and fun for those wanting to go a little greener. Brenna blogs at almostallthetruth.com

Have a happy & green Halloween!

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calendar

Performances Oct 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28

Northwest Children’s Theater – The BFG

See your favorite Roald Dahl story come to life onstage as Sophie finds herself in the world of the Big Friendly Giant. $1822, 12pm & 4pm. nwcts.org

Oct 7

Oregon Symphony – Trains, Trams, Trolleys and more!

A kid-friendly foray into the symphony, featuring transportation-related selections from ET and The Polar Express, plus more. $10-36, 2pm. orsymphony.org/trains

OCT 15

MarchFourth Marching Band

Enjoy costumed and vaudeville inspired music. Noon, Unico Plaza (SW 6th & Oak) marchfourthmarchingband.com

Oct 20-21, 27-28

Oregon Children’s Theatre – Duck for President

A charming tale about Duck’s journey through farm politics – perfect for this year’s election season. $18-30, Sat 2pm & 5pm, Sun 2pm. duckforpresident.org

Oct 28

Mississippi Studios – Aaron Nigel Smith Plays

A Halloween-themed concert with a full band, the One World Chorus singers, and tons of kid-friendly fun. $8, check website for showtime. aaronnigelsmith.com

Events Tues in Oct

Green Bean Books – Storytime

Weekly storytime at this adorable local kids’ bookstore. Free, 11am. greenbeanbookspdx.com

Weds in Oct

Laurelhurst Café – Kids’ Art Time Drop in art time on the patio (inside if it rains) for kids 2 and up! Each week has a theme – check out the Laurelhurst Cafe Facebook page for details. Free, 9-11am. laurelhurstcafe.com

Oct 5

Art a la Carte PDX - $2 First Fridays

Make and create at the open art studio all day for just $2 on the first Friday of the month! Bring in recycled art supplies or toys and admission is free. 10am-5pm. artalacartepdx.com

Oct 6

Hollywood Theater – Backspace Film Premiere Event

Backspace, a family-friendly animated short about a Giraffstronaut, a Space Ostrich and a bottle full of time travel, premieres at the Hollywood Theater. 100% of ticket sales go directly to the Children’s Cancer Association. $5-7, 7:30pm. giraffstronaut.com

Oct 7

OMSI - $2 Days

Experience the wonders of science for just $2! 9:30am-5:30pm. omsi.edu

Please confirm calendar events and performances as scheduling changes may occur.

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calendar

Oct 13

Oregon Zoo – Big Zoo Experiences for Little Ones: Cougars and Bobcats Hands-on activities and a featured tour of the cougars and bobcats exhibits, a story, craft and snack. There may even be an animal visitor!

Ages 7-8. $29 (1 child & 1 adult), 10am-12pm. oregonzoo.org

Oct 13

Green Bean Books - Christopher Healy

Come celebrate Chirstopher Healy’s acclaimed debut middle-reader, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, 2 pm. www.greenbeanbookspdx.com

OCT 13

Harvest & Halloween Events All Oct

Pumpkin Patch – Portlandia Maize

Portland’s original cornfield maze ventures into its 14th season at The Pumpkin Patch on beautiful Sauvie Island in Portland, Oregon.

This year the Portland MAiZE is celebrating Portlandia, “the city where young people go to retire,” as well as featuring the iconic statue, Portlandia, herself, in the towering corn field. $5-7, Sun-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm, Tues 31 10am-10pm. portlandmaze.com

Eastside Swap & Play - Fall Open House

All Oct

Oct 13-14

Celebrate fall harvest all month long with fun and activities like corn mazes, pumpkin picking, tractor rides, pony rides, apple and pumpkin treats, and more! $3-7, check website for times. ezorchards.com/harvestfest

Pirate theme with bouncer, 10am-2pm. eastsideswapandplay.com

8th Annual Wordstock Festival Book Fair

This annual event celebrates storytelling, books, and local authors with workshops, readings, book signings, word games, puzzles, and more. $7-10, kids 0-13 free, 10am-6pm. wordstockfestival.com

Oct 21

Oregon Episcopal School - Open House Open house for grades 6-12. Sunday from 1-4 pm. Pre-register and view open house schedule at oes.edu/admissions.com

Oct 21

Taborspace – Professor Banjo Harvest Party Show

Kindie rock favorite Professor Banjo plays some tunes! Be a part of the action with sing-alongs and dancing games. $10, 3-4pm. squaredancepaul.com

EZ Orchards – HarvestFest

All Oct

Fazio Farms – Corn Maze

Portland’s most confusing corn maze with 20-foot walls and no dead ends. Challenge yourself! Also enjoy tractor rides, a ferris wheel, a mechanical swing, and a 22 foot bouncy slide. $5-8, kids 0-5 free, Sun-Thurs 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm. faziofarms.com

All Oct

Liepold Farms – Fall Activities

All sorts of farm games – corn maze, pony rides, the Pumpkin-Pult, the Corn Bin (a sandbox of corn kernels!) and of course a pumpkin patch ripe for picking. Most activities free, 9am-5pm. liepoldfarms.com NW Kids Magazine | 23

calendar

All Oct

Plumper Pumpkins – Pumpkin Patch

Come on down and pick pumpkins and maize, participate in rubber duck races, bowl and fling pumpkins, ride a pony! $6-10, kids 0-1 free, 9am-5:30pm. plumperpumpkins.com

All Oct

Rasmussen Farms – Pumpkin Funland

This year’s cornstalk maze theme is “Scouting in the Gorge – Celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouts.” The entire farm is transformed into a harvest wonderland using pumpkins, gourds, and other greenhouse vegetables. Free, 9am6pm. rasmussenfarms.com

Fris & Sats in Oct, Oct 31

Pumpkin Patch – Haunted Maize

A spooky, Halloween-themed cornfield maze!

Appropriate for kids age 6 and up. $10, 7-10pm. portlandmaze.com

Sats in Oct

Oregon Garden – Family Harvest Days Check out real live tractors, bowl with gourds, paint your own pumpkin, pose for pictures with locally designed scarecrows. $5-11, kids 0-4 free, 10am-4pm. oregongarden.org

Sats & Suns in Oct

Heiser Farms – Pumpkin Cannons

Every weekend in October, head down to the farm and watch or fire your own pumpkin out of three special cannons! Free, 11am-5pm. heiserfarms.com

Oct 2-28

Willamette Valley Fruit Company – Harvest Festival Free activities include mini zip-line, hay

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mountain with slide, horsey swings, corn maze, and ducky race. For just $1, ride the barrel train or shoot the corn cannon! $5-30, kids 0-3 free, Tues-Fri 12-5pm, Sat 10am-6pm (-9:30pm on Oct 20 & 27), Sun 12-5pm. wvfco.com

Oct 13

Heiser Farms – Zombie Apocalypse Run 2012

Are you a zombie or a survivor? Participate in this unique cat-and-mouse style race and find out! Costume contests, a kids dash and after party. Registration $15-45, 10am-10pm. zombieapocalypserun.com

OCT 13

Pumpkin Bob - Harman Swim Center 4-6 pm, $7. Parent participation required for children under 7. Call 503-629-6314 to register or for more information.

Oct 13-14

KidFest! Fall Spooktacular

A Halloween-y extravaganza featuring treatmaking, a costume swap and parade, costume contest, inflatables, entertainment, and so much more. $5-20, kids 0-3 free, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. kidfestnw.com

Oct 20

Heiser Farms – Pumpkin Cannon Demolition Derby

Watch as pumpkins fired from the farm’s pumpkin cannons blast junked cars to rubble.

Fun for everyone! Free, 12-4pm. heiserfarms.com

Oct 20

Creston Park – Pumpkin Mash

Race your pumpkin or jack-o-lantern down the hill and watch it roll! $3, 1-3pm. portlandonline.com/parks

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Heiser’s Pumpkin Patch Weekends in October www.heiserfarms.com 503-868-7512

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calendar

Oct. 26 Oct 20

SW Community Center – Halloween Monster Mash

Wear your Halloween costume, dance, play games and make spooky crafts. $4-10, parents and kids 0-23 mos free, 6-8pm. portlandonline.com/parks

OCT 20

Cedar Hills Recreation Center Fall Festival

Enjoy clowns, magic show, pumpkin painting, costume parade, and much more. $2.50 per person, $10 max per family, 2 and under free, 11am-4pm. 503-629-6340.

Oct 20-21

Smith Berry Barn – 19th Annual Heirloom Apple Festival

Taste all the yummy varieties of apples, fresh, baked, or in cider or pie form. Take in live music, go on a treasure hunt, get lost in a hay maze. Free, 12-4pm. smithberrybarn.com

Oct 20 & 27

Heiser Farms – Fright Night

Walk the Hay Maze, then take a spooky Hay Ride to the Haunted Corn Maze for all sorts of frightful delights. Don’t forget your flashlight! $6-9, includes pumpkin, 7-9pm. heiserfarms.com

Oct 26

Mt Scott Community Center – Halloween Carnival

Costume up and come out for a night of food, dance, and fun. Family swim, inflatables, and a movie, too! $3 or 4 cans of food, 6-8pm. portlandonline.com/parks

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Pumpkin Fest - Conestoga Recreation & Aquatic Center

Pumpkin festivities, plus watch Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the original) in the pool. $6/child, adults are free, 6:30-8:30.

503-629-6313

Oct 27

Hillside Community Center – Halloween Carnival

Celebrate a spooky night with your local community at this annual carnival. $3-5, $1 for 4 game tickets, 6-8pm. portlandonline.com/parks

Oct 28

Halloween Story Time

Join Green Bean Books for a tiny-bit-spooky Halloween Story Time. Come costume-clad and trick-or-treat. 1 pm. greenbeanbookspdx.com

Oct 29

Sellwood Community Center Halloween Spooktacular Carnival & Café

Games, activities, carnival treats, and prizes.

All proceeds benefit local youth and families.

Game tickets 4 for $1 or 2 cans of food, 6:308pm. portlandonline.com/parks

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books

fantastic Fall Books

Reviews by Elizabeth Pusack of Green Bean Books Apple

by Nikki McClure (HC $12.95) Nikki McClure’s breathtaking paper-cuts adorably accompany a set of spare and striking words marking the milestones in the life of one red apple, and one little girl with a black bob. Readers will love falling into the landscape and elaborating on the expertly illustrated actions together. An apple, forgotten in the school yard, snuggles with a snail under a starlit sky. This lovely chronicle concludes with an elegant introduction to the upbringing of an apple tree, and the marvelous and mysterious composting process.

Bear Has a Story to Tell

by Erin Stead (HC $16.99) “The sun was heavy and hung low in the sky. Bear’s eyelids were getting heavy too. He counted colors to stay awake. ‘Three pink clouds, two red leaves, one green...’” Bear is frustrated because mouse, duck, frog, and mole are too busy getting ready for winter to listen to his story. Collecting seeds and flying south are getting in the way of Bear’s ART! Resigned, bear finally hits the hay, and awakens in the sunny spring raring to finally have his moment in the limelight, but the winter has 28 | NW Kids Magazine

taken a toll on his memory. Will Bear be able to craft a substitute tale for his forest friends!?

Caldecott-winning Erin Stead (of A Sick Day for Amos McGee) paints the most enchanting creatures, especially sleepy ones.

Liar and Spy

by Rebecca Stead (HC $15.99) Middle Grade Reader Rebecca Stead, author of Newbery Award-Winning When You Reach Me, is back with a ragtag bunch of rad and real characters. Georges (with a silent S) is embroiled in a mysterious spy mission concerning one sinister Mr. X, and befriends a sweet and wacky family of home-schooled “bohemians”, Safer, Candy, and Pigeon, when he and his dad are forced (by a scary secret) to downsize and move into a new Brooklyn apartment building. Meanwhile, in seventh grade, Georges is gracefully ignoring the torments of two blathering blockheads, Carter and Dallas, while surreptitiously assembling a “blue team” of “freaks” and “nerds,” who will stand up to the snobs in an especially innovative way. Stead is as warm, witty and wise as ever in this new Green Bean favorite.

1600 NE Alberta Street 503-954-2354 greenbeanbookspdx.com

recipe

Photos courtesy of RLP Studios

Witches’ Brew Having a Halloween party or want to try something fun with the kids on Halloween? Try this festive homemade root beer recipe from the folks at holidash.com. The dry ice creates an eerie effect, perfect for a hallowed eve.

What you’ll need:

Preparation:

10 pounds dry ice

Mix 1 cup water with 2 cups sugar and the root beer extract in a pitcher. Once sugar is dissolved stir in the remaining water. Place the bowl inside the witches cauldron. With gloves or kitchen mitts, place a large chunk of dry ice into the bowl, and smaller chunks around the edges. To cut the chunks, place the dry ice in a plastic cooler. Wear gloves and use a large knife or scissors to break off chunks. Add the root beer to the dry ice. The smoking effect happens when the dry ice is mixed with a liquid and usually only lasts for 5-10 minutes. Once the smoke is starting to diminish, pour a small stream of water over the ice around the edges of the bowl. Add fresh ice and water as needed.

Thick rubber dish washing gloves or oven mitts 8 cups water 2 cups sugar 1 tablespoon root beer extract (usually found in the baking aisle or online) Witches’ cauldron or metal bucket Ceramic or metal bowl to fit inside cauldron with an inch of room on all sides * Dry ice can be found at Baskin Robbins and local specialty stores.

Due to the dry ice’s freezing temps, it’s important that Mom or Dad take on the role of chief dry ice handler and witches’ brew server. Be sure to follow the package’s directions for safety, as the extremely chill can potentially leave a burn upon touch.

Also take care not to put individual cubes into the drinks for this same reason; wait for the smoke to dissolve from the root beer, and serve with regular ice cubes.

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profile

Promoting Unity:

An Interview With Aaron Nigel Smith

Photo courtesy of Aya World Productions

Photo courtesy of Cura Rotary Home

Aaron Nigel Smith is a father, educator and musician. With years of experience playing music on the world stage and working on Between The Lions on OPB, Aaron is also an integral part of One World Chorus, an organization that benefits children in Kenya. We had the opportunity to speak with Aaron recently and he spoke about his passion for making music with and for children; and his recent move to Oregon.

Please tell us about your release Welcome To The Village and One World Chorus.

Welcome to the Village is the culmination of over a year of building bridges for children through music. Over 300 children from Portland, Los Angeles, New York City, and Nairobi, Kenya participate on this very special benifit CD. The children and I sing songs from a variety of muscial genres, including , folk, classical, reggae, rock and jazz. Kindie music stars Dan Zanes and Laurie Berkner along with Lucky Diaz & Secret Agent Skidoo also lend their talents to the project. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to the Cura Rotary Home, an orphanage in Kenya which was established for children who are orphaned due to the local AIDS crisis.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Heinonin 30 | NW Kids Magazine

What’s one of your favorite songs on the album?

It’s very difficult to pick a favorite. I like each song a lot for different reasons. If I had to choose one personal favorite, I’d say “Grateful”. It’s not a very flashy song, but it’s kind of dear to me because I wrote that song upon deciding to move to Oregon with my family.

How did you get involved in making children’s music?

Getting involved with children’s music was a very natural progression for me. I had been touring as a professional classcal singer for a while. Once I started having kids I wanted to spend more time at home, so I took a teaching opportunity at a local preschool as the music teacher. I quickly realized that music education was my true calling.

I love educating and entertaining kids. There’s nothing better for me.

What do you love about making music for children and families?

I love to look out into a crowd and see children singing, dancing and playing with moms, dads, sisters, brothers and friends. Making music for children and families gives me the opportunity to promote fun and unity in families and communities.

As a father, educator and musician, do you have any helpful ideas to pass on to parents about how to get children involved in giving?

I think that one of the most important things we can teach our children is how to give. Most children are receivers naturally, because it’s how they survive initially. When presented with the opportunity to serve a greater purpose or community kids can reposond amazingly well. One World Chorus was recently asked to participate in a music video project. Here’s the catch, they would not be seen in the video. They were literally asked to provide the voices for kids from the Children’s Cancer Association who would be featured in the video. Our singers were excited about the video but much more motivated once they realized that they were helping other kids.

What do you and your family like to do for fun?

Since moving to Oregon my family and I especially enjoy hiking, fishing, and camping. We love to hang out at the coast. I used to love surfing, but YIKES... the water is cold up here. If we’re looking for other family friendly activities we like to check the listings in NW Kids. There are always fun activities and festivals listed.

Are you teaching any classes locally?

We are teaching weekly One World Chorus classes on Tuesdays from 4:30-6:00pm at Tabor Space in Mt. Tabor and on Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00pm at The Mt. Park Recreation Center. Children ages 8-12 who love to sing are encouraged to participate. For more information on One World Chorus feel free to visit oneworldchorus.org or call 503.305.6710.

See the NW Kids Calendar for upcoming show listings or visit aaronnigelsmith.com.

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