Saratoga Mama Spring 2017

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Alright Spring, do your thing!

You can almost hear the simultaneous rejoicing when the weather turns from fur-lined to flip-flops. The first signs of outdoor life emerging in parks and on playgrounds makes my heart happy. Life starts blooming all around us, and after this winter, we’ve earned it!

• Though it may seem a bit premature, it’s time to start considering summer camp options. This issue features our annual Summer Camp Guide on page 55 to help you get started!

• If your vacation plans include a trip to Disney this year or even in the distant future, you won’t want to miss tips from a local pro on page 16.

• The 2017 color of the year, Greenery, symbolizes renewal and a fresh start, and we offer lots of ways to incorporate more of this gorgeous green in your life on page 22.

• If you’re looking for a new place to play this spring, check out our Park and Playground Guide on page 47.

• Discover some of the things we’re loving this season in our #AdoreAlert section, page 10.

If you have a unique product or business that you think we should feature, give me a shout at colleen@saratogamama.com.

In closing, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all of our readers and advertisers. Without you, we could not offer this magazine, or other Saratoga TODAY publications free of charge. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to bring SaratogaMama magazine to life each season.

#Grateful #Thankful #Blessed

- Colleen

colleen@saratogamama.com

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2017

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Our gorgeous mama-to-be, Natalia, was in the Saratoga Spa State Park for this maternity shot with Keira Lemonis Photography. We adore her on-point style and accessories and are happy to say that she has birthed baby Elena.

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Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty Editor-in-Chief Colleen Pierre Managing Editor Rachel Spensieri General Manager Robin Mitchell Graphic Designer Kacie Cotter-Sacala Advertising Design Andrew Ranalli Morgan Rook Advertising Erin Boucher Jim Daley Cindy Durfey Photography Keira Lemonis SaratogaPhotographer.com Theresa St. John Published by: Saratoga TODAY Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 tel: (518) 581-2480 SaratogaTODAYNewspaper.com SaratogaMama is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher. © 2017, Saratoga TODAY

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Contents Seek

10 #AdoreAlert 16 Tips for Your Disney World Vacation 20 The People in Our Neighborhood

Find 22

2017 Color of the Year: Greenery Fashion & more for you AND the kids!

30

Spring Reading List from Northshire Bookstore

Learn 33 38 43

Power of Personal Belief Shake off Mom-Guilt Quick and Easy Cooking with Jodie Fitz

Play 47 55 64

68

Park & Playground Guide 2017 Summer Camp Guide Save the Date Puzzles & Games

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Our

Contributors...

Rachel Spensieri

Jodie Fitz

Dr. Randy Cale

Rachel is a freelance writer and editor with 18 years of experience in the marketing arena. A Southern girl who loves her sweet tea and grits, Rachel is a recent transplant to Saratoga Springs, where she lives with her husband and two young'uns.

Jodie Fitz is the creator and personality of the Price Chopper Kids Cooking Club and currently travels in a six-state region cooking with children to encourage taste testing fun through a hands-on cooking experience. She is a wife, mother of three and currently authors several monthly columns. You can always find what she’s up to in her kitchen at jodiefitz.com.

Dr. Cale is a Clifton Park-based parenting expert, author, speaker and licensed psychologist who offers practical, nononsense parenting advice for all ages. His website, terrificparenting.com, features hundreds of articles and dozens of parenting products that will help you achieve your goal of happier children and a peaceful home.

Additionally, Dr. Cale also works with couples and provides individual counseling. He writes for many Capital Region publications including The Saratogian, The Record and The Community News. Submit questions to DrRandyCale@gmail.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Chris Leuzinger Chris Leuzinger has been an Elementary School Teacher for 11 years. The last three years were spent as an administrator where he was in charge of teacher development, raising standards in the classroom, and curriculum development. He has been an educational consultant for schools in Norway, Spain, and Trinidad and Tobago, and he has taught in both private and public schools all around the world. He is the owner of Nourishing Minds Tutoring Saratoga and has a wonderful wife and a 15 month old son that keeps him very busy. To see how Chris can help your child visit nourishingmindstutoring.com or 518-415-2423.

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Theresa St. John Theresa is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Saratoga Springs, New York. Even though history was not on her radar while in high school, she has a deep interest in all things historical now.

She has been on assignment for several magazines and is published in both print and on-line venues. Last year she traveled to Ireland on assignment, which, she states " was a trip of a lifetime." She is the proud mom to two young men and Nonnie to 6 rescued dogs, 2 chinchillas and a bird.

Life is good, she says.

Ilissa Goman Ilissa Goman is a certified pediatric sleep coach and baby gear guru. She works with families who are struggling to get their babies/toddlers/kids to sleep but are totally ready for a change. She gives parents the tools to make easy changes to bring sleep back into the home for everyone and restore the peace that once was. Ilissa lives with her husband and sassy two year old daughter in the Saratoga Springs area. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Colleen Parisi A Walk in the Park with Colleen is about planning YOUR magical experiences at Disney!! I have been to Disney over 20 times since my first visit at age 19. I continue to go multiple times a year to keep up on what is happening and any changes. My mission is to learn EVERYTHING I can about vacations at Disney and pass it on to my clients. I tell people “I take the stress out and put the fun in” My dream and goal is to help and guide people through their magical vacation at Disney. Imagine a Disney vacation where you are relaxed and having fun, can you see it? I can.

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Karen Totino Karen Totino, owner of Green Conscience Home & Garden, received her formal education from Russell Sage college with a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She started an organic lawn care business in 2005 which transitioned into her current business which opened in 2009. The Green Conscience Showroom features non-toxic sustainable interior finishes along with organic and natural beds and bedding. She is dedicated to inspiring and educating people on the benefits of building and designing "green".

She is co-chair of the Green Resource Group of Capital Region Builders and Remodelers Association along with being co-chair to Passive House NY: Capital District.

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#adore

B y C olleen P ier re P hoto s by Keira Lemonis

ALERT

We wanted to show love to some exceptional local designers, artists, and businesses. These "must-have" items will be your most treasured pieces for the spring. #AdoreAlert

Spa City Organics

S

aratoga Botanicals Organic Spa & Store on Henry Street in Saratoga Springs launched in 2013 as the area’s first organic spa. The business is dedicated to helping people restore their sense of well-being by tending to the mind, body, and spirit. You can relax and enjoy their full menu of spa services, but what truly sets Saratoga Botanicals apart from the rest is their line of incredible skin care, Spa City Organics.

Saratoga Botanicals manufactures its own line of organic skin and body care, cosmetics, teas, and herbal products. Spa City Organics products are specially formulated with carefully selected herbs, plants, and essential oils with no synthetic or harmful ingredients. Products are customized and blended for specific results, and there’s a line for every skin type or concern.

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I’m a product junkie, so I was very eager to try out the Be Universal skincare line, which is suitable for all skin types. The handy postcard tells you exactly when to use what product. The Facial Cleanser is a lotionbased cleanser with a wonderful lavender scent. The Exfoliant contains green tea, cranberry, and glycolic acid; the Toning Mist with hyaluronic acid refreshes and moisturizes; the Hydrating Serum is a vitamin-rich treatment for night-time; and the Face Cream is a fantastic daily moisturizer. Each product is designed to work together for maximum effectiveness. The result is skin that is super soft, smooth, and well-nourished.

Stop by Saratoga Botanicals at 80 Henry Street and check out their wonderful products. Don’t leave without picking up my new favorite, Organic Mascara

by Spa City Organics.

SHOP:

Saratoga Botanicals Organic Spa & Store, 80 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs www.SaratogaBotanicals.com

In addition to the Be Universal line, Spa City Organics offers Be Clear for acne-prone skin, Be New, their antiaging line, Be Gentle for sensitive skin, and Be Manly, a line for the men.

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Kids Love Decor

A

lba Fort is a mother of two who recently moved from Barcelona to Saratoga Springs. When she started to decorate her kids’ rooms, she struggled finding the design and style she was looking for online. “I wanted items that brought simplicity, originality, and stylized design to a child’s room. I wanted to inspire their imagination with soft, warm colors and awesome characters,” Alba said.

If you can’t find it, then create it! Alba started producing her own line of knitted blankets, and then took her passion further and launched an online store called Kids Love Decor. The site features a variety of handpicked items from the USA and Europe and of course some of her own items.

Alba loves inspiring parents and bringing the very best in Scandinavian-inspired children’s accessories, making nurseries and playrooms contemporary and cute!

SHOP:

www.KidsLoveDecor.com

SaratogaMama readers can save 10 percent on their order during March and April using code SARATOGAMAMA at checkout.

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Jodie Fitz Lunchbox Notes & Jokes

I

love the idea of putting notes in my kids’ lunches, but I often fall short on the execution. When I discovered my friend and SaratogaMama contributor Jodie Fitz had created a ready-to-print and use set of notes and jokes, I was all in. “I used to connect with my kids through all kinds of notes: lunchbox notes, mini mailbox notes that we carted and exchanged at home, hidden notes, and more,” Jodie said.

The art of writing and sharing notes is such a sweet and memorable gesture that I want my kids to experience and enjoy. I love that Jodie has made it super easy! Don’t have time to write anything? Just use one of her cute joke notes, and it’s already done!

“I wanted to create a set of lunchbox notes that’s easy for busy families to download and use to create their own connective moments together,” Jodie said.

SHOP:

www.etsy.com/shop/JodieFitz

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SaratogaMama readers can receive a $2 discount off the downloadable version of the lunchbox notes using code LUNCHNOTES at checkout.

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Macadamia Shop Farmhouse Decor

I

’m a sucker for rustic style and a good font, so naturally The Macadamia Shop on Etsy captured my attention. I loved her simple messaging and style.

Owner Eveline Leake is an interior designer residing in Clifton Park, New York and has a passion for rustic style, reclaimed furniture, and of course, antiques. Her style is simple and classic-farmhouse with a bit of industrial decor mixed in. Eve makes custom signs, furniture, and mugs with monograms like “Blessings,” “Thankful,” “Let’s get cozy,” and “Be our guest,” but she will customize anything to your liking.

SHOP:

www.etsy.com/shop/TheMacadamiaShop

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Flourish & Glass

J

ackie is the local gal behind Flourish & Glass, a unique Etsy shop that reinvents and repurposes common goods into beautiful creations. “I love changing the nature of something – especially when that something has finished it’s original purpose,” Jackie said.

Jackie got started by making handmade holiday gifts. She hunted for DIY inspiration and found some interesting uses for mason jars. I particularly adore her mason jar bathroom sets because I love that mason jar glass is so easy to clean, and creates that perfect homey and rustic look.

The Saratoga water bottle soap dispensers are practical, beautiful, and a perfect way to dress up a bathroom or kitchen. The bright yellow earring organizer adds a pop of color and style to your vanity. There’s a little something for all styles at Flourish & Glass.

SHOP:

www.etsy.com/shop/FlourishAndGlass

Have an item you think we should feature in the ne xt

#AdoreAlert?!

DROP US A LINE!

colleen@SaratogaMam

a.com

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WE’RE GOING TO ! !

Y E N DIS OMG...

what do I do first? ...what do I do next?!

WRITTEN BY Colleen Parisi • Photos Provided Your trip to Disney World can be emotional in many different ways, from fun and magical to stressful and frustrating. I am going to walk you through the 10 steps of the planning process to help you maximize the fun and minimize the stress …let’s call it Disney 101.

Step 1: Who is going?!

Step 3: How to get there

This is the time to decide who will be in your travel party. It is important to know your group’s traveling abilities– this includes naps, walking, dietary requirement, etc. You’ll want to discuss and have a good understanding of your party’s needs PRIOR to the trip to avoid issues once you are there.

It’s a long way to Florida, so most people from upstate New York will fly to Orlando. Some people I know don’t like to fly, so they drive. Flying saves you LOTS of time, and I find that for me, driving makes me feel tired when I get there, even with stopping and staying at a hotel overnight. You need to do what is best for your party.

Step 2: When to go

What is important to you? It could be that you want to be there when it is cold here; it could be based around your children’s school schedule or your work schedule. Remember that the time of the year you go changes the price of the trip and the size of the crowds.

Disney provides transportation from their hotel resorts into all the parks (including waterparks) and to Disney Springs. Most transportation is by bus, but there are three deluxe resorts that are on the monorail for transportation as well. These deluxe resorts, as well as Fort Wilderness Resort, also have boat transportation to Magic Kingdom and the Transportation Center.

For guests staying at a Disney resort, you can ride the Magic Express from the Orlando airport (MCO) to your resort at no additional cost. Imagine being able to check-in both you and your luggage here at Albany airport, boarding the plane, and flying to the Orlando airport, where you get on the Magic Express, and a few hours later, your luggage is delivered to your room–amazing!!

When you checkout, you bring your luggage to your Disney resort’s airline check-in; you leave your luggage and get your boarding pass, then if you have an early flight, you board the Magic Express to go back to the airport. OR, if you have a late flight, you can check-in your luggage, get your boarding pass, and go into a park for a few hours, then come back to the resort, where you board the Magic Express back to the airport.

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Step 4: Where to stay Options include the Disney resorts, timeshares, other hotels, renting a house or condo, or staying with family and friends. Each one has its pluses and minuses. For myself, I usually stay at my timeshare, but 1 in 3 times, I stay on-site because I love to be immersed in the Disney magic!

Step 5: How many days and in which parks

I am an annual passholder, but I will usually buy park tickets for people traveling with me to have for each day we are there. Once you get past five days, the amount to add additional days is relatively small, and I like the flexibility of being able to go into a park any day.

This means I can spend a day hanging by the pool and just go in for dinner and fireworks for the evening.

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Step 6: Plan your days in the parks, but do NOT schedule Your days in the parks should be set up as a guideline, not as a set-in-stone schedule. By scheduling a day, you give up spontaneity and a chance for something wonderful to happen. Also, things can and do go wrong, so you must be FLEXIBLE with your schedule. It also gives you less stress. And P.S., study your park maps BEFORE going into the parks.

Remember to plan a down day, especially if you are going to be there for five or more days. A down day can mean hanging out at your resort–maybe by the pool–or it can be participating in resort activities.

BIG TIP: Start a walking regimen BEFORE you go. I recommend to my clients to start walking 30 minutes a day in preparation for your trip to Disney. I can tell you from personal

experience that on a “short” day in the park, I will have over 12,000 steps, and on a “long” day, over 25,000. Be physically prepared!

Step 7: Dining plans

Whether you stay on-site or off-site, you can make table service dining reservations or you can do counter service; you need to determine what is best for your travel party. Personally, I enjoy a table service for lunch and for dinner (except for Epcot Food and Wine Festival) because I can sit down, relax, rehydrate (VERY IMPORTANT), and enjoy the air conditioning.

Dining reservations NEED to be done 180 days in advance–yes, six months in advance–in order to get your top choices and best times.

You also can have groceries delivered to your resort for a fee, either by a delivery company or by Disney, to help you save some money on food.

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Step 8: Ride reservations are important Disney has a great benefit called Fastpass. It allows you to pick fastpasses (or as I call them, go to the head of the line tickets) for three rides PRIOR to getting to the park. This helps to plan the day out for how to tour the park–remember, we want to maximize our time in the parks while minimizing stress. This is a FREE benefit that you get with your park ticket. Yes, free!

Step 9: Packing for the vacation and packing for the parks

It is helpful to create a packing list for your trip; it is a good way not to forget anything and to make sure you bring everything home with you.

anti-diarrhea medicine, sunscreen, hand cream, lip balm, hand sanitizer, pens, and markers for characters to sign my vest. Remember: Everything costs more if you need to buy it on vacation, plus you might not get the brand you prefer.

Here are some other important items to put on your packing list: airline tickets, resort confirmation (yes, I am old-school and still prefer paper for back-up), Magic Bands, wallet, credit card, driver’s license (for ID), park tickets (if separate from resort/hotel reservation–like for special events), and your cell phone.

Step 10: RELAX AND ENJOY!!

Remember: This is your vacation; it is supposed to be fun and relaxing.

By planning ahead, you cut out the worries while in the parks, therefore cutting out the stress.

I always make sure to pack ponchos, pain relievers, Tums, motion sickness pills, Benadryl (I have allergies), 18 | SaratogaMama | Spring 2017 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

SaratogaMama.com

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The People in Our Neighborhood:

A Tale of Two Sisters WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY Theresa St. John

Sisters Callista and Demetra Zorbas are both budding artists in their own right. I had the pleasure of spending some time with them one Sunday while visiting the Spa City Farmers Market, where they display and sell a small and varied selection of their paintings.

First, let me say that they come from a very artistic family.

Their mom, Colleen, is an aspiring photographer herself, admired by many, and their dad, Foti, is a man who expresses many things, both in paint and pencil.

And, even though both teenage girls love to put a brush to canvas, their styles are quite distinctive, and their individual personalities shine through, like glitter.

Callista, now 16, started her journey in the world of drawing and painting when she was just 4 years old. The day she turned 11, she began to take her art seriously. One of her favorite subjects, then and now, happens to be wildlife.

Callista's laughter is infectious, and a group of us standing at her table can't help but join in. We listen as she admits that

her initial concentration in drawing only the lioness and her cubs was because she “couldn't get the hair on the lion's mane quite right.”

In addition to wildlife paintings, she also loves to capture bright and colorful pop-art, fairy tales, mermaids, landmarks, and superhero characters on a clean canvas.

Callista states that she often works in her art studio, with French music or old movies playing in the background. “I'm in my own world then. Reality is set aside for a time, and I'm just an artist, painting out thoughts and dreams, which I can share with the world later.” She's just finished a scene of the Eiffel Tower, and I must say, it's stunning! Other times, she can be seen outside painting scenes with her father.

Demetra is 13. She smiles shyly at me, a far-away gleam in her eye. “I've loved art for as long as I can remember,” she sighs.

“I think I was 3 when I got my first set of paintbrushes and easel. I followed my dad everywhere and watched him paint.”

And because I began following my own dad around the yard

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with a Brownie Camera when I was 4, learning about his love of photography, I can understand exactly what she's talking about. A dad is a little girl's hero.

Demetra tells me that she loves to paint, both in acrylic and oil. Nature, especially baby animals, are her favorite. I ask if it was hard to learn the craft, and she shakes her head “no.” Painting comes naturally to her, and she's just begun to experiment with black and white, trying to capture and convey a mood on the face of her canvas.

She uses the phrase “plein air” to describe her style of artwork. I look at her blankly. She grins at me, explaining a style of 19th-century French Impressionism, painting outdoors in the fresh air, which she loves to do. One of Demetra's favorite places to go with her dad is Ann Lee Pond in Albany.

When I ask where she sees herself in five years, Demetra is direct in her answer. “I want to own a studio. I want to have my work shown in art galleries. Everywhere.”

She pauses for a moment. “My sister and I already sell our paintings, and we're available for hire. We've been commissioned for works that range from $35 to $300. I can see us in a larger show.” I can't help but nod my head in agreement. I believe her. I believe in both of them.

The sisters credit their father with their initial inspiration and state, smiling, that they love to wander through art museums together, admiring both famous artists and other lesser-known talent. They dream of travel–on their own and as a team–to far-flung places like Paris, Egypt, or Germany, as well as other close-to-home treasures like Boston, New York, the Cape, and their hometown of Saratoga Springs.

Callista, 16 years old Demetra, 13 years old

SaratogaMama.com

I can tell that they're tempted to speak over each other, but they don't. In what sounds like one lilting voice, they tell me that Saratoga “is a great place. There's always something that calls out our name, telling us to get busy painting!”

What do they do when they're not painting? Both girls love to act! They have a deep interest in films and can see bright lights in their future as well. I'm not surprised. Remember their names; I think we'll be seeing a lot from these sisters.

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COLOR OF

THE YEAR:

Greenery T

he delightfully tart aroma of Granny Smith apples.

Newly unfurled oak leaves during the spring.

The juicy sweetness of a kiwi. Soft blades of grass emerging from the ground. These are just a few of the sensory-pleasures evoked by Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2017: Greenery.

But there is also deep symbolism that goes along with this annual accolade. Greenery was chosen for this year because it embodies renewal and fresh starts. Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, sums it up perfectly: “Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another, and a larger purpose.”

In short, Greenery invigorates your spirit while simultaneously encouraging you to take a deep, cleansing breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Ahhhh…

Here are some ways to incorporate more Greenery into your life!

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Nail Color

butter LONDON

Accessories

Make Up For Ever Professional Paris

Sephora

Woven Storage Baskets

Martha Stewart Living French Press

Ovente

Classic Water Bottle

Takeya

Sunglasses

Ray Ban

iPhone Case

OtterBox Clutch Handbag

etsy/Bag Boy

Infinity Scarf

Lilly Pulitzer SaratogaMama.com

Spring 2017 | SaratogaMama | 23

Classic Polo Shirt

Ralph Lauren

Floral Shift Dress

Nordstrom

Peridot Stud Earrings

Blue Nile

Single Strand Necklace

Chicos

Sleeveless Shirt Dress

H&M

Relaxed Half-Sleeve Cardigan

Gap

Frilled Belt Dress

Mango

Penny Top

J.Crew

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A-line Utility Skirt

Gap

Women Chino Short

J.Crew

Floral Wedges

Anne Klein Five-Pocket Leggings

Express

Rain Boots

Hunter Original SaratogaMama.com

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Kids - GIRLS

Floral Tankini

L.L.Bean

Tulip Fields Dress

Hanna Andersson

Jersey Top

H&M

Racerback Tank

J.Crew Kids

High-Low Maxi Dress

Justice

Kids' Sneakers Pattern Knit Skort

Converse

Lands' End 26 | SaratogaMama | Spring 2017 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Kids - BOYS Short Sleeve Shirt

J.Crew Kids Graphic T

Tea Collection

Linen Joggers

Mini Boden

Board Shorts

Mini Boden

Kids' Sneakers

New Balance Star Wars T

Gap Kids' Rain Boots

Crocs SaratogaMama.com

Spring 2017 | SaratogaMama | 27

Simple Tips

to Put an END to Homework Drama

WRITTEN BY Chris Leuzinger, Nourishing Minds Tutoring Families all around the Capital Region have survived the holiday season and have settled back into their everyday routines. The Christmas tree is long-gone, and the days are slowly but surely getting just a bit longer. Most families probably have a routine something like this: wake up, scrounge up a quick breakfast, go to school and work, rush to one after-school activity or another, then dinner, homework, bedtime routines, rinse, and repeat.

Then it strikes.

“Mom, I have a book report due tomorrow!”

Feel free to substitute any other school-related assignment that has been procrastinated on until the very last possible second – but most parents with school-aged children can sympathize. Then come the theatrics. The tears. The tantrums.

And my personal favorite: “You can’t help me because that’s not how my teacher does it.

You’re doing it wrong. You can’t do it that way.”

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“AHHHHHH!” Insert choice words here , pull some hair out, forget about pouring yourself that nice beverage, roll up your sleeves, and prepare to spend the next two hours working through the aforementioned book report (which, upon further questioning, little so-and-so has known about for weeks).

Homework. Isn’t it wonderful? It’s amazing how one little word can wreak such havoc on a household. But it really doesn’t have to be that way. By following some of the simple tips below, you can retrain children to become more independent, eliminate the tantrums (some of them anyway), and reclaim some of those lost homework hours, because–believe it or not–it is never the teacher’s intention to have any child or family struggling for hours on end to complete an assignment.

Implement consistency and routine. This is imperative and should be non-negotiable. Like it or not, homework is an important aspect of children’s education, and if approached correctly, is more than just consolidating the work completed in school. Good study habits instilled at a young age translate into more independence in middle school and high school, and even beyond. Children thrive when they know what to expect. Try setting a schedule or time aside every day (this most often works best if it is the same time) to complete homework, and try to keep it brief…20 to 30 minutes works best. For some children, this may be after a snack and some down time; others may work best as soon as they get home; and others maybe after dinner or before bed.

Teach children how to be organized. If their school has academic planners, encourage children to use them! If not, buy one–or better yet, have your child make up their own. Teach children to write down homework assignments and when they are due. Refer to this nightly/ daily. Again, this reinforces skills that will become invaluable in many different aspects of life. It will also help when they genuinely forget what their homework is.

Create a homework space. Above everything

else, a designated homework area should be stocked with all of the necessary materials (paper, pens, pencils, glue, etc.) and be free from distractions. Make homework time a cell phone/ TV/computer-free time. Unless of course the student is utilizing technology to complete the work. More and more school districts are relying on technology both in schools and at home.

SaratogaMama.com

Motivate. Be genuinely interested in your

child’s work. Ask questions about the work they are completing. Ask if they can teach you the methods they are using. (Let’s be honest: Common Core can be confusing at times, and in math, for example, you may even learn a new way of problem-solving–there are some great methods that are far superior to the old-school ways we all learned!) Praise good work, and make sure everyone remains positive. This can be one of the single biggest determining factors for success. It will help build your child’s selfesteem, make them feel great about themselves, and translate into putting an even better effort into their schoolwork.

Have patience. At times, learning can be

confusing, frustrating, and complicated. All children learn differently, at different rates, and in different ways. Having a positive, patient attitude will go further to support your child’s learning than getting frustrated yourself.

Know when to “throw in the towel” and ask for help. You may be wondering why I included

this as a strategy. Surely it seems counter intuitive. However, this can be a powerful tool in making sure children remain positive and motivated to complete homework in the future.

As I mentioned above, a normal homework assignment is never designed to take hours upon hours. It helps no one and does more harm than good to try and persevere through a marathon session or sessions. Don’t hesitate to follow up with the teacher and try to get to the root of the problem. Was it a one-time fluke experience, or is there a deeper issue or concern making the struggle an everyday occurrence? Understanding the cause of the problem makes it much easier to remedy.

Some of the tips above might seem obvious, but they truly work. It may take some time to develop routines and to teach organization– and at times it can be difficult to remain positive and patient–but by taking the time to implement the above strategies, there should be fewer tantrums. Fewer tears. Fewer theatrics. And for the love of God–no more lastminute book reports!

Spring 2017 | SaratogaMama | 29

g n i r p S reading list

ns from

atio Recommend

Nor thshiree Bookstor

EGG By Kevin Henkes

Baby & Toddler

This new picture book by Caldecott Award-winner Kevin Henkes uses a multi-panel graphic format and a few simple words to tell a charming story of four eggs and one big surprise!

NO MORE BOWS By Samantha Cotterill Poor Hugo! His girl, Milly, keeps putting silly bows on him when she takes him for a walk, but all the other dogs laugh so much, he might just have to run away! Is there any other solution to this dilemma?

Preschoo

l

A GREYHOUND, A GROUNDHOG

By Emily Jenkins and Chris Appelhans

Everybody loves a tongue-twister, and this one will have kids competing to see who can read it fastest.

Gorgeous illustrations make this a book to savor silently, too. Turn every day into Groundhog Day!

Lower Elemen tar y

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Upper Elementar y

THE MURDERER'S APE

By Jakob Wegelius

This extraordinary illustrated novel is narrated by Sally Jones, a gorilla who works as a ship's mechanic until her boss is framed for murder. Set in Lisbon, it's an adventure, a love story, and an investigation into the nature of freedom and consciousness featuring a lovely singer, a guitar-maker, and of course, the amazing Sally Jones. A long and absorbing read for dedicated bookworms.

Tweens & Teens

UNDEFEATED By Steve Sheinkin

Award-winning local author Steve Sheinkin turns his uncanny skills of bringing history alive to the story of Jim Thorpe, one of the greatest athletes of all time. The book focuses on Thorpe's days at the infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where he led the football team to victory after victory over rivals at elite whites-only schools.

THE SECOND MRS. HOCKADAY By Susan Rivers Taut suspense fills the pages of this immersive Civil War novel told in letters. When Major Hockaday returns home from the war, he has plenty of reason to suspect his wife has been untrue. You'll be completely mesmerized by this tale of love and betrayal, which was inspired by historical events.

Adults

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MASTERING THE

Power of Personal Belief: TEACHING CHILDREN TO IGNITE THEIR PERSONAL POWER BY

Dr. Randy Cale

Dr. Cale is a Clifton Park-based parenting expert, author, speaker, and licensed psychologist who offers practical, no-nonsense parenting advice for all ages.

His website, terrificparenting.com, features hundreds of articles and dozens of parenting products that will help you achieve your goal of happier children and a peaceful home.

Have you noticed this fundamental truth?: Some people are able to find a reason to complain regardless of how good things are in life. We often can spot such “victim” mentality and recognize the power of these victim beliefs to generate a lackluster life.

On the other hand, there are folks who maintain a positive outlook and find value in almost every experience. They see each moment of life as a valued experience, and it seems that everything serves them.

You can see this in your children. If they have a certain tendency to view the world in a particular way, they will interpret almost every event through those lenses. Some children see almost everything in ways that ultimately support a positive view of themselves and others. For other children, the negative seems to dominate.

Reality is not the problem here. It is our beliefs.

Our beliefs tend to create our reality – not the other way around.

Our beliefs shape how we perceive the world, how we make sense of it, and then magically (almost) create actions to support that belief. If we believe it’s possible (to do almost the impossible), we will take massive action to try to make it happen. You see this with children who are inspired to make a difference, to learn a sport, or to master a subject. Their efforts follow their beliefs.

On the opposite side of things, if we believe something to be impossible, we will simply do nothing. When your son states that sports are stupid, don’t be surprised when he has zero desire to even try them.

Whatever our beliefs, our actions must support them–we (unknowingly) create a world that is consistent with that belief. The child who sees sports as stupid will only find stupid comments to make about it.

Why is this a problem? Well, if your child holds a limiting belief, it will set limits on their life, on what they attempt. Beliefs set limits

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on persistence, happiness, and many other traits. Beliefs open or close the doors to life happiness, satisfaction, and success.

It is important to notice that once a child adopts a particular belief, they see the world through those beliefs. It becomes reality. In fact, kids (and adults) find it very difficult to perceive life from any other perspective.

1

How to change negative beliefs Don’t get seduced into feeding the negative beliefs.

Most of us recognize and get frustrated with hearing destructive, self-defeating comments from our children. We then get pulled into trying to correct these negative statements, which reflect the child’s underlying beliefs.

Yet, your corrections do not change these beliefs. Instead, every time you respond, correct, redirect, argue, provide commentary, or in any way engage these statements, you are actually inspiring the negative belief.

Spring 2017 | SaratogaMama | 33

Why? Because your repeated attention to the destructive belief teaches your child that you care about that belief. Their brains cling to the thoughts and beliefs that most consistently attract parental attention. This is critical to understand.

So, the number one rule is to make sure that you are not giving lots of energy and attention to these thoughts when they arise. When your child expresses them, don’t feed them with repeated suggestions, redirection, or feedback.

When you can walk away from these negative beliefs, your child has the chance to walk away from them as well.

Nurture “truth” when your kids are NOT caught in negative beliefs.

The goal here is to teach your kids to drop the negative stories that limit their ability to feel good and do their best. We want to encourage beliefs grounded in reality.

Pick a time when your kids are not caught up in one of these negative, debilitating moments.

In other words, when things are going well, have a conversation with them about how they sometimes talk about themselves, or the world, in negative ways.

If they are old enough, explain how any belief we adopt becomes our real world…no exceptions! Let them know that their strong beliefs will set any limit upon their life they choose…be it small or awe-inspiring.

2.

Talk with them about alternative beliefs and what you view as reality. You want them to know “truth” as you see it: • You can do it.

• I believe in you.

• You are capable and intelligent.

3.

• You “get it.”

• You do your best.

Encourage your children to practice saying these silently and repeatedly, and let them know how much you believe in each of these beliefs.

Get practical.

Use real-life examples. Explain how we are eager to shoot the foul shot at the end of the game if we believe we can make it. Talk about how we are willing to try new things when we believe we will do okay.

Explain how much easier it is to take the test when you have strong beliefs that you will do your best…and

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that is enough. Give personal examples of your own persistence once you were certain you could do it.

If your daughter keeps saying that she is stupid, let her know that you view her as intelligent, creative, and capable. Because you know this to be true, let her also know that you will not keep correcting her, but instead, she’ll have to discover the truth for herself. Explain that you will be walking away from “all the lies you tell yourself about your abilities.”

Remind her that it will be better for her when she learns to do the same…walking right away from that negative belief. From that point on, remember to walk away from the negative belief…so she can learn to walk away from it as well.

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Photo Credit: Alice Corey Photography

The Petite Retreat Returning to Saratoga Springs Sunday, November 19 National Museum of Dance Now Accepting Sponsors! If your biz would be a good fit, please email thepetiteretreatexperience@gmail.com

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Don’t Let the

Mom-Guilt

Eat You!

WRITTEN BY Ilissa Goman, BINX • Photos Provided

Picture it: I was at Target the day before

The Petite Retreat (TPR) last October. I was there to pick up a birthday present for a party starting in less than an hour (and I still had to run it back to my house to get it to my daughter to bring to the party that her grandma was bringing her to!), and I needed to grab some last-minute supplies for TPR. My phone rings. It’s my husband video-calling me, so I pick up to hear, “Look what she did!! I can’t believe she did this.

She’s not going to that birthday party!” My 3-year-old daughter is yelling, “Daddy’s mad at me,” in the background.

In the 10 minutes my husband was outside loading up his truck with my junk for Petite Retreat drop-off, my daughter had taken a pair of scissors out of the supply bucket and had given herself a lovely hair chop. She basically had cut her bangs right to the scalp and took an awkward chunk of hair off the side.

I told him calmly to get her ready for the party; she was definitely going to it.

One day this past summer, I was walking downstairs after a quick shower and thought to myself, “Yum, it smells like everything bagels in here!” Uhhh, except we don’t have everything bagels. I round the corner to discover that my daughter has garlic-powdered our living room while dancing proudly.

If you look over my social media accounts (or anyone else’s for that matter), you’d probably notice a few things–I like to call them “Pinterest perfection (or fails), Instagram prettiness, and Facebook fake lives.” When you talk to your friends in person, their lives are not really like what they’re posting on social media. Their lives

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are full of rawness and feelings, just like mine and yours. While social media is full of these “perfect” moments, real life is awfully different.

I’m totally guilty of this. My Instagram last spring was full of pics of my gardens–beautiful flowers from the local nurseries and vegetable plants full of the promise of a bountiful

harvest. They were the gardens I desperately needed to plant after having a miscarriage over the winter; I think I just really needed something to grow…something to tend to. So, my “fans” didn’t see this secret pain.

And I sure didn’t post how I couldn’t keep up with my mini-farm, so we did not end up with an awesome crop. (Although I hear other people’s gardens were equally as horrible, so maybe it wasn’t just me. That could probably be a metaphor for this entire paragraph, right?)

fast.” People say this coming from a place of love, but what it can translate to for moms is the feeling that maybe you’re doing something wrong if you’re not enjoying it. But Melton assures her reader: You aren’t doing anything wrong. Parenthood (and life in general, for that matter) can be both messy and beautiful at the same time.

As someone who deals with anxiety and depression, this was an eyeopening moment for me. I was/am constantly in my own head secondguessing my thoughts, emotions, and ideas. I work from home, which is like the worst of all worlds. I can’t give my daughter all the attention she wants, and yet I can’t get any work done either. Before reading Glennon’s book, the loop of “I will never be enough” played constantly in my head for years. In November, I also took the mindfulness class at Healthy Living Market (highly recommend it!!), where the instructor talked about how anxiety is us thinking we have control over the future or other people’s actions. We don’t. You just have to let life play out and then react to it. Genius.

This is not something that magically changed for me overnight. I work on this–on myself–every single day. I wear bracelets (from ZennedOut on Etsy) that have little sayings on them like, “breathe, trust, and let go,” and, “just be you,” so I don’t forget. But it is doable. Being able to love myself is doable.

The mom-guilt will try to eat you; it will try to overshadow all the amazing things that are happening in your life. Be raw with yourself. Be raw with your friends… like authentic feelings raw. They already love you; you have nothing to worry about or hide. And it will totally help you release the mom-guilt.

Like Glennon says, “Life is hard – not because we’re doing it wrong – just because it’s hard.”

When I was preparing to write this article, I posted on my personal Facebook page asking friends what their “I’m just doing my best” mom stories were. There was more than one kid who had eaten poop. A toddler who had buttered every surface of the kitchen. The usual “child hiding in a clothing rack and causing mass panic” stories. All said with the same message: “You’re not alone; we are all just doing our best.”

Anyway, my haircut and garlic powder stories probably would’ve played out quite differently just a few months prior had I not read a book that totally changed my life: “Carry On Warrior,” by Glennon Doyle Melton. There is this one part where she talks about people telling mothers of young children to, “Enjoy every moment. This time goes by so SaratogaMama.com

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4 STEPS

to Creating a Safe & Healthy Bedroom for Children with Asthma & Allergies

WRITTEN BY Karen Totino, Green Conscience Home & Garden

We spend one-third of our life in our beds and bedrooms. Kids spend even more as they nap or play in their rooms when they are small and lock themselves in when they become teenagers!

If your children have chronic allergies or asthma, this is why it is critical to create an environment that promotes the healthiest indoor air quality. Here are four steps you can take to avoid indoor pollutants and support better health.

1

MATTRESSES & BEDDING All bedding is not created equal, and the quest to make your child’s bedroom a warm, comfortable, and safe place involves choosing the correct mattress, frame, and bed accessories.

I believe incorporating wool bedding, such as pillows, mattress pad, and comforter, is one of the most powerful steps you can take to create a healthier sleep experience. Wool is naturally hypoallergenic and has the ability to wick moisture, keeping your child dry and healthy. Manage moisture and you are also managing the growth of bacteria, fungus, and dust mites!

Wool has a very unique ability: It can actually bind toxins or volatile organic compounds (also called VOCs) and keep them trapped in the structure of the fiber. VOCs can exacerbate asthma but are also known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, so having wool help control these pollutants is very cool! Conversely, dust mites thrive in synthetic, down, and feather bedding. If you have a dust mite allergy, then you really want to avoid down and feather bedding.

Sourcing a mattress that is made of natural, sustainable materials is one of the best ways to limit your child’s exposure to VOCs. Look for third-party certification such as Green Guard or GOTS to ensure that you are actually getting a chemical-free mattress option.

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2

WALLS

Consider the walls in your child’s bedroom: Do you know what is covering them? Chances are that the paint is full of harmful VOCs. While children may not be in direct contact with the paint on their walls, these chemicals are still a part of their environment, particularly in colder months when closed windows mean there is no way for these dangerous chemicals to escape the room.

There are high-performance zero-VOC paints that are designed to minimize exposure to the chemicals used in traditional paint manufacturing processes. When you realize that what you choose to use on your walls will be a major driver of your indoor air quality for years to come, it’s a no-brainer!

3

CARPETING & FLOORING

Once you have dealt with bedding and wall coverings, the next logical step is to take a look at what is covering your child’s bedroom floor.

If you have hardwood floors of any variety, you may already be a step ahead in the game. Unfortunately, carpeting often is subjected to the same petrochemicals and flame-retardants as non-sustainable bedding and highVOC paints. Traditional carpeting puts off harmful gasses every time that you step on it and also becomes a haven for allergens that get kicked up into the air and into your lungs, leading to a host of inflammatory problems.

Consider purchasing an air purifier, particularly one with a HEPA filter. These units remove 99.9 percent of particles from the air that are 3 microns or larger – a factor that is particularly helpful for those who are suffering from asthma or other respiratory ailments. Pollen, dust mites, and even some latent VOCs can be removed from the air this way, leading to a noticeable difference in the quality of your living space.

Houseplants are another perfectly viable and natural option for interior air purification. Think about it: It's a part of their natural biorhythm to clean the air. Also, simply keeping our bedroom doors open at night instead of closing them can significantly impact CO2 levels and prevent dramatic spikes that occur at night with our doors closed.

Finding natural cleaning alternatives also will help keep your child’s bedroom clear of airborne pollutants found in many traditional cleaners. Anything with “fragrance” in the ingredient list is to be avoided. Fragrances, in particular, are manufactured with chemicals known as phthalates. These are known endocrine disruptors with a variety of unwanted health side-effects. While in the short term, these fragrances may seem beneficial, the chemical composition of artificial scents makes them far inferior to natural alternatives at every turn.

In writing this article, I hoped to provide some tangible, affordable, and actionable steps that you can take as a parent to dramatically improve the air quality of your child’s room. When we know better, we do better!

Wool is the preferred material for carpeting because of many of the same advantages that make it an ideal material for bedding. If hardwood flooring or cork is more your style, consider area rugs for accents. Small, scattered rugs are easier to wash than larger floor coverings and will contribute immensely to better interior air quality.

For hard-surfaced flooring, there are a variety of other options available including reclaimed hardwoods (which are often beautifully aged and one-of-a-kind), bamboo, or even cork.

Look for options that have no added urea formaldehyde and meet strict indoor air quality standards: low VOC (less than 0.005ppm) or no VOC (less than 0.001ppm).

4

INTERIOR AIR QUALITY

After addressing many of the possible sources of off-gassed VOCs, it makes sense to take the time to investigate the available options for indoor air purification. In many homes, particularly in southern states or the Northeast, weather and temperature extremes make it virtually impossible to air out our homes, often for months at a time. Thankfully, during the doldrums of the year, there are several things you can do to make sure that the interior air quality of your home is optimized.

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Spring Recipes

By Jodie Fitz

Quick, Easy & Tasty!

Looking for a few new recipes to keep life fun & delicious?

Check out this issue's tasty dishes that include keeping breakfast easy, the lunchbox memorable & after school refreshingly yummy!

Follow along with Jodie for more recipe bites at www.JodieFitz.com.

Breakfast Pizza • FlatOut® Traditional Artisan Pizza Crust • 1 cup baby leaf spinach, finely chopped • ½ cup cooked ham, diced

• 4 large eggs • 4 oz. shredded sharp cheese • 1 tablespoon olive oil • Black pepper • Non-stick cooking spray

Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cook the eggs in a scrambled fashion over medium heat in a pan coated with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Stir the chopped spinach and olive oil together. Baste the pizza crust with the spinach and oil. Evenly spread the ham and eggs over the top of the crust. Add a little black pepper to taste. Top the pizza with the cheese. Bake the pizza for 20 – 25 minutes until the dough is crispy and the cheese is fully melted.

Cooking the Eggs by Microwave: Whip the eggs together. Place them in a butter-coated glass dish and microwave on high for one minute.

Remove the dish with an oven mitt and stir. Continue to cook the eggs at one-minute intervals, stirring in between, until the eggs are fully cooked.

On the Run : Prep the pizza the night before and bake it fresh in the morning, or bake the entire pizza the night before, slice and heat in the morning.

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Flower Power Fun Yum Fruity Sandwich Bites • Honey wheat bread

• ¼ teaspoon vanilla

• 2 tablespoons cream cheese

• 2 large strawberries, diced

• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions: Cut two slices of the wheat bread into flower shapes with a large cookie cutter. Mix the cream cheese, honey, vanilla, and strawberries together. Spread the mixture onto one side of the bread and top it off with the other piece of cut bread to create a flower sandwich.

Fruity Flowers • Watermelon • Green grapes

Directions: Using a small cookie cutter or fondant cutter, cut the watermelon into flower shapes. Cut out the center to create a whole large enough for the grape to fit in. You can cut the center hole by using a round fondant cutter or a sharp knife.

Dirt • 6 oz. Greek yogurt, plain

• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

• 2 chocolate graham crackers

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2-3 tablespoons honey

Directions: Stir the yogurt, cocoa powder, honey, and yogurt together.

Place the graham crackers into a mini chopper and grind until they look like dirt. Create a parfait in a travel container layering the yogurt mixture and the graham cracker dirt.

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Creamsicle Smoothie • 2 cups ice

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 ½ cups rice milk

• 1 ½ teaspoons orange extract

• 6 oz. vanilla coconut milk yogurt

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 naval orange

Directions: Remove the rind from the orange and divide into sections.

Add the ice, rice milk, yogurt, orange slices, honey, and extracts into the blender. Blend and serve.

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am M a g o t Sara

a

& k r a P d n u o r g Play ide u G

Photo by Keira Lemonis

There’s lots of outdoor fun to be had in the Saratoga area! Our Park & Playground Guide will help you choose your next outdoor adventure spot. Play on!

B. Spa / Milton Burgess-Kimball Memorial Park Kelley Park/ Kids' Creekside Village Suzanne's Playground

Malta Shenantaha Creek Park Malta Community Park Malta Ecological Park SaratogaMama.com

Moreau

Saratoga

Moreau Lake State Park

Congress Park Saratoga Spa State Park East Side Recreation West Side Recreation Veterans Memorial Park Stillwater Glen Hollow Park

Schuylerville Hudson Crossing Park

Wilton Wilton Wildlife Preserve Gavin Park

Spring 2017 | SaratogaMama | 47

lance At-a-r-G friendly? ☑

Congress Park

Strolle s?

Infant Swing s? m o ro Bath

☐ ☑

Downtown Saratoga Springs

Congress Park is a gorgeous and historic park in the middle of downtown Saratoga. I love having a park like this in the middle of downtown because it’s fun to grab food or ice cream and head to the park for some people-watching on a nice day. With duck ponds, grassy meadows, historic landmarks, and a wooden carousel (which opens for the season in mid-May), Congress Park is a great meeting place, picnic spot, or people-watching destination. In July and August, Congress Park is home to live music concerts, arts and crafts festivals, and other special events.

Plan it! Pack a picnic blanket from home and pick up lunch at one of you favorite downtown Saratoga lunch spots. Enjoy an afternoon picnicking in the park!

Moreau Lake State Park

At-a-Glance ly?

Stroller-friend ?

Infant Swings Bathrooms? ?

Sprinkler Park

☑ ☑ ☑ ☑

East Side Recreation

On the corner of Lake and Granger Avenues, Saratoga Springs Located on the corner of Lake Ave (Route 29) and Granger Ave. in Saratoga is East Side Rec. East Side Rec has a skate park, several tennis courts, baseball fields, and public bathrooms.

It’s a nice park for a hot summer day because it is one of three Saratoga fountain playgrounds. The fountain is nice and usually quite busy in the summertime. There is a playground at East Side Rec, but it is a bit of a walk from the fountain.

605 Old Saratoga Road, Gansevoort

At-a-Glan

Stroller-fr ien Infant Swin dly? gs?

Bathroom s?

Located just minutes off of Northway exit 17S is Moreau Lake State Park. The main attraction here on those hot summer days is the beach, but that’s not all this park has to offer. With wonderful picnic areas, a playground, hiking trails, campsites, boating, fishing, and more, Moreau Lake State Park is well-worth a visit.

Stroller-frie ndly? ☑ Admission to the park (during Infant Swin gs? ☐ summer months) is $8 per Bathrooms? vehicle. Best bet is to carpool ☑ with friends if you can.

At-a-Glanc

e

ce

☐ ☐ ☐

Malta Ecological Park

476 Malta Avenue, Ballston Spa

Playgrounds are great, but sometimes it’s nice to get out and just enjoy nature. A great spot for this is the Town of Malta Ecological Park. It’s located on Malta Ave. about two miles off of Route 9 heading toward downtown Ballston Spa. The Malta Ecological Park has a couple miles of wooded trails with a few bridges and a little pond. There’s a big field you can walk to, which would be great for a picnic lunch. Along the trails are nice descriptive nature signs to add an educational element. Stroller mamas: It’s best to use a jogger or all-terrain here because the trails aren’t paved. Plan ahead: No bathrooms here!

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West Side Recreation

152 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs

!

West Side Rec is one of our top playground picks because in addition to many shaded areas and a decent playground, this park has water! A large interactive fountain sits in the middle of the grass, a refreshing invitation for hot, sticky kids. The splash fountain opens around Memorial Day. This park is a good size and has plenty of shaded areas, some benches, and picnic tables. The playground equipment is basic, and there is a good-sized sandbox. There are bathrooms here, but they are a bit of a walk from the playground. West Side Rec is a nice spot and well-worth a visit.

At-a-Glance

☑ ☑ ☑ ☑

!

dly?

Stroller-frien s? g in Infant Sw s? m o ro Bath ?

Sprinkler Park

Veterans Memorial Park

10 Adams Road, Saratoga Springs

Geyser Park, or its official name, Veterans Memorial Park, is one of three Saratoga playgrounds with an interactive fountain. (East Side Rec and West Side Rec are the others.)

The playground is basic and small, but the fountain is the main attraction here. Not a ton of shade, but Geyser Park has nice bathrooms that are very close by. It tends to be less busy than East Side or West Side Rec and a great location for Ballston Spa, Malta, or Milton mamas.

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park 80 Scout Road, Gansevoort

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to conserve ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and recreational experiences. The park boasts more than 12 miles of trails Stroller-friendly? ☐ that you and your family can enjoy.

Infant Swings? ☐ You can visit and explore on your Bathrooms? ☑ own time, at your own pace, or take part in a scheduled event.

At-a-Glance

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Spring 2017 | SaratogaMama | 49

Malta Community Park

Hudson Crossing Park

236 Plains Road, Malta

126 US-4, Schuylerville

Hudson Crossing Park is located just outside Schuylerville on NY Historic Scenic Byway, Route 4. This park is a nice change of pace from a traditional playground. The area for kids is called the "Play Garden." Many of the "play" items are built into nature and include stumps to jump, a rock maze/ labyrinth to navigate, tunnels to crawl through, sand and dirt "drums" for playing, a couple slides built into the landscape, and a boat to explore.

The Play Garden area has a nice pavilion for lunch and a generously-sized porta potty. The park itself also has some hiking trails, and the Champlain Canal Lock is kind of an attraction in itself. It’s a bit of a drive to get there, about 20 minutes outside of Saratoga, but it is worth a visit.

Saratoga Spa State Park

!

!

At-a-Glance dly?

Stroller-frien s? g in Sw nt fa In Bathrooms?

19 Roosevelt Dr., Saratoga

Saratoga Spa State Park is a park to enjoy during all four seasons. The state park offers a wide variety of walking and hiking trails, streams, a geyser, picnic pavilions, two pool complexes, a golf course, biking trails, snowshoe/cross-country ski trails, ice skating, and lots more. There is an $8 vehicle fee to enter the actual park during the summer, but it’s always free to get into the entrance at the Avenue of the Pines. Trail maps are available at the Park Office. Dogs are allowed on trails on-leash only.

You can also purchase an Empire Passport, which gets you into just about any NYS park, including Saratoga Spa State Park.

The pass costs $65.

☑ ☐ ☑

At-a-Glance Stroller-friendly?

Infant Swings?

☑ ☑

The Malta Community Park is located in Luther Forest on Plains Road in Malta. This park offers quite a bit: tennis courts, basketball, volleyball, fields, wooded walking trails, bathrooms, two pavilions, ample parking, and a nicely wooded but rather small playground. This is a great park to hit on a hot or humid day because it is very shady.

Bathrooms?

☑

Kelley Park/ Kids' Creekside Village Ralph Street, Ballston Spa

SaratogaPhotographer.com

Stillwater Glen Hollow Park

Lake Avenue and Whitney Road South, Stillwater Stillwater Glen Hollow Park is a great little neighborhood park located near Saratoga Lake. The park features a large open field for play, tennis and basketball courts, a large pavilion, and a nice playground.

Kelley Park playground, called "Kids' Creekside Village" in Ballston Spa, is a mecca for the playground enthusiast. This huge playground was completed in 2008, replacing a very old wooden playground. The playground has some standard features like twirling slides, swings, and climbing contraptions, but it has some very unique things too, like giant xylophones with big mallets for kids to play, a large sandbox, and a special area just for toddlers. It’s located on the Kaydeross Creek, but the actual playground is fenced in. Visibility isn’t great here, so be prepared for a higherStroller-frien dly? ☑ maintenance playground experience, Infant Swing s? ☑ especially if you have little kids.

Bathrooms? ☑

At-a-Glance

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Shenantaha Creek Park 369 Eastline Road, Malta

Burgess-Kimball Memorial Park Shenantaha Creek Park is one of our favorite area parks.

In addition to a very nice playground, you’ll find tennis courts, basketball courts, two large pavilions, open fields, a fantastic paved bike path (the 8.9-mile Zim Smith Trail), some unpaved hiking trails, and bathrooms to boot! There’s always ample parking, and while it does get busy, it never seems unbearably so.

384 Rowland Street, Ballston Spa

At-a-Glance Stroller-friendly?

Infant Swings?

Bathrooms?

Suzanne's Playground Woodthrush Court, Milton

This brand new all-inclusive and accessible playground is located on the western side of Burgess-Kimball Memorial Park, just off of Woodthrush Court in Milton. It's the newest playground in our area, and the kids are loving it so far!

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☑ ☑ ☑

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Plan it! Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in one of the shady pavilions. Pack the bikes and helmets, and if you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can venture to Stewart’s for some ice cream via the Zim Smith bike path.

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The reconstructed "all-inclusive" playground features ADA swings, sensory panels, transfer platforms for children with mobility issues, and rubber surfacing tiles for the safety of all children. There are also special ramps for wheelchairs and one swing that holds a wheelchair.

Gavin Park

10 Lewis Road, Wilton

Gavin Park is a huge complex with well-maintained fields, courts, pavilions, a gymnasium, and a nice playground featuring a brand new splash pad. There’s tons of parking, bathrooms, and the pavilion right near the playground has vending machines for soft drinks.

The playground was recently updated and features a brand new adaptive playground called Kaitlin's Korner. Gavin Park offers a wide variety of sports and activities for kids throughout the year. Check out townofwilton.com/gavin-park for details on the programs offered.

Spring 2017 | SaratogaMama | 51

When I was on my weight loss journey over 10 years ago, I found that finding a community of people or a workout buddy will keep you accountable (and it makes it fun!).

If someone is saving a bike for you, you are probably more likely to show up.

Angela Amedio, Owner of Saratoga Cycling Studio www.saratogacyclingstudio.com

I k e e p cli e nts a pe rs o n a l le ve m otivated by co n n e ct in g w o ve rwe ig ht , I l. H a v in g o n ce be e n out o f it h th e m o n c sh a pe a n d a n e m pathiz Tog et h e r we fo cu s o n k e e p in e wit h th e ir st ru g g le s. g a po ce le b rati n g h ow fa r th e y hsitive m in d set a n d a ve co m e.

On you r fit n e ss jo u rn e y , m in dse pu sh to a chieve you r goa ls . Nowt is everything . It helps you get ba ck on th e wa gon!!

Will Yund ,O wner and Personal Fusion Pe Trainer at rsonal Tra ining Stud io www.WYfu sion.com

Set goals nest with o h d n a l a e r y to keep it e number one thing I always tr w mbers. Th e m d n a s t SISTENT! Sho N O C e b my clien o t phasize is e of my that we em ou don't want to. On thing en y the up even wh is, "You don't become otes ecome the favorite qu ut all the time. You b bo in Rooney t r a M " . e you THINK a im O all the t g thing you D te Trainin g Eli f Gunnin o r e n w nning, O ining.com Matt Gu gelitetra in n n u .g www

Anytime you feel yo that wall , ask you urself hitting rs your why? Why ar elf this...What is e you here in the first place? Why do you want to be healthier? Why is it up to the gym ever worth it to show yday? Why do yo u want to be fit?

Fitness is about bust you are busting yo ing your butt. If ur there is a really go butt in the gym , od busting your butt at chance you are everything else you are doing in life.

“No man has the rig matter of physical ht to be an amateur in the a man to grow old training. It is a shame for without seeing the beauty and strength of whi ch his body is capa ble.�

-SOCRATES DM Blomquist, Founder and Hea d Coach of Cros sFit Soulshine www.crossfitsou lshine.com

52 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

the… a moment to brea l ke ta ” t, os “l g in life is al urself gett When you find yo realize that imperfection is what ar vision en ng a one-ye no seriously…th the groove by writi per exactly a year in ck ba f el rs u yo of your pa about! Get the date on the top soul release all its wants, te ri W y. da to om fr u to see let your hear t and from today, then ms in full detail. This will help yo drea ld be! desires, goals, and ur “ideal” life cou yo l u rf de on w w d ho steps that the big picture an on it and write 3-4 lenges em it e on ck pi d an ion chal Take this grand vis to reach it. You will be conquering ke ta to in no time! d n you will nee your one-year visio ds ar w to n ai nt ou d breathe. and climbing the m rd on yourself, an ha so be ot n do y, Most importantl upero, Jennifer Ric of and Owner as n Enthusi t e m o W e W ac A R and RAW Sp RAW Fitness com esssaratoga. www.rawfitn

& crush 'em

It’s very typical in the spring to lose a little steam with your health and fitness goals.

We asked a bunch of local health and wellness professionals to share with us their best tips.

Every morning, take a moment to close your eyes and imagine the wonderful feeling of reaching your goal. Be specific about the image...see what it looks like, hear what it sounds like, and definitely feel what it feels like. Imagine your success, then imagine whooshing back through time quickly to the present moment, going through in a flash all the things you did to create that success. Feel great and open your eyes!

Beth Sabo Novik, Personal Trainer, Motivational Speaker www.bethsabonovik.com

HERE’S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY:

nourish yourself, One of my favorite quotes is, "Cook to ken by wellness not restrict yourself" – wise words spomy perspective leader Candice Kumai. This sums up my clients to on food and nutrition and how I work with ir lives. the achieve balance in their kitchen and in a form of I'm not an advocate of diets, as they aretion. Rather solu deprivation, and they're a short-term my clients to than trying diet after diet, I encourage y and star t awa take the positive approach. Stop taking my meal that to adding. Ask yourself: What can I add or fill me with r, will give me a boost of energy, add colo your plate will to s nutrients? Adding more healthy food choices over naturally crowd out the less healthy foodWe're all looking lf. time. And practice patience with yoursehealth come from for that quick fix, but true balance and actually work with healthy habits that are sustainable and rgy and vitality! your lifestyle. Food is meant to give us ene e it does.

Eat like your life depends on it – becaus unselor Barb Biagioli, Nutrition Co barb@barbbiagioli.com

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It’s common to feel very motivat ed in the beginni and our old hab ng, but soon life its come back. W e may feel disco give up complete uraged and even ly. When I teach yoga and medita skill we work to tion, the primar develop is the ab y ility to adjust. It' perfect because s not about being there is no perfe ct. Life is about making a big fu adjusting without ss. Recognize w hen you’re feelin adjust without b g off-course, and eating yourself up.

When you learn to do this, you can very easily unwanted habit change s and patterns in your life and the freedom to give yourself live the way yo u choose, mom ent by moment.

Justin Wolf

er, Founder of Rise Yoga & Moveme nt Arts Cen ter www.risem ovementart s.com

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54 | SaratogaMama | Spring 2017 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Summer

is creeping up and it’s time to start thinking about summer camps!

Our Saratoga Summer Camp Guide highlights some excellent area options!

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Spring 2017 | SaratogaMama | 55

Gavin Park, Wilton, NY www.townofwilton.com (518) 584-9455

Wilton Recreation offers summer camp for children entering grades 1 through 9, for 7 weeks. It is a place where “kids can be kids,” as they learn and grow through social interaction with their peers, as well as with their counselors.

limited to movies, playground, game room, free play in the gym, simple crafts and may not be offered every day. Based on availability, only available for those in camp. (See registration form for details)

PROGRAMS

BUSING

On Site Campers participating in our On-Site activities will remain at Gavin Park for the day except when campers participate in supervised walks to off-site activities. Daily activities include crafts, sports, playground activities, and much more. Creative minds keep our campers entertained throughout the day.

On Site & Swimming Campers participating in On Site & Swimming will enjoy three days of On Site activities that include crafts, sports, playground activities, and much more. Swimming will be offered two days per week. Each age group will be assigned specific days of the week that they will swim. Swimming is offered at Peerless Pools, Million Dollar Beach, Shepard Park Beach, Moreau, and Haviland Cove. Based on availability.

Trips Campers participating in Swimming & Trips will enjoy swimming at least two days per week and three off site activities per week, which may include bowling, skating, etc. Only one special trip per week is planned which will include visits to museums and other area attractions. Campers have the option to stay On Site for the day with parent authorization. Based on availability.

AGE GROUPINGS

Pioneers (Grades 1-2) are our youngest campers who are entering grades 1-2.

Pioneers are placed into groups with no more than six campers per counselor.

Blazers (Grades 3-4) are those entering grades 3-4. Blazers are placed into groups with no more than seven campers per counselor.

Trail Seekers (Grades 5-6) are those entering grades 5-6. Trail seekers are placed into groups with no more than eight campers per counselor.

Trackers (Grades 7-9) are those campers entering grades 7-9. Trackers are placed into groups with no more than ten campers per counselor.

EXTENDED CARE

Extended care will be offered daily from 8:00 am - 9:00 am and 3 pm - 5:30 pm.

Pre-registration is required. Busing is NOT available for those participating in extended care. Extended care activities are

Busing is available for Wilton Residents per household for an additional fee. Actual pick up/drop off points will be determined once all campers are registered. Pick up/drop off locations are not “home pick up & drop offs,” but will be within developments, etc. (unless there are no other pickup/drop offs within the area or a road is deemed unsafe by SSCS Transportation).

Campers should be at their pick-up point at least 10 minutes prior to pick up.

Those entering first grade will NOT be dropped off in the PM unless a parent/ guardian or other designated responsible person is at the pickup location to meet the child. Riding the bus is a privilege. All bus rules that apply during the school year will be adhered to during the summer program.

• CAMPERS RIDING BUSES MUST RIDE BUSES DAILY. • NO REFUNDS IF BUS PRIVILEGES ARE REVOKED.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Camp registration is for Wilton Residents ONLY and begins on March 6th.

Registration is open until May 26th, or when camp capacity is reached, whichever comes first. There are no refunds for fees or deposits related to summer camp.

Space is limited and registration must be done in person at Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY. Camp registration forms, which include pricing, are available at www.townofwilton.com or can be picked up at the park office weekdays 9am-5pm. Any questions, please call 518-584-9455.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Registration MUST be done in person • Wilton Residents must show two proofs of residency (license, tax bill, phone bill, National Grid or water bill) • Shot records must be submitted each year (Health Department Regulations) and are due at registration • Payment options include check, money order, or MasterCard/Visa – no cash payments are accepted

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www.skidmore.edu/summer (518) 580-5596

Skidmore College offers a variety of programs for children of all ages during the summer months.

CAMP NORTHWOODS, Skidmore’s day camp for children entering grades 1-6, offers an exciting program of sports, cultural arts, nature study and relaxed play. Our goal is to provide a variety of fun activities that happily challenge the imagination, intellect, and body. The camp’s home base is Falstaff’s Pavilion on the Skidmore College campus, but campers frequent the Williamson Sports Center, Schick Art Gallery, Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, and Zankel Music Center. The daily enrichment activities led by the experienced staff are supplemented by weekly field trips to recreational and historical sites, and visits by special guests. Children will also enjoy arts and crafts, ceramics, games, hiking, and daily swim time. One and two-week sessions are available from June 26-August 11.

Skidmore College also offers a wide array of SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS from June through August for children of all ages. Choose

from baseball, lacrosse, swimming, basketball, soccer, volleyball and field hockey. Children learn the concept of teamwork while acquiring the necessary skills for his or her sport of choice. Adults, novice or experienced, can participate in a rowing program offered throughout the spring, summer and fall at the Boat House located on beautiful Fish Creek. All other programs are held on the Skidmore Campus at the Sports and Recreation Center and/or the adjacent fields.

For more information: www.skidmore.edu/camp_northwoods or call Camp Northwoods at 518-580-5596.

For more information, or to register: www.skidmore.edu/summer_ sports/ or call Skidmore Summer Sports Camps 518-580-8061.

MAKE SUMMER COUNT! Summer day camp program for 1st – 6th graders

June 26 – August 11 skidmore.edu/camp_northwoods 518-580-5596

northwoods CAMP

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BASKETBALL BASEBALL FIELD HOCKEY LACROSSE ROWING SOCCER SWIMMING VOLLEYBALL

Sports Camps for all ages Register online!

518.580.8061 skidmore.edu/summer_sports

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F. Donald Myers Education Center, Southern Adirondack Education Center & SUNY Adirondack Wilton Campus

When school is out the fun begins! WSWHE BOCES Summer camps offer youngsters an opportunity to participate in a wide variety of fun and educational classes.

NEW: CODE TO THE FUTURE CAMPS:

July 17-21 at BOCES Southern Adirondack Education Center in Hudson Falls July 24-28 at the BOCES F. Donald Myers Education Center in Saratoga Springs August 7-11 at SUNY Adirondack Wilton • AM classes for grades 2-4 - Campers will dive into the exciting world of computer coding through Scratch.

• PM classes for grades 5-8 - Minecraft Modding camp: Using Java, campers will learn to create Minecraft mods like “spawn a flying golden cow”!

THE BOCES F. DONALD MYERS CENTER IN SARATOGA SPRINGS

Three weeks of summer camps include full or half day sessions: July 10 - 14; July 17 - 21; July 24 - 28, 2017 • Along with Code to the Future some fun STEM offerings include Simply Amazing Machine; NANO It’s Bigger than You Think, Paper Engineering and Geo Art • Our very popular Culinary Camp returns with “Appetizers & Party Food” and “Around the World Cuisine”. New: “Making Healthy Farm to Table Dishes” • Also returning, Chinese Language and Culture and Mad Science of the Capital District with Claws, Codes and Constellations or NASA!

NEW: AT THE BOCES SOUTHERN ADIRONDACK EDUCATION CENTER HUDSON FALLS:

July 17-21, 2017 • Learn how to speak the language of computers with our Code to the Future camps.

• I can make that? Yes, you can! in Kids Can Cook!

STEM ACADEMY CAMP AT SUNY ADIRONDACK WILTON

Immerse the campers in all things STEM: August 7 -11, 2017 • Along with Code to the Future, our STEM Academy offerings include Forensic Science with Mr. Biss, Simply Amazing Machines, NANO It’s Bigger than You Think, Duck Tape Wars and Water Rockets, and 3 Minutes to Midnight and Holding • Become familiar with animation techniques and the process of stop motion animation in Animation Antics.

SRYA THEATER ARTS SUMMER CAMP

Trombley Auditorium in Maple Ave. Middle School - Saratoga Springs School District, WSWHE BOCES and C-R Kids have united to offer a summer arts program like no other in the area. Two week camps run from July 10 - August 11, 2017 Experience the thrill of being part of a full-scaled, fully designed show under the guidance of highly skilled teaching artists.

SRYA Kids Camps Grades 1 – 5 Scheduled camps are: Sleeping Beauty Kids and Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon.

SRYA Juniors Camps Grades 6 – 9 Scheduled camps are: 13, the Musical and Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. SRYA Theater Camps Disney’s The Lion King Experience Grades 1-9 Experience this unique combined-age camp during which campers will experience African dancing, mask-making and drumming, all culminating in a performance of scenes from Disney’s beloved Lion King!

Visit www.syracamps.org for Theater Arts Camps Join in the fun! Register early to insure you don’t miss out! For more information: Call the WSWHE BOCES Enrichment Resource Center at (518) 581-3585 or email:giftedresources@wswheboces.org Visit www.wswheboces.org/summercamps for registration forms

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459 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs NY 12866 www.siskids.org • 518-583-0841

WEEKLY THEME-BASED ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 9 YEARS OLD Program Dates: July 10 to August 18, 2017 Program Hours: 9am to Noon, or 9am – 3pm; Before care available at 8:30am Whether exploring the past or designing the future, the Summer enrichment experience at Saratoga Independent School is sure to engage and excite children ages 3 to 9 years old. Our morning program themes change from week to week with topics for all interests. Campers will spend time with a variety of teachers, including Physical Education and Art teachers, alongside theme-based exploration.

If a half day isn’t quite enough, stick around for the afternoon. This year we are offering a less structured, multi-aged afternoon with water play, board games, and opportunities for personal expression.

COME PLAY WITH US THIS SUMMER! 2017 WEEKLY CAMP THEMES: • Monsters, Myths and Magic: July 10-14 Are you brave enough to face a Cyclops? Battle a dragon? This week you can be the hero as you forge your own tale, while learning about some of the most famous Greek and Roman mythical figures.

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• Edible Chemistry: July 17-21 Let’s play with our food as we combine and cook with household products. This will be a week you can really sink your teeth into!

• Road Trip Across America: July 24-28 “From California, to the New York island” this week is made for you and me! America is full of amazing sights that we can admire and learn from. We will travel virtually in search of new places, people, and adventure.

• What gets you Going? Energy!: July 31-August 4 Who knows more about energy than kids?! With hands on activities galore, experiments with renewable energy sources will be the focus.

Solar Oven s’mores is sure to engage and inspire a new generation of scientists.

• Imagination and Innovation: August 7-11 Building, creating, inventing: this week is sure to appeal to all. From architectural design to Legos and blocks, children will explore some of the world’s most instrumental inventions, and use their own creativity to design for the future.

• Ooey Gooey Science: August 14-18 The title speaks for itself! Slime, Ooblek, stress balls, silly putty…If it’s ooey, gooey, squishy or slimey, we’ll play with it! Old clothes are a must this week.

To register, please visit the Saratoga Independent School website: www.siskids.org/programs

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St. Clements School, 231 Lake Ave. & Skidmore College, North Broadway saratogachildrenstheatre.org • 518-580-1782

For children who have a passion for the performing arts or would like to try something new, Saratoga Children’s Theatre (SCT) summer camp is a dream come true. Saratoga Children’s Theatre offers performance camps for ages 4-18 years.

At SCT we hire dedicated professionals that will enhance your child’s awareness for the arts while enjoying a great summer camp experience!

Aladdin Kids July 3-July 14; Performance July 14 at 11am & 4pm A Mixed-Up Fairytale (Play) July 17- July 28; Performance July 28 at 11am & 4pm A Year with Frog and Toad July 31 - August 11; Performance August 11 at 11am & 4pm On the Radio August 14- August 18; Performance August 18 at 11am & 4pm

For more information please visit www.saratogachildrenstheatre.org

The above performances are at St. Clement’s School, 231 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs.

Before and After Care are available for all camps.

There will be NO Camp on July 4th.

RISING STARS CAMP AGES 4-6

These stars-to-be will learn to explore their creativity through music, storytelling, movement, and arts. Both fun and educational, we have created our Rising Stars program to provide a warm and nurturing environment, giving campers the opportunity to gain a wonderful introduction to the theatre arts. Camp hours 9am3pm; RISING STAR camps are full day (9am-3pm) and half day (9am-12pm).

Full Day Camps: Dr. Seuss Christmas in July Pirates and Mermaids Frozen Disney Magic Doc McStuffins Can’t Stop the Feeling

July 3-July 7 July 10-July 14 July 17- July 21 July 24- July 28 July 31- August 4 August 7- August 11 August 14- August 18

Half Day Camps: Under the Sea July 3-July 7 Crazy Animal Fun July 10-July 14 Silly Tea Party July 17- July 21

KIDS CAMP AGES 7-10

Campers will learn all aspects of performance, and will have the opportunity to perform in a show at the end of camp and they are open to the public. Campers will perform on stage at St. Clements Auditorium, Saratoga Springs.

Camp hours are 9am-3pm; KIDS camps are 1 or 2 weeks.

JUNIORS AGES 10-13

Campers will learn all aspects of performance, and will have the opportunity to perform in a show at the end of camp and they are open to the public. Campers will perform on stage at St. Clements Auditorium, Saratoga Springs. Camp hours are 9am-3pm; JUNIOR camps are 1 or 2 weeks.

Into the Woods Jr July 3-July 14; Performance July 14 at 1pm & 6pm Glee Camp July 17-July 21; Performance July 21 at 11am & 4pm High School Musical 2 Jr July 24- August 4; Performance August 4 at 1pm & 6pm 3-2-1 Action August 7-August 18; Screening August 18 at 2pm The above performances are at St. Clement’s School, 231 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs.

TEENS AGES 13-18

Campers will learn all aspects of performance, and will have the opportunity to perform 4 performances per camp at Skidmore College JBK Theater. Camp hours are 9am-3pm. Camp will be held at St. Clements School for the first 2 weeks, the third week of camp is at Skidmore College.

Oklahoma July 3 - July 22; Performances July 21 & July 22 at 1pm & 7pm Thoroughly Modern Millie July 31 - August 9; Performances August 18 & August 19 at 1pm & 7pm The above performances are at the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater on the Skidmore College Campus.

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Saratoga Springs Recreation Center (518) 587-3550 ext. 2300 www.SaratogaRec.com

The Saratoga Springs Recreation Department offers two summer camp options for families to choose from: Camp Saradac and the Playground Program.

Camp Saradac, located at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center, is a NYSDOH licensed full day summer camp for children ages 5-15.

Our camp offers exciting weekly field trips, creative recreational and educational programs, arts & crafts, weekly swimming, and themed weeks. Camp activities are designed to promote fun and fitness while providing opportunities for campers to grow. This year’s field trips include: The Great Escape, Flight Trampoline Park, Saratoga County Fair, Saratoga Strike Zone, and many more. We will also take weekly trips to the Peerless Pool.

The 2017 Summer Camp runs Monday through Friday from 8:45am to 4:45pm starting June 26th and goes to August 18th. Parents who register their children in our before and after care program can drop off their child after 7:30am and pick them up as

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late as 6:00pm. Registration begins February 27th for City Residents and March 20th for Non City Residents at the Recreation Center, 15 Vanderbilt Ave, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866. Registration is on a first come, first served basis so please don’t wait. Camp registration forms are available at www.saratoga-springs.org or can be picked up at the Recreation Center. If you have any questions, please call us at 518-587-3550 ext 2300 or email us at RecReservations@saratogasprings.org. The best summer of your life awaits!

The Playground Program, located at Veterans Memorial Park, is a 7 week program for ages 5-12 designed to promote physical and mental well being through daily recreational activities and socialization.

Children will have the opportunity to participate in many new and familiar activities, cool off at the Interactive Spray Fountain, and explore the playground. Each day a new activity will keep children’s minds sharp and encourage creativity! This program will be held rain or shine.

There are no field trips.

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The Saratoga Film Academy www.saratogafilmacademy.com

WHAT IS THE SARATOGA FILM ACADEMY?

The Saratoga Film Academy provides a hands-on, project based learning experience in video and narrative film production for students 8-18 years old. This dynamic learning experience uses Hollywood insider knowledge on how to develop students’ technical skills to assist them in expressing their artistic voices.

WHO IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SARATOGA FILM ACADEMY?

Any child or teen who has an interest in stories, movies, media technologies, and performance art will find a new passion in filmmaking. The courses are designed to meet the students where they are at developmentally, learn through experience, and cater to all skill levels. Whether an individual is just beginning or on the verge of winning an oscar, students will find the classes exciting, challenging, and intellectually rewarding.

WHY CONSIDER FILM CAMP THIS SUMMER?

A combination of professional experiences informs the design of the classes to engage and enrich the student experience. All classes are helmed by SFA’s founder, filmmaker, writer, and teacher Jon Dorflinger who has six years of Hollywood experience and is a NYS certified English

Language Arts Teacher. He is currently employed by Proctor’s and is their Media Arts teacher at Ballston Spa High School. He combines his passion for teaching and his passion for filmmaking into SFA to develop a pedagogy that encourages student growth and independent learning of Hollywood standard skills and practices.

SFA film students go through the process of producing their projects like the professionals. They engage in four phases of the production process; writing/ development, pre-production, production, and post production. Producing film projects promotes life-long skills such as project management, strategic planning, communication, and creative problem solving.

WHAT CAMPS ARE OFFERED THIS SUMMER?

SFA is entering its third summer with a variety of classes suitable for all ages. All of the most popular classes from last summer are returning including Stop-Motion Animation, YouTube Video Production, Creative Filmmaking, and The Director’s Class.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Visit us at www.saratogafilmacademy.com to check out previous films produced through the academy, and to learn more about SFA and the summer camps. All summer camp registrations can be completed online.

For additional questions or inquiries please email saratogafilm@gmail.com or call (310) 801-5642.

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www.campinvention.org 800-968-4332

IMAGINATIONS GAIN FUEL AND CREATIVITY SOARS AT CAMP INVENTION®!

Gadget Alarm Boxes with light sensors and high-functioning circuitry that will keep tiny little hands out of their most valued treasures.

A program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame®, Camp Invention is an exciting, weeklong summer adventure with lessons that explore connections between science, technology, engineering, and innovation.

Children in kindergarten through 6th grade work together to seek solutions to real-world problems and sharpen critical 21st century learning skills while rotating through several fascinating modules.

Camp Invention connects children to inventors who changed the world, and enhances the scientific knowledge base of participants. The program hooks children and gives them high-energy, hands-on, innovative fun, while presenting them with challenges that emphasize STEM, collaboration, and entrepreneurship through innovation. Camp Invention positively impacts teacher attitudes toward science content while reinforcing their abilities to instruct children using educationally sound methods and creates effective strategies for developing challenges to prepare students for the future. Every year the fresh content inspires children to explore, have big ideas, and make new innovations.

Camp Invention’s new program, Launch, allows campers to experience real-world problem solving and creative thinking! From blasting off to the nearest exoplanet to launching the next, start-up business, children experience the power of their ideas being launched into reality. In Battle Blast™, children fling, fly, and float their way through high-energy air challenges and take home their own high-tech Bubble Blaster, complete with flashing lights! Children become DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Duct Tape dynamos in Duct Tape Billionaire™, as they design products, build their inventories, take risks, and launch start-up businesses that will put their products in high demand. In Mission Space Makers™, children receive challenges from mission control to locate and prepare a new planet for human habitation. They must design inventions to transform its atmosphere, terrain, and ecosystem, as well as set up a Space Lab to hatch animal eggs, sprout plants, and grow crystal trees. In Operation Keep Out™, children launch their design engineering skills as they build Spy

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If your child still wants the Camp Invention experience, but has completed 6th grade, he or she can participate in our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program!

Those entering the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades can join our CIT program, where they’ll gain real world experience on how to be a positive mentor and coach.

Camp Invention locations are nationwide, including many throughout the Saratoga region. Register on or before March 20, 2017 using promo code Innovate25 to receive $25 off the base price. Every registration includes a complimentary Camp Invention t-shirt.

Availability is limited, so visit www. campinvention.org or call 800-968-4332 to secure your child’s spot today!

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Save the Date SARATOGA HOME & LIFESTYLE SHOW FRIDAY, MARCH 3 • 5 - 9 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 4 • 9 AM - 7 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 5 • 10 AM - 4 PM

lete comp For a vents and e list of ities, visit v i t c om a ama.c

gaM Sarato

ADIRONDACK SPORTS & FITNESS SUMMER EXPO

SATURDAY, MARCH 18 • 10 AM - 5 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 19 • 10 AM - 4 PM

The Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Show features a variety of home and lifestyle businesses in categories such as home improvement, landscaping, décor and fine finishes, heating and plumbing, pools, financial and professional services, and many more. There are also hourly door prizes, a grand prize, and other special activities taking place throughout the weekend! Admission is free, courtesy of the show's major sponsor, The Adirondack Trust Company.

Join us for the 12th annual Adirondack Sports & Fitness Summer Expo at the Saratoga Springs City Center. With 125 exhibitors and 8,000 attendees; this is an event you won't want to miss. Activities that will be represented at the Expo include running, cycling, triathlon, hiking, paddling, travel, and healthy living. Attendees can also enjoy seminars, clinics, demos, prizes, and giveaways. Attendee admission is $5 for adults and free for 18 and under.

COOKING UP A GOOD STORY: CREATIVE WRITING CLASS FOR KIDS, INSPIRED BY THE SEASON

THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS WITH OPERA SARATOGA

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 • 2 - 4 PM

Chris Leuzinger from Nourishing Minds Tutoring joins us at Serendipity Arts Studio, 26 Congress St., Congress Plaza in Saratoga Springs from 2 to 4 p.m. for another fun and tasty workshop of story writing and kids cooking. Children learn how to construct a good story by reading an example, brainstorming creative words and developing a story line. When the writing is complete, we cook up a recipe relevant to the season. This event is for children ages 8-12.

Registration is required. Cost is $35.

Visit www.SerendipityArtsStudio.com to sign up.

COMMUNITY PURIM CARNIVAL SUNDAY, MARCH 12 • 2 - 4 PM

Temple Sinai, with funding from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, will host a fun-filled Community Purim Carnival from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Christopher Dailey Gym at Wilton’s Gavin Park. Featuring more than 15 interactive games and two huge bouncy bounces, children of all ages will also enjoy dancing with the DJ, a photo booth, crafts, snacks, and prizes galore for everyone (every player wins every time). Community members of all religions are welcome! Admission is free. There will be discount wristbands for unlimited games and rides. Popcorn and other refreshments will be available for purchase.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25 • 3:15 - 4:15 PM

John Davies has adapted the Brothers Grimm folk tale into this delightful children's opera. The donkey, General Boom, seeks to form a town band with farm animals as musicians.

Can the four different creatures band together before pirates steal their instruments? For Pre-K to grade 6 at the Saratoga Springs Public Library in the H. Dutcher Community Room.

28TH ANNUAL PALM SUNDAY POLKA BENEFIT SUNDAY, APRIL 9 • 1 - 5 PM

The Annual Palm Sunday Polka Benefit features the Polka Country Musicians, door prizes, raffles, and a “ROASTING” of Ernie Daigle by “ROASTERS” from all over the East Coast at 2 p.m. Ernie is a longtime radio Polka personality from Chicopee, MA and director of the International Polka Association. The Polka Benefit will be held at Saratoga Knights of Columbus located at 50 Pine Rd., in Saratoga Springs. The cost is $25 (couple), $13 (per person) – prior to April 3; $15 at the door.

For reservations, contact Steve or Cathy Coblish at 518-899-3061 or SCoblish@nycap.rr.com.

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BLUE NEEDS YOU 8K RUN SATURDAY, APRIL 15 • 8:30 AM

Kick off the Easter holiday weekend with fun events for the whole family. The Blue Needs You 8K Run is a community celebration of Code Blue Saratoga, a regional organization providing temporary respite for individuals experiencing homelessness during hazardous winter weather. The run will be held at High Rock Park, located at High Rock Avenue beginning at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $30. To register, contact Rosemary Reidhammer at 518-581-1097.

THE 6TH ANNUAL AUTISM EXPO SUNDAY, APRIL 23 • NOON - 3 PM

Exhibitors from camps, school programs Pre-K through college, technological apps for autism, and recreation & therapeutic programs will be at the Saratoga Springs City Center, located at 522 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, from noon to 3 p.m. Bounce house and arts & crafts. Free admission. For more information, contact Julie Marks at jmarks@saratogabridges.org.

MARCH FOR BABIES SUNDAY, APRIL 30 • 9 AM

We're getting ready to walk in March for Babies in Saratoga Springs in Congress Park starting at 9 a.m. It promises to be a fun day out with people who share our passion for improving the health of babies. There'll be family teams, company teams, and people walking with friends – it's a great feeling knowing we're all helping real families. Join our event and walk with us to raise money for babies right here in our community.

For more information and to join the event or donate, visit https://www.marchforbabies.org/EventInfo/?EventID=18212

LLAMAS AT THE LIBRARY SUNDAY, MAY 14 • 2 - 3 PM

Come to the Saratoga Springs Public Library in the H. Dutcher Community Room, for an up-close and personal encounter with live llamas. Katrina and Gary Capasso, owners of Dakota Ridge Farm, will introduce their llamas and share some llama facts. We will celebrate Mother's Day with a reading of "Is Your Mama a Llama?" Children will have an opportunity to pet the llamas.

No registration required.

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BIRDS BIRDS GRASS GRASS SHOWERS SHOWERS

BUG BUG KITE KITE SUNSHINESUNSHINE

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Kids' Coloring Contest

Color this page and then have mom or dad help you snap a photo! Email your photo to colleen@saratogamama.com for a chance to WIN a spot in a Kids' Cooking Class of your choice at Healthy Living Market!

Winner will be chosen at random.

Winter Contest WINNERS! SaratogaMama.com

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68 | SaratogaMama | Spring 2017 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com