KCC Parent Source Spring2018

Parent Source

Serving Kane County

Spring 2018 Resource Guide For Parents

Take A Hike Kane County draws families back to the woods with self-guided program Page 4

GET YOUR BACKYARD PARTY READY

5 essential tips Page 6

STEMMING THE LEAK

Ways to encourage STEM in your child Page 6

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Table of Contents

Take a hike page 4

5 essential tips to get your backyard party-ready page 6

Stemming the leak: 4 ways to encourage STEM in your middle schooler page 8

5 simple things you can do to promote literacy at home and beyond page 10

Distributed by

PROJECT MANAGER Kelli Murray kmurray@shawmedia.com

DESIGNER Allison McCaleb amccaleb@shawmedia.com

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Take a hike!

Kane County draws people back to the woods with self-guided program

By KELSEY O’ CONNOR

W

ith more than 20,000 acres of green space scattered across 77 forest preserves, Kane County Forest Preserve has endless opportunities to get out and experience nature. The only problem is, where should you start?

If you’re interested in exploring the various natural areas in the community, you might want to check out the Take a Hike program by Forest Preserve District of Kane County. The year-round program features a different forest preserve each month, along with a new self-guided activity. Any participant who completes six of the 12 activities will receive a commemorative Take a Hike patch.

“We’re trying to get people out in the county all year round and exploring what’s happening.” says Josh Libman, a naturalist with the Kane County Forest Preserve District. “All throughout the year, there’s different ecological wonders. Even in the dead of winter, there’s something super fun to check out.”

The Take a Hike program has been around for many years, but fell by the wayside as the Forest Preserve District rapidly expanded. The program was revived and revamped three years ago to include new natural areas and fresh activities.

“This is a new and improved version that we’re really excited to share with people,” says Libman. “Over the years, we’ve acquired lots of new open space, so we wanted to make sure

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all the information was relevant and throw in a couple gems we thought weren’t represented before.”

are seasonal. To receive the patch, Take a Hike activities must be completed and turned in by the end of the year.

Activity sheets are available at Creek Bend Nature Center at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve and the Forest Preserve District website.

The sheets include details on the activity, parking, route information and a map of the forest preserve.

Individuals, families, and groups are welcome to participate.

Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora is featured in May, and the accompanying activity will have visitors identifying woodland wildflowers.

“I think it has something to appeal for all ages,” says Libman. “Younger kids get a pretty cool science and ecological lesson out of it. For an adult, it’s a fun, at-your-own-pace tour guide.”

Participants can complete the activities in any order and at any time during the year, but should keep in mind that some activities

To earn credit for activities, participants can submit their completed sheets and contact information by email to programs@kaneforest.com or fax to 630-513-1702. They can also turn them in by mail or in person at the Creek Bend Nature Center.

Creek Bend Nature Center is located 37W700 Dean St. in St. Charles. For more information, visit kaneforest.com/recreation/ takeahike or call the Creek Bend Nature Center at (630) 444-3190.

“I think [the Take a Hike program] has something to appeal for all ages. Younger kids get a pretty cool science and ecological lesson out of it. For an adult, it’s a fun, at-your-ownpace tour guide.”

- Josh Libman, a naturalist with the Kane County Forest Preserve District

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5 essentials to get your backyard party-ready

T

he warm, summery weather is a golden opportunity to take your get-together outside.

Whatever the occasion, take advantage of the sun and extra space, and let these tips help you plan and get your outdoor space ready for your guests. g Cluster the conversation spots

When planning your backyard layout, think beyond the patio table, and provide more than enough seating for all. Arrange sofas and chairs into conversation clusters to keep people outside and enjoying each other’s company. It’s also a good idea to provide coffee tables, side tables and other spaces where people can set their drinks and snacks. Don’t be afraid to borrow pieces from a friend or neighbor to make the party set complete.

your lighting situation. Intense late-day sun glare is unpleasant for all, but a few strategically placed patio plants can make a huge difference (and make the space feel more intimate). For the postsundown festivities, light up the party zone with holiday lights by stringing them along deck rails, or zig-zagging them overhead. Add a fire pit, and if it’s chilly, keep an extra stash of throw blankets and jackets and you’ll have a cozy, well-lit space for those late-night talks. g Keep flying invaders at bay

g Don’t forget the right lighting

No one likes it when uninvited guests like flying, biting insects show up. Bottles of insect repellent in a conspicuous place are a good bet on buggy nights, but keep these (and the spraying area) well away from the food.

For a chemical-free alternative, setting out a fan or two on a low setting can stir up enough of a breeze to keep the pests away.

Consider the time of day of your gathering and what that means for

For the ultimate crowd mixer and

g Get your game on

crowd pleaser, keep a few fun and easy yard games on hand. Dust off the old bocce ball set. Or, with a few simple materials from your local hardware store, you can create and customize DIY versions of your favorites, including bean-bag toss, ring toss or even target shooting with water guns. g Keep the snacks simple and stress

free

The secret to a good party is not stressing over every detail of the décor and the same goes for the food. An array of delicious but simple snacks are more than enough to get the party started. Soft pretzels are always a party favorite, but did you know that most people - 69 percent of them, to be exact - prefer to eat their soft pretzels dipped? Another 28 percent prefer cheese toppings above all the others. For the perfect snack to spice up the festivities, include a batch of Superpretzel Parmesan Garlic Bites or Superpretzel Everything Pretzel Bites (see recipes on facing page).

- (BPT)

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EVERYTHING PRETZEL BITES Ingredients: 20 Superpretzel Soft Pretzel Bites Everything bagel seasoning Melted butter Optional: whipped cream cheese (for dipping) Directions: Prepare soft pretzel bites according to instructions on the box.

Lightly coat soft pretzel bites with melted butter.

Season soft pretzel bites with everything bagel seasoning and soft pretzel salt.

Bake in 350 degree F oven until golden brown.

Serve with whipped cream cheese.

PARMESAN GARLIC BITES Ingredients: 9-12 Superpretzel Soft Pretzel Bites 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons wet minced garlic 2 tablespoons dry parsley 2 tablespoons pretzel salt 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese Directions: In a bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, garlic, pretzel salt, parsley and cheese and set aside.

Deep fry the pretzel bites in your favorite cooking oil at 360 degrees F for about 2 minutes.

When done, dredge the pretzel bites into the oil and cheese mixture.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

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STEMMING THE LEAK 4 ways to encourage STEM in your middle schooler

E

ven though many Americans understand the importance of STEM education, children in the U.S. continue to lose interest in science, technology, engineering and math subjects at young ages.

Not surprisingly, 44 percent of U.S. adults say they felt more excited about science when they were kids, reports the State of Science Index, a global study commissioned by 3M examining the general population’s attitudes toward science. Maintaining students’ interest in science during the middle school years is crucial to increasing the likelihood they’ll pursue STEM careers. That’s important, since studies show our nation will need to

produce an additional one million STEM workers between 2012 and 2022 alone.

That said, we’re still not on track to meet demand, partly because students continue to lose interest.

What’s the answer? Creating a rich culture of STEM education in schools requires professional development, suggests Cindy Moss, vice president of global STEM initiatives for curriculum developer Discovery Education. She points to research showing teachers need 80 hours of cumulative targeted professional development before effectively teaching STEM-promoting classes.

“Many educators in our country believe we need to accelerate our approach to STEM education,” Moss

says. “There are three to four million STEM job openings in the U.S. right now, and companies can’t find American workers with the skills they need. Fifty percent of everybody’s jobs right now are STEM, and they’re predicting that in the next 10 years about 75 percent of all jobs will involve STEM.” What can parents and educators do to foster more interest? Consider the following: g FIND ROLE MODELS. If a child

doesn’t know anyone working in STEM, he or she may be unable to imagine a career in such roles.

Introduce him or her to people actively working in such fields, then encourage discussion and/or job shadowing. Teachers might bring

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in speakers who can answer candid questions about the rewards and challenges in their fields - including significant demand and attractive pay scales. g SEEK ACHIEVEMENT

OPPORTUNITIES. Introducing children to engaging events like the annual Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge may spark their sense of competition and passion for STEM. The annual contest, which is accepting submissions until April 19, invites innovators in grades five through eight to develop oneto two-minute videos describing their ideas for creative solutions to tackle everyday problems. The top 10 finalists receive a summer mentorship with a 3M scientist, and the winner will receive $25,000. Last year’s winner, Gitanjali Rao, developed a device that measures lead levels in drinking water, inspired by the recent water crisis in Flint, Michigan. g KEEP PARTICIPATING. Reducing

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involvement in your child’s daily academics once he or she enters middle school may backfire. One study shows middle schoolers maintain a more positive attitude toward science when their parents continue to display interest. The Rao family, for example, frequently visits museums and holds game nights focusing on problem solving.

“We encourage our children to communicate their ideas clearly and concisely and understand real-world issues,” notes Bharathi Rao, Gitanjali’s mother. “We hope we can instill the value of compassion while helping them understand they have the power to create change.” g DISCOURAGE SNAP DECISIONS.

During adolescence, Moss notes, kids struggling to figure out who they are can easily form inaccurate perceptions of their academic weaknesses. Reassure your child one challenging assignment or bad grade need not rule out a future career. “Kids often make up their minds by sixth

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grade whether they’re capable of doing science and math,” says Moss.

“We have definitive evidence that by age 6, girls have already started to internalize negative stereotypes that science and math are not for girls.”

In reality, she notes, understanding science and math simply requires more thinking for some people than others; it’s not a skill based on gender.

According to State of Science Index findings, 96 percent of U.S. parents want their kids to know more about science. It’s critical for us to maintain interest during the middle school years, and according to Moss it’s our responsibility to help children see the possibilities.

“Kids in fifth through eighth grade have a whole lot of empathy and really do want to make the world a better place,” she says. “They have the power, but we need to instill confidence and give them the tools and encouragement to pursue STEM.” - (BPT)

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5

simple things you can do to promote literacy at home and beyond

What was your favorite childhood book?

Chances are, you can come up with a title right away. That’s because books create powerful memories of stories and characters that inspire kids’ imaginations and will be treasured for a lifetime.

Unfortunately, some children grow up with limited access to books, meaning they’re unable to create those memories so many people take for granted.

A lack of books in the home is also linked to lower reading scores and less success in school, according to research by the Family and Community Engagement Research Compendium. Even more concerning, an Annie E. Casey Foundation report found students who can’t read proficiently by third

grade are four times more likely to Build reading into the routine: leave school without a diploma than When the kids are small, it’s easy for proficient readers. many parents to create the nightly Society as a whole pays a high price ritual of story time. Don’t stop just because they’ve started school and for low literacy. It costs the U.S. are reading on their own. Commit at least $225 billion each year in to sitting down every night to read non-productivity in the workforce, together. Or, make reading into an crime and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment, according to the event the whole family can enjoy National Council for Adult Learning. by reading a chapter book out loud.

When the kids see you reading HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS: this books too, you set a great example. problem does have a solution.

Having books in the home has been proven to improve children’s reading performance, cause them to read more frequently and for longer lengths of time, and improve overall attitudes toward learning.

It’s clear that promoting literacy in your home and in your community are worthwhile investments of your time and money. Wondering where to start?

ASK QUESTIONS: Asking children questions while you read together helps them develop critical thinking skills. For example, you might ask, “How is the family in this book like our family?” or “The girl in this book likes to swim. What do you like to do?”

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GIVE BOOKS AS GIFTS: The next time you celebrate a holiday or child’s birthday, consider giving the gift of a book - especially a title or two that you loved growing up. Be sure to make time to read at least one of them together. It’s a great way to bond.

SUPPORT LITERACY CAUSES: Between Feb. 26 and April 15, there’s an easy - and delicious - way you can promote literacy. Add a “topping of literacy” to your next Pizza Hut order and your contribution will go directly to the company’s fundraising campaign “The Literacy Project,” which benefits recognized nonprofit, social sector leader First Book.

SHARE, SHARE, SHARE: One way to spread literacy is to help make books more available in your community. Every year or so, go through your book collection with the kids and decide which titles should be given a new home. They can be donated to schools and public libraries, or given to other groups that make books available for free or little cost to young readers.

Even better, when you buy a book, purchase a second copy to donate or give away.

You can also inspire others to read by entering a Pizza Hut sweepstakes for the chance to win a trip that will bring your favorite book to life. Go to Instagram or Twitter and share the title of your favorite book, and why it touched your life. Be sure to tag @ PizzaHut in your post and use the hashtag #HelpStartANewChapter #sweepstakes to enter.

The next time you celebrate a holiday or child’s birthday, consider giving the gift of a book especially a title or two that you loved growing up.

- (BPT)

Parent Source Serving Kane County

Resource Guide for Parents

Parent Source

Serving Kane County

Spring 2018 Resource Guide For Parents

Take A Hike Kane County draws people back to the woods with self-guided program Page 4

5 ESSENTIAL TIPS How to get your backyard party ready Page 6

STEMMING THE LEAK Ways to encourage STEM in your child Page 6

To advertise contact Sandy Petti at 630-313-0251

or via email at spetti@shawmedia.com

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