March 2020

MARCH 2020

FOR LOCAL FAMILIES, BY LOCAL FAMILIES

Loggerhead sea turtle Shelldon in the Heart of the Sea exhibit at the Florida Aquarium.

MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS WITH THE FLORIDA

AQUARIUM

WAYS TO PLAY LIKE A KID IN TAMPA BAY

SPRING BREAK

PLAN THE BEST STAYCATION EVER! ent adv

u re

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s a it aw

Summer Camp Guide

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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M O S I H A S YO U R S P R I N G B R E A K C OV E R E D !

FRESH POPPED A N E W P O P A R T I N S TA L L AT I O N F E AT U R E D O N M O S I ’ S A R T WA L L

SPRING BREAK CAMPS L E A R N I N G I S A LWAYS M O R E F U N AT A M O S I S C I E N C E C A M P

T M O S I.O R G !

A W O N P U N S IG 4 8 0 1 E A S T F O W L E R AV E • TA M P A • 8 1 3 - 9 8 7 - 6 0 0 0 • M O S I . O R G MOSI is a leader in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives by making science real.

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

Your Source for Exceptional Pediatric Care

With more than 200 pediatricians, pediatric specialists and family medicine physicians in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties, care for your family is always nearby.

As the area’s premier pediatric providers, we’ll continue to help your children stay healthy, with a wide range of services, including: n Asthma management

n New baby care

n Extended care: Weekend and holiday hours

n Well baby waiting room

n Hospital newborn care

n Well child care

n Immunizations

n Now accepting new patients. n Most major insurance plans are accepted.

For assistance with a referral: (855) 466-6686

n Pediatric sick visits

Find a pediatrician and make an appointment online: BMGKids.org 20-1014553-0120

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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MARCH 2020 INSIDE 12 / 5 WAYS TO PLAY LIKE A KID IN TAMPA BAY Who says kids should have all the fun?

We’re sharing some awesome ways to play without your kids at their favorite spots!

14 / DESIGNED WITH LOVE Local interior designers share playroom organization tips while making a difference.

16 / SPRING BREAK STAYCATION Awesome ideas to help you plan the best spring break ever!

22 / 6 WAYS TO UPGRADE YOUR DAY AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM Check out some really cool experiences for families including Shark Swims, Behind the Scenes tours and more!

Image by Howie Mac Photo

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25 / OH, BABY! Meet the new baby white rhino at ZooTampa who is capturing hearts across Tampa Bay. 26 / A DAY TRIP TO BOCA GRANDE Maggie Rodriguez gives you the inside scoop on this beautiful Florida beach town.

Make a Connection The Florida Aquarium embarks on its 25th anniversary with new ways for families to connect with wildlife and learn about the importance of environmental conservation.

a

tu r e dven

EVERY ISSUE

its awa

Summer

2020

35 Guide

find activities and camps for your kiddos

26 INSIDE LOOK: A DAY IN BOCA GRANDE 4

TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

10 / NOTEWORTHY MARCH PEOPLE AND PLACES TO GET EXCITED ABOUT 32 / MOMS TO KNOW MEET ERNESTINE MORGAN OF MORTON PLANT HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION. 83 / GET OUT AND ENJOY MARCH THE BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS 86 / WHAT'S TRENDING ON TAMPABAYPARENTING.COM

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29 / #MOMLIFE Blogger Lynn Cristina shares her thoughts and experiences with a popular home organization method.

30 / GROWING UP GMF Learn more about the families who make the Gasparilla Music Festival happen.

46 / SUMMER AT THE Y One mom's perspective on what she loves about YMCA Camps and how they help her daughter.

49 / KEEPING KIDS SAFE IN THE CLASSROOM Hillsborough Schools security chief talks about how the district is going above and beyond for student safety.

51 / 7 QUESTIONS PARENTS NEED TO ASK What you should know as you're searching for your child's summer camp.

54 / CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH Your local library shares book ideas for ways to inspire future leaders.

76 / IMAGINATION AT PLAY Celebrate Youth Art Month with Glazer Children’s Museum.

81 / UNDERSTANDING FOOD ALLERGIES Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Food Allergy Clinic’s Medical Director shares what you need to know about food allergies in children.

Remember your bags.

Place them back in the car after you unpack your groceries, or hang them where you’ll notice them on your way out. Let’s do good together.

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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GUEST EDITOR Roger Germann

GET TO K NOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITORIAL MANAGER Laura Byrne ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anu Varma Panchal EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sarah Rigby CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Roger Germann Laura Byrne Kylie Ponton Julie Tingley Chris Massaro Anu Varma Panchal Maggie Rodriguez Lynn Cristina Tara Payor, PhD Mariah Shae Martinez Julie Nelson Kelli Biandudi Laura Cross Panida Sriaroon, MD Chris Bueno CALENDAR Sarah Rigby Iovanna Borjas ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Ralf Gonzalez Craig Collins LAYOUT & DESIGN Nicole Barolo of Page Four Creative CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Howie Mac Photo Christina Jones Photography Bos Images Seamus Payne Architectural Photography Susanna Martinez Photography BOOKKEEPING Employee of the Month, LLC INTERN Iovanna Borjas TAMPA BAY PARENTING MAGAZINE 320 W. Kennedy Blvd. Ste. 220 Tampa, Florida 33606 Phone 813-949-4400 Fax 813-315-6688 info@tbparenting.com editor@tbparenting.com BECOME A FAN tampabayparentingmagazine @tampabayparenting @TBParenting

Tampa Bay Parenting is published twelve times per year and distributed throughout the Tampa Bay community.

Tampa Bay Parenting is not responsible for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or incorrect information (or the consequences related thereto) contained within the magazine or online; readers should not rely on any information contained in the magazine and they should always consult with an appropriate professional for guidance. Tampa Bay Parenting accepts no responsibility for the consequences of error or for any loss or damage suffered by users of any of the information or materials provided by Tampa Bay Parenting. Some content published by Tampa Bay Parenting is sponsored or paid for advertising content, and some individuals quoted or cited in articles have paid for advertising or sponsorships; this content or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Tampa Bay Parenting.

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

It’s 6 a.m., the alarm goes off and, like the opening scene from “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” (complete with Mr. Blue Skies playing), it’s time to get ready for the day. Make breakfast, pack lunches, brush teeth, head to school and work, only to finish the day with homework (not sure when 2+2=4 needed an explanation), do activities, and then bed, only to “shift and repeat” the next day. The awesome chaos that is parenthood can’t be matched, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Like you, my family means everything to me, and I'd do anything for them.

In today’s world, the hustle is faster and the bustle can be disengaging. Thankfully we can take time to enjoy a day at The Florida Aquarium. Creating lifelong memories watching my kids come face to face with a shark, meet a penguin or get wet on the Splash Pad can’t be replicated on a smart phone, but they are moments forever etched on my heart.

ENCOURAGE KIDS TO LOVE OUR BLUE PLANET

A visit to The Florida Aquarium also provides a learning and inspiring experience for our kids. Tired of seeing coral reefs dying or watching a vet remove plastic from a sea turtle’s belly, my kids often ask, “Daddy, how can we help?”

It’s those teachable moments that are forever etched on their heart.

I’ve dedicated my professional life to saving wildlife and wild places, but no matter how much we do, our kids are the ones that will have the greatest impact for good for our planet.

As we celebrate our 25th Anniversary, I encourage you to join me and visit your Florida Aquarium. Whether you came last year or 25 years ago, enjoy an un-programmed day with family connecting with wildlife. Our blue planet needs our attention, and so do our kids!

Roger Germann and his familiy

Roger Germann,

CEO OF THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM

FROM THE COVER: MEET SHELLDON Shelldon was rescued by the Florida Aquarium's Animal Response Team who found him in the wild cold-stunned and suffering from an injury. He now calls the Florida Aquarium home. Fun fact: Shelldon was named by a 5th grade class at Kimbell Elementary School after thousands of people submitted their ideas during a naming contest.

with Neonatal Intensive Care O A K H I L L H O S P I TA L

Little Feet Leave Big Footprints On Our Hearts Our Neonatal Intensive Care will provide care for premature babies or babies who need extra care.

Our Extra Special Care • 10 private NICU suites for baby and mom* to room in together *When mom is medically cleared and discharged

• Recliners to promote bonding and “kangaroo,” or skin-to-skin care • Emphasis on breastfeeding and supports Human Donor Milk, recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics • Free WiFi • Secured unit • Secure remote viewing access should parents need to leave the NICU

Our Extra Special Team • 24/7 Security on-site to ensure a safe environment • Board-certified NICU nurses • Board-certified OB/GYN and High-risk OB/GYN providers • Board-certified Neonatologists • Board-certified Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist available • Lactation Consultant • 24/7 Midwives • 24/7 Critical Care Intensivists in Critical Care Unit • 24/7 Hospitalists • Licensed clinical social worker dedicated to NICU babies and families

Questions? Visit oakhillhospital.com/NICU or call 352-606-7300.

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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Meet our contributors

thank you advertisers and sponsors

Because of them, we are able to provide this family-friendly resource to you for FREE.

ANU VARMA PANCHAL Anu Varma Panchal has

Kelli Biandudi is the communications

written and edited for area

manager for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA and YMCA of the Suncoast. Biandudi worked her way up in local TV news before segwaying into public relations at both a private PreK-8 grade school and a government agency for the State of Florida. When Biandudi is not telling the Y’s story, she’s busy playing cars with her 4-year-old son, Koa.

publications for nearly 20 years. She’s ac­t ive on her children’s PTA boards, loves theatre, concerts, the local brewery scene and travel, and spends way too much time schlepping her 11 and 15-year-olds around in her minivan. She never leaves home without her library card. You can find her at youreditingsolutions.com.

PANIDA SRIAROON, M.D.

JULIE TINGLEY Julie Tingley is an 8-year Tampa transplant who has found her way through numerous professional and parenting transitions by maintaining focus on her daily inspirations: Ella, 6, and Kate, 3.

With a vision of a better future for her girls, she has introduced the KNOW Book + Tribe, a women’s publication and community, to Tampa Bay.

TARA PAYOR, PH.D.

KELLI BIANDUDI

Tara Payor, Ph.D. has a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. She is a contributing faculty member for Walden University, where she guides doctoral students through their dissertations. She is also a language arts educator.

Reach her at tpayor@gmail.com.

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ Maggie Rodriguez is a former

Chris Massaro grew up

network news anchor who

exploring the forests of New Hampshire prior to moving to Tampa. A graduate of the University of South Florida, he studied biological anthropology and primatology. He began his career at ZooTampa in 2002. He is a proud father of a son and a Great Dane. In his spare time, he coaches his son’s soccer team and collects whiskey.

Dr. Sriaroon is the medical

now lives in South Tampa with

director of the outpatient USF Allergy/Immunology clinic at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and the director of the USF Pediatric Allergy/ Immunology fellowship training program. She is also the medical director of the Johns Hopkins All Children's Food Allergy Clinic. She is an associate professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine.

her husband and their two children. She is best known as the host of the nationallytelevised morning news program, The Early Show on

Story idea?

Are you a local blogger or writer? If you have a content idea or a story to tell, tell us. editor@tbparenting.com

CHRIS MASSARO

CBS, as well as a substitute anchor on The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. Since relocating to Tampa Bay, Rodriguez has been busy rekindling her love for writing, volunteering and enjoying weekend adventures.

LYNN CRISTINA Writer and blogger Lynn Cristina is married with two spunky little girls who keep her laughing and crying. Outside of parenthood, she is a marketing manager for the Tampa Bay Times, sits on several nonprofit boards, volunteers in the community and finds time to chaperone a field trip or two. Connect with her on her blog lynncristina.com where she shares the challenges of parenthood with humor, openness and a sprinkle of sarcasm.

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

DO YOU HAVE A CHILD AGES BIRTH TO 5 YEARS WHO HAS DIFFICULTY: 3 Sleeping

Join us for HOT DOCS parent training classes!

Seven 2-hour classes that meet once a week for parents, caregivers, and child service professionals in Hillsborough County.

3 Eating 3 Following directions

Sessions include:

3 Bathing or dressing

• Parenting Tip and Special Play activity

3 Temper tantrums 3 Calming Down

• Skills review and weekly lesson • Plan development, feedback, and coaching

Registration fees for 7-week course: • Parents and Caregivers: $20 per person

Funding generously provided by:

• Professionals: $40 per person

Schedule & Locations: Morning and evening classes are offered at USF and in community locations and are generously funded by the Children’s Board.

For more information or to register contact: hotdocs@usf.edu | 813-974-1048 | http://hotdocs.health.usf.edu Facebook: HOT DOCS parent training program MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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[ noteworthy ]

march THINGS WE LOVE LUXURY BLANKETS AND BIBS

BY TINY TWINKLE Tiny Twinkle is bringing Kaffle to the US baby market! It’s a super-soft fabric that’s more absorbent than muslin and still breathable and light as a feather.

Kaffle is a traditional Korean argylejacquard weave that gets softer each time you wash it. tinytwinkle.com

SUPER CUTE PATTERNS AND

don't miss

MICKEY & MINNIE’S RUNAWAY R AILWAY AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS OPENS MARCH 4 It’s hard to believe that this will be the ver y first ride starring the one and only…

Mickey Mouse! Disney Imagineers promised an immersive experience like no other and BOY did they follow through!

Keep your ears open for the train whistle— the sounds were made using the original whistle used in the Steamboat Willie car toon in 1928.

KEEP COOL, WATER PARKS REOPEN LEGOLAND FLORIDA Opened Feb. 15 for its longest water park season ever!

The Splash Pad at FLORIDA AQUARIUM opens March 4 ADVENTURE ISLAND reopens March 13

COLORS!

DINOS ALIVE AT ZOOTAMPA WORLD OF ERIC CARLE & MAGNATILE is launching six story sets exclusively at Target starting March 1, including "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" Target.com

PLAYMAT BY FAMOKIDS

THROUGH MAY 31 This ROARsome display just opened Feb. 29, but since it’s still basically brand new for this year, we’re going to share! This is a chance for you and the kids to come face to snout with your favorite prehistoric dinosaurs! Explore a path of life-sized dinosaurs, dig for fossils and so much more!

If you’ve struggled to find a playmat that is not only non-toxic but beautiful, this is it, mama! FamoKids playmats come in six squares to create a soft

LOWE'S WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS

4x6 play space for baby.

Home improvement giant Lowe’s recently

famokids.com

launched FREE monthly workshops for kids ages 4-11 at its stores across the country. Kiddos can get hands-on with real tools and create a themed project. On March 14 from 9 a.m. to noon, your child can create a tabletop basketball. Register online or drop in at your local Lowe’s store. Kids will receive a free apron, goggles and wooden project kit along with an iron-on patch to add to their apron! lowesdiy.com

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

Home Depot hosts free workshops for kids, too!

Pretty. Unexpected.

When Our Spring Blooms, Family Fun Grows.

Springtime is the perfect time for you and your family to experience the very best of Tallahassee. From vibrant festivals and hands on museums to over 700 miles of trails to explore, family fun is always just around the bend in Florida’s Capital City.

VisitTallahassee.com

LEGOLAND FLORIDA New play area unveiled The schoolhouse at Duplo Valley has a new look. The theme park has teamed up with Florida Prepaid to bring a new play space for little ones. It features a

Explore Tallahassee Museum’s 52 schoolhouse theme where kids can play, acres of living history, wildlife exhibits, Experience one of the nation’s top learn numbers letters and even five art festivals, complete with live soaring zip line adventures, Jimand Gary’s explore futurenatural career ideas.

Twentieth Century Dinosaurs, music and delicious food, under trails, historic buildings, animal the oaks in Tallahassee’s downtown encounters and more.

Chain of Parks on April 18-19, 2020!

TallahasseeMuseum.org

ChainOfParks.com

Challenger Learning Center boasts the area’s largest IMAX theater, 50-foot Dome Planetarium and Space Mission Simulator, all in the heart of downtown Tallahassee.

ChallengerTLH.com 11

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

5 play like a kid ways to

BONUS: DON'T FORGET ABOUT SWEET TREATS (Left) Aubi & Ramsa

IN TAMPA BAY

ice cream or (right) Sugar Factory at Hard Rock Casino

By Laura Byrne for TampaBayDateNightGuide.com

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A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

Local museums like Glazer Children’s Museum and MOSI host special events on select dates throughout the year.

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GLAZER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM GROWN-UP NIGHT: SPRING BREAK MARCH 13 FROM 5:30 -8 P.M. $20 presale, $25 at the door, glazermuseum.org Play like it’s 1990 or 1980-something as you and your fellow grown-ups take over Glazer Children’s Museum for a spring break-inspired night! There will be free beer from Florida Avenue Brewing, free snacks from local restaurants and a cash bar.

This event is for the 21+ only crowd only.

SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS Aim for the sky at

SkyZone Trampoline Park. You can freestyle

GO GAMING

Head to PK’S PLAYZONE & GRILLE in Tampa or GAMETIME IN CENTRO YBOR. One of our favorite ways to get to GameTime is by TECO Streetcar. Grab dinner at Sparkman Wharf and then trolley over to GameTime for some arcade fun! Speaking of fun, the kids love laser tag, so why not give it a try at Q-ZAR in Tampa!

jump or give your SkySlam skills a try and

MOSI SCIENCE AFTER DARK APRIL 3 FROM 6-9 P.M. $14.95. 18+ ONLY, mosi.org Explore MOSI and put your STEM skills to work as you sample free wine and beer (21+ crowd only, of course!). You’ll also be able to sample foods from local restaurants.

take the slam dunk to

new heights! There are SkyZones located in Tampa and Clearwater.

Go to skyzone.com.

Or give indoor skydiving a try at iFLY in Tampa. Climb to the treetops at TreeHoppers in Dade City. MOSI’s Sky Trail Ropes Course is a must-do, too!

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GO WILD

Elevate your visit to ZooTampa or

ZOOBREWS AT ZOOTAMPA MARCH 7, 7-11 P.M. 21+ only, zootampa.org Enjoy up-close wildlife, unlimited food and drinks, life music, games and Dinos Alive! It's a win-win because the party helps support the zoo’s conservation and educational programs and animal care.

Busch Gardens with amazing animal experiences. Take a backstage tour at ZooTampa or book a Sloth Encounter and/or a Serengeti Safari at Busch Gardens. Usually these experiences are off limits if you have very young kids with you, so take advantage of this time to do something unique!

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

5 BUSCH GARDENS FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL THROUGH APRIL 26, buschgardens.com Get your thrills on record-breaking roller coasters like the new Iron Gwazi and then chill for an evening of delicious food, wine and live music with 80 wines, craft brews and cocktails. March concerts include The Commodores, Three Dog Night and Ezra Ray Hart (a supergroup featuring musicians from Sugar Ray, Better than Ezra and Tonic.)

SET SAIL ON A SWASHBUCKLING ADVENTURE!

Pirate Water Taxi’s recently expanded its fleet and our favorite new addition is the pirate ship, the Lost Pearl! While it’s a blast for kids, it’s also a perfect outing for just the parents. Head to the grog bar for a pint or two and a cruise through downtown Tampa.

You can also hop on the Pirate Water Taxi and discover a new restaurant along the way—there are 70+ restaurants along the Water Taxi’s routes. tampapirateship.com

SIP, SOAR AND SAVOR.

18 WEEKENDS

FEBRUARY 29 - APRIL 26

Headlining Concerts

25+ NEW Chef Creations Wines, Crafts Brews 80+ & Cocktails

SEE THE FULL LINEUP AT BUSCHGARDENSTAMPA.COM The Food & Wine Festival is included with park admission, Fun Card and Annual Pass. Event details, experiences and offers subject to change and/or cancellation without prior notice. Food and beverage not included and available for an extra fee. Must be 21 or older to purchase and/or consume alcoholic beverages. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay reserves the right to refuse service of any alcoholic beverage to any guest. Prices subject to change and do not include taxes or services fees. Menu items subject to change.

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com Š 2020 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

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designed

WITH LOVE

Local nonprofit Savvy Giving By Design makes dream rooms come true for Tampa Bay kids facing a medical crisis.

SAV V Y GIVING BY DESIGN'S MANTRA FOR CREATING A SPACE WITH TOYS IS "ORGANIZATION THAT LOOKS INCREDIBLE, TOO.” HERE ARE PLAY ROOM TIPS AND SOME OF THE BEST STORAGE SECRETS.

ACCESSIBILITY

By Kylie Ponton Photography by Bos Images (Landen’s Room) and Seamus Payne Architectural Photography (Finn’s Room)

New closet shelving replaced old wire racking in Landen and Corben's play room. Solid shelves give more stability and adjustable heights allow for an organization system that can grow and change with the boys’ hobbies.

Our incredible millwork team transformed some ordinary bi-fold closet doors into a barn door inspired full-closet opening that allows the boys to see all of their toys at once. Keep the most used items at their level, and store smaller pieces and messy items like crafts up high, so they need you to access them.

TOY ROTATION

“If you notice they haven’t been playing with something, move it up to a higher shelf so another toy can be accessed,” Laura Frasor with Neat Method Tampa recommends. “If they don’t ask for the toy in months, it might be time to part with it.” This method makes room for new toys. Smaller wall shelves can house story books that can be rotated with new books.

KNOW YOUR MEASUREMENTS

LANDEN AND CORBEN'S PLAYROOM Seven-year-old Landen, who was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL), loves Zelda and Minecraft, games and playing with his little brother, Corben, 3.

Corben and Landen share a bedroom, so our interior design team had extra space to create a playroom full of stylish storage solutions where the boys could play, dream and house their pet, Spider-Man, a shy and fuzzy tarantula.

FINN AND DECLAN'S BEDROOM

Last year, our team designed a room for Finn, who was fighting a battle against Ewing’s Sarcoma, and his brother, Declan, of Lutz.

Tragically, Finn passed away last month after bravely fighting so hard. The foundation set up by loving family and friends, Finn's Fighters, is part of his legacy, helping raise awareness for pediatric cancer and supporting other families with children facing medical crisis.

DESIGN TEAM Kylie Ponton and Alexia Stalpes with Ponton Interiors and Laura Frasor with Neat Method Tampa.

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

Most kids’ toys need a variety of sizes for storage. Measure existing shelves before heading to the store and do toy inventory to gauge sizes required. Larger colorful fabric bins are good for action figures or mid-size cars and trucks. Barbies and dolls also fit well in these fun striped storage bins from The Container Store in Finn's room (left). We love clear plastic buckets for toy storage so kids can see what they want to play with. Bins with multiple compartments are good for your organizer personality and for kids who love Legos and toys with small parts.

ROOM TO GROW

Frasor uses her Neat Method know-how to organize these beautiful playrooms. “We recommend to never fill your space to more than 80% capacity,” she says. Just because you have the space doesn’t mean you have to fill it.

Organized toys need space! The ability to move things around and access toys easily is key, without having to move multiple items to get to something in the back.

FEATURE TOYS AS ACCENTS

Look for larger scale toys to fill larger shelves or cubbies. Large colorful trucks, ships or dollhouses can be accent pieces. Mr. Potato Head and Lego Heads are a great visual that also house smaller parts.

REDEFININGREFUGE.ORG MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com 15

spring break

PLAN THE BEST STAYCATION EVER

By Anu Varma Panchal

get sporty Grab your visors and jerseys and prep for your very own Tampa Bay March Madness spring break. The Lightning, Vipers and Rowdies all have March home games scheduled, and baseball fans can get their fix through our annual tradition of spring training.

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TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING, AMALIE ARENA Home games March 3 (Boston Bruins); March 5 (Montreal Canadiens); March 12 (Philadelphia Flyers); March 14 (Detroit Red Wings); March 15 (New Jersey Devils); March 25 (Toronto Maple Leafs); March 27 (Columbus Blue Jackets); March 28 (New York Rangers); March 31 (Ottawa Senators).

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TAMPA BAY VIPERS, RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM March 1 (DC Defenders), March 14 (St. Louis Battlehawks); March 21 (Dallas Renegades)

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TAMPA BAY RAYS, TROPICANA FIELD March 26, 28 & 29 (Pittsburgh Pirates); March 30 & 31 (New York Yankees)

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TAMPA BAY ROWDIES, AL LANG STADIUM March 21 (North Carolina FC); March 27 (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC)

SPRING BREAK

let's get wild If a few days off school is turning your little ones into little monsters, take them to where the wild things are.

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ZOOTAMPA Check out the baby koala, sign up for an animal encounter, take a safari ride through “Africa” and go back in time through the Dinos Alive event.

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FLORIDA AQUARIUM The atmosphere here is giddy with excitement as the institution celebrates its 25th year. Once your little ones are done checking out the Dragons Down Under and the No Bones Zone, you can take them to the Splash Pad (reopening in March) to frolic the day away!

¬CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM Spend a day meeting the celebrated Winter, the dolphin whose rescue story put this institution on the map. Kids will be awed by her resilience and story, and by the other heartwarming stories of animal rescue they will encounter here.

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH FEBRUARY 2020 2020

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BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY offers more than wild thrill rides! Get up close to the animals during one of the many animal encounters. You can even book the Serengeti Safari for the ultimate adventure.

things that go

splish splash Boo, we have humidity in March, but yay, we have so many ways to cool down! GRAB YOUR PASS, TOWEL AND SUNSCREEN AND HEAD OUT TO ONE OF THESE WATERPARKS FOR A SPRING DAY IN THE SUN. With a wave pool, lazy river, tube slides, body slides and interactive water-play structures, your little ones will have a ball splashing around in LEGOLAND WATER PARK. Whether you’re in the mood for kayaking past a manatee down the river or trying out one of the thrilling flume rides at BUCCANEER BAY WATERPARK, Weeki Wachee Springs offers a myriad ways to cool off.

The littlest ones can enjoy splashing around in the Lil’ Mates Caribbean Cove water play area.

Bring your most adventurous version of yourself when you check out ADVENTURE ISLAND’S SOLAR VORTEX, America’s first dual tailspin waterslide and high-thrill family raft slide.

istock.com/ Ruslana_Vasiukova

MAKE A STOP AT FABIAN'S FUN PORT IN ADVENTURE ISLAND

g in Pro tip: Keep a splash pad tod-gwaontbato your car when you're out an al park. make an impromptu stop at a loc

Got little ones at home who won’t sit still? Here are three ways to let them enjoy their mojo for movement!

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Take them to downtown Tampa to board the PIRATE WATER TA XI LOST PEARL and enjoy swaggering around on deck downtown! (Fair warning: You may have to defend your treasure!)

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Ride back into the past when you board the TECO STREETCAR LINE and ride through the cobblestone streets of Ybor City to Channelside and downtown Tampa.

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If you time it right (first full weekend of the month), you can ride a miniature railroad in LARGO CENTRAL PARK during one of their train weekends.

Loop through the park, a tunnel and past a waterfall pond.

Remember: • BATHING SUIT • SUNSCREEN • SWIM DIAPERS •TOWEL

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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spring break

PLAN THE BEST STAYCATION EVER

beach day Of course, we could just do what all the out-of-state tourists do when they visit this place we’re lucky enough to call home: flock to the beach! An ALMOST ENDLESS STRING OF PERFECT GULF COAST BEACHES winds its way down our shores, but if you’d like to skip the schlepping of drinks and snacks, maybe you can opt for an all-day resort pass to one of these resorts:

Plan for a day trip to explore beach towns like Anna Maria Island and Boca Grande. Turn to page 26 for an inside look at a day on Boca Grande.

¬THE DON CESAR Day pass starts at $40

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HYATT REGENCY CLEARWATER BEACH RESORT AND SPA Day pass starts at $35

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TRADEWINDS ISLAND RESORTS on St Pete Beach Day pass starts at $45

edible adventures March is U-pick season for farms across Tampa Bay! For the juiciest, freshest strawberries, blueberries and other fruit, CHECK OUT SOME OF THESE FARMS THAT WE LOVE. Just make sure to visit their social media pages to check exactly when their season begins.

¬UPICKTOPIA in Masaryktown offers strawberries, blueberries and blackberries—as well as wine for adults!

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KEEL & CURLEY in Plant City is not just a U-pick farm for blueberries and peaches, it also has a full-service restaurant and winery.

¬

DOOLEY GROVES in Ruskin is open for orange and tangerine picking for November through April.

¬

If honeybells are your jam, HANCOCK GROVES in Dade City is where you’ll find some of the freshest, juiciest ones!

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

istock.com/ Ruslana_Vasiukova

¬

STRAWBERRY PASSION/PASSION ORGANICS FARM in Thonotosassa has 100% certified organic strawberries and other vegetables for you to pick and sample.

muse on these masterworks

When all that running around becomes too much and you just want to turn inwards, take your little ones to explore their artistic sides. Here’s a list of places where you can marvel at the masters:

¬

¬THE DALI,

¬DUNEDIN FINE ARTS CENTER,

TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa

¬UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg

LEEPA-RATTNER MUSEUM OF ART, 600 E. Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs

1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin

FLORIDA CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM, 3821 USF Holly Drive, Tampa

¬THE JAMES MUSEUM OF

WESTERN & WILDLIFE ART 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg

One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg

¬

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS, 400 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa

¬

MOREAN ARTS CENTER GLASS STUDIO, 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg

fly away

If your littles want to fly away from Tampa Bay but are grounded by your work, expenses or the overwhelming work of planning a vacation, never fear! We have plenty of ways for little ones who dream of pilot wings to get their fix.

¬

¬

MACDILL AIR FEST: March 28 and 29, your heart will soar with excitement as you watch the United States Navy Blue Angels flip and whirl through the sky with balletic grace and technical perfection. All five branches of the military will be represented through displays and performances.

TPA ALL ACCESS: For all the fun of airport hustle and bustle without the hassle of packing, sign up for a TPA All Access Pass for yourselves and your kids. These passes are available every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but limited to 25 people per airside; one airside per visit. You must sign up at least 24 hours before your visit and bring a valid photo ID to the Information Kiosk located on Level 3 of the Main Terminal to pick up your pass. Watch the planes and dine at one of Tampa’s signature eateries such Ulele or the Café by Mise en Place!

¬Window Seat: For meals with a view over the airfield, check

out THE HANGAR CAFÉ in Lutz, a cozy family-friendly eatery that overlooks TAMPA NORTH FLIGHT CENTER and offers great food with fun views of vintage and small planes. You may even have an opportunity to take to the skies!

The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge in St Petersburg offers sophisticated bites in a lively, upscale environment overlooking the runways of Albert Whitted Airport.

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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COVER STORY

Wetlands Trail

Make a

connection Reeling in a silver anniversary to remember at the Florida Aquarium

Images this page by Howie Mac Photography All other images provided by The Florida Aquarium

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY IS IN FULL SWING, and some may even say it’s March Madness at the Aquarium!

Having kicked off the anniversary celebration Jan. 16, the Aquarium invites everyone to enjoy special events, programs and exhibits for the next 14 months that celebrate the past while planning and executing a marvelous future. During this special celebration, guests can expect gallery refreshes, new habitats, an art installation, a solar rooftop and a butterfly garden.

The Aquarium’s President and CEO, Roger Germann, has brought forth creative initiatives to grow the animal collection, shape new guest experiences, expand conservation efforts, provide learning opportunities to more schoolchildren and further integrate into the community. To achieve these goals, The Florida Aquarium announced $5.6 million worth of capital investment this year – part of a more extensive $14 million capital campaign.

No Bones Zone touch tank

Heart of the Sea

Art that makes a splash During a memorable February, two brandnew additions to the Aquarium’s footprint were launched. “Washed Ashore– Art to Save the Sea” is a traveling art exhibition featuring sculptures made entirely of plastic debris collected from beaches. The exhibit, which opened last month, unmasks the impacts of plastic pollution on oceans, waterways and wildlife. This exhibit was curated specially for The Florida Aquarium and this is the first time it will be displayed in Florida. You’ll be captivated by the giant triggerfish, a jaw-dropping shark, whimsical ocean jellies and more. Your child will inch closer, quickly identifying a sand pail, a flip flop or a plastic bottle that has taken on a new life and purpose within the structure.

CIBC Aquatic Lounge Washed Ashore was quickly followed by the exciting unveil of the CIBC Aquatic Lounge, several state-of-the-art exhibits that showcase new animals near our Mosaic Events Center. These exhibits are for guests to enjoy and for those attending Aquarium events. Children will love pressing their noses up against a brandnew habitat filled with exotic fish species, and parents will love having new habitats to enjoy during events like Brews by the Bay and SeaGrapes.

istock.com/ iarti

This summer, the beloved Wetlands Trail, home to alligators, otters and free-flying birds, will receive a new, interactive exhibit, modernized theming and a new entry marquee. The innovative, hands-on experience will provide guests with an opportunity to touch animals native to Florida waters.

Another guest favorite to receive a refresh this year is the Bays and Beaches gallery. This long-standing gallery will be thoroughly modernized to include new habitats, graphics and interactive exhibitory. It will also receive a new name: Shorelines. Opening this fall, Shorelines will feature new habitats and opportunities to learn and engage with animals who live in the shorelines of oceans around the world.

March brings more 25th anniversary surprises with an amazing event, Splash Back to the ’90s, a nod to 1995, the year the Aquarium opened. On March 21, get jiggy with it to all of your favorite ‘90s hits performed live by the Actual Bank Robbers, explore the Aquarium and enjoy sea-sational bites, drinks and so much more. Parents: Relive your 90’s spring break days in some amazing throwback outfits! March will close out with a birthday celebration March 31.

The Aquarium is taking the lead on becoming a more eco-friendly institution.

In the fall, the Aquarium will open the TECO Rooftop Pavilion and Solar Exhibit to focus on a shared desire to promote energy alternatives in the Sunshine State. Over 1,100 panels will cover the two largest habitats, providing an upgrade to existing (and original) canopies, as well as an opportunity to educate guests about the importance of solar power. The Aquarium wants guests to understand better the impact of climate change and how being more green-friendly can have a positive lasting effect on our planet.

To wrap up the 14-month long 25th-anniversary celebration, the Aquarium will open a Community Butterfly Garden in March. The generous support from the Tampa Bay community has helped make these past 25 years a great success. As a gesture of gratitude, the Aquarium will open a temporary, community butterfly garden located in the front of the building for the public to enjoy for free: a way of saying thank you to an awesome community that has done so much for the Aquarium over the years.

don't forget

THE BEST WAY TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE 25TH-ANNIVERSARY FUN IS BY PURCHASING AN AQUARIUM MEMBERSHIP. VISIT FLAQUARIUM.ORG/ MEMBERSHIP. MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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More splash

for your cash

6

ways to elevate your day at the Florida Aquarium.

TO SAVE MONEY ON THESE TOURS AND BOOK ONLINE GO TO FLAQUARIUM.

By Laura Byrne Images courtesy The Florida Aquarium

ORG.

NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU’VE VISITED, THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO SEE.

PENGUIN BACKSTAGE PASS

No coats are required for this up-close experience with African penguins who thrive in a temperate environment. You’ll get a chance to speak with a penguin biologist and mingle with the penguins— and possibly even touch one. Keep the cameras ready! The tours are about 30 minutes long.$30 per person; $25 for members

CHECK OUT THESE UNIQUE ADD-ON EXPERIENCES THAT WILL TRANSFORM AN ALREADY AWESOME DAY INTO ONE FOR THE MEMORY BOOKS!

WILD DOLPHIN CRUISE

Step aboard the Bay Spirit II, a 72-foot powered catamaran for a 75-minute long cruise where you’ll encounter dolphins in their natural habitats. The boat captain keeps a safe distance away from the dolphins so you and the kids can enjoy the view! There is a cabin which has air-conditioning, restrooms and a snack and drink bar.

CLOSE UP CRITTERS

TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

This is a great tour of families with little kids! You’ll get to go behind the scenes to areas where most guests never get to see and meet three animal ambassadors up close and personal. You’ll also learn about how the Aquarium crew manages to care for the thousands of animals from around the world while keeping the facility clean! This is a one-hour tour.

Kids as young as 6 and those with limited mobility can participate in this unique experience. Scuba certification is not needed for this snorkel-like swim among hundreds of native Florida fish, sea turtles and even bonnet head sharks. Video footage from action cams are included in this package! It’s $75 for Aquarium members and $85 for non-members.

SHARK SWIM

Your friends will love this shark tale! Kids as young as 9 can take part in this epic underwater adventure swimming with sharks. This is also a snorkel-like experience that does not require scuba certification. It’s $100 for Aquarium members and $110 for non-members. Video footage is included with this one too!

DIVE WITH SHARKS

This is for those of you with scuba certification.

Kids as young as 15 can dive in the tanks with the sand sharks. All gear is included, but you’ll want to bring your scuba certification papers. This experience is $150 for Aquarium members and $160 for non-members. Video footage included.

istock.com/ the8monkey, istock.com/ iarti

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Image by Darlene Barlows Photography

Be sure to pack a bathing suit, towel, sunscreen and water shoes—the Splash Pad is a family favorite and a great way to cool off!

HEART OF THE SEA SWIM

When you’re here, you can feel it: the currents of life gently flowing around and through you. This is where you can be truly present, and reconnect with what matters most. Where you can embrace the tides of change, and help push towards a brighter tomorrow for our blue backyard. This is The Florida Aquarium.

Memberships start at $80 and help fund conservation efforts that protect Florida’s seas and beyond. flaquarium.org | 813.273.4000 MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

SPONSORED

oh , baby!

white rhino is capturing hearts at ZooTampa Chris Massaro, General Curator at ZooTampa Images courtesy ZooTampa

THE CRASH OF SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOS AT ZOOTAMPA GREW LAST MONTH WITH THE BIRTH OF A FEMALE CALF. The baby is currently being cared for by her experienced mom, Kidogo. The Zoo’s general curator, Chris Massaro, fills us in on all the details of Tampa’s newest resident.

Q:

WHAT'S THE BABY'S NAME?

She was named Kayin. It’s of African origin and means “long-awaited child.” The name needed to begin with a “K” as it’s standard practice for the baby to have a name that starts with the same letter as her mother.

Q:

HOW MANY WHITE RHINOS DOES ZOOTAMPA HAVE?

We currently have seven white rhinos (one adult male, three adult females and three young offspring). ZooTampa is also home to two greater one-horned rhinos.

Q:

WHAT ISSUES AFFECT WHITE RHINOS IN THE WILD?

White rhinos are listed as “near threatened” with only about 18,000 individuals in the wild. While their numbers have increased dramatically from roughly 50 in the early 1900s, there is still cause for concern as numbers have declined over the past few years.

Poaching is a huge threat to these animals and has been on the rise in recent years.

Q:

HOW MANY CALVES HAS KIDOGO HAD?

Kidogo is the matriarch of the crash and has had five calves in total. She has been an amazing mother and integral to the survival of the species.

HOW CAN WE HELP RHINOS TO MAKE SURE THEIR NUMBERS STAY ON THE UPSWING? We can all do our part to help these amazing species. Donations to conservation programs such as ours, including the International Rhino Foundation, can aid in the fight against poaching. We can also be informed consumers at home and when traveling to ensure the products we purchase do not go towards supporting illegal wildlife trade or habitat destruction.

WHAT DOES ZOOTAMPA DO TO PROTECT THESE AND OTHER SPECIES? We are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Program that is in place to ensure the survival of threatened and endangered species.

Our mission is to build legions of wildlife champions and motivate our guests to take action in protecting and preserving wildlife in our backyards and around the world.

VISIT THE BABY

For tickets to ZooTampa check out zootampa.org

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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follow the

tracks

A DAY TRIP TO AN OLD RAILROAD HUB, NOW ONE OF THE GULF’S MOST ELEGANT BEACH TOWNS

Story and images by Maggie Rodriguez

T

ABOVE Golf carts are ubiquitous outside the Gasparilla Inn & Club and throughout Boca Grande LEFT The Inn Bakery is known for its coffee and fresh-baked pastries.

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

HE REMNANTS OF AN OLD RAILROAD TRESTLE rise from the water along the causeway leading into Boca Grande, a beach town on Gasparilla Island, 100 miles from Tampa. At this serene village that still looks and feels like Old Florida, we feel like we could be passengers on that old train.

We begin our exploration, appropriately, on East Railroad Avenue, at Boca Grande Cart Rentals. Since the island is just seven miles long and one mile across, most people get around on golf carts or bicycles, and you’ll find plenty of places to rent both. We chose a blue golf cart to match the day’s cloudless sky. Across the street, a delicious aroma beckons. The Inn Bakery is packed with locals lining up for gigantic glazed doughnuts, apple/cinnamon muffins and other homemade pastries. The coffee is self-serve— just a money jar and the honor system.

Around the corner, the glorious Gasparilla Inn & Club stands majestically at the corner of Fifth Street and Palm Avenue, a spot it has occupied for 107 years. A wide, pillared entrance flanked by rocking chairs gives way to an elegant pink-and-green lobby. The island’s history comes to life in the hotel’s photographs of the railroad, which was built in 1907 to bring phosphate to the island for shipment all over the world from Port Boca Grande, once the fourth busiest port in the state. The train also brought wealthy vacationers from the north. Hotels were built, and a town sprouted. More than a century later, it

is remarkable how much has stayed the same.

“There aren’t many places that, after so long, still look the same,” says Boca Grande native, Kevin Stockdale, the chef and owner of The Temptation, a local favorite where nostalgia is served along with the famous pan-fried snapper. With original floors from the ‘50s and walls adorned with murals painted in the ‘60s, it’s a modern culinary experience accessed by stepping into a time machine.

Stockdale prides himself on preserving the past. We soon discover everyone here does.

There are no stoplights, billboards or gas stations downtown, just a few blocks of restaurants and parks set against manicured hedges and lush landscaping.

Towering 100-year-old trees form a canopy over a famous section of Second Street known as Banyan Street. There are no chain stores either, just localowned shops like Fugate’s, where the manager says generations of vacationers have bought their summer t-shirts since 1916, and everything from “fine art to Neosporin” is displayed in the store’s original wood cases.

A grandiose building with a red-tiled roof and ornate wood brackets and balconies catches our eye. Getting closer, we notice the old railroad tracks run alongside. It’s the former Train Depot, now home to The Loose Caboose, where we stop for lunch. We meet Blanch Vedette, who is not only the restaurant’s owner and ice-cream maker, but also the town’s animal rescuer. “There’s a lot of

LEFT The towering Gasparilla Island Light is one of two lighthouses on Boca Grande MIDDLE The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse offers unbeatable views from the island’s tip RIGHT Fresh seafood, the island’s specialty, is served beachside and with a friendly smile at South Beach Bar & Grille

FUGATE'S THE LOOSE CABOOSE

wildlife here,” she explains, “and there was no one to help when the animals got in trouble, so I just started doing it.”

While we’re there, she gets a call about a pelican trapped under the bridge and gets ready to spring into action.

Satisfied from tasty grouper sandwiches and incredible tales of rescued owls and ospreys, we hop in our golf cart and head south to the beach. The route runs along the old railroad bed, transformed into a bike path shared by golf carts and bicycles. We choose a spot by the striking lighthouse, Gasparilla Island Light, and it serves as our backdrop for an afternoon of swimming and sorting through countless seashells. We chat with the Gullo family from Port Charlotte, who frequently come for the day with their two young daughters to make sandcastles and swim. They show us an impressive collection of shark’s teeth gathered at the shoreline.

Our next stop is the southern tip of the island and the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, home to a museum filled with artifacts, including tools used by the Calusa Indians, the island’s first inhabitants and fishermen. Long considered the Tarpon Capital of the World, the Boca Grande Pass is

the deepest natural inlet on the Gulf and a fishing Mecca between April and September. “When you look behind the boat and see thousands of tarpon fish rolling and coming up to gulp air on the surface, it’s like seeing a water buffalo migration in Africa,” says Captain Andy Boyette of Go Fish Charters.

As the day winds down, we head to South Beach Bar and Grille, where bright pastel Adirondack chairs are lined up on the sand. “Sitting on the Gulf of Mexico eating fresh local seafood— can’t beat that,” says owner Marco Meola. At this casual restaurant with the milliondollar view, chef Myriam Carvalho buys 100 pounds of grouper daily from local fishermen. The menu includes a wide variety of seafood, including mouthwatering seared scallops.

After a day of discovering treasures and uncovering history, Boca Grande delivers us one final gift. It’s wrapped in hues of pink, purple, orange and blue. As we watch the sun set over this unspoiled island, we imagine visitors from long ago sharing our lament to leave and dreading their train ride back home. Fortunately, unlike their days-long journey, ours takes just 90 minutes—making it easy to return to paradise again and again.

FAR LEFT Shells galore, and even shark’s teeth, blanket Boca Grande’s beaches.

LEFT Enjoy a front-row seat to breathtaking Gulf sunsets at South Beach Bar & Grille

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

#MOMLIFE EVERY SPRING WHEN PILES OF CHRISTMAS TOYS COLLECT DUST, I get the urge

KonMari™ clean Blogger Lynn Cristina gets real about the popular organizing method

By Lynn Cristina Images by Susanna Martinez Photography

READ MORE stories of life and motherhood on Lynn's blog lynncristina.com.

Connect with her on Instagram @lynncristinablogs.

to purge. I am not a neat freak, but certain areas of our home (like the playroom!) make me want to jump out of my skin.

When I was a momma bear to only one child, my playroom was ready for a Pottery Barn style photo shoot at a moment’s notice. I was slightly higher functioning back then. After the second kid arrived, I lowered my standards.

I heard about Japanese organizing expert Marie Kondo a few years ago when her bestseller, “The LifeChanging Magic of Tidying Up,” came out. It sounded interesting, but I only have time to read books that rhyme. Then I stumbled across her Netflix series—a gamechanger.

Sucked in immediately, I bingewatched several episodes.

Kondo is a world-renowned tidying expert who helps clients clear clutter and find joy. Sign me up. I want joy. I decided to start small and tackle my closet first since this is an area that I control. Kondo tells you to take every piece of clothing you own out of your closet and pile it on top of your bed. This is a very important step because it gives you a distinct visual of all the excess stuff you have.

Well, in my case, I dumped ten years of my life on the bed. Seeing a pile that high sent my anxiety through the roof. I was overwhelmed. So far, no joy.

The next step is to pick up each piece of clothing, hold it close and see if it sparks joy. If it doesn’t, you thank the article of clothing and toss it.

Combing through the “before kids” pile of clothes that were super cute and tiny left me depressed. I would need Vaseline and a shoe horn to get back into those pieces, so I let them go. No joy yet.

Then I had my “mom on the go” pile in a larger array of sizes; not necessarily the cutest clothes but functional. Then there was the comfortable yet professional attire. All those pieces left me feeling frumpy and in need of an extreme makeover. I definitely was not feeling joy yet, but I can’t toss everything, or I will be left naked.

Then I stumbled across a few relics: the super cute top I wore on my first date with my husband and my favorite yellow dress that I wore for my bachelorette weekend in Charleston. Finally — Joy! These articles of clothing don’t fit anymore but I refuse to toss them for sentimental reasons. Maybe I will put them in a shadow box and display them like ancient artifacts.

Now onto the dresser. Marie teaches you to fold clothes in three sections and to stand them upright in the drawer. She strongly encourages getting your children involved at a young age so they can experience joy from tidying up. Have you folded clothes with a 3-year-old? I had several piles folded and ready to be put away when she dove off the bed like she was leaping into a mosh pit at a heavy metal concert. My piles were annihilated. Again, no joy.

I never finished my project, so the remaining clothes that need sorting are stored in my bath tub. When I tackle the playroom and kitchen, I am using the Cristina Method. I will be going in like gangbusters with large black garbage bags, recklessly tossing everything, piece by piece, that we haven’t used or played with in the last year.

Just the thought of this brings me joy.

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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GMF peek

GROWING UP

GMF

By Tara Payor, Ph.D.

DOROTHY NOLTE PENNED THE POEM “CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE.” LET THEM LIVE LIVES FILLED WITH MUSIC, THEN, I SING (THOUGH I’M MUCH MORE DANCER THAN VOCALIST). Since 2012, Tampa Bay has enjoyed living out its music festival dreams with the Gasparilla Music Festival (March 7 and 8 across multiple stages in Curtis Hixon Park). The Gasparilla Music Foundation’s founding members, the Ring of Fire, share a vision of sustainable arts and culture for the city.

Melanie Hodge and her son Holden at GMF 2019

FROM VOLUNTEER TO CAPTAIN: GMF’S MELANIE HODGE ROUSE

“Where do you need help?” That was Melanie Hodge Rouse’s question to her Ring of Fire friends before the first GMF. A concert enthusiast, Rouse started volunteering with GMF in various roles and presently serves as GMF’s Kids Fest captain and Board of Directors’ secretary.

As son Holden (6) grows, so does Rouse’s passion for GMF. Also blossoming is Holden’s love of music.

“During his first GMF, he seemed sensitive to noise,” she says. “Now, he looks forward to music class at school and is excited to see some of his favorite bands.” The first grader has a newfound passion for Portugal. The Man—one of GMF’s 2020 headliners. “He asked me to keep them on repeat so that he could learn their lyrics,” Rouse says.

Though he initially shied away from music festival noise, Holden now wants to go with the beat of the band and is also excited for photo ops with band members.

The music-loving mom is thrilled her son’s GMF experience has evolved: “It’s not just something that takes mommy away.” Rouse hopes that like Holden, Bay Area kids will love getting their hands into the tie dye station, interactive elements, Kuumba drums, kids rock and all the musical elements GMF’s Kids Fest has on its setlist. In Portugal. The Man’s words, “Can’t keep my hands to myself.”

FROM VISION TO REALITY: GMF’S RING OF FIRE’S JEFF AND JENN HUNT

Jeff and Jenn Hunt have had their hands on GMF since 2010, when their two boys were 6 and 3 years old. Given their parent roles, it was key for Ring of Fire members that the event be family friendly. “We’re proud we’ve maintained that identity and Kids Fest has been integral in that,” says Jeff, who believes national acts now taking GMF’s Kids Fest stages are testament to its growth.

Though not musicians, the Hunts are live music aficionados whose kids have grown up in the local music scene. Now 15 and 13, Drew and Max are following their parents’ footsteps and volunteering at GMF. Max shows promise with the piano, currently working on ‘Easy Like Sunday Morning,’ and Drew recently attended his first concert alone: Post Malone. Festival weekend, Drew will be busy working GMF volunteer shifts, and he’s brought in friends who also want to volunteer.

And there’s the full drum circle: younger generations getting involved with GMF. When the Hunts and their friends got started, the group of young professionals wanted to create something that attracted talent to Tampa. Studies show that events like GMF help cities flourish. Tampa-based band Visit Neptune, playing GMF 2020, is proof of kids who’ve grown up around GMF and are now budding musicians themselves. The Hunts are proud that GMF’s support of music education is getting more kids acclimated to music, especially in underserved areas.

Drew, Jenn and Max Hunt at 2017's Gasparilla Music Festival

LEARN MORE

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Feel it.

Live.

TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

WATCH

JOIN

Check out GMF’s 2020

Become a Higher Ground member

Lineup: bit.ly/37gxLUp

bit.ly/2OILehe

SATURDAY • MARCH 14 • 11AM - 3PM

FAMILY FUN DAY KIDʼS ACTIVITIES, GIVEAWAYS, ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES & MORE FILM BEGINS AT 1PM

ARMATURE WORKS WEST LAWN 1910 N OLA AVE, TAMPA FL 33602

FOR FIRST 500 KIDS MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

31

moms to KNOW

LEARN MORE about the KNOW books at theknowtribe.com

By Julie Tingley, KNOW Tampa and KNOW St. Pete/Clearwater Image by Christina Jones Photography

Ernestine Morgan MORTON PLANT HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION With an unparalleled commitment to the community and dynamic leadership in the nonprofit sector of one of the larger healthcare systems in the Bay area, Ernestine Morgan of KNOW St Pete | Clearwater proves again and again why she is a woman we should all know. Nicknamed the "selfie queen," Ernestine is every bit as fun and energetic as she is analytic and systematic. The first to support and encourage any fellow Tribe sister, team member or community achiever, she is often the last to step into the spotlight to accept recognition on her own. This is exactly why I am so excited for Ernestine and the Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation to be highlighted here this month.

Q:

Q:

32

WHAT DREW YOU IN TO THE NONPROFIT INDUSTRY?

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SUPPORT AND CHAMPION OTHER WOMEN?

After several years as a small business owner, what inspired me to volunteer and then eventually pursue a career in the non-profit world is the EXTRAORDINARY people that I have met and interacted with along the way. Philanthropy is built on the relationships between an individual and the cause. The stories shared through philanthropy are what largely drew me to the non-profit world.

Honestly? I support people with passion, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or background. Passion is priceless!

TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

Q:

AS A MOM OF A SUCCESSFUL AND PHILANTHROPIC DAUGHTER, WHAT IS YOUR BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR MOMS OF YOUNG CHILDREN? My best advice for moms (and dads) with young children would be to include them in your volunteer efforts.

I used to bring my daughter, Brianna, to my Junior League meetings and events where she learned firsthand the impact volunteering could make in people’s lives. I also started a Girl Scouts Brownie Troop at my daughter’s school. As their leader I was able use it as a platform to teach young girls about volunteering. Teach them kindness; it really does matter.

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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SUMMER CAMPS at the Tampa Bay History Center

Get hands-on with history through games, activities, gallery time and guest speakers.

r Registe 31 March % before

15 E V A S

ith bined w be com nts. t o n n a C iscou other d

Unmask the myths behind pirates and explorers!

Swashbuckling Summer: June 8 - 12 or July 6 - 10

Meet Josefina, Samantha and Maryellen.

American GirlŠ: June 22 - 26 or July 20 - 24 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Before care and after care available.

Scholarships granted based on need and availability.

Register online at tampabayhistorycenter.org/camps or call 813.228.0097 Smithsonian

Affiliate 34 TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

@tampabayhistory

Tampa Riverwalk | 801 Water St., Tampa, FL 33602

ent adv

u re

s a it aw

Summer

2020

Guide

LEARN MORE ON THESE PAGES

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LEARN ABOUT 16 OF OUR FAVORITE LOCAL CAMPS

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DISCOVER 55+ SUMMER ACTIVITIES AND CAMPS FROM TAMPA BAY AND BEYOND

51

FIND THE RIGHT CAMP 7 QUESTIONS PARENTS NEED TO ASK BEFORE YOU DECIDE

46 SUMMER AT THE Y

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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Summer

2020

Guide

BERKELEY PREPARATORY SUMMER PROGRAMS

CAMP IDS AT CORBETT PREPARATORY

4811 Kelly Road, Tampa, Florida 33615 813.885.1673 berkeleyprep.org/summer We have more than 120 camps and classes on our beautiful 80-acre campus, including swim lessons, tech camps, fine arts, chess, volleyball, baseball, football, LEGO, basketball, rock climbing, debate, woodworking, reading skills, lacrosse and so much more.

12015 Orange Grove Drive, Tampa, Florida 33618 813-961-3087; corbettprep.com/ community/camp-ids Campers at CAMP IDS can try their hand at archery in the morning and dabble in French cooking in the afternoon through 100+ half- and full-day camps including engineering, performing and visual arts, music, sports, STEM, academic, field trips, Chinese, Spanish, outdoor and more, all staffed by dynamic counselors.

Free drop-off at 7:15 a.m. and free T-shirt are included. Lunch, snacks, bus transportation and aftercare till 6 p.m. are available for a fee. Call for a tour of the beautiful lakeside campus or register online.

COST varies per camp DATES June 1-July 24 AGES 4-17, Coed and single sex camps

COST $100-$225/week DATES June 8-July 24, full and half-day options (8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

GRADES PreK3-8, Coed

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

CAMP IMAGINATION

CAMP INVENTION

110 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, Florida 33602 813-443-3861; glazermuseum.org/summercamps At Camp Imagination, your kiddos imagine, discover, and connect to the world around them through eight weeks of imaginative themes, including five brand new ones such as Time Travel, Maker Mania and Wild World. We offer two autismfriendly weeks and need-based camp scholarships. Register your kiddo to play with purpose and embrace curiosity this summer at Glazer Children's Museum.

Multiple locations throughout the Tampa Bay area 800-968-4332; invent.org/camp Imaginations will soar this summer in the all-new Camp Invention® program, Elevate!

Campers in grades K-6 will spark their creativity and build collaboration skills while controlling their very own flight simulation robot, protecting Earth’s ecosystems, designing the ultimate sports complex and learning the value of their ideas! Local educators will lead fun, hands-on STEM activities inspiring children to ask questions, overcome obstacles and be confident in their innovative ideas. Visit invent.org/camp or call 800-968-4332 to register. Use promo code LOCAL25 to save $25 (expires 3/31) or LOCAL15 to save $15 (expires 5/12).

COST $240 if booked before May 1, $265 after May 1. GCM Members save 15% DATES June 8 to July 31, weekly, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

AGES ages 5+, Coed

COST Varies by location. Programs start at $235 DATES Find a location near you at invent.org/camp AGES Entering grades K-6, Coed

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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FEATURED CAMPS

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WE’RE PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.

THE DALI MUSEUM'S JUNIOR DOCENT CAMP One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 727-823-3767; thedali.org/camp Learn about the art and life of Salvador Dalí; lead docent tours of The Dalí’s collection; create art in new ways; enjoy imaginative games and activities; and explore the Museum galleries and Avantgarden.

COST $200-225 DATES June 8-July 24 weekly, 9:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. (MondayThursday) or 5:30 p.m. (Friday) AGES 9-14, Coed

DUNEDIN FINE ART CENTER

THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM

THE JAMES MUSEUM SUMMER ART CAMP

1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, Florida 34698 727-298-3322; dfac.org/kidscorner/summer-camp For more than 30 years, Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Summer Art Academy has been offering awardwinning art enrichment programs for children and teens. Whether it’s the Mini Masters camp for the young ones or the multi-disciplinary Sizzlin’ Summer for 6-10 year-olds, you will find something for all interests and ages. There is an iPad Explorations camp for the digitally inclined and an Arts in Motion camp for those who would prefer to move their bodies and/or voices.

701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida 33602 813-273-4000; flaquarium.org Since 1995, The Florida Aquarium has encouraged conservation of the ocean and natural environment. Our camps are fun and engaging while also fostering the creativity and critical thinking that builds science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills in young children and youths. Check out our new camp themes and travel destinations. Each week offers a different theme, early drop-off and late pick-up at no extra cost, lunch options and guaranteed fun!

COST $175-$205 DATES June 1-Aug. 7, weekly

COST varies DATES June-August AGES 3-18, Coed

150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 727-892-4200 ext. 1010; thejamesmuseum.org/ summercamp Unleash your inner artist this summer at The James Museum.

Our week-long summer day camps encourage children to get messy as they explore a variety of art-making processes. With inspiration from our collection of paintings and sculptures, campers bring their own ideas to life in our children’s art studio. Art camp offers opportunities for hands-on learning, creative thinking, and collaboration. Campers enjoy a week full of art experiences inspired by the American West through fun and engaging activities, such as storytelling, sketching, close observation of our art collection – and lots of artmaking in our studio space!

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Before and aftercare available.

AGES 4.5 – 14, Coed

COST $80-$200/week DATES June 8-July 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

AGES 6-15, Coed

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Summer

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Guide

MOSI SUMMER SCIENCE CAMP

PATEL CONSERVATORY

TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER

4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Florida 33617 813 987-6000; mosi.org MOSI’s Summer Science Camps bring science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) alive through hands-on experiments and building projects.

From launching rockets, building robots and extracting DNA, we create experiences that expand interests and make dreams a reality. Doing real science with the tools and technologies used by industry professionals is just one way MOSI Summer Science Camps inspire our campers with a can-do attitude that can last a lifetime.

Discover the innovator within through real science coupled with exciting experiments, simulations, explorations and inventions.

1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa, Florida 33602 813-222-1040; patelconservatory.org At the Patel Conservatory, every student deserves the opportunity to discover their creative potential. Our summer programs provide training in dance, theater and music. Camps and classes vary by length, age and skill level. Patel Conservatory summer camps require active learning participation by campers and result in a performance.

801 Water St., Tampa, Florida 33602 813-228-0097; tampabayhistorycenter.org Unmask the myths behind pirates and explorers, or bring your favorite American Girl© to the Tampa Bay History Center's History Adventure Camps. Open to children ages 7-11, our camps - American Girl© and Swashbuckling Summer– feature hands on experiences including games, crafts, outdoor activities, gallery time and guest speakers. Each week-long camp is led by experienced educators who provide fun and engaging educational activities.

COST Varies, scholarships available DATES June 1-Aug. 8 AGES 3 through adult, Coed

COST Starting at $209/week DATES June 1-Aug. 7,

COST $215/week DATES June 8-July 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., extended care available AGES 7-11, Coed

TAMPA PREP SUMMER PROGRAMS| CAMP TERRAPIN 727 West Cass St., Tampa, Florida 33606 813-251-8481; tampaprep.org/summer Camp Terrapin is a co-educational sports and fine arts camp for rising first through eighth-grade students. Held in the heart of downtown Tampa at Tampa Prep, the camp’s activities and theme days provide friendship and fun in a positive and safe environment.

In addition, we offer robotics, arts, chess, LEGO and sports camps for ages 6+. Academic and enrichment courses are also available for rising sixth through 12th grades. Register online

COST camps $100-$265; enrichment $175-$900 DATES May 26-July 24, 9 a.m. to-3:30 p.m. Camp Terrapin AGES Rising Grades 1-8, Coed

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily

AGES Completed K-8, Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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FEATURED CAMPS

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WE’RE PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.

TAMPA TARPONS SUMMER BASEBALL CAMP George M. Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Drive, Tampa, Florida 33614 813-673-3102; milb.com/tampa/ tickets/baseballcamp Receive professional instruction from the Tampa Tarpons, the Single-A Advanced Affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Tampa Tarpons Summer Baseball Camp is available for all children ages 6-13.

Campers will receive a Tarpons hat, camp T-shirt and access to a pre-game cookout, followed by a Tarpons Game on Friday, July 10.

COST $120-$140 (Registration deadline is July 3 at 5 p.m.)

DATES July 8-10, 9 a.m. to noon AGES 6-13, Coed

VALLEY VIEW RANCH 606 Valley View Ranch Road, Cloudland, Georgia 30731 706-862-2231; valleyviewranch.com Atop Lookout Mountain, this horse lovers’ paradise has served girls since 1954. Fifty girls will enjoy English, Western, Barrels, Vaulting and Trails across 600 acres. CHA instructors teach beginner to advanced riders. Spend up to six hours a day riding and caring for your OWN camp horse. The Jones family are third-generation horse lovers, camp administrators and equine educators making girls’ dreams come true.

COST $2,050-$3,600 DATES Overnight June 7-July 31 AGES 8-17, Girls

YMCA SUMMER CAMP

ZOOTAMPA SUMMER CAMPS

Multiple Locations 813-224-9622; tampaymca.org 727-467-9622; ymcasuncoast.org Y Summer Camp offers children a day camp curriculum full of fun, educational activities infused with the Y’s character values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Campers experience a variety of activities including swimming, science, high ropes, outdoor education, nature encounters, horseback riding, canoeing, visual arts and more! The fun and unique experiences give Y campers an opportunity to explore the outdoors, meet new friends, discover new interests and create memories that last a lifetime. In Y Summer Camp, kids are in a welcoming environment where they can belong, build relationships, develop character and discover their potential.

1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa, Florida 33604 813-933-8093; zootampa.org/summer-camps Explore the Zoo like never before!

Get nose-to-horn with a majestic Indian Rhino or hand-to-fin with playful stingrays. Learn from professionals what it takes to become a zoo keeper, veterinarian or animal trainer. Or test your wildlife photography skills with the coolest animal subjects. Get ready to experience VIP access, up-close animal encounters and soaking splashes on Roaring Springs.

COST $240-$360/week DATES June 8-July 31, weekly AGES Grades K-8 (as of May 2020) Coed

COST Starting at $40-$124/week, varies by location DATES June 1-Aug. 7 AGES 3-17, varies by location, Coed

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2020 BEYOND THE CLASSROOM INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS SUMMER CAMP 22000 Highway 27 Lake Wales, Florida 33859 863-676-6091; vanguardschool.org The Vanguard School Summer Camp focuses on STEAM, SEL and Executive Functioning through an adventure excursion camp, credit retrieval and ACT Prep for co-educational campers in grades 6-12. Option for day camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or a 7-day Boarding option. COST $7,000/4 weeks boarding DATES June 21-July 18; 2 or 4 weeks, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekly or 7-day boarding GRADES 6-12, Coed

ACADEMY AT THE LAKES | SUMMER AT THE LAKES PROGRAM 2331 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes, Florida 34639 813-948-7600; summeratthelakes.com Summer at the Lakes is a safe, fun and caring environment where your child will broaden their horizons and learn something new. Camp offerings include STEM, sports, arts, musical theater, cooking, fishing and more.

Noncredit summer classes in math, reading and language arts are offered for kindergarten through eighth grade. For-credit high school courses in math, foreign language, social studies and physical education are also offered. CAMP COST Half-day and full-day options $150-$550 SCHOOL COST Noncredit K-8, $225; for-credit high school courses $1,000-$1,500 DATES June 1-July 24, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m GRADES PK3-rising 12th grade, Coed

ACADEMY OF THE HOLY NAMES SUMMER ON BAYSHORE 3319 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33629 813-839-5371; holynamestpa.org/summer Fun-loving kids ages 3 and up may choose from themed day camps, STEM, technology, sports and enrichment camps at the Academy of the Holy Names’ ever-popular Summer on Bayshore. From Lego to lacrosse and cooking to cartooning, Summer on Bayshore has something for everyone. COST $150 (half day) to $325 (full-day specialty camps) DATES June 1-July 24, weekly GRADE Pre-K3-8, Coed

ADVENTHEALTH CENTER ICE: IC’S COOL KIDS CAMP 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel, Florida 33544 813-803-7372; ahcenterice.com/learn-to-skate/camps Our skating summer camps make wonderful opportunities for your 5- to 14-year-old to learn and grow in a sport, have fun and make new friends in a safe and supportive environment. COST $240-$275 + tax, $20 registration fee DATES June 1-Aug. 7 AGES 5-14, Coed

AMERICAN STAGE AT ADMIRAL FARRAGUT ACADEMY 501 Park St. N., St. Petersburg, Florida 33710 727-823-1600 x204; americanstage.org/summer Ignite your child’s creative voice! American Stage provides quality theatre training in a positive and inspiring environment that gives young people the tools to be fearless, focused and flexible on stage and in life. Studying theatre helps students become accomplished, confident performers and empowers creative, intellectual and emotional growth. COST $225-$610 DATES June 1-July 31 AGES 5-18, Coed

BARRETT SCHOOL OF MUSIC Locations in Tampa and Valrico 813-293-4594; musicschoolintampa.com Join Barrett School of Music at one of their many summer camps across the bay including GarageBand Premiere, String Chamber Ensemble, Musical Theater Summer Intensive and Brandon Music Summer Camp. COST $110-$200 DATES June 8-12, July 20-31 AGES 4-17, Coed

BAYSIDE SPORTS ACADEMY LIMITLESS SUMMER CAMP 4400 34th St. N., Suite E, St. Petersburg, Florida 33714 727-258-4981; baysidesportsacademy.org At Bayside's Limitless Summer Camp we encourage children to love to be active. Early bird discount pricing is available.Also, if you attend nine full weeks, get your 10th week free. COST $45-$330, daily or weekly available DATES June 1- Aug. 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. AGES 5-13 before Sept. 1, 2020, Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE ULTIMATE SOCCER CAMP EXPERIENCE. HALF-DAY, FULL-DAY, INDOOR, OUTDOOR, AND OVERNIGHT OPTIONS AVAILABLE

BOYS AND GIRLS JOIN US AT USF THIS SUMMER! VISIT USFSOCCERCAMPS.COM OR 631-901-3328 FOR MORE INFORMATION

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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Summer 2020

"BEST HORSE CAMP" AT WEST COAST MORGANS 17126 Boy Scout Road, Odessa, Florida 33556 813-920-9870; westcoastmorgans.com WCM Horse Camp offers half and full days, single weeks and bulk weeks over summer and winter breaks, and family discounts. Beginners through advanced riders can take advantage of different weekly themes and days filled with tons of hands-on horse activities as well as guest speakers and water play.

COST $60-$80 daily, $300-$400 weekly DATES June 1 – Aug. 7, half and full day options, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. GRADES Ages 6+, Coed

BRANDON ALL STARS SUMMER CAMPS 4427 Pet Lane, Suite 107, Lutz, Florida 33559 813-994-8036; brandonallstars.com Campers will enjoy a full day of stretching, tumbling, stunting, games and arts and crafts. All campers will be fully supervised on all equipment including trampoline, tumble tracks and bounce houses. On Wednesday and Friday afternoons, campers will enjoy an activity that correlates with the weekly theme.

There will be an optional showcase Friday at 3:45 p.m. for family and friends to see what campers have learned. COST $75-$125/week, half & full day options DATES 10 weekly sessions AGES 5-12, Coed

BRICKS 4 KIDZ LEGO® SUMMER CAMPS 3713 W. Dale Ave., Tampa, Florida 33609 813-545-4282; bricks4kidz.com Bricks 4 Kidz is back for another summer of LEGO® fun! With more than 10 locations and 40 camps in the Tampa Bay Area and a new theme every week, Bricks 4 Kidz is sure to have a fun camp that's perfect for your child! COST Varies by Location DATES June 1- Aug. 7 AGES 4.5-12, Coed

BULLSEYE LEARNING'S CAMP EXPLORATION & ADVENTURE MISSION POSSIBLE Bloomingdale Presbyterian Church, 710 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon, Florida 33511 813-413-4998; bullseyelearning.com/camp We’ll venture out of camp on all sorts of field trips. You’ll perform on stage at the Straz Center, tour the firehouse, test your sea legs aboard the American Victory battleship, visit a vet hospital, care for horses and learn how Publix makes shopping a pleasure. Plus, our friends from iHeart Media, Spectrum News 9 and more will stop by. COST $75 registration fee, $130-$145/week DATES June 1-Aug. 7 AGES 5-13, Coed

BUSCH GARDENS 10165 McKinley Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612 813-884-4FUN(4386); buschgardens.com/tampa/summer-camps Ready to walk on the wild side? Come face to face with amazing animals, take on the newest thrill rideTigris, and learn what is takes to be a zookeeper at a Busch Gardens Summer Camp. Enjoy the ultimate behind-the-scenes experience of the educational adventure of a lifetime! Busch Gardens Summer Camps are all-inclusive and accredited by the American Camps Association. Day Camps include lunch, snack, camp T-shirt and water bottle. Resident Camps include all meals, camp T-shirt, water bottle, and lodging at our on-site dormitory, Mzinga Lodge. COST $199 - $849 per week DATES June 1-Aug. 13, day and resident camps GRADES K-12, Coed

CAMP DOVEWOOD 23221 101st Road, O’Brien, Florida 32071 386-209-1908 or 386-935-0863; campdovewood.org Camp Dovewood celebrates 43 years of Dynamic Christian camping for girls 7-16 in North Florida. We have an outstanding equestrian program with certified instructors in hunt seat, rodeo, dressage, grooming, vet care and trail rides. We also offer swimming instruction, tennis, cheerleading, art, drama, archery, Bible, volleyball, softball, cooking, gymnastics, music and baton. We are ACA and CHA accredited.

COST $625-$1,025 DATES June 7-July 18 AGES 7-16, Girls

CAMP FASTB 2100 62nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Florida 33702 727-800-2159; fastb.org/camp-fastb Camp FASTB, at The French American School of Tampa Bay, is a total French Immersion experience.

Campers learn the language naturally through play, art and music. To enroll, visit fastb.org/camp-fastb today. For questions, please call 727-800-2159 or email info@fastb.org. COST $200-$300/week, 9 a.m. to noon or 3 p.m. DATES July 6-31 AGES 5 and up (must be 5 as of Sept. 1, 2020), Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Registration Now Open!

SummerAtTheLakes.com

SPLASH INTO SUMMER AT THE LAKES!

Summer at the Lakes is a safe, fun, and caring environment where your child will explore and grow. Our diverse camps and classes are sure to oer something for everyone to enjoy. You matter here.

splash

make a all summer long

the single a-advanced affiliate of the new york yankees

Family Fun Entertainment april-september tiny tarps kids club summer baseball camp field of dreams experience

tampa tarpons tickets start at just $5!

813.673.3055

tarponsbaseball.com MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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Summer 2020

CAMP IDLEWILD OF FLORIDA, INC. 7602 Henry Drive, Land O’ Lakes, Florida 34638 813-996-1226; campidlewildofflorida.com Our main mission is FUN; then, to provide recreational and leisure activities that promote confidence and social-emotional development for all children with special needs. Our programs are specially tailored for kids with autism spectrum disorders and related learning and social challenges.

COST $250-$700 DATES TBA AGES 6-17, Coed

CAMP OSPREY 18050 U.S. 301 S., Wimauma, Florida 33598 941-928-6860; camposprey.com Camp Osprey is an all-inclusive day/overnight adventure camp that challenges kids to push themselves, try new things and help build confidence in themselves. Expect horseback riding, high ropes challenge course, zipline, archery, paintball, kayaking, fishing, BB gun arcade, giant swing, games and more, with breakfast and lunch included. Come to camp strangers; leave as friends with a lifetime of memories in just one summer. COST Day camp $220, Overnight Camp Sunday 4 p.m. to Saturday 10 a.m. $475 (breakfast and lunch included) DATES weekly, May 31-July 26 AGES 7-15, Coed with single sex cabins

CAMP ROCKMONT FOR BOYS 375 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711 828-686-3885; rockmont.com Rockmont welcomes boys from all over the nation and the world to become active members of this meaningful and adventurous community. Boys learn to thrive through activities, skills and daily life on over 650 beautiful acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains. COST $1,700-6,500 (scholarships available) DATES June 7-Aug. 7, 1-4 week options AGES 6-17, Boys

CAMP TAEKWON-DO! 3617 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33609 813-350-9400; southtampataekwondo.com Who wants to be a ninja this summer? Kick, spin, jump and learn taekwondo with our amazing black belt instructors. Other activities include fun field trips, arts and crafts, enrichment classes, Lego and Beyblade play, water slide obstacle course fun and much more!

COST $155/week DATES June 1-Aug. 7, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m . AGES 5-15, Coed

CAMP WOODMONT 381 Moonlight Drive on Lookout Mountain, Cloudland, Georgia 30731 423-472-6070; campwoodmont.com Imagine a Home Away from Home where your child feels secure, welcome and reassured. That’s ACAaccredited overnight Camp Woodmont, just two-and-a-half hours from Atlanta. ACA accredited. Activities include archery, climbing, horseback riding, crafts, games, sports and more. Open House Sunday, May 17 from 2-5 p.m. COST 1 week $950, 2 weeks $1,495 DATES 1 or 2-week sessions, May 31-July 31 AGES 6-14, Coed

CANTERBURY SUMMER PROGRAMS 990 62nd Ave. N.E, St. Petersburg, Florida 33702 727-521-5914; canterburyflorida.org/summer Canterbury's Summer Programs will provide your camper with a variety of exciting options to promote adventure, a love of learning and a playful spirit! Summer camp is not only a place where memories are made, but where your camper will grow intellectually, physically and socially. COST half day $165, full day $330 DATES June 1-July 31 GRADES PK4-12, Coed

CARROLLWOOD CULTURAL CENTER SUMMER CAMP 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa, Florida 33618 813-922-8167; carrollwoodcenter.org/camp-activities At the Carrollwood Cultural Center, artistic expression, belting it out, busting a move and getting into character are all encouraged. Through art, music, dance and drama, campers 4-10 will explore a different theme each week, while campers ages 11 to 13 use the theme to create an original staged production.

COST $90-$350 DATES June 1-Aug. 7, weekly TIMES 9 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m. AGES 4-13, Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WILD CREATIONS: EMPOWERMENT & ART WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG WOMEN

Learn about traditional female roles, and historical and contemporary female artists who have challenged these roles.

Participants will gain tools for social and emotional management along with expression of their emotions through hands-on creation of art.

JULY 6–10

ART AROUND THE WORLD CAMP

Take a trip through time and around the world as you explore art at the MFA. Discover how and why people throughout history have created art as you explore the galleries, find new favorite artists, and create your own amazing artworks.

JULY 20–24 (grades 1–5)

(rising 6th to 9th graders that identify as female)

Price: $190 Members $250 Not-yet-Members.

FLORIDA ARTISTS CAMP

$30 multi-camp discount on each additional camp registration.

Sibling discounts available.

Explore the art of Tampa Bay at the MFA. Learn why local artists create works that celebrate the environment, meet some of the artists working in our community, and create masterpieces of your own inspired by St. Pete.

Camp times 9 am–4 pm.

JULY 13–17 (grades 1–5) MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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SPONSORED

SUMMER AT THE Y

By Kelli Biandudi, Communications Manager YMCA

Whitney Crawford knows where her daughter will be going to camp this summer. “We’ll be at the YMCA, of course,” laughs Crawford, a single mom, who moved two years ago to Tampa Bay from St. Louis, Missouri, after falling in love with the area while on vacation.

Crawford’s first experience with the YMCAs of Tampa Bay was through an afterschool program for her 8-year-old daughter, Tameka. “They had different things every day. They would go outside.

They rotated with different activities like gymnastics and kickball. They have

Camp keeps her occupied where she’s interacting with other kids, she’s interacting with other counselors and they’re great.

- WHITNEY CRAWFORD

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talent shows, art and she loves art. One time, they had an event where different vendors came out. They had crazy sock day, rainbow day, super hero day,” she recalls.

So, it was a no-brainer for her to enroll Tameka in Y Summer Camp too.

“Tameka loves to stay busy because if she wasn’t in the camp, I wouldn’t have anything else for her to do,” explains Crawford. “Camp keeps her occupied where she’s interacting with other kids, she’s interacting with other counselors and they’re great. She’s learning a lot in sports like how to work with others, conflict resolution, all of those things.

She really looks forward to it.”

While Tameka had a blast earning the “Camper of the Week” title last summer, her mom enjoyed the Y’s Parents’ Night Out. “It’s really beneficial for parents.

I think I did it two times and the first time I needed a little me time so I went to the spa and I got a pedicure and manicure. Another time I saw a movie by myself and went to the mall and picked up a few little outfits,” Crawford recalls. “Just that amount of time makes

a difference … especially as a single parent. When you feel like you need that extra time, that resource is there, and I love that at the YMCA.” Crawford feels lucky she was referred to the Y. “There’s a lot of people who relocate out here who are in the same situation—where you’re not really quite sure where to turn,” says Crawford, whose family still resides in Missouri.

“Without the YMCA in my corner, I wouldn’t know what to do, to be honest with you.”

Fun and unique experiences give Y campers like Tameka an opportunity to explore the outdoors, meet new friends, discover new interests and create memories that last a lifetime. In Y Summer Camp, kids are in a welcoming environment where they can belong, build relationships, develop character and discover their potential.

To ensure your kids stay engaged socially, physically and academically throughout the summer, register today at tampaymca.org or ymcasuncoast. org depending on your location. But hurry, spots fill quickly! As a top-rated 4-star charity, the Y offers camp scholarships to qualified families because all kids deserve to go to camp!

Where will yours be this summer?

Tameka with summer campers TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

2020 SUMMER CAMP JUNE 1 - JULY 31 AMERICAN STAGE SUMMER CAMP HELD AT:

GR

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P RO TRE A E H

ES K -12 | FINANCIAL AID AVAILA BL E |E NRO

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AMERICANSTAGE.ORG/SUMMER AMERICAN STAGE

EDUCATION SPONSORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS REBECCA & MICHAEL ALFORD

SHERRI RICHEY BURKE

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. (Section 286.25, Florida Statutes)

the sky’s the limit at junior docent art camp Create | Explore | Express The Dalí Museum offers weeklong surreal summer experiences for kids 9-14 to explore art & express themselves. Sessions include instruction from awardwinning teachers & guest presenters, time in the galleries, creative writing, yoga, art making, a reception for parents and the chance to be a tour guide... a junior docent!

“There’s nothing like it around… Both fun and educational, which is rare.”

-A happy parent

Learn more at

TheDali.org/camp MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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Award-Winning Hillsborough County Public Schools

Summer Camps

Friends, Fun and Exploration!

Make your summer soar! Become a chef at Culinary Cuisine camp.

Bring your imagination to life with Animation camp. Bravely explore the outdoors with survival skills and more at Nature’s Classroom camps.

Check with your local school to see which summer camps are offered near you, and visit HillsboroughSchools.org/camps for more summer adventures!

Payment assistance is available for select programs and sites.

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HillsboroughSchools.org

School security chief talks

student safety

By Laura Cross, Hillsborough County Schools

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS EXCEED SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

This badge is part of the Centegix alert system.

istock.com/ gmast3r

YOU’RE DROPPING OFF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE — YOUR KIDS.

CHIEF JOHN NEWMAN

This month marks two years since the Legislature signed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act into law. It followed the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida, that took the lives of 14 students and three educators.

The new law’s purpose is to tighten school security, provide more mental health funding and create a way for government agencies to share information that could stop a future incident.

In Hillsborough County Public Schools, we exceed the law’s recommendations. We have for a while.

John Newman is our district’s Chief of Security and Emergency Management.

Before he worked to keep our students safe, he was the Assistant Police Chief for the City of Tampa. He says there’s a long list of protections in place at our schools. We have law enforcement officers on all public middle and high school campuses and an armed district school security officer at all public elementary schools.

Newman says we have also made significant efforts to “harden” our schools.

That means controlling access, tightly monitoring who comes onto our campuses and securing visitor management. New fencing is up around schools, there’s improved surveillance equipment and secure entry areas are being added at schools that need them.

Now, instead of walking in a door, up some stairs and down a hallway to get to the main office, a vestibule is added to the front of the

school. When school is in session, every visitor will be buzzed into the vestibule. Once in the vestibule, they’ll present their identification, sign in and then be buzzed into the main area of the school.

Hillsborough Schools are also in the process of implementing a program called Centegix.

It’s an alert system that allows employees to call for help at any time, no matter where they are on campus.

Each employee will be assigned a badge with a transponder. For small issues or a medical emergency in class, they click the transponder three times.

School administrators, designated staff and resource officers are alerted.

If there’s a more serious problem, staff can trigger a school-wide lockdown. The system shows law enforcement who set off the lockdown and where they are on campus.

Newman says Centegix is a game changer.

But he says what he’s most proud of is our partnerships. “[Tampa Police] Chief (Brian) Dugan, [Hillsborough County] Sheriff (Chad) Chronister…

We all talk. We text,” Chief Newman explains. “We have a very good relationship as it pertains to public safety. We are really proud of that collaboration.”

Sadly, the tragedy in Parkland—as well as Sandy Hook and even as far back as Columbine—have taught us many lessons about school safety. Those lessons have helped us strengthen our commitment to keeping our students safe.

Chief Newman has a message for parents. He understands the trust they’re putting in him and in our schools. “You’re dropping off the most important thing in your life, your kids, to us,” he says. “We’re going to do our very best to keep them safe.”

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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7 Weeks of Options:

June 8 - July 24, 2020 Over 100 full- and half-day camps Ages PreK3 - 8th grade Before- and after-care

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TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

Sign up today!

(813) 961-3087 corbettprep.com

get ready for summer camp QUESTIONS PARENTS NEED TO ASK

SPONSORED

Julie Nelson, CAMP IDS director

The calendar may say spring, but for parents who like to plan ahead, March is summer camp season.

Registering for summer camp early gives families the most flexibility and the highest number of choices. Camps fill up fast. The longer you wait, the harder it is to coordinate camps with friends or work around vacation weeks.

How do you know what camp to pick? A little research will help you determine which program is right for your family. CAMP IDS welcomes more than 1,000 students to its campus at Corbett Prep every summer, and these seven questions are the most popular ones we hear from our new families.

CAN I TAKE A TOUR? You tour

a new school before enrolling your child; it’s natural to want to see where your kids will spend their summer!

Arrange a tour and ask to see the classrooms as well as the areas where campers eat and play. Visiting in advance will also give you a better idea of how drop-off and pick-up works so you can have a stress-free first day.

WHO ARE THE COUNSELORS?

We love our CAMP IDS counselors, and the relationships they build with the students are one of the reasons students return year after year. A good counselor knows how to connect with students and handle conflicts while teaching engaging lessons.

CAMP IDS assigns veteran teachers to each camp as well as assistants and volunteers to provide extra supervision and gain experience under the lead counselor.

ARE THERE OPTIONS FOR PRESCHOOL? It can be hard to find quality camps for 3- and 4-year-olds.

The popular Pre-Rec, Bookworms and Fun with Numbers camps at CAMP IDS combine learning, play and crafts in weeklong programs that prepare our littlest campers for prekindergarten in fun and creative ways.

istock.com/iarti

ARE THERE EXTENDED HOURS? Many families rely on

summer camp because they work outside the home. A camp with a late start time or early pickup can cause scheduling problems for parents.

You’ll want to find out how early you can drop off your child, whether the camp has extended care in the afternoon and the costs of each.

IS THERE TRANSPORTATION?

Round-trip bus transportation in the mornings and afternoons makes life much easier for busy families. If you are struggling with how to get your child to the camp of your choice, a summer camp with bus service can make a huge difference.

WHAT DO STUDENTS DO FOR LUNCH? You can pack a lunch all

summer if you’d like, or you can let your camp handle it for you! The Warriors Oasis stays busy all summer at CAMP IDS with breakfast, lunch and snacks available for purchase.

WHAT CAMP IS RIGHT FOR MY FAMILY? This is the hardest question

to answer and the most important.

It’s all about what you want your child to experience, and the answers differ for every family. Are you looking for academics to stop the summer slide?

Recreation to counter screen time?

Enrichment to explore a hobby or passion? The half-day camps at CAMP IDS allow students to mix and match options and experience twice as many sessions, while full-day sessions provide additional opportunities for a more in-depth experience.

CAMP IDS started more than 20 years ago at Corbett Prep and offers seven weeks of sessions every June and July. Students choose from more than 100 technology, academic, arts, language, field trip, recreation and sports camps.

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Summer 2020

CDS “TURN IT UP” SUMMER CAMP 1515 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa, Florida 33613 | 813-920-2288 12606 Casey Road, Tampa, Florida 33618 | 813-963-2388 carrollwooddayschool.org/patriot-nation/parents/summer-camp Carrollwood Day School summer camp is open to anyone, in and out of the CDS community. Our summer program team embodies the vision of CDS - Carrollwood Day School enriches the mind, strengthens the character, inspires the hearts of our students and is dedicated to providing a safe, positive and fun experience for every child. COST $150 - $310 DATES June 1-July 24, times vary AGES ECC ages 3-6, Bearss grades K-12, Coed

CIRCLE C RANCH ACADEMY 6204 Interbay Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33611 813-831-8429; ccranchacademy.com Circle C Ranch has been around for 38 years. This summer at the ranch, campers can ride horses and swim every day. Other activities include sports, archery, art and more.COST $100-$230, varies by age DATES June 1-Aug. 3, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. AGES 1-13, Coed

CLEARWATER COMMUNITY SAILING CENTER'S SUMMER CAMP 1001 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater, Florida 33767 727-517-7776; clearwatercommunitysailing.org Clearwater Community Sailing Center is the place to spend summer on the water in a program geared toward safe, engaging fun that helps young campers appreciate the wonder of Clearwater’s intracoastal waters. All experience levels are welcome. For the safety of your camper, they must be the correct age for the camp group you are registering for. All registrations are subject to approval. COST $178-$298 DATES June 3-Aug. 9, weekly 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. AGES 5-17, Coed

CLEARWATER SUMMER CAMP 2020 “THE PLACE TO BE!” Multiple Locations in Clearwater myclearwaterparks.com/camps Looking for a fun and safe summer camp that your kids will love? Clearwater Summer Camps are The Place to Be! Each week campers will enjoy a variety of fun activities including field trips, sports and games, STEM, positive character development, crafts and more! Don't be left out of the fun!

COST $100 or less/week DATES June 1-Aug. 7, 7/7:30 a.m.-5:30/6 p.m.; varies by location AGES varies, Coed

DANCE & CIRCUS ARTS OF TAMPA BAY SUMMER WORKSHOPS & INTENSIVES 1490 N. Belcher Road, Suite H, Clearwater, Florida 33765 727-461-0098; danceandcircusarts.com Our Circus Arts Intensives include aerial training in trapeze, aerial silks, Spanish web, hammock, aerial hoop, acrobatics, tumbling, juggling, flexibility/contortion, hoop dancing and performance quality. These intensives will cross train students on a variety of disciplines that will improve flexibility, strength and technique. A morning of superhero dance and an afternoon of circus is available for ages 5-7.

COST $250-$325/week DATES June 15-Aug. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. AGES 5-Adult, Coed

DRAMA KIDS SUMMER CAMPS 3315 S. Bryan Road, Brandon, Florida 33511 813-489-5899; dramakids.com/fl6 Drama Kids offers musical theatre and creative drama camps that encourage the development of creativity, communication skills and self-confidence for campers.

COST $150-$500 DATES June 15-26 and July 6-17. Half and full-day options AGES 6-17 ,Coed

EARTH IMMERSION SCUBA SUMMER CAMP 180th St., Live Oak, Florida 32060 352-641-0350; earthimmersion.com/scuba-diving-summer-camp Earth Immersion is a scuba, adventure and outdoor education camp for teens (13-17 years old) looking for an unmatched experience exploring North Florida’s crystal-clear springs. Activities include earning SCUBA certifications, snorkeling, canoeing, hiking, fishing, tubing, community service hours and learning about freshwater/marine biology. We offer 7- or 13-day overnight programs.COST $1,650-$2,950/session DATES June 27-Aug. 1, 7 or 13-day sessions AGES 13-17, Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ECKERD COLLEGE

WEEKLY CLASSES HALF & FULL DAY J UNE 1 - J ULY 31 AGES 5-17 OPEN ENROLLMENT

SAILING, WINDSURFING, KAYAKING, LITTLE MARINERS, FISHING, CHILDREN’S MARINE DISCOVERY, EXPLORING MARINE LIFE, AND WAKEBOARDING!

727.864.8288

eckerd.edu/waterfront/camp

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INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION of fearless leaders March is Women's History Month

By Mariah Shae Martinez | Photo provided by Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library

2020 MARKS 100 YEARS SINCE THE 19TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION GRANTED EQUAL VOTING RIGHTS FOR WOMEN. DURING THOSE 100 YEARS, WOMEN FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE HAVE CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE TWO ASPECTS OF LIVING AND BEING HUMAN THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH OUR KIDS: POSITIVE CHANGE MAY NOT HAPPEN QUICKLY OR IN THE WAY WE EXPECT IT TO; AND PERSEVERANCE, CONFIDENCE, AND DETERMINATION CAN HELP US WORK THROUGH ANY OBSTACLE. CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG DREAMERS IN YOUR LIFE BY SHARING A BOOK FROM YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY DURING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH.

READING TOGETHER IS A STRESS-FREE, NO-PRESSURE WAY TO TEACH YOUR LITTLE ONES THAT THERE ARE MANY STRONG WOMEN IN THIS WORLD TO LOOK UP TO.

Scan this for the full book list!

I CONSULTED WITH THE RESIDENT WEE ONE IN MY HOUSE, AND MY ADVENTUROUS, FEMINIST 5-YEAR-OLD AND I AGREED ON OUR TOP FOUR TITLES TO CHECK OUT FROM THE LIBRARY.

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Pick a book (or three or more!) from the librarian-curated list of Rad Women in history and spend some time talking with your child about ways they can be brave, bold and fearless in everyday life. The books on our list feature a variety of daring women so that your little ones can find inspiration whether they love playing soccer and scoring goals, tinkering with magnets, painting (abstract) portraits of your cat or running a hospital for toys.

1 A portrait of the Supreme Court Justice and modern feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg reveals the personal experiences that shaped her philosophy about how lasting change can be accomplished one step at a time. Features easy-tofollow comic illustrations.

For ages 9 to 12.

TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

2 Meet the little leaders.

They're brave. They're bold. They changed the world. Featuring the true stories of 40 inspirational women creators - from writers to inventors, artists to scientists - each paired with charming, full-color portrait illustrations. For ages 9 to 12.

3 When Wu Chien Shiung was born in China 100 years ago, girls did not attend school.

But her parents named their daughter ‘Courageous Hero’ and encouraged her love of science. This picture book biography follows Wu as she battles sexism at home and racism in the United States of America to become the ‘Queen of Physics’ for her work on how atoms split. For ages 8 and below.

4 Mark the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment this year with the profiles of ten women who fought hard to gain the right to vote in the United States, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth. Eye-catching artwork is paired with well-written text in picture book format.

For ages 9 to 12.

SUMMER

CAMP

TRAVEL CAMP

IL PW D

OD WO

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Girl Scouts of West Central Florida

EST

. 196 0

OUT! THIS SUMMER, CAMP LIKE A GIRL SC can feel

an environment where every girl Girl Scout Summer Camp fosters try nce with countless opportunities to good about herself and gain confide and rs as she’s inspired by counselors new things and explore the outdoo . encouraged by her sister Girl Scouts

Day and overnight camps

k Half-week, full-week, and two-wee sessions from June 7–Aug. 1

Tradition al an d Spec ialty Ca mps incl uding:

e, STEM, Equestrian, High Adventur Marine Science, Culinary, Travel, Teen Leadership, and more!

Starting at $235 Financial assistance available

Not a Girl Scout? NO PROBLEM! Girls entering grades 1–12 in fall 2020 can attend camp.

REGIST ER TODAY!

gswcf.org/SummerCamp 800-881-GIRL

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FULL WEEK H A L F D AY

9:00AM-12:30PM OR 12:30PM-4:00PM

$75

s p m a C r e m m Su W E S L E Y

C H A P E L

FULL WEEK F U L L D AY

9:00AM-4:00PM

$125

ENROLL ONLINE TODAY! EXTENDED HOURS

AVAILABLE. Campers will enjoy a full day of stretching, tumbling, stunting, games, and arts & crafts. All campers will be fully supervised on all equipment including trampoline, tumbling tracks and bounce houses. On Wednesday and Friday afternoons campers will enjoy an activity that correlates with the weekly theme. There will be an optional showcase every Friday at 3:45pm for friends and family to see what campers have learned.

10 DIFFERENT WEEKLY SESSIONS TO CHOOSE FROM!

4427 PET LANE SUITE 107 LUTZ, FL 33559

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8139948036

INFOWCBRANDONALLSTARS.COM

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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Summer 2020

ECKERD COLLEGE SUMMER WATERSPORTS CAMP 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, Florida 33711 727-864-8288; eckerd.edu/waterfront/camp The Eckerd College Summer Watersports Camp offers classes in exploring watersports, sailing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, saltwater fishing, Little Mariners and Exploring Marine Life and more for students. This camp is taught in the perfect environment for learning watersports and gives campers exciting and unforgettable experiences. COST $175-$295/week DATES June 1-July 31, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. AGES 5-17, Coed

EDUCATION 1ST. CONSULTING 4809 E. Busch Blvd. Suite 206, Tampa, Florida 33617 813-679-2397; education1stconsulting.com Education 1st. Consulting offers educational services including tutoring, professional services, test prep, and homeschool services. We educate students and adults of all ages based on their specific learning needs including students/adults with learning disabilities either at our office, convenient location or at home. Both hourly and monthly plans are available. We are a provider for Step Up for Students, Vocational Rehabilitation, Children's Board and Foster Care agencies. COST $35-$40 hourly DATES all summer,

FLORIDA ACADEMY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS 402 Oakfield Drive, Brandon, Florida 33511 813-490-2787; faopa.org Musical Theatre camps run for two weeks with live performances at the conclusion of camp. Children have fun singing, acting, dancing and learning about costumes, stage presence, set design and props. Music & More Camp runs every day during select weeks in the summer with activities that includes guitar, drums, show choir, drama, acting, games, arts and crafts. COST varies DATES June-August AGES 5+, Coed

GIRL SCOUT SUMMER CAMP Palm Harbor, Riverview and Wildwood 813-281-GIRL (4475); gswcf.org/summercamp Girls entering grades K-12 can spend the summer exploring the outdoors, taking on challenges, honing their skills, building lifelong friends and becoming leaders. Our program is centered around outdoor activities and traditional camp experiences (hello, s’mores) in a supportive environment where campers discover their courage and build their confidence. COST starting at $235/session DATES June 7-Aug. 1 GRADES entering grades 1-12, Girls

GIRLS WITH CONFIDENCE Various locations: Lithia, Riverview, Tampa, Lutz, Pensacola 813-571-2002; girlswithconfidence.com Girls With Confidence offers several unique, creative and fun camps for girls in grades K-12. Every camp day we focus on a new "confidence building" theme where we have meaningful discussions, activities, games and work on different creative art projects and crafts. COST: $129-$229 DATES June 1-Aug. 7, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; times vary by location AGES 5-18, Girls

GREAT EXPLORATIONS SUMMER CAMP 1925 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, Florida 33704 727-821-8992; greatex.org/camps Great Explorations summer camps stimulate learning and imagination with days filled with experiments, arts, field trips and special guests. Each week features a new theme for the rising kindergarteners to third graders. COST Varies. DATES June-August; weekly, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. GRADES rising K-3, Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE #1

TECH CAMP

FOR AGES 7-19 Coding. Game dev. Robotics. Digital arts.

This isn’t just a camp. It’s an experience unlike any other. Here, you push past the boundaries of school, finding your squad and bonding over the latest tech. Led by expert instructors, you will build the skills needed to forge a brilliant future.

HELD AT 150+ ELITE CAMPUSES INCLUDING: USF | USF Sarasota-Manatee | University of Florida | Rollins College University of Miami | Carnegie Mellon | UPenn | Caltech | NYU

Request your brochure today!

iDTechCamps.com | 1-888-709-8324

VANGUARD SCHOOL'S

BEYOND sroom

the clas

into the Great

OUTD

RS

SUMMER CAMP JUNE 21, 2020 - JULY 18, 2020

ACT PREP

CREDIT RETRIEVAL OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

GRADES 6-12

featuring...

STEAM

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING

SEL

Join Us this Summer!

www.vanguardschool.org | info@vanguardschool.org | (863) 676-6091

Camp FASTB French Immersion Camp Language, Culture, Art & Fun! Begins July 6 for Ages 5 & Up Visit fastb.org/camp-fastb and enroll today!

No prior French language education required.

2100 62nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702 727-800-2159 | www.FASTB.org MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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Help him become who he will be.

We tell [our son] that sending him to Rockmont is an investment in the man he will become...

And it’s worth every single penny.”

- Rachel, Winston-Salem, NC

At Rockmont, your son will get to experience the wildness of being a boy outdoors, the welcoming embrace of a loving community, and the wonder of being alive.

Camp Rockmont is giving one family the chance to send their son to Summer Camp in the mountains of North Carolina for FREE. (even if you don’t win, we’ll send you ways to SAVE on a session at Rockmont)

To win a two-week session for your son at Camp Rockmont (a $3,900 value): Visit Rockmont.com/tampa Enter between March 1 - April 2, 2020

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MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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Summer 2020

HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE - KIDS' COLLEGE SUMMER CAMP Hillsborough Community College - Kids’ College Summer Camps, Multiple Locations 813-259-6010; tampatraining.com/kids-college At HCC Kids’ College, where we inspire our youth to dream more, do more and become more, we know how important it is to provide compelling options that cater to their interests. Join us and explore subjects like criminology, STEM, Mural Masterclass, Culinary Creations, Drone Discovery, computer programming, and much more. There’s something for everyone! COST $169+/week DATES June 8-July 31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. AGES 8-16, Coed

ID TECH Held at 150 prestigious campus locations 888-709-8324; iDTech.com iD Tech is the world leader in STEM education with 450,000 alumni and over 20 years of experience.

Summer programs for ages 7-19 are held at 150 prestigious campuses including NYU, Caltech and Imperial College London. Students build in-demand skills for futures in coding, game development, robotics and creative arts. COST from $849/week DATES Day and overnight camps, flexible options AGES 7-17, Coed

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERS – CAMP J (2 LOCATIONS) jcccohncampus.com/camp bryanglazerfamilyjcc.com/camp Camp J offers a summer camp experience for children entering kindergarten through eighth grade. Choose from 15 different specialty camps at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC or a traditional day camp experience at the 20-acre JCC on the Cohn Campus. All camps are designed to help your child develop a range of skills in a fun and supportive environment. COST varies DATES June 8-July 31 GRADES K-8, Coed

LAKE AURORA CHRISTIAN CAMP 237 Golden Bough Road, Lake Wales, Florida 33898 863-696-1102; lakeaurora.org Since 1947, Lake Aurora Christian Camp has been a place to experience God’s creation and see lives changed. Located in central Florida on a spring-fed clear lake, we offer a wide variety of activities from target sports, to boating, to waterfront options. Our programs include Bible teaching, social issues and life application of values in a Christ-centered atmosphere. We offer four tracks of programming including leadership development and wilderness camping along with traditional camp experiences. We are a 501(c)3 organization owned by 78 independent Christian Churches. COST $99-$397 DATES June 2-July 30 GRADES rising 1-12, Coed

MARCIA P. HOFFMAN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS SUMMER CLASSES 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, Florida 33759 727-791-7400; rutheckerdhall.com/hoffman-school-of-arts Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts summer classes enrolling soon!

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS SUMMER CAMP 6400 E. Chelsea St., Tampa, Florida 33610 813-626-6191; mhctampa.org/camp-mary-help-2019 We offer an Olympic-sized swimming pool, canoeing, sports and much more. We also have a great farm program in Mary Has a Little Farm where young people can ride horses and help to care for small animals.

COST Registration fee $50, $150-$175/week DATES June 8-July 24, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. AGES: 5-15, Coed

MARY JO'S PEFORMING ARTS ACADEMY 15906 Mapledale Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33624 813-969-0240; mjpaa.com/summer The arts are a perfect avenue to allow your children to explore their creativity, tap their imagination and discover their potential. Students will develop self-expression, build confidence, learn to work with peers, foster problem solving skills and stimulate curiosity. From classics to pop culture, your children will unfold the wonderful world of the performing arts. COST $125-225 DATES June-August, weekly 9 a.m.to noon, 3, or 4 p.m. AGES 3-12, Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Unleash your inner artist and make friends this summer at The James Museum!

COLOR EXPLOSION June 8-12 Ages 6-8

UPCYCLED ART July 6-10 Ages 6-8

S.T.E.A.M. SPECTACULAR June 22-26 Ages 9-11

TEEN STUDIO: LEATHERCRAFT July 20-24 Ages 12-15

St. Petersburg, FL |

thejamesmuseum.org/summercamp

| 727-892-4200 x1010

Our counselors can’t wait to see you again this summer!

Camp Terrapin (grades 1–8) Special Interest Camps (6 years to grade 12) • • • •

Robotics LEGOs Programming Cheer

• • • •

Volleyball Guitar Arts Chess

tampaprep.org/summer

MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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LIGHTNING MADE SUMMER CAMPS LIGHTNING MADE TRAINING CENTER 6910 Asphalt Ave. Unit B Tampa, FL 33614

JUNE 1-5, JUNE 22-26, AUGUST 3-6

POWER POLE ARENA, HOME OF XTRA ICE · JUNE 1-5 6910 Asphalt Ave, Tampa, FL 33164

- GOALIES ONLY -

TGH ICE PLEX · JUNE 8-12 10222 Elizabeth Place, Tampa, FL 33619

ADVENTHEALTH CENTER ICE · JUNE 15-19 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

- GIRLS ONLY -

HERTZ ARENA · JULY 13-17

11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero, FL 33928

TAMPA BAY SKATING ACADEMY · JULY 20-21 255 Forest Lake Blvd N, Oldsmar, FL 34677

POWERPOLE ARENA, HOME OF XTRA ICE · JULY 27-31 6910 Asphalt Ave, Tampa, FL 33164

For more information and to register visit

LightningMadeHockey.com/SummerCamps

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ANYTIME ADMISSIONS THE BCS DIFFERENCE Personal Attention - With our small class sizes, you can be sure your child is getting the attention they need to succeed.

Academic Excellence - It doesn’t take a BIG private school to help students achieve. Our graduates prove this with their 4.4 GPA average and the millions of dollars in scholarships they have earned.

Values Based Education - We’re an interdenominational Christian School, and that informs every part of what we do.

ANYTIME ADMISSIONS We understand you may need to change your child’s school mid-year in order to create the best life possible. Whether it is

Christian Values, Small Class Sizes and Academic Excellence That’s what the parents of Bayshore Christian School love best about their school. Our students find a warm and supportive environment with teachers they love, fine arts and athletic opportunities, and the Christian values they live at home are reflected in the people around them. And as one young mid-year transfer student said, "Here, I feel like I’m learning much more. The teachers care about me."

Our family has found a perfect home for our kids. We are still in the elementary division but our boys love their teachers. The parent-teacher relationships we've built are remarkable and the sta f creates an environment that is positive and Christian. It's "cool" to be smart and the whole student is appreciated.

The arts program is phenomenal and BCS athletics department is amazing too. This is the best kept secret in South Tampa. With all the great choices in our town, we still didn't hesitate to choose BCS.

due to a recent move to Tampa, or simply a need for a different school, the Anytime Admissions program at BCS is designed to

My husband and I are very happy and our kids are even happier. They like school and love their teachers.

Families are from all over Tampa, and there’s a heavy military presence. Hidden gem in south Tampa.

help families like yours. If your child needs a new school now, we’re ready to help.

Accredited - (Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS and AdvancED); Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS); and Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC).

SCHEDULE YOUR CAMPUS TOUR NOW calendly.com/bcstampa (813) 839-4297 3909 South MacDill Avenue Tampa, FL 33611 b a y2020 s h oTampaBayParenting.com r e c h r i s t i a n s c h o o65 l.org MARCH

Summer 2020

MONTESSORI ACADEMIES 4 Locations including Tampa, Temple Terrace and New Tampa 813-899-2345; MontessoriAcademies.com Don't let your child regress during the summer. Summer at Montessori Academies focuses on language, math, science and social studies, foreign language and art through exciting hands-on activities and lessons. COST $800-$1,000/month DATES June 1-July 24 AGES 12 months–grade 5, Coed

MONTESSORI BY THE SEA'S EXPLORE THE SHORE SUMMER CAMP 1603 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach, Florida 33706 727-360-7621; montessori-by-sea.org Dive into 'Explore the Shore' Summer Camp at Montessori by the Sea! Explore the Shore offers an introduction to our local marine environment. Your child will experience daily hands-on interactive activities at our beach front campus as well as off-site adventures. Enroll for one week or all six.

COST $200 per week DATES June 8-July 17, weekly 8:30 a.m.to 2:30 p.m. AGES 3- 6, Coed

MOREAN ARTS CENTER ARTS & CLAY CAMP 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 420 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg, Florida 33712 727-822-7872; moreanartscenter.org Art experiences for kids including half-day preschool camps (4-5 years old) and unique, specialized camps for teens (11-16 years old) including animation, glassblowing, quilling, photography and more! All campers will work on take-home projects, collaborative pieces and community art projects. We have something for every budding artist. Extended care available. COST $85-$330 DATES June 1-Aug. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

AGES 4-16, Coed

MS. LISA'S DANCE 3805 W. San Miguel St., Tampa, Florida 33629 813-253-5472; mslisasdancestudio.com Ms. Lisa's offers classes, workshops and camps in all styles of dance including acro, musical theatre, ballet, hip-hop and more! Check online for more information. COST $165 DATES May 27-Aug. 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

AGES 3-6 and 6-13, Coed

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS ST. PETERSBURG 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 727-896-2667; mfastpete.org/programs/family-programs Explore the museum, discover new artists and create masterpieces at Florida Artists and Art Around the World Camps. Join one or both! Sixth to ninth graders identifying as female can join Empowerment & Art Workshop, discover female artists (historical and contemporary) with women curators and express themselves through conversation, mindfulness, yoga and art. COST $190-$250 Dates July 6-24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. GRADES 1-9 , Coed or identify as female

PIN CHASERS SUMMER CAMP 4847 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, Florida 33603 813-877-7418; pinchasers.net/fun/summer-camps Our affordable summer camp includes indoor and outdoor activities (camp is never canceled), daily lunch and snacks, and a free bowling ball, water bottle and T-shirt for each child. Kids develop a competitive spirit as well as teamwork and social skills through bowling, arts and crafts and fun activities. Use code EARLY to get $20 off until June 1. COST $199 DATES June 8-July 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. AGES 5-15, Coed

PRACTICALLY PIKASSO ART CAMP 1912 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, Florida 33704 727-822-5204; practicallypikasso.com Campers will learn about process, technique and art history while having tons of fun exploring and expanding their creativity. This is a genuine art camp and art is our passion! COST $55 full day / $35 half day with advance registration DATES June 1-Aug. 14, weekly AGES 5-12, Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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YOUR SEARCH FOR SUMMER PLANS IS OVER Home to more than 200 species of animals and world-class coasters, Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay has camps for both animal lovers and thrill seekers alike.

Kids kindergarten – college can enroll in one-of-a-kind camps.

Day Camp: K-12th • Resident Camp: 5th -College Book today and start counting down to the best summer ever.

Day Camps run June 1st – Aug.5th Resident Camps run June 6th – Aug. 13th

BuschGardens.com/camps • (813)884-4FUN (4386) MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com Program component, pricing and availability subject to change. © 2020 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Summer 2020

SAFETY HARBOR MONTESSORI ACADEMY 2669 N McMullen Booth Road., Clearwater, Florida 33761 727-724-1767; shma.us We invite children ages 2 through rising eighth graders to join us all summer or for a week at a time.

Themes encompass exciting activities, in-house enrichment, field trips, science experiments and opportunities to learn new skills and sports. Each week will include fun and games and new friendships.

COST $150-$200/week DATES May 26–July 24 AGES Age 2-Grade 8, Coed

SHORECREST PREPARATORY SCHOOL 5101 1st St., NE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33703 727-346-1804; shorecrest.org/summer Summer at Shorecrest offers affordable, educational and FUN summer programs for students age 4 to 12th grade including Drones & Robotics, Video Game Creation, Musical Theatre Training, Specialty Sports Clinics, academic enrichment, college prep and so much more! View the full catalog and register online.

COST $140-$575/ week DATES June 1-July 31; full day and half day AGES age 4-grade 12, Coed

SKY CAMP - SKYZONE 10137 E. Adamo Dr., #800b, Tampa, Florida 33619 813-833-1740; skyzone.com/tampa Elevate your summer at Sky Zone where kids can stay active with instructor-led activities like dodgeball, SkySlam, our new Warrior Course, crafts and science experiments. With different themes each week, your kids will never be bored! COST Full day and half day, $25.99-$45.99 daily, $139.99-$179.99 weekly, 20% sibling discount DATES all summer, full day 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., half day 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. / 12:30 -5 p.m. AGES 5-13, Coed

SOUL ADVENTURES SUMMER CAMP 129 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater, Florida 33765 727-797-1186; souladventures.us If you are looking for something exciting for your child to do this summer, then Soul Adventure is the right choice. Each day will be a different adventure for campers. Adventure days will include kayaking, sailing, fishing, paddle boarding, paint ball, snorkeling, rope courses, frisbee golf, archery - just to name a few.

COST $168 - $280/week DATES May 26-Aug. 7 AGES 5-15, Coed

ST PETERSBURG CITY THEATRE'S SUMMER THEATRE CAMP 4025 31st St. S., St. Petersburg, Florida 33712 727-866-1973; spcitytheatre.org Our two-week camps begin with auditions and end with a fully staged performance on our Main Stage. All theatre experience levels welcome. Shows include “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” “Pirates of Penzance Jr.,” “Lion King Jr.” and “Annie Jr.” COST $400/week DATES June 8-July 31 AGES 7-14, Coed

TAMPA BAY ICE | ICE SKATING CAMP Offered at three convenient locations in Pinellas County tampabayice.com Stay cool this summer at Learn to Ice Skate and Learn to Play Hockey Camps. We offer weekly camps at all three locations for beginner through intermediate level hockey and recreational/figure skaters ages 5 and up. No skating experience required. Please check our website for hours and prices which vary by location and camp type. COST Varies DATES June 1-Aug. 7, weekly AGES 5+, Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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MARCH 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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Fun-loving kids ages 3 and up may choose from themed day camps, STEM, technology, sports, and enrichment camps at the Academy of the Holy Names’ ever-popular Summer on Bayshore!

For additional information or to register online, visit holynamestpa.org/summer.

Weekly sessions run from June 1 - July 24.

ACADEMY OF THE HOLY NAMES

3319 Bayshore Blvd. | Tampa, FL 33629 72

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holynamestpa.org

813.839.5371

Academy of the @holynamestpa Holy Names - Tampa

Jr. Adventure Camp 5 - 9 year olds

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be the

SAME! Summer is coming, and Jr. Adventure Camp is the place to be. Join us for a summer of crazy games, fun field trips, awesome crafts and our annual food fight! Our weekly camps offer a fun and exciting alternative for summer.

Energetic camp counselors will keep your child active during our fun-filled weeks. Campers will experience 3-4 off-campus activities each week.

While on campus, campers will participate in activities such as rock climbing, bounce houses, sports, water games, crafts, and much, much more! Join us for a summer adventure!

Soul Adventures is located at 129 North Belcher Rd, Clearwater.

Let the adventure begin

“Mom, I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.” If you’ve ever heard your child say that, then we have an adventure for you! “Bored” is never heard at Soul Adventures, a summer camp for 10-14 year-olds.

Imagine these experiences: • Kayaking • Rope courses • Paint balling • Paddle boarding • Sailing • Archery • Fishing • Beach olympics • Snorkeling • Mountain biking Combine these exploits with a powerful daily devotion time, and you have the recipe for an adventure that might just last a lifetime.

www.souladventures.us

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Summer 2020

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Various Locations 813-301-6500; lightningmadehockey.com/summercamps Join the Tampa Bay Lightning for one of their exclusive Summer Hockey Camps taught by Lightning alumni and staff. With offerings for all ages, the Lightning offers camps that are geared towards all skill levels, girls-only camps, and goaltending camps. Visit the website for more information!

COST $225-$500 DATES June 1-Aug. 7 AGES 6-15, Coed

TAMPA BAY TURNERS GYMNASTICS & SWIMMING 2301 26th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33713 727-328-8500; tampabayturners.com Gymnastics classes, competitive USAG Teams, current levels 3, 4, XG & XP State Team Champions, indoor heated pool for swimming lessons starting at 6 months, toddler tumbling, second Sunday family day, birthday parties, Tiny Turners Preschool (Lic 52-51-04744), Summer Day Camps. COST $40/day, $170/ week DATES Beginning June 1, weekly 9 a.m.to 3 p.m., extended camp 8-9 a.m., 3-5 p.m. ($6/hour) AGES 5-12, Coed

TAMPA ELITE SOCCER ACADEMY University of Tampa, 417 N. Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33606 813-323-3933; tampaelitesa.com Summer soccer camps at the University of Tampa’s Pepin Stadium are Tampa Bay’s #1 youth soccer summer camps. Day camps are for boys and girls ages 5-13, Resident camps ages 9-18 years (Boys only for resident camps). Camp hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to Noon Fridays. COST $280 for day camps, early bird registration prior to April 15 only $250 DATES June and July AGES day camps for ages 5-13, Coed. Resident camps for ages 9-18, Boys

TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART: SUMMER ART CAMP 2020 Cornelia Corbett Center, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, Florida 33602 813-421-6631; tampamuseum.org/summerartcamp Children and teens exercise their creativity and imagination with hands-on activities themed around the Tampa Museum of Art’s permanent collection of antiquities, modern and contemporary art. With a variety of 2D and 3D mediums to choose from, campers connect with the art on view and create unique works of art. COST $125-$150 DATES June 1-July 3 AGES 6-17, Coed

USF SOCCER CAMP 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Florida 33620 631-901-3328; usfsoccercamps.com Our superb coaching staff includes licensed coaches and current University of South Florida Bulls soccer players. We strive to help each camper, from beginners to experienced players, improve in a positive and energetic environment and learn new skills, play games and have a blast competing in camp tournaments.

COST varies by camp DATES June and July AGES 4-18, Coed

VOSLER YOUNG ARTISTS' STUDIO 330 Pauls Drive, Brandon, Florida 33511 813-417-5867; vosleryoungartistsstudio.com This workshop will introduce the young artist to a classical atelier program of instruction. Students will learn to draw through direct observation. Kerry Vosler, master instructor, will do frequent demonstrations and give regular instruction at the artist's easel. COST $395 DATES June 1-5, 8-12, Aug 10-14 AGES 12-18, Coed

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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AT THE GL A ZER CHILDR EN’S MUSEUM, OPPORTUNITIES A BOUND TO EX POSE YOUR CHILD TO THE IMPORTA NCE OF A RT.

IMAGINATION at play GLAZER CELEBRATES YOUTH ART MONTH WITH PLENTY OF CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE EMOTION AND COLOR

By Chris Bueno, Glazer Childrens Museum

It’s arts and culture season in Tampa Bay! From the 50th annual Gasparilla Festival of the Arts to the Gasparilla Music Festival, creativity overflows in our community. In March, thousands of schools across the nation are partnering with art museums and other organizations to celebrate Youth Art Month. Art allows children to express emotions that may not easily be able to be put into words. For that reason, many institutions are taking action to add art to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The new acronym STEAM acknowledges that art can have a heavy impact in a child’s life.

At the Glazer Children’s Museum, there are plenty of opportunities to expose your child to the importance of art. You will often find scheduled art programs led by one of our Playologists, with activities carefully

DON'T FORGET

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curated to accommodate all our guests. If you have a little one, I recommend Tot Time, a program catered to children 3 and under that teaches about colors through a centralized theme such as animals or transportation.

For older kids, we offer plenty of field trip options that put art in the spotlight. My personal favorite is Color Wheels. In this program we take the students into SMALLab, a motion capture studio that enhances student learning through movement and interactivity. We start by reviewing the familiar primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. We explain that these colors are known as pigments, or colors that are either found naturally or made by things found on Earth.

Once the students grasp this concept we progress to the color-spectrum of light and how it has its own set of primary colors: red, blue, and green. This is where the program gets interactive, as the students get to take turns embodying the colors of light in a game that requires teamwork. They apply their new knowledge of mixing the colors of light to earn points as they successfully create a color match.

Teaching this program never fails to put a smile on my face.

I love watching the students transition from hesitation as they question their own color choices to confidence as they yell out their answers and cheer on their classmates. It is moments like these that remind me why I decided to pursue a career in education.

Embrace your child’s artistic side by finding a fun art activity to do together at home, recommend a field trip to your school or visit the Glazer Children’s Museum.

TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

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GCM s Camp Imagination: June 8-July 31 The Glazer Children’s Museum is celebrating 10 years of play and at Camp Imagination your child will not only play, but make friends, use creativity, and take on new challenges every day! With 5 new weekly themes and 3 returning favorites, there’s a camp for every kid! To learn more about our playful camps, visit GlazerMuseum.org

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heart and soul.

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What if you could see the power of your heart? It fuels everything you do. It beats more than 100,000 times a day. It helps you breathe and laugh and move. You have an incredible muscle inside you. If anyone can take control of their health, it’s you.

Find your partner in innovative heart care.

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QUIT YOUR WAY Quitting tobacco isn’t easy. Finding help should be.

Tobacco Free Florida offers free tools and services to help you get started.

USF Area Health Education Center is offering tobacco cessation groups at:

60 MIN FACIAL FOR $25 $20 OFF ANY COLOR SERVICE

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All services are performed by students under the direct supervision of licensed educators. Service is not available on previously booked appointments and is not redeemable with any other promotion. Offer only available at Aveda Institute Tampa Bay. Expires 6/30/2020 Code: TBParent

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*If medically appropriate and 18 years of age or older.

Program covers all forms of tobacco.

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can't eat that understanding food allergies in kids With Panida Sriaroon, M.D. of Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital

FOOD ALLERGIES ARE ON THE RISE. One in every 13 children (or about two per school classroom) have food allergies. Panida Sriaroon, M.D., medical director for the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Food Allergy Clinic, helps parents and caregivers understand how food allergies impact children.

8

OF THE THE TOP ALLERGENS

THESE FOODS ACCOUNT FOR 90% OF REACTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

8 MILK 8 EGG 8 PEANUT 8 TREE NUTS (like almond, walnut, pecan, cashew, pistachio, hazelnut, Brazil nut) 8 SOY 8 WHEAT 8 FISH 8 SHELLFISH

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF FOOD ALLERGY CAN VARY, WITH SOME DEVELOPING IN A FEW MINUTES AND OTHERS IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. • Skin rash, hives or itching • Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat or other body parts • Difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing or nasal congestion • Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea • Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting • Symptoms that progress quickly require immediate attention in a hospital emergency department.

Avoidance Strict avoidance is the key in managing a food allergy!

There is no medication that can cure a food allergy, so treatment is focused on avoiding the food and treating reactions that occur after accidental ingestions. Reading food labels and understanding the ingredients list is very important.

HOW ARE FOOD ALLERGIES IDENTIFIED? HISTORY This helps guide the allergist on what foods to test for.

SKIN AND/OR BLOOD TESTING Skin testing can be performed in the office. It is quick and non-invasive with results available in as little as 15 minutes. Blood testing can take a few days to get results.

ORAL FOOD CHALLENGE An oral food challenge can definitively tell us if a child has outgrown his or her food allergy and/or if they can tolerate the food in a different form like baked milk or baked egg (as compared to dairy products or straight eggs, respectively).

Children are given the food little by little in a controlled setting in an allergist’s office to help determine their tolerance to a specific food.

For more information, visit HopkinsAllChildrens.org/FoodAllergies.

Epinephrine In case of a lifethreatening reaction, epinephrine should be administered into the child’s thigh. It is important that those with food allergy carry epinephrine devices − commonly known as EpiPen or Auvi-Q − with them at all times and use it in case of reactions.

New therapy coming soon: Oral immunotherapy will soon be offered at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Food Allergy Clinic in spring 2020 to kids with a confirmed peanut allergy. The FDA recently approved a peanut powder, which will be available in oral immunotherapy.

Patients ingest very small, gradually increasing amounts of the peanut powder at the allergist’s office and at home for several months with the goal of developing tolerance.

After completing the treatment course, a small amount of food is then maintained in the child’s diet regularly and on an indefinite basis.

GettyImages-660656870

MORE ON FOOD ALLERGIES

HOW DO WE KNOW IF OUR CHILD HAS A FOOD ALLERGY? WHAT ARE THE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS?

WHAT ARE TREATMENTS AND SOLUTIONS?

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get out and enjoy family-friendly events you can't miss in

MARCH Tracker at the PAW Patrol exhibit at Glazer Children’s Museum. “There’s no job too big, no pup too small!” glazermuseum.org DINOS ALIVE! Through May 31 Head over to ZooTampa to discover species that haven’t been seen for millions of years!

Enjoy fossil digs, life-size animatronic dinosaurs and fun for the whole family! zootampa.org CHILDREN’S BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FREE TUESDAY March 3, noon to 6 p.m.

Enjoy free admission to Glazer Children’s Museum in downtown Tampa as part of its partnership with the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and its mission to promote the well-being of children and families. glazermuseum.org

BUSCH GARDENS’ REAL MUSIC REAL MASTERS Through March 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Busch Gardens presents exclusive live music and all-new entertainment throughout the coming months. This month, check out ONES: The Beatles #1 Show and Cirque Vertigo featuring the Wallenda Duo! All events are listed on their website with dates, times and further ticketing info. buschgardens.com BAY AREA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL Through March 29 Fair maidens and merciful gents are invited to the Tampa Bay Renaissance Festival that takes guests back to the 16th century.

Enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind shopping experience from more than 100 artisans and go back 400 years when you view live action jousting. bayarearenfest.com

BUSCH GARDENS FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL Through April 26 Savor culinary delights and sample an expanded selection of wines, craft brews and cocktails from around the world at Busch Gardens in Tampa. Some of the biggest acts in musical entertainment will take the stage every weekend. buschgardens.com SEVEN SEAS FOOD FESTIVAL Through May 3 Sample a variety of international, local and seasonal craft brews and unique flavors from around the world at SeaWorld Orlando, enjoying live music while savoring the gastronomic essence of different cultures. seaworld.com PAW PATROL: ADVENTURE PLAY Through May 25 Explore Adventure Bay with Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Everest, Rocky, Zuma and

EPCOT INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL March 4 – June 1 Experience spring through brilliant blooms, live entertainment, flavorful dishes and interactive playgrounds as a part of this annual springtime celebration at Disney’s EPCOT. Guests can check out outdoor kitchens, more than 70 Disney-themed topiaries, vibrant gardens, flower towers, exhibits and outdoor rock concerts. disneyworld.com YBOR CITY CUPCAKE FESTIVAL March 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit Ybor City Saturday Market for their annual cupcake festival! Local cupcake bakers will compete against each other to win their rightful place as “Best Cupcake in Tampa 2020.” Visitors can enjoy the bakers’ delicious creations as they stroll around the Saturday Market. For more about competing in this event. facebook.com/ybormarket ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL-SOUTH 5TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION March 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Hospital in Riverview is turning 5 years old and invites the community to celebrate with face painting, DJs, a teddy bear clinic and much more! There will also be a farmer’s market and food trucks. stjosephssouthbirthday.org

STORYBOOK FOREST AT CREWS LAKE WILDERNESS PARK March 7, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Join the Early Learning Coalition for this event at the Crew Lake Wilderness Park as they host children’s activities and much more. Meet Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat and sing along with Mr. Tommy the storyteller as he brings amazing tales to life! phelc.org OPERA TAMPA FAMILY DAY – THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE ABRIDGED March 7. 11 a.m.

Opera Tampa presents an abridged version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s swashbuckling caper The Pirates of Penzance for family audiences. Take a band of pirates, a very marriage-focused nursemaid and a twofaced pirate apprentice and you have a slapstick show that is fun for everyone. Kid-friendly activities will be in the lobby before the show, so be sure to arrive early. strazcenter.org POSTMODERN JUKEBOX March 7, 8 p.m.

Once again Tampa’s oldest theatre welcomes Scott Bradlee’s “Postmodern Jukebox ,” focusing on the decade ahead: the ‘20s! Tickets range from $34.50 to $69.50 with a limited number of VIP tickets. tampatheatre.org GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL March 7-8 This annual festival celebrates Tampa with an eclectic assortment of music to inspire and entertain. Enjoy art in every form with performances from local artists, aerialists, crafters, dancers, drum circles, hair braiders, double-dutch jumpers, pop-up performers and marching bands. gasparillamusic.com PICNIC IN THE PARK March 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Roll back the clock a century and join Henry B. Plant Museum for an old-fashioned picnic in Plant Park. Bring your blanket, pack a picnic basket and invite family and friends to experience the pleasures of a simpler time. Relax in the shade, or test your Victorian sporting prowess with field and table games. Enjoy live en-

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tertainment and fun activities with their community partners all day! plantmuseum.com/events/ picnic-in-the-park GILBERT AND SULLIVAN’S THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE March 13-15, various times This opera focuses on the life of Frederic, a young Englishman who just completed his apprenticeship with a band of pirates.

Sing along to the musical’s satirical lyrics, as they will be displayed on a screen for everyone to see! strazcenter.org DAY OUT WITH THOMAS: BIG ADVENTURES TOUR 2019 Mar. 13-15 & 21-22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Children are invited to spend a day with Thomas at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish, Florida. Multiple activities will be offered, including a 25-minute ride with a talking Thomas the Tank Engine and a chance to meet Sir Topham Hatt. dayoutwiththomas.com 2019 MAYOR’S O’GREEN FEST March 14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Watch the Hillsborough River turn brilliant green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Children can enjoy free activities and crafts at the Kids Tent, which will include family fun from Busch Gardens, The Florida Aquarium, MOSI and more. riverogreen.com ST. PATRICK’S DAY RUN March 14, times vary Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by joining the 3rd Annual Leprechaun's 5K, 10K, Challenge and Kid's Fun Run. Only those who dare to complete both the 5K and 10K runs will pass the leprechaun’s challenge and be the worthy winners of three medals. Kids are welcome to participate in the 100-meter Fun Run at AI Lopez Park! runsignup.com/Race/FL/Tampa/ TheLeprechaunsRun5k PI DAY March 14, 3:14 p.m.

Celebrate Albert Einstein’s birthday at the Glazer Children’s Museum’s second annual Pi Day. Take part in a pie fight at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park while Mozart plays in the background. The fight will start exactly at 3:14 p.m.! glazermuseum.org REPTILEPALOOZA March 14-15, times vary Along with discovering the diverse marine life the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has to offer, now you can also learn and have an up-close encounter with the aquarium's rescued snakes and reptiles! Check out their website for more information on times and ticket prices. seewinter.com

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TAMPA FOSSIL FEST March 14-15, times vary Examine incredible displays of fossils, minerals and gems at the Tampa Bay Fossil Club’s Fossil Fest at the Florida State Fairgrounds to learn about Florida’s prehistoric past. facebook.com/prehistoricflorida 2020 VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK March 16-22, times vary Tampa Bay's PGA TOUR event will be held at Innisbrook Resort. In addition to a top-ranking field, the family-friendly event offers activities such as a 16’ rock-climbing wall, putting holes, and various arts and crafts. Chris Young, multi-platinum country music star, headlines the tournament’s concert, Valspar® LIVE 6, on Saturday night. Kids 15 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult. valsparchampionship.com GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL March 17-22 Join in a celebration of film, community outreach and social awareness. This festival includes screenings of a diverse group of films that hope to showcase new talent in support of the cinematic arts. Also includes industry panels where top players share knowledge with filmmakers and attendees. gasparillafilmfestival.com 112 YEARS OF BROADWAY March 19, 1 p.m.

Enjoy the new and the old of Broadway at a show that has it all! Neil Berg’s production has some of the original stars of these all-time favorite shows, from classics such as “The Phantom of the Opera” to newer musical productions. rutheckerdhall.com

TampaBayParenting.com MARCH 2020

BLOOM ‘N’ CHALK FEST ART FESTIVAL March 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Escape to Safety Harbor to experience art right below your feet. Local, national and international artists create sidewalk art on Main Street. Proceeds from the festival benefit local art projects and scholarships. bloomnchalkfest.com TASTE OF SOUTH TAMPA March 22, 1-4 p.m.

General admission tickets to the 15th Annual Taste of South Tampa are all-inclusive for unlimited food and drink samples, live entertainment, beer gardens, giveaways and much more! VIP tickets are also available. A portion of sale proceeds go to Meals on the Wheels of Tampa. tasteofsouthtampa.com MISS SAIGON March 24-29, various times The creators of Les Misérables offer up a new production of Miss Saigon. Follow the complicated story set in 1970s Vietnam of a woman wrestling with adversity and unexpected love. “Miss Saigon” is intended for mature audiences as it contains adult scenes of a sexual nature. strazcenter.org MASTERCHEF JUNIOR LIVE March 25, 7 p.m.

Young culinary geniuses cook right in front of you at this family-friendly event that features past MasterChef Junior stars and fan favorites as well as a Q&A with the stars of the show. rutheckerdhall.com

COLOR ME RAD March 28, 9 a.m. to noon Run your way through five different color stations and make it to the finish line as a colorful mess! This race is all about having fun in a healthy yet unusual way while also helping Feeding Tampa Bay. colormeradtampabay.com UPTOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2020 March 28, 4-10 p.m.

Enjoy some good jazz at the University Area Park while raising funds for University Area CDC. The festival features recognized jazz artists such as Latin Grammy Award winner Jose Valentino, Kim Waters and Jazmin Ghent as well as vendors, an art gallery and a family-friendly kids zone. uptownmusicfestival.com TAMPA BAY AIRFEST March 28-29 Visit the MacDill Airforce Base for breathtaking military and civilian flight performances while enjoying family friendly activities. Honor and support the five branches of the military and our first responder agencies. General admission is free and premium seating tickets are available. tampabayairfest.com JACKIE EVANCHO March 29, 7 p.m.

Bilheimer Capitol Theatre welcomes classical crossover sensation Jackie Evancho to perform her newest album, “The Debut.” Evancho’s soldout shows are in the genre re-emerging into popularity: Broadway’s New American Songbook. rutheckerdhall.com

check out the full list of events at TAMPABAYPARENTING.COM

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