The Family Guide 2023 Spring Issue

On the Cover: Thank You to the Grant Elementary Drummers and Dancers.

Activities:

Youth & Performing Arts

Grant Elementary Drummers & Dancers

· Connecting Kids w/ Nature

· Twin Eagle Wilderness

Parenting:

Large Animal Rescue Groups

· Project Beauty Share

· Organizations Serving Local Families

Celebrating Earth Month

Education: N. Idaho &Spokane School Districts

· N. Idaho & Spokane Schools

· Early Learning Centers

· Upcoming School Fundraisers

The Family Guide is a 501-C3 Organization established in 2006 serving Spokane and North Idaho. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means including electronic in whole or part without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of The Family Guide. Disclaimer: The School Districts and Schools do nor sponsor or endorse the event/information/advertisement and the districts/ schools assume no responsibility for it. In consideration of the privilege to distribute materials, the school districts/ schools will be held harmless of any cause of action filed in any court or administrative tribunal arising out of the distribution of this materials, including costs, attorneys fees and judgments or awards.

Publisher: Charity Bagatsing-Doyl nwfamilyfun@yahoo.com | (509) 928-9664 thefamilyguide.org | SpokaneUnitedWeStand.org

Uh Oh! Curiosity has gotten the best of Baby Dino and he has wandered somewhere in the pages of The Family Guide!

4 Readers who correctly identify the page where Baby Dino is located will be eligible to enter to win.

4 Winners will each receive 4 tickets to Jurassic World Live Tour. www.jurassicworldlivetour.com

Please send us an email that says: Dear Family Guide, I found Baby Dino on Page#___________________ Send us an Email: nwfamilyfun@yahoo.com

Please include your name, address & phone number. Drawing will be held on May 1, 2023

Youth & Performing Arts

Christian Youth Theater (CYT) is the largest after-school theater arts training program in the nation. Our Branches across the country offer classes in drama, music, dance, technical theater, and more! Each local program offers camps and classes for ages 4-18, and full-scale productions for ages 8-18. CYT North Idaho | cytnorthidaho.org

CYT Spokane | www.cytspokane.org

Lake City Highland Dance. We teach traditional Highland dancing to boys and girls of all abilities, ages 5+, both competitively and recreationally. At our studio, dancers learn coordination, grace, and determination in an encouraging, positive environment. Each child receives specialized attention through small class sizes and highly trained instructors to give them the best experience possible. lakecityhighlanddance.com

Musha Marimba. We are a high school student group from The Enrichment Cooperative at Bryant School. They play traditional marimba music from Zimbabwe and other countries. Facebook: MushaMarimbaSpokane

Spokane All-City Jazz Ensemble. We are created to provide opportunities for middle school and high school jazz students in small group settings. Through ensembles, classes, guest artists, master classes, and performances, students in the All-City Jazz Program have many opportunities to grow and learn. spokaneallcityjazz.org

Sorensen Magnet School. Our Performance Teams are designed for students who are serious about developing high-level knowledge and performance skills in certain areas. Chess, Dance, Drumming, Juggling, Legos, Marimbas, Stage Tech Theater and Vocal Music (Canto de Sorensen). cdaschools.org/domain/615

The program was started by Grant Elementary music teacher Margo Dries in 1974 as a way to celebrate and share the African heritage of many of the students at Grant Elementary. Grant Elementary has historically been one of the most diverse elementary schools in Spokane.

Students learn to dance, sing and drum traditional and contemporary songs from all over the continent of Africa. They also learn about the cultures and history of the many countries of Africa and the music created there.

The group is comprised mainly of students in 3rd through 6th grade who go through a practice and audition procedure. With 6th grade students moving to middle school, it will be 3rd through 5th grade students in the future. Students are invited from younger grades to practice with the older students that demonstrate a willingness to participate and/or to join family members. All students put in at least 50 hours a year through practice and performance. One unique feature of the group is that experienced students mentor younger students. This includes students coming from middle school and high school to join and teach. Students who want to learn the drumming patterns to the dances spend several additional hours practicing.

Each year the Drummers and Dancers perform at many community events throughout the Spokane area. Currently, the Grant Drummers and Dancers are directed by Music Teacher Kevin Cope and 3rd Grade Teacher Joelene Garland. www.facebook.com/GrantDrummersDancers

Spokane Area Youth Choirs. Through the study, rehearsal, and performance of choral music, SAYC provides a joyful and challenging musical experience for musicians from age 5 to 18. Choristers will be introduced to healthy vocal technique, music theory, music history, and a variety of literature and performance styles. saychoirs.org

Spokane Children's Theatre was founded in 1946 after a group of individuals decided to turn their shared interests into an official Theater Group. When you decide to join us, you too will gain access to various events and, most importantly, to a group of like-minded individuals who are just as passionate as you are. spokanechildrenstheatre.org

The North Idaho Youth Symphony is the Panhandle's premier student ensemble. Led by the area's finest educators and a team of parent volunteers, the NIYS provides professional ensemble training and opportunities through rehearsals and coaching from principal players of the Coeur d'Alene Symphony and students and faculty from the University of Idaho. The orchestras perform three to four concerts per year, with programs selected to broaden young musicians’ fluency. niysmusic.org

The Spokane Youth Symphony. Designed to provide the students with large group performance opportunities, as well as chamber music experience, the youth orchestra program allows students to enhance their musical skills by interacting with other musicians of varying abilities and performing music they find challenging, yet attainable. spokaneyouthsymphony.org

Spokane Valley Summer Theatre. We hope to inspire artistic excellence in the youth of our community in a professional environment. They are the future! Instructors will be preparing students to step into their prospective career field with the appropriate resources, fundamental tools, and decision-making abilities to continue their interests and passions on their own during the school year. svsummertheatre.com

Children and Nature, Supporting the Connection

care and public education to the benefit of all wildlife. We take pride in the Wildlife Center mission of community based educational programs with expanding and inspirational opportunities for volunteers and higher education students, while providing forever homes for exotic animals and wildlife in need, and spreading awareness for our cause.

www.cattales.org www.bigredsbarn.com

Studies show outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, enhances imaginations and attention spans, decreases aggression, and boosts classroom performance. In addition, children who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become better stewards of the environment.

Big Red's Barn offers a hands on animal experience YEAR ROUND! Indoors and out of the weather, where our animals are clean and dry, enjoying the attention of kids and grown-ups alike! Here at Big Red's, come hang out with exotics, miniatures, farm animals, reptiles, and more! We do our best to educate our guests about the different types of animals we have here at Big Red's. We strive to make your visit educational and fun, which makes our facility a great place for field trips.

Cat Tales Wildlife Center is a forever home for rescued, retired, and non-releasable exotic animals and wildlife. We provide professional animal

West Valley Outdoor Learning. The WVOLC currently reaches 3,500 students in Spokane and neighboring counties through programs. One of our outreach programs is the Hawk and Owl Outreach Talks (H.O.O.T.) program which introduces student and adult audiences to the incredible world of raptor adaptations. This program also looks at different roles that specific raptors play as ecological indicators. Critical habitat issues and species of specific concern are also addressed. Students are given opportunities to see live education birds up close and build personal connections to wildlife. www.olc.wvsd.org

Birds of Prey Northwest’s mission is to educate the public about birds of prey, through on-site and virtual live raptor presentations and other expanding outreach, and provide medical treatment to injured, sick, and orphaned wild raptors with the goal of returning them to the wild. Birds of Prey Northwest offers educational programs and author visits including live raptors and/or Janie Veltkamp’s award-winning children’s book Beauty and the Beak and new childrens book Swoop and Soar-for all ages. www.birdsofpreynorthwest.org