WNC Parent June 2012

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W N C P A R E N T . C O M 3

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c o n t e n t sThis months features

In every issue On the cover

My son has played organized baseball since hewas about 3.And Imean organized in that therewere teams with coaches.Because at that age, there is nothing organized about kids and aball on a field.But evenwhen his games amounted to no

more than a half-dozen boys collapsing into apilewhile chasing a ball that had been hit off atee, it was a good lesson for him in how to getalongwith teammates.These days, children start playing team

sports at amuch younger age thanwhen Iwaslittle. In our story on Page 5,we look at sportsfor the littlest kids.A popular option to get kidsmoving is

martial arts. But as our story on Page 10points out, karate and tae kwon do and otherdisciplines are aboutmore than just kicks andpunches. They can teach children respect and control, amongother valuable lessons.Im always looking for newways to keep my son and daughter

active. One thingwe may try this summer is kayaking. In thestory on Page 12, area experts talk about how to get your childstarted in kayaking or canoeing.With summer and its activities comes the likelihood that your

childrenwill start forgetting all that they worked so hard to learnin the school year just completed. Read our story on Page 16 to getideas on preventing brain drain.Finally, a big thank-you to all of thosewho cast ballots in our

Family Choice Awards.We list thewinners in this issue, startingon Page 22.

Sports for little onesKatieWadington, editor

Kids Voices .....................14

Home-School Happenings.20

Growing Together............38

Puzzles............................40

F.E.A.S.T. ..........................42

Librarians Picks ...............44

Story Times .....................45

Nature Center Notes ........47

Kids Page ........................48

Calendar .........................53

Little athletesFree play is key whenpreschoolers start sports.

Martial artsKids learn self-discipline aswell as self-defense.

Hit thewaterKayaking and canoeingare great for older kids.

Summer lessonsPrevent brain drain witheveryday learning.

AvoidovertrainingBrian Lawler explains howrecovery is key for youngathletes.

Family ChoiceAwardsFind out thewinners in ourannual awards.

22

5

10

12

16

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Madelyn Jones by Colby Rabon.Correction: The child andphotographer for theMay coverweremisidentified. ZoeyMar-shallwas in the photo, shot byJesseca Bellemare Photography,www.jessecabellemare.com.

WNC PARENT EDITORKatie Wadington [email protected]

FEATURES EDITORBruce Steele

[email protected]

P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802828-232-5845 |www.wncparent.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERRandy Hammer

ADVERTISING/CIRCULATIONTim (Bo) Head 232-5860, [email protected]

CALENDAR CONTENTDue by June 11. E-mail [email protected]

ADVERTISING DEADLINEAdvertising deadline for the July issue is June 15.


KIDS & SPORTS

For the Jones family ofWeaverville, aSaturday spent at theBuncombe Coun-ty Sports Complex is a fun family

event.After pulling on her shin guards andtying her small cleats,Madelyn, 4, playssoccer with her team, theKoalas 3,whileMom,Dad and big sister,Mackenzie, cheerher on from the sidelines.Sports keep both of the Jones girls very

active.They dont spend toomuch time in front

of the TV,mom Jennifer Jones says.Madelyn has really come out of her shellsince playing sports; she can be very shy attimes.While playing sports has been nothing

but a positive experience for the Jonesfamily, some argue that the toddler yearsare too young for competitive sports.

When kids are 3, 4 and 5, its importantfor them to develop the fundamental ele-ments of howwemove and coordination.

Thats why free play is great, because kidsmove in all different ways and learn balanceand stability.When you slot them into train-ing specificmotions at such a young age,theymight not be getting asmuch variety intheir play,Dr. Ed Laskowski, co-director oftheMayo Clinic SportsMedicine Center,toldABCNews.Jones saidMadelyns games last about an

SPORTSFORTOTS By Susanna Barbee,WNC Parent contributor

Madelyn Jones, 3, practices with her team Koalas 3 at the Buncombe County Sports Complex in Enka on a recent Saturday. COLBYRABON/WNC PARENT PHOTO

Organized teams andprograms teach little onescoordination while having fun

Continues on Page 6

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KIDS & SPORTS

hour.AlthoughMadelyn plays a sport, thevastmajority of her time is still spent infree play. Furthermore, Jones and her hus-band emphasize the fun part of sports asopposed to the competitive side.

The biggest lesson that we teach ourgirls is that its not about winning, its abouthaving fun. If they are not having fun, thenit would not beworth it.Kim Turner, assistant athletic director

withAsheville Parks andRecreation, saidthere is a lot of interest in sports for ages 3and 4.The city partners withAshevilleBun-

combeYouth SoccerAssociation to offersoccer,with five youth baseball organiza-tions to offer T-ball, and it runs a youthbasketball program in conjunctionwith theYMCA.According to Turner, soccer andT-ball are themost popular sports for theyoungest athletes.

The benefits include having fun, devel-opingmotor skills, making friends, learningnew things and developing self-esteem,Turner said.Anne Callihan, ofAsheville, also views

sports favorably.Her two older children,

Grace Ellen, 7, and Jack, 5, are very in-volved in athletics.Alongwith playingsports throughAsheville Parks andRecrea-tion, the Callihans and a group of friendsstarted a sports co-op system. Throughco-oping, the parents coach the children in anumber of sports such as soccer and base-ball.According to Callihan, there is no setschedule, and the atmosphere is very re-laxed.

The co-op system is really fun becauseyourewith your friends, and you can plan itat fields and times that are convenient foreveryone, Callihan said.The Callihan kids also learned to ski at a

young age through a program at Cataloo-chee SkiArea inMaggieValley. The lessonsincluded two hours of instruction and a freenight pass for the night of the lesson.

The kids really learned to skiwell, andskiing became something funwe did as afamily, Callahan said.Another option for young children is

martial arts such as karate, tae kwon do,kung fu and jiu-jitsu.ChristineBasulto, owner ofBasulto

Academy ofDefense inWaynesville and amom of 7-year-old twin boys, teaches jiu-jitsu with her husband,Armando. She saysmartial arts brings increased self-confi-dence, discipline, socialization and groupexercise.

TheBasultos students, including theirtwo sons, enjoy the skills-based games,learning fun techniques to help keep themsafe and the opportunity to compete in asafe and supportive environment. The re-spect students learn frommartial arts oftentranslates into other areas of their livessuch as the classroom.One element of marital arts is bowing.Its not simply to show respect to the

instructor but also to focus themind andgreet your fellow students, ChristineBasulto said. She added that children asyoung as 5 compete in their own division,but somemoves are prohibited for that age.They grapple safely and are awardedpoints for superior positioning and control-ling their opponent. These are all greatskills that will help children dealwith phys-ical bullying in a nonviolent way.Many parents choose to hold off on orga-

nized sports until their children are a bitolder. They instead opt for parent-childclasses or programs in gymnastics or othersports skills.Nomatter the sport, parents like Jones

and Callihanwant their children to have funand place little importance onwinning.

I dont even think score is kept, saidJones. If it is,we are not aware of it.Made-lyn just gets excited if she gets to kick theball.

Anne Callihan, of Asheville, started a sports co-opwith friends. Some of their young athletes include, from left, Hyde Schuelke, JackCallihan, Walker Godfrey and Tommy Lackey. SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT/

SPORTS FOR TOTSContinued from Page 5


KIDS & SPORTS

Being able to play on a team is not something AidanHauser, 10, takes for granted.

He and his family drive all theway from Burnsville to East Asheville every Saturdaymorning during soccerseason so he can play on Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Associations special needs team.

For Aidan,who has cerebral palsy and suffers from epileptic seizures and other ongoing health issues, the soccerfield is a placewhere can play without worrying about being different or less athletic than anyone else.

Playing soccer has improved his self-confidence and it puts a smile on his face, says his dad, TomHauser.Not every child can play on a typical recreational sports team, particularly thosewith disabilities. Several organiza-

tions have stepped up to the plate to provide kids with special needs the opportunity to participate in different sports.

ADAPTIVE SPORTScater to kids with special needs

By Pam J. Hecht. WNC Parent contributor

Aidan Hauser, 10, of Burnsville plays on ABYSA Top Soccer special needs team. Aidan has cerebral palsy and suffers from epileptic seizuresand other ongoing health issues that sometimes prevent him from playing. SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT

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KIDS & SPORTS

ABYSA TOPSoccer

TOPSoccer gives Aidan a chance toplay in an environment thats less struc-tured than a typical soccer team and learnabout teamwork, camaraderie and fol-lowing instructions, saysHauser.The emphasis of the program is on

development, training and meaningfulparticipation rather than on competition,says ShaneWeems, ABYSA director ofcoaching. Instead of teams, kids are sep-arated into age/developmentally appropri-ate groups in a safe andwelcoming envi-ronment, with a low coach to player ratio,he adds.After practicing individual skills, each

player is pairedwith a volunteer buddyto play a game,Weems says. The goal is to

develop physical fitness, technical skills,and most importantly, courage and self-esteem, through the joy and excitement ofsoccer, he says.

Viper Cheer/StrikersAlice Zink, Viper Cheers special needs

coach,wanted to provide kids with dis-abilities the same cheerleading opportuni-ties as other kids, she says. So she and herdaughter Sammie, 16, amember of theViper senior team, started the Strikers,Viper Cheers All-Star cheerleading teamfor kids with special needs.Sammie choreographs the teams cheer

routines,which are designed to accommo-date each child alongwithwhat works bestfor them as a team, Zink says.

Our special needs team allows kidswith disabilities a chance to feel like theyfit in alongwith other kids, she says.They get on stage and do exactly whatother kids are doing its a huge boost ofconfidence to them and they see their

dreams come true by hearing applause,winning trophies, and making friends.Laura Snyders daughter Tsz-yan, 11,

hasDown syndrome and cardiac-relatedmedical issues, and she tires easily. Butafter nearly two years on the Strikersteam, shes never grown tired of cheer-leading.

She loves it, has become more social,and its given her a lot of self-esteem,Snyder says. All of the girls on the teamhave come out of their shells and are morewilling to exert themselves.

Everyone treats the team like theirequals and the older cheerleaders volun-teer to help teach them and cheer themon, Snyder adds.

Osega Special Needs All-StarTeamFor the kids on Osegas special needs

team, gymnastics offersmany opportuni-ties to feel proud and successful,with lotsof easy ways to learn and improve, says

Adaptive sportsContinued from Page 7

Madison Boling pushes her twin brother Kane, 11, around the bases during a game atMartin Luther King Jr. Park through the city ofAshevilles adaptive baseball league. ERIN BRETHAUER/[email protected]


Katie JoMerritt, special needs directorfor Osega Gymnastics.Gymnastics also teaches the basic fun-

damentals of coordination, flexibility,strength, agility, body awareness andbalance for benefits both inside and out ofthe gym, saysMerritt.Gymnastics can be adapted to any type

of disability and provides life lessons likediscipline, perseverance and self-confi-dence,Merritt adds.

Therapeutic Recreation,Asheville City Parks & RecreationWith a focus on noncompetitive fun, the

city of Ashevilles Therapeutic Recreationprogram offers adapted baseball, basket-ball and bowling. It is open to kids with orwithout disabilities, so siblings can play,too. Additional athletic programsmay beoffered in the future.

The sports programs are all aboutbeingwith peers, participatingwith ateam, and learning the basics about thesport, says Lori Long, Recreation Special-ist, Asheville Parks, Recreation & CulturalArts. Players learn life lessons, cultivatefeelings of value and self-worth and canhave the same experiences any other childcan have.

Rules are modified to make thegames accessible for all players andeach child receives instruction, a uni-form, and a trophy.

Special OlympicsKnown for its annual SpringGames,

with hundreds of athletes competing intrack and field events, the SpecialOlympics also offers ongoing practicesessions and periodic tournaments fordisabled kids (and adults) of all agesthroughout the year.Sports programs include bowling,

aquatics, skiing, softball, basketball,power lifting, volleyball, track, bocce,soccer, golf and tennis.

Kiwanis Special NeedsBaseball LeagueFounded last year byDonnie Jones,

longtime Little League and schoolbaseball coach, this league throughKiwanis inHendersonvillewas formedto give players the opportunity to be-long on a team regardless of need orability. The league,whichwas origi-nally for kids only but now includesadults, has 82 players on eight teams.All players receive a uniform, trophiesand medals.

Every player gets to play andscore, says Chad Jones,who handlesthe leagues finances. We have a largenumber inwheelchairs andwalkersand everyone has a great time.

Pam J. Hecht is a freelancewriter, editor andinstructor based in Asheville. Email her atpamjh8@gmail. com.

PROGRAM INFORMATION ABYSA TOPSoccer: Sundays, fall andspring sessions for ages 5-18. At Reynolds HighSchool, 1 Rocket Drive, Asheville. $20 for uni-forms. Contact Shane Weems, 299-7277, ext.304, [email protected],www.abysa.org.

Osega Gymnastics: All ages. 1-2 p.m.Saturdays at 34 Old Brevard Road. ContactKatie JoMerritt, special needs director, 949-439-0193, [email protected], osegagym.com.

Viper Cheer: Ages 5-11. 9-10 a.m. Saturdaysat Asheville Gymnastics, 50 Coxe Ave., Ashe-ville. Free. Contact Alice Zink, 231-7279, [email protected], vipercheerlea-ding.com.

Special Olympics/Buncombe County:Practice and tournament schedule varies.Annual Spring Games event is inMay. Free.Contact GregMace, Buncombe County SpecialOlympics, 250-4260,[email protected],www.sonc.net/

buncombe. Visit www.sonc.net for programsin other counties.

Therapeutic Recreation Program, Ashe-ville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts:Ted E. Tourist Baseball, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat-urdays through June 2. Jr. Bobcats AdaptedBasketball, January-February. Adapted Bowl-ing League, October. $25 - $40; Contact LoriLong, recreation specialist, Asheville Parks,Recreation & Cultural Arts, Therapeutic Rec-reation Program, 259-5483, [email protected],www.ashevillenc.gov.

Kiwanis Special Needs BaseballLeague: All ages. 10:30 a. m. and noon,Saturdays, April-June and in the fall. At Jack-son Park, 801Glover Street, Hendersonville.Free. Contact Donnie Jones, 606-5691,[email protected] or Henderson CountyParks and Recreation Department, 697-4884,www.snbaseball.org.

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KIDS & SPORTS

Jaden Passero, 11, has learned so muchmore than karate from hismartial artsclasses, hismother said.Chandra Passero has noticed an im-

provement in Jadens confidence, coor-dination and physical strength.His will-ingness to try new things and take riskshas also gotten better, she said.

Hes stayedwith karate all this timebecause he really wanted that junior blackbelt, Passero said. Karate has given himan understanding of the role in persistencein meeting a goal.Martial arts is ameans to an end, local

teachers said. The self-discipline that achild learns is often more valuable than

the self-defense the martial art teachesthem, they said.

Confidence, coordination, focus andbalance, Lorna Hollifield said, citingsome of the benefits. She is programdirector of The LittleGym near Bilt-more SquareMall,where Jaden takeskarate. Children learn to defend them-

for children emphasizemind-body coordinationBy Paul Clark, WNC Parent contributor

Logan Sink, 9,and DavidRomagnuolo, 11,practice duringclass at DojokuMartial Arts. ERINBRETHAUER/EBRETHAU

@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM

MMAARRTTIIAALL AARRTTSS


selves, but they also get a good idea ofwhen not to use karate. Its all about think-ing and problem-solving, butmainly itsabout focus. Stepping back and evaluatinga situation teaches them self-control. Andwhen they do that, they can use their skillsbetter.The LittleGym is a childrens gymnas-

tics facility that uses an energeticmusic-based atmosphere to motivate studentsthrough curriculum-based, noncompet-itive athletics. Its serious fun for the kids,Hollifield said, that results in some seriousskills. Jaden started there in gymnasticsand is thriving in its karate program, hismother said.Raymond Cagle has takenwhat he

knows of nine martial arts and 36 years ofstudying them and combined them into theprogram he teaches children and adults atDojokuMartial Arts in South Asheville.Advancement depends not only on tech-

nique but also on life skills such as courte-sy, commitment, respect, accountabilityand leadership qualities that benefiteveryone, especially children, Cagle said.

Those are just as important as punch-ing and kicking, he said. Were lookingfor children to be good human beings,well-rounded adults who can accomplishanything and not be afraid of making mis-takes.

Its all about respect and accountabil-ity, he said. Even the 5-year-olds,werebig on them being accountable for theirsparring gear.We dont accept that itdidnt get put away becauseMommy didntdo it.Ninja Kids Club atKasumi Yama Bu-

jinkanDojo in downtown Asheville teach-es a style of martial arts from the ninjaand samuri schools. Classes are small,taught in a family style, said instructorNesta Ainspan.

Children learn how to leap, roll andfall safely, alone and in the company ofothers. As they advance in rank, theylearn to movewith and around tools,Ainspan said. Lessons are based uponmonthly themes such as honesty andrespect that are pegged to nature and thechildrens relationshipwith nature.Ninja Kids Club accepts children as

young as 4 and has programs that workat any age, Ainspan said.White OakMartial Arts Center in

downtown Asheville accepts childrenwho are 4, sometimes a little younger ifthey can pay attention for a 45-minuteclass,master instructorDerek Croleysaid.

The first thingwe do is teach themhow to take a class raise your hand, sitstill in line, he said. The next thing ispositive character traits being a goodcitizen, being honest, responsible, havingintegrity.Self-defense these daysmeans dealing

with bullies, poor nutrition, negativeself-image and a lazy lifestyle, Croleysaid. To combat those things,White Oakteaches children kung fu, guiding chil-dren through punches, kicks, locks,throws and paddedweapons. The idea isto teach children mind-body coordina-tion, he said.

The thing that helps you in a realself-defense situation, like someonepunching you, is your ability to pay atten-tion and stay focused, Croley said. Allthe techniques we teach students givethem concepts for strategies.We teachbody awareness. It helps them focusbetter in school. To me, thats the realvalue.

Traditionally, in martial arts, out ofall the technique in any system, 80 per-cent is character-building, Cagle said.Its the virtues you learn. Especially atthe higher levels,were looking more forcharacter thanwhos got the perfectkick.

Gracie Dilliard, 7, practices a kick at The Little Gyms karate class. MARGARET HESTER/WNCPARENT PHOTO

MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTION The Little Gym,www.tlgasheville.com, Dojoku,www.dojoku.com, Ninja Kids Club,www.ashevilleninjakid-sclub.com,White Oak Martial Arts Center, www.whi-teoakmartialarts.com

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KIDS & SPORTS

Children take to thewater naturally, sonaturally, theyre interested in boat-ing around on top.

Starting them gradually is the best wayto make sure they keep themselves out oftrouble, areawater skills teachers said.With a little common sense, a healthy re-spect for thewater and the right equip-ment, children can learn to pilot their ownkayaks or canoes as easily as they can abicycle. And as with bikes, once they knowhow, theyll never forget, longtime pad-dlers said.

Kids love being out on thewater, saidEliHelbert, an Asheville-based, three-timeopen canoeworld championwho teachescanoeing skills around theworld. Theycan drag their paddles and look for bugs.Whitewater is the least exciting part forkids. Theyd rather see the bald eagles onthe French Broad River, or the blue heronsandwild turkeys.The first rule of thumb is that children

know how to swim, he said.Nothing pro-tects a child more than her ability to keepher head abovewater and her bodymov-ing toward a safe place in thewater.And its imperative for children (and

adults) towear personal floatation deviceswhen theyre in a boat,Helbert said.He makes his childrenwear helmets

not only for the rocks in the river but alsobecause of the oars in the boat. You neverknowwhatmight hit you, he said. If

youre jumping onto the bank, youmighthit your head on a (low-lying) limb.Under adult supervision, children as

young as 5 or 6 can easily pilot sit-on-topkayaks in standingwater, such as in a lake,saidGrant Bullard, owner and director ofGwynn Valley Camp in Brevard. Thesekayaks dont have the confining skirts thatmore advanced kayaks have to keepwaterout of the boat.Make sure the kayak andthe paddle fit the child, Bullard said (ask aboating professional for help).Its important that the child be comfort-

able in the floatation device, soHelbertsuggests letting themwear it while play-ing in thewater.Have them swim or dog-paddle in it between adults, he said.He advises starting children in a canoe

or kayak on flat water, such as a pond or alake like Lake Julian or Lake Powatan.Dont let them get too far from shore, anddont let them get cold and shivery, be-cause then they wont like boating,Helbertsaid.

About 9 or 10 is the agewhenwe canreally workwith them, said Sid Cullipher,program director ofHeadwaters Out-fitters Outdoor Adventures in Rosman.Thats when kids understand the impor-tance of getting in the right swim position(feet-first) if they go overboard in a river,he said. They understandwhy its crucial,

if they fall out, to get behind the boat (soit wont slam them into a rock). Andwhyits important to stay away from treesthat lean into thewater (the currentflowing through the submergedbranches can entangle a boat).Kayaks,which can be paddled from

both sides, might be easier for kids tostart out in than canoes,which are pro-pelled from one side, Cullipher said.One ofHelberts favorite canoe trips

with children is on the French BroadRiver between Bent Creek andHominyCreek. Its a flat, two-hour float withlittle action other than the current. TheFrench Broad between Brevard andAsheville has lots of flat sections, hesaid. In Sylva, the Tuckaseegee River isgreat for kids. The lowerGreen RivertowardHendersonville is also good, hesaid.

The kids that learn about boats earlyare better off than the ones that startlater,Helbert said. Theyre more com-fortablewith being on thewater. Its notsuch a scary place for them.

Theres almost a fearlessness withthe kids. They have a sense that this isjust plain fun, Cullipher said. For kids,its all about play. So (being on thewater)becomes a natural progression of learn-ing skills to have even more fun.

By Paul ClarkWNC Parent contributor Eli Helbert, rear, says his daughter Sage Fish, foreground, has taken naturally to being in

boats because he taught her water safety early on. GREAT SMOKIES PHOTOGRAPHY/SPECIAL TOWNCPARENT

Kids may enjoy kayakingand canoeing, but easingthem into boating is key

FUNON THEWATER

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FathersDay is June 17, sowe asked students atWoodfin Elementary Schoolwhatthey would get their dads, if money were no object.Here is what kids inMrs.Hen-sley-Kings first grade class andMs.Haneys fourth-grade class told us.

Iwould givemy dad a hounddog.Hes al-ways wished forone.Cheyenne

Iwould give mydadME.Helovesme, and Iam not kidding.Bayleigh

kids voices

Fathers Day love


Iwould givehim a robotcleaner.Helikes a cleanhouse, and Ican do myhomework.Cole

Iwould givehim a basket-ball court anda card thatsays I LOVEYOU,DAD.Devyn

He onlyneedsmylove so Iwouldnt buyhim any-thing!Jessi

Iwouldbuild him abasketballcourt.Braeden

Iwould gethim videogames.Miles

Iwould gethim tickets tosee the Fal-cons play.Brendan

Ahh, these opening days of summervacation feel like the first bite of a triplescoop chocolate sundaewithwhippedcream, fudge sauce and a cherry on top. Theearly days of June are full of promise blue skies, sunny beaches, and fun familymemories waiting to be made.Sowhats on your to-do list this summer?

A trip to theN.C. Arboretum? Leisurelyafternoons in the hammockwith a goodbook? Cookingwith the kids?How about thesummer reading program at the library? Ora hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway?Dont tell the kids but all of the above

help prevent what teachers call summerbrain drain thatmalady that seems to

affect school-age kids during the 10-12weeks of summer break.

Summer brain drain causes children toforget concepts and strategies taught duringthe previous school year, saysKellieWebb,fourth-grade teacher atWeaverville Ele-mentary. Students who have not kept theirbrain engaged do not remembermaterial,

Staying sharpover the summerBy Betty Lynne Leary, WNC Parent contributor

The Summer Book,which is available for preschool through eighth grade, presents a thorough,multi-subject review in oneworkbook. Kids complete one page per day which typically takes less than an hour. These books are available atwww.summerbookcompany.com. SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT

Prevent braindrain while kidsare out of school

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creating a huge gap in starting points be-tween these students and the ones who actu-ally kept their brain engaged over the sum-mer.

By providing your childwith educationalopportunities throughout the break, you cangive him a head start on the new school yearand set a pattern of behavior that will bene-fit him for a lifetime.

Childrenwho come to school academi-cally fresh in the fall often have higherself-esteem,which leads to higher confi-dence levels and subsequently higher per-formances,Webb notes. The transition to anew school year becomes a less traumaticsituation.

Research bears out whatWebb asserts. Astudy conducted in 1996 showed thatmoststudents lose about two months of grade-level equivalency in mathematical computa-tion skills over the summer. Students withlearning disabilities suffer even greateracademic losses.

Everyday learningSusan Blackmon, seventh-grade science

teacher at Valley SpringsMiddle School,suggests ways to find science in the ev-eryday routines of summer.

Let your kids help you cook, talk aboutmeasurements and discuss the chemical orphysical change that happens as you turningredients into something edible, she says.Or have them identify plants in the gardenand talk about how they grow from a seed toa flower then to a fruit or vegetable.

Blackmon also advises kids to read,read, read and that reading together as afamily,whether its a science fiction novel ora book about the constellations in theWest-ernNorth Carolina sky is a great way towhile away summer afternoons.

Brain drain comesmainly from studentsplaying video games andwatching TV allsummer, Blackmon states. Rest, relax-ation and time outdoors are very importantfor students to refresh and prepare for thecoming year.

BookworkLinda Richardson, a teacher with the

Programs for Academic Support and Suc-cess at Asheville Christian Academy recom-mends The Summer Book, an enrichmenttoolwritten by Angela Ankers of The Sum-mer Book Co.

Iwas a classroom teacher that got tiredof reteaching the same things during thefirst six weeks of school each year, Ankerssays. I startedwriting these books to helpkids review concepts and stay fresh

Continues on Page 18

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throughout the summer.We question teach-ers from each grade level and also the nextgrade level up to seewhat kids need toknow.The Summer Book is designed for kids to

complete one page each day,which can beaccomplished in half an hour or so.As a parent, Richardson spent part of

each spring planning the familys summerbreak, and The Summer Bookwas definitelypart of their routine.

Wewould plan one or two trips eachsummer one local trip for hiking or camp-ing in a state park, she explains, thenwewould plan a second trip outside our area tothe beach, toDisneyWorld, to a lighthouse,or to theMall of America. The planning forthese trips became a learning exercise inresearch for her children, and The SummerBookwas always packed alongside the T-shirts and sunscreen.

I felt it was very important to have thekids start their day learning a new conceptor practicing skills to keep them strong evenon vacation, she says. It was only half anhour, and learningwas part of living.

Learning on the sly

While your kidsmay groan over thethought of school in the summer, learningopportunities dont have to be boring.Hands-on activities are key, and kids canhave so much fun they wont even realizetheyre learning. Try eating around theworld this summer by studying differentcountries and preparing ameal from eachone. Throw a birthday party with a themelike pioneer days, where kids dress up and

create an art project from that era. Theyllhave to do a little research but it will be funespecially with friends!Read required summer books with your

kids and talk about the characters, plots andmain events .Dont be afraid to rely on organizations to

help keep kids engaged. Enroll your child inamusic camp, science camp or sports camp.For older kids, volunteers are always

needed during the summer,which can be aterrific learning opportunity whether at acamp, church, animal shelter or nursinghome. Colleges also offer camps thatmaypique your teens interest in a particulararea of study and give them a very con-trolled look at life on a college campus.

The key is to plan your summer, Rich-ardson says. But dont plan for your kids,planwith your kids.Summer learning experiences that take

placewithin the family will strengthen yourchilds understanding that learning is afamily value. If learning is approached asfun and the child participates in the plan-ning, they will learn to look for learningexperiences in everyday life.

There is so much to learn and explore,Richardson says. What better time andplace to do it than in the summer with yourfamily?

Summertime should be filledwith avariety of activitiesmany ofwhich can beeducational. Sports, gardening, cooking,hiking, star gazing, and yes, even a littlemath review can all keep kidsacademically engaged and help preventsummer brain drain. SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT

Staying sharpContinued from Page 17


Today there areample opportunitiesfor children to beinvolved in sportcompetitions yearround. Sometimesyoung athletes willparticipate on severaldifferent sport teams at once andwill haveto juggle practices and games among theirschool, club and travel teams.

In order for children to fully succeed asathletes, a proper balance should be main-tained between their training program andthe recovery process.

After a training session, your childwillbecomeweaker for a period of time untilphysiological adaptations can occur. If yourchild does not fully recover before the nexttraining session, then eventually he or shewill perform at a level far below his or herpotential.

Sometimes the issue is not being over-trained asmuch as it is being under-recov-ered. Two children can undergo the sametraining program, and one childwill exceland the other the other will have a lacklusteror disappointing performance. This is usu-ally because of differences in the athletesability to recover.Highlymotivated athletesare at greatest risk for overtraining as theseathletes push themselves hard during prac-tice evenwhen they are fatigued.

If your child is training hard and is notperforming as well as you would expect,then suspicion should be raised that he orshe is over-training. An increase in restingheart rate, a decrease in body weight, sleepdisturbances, loss of appetite, increasedirritability, mood changes, muscle soreness,increased illnesses and injuries, or a lack ofdesire to train or compete can all be in-dications that your child may be recoveringinadequately.

All kinds of life stress will have an im-pact on your childs ability to recover. Also ifyour child is sleep deprived or has a poor

diet, then he or shewill likely have a de-layed recovery.

Recovery can be improved by encourag-ing your child to getmore sleep and to eatas soon as possible after every trainingsession. A combination of carbohydrate andprotein (such as skimmilk) is best to helpreplenish glycogen stores and rebuild mus-cle.

Also make sure that your childs totalcaloric intake for the day is enough to meethis or her energy needs for training.Manyathletes fail to eat enough calories to coverthe demands of training and competition.

If you suspect that your child is over-trained, then reducing the training load ortaking a short break from training altogeth-er is usually all that is needed to allow yourchild to come back refreshed and stronger.

Brian Lawler is a physical therapist and sportsperformance trainer at Asheville Physical Therapy.He offers a summer speed camp to help youngathletes reach their potential. Visit www.AshevillePhysicalTherapy.com or call 277-7547.

By Brian LawlerWNC Parent contributor

Is your young athlete over-trained?kids fitness

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After youve beenhome-schooling awhile,you realize that certainbooks, materials andwebsites are old stand-bys like reliablefriends, you can alwayscount on them to help you out when youneed help.In our store, I find myself recommend-

ing the same things over and over to newhome-schoolers, as well as experiencedbut overwhelmed home-schoolers whoneed a reboot. Id like to share themwithyou, and I hope you will find them helpful.I also hope that you will learn through

these resources that it is not necessary tospend tons of money on expensive boxcurriculums. I am dismayed at how often Ireceive emails ormeet folks who believe

they cannot home-school because theycant afford it.I am a firm believer that with an In-

ternet connection and a library card, youcan successfully home-school your childthrough high school. And, from the amountof used curriculum I buy in my store thatis unused, and started out as part of abox curriculum, I am pretty sure thatthe fancy boxed curriculums are not thesolution for every family.The best $20 I spend all year is formy

membership to thewebsite EnchantedLearning (www.enchantedlearning.com).This website is fabulous.Not only does itoffer the basic reading,writing and arith-metic stuff that we all need to supplementour kids learning, but it has tons of otherhelp, as well.From coloring pages ofGeorgeWashin-

ton to make-it-yourself books, frommapsof ancient Egypt to easy crafts and reci-pes, its a one-stop shop for all your supple-mental needs. Its especially helpful for

unit studies. And at $20 a year, its a bar-gain. All you need is aworking printer. (Irecommend getting a cheap black andwhite printer to use for this kind of stuff.)If you are just starting out on your

home-schooling journey before you buyanything purchase JohnHolts bookLearning All the Time.While youre at it,pick up How Children Learn,How Chil-dren Fail and Teach Your Own inspira-tional, informative and reinforcing thebelief that, yes, home is the best place foryour child to learn.When you are done reading these, take

a trip towww.fun-books.com, and checkout the Living is Learning guides. Thanksto a dear friend,we discovered these lastyear, and now use them as away to trackour learning in a useable and relativelyeasymanner.My copy of Home Learning Year by

Year by Rebecca Rupp is worn out, un-derlined, highlighted and indispensable.This book is a jewel, as it gives you a com-

home-school happenings

Useful books for home-schoolingBy NicoleMcKeonWNC Parent columnist


plete overview of how you candesign a home-school curriculumfor your child from preschoolthrough high school. It gives spe-cific ideas for each year of learning,alongwith great recommendationsformany different books,websitesand manipulatives to use each year.Dont let yourself get over-

whelmed by the amount of stuff theauthor includes for each year; pick andchoosewhat willwork for your family,and dont feel locked into the gradesuggestion. I especially like this bookbecause it is one of the few that is writ-ten from a secular point of view,which ishelpful for those of us who are not home-schooling from a religious world view.To go alongwith this book, get a copy of

Homeschool Your Child for Free byLaura MaeryGold and JoanM. Zielinski. Isell at least one of these aweek, and I usemine all the time. Tons of free stuff online,well-researched, subject by subject. Youwill never regret having this book on yourshelves.Alongwith Jim Treleases book The

Read AloudHandbook, pick up BooksChildren Love by ElizabethWilson. Thisis especially helpful for picking out great

read alouds and designing literature-basedcurriculum for kids who love to read, aswell as for those kids who are simply notinterested in reading. (For those kids, Irecommend a trip to the library for everyRoaldDahl book you can find, andwatchtheir eyes light up! )For encouragement along theway

somethingwe all need,especially on those dayswhen you are consideringrunning down the schoolbus and throwing yourchildren aboard I rec-ommendDavid AlbertsAnd the Skylark SingswithMe, as well as WholeChild/Whole Parent byPolly Berrien Berendt. Bothhave spiritual meat and drinkto offer the hungry and thir-sty home-schooling parentwho is at the end of her or hisrope!These books have been like

dear friends to me. I go back tothem over and over again, toencourage myself, and often-times to just remind myself forthe millionth time that our choice

to home-school is the right one.Dont letanyone tell you you cant do it. You can.Surround yourselfwith friends and toolsthat encourage you along theway.

NicoleMcKeon is a home-schooling mom andowner of Homeschool Station in Fairview. Emailher at [email protected].

Which are themost family-friendlybusinesses in town? Hundreds of youlet us know your preferences in our fifth-annual Family Choice Awards. See howyou voted on pages 22-37.

KatieWadington, editor

TOPSINWNC

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Best parent/child program1. YMCA programsymcawnc.org2. KindermusikArea licensed educators: AllysonMacCau-ley, 318-3100, allsoulscathedral.org/music-choirs/kindermusik (Biltmore Village);Yvette Odell, 242-1548, kindermusick-withyvette.com (Asheville, Weaverville).3. The Little Gym1000 Brevard Road, Suite 168, Asheville,667-9588; tlgashevillenc.com

Best gymnastics program1. The Little Gym1000 Brevard Road, Suite 168, Asheville,667-9588; tlgashevillenc.com2. Hahns Gymnastics18 Legend Drive, Arden; 684-8832; hahns-gymnastics.com.3. Asheville Gymnastics50 Coxe Ave., Asheville; 252-8746; ashe-villegymnastics.com

Bestmusic program1. KindermusikArea licensed educators: AllysonMacCau-ley, 318-3100, allsoulscathedral.org/music-choirs/kindermusik (Biltmore Village);Yvette Odell, 242-1548, kindermusick-

activities

Kaia Errickson, 3, of Asheville, learns to swim at the Reuter Family YMCA in BiltmoreParkwith 18-year-old Reynolds High senior EmilyMontes. The YMCA ofWNC receivedthe Family Choice Award for best swim lessons. JOHN COUTLAKIS/[email protected]


withyvette.com (Asheville, Weaverville).2. Asheville AreaMusic TogetherContact Kari Richmond at [email protected] or 545-0990. AshevilleAreaMT.com ormusictogether.com.3. AshevilleMusic School101 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville; 252-6244;ashevillemusicschool.org.

Best dance program forchildren1. Center Stage Dance Studio38L Rosscraggon Road, Asheville; 654-7010;centerstage1.com.2. Asheville Dance Theatre802 Fairview Road, Asheville; 298-0258; ashe-villedancetheatre.com.3. Pats School of Dance1256 N.Main St., Hendersonville; 692-2905;patsschoolofdance.com.

Best art lessons for children1. Roots +Wings School of Art545-4827; rootsandwingsarts.com2. Canvas Paint &Mingle735C Haywood Road, Asheville; 254-4486;paintandmingle.com.3. Art in the AfternoonCarver Center, 101 Carver Ave., BlackMountain;669-5213; sulzman.net/artinthepm/

Best sports club/league1. Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Asso-ciation/Highland Football Club299-7277, abysa.org2. YMCA ofWNCymcawnc.org3. Upwardupward.org

Best place for swim lessons1. YMCA ofWNCymcawnc.org2. YWCA of Asheville185 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 254-7206,ywcaofasheville.org.3. Asheville Racquet Club200 Racquet Club Road, Asheville, 274-3361; atthe Crowne Plaza Resort, 1 Resort Drive,,Asheville, 253-5874; ashevilleracquetclub.com.

Best place for horsebackriding lessons1. Biltmore Equestrian Center225-1454, biltmore.com/equestrian.2. Hickory Nut Gap Farm57 Sugar Hollow Road, Fairview, 628-1027;hickorynutgapfarm.com.3.Winding Creek StablesBent Creek Ranch Road, Asheville; 337-2250;windingcreekstablesnc.com.

Best park1. Fletcher Community Park85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher, fletcherparks.org.2. Carrier Park220 Amboy Road, Asheville, ashevillenc.gov.3. Jake Rusher Park (Royal Pines Park)132 Peachtree St., Asheville, ashevillenc.gov.

Bestmuseum1. The Health Adventure800 Brevard Road, Suite 620, Asheville; 665-2217;thehealthadventure.org.2. Hands On! A Childs Gallery318 N.Main St., Hendersonville; 697-8333; hand-sonwnc.org.3. Asheville ArtMuseum2 S. Pack Square, Asheville; 253-3227; ashevillear-t.org.

Best paint-your-own potterystudio1. Fired Up! Creative Lounge26Wall St., Asheville, 253-8181; and 321N.Main St.,Hendersonville, 698-9960; fireduplounge.com.

2. Claying Around1378 Hendersonville Road,Asheville; 277-0042; clayinga-round.com3. Claymates Pottery31 Front St., Dillsboro; 631-3133; claymates.weebly.com

Bestminiaturegolf1. Ashevilles Fun Depot7 Roberts Road, Asheville,277-2386; ashevillesfundepot.com2. Tropical Gardens956 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-22073. Shadowbrook701N.C. 9, BlackMountain, 669-5499

Most family-friendly fair,festival or special event1.Mountain State FairSept. 7-16 atWNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher;mountainfair.org.2. North Carolina Apple Festival

Aug. 31-Sept. 3 onMain Street indowntown Hendersonville;ncapplefestival.org.

3. Bele ChereJuly 27-29 in downtown Asheville;belecherefestival.com.

Best family-friendlyhiking trail1. DuPont State ForestBetween Hendersonville and Brevard.For trails, visit dfr.state.nc.us/contacts/dsf.htm.

2. N.C. Arboretum trails100 Frederick Law OlmsteadWay, Asheville,

665-2492, ncarboreum.org.3. Bent CreekFor trails in Pisgah National Forest, visit cs.un-ca.edu/nfsnc.

Best rainy day activity1.Mountain Play Lodge3389 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden; 676-2120;mountainplaylodge.com.2. Ashevilles Fun Depot7 Roberts Road, Asheville; 277-2386; ashevilles-fundepot.com.3.Movies

destination fun

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2012 family choice awards


Best place to take child forthemorning or afternoon1.WNC Nature Center75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville; 298-5600;wncnaturecenter.com.2.Mountain Play Lodge3389 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden; 676-2120;mountainplaylodge.com.3. Ashevilles Fun Depot7 Roberts Road, Asheville; 277-2386; ashe-villesfundepot.com.

Best summer day camp1. Camp TekoaHendersonville; 692-6516; camptekoa.org2. YMCA ofWNCFor camp information, visit ymcawnc.org.3. Camp Cedar CliffAt the Billy Graham Training Center in EastAsheville; 450-3331; campcedarcliff.org

Best summer overnightcamp1. Camp TekoaIn Hendersonville, 692-6516; camptekoa.org2. Camp Pisgah (Girl Scouts)In Brevard; camppisgah.org.3. Camp Cedar CliffAt the Billy Graham Training Center in EastAsheville; 450-3331; campcedarcliff.org

Most family-friendly day-tripdestination1. DollywoodIn Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; dollywood.com.2. Biltmore Estate1 Lodge St., Asheville; 800-411-3812 or 225-1333;biltmore.com.3. The Greenville Zoo150 Cleveland Park Drive, Greenville, SC; 864-467-4300;

greenvillezoo.com.

Best holiday event1. Gingerbread houses at Grove Park Inngroveparkinn.com.2. Asheville Holiday ParadeParade is Nov. 17. ashevilleparade.org3. Biltmore EstateChristmas at Biltmore is Nov. 3-Jan. 1. biltmore.com.

Camp Tekoawins the Family Choice Award for best day camp and best overnight camp. JOHNFLETCHER/[email protected]

Most family-friendly restaurant forbreakfast1. IHOPSeveral area locations; ihop.com.2. Cracker BarrelSeveral area locations; crackerbarrel.com.3. Sunny Point Cafe626 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-0055; sunnypointcafe-.com

Most family-friendly restaurant forlunch1. Chick-fil-ASeveral area locations; chickfila.com.2. (tie) Apollo Flame485 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 274-3582; 1025 BrevardRoad, Asheville, 665-0080; apolloflamebistro.net.Blue Sky Cafe3987 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher, 684-1247; ilovebluesky-cafe.com.

Most family-friendly restaurant fordinner1. Papas & Beer

1996 HendersonvilleRoad, Asheville, 684-4882; 17 Tunnel Road,Asheville, 255-2204; 1000Brevard Road, Asheville,665-9070; 1821AshevilleHighway, Henderson-ville, 692-9915.2. Asheville Pizzaand Brewing Co.675Merrimon Ave.,Asheville; 254-1281;ashevillepizza.com.3. Blue Sky Cafe3987 HendersonvilleRoad, Fletcher, 684-1247;iloveblueskycafe.com.

Best date night restaurant1. Carrabbas Italian Grill10 Buckstone Place, Asheville, 281-2300; 332Rockwood Road, Arden, 654-8411; carrab-bas.com.2. (tie) 131MainBiltmore Park Town Square, 308 Thetford St.,Asheville, 651-0131; 131-main.com.

Frankie Bones Restaurant &Lounge2 Gerber Road #101, Asheville;274-7111; fbdining.com.

Best ice cream/custardshop1. The Hop Ice Cream Cafe640Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-2224; 721Haywood Road, Asheville,252-5155; thehopicecreamcafe.com.2. TCBY1800 Hendersonville Road, Asehville,274-1100; 5Westgate Parkway, Ashe-ville, 225-5111; tcby.com.3. YaYas YogurtBiltmore Park Town Square, 29 Schenck

Parkway, Asheville, 676-2336; yayasyogurt-.com.

Best bakery1. CarolinaMountain Bakery1950 Hendersonville Road, Suite 11, Asheville,681-5066.2. City Bakery88 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-4289, and 60 Bilt-more Ave., Asheville, 252-4426; citybakery.net.3.West End Bakery

food & dining

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757 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-9378; westendbakery-.com.

Best hot dog1. Hot DogWorld226 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville, 697-0374.2. Celebritys Hot Dogs1409 Brevard Road, Asheville, 670-5954; celebrityhotdog-s.net.3. Hot Dog King2299 Smoky Park Highway, Candler, 670-1199; 4 S. TunnelRoad, Asheville, 298-8686; 1487 Charlotte Highway, Fair-view, 628-1036.

Best pizza1. Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co.675Merrimon Ave., Asheville; 254-1281; 1854 Henderson-ville Road, Asheville, 277-0004; ashevillepizza.com.2.Marcos Pizzeria946Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 285-0709; 1854 Henderson-ville Road, Asheville, 277-0004;marcos-pizzeria.com.2. BrixxBiltmore Park Town Square, 30 Town Square Blvd., Ashe-ville, 654-0046; brixxpizza.com.

Best kidsmenu1. ApplebeesSeveral area locations. applebees.com.2. Chick-fil-ASeveral area locations. chickfila.com.3. IHOPSeveral area locations. ihop.com.

Vickie Camp, ofMills River, enjoys dinner with her husband Dennis, and son Jacob, 6, atPapas & Beer on Hendersonville Road. Papas and Beer won the award formostfamily-friendly dinner restaurant. JOHN COUTLAKIS/[email protected]

28 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2


Most family-friendly grocerystore1. InglesMultiple locations, ingles-markets.com.2. Earth Fare1856 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 210-0100; 66Westgate Parkway, Asheville, 253-7656, earth-fare.com.3. Harris Teeter1378 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 274-5304; 637Spartanburg Highway, Hendersonville, 697-8988;harristeeter.com

Best consignment store1. LuLus Consignment Boutique

3461Hendersonville Road, Fletcher; 687-7565;ilovelulus.net.2. GoodwillSeveral area locations, locator.goodwill.org.3. Childrens Trading Post633Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5432; 140 AirportRoad, Arden, 684-5438.

Best consignment sale1.Wee Trade BestMadeSales in February and August atWNC AgriculturalCenter, Fletcher; wee-trade.net2. LuLus Consignment Boutique3461Hendersonville Road, Fletcher; 687-7565;ilovelulus.net.3.MunchkinMarket

shopping

Lucas Barbarito, 16months, of Greenville, S.C., explores O.P. Taylors toy store on a tripwith hismother, Amanda. The Biltmore Park Town Square storewon the Family ChoiceAward for best toy store. JOHN COUTLAKIS/[email protected]


Sales in Februaryand August. munch-kinmarket.com.

Best petstore1. PetSmart150 Bleachery Blvd.,Asheville, 298-5670;and 3McKennaRoad, Arden, 681-5343; petsmart.com.2. Petco825 Brevard Road,Asheville; 665-7977;petco.com.3. Pet SuppliesPlus1856 Hendersonville Road, Asheville; 277-8020;petsuppliesplus.com.

Best childrens clothing store1. Old Navy2McKenna Road, Arden, 687-1042; AshevilleMall, 3S. Tunnel Road, Asheville, 298-3150; oldnavy.com.2. The Childrens PlaceAshevilleMall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville; 296-8351;childrensplace.com3. GapAshevilleMall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville; 298-8200;gap.com.

Best childrens shoe store1. Tops For Shoes27 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-6721, tops-forshoes.com.2. Discount Shoes1266 Brevard Road, Asheville, 667-0085.3. Stride Ritestriderite.com.

Best toy store1. O.P. Taylors1 Biltmore Park Town Square, Asheville, 681-1865; 2S. Broad St., Brevard, 883-2309; optaylors.com.2. Dancing Bear Toys144 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 255-8697; 418 N.MainSt., Hendersonville, 693-4500; dancingbeartoys.com.3. Toys R Us877 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-8697, toysrus.com.

Most family-friendly bookstore1. Barnes & NobleAshevilleMall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville, 296-7335;33 Town Square Blvd., Asheville, 687-0681; barne-sandnoble.com.2.Malaprops55 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-6734,malaprop-s.com.3.Mr. Ks800 Fairview Road, Asheville, 299-1145;mrksonline-.com.


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Best place to find organics1. Earth Fare65Westgate Parkway, Asheville, 253-7656; 1856Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 210-0100; earth-fare.com.2. Greenlife Grocery70Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5440, greenli-fegrocery.com.3. FarmersmarketsVisit fromhere.org to find a list of area tailgatemarkets.

Most family-friendly car dealer1. Jim Barkley Toyota777 Brevard Road, Asheville, 667-8888, jimbarkley-toyota.com.2. Prestige Subaru585 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 298-9600; prestigesuba-ru.com.3. Skyland Automotive255 Smoky Park Highway, Asheville, 447-0190; sky-landautomotive.com.

Continued from Page 29

shopping


Best preschool1. Around the Son Preschool1984 Hendersonville Road, Asheville;684-2645; aroundthesonpreschool.com.2. Grace Lutheran Church Preschool1245 Sixth Ave.West, Hendersonville;693-4890; gracelutherannc.com3.Montessori Country Day158 Bradley Branch Road, Arden; 654-9933;montessoricountryday.org.

Best after-schoolprogram1. YMCA Child Care ServicesAt various Buncombe County Schoolssites and YMCA Beaverdam, 210-2273;ymcawnc.org.2. Boys and Girls Club750 Haywood Road, Asheville, 258-2283.3. YWCA of Asheville185 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville,254-7206; ywcaofasheville.org.

Best child care1.Montessori Country Day158 Bradley Branch Road, Arden, 654-9933,montessoricountryday.org.2. (tie) Biltmore Academy1594 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 274-9092.

Mountain Area Child & Family Center2586 Riceville Road, Asheville, 298-0808, and atMont-morenci UMC, 89 Old Candler Town Road, Candler,670-7300;macfc.org.

Best home-school programBiltmore Baptist Churchbiltmorebaptist.org/homeschool

education The YMCAs ChildCare Services,offered at severalBuncombeCounty Schoolsand at the YMCABeaverdam,wasvoted bestafter-schoolprogram.CITIZEN-TIMES.COM

FILE PHOTO


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Best pediatric practice1. Blue Sky Pediatrics5Walden Ridge Drive, Asheville, 687-8709, bluesky-pediatrics.com2. ABC Pediatrics64 Peachtree Road #100, Asheville, 277-3000, ab-casheville.com.3. Asheville ChildrensMedical Center7 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Asheville, 258-0969, ashe-villechildrens.com.

Best family dentist1. Great Beginnings Pediatric Dentistry (Drs.Chambers, Baechtold, Pratt and Haldeman)10B Yorkshire St., Asheville, 274-9220; 50 BowmanDrive, Waynesville, 454-9156; greatbeginning-spedo.com.2. Dr. Josh Paynich11Yorkshire St., Asheville, 274-4744, drjoshdentistry-.com3. Asheville Pediatric Dentistry (Dr. JennyJackson)76 Peachtree Road, Suite 100, Asheville, 277-6788,ashevillepedo.com

Best orthodontist1. Blue Ridge Orthodontics(Dr. Luke Roberts)2Walden Ridge Drive,Asheville, 687-0872, blu-eridgeorthodontics.com.2. Haldeman Orthodon-tics (Dr. Ryan Halde-man)10B Yorkshire St., Ashe-ville, 274-8822; 50 Bow-man Drive, Waynesville,454-9156; drhalde-man.com.3. Black Orthodontics (Dr. Keith Black)5A Yorkshire St., Asheville, 277-7103, kblacksmi-les.com.

Best family eye doctor1. Asheville Eye Associates8Medical Park Drive B, Asheville, 258-1586; 2001Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 684-2867; ashe-villeeye.com.

2. Champion Eye Center825Merrimon Ave. #B, Asheville,236-0099; 300 Julian Lane, Ashe-ville, 650-2727; championeyecen-ter.com.3. Looking Glass Eye Center

215 Thompson St., Hendersonville,693-4161, lookingglasseye.com.

Best veterinarian1. Animal Hospital of North Ashe-ville1 Beaverdam Road, Asheville, 253-3393;ahna.net.2. Asheville Veterinary Associates1275 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville,274-0646; ashevillevet.com.3. Banfield150 Bleachery Blvd., Asheville, 298-1800; 3McKenna Road, Arden, 681-0519; ban-field.com.

Best family/child specialtyphotographer1. Kaelee Denise PhotographyKaeleedenise.com; 508-0928.2. Ruby Peoples Photographyrubypeoplesphotography.com; 226-1600.

services


3. (tie) Kristi Hedberg Photographykristihedbergphotography.com; 768-8634.Picture People3 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville, 296-0300; picturepe-ople.com.

Best place for birthday parties1. Ashevilles Fun Depot7 Roberts Road, Asheville, 277-2386; ashe-villesfundepot.com.2.Mountain Play Lodge3389 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden; 676-2120;mountainplaylodge.com.3. Chuck E. Cheeses104 River Hills Road #H, Asheville, 299-3750;chuckecheese.com.

Best birthday partyentertainer1. The Balloon Fairy423-2030, balloonfairymagic.com2. Chuck E. Cheeses104 River Hills Road, Asheville, 299-3750; chuck-echeese.com.3. Bill Grimsley777-9143; [email protected]; billgrim-sley.com.

The BalloonFairy (MarcieMcGrath) isthe bestbirthday partyentertainer.CITIZEN-TIMES FILE

PHOTO

36 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2


Best place to relaxwithout your children1. Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa290Macon Ave., Asheville, 252-2711, ext.2772, groveparkinn.com.2. Home3. Suraj Spa and Salon520 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-7705; surajspasalon.com.

Best place to getback into shape1. YMCA ofWNC30Woodfin St., Asheville, 210-9622; 3 TownSquare Blvd., Asheville, 651-9622; 40 N.Merrimon Ave., Suite 101, Asheville, 505-3990; 810W. Sixth Ave., Hendersonville,692-5774; 348 Grace Corpening Drive,Marion, 659-9622; ymcawnc.org2. The Rush Fitness Complex1818 Hendersonville Road, 274-7874; 1056Patton Avenue, 274-7874, therush247.com.3. (tie) Asheville Racquet Club

Just for you

Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa is the top place to relax without your children. CITIZEN-TIMES FILEPHOTO


1 Crowne PlazaDrive, Ashe-ville, 253-5874;200 RacquetClub Road,Asheville, 274-3361; ashevillerac-quetclub.com.YWCA of Ashe-ville185 S. FrenchBroad Ave.,Asheville, 254-7206; ywcao-fasheville.org.

Best placefor amoms night out1. French Broad Chocolate Lounge10 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 252-4181; french-broadchocolatelounge.com.2. Regal Biltmore Grande TheaterBiltmore Park Town Square, 229 Thetford St.,Asheville, 684-4380; regmovies.com3. Downtown Asheville

38 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2

I hate clutter.Visitors to my home

probably think I haveembraced the conceptof minimalist design orI am too cheap to buyaccessories. Really, Iam just trying to main-tain a tenuous hold on my sanity. Papersstrewn across the kitchen counter willcause my brain to shut down and then, Iask you, howwould my children find theirshoes or a sharp pencil?My home office has become a different

story, unfortunately. Iwant a paperlessoffice. I crave a digitalworkspace, butpeople keep sending me stuff. And thenthat stuff breeds overnight, creating newpiles of unopened mail and a stack ofsticky notes coveredwith random phonenumbers.Every office supply I own multiplies,

except pens. They sneak out under thecover of darkness.Adding to my paper chaos is our ever-

growing list of home design projects.Enter Pinterest, thewebsite that is both

filing away every recipe, paint color, craftproject and home-school help Ive everseen on the thankfully endless Internet,and offering up a constant distraction inthe form of home decor eye candy. It isboth a time suck and a lifesaver.Using the site, I can pin (as if on a cork-

board) ideas andwhatnot from the digitalworld. I dont have to remember the nameof that perfect shade of green paint when asimple online pinwill do.On the other hand, my want to do list

is now so long, I figure it will take approxi-mately 93.8 years to complete,working atmy current pace longer, if I admit thatmy current pace on craft projects is actu-ally taking place in retrograde motion.Want to find an open source balloon

mapping kit so you take aerial photos andmap your yard? Yep, I found that on Pin-

terest.How aboutDIY patio furniture or arecipe for no-bakeNutella cookies orhomemade toilet bowl cleaner or a porchswing/coffee table/garden plantermadeout of usedwooden pallets? Its all there.Just like the real corkboard (full of

paper!) in her room, my daughter nowuses a digital pinboard.Hers is filledwithhair styles and nail art. Once my son dis-covers thatMinecraftmaps and Legodesigns are fair game, he, too,willwant anaccount. (At least I cant step on virtualLegos.)All this online organizing isnt helping

me make much progress on cleaning mydesk, but just looking atmy neatly catego-rized digital notes is a breath of fresh airand maybe a bit of decluttering inspira-tion.If only I could click mymouse and

makeMount Laundry disappear.

Worthy is an attorney who took down her shingleto be a stay-at-homemom. Contact her [email protected].

growing together

All of your ideas, in one virtual placeBy ChrisWorthyWNC Parent columnist

40 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2

Across1. Gain access to, 2words6. 1965s Get ___MyCloud9. Benedict XVI, e.g.13. African antelope14. Equal to 10 liters15.Was furious16. Happy Endingsactor Adam _____17. CSI evidence18. Stand on end19. Chews out21. Famous for herUmbrella23. Likewise24. ...partridge in a____ tree...25.Madonnas con-troversial garment28. Vikingwritingsymbol30. Interstellar cloud35. A River ____Through It

37. Cause of Titanicsdemise39. Like amad dog40. Do ____ othersas you would do...41. Tennessee foot-baller43. Aguilera andCarey can hit a highone44. Yuletides46.Winter Olympicevent47. Charlie and theChocolate Factoryauthor48. Armys offensive,pl.50. Remote Auto-matedWeatherStation52. Used at start ofnew hole53. Unstressed-stressed pattern inpoetry

puzzles for parents


55. Pigs home57. If she were aboy...61. Road lesstraveled64. In themidst65. ___ and feath-er67. EUmoney, pl.69. American poetJamesWhitcomb_____70. Geologicalperiod71. Narrowmoun-tain ridge72. Benevolentand ProtectiveOrder of ____73. The ___ HotChili Peppers74. Shewakes upin themorningfeeling like P.Diddy

Down1. As opposed toGross DomesticProduct2. Unfledgedhawk3. Bath powder4. Administer5. You belongwith her?6. Betting prob-ability7. Belieber, e.g.8. Bell-bottomsbottom9. Between larvaand adult10. Sign of some-thing to come11. PhiladelphiasIvy Leaguemem-ber12. Cocoyam15. Hitler, e.g.20. No ____

about it22. 007 creator24. Throw out ofkilter25. Hed catch agrenade for ya26. A sentencethat goes too long27. Poker stakes29. Firstman onthemoon31. E Street ____32. Lusitaniasdestroyer33. Gracefullyslender34. She couldhave had it allrolling in thedeep36.Worn fromwalking38. She was bornthis way42. Gossipy

45. Scrooge-like49. Cul de ___51.Mean character-istic54. Approximately1.094 yards56. James Blunt:_____ Beautiful57. ____naked La-dies, band58. Short for Emilia59. Nutrition of anembryo60. Dollar bills61. Half of Brangeli-na62. Greek god ofwar63. Shakespeareandoes66. We ___Mar-shall68. Under theboardwalk, down bythe ___

Solutions on Page 61

42 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2

Spring inWesternNorthCarolina is a beautiful thing.Weget our gardens ready and plantthem full of amazing seeds. Thensomethingwonderful happens:The seeds sprout and begin togrow.We tend to our gardensand take care of the growingplants, anticipating the many amazingmeals we can make. It begins slowly, a fewcucumbers or beans are ready. Then yougo outside one morning to check theplants, and you find that they took growth

hormones overnight andthey are loadedwith plumpjuicy vegetables. Jackpot!Finally, I do not have to go tothe grocery store. I canmake ameal from the gar-den!

The next day the samething happens, and the fol-lowing day, and on it goes.Soon veggies are piling up

on the counter and you are no longer excit-ed to go check the garden to seewhat isthere. You skip a few days only to go outand find your cucumbers and zucchini arethe size of footballs and your green beans

are overgrown and tough. It has becometoo muchwork to keep upwith the gardenproduction, and youmourn the loss ofamazing food. The consolation is it goes inyour compost to make nice rich soil fornext years garden.

By Kate JustenWNC Parent columnist

Pasta salad1or 2 cloves crushed garlic1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs; thyme,parsley, basil, rosemary and/or dill

3 ounces Greek yogurt1/4 cup olive oil1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon pepper1pound cooked pasta3 cups chopped veggies (cucumber,carrot, onion, peppers, broccoli,zucchini, spinach, tomato, kale, broc-coli, squash, usewhat is in season)

Combine first six ingredients fordressing in a small bowl or jar. Set asidewhile chopping vegetables. Combinechopped veggies, dressing or kale pestoand cooled pasta in a large bowl.

Whenthe garden

overflows


Before you get to that point, thoughwiththeweather we have had youmay alreadybe there, make a plan.What can you dowithall of that excess produce?

Give it away.Give excess produce tofriends and neighbors or find a local organi-zation that helps feed peoplewho do nothave the resources to grow amazing food. Ifyou do not know of an organization call

UnitedWays 211 or visit www.211wnc.orgfor help.

Be creative in your cooking.Use theresources around you. Friends and familyoften have new and fun recipes. Or try tore-create something you once had in arestaurant or at a dinner party. Look fornew recipes on the Internet or in yourcookbooks, or just experiment.

Send it to your childs school fortastings or science experiments. Contactyour childs teacher to see if he or she canuse the produce for snack or in an educa-tional lesson. Food is a great way to teachmath and science skills, produce art, use itas inspiration for a story or song.

Freeze or can. There are a ton ofgreat resources on the Internet, as well asclasses being taught locally, on canning andfreezing excess produce. The most impor-tant thing to remember is to follow foodsafety guidelines found at www.foodsafe-ty.gov.

Save seeds for next year. Large,overgrown vegetables still have seeds inthem that can be removed, dried andstored for next years garden. Before youcompost those overgrown veggies, removethe seeds. For tips, visit http://growing-minds.org/seed-saving-tips.php

Use kale to make pesto for a pasta salador a sesame kale side dish. KATEJUSTEN/SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT

Sesame kale5 cups chopped kale2 cloves crushed garlic3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari2 tablespoons sesame oil2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Stir fry kale, garlic, soy sauce andoil on high heat for 3 to 5 minutes oruntil kale is bright green and not yetwilted. Remove from pan and topwithsesame seeds.

Kale pesto1/2 cup tasted pine nuts or walnuts3 cups chopped kale1or 2 cloves garlic1/4 cup parmesan cheese1/2 to1 cup extra virgin olive oilSalt and fresh ground pepper totaste

Combine all ingredients except theoil in a food processor or blender. Slow-ly add the oil until it is the consistencyyou want.

44 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2

Ornery, bossy anddetermined asever to have her

ownway, BadKitty isback.This time she is run-

ning for presidentnotof theUnited States, though she is brashenough to believe she could. BadKitty isrunning for president of theNeighborhoodCat Club. A novice to politics, BadKittydoesnt know a thing about elections.That is where thewell-informed narrator

comes in handy inNick Bruels BadKittyRuns for President. In a breezy, conversa-tional style, the narrator educates BadKittyon primaries, endorsements, campaigning,debating and voting.The tutorial is easy to follow and accu-

rate. It is a funwayto introduce kids tothe election process.All of the election

words arewell-defined in the textand also in the glos-sary.The thing about

BadKitty is this:While kids are learn-ing about the elec-tion process, theywill be laughing outloud the entire time. BadKittys thoughtsand behavior appear only in the illustra-tions.Bruels black-and-white drawings are

expressive and hilarious.Also, Bruel interrupts the story occasion-

ally with notes to his editor,Neal. At thebeginning of one pivotal scene, Bruel leavesa note on top of the real text: Neal, this is avery dramaticmoment. Couldwe put somedramaticmusic here?The editor leaves a note in reply: Nick

(Bruel), This is a book. It doesnt playmusic.Your editor,Neal.Bruel leavesNeal more notes with in-

librarians picks

Jennifer PrinceBuncombe County Public Library

Bad Kittysfun politicaladventure


Buncombe County LibrariesVisit buncombecounty.org for summer reading

program schedule.BlackMountain, 250-4756: Preschool: 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday;Mother Goose: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday; Tod-dler: 10:30 a.m. Thursday

East Asheville, 250-4738: Preschool: 11 a.m.Wednesday and Saturday

Enka-Candler, 250-4758: Preschool: 10:30 a.m.Wednesday; Toddler: 10:30 a.m. Thursday

Fairview, 250-6484: Preschool: 10:30 a.m. ThursdayLeicester, 250-6480:Mother Goose: 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday; Preschool: 10:30 a.m.WednesdayNorth Asheville, 250-4752: School age: 3:15 p.m.

Thursday; Preschool: 11 a.m.Wednesday; Toddler: 10a.m.Wednesday

Oakley/South Asheville, 250-4754:Mother Goose:11 a.m. Thursday; Toddler: 11 a.m.Wednesday; Pre-school: 10 a.m.Wednesday

PackMemorial Library, 250-4700: Preschool: 10:30a.m.Mondays;Mother Goose: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays;Toddler: 10:30 a.m. Thursdays; School age: 3:30 p.m.Wednesdays

Skyland/South Buncombe, 250-6488: Preschool:10:30 a.m. Thursday; Toddler: 10:30 a.m.Wednesday

Swannanoa, 250-6486: Preschool: 11 a.m. Thurs-day; Toddler: 10 a.m. Thursday

Weaverville, 250-6482:Mother Goose: 11 a.m.Wednesday; Toddler: 11 a.m. Thursday; Preschool: 11a.m. Tuesday

West Asheville, 250-4750:Mother Goose: 11 a.m.Monday; Toddler: 11 a.m.Wednesday; Preschool: 11a.m. Thursday

Haywood County LibraryVisit www.haywood library.org for story times and

summer reading program schedule.

Henderson County LibraryVisit www.henderson. lib.nc.us for summer reading

program schedule.Main, 697-4725: Bouncing Babies: 11 a.m.Wednes-

days and Thursdays; Toddler Time: 10:30 a.m.Wednes-days; Preschool-2nd grade: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays andThursdays; 4 OClock Craft Club: 4 p.m. Thursdays

Edneyville, 685-0110: Family: 10 a.m.MondaysEtowah, 891-6577: Family: 11 a.m. TuesdaysFletcher, 687-1218: Toddler Time: 10 a.m.Wednes-

days; Preschool-2nd grade: 10:30 a.m.WednesdaysGreen River, 697-4969: Family: 10 a.m. ThursdaysMills River, 890-1850: Familiy: 10 a.m.Mondays

Barnes & NobleAshevilleMall, 296-7335: 11 a.m.Mondays and 2

p.m. SaturdaysBiltmore Park Town Square, Asheville, 687-0681:

11 a.m. Saturdays

Blue Ridge Books152 S.Main St., Waynesville, 456-6000: 10:30 a.m.

Mondays for ages 3 and younger.

area story times

nocent but impossible requests.Neal gets alittle frustrated and goes to Siberia.

All considered, BadKitty for Presidentis first-rate fun.

This book and other Bad Kitty books are at theBuncombe County Public Libraries. To learn more,visit www.buncombecounty.org/library.

46 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2


Animals love to play! If you have petsat home, you have probably given themtoys to chase and chew.Wild animals lovenew toys, too. The instincts that domesticpets have to play and hunt are magnifiedin their wild cousins,which means zooslike theWNCNature Center need toworkhard every day to make sure these naturaldrives are fulfilled.At theNature Center, have you noticed

cardboard boxes, feathers or brightlycolored balls? These arent trash left be-hind; theyrewhat zoos call enrichment. Inthewild, a cougar would climb into tree-tops towait for prey towalk beneath. Inthe cougar habitat at theNature Center,Pisgah andMitchell have climbing towersto allow them to get high over the heads ofvisitors. Boxes filledwith pine straw andtreats give them something to tear into.Like all the animals living at theNature

Center, the cougars could not survive ontheir own in thewild, either due to injuryor imprinting to humans. Climbing andcapturing are two instincts that, if leftunsatisfied,would make the big cats anx-ious or bored.

Its important for every animal, fromwolves to reptiles, to receive enrichment.For some, like the timber rattlesnake, amorning misting like natural dew col-lection mimics life in thewild. For others,like the intelligent and playful otters,three different types of enrichment aregiven daily, from puzzle toys to brand newscents sprayed in the habitat.For animals, play is not only for fun.

Young animals learn to hunt, forage anddefend themselves through play. At theNature Center, play allows these nonre-leasable animals to experience the ever-changing stimuli of life in thewild. So thenext time you visit, see if you can findevidence of animal play!

The Western North Carolina Nature Center con-nects peoplewith the animals and plants of theSouthern AppalachianMountain region by in-spiring appreciation, nurturing understanding,and advancing conservation of the regions richbiodiversity. Visit www.wncnaturecenter.com.

nature center notes

Play keeps wild animals healthy, happyBy Jill SharpWNC Nature Center

Cody the grey wolf hunts for hidden treatsin his habitat. SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT

48 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2

kids page

BY JEFF RUMINSKI/STAFF

50 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2

52 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2


calendar of events

Deadline for the July calendar is June 10. Pleasesubmit items to [email protected].

May 29INFANT CARE CLASS: Pardee Hospital offersquarterly class, 6:30-8 p.m. at Hospital in Ori-entation Classroom, 800 N. Justice St., Hen-dersonville. $10. Registration is required. Call866-790-WELL or visit www.pardeehospital.orgto register.TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN: Freework-shop to help prepare your child for kindergartenby learning hands-on home activities and expec-tations of rising kindergartners. 5:30-7 p.m. atHall Fletcher Elementary School. To register,

contact Leslie Hales at 407-2056 or [email protected].

May 30CRAZY CHEMISTRY: Sidewalk chalkwith crazychemists at Hands On! A Childs Gallery. At 10:30 a.m.for ages 3 and older. Call to register, 697-8333. At 318N.Main St., Hendersonville. Visit www.handsonwn-c.org.

May 31SPANISH 4 KIDS: Pre-K children can learn Spanishthrough games, singing, dancing, story telling andmore. At 3:30 p.m. Thursdays,May 31-July 5, atFrench Broad Co-OpMovement Center. Formoreinformation email [email protected] or call 335-2120.

June 1WEST ASHEVILLEWAVES: Its not too late to regis-ter for a summer swim team. Practice is 4-6 p.m. onMondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at The AshevilleSchool. Cost is $200 per swimmer for the season.Contact Coach Frank Kriegler at [email protected] or call 232-1644 formore information.

June 1-2LA FILLE: Ballet Conservatory of Asheville performsthe full-length ballet, La Fillemal garde, perfectfor children and families. Starring North CarolinaDance Theatre guest soloist AddulManzano, andBCAs Sarah London. 7:30 p.m. June 1-2 and 2 p.m.June 2 at Diana Wortham Theatre. Tickets $10 and$20. For tickets, visit www.dwtheatre.org or call257-4530. For information, visit www.BalletConserva-toryofAsheville.com or call 255-5777.

June 1-10DAY OUTWITH THOMAS: Tweetsie Railroad inBlowing Rock. Take a 25-minute ridewith a full-sizeThomas the Tank Engine.With storytelling,music,activities,more. Adults (13 and older) $35; ages 3-12,$22; children 2 and younger are free. Visitwww.tweetsie.com or www.thomasandfriends.com/dowt.

June 2BOOK SIGNING: A Love Story, How God PursuedMe and FoundMe, by Samantha Ryan Chandler,

Thingsto do


54 W N C P A R E N T | J U N E 2 0 1 2

calendar of events

book signing event, 5-6:30 p.m. at Grateful StepsPublishing House and Bookshop, 159 S. LexingtonAve., Asheville. Visit www.gratefulsteps.org.HAND IN HAND GOSPEL SING FUNDRAISER: 6:30p.m. at Grove Stone Baptist Church, 1568 GroveStone Road.With Bud Lewis Family, AdriennePertillerWeir andmore. Proceeds benefit studentsin Swannanoa Valley. Call 686-5501.HENDERSON COUNTY CURBMARKET OLD TIMEYDAY: Biscuits cooked on awood stove,music, an-tiques, demonstrations andmore, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. inHendersonville. 692-8012.MUD FUN:Muddy games for all ages and a 1-milemud run for ages 8+. A family event tied toMadMountainMud Run on June 3. $15 per person forages 2 and older,which includes Chick-fil-Ameal.From 5-7 p.m. at Berkeley Park, Balfour Road, Hen-dersonville. Visit www.handsonwnc.org.FAMILYWELLNESS DAY: Chimney Rock State Parkhosts a family wellness day, in conjunctionwithNational Trails Day. Learn how to establish a healthi-er exercise routine and diet.With guided hikes,health screenings andmore. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Freewithpark admission. Visit www.chimneyrockpark.com.OPEN HOUSE: GrowwithMe Preschool LearningCooperative hosts an open house for interestedfamilies, 10:3011:30 a.m. in the schools classroom atGroce UnitedMethodist Church, 954 Tunnel Road.Entrance to the classroom is via Governors ViewRoad off Tunnel Road. The play-based, teacher-ledprogram draws inspiration from Rudolph Steinersphilosophy on education, following the values ofreverence, repetition and rhythm. The programmeets 9 a.m.1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays andThursdays and is open to ages 3-5. RSVP to JanisCraft at [email protected] or KatyEstrada at 337-4710.PUZZLED BY PINK: Have a tea party with authorSarah Frances Hardy at The Fountainhead Book-store, 408 N.Main St., Hendersonville. For ages 4-7.Call 697-1870 or visitwww.fountainheadbookstore.com.REUTER FAMILY YMCA SWIM LESSONS: Classesfor ages 6months-12 years on Saturdays, June 2-23.Registration deadline isMay 29. Starts at $20. Call651-9622 or visit www.ymcawnc.org.

June 2-3WNC AIRMUSEUMAIR FAIR AND FLY-IN: Openhouse, antique aircraft,memorabilia, artifacts, carshow, concessions, rides available. Free. 10 a.m.-5p.m. each day. Visit www.wncairmuseum.com.

June 4ASHEVILLE YMCA SWIM LESSONS: Classes forages 6months and older,Monday-Thursday eve-nings, June 4-14. Registration deadline is June 1.Starts at $40. Call 210-9605 or visit www.ymcawn-c.org.ASHEVILLE YMCA PORPOISE CLUB: Swim groupmade to feel like a swim team for thosewho areconsidering a team, are familiar with all four strokesand can swim laps. 6-7 p.m.Monday, Wednesdayand Friday, June 4-29. Registration deadline is June1. Starts at $65. Call 210-9605 or visit www.ym-

cawnc.org.REUTER FAMILY YMCA SWIM LESSONS: Classesfor ages 3 to adults,mornings and afternoonsMonday-Thursday, June 4-14. Registration deadlineisMay 31. Starts at $40. Call 651-9622 or visitwww.ymcawnc.org.

June 5ASHEVILLE YMCA SWIM LESSONS: Classes forages 6months and older, Tuesdays and Thursdays,June 5-28. Registration deadline is June 1. Starts at$40. Call 210-9605 or visit www.ymcawnc.org.FARM & GARDEN TO KITCHEN: Program for ages 3and older, 1-2 p.m. at Hands On! A Childs Gallery inconjunctionwith Children and Family ResourceCenters Early Learning Center. Call 697-8333 toregister. Freewith admission. At 318 N.Main St.,Hendersonville. Visit www.handsonwnc.org.TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN: Freeworkshopto help prepare your child for kindergarten bylearning hands-on home activities and expectationsof rising kindergartners. 10:30 a.m.-noon at Neigh-borhood YMCA atWoodfin. To register, contactLeslie Hales at 407-2056 or [email protected].

Starts June 7WOODSY OWLS CURIOSITY CLUB: Cradle ofForestry offers a summer nature series for ages 4-7.With outdoor-oriented activities. 10:30 a.m.-noon,Thursdays through Aug. 2. $4 per child per program,$2.50 for adults.Make a reservation at 877-3130. OnU.S. 276 in Pisgah National Forest. Visit www.cradle-offorestry.com

June 7 and 14CHILDBIRTH CLASSES: A free two-session class, onJune 7 and 14, for expectant parents covering thelabor and delivery process, relaxation, breathingpatterns, birth options, positioning and comfortmeasures. 6:309 p.m. Registration required. AtPardee Hospital, 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville.Call 866-790-WELL or visit www.pardeehospital.orgto register.

June 8ART BAG CAMP: Get crafty andmake an art bag totake home, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Hands On! AChilds Gallery. Donna Ramsey,will teach aboutdesign and color. Ages 7-12. $15 nonmembers/$9members. At 318 N.Main St., Hendersonville. Visitwww.handsonwnc.org or call 697-8333.ASHEVILLE AEROMODELERS: Come fly withAsheville Aeromodelers, 11 a.m. at SwannanoaLibrary. All ages. Pick up free ticket afterMay 15.Visit www.buncombecounty.org.

June 9ASHEVILLE YMCA SWIM LESSONS: Classes forages 6months and older, Saturdaymornings, June9-30. Registration deadline is June 8. Starts at $40.Call 210-9605 or visit www.ymcawnc.org.KIDS NIGHT OUT: Biltmore UnitedMethodistChurch hosts night out, 5-8 p.m., for infants tofifth-graders.With educational activities and snacks.$5 per child. Email [email protected] or call274-2379 to RSVP.NATIONAL GET OUTDOORS DAY: Cradle of Forest-ry offers skill demonstrations and guided naturewalks. Free admission. On U.S. 276 in Pisgah Nation-

Take guided hikes and learn to keep your family healthy at Chimney Rock State Parksfamily wellness day, June 2. STEVEN MCBRIDE/SPECIAL TOWNC PARENT

Continued from Page 53


calendar of events

al Forest. Visit www.cradleofforestry.com.SATURDAYS AT ACT: Bright Star Touring Theatrepresents American Dreams at 10 a.m. and SleepyHollow at 11:30 a.m. Both shows are family-friendlyand each contains opportunities for audience partic-ipation. All tickets $5 at the door. Visitwww.ashevilletheatre.org.

June 11CELEBRATE CHILDBIRTH CLASS: Park RidgeHealths The Baby Place offers a one-day session, 9a.m.-4 p.m. Course covers dealingwith pregnancyailments, labor process and support techniques,breast-feeding, newborn care. Visit www.parkridge-babies.com or call 681-BABY to register. $65. Held atThe Health Adventure, 800 Brevard Road, Asheville.SNAKES ALIVE: Ages 5 and older. 11 a.m. at Fair-view Library. Visit www.buncombecounty.org.

June 11-14PEACE, ARTS, EARTH SUMMER CAMP: Ages 9-13.Nature awareness, interconnection and ecology,with Earth skills and crafts. AtMontessori CoopSchool inMills River. Hosted by The Childrens GlobalPeace Project,www.cgpp.org. Register atwww.bit.ly/peacecamp2012.

June 11-15KID SAFE SUMMER: Buncombe County Pools willhighlight child safety with a program at each pool.Addresses safety in and around vehicles, bike andpedestrian safety and answer questions about carseats. The fire department answers questions aboutfire safety at home and outdoors.With arts andcrafts for kids. Call 250-4260 or visit www.buncom-becounty.org. From noon-2:30 p.m. at these loca-tions: June 11: Cane Creek Pool June 12: Erwin Pool June 13: Hominy Valley Pool June 14: North Buncombe Pool June 15: Owen PoolSWAN LAKE BALLET WORKSHOP: Ballet Conser-vatory of Asheville offers Swan Lake ballet andmodern danceweek. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.Monday-Friday for ages 5-7 and 7-10. Daily dance classes,creative art projects and final dance presentation.Other dance and theater workshops available. $155,with discount for siblings ormultipleworkshops. AtFive Points Studios, 6 E. Chestnut St., (corner ofBroadway and Chestnut). Visit www.BalletConserva-toryofAsheville.com or call 255-5777.

June 12PEREGRINE FALCONRY PROGRAM: Ages 5 andolder. 1 p.m. at Henderson CountyMain Library, 301N.Washington St., Hendersonville. Visit www.hen-derson.lib.nc.us.WIGGLEWITH THEWORMS: Learn about wormsandmake aminiworm farm to take home, 10:30a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Hands On! A Childs Gallery. Ages7-12. $15 nonmembers/$9 members. At 318 N.MainSt., Hendersonville. Visit www.handsonwnc.org orcall 697-8333.

June 13BALLET CLASSES: Ballet Conservatory of Ashevilleoffers classes eachWednesday through Aug. 1. Ages3-5 at 1:15-2 p.m. and ages 5-7 at 12:30-1:15 p.m. $80,with discount for siblings. At Five Points Studios, 6 E.Chestnut St., (corner of Broadway & Chestnut). Visitwww.BalletConservatoryofAsheville.com or call255-5777.GRANDFATHERMOUNTAIN ANIMAL BIRTHDAYPARTIES:With games, contests, crafts and surprisesfrom10 a.m.-3 p.m. and free cake from1-4 p.m.Behind the scenes tour at 10:30 a.m. for $20.Maketour reservation by calling 733-8715. Visitwww.grandfather.com.LINCOLN: The Carl Sandburg Home and TheVagabond School of the Drama presents Lincoln,10:15-10:45 a.m.Wednesdays and Fridays throughAug. 17. All ages. At Carl Sandburg Home amphithe-ater in Flat Rock. Visit www.nps.gov/carl.SNAKES ALIVE: Kick off Henderson County PublicLibrarys summer reading programwith this popularsnake program. All ages. Visit www.henderson-.lib.nc.us. 10 a.m. atMain Library, 301N.Washington St.,Hendersonville 3 p.m. at Fletcher branch library

June 14DREAM BIG: Singwith Sonia Brooks, 11 a.m. atWest Asheville Library. For ages 2-6. Visit www.bun-combecouny.org.FLOW CIRCUS: For all ages. 2 p.m. at HendersonCountyMain Library, 301N.Washington St., Hen-dersonville. Visit www.henderson.lib.nc.us.LETS GO FLY CAMP: Create four different paperairplanes and test their flying skills, 10:30 a.m.-12:30p.m. at Hands On! A Childs Gallery, 318 N.Main St.,Hendersonville. Ages 8-12. $15 nonmembers/$9members. Limited space. Call 697-8333 to register.Visit www.handsonwnc.org.ORIGAMI FOLDING FRENZY: The Health Ad-venture hosts origami club for all levels, 4-5 p.m.second Thursday of themonth. Learn new folds,share favorites andmeet fellow origami enthusiasts.Paper available atmuseum store or bring your own.Freewith admission. At Biltmore SquareMall, offBrevard Road. Call 665-2217 or visitwww.thehealthadventure.org.SNAKES ALIVE: Kick off Henderson County Public

Librarys summer reading programwith this popularsnake program. All ages. 3 p.m. atMills River branchlibrary. Visit www.henderson.lib.nc.us.PAJAMA JAM: Kick off Buncombe County PublicLibrarys summer reading programwith an all-agespajama jam, 10 a.m.-noon, at PackMemorial Library,downtown Asheville. Visit www.buncombecoun-ty.org.THE ROOTABAGA STORIES: The Carl SandburgHome and The Vagabond School of the Dramapresents The Rootabaga Stories, 10:15-10:45 a.m.Thursdays and Saturdays through Aug. 18. All ages.At Carl Sandburg Home amphitheater in Flat Rock.Visit www.nps.gov/carl.YWCA CLUBW OPEN HOUSE: stop by for freeexercise classes including Zumba, yoga, Pilates,aerobics and cycle classes. Therewill also be free lapswim, open swim andwater aerobics. 5:30-9 p.m. at185 S. French Broad Ave. Visit www.ywcaofasheville-.org or call 254-7206, ext. 213.

June 15ALL ABOUTME! CAMP: Learnwhatmakes youunique through crafts,music andmovement atcamp for ages 3-5, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at HandsOn! A Childs Gallery, 318 N.Main St., Henderson-ville. $15 nonmembers/$9 members. Limited space.Call 697-8333 to register. Visit www.handsonwn-c.org.DREAM BIG: Jugglewith the Flow Circus, 11 a.m. atWest Asheville Library. All ages. Pick up free ticket atthe library starting June 1. Visit www.buncombe-county.org.

June 16AVL FATHERS FEST: Interactive festival honoringthe relationship between dad and the kids, noon-6p.m. at Highland Brewery, 12 Old Charlotte High-way, Asheville.Withwood projects, science experi-ments, fly-fishing demos, chili cook-off ($5), chairmassages, games with prizes, live entertainment andmore. $20 per family and $25 at the gate. Portion ofproceeds benefitMission Hospital Foundation. Visitwww.ashevillefathersday.com.MOVIE ON THEMEADOW:Watch The Last of theMohicans at outdoors at Chimney Rock State Park,where parts of the epic romantic adventure film


WNC Parent June 2012

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