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Vol. 1 - Issue 4
8
Get Out!
This Month's Outdoor Activity Idea
Create a Certified
Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Create a wildlife
habitat, and get it certified by The National Wildlife
Federation. This is a great project for you to enjoy as a
family, or for scouts, students, or other children's
organizations. Help local wildlife flourish, while helping the
environment. Enjoy watching wildlife in your habitat, all while
learning about the science and nature of your local area.
The National Wildlife
Federation has steps to help you get your site certified. Once
certified you will be eligible to receive a yard sign
that shows your commitment to
conserving wildlife, as well as several other
benefits from the NWF.
By providing 4 basic elements to your habitat: food,
water, shelter, and places to raise young, you can ensure
your site will be successful.
No space is to small to
get certified, and everyone is invited to submit a site for
certification. You can do it in your own backyard, or try
contacting local organizations like churches, senior centers,
parks, and schools to see if they would allow you to create your
habitat on their property for everyone to enjoy.
Kids love being
the center of attention, what better
way to put this attribute to work than
having them STAR in their own
production at home.
Be creative with
the stage and props. Old curtains in a
doorway for the stage "curtain", draw
on poster board or old sheets for
scene backdrops, find costumes in your
dress up trunks or old clothes in the
closet. The possibilities are endless.
You can find
pre-written plays for kids at this
wonderful PBS site, click
here
for a list of available scripts. You
can even print tickets for the opening
night. Follow this link for
printable
tickets,
and
posters
or design and print your own
from the computer.
Set up a tripod
and record it with your
camcorder, so you can all watch it
after. It will be a family favorite
for years!
Add some family
members, friends, and neighbors for an
audience, and let the show
begin.......
Do you have more
children's items in your home than you have room
for? Do you have a need for kid related items?
Or maybe you just want to talk with other Connecticut parents?
Then
the
KidsCT.com Swap Meet is the place for you.
Use this group to sell, get, or give away kid's
items, and to connect with local parents. Make friends, get information,
whatever you like! Click
here to visit the swap meet.
8
Spotlight on Connecticut
Great Places to Cool
Off!
School is approaching fast,
but we still have several hot weeks to contend with first.
Connecticut has some great places to cool off and have fun. Most CT
towns have public aquatic facilities available to residents (check
with your local Parks and Recreation Dept for info), but there are
also some wonderful swimming holes and waterfalls throughout the
state that residents can swim in. Sometimes a swim in a
naturally beautiful
setting, instead of a chlorinated swimming pool
is just what the doctor ordered.
We have found a wonderful
website that lists many of these spots
www.swimminghole.org. On the
site you can find directions, and tips on swimming at each location.
CT also has quite a few state parks that offer swimming. Click
here to view them.
Remember to always use
common sense when swimming in a natural setting, especially where
there is no lifeguard on duty. Never leave children unattended while
swimming.
Have a fun and safe summer!
8
This Month's Kid Friendly Recipe
Homemade Ice Cream in
a Ziploc Bag!
This is a great recipe to help cool off on a hot summer day. No
crazy ingredients or contraptions, ready in about 5 minutes. Who
doesn't love ice cream?
Ingredients:
1
tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup milk or half & half
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6
tablespoons rock salt
1
pint-size Ziploc plastic bag
1
gallon-size Ziploc plastic bag
Ice cubes
Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rocksalt. Seal the bag. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the
small bag, and seal it. Place the small bag inside the large one and
seal again carefully. Shake until mixture is ice cream, about 5
minutes.Wipe off top of small bag, then
open carefully and enjoy!For
chocolate ice cream use a half tablespoon of cocoa and add it to the
milk mixture. You can also use fruit juices like pineapple juice
instead of half and half, for a fruit sorbet. You can also add food
coloring for colored ice cream. Add your favorite ice cream toppings
and enjoy your summer treat!
8This
Months Featured Events
August 1st-
Toe Jam Puppet Band- Westport
Start Time: 7:00 PM
Description: Join us at the Levitt Pavilion for songs, puppets,
storytelling, corn ball humor and just plain good ol' fun with the
Toe Jam Puppet Band! Levitt Pavilion, Jesup Rd, Westport. Visit
http://www.levittpavilion.com/Pavilionpages/childrensseries.htm or call 203-221-2153 for more info.
August 3rd-
Wild West Festival- Bristol
Start Time: 5:00 PM
Ending Time: 8:00 PM
Description: The Imagine Nation Museum is sponsoring a real hoe-down
time at our Wild West Festival. Mine for gold, plant a cactus, learn
square dancing and more! Plus create some really wild cowboy or
cowgirl crafts in our art area. Hot dogs (smothered with chili if
yer game) available at our old fashioned Soda Fountain. $4.00
reduced admission. Sponsored by the Mayor's T.E.A.M. Committee. Call
860-314-1400 or visit
www.imaginemuseum.org for
further information. Imagine Nation Museum, One Pleasant Street,
Bristol
August 4th-
Skyhoundz Dog Championship Frisbee Contest- Manchester
Start Time: 9:30 AM
Ending Time:
Description: Wickham Park in Manchester hosts this great family
event. Local Dogs and their owners compete in this nationally known
Frisbee competition. Teams are formed by one dog and their owner,
all are welcomed and we encourage amateurs. All dogs must be leashed
unless competing. Free style competition will be included for the
first time this year. Registration will be at 9:30am, competitions
will begin at 10:15am. Gates will open at 9:00am. This event is open
to the public, dog teams are encouraged to participate. Parking $4,
call (860) 528-0856 or visit
http://www.wickhampark.org
for more info. Wickham Park is located at 1329 West Middle Tpke.
Manchester.
August 5th-
Children’s Day- Meriden
Start Time: 1:30 PM
Ending Time: 4:30 PM
Description: The Solomon Goffe House will hold Children’s Day on
August 5th. Colonial games and activities for children. Call (203)
634-9088 for more info. Cost is $2. Solomon Goffe House- 677 North
Colony St, Meriden.
August 11th-
Haunted Lighthouse- South Norwalk
Start Time: 11:00 AM, 2:00 & 3:30 PM
Description: Historic Sheffield Lighthouse decorated as a
child-friendly haunted attraction with games and crafts for young
visitors. Ferry departs 11 a.m., 2 & 3:30 p.m. Ferry tickets: adults
$18, children (4-12) $12, 3 and younger $5. Departs from Washington
and Water Sts. South Norwalk. For more info call (203) 838-9444.
August 25th-
Puddle Duckie Race-Channel 3 Camp,
Andover
Start Time: 12:00 PM
Ending Time: 4:00 PM
Description: Puddle Duckie Race at the Channel 3 Kids Camp to
benefit the camp and Coventry Lions. Adopt little yellow rubber
ducks and watch as they race down the river for great prizes.
Saturday August 25, 2007 12pm-4pm. Race Time 3:30pm. Event will have
live music, moonbounce, carnival games, tattoo booth, face painting,
kids activities, refreshments will be sold. Adoption $5 for one
lonely duck, Quack pack of 4 for $20, Team of Ducks 10 for $40,
Flock of Duck 24 for $80, and a Mob of Ducks 30 for $100. Ducks can
be adopted online with MC or Visa at www.channel3kidscamp.org, by
sending a check to:Channel 3 Kids Camp,
73 Times Farm Road, Andover, CT 06232, or
on the day of the event. Call for more info: 860-742-2267
