Spring has sprung; the earth is coming alive. Nowhere are signs more evident than on the farm. Most of us know four Vermont seasons; some of us swear to seven or eight. Farmers know each day is a new season.Vermont Farms! Association, working farms open to the public, invites you to enjoy the sights, sounds, and experience of Spring, and of all the great days of farm life. Read more »

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Mentor Arts matches artistic youth with adults for relationships based on friendship and a mutual love of the arts. Mentor pairs meet once a week over an extended period of time. Each week, pairs spend time in art studios and classrooms learning together, learning from each other and becoming friends. While art is a central focus and interest of the pair, mentors and youth also share many other interests including hiking, skateboarding, science, ice cream, and more. Curious about what it might be like to be a mentor? Want to see the Burlington City Arts studios and make art with kids? Check out a Mentor Arts Activity Open House! Read more »

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On May 16 - 18, the New England Center for Circus Arts presents the end of year performances by members of the school’s Professional Track Training Program. The 9 month program began with a competitive application, and 16 students moved from across the country in September to begin the intensive program. Students hail from as far away as Seattle and Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC as well as New Hampshire and Boston. Read more »

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Moms have been inventing solutions for years – from eliminating the monster under our beds to creating a recipe that will incorporate broccoli into our diets. Some moms, however, have created inventions that have impacted our way of life. This Mother’s Day, May 11, Whirlpool brand will host the fourth annual Mother of Invention Grant Program. The Whirlpool brand Mother of Invention Grant Program provides seed money and expert guidance to moms to turn their invention, business or service ideas into full-fledged businesses. Contest winners receive: Read more »

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If you are not aware that American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women get a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise daily, put down those chips, turn off the TV, and move slowly off the couch. Jakfish, a mom-owned, Vermont clothing company is now making waves in the maternity, apparel, and exercise industries, by producing high performance clothing specially designed for the ever-changing pregnant body. All Jakfish products are made in Vermont and are available in limitedboutique stores including Bebop Baby Shop in Essex and online at www.jakfish.com.

The concept of Jakfish was created in 2005 by Stephanie Teleen, a mother of two, who wanted to continue her active lifestyle throughout her pregnancies. Read more »

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The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) was awarded $1,700 from the Stowe High School SHAPE (Students Helping Achieve Philanthropic Excellence) Program. The grant will help fund the building of a new Nature Playground and Outdoor Classroom at the VINS Nature Center in Quechee, Vermont. Read more »

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Nationally known author, Linda Lantieri, will be speaking at the South Burlington High School auditorium on May 12 from 6-8pm. She has just published a new book Building Emotional Intelligence: Techniques to Clulivate Inner Strength in Children. Lantieri is also the Founding Director of the Inner Resilience Program, which has helped support thousands of children, teachers, school administrators and parents in lower Manhattan who were affected by September 11. Her work focuses on developing inner resilience in children and equipping them with the strategies and skills to face the challenges and opportunities of life. Lantieri’s talk is free and open to all. For more information, contact Auriel Gray at 802-652-7267 or agray@sbschools.net.

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In this all-important election season, Kids VT is taking a trip. We’re going to check out Washington, D.C. We’ll report back on attractions of interest and offer tips on navigating around our nation’s capital as a family. Kids VT Managing Editor, Susan Holson, has arranged for two junior correspondents to blog daily during their April trip. So look for input from 13-year-old Dana and 15-year-old Adam here at www.KidsVT.com as they share their experiences from a kids’-eye point of view from April 21 through April 25!

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Studies show that kids who read “four or more” books over the summer are less likely to fall victim to the “Summer Slide,” the common loss of skills due to being out of school over the summer. Scholastic Summer Reading BUZZ!, the summer reading online destination at www.scholastic.com/buzz , offers kids and parents great book lists, fun and interactive “book-themed” activities, and a chance to donate books to charity. For every four books a child reads and logs online, Scholastic will donate a book to Room to Read, a growing nonprofit that establishes libraries and schools in underprivileged communities in the developing world. Through Scholastic Summer Reading BUZZ!, a donation of up to 50,000 books will help fill bookshelves around the world. Read more »

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The adventure begins with The To Go Bowl! The To Go Bowl is created for dog owners who love to take road trips (as well as short car rides) with their furry companions. Say goodbye to…splashes, spills and stops. The To Go Bowl fits conveniently into your car’s cup holder and comes complete with a splashguard and lid. You won’t need to worry about messes or spilling. And, what’s more, the design of the To Go Bowl allows for storage of treats or dry dog food in its removable base. For more information or to order, visit www.furrytravelers.com.

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Did you know that you can download Bert and Ernie? The newest Sesame Street podcast episodes are themed Happy Healthy Monsters; featuring content from Sesame Street’s Healthy Habits for Life Initiative such as eating a healthy breakfast, playing, keeping clean, and eating your colors. Fans can go to www.sesameworkshop.org/podcasts or the iTunes Store to download their free podcast featuring Elmo, Grover, Big Bird and everyone’s favorite Sesame Street Muppets. Read more »

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Walk your dog and carry your needs at the same time: pick-up bags, house keys, money, doggy treats - even people treats! Leash Luggage is for you and your dog! Leash luggage attaches to all style leashes! There’s also a Leash Luggage H2O bowl-on-the-go! Check out www.leashluggage.com for all the colors and styles for the environmentally concerned dog walker!

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The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) has signed a contract with the Winooski Valley Park District to deliver VINS Nature Camp Programs at the Ethan Allen Homestead in Burlington. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science is providing 10 weeks of VINS Nature Camps for children in 1st hrough 6th grades at Ethan Allen Homestead. Some of the camp programs include Animal Superheroes, Earth Explorers, Winged Wonders, Eco-Adventurers and River Time. For registration information go to www.vinsweb.org/programs/camps/VINSCamp2008.html. Read more »

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The classic storybook engine, Thomas the Tank Engine, is set to roll into The Upper Hudson River Railroad for the Day Out With Thomas 2008: The Great Discovery Tour. This fun-filled event offers preschoolers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends™ series. Visitors will have a 25-minute (approximate) ride with Thomas the Tank Engine as well as an opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of The Railway. There will be activities for the whole family, including Imagination Station, storytelling, video viewing, live music, two bounce houses, hay bale maze, temporary tattoos, Penelope the Clown, face painting and much more. Read more »

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ECHO relies on volunteers to keep things lively and moving on the floor - for visitors, critters, and even after-hours events. Families can volunteer in child/parent teams interested in spending time at ECHO and with each other. Parents and children, such as the ECHO volunteer team of the month, Dayl and her thirteen-year-old son, Austin, work with the education team to help interpret the sea tank, teach ECHO guests about winter animal tracks, and even help guests learn how far a flea can jump!

Are you interested in learning more about how you and your child can become involved with ECHO? Volunteer opportunities are available for all interests and abilities. For more information please contact Becca Rimmel, Volunteer Coordinator at (802) 864- 1848 x116. Benefits include reciprocal admission to hundreds of other national and international museums, extensive training, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are helping the Basin.

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