Summer Camp, Here We Come: Camp Fair This Weekend

This post is also published in this week's issue of The Chestnut Hill Local, in the column, "Take the Kids."

Camp Fair at Chestnut Hill Academy

Yes, we are still in the midst of winter. More snow is in the forecast and warmer days seem a distant memory. But, summer will creep up on us once again and I don't know about you, but I want to make certain that I do not get stuck with my toddler every minute of every stifling day. Of course I love him, but I also know that he will need to be outside every day, using that boy energy up, and my mommy energy is no match for his. Last year, I decided to try summer camp at the last minute and almost missed my chance. It was the best decision I have made in a while. So, even if you think your child is too young and doesn't need summer activities, you may want to give it a chance. My little one loved it and was better prepared for the start of preschool in the fall.

So if you are considering summer camps, you've probably seen the banner on the avenue and read ads in the paper about this weekend's camp fair at Chestnut Hill Academy. Take note: this is the only camp fair in the area and there will be a startling near 75 camps represented. Even if you think you have chosen which camp is right for your child already, it will be worth checking out and will be a fun-filled day for all, with magic science shows, snacks and lunch at the cafe, animals visiting from The Schuylkill Center, and much more. And it's a great opportunity to get a glimpse of the school if you're considering Chestnut Hill Academy for you child.

Every camp you can imagine will be in attendance, something for every age and from all over the region and country. There will be day camps, overnight programs, and travel and adventure camps as well. The camps offer programs in nature, academics, science, sports, international travel, adventure, fine arts and more. And don't expect to simply pick up brochures and be on your way. If you want, sit down to view informational videos about camps and meet directors face to face. The camp fair will take place in the school's gymnasium complex, located near the intersection of Willow Grove Avenue and Cherokee Street. Stop by and ensure you will have happy campers this summer.

Details:

500 West Willow Grove Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19118

Saturday, January 31^st

11am-3pm

215.247.4700

FREE admission and parking

Schools: Spring Open Houses

The spring open houses for local schools are here!

So, if your child will be attending Kindergarten beginning in 2009, and if you have not already made the big decision and want to check out schools, below are the dates you need to make note of on your calendars. And this is the best time, also, to get a head start if your child is going to be entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2010.

These open houses are one of the best ways to get to know a school and to get a feel for if a particular one is the right fit for your child. You will have the opportunity to tour the campuses and classrooms, speak with teachers, administrators, current parents and students, and even alumni. You will be able to ask your burning questions and discuss any concerns you have in a open format.

Reading statistics on websites and talking to friends is a good jumping-off point, but nothing compares to a personal visit to the schools you are considering. You will be surprised at how your opinion of a school may change after attending such an event.


Make sure to RSVP if you plan to attend an open house. There is sometimes limited space, so let the schools know early that you intend to come. You can find out who to contact by clicking on a school's link below.


Please let us know if you hear of any unlisted open houses! Many do not have any spring dates on their websites yet.


Public Schools:


John Story Jenks School
Tues. Feb. 17th, 7:30-9:00pm (Kindergarten Tea)


Charter Schools:


Green Woods Charter School
Open House Enrollment Night
Mon. Feb. 2nd, 5:30pm for K, 7:30pm for grades 1-6
*This is the ONLY way to get an enrollment form and there are only currently openings in Kindergarten and only a few.


Private Schools:


Chestnut Hill Academy and Springside School (combined):
Thurs. Feb. 12th, 8:15-11:30am (pre-K to 5)
Thurs. April. 23rd, 7:00-9:00pm (All grades)
French International School of Philadelphia
Fri. Feb. 6th, 8:45am
Germantown Friends School:
Fri. May 15th, 8:15am

The Miquon School:

Thurs. April 23rd, 9:00-11:00am

Norwood Fontbonne Academy:

(Open House for all grades in the Fontbonne Commoms)
Monday April 20th, 9:00am -12:00 noon
Tuesday April 21st 9:00am - 12:00 noon
Oak Lane Day School:
Sun. April. 19th, 2:00-4:00pm
Plymouth Meeting Friends School:
Wed. April. 8th, 9:30-11:30am
Project Learn
Sat. Feb. 7th, 10:30am-noon
Sat. Mar. 7th, 10:30am-noon
Mon. Mar. 30th, 8:30am-10:00am
Sat. April. 18th, 10:30am-noon
Mon. May. 11th, 8:30am-10.00am
The Waldorf School of Philadelphia:
Thurs. Feb. 26th, 8:30-10:30am (observation morning)
Thurs. April. 23rd, 8:30-10:30am (observation morning)
William Penn Charter School:
Tues. April. 14th, 8:30am (pre-K to 5 only)
St. Martin de Porres Interparochial School
Wed. Feb. 18th, 9:00-11:00am and 3.00-5.00pm
Wed. Mar. 25th, 9:00-11:00am and 3.00-5.00pm

The Play is the Thing: Children's Theatre

If you're like me and are desperately searching for more indoor activities to take the kids to, why not try a play? At least when you go to a show put on for kids, you don't have to worry so much about shushing your little one when the whole audience is full of children. And, hopefully, you won't need to do anything of the sort since these productions are created to please the little guys. I was pleasantly surprised to find there are several options in the area as far as children's theatre goes:

James and the Giant Peach
Arden Theatre Company
40 North Second Street Philadelphia, PA 19106
Daily (except Mondays) until Feb. 8th
Ages: 3-12
Times: Wed-Thu 10am; Fri 10am & 7pm; Sat 12n; Sun 12n & 4pm
Cost: Adults $26-$30; Children (13-17) $18-$22, (12 and under) $14-$16
215.922.1122

"Author Roald Dahl's beloved book comes to life on stage. The show tells the tale of James, a young orphan sent to live with his horrible Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. Life is hard until a mysterious stranger arrives. Suddenly, magic abounds and James finds an enormous peach growing in his yard containing six talking insects - including a violin playing grasshopper - and his remarkable adventure begins." Advance ticket purchase is available by phone and online.

Upcoming Show at the Arden Theatre Company:
A Year with Frog and Toad
Based on the books by Arnold Lobel
March 4 - April 19, 2009
"Jeffrey Coon (Frog) and Ben Dibble (Toad) return for a revival of one of the Arden's most celebrated productions in its history! Nominated for six Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre and a Tony Award for Best Musical, this whimsical story features an unlikely friendship between a cheerful Frog and a rather grumpy Toad and the life lessons they learn during the four seasons of one year."

The Secret Garden
Robert C. Gauntlett Community Center
West Chester Pike (Route 3) at Media Line Road Newtown Square, PA 19073
Each Fri, Sat, Sun until Jan. 31st (That is this weekend!)
Ages: 6-19
Time: Fri-Sat 7pm; Sun 2pm; 1/31 2pm & 7:30pm
Cost: $7 in advance; $8 at the door
610.353.9181

"The Marple Newtown Players present The Secret Garden, a stage adaptation based on the Frances Hodgson Burnett book about an orphaned girl who finds wonder, friendship, and redemption in an abandoned garden on her reclusive uncle's Yorkshire estate. The show takes place in the auditorium of the Gauntlett Community Center; snacks are available for purchase after the performance." Guests should enter via Radnor Drive off of West Chester Pike; ample off-street parking is available. Advance ticket purchase is available online.

*Or, if you miss the Secret Garden, catch the upcoming play here:
Oz! Theater for Children
Mar. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 2009
Fridays 7:00 PM, Saturdays & Sundays 2:00 PM
All Seats $8.00 at the door, $7.00 advance


The Snow Queen
Hedgerow Theatre
64 Rose Valley Road Media, PA 19063
Each Sat. until March 7th
Ages: 4-12
Time: 11am
Cost: Adults $11; Children $9
610.565.4211

"A musical stage adaptation of The Snow Queen tells the story of Gerda, who must rescue her best friend, Kai, from the Snow Queen, and features lots of audience participation. After the performance, guests can mingle with characters from the show and enjoy juice and cookies in the lobby." Advance ticket purchase is available online.

*Upcoming shows at Hedgerow Theatre:
Snow White & the Little People
Saturdays, Feb. 14-March 7 at 1:30 p.m.
"Little people from the audience will help free Snow White from the Evil Queen's spell." This show is available to tour; call for details.

Charlotte's Web
Saturdays, March 14-May 23 at 11 a.m.
"The classic tale of the friendship between Wilbur the Pig and Charlotte the Spider." Please note - there is no show May 2.

Nate the Great
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Ages: 5-12
Time: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm
Cost: $10-$14
215.574.3550

"Nate must solve the baffling case of a missing painting when Theatreworks/USA presents Nate the Great, a musical stage production based on books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat." Advance ticket purchase is available online.

Upcoming shows at this Walnut Street Theatre:

The Berenstain Bears' Family Matters
Saturday, March 21 and April 4
Weekday performances on March 20, 27 and April 2, 2009
"Can you BEAR it? Someone has a hand in the cookie jar! Grrrrr. The Berenstain Bears' Family Matters is a delightful new musical that weaves classic Berenstain Bear books into one big bear of an adventure. Brother Bear has trouble with a school quiz, so he hides it in the cookie jar. Sister Bear makes friends with a frog and hides it in the cookie jar. Papa has been eating candy when he's supposed to be on a diet, and the wrapper ends up in the cookie jar! It doesn't take a detective to know that someone's going to find out! Let's follow the cookie trail… it's up to Mama to sort things out, with the help of Grizzly Gran and Grizzly Gramps of course. We learn that no matter how crazy family life may be—in the end, Family Matters!"

Let's Celebrate: The Chinese New Year

This post is also published in this week's issue of The Chestnut Hill Local, in the new column, "Take the Kids."

Celebrate the New Year Again

Chinese New Year Activities

It is not only the new year of 2009, but it will soon be a new year on the Chinese calendar, the year of the Ox. And this new year celebration is not just one night of fireworks and a champagne toast, but two weeks of fun activities throughout the city leading up to the full moon on February 9, which is why it is also referred to as the Lunar New Year. This is a new year you can celebrate with the kids; they will love the parades, firecrackers, and dancing lions and dragons. The festivities in Chinatown begin on the eve of the new moon, January 25. But, the fun starts even earlier at other locations:

Philadelphia 2009 Chinese New Year World Culture Family Day
Saturday, January 24, 2009, 10:00 a.m.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
Tickets: $8; Call 215-898-4890 for more information

This is the 28^th annual all-day celebration of the Chinese New Year at the museum. Bring the family for a day of musical and dance performances, storytelling, arts and crafts, children’s activities, and workshops on the martial and healing arts. The day ends with the popular Lion Dance parade. All activities are free with museum admission donation.

Philadelphia 2009 Chinese New Year Lion Dance and Parade in Chinatown

Sunday, January 25, 2009, 11:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 1, 2009, 12:00 noon
Sunday, February 8, 2009, 12:00 noon
Sunday, February 15, 2009, 12:00 noon
10th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Presented by Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
Call 215-772-0739 for more information

If you are okay with having the kids up late, don't miss the lion parade that kicks off this celebration, but you can catch it again during the day if you don't want to brave the late night. Encore performances of the Lion Dance will be presented at noon on the following two weekends through Saturday, February 7, 2009. Firecrackers are also set off every Sunday around noon.

Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, January 31, 2009, 12-3 pm
Independence Seaport Museum
211 S. Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Tickets: $10 adult, $7 children 3 and above
Call 215-413-8655 fore more information

Ring in the Lunar New Year with an afternoon of fun and educational activities, including a traditional tea ceremony, Asian crafts and performances, tai chi demonstrations, and the dragon dance. This event is free with museum admission.

Stimulating your child’s senses: A Visit to the Reading Terminal Market

Winter can present parents with the following challenging question: What are we going to do today? Outdoor playgrounds are icy and movies are expensive. Last week, I was faced with the choice of practicing paper-cutting skills with my daughter or having all of our senses stirred by taking her to the Reading Terminal Market at 12^th and Market Streets in downtown Philadelphia. Guess what I chose?

This was our third visit together to the old market. In my BK (before kids) days, I might have shopped here for lobster-stuffed ravioli and Thai food, but children open up novel perspectives on this Philadelphia treasure. To begin with, we took the #9 bus from Roxborough. Children under 42 inches ride free and mine enjoys the great view, people-watching, and getting to ride without a booster seat! I enjoy the same two things, plus not having to drive!

Once we arrived inside the market, the first spectacle we visited was the seated brass pig, which accepts all forms of currency by mouth and then excretes them out the other end into the collection bin – fun to watch for scatologically-minded kids! Other treats for the eyes can be found at Chocolate by Mueller, who sells chocolate noses, liberty bells, and handcuffs in addition to more mundane truffles. You can also watch the experts making their chocolate novelties. For my child, it was thrilling to look at the whole red snappers on ice at the fish stand and the roasted whole ducks hanging at the Chinese stand. She was fascinated that the animals were not alive – although the fish looked that way!

We capped off our visit with my child’s new favorite activity: sitting on the spinning stools at Bassett’s while practicing her ice-cream-cone-licking skills. Request a cup for the point at which your child has finished licking and is ready to use a spoon. My new favorite activity is sitting next to her while I enjoy my falafel sandwich or Pakistani meal from Nanee’s Kitchen (Bassett’s doesn’t seem to mind.).

Details: The brass pig is located just outside of the Spice Terminal store. As an alternative to a Septa bus or train, driving is also an option, with $3 parking available in exchange for a stamped ticket, which you get with a purchase at the market. I recommend going on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, in order to visit the Amish stands, where you can watch pretzels being hand-twisted and pick up a whoopee pie!

O'Elephants at O'Doodles!

This Saturday, from 11am-3pm, visit O'Doodle's toy store in Chestnut Hill for special free event celebrating the world's largest land animal, the elephant!  Get there early and your little one can bring home his or her very own (stuffed) elephant for free (first 100 customers).   Enjoy munching on marshmallow peanuts and pose for a photo with O'Doodle's visiting mascot elephant.  And learn how you can help some of these amazing animals, including our very own Philadelphia Zoo's elephants, Kallie and Bette.  O'Doodle's is located at:  8335 Germantown Avenue.

The Best Support a Mom Can Find: The Maternal Wellness Center

Visit Dancing Meatball's new blog today to see my first post over there.  Today's entry is about Mt. Airy's Maternal Wellness Center, a great resource for parents in the area!

Treat Yourself: A Taste of Philly

I found myself walking on Germantown Avenue today with my two kids and we just happened to be close to A Taste of Philly, so we had to stop in for a pretzel.  Although, as I keep forgetting, they have a $10 minimum for credit/debit card sales and I NEVER have cash these days, so we ended up getting a lot more than a pretzel.  

We also got a pretzel dog with cheese and I remembered to put the mustard on top and not inside since my friend always tells of the sad, sad day her hot dog flew out of the pretzel on the sidewalk due to slippery mustard.  I also ordered one of their pretzel breakfast sandwiches, the sausage, egg, and cheese one.  This is one of the fastest and cheapest breakfasts you can buy in Chestnut Hill, in case you're ever in need.

As the girl behind the counter informed me that I was not up to my minimum amount yet, I looked up forlornly at the board that was used in the summer for water ice flavors and found, to my delight, hot chocolate flavors:  raspberry, vanilla, caramel, white chocolate, dark chocolate, etc.  So, we got two hot chocolates since my son now loves it and I just can't always avoid him having some.  It was a cold day after all!  And, just to get it finally up to $10, I grabbed a bag of chocolate coated pretzel pieces (I had no choice, right?)

After paying, we walked over to one of their small tables with our load of food.  The kids munched on the pretzels happily (one of the ONLY foods my whole family will eat).  It was a nice, calm little outing.  Very hard to find these days!  If it weren't for my toddler's obsession with walking up and down stairs without stopping, we would have gone upstairs as my son wanted to.  He remembers that there is a great space up there, that they at least used to have a train track with trains.  We had a few playgroups meet up there in the past.

They weren't making pretzels this time, but sometimes you can catch them at the right time and take the kids to the back of the store to watch the dough ooze out of the machine as the man then whips it around effortlessly in the air and lays it down in a perfect, pretzel shape before moving on to the next one.

So, the next time you're in the neighborhood, and are hungry, cold, or both, head to A Taste of Philly for a pretzel and hot chocolate.  It's a nice treat for anyone.

A Taste of Philly is located at:  8513 Germantown Ave.  They are open 9am-5:30pm M-Sat., and 9am-4pm on Sundays.  Call 215.247.2217 for more info.

AveNEWS: Maternal Wellness Center Cuts Back

We have all seen the signs of our poor economy on the avenue, literal "closing" signs, that is.  Among many other closings of beloved local storefronts, we have seen Reese's Pharmacy, Caruso's Market, and What a Girl Wants close their doors.  And now the Maternal Wellness Center in Mt. Airy is feeling the effects of this economy also.

The center is not closing, but over the month of January, they will be phasing out their entire retail stock.  And they will be cutting back on hours as well, now only opening their doors when classes, groups, or services are scheduled.  If you haven't been to the MWC, stop by some time this month to take advantage of sales of 20-30% off all merchandise.  They have some wonderful items for mothers and children, many hand made by local artists and parents.  This is a great chance to buy up a stock of presents for baby showers and new baby arrivals.  And treat yourself!  

Choose from beautiful baby carriers, soft blankets, plush dolls, cloth diapers and covers, organic pregnancy body care, and much more.  And our very own Julia sells many of her unique children's clothing line pieces there as well, Eieio.  Her dresses out other outfits (okay, I might be a bit biased, but really) are amazing.  I'm going to go by and get some myself.  And they also carry some of her tutus for little ballerinas to wear to class or just to strut around in.

And make sure to check out the center's many wonderful support groups, classes, and services.  You can find just about anything you are looking for, from yoga classes for you to Spanish classes for your toddler.  If you are a new mother, you will benefit greatly from their support group for new moms.  And attend workshops about how to get your toddler to eat healthy foods or become certified in infant CPR.  If you're expecting, sign up for a childbirth education course or attend their new pre-natal support group.  Or simply go for a nice massage.

Best of all, you will always know your money is going to a great cause.  The money goes right back to the center and to their Healthy Moms Initiative, which provides these services to parents who could not otherwise afford it.  So, the next time you're there, consider giving a donation to this amazing resource for parents!