Make Love Bugs for Your Little Love Bugs!

Love Bugs!

Want a fun, cute, and inexpensive craft to make and give to a loved one for Valentine’s Day? Try making love bugs! You can make ladybugs, butterflies, or both.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• an empty toilet paper tube
• construction paper (choose your colors!)
• scissors
• glue
• glitter
• pen, marker, crayons or pencil

Here’s how to make a Love Bug:

1. Cover an empty toilet tube with construction paper to make the body of the bug.
2. Cut two ovals (for the lady bug) or hearts (for a butterfly) to make wings.
3. Attach wings with tape or glue on either side of the body.
4. Cut circles to make the faces.
5. Encourage your child to draw a face on the circle or at the top of the tube.
6. Cut strips of paper and fold in a zigzag pattern to make antennae and legs. Cut two small hearts and glue to the tips of antennae. Or, pipe cleaners are great for antennae as well.
7. Write a cute message on the wings or on a cut out heart that the Love Bug holds.
8. Decorate with glitter, feathers, or whatever else you desire. Have fun!!!

Twelve Films of Christmas

Yes, we have the Twelve Films of Christmas for the family … and more!  We have also included an additional list for grown-ups and some other holiday films.

The Twelve Films of Christmas

For the Family:

1.  A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), 25 min, unrated (for all ages). This short but sweet Christmas classic, featuring all of your favorite Peanuts characters, sets the bar for other Christmas movies to match, and it even drives home the true Christmas message, thanks to Linus.

2.  A Christmas Story (1983), 94 min, rated PG. You can’t turn on TV on Christmas Eve without catching the 24-hour marathon run of this funny film.   Through  the likable protagonist, Ralphie, viewers can relive the nostalgia of Christmas as a youth. Many quotable lines and images linger because this movie, including “Fragile! Must be Italian.”

3.  It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), 130 min., no rating. With Jimmy Stewart in the lead role and a powerful story to back him up, it’s no wonder some have argued this film is not just one of the best Christmas films ever made, but one of the best all-around movies of all time.

4.  White Christmas (1954), 120 min., no rating. Many memorable Christmas tunes came from this film, which nicely blends flavorful characters, funny scenes and dialogue, and a touching tribute to the fellowship of humankind.

5.  Miracle on 34^th St. (1947), 96 min., no rating. The miracle stays alive and well with this original, heartwarming production about believing in magic and Santa Claus.

6.  Elf (2003), 97 min., rated PG. Will Ferrell left his mark on the Christmas film genre with this movie as the fun-loving, sometimes pesky elf, Buddy. Ferrell’s character can toss snowballs at lightning speed, perhaps because he was on a sugar high after downing a plate of spaghetti topped with M&Ms and chocolate syrup.

7.  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), 47 min., unrated. Who can forget Burl Ives’ unique voice as the narrator of this beloved story? Rudolph’s tale is brought to life with this milestone of stop-motion animation, which proved popular with other famous Christmas productions around this time.

8.  Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), 85 min., rated G. Who knows what Charles Dickens would have thought of this retelling of his famous novel. In any case, Michael Caine plays the perfect Scrooge to offset the Muppet characters, who step in to complete much of the rest of the cast.

9.  Home Alone (1990), 103 min., rated PG. A different Christmas film, brought by the creative forces of John Hughes and Chris Columbus, which combines family values, slapstick comedy, and other stylized antics. Now, if only Macaulay Culkin could have remained as the 8-year old Kevin McAllister.

10.  The Polar Express (2004), 100 min., rated PG. The children’s classic book is brought to CG life. Some might not favor the direction the filmmakers took to expand the story for cinematic purposes, but others may delight in the visual feast offered here. The smartest decision was casting Tom Hanks as several characters, including the train conductor and Santa Claus.

11.  The Santa Clause (1994), 97 min., rated PG. This one still marks the best of Tim Allen’s Christmas movie endeavors. While that might not be saying much by itself, his portrayal of a fill-in Santa Claus pleased moviegoers to make the movie a classic in its own right.

12.  How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), 26 min., unrated. We’re not docking Jim Carrey’s unforgettable performance in the live action version of Dr. Seuss’ Christmas tale, but sometimes sticking closely to the original source, as with this animated retelling, proves to be a wiser choice.

For Grownups’ Eyes:

1.  National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989), 97 min., rated PG-13. There’s nothing like Christmas with the Griswold family, and it would be hard to find a funnier, timeless Christmas story to highlight dysfunctional families and holiday stress.

2.  Love, Actually (2003), 135 min., rated R. An all-star British cast leads viewers through an intersecting narrative that is sure to hit home with adult audiences, but be sure the kids are in bed when you view this one.

3.  Bad Santa (2003), 91 min., rated R. Yeah, we know; how could we recommend this? You might justify “Love, Actually,” but this title is an antidote to all of those saccharine, mind-numbing Christmas titles. This one is also rated R for a reason, and not all adults will find much merit here, so be warned!

4.  Scrooged (1988), 101 min., rated PG-13. Bill Murray offers a gem of a performance in this revisionist update of the Scrooge character.

5.  Die Hard (1988), 131 min., rated R. You might think we’re stretching for titles here, but this blockbuster film not only rejuvenated the action genre, but also it offers an alternative to the typical Christmas movie, you know, complete with German terrorists, broken glass, and quotable dialogue unfit for print.

6.  Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987), 93 min., rated R. This comedy, featuring Steve Martin and John Candy, might be a good kick-off to the holiday film season, since the plot takes place around Thanksgiving.

7.  Home for the Holidays (1995), 103 min., PG-13. OK, OK, this is another Thanksgiving movie. Don’t blame us; Christmas shopping starts earlier each year, so you might as well enjoy this comedy about dysfunctional families, featuring Holly Hunter and directed by Jodie Foster.

Kids Yoga

Kids Yoga

By Heather Caro

Lookitme, mom!

My 4-year-old son scrambled around on the couch for a moment before finally deciding on an impressive feat: He then reclined and easily extended both legs behind his head. I watched him, genuinely impressed – not only with his ability to place his own toes in his mouth while giggling hysterically, but his skill in (literally) bouncing back from such a position.

I shuddered to think of what would happen should I attempt to follow suit. Needless to say it would probably result in a “sick day.”

Cocking my head to the side in order to properly observe his acrobatics, I watched as he stood on his head and flipped into a cringe-worthy back bend off the couch – narrowly missing the cat. Giving him a fist-bump for his efforts, I quickly made a mental note to help him fine-tune his elastic aptitude – before investing in another vet bill.

Want to get your kids into yoga? You don’t have to go far:

Yakima Yoga

Slip into some sweats, grab a mat and your kids and downward dog-it to a Kid’s Yoga session at Yakima Yoga. This popular class teaches yoga basics and relaxation to kids ages 4-8. Parents are encouraged to participate in this drop-in class. Cost is $13 per family or a 6-class punch card is available for $65. Allow 10 minutes before first session.

Yakima Yoga

25 N. Front St., Suite #4, Yakima

509-255-0650

yakimayoga.com

Kids in the Kitchen

Kids in the Kitchen

Want to find a way to spice up your time in the kitchen and give your kids a craving to cook? A few offerings in Yakima are designed to put some extra flavor in your family food prep.

One offering can be found at La Maison de Falaise, dubbed the Cliffhouse and located in Naches Heights. Although the business started in March and offers many adult cooking courses, La Maison de Falaise also hosts kids’ classes.

Kathy Sali, the founder and one of the group’s featured chefs, said the first children’s class – with a Hawaiian theme – was offered in June. Each class will offer a different theme, and Sali hopes to feature fall-favorite dishes such as ratatouille this upcoming season.

A parent or other adult is required to sign up with a child, and Sali said one of the goals is to encourage teamwork between the two. Often, she said, parents are busy and pick up fast food or throw something together quickly for dinner, and the time learning about food and bonding together in the kitchen is lost.

These classes are aimed at bringing back that kind of relationship that revolves around food. To model this relationship, Sali’s daughter and granddaughter, Eschelle and Blaire Nunley, teach each class to show this teamwork in action.

Eschelle said that in her family, she has always emphasized the importance of eating meals around the dinner table together – with the TV off. She said making recipes fun and different appeals to children.

“Anything off-the-wall and away from the norm gets kids to try different things,” Eschelle said, “so it’s not just a carrot stick in front of them.”

Blaire, Eschelle’s 6-year-old daughter, has become very involved in the kitchen with meal preparation in the past few years. She loves making anything with chicken, and the first meal she ever made was chicken shish kabobs.

Blaire has also developed a sensitive palette, once detecting basil in that evening’s spaghetti sauce all on her own.

Sali said the focus of each class is on the preparation of the food and learning about each ingredient and the cooking process. “It’s also about getting new ideas. Sometimes we run out of our repertoire,” she said.

La Maison de Falaise features a garden for students to venture into and pick out ingredients for salads and other dishes. Kids are encouraged to touch, smell and taste herbs and other ingredients. Sali said they might be asked how various herbs smell, and which foods they think they might have tasted these ingredients in before.

“It makes you a little more appreciative (of the food),” said Sali.

Blaire is one example of a child who appreciates gathering ingredients and preparing meals more than making a quick fast food run.

“We don’t eat at McDonald’s,” Blaire said.

Lessons on cleanliness and sanitation are also included in each class, so kids can understand why it’s important to prepare chicken carefully and keep hands clean when moving onto another food item. Table manners are also discussed in the class. Students receive gifts, such as aprons, too.

Sali’s goal is to offer kids’ courses once a month, which cost $35 per seat. The Sept. 26 class will feature a menu of mini pizzas, breadsticks and marinara, salad and dessert. Plans are still being worked out for future dates and themes. For more information, contact Sali at 509-961-9899, or visit the website at maisonfalaise.com.

Fresh Taste Meals also began offering cooking courses for kids this past summer.

“The classes are filling up like mad,” said Trish Koethke, who handles the administrative work for the company, located at 2204 Nob Hill Blvd.

Because of the popularity of these kids’ cooking classes, Fresh Taste Meals will continue offering them on a monthly basis.

During each one-hour class, students are exposed to the food pyramid and take a field trip to a grocery store, so they can identify fresh herbs and various ingredients to use for meal preparation. Other topics include sanitation and measuring.

“We also talk about different flavors from different regions,” said Koethke. “For instance, Italian foods have different spices.”

All classes are taught by Julie Boorman, the mother of Koethke and her sister Debbie Boorman, who oversees food and menu prep for the company. Each class is $25 per person, which includes the meal he or she gets to take home.

The Nov. 13 class will have a Thanksgiving theme, and students will learn how to get ready for a big dinner party with plenty of side dishes.

Future classes will have specific themes as well. A previous course focused on barista basics, with kids learning how to make various coffee drinks, and another upcoming class will be centered on cake decorating. Koethke said they do not require parents to stay for each class, but each child must be at least 9 years old.

For more information, contact Trish Koethke at 509-457-7798, or visit the company’s website at freshtastemeals.com.

Kids’ Cupcake Classes

Don’t forget about making dessert! Why not check out the Cake Decorator Shoppe, located at 5609 Summitview Ave., at the Chalet Place. While the business focuses on adult cake-decorating classes, it also holds kids’ cupcake classes. 

There is a five-person minimum for each class, so this might be a great option for birthday parties or other celebrations. A parent or adult is required to attend each class. Students will end up taking home six cupcakes or cookies by the end of the class, which costs $15 per student.

To reserve a spot or get more information, call 509-494-0975 or visit the website at cakedecoratorshoppe.com.

YV Tech Culinary Arts Program

While kids can get started in the kitchen early on, high school juniors and seniors have a golden opportunity to receive culinary training right here in town, thanks to the Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center. The culinary arts program services nearly every school district in the upper and lower valleys, and younger kids also have a chance to get a flavor of the program.

Ned Walsh, the program’s coordinator, said many middle school classes have taken field trips to the facility to learn about the training. He added it would be fun to offer more kids’ programs in the future, especially for younger grades.

Several high schools in Yakima offer food classes in school, said Walsh, but the YV Tech program is more commercially centered. He noted that the facility’s kitchen is one of the best in Central Washington.

To find out more about YV Tech, call 509-573-5500.

Other Food Connections

There are a variety of ways to get your family involved in the kitchen and around the dining table. In addition to various classes offered around town, some moms host Pampered Chef parties, and often these events can create bonds between parents and their children.

Aubrey Does, a local stay-at-home mom, has been a Pampered Chef consultant since March 2008, months after her first child was born. She said she has been able to continue staying at home with her son because of this position.

She also noted it’s a good way to meet with other mothers and have their children focused on a single activity. Does hosted one mother-daughter show in the past, and the girls got involved in making calzones while the moms browsed the catalogs.

“Parents definitely connect with the parties, and a lot of stay-at-home moms sell it to bring in some extra income,” Does said, but she added there are many other companies or avenues that offer similar benefits to mothers.

Oh, Baby! Things to do with tots under 2

When my first child was born, I had no idea how many activities the Yakima area has to offer for little guys. (OK, I didn’t know there were any.) We took walks in the park and made trips to the grocery store, but a whole new world opened up to us when I finally discovered my bouncing-off-the-walls 18-month-old could take a tumbling class.

Even with infants, “mommy and me” classes and clubs are a great way for new parents to find fresh ideas, make friends and provide some structure to your milk-and-diaper days.

Here’s a look at some of the local activities designed especially for parents and tots younger than 2. For even more, visit playdateyakima.com/resources.

— Sara Bristol

GET ON YOUR FEET | Starting at 18 months, kids can take tumbling and dance classes with the help of an adult. Ask about the Tiny Tots class at Gymnastics Plus (509-453-8126), Tiny Tuckers at Selah Gym Kids (509-698-5437) or the Mommy & Me Creative Movement class at Broadway Bound Dance Academy (509-698-3262).

GO TO A MOVIE | Especially for caregivers of babies and preschoolers, Cinema Circle offers kid-friendly matinees of first-run movies at 11 a.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month during the school year. Presented by Yakima Theatres and Circle of Success, the special showings aren’t necessarily cartoons. Rather, they’re designed for the parents in an appropriate-for-kids atmosphere. Find details in the Playdate calendar or call Circle of Success, 509-965-7100, ext. 1019.

EXPLORE ART | Tots can paint, paste and make a mess that you won’t need to clean up at Itty Bitty Art, a drop-in workshop for kids 5 and younger that’s offered from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays and Fridays at Yakima’s Red Art Studios (509-469-2766), which reopens April 5 at a new location in the Nob Hill Plaza Breezeway. Kids ages 2-6 can be signed up for Tiny Artist classes at Allied Arts of Yakima, 509-966-0930.

GET INTO THE GROOVE | The Yakima Family YMCA recently began hosting Munchkin Music rhythm and movement classes in English and Spanish for kids ages 18 months to 3 years. A new session begins April 28; call the YMCA at 509-972-5273 for details. For Kindermusik classes, call Laura Martin at 509-453-8835 or Patricia Oliver at 509-697-4467. Out On A Whim Children’s Bookstore and Imagination Station (509-576-3635) has been known to host similar classes as well.

MAKE A SPLASH | Yakima’s Lions Pool (509-575-6046) offers a Baby & Me Swim drop-in playtime for parents and tots, ages 6 months to 3 years, from 10-11 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. For babies 6 months and older, parent-tot swim lessons are offered year-round at Lions Pool and the Yakima Family YMCA (509-248-2012). In the summer, find similar classes at Yakima’s Franklin Pool and the J. Francis Pool in Selah.

LISTEN TO A STORY | The libraries in Selah and downtown Yakima each offer special “lap-sit” story times for babies. Check the calendar because these programs don’t run every week. And, children ages 0-5 can receive a free book in the mail each month through Circle of Success (509-965-7100, ext. 1019), which also hosts a monthly story time in English and Spanish.

START SCHOOL NOW | Two Yakima preschools offer educational programs for wee ones. Oakridge Montessori (509-966-1080) will educate — and even toilet train! — children ages 18 months and older. And Central Lutheran Preschool (509-307-6272), offers a co-op program for parents and 2-year-olds that meets Monday mornings.

MEET OTHER MOMS | Plan playdates, swap ideas and make friends with other parents and children when you join a parenting group. For moms with infants younger than 1 year, Memorial Hospital’s Mom & Baby group (509-575-8484) meets from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays. Breast-feeding moms can find support through La Leche League, 509-575-3715. Stay-at-home mothers connect through MOMS Club, 509-577-7007. Learn more about Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), CoolMom and other local groups at playdateyakima.com/resources.

Story Times

Quite a few local bookstores and libraries host regular story times for children. The free events are a great way to introduce children to books and reading. Oftentimes the event features a craft, songs or other interactive activities. In the summer, Yakima Valley Libraries host a summer reading program with rewards for children who pledge to read over the summer.

ATTENTION!!! Please call to verify the schedule. We try to stay current, but gosh it’s hard…

BORDERS STORY TIME. Borders Books hosts story time at 11 a.m. Saturdays. Located at 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap; 248-4018.

IMAGINATION LIBRARY STORY HOUR. Circle of Success, an early education program, offers a story hour for children up to age 5 the second Wednesday of each month. At 10 a.m., the program is in English, followed by Spanish at noon. This program meets at the Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima; 509-965-7100 ext.1019.

INKLINGS TODDLER STORY TIME. Inklings Bookshop hosts a toddler story time at 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Located in the Chalet Place shopping center, 5629 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 965-5830. (NOTE: For an extended excursion, break next door at Starbucks before crossing the parking lot to the Summitview Library, which typically holds a preschool story time at 11 a.m. Tuesdays.)

OUT ON A WHIM. Out On A Whim Children’s Bookstore and Imagination Station offers story time at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Located at 108 S. Third Ave., Yakima. 576-3635.

YAKIMA VALLEY LIBRARIES
Moxee Library, 255 W. Seattle, Moxee; 575-8854. Preschool story hour and craft, 10 a.m. Wednesdays.

Selah Library, 115 W. Naches Ave., Selah; 698-7345. Baby Lapsit, 10 a.m. Wednesdays. Preschool story time and craft, 10 a.m. Thursdays.

Summitview Library, 5709 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 966-7070. Preschool story time, 11 a.m. Tuesdays.

Sunnyside Library, 621 Grant, Sunnyside; 837-3234. Preschool story time, 10 a.m. Fridays.

Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth Drive, Yakima; 457-5319. Preschool Story Time, 10:15 a.m. Thursdays.

Union Gap Library, 3104 S. First St., Union Gap; 452-4252. Preschool story time and craft, 10 a.m. first Tuesdays.

Downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St., Yakima; 452-8541. Baby lapsit, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Preschool story time, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays.

Decorate a Mini Dream House

No doubt about it, kids love decorating gingerbread houses. It’s a sweet holiday tradition, for sure. But baking and building the house from scratch is also quite the project.

Understandably, store-bought kits have become incredibly popular the last few years. They shave off hours of mixing, baking and cooling versus a homemade house, which also has potential to burn or buckle.

And, frankly, kids likely won’t appreciate the extra effort.

That’s why I love this pint-sized project that’s just perfect for a preschool playdate (though older kids will love it, too). Mom can assemble these no-bake graham cracker structures the night before the party, giving the icing time to set up a bit before the kiddos get to work.

Because it’s hard to share, everybody gets their own. Remember to build a spare or two since little hands aren’t always so gentle.

To make the houses, gently break graham crackers in half into squares. You’ll need six squares for each house; one box of crackers makes about eight houses. Fill a pastry bag with buttercream icing (see recipe below).

We used a paper plate, turned upside down, for the base.

Using icing as glue, assemble the walls of the house. To help with structural stability, wait about 30 minutes before adding the roof. (I build all the houses, then come back and add all the roofs.)

When it’s time to roof the house, pipe icing along the top of two facing walls. Rest two graham cracker squares against each other at an angle and pipe a line of icing across the peak. If you need more structure, use 1/4 of a graham cracker as a center beam.

Let the project stiffen up overnight.

When it’s time to decorate, give each kid a dollop of icing and a plastic knife and let them design their dream house.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Shopping for miniature edible decorations is definitely part of the fun. Older kids, especially, will enjoy helping with this.

Here’s a list of some of our favorites:
* In lieu of gingerbread men, Teddy Graham cookies are the residents of our tiny houses.
* Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal makes nice shingles. Try Triscuits or mini wheats for a more “thatched” look.
* Licorice bites are a perfect little chimney. Add a puff of icing for smoke.
* M&M Minis (find them in the individual-sized candy section) or Nerds are ideal for holiday lights.
* Dots or spice drops are a good size for bushes.
* Butter snap pretzels make good windows.
* Pretzel sticks are handy for roofing material, fences or making a stack of firewood.
* A green Life Saver or striped peppermint makes a good wreath. Tiny Christmas tree sprinkles and red nonpareils, grouped to look like holly, add a special touch.
* Fruit by the Foot is handy for doors, stained glass windows, pathways or scarves for the bears.
* Miniature candy canes make a scene more festive.
* Shredded coconut or a dusting of sanding sugar looks like a fresh layer of snow.

____________________

Buttercream Icing

1 c. vegetable shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
2 T water
1 lb. confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
pinch of salt

Using a mixer, blend shortening, vanilla and water. Add sugar, about a cup at a time, and mix on medium speed until thoroughly blended. Blend an additional minute, until creamy.

If mixture is too stiff, add a small amount of water — one teaspoon at a time — until reaching desired consistency.

NOTE: We used about 2 1/2 batches of icing to assemble and decorate 10 houses. Be sure to have plenty (you can save the extra for other treats), but make one batch at a time so you don’t burn out the engine on your mixer.

Discover Cowiche Canyon

By Sara Bristol

Enjoying the great outdoors as a family doesn’t always mean loading up the ice chest, marshmallows and tent poles into the SUV and driving for hours in search of a nice, quiet place.

Nature, it turns out, is right here in our backyard.

Just a few miles west of Yakima, the Cowiche Canyon Trail is a great place for little legs to get some trail time. Built on the bed of an abandoned railroad line, the 2.9-mile trail is flat and wide; a sturdy jogging stroller should be able to handle the gravel trail bed. On foot, the walk is definitely more of a stroll than a hike – especially with dawdling preschoolers.

“I think it’s a great place for kids,” says David Hagen, a board member of the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, the non-profit group that owns and manages the trail. “Being an old railroad bed, the trail is so flat and wide that it’s really safe. It’s a great place for kids to be out in nature.”

In July, six families with young children joined Hagen for a guided tour of the Canyon Trail, which features nine trestle bridges over Cowiche Creek. Our bunch, the most intrepid, made it to bridge No. 6 before stopping for a snack and turning back.

Be sure to use sunscreen, bring plenty of water and plan your walk during the cooler hours of the day. The trail is especially sun-blasted in summer when the sun is high. When the sun is lower on the horizon, the canyon walls may provide some shade.

Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit the canyon, recommends Hagen. “Spring has all the flowers, so it’s prettier and it’s green,” he says, adding that the trees’ fall colors are lovely, too, beginning in mid-September.

The canyon’s towering cliffs are mostly Columbia River basalt, a volcanic rock that spewed up from the earth’s surface up to 17 million years ago. Swirly formations along the top of the canyon’s north side are a different type of volcanic rock called andesite.

Want some more rockin’ trivia? This is the longest known flow of andesite in the world. (Hey, I knew you’d like that.)

Along the trail, a lush border of trees and shrubs line Cowiche Creek, but the trail’s overall topography is more representative of our region’s arid shrub-steppe environment. It’s not a desert, Hagen says.

Rather, “steppe” is a word that refers to vast treeless grasslands. In areas such as the Yakima Valley, where the dominant vegetation is shrubs, the term “shrub-steppe” applies.

Plants in Cowiche Canyon include lupine, purple sage, tall buckwheat and the Western White Clematis. On our visit, we spied several small birds and two hawks.

“If you’re lucky, in the spring or fall, when it’s not too cold or too hot, you might see a Yellow-bellied Marmot,” Hagen says, referring to a native ground squirrel that weighs up to 11 pounds. “They live in the rocks and they have a kind of shrill whistle.”

Just for kicks, keep your eyes peeled for coyote. However, Hagen notes, “You’d probably have to be pretty lucky to see a coyote.”

Lizards and toads are more likely. But cautious parents should also be on the lookout for rattlesnakes.

“Usually, if they’re out there, they’re going to be right out on the trail in the sun,” Hagen says. “They hear you coming and slither away. They’re shy and they want to get away from you.”

What to do if you see one?

“Stop,” Hagen says, “and stomp your feet. They respond to vibration.”

Overall, the trail is safe for little explorers, Hagen advises. Just use common sense: It’s OK for kids to pick a sprig or two from the plants, but avoid plucking leaves by the handful.

It’s also OK to let kids climb a bit on the rocks, or toss a few stones in the creek. “Kids like to climb on rocks,” Hagen says.

The hiker’s rule of thumb is to leave things as they were. Pack out your trash and try not to disturb the plants or wildlife.

“It is a nature preserve,” Hagen says. “We have this tension between preserving (the land) and wanting it to be used.

“We want kids to have a hands-on experience. They don’t have to walk down the middle of the trail with their hands in their pockets. We want them to enjoy themselves.”

When they grow up, Hagen hopes, our children will spread the Conservancy’s message to their own children.

GETTING THERE
From Yakima, drive west on Summitview Avenue to Wiekel Road, about 5 miles west of 72nd Avenue. Turn right onto Wiekel Road, then follow the signs to the parking lot.

LEARN MORE
www.cowichecanyon.org

Family-friendly Museums

NOTE: Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and prices. We try to stay current, but gosh it’s hard…

CENTRAL WASHINGTON AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM, Fulbright Park, 4508 Main St., Union Gap; 509-457-8735. Log cabin, vintage machinery, antique hand tools. Winter Hours (Nov. through March): 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays. Summer Hours (April through Oct.): 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Cost: Admission by donation.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY MUSEUM, 118 E. Fourth Ave., Ellensburg; 509-925-6789. Hands-on fun includes themed play areas, the vortex machine and a reading nook. Preschool program, party rentals and field trips available. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $4.25 per person; family pass is $14.50.

CHILDREN’S UNDERGROUND, inside the Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima; 509-248-0747.
Dress-up clothes, puppets, a climb-on pony cart and a hands-on general store. Also, tour the museum’s collections, covering Valley history from mammoths to modern times. Underground hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Cost: $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, or $12 family; children 5 and under are free.

DARIGOLD DAIRY FAIR, 400 Alexander Road, Sunnyside; 509-837-4321. Peek at the Sunnyside cheese plant’s production floor on a free, self-guided tour that includes a dairy display and a video that explains how Darigold cheese is made. But who are we kidding? The highlight of this stop is buying a scoop of ice cream in the deli/gift shop. Choose from more than 24 flavors.

FORT SIMCOE STATE PARK, at the end of State Route 220, 45 minutes south of Yakima; 509-874-2372. Located on the Yakama Reservation, this200-acre, day-use heritage park features five original buildings, picnic areas and interpretive displays. A family weekend in June celebrates military and Fort Simcoe history. Summer hours: daily, 6:30 a.m. to dusk. Winter Hours (Oct. through March): 8 a.m. to dusk weekends and holidays only. Admission and parking are free.

GOLDENDALE OBSERVATORY, 1602 Observatory Drive, Goldendale (70 miles south of Yakima); 509-773-3141. Budding astronauts will enjoy staying up late to star gaze at this hilltop observatory housing one of the nation’s largest public telescopes. Or, stop by during the afternoon for a daylight view of the countryside. Summer hours: 2-5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight Wednesday-Sunday. Winter hours (Oct. through March): 2-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Admission is by donation.

H. M. GILBERT HOMEPLACE, 2109 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima; 509-248-0747. Built in 1898, this late Victorian farmhouse is now filled with period furnishings. Operated by Yakima Valley Museum; open by appointment and for special events. Admission is $2.50.

KITTITAS COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 114 E. Third Ave., Ellensburg; 509-925-3778. Local history museum. The Exploring Kittitas County summer program offers extensive calendar of field trips and hands-on activities for kids. Museum admission by donation.

MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART. Set in a three-story mansion overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, the Maryhill Museum of Art features European and American paintings, Native American arts and pieces from the Queen of Romania. The kid-friendly EyeSEE Resource Room features games and special exhibits. Enjoy a picnic in the large garden. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 15 to Nov. 15. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $2 for children age 6-16. The museum is located off Highway 97, 12 miles south of Goldendale; 509-773-3733.

McALLISTER MUSEUM OF AVIATION. 2008 S. 16th Ave., Yakima; 509-457-4933. Summer hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Winter hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission by donation. Year-round Young Eagles program gives young people 8-17 years old the experience of basic ground instruction and a free airplane ride.

NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY MUSEUM, 10 S. Asotin Ave., Toppenish; 509-865-1911. Historic depot houses small railway museum; caboose rides available during special events. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 12-4 p.m. Sunday, May through October. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Winter hours by prior arrangment and for special events.Admission: $5 adults, $3 children 17 and under.

THREE RIVERS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM in the Broadmoor Square Mall, 5274 Outlet Drive, Pasco; 509-543-7866. A 3,000-square-foot kid zone in the Tri-Cities. Kids can climb aboard the U.S.S. Friend-Ship, step inside a kaleidoscope, or serve up some fun in the kid-size kitchen. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays-Fridays, and 12-5 p.m. Saturdays. Cost: $3 per person, ages 12 months and older.

YAKAMA NATION CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER MUSEUM, located at Highway 97 and Buster Road, Toppenish; 509-865-2800, ext. 1. Explore the rich history and culture of the Yakama Nation. Exhibits include life-size dwellings, a mannequin exhibit of Native American leaders and sound effects with music and oral narratives. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, $1 ages 10 and younger, $12 families.

YAKIMA AREA ARBORETUM, 1401 Arboretum Drive, Yakima; 509-248-7337. Park open from dawn to dusk. Jewett Visitor Center open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Admission by donation.

YAKIMA ELECTRIC RAILWAY MUSEUM, corner of S. Third Avenue and Pine Street, Yakima; 509-249-5962. Historic building houses trolleys and locomotives of the Yakima Valley Transportation Company. Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

YAKIMA VALLEY MUSEUM, 2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima; 248-0747. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Set in Franklin Park, the museum offers permanent and rotating historical exhibits, the Children’s Underground and a functioning replica of a late 1930s soda fountain. Admission: $5 adults, $3 for students and seniors, children 5 and under are free, and families are $12; special group rates and tours are available.

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)

MOPS is an international Christian organization that seeks to build community and provide support for mothers of infants through kindergartners. Some groups have programs especially for teen mothers and grandmothers raising grandchildren.

Local groups meet once or twice a month, in the mornings or evenings, throughout the school year. Meetings typically include a speaker or program, refreshments and time for fellowship, games or crafts. Childcare is provided during meetings.

Some groups organize extra activities such as play dates, Bible study groups or evenings out.

MOPS International dues are $20 per year; scholarships are available. Benefits include a book, a subscription to MOMSense Magazine and weekly e-mail encouragement. While your first visit is always free, most groups have dues of $4 or $5 per meeting to help cover expenses.

Here’s a list of local groups:

• FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 9-11:15 a.m. most first and third Fridays, September through May. About 95 moms attend, including a special table for grandmothers raising grandchildren. Meeting dues: $5. Meets in the First Presbyterian Church gymnasium, 9 S. Eighth Ave., Yakima. Call Julie: 307-4887.
• LOWER NACHES (MEMORIAL BIBLE CHURCH). 9-11:30 a.m. third Fridays, September through May. About 25 moms attend. Meets at Memorial Bible Church, 111 Old Stage Way, Gleed. Call Mandy Rowe, 930-6441.
• MOMS IN TOUCH INTERNATIONAL. 10:45 a.m. to noon, first Mondays of each month. East Valley group. Moms, grandmas, aunts and others are welcome to join in praying for children and the East Valley schools and staff. Bring snacks or a lunch for the kids. Baby-sitting is provided for a small fee. Terrace Heights Presbyterian Church, 4303 Maple Court, Yakima. Contact Julie Byers at 453-0741.

• MOMSNEXT. 7 p.m. Open to all mothers with children in grades K-6, and mothers of preschoolers and homeschooled children are also welcome. Free. No childcare. Meets at Westside Church, 6901 Summitview Ave., Yakima. Contact Tera at 972-3001 or terapledger@charter.net.

• MOUNTAINVIEW CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. 6-7:30 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays, September through May. About 15 moms attend. Meets at Mountainview Christian Fellowship, 7105 Alpine Way, Yakima. Call Tabitha at 972-3723 or Danielle at 833-2228.
• NILE VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH. 8:45-11:15 a.m. third Fridays, September through May. Speakers, crafts, food. Free on-site childcare. Meets at Nile Valley Community Church, 60 Bedrock Lane, Naches; 509-658-2904.
• TEEN MOPS. This group provides a non-threatening environment where teen moms are encouraged by Christian women; see Mothers of Preschoolers. Open to teen mothers through age 21; about 15 moms attend. Meetings are free, including dinner and on-site childcare. Meets at Stanton Academy Alternative School, 901 W. Whitman St., Yakima. Call Holli Wolcott at 453-4206.
• WEST SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH. 9-11 a.m. second and fourth Mondays, September through May. About 85 moms attend. Meets at West Side Baptist Church, 6901 Summitview Ave., Yakima. Call Tera at 972-3001.

The Ice Rink

Chill out inside the Valley’s only ice skating rink, managed by volunteer members of the Yakima Amateur Hockey Association. Remember to dress warmly — it’s freezing in there!

Skating and hockey lessons are available, as well as a youth hockey league.

Public sessions are 7-9 p.m. Friday and 5-8 p.m. Saturday.

Cost: $5 admission; $1 skate rental, sizes toddler and up. Concessions available.

The Ice Rink is located at 1700 E. Beech St. in Yakima. For more information, call 469-0597 or 949-6669.

Tips for Hiking with Children

Enjoying the great outdoors with children can be very rewarding. Here are a few tips to help ensure a positive experience for the whole family.

• Dress for success. Dress in lightweight layers to accommodate weather changes and make certain everyone wears sturdy comfortable shoes.
• Be prepared! Slather on the sunscreen (at least SPF 40) and bring the bottle along with you. It’s also a good idea to carry a small first aid kit including moleskin for blisters, Band-Aids, Benadryl and an Epipen if your child is allergic.
• Fuel up. Bring plenty of water and high-protein snacks and stop frequently along the trail to help energize little bodies.
• Let your child be your guide. Remember it takes little legs extra steps to keep up with you. Slow down and enjoy nature. Encourage discovery, sing songs and talk about what you are seeing. Consider bringing a magnifying glass or binoculars for further investigation and take lots of pictures. Be creative and enjoy this special time with your children.

— Heather Caro

Hike Umptanum Creek Falls

By Heather Caro

With gas prices soaring, many families are canceling their vacation plans this year and opting instead to stay a little closer to home. Now is the perfect time to explore our Valley’s backyard with a “staycation” and a visit to Umptanum Creek Falls. This scenic two-mile round-trip hike is loaded with kid-friendly discoveries, such as animal life, creek crossings, and of course, the Falls themselves.

The well-traveled pathway follows Umptanum Creek, which is fairly easily negotiated but does include two crossings and a couple of steeper grades. However, our 6-year-old Madeline had no difficulty with the adventure and 2-year-old Teague enjoyed it as well, with a little help from Dad’s shoulders from time to time.

The trail ends at the top of a stunning panorama of the falls’ 40-foot drop into a basalt bowl. Though there are several paths down to the bottom of the falls where the views are more spectacular, less experienced hikers may wish to turn around here after enjoying the scenery.

• Heather Caro is an ICU nurse at Yakima Regional Hospital and a freelance journalist. With their two children, Heather and husband Chris recently moved back to the Yakima Valley after an extended leave.

How to Get There

From Selah: Head out of town on North Wenas Road and follow to the end of the pavement. From there, the well-marked trailhead and parking lot is an additional 8.5 miles on the right. The road is dirt and at times bumpy but should be no problem for the average car. Allow about 25 minutes for the drive.

From Naches: From Highway 12, turn north on Allan Road to the Naches-Wenas Road. Turn left on Longmire Lane. Turn left again on North Wenas Road. Follow above directions.

10 outdoor art activities

The Nature of Things: 10 arty activities for the great outdoors

By Jessica Moskwa

1. Capture the Earth’s Textures
Collect your favorite leaves and place them under a piece of typing paper. Use the side of a crayon to capture their texture. Try the same method on the bark of a tree! Supplies: Paper & crayons, leaves & trees.

2. Make & Fly a Kite
Download instructions on the Drachen Foundation Web site (www.drachen.org) to make three different types of kites. Try the Kono Box kite, designed by Seattle-based kite maker Greg Kono. The design (circa 1893) was immediately adopted for meteorological investigation and contributed to the worldwide quest for stable flight!

3. Visit the ArtsVan
This summer, make art in the parks with Allied Arts’ traveling art classroom, ArtsVan! For details, visit alliedartsyakima.org.

4. Adopt a Rock Pet
Always wanted a pet? Make one from a rock! Search for a rock with an interesting shape, and then take it home to paint it into a fdog, bear, or ladybug — anything your heart desires. Supplies: Rocks, acrylic paint.

5. Sketch Outdoors
Looking is one of the most important skills needed in making art. Famous artists often draw from real life. Sit outside and choose something that doesn’t move (a pond, tree or flower). Then, use your eyes to draw what you see. It doesn’t matter if what you end up with doesn’t look like the real thing — your drawing will represent how you see life. Supplies: Sketchbook & pencils.

6. Indulge in Outdoor Summer Cinema
Summer evenings, enjoy viewing almost-new releases and time-tested favorites in one of Yakima’s lovely city parks. Visit alliedartsyakima.org for details.

7. Make Windchimes
Love the sound of the wind? Using a clean, empty 8-10 oz. clear plastic deli tub, permanent markers, clear nylon fishing line, and metal washers, you can make your own windchimes. Decorate the tub with patterns using your markers, punch 4 holes along the rim, and then tie a 12-inch piece of fishing line through each hole. Attach the washers to the bottom of the lines. Clink!

8. Attend Summer Sunsets Concerts
Thursday evenings in the summer, take your blanket and enjoy summer music at Franklin Park. While you’re there, join ArtsVan to make Creatively Green art projects like newspaper origami critters, egg carton bouquets and bottle fish.

9. Make a Boat & Float It
Sail the high seas — or just your bathtub. Using clean plastic-foam trays, cut out a flat base. Then, for the cabin, cut out three rectangles and two squares from another tray. Glue together at sides, then glue to the base. Then, add details like flags, a captain’s chair or ropes! Color with permanent or waterproof markers.

10. Storytelling Yarn Ball
It is an American Indian storytelling tradition to use knots or small objects in balls of yarn to remember important life events. Get a ball of yarn, and as the summer passes, tie mementos of your summer activities to the yarn. Try things like tiny toys, a found stick, ribbons or pieces of postcards. Share the ball with your classmates during the first week of school. It’s a great way to remember your summer!

Free water playgrounds

Keep your cool in the summer at Yakima’s two interactive water playgrounds.

The playgrounds, featuring spray toys and sprinklers, are free — but we like to bring a couple of bucks in case an ice cream vendor passes by.

The playgrounds are at Miller Park at N. Fourth and “E” streets; and Martin Luther King Park, corner of Eighth Street and E. Beech.

Oh, and don’t worry if the water’s not running when you get there — just press the button on the red post.

Indoor Play Places

When cooler weather blows into town, we start to spend less time outdoors. At my house, this means the kids are bouncing — quite literally — off the walls. Don’t install padding. Instead, try one of these indoor places to play.

NOTE: Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and prices. We try to stay current, but gosh it’s hard…

BURGER KING, four locations in Yakima: 5905 Summitview Ave.; 2611 W. Nob Hill Blvd.; 2113 S. First St.; and 1605 E. Yakima Ave. (across from Wal-Mart).
Yup, they all have indoor playgrounds. Hail to the King!
Cost: Varies with appetite.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY MUSEUM, 118 E. Fourth Ave., Ellensburg; 509-925-6789. Hands-on fun includes themed play areas, the vortex machine and a reading nook. Preschool program, party rentals and field trips available. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $4.25 per person; family pass is $14.50.

CHILDREN’S UNDERGROUND inside the Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima. 248-0747.
Dress-up clothes, puppets, a climb-on pony cart and a hands-on general store. Also, tour the museum’s collections, covering Valley history from mammoths to modern times.
Underground hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, or $12 family.

THE ICE RINK, 1700 E. Beech St., Yakima. 469-0597 during public sessions, or 949-6669.
Chill out inside the Valley’s only ice skating rink, managed by volunteer members of the Yakima Amateur Hockey Association. Remember to dress warmly — it’s freezing in there! (Skating and hockey lessons available, youth hockey league)
Public sessions: 7-9 p.m. Friday, 5-8 p.m. Saturday during winter season.
Cost: $5 admission; $1 skate rental, sizes toddler and up. Concessions available.

INDOOR PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME, Selah Civic Center, 216 S. First St. 698-7300.
Bring trikes, ride-on toys, balls to open gym.
Hours: 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays in winter. Call ahead to verify.
Cost: Free.

KIDS CASTLE, inside Gymnastics Plus, 2121 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. 453-8126.
For kids, there’s a colorful jungle gym of tubes, ball pits and slides. For adults, there’s lots of tables, a snack bar and a stack of magazines (though, sadly, not ours).
On weekends, there’s also an open gym with trampolines, a foam pit and inflatable bounce houses. Clean, dry socks are required and parents must remain on the premises.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 12-6 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: Weekdays — $2.50/unlimited for toddlers 2 and younger, $5.25/hour or $8/unlimited for children 3 and older. Two children play for the price of one on Wednesdays. Weekends — $3/hour or $4.25/unlimited for toddlers 2 and younger, $6.50/hour or $9/unlimited for children 3 and older. Save a few dollars with the purchase of a 10-visit coupon book.

KIDS’ GYM AT THE YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima. 248-1202.
Bouncing off the walls (or, at least, tumbling on the floor) is more fun in this room with mats and Tiny Tykes toys for young children.
Cost: $1 per child, or free with YMCA membership ($18/year for youth up to 13).

LIONS POOL, 509 West Pine St., Yakima. 575-6046.
Public indoor swimming pool, offers year-round swim lessons and special swims for toddlers.
Cost: $1.75 youth, $3.25 adults, or $8.75 for a family of up to two adults and four children.

McDONALD’S PLAYPLACE, 40th and River Road, Yakima. 576-8000.
Climbing tubes and slide, air hockey.
Cost: Probably a Happy Meal.

MEADOWBROOK FAMILY FUN CENTER, 7200 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima. 966-3836.
Arcade and Pizza Cafe. (In the summer, there’s also outdoor batting cages, miniature golf, bumper boats and go-carts.)
Winter arcade hours: 1-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 1-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. The Pizza Cafe closes one hour earlier.
Cost: Arcade tokens are 25 cents.

SELAH GYM KIDS, 709 North Park Center, Selah. 698-5437.
Fun Friday. 6-9 p.m. most Fridays. Drop off kids ages 3-10 for supervised recreation and pizza. Parents can go out alone!
Cost: $17 first child, $15 siblings. Reservations not necessary.

SKATELAND FUN CENTER, 2506 Old Town Road, Union Gap. 575-6442.
Public sessions: 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost: $6.75. Also, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cost: $5.75.
Bargain Night ($5.50) is 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday. Valley Church Night is held from 6:30-9 p.m. the third Monday of each month. Cost: $5.50.
Admission fees include regular skate rental; In-line skates are $1.50 extra. Tiny Tots, or children’s skate sizes 6-13, are always $4.75. Cash only.

THREE RIVERS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM in the Broadmoor Square Mall, 5274 Outlet Drive, Pasco. 509-543-7866.
In the mood for a day trip? Hit the highway and head 85 miles southeast of Yakima to explore this 3,000-square-foot kid zone in the Tri-Cities. Kids can climb aboard the U.S.S. Friend-Ship, step inside a kaleidoscope, or serve up some fun in the kid-size kitchen.
Winter hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 12-5 p.m. Saturday.
Cost: $3 per person, ages 12 months and older.

VALLEY MALL, 2529 Main St., Union Gap. 453-8233.
A small play area upstairs near the food court. (Hey, it’s free.) Recommended for children under age 3.
Hours: 10 a.m.-9p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

YAKIMA FAMILY YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima. 248-1202.
Family swim: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Open swim: 8-9:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 3-5:30 p.m. Saturday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: Free for YMCA members. For nonmembers, admission is $5 for youth, $10 for adults or $15 per family.

Clubs for Kids

A guide to Yakima-area youth organizations.

AWANA. Worldwide youth ministry program builds a biblical foundation that helps youth follow Christ through adulthood. Multiple Yakima-area groups. To find a club, visit www.awana.org.

BOY SCOUTS. Civic service organization for boys emphasizes leadership and life skills. Scouting programs available for boys ages 6-18. Venturing and Explorers programs are co-ed, for students ages 14-20 years. Grand Columbia Council: 453-4795. On the Web: grandcolumbiabsa.org.

CAMP FIRE USA. Co-ed program focuses on developing confident youth and future leaders. Roganunda Council: 453-9151. On the Web: yakima-campfire.com.

DEMOLAY INTERNATIONAL. Youth fraternity dedicated to developing civic awareness, personal responsibility and leadership skills in young men, ages 12-21. Affiliated with Freemasons, but membership is open to all boys. Ray Jones: 576-0184.

GIRL SCOUTS. The world’s top organization for girls offers “fun, friendship and the power of girls together.” Troops are forming now. Programs serve girls ages 5-17. Call Lisa Tapia at 834-9785, or e-mail ltapia@gsewni.org. On the Web: gsewni.org.

INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF RAINBOW FOR GIRLS. A service-oriented organization for girls ages 11 to 20. Based on three basic virtues: Faith, hope and charity. Affiliated with Freemasons, but all girls are eligible to join. Barbara: 961-0252.

YAKIMA COUNTY 4-H. Country and city kids can learn the principles of “head, heart, hands and health” through hands-on activities with 4-H, the world’s largest youth group. Christine Jackson: 574-1600, or e-mail chrisj@wsu.edu.

Mommy Connection

MOMMY CONNECTION is an outreach program of Westminster Presbyterian Church. The group meets every Wednesday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The first hour is “mommy and me” play, while the second hour is just for moms; all ages welcome. Meetings are free.

Meets at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6015 Summitview Ave., Yakima. For child care reservations and more information, call 966-1900. For more information about the group, e-mail katejoyt@hotmail.com.

Mom & Baby

Mom & Baby is a discussion group for moms with infants under 1 year. Meets from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday, except holidays. Meetings are free; bring your baby. Now meeting at Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10203 Tieton Drive, Yakima. Organized by Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital’s Community Education, 509-575-8484.

Updated 2/10/2010.

La Leche League

LA LECHE LEAGUE is an international support group for pregnant and breast-feeding mothers. Children are welcome, and meetings are free.

A morning group meets at 9 a.m. the fourth Thursday of each month at the YVCC Family Resource Center, 1101 S. 13th Ave., Yakima.

An evening group meets at 6 p.m. second Tuesdays at Cascade Women’s Health, 1601 Creekside Loop, just off 40th & Washington avenues, Yakima.

For nursing help or questions, call Denita at 575-3715, or Katy at 248-2610.

« Previous Page — Next Page »