Kids VT, Spring 2023
Robotics State Championship for Teens; 5 Indoor Play Places for Toddlers; James Kochalka’s New Kids’ Comic; A Food Writer Faces Morning Sickness
Early Signs of Spring: Wondrous Things to Look for During the Bleak Days of March
Some years ago, my college roommate came to a conference in Burlington in March. I was thrilled to spend time with her in between all of her conference duties, but as we shuttled back and forth between her hotel and my apartment in the Old North End, I imagined what she, a resident of the…
Out of This World: James Kochalka Blasts Off With the Third Installment of His Cosmic Kids’ Comic
Adventure comes knocking when a mysterious package is left on the doorstep of an interstellar patrolman. Inside the box is a tiny robot named Gonkbot, who launches the junior members of the Glork Patrol on a journey across the stars. Thus begins Glork Patrol (Book Three): Glork Patrol and the Magic Robot, the latest in…
Pint-Size Fun: Grab a Coffee or a Beer at Jericho Ale & Bean — and Bring the Kids
The first time I walked into Jericho Ale & Bean with my then-21-month-old daughter in tow, I was a little nervous. We were meeting my husband and infant daughter there, and it occurred to me that this coffee shop-slash-brewery sells two kinds of beverages, both for adults. Maybe this was not the best place to…
Mealtime: Maple-Miso Roasted Radishes
If you’ve only ever eaten radishes raw, you’re missing out. Raw radishes have a pleasant, crispy texture and a sharp, peppery, sometimes slightly spicy taste. When roasted, they become milder, more mellow and almost like parsnips. In a word, delightful. As spring arrives here in Vermont — whether all at once, or, as usual, in…
Two Years of Free College Proves Popular With Vermont Students
Since 2013, Vermont teens have been eligible for the Early College Program, which lets students complete their last year of high school and their first year of college at the same time — for free — at one of six approved colleges. Last spring, the J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation announced it would fund…
Wants vs. Needs: A Video Contest Asks Teens to Explain the Difference
How do you get your kids to save their money instead of spending it? Ask them to explain the concept to other kids! That’s the thinking behind an annual video contest devised by the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to improving Vermont youths’ understanding of money matters. The contest, run…
Gun Safety Initiative Distributes Free Gun Locks
A new public service announcement promoting safe gun storage is now running on local TV and radio stations. “Responsible Vermont gun owners do more than use their guns safely; they store them safely,” it begins. “Because a gun that ends up in the wrong hands can have devastating results.” Such as, for example, the teacher…
Gym Time for Toddlers: Five Places to Play Indoors During Mud Season
Playing outside during mud season can get messy, so March is a good time to head to a kid-friendly indoor space to burn off some energy. There are lots of options near our house in Burlington, from fitness clubs to gymnastics training centers. There’s even a local trampoline park. I recently visited five play spaces…
Rise and Shine? A Food Writer Navigates a Nauseous First Trimester
As a food writer for Seven Days, it’s my job to eat everything. Bear sausage, fish heads, chicken hearts and mealworms have all been on the menu, and I’ve devoured every last bite. Only olives gave me the ick — and I got over that with buttery Castelvetranos and O Bread Bakery’s olive-studded ciabatta. Until…
Editor’s Note: Ready for a Change
Spring is my favorite season. I love watching the world wake up after winter: The ice melts, the sap starts running, familiar birds return, green shoots and flowers pop up in my yard. The timing is always unpredictable. This year a subzero freeze in early February made national news, then a burst of weirdly warm…
Save the Date: Fun Stuff for Families This Spring
Gotta Have That Funk March 11 At BarnArts’ 11th annual Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival, sparkly costumes are welcome, and fun for all ages is guaranteed. Headliner Zili Mizik, an all-woman African roots music ensemble, and other guest performers make dance-worthy music. A photo booth, crafts and a taco bar add to the…
Time to Sign Up for CAMP!
Our beautiful state is home to a wide range of camps, independent schools and summer programs, from traditional overnight options to those that teach STEM skills, circus arts, gymnastics and mountain biking. Kids VT helps you connect with them. If you missed the Kids VT Camp and School Fair on February 4, check out the…
Kids Collaborate on a New Mural at the Burlington Y
Shortly after the Greater Burlington YMCA opened its new building on January 1, 2020, it had to shut the doors temporarily due to COVID-19. According to senior communications director Doug Bishop, staff had always envisioned some kind of artwork on the lobby wall, and when they heard about Juniper Creative Arts and its community mural…
Battle of the ‘Bots: A Robotics Tournament Powers Up a Passion for STEM
On Saturday, February 11, the gym at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg was the site of a state championship tournament for a 21st-century sport: robotics. The annual Vermont FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship drew 19 teams from around the state. Each had designed and built a remote-controlled robot that could pick up plastic…
