Kids VT, Summer 2021
Recipes for Tropical Treats; Meet Educator Kia’Rae Henron; Home Décor Tips; Teen With Autism Finds His Voice
Discount Décor : Seven Great Items to Thrift for Your Home
Moving out of my childhood home into my first dorm opened up a whole new world of thrifting for me: the homeware section. For the 10 years since then, thrifting has become my go-to way of decorating in my style without breaking my budget. In a few months my little family will be moving into…
Powerful Parodies: How I Found my Voice as a Teenager With Autism
Back in my first year at Montpelier High School, I wasn’t a very social or outspoken person. But at our Fall Harvest Celebration in 2018, I had an experience that changed my perspective of myself from an independent, talented adolescent to a capable, confident, talented young man. I had always seen myself as an ordinary…
Vermont Visionaries: Kia’Rae Hanron , K-12 Learning Advisor
Burlington resident Kia’Rae Hanron is a teacher, artist, poet, activist and the K-12 learning advisor at Clemmons Family Farm in Charlotte. At 25, she’s helping to write a curriculum for the farm’s online learning platform. Called Windows to a Multicultural World, it will teach African American and African Diaspora history through arts engagement. Black artists…
Ready for What’s Next
I dropped my kids off at sleepaway camp on Sunday, after stopping for frozen treats at Seb’s Snack Bar in South Hero. Ivy, 12, will spend a month at Camp Hochelaga, a summer program for girls. Graham, 15, will enjoy three weeks at Hochelaga’s all-boys’ rival, Camp Abnaki. These two campers are even more excited…
Creating Art That Celebrates the Culture and Climate of Places Around the Globe
This spring, as part of a cross-curricular “learning expedition,” Winooski middle schoolers explored the impact of location on different cultures around the world. This lesson on the power of place will provide you with the tools to explore this concept on your own. A region’s location on the globe affects countless aspects of life there,…
How to Savor Vermont’s Shortest, Sweetest Season
We made it! School is over, COVID-19 restrictions have loosened up, and many of our favorite places are open again. To help you get out and enjoy them, we pulled together this list of tried-and-true summer activities. Look for more details about location and hours online. And remember to pack sunscreen — and face masks;…
How Can Parents Prevent and Treat Common Summertime Burns?
Summer is the time of year most often associated with sunburns. But the sun isn’t the only seasonal hazard: Kids get burns from other items, too, such as metal slides, swings, sparklers and campfires. Dr. Lewis First, chief of pediatrics at the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, says that the best approach is to prevent…
On the Hunt for Ancient Forests at Button Bay and Kingsland Bay
When I think of Button Bay and Kingsland Bay State Parks in Ferrisburgh, the first thing that comes to mind are the large picnics, weddings and festivals I’ve attended there. But, according to my copy of the Sierra Club Guide to the Ancient Forests of the Northeast, both sites also have old-growth forest. So during…
Mealtime: Papaya-Avocado Salad and Watermelon-Coconut Refresher
When summer gets underway in Vermont, I like to make dishes that hail from warmer climates. This month, I went with a tropical theme: papaya-avocado salad and a thirst-quenching drink made with watermelon and coconut. Papaya is a popular ingredient in a wide range of countries, from Mexico to the Philippines. When unripe, it’s green…
Mom Takes Notes, July 2021
During previous summers, my daughter and I have explored nature in Vermont by observing the animals and plants around us. “Look, there’s a chipmunk running on a tree trunk! Look, can you see how the flowers have turned into berries now?” This summer, these notions are accompanied by the kind of questions from a 4-year-old…
The Pros and Cons of Virtual Music Lessons
I was in the kitchen making dinner recently while my son, Leo, had his trumpet lesson in the living room. I watched him hold the instrument to his lips, then blow a note into the air. “Leo, Leo,” a voice immediately called out, “hold on a second.” The note died. Leo, 10, turned to the…
