You're Invited: Kid's Free Summer Movie Camp 2012

What: Stadium 10's FREE Summer Movie Camp for Kids


When: Tuesday-Thursday 8-1 through 8/16 at 9:30 a.m.


Where: Stadium 10 at Northgate, 1058 West Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27701


What You Need to Know: Doors open at 9:00 a.m. and seating is limited to theater capacity. The movies playing include Puss in Boots, Rango and Kung Fu Panda 2.


For More Information: Please visit [http://www.eastcoastmovie.com/Kids_Summer_Movies.html]

Mark Your Calendar: Durham Rescue Mission Clothing Drive for At-Risk School Students

Durham Rescue Mission Clothing Drive for At-Risk School Students   Durham, NC – School Days…many of us remember our first day back to school.  We were excited to receive new school supplies and new school clothing.  We would plan and think about just what we wanted to wear on that first day back for days…BUT, what if you and your parents were homeless or your parents had to decide between food or rent because they didn’t have the funds for both, so new clothing for school wasn’t even an option.   Especially in these tough economic times, many students in the Triangle will not be properly prepared for entering or returning to school.  Their parents just don’t have the necessary funds to purchase clothing and/or school supplies.   The Durham Rescue Mission will be hosting their 13th Annual Back to School Party and Backpack Giveaway on Thursday, August 16.  This event is our largest of the year!   YOU CAN HELP!   To meet the demand for clothing, we are asking you to go to your closets and see if there are gently used clothing items to donate to the Durham Rescue Mission. On August 16, we will give away clothing to all our guests as long as our supplies last.  We can use all sizes of gently used clothing and shoes.  Items can be dropped off at either of our locations: 1201 E Main St Campus (corner of Hwy 55 and East Main St) 507 East Knox St Campus (right at exit 177 off I-85).   Help us help at-risk children to be prepared to start this school year on the right foot! For more information about the Durham Rescue Mission and our Annual Back to School Party, visit us at www.DurhamRescueMission.org or call (919) 688-9641 today.

#WordsofWisdom

Sales Tax Holiday: August 3-5, 2012

Making a shopping list for the upcoming school year? Many of the items you need for back-to-school will be exempt from sales tax during the first weekend of August, which can result in notable cost savings. Items include clothing, footwear, and school supplies of $100 or less per item; school instructional materials of $300 or less per item; computers of $3,500 or less per item; and computer supplies of $250 or less per item.


For more information:


View a PDF list of eligible items. 
Learn more about the sales tax holiday.

Is Your Child Up-To-Date With Immunizations?

With the start of the school year in the not-so-distant future, it is important to be sure your child’s IMMUNIZATIONS are current. All students must have current vaccinations and boosters for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, and varicella (chicken pox).

Sixth graders must have one booster dose of Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/-pertussis) if five years or more have passed since the last dose (this is required).  Vaccinations or boosters are also recommended for meningococcal meningitis, HPV, influenza, hepatitis A, and varicella.

Learn more at:

http://www.immunize.nc.gov/

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/child-adolescent.html

10 Ways to Keep Children Learning During Summer

Your kids don’t have to lose ground this summer due to the break. They can keep right on learning while having fun and you can plan activities to maintain or enhance the things they learned during the school year. We’ve listed a few things to help get you thinking of ways to make this an enriching summer for your kids.

1. Kitchen math – Now is the time to get the kids to help you in the kitchen. Recipes are perfect for teaching and maintaining knowledge of simple fractions. If you want to get into more complicated math, have the kids help you take a huge recipe and cut it in half or double a recipe to share with someone. All the while they are learning or maintaining their skills.
2. Astronomy – Summer nights are perfect for star gazing. Take the kids to the planetarium or just get a map of the stars and try to figure out where the constellations are. You could also invest in a telescope to get a closer view of the magnificent night sky. Your kids might just make a new discovery!
3. History – Are you planning a family vacation? Why not make it an historical tour? Find out what your kids have been studying in history or what they may expect to study next year, and see if you can plan your vacation around a place that fits. Have the kids do some research on points between home and the destination and let them help plan the trip. Need to do a staycation? Not to worry; just find out about your local history and visit places nearby.
4. Cartography – Teach the kids how to make a map. They can map out the house, then the block. For older kids you can teach them how to read a road map. All the little numbers and symbols mean something. Once they figure out the map legend and how to use the numbers, take a little trip someplace and have them figure out all the exits and distances. This will also help their math skills.
5. Science – Summer provides all kinds of opportunities for scientific study. Kid can create bug collections, do pond studies or plant identification. Show them how to classify and log their findings in a special journal. You may have a budding naturalist in the making. If you’re really brave, you can show your older kids about the properties of light by using a magnifying glass to burn a piece of wood or you could do something a little more tame like making a pinhole camera.
6. Language skills – When was the last time you sat down and shared your life story with the kids? This is a perfect time to do that. Make some copies of old family pictures and get the kids to pretend to be journalists and interview you about the people and places in the pictures. They write the stories you tell and save everything in a scrapbook. You get to preserve family history, they get to know you and the relatives better, and they keep up their language skills.
7. Woodworking – Older kids may enjoy doing woodworking. The measuring required will help them with their math skills. Discussing the properties of the materials (e.g., soft wood vs. hard woods, wood grains, porosity, etc.) can help with critical thinking skills and scientific inquiry.  Obviously, these projects require close supervision by a parent or caregiver.
8. Sewing – Teaching kids how to read patterns and figuring out yardage will also help with math skills. Designing original items can also help with the development of the creative mind.
9. Music – There are music camps available that provide training and fun. Many kids look forward to attending these camps on an annual basis. But, if that’s not an option, get the kids interested in music for the fun of it. Sing songs around the campfire and break out the guitar and other instruments. Music also enhances math skills.
10. Arts and crafts – This is a grossly neglected part of education for many kids. Take them to the art museums and craft fairs. Let them experiment with different craft material or let them try their hand at using oil or watercolor paints. You might even want to enter some of their crafts in the county fair.

Learning doesn’t need to be strictly by the books. Think back to the old days when people learned professions by apprenticeships and hands on experience. Helping your kids keep learning through the summer is a wonderful way to enrich their vacation and it can give you some quality time with them. Who knows? You might even learn something yourself!

[via: enannysource.com]

Weekend Activity: Eno River Festival

photo credit: [www.duke.edu]

This weekend will mark the 32nd anniversary of Durham's annual Festival for the Eno, which features a diverse array of live music, arts & crafts, dance workshops, face painting, food, and more! Don't miss out on the fun-buy your tickets now!


What:  Festival for the Eno


When: July 7 & 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day


Where:  West Point on the Eno, Durham City Park. For a map showing the area to park, click here. A shuttle is provided from the parking area to the festival.


Pricing:  Kids (12 and under) - Admitted free
                Teens (13 through 17) - $10
                Adults - $18 per day


What You Need to Know: The Festival for the Eno is a fun way for people from all over North Carolina to unite over the common cause of preserving the beautiful Eno River land, raising awareness about the environment, and showing support for all aspects of community. All proceeds benefit the Eno River Association.


For More Information: Visit [http://www.enoriver.org/Festival/index.html]

Happy National Blueberry Month!

July has arrived with scorching, sunny days, leaving many of us wondering how to escape the heat without missing out on outdoor fun. Since July is National Blueberry Month, why not take your family on a blueberry picking excursion? By going early in the morning, high temperatures can be avoided, and the whole family can enjoy freshly picked fruit at reasonable prices.


Why Blueberries?

• Blueberries are very rich in antioxidants, such as vitamins C, E, and A, as well as zinc and iron
• These berries are known to boost your immune system and prevent infections
• They neutralize free radicals, reducing your risk of disease and reducing signs of aging
• Some studies show that blueberries may help reduce abdominal fat and risk factors for cardiovascular disease
• They're proven to preserve vision by preventing macular degeneration, dryness and infection
• Blueberries support brain health by preventing degeneration of neurons and restoring health to the central nervous system
• Since they're high in fiber and antioxidants, they have the ability to dissolve "bad" cholesterol, which may reduce the risk of heart disease

What's a Nearby Farm That Offers Blueberry Picking?

Herndon Hills Farm in Durham is a family-run farm offering pick-your-own blueberries, blackberries and muscadine grapes just minutes from Research Triangle Park.

• Location: 7110 Massey Chapel Road (Barbee Road), Durham, NC 27713
• Contact Information: Nancy Herndon, (919) 544-3313
• Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. For hours and daily update, call Nancy at (919) 544-3313 or check www.facebook.com/HerndonHillsFarm

For More Information:

Please visit [http://www.facebook.com/HerndonHillsFarm]