We Love Durham NC

What’s That Smell?

Outside the Girl’s school, it’s honeysuckle! Little buds pushing out, already ripe with scent. Wait a bit, little guys, don’t you know it’s going to snow next weekend?

Joe Van Gogh

Broad Street Cafe is currently closed on Mondays. But, you can walk down the sidewalk one short block to Joe Van Gogh. Cozy place with about 12 tables; friendly staff. They have their own roasted coffee (Cup A Joe) and treats from Weaver Street Market (chocolate croissants included), Sweet Jane’s (muffins; SJ’s is a wholesale bakery), and Guglhupf (but not on Mondays, as they are closed that day, too).

Then why is the sky Duke Blue?

Tonight, coming up the hill on Martin Luther King Parkway, we saw a Duke blue… dark purplish royal blue… sky right after sunset. Too bad my camera could not capture it.

Magnet School Fair Tomorrow

The Durham Choice, or Magnet, School Fair is tomorrow at Hillside High School. It is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the programs. Principals and teachers are there to tell you about their programs, which include exhibits by their students.

Durham Dog Adoption

We visited our chosen rescue dog at the foster home last weekend, and then he visited us. He is so sweet and playful, and we are excited to give him a “Forever Home.” We’ll do the required trial adoption within the next couple weeks, and then he’ll be home for good! I see there are a few new cuties there this week. Check ‘em out!

Adopt an Animal Companion

Durham Community Supports Family

It has been heartwarming to observe the various groups rallying to support the family whose house burned on 9th Street last week. If you’d like to help, visit Broad Street Cafe this Sunday 1/27. They will be donating 30% of sales to the family.

Playgrounds with Snow

Photos from the snow on Saturday. We ran a lot of errands on Saturday and got to see snow all over. There was more snow in the South of Durham than downtown.

This is the playground at The Mews apartments in Durham. It had been snowing about an hour.

This one is at Forest Hills Park playground off of University Drive. It is around 5:45pm, and getting dark.

Another of the park. You can see the snow build-up on the railings.

And, same shot with the flash on, you can see how many snowflakes are falling.

Wolf! Wolf!

Now it’s really going to snow tomorrow.

Durham Doppler

Is the Durham YMCA open?

It’s Coming, Say the Crows

There are 4 crows in my yard–one even so brave as to sit on our porch and caw at the dog through the window–which was kind of wigging me out until I heard about the coming freezing rain tomorrow. Then I noticed all the cardinals and other little unidentified birds flying low and searching for a place to snuggle in. It’s coming, say the birds.

And I’m down to a half a loaf of bread and quarter-quart of milk! Storms call for milk sandwiches–whatever will we eat tomorrow?

NCCU Students Serve Durham

Here’s something else I learned about NCCU. Students are required to record a number of community service hours each semester… not just the incoming students over the summer, not just the freshmen, but all students. Go Eagles!

NCCU to Host National Science Bowl

From my source at NCCU; this sounds fun!

The 18th National Science Bowl will be held on the campus of North Carolina Central University January 26, 2008, at the Mary M. Townes Science Building, starting at 8:30 a.m. The Bowl is part of an effort by the U.S. Department of Energy and NCCU to identify the best and brightest high school math and science students. Each team is made up of five students, an alternate and a teacher/coach. This regional competition is limited to 16 teams from North Carolina. Students will be asked questions from a number of areas, including biology, chemistry, earth science or physics. The winning team will move on to the Nationals from May 2-6, 2008, in Washington, D.C. The champions win trips to places like Australia, England and Alaska.

For the past three years, East Chapel Hill High School (ECHH) has placed in the top tier at the regional competition. ECHH math teacher Judy Jones says, “Nobel prize winners are not created from the competition. What the students get out of it is the camaraderie, enjoyment.” Jones admits though that one former student is now a Park Scholar at N.C. State and is working on a cure for a genetic disease.

According to Dr. Fredrick Johnson, NCCU’s Science Bowl coordinator, “There is a need to identify and nurture those inquisitive young minds. There is great demand for scientists, mathematicians and computer savvy specialists.”

The Science Bowl at NCCU is free and open to the public.

Salsa for Kids

This class is a lot of fun, and there are free ones at the Durham public libraries this winter:

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Durham County Library system is hosting a number of free Salsa Tots (ages: walkers to 5-years) classes.

Sing, Dance and Play with Salsa Tots!

Enjoy tropical songs and steps to lively Latin rhythms that parents and kids can both enjoy!

Pre-registration is required at the host library. If the class is already full, please ask to be placed on the waiting list.

Wed, January 16 — 7:00 pm
Parkwood Library
5122 Revere Rd 27713

Thu, January 17 — 11:15 am
Southwest Library
3605 Shannon Rd 27707

Wed, February 13 — 10:30 am
East Regional Library
211 Lick Creek Ln 27703

Summer Camp in Durham 2008

Here is a list of summer camps in the area.

PLEASE VERIFY CAMP DETAILS AND REFERENCES CAREFULLY BEFORE ENROLLING YOUR CHILD.

For the most up-to-date summer camp list, click here.Â

American Dance Festival

ArtsQuest at Hayti Heritage Center

Barriskill Dance Theatre School
Ages 3-16 - half day and full day - ballet, jazz, world dance, more

Blast Wellness
Ages 8-14 - afternoons - “Dance Dance Revolution Theater Video Gaming Bikes Electronic Sportwalls Strength and Cardio Sessions Sports”

Boy Scouts
Link to general site listing Durham Boy Scout troops.

Boys & Girls Clubs
Ages 6-15 - 7:30am to 6pm - “John Avery Boys & Girls Clubs’ summer camp continues and expands our goals to provide our youth with educational & career development, sport, fitness & recreation, character & leadership development, health & life skills, as well as exposure to the arts.”

Camelot Academy Edu-Camp
Ages 6-12 - 8am to 5:30pm - “This unique summer day camp offers both academics and recreational activities. Mornings feature appropriate course work in both language arts and math, while afternoons are devoted to fun field trips: swimming, bowling, roller skating.”

Camp Kanata
Ages 6-15 - Day camp and overnight camp - offers a Gluten-Free Week - “Have a blast and laugh all day. Then you’ll know the Kanata way. Swim, canoe or shoot a bow, ride a pony and steal the show. Feel free to laugh, but not to frown. You’ll have a blast, just come on down!”

Camp Riverlea
Ages 5-12 - swimming, archery, kayaking, nature, canoeing, music, arts & crafts, athletics, drama, tennis - “A Camp Tradition for Durham Area Children”

Carolina Friends Summer Program
Ages 4-15 - 9am to 3pm with extended day available

Chez Bay Gourmet Cooking Camp
Ages 10-17 - 9am to 3pm - cooking in various themes like Asian, Italian, Latin, Brunch

Children’s Cooperative Playschool Summer Camp

Cresset Christian Academy Camps

Duke AHEC (Health Careers) Camps

Duke Gardens Nature Adventures
Ages 8-11 - 9am to 1pm - “This camp will focus on a different topic in nature everyday. Campers will explore plants, birds, insects, and water habitats through hands-on discovery, journaling, art, and science projects to take home. We will explore different areas of the Gardens to discover the connections between plants, animals, and people.”

Duke School Summer Camp
Ages 4-8th grade - times vary - 2007 schedule featured Lego Robotics camp, volleyball camp, Young Explorers, Theater Camp, and general camp with “arts and crafts, computers, academics, sports, cooking, cartooning, and recreational activities”

Duke Sports Camps
Ages vary - baseball, track & field, volleyball, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, lacrosse, wrestling, football, golf

Duke University Camps for Youth
Ages vary, primarily middle school - Several camps including: Action Science Camp for Young Women, Biosciences and Engineering Camp, Drama Workshop, Expressions! Performing Arts Camp, Young Writer’s Camp, Creative Writer’s Workshop, Constructing Your College Experience, Weekend Workshops

Duke University Cybercamps
Ages 10-17 - “individual projects using the coolest technologies. Our courses include Game Design, Flash® Animation, Robotics, Web Design—just to name a few.”

Duke University Faculty Club
ages 3-18

Duke University Talent Identification Program
Grades 7-12 - residential program - “an unparalleled opportunity for young scholars to experience college classroom instruction and residence hall living” for academically motivated students

Durham Academy Summer Programs

Durham Arts Council

Durham Bulls Baseball Camp
Ages 7-14 - 9am to 2pm - “At the beginning of each camp, kids are divided into age groups and coached by Bulls players in pitching, fielding and hitting. After a lunch break, each age group plays a game.”

Durham County 4-H
Ages vary - 9am to 3pm - Last year featured money, citizenship, painting, quilting, crime scene investigation, crafts and sewing, democratic process, and other themed camps

Durham County Library Reading Club

Durham Parks and Recreation
Ages 5-12 - half day or full day - “a wide range of activities that include but are not limited to swimming, arts & crafts, computer enrichment, environmental education, dance, athletic games, and much more”

Durham Public Schools Summer Youth
Grades 1-6 - 7am to 6pm - “Interesting learning themes combine with sports, games, swimming, field trips, and crafts”

Girl Scouts
General link to local council

Hope Valley Baptist Church Vacation Bible School

The Little Gym

Jewish Community Center Camp
Kindergarten-9th grade - 9am to 3pm with extended care available - “arts and crafts, sports and nature, swimming, theater and dancing, and foreign language instruction” plus field trips, outdoor swimming at the Duke Faculty Club, visiting artists and performers, and special overnights

Karate International [pdf]
Ages 6-15 - half day and full day schedules - karate, martial arts, general physical fitness, safety

Kindermusik Summer Camps
0-7 years - parent/child program - “music, stories, and crafts”

Mardi Gras Bowling Center

Montessori Children’s House of Durham Summer Camp
Ages 3-6 - 8:30am to 5pm with extended day available - “music, literature, and creative movement throughout the week, with plenty of time for good old-fashioned, summertime fun”

Movie Makers
Ages 6-18 - 9am to 3pm - “By the end of the week, we have made a mini movie or TV show. Within a few weeks, we have a premiere party for family and friends, where our movie is shown on a full-size movie screen!. And each participant receives his/her own copy of the movie to keep.”

Museum of Life & Science Camps

NC Central University Programs

Pasca Pottery Camp
Ages 5-15 - 9am to 11am - “pinch pots, sculptural pieces, coiled work, slab work, etc.”

Project SUCCEED
middle school ages - science

Sarah’s House of Pottery

Schoolhouse of Wonder
Ages 5-16 - times vary - “experiences in Earth awareness, camp skills, river wading, storytelling, campfires, and games”

SEEDlings
animals, gardening, world cultures

Summer Hoopla Basketball Camp
Ages 6-16 - 9am to 3pm with extended care available - basketball and traditional camp activites

Summer Ventures
“a cost-free, state-funded program for academically talented students who may pursue careers based in science and mathematics” held at the NC School of Science and Mathematics in Durham

Walk Your Path Summer Adventures
Ages 7-12 - 8:30am to 5pm - “River explorations, hiking, scavenger-hunting, shelter-building, fire-making, campfire cooking, athletics, arts & cards”

Walltown Children’s Theatre
Ages 4-14 - times vary - dance, drama, acting, singing

Wheels Family Fun

Woodcroft Club Summer Camp
Ages 6-11 - 8:30am to 5pm - crafts, games, swim lessons

Crash on University Drive

On the way back, we saw what remained of a crash last night. This is a telephone pole that was shattered and knocked off its base. It is supported by the wires. There are black tire marks and mud tracks leading to the pole, and one of the two arrow signs indicating a curve are plowed down. The median is surrounded with police tape.

Construction at the Science Museum

Today we visited the new Health Investigations area at NCMLS as part of the museum’s Super Science Saturday. We did a mini-experiment which demonstrated that our reaction time is much slower when we are distracted by something (in this case, a cell phone). This new area replaces one of the oldest areas in the museum–the physics and body area upstairs. Remember the squishing blood pump showing plaque’d and healthy arteries?

Here’s another area under construction. This is Small Science, which is temporarily moved to the bones and fish area while the new features are being built. It will be bigger, but we see the two towers will still be there.