We Love Durham NC

Dance Class PTA Fundraiser

Get ready for a fun-filled day of Dance on Saturday, November 15th from 1 - 5 pm at Barriskill Dance Theatre School located at 3642 Shannon Rd Durham 27707.

Barriskill Dance Theatre School opens its doors to Durham Public Schools’ students, teachers, their family and friends courtesy of a partnership between Barriskill Dance Theatre School and your PTA.

Support your school’s PTA as you dance all day. Choose from a wide variety of classes. Take as many as you like for ONLY $10 per family! All proceeds to go your school’s PTA.

Barriskill Dance Theatre School - 3642 Shannon Rd Durham 27707 — To register, please visit: www.barriskilldance.com

Saturday, November 15 (suggested $10 donation per family for unlimited number of classes — all proceeds go to your school’s PTA)

1:00 pm — Creative Dance through storytelling (ages K - Gr.2)
1:00 pm — Hip Hop (10 yrs and up)
2:00 pm — Zumba (teenage and up)
2:00 pm — African Dance (all ages)
3:00 pm — Hippity Hop (6 - 10 yrs)
3:00 pm — Broadway HairSpray (11 yrs and up)
4:00 pm — Broadway High School Musical (6 - 10 yrs)
4:00 pm — Adult Dance Fit (teenage and up)
4:00 pm — Salsa Tots (parent/child: 15 months - 6yrs)

For questions or more information, please contact Katherine Hirsh at 401-2399 or akhirsh@gmail.com or Michael Barriskill at 489-5100 or michael@barriskilldance.com

Tags: dance, school fundraiser

Durham Jaycees Haunted House

The Durham Jaycees have held a Haunted House for 36 years–creepy! I’ve been told 7-10 years old is a perfect age for it, so I’m taking the boy this weekend. Boo ha ha.

For more info about the Jaycees Haunted House, click here.

Free Massage at NCMLS

Do you remember the virtual screen on the second floor at the Science Museum, right out of the elevator doors? There were four rotating screens: planets, raining cats and dogs, shapes, and psychedelic colors. I guess it broke a few months ago (it had been there eons–though never lost its appeal), and the small room was empty.

Today I took the girl to the museum for RockSort (determine type of rock through tests like scratching, floating/sinking, attraction or not to magnet, color, vinegar bubbles) and we got to see the NEW virtual screen.

Ahh, it’s so cool. I really had to keep going back in to try it. You can move the beads around on the screen with your arms, head, legs. You can toss them a bit; they get stuck on your head. If you stand and let them fall on your head and down your body, I swear it “feels” just like a mini-massage. Here, I’ve trapped some in-between my arm and head.

Welcome Baby 20th Anniversary Celebration Today

Welcome Baby 20th Anniversary Event
October 12
3-5pm
Durham Central Park Pavilion, Foster Street
“… the 20th Anniversary of Welcome Baby with free fun for the whole family.”

[ more fun events ]

Celebration… Fire Prevention: All Ages

This looks fun! A Sea of Learning is in Renaissance Center across Fayetteville from Southpoint.
~~~

STOP DROP AND ROLL!

Durham Fire Department, Local Author and Her Dog and A Sea of Learning Parent Teacher Store

Team Up To Educate Children on the Importance of Fire Safety

Durham, NC—How do you accomplish children’s fire safety and prevention education in a fun and creative way?  With real fire trucks and dogs that perform tricks, of course!

On October 11th, 2008, A Sea of Learning has arranged an important event to wrap up National Fire Prevention Week and that is fun for the whole family!  The celebration will work off of the 2008 theme, “Prevent Home Fires” and will be FREE and open to all ages. The event will be set up in the A Sea of Learning Parking Lot and inside the store.

At 10am and 1pm, local author Sandi Meyer-Tian, also a third grade school teacher in Wake County Schools, will be reading from her book Buddy Goes to the Fire Station and will have available her second book,  Buddy Meets Bubba the Traffic Safety Officer.  Sandi will be reading her book and her talented dog, Buddy, will be demonstrating fire safety tips through his tricks!

“My life’s goal is to help teach children about safety, “ Meyer-Tian remarks. “ Children just love to see Buddy perform and learn about safety in a fun, exciting and unique way.   They are inspired to learn fire safety …just like Buddy!”

Children will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with Buddy wearing a bright red fire hat.  “Buddy” puppets and books will be for sale in the store and Sandi and Buddy will be available for book signings.  5% of all proceeds from book sales will benefit the SPCA.

Firefighters from the Durham Fire Department will be on site showing off their gear and their fire truck and informing children on the dangers of fire in the home and how to be safe.

Captain Stroud, of the Durham Fire Department is very excited to have such a unique end to the week.

“We’re really excited about fire prevention week we’re glad that people in the community are as well. It’s wonderful that A Sea of Learning has taken an extra step by inviting a local author who has written a book on fire safety.”

A Sea of Learning is a 3100 square-foot parent-teacher store which opened in November 2007.

 

Duke Park at End of Summer

We joined the Durham Mothers Club for an open playgroup, and found Duke Park to be a lot of fun in the cooler weather.

Several trees have been taken down due to age, but new ones are thriving in replacement. Leaves are just heading towards yellow for fall.
Something new we discovered was that the circular path is perfect for tricycling… probably very fun on a scooter because of the incline.

(There are pictures of the playground equipment at Duke Park here.)

Water Testing

The boy and I headed to the Science Museum early Saturday morning for the Wetlands Program for Families.

It was still cool when we arrived, but quickly warmed as the sun came all the way up. Fall in North Carolina… wear layers.

We started by testing water from the museum wetlands for five factors: temperature, oxygen, pH, nitrate, and turbidity (cloudiness). It involved lots of measuring, shaking, and mixing with chemicals, using video instructions on iPods. The oxygen testing was the most complex, with several steps. The boy learned a lot about using glassware like test tubes and droppers.

After recording all this data on our record sheet, we did the second part of the data collection: finding animals in the water. (Animals have different tolerances for dirty water, so the types of animals found are a good indicator of water quality.) We scooped them out into a bucket and put some into a magnifier to see them up close. Using reference guides and help from the scientists, we identified them based on number of tails, shape of body, and similar traits. We found things like aquatic worms, diving beetles, and dragonfly larvae, even a tadpole this time of year.

Afterwards, we walked to the Insectarium to record the data on the computer and calculate the quality of the water. The data will be gathered over time by different groups and then compiled by the scientists at the museum.

There was so much fun learning crammed into the 2 and 1/2 hours. The museum continues to amaze with opportunities to learn about science.

The Wetlands program repeats on 10/19.

Sunday Funday

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday…

Family day at the Nasher. Entertainment, crafts, you know the routine. Free. Noon to 4.

Bone-Dry Dog Wash. $10 includes dry wash, brush, massage, and nail trimming. Food, DJ, kids zone, and contests with prizes. Whole Foods on Broad Street, 11 to 3.

The Whirligig Music Project opens at 4pm. Central Park. We’ll be checking it out later in the week, because on Sunday they request the audience be quiet for the duration of some filming. But after that, through October 5th, the project will be open to listeners who make noise (vocal or instrumental) when they see the whirligigs move.

Leapin’ Lemurs!

We went on a field trip last Friday to the Duke Lemur Center (formerly the Duke Primate Center). The Lemur center features lemurs and other prosimians.

Tours last about 50 minutes and are $3 per person over 3 (less for 1-3 year olds and free under 1). Appointments must be made in advance, but a group is not required. It’s a perfect time of year to tour–the animals are not hiding in shade from too much sun, and not covered due to cold weather. (Ideals temps are 75-85, and they don’t sweat, so their cages are fanned/warmed during hot/cold days in North Carolina.)

Here are some shots to show what the view is like from the tour. They jump around a lot! and are very interested in people. Only a small portion of the animals at the Center are seen on tour, since viewing the animals changes how they act, and therefore affects the research. If you are a Zoboomafoo fan, check out the last two photos…yep, that’s the star himself.

For more close-up photos of lemurs, check out the Lemur Center website.

Science Museum Exhibit Preview

We were invited to preview an exhibit at the Science Museum recently. They are studying how people interact with the exhibit before it goes live; tweaking how the materials are laid out, how any instructions are displayed, etc.

There were several work tables and many boxes full of appealing building materials like ramps, wood blocks and wedges, clamps, rope, pulleys, wheels, buckets, balls; plus random things like whisks and metal dustpans. The idea was the materials might be put together in a Rube Goldberg-like construction. We hadn’t scheduled ourselves enough time to really get into it before closing time, but it was still fun to see what the kids came up with.

I also met a few of the nice exhibits folks, which was a treat!

This was a fun exhibit–especially for older kids–& I look forward to it going live.

TK’s Jungle Coupon

I’ve received permission to copy this coupon here. TK’s Jungle (bounce house) is a lot of fun–enjoy!

CenterFest for Kids

CenterFest returns this fall with lots of new activities for the little ones.

The 35 year old street festival will be held the weekend of September 20-21 near the Downtown Durham YMCA. Kids’ activities led by the Durham Arts Council include Paint Like Picasso, Magical Music, and Jazzy Jewelry Kids. James Lim, of Immense Events and CenterFest Event Coordinator, confirms that these activities are free for festival visitors.

Other activities, such as Paint Savvy face painting, train rides, and a moon bounce, have a small fee.

Performers your kids won’t want to miss:
Bull City Gymnastics
Bouncing Bulldogs
Sandbox
Encore Dance
Barriskill Dance

Several local nonprofit groups will have exhibits, including the Girl Scouts, the Fire Department, Durham’s Partnership for Children, churches, and political parties. Most of these will have stickers, magnets, and other giveaways in addition to information on programs for kids.

A $4 donation per person is suggested at the gate.

Remembering from last year, if the weather is warm, it gets hot on the asphalt and there’s little shade and seating. Bring a water bottle and strollers for the little ones, too.

Intersession Camp

Can you believe it’s almost time for intersession? Here’s one intersession option, at the Durham Arts Council. I’ve listed a few more below the image. Other ideas for our year-round friends?

Durham Arts Council Intersession Arts Camps brochure

North Carolina Museum of Life and Science Track-Out Camps

Piedmont Wildlife Center Intersession Camps

Schoolhouse of Wonder Fall Intersession Camps

Durham YMCA Year-Round School Intersessions

TK’s Jungle Track Out Camps

SeeSaw Studio

Durham Parks & Rec

Durham Public Schools Intersession Camp

Tennis Camp at Five Oaks Club

Children’s Theater in Downtown Durham

Starting Friday, August 22nd, through September 14th, Find the Light Community Theatre in Downtown Durham will present Marmalade Gumdrops by Carol Lauck for ages “5 to 15 and parents of all ages.”

Shows are Fridays at 6:30pm, Saturdays 2:30pm, and Sundays 2:30pm. Tickets are $7.

Location: 124 W. Parrish Street, around the corner from the Bull.

Marmalade Gumdrops is about an imaginative 10 year old boy in his room. Characters include the boy, his bed, a chair, a bookcase, and a “not too bright” floor lamp.

See the Marmalade Gumdrops flyer here.

The director is Gennaro D’Onofrio. Yes, you’ve heard that last name before if you’re a Law & Order fan. Yes, that’s his dad.

Blacklighting

We went blacklighting last night at the science museum in Durham. Blacklighting is sitting in the dark with a really bright light, watching and collecting bugs attracted to that light.

The two blacklight stations were set up on the boardwalk leading to the bears and lemurs, one halfway and one down at the water area. The boardwalk, of course, goes over and beside the pond, juicy with bug life. The best time to blacklight is after a heavy rain when there is no moon, so conditions were not ideal, but we were able to see moths and beetles and various flies.

Leon, the entomologist who does the bug outreach programs, also to school groups, held an excellent Q&A as the last bits of sun went down. We learned that there are 4 kinds of “bugs” including insects, spiders, ‘pedes, and the kind you eat (shrimp and other crustaceans), and that there used to be a 5th kind, the trilobites.

About 75 people attended, mostly parents and children, but also some groups of adults. We were there from 8:30 to 10:30pm, and as the night wore on, most people left except the hard-core bug collectors.

A bright mercury light was set up to attract the insects, a UV light made them want to hang around, and a large sheet was hung to allow for easier viewing, and to give the bugs something to land on.

Our best find was a very big diving bug. (Looked like a roach to me.) The middle-school aged boy who had a container to capture it held it between his finger and thumb and said, “It’s biting me, ouch.”

Next time we will think to bring lots of containers to transport the bugs home and strong flashlights to spy all the loud frogs in the pond. And, yes, it does seem very backward to bring bugs into our house, but ’tis life with the Boy. As long as they stay downstairs, m’kay? And in their enclosures.

Oh, we also saw a bullfrog eating a tree frog, and heard a frog called a Banjo Frog. It really sounds like a loose banjo string.

Look at a Durham Naturalist’s photos of moths and other bugs here.