The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Lake Metroparks Summer Day Camps
Immerse yourself in the great outdoors this summer
Join us as we prepare for another fun-filled and adventure-packed summer camp season! We have summer day camp experiences for children ages 4 to 16! A week of discovery and adventure emmersed in nature, experiencing life on the farm or at the beach is a great way for kids to have fun as they explore the natural world around them. It is proven that being outdoors and experiencing nature is beneficial to our health. Children who have direct access to nature are better learners, have increased attention spans and have lower stress levels.
Not only are Lake Metroparks day camps fun, entertaining and educational, they are also affordable! Extended care hours for before and/ or after camp hours are offered for certain camps. This is not an extension of camp. During this time, campers can read, play games or enjoy other quiet activities.
All applicable state and local public health guidelines will be followed during camps. Please check website for updates. Registration is required to participate in Lake Metroparks Summer Day Camps and extended care offerings. Registration is anticipated to begin in early March. Please check the website for registration and additional camp information. Register online at lakemetroparks.com or call 440-358-7275 or 800-669-9226.
Are you looking for a way to help a grieving child or teen? Western Reserve Grief Services is hosting grief support camps this summer to help children coping with the death of loved ones.
Led by trained bereavement professionals from Hospice of the Western Reserve, they combine art, music, play and nature exploration to help with the healing process. The camps bring together children, all of whom have experienced the death of a loved one, in a safe, supportive environment. All camps are open to the community and offered at a nominal cost (scholarships available). “In an atmosphere of comfort and trust, the camps offer children a chance to learn about grief and new ways of expressing feelings, and to honor their special person,” said Karen Hatfield, Director of Western Reserve Grief Services. “We start as strangers and leave as friends.”
To register or request an information packet, call 216.486.6838. For a comprehensive list of community bereavement resources, visit www.hospicewr.org/griefandloss.
camp red oak (ages 6-13)
9057 Kirtland-Chardon Road Kirtland, Ohio 44094
August 10-12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This day camp is for children ages 6-13 who have experienced the death of a loved one.
riding Through grief
(ages 8-12)
Fieldstone Farm
16497 Snyder Road Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023 June 21- 25, 9 a.m. - noon. $75 per camper. Scholarships available. Through fun horseback riding lessons and un-mounted activities with horses, children campers will explore grief issues.
The Fine Arts Association (FAA) located in Willoughby has summer camps for the littlest campers at age 3 through high school grads, ranging from one week to six weeks long. Programming has been offered in a hybrid arts education format with instruction happening both in-person and virtually.
FAA is a place for creative discovery! Classes, private lessons, and workshops will also be available with FAA this summer. Explore programming in dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and creative arts therapies. With over 50 faculty who are committed to providing an enriching arts experience, there is a creative pathway for anyone interested in the arts recreation-ally or professionally!
“No matter what program we have been involved in, my children rave about it. They continually ask to participate in more activities offered by FAA. There really is something for everyone to enjoy!” says Jayme N., a parent of an FAA student.
Jaime M., also an FAA parent says “I highly recommend FAA’s acting classes. First and foremost, they rolled with the punches of COVID. They started in the theatre and when our family went into quarantine, they provided a Zoom option for Bryce. Not the same as the stage, but better for a large audience!
He was proud of himself. We were all thankful for what his teacher had done to create that moment.”
FAA is located at 38660 Mentor Avenue, Willoughby, Ohio 44094. To learn more about their offerings, visit fineartsassociation.org or call (440) 951-7500
CEO, Paul Holm says “We are adhering to all health mandates and protocols to help ensure a safe and welcoming place for all.”
COVID-19: Over the last year, FAA has remained a safe and sanitary place for all students. For more information on FAA’s COVID-19 protocol and guidelines, please visit: fineartsassociation.org/faq-arts-ed/
Inspired by her love for national parks and the lack of a children’s passport book to record visits, Emily Matheny, a Columbus, Ohio resident, took her inspiration and became an author, creating a five-book national parks guidebook series for children. After visiting Joshua Tree National Park in 2017 with her nine-month-old daughter and husband, Emily realized the lack of a children’s passport to record park visits and stamps. Her strong desire to instill her love of the parks in her children, encouraged Emily to change that. Discussing the idea with her mom, Mary O’Hare, who herself instilled her own love of the national parks in Emily, the two decided to co-author Stamp Your Way Through The U.S.A.
The co-authors set out to create a children’s book series covering all of the national parks by region with space to collect stamps, interview rangers, and learn about the parks in a fun, interactive way. To keep the children interested, the books needed to be attractive to provide enjoyment while learning about the parks. Enter, Rose Storey, an award-winning graphic designer who is also Emily’s aunt and Mary’s sister. Rose took the vision and brought it to life.
There are five books in the Stamp Your Way Through The U.S.A. series, divided by region. The Pacific Northwest and Alaska, Western, Rocky Mountain, Midwest & Central and Eastern Regions all highlight their national parks alphabetically by state. Each book contains a regional map of parks, a map with each park’s location, information on what to look for, interesting facts and a page forchildren to document their visit and interview with the Park Ranger on duty with a place for their cancellation and regional stamp. As a 7”x7”, softcovered and spiral bound book, the books were designed for easy writing and backpack travel.
The co-authors have received numerous comments from Rangers all over who are delighted with the series, noting that the books are “just right for kids to carry in their backpacks” and that “these books are the perfect way to engage kids in the park and get them introduced to the stamp program.” “We’re especially proud that each book gives kids an opportunity to interview a park ranger, which means they are also learning about the amazing people who help protect and preserve these special places,” states Mary.
“A love for the national parks was the inspiration for the series but the motivation was the collecting of the national parks stamps,” states Emily. After their first family park visit with her young daughter, they were looking for a more kid-centered way for children to connect with the park rangers and a special place for them to collect stamps that focused exclusively on just the national parks. With no avail, when Emily got home, she decided to create her own.
Now, two years on the market and recently receiving the Gold Medal from Moonbeam Awards, Category: Activity Book—Educational, Science and History, the mother-daughteraunt team realize the wonderful gift and resource they have put in the hands of families. The gift of time and enjoyment together while exploring and recording wildlife and the unique geographical features of America’s national parks.
Books can be purchased separately or as a complete set and are available
at www.stampyourwayusa.com. Individual books are $14.99 with the set of five selling for $64.99. The complete Stamp Your Way Through the U.S.A. series contains pages for collecting stamps at all 63 official national parks in the National Park Service, including the most recent addition of New River Gorge. About the Authors
Emily Matheny, a Columbus, Ohio resident conceived the idea for the Stamp Your Way series after visiting a national park in 2017 with her nine-month-old
daughter and husband. Mary O’Hare, Emily’s mom, loved the idea, and she and Emily decided to collaborate. They had a vision but needed someone to bring it to life. Rose Storey, Emily’s aunt and Mary’s sister, an award-winning graphic designer, was the perfect fit. All three women love the national parks and are pleased to highlight their landscape and history in this unique interactive series. It is their hope that children will have fun discovering the wonder and beauty of the parks while creating a lifetime of memories.