April 2023 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Editor’s Note

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 07:07:55 +0000

This month we take on one of the biggest challenges parents face every summer: how do I decide where to send the kids to summer camp? The good news and the bad news are the same: there are so many great options to choose from, how do I stick to only one or two? We are considerably lucky here. A recent article in the Washington Post described a real struggle, with parents having to get kids into camps that book up instantly and competing against thousands of families for a small number of spaces. In Santa Cruz, we have a huge variety of types of camps and price ranges—many featured in this issue. Browse through, fill out a score card and make your decisions. If that’s not enough to help you, we are part of Kids Day, which is held Saturday, April 29, downtown Santa Cruz from noon to 4pm on Cooper Street and Pacific Avenue. There will be many exhibitors specializing in children’s activities. It’s a great afternoon, a real chance to take back Santa Cruz and focus on children and families. The kids have loved it every year and it keeps growing, thanks to the efforts of the Downtown Association. You’ll see firsthand what schools and camps in the area are offering. Lastly, you can get feedback about camps from campers and parents on the Growing Up in Santa Cruz Facebook page. Drop your thoughts and reviews there to help guide other families seeking out the best camps for their kids. Tell us what you loved and maybe didn’t love as much so others can get tips.You can also bring your teens to Kids Day so they can find summer and after school jobs. The market is rich with employers, including the area’s biggest teen employer, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. We need to do an article about how many successful grownups got their start working there. How many of you started there? So far my kids have learned to sew and design clothes, acted in plays and movies, learned about animals in the wild, learned to paint like the masters, studied tumbling and gymnastics, created arts and crafts, tried juggling and “useless” circus arts that they LOVED and will impress their peers with for the rest of their lives. (Where are the camps for grown ups? I want to go.) Some other things you should read in this issue include advice from kids about how to help save the Earth for Earth Day celebrated this month, thoughts on when and whether to give a kid a cell phone, help preparing for the next floods and a look at our recent science fair. You’ll also get thoughts from one of our favorite people, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley. It’s a real page turner and one of the great things about having a magazine in print, rather than just on the internet, is that you can hang onto it for the whole month and catch up on the articles and ads at your leisure.And don’t forget our calendar and guides, keeping you informed about everything you can do in April and the rest of the year. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy this issue and if you have suggestions, comments or feedback, send them to editor@growingupsc.com Brad Kava,Editor and Publisher

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Explore and Expand

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 06:59:37 +0000

Ordinary creativity is extraordinarily important– Dr. James Catterall Devote your child’s summer to creativity. Yesterday, a news story I was watching in my living room showed the town less than a mile from my spot on the couch, and it looked like New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Half houses and half cars poking up from a flat and endless expanse of mud brown. A motionless lake as far as the drone could photograph, sitting there waiting. They said it might be a year or more before residents could return. Right after Hurricane Katrina, I was teaching AP Environmental Science, and we spent time looking at how architects and civil engineers were responding to the disaster. I had never seen houses such as the ones being proposed for the flooded 9th Ward of the city. They were beautiful, cheap, off-grid and sustainable, and more stylish than anything I’d seen. They solved a huge and dangerous problem for the residents there; the bottom floors were void of electrical wiring and made out of cement. They were designed to keep the house not only standing in a flood, but livable, if necessary. for a time. A decade later, some of the new housing developments in the Ninth Ward (famously including Brad Pitt’s charity project) did not stand the test of time, but the more brilliant designs did. Who were these brilliant and innovative problem-solvers converging on flood-weary New Orleans? Six years after this disaster, our educational world began writing the Next Generation Science Standards. At every grade level, children and teenagers are asked to devise a creative solution to a problem brought about by living on a tumultuous planet. The area of study is called “Earth and Human Activity,” and its most common theme is reacting to climate change in novel and creative ways. If the standards were widely adopted in 2013, has the generation ready to solve problems arrived just when we need them? Do we have a trained and ready populace, empowered to create and innovate?Perhaps. For the most part, in 2013, the same science textbooks from 2012 just got a few extra pages and some stickers that read “NGSS aligned.” But change did come to our classrooms eventually. I’m wondering, though, if it isn’t the right moment to put extra effort into making sure our children truly have the time and space to be creative. If summer break began in response to harvest schedules, perhaps it could now provide the opportunity for our children to truly explore their creativity. Although we are encouraged to devote time to creative problem solving in classrooms now, there are some forms of creativity whose flames are better fanned with weeks and weeks of time and without the pressure of assessment. I was lucky to have a father who was a pioneer researcher in creativity and education, and he always stressed that kids need means and opportunity to really get creative. Opportunity being the space and time to carry their projects and ideas through. He and I were fuzzy on the need for an external motive, because neuroscience is very clear that people experience joy when they are creating. My first grader just designed and built a “leprechaun trap,” and so did the kindergartner next door. It was a wonderful, exploratory, creative experience, and I can picture their teachers seeing so many similar ideas coming across the classroom desks every year on St. Patrick’s Day. I loved this project, loved seeing the joy on my child’s face as he came up with ideas, and the paint on his hands as he worked on his contraption. His idea was new to him, it excited him, and it had value to him. The mind he had before he created this contraption has expanded and deepened. Whether or not his trap takes our society by storm with its uniqueness, it is an example of pure creativity and a foundation for solving problems and finding happiness in that process. Of course, the trap was built on a chilly weeknight in between doing math homework, walking the dog, nightly reading and other things. What if my son had hours and hours to find things to use, and the freedom to try and improve his design over and over? How much more would he learn and grow? The problem solvers of the future need time to fully explore and expand. To me, that’s what a great summer camp is for. Lisa Catterall teaches STEAM, math, science, and art at Mount Madonna School and is a senior associate of the Centers for Research on Creativity. She lectures and trains teachers and administrators on innovation in education in Beijing, China. Lisa has five children and lives in Santa Cruz County.

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Family Fun at Summit for the Planet Earth Day

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 06:49:31 +0000

From barn owls and bearded dragons to California kingsnakes and turkey vultures, the opportunity to get up close and hands-on with wildlife at Mount Madonna School’s annual Summit for the Planet Earth Day festival is always a huge draw. Children and adults alike enjoy the many birds, reptiles, and amphibians shared by the Bay Area Herpetological Society (BAHS) and Wildlife Education Rehabilitation Center (WERC), two participants in this community eco-festival. Everyone is welcome to check out the wildlife and family-friendly activities at the 17th annual Summit for the Planet on Saturday, April 29 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Mount Madonna School. This FREE admission public event begins with a 5K family hike through the redwoods, and features an eco-carnival, pony rides, face painting, live wildlife and reptile area, exhibits, model solar car races, activities, music, and tasty food.Hike registration begins at 9:00am and the hike starts at 9:30am. Music will get going at 10:30am and the eco-carnival opens at 11am. The event concludes at 1pm. With its unique spotlight on environmental education, the Summit for the Planet festival has grown to more than 500 people of all ages, from south Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Monterey counties.“Mount Madonna School’s Summit for the Planet honors our school’s rich tradition of teaching environmental stewardship and raising environmentally aware children,” said Head of School Ann Goewert. “The 5K hike through the redwoods with ocean views is a wonderful opportunity for families to slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy quality outdoor time together.” Things to know when you go:17th annual Summit for the Planet family hike and Earth Day festival, April 29 from 9am-1pm. Hosted by Mount Madonna School, 491 Summit Road, Mount Madonna, located 2.5 miles off of Hwy. 152, between Gilroy and Watsonville. FREE admission. For more event information visit: SummitforthePlanet.org.

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Coloring Contest

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 06:30:00 +0000

How Do You Help Save Our Planet?

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 06:20:00 +0000

Students Take Science Seriously

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 06:02:31 +0000

Kids in Santa Cruz County are busy with all kinds of activities, and some in our next generation are taking scientific research seriously as evidenced at the Santa Cruz County Science Fair held March 18 at the County Office of Education. One-hundred-forty students from schools across the County representing 123 science projects competed in this annual event. I had the pleasure of interviewing organizers, judges, and participants. Emma Smith, a sixth grader from Mountain School, is concerned about climate change and flooding. Her project explored whether a living shoreline might mitigate damage from ocean flooding better than the standard impervious sea walls which are built for this purpose. “I knew that in China they have what are called “sponge cities” that have living coastlines which have been shown to reduce flooding damage.” Kindergartener, Aroh Khadillan, from Mar Vista School loves flying paper airplanes and tested various designs to find out which one made the plane fly further. He was animated describing the flight patterns of his creations. Violeta Lozano and Isis Velmer, fourth graders from Pacific Elementary School discovered that salinity of water affects the intensity of bioluminescence. Pacific Collegiate High School freshman, Hazel Campbell, tested the degradability of bioplastics in a home compost system. “We are in a plastic waste crisis and bioplastics could be a life-saving solution to that,” she said. Heather Wygant, Science Coordinator for the County Office of Education, said rain posed a big challenge as the Science Fair had to be postponed by a week and relocated from the original County Fairgrounds site because the Fairgrounds became an evacuation shelter for flood victims in Pajaro. “We rely on volunteers from the community who serve as judges and sponsor prizes as well as the wonderful teachers who encourage students with their projects,” she said. “This year we were able to pivot and provide a worthwhile experience for budding scientists with help from seventy-five volunteer judges.” Volunteer judge, Cres Fraley, is in his tenth year evaluating projects some of which will go on to the state competition or the International Science Fair to be held in Dallas, Texas in May. Fraley is a former board member of both Bonny Doon Elementary School District and Pacific Collegiate School. “My abiding interest in science was inspired by my father who was a science journalist. My kids did science fair projects, and I love the enthusiasm, curiosity, and energy these young students bring to their research,” he said. Lively explanations and discussions could be heard throughout the room as judges listened attentively to young students sharing their accomplishments.

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Making Magic at Camp Kesem

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 05:47:34 +0000

My father sadly passed away when I was 7 years old. My family had been uprooted from our home in Mexico and pulled back to America for a more advanced treatment for my dad’s cancer. He fought for four long years. In the wake of his death, I refused to speak of him or his suffering. It was just too painful to relive. Eventually, my mom persuaded me to attend a program called Camp Kesem. Adding to the preexisting dozens of locations across the USA, the first chapter of UC Santa Cruz Camp Kesem opened in 2014.This amazing non-profit program is run by passionate, volunteering university students, and among other year-round services they provide, their flagship is a free week at camp for kids affected by their parent’s cancer. Offering a safe space for children to have creative fun within a supportive community, the program trains its friendly counselors to encourage emotional coping skills, and give kids a chance to escape or express their sadness at facing the challenges of a parent’s cancer. Thanks to my mom, I was the very first child (under protest) to sign up for UC Santa Cruz’s program! I say, ‘under protest’ as frankly, Camp Kesem at first, sounded like a depressing place to me: sad kids rueing their parent’s cancer or lamenting their loss. However, this initial assumption could not have been more wrong. This camp turned out to be a remarkable home for children left behind by a parent’s cancer; a place to not only rejoice in life but in small remembrances of my father. A joyous place, where the horrors of cancer were inherently understood but temporarily suspended in favor of carefree, healing fun. It was a life-changing experience for me. Kesem, which gets its name from the Hebrew word ‘magic’, is in so many ways a magical world all of its own, with its own lores and fantasies to pair. No one goes by their real name, instead donning quirky monikers such as Snickers, Flame, Froggy, or Mosaic. We have our own distinctive camp songs and fun theme parties and nightly Cabin Chats. The point is not to dwell on cancer, but to have fun. My first counselors, a group of incredible, empathetic, impassioned UCSC students, created our camp to be the ultimate sanctuary, cultivating a safe haven to give us campers space to be silly kids, while also respecting the significance of our experiences and family life. Many embodied this dichotomy; many of them had a personal family history with cancer in some way. After my first camp session, I was hooked!I attended camp every year, and by my teens, I was eager to give back. I spoke at functions to raise awareness and encourage donations while also helping to organize charity events. Later, I became an assistant camp counselor and aided in camp events. Through these activities, I learned not only organizational and interpersonal skills and the gratification of paying it forward but how creating a community space with caring people can spark unparalleled cheer during dark periods. Kesem not only enabled me to process the loss of my father but it ignited in me a flame of social responsibility, inspiring me to utilize my voice for change. As soon as I arrived at UC Berkeley to start as an undergrad, I made it my first priority to sign up as a volunteer counselor with UC Berkeley Camp Kesem. After two semesters of counselor training and fundraising, this summer will be my first camp experience as a counselor. As the first organization I felt compelled to support, the magic of Camp Kesem changed me for life and empowered me to know that not only is there solace in mutual experiences and understanding, but how community aid foundations can provide essential support to those in need. Elise Cline is a 20 year old under-graduate student who transferred from Cabrillo College to UC Berkeley, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Journalism and Disability Studies. UC Santa Cruz is holding its annual Camp Kesem ‘Make the Magic’ fundraising evening on Saturday April 15th at 5pm at Seascape Golf Club. Please support this amazing non-profit charity by reserving your tickets in advance at donate.kesem.org/event/camp-kesem-at-uc-santa-cruz-make-the-magic-fy-2023/e457727 Donations for Camp Kesem at UCSC can also be made by using this link. They rely completely on donations to fund these life changing camp experiences. Please also pass this information onto any other parent suffering from cancer who can offer their child, 6 – 18 years old, the opportunity to experience this wonderful free camp. Kesem also provides year-round services including care packages and local gatherings, please email ucsc@campkesem.org for full details. Children can be signed up for July 9-14 session at www.kesem.org.

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Growing Up In Santa Cruz, Literally

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 05:40:01 +0000

When the University of California came to town in the 1960’s, our then conservative town thought the worst they were getting were boys in letter sweaters and girls in bobby socks, who may get a little rowdy at fraternity or sorority parties. Well, weren’t they surprised when every public university campus in the United States immediately became a hot-bed of liberal and radical politics: anti-war, pro-feminism, anti-establishment, and pro-environment. But, the changes did not stop there. Newly arrived folks associated with UCSC in some way or other became active in City politics, electing radicals such as Mike Rotkin, Bruce Van Allen to the city council, and Gary Patton to the board of supervisors. Growth management became their hallmark, and restricting growth everywhere except inside the “urban services line” (think no development on the mountain side of Highway 1). Fighting against off-shore oil drilling, abandoning growth dreams such as annexing property between the city’s western edge and Davenport for the construction of 30,000 homes, and on and on. And these were successful efforts. No off-shore drilling today, and the establishment of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. No 30,000 house community from here to Davenport, but the establishment of the Cotoni-Coast Dairy National Monument. All sounds quite wonderful, but virtually no housing was built in the last 30-40 years. One does not need to be the Chair of the Federal Reserve Board to understand what then happened to the price of real estate: It has been growing like crazy, thus pushing out or blocking from entry, moderate and low income individuals and families. Unsurprisingly, that also includes teachers, retail workers, some public employees, and many, many in the service industry. Santa Cruz is not the only community to establish such tools for managing their growth and thus, driving housing prices (both rental and for sale) into the stratosphere. Now, the State of California has grown tired of this statewide situation, and has begun passing laws to make it harder for local governments to turn down housing in general and affordable housing in particular. Now, cities and counties must plan for very significant amounts of new housing. For example, the City of Santa Cruz is required by state law to plan for and encourage development of nearly 4,000 new housing units in the next eight years (500 new units each year, 42 units each month). While all of this is going on, Santa Cruz voters approved a new governance structure: six city council districts and a directly-elected mayor. This complicates achieving the 4,000 new unit goal. Why? Because newly elected council members will be loath to add 666 units of new housing in their districts. So then what is the solution? It is time to grow up! Like most communities that embrace smart growth, Santa Cruz has a chance to site nearly 45% of all of that new housing in our existing urban core downtown. South of Laurel Street, it is proposed to construct 1,800 of the 4,000 new housing units. This will also add to the vitality of our small business core (which is the beating heart of our local economy). But, even with all of that, there is a serious question about whether or not sufficient housing can be built for those either experiencing homelessness or living in low and very-low income circumstances. In order to cure much of that, a two-part housing bond is being prepared. Working with affordable housing developers, for-profit developers, homeless advocates, realtors, contractors, the building trades, and neighborhoods throughout Santa Cruz, it is hoped that we can have a really solid and meaningful bond for the 2024 ballot. Please contact me if you wish to be part of that effort. Fred Keeley is the Mayor of Santa Cruz. He has also served as a county supervisor, county treasurer, and California Assembly member. He is a founding member of Housing Santa Cruz County. fkeeley@santacruzca.gov

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Kids on the Trapeze with the Greatest of Ease

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 05:32:52 +0000

Ladies and Gentleman! Orchard School presents CircOrchard, its 8th annual children’s circus, featuring the entire 60-strong student body performing clown antics, juggling, acrobatics, unicycling, stilt walking, and circus spoofs. The not-to-be-missed public show will be April 23 at 2pm at the Scotts Valley Cultural and Performing Arts Center. See ticket information below. Over the years, audiences have been wowed by the expertise and creativity of the school’s young performers, as well as impressed by their confidence level and powerful stage presence. The show, under the direction of teacher and professional performer, Rock Lerum, is created fresh every year with the addition of new, kid-generated skits, and an ever-growing student skill level that infuses new energy and ideas into some of the old standards. Lerum has been teaching at Orchard School since 1999 and won a Gail Rich award in 2003 for his work in the community. In 2007, he took nine of the school’s students to New York City where they rode 6-foot tall giraffe unicycles, danced on stilts, sang and clowned in the Good Morning America studios in Times Square, as finalists in a national contest for the Oreo Cookie Jingle. Over the past decade, the entire school has packed up props, costumes, performers, music and sets to perform free shows, including a rendition of the Yellow Submarine Magical Mystery Tour and more recently, CircOrchard, at local schools including Gault, Calabasas, DeLaveaga, Ohlone and Pacific School. You may have seen Orchard School students when they delighted the Santa Cruz Warrior’s crowds at halftime in 2014 and 2017 or when they performed with the Santa Cruz County Symphony as part of their family concert series, in the programs Here Comes the Circus and Under the Boardwalk, at the Santa Cruz Civic Center and the Mello Center in Watsonville in 2010 and 2012. Orchard School is a small, non-profit, private K-6th school located on 14 beautiful acres in Aptos. The school’s mission is to bring learning to life with a comprehensive hands-on curriculum that celebrates childhood and focuses on the arts as well as traditional academics. The teachers are specialists in their field who share a commitment to make sure students get out in nature and move their bodies as much as possible. To purchase tickets visit orchardschoolaptos.org. Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for those under 12 and over 65, and free for children under 2. For more information, call or email: 688-1074, info@orchardschoolaptos.org

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Positive Parenting After the Floods

growingupsc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 05:25:56 +0000

It’s hard to believe that a few months ago, California was still in a deep drought, with many concerns about the lack of water. Now, after multiple atmospheric rivers, many people’s lives have been turned upside-down (yet again) by events they have no control over. It’s heartbreaking to see the devastating impact of the storms and floods on families, many of whom already faced challenges meeting basic needs. While the water may recede, the emotional ripple effects of the loss, disruption, and uncertainty will last a long time.If you have a question or idea for a future column, email me at triplep@first5scc.org. Dear Nicole,My family had to evacuate in the middle of the night because of the floods. We had to throw away a lot of our clothes, furniture, and toys because they were damaged. Luckily, my aunt is letting us stay with her until we find another place to live, but it’s crowded and my kids are missing their beds and toys. They’re 4 and 6, and they keep crying and whining that they want to go home. I know they’re scared but I don’t know what to tell them. What should I do? – Margarita Dear Margarita,I’m sorry to hear your family was impacted so severely by the floods. The loss of housing and belongings creates stress and uncertainty that affects the well-being of all family members. Here are some tips to try:Take care of yourself. This may seem impossible to do or the lowest of all the urgent priorities, but it’s important to care for your own physical, mental, and emotional health so that you can care for your family. Take deep breaths, listen to music, cry, be physically active, or do something creative. Doing this every day, even for a few minutes, makes a difference. Provide reassurance and emotional support. Being uprooted from familiar surroundings and routines disrupts children’s sense of security and stability. They may feel a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, and grief for the things they left behind, such as their toys, beds, and the place they called home. Some children express emotions with words (so you know what they’re thinking and feeling), while others may express emotions through behaviors — crying, whining, fighting, defiance (which still gives you a clue about what they’re thinking and feeling). Reassure your children that you’re in a safe place, then validate their feelings. Tell them you understand they miss their home and toys and that it’s hard to move suddenly to a new place.Recreate familiar routines. Consistent routines create predictability, which can be very reassuring in stressful times. Try to create daily routines that feel familiar, even while you’re in a different environment. As much as possible, follow your usual routines for waking up; going to school, child care, or work; meals; playtime; family time; and bedtime. Turn those routines into quality time by talking with your children, giving them your full attention, and showing affection. Have realistic expectations. It’s hard and scary for everyone to cope after life-changing events, like a flood. There may be times when you’ll need to adjust your family rules and expectations, schedule, or parenting approach. Remember there isn’t one “right” way to respond to a situation like this, so be patient with yourself and your children if emotions get messy or unpredictable. Having realistic and flexible expectations can help reduce your stress and teach children coping skills they can use throughout life. Seek and accept support. Remember it’s a sign of strength to ask for (and accept) support when you need it. This also helps reduce stress, creates a sense of community and connection, and teaches children about empathy and compassion. FINAL THOUGHTS: Being displaced after a flood can be a traumatic experience for both parents and children. Positive parenting strategies can help parents and caregivers support children’s emotional well-being and resilience, even in the midst of extreme disruption and uncertainty. Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 19 and 23, who also manages Santa Cruz County’s Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, the world’s leading positive parenting program. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (Mental Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit triplep.first5scc.org, facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org.

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